Chapter I: Front Matter

ANCIENT ARMOUR
AND
WEAPONS IN EUROPE:

FROM THE

IRON PERIOD OF THE NORTHERN NATIONS TO THE END
OF THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY:

WITH

ILLUSTRATIONS FROM COTEMPORARY MONUMENTS.

BY JOHN HEWITT,

MEMBER OF THE ARCHÆOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF GREAT BRITAIN.

OXFORD AND LONDON:
JOHN HENRY AND JAMES PARKER.
MDCCCLV.

PRINTED BY MESSRS. PARKER, CORN-MARKET, OXFORD.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ENGRAVINGS.

1. (_Frontispiece._) Great Seals of King Richard Cœur-de-Lion. The
first of these (with the rounded helmet) has been drawn from
impressions appended to Harleian Charters, 43, C. 27; 43, C.
29; and 43, C. 30; and Carlton Ride Seals, i. 19. In this, as
in other cases, more seals have been examined, but it seems
unnecessary to supply references to any but the best examples.
The king wears the hauberk of chain-mail with continuous coif,
over a tunic of unusual length. The chausses are also of
chain-mail, and there is an appearance of a chausson at the
knee, but the prominence of the seal at this part has caused
so much obliteration, that the existence of this garment may
be doubted. The helmet is rounded at the top, and appears to
be strengthened by bands passing round the brow and over the
crown. The shield is bowed, and the portion in sight ensigned
with a Lion: it is armed with a spike in front, and suspended
over the shoulders by the usual _guige_. Other points of this
figure will be noticed at a later page.

Second Great Seal of Richard I. Drawn from impressions in the
British Museum: Harl. Charter, 43, C. 31, and Select Seals,
XVI. 1; and Carlton Ride Seals, H. 17. The armour, though
differently expressed from that of the first seal, is probably
intended to represent the same fabric; namely, interlinked
chain-mail. The tunic is still of a length which seems
curiously ill-adapted to the adroit movements of a nimble
warrior. The shield of the monarch is one of the most striking
monuments of the Herald's art: the vague ornament of Richard's
earlier shield has given place to the Three Lions Passant
Gardant so familiar to us all in the royal arms of the present
day. The king wears the plain goad spur, and is armed with the
great double-edged sword, characteristic of the period. The
helmet is described at page 141. The saddle is an excellent
example of the War-saddle of this date.

VIGNETTE.--Knightly monument combined with an Altar-drain, in
the Church of Long Wittenham, Berkshire: of the close of the
thirteenth century. The whole is of small proportions, the
statue of the knight not exceeding two feet and a quarter. xxv

2. SPEAR-HEADS OF IRON.--Fig. 1. From the Faussett collection:
found in the parish of Ash, near Sandwich: length, 18 inches.
Figs. 2 and 3. In Mr. Rolfe's collection at Sandwich, found in
the Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Ozingell, near Ramsgate. Fig. 4.
In the Faussett collection, found at Ash, near Sandwich. Figs.
5, 6 and 7. From Ozingell: No. 6 has the bronze ferule which
bound the spear-head to the shaft. Fig. 8. From Mr. Wylie's
collection: found in the Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Fairford,
Gloucestershire. Figs. 9 to 12. From the Faussett collection:
fig. 11 was found on Kingston Down, Kent; the others at
Ash-by-Sandwich: fig. 10 is two feet long. 22

3. SPEAR-HEADS OF IRON.--Fig. 13. In the British Museum: found in
an Anglo-Saxon grave at Battle Edge, Oxfordshire. Fig. 14.
Found in the Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Fairford. Figs. 15 and 16.
Found near Bredon Hill, Worcestershire, and preserved in the
Museum of the Worcestershire Society of Natural History. Fig.
17. Barbed spear, or _Angon_, found in a grave on Sibertswold
Down, Kent: eleven inches long. In the Faussett collection.
Fig. 18. Four-sided spear-head, found by Mr. Wylie, in the
"Fairford Graves:" length, 16-1/2 inches. Figs. 19, 20, 21.
Found in Ireland: from Mr. Wakeman's paper in the third volume
of the _Collectanea Antiqua_. Fig. 22. A Livonian example, from
Dr. Bähr's collection. The original is in the British Museum.
Fig. 23. A barbed spear, found in a tumulus in Norway: from Mr.
Wylie's paper in the thirty-fifth vol. of the _Archæologia_. 23

4. SWORDS.--Fig. 1. Found in the Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Fairford.
It measures upwards of 2 ft. 11 inches, and is one of the
finest examples extant. Fig. 2. In the Hon. Mr. Neville's
collection: found in the Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Wilbraham,
Cambridgeshire. Length of _blade_, 2 ft. 7 in. It retains the
bronze mountings of the sheath, which have been gilt. Fig.
3. Same collection and find: a specimen remarkable for the
cross-piece at the hilt. Fig. 4. Ancient-Irish Sword of the
same period: length, 30 inches. From Mr. Wakeman's paper in
vol. iii. of _Collectanea Antiqua_. Fig. 5. Danish sword with
engraved runes: in the Copenhagen Museum. Fig. 6. Danish: from
the _Annaler for Nordisk Oldkyndighed_. Remarkable for the form
of its cross-piece. 32

5. SWORDS.--Fig. 7. Norwegian Sword. The pommel and cross-piece
are of iron. Figs. 8 to 11. From Livonian graves: the originals
are in the British Museum. Fig. 10 is single-edged: its pommel
and the chape of the scabbard are of bronze. Fig. 11 has its
pommel and guard ornamented with silver. 33

