[Illustration: FIG. 380.--Manteau d’armes, 16th century. (Tower of London.)] _The Volante Piece._--This reinforcement was intended for the protection of the neck and face up to the eyes; it was either separate from the grande garde, as in Fig. 377, or formed a part of it as in Fig. 378, where a series of studs are shown which permanently fix it. In this example an oblong slit is shown in the lower part of the grande garde by which an attachment to the breastplate can be effected. If no grande garde is used a volante piece similar to a large mentonnière in construction was affixed to the breastplate, generally by three screws, and while effectually protecting both sides of the helmet was also prolonged over both shoulders. [Illustration: FIG. 381.--Manteau d’armes. (Wallace Collection.)] A combined grande garde and volante piece (Fig. 379) is represented upon a king engaged in combat in the field in a fifteenth century missal presented by the Duchess of Burgundy to Henry VI., which indicates that some of the reinforcements used in the tilting yard were at times made available for war purposes; this, however, was the exception and not the rule. _The Manteau d’Armes._--This piece consists of a large concave shield intended to protect the left side of the breastplate and the left shoulder, and was used in the Italian or Free Course. It was firmly fixed to the breastplate by screws. The surface of the shield was usually embossed with a raised trellis-work design, either appliqué or raised from the surface by repoussé; this arrangement was intended to furnish a “grip” for the adversary’s lance (Fig. 381). [Illustration: FIG. 382.--Polder mitten. (Tower of London.)] _The Polder Mitten_, or _Épaule de Mouton_, was attached to the right vambrace, and afforded protection against lance-thrusts to the bend of the arm and the parts immediately above and below. The example shown in Fig. 382 is from the Tower of London. [Illustration: FIG. 383.--Suit of armour for fighting on foot, King Henry VIII. (Tower of London.)] _The Garde-de-Bras_ was essentially a protection for the left arm in tilting; it was attached to the coudière.