Capwell & Easton: A medieval knightly effigy in Dennington, Suffolk - Part 2

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William...
/ historicalfencing
/ scholagladiatoria
scholagladiatoria.spreadshirt....
/ matt_easton
www.antique-swords.co.uk

[@jcorbett9620]

Dr Capwells' passion for this is so clearly obvious and his entertaining style really captivates the viewer, but I think that his personal viewpoint as someone who actually fights in armour today, adds an extra level to his subject, in comparison to someone who is just theorycrafting about how "a certain item of armour might have been used"

[@viridisxiv766]

"dont ask the guy in armour, he doesnt know!" lol :D

[@mattlilly2303]

Almost cracked my screen clicking on this video. So very informative. Love the theory of a royal groin injury effecting design so much.

[@RyanRyzzo]

It's just so awesome to listen to Toby talk about armour. The glint in his eyes really shows the passion and a few light sources.

[@brancaleone8895]

capwell & easton: the saga continue!!!

[@kevinjameswhite]

Two cops on a mission

[@def_not_dan]

....from GOD.

[@dockmasterted]

and well it should!......this is very informative my friend!

[@Shermingtan]

Thank you very much Mr. Easton and Mr. Capwell for giving me the opportunity to learn and broaden my horizon not only about armor but also about what kind of life he had and how difficult this effigy was to make. Please do more!

[@romainvicta3076]

These videos are so important for our culture in England

[@loopie1206]

seeing the rampant vandalism on this piece of culture, art and history both saddens and pisses me off.

[@KorKhan89]

It's indeed unfortunate, but hardly a new phenomenon. Many cathedrals have graffiti dating to the 18th Century or earlier. At Chillon Castle in Switzerland, I remember seeing a graffito by none other than Lord Byron. I guess even great Romantic poets felt the need to scrawl their names over ancient pieces of art and architecture.

[@scholagladiatoria]

It's a shame, but most of the graffiti is 18th or 19th century, some earlier.

[@skorpikh]

Looks like perfect romantic place for young couples who sometimes could not resist :-)

[@kanonierable]

Hearing about the rampant vandalism on this piece of culture, art and history being of the 18th, 19th or earlier centuries both saddens and pisses me of about our great-great-great-and greater fathers being such hooligans.

[@Fox_Cord]

There's lots of graffiti dating back to the ancient Romans. I don't think there ever was a culture without it.

[@Murdo2112]

Really interesting: can't wait for part 3. Anyone who hasn't already really ought to check out Knyght Errant's piece-by-piece breakdown of his own harness. Having seen him go over the foot armour, for example, turning it around, showing the inside and how it all attaches, articulates and interacts with other pieces of the armour, really allowed me to get much more out of this video than I would have done in my previous state of relative ignorance..

[@jkoeberlein1]

The metal work on this armour is freaking amazing! Today with forms, dies, and CAD this armour would be a chore to make.

[@blxtothis]

These wonderful effigies have always fascinated me from the first time I saw one as a very small boy in the early 1950s. Even then as a child, I always felt that they were not realistic depictions because, to me, the armour always appeared to be virtually no thicker than one layer of garment and almost painted onto the skin. As it is well established how much was worn under the plate and mail, my question (never answered) was were they that skinny? Subsequently seeing armour in various museums/castles etc hasn’t entirely shaken that question. I’ve seen hundreds of these effigies and I still have that boyhood question cast a tiny shadow across the back of my head whenever I marvel at one of these superb pieces of our heritage. Just look at the slimness of the hips and limbs of this fine character, I know that is said that our ancestors were slightly shorter, more slender, more hardy stronger and fitter than we but that impression never leaves me. Leaving all thoughts of the armour and individuals represented by the memorials, the exquisite workmanship and dedication, expertise and care exercised by the crafts people who created the alabaster work still astounds me. Thanks to Toby and Matt for presenting these superb videos, I only recently came across their KZbin sites and have been trying see their back catalogues and those of their associates which has been a really worthy diversion in the last year or so.

[@MrBatraaf]

I really like this type of analysis of non written sources with some background story. It's almost like going to the museum. I hope you will post more.

