Benjamin Parker wrote:I meant an arquebus or an early hook gun or a pistol but what I'm trying to say is did knights or any large group of people in armor of proof charge directly into a line of firearms 15th-16th century and come out largely unscathed
Well, it all really depends upon what you're talking about, Ben. Do you mean as individuals, or as a unit? In both cases, the answer is gonna be yes and no. I have to agree largely with Mr. Curtis on this one. The decline of western knighthood is not a straight line. It didn't all happen at once. Really, there is ample evidence that knighthood began its decline in ernest after the Battle Agincourt, or perhaps as early as Poiters or Crecy. But they did not simply fade away.
In fact, the greatest advancements in armour were achieved after these battles, and can be seen as measures to ensure the continuing relevance of knights in warfare. And it worked for a long time. Heck, there were mounted English, French and German lancers equipped with helmet and complete breastplate, and armed with sabre and double-tipped lances as late as WWI! They were of limited usefulness, but they were still deployed in areas and situations where they would make an impact.
http://www.gwpda.org/photos/bin04/imag0348.jpg
http://www.gwpda.org/photos/bin05/imag0472.jpg
Did groups of knights charge gunners? Absolutely. Did many of the come out "unscathed," and having got their better of their hated enemies? Certainly. Did some of the get wounded, killed, or have their horses fall beneath them? Were some totally destroyed or ruted by gunfire? Yes. Accounts of battles tend to record the big stuff, (like who won, who lost, and why). We do get some surprisingly detailed descriptions of actual movements and their results from time-to-time, but not as often as one might think. So, you're asking a complicated question here that has no easy answer. This is the best you're probably gonna get.
One small point, though: the biggest danger to knights by the period you're talking about really isn't individual handgunners. Its pikemen + handgunners + cannonfire. There's a rather nasty story about a French knight guarding a tower near this period, who got his hand completely blown off by a cannon ball.
-B.
By the way the men in that first picture looked a lot like french cuirassiers
