Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 2).djvu/174



Spanish, early XVIth century. A 16, Royal Armoury, Madrid

one is joined to the other by a rotatory hinge placed in the centre of a large circular rose of gilded and engraved metal. The breastplate is completed by a third plate, which covers the shoulder-blades in place of the back piece, and protects the shoulders from the friction of the helmet. The body armour is covered throughout with the same brocade over strong canvas, and reaches to the waist, where it is drawn in and fastened with cords and stay-like fastenings. This jousting breastplate is clearly Spanish. Apart from the Moorish character of the engraving and open metal work which constitute the ornamentation of the large rose in the centre, it bears on the inner side of the plates a mark which undoubtedly shows that it was made in Valencia. This is the tetragon with the bars of Aragon, which Don Jaime gave as a coat of arms to the city conquered by him. The lance rest, though massive, is hollow, a fashion peculiar to Spain and Italy. It was originally filled with cork, in order to deaden the shock of assault received from the vamplate of