[@user-pi6ws8ws5m]

Great job Dr.Toby I noticed some initials carved into effigies Wondering when that occured and also very sad to deface something so beautiful.

[@TheBaconWizard]

THAT was a whole new level of interesting.

[@joesteers1940]

Anyone who hasn’t got Toby’s book ‘Armour Of The English Knight 1400-1450’ then I recommend it! Absolutely jam packed with info on basically every aspect of English and also some Continental armours and effigies! Not only full of hundreds of pictures but also brilliant explanatory drawings and illustrations!

[@jonathanweeks9925]

It is interesting that the Brass of Thomas Cheyne from Drayton Beauchamp in Bucks has bells hanging from his knees. Like a morris dancer!

[@Locahaskatexu]

It really is a cracking good tombeffigy, it's been ever so well preserved. I don't know whose effigy it is, but you can see he was a Knight Companion of the Garter (the blue band around his left leg)

[@KorKhan89]

It's Sir William Phelip. He was a man of considerable standing in his own time, fighting at Agincourt, acting as Henry V's war treasurer and serving as a personal bodyguard to the young Henry VI. They talked about him in detail Part 1 of this series.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Phelip,_6th_Baron_Bardolf

[@Locahaskatexu]

KorKhan89 Thanks mate :)

[@petric334]

The Capwell videos are some of the best I've seen on any subject on KZbin. Excellent work, and thank you.

[@Dodovacer]

I just returned to this video after I rewatch Ians video on Groin protection. This video series with Toby Capwell is so great. As a history student I really wish this was a better developed field - academically. This videos basically could be part of a lecture on the hundred years war, such a shame that it only has so few views - especially now that there are so many popcultural things linked to very bad representations of armor and medieval like scenarios. Great work!

[@1FrankJaeger1]

The groin injury idea reminds me of how when there is a disease reported on the news the following day half the population goes to their doctor to check for it/prevent it. I have an image in my mind of this spreading around medieval England and everyone running to their armourer and getting extra-long plated skirts haha!

[@VermylionMusic]

Every time Toby says "Meh-tlll," I giggle a little bit inside.

[@Lunumbrus]

I wonder if the inclusion of copper bands at the edges of plates might've helped in cases where the plates slid against each other. Last I checked, copper has a way of acting lubricious without being oiled. Perhaps it was a functional detail, as well as an aesthetic one?

[@wierdalien1]

+Lunumbrus thats a pretty sensible thought

[@TimmyTurner421]

+Alistair Shaw yeah

[@BladeFitAcademy]

oh what an interesting thought.

[@1FrankJaeger1]

That is true about copper, it tends to lower friction coefficients making it mechanically useful today, that is a very interesting idea...

[@kev3d]

Not a bad hypothesis.

[@cyberiankorninger1025]

anyone else loves the piano intro? thx for the work put into editing this stuff

[@tungstenkraken2929]

Extremely happy to watch this series!

[@laksivrak2203]

Part 1 kind of faked me out, Matt said let’s move in, then he said thanks for joining us 😂😂

[@palmer3977]

Superb Matt.

[@lightbox617]

I'm just impressed with the intelligent and cogent presentation. This is certainly not my area of expertise but I will be following this stream. Thanks

[@awoods9793]

Great informative video. I've been reading Dan Jonses book the Plantagenets . I know this is a fifteenth century effigy and the Plantagenets were earlier Cnut it helps to visualize and understand the warrior culture of medieval Europe.

[@theplayliszt-8-bitmusic426]

Matt, will you ever make videos about siege engines and/or fortifications?

[@humungus3]

I googled Tobias Capwell after watching this and it was cool to learn that he's not only a very educated man but also a badass.

[@Blofeld76]

Just excelent and very interesting video. Thank you. :)

[@MegaFarinato]

Really liking this videos!

[@sandmanhh67]

Id love to see you and Toby do a vid on Henry VIII's Field of the Cloth of Gold armor in the Leeds collection sometime.

[@godofimagination]

My favorite suit!

[@probablythedm1669]

I'd never really considered how extensive the dulling effect on the senses, from being encased in armor, could be before Toby's personal example. Very interesting.

