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Showing the padded hourt in position

Made in 1530 for King Ferdinand I Imperial Armoury, Vienna

We are able to give an illustration (Fig. 1007) of an existing hourt, or Stechkissen, to give it its German name, which is now preserved in the Imperial Armoury of Vienna. It is of considerably later date, being of the end of the XVth century, than those described by René d'Anjou; but it will be noted that it is precisely the same defence. We also give an illustration of one of the knights in tilting apparel from Burgkmaier's "Triumph of Maximilian," which shows this padded defence in use, and also represents a caparison for the joust in which the horse is entirely blindfolded, neither the chanfron nor the housing for the head containing any apertures for vision (Fig. 1008). This kind of horse harness is also mentioned in the Roi René's manuscript. It will be seen that in the Burgkmaier illustration the chanfron, of whatever medium it was, is placed beneath the head housing, with a large circular rondel attached to the outside. A good many blind chanfrons exist, which from the excellence