Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 4).djvu/146

 worked by a leather thong. The visor is secured to the mezeil in the same manner; while the catches which fix the mezeil down and close the helmet are locked by means of hooks. On the right side some small holes have been pierced opposite the ear for purposes of hearing. An interesting feature of this helmet is the existence of two cross straps inside the top of it which are riveted to the front part of the helmet and secured at the back by aiglettes, to prevent the lining cap from pressing against the crown of the helmet or being wrenched from the strap to which it was sewn. The original leather lining of the chin-piece is still preserved.

German, school of Wolf of Landshut, about 1560. Collection: Prince Ladislaus Odescalchi, Rome

In the collection of Prince Ladislaus Odescalchi of Rome can be seen just such another helmet, but of a finer type (Fig. 1204), of careful and accurate workmanship and of almost the same construction save that it lacks the trap door. There is little doubt that this helmet, which shows traces of the influence of the Wolf of Landshut school, originally came from the Royal Armoury of Madrid; its provenance has been traced to the 1839 sale at