6. Bronze Sheath containing the remains of an iron Sword: found
near Flasby, in the West Riding of Yorkshire: exhibited in the
temporary Museum at York, formed by the Archæological Institute
in 1846. 44

7. AXE-HEADS OR IRON.--Figs. 1 and 2. From the Anglo-Saxon
cemetery at Ozingell: now in Mr. Rolfe's Museum. Figs. 3 and
4. Ancient-Irish examples: from Mr. Wakeman's paper in the
_Collectanea Antiqua_. Figs. 5 and 6. German specimens: from
the cemetery at Selzen, in Rhenish Hesse; described by the
brothers Lindenschmit. Figs. 7 to 10. From Livonian graves
explored by Dr. Bähr: all four are in the British Museum. 46

8. Anglo-Saxon figures contending with the war-knife and barbed
spear: from a Latin and Anglo-Saxon Psalter, formerly belonging
to the Duc de Berri, in the Imperial Library at Paris. 51

9. WAR-KNIVES.--Fig. 1. From the Ozingell cemetery: pommel and
cross-piece of iron: length, 16 inches. Fig. 2. From the
Faussett collection: found at Ash, near Sandwich. Figs. 3
and 4. Ancient-Irish: from Mr. Wakeman's paper. Fig. 3. is
16 inches long: the other, of which the blade is broken, is
remarkable for retaining its handle, which is of carved wood.
Fig. 5 is from the Selzen cemetery, and curious from the ring
at the end of the tang. Length, 2 feet. 52

10. ARROW-HEADS.--Figs. 1 and 2. From the Faussett collection:
the first, 3 inches in length, was found in the parish of
Ash-by-Sandwich, the second on Kingston Down: both have tangs.
Figs. 3 and 4. Arrow-heads with sockets: found on Chatham
Lines. From Douglas's "Nenia." Figs. 5 and 6. From the German
graves at Selzen. Figs. 7 and 8. From Livonian tombs: they are
now in the British Museum. 56

11. Sprinkle or Hand-flail of bronze: from the Museum of Mitau in
Courland. Given in Dr. Bähr's work, _Die Gräber der Liven_. 58

12. Anglo-Saxon Slinger: from an Anglo-Saxon Psalter of the tenth
or eleventh century at Boulogne. The figure is that of David. 59

13. Group from Cottonian MS., Claudius, B. iv., folio 24: Ælfric's
Anglo-Saxon Paraphrase of the Pentateuch, &c. Date about 1000.
The crowned figure in the centre appears to be armed in a coat
of chain-mail. 60

14. Figure of an Anglo-Saxon warrior, from Cotton MS., Cleopatra,
C. viii.; a copy of the _Psychomachia_ of Prudentius. Date,
early in the eleventh century. The body-armour appears to be
of hide, with the fur turned outwards. The characteristic
leg-bands of the Anglo-Saxons are carefully expressed. 64

15. Anglo-Saxon spearmen, from the fine manuscript of Prudentius
in the Tenison Library. Date, the beginning of the eleventh
century. The drawings are in pen-and-ink only, but very
carefully executed: the later subjects by a fresh hand, but all
Anglo-Saxon work. 65

16. Another group from Cotton MS., Claudius, B. iv. This volume
contains a great number of drawings, many of which illustrate
the subject on which we are engaged. 66

17. Figure of Goliath, from a Latin Psalter of the tenth century
in the British Museum: Additional MS., No. 18,043. The hauberk
is coloured blue in the original, apparently indicating
chain-mail. The curious combed helmet is of the same hue,
clearly implying a defence of iron. 67

18. Supposed frame-helmet of the Anglo-Saxon period. It is of
bronze, and was found upon the skull of an entombed warrior
discovered at Leckhampton Hill, near Cheltenham, in 1844. 69

19. BOSSES OF SHIELDS: of iron.--Fig. 1. Anglo-Saxon: from the
Faussett collection: found on Chartham Downs, near Canterbury.
Figs. 2 and 3. From the Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Fairford. The
last measures nearly five inches across. The rest on this
plate are to the same scale. Figs. 4 and 6. In Mr. Rolfe's
collection: from the Ozingell cemetery. Fig. 5. Anglo-Saxon:
found at Streetway Hill, Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire: now in the
British Museum. 73

20. BOSSES OF SHIELDS.--Fig. 7. From the Anglo-Saxon cemetery
at Ozingell. Fig. 8. From the Faussett collection: found at
Chartham Downs. Fig. 9. Found at Rodmead Down, Wilts. From Sir
Richard Hoare's "Ancient Wilts." Fig. 10. From the Wilbraham
cemetery. This specimen is especially valuable from its
retaining the handle still fixed by its rivets to the edge of
the boss. Fig. 11. Scottish example: found in a grave in the
county of Moray. From Dr. Wilson's "Archæology of Scotland."
Fig. 12. German: from the cemetery at Selzen. Fig. 13. A Danish
example: from the Copenhagen Museum. All these are of iron. 75

21. From the same MS. as No. 14 (Cleop. C. viii.). The figure is
one of a group, all similarly equipped, and carrying their
shields at their back. 77

22. Snaffle-bit, of iron, from an Anglo-Saxon barrow in Bourne
Park, near Canterbury. In the collection of the Earl of
Londesborough. 80

