Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 1).djvu/349

 in which they were modelled, were probably the same as in the case of the Edward the Black Prince crest described later.

With the advent of the third quarter of the XIVth century we have arrived at a period to which those very few genuine helms known to the present writer belong. In order that comparison may be drawn we will first describe them very briefly. We are acquainted with but five examples. Taking them in the order of their importance they are: (1) The helm credited to the ownership of Edward Prince of Wales, the Black Prince; (2) The helm of Sir Richard Pembridge; (3) A helm from Castle Tannenburg; (4) A helm found in the River Traum; and (5) A helm of the Pranck family. The helm hanging over the tomb of Edward the Black Prince will have foremost interest for our readers (Fig. 322, a, b, c). We have referred to other achievements from the same tomb in the cathedral church of Canterbury on pages 150 to 155, with the illustrations there described. It has been suggested, and by so eminent an authority as Viscount Dillon, that the helm is one made purely for funerary purposes. The Viscount draws attention to the fact that the helm is thin as compared with those very few contemporary examples made for fighting purposes, which fact he puts forward as an argument against its having ever been used in battle. But we, in our turn, assert in its defence that it is heavier, and not lighter, than the only other existing English helm of the same epoch which we have handled.

Showing an early XIVth century helm. Found on the site of Barclay's brewery, Southwark. Collection: Messrs. Barclay, Perkins and Co.

"The helm is made of iron: its height is 14 inches: its weight 7 lb. 2 oz. It is composed of a front and back piece, riveted together at the sides: to these also is riveted a conical top piece, forged with great skill. The front edge of the top piece and the corresponding edge of the front piece do not meet, but are turned outwards to form the ocularium, or slit