Fig. 373.—Peascod breastplate. (Tower of London.)
Fig. 374.—Breastplate. (Tower of London.)
Fig. 375.—Laminated peascod breastplate. (T. of London.)
The Pauldrons are invariably furnished with large pike-guards; the left differs from the right, which is hollowed to receive the lance, with a roundel falling over it for protection. The arm defences are laminated where possible, and large butterfly coudières occur. In some suits the inside bend of the arms, and also the backs of the knees, are protected by a series of laminated plates affording great protection while allowing complete freedom of movement; the beautiful workmanship and accurate adjustment of these lames are especially noteworthy. An example from the Wallace Collection is given in [Fig. 376]; there are two examples in that museum and another in the Tower, upon a suit made for Henry VIII. for fighting on foot.
The Cuisses, &c.—These are long, and furnished with one or more laminated plates at the tops for flexibility. They are generally complete, covering the back of the leg as well as the front; to insure mobility the back at times is composed of lames. The genouillières are small and tight-fitting, but provided with large plates to protect the back of the knee. The jambarts are close-fitting and of fine form, and these are the only parts undecorated with fluting which appears more or less over the whole suit. Sabbatons are of the bear’s paw pattern, the toes being at times of remarkably wide dimensions.