23. Spur with lozenge goad: from the bronze monument of Rudolph
von Schwaben, A.D. 1080, in the Cathedral of Merseburg. From
Hefner's _Trachten_. 81

24. Figure from folio 30 of Harleian MS. 603, a Latin Psalter
of the close of the eleventh century. See p. 29 for its
description. This subject, an illustration of Mr. Akerman's
paper in vol. xxxiv. of the _Archæologia_, "On some of the
Weapons of the Celtic and Teutonic Races," has been kindly lent
by the author of that essay. 90

25. Great Seal of King William the Conqueror: from the fine
impression appended to a charter preserved at the Hôtel
Soubise in Paris. The charter is a grant to the Abbey of St.
Denis of land at Teynton, in England. The king wears the
hauberk of chain-mail over a tunic. The hemispherical helmet
is surmounted by a small knob, and has laces to fasten it
under the chin. The legs do not appear to have any armour:
the spur has disappeared. A lance with streamer and a large
kite-shield complete the warrior's equipment. The legend is
✠ HOC NORMANNORUM WILLELMUM NOSCE PATRONUM SI(GNO). 92

26. Great Seal of King William II., 1087-1100. From an impression
preserved at Durham. The hauberk appears to be of chain-mail,
though expressed in a somewhat different manner from the
preceding seal of William the Conqueror, and from others which
will follow. The conical helmet seems to have had a nasal. The
spur is of the goad form. If the leg has had armour, the marks
of it have been obliterated by the softening of the wax. The
king is armed with lance, sword, and kite-shield. 102

27. Seal of Alexander I., king of Scotland: 1107-1124. The
figure is armed in hauberk with continuous coif, apparently
of chain-mail; worn over a tunic or gambeson, seen at the
wrist and skirt. Conical nasal helmet, lance with streamer,
kite-shield, and goad-spur, are the other items of the
equipment. The leg does not shew any armour, though the
softening of the wax may have obliterated markings which
originally indicated a defensive provision at this part. The
ornaments of the poitrail are usual at this period. 107

28. Great Seal of King Henry I., circa 1100. From Cotton Charter,
ii. 2 (in British Museum). The instrument is a confirmation
of the gift of Newton by "Radulfus filius Godrici," and is
witnessed by Queen Matilda and others. See Tanner's _Notitia_,
p. 339, Norwich. The material of the hauberk is represented by
that honeycomb-work so often observed in seals of this period,
and which appears to be one of the many modes in use to imitate
the web of interlinked chain-mail. The leg does not shew any
markings as of armour, but these may have disappeared from
the softening of the wax, and the prominence of the seal at
this part. The helmet is a plain conical cap of steel, without
nasal: the spur a simple goad. The lance-flag terminating in
three points, is ensigned with a Cross. The shield is of the
kite-form, shewing the rivets by which the wood and leather
portions of it were held together. The peytrel of the horse has
the usual pendent ornaments of the time. 119

29. The various modes of expressing the armour in the Bayeux
Tapestry. 121

30. Great Seal of King Stephen. Drawn from an impression among the
Select Seals in the British Museum, and from that appended
to Harleian Charter, 43, C. 13. The helmet seems to have had
a nasal, but the seals at this part are so imperfect that it
cannot be clearly traced. Behind is seen a portion of the lace
which fastened the coif or the casque. The body-armour is
noticed at page 122. Compare woodcut, No. 42. 122

31. Various modes of representing chain-mail on medieval
monuments. 124

32. From Harleian Roll, Y. 6. The Life of Saint Guthlac. Date,
about the close of the twelfth century. The figures wear the
tunic, hauberk of chain-mail, and square-topped helmets, of
which one only has the nasal. The triangular shields are
suspended round the neck by the _guige_: their ornaments are
mere fanciful patterns, not heraldic. No armour appears to
be provided for the lower part of the figures. This Roll is
further curious from having, at the back of it, drawings of
about a century later date. 127

33. From Harleian MS. 603: a Latin Psalter of the close of the
eleventh century. The figure is a pen-drawing, and represents
Goliath. Compare the crowned figure in woodcut 13, from Cotton
MS., Claudius, B. iv., and the warriors in the Bayeux Tapestry.
The hauberk appears to be of chain-mail. This manuscript has
many drawings of military costume and of weapons. 129

34. From Cotton MS., Nero, C. iv. French art. Date, about 1125.
The figure is one of a group representing the Massacre of the
Innocents: a subject, with those of the Conflict of David and
Goliath, the Soldiers at the Holy Sepulchre, and the Martyrdom
of Thomas à Becket, very fertile in illustrations of ancient
military equipment. 130

35. From fragment of a vellum-painting, of the close of the
eleventh century, figured in Hefner's _Trachten_. The
body-armour appears to be of scale-work, and is silvered in the
original. The chausses of the figures in the rear are coloured
red. 132

36. Another figure from Harl. MS. 603. (See description of woodcut,
No. 33.) The costume is described at page 133. This is the only
instance in the book, which contains some hundreds of figures,
where the dress of scale-work appears. 133

37. David and Goliath: from an initial letter of a Latin Bible
written in Germany, for the use of the Premonstratensian
Monastery of S. Maria de Parco, near Louvain. Additional MS.
14,789, fol. 10. This MS. has a particular value from its being
dated; it was written in 1148. See the rubric on fol. 197 of
vol. i., and the Colophon. The costumes are described at page
134. 135

