Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 4).djvu/102

 to the side of the skull in the manner of a visor, and has attached to it a triple bar face guard, the bar of which is forged to a single plate hollowed out to receive the chin. This plate is secured to the umbril by the bars which continue through it, and which in their turn are pierced at the top to receive a long curved staple which passes through them on the outside of the umbril holding the guard secure. At the bottom it is attached to the right cheek-piece by hook and eye. Over this, and fastening by two iron straps with hook and eye to staples on the cheek-pieces, is a buffe with a falling bevor of three plates, the top one pierced with four oblong apertures forming the ocularia. Both the burgonet and buffe have gorget plates attached; there is a cylindrical plume holder at the back of the skull. The gorget is composed of four plates. The breastplate, which is of peascod form, has a roped turnover and roped laminated gussets. The lower edge of it is finished in such a manner that, on removal of the taces and tassets, the breastplate was complete in itself, and could be worn with the puffed trunks or bombasted breeches as the fashion required. The backplate was secured to the breastplate by steel straps passing over the shoulders and beneath the armpits. These were held in position by attachment to staples in the breastplate, through the top of which passed pins. The tace is of one plate, to which are permanently attached by hinges the tassets of four plates. Both tace and tassets can be removed from the breastplate by means of a hook and eye, 3-1/8 inches from either end. The pauldrons are of five plates, coming well forward and protecting the gussets. The top plate of each pauldron is slightly embossed in front, in order that it may fit easily over the staples and pin at the top corners of the breastplate. The arms are complete, comprising turners, rere- and vambraces, and elbow-cops. The gauntlets have fingers, the cuffs being pointed and bell-shaped; while the inside bend of the wrist is guarded by five laminated plates. The cuisses are composed of seven laminated plates. To these are attached the knee-cops, small heart-shaped plates protecting the outside bend of the leg. The jambs are splinted and laminated at the ankle, to which are riveted to the heels spurs with six open-pointed rowels. The sollerets are square-toed. Unfortunately, with the exception of the reinforcing breastplate and a pair of stirrups shown beside the suit (Nos. 434, 436, and 437 in the Laking Catalogue) all the tilt pieces are now missing. There exists in the collection of H.M. the King at Windsor Castle a miniature portrait by Nicholas Hilliard of my "Lorde Bucarte," in which he is represented wearing the identical armour just described (Fig. 1152). It will be noticed that the decoration