Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/147

Rh in England, during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries; this cape is apparently attached to a mantle, which falls over the left shoulder; the left hand is bare, and grasps the mantle, to keep it from trailing on the ground, while the glove is held in the right hand, which rests upon the chest. The costume of this effigy, when compared with that of the three cross-legged figures, is so dissimilar, that we could hardly for a moment suppose that the latter, differing so much in attire, are intended to represent persons of the same sex.

The fourth effigy preserved at Cashel represents a knight in the cross-legged attitude, and is interesting as exhibiting two well marked features of the military costume of the middle ages, not often found associated together, which, in a great degree, characterise the period extending from the reign of Henry III. A.D. 1216, to that of Edward III. A.D. 1327.

They are, the complete suit of mailed armour, the head and throat being protected by the chaperon of mail, and the roweled spur. A narrow band passes over the mail around the head of the figure, just above the brow. The shield is suspended by the guige, covering the left arm, and there is no appearance of any sword or sword-belt. Chain mail, employed as defensive armour, fell wholly into disuse in the reign of Edward III., when the light plate-armour of Southern Europe came into almost general adoption, whilst on the other hand the earliest example of a roweled spur occurs upon the great seal of Henry III. Certain minor peculiarities may deserve notice in the examination of this effigy; around the wrist of the right hand there appears to pass a narrow strap, which increases in width towards the verge of the slab on which the figure reclines, so as to suggest the notion that something had been attached to it. There is a strap which