38. Figure of Goliath: from a Latin Bible written about 1170.
"Hic liber pertinet ad Ecclesiam Beatæ Mariæ Virginis in
Suburbio Wormatiensis." Harl. MS. 2,803. Goliath is armed in
the nasal helmet and hauberk of chain-mail. The chausses are
of an unusual pattern, and do not appear to be of a defensive
character. 136

39. Sculpture of St. George, from the tympanum of a door in the
church of Ruardean, Gloucestershire. Date, the first half
of the twelfth century. The body-armour of the knight is
not now indicated, but may have been formerly expressed by
painting. The helmet is of the well-known Phrygian form. A
mantle streaming in many folds behind the champion shews the
impetuosity of his attack. A brooch secures the mantle in
front. The heel is furnished with a goad spur. 137

40. Group representing Abraham receiving bread and wine from
Melchisedech: an enamel of the close of the twelfth century,
preserved in the Louvre collection. The patriarch wears the
hauberk of chain-mail over a tunic; the coif of the hauberk
being surmounted by a conical nasal helmet. Over the armour is
worn a cloak, fastening at the right shoulder. We borrow this
illustration from Mr. Way's excellent paper on the Enamels of
the Middle-ages, in the second volume of the "Archæological
Journal" 138

41. Seal of Conan, duke of Britanny and earl of Richmond: 1165-71.
From Harleian Charter, 48, G. 40. See Nicholas' "Synopsis of
the Peerage," vol. ii. p. 534, for the history of this duke.
He wears the hauberk with continuous coif surmounted by the
conical steel casque. The triangular shield is of large
proportions. The saddle-cloth is of an unusual fashion. 140

42. Great Seal of King Stephen. The armour consists of hauberk
with continuous coif, surmounted by a helmet of Phrygian form.
Behind the head are seen the ties which fastened the coif or
the casque. The bowed kite-shield is curious from the spiked
projection in front. Compare woodcut, No. 30. 144

43. Great Seal of King Henry II. The body-armour, consisting of
hauberk and chausses, appears to be of chain-mail. The helmet
has a nasal, and the kite-shield, seen in the inside, shews
very distinctly the manner of fixing the straps forming the
_enarme_ and the _guige_. 151

44. Another Great Seal of King Henry II. Drawn from impressions
attached to Cotton Charter, ii. 5; and Harl. Charters, 43, C.
20; 43, C. 22; and 43, C. 25. This seal is chiefly remarkable
from the capacious and highly enriched saddle-cloth. The
body-armour of the king appears to be of the usual chain-mail.
The conical nasal helmet has been already seen in previous
monuments. 170

45. The Keep of Porchester Castle, Hampshire. Built about 1150. It
exhibits the type of a Norman stronghold: windows small below,
but larger in the higher stories; walls of great thickness
near the base, and of reduced proportions above. An excellent
essay on Military Architecture in the first volume of the
"Archæological Journal" will afford a good insight into the
arrangements of a castle of the Norman period. See also the
_Architecture Militaire du Moyen-Age_, by M. Viollet-le-Duc.
The Winchester Volume of the Archæological Institute will
supply a particular description of Porchester Castle. 189

46. Knightly effigy from Haseley Church, Oxfordshire. The sculpture
appears to be of the middle of the thirteenth century, and
affords an excellent _type_ of the military costume of
this age. The knight wears the hauberk of chain-mail over a
gambeson (seen at the skirt), with chausses of chain-mail. The
sleeveless surcoat is girt at the waist by a narrow belt, from
which the sword-carriage is suspended. To equip the warrior
for battle, would still be wanting the helm of plate to fix
over his mail-coif. His shield--a very unusual arrangement--is
placed under his head, in lieu of the second pillow generally
found in knightly monuments. 192

47. Mounted Archer, from Roy. MS. 20, D. i. fol. 127: _Histoire
Universelle_, and other tracts. French art. The drawings are
all coloured, and in great number. It is one of the finest
manuscripts in the world for the illustration of ancient armour
and military usages of all kinds. See note on page 196. 195

48. Group of bowmen from folio 307 of the same MS. The fighters in
both examples wear the hauberk of banded-mail with surcoat, and
the "sugar-loaf" helm. The mounted figure is distinguished by
having chausses also of banded-mail. The helm at his feet shews
the laces by which it was fastened. 199

49. Cross-bowman and Archer from Add. MS. 15,268, fol. 101:
_Histoire de l'ancien monde_. Date, about the close of the
thirteenth century. The armour of the arbalester is probably
meant for chain-mail: that of the archer is very vague, but
seems to express some kind of pourpointing. The artist has
carefully distinguished the barbed head of the arrow and the
pile of the crossbow-bolt. 201

50. Group of soldiers from Harl. MS. 4,751, fol. 8: a Latin
Bestiarium of the commencement of the thirteenth century. The
variety of weapons in this little subject is very remarkable:
they will be noticed under their separate heads. The "castle"
on the elephant's back is, in the original, full of fighters,
all wearing the flat-topped helm, and having their shields
fixed in a row in front of the car, as we see them hanging over
the edge of a vessel in sea-pictures. The "pick-pointed hammer"
in the hand of the swordsman is rather an engineering tool
than a weapon, and in other manuscripts is given to those who
are employed in breaching a wall. 205

51. Group of soldiers armed with the staff-sling, axe, spear, and
bow with lime-phial: from Strutt's _Horda_, vol. i. Plate XXXI.
His authority is the MS. of the "History" of Matthew Paris
in Benet College Library, Cambridge: C. 5, xvi. It has been
suggested, but with no great probability, that the manuscript
in question is the work of Matthew Paris himself. 206

