All The Memorable Wonderstriking

…….Parliamentary Mercies Affected & Afforded unto this our English Nation within this space of less then (sic) 2 Yeares past Anno 1641 & 1642.

Sold by Thomas Jenner in his shop at the Old Exchange, dated by George Thomason  September 14th 1642, there are several lovely woodcuts illustrating the principle actions that led to the start of the war. It’s a bit like a comic book, but none the less useful for it.

I shall spread the images over multiple postings to make them easier to search.

Page two shows what happened in St Andrews when the Arch-Prelate tried to read the new prayer book. Some of the locals are wearing the traditional knitted bonnet, particularly the fellow who is just about to throw his bagpipes by the looks of the image. He must have been very upset indeed.

 

On the same page, this image shows a mob marching on Lambeth Palace with pitchforks and other assorted implements. All are dressed in the 1640s suit of doublet, breeches and broad brimmed hat.

 

The Barbarous & Inhumane Proceedings

Against the Professorsof the Reformed Religion within the Dominion of the Duke of Savoy Aprill the 27th 1655. As Also A True Relation of the Bloody Massacres, Tortures, Cruelties, and Abominable Outrages committed upon the Protestants in Ireland……….Which began October 23 1641.

Printed in London 1655

WARNING! Some of these images may cause distress! This book pulls no punches in its anti-papist propaganda, but there are some really good original costume images here, so I hope you’ll forgive the sensationalism from 4 centuries ago.

First of all a pictorial representation of a small part of what became known as the massacre of 1655 in the Dukedom of Savoy, part of modern Italy. The soldiers drawn may be from Europe but the clothes are definitely English in style, simply cut coats and breeches, plain boots and shoes together with broad brimmed hats. I’ll gloss over what exactly is going on in the picture, I think you can read that for yourself.

The next three images show the bloudy Masacer (sic) in Ireland 1643. Notice here how the short waisted doublets and tightly cut doublets of the Papists (left) create a long, slim outline. The officer with the pistol wears a diagonal scarf tied at the hip, and the good guy on the right has a wide falling band trimmed with lace. Spot also the smoke rising from the burning match held by the musketeer extreme left.

Nice image here of an older couple in their house before a roaring fire. The wife seems to have dressed hair and the master of the house a lace edged day cap on his head. Sadly no costume details on the children.

I’ve seen several woodcuts of children on pitchforks,, but there are sone top details in this one. The child in the foreground in his/her smock, the back view of the women’s coifs (coives?) and the full beard on the musketeer frame right.