[@Junkzillabox]

That was really fascinating, a shame that more people haven't seen this!!

[@ur2c8]

Very informative and interesting.

[@BladeFitAcademy]

So very fascinating! Injuries go unnoticed in armour.

[@rhemorigher]

A lot of physical pain comes from the mind's reaction to perceived injury rather than injury itself - one of the reasons doctors say 'You'll feel a small prick'. It can also be seen by watching small children (toddlers mainly) play, they'll run head-first into the corner of a table and look to an adult for the reaction, if the parent laughs then the child will laugh, if the parent shows concern (which they really do and probably should) the child will bawl. In armour you can't see a bruise or a misshapen bone or even blood and without that feedback you don't assign 'Oh, God! I'm broken!' to what you're feeling. Plus I suppose your interactions are being done through steel which serves as a sort of minor splint. Add in sweat masking blood flowing over flesh, cacophonous noise, constant movement and jostling and it is easy to miss all sorts of important cues and fight with some nasty stuff hidden from you. Makes armoured fighters even scarier to face. All of which is after the fact they're already more impregnable than a tank in their own period.

[@billbo9341]

Focus and adrenaline have an effect as well. I suffered a minor fracture of my upper arm during a football game. I don't consider myself as particularly tough but I finished the game with out realising how badly I was injured until we were back in the locker room. My understanding is that this is not uncommon.

[@rhemorigher]

Bill Bo Indeed it is not, I recall hearing that there was a British footballer who once played the second half of a match with a broken neck.

[@stur46]

Thanks a lot, great content!

[@jonathanlovelace521]

Matt, I'd love to see you do a video on how the quality of medieval armor contributed to the improvement and popularization of guns in western Europe. I feel like this has to be a major pressure that pushed European tech to improve so quickly, but I've never seen it much talked about by someone who knows stuff.

[@Chorochronchotor]

Awesome Again. thank you M.E.

[@BlueCrystalGem]

There is just something very sexy about when a guy talks about the thing he's passionate about.

[@Usammityduzntafraidofanythin]

Depends how sexy you are

[@MagisterMalleus]

It does help that Tobias is already pretty hot.

[@JC-Denton]

The 'Long-skirt-theory' made me smile. :-)

[@petawatson5120]

Those greaves have a modern design equivalent - (field) Hockey shin guards...

[@99IronDuke]

Really interesting.

[@NotAllBooksSmellNice]

This may seem a silly question, but did gauntlets with articulated fingers if they were in fact used have faux fingernails engraved or worked onto the gauntlet?

[@KorKhan89]

It's not something I've come across before, but it certainly looks that way in this case. I'd be curious to know if there are other examples.

[@T1JumpTIX]

Yes it was common for armor or replicate the aspects of the human body or aspects of textile clothing into them, there are lots of examples of gauntlets with fingernails in museums.

[@Yeknodathon]

Encore!

[@honingtaart]

More Capwell!

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

Despite what many believe, graffiti is not always done despite the importance of an object but rather an act which tacitly acknowledges the significance and historicity of the object. People would not see fit to leave their mark on something which is unimportant - something which they believe will not stand the test of time. Obviously I don't want someone to dip their bollocks in paint and teabag the Mona Lisa, but all it takes is a few centuries or more and any bit of graffiti becomes historically significant. All it takes is time.

[@JRT176]

Toby Capwell is the real freakin' deal

[@Tectonix26]

It's honestly saddening that so many immature pricks would damage the piece just to put some crappy sign of their presence there...

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

This was 18th and 19th century graffiti - it is itself historically resonant.

[@Taistelukalkkuna]

Thank you. =)

[@casonastudios1228]

Nice Video! Do you have Exemples of the trousers with the zig-zag pattern under the knee?

[@robertpatter5509]

All of a sudden the effigy just gets up and walks away.

[@chevypbrdipper]

hey i know how out of context this is but maybe you wouldn't mind suggesting somewhere i can purchase something along the lines of a riveted mail shirt of relative quality kinda like yours maybe even someone who would even take my body size and tailor it to my fitting? thank you! really enjoy your videos!

[@willek1335]

More please. :P I need MORE :D sorry.

