Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 5).djvu/62

 The most markedly distinctive national fashion is that followed by suits of French origin, not those to which we have referred, for they would appear to have been made to order, but those French stock models which were introduced in the reign of Louis XIII. We may even suggest that after the production of this characteristic Louis XIII armour, armourers ceased to produce individual types. True, we get the German and English copies at a slightly later date; but they are poor and bastard reproductions, as debased in style as ungainly. There is a very considerable charm about fine French, Paris-made suits of as late date as even 1630, and almost a dignity in their general appearance. Another thing is also remarkable about the French suits of this time, namely, that there are a few remaining examples in which the horse is as completely armoured en suite as were those of the early years of the XVIth century. These harnesses may be the result of the endeavour of both Louis XIII and of his great minister, Cardinal Richelieu, to retain companies of ordnance as completely armed as in the days of their grandparents. Indeed, both King and Cardinal used their best efforts to succeed in this attempt. In the Musée d'Artillerie there is a fine panoply for man and horse, once the property of Louis XIII, which seems to have been worn by the King as an example to his entourage. But this royal endeavour to reintroduce complete armament was of no avail. The practical triumphed, and the wearing of complete armour could not again be re-established. The perfecting of firearms, the necessity of wearing lighter military habiliments due to the entirely new tactics in warfare, perhaps, too, the lack of armourers capable of making these full panoplies, soon killed the efforts of even the most powerful in the land to revive its use. There is very considerable merit both in the construction and in the decorative theme of that suit of armour in the Musée d'Artillerie, G 124 (Figs. 1450 and 1451). In our first illustration (Fig. 1450) we show the suit cap-à-pie mounted on a barded horse, and worn as the harness of a cavalry leader; whilst in the second (Fig. 1451) are represented the additional parts of the same harness, disposed for use as the armour of an infantry officer or for wear mounted, but completed with buff boots. There is also the circular shield or target. A dim likeness can be seen between the cavalry harness of this suit and that of the gilded Charles I suit (Fig. 1448); but the Louis XIII harness is greatly superior in form. The close helmet is of graceful outline, the centre of its crest being surmounted by a fleur-de-lis. The arm defences would fit accurately; the gauntlets are unusually good in form, so too are the jambs, and sollerets, and leg defences generally. The chanfron of the horse armour is, of course, essentially XVIIth