Sir William Hastings’ retinue flags: an extra maunch

I’ve made quite a bit of progress with painting Hasting’s three companies of men-at-arms, bill-armed and bow-armed figures, to the point that I now have an eye on their finishing touches.

Pete’s Flags for this noble include a standard, a Manticore banner, and a maunch banner. With the standard for the command group, the manticore for the men-at-arms, and the maunch for the billmen I had settled on the archers being without a flag of any kind – not ideal.

For some reason I awoke this morning with the idea to draw a second maunch. I really did – sad I know.

Anyhow, I had a good look at the set that I have, got out my light box, and made a trace. Then I set about a bit of colouring-in. So far so encouraging … wait to see how it turns out.

My first attempt at a hand drawn copy of Pete’s Flags Hastings’ maunch – not too shabby.

Wenlock’s retinue; first of the Flower of Craven; Earl of Rutland

The politically mutable Baron John Wenlock and his companies of bill men and archers are finished, and I’m pleased with the result, which is consistent with the everything I have done so far.

It’s also my first experience of working with Pete’s Flags.

The flags are fabulous. Great care is needed when cutting the fringed edges, but the effort is rewarded by the final appearance.

The flags are delicate, though. I got a small amount of PVA on to one of them, and removing it by gently rolling it off with a fresh cotton bud lifted a small amount of colour.

I remedied this with gentle application of colour using Pentel Arts coloured pencils, which are quite soft and blend easily, so ideal. I also used them for colouring the edges of the flags, blending colour with black to achieve the right tone.

Hasting’s companies are on the painting desk, and a handful of hand gunnners liveried for Edward IV are being based. I’ll begin assembling the remainder of the Clifford’s Flower of Craven next.

Wenlock’s retinue of bill-armed men and archers.

The first of Baron John Clifford’s Flower of Craven – dismounted archer’s horse holders and standard bearer, and Edmund, Earl of Rutland’s command group.

More from Pete’s Flags, and a project plan

It’s been too hot to paint; my study is on the south side of my house and it’s been scorchio for weeks, so I busied myself with some figure assembly, more reading, and planning.

I reviewed the flags and standards that I have from Pete’s Flags and from the Perry Miniatures’ plastic sets, and made a plan for the various factions.


Lancastrian forces

Queen Margaret of Anjou will take to the field with a force of French mercenaries armed with long spears (pikes), hand gunners, crossbowmen, and artillery.

Edward Prince of Wales, Duke of Lancaster, will lead a small retinue of men-at-arms in full harness.

The main army will comprise:

John Clifford, 9th Baron de Clifford
leading The Flower of Craven, a mounted unit of men-at-arms, spears, and archers.

Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset

Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland

John Wenlock, 1st Baron Wenlock

Henry Grey, 4th Baron Grey of Codnor

Sir Robert Baynton

All except Clifford will lead retinues of men-at-arms, archers and bill men.

The alchemist Henry Grey might even conjure mythical beasts!


Yorkist forces

Edward IV, accompanied by his brother Edmund Earl of Rutland, will field a retinue of men-at-arms in full harness, archers, and artillery, the latter commanded by John Judd, Master of The King’s Ordnance.

The main army will comprise:

John Radcliffe, Lord Fitzwalter
leading a mounted unit armed with spears and bows

Sir John Howard, Duke of Norfolk

William Neville, Earl of Kent, Lord Fauconberg

Sir William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings

John Tuchet, Baron Audley

Retinues will comprise archers, bill men and men-at-arms of various strengths. Since he was one of the wealthiest men in England, Hastings may field more figures in full harness. Fauconberg may lead a unit comprising mainly or exclusively archers.

I’ll need flags for Fitzwalter.

Pete’s Flags for Somerset, Wenlock, and Norfolk.

Standards, flags, and livery badges

A bit of excitement on my return from the supermarket this morning – an envelope from Pete’s Flags!

On opening, the contents are neatly packaged in a cellophane envelope with a card backing.

I haven’t seen any comparisons with other flags, so I thought to present one here. I already had the flags which come in the information booklet in Perry Miniatures’ plastic sets, and a couple of Little Big Men Studios sets. (I bought the LBM sets for the livery badge transfers, having always intended to use Pete’s Flags and Perry Miniatures for the standards and flags.)

Pete’s Flags are just as lovely as I expected them to be, and the style is compatible with the Perry Miniatures’ square flags that I plan to use. I bought sets for Edward IV, Lord Hastings, Lord Fauconberg, Herny VI, Earl of Northumberland, and Lord Clifford. My first use will be Henry VI’s standard for my Margaret of Anjou command vignette. I am looking forward to getting on with this.

Nicely presented … Pete’s Flags.

I bought sets for Edward IV, Lord Hastings (the Manticore sporting impressive genitalia and Maunch or lady‘s sleeve), Lord Fauconberg, Herny VI, Earl of Northumberland, and Lord Clifford.

A comparison: Pete’s Flags (at the back), Little Big Men Studios (top right), and Perry Miniatures (bottom).