PROJECT LEWES

  Battle of Lewes by Andy Gammon Before getting into the meat of this post, I'd like to refer you to the following website by illustrator Andy Gammon whose image I have included above:  https://andyggammon.myportfolio.com/projects His illustration is clearly of Lord Edward crashing into the London Militia, leading the vast cavalry host of the Royal army. *** Alright, onto my considerations for purchasing figures for my Royal army. I've not yet finished the rebels but they are all over bar the shouting. I will be retiring within the next 12 months and expect this and my other projects to start seriously accelerating toward their end-state ... and not before time. As is universally recorded, the Royal host was seriously larger than the rebels in both cavalry especially and in overall numbers. Some have it as high as twice as large as the rebel army. In figure terms I had previously resigned myself to having a number of figures half as large again as my rebel army. My rebel army ...

I know very little about Henry of Sandwich but it's not for want of trying. He features as little more than an historical footnote across the internet, known for rebelling against the King with Simon de Montfort and for being Bishop of London, but little else. Our Bishop was witness to the Inspeximus of Magna Carta in 1265 when King Henry promised (for the third time) to abide by its provisions. The difference this time being that the King did so following his defeat at Lewes and thus did so under sufference. Whilst on the one hand, one might expect one of the witnesses would be the bishops assembled (eight others) so this might not necessarily signify the Bishop's political affiliations. On the other hand, he was excommunicated by the Papal Legate following immediately after the rebellion failed at Evesham, thus he was clearly identified as having been in rebellion himself. Of the lay signatories listed are Simon de Montfort Earl of Leicester, Hugh Despenser Justiciar of Engla...

  My last and I feel my best command card is of course the King himself, Henry III. His was actually the first of the three illustrations I drew for the Royalists after two previous failed attempts. I find the artistic process unpredictable. Lord knows how anyone makes a living out of it. Becasue he is the commanding general he gets a command rating of 9 (very good) and three bonus attacks for any unit he is attached to. After all, he's the bloody King ... right? I went for a low key Special Rule (apart from Household) of Rex Non Potest Peccare - "The King can do no wrong." It will basically (in all likelihood) remove the chances of a blunder when issuing commands. Anyway, that's about it for command cards. I had a lot of enjoyment creating them and hope you like them. 

  I really can't imagine where I got this creative burst from but after a year of procratinating and avoiding these cards and illustrations I've just been seized with enthusiasm. This is my imagining of the King's brother, Richard Earl of Cornwall and King of the Romans. He has command of the central ward. Apart from his division breaking on the day and his having been ignominiously bailed up in the windmill, we have not a lot to go on for what attributes he might have had on the field. I've decided to make him cautious in command. He was known to have rebelled against his brother previously but clearly stood by him during the Montfortian rebellion - possibly due more to anmimosity toward Lord Simon than devotion to his brother. Perhaps he was present more for form's sake and appearances than heartfelt enthusiasm? I've taken the Cautious Special Rule from Black Powder commander attribute options.

  Thus far, I have done very little about the Royal army at Lewes so this is an important step in the right direction. Unlike the Rebels, the Royalist army only has three wards or divisions and therefore only three commanders. The right ward (almost all of the cavalry) is under the command of Lord Edward 'Longshanks', Prince of Wales. I wanted him to look angry so I hope the drawing conveys a menacing young Prince. I've given him a Special Rule of 'Hoptspur' which more or less drives him and units in his command to advance to contact. I've also tried to make returning from off-table more difficult given the historical pursuit of the Londoners on the day. I haven't explained the Household Special Rule on the card. This allows him to ignore his first casualty result by swapping to a foot figure - assuming his horse is incapacitated instead and he continues to fight dismounted. I'm giving that rule to Commanders and mounted bodyguard units.

  Hopefully you find this rendition of Lord Simon de Montfort convincing as a champion and rebel leader. I decided to give him an external padded arming cap and you can imagine he has a cervellier beneath his maille coif. As the commanding general I gave him a command rating of 9 and a bonus attack rating of 3. If I ever adopt the Conquest of Champions supplement to fighting the baronial wars, I would give Lord Simon less personal attacks at Lewes due to his leg injury on the day. These bonus attacks in my view can combine both personal, physical contributions to melee but also the inspiration within the ranks felt by soldiers finding their leader and hero fighting by their side. I also decided to borrow the special rule Decisive from the  Black Powder  wargame rules without alteration. I think he deserves it. I'm now ready to move onto the three royalist command cards and drawings - the King, Richard and Prince Edward. I may also develop cards for my two Bishops and bo...