Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 1).djvu/330

 are acquainted is the example now in the collection of Count Hans Wilczek at Kreuzenstein; for though lacking the chin-piece, which in this case was riveted on in a separate plate, and also the pointed visor, it has the acutely-pointed and ringed skull-piece seen on the smaller bascinets of the closing years of the XIVth century. It still retains one hinge plate for the movable visor. This head-piece was found in Northern Germany (Fig. 300).

(a)     (b)

Found at Kordofan on the White Nile. Possibly French, first quarter of XVth century

British Museum

(a) Full face view     (b) Profile view

The next four examples of the great bascinet helmet are in England; and of these the oldest is the one which we place within the first years of the XVth century, and which is preserved in Aldborough Church, Holderness, Yorkshire (Fig. 301). To the late Mr. Wentworth Huyshe is due the credit of having obtained this most interesting helmet for exhibition in the now famous Loan Collection of ancient helmets and mail held in the rooms of the Royal Archaeological Institute in 1881. His opinion was that it dated from the second half of the XIVth century. It was Mr. Huyshe who then furnished the following notes in the catalogue of "Helmets and Mail" concerning it: "This bascinet is traditionally assigned to Sir John de Melsa or Meaux, who was governor of the city of York, 1292-6, and hangs over his effigy in Aldborough Church."