The details are clearly marked, such as the screw for the volant-piece; the sharp-pointed, spearhead-like projection standing forward from the centre of the breastplate, a fashion that only endured for a few decades; the ponderous lance-rest, and heavy abdominal extra plate,--all being characteristic of a suit used for “rennen.” The elegant sallad differs materially from the earlier form, and is very shapely. Only persons of noble birth or those subsequently granted “arms” were permitted to take part in “rennen.” DAS DEUTSCHE STECHEN (THE GERMAN GESTECH). Herr Wendelin Boeheim, in an article in the _Zeitschrift für historische Waffenkunde_,[22] says that the “old German Gestech” was far from having been introduced during the reign of the Emperor Maximilian I., as has often been supposed, but is of much earlier origin. This course depends much more on adroitness and skill than in the Italian joust, when the knights tilt with a barrier between them, and the rider gets no assistance from his charger, as the chanfrein is without ocularia, and sometimes its ears were stopped with wool. The lance, unlike that used in “rennen,” is tipped with a coronal.[23] The “Stechtarsche,” or small ribbed shield which is tied to the left shoulder by laces, affords grip to the coronal of the lance; and this is the point aimed at. The saddle used for this course has an upright front plate, but none behind, so that there was no impediment in “unhorsing.” Later, the front plate disappeared. The horse bears no bards beyond the chanfrein, but there is a cushion filled with straw fastened over the horse’s breast, as a protection against collision. There are several kinds of “Stechen,” but the rule in all is to have no leg armour, and this was in order to give the rider greater command over his seat: the lance hand bore no gauntlet. Quirin von Leitner gives a figure of the Emperor Maximilian I. armed for the German Gestech. [Illustration: Fig. 4.--Sharfrennen at Minden, ran in 1545.] [Illustration: Fig. 5.--Suit at Dresden for Sharfrennen, date 1554.] Instead of the fifteenth century sallad, a “Stechhelm” was worn in the sixteenth; and it was shaped something like a bucket. Brassards were always used in this course, while jambs and sollerets were usually dispensed with.