52. Great Seal of King John: drawn from impressions attached to
Harl. Charter, 84, C. 7, and Cotton Charter, viii. 25; and
Carlton Ride Seal, H. 18. The helmet in this figure is of
unusual form; and here, for the first time, the military
surcoat appears in a royal seal of England. The mailing
has been obliterated at the skirt of the hauberk, from the
prominence of the seal at that part. The ornamental "peytrel"
of the horse is well defined in this monument, and the fashion
of the saddle is very distinctly seen. 228

53. The three knights, from a picture of the Martyrdom of Thomas
à Becket, in Harl. MS. 5, 102, fol. 32. The volume is a Latin
Psalter, written in the beginning of the thirteenth century,
and containing many illuminations. Fitzurse is conspicuous
from the figure of the Bear on his shield. The heads of the
knights present a curious variety of arming: one wearing the
flat-topped helmet, another the rounded casque, and the third
having no further defence than his coif of mail. The tunic is
seen passing beyond the edge of the hauberk. The legs of the
foremost figures are coloured red. 230

54. Sculptured effigy of William Longespée, earl of Salisbury,
from his monument in Salisbury Cathedral. His death and burial
(in 1226) are recorded in the curious cotemporary manuscript
of William de Wanda, the dean; which is still preserved in
the Bishop's Records at Sarum. See Dodsworth's History of the
Cathedral, pp. 121 and 201. The statue more fully illustrates
various points of the knightly equipment at this early period
than any other that could be named. These details will be
separately noticed in their particular places. The figure still
retains much of its ancient painting. The chain-mail is of a
brown hue, a singularity not hitherto satisfactorily explained.
The spurs have yet sparkles of gold. The Lions on the shield
are in relief; gold on a blue field. This device has been
repeated, by painting, on the surcoat. The statue, which is of
free-stone, has every appearance of having been sculptured at
the time of the death of Earl William; and, as it is so clearly
identified by the carved device of the shield, becomes one of
the most valuable examples for archæological reference. 232

55. Monumental Brass of "Sire Johan D'Aubernoun, Chivaler," in the
church of Stoke D'Abernon, Surrey. This is the most ancient
sepulchral brass yet observed, whether in England or on the
continent: its date, about 1277. Till lately it was partly
hidden beneath the altar-rails, but is now fully disclosed. On
the shield, the tincture of the field (blue) is represented
by enamel; the copper lining being plainly discernible in the
narrow edge that borders the colour. The heraldic bearing is
repeated on the lance-flag and on the escutcheon above the
effigy. The armour of the knight will be described as the
various parts of it come to be examined in detail. 237

56. From Willemin's _Monumens Inédits_, vol. i., Plate CII. The
original is a drawing in the Album of Wilars de Honnecort, an
artist of the thirteenth century. The chain-mail chausses of
the knight are drawn together behind the leg and under the
foot by lacing. The coif of the hauberk thrown back on the
shoulders, discloses the under-coif, worn by the men-at-arms to
protect the head from the rough contact of the iron garment.
The figure is further curious from the "cotte à mancherons
déchiquetés." 238

57. Chess-knight of ivory, preserved in the Ashmolean Museum: seen
in two views. The knight wears the hauberk of chain-mail,
and the cylindrical helm of its earliest form. The gamboised
chausson is seen overlying the mail chausses. The triangular
bowed shield is very exactly represented, and the draping of
the surcoat has more freedom than is usually found at this
early period. The date appears to be the beginning of the
thirteenth century. 243

58. From a marble bas-relief in a cloister of the Annunziata
Convent at Florence, 1289. After a drawing in the Kerrich
Collection, Add. MSS., No. 6,728. The knight, Gulielmus Balnis,
among several singularities of equipment, presents us with a
very unusual pattern of leg-armour: the whole suit will be duly
examined at a future page. The composition conveys no very
exalted idea of Italian art in 1289; and, in the drapery, the
sculptor might well take a lesson from the humble chess-piece
carver of the days of Magna Charta, whose handiwork was the
subject of our last notice. 244

59. Knightly effigy, of free-stone, in the church of Ash, near
Sandwich. Date, the close of the thirteenth century. The
chain-mail has been expressed in stucco, and painted of
a red-brown colour. Traces of gilding are found on the
genouillères and other parts of the monument. The knight
wears the quilted gambeson; hauberk, hood, and chausses of
chain-mail; genouillères of plate or cuir-bouilli, and long
surcoat. Ailettes are at the shoulders: of the shield, little
is left but the strap that sustained it: the cord looped to the
waist-belt held a dagger, now wanting: the spurs, of a single
goad, have been gilt. 247

60. A mounted knight clothed in banded-mail, and having armoried
ailettes. The shield is carried by allowing the enarmes to
slip over the wrist. A fortified bridge, with flanking towers,
"bretèche," gates, and portcullis, is in face. The miniature
appears on fol 58^{vo}. of Add. MS. 10,293: a collection of
Romances, _dated_ 1316. 250

61. Mounted knight armed in banded-mail and visored bassinet, and
having ailettes of a lozenge form: from Roy. MS. 14 E. iii.
fol. 94^{vo}.; a volume of Romances, written and illuminated
in the first half of the fourteenth century. A fine book for
armour subjects: the drawings clear, richly coloured and gilt,
and the details well made out. This volume passed into the
possession of King Richard III., whose autograph appears on the
second folio. 250

