The equipment of the Scandinavian heroes in the twelfth century has come down to us in several cotemporary writings. The author of the _Speculum Regale_, an Icelandic chronicle of this period, instructs his son in his military duties: when combating on foot, he is to wear his heavy armour, namely, a byrnie, or thick panzar[173] (_thungann pannzara_), a strong shield (_skiold_) or buckler (_buklara_), and a heavy sword. For naval actions the best weapons are long spears, and for defence, panzars made of soft and well-dyed linen cloth, together with good helmets (_hialmar_), pendant steel caps (_hangandi stálhufur_), and broad shields[174]. The directions for a knight's equipment are more minute: Let the horseman use this dress: first, hose made of soft and well-prepared linen cloth, which should reach to the breeches-belt (_broka-belltis_); then, above them, good mail-hose (_bryn-hosur_), of such a height that they may be fastened with a double string. Next, let him put on a good pair of breeches (_bryn-brækur_), made of strong linen; on which must be fastened knee-caps made of thick iron and fixed with strong nails. The upper part of the body should first be clothed in a soft linen panzar (_blautann panzara_), which should reach to the middle of the thigh; over this a good breast-defence (_briost biorg_), of iron, extending from the bosom to the breeches belt; above that a good byrnie, and over all a good panzar of the same length as the tunic, but without sleeves. Let him have two swords,--one girded round him, the other hung at his saddle-bow; and a good dagger (_bryn-knif_). He must have a good helm, made of tried steel, and provided with all defence for the face (_met allri andlitz biaurg_); and a good and thick shield suspended from his neck, especially furnished with a strong handle. Lastly, let him have a good and sharp spear of tried steel furnished with a strong shaft[175]. It will be remarked that the body is here clothed in four different garments, one over the other; which appear to be the _tunic_, reaching to mid-thigh; the breast-defence of iron (whether formed in a single piece, or of several smaller plates, does not appear); the _hauberk_ of the chain-mail, and the _gambeson_, a quilted coat, made in this instance without sleeves. Besides the weapons named above, the axe was still in favour among the Northern warriors. By the ancient laws of Helsingia, every youth on attaining the age of eighteen, was bound to furnish himself with five kinds of warlike equipment: a sword, an axe, a helmet (_jernhatt_), a shield, and a byrnie or a gambeson. A spirited passage of Giraldus Cambrensis brings the Norwegian troops vividly before us. Describing their attack upon Dublin, about 1172, he has: "A navibus igitur certatim erumpentibus, duce Johanne, agnomine _the wode_, quod Latine sonat insano vel vehementi, viri bellicosi Danico more undique ferro vestiti, alii loricis longis, alii laminis ferreis