Scotch armour

Here is a theory posed on the Facebook group XV Century European Armour that I whole-heartedly support. First, the context is that most Scottish effigies of the 14th to 16th centuries depict the subject in what most assume is merely a gambeson and an open-faced bascinet because Scotland was poorer and behind the times for the most part. The way the theory goes is that there is actually plate armour depicted on some of them and that the gambeson is a jupon, at least for the wealthier Scots.

Written evidence mostly points to the typical assertion of light armour, but there are two sources that support his theory. First, acts of Parliament mention harness as a requirement for men of a certain status. They also demand that "jacks" come to the top of the leg harness or the knee if harness was not worn. Second armour is referenced in a poem from Ireland in 1458 written by a Hebridean poet of the time, for the Irish hill-king Tomaltach Mac Diarmada.

"He pulls around him a shift of fine satin. He closes around him the cotton wadding. Red gold makes up his sword's cross-hilt. On his tooled belt hangs a red-hafted long dagger. A breast-plate encircles him. A helmet above the decorated mantle. A long spear he carries. A cornered shield he bears on exploit."

Third, there is a report in September 1513) on the Battle of Flodden, by Thomas Ruthal, Bishop of Durhamthat:

"The Scots were so well harnessed that...they would not fall even when four or five billmen struck them at once."

As for the written sources that mention the contrary, there was an agenda to display the Scots as barbarians.

As for visual proof, there are two possible cues: legs and torso.

On this image, there is no sign of quilting on the upper torso indicating a breastplate and the knees have a visually distinct ridge indicating the possibility for leg harness.

This image clearly shows elbow couters and knee poleyns.

This image not only continues the trend of leg harness, but also heavily implies a breastplate on the chaps on the right.

As for the lack of visor hinges and gauntlets, those are easy. Many French effigies depict people without gauntlets. Most English effigies don't depict visor hinges.

Possible interpretation

Here is a link to further reading about Scottish armour by Dr. Tobias Capwell, who also has an amazing book on English armour.