Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 1).djvu/243

 the gambeson or 'hauscement for the Bode.' In Fig. 199, d, extending from the skirt of mail to the edge of the jambard, are seen the hosen; uncovered at that part with armour, because, when the knight was mounted, this portion of his person would not be in view of an assailant, and his seat in his saddle would be far more secure and commodious. The body is not armed, as seen on other effigies, with the 'pair of plates,' each of a single piece: the inflexibility of that defence has been mitigated by dividing the breast and back plates each into two parts. The pieces nearest the neck are overlapped by the others; they slide within them at the movement of the body, but can never slip out of their socket on account of the straps which prescribe the limits of their play. In lieu of the strap seen at the throat of the Beauchamp effigy, there is sometimes a rivet coming from the under-plate, and passing through an oblong aperture in the upper, by which means the one could slide over the other to the extent of the oblong orifice, while the round head which terminated the rivet prevented the two plates from coming asunder. Similar rivet-heads above and below the knees of the Warwick figure seem to show that the same contrivance was adopted in that portion of the suit. The plates of the Earl's suit have hinges on the left side, and straps with buckles on the right. Holes near the right pauldron show where a gusset of plate has been fixed. The similar holes below have held the lance-rest. The taces turn on hinges at the left side, and are buckled on the right. Fig. 199, d, shows the lowest tace suspended by straps; this was probably to give the knight greater freedom in the saddle. Two large tuilles hang loosely over the cuissards; smaller ones defend the hips; both are ridged. A skirt of chain-mail appears beneath the tasses, encircling the body.

"The pauldron of the right arm differs somewhat from that of the left. Both are formed of two principal parts; the one sweeping over the whole shoulder, and the other overlying that piece in front only. The front plates are ridged in diagonal lines, and their upper edges are recurved, admirable contrivances to turn aside the thrust of lance or glaive. In the back view of the suit (Fig. 199, d) is shown the method of fastening the upper part of the backplate to the lower.

"The leg armour appears to consist, for each limb, of three distinct parts, first, the solleret, then the jamb, lastly, the portion beginning at the lowest under-kneeplate and ending with the cuisse. The sollerets open on a hinge inside the foot, and are fastened by straps on the outside: they are overlapped by the jambs, and the successive plates of which they