[@BigZ7337]

Another great video, but I'm curious, what are those letters/initials carved into the legs?

[@scholagladiatoria]

Graffiti, most of it 18th and 19th century.

[@BigZ7337]

I can't imagine carving into something so beautiful, I also imagine that you wouldn't want to fix it because it would rub away the details.

[@tsoliot5913]

+zarbran and it's now part of history.

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

@@BigZ7337 It's not out of disregard for the importance of the object - it's actually an act done in recognition of its importance. People wanting to be a part of history and to leave their mark on something they believe will outlive them.

[@zachparker778]

I really want to get good with a sword and an accompanied dagger or knife, but I can't decide between a rapier, a cutlass or a cavalry sabre. What is your recommendation?

[@fleadoggreen9062]

How did they deal with the summer heat with all that armor on ?

[@deepseaknight416]

24:45 he talks about his berserk armor

[@RainMakeR_Workshop]

What is the purpose of the belt on his left greave?

[@kanonierable]

These armours must have had a significance to our ancestors we can't possibly imagine. That is not meant to belittle Dr.Capwells studies, quite the opposite, his work is unique and with his jousting experience he has probably an understanding of these matters like noone else over the last 400 years.

[@davideddy2672]

What is the significance of the gold chain about the neck?

[@RNGWINTER]

Hey just wanted to know what is the mean difference between fencing and real sword play?

[@Ruarscampbell]

Idk, but I think you may be confused due to modern terms. "fencing" was the martial art used to kill people, you would fence in a battle or self defence. "sword play" was sword practice or non-lethal duels, you were playing at sword without viscious intent. For the most part they are the same. I don't know of historical people who mention a difference, but I guess you don't aim for the same places and might pull your blows so they don't cut too deeply in sword play. Unless you're talking about tournament fighting, in which you fight in armour basically as you would out of armour and score points depending on your hits. Rules varied from tournament to tournament.

[@gerryjamesedwards1227]

"Look, can we stop now? Your arms hanging off." "It's only a flesh-wound! Come back and fight you coward!"

[@sbscott84]

I didnt see this asked, what is that blue band on the left leg for?

[@petric334]

Knights of the Garter

[@sky4eyes]

do you have any video of dr Capwell jousting

[@knutzzl]

8:12 !!! The expert saying that he doesn't know! Huzza! honesty. 22:00 didn't Henry VIII have a long LONG wide skirt on his second field of golden cloth armor?

[@exploatores]

What is the blue strap under his left knee ?

[@scholagladiatoria]

The Order of the Garter

[@exploatores]

thanks, I should have guesed that.

[@JohnsonLobster]

I guess it should say "Honni soit qui mal y pense", but I can't read that. Does it say something else?

[@WurdBendur]

Indeed, the part I can make out looks like "...ony soit qe [buckle] mal ...", and "pense" on the descending end.

[@fdsdh1]

if its Order of the Garter it can only really say Honni soit qui mal y pense (Shame on him who thinks evil of it)

[@GuildofKnightlyArts]

Why did you skip over the garter?

[@Nighti88]

The Sword looks a bit long like it would touch the ground if you walk with it. Is that Artistic freedom? Whats with the blue band under his left Knee?

[@vcfern]

It's the Order of the Garter

[@stephend50]

it's only a scratch

[@nydabeats]

THE SCHOLA!

[@nikitaonassis6090]

Are there records of men at arms struck in the marbles or was that too embarrassing to be recorded which was swiftly erased from recorded history. I have a proposition of war hammers. The sword was used to close the distance, the hammer would be surprise kebab right under the skirt. May not penetrate someone with mail, however, the person under all of that would still feel it and flinch. That gives time to execute or give an opening for any other move to happen. Especially that all other venues of the body is well covered, the biggest exposure is between the legs..just my two pennies worth. There might be slang recorded in texts, something to the extent of "oh my goolies" or perhaps not, just a muffled swear "muff!".=P

[@spartencamp]

It is sad that they have been so defaced by vandals.

[@gg2fan]

Punks. I will never understand how or why defacing historical artifacts or any public property ever caught on amongst the disgusting little cunts of the world.

