Arising out of the three chief courses were various subsidiary ones,
the Free Course being probably the chief. It was the Italian Course
used without the central barrier, and therein resembling the Stechen.
A cap-à-pie suit in the Wallace Collection dating from about 1580
resembles that for the Italian Course, but has an addition to the
manteau d’armes protecting the left side of the breastplate and the
top of the left espalier, a small extra plate to fasten on this and
the left-hand part of the breastplate, together with a reinforcing
plate to fix to the right espalier. This course dates from the second
half of the sixteenth century. The Foot Tournament was fought with
lance and sword, and no leg armour was used--striking below the belt
being forbidden. There was also a Club Tournament, in which a short
wooden mace, the baston, was used by the combatants, and this caused a
peculiar type of helmet to be evolved termed the “grid-iron,” which is
shown in Fig. 422, dating from the fifteenth century. A later variety
(Fig. 423) is furnished with a latticed visor.
[Illustration: FIG. 422.--“Gridiron” helmet, 15th century.]
[Illustration: FIG. 423.--Helmet, with latticed visor, end of 15th
century.]
In connection with tournaments generally, the saddles preserved in many
museums are of interest, the one dating from 1470, in the Tower of
London, being exceptionally so from its enormous dimensions, inasmuch
as when seated in it nearly the whole body of the tilter was protected.
[Illustration: PLATE XXIV
Footman’s Armour, late Sixteenth Century. (Edinburgh Castle)
Cromwellian Armour, _c._ 1644. (Edinburgh Castle)
Pikeman’s Armour, end of Sixteenth Century. (Edinburgh Castle)]
CHAPTER XV
THE HALF-ARMOUR PERIOD AFTER 1600
[Illustration: FIG. 424.]
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