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English, early XVIth century

Tower of London, Class V, No. 21

de Bokyler" was taught in England. In hand to hand conflicts the buckler was always popular; indeed it may safely be said that in the XVIIth century of all types of shields it alone survived. We know of no earlier work on defence than the "Hans Talhoffer" manuscript, an illustrated volume now in the library of the castle of Gotha, dating from 1467, where, in the combats depicted, the sword and even the mace are to be seen used in combination with the buckler. In these fights the defences used are apparently precisely the same as their successors of mid-XVIIth century times. In the Musée d'Artillerie of Paris (Fig. 614) is a small buckler, I 6, of very considerable interest, not only as being of early date, but from the fact of its having some historical association with England. According to the Catalogue of the Musée d'Artillerie, "it was probably the personal property of the Earl of Richmond who in 1485 became King Henry VII." We, however, prefer to consider it part of the equipment of some personal guard of King Henry VIII. It has etched around its central boss the arms of England and France quartered, also a crowned rose, a portcullis, and a pomegranate. It is an effective defence as a buckler, with its interior grip of wood fitted directly across its back.  The surface of the buckler