"Send in the Irish. Arrows cost money, the dead cost nothing."
Joined: Jun 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 1,345 Karma: 1,017
Re: Scottish fought wearing bright yellow shirts « Reply #1 on Jun 30, 2009, 11:45am »
What he's describing is the yellow shirt normally associated with the Irish clans. Yes its very likely he's right since the Scots and Irish clans are closely associated, but Saffron as he admits is indeed a rare and extremely expensive spice to obtain, so you can't on the one hand say everyone had a Saffron dyed shirt, and then say that Saffron is rare and expensive.
Some books I read about the Irish suggest that Saffron has something to do with protection from body lice, but this is not confirmed.
"Send in the Irish. Arrows cost money, the dead cost nothing."
Joined: Jun 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 1,345 Karma: 1,017
Re: Scottish fought wearing bright yellow shirts « Reply #2 on Jun 30, 2009, 11:47am »
An obvious contradition here in the text...
"The tartan kilt as we know it today is part of a romantic and more modern imagining of Scotland's past. But it is clear from records dating back to the 11th century that the Gaels were well known for going bare-legged and wearing a sort of form of plaid.
Tartan kilt not used, but they wore a plaid... that's pretty much the same thing. A plaid is a chequered pattern cloth wrap.
Re: Scottish fought wearing bright yellow shirts « Reply #3 on Aug 12, 2009, 8:58am »
highlanders could rarely afford dies to alter the colour of cloth, especialy enough to change the colour of a full garment. and most of the lowland scots who joined the army arrived without much in the way of equiptment, and it was expected for the noble to supply any quilted jackets for protection, and i severly doubt that making a soldier look fearsome was a priority over arms and armour. long story short, i can see how very sall garments could be dyed, but not full shirts. i could be wrong anyway. from what iv been told, alot of highlanders removed their kilts before battle, opting to fight in a shirt with a long front and back panel, which could be tied together beween the legs.
"Send in the Irish. Arrows cost money, the dead cost nothing."
Joined: Jun 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 1,345 Karma: 1,017
Re: Scottish fought wearing bright yellow shirts « Reply #4 on Aug 12, 2009, 4:11pm »
The yellow shirts reference is more easily found when you research Irish from the same period. Saffron was used to dye the entire gament (shirt) a yellowish colour - Saffron mixed with urine - possibly as some form of protection from lice, it has been suggested. Anyway, the customs of the Irish and the Scots are closely linked.
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