Authorised Guide to the Tower of LondonLoftie, W. J. (William John)
History
Authorised Guide to the Tower of London
Loftie, W. J. (William John)
Tower of London (London, England) -- Guidebooks
The next mounted figure (XII) is one still showing the gilt enrichment
so many of these suits for the tilt yard originally had. It was
attributed to Robert Earl of Essex, another favourite of his Queen, but
has now been identified as the armour made by Jacobe Topf, for Sir John
Smith, cousin german to Edward VI, and a great military writer of the
sixteenth century. Many other pieces of this suit are in the Royal
collection in Windsor Castle. The two foot figures came from the Great
Armoury at Malta. Beyond the passage are a mounted figure showing how
the lance was held when jousting at the tilt or barrier in the sixteenth
century and later, and inferior suits for horsemen, and some other suits
from Malta.
On leaving the large room, in the case in the archway will be seen axes,
horsemen's hammers and maces, all designed for breaking and rending
armour. Observe also various forms of the bayonet, from the early plug
bayonet to the later socketed type of that weapon.
The first case on the right contains crossbows of various types.
This weapon, at no time our national arm, was used for the defence of
fortresses, and later on for sport. The heavy kind were bent by means of
arrangements of pulleys, the windlass, or a kind of lifting jack called
the Cranequin or Cric. The lighter forms were bent by an attached lever
called the Goat's Foot. Specimens of these are in the case, as also two
bowstaves from the wreck of the _Mary Rose_, 1545, and some leaden
sling bullets from the battle field of Marathon. In the next case are
firearms of early types. Among these observe two guns which belonged to
Henry VIII, both of them breechloaders on a system resembling the modern
Snider rifle. Note also the German Reiter wheel-lock pistols, with ball
pommel; the William III match-lock, with plug bayonet stuck in the
muzzle; the bandoliers, each containing twelve charges of powder and a
bullet bag; the Vauban lock, combining the flint and match; also a still
earlier form of this lock of English make. Montecucuh says he had
similar locks made, having seen them used still earlier by the Turks.
The next case contains rapiers and swords and bucklers. Observe the
raised bars on the latter, to entangle and break the sword-point. The
mounted figure in brown armour shows the equipment of the cavalry in the
early part of the seventeenth century, the armour being browned or
blacked to prevent rust and to avoid detection at a distance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account