Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/378

 354 ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. the mainefaire (" mano di ferro'") was the defence for the left arm and wrist, of which many excellent examples may be seen in the Tower and at Good- rich Court. Its form and use, either with a gard-de-bras, or united to a rerebrace with a peculiar wing-shaped elbow-guard, are admirably shewn in Skelton's Illustrations, plates viii. and ix. In the former case this "long bridle-arm gauntlet," or "fixed gauntlet'' as it is designated by Sir Samuel, is worn over the ordinary gauntlet, and attached to it by a screw and nut. It was used, as Sir Samuel remarks, in the tournament only, therefore the mention of one mainefaire with a pair of gauntlets, as part of a complete suit, is perfectly consistent with this explanation of the term^. The gan- telet-d-coiide, used in later times by the carabineers, is distinct, but it served in like manner for the bridle arm^. The description of head-piece termed " burgonet with a buffe or chin piece" is twice mentioned in the survey; various definitions have been given of the head-piece, supposed to have been of Burgundian origin, but the word " buffe " does not appear to have been noticed by any writer on military costume. It is of Italian derivation, as given by Florio, " buffa, the buffie or breathing hole of a head-piece," and Howell, in his useful Nomenclature, renders " the viser of a helmet, la biijfa, baviera, la venta- glia." The name had doubtless been imported from Italy with the skilful productions of the Milanese armourers, long in high estimation '^. A. W. '' Compare the left gauntlet of the suit p]. 26 ; Skelton, Illustr., pi. xl. in the Madrid Armory, assigned by popu- " Sir John Smithe, in his Instructions lar tradition to Boabdil. Jubinal, Armeria Militarie, 1595, says of light horse, called Real. vSee also the representation of a Stradiots, " I would wish them all to bee suit in the Tower, formerly attributed to armed with good burgonet^ and buffes, Edward III. Grose, pi. 25, and Hewitt's with collars, with cuirasses, with backs, Tower Armories, p. 13. and with long cuisses," &c., p. 199. ' There are several in the Tower. Grose,