[@SlipSloop]

:)

[@oifaye]

Oh no, a broken quillon :(

[@lakewooded4929]

Oik!

[@LordVictorHalgaard]

The nitwits that desecrate such a beautiful effigy should be thrown off a cliff -.- Would love to restore it with some alabaster powder.

[@kentallard8852]

I notice a lot of graffiti has been carved onto the marble

[@sae1095hc]

What kind of person would deface historic art with graffiti?

[@garethbarry3825]

also noticed that, very sad indeed

[@SuprSilvr]

Yeah that's infuriating.

[@sugarnads]

Brain dead assholes :(

[@ironpirate8]

People tend to be more strict about that nowadays, my guess is that the graffiti is quite old. I forget where, but I was in a church looking at some medieval choir stalls, and there were a lot of initials carved by bored choir boys in the 18th and 19th centuries. They shouldn't have done it, but the carvings had kind of a historical value of their own.

[@Murdo2112]

+Iron Pirate Aye, what was, at the time, an act of vandalism can, centuries later, can serve to transform the faceless masses of history into real people, with lives every bit as real as our own. One of my favourites is from the Coliseum in Rome: DOMINUS EST NON GRADUS ANUS RODENTUM (The boss isn't worth a rat's arse.)

[@Shermingtan]

Some of those non coloured light carvings look not historic to me. Am I wrong? Please let me be wrong, nobody would do that to an artifact right?

[@Alopex1]

The tomb of Pharaoh Seti I bears graffiti left there by Celtic Galatian mercenaries serving in the Ptolemaic armies thousands of years later. It reads: "Of the Galatians, we Thoas, Kallistratos, Acannon and Apollonios, came and a fox we caught here." Graffiti has always been a thing, and there will always be people who leave inscriptions on objects which they do not deem important, or deem important for other reasons. I'm surprised the effigy is in such good shape.

[@Shermingtan]

Thank you for your reply. Yes it is true that this is not a new or even generation thing. But it always puzzles me why people do it. When I look at that effigy I think to myself not in a 1000 years would I be able to craft something like this. My respect for the work and worker is much much too high to even think about damaging it.

[@Alopex1]

I fully agree, same here mate. I guess it takes a certain amount of ego, disrespect and perhaps humour to defile a work of art in such a way. Though I must also say that while I find the act despicable and disrespectful, from a historians' point of view such graffiti can be a great historical source. From the graffiti in Egypt we now know for sure that Galatians served in the Ptolemaic army and even travelled all the way to Egypt.

[@ironpirate8]

What better place to carve your initials, if you want them to be preserved and seen for generations? Not that I would consider it myself.

[@Ubeer85]

This is realy realy interesting. I just wish movies and tv would understand how platearmour works. Nope just pick up a sword ala LoTr and cut right threw it just like the armour aint there. Hollywood are lazy as fuck!!!!

[@secularnevrosis]

Ah..The blood filled gauntlet syndrome. 'Hmm..some one have been bleeding on the ground here. Looks fresh..The hell! I got it on me too?!' Moves the hand about and clenches. *Squelch.. Drip drip..* 'Oh..Fubar. It's me!'

[@RC1191217]

Don't touch. Even the slightest touch can wear away the painting and degrade the object even further. What is it with presenters that they feel museum rules don't apply to them? You can actually see his cuffs hitting the effigy, his fingers touching the painted elements. Keep touching it if you want it to completely degrade.

[@jared925]

I hate living in America, almost nobody makes armour here

[@Regolith86]

Lots of people make armor here; just not that kind. ;-)

[@jared925]

Regolith ha, I suppose that's true

[@scholagladiatoria]

You have some great armourers in the USA - Jeff Wasson and Robert MacPherson for examples.

[@jared925]

scholagladiatoria We've got a few good ones but not a lot of them, and with the size of the country, armourers can be a pain to get to.

[@DEVS_ET_DOMINVS]

I kind of want to do medieval stuff to the people who wrote on it

[@Dark_Plum]

Note for my tabletop RPGs: make perception check for character wearing full plate armour if he notice that he is wounded, difficulty level - extremely hard.