Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 3).djvu/234

 Dillon, this belief is to be discredited as he states there exists evidence that the gift was made by "Themperor" to King Henry between 1511 and 1514.

Possibly an Italian foundation worked upon in Germany, about 1500-10. Presented by the Emperor Maximilian Elect to King Henry VIII Tower of London

In the case of this particular horse armour the chanfron is large, extending over the jaws of the horse, the eyes being protected by pierced bosses. The poitrel is composed of three large plates, and the glancing knobs, termed in French bossoirs, are marked in quite the conventional manner; while a small narrow triangular plate is riveted point upwards to the extreme base of the outside plates in order to correspond with the angled edge of the flanchard. The croupière is formed of nine plates riveted solidly together. As we have already said, the whole surface of this horse armour has been plated with silver over the rough tool engraving that accentuates the design; doubtless it was once gilt. Particular fertility of design is to be noted in the rein steels, and in the hinges of the various plates,