REINFORCING PIECES FOR THE TILT-YARD.
These may be divided into two classes, viz., those extra pieces appertaining to purely tilting armour, made specially for the lists, and those used to augment the strength of ordinary fighting suits donned for the lists. The former class comprises the grand-guard and volant-piece, often in one plate, but sometimes screwed together, the latter piece being provided with an ocularium on the right side only. These plates defend the breast and face. A small wooden shield, plated and covered with leather for the left shoulder, screwed or tied on. This piece is in some courses the objective of the lance. The heavy elbow-guard which protects the elbow, and half-way up and down the arm. The German tilting arm-guard and gauntlet was often in one piece from the shoulder. The right side is further protected by an enormous vamplate, which in the German form covered half the arm on both sides of the elbow. There is also a large knee-plate, the Germans call a “diechlinge,” which is sometimes fastened to the saddle, the leg passing between it. This piece is more especially used in “Sharfrennen.” Suits for “rennen” and “stechen” were usually made so that they could be worn by any man of anything like medium height, and it was quite common for one knight to borrow the harness of another.
Fig. 10. Reinforcing Pieces.
No. 1 is the Breastplate for Tilting, and on it are the holes for the insertion of the screws of the Lance rest. It differs but little from the ordinary Fighting Breastplate with the suit.
No. 2 is an extra protection for the left breast and shoulder. This is the Grandguard.
No. 3 is the Volant-piece, a protection for breast, neck, and face.[24]
No. 4 is the Cabasset for the suit.
Fig. 11.—Reinforcing Pieces.