Hugh (not quite) Poyntz, Crusader Miniatures & Curteys Miniatures

These models were supposed to represent Hugh Poyntz as part of my old 'Shaftsbury' series (if you can't remember, more details can be found here & here). I say supposed because it was whilst browsing through the excellent Brian Timms heraldry website - which you can find (here) I chanced upon the name of a certain Hugh Poyntz. It's such an unusual surname that I recognised it straight away as one of the names featured on the tiles from Shaftsbury abbey. I have already painted, quite a while back now, several knights to match these tiles including the figures shown here.

Unfortunately, well for me at least, is that fact the Timms site also shows colour illustrations of the coat of arms for the knights and said that Poyntz is 'Barry of eight or and gules' or in plain English 'red and yellow horizontal stripes'. 

From the note at Shaftsbury Abbey museum:
Poyntz

Arms: Barry of eight (eight horizontal bars)

The title probably commemorates either Sir Nicholas Poyntz who married Elizabeth, namesake of Dame Elizabeth, the last Abbess, who surrendered the Abbey in 1539; or his son Hugh who served in the Scottish wars and married Margaret Paynel of Brook, Westbury, Wiltshire; or their son Nicholas. There is a family chapel in Sutton Poyntz near Weymouth dating from the 13th century. 

Curteys Miniature

Unfortunately, well for me at least, is that fact the Timms site also shows colour illustrations of the coat of arms for the knights and said that Poyntz is 'Barry of eight or and gules' or in plain English 'red and yellow horizontal stripes'. 

Now some eagle eyed readers may have already noticed a slight discrepancy here. Yep, because I didn't check the accurately of the museum's display I've painted the model the wrong bleedin' colours. Doubts should be been raised as traditionally black cloth was very expensive to produce during the medieval period. However as I've not a complete rivet-countering anorak I'm not overly concerned. These figures are generally used to play skirmish style games loosely set during Second Baron War and the Welsh wars. I'm not limiting myself to characters that took part in these campaigns (which in itself can be quite difficult to research). I often just paint figures that I find interesting and attractive such as Peter of Dreux. Despite the figure looking quite striking I will probably paint another figure to match the historical Poyntz as he seems an interesting character. Plus it's quite similar to the heraldry of the Harcourt family which may add to the confusion (and fun) on the tabletop.

The mounted knight is from Crusader Miniatures and the knight on foot is a from Curteys Miniatures.

Crusader Miniature