Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 2).djvu/198

 up on two greet staplis before the breste, with a dowbill bokill behynde up on the bak." The Broadwater and Capel helms (Figs. 487 and 492) must have been fixed in this way. If the Wimborne helm has actually lost some part of its lower edge, it is now quite impossible to say whether it was secured in front by staples or by a buckle; and if the present bottom edge is the original one, the means of fixing it on the breastplate becomes a greater mystery still. The weight of the helm is 14-1/2 lb.

Early years of XVIth century. Imperial Armoury, Vienna

Early years of XVIth century. G 3, Musée d'Artillerie, Paris

Like the Wimborne helm, but provided with a grander type of visor, is the one in the Imperial Armoury of Vienna. It will be noticed that the most salient point of the visor of this helm is higher than those of helms previously described; indeed, its form is altogether more elegant, and has the robust proportions of the fine closed helmets of the second quarter of the XVIth century. The large visor is fluted vertically. These flutings are crossed at right angles in the centre of the visor by three rows of apertures for purposes of seeing; while between each row of fluting, above and below, other rectangular apertures are ranged in a radiating manner. The visor pivots are concealed (Fig. 495). On a helm in the Musée d'Artillerie, G 3, (Fig. 496), the visor is, if possible, even more ample, and the sight and breathing apertures on a larger scale, lending to it almost the appearance of open basket work, and making it more akin to the class of helm