Giles de Bois Guilbert

Previously known as Rognvaldr Bassi, second Baron of Stromgard (Jan 11, 2003 to Oct 2, 2005)

• Images on this page ©2007, J. Levi Keith.

Giles de Bois Guilbert, a 14th century Englishman

Giles enjoys working with leather and metal in various ways such as casting, shoemaking, piercework and his current passion, 14th century armour. His biography can be found below.

• MAKING 14TH CENTURY GAUNTLETS - BATTLE OF WISBY STYLE

Making finger parts

Fingers & knuckles coming along

Leather base

Finger parts jointed and riveted to leather base

Forming the back of the hand

Inside plates and outer leather of gauntlet wrist

Starting to get there

• 14th CENTURY SHOES

Handsewn. Handmade buckles.

Patterned on examples seen in "Stepping Through Time" and Museum of London's "Shoes and Pattens".

• MAKING CRUCIBLES AND MOLDS WITH POOP & CLAY - FOR MELTING/POURING/CASTING METALS:

Clay, horse poop, charmotte, hair/wool and organic matter ready to mix

Forming the Crucibles

A variety of Crucibles ready for use in the forge

Crucibles with molten brass in the forge

Poop/clay molds being made (for Norse pieces)

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GILES DE BOIS GUILBERT

Giles was born in the Year of Our Lord 1288, on the Feast of his namesake, at Gilbert’s Wood in Gloucestershire. As second son - from a family long of nobility but short on cash - there was rare likelihood that Giles would ever come into possession of the family estate. He therefore took service with the De Clare family, through Eleanor de Clare and her husband, Hugh de la Spencer the Younger.

This happenstance become a significant factor during Giles’ lifetime, but was bittersweet with equal parts bane and benefit. However it was through this new relationship with Hugh that he learned and profited much, and stood in good graces with King Edward.

De Bois Guilbert’s diligent and faithful service was rewarded in 1317 with a baronage. He was also charged by Hugh to be Custos of Gloucester Castle, and to arrest disturbers of the peace in both Gloucester and Worchester. Unfortunately, in 1322, Lady Fortuna turned her fickle wheel and Giles' luck rapidly changed.

The barony that had been granted to him was brokered by Hugh from lands that Edward had illegally confiscated in Gower. This - coupled with Hugh’s changing nature and insatiable lust for power - led to a continually widening rift between the two men. The final split came in the fall of 1326 when Edwards’s wife, Queen Isabella, and Roger de Mortimer arrived in England with the force of the Hainaulter family. Their aim? To depose Edward and install Isabella's son as king in his place.

Though called to support Edward II, de Bois Guilbert would not raise arms against the Prince of Wales. Nor could he, in all good conscience, support De Spenser and Edward II because of their recent misdeeds. Giles therefore renounced his baronage. But fate had not turned her back on Giles, for it was this decision (along with his ties to De Clare) that saved his life. In the blink of an eye, fierce attitudes and bloody reprisals ensued toward the De Spensers and their confederates, and England raged.

De Bois Guilbert has since managed to support himself through the tournament, however it proves an unpredictable existence fraught with hazard. Most especially, Giles had become accustomed to the especial privileges that accompanyed a baronage. He now plots to recover this lost lifestyle, even to the extent of proposing marriage to Isolda Throkmorton de Foxley.

Wedding such a woman would be a true sacrifice, but would gain Giles access to the rich Foxley estates and, thereby, a return to luxurious styles of living. Sir Simon Throkmorton, with no sons to inherit, has so far been open to Giles suit. As feared, Isolda remains aloof, unyielding, and highly opinionated on the matter.

The year is now 1327 and, with the Feast of Candlemass behind us, we enter the Holy Lenten season of fasting and prayer. Giles is at Foxley Manor pursuing his bid for Isolda’s hand and - most especially - protecting his interest from any other wolves who may think to style themselves her suitors. He hopes the following Pascal season can include marriage to his intended bride.

In Isolda’s book, he will be praying for a miracle.

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Project blog & more photos on MySpace at: Gilbert's Wood

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Spaulders in progress

Giles SCA background

• Award of Arms (Atenveldt) - Jan 31 AS 25 / 1991
• Fanged Wolf (Atenveldt combat award) - Jan 1 AS 27 / 1993
• Hawk's Lure (Atenveldt combat award) - Jan 1 AS 29 / 1995
• Bell & Chain (Stromgard) - June 24 AS 34 / 1999
• Seneschal - Stromgard - Feb 2000 to Feb 2002
• Goutte de Sang - July 29 AS 35 / 2000
• Sergeant (Stromgard) - Aug 26 AS 35 / 2000
• Lancer (Stromgard) - Sept 22 AS 36 / 2001
• A&S Champion of Stromgard - Feb AS 36 / 2002
• Seamair (Baroness' Favour, Stromgard) - Feb 2 AS 36 / 2002
• Jambe de Lion - June 29 AS 37 / 2002
• Forget-me-not (Queen Siobhan) - June 29 AS 37 / 2002
• A&S Champion of Dragon’s Mist - Summer AS 36 / 2002
• Ordo Musarum (Stromgard) – Dec. 14 AS 37 / 2002
• Territorial Baron - Stromgard - Jan 11 AS 37 / 2003 to Oct 2 AS 40 / 2005
• Magistrae Ithra (University of Ithra, An Tir) - Feb 22 AS 37 / 2003
• Potissimus Hippocampus (Stromgard) - Dec 3 AS 40 / 2005
• Seamair (Baroness' Favour, Stromgard) - Dec 3 AS 40 / 2005