the year 1308:--
ix capellae ferratae at iv s.
iii vices ad eandem tendentes at ii s.
The earliest complete English inventory of tools connected with
the craft of the armourer occurs in the _Accounts of the Constable
of Dover Castle_. Two separate lists are given at different dates,
which may be studied with more convenience if placed side by
side:--[9]
_Dec. 20. 17 Edw. III, 1344._ _Jan. 26. 35 Edw. III, 1361._
Item in Fabrica. En la Forge.
ij maides[10] ij andefeltes de fer[10]
ij bicorn[11] j andefelte debruse
iij martellos magnos j bikore[11]
iij martellos parvos iij slegges[12]
ij tenaces magnas[13] iiij hammeres
v tenaces parvas[13] vj paires tanges dount deux grosses
ij instrumenta ad ferram iiij pensons febles[14]
cinendum[14] iij nailetoules per clause en icels
iiij instrumenta ferrea ad fair[14]
claves inficiendos[15] iij paire bulghes dount une nouvell[16]
ij paria flaborum[16] j peer moler[18]
j folour de ferro[17] ij fusels de feer aicele[19]
j mola de petra versatilis j paire de wynches[21] as meme la peer
pro ferreo acuendo[18] j trow de peer pur ewe[22]
ij ligamina de ferreo pro j hurthestaf de feer[23]
j buketto[20] j cottyngyre[24]
j markingyre[25] une cable vels et
pourz
All the above tools are in use at the present day, except perhaps
the “nailetoules” for closing the rivets, and, as has been stated
above, if we could but discover what this implement was we might
find that it is also used at the present day for some other
purpose. The nearest approach to such a tool is the eyelet-hole
maker and riveter used by bootmakers. The “bicornes” are still
known to-day as bickirons. They are small anvils with long horns
which are used when riveting tubes or turning over long pieces of
metal. It is a little uncertain as to whether the “folour” derives
its name from the same root as the modern French “fouloir,” a
“rammer,” or from the Latin “follis,” “bellows.” The former would
seem more probable, as it was made of iron. The “fusels de feer
aicele” present some difficulty, