Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 4).djvu/114

 *and vambraces, elbow-cops, gauntlets that once possessed fingers, taces, laminated tassets, large and well modelled cuisses, knee-cops, and jambs. Around the lower end of the jambs are a series of small holes for the attachment of the chain mail solleret, to which toe-caps could be attached, as seen in the Louvre portrait. The decorations consist of broad bands and circular panels, etched with Romanesque heads, trophies of arms, strap- and scrollwork, all fire-gilt upon a "white" or brightened field. Associated with one of the commoner suits in the same armoury, the author found a buffe (Fig. 1162) belonging to the Verdelain suit, a discovery which proves that it must originally have possessed an open burgonet or casque, as well as its close headpiece. The casque is now lost. We are of opinion that the suit is Milanese in make, that it dates about 1580-1600, and that it was not produced under the influence of the Pompeo della Cesa school. It is sounder in construction than the generality of such suits of the time, and we feel as we look at it that the armourer who made it must have been fairly well skilled in the principles of his craft.