62. Knightly figure of the close of the thirteenth century: from
Roy. MS. 2, A. xxii. fol. 219. The drawing shews very clearly
the manner in which the mail-coif was drawn over the chin, and
tied above the ear on the left side of the head. An opening
at the palm permitted the knight to disengage his hand from
the hauberk at pleasure. The armour of the legs consists of
a chausson of chain-mail, and chausses lacing behind, which
appear to be formed of studs rivetted on cloth or leather. The
helm is of a more enriched character than is usually found at
this period. Other minute points of this equipment will be
noticed in the order of their examination. 254

63. Group of Soldiers, from a Latin Service-book of the end of
the thirteenth century: Add. MS. 17,687: German art: the
drawings richly coloured and gilt, large and well detailed. The
armour fabrics in the subject before us are of three kinds:
banded-mail, plain quilting, and pourpointerie with studs.
The diversity of arrangement of these defences in so small a
group of soldiers strikingly shews how little was thought of a
uniformity of costume. As in other cases, particular points of
equipment will be noticed in the body of the work. 257

64. Effigy in free-stone of a knight of the De Sulney family, from
the church of Newton Solney, Derbyshire. The manor was held
by this house under the Earls of Chester (see "Archæological
Journal," vol. vii. page 368), and the church contains several
early and interesting monumental statues of the successive
lords. The figure before us appears to be of the close of the
thirteenth century: it is armed in hauberk and chausses of
banded-mail: the sleeveless surcoat is slit up in front for
convenience of riding: the shield has been triangular, and is
slightly bowed: the pommel of the sword is cinquefoiled, its
cross-piece curved towards the blade: the spurs are of a single
goad. In lieu of the usual lion or dragon at the feet, the
statue is terminated by clusters of foliage of Early English
character; from which we may learn that the particular purpose
of the carving beneath the feet of these old sculptures was,
not symbolic or heraldic decoration, but the provision of a
strong block of stonework, to prevent the slender and prominent
feet from being broken away by the first act of carelessness. 261

65. A portion of banded-mail from the above-named monument, of the
natural size. The lower figure gives the profile view. 263

66. Group from the "Romance of King Meliadus," Add. MS. 12,228,
fol. 79. This is a manuscript of the fourteenth century (circa
1360); used here to illustrate the subject of banded-mail. 264

67. Coif of banded-mail, from a MS. of the beginning of the
fourteenth century. The subject is given in full in No. 7
of Count Bastard's _Peintures des Manuscrits_, the original
monument being an illuminated Bible. Other figures from this
Bible shew the same mode of tightening the coif. 266

68. Soldiers armed in Banded-mail: from a volume illuminated at
Metz about 1280, and now preserved in-the public library
of that city. The figures here given have been engraved
in Hefner's _Trachten_, Part i. Plate LXXVII.; from which
admirable work we have transferred them to our pages. It will
be observed that no two of these warriors are equipped exactly
alike. 268

69. Chess-piece (a Warder) of walrus-tusk, of the early part of
the thirteenth century. It was presented to the Society of
Antiquaries of Scotland by Lord Macdonald; and exhibited in
the Museum formed at York on the visit of the Archæological
Institute to that city in 1846. (See "Archæological Journal,"
vol. iii. p. 241.) The armour appears to be chain-mail, rudely
expressed by a series of lines and punctures. The shields are
remarkable from having a blunt termination below, instead of
the usual pointed form. 269

70. Monumental statue of an unknown knight in Norton Church,
Durham: from the figure by Blore and Le Keux in Surtees'
History of Durham, vol. iii. p. 155. Date, about 1300. The
hauberk has the hood (or coif?) thrown off the head and lying
on the shoulders: straps tighten it at the wrists. Over the
chausses appear the knee-pieces, which probably terminated
a chausson of gamboised work. The surcoat differs from the
earlier fashion of this garment, in having sleeves. The sword
is of an enriched character, the pommel being ornamented with
an escutcheon, which was no doubt once ensigned with the
bearings of the knight. Similar escutcheons appear on the
genouillères. The hair, short over the forehead, and gathered
into large curls over the ears, is characteristic of this
period. The arming of the figure is almost identical with
that of Brian Fitz Alan, at Bedale, Yorkshire (See Blore's
Monuments, and Hollis's Effigies, Part iv.). 275

71. SERIES OF HELMS OF THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY.--Fig. 1. From the
effigy of Hugo Fitz Eudo, in Kirkstead Chapel, Lincolnshire.
A drawing of the whole figure will be found in Powell's
Collections in the British Museum: Add. MS. 17,462, fol.
71. Fig. 2. From a carving in an arcade of the Presbytery,
Worcester Cathedral. Fig. 3. From a sculpture in the Cathedral
of Constance: the entire figure is given in Hefner's Costumes,
Part i. Plate IV. Fig. 4. From the Seal of Hugo de Vere,
fourth earl of Oxford: 1221-63. Fig. 5. From a knightly figure
on folio 27 of Harleian MS. 32,44: circa 1250. Fig. 6. From
the Great Seal of Alexander II., king of Scotland: 1214-49:
from an impression appended to Cotton Charter, xix. 2. Fig.
7. From Seal of Robert Fitz Walter, Lord of Wodeham and
Castellan of London: circa 1298. See page 334. Fig. 8. From a
glass-painting in Chartres Cathedral, representing Ferdinand,
king of Castille: circa 1250. Fig. 9. A helm of iron in the
Tower collection. Fig. 10. From a miniature on Cotton Roll, xv.
7. Fig. 11. From the Seal of Louis of Savoy: circa 1294. The
whole figure is given by Cibrario in the _Sigilli de' Principi
di Savoia_, Plate XXX. Fig. 12. An example of the so-called
Sugar-loaf helm: from Royal MS. 20. D. i. Compare that on the
brass of Sir Roger de Trumpington, which is somewhat more
ornate (woodcut, No. 73). 278

