Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 4).djvu/75



From the second suit made for Sir Henry Lee. English (Greenwich school), third quarter of the XVIth century. From a photograph courteously supplied by the Baron Rudolf Cederström. Lifrust-Kammer, Stockholm

upon the hand, and secured by a staple, only a small opening remains, from which the sword, lance, or mace could not be forced from the holder's grasp. This locking device gave an unfair advantage over an adversary in the tournament, and therefore the use of this kind of gauntlet was not allowed in certain tourneys in earlier days. From this circumstance, it has been termed a "forbidden gauntlet." Many examples exist. With reference to this type of gauntlet the reader is referred to the Royal Ordinances drawn up by John