Armour in England, from the Earliest Times to the Reign of James the FirstGardner, John Starkie
History
Armour in England, from the Earliest Times to the Reign of James the First
Gardner, John Starkie
Armor -- England
The cap-à-pie suit of Henry VIII., Fig. 16, belongs to this group, and
though not fluted, is made like the Maximilian armour, the high erect
shoulder-piece and large coudières giving it a striking character.
The armet is of fine form, with the visor thrown into the series of
peaks and ridges common to fluted armour, and known to collectors as
the bellows shape. The bridle-hand wears the mainfere (main-de-fer),
while the right hand grasping the spear is gauntleted. The horse
armour, though so boldly embossed, is of earlier date, not later than
Henry VII. The foliated scrolls surround the _cross ragulé_ and steel
brickets and fire-stones, so that it probably presents a rare specimen
of the Burgundian armourer's craft.
[Illustration: FIG. 17.--_Tilting Helm. Time of Henry VII. Westminster
Abbey._]
The head-piece for tilting used in Germany and England during the reign
of Henry VII. and first years of Henry VIII., and known a century
earlier, is represented, Fig. 17, by the remarkably perfect specimen
found in the triforium of Westminster Abbey in 1869. It weighs 17½
lbs., the few others known in England weighing, with one exception,
considerably over 20 lbs. When fixed, the helm itself was immovable,
but as there were quite three inches of space round the head, movement
inside was possible. The occularium is placed so that the head must
be lowered to see out, the combatants sighting each other like bulls
before making their rush, and throwing up the head to escape splinters
of the lance.
The abandonment of this heavy helm for a much lighter form may have
been due to Henry VIII. himself. Hall narrates that tilting on one
occasion in 1524, with his great friend and brother-in-law Brandon,
Duke of Suffolk, he had on a helmet of a new fashion, devised by
himself, the like of which had not before been seen. It had a visor,
which was up and unfastened, leaving the king's face exposed, when by
some mischance the word was given to Brandon to start. No doubt in the
old helm, and remarking that he could not see, he couched his lance,
striking the king on the brow of the skull-piece or main portion of his
helmet. Appalled at the narrow escape, he vowed he would never tilt
with his sovereign more. One of the lighter forms of tilting helmet,
Fig. 18, from Penshurst, shows the small trap-door for speaking or
breathing, but now riveted down. A second helmet, Fig. 19, of rather
later date, is surmounted by the porcupine crest in wood, removed
in the illustration, and is interesting as having belonged to the
grandfather of Sir Philip Sidney. Both these helmets perhaps hung in
Penshurst Church.
[Illustration: FIG. 18.--_Tilting Helmet. Early sixteenth century. At
Penshurst._]
[Illustration: FIG. 19.--_Tilting Helmet of an Ancestor of Sir Philip
Sidney. Penshurst._]
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