Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 2).djvu/186



Cobham Church, Kent

Placing the date of the three last mentioned helms at some time between 1460 and 1480, we are obliged to jump a quarter of a century before we can produce our next example, the fine helm in Cobham Church, Kent, a head-piece which more closely resembles the first helms of the last group described than any with which we are acquainted. It is quite possible that this helm, which is known as the helm of Sir Thomas Broke, 7th Lord Cobham, who died in 1522, is perhaps like the "heaulmet" mentioned by Olivier de la Marche, and in "Le Challange de Phillipe de Bouton" (see p. 72); for it has the character of both the jousting helm and of the armet. The slit for the sight is here cut out of the body of the visor; and above the slit is a reinforcing piece, which, overlapping the lower edge of it, may have been put on to narrow the opening. The lower edge of the slit is turned inwards