The Scots Men-at-Arms and Life-Guards in France From their formation until their dissolution A.D. MCCCCXVIII - MDCCCXXX. With etched plates by Major H. de Grandmaison
Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1882. Two volumes, large quarto. Volume one: [xiv], 10-196 pp., 21 engraved plates and five vignettes (including the frontispiece). Volume two: [x], facsimile muster roll of eight leaves, 232 pp., five engraved plates and four vignettes. Vol I: 21 engraved plates. Vol II: 5 engraved plates A little rubbed and one corner bumped, yet a beautifully presented set from the library of Sir William Strang Steel, with his bookplates. Scarce limited edition. This is copy No. 292 of 312, with etchings printed on Holland paper.
The purpose of these volumes is to shed new light on the diplomatic relations and negotiations between Scotland and France from 1418 to 1444, being the last chapter of the Hundred Years' War. The armed conflicts originated from disputed claims to the French throne between the English House of Plantagenet and the French House of Valois. Over time, the war grew into a broader power struggle involving factions and kingdoms from across Western Europe.
From 1418 onwards, diplomatic negotiations between Scotland and France ended with the landing of Scottish troops in France, among whom were members of powerful Scottish aristocratic families, as shown in the muster rolls reproduced herein.
These two volumes present a history of two Scottish companies: the Scots Men-at-Arms (1416-1652) and the Scots Life-Guards (1425-1791). They were compiled using records from chronicles and memoirs, state papers and manuscripts in the British Public Records Office and in the archives of the French Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris. Item #156
Ex-libris William Strang Steel.
Price (AUD): $650.00