Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 2).djvu/119

 On the three armets found at Chalcis, as on the de Cosson and Rotunda head-pieces, there are brass or iron staples at intervals round the lower edge. These were for the attachment of the camail in a similar manner to that adopted in the case of the XIVth century bascinet. This was almost a necessity; for in the early armets, before the protective neck-plates of metal were added, the helmet offered a very vulnerable spot in the region of the neck.

The de Cosson armet, which we have alluded to as having the same characteristics as the Chalcis armets, is the most complete and earliest of its kind known to the present writer (Fig. 430). It was purchased by the Baron thirty-five years ago of Messrs. Willson, the well-known London dealers, to whose gallery it was brought by an Italian dealer in works of art. We mention this fact because we tried, but unsuccessfully, to trace its history previous to its purchase by Messrs. Willson. So, although it was painted in exactly the same manner as the helmets seen hanging in English churches, the circumstance of its having been purchased from an Italian dealer inclines us to think that it was brought from Italy to England for sale. Its fashion and workmanship we unhesitatingly pronounce to be Italian. From the resemblance of its staples to those found on the bascinet head-piece of late XIVth century date, and from its form and workmanship, it must be, as we have already said, one of the earliest armets of its type known. The same pin and hinge arrangement which is found on the bascinet secures the visor to the helmet. The ocularium is not cut in the visor; but like those of somewhat later date is formed by the space between the upper edge of the visor and the lower edge of the reinforcing plate on the forehead. The lower part of the armet consists of two cheek-pieces, hinged to the crown just under the pivots of the visor, which overlap in front and were strapped together below the chin. At the back the small skull-piece is continued by a narrow piece down the back of the neck, and this is overlapped by the cheek-pieces, leaving, however, the central portion of the tail-piece uncovered; from the base of this projects a short stem, to which was originally attached the rondel. The tail of the skull-piece does not quite reach the lower edge of the armet, but is continued by a small piece fixed to it with rivets working in slots, so that when the head was thrown back, the small plate could slide slightly upwards. The staples for the camail are fifteen in number and are of brass. Between the staples are rivets for the lining, which must have covered the whole inside of the helmet, and which was sewn in over the forehead through holes to be seen behind the reinforcing piece. The