Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/241

Rh armorial jupon, similar in general form, which was worn in England over plate-armour towards the close of the fourteenth century, for we here perceive attached to it a plastron, or breast-plate, with appended chains. This remarkable defence may be regarded as the primitive fashion of plate-armour for the upper part of the body, which led the way to the adoption of the more complete defence termed by Chaucer a pair of plates. These figures also present early examples of the escutcheon, termed à bouche, that is, formed with an aperture at the dexter angle above, through which the spear might pass, whilst the body was not deprived of the protection of the shield. It may also deserve notice how carefully the throat was protected, for besides the camail appended to the bacinet, the high collar of the hauberk formed a complete defence for the neck; this was probably a provision against the risk of the point of a lance or sword finding its way under the camail.