72. Combat of knights, from Roy. MS. 20, D. i.; a volume already
used for our illustrations numbered 47 and 48. Both figures
are armed from head to foot in banded-mail, and have the
characteristic helm of the period: of "sugar-loaf" form, and
brought so low as to rest on the shoulders. The warrior on the
left hand wears a crown over his helm, and has the further
decoration of a fan-crest of ungainly size. The shields are of
the old kite shape, but much reduced in their dimensions from
their Neustrian prototypes. The crowned combatant has a dagger
at his right side: an early instance of an arrangement which
afterwards became very common. The caparison of the horses
does not appear to be of a defensive construction; but an
under-housing of gamboiserie or chain-work may perhaps in such
cases be implied. 283

73. Monumental brass of Sir Roger de Trumpington, executed about
1290, and still occupying its old position in the parish church

"At Trompington, not fer fro Cantebrigge[1]."

The knight is armed in hauberk, chausses and hood of chain-mail;
with a chausson, of which the knee-pieces seem to be of iron
plate. Ailettes are at the shoulders, and for pillow the
warrior has his helm; from the lower edge of which a chain
passes to the belt of the surcoat, in order to prevent its
being lost in battle. The triangular, bowed shield is sustained
by the usual guige; and here, as well as on the ailettes and
the escutcheons of the sword-sheath, are seen the _Trumpets_
forming, in allusion to his name, the heraldic bearings of our
knight. 285

74. Incised slab to the memory of the knight, Johan le Botiler, in
the church of St. Bride's, Glamorganshire. Date, about 1300.
As in the preceding example, the heraldic figures (borne in
this instance on the shield and cervellière) are allusive to
the name of the bearer, Butler. The sword, with its trefoil
pommel and narrow, curved cross-piece, has quite the character
of the Anglo-Saxon weapon of the eleventh century. In the rowel
spur, however, we recognise the spirit of progress; and the
cervellière of plate, worn, as here, in conjunction with the
coif of chain-mail, is an early example of that arrangement in
a monumental effigy. 287

75. Figure of Goliath, from Add. MS. 11,639, fol. 520: a Hebrew
copy of the Pentateuch and Forms of Prayer, written in Germany
about the close of the thirteenth century. The giant has
hauberk and chausses of chain-mail, with knee-pieces of plate,
and the broad-rimmed chapel-de-fer. The shield retains the boss
and strengthening bands which we have seen in examples from the
Anglo-Saxon and Frankish graves. The round mark at the temple
is the stone hurled from the sling of David. 290

76. Part of a figure from the wall-pictures of the Painted Chamber
at Westminster: to shew the form of the pointed, nasal helmet.
Date, the second half of the thirteenth century. 291

77. Glass-painting in the window of the north transept of Oxford
Cathedral. The tracery formerly belonging to it no longer
appears, and it is now mixed up with glass of a later period.
It is scarcely necessary to say that the martyr's head is a
"restoration." The knights are armed in suits of banded-mail,
with knee-pieces of plate. The uplifted sword is of the
falchion kind. Fitz-Urse has on his shield three Bears' heads
on a diapered field, in lieu of the usual figure of a single
Bear. Compare woodcut, No. 53. The date of this glass appears
to be about the close of the thirteenth century. 296

78. Iron spur found in the churchyard of Chesterford,
Cambridgeshire, and now preserved in the Museum of the Hon. R.
C. Neville, at Audley End. The plain goad, straight neck, and
curved shanks are all characteristic of the knightly spur of
the thirteenth century. 298

79. Great Seal of King Henry III.; drawn from impressions attached
to Harleian Charter, 43, C. 38; Wolley Charter, 5, xxi.;
and Topham Charter, No. 8. The king wears the hauberk of
chain-mail, with a helm somewhat rounded at top, and having
a moveable ventail with clefts for sight and breathing. The
mailing has been obliterated from the chausses, if any ever
were there. The surcoat is still of great length. The bowed
shield exhibits the usual three Lions. But a novelty appears
in the spurs of this figure, which are rowelled. No earlier
instance of the rowel spur has been observed, and indeed it
seldom appears again during the whole century. Usually on
the alert to adopt any novelty of military equipment, the
knights appear to have rejected with particular obstinacy
the innovation of the wheeled spur, though to us it appears
so strongly recommended by the greater humanity of its
contrivance. Compare woodcut, No. 81: the second Great Seal of
Hen. III. 299

80. From Cotton MS., Nero, D. i.; the "Lives of the two Offas,"
by Matthew Paris. This group, which occurs on folio 7 of the
manuscript, represents the Mercian king, Offa I., combating
in behalf of the king of Northumberland, and defeating the
Scottish army. The drawings of this curious volume, all of
which have been copied by Strutt in his _Horda_, appear to be
of the close of the thirteenth century. The body-armour is
for the most part banded-mail. King Offa has the distinction
of greaves and knee-pieces: the mailing of a portion of
his coif differs from the rest of the suits, probably from
carelessness of the artist only. The horse of the king is also
discriminated from the other steeds by having a housing. The
head-defence, composed of a mask of steel placed over the coif
of banded-mail, is very remarkable. In the adjoining figure we
again see an example of the aperture left at the palm, for the
convenience of liberating the hand occasionally from its case
of mail. Compare woodcut, No. 62. 303

81. Second Great Seal of King Henry III. From impressions at
Carlton Hide (R. i. 34), and select seals in Brit. Museum
(xxxiv. 4). The armour consists of hauberk and chausses of
chain-mail, helm with moveable visor, shield and sword. The
surcoat, of diminished length, is without heraldic decoration.
As a work of art, this seal shews a great advance beyond the
previous royal seals: the horse is drawn with much truth and
spirit, while the figure of the king is just in its proportions
and natural in its position. Compare woodcut, No. 79. 307

82. Group from the Painted Chamber. _Vetusta Monumenta_, vol. vi.
Plate XXXVI. We have here many noticeable particulars: the
falchion, the archer with his long-bow and cloth-yard shaft,
armed with its barbed head, the ornamented helmet of the
mounted knight, the conical nasal helmet of the figure behind,
the triangular and the round shields, and the curiously-formed
brow-band of the horse. All these will be duly examined under
their respective heads. 313

83. Incised slab of red sandstone, the memorial of a knight of
the Brougham family, in the church of Brougham, Westmoreland.
The stone is nearly 7 feet long, by 3 ft. 5 in. wide, and is
traditionally known as "The Crusader's Tomb." The "Crusader"
himself was disinterred in 1846, in consequence of some repairs
within the chancel of the church, and found to have been buried
_cross-legged_. For a particular account of this curious
discovery, see the "Archæological Journal," vol. iv. p. 59. 317

84. Military Flail: from Strutt's _Horda_, vol. i. Plate XXXII.
From the same MS. as our No. 51. (Benet Coll. Lib., C. 5. xvi.)
Compare the flail on woodcut 11. 327

85. Great Seal of King Edward I. Drawn from impression at Carlton
Ride marked H. 20; and Harl. Charter, 43, C. 52. The king is
armed in hauberk and chausses of chain-mail, with helm having
moveable visor; and he wears the shorter surcoat without
armorial decoration. The shield presents no new feature.
The mountings of the sword are of an unusual pattern: the
fleur-de-lis ornament at the extremity is again seen at the
hinge of the visor. This is the first English royal seal in
which the housing of the steed is heraldically ensigned. 339

86. Horse in housing of chain-mail: from the Painted Chamber[2].
Representations of the mailed steed are extremely rare, though
the descriptions of them are frequent. The knight has here an
armoried surcoat, and wears the usual "barrel helm" of the
time. 342

87. Seal and counter-seal of Roger de Quinci, second earl of
Winchester, 1219-64. The arming of both figures is exactly
the same: hauberk and chausses of chain-mail, cylindrical
helm, triangular bowed shield, and two-edged sword. The wyvern
which seems to form a crest to the helm in the counter-seal,
is in fact only an ornament used to fill up the space left
after the word "SCOCIE" in the legend. The flower in the same
seal, and the similar wyvern in the obverse, are employed with
a like view of enriching the composition with ornament. De
Quinci was Lord High Steward of Scotland by right of his wife,
and on the reverse-seal before us, where he is described as
"Constabularius Scocie," we have the figure of the Scottish
Lion: the seeming combat between the two being an ingenious
fancy of the artist. Compare Winchester Volume of Archæological
Institute, p. 103, and Laing's Ancient Scottish
Seals, p. 113. 346

88. Wager of Battle between Walter Blowberme and Hamon le Stare,
from the original roll in the Tower. The document is noticed in
Madox's History of the Exchequer, with an engraving, p. 383. He
describes the incident as "a pretty remarkable Case of a Duell
that was fought in the reign of K. Henry III.... A Duell was
struck. And Hamon being vanquished in the Combat, was adjudged
to be hanged". 375

89. Caerphilly Castle, Glamorganshire. Built about 1275. We
have here the type of the "Edwardian Castle;" differing
from the Norman stronghold essentially in this: that, while
the Norman fortress was a massive building surrounded by a
court, the Edwardian arrangement was a court surrounded by
strong buildings. The buildings themselves differed in many
particulars, not only from their Norman predecessors, but
from each other; and it would require a volume to examine at
large the many curious devices for offence and defence that
are exhibited in the various examples left to our times. We
must again refer the student to the admirable work of M.
Viollet-le-Duc, _Architecture Militaire du Moyen-Âge_, and
to the able paper on the same subject in the first volume of
the "Archæological Journal." And, for a complete account of
the works at Caerphilly, see the _Archæologia Cambrensis_,
vol. i., N. S. The engraving before us is from a drawing by
Mr. G. T. Clark, in which some portion of the lost buildings
has been supplied from the indications afforded by a careful
survey of those remaining. Conspicuous in front is the Great
Hall, with its louvre. Below is a water-gate, leading from the
moat into the interior of the castle. Various outworks are
connected with the main structure by means of drawbridges, and
at the right-hand corner is a mill, turned by the stream which
supplies the moat. 377

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Chaucer, Reve's Tale.

[2] Plates XXXI. and XXXVII.

ANCIENT ARMOUR,

_&c._