[105] Cousin of Edward VI, and knighted by Elizabeth in 1576. His free criticism on military matters led to the suppression of his “Discourses on the form and effects of divers sorts of weapons,” and he was committed to the Tower. [106] _Jahrbuch des Kunsthist. Sammlungen_, II, 995. [107] Johnes’ edit., I, 131. [108] _Lib. Gardrobæ_, 28 Ed. I, 1300. Soc. of Antiq. [109] _Vide_ modern War Office regulations of the present day as to scabbards of swords, Highland kilts, etc. [110] _Arch. Journ._, LX, “Armour Notes.” [111] _Le Guet de Genève_, Geneva, 1910. [112] _Hist. of 12 Livery Co.’s of London_, Herbert, 1836. THE USE OF LEATHER From the earliest times leather has been a favourite material for defensive armour. The shield of Ajax was fashioned of seven bulls’ hides, and the soldiers of the King and of the Parliament in the Civil War favoured the buff coat. Between these periods leather was utilized in many ways, and when specially treated was a most serviceable protection which had the merit of being lighter and less costly than metal. The word “cuirass” itself is derived from the body-defence of leather (cuir). [Illustration: FIG. 47. Cuirass from the sketch-book of Willarsde Honecourt, thirteenth century.] The Hon. Robert Curzon, writing in 1869, mentions a cuirass of three thicknesses of leather found in a stone coffin of the thirteenth century (_Arch. Journ._, XXII, p. 6). At a time when the weaving of fabrics was in a more or less primitive state, the skins of beasts were used either as the sole defence of the warrior or were reinforced with plates of metal applied over the most vital parts of the body (Figs. 47, 48). It is always a matter of some difficulty, especially in the earlier examples, to tell what materials are intended in illuminated miniatures, for we find what appears to be plate armour painted brown or parti-coloured, and this points to the fact that armour of all kinds was frequently painted, even chain mail being coloured to suit the taste of the wearer, and also, a more important reason, to preserve it from wet and rust. In some representations of scale armour, the drawing of the scales, as for example the figure given on Plate 1, 2, of my book on Armour and Weapons, suggests leather rather than metal, and certainly the much-debated-upon “banded mail” must have been a mixture of leather and metal. [Illustration: FIG. 48. Leather Gauntlet, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.] Towards the end of the twelfth century we find the material known as “cuir-bouilli” or “cuerbully” mentioned as being used for the armour of man and horse. The hide of the animal was cut thick, boiled in oil or in water, and, when soft, moulded to the required shape. When cold it became exceedingly hard and would withstand nearly as much battle-wear as metal.