Handbook of English Antiquities for the Collector and the Student (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 Excerpt: ... with plate. 13th Century.--Mixed mail and plate; the mail predominating. 14th Century.---Mixed mail and plate; the plate prevailing. 15th Century.--Era of complete plate. Several of the different parts of armour will be found described in the Dictionary at the end of this volume. The following is a brief outline sketch of the various centuries, from the eleventh to the seventeenth, showing the chief styles and fashions of armour in use. Eleventh And Twelfth Centuries. Helmet, with nasal-piece, worn over the capuchon or cowl. Bodyarmour: hauberk, with its pectoral formed of flat rings of metal, sewed on a garment of stout cloth or skin; legs protected by bands. Shield, kite-shaped, with a strap on the inside, called the guige, to enable the combatant to suspend it round the neck. Lance has a little streamer, called the gonfanon, attached. Towards the end of the twelfth century, armorial bearings appear as part of the decoration of the armour. Thirteenth Century. Helm, or helmet, is large, and of the kind called " barrel-helmet." It enveloped the whole head, and rested on the shoulders. The apertures for breathing and seeing were usually cruciform. The surcoat was worn shorter than formerly. The shield was made shorter and flatter than in the preceding century. Mail and plate armour, intermixed, was worn. Towards the middle of the century the surcoat was increased in length, the fore-part, however, being much shorter than that behind. By the end of the century, the plate armour had become much more generally used, and was supplemented by defensive coverings for the legs, called greaves; also defences for the arms called vambraces and rerebraces. The shield was curiously small. The shape of the sword had a downward curve. The mace, the falchion, the...