Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 2).djvu/265



Collection: Signor S. Bardini, Florence

Early XVth century. Collection: Signor S. Bardini, Florence

old relic; the Englishman always seems to want to carve his name somewhere. Originally the entire face of the shield was covered with stout canvas, and over that was the outside covering of thick leather. This was secured round the border by a series of hemispherically headed nails, the leather being impressed with a simple line on either side of them. A portion of this leather and canvas remains on the top right-hand corner, and for some little distance around the border. On the present surface of this leather is now no suggestion of colour. On the front face of the shield, about half way up, and on the left-hand side, are two hemispherically headed rivets, one above the other, which originally secured in position on the inside the left arm sling. Although the rivets themselves that held the right arm sling in