Sir Henry Gage

Painted by John Weesop in the 1640s, this picture is in the National Portrait Gallery. Gage was a career soldier, having fought before the Civil War in the Low Countries and supported the King’s cause from Flanders until 1644 when he moved to Oxford and formed his own regiment. Hs most famous action was the relief of Basing House  in September of that year. Sir Henry wears a leather buffcoat with cloth sleeves sumptuously embroidered with gold thread, plain falling band and highly polished, “studio” armour. The slashes in his sleeves make it obvious exactly how much fabric there is in his shirt, always a sign of quality.