SOLLERETS.
Sollerets are a better guide as to date of armour even than gauntlets, particularly after the fourteenth century, for reasons given under the head of the last-named. The earlier sollerets of overlapping plates were of extravagant length. This form followed the prevailing fashion in shoes, and hence the name “à la poulaine” from “souliers à la poulaine.” The long form was much modified during the last quarter of the fourteenth century and well into the fifteenth, but it became in vogue again later in the century with enormous tips, the length from toe to heel being up to twenty-four inches. The instep of chain-mail was not uncommon in the fourteenth century and even later. The sollerets of the Black Prince were of enormous length. The tips could, however, be disconnected at pleasure. The shorter form was styled “demi-poulaine” or “ogivale lancette.” A variety called “ogivale tiers-point” largely prevailed in the second half of the fifteenth century. When ridged and escalloped armour was replaced by “Maximilian,” sollerets were wide and short—in fact the shape of a bear’s paw or cow’s mouth, spreading out at the sides, and requiring very broad stirrups; but when fluted armour was discontinued the shape became gradually narrower, and after the middle of the century more like that of the foot; still there are very late instances of the “bear-paw” form. This variety was styled “bec-de-cane,” which differs, however, from the “tiers-point” of the fifteenth century. Sollerets disappeared altogether with the jamb, the jackboot taking their place.[29] These pieces in laminated plates are shown on the Daubernoun brass, and continue to occur on such monuments.