Meā Máxima Culpā

Commitment is a word that has lost meaning in our current modern society. In my opinion it means to stand by your word and if you fail do so, make amends for your failure.

Some vows are more important than others and require less amends, Others are more so but even those can end under the right conditions and agreement. Some will divide friends and loyalties or change lifestyles and ideals.

Who are we to judge what is right for people, who else can?

Do we not have a duty to stand by our ideals through good times and bad? Yet we must temper the blade lest it take innocent blood to satisfy its never ending thirst. It is so very easy to go too far, the line can be as thin as a whisper or as wide as a thought.

Forgiveness is always achievable but some roads are very long and may take your entire life to fulfil and yet those that do are the greatest among us, I believe there is no unforgivable transgression but the price may be everything.

I am not bound to a religion but one thing I truly believe in is forgiveness, the following is from the Confiteor the adopted roman right for forgiveness that can be traced back to early 16th C

Confíteor Deo omnipoténti
et vobis, fratres,
quia peccávi nimis
cogitatióne, verbo,
ópere et omissióne:
mea culpa, mea culpa,
mea máxima culpa.
Ideo precor beátam Maríam semper vírginem,
omnes angelos et sanctos,
et vos, fratres,
oráre pro me ad Dóminum Deum nostrum.

I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

The things that haunt me the most are the things I have failed to do, I will not turn my back on a repentant friend.

But, Forgiveness must never be blind and without amends its just hollow words and empty promises.

Be welcome

To those reading this after following my post from stuff nation:

It's the same person, this is my hobby most of the gear I have I made myself (with bargain fabric or op shop's) apart from a few pieces I bought after winning a competition at Mitre 10, 3 almost 4 years ago (just to hopefully circumvent the hate that someone with a hobby can be unemployed) my hobby keeps me sane when not looking for work.

Leonhart is a Pseudonym, I do this because I don't want to individualized by the media as that was not the point of the story.

Please enjoy my work, I have never had this many hits on my blog.

Thou shalt not sleep bruised

Current project - Gamboised Cuisses late period (found in use between the 12 - 16th Century) worn under plate or under and over maile.

1340-1345 - 'soldiers at the Holy Sepulchre', Cathédrale, Strasbourg, Musée de l'Oeuvre Notre-Dame, Strasbourg, France

note the upper Thigh padding, these examples of underplate padding referred to as gamboised cuisses, worn under plate to absorb the impact trauma on plate

1340-1345 - 'soldiers at the Holy Sepulchre

Note again the padded leg portions with the characteristic style of ribbed padding as portrayed by the effigies.

Exeter Cathedral Richard Stapeldon Tomb 1320 194

The construction of the gamboised cuisses are of similar fashion to the gambersons and arming coats worn during the same time periods and follow the same evolution of design and materials during the following years.

I have been attempting to recreate these pattern for use by all (see Gambeson) based on effegie and portraits displaying the same.

I have just finished the upper thigh portion of the prototype for reproduction and will upload a pattern and direction once the knee and lower leg and finalized but just to tease with a picture.

Cuisse reproduction

Note the belt loops and lower attachment point are not present, I originally tried to integrate them into the base pattern but found once stuffed the alignment changed so they will be added as separate attached pieces.

The final set will be full leg of 3 pieces, Thigh, Knee and lower leg which can be mirrored for the opposite leg.

Cuisse inner view with knee attached

Cuisse outer view with knee attached

Never to rise.

The quest to build a better armour continues and hopefully will until the day I drop to the dirt, never to rise.

My aim is to more period with keeping safety in the forefront to this end I am redesigning my whole set of Armour with my changing needs for fighting.

From practice I have learnt that it needs to be robust and easy care, I honor my gear by lavishing much attention to it, cleaning and oiling it so it it always in top working condition but my new set with require more of my time so the other parts need to be low maintenance as possible while still retaining period appearance.

From events I have learnt I need more protection, especially for wars. Opponents can come at you from all sides and love your weak spots (as they should) I have decided to go full hard body (2 piece steel) for maximum protection (and period for my persona)

From my lady I have learnt what I want and what I need are two different things, we all have needs that must be fulfilled first and so time is a great factor in creation of kit, but the does not mean you should sit idle when there is work to be done.

From my friends and companions I have learnt to stand out is not a sin, Be shiny and revel in it. For excelling in an art is not something to be ashamed of or to stop trying to become better, do not be ashamed of having good gear, but never stop improving.

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility;
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger. . . ."