If you're in chainmail, how do you....

Mr Flibble · Dec 12, 2008

go for a pee?

Is there some special arrangement of buckles and straps? A gap? Sorry, I've looked at loads of chainmail trousers( or whatever you call them) in museums and you don't see under the tunic normally. I've never checked if there was a gap or something for calls of nature. Or do they have to divest themselves?

Anyone?

Fenika · Dec 12, 2008

Real men hold it till their kidneys hydronephros

yeah, I got nothing

SPMiller · Dec 12, 2008

This is a good question, one I've wondered about for various types of armor.

I imagine the answer is that most warriors wouldn't wear it if battle weren't going to happen soon. See, for example, the Viking defeat in 1066 Britain.

DisenchantedDoc · Dec 12, 2008

maybe they move their cod-piece to the side to take a leak...

Mr Flibble · Dec 12, 2008

SPMiller said:
This is a good question, one I've wondered about for various types of armor.

I know in battle they just used to er 'go with the flow' *cough* but when not in battle? I mean it's not right in polite company is it?

Sarpedon · Dec 12, 2008

I was always under the impression that each leg was buckled on separately, and the codpiece was a separate piece, which could presumably be removed.

Note: this was also true of normal "pants." Which is why we call them "pants" rather than "a pant." I don't know when or through what genius one piece pants were introduced.

scarletpeaches · Dec 12, 2008

What happens if they need a big fat hairy poo?

Sarpedon · Dec 12, 2008

I believe the ass part is also separate. Perhaps even in skirt form. You might also be wearing 'drawers.'

I know that the thing we know and love as a 'codpiece' came about to avoid accidental exposure if the tunic crept up. I can only assume there was a similar resort for the ass.

Mr Flibble · Dec 12, 2008

I was always under the impression that each leg was buckled on separately, and the codpiece was a separate piece, which could presumably be removed.

Kind of like chaps? So either a pee or a quick assignation with the kitchen maid wouldn't require major unbuckling or anything? Good to know. Thanks.

HeronW · Dec 12, 2008

Chainmail was worn with or without plate mail and descended like a kilt fore and aft.

this site shows the opening for the front in plate armor
http://karenswhimsy.com/medieval-armor.htm

http://members.iinet.net.au/~morrisrh/

http://www.stalloneindia.com/

Beach Bunny · Dec 12, 2008

IdiotsRUs said:
go for a pee?

Is there some special arrangement of buckles and straps? A gap? Sorry, I've looked at loads of chainmail trousers( or whatever you call them) in museums and you don't see under the tunic normally. I've never checked if there was a gap or something for calls of nature. Or do they have to divest themselves?

Anyone?

They're called chausses. They're like modern day female stockings, not pantyhose. They're held up with a leather strap that loops around a belt.

Braies is the layer of clothing worn next to the skin. Basically they're drawers or medieval underwear. They are slit up the inside of the leg so that the material can be comfortable folded and positioned under all the other layers and allow one to pee without getting undressed.

Here's a good article on getting dressed in armor in 1250 CE. http://web.archive.org/web/20041014084842/http:/www.bumply.com/Medieval/Kit/kit.htm

If you want more information on mail (it's called mail, not chainmail) or armour construction in general, here is a page of resource links. http://moas.atlantia.sca.org/wsnlinks/index.php?action=displaycat&catid=155

Mr Flibble · Dec 12, 2008

See, I knew someone would know

Thanks!

dclary · Dec 12, 2008

Just make your characters scottish, IRU.

Chase · Dec 12, 2008

When asked, Sir Knight relied, "Depends!"

Another area where I’m absolute inexpert, yet entirely vocal (as are others when guessing about guns and ammunition):

Back in medieval times, the product was known as Ye Olde Depend, Ltd., royal under-mail-wear for the embattled male.

Not Just for Incontinence!

Today, the tradition goes on: No longer for protracted battle, Depend are unseen at overtime football games, long walks on the beach with that certain someone, double feature movies, coed spaceflights, the protection goes on.

Beach Bunny · Dec 12, 2008

IdiotsRUs said:
See, I knew someone would know

Thanks!

Actually, I knew where to look for the answer.

Ariella · Dec 12, 2008

Practitioners of historical European martial arts get asked that question on a regular basis. See this video, especially at 0:25 and 1:00.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3fPHAAqiLI&feature=channel_page

hammerklavier · Dec 13, 2008

After much searching through a couple of my books on the crusades I found just such an incident related by the Norman minstrel Ambrose, as translated by Harold Lamb in his book The Crusades: The Flame of Islam.

This incident occurred during the siege of Acre, in the year 1190.

Another time, it happened that a knight was down in the fosse, outside, on an affair of his own that no one can do without. As he placed himself so, a Turk in one of the outposts -- to which he was paying no attention -- separated from his campanions and raced his horse forward. It was villainous and discourteous to seek to surprise the knight while he was so occupied.

The Turk was already far from his own people, and was approaching the knight with lance in rest to slay him, when our men shouted,

"Run, sir -- run, run!"

He had barely time to get up. The Turk came up at a full gallop, believing that he would be able to turn his horse and wheel back, if he needed to do so, but by God's grace, he did not succeed. The knight cast himself to one side, and took up two stones in his hands -- listen to how God takes vengeance! As the Turk checked his horse to turn back upon him, the knight saw him clearly, and as he drew near, struck him with one of the stones upon the temple. The Turk fell dead, and the knight took his horse and led it off by the rein.

He who told me this saw the knight mount the horse and ride him off to his tent, where he kept him with much joy...

If you're in chainmail, how do you....

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Fenika

SPMiller

Prodigiously Hanged

DisenchantedDoc

Give me believable dialogue

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Sarpedon

scarletpeaches

Sarpedon

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

HeronW

Down Under Fan

Beach Bunny

The Provocative One

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

dclary

Unabashed Mercenary

Chase

It Takes All of Us to End Racism

Beach Bunny

The Provocative One

Ariella

...

hammerklavier

It was a dark and stormy night