Fig. 304.—Tuilles, &c., Henry Parice, 1465. Hildersham Church, Cambs.
Fig. 305.—Sir Robert Harcourt, c. 1472. Stanton Harcourt, Oxon.
Leg Defences.—These did not undergo such decided transformations as the remaining portions of the armour, but a few innovations deserve attention. Until 1450 there was no decided change from the style prevailing in the Surcoatless Period, with perhaps the exception that the reinforcing plate of the genouillière protecting the grevière had a tendency to lengthen, but was still cut off square. After the above date we find that it is generally pointed in the lower part and laminated, while reinforcing plates begin to appear above the genouillière protecting the thigh and often overlapping each other. An unusual reinforcement for the genouillière is shown in [Fig. 306]; it is of chain mail and occurs upon a suit in the Wallace Collection dated 1470. The actual cap covering the knee did not undergo much change, except that it was often prominent and ridged, but one innovation, and a marked one, is exhibited upon a few brasses (in the Grey brass, St. Albans, for example), where the usual outer guard is prolonged round the back of the knee in order to protect the gousset generally shown there. A peculiar variety of genouillière is delineated in [Fig. 307], where a spike is seen projecting from the guard, and a considerable number of lames and reinforcements are shown. It is difficult to see the possible use of this spike, and one can only suppose that it was so placed to annoy the horse of an antagonist when at close quarters. It is from Roy. MS. 18, E. IV. The sollerets remain pointed, and were often of extravagant length, but with less lames as a rule than in the early part of the century; towards the end, about 1490, they disappeared and became extinct, the broad-toed “sabbatons” taking their place. Those of Piers Gerard, 1492, Winwick, Lancashire, are early examples of this fashion ([Fig. 308]).
Fig. 306.—Reinforcement to genouillière, c. 1470 (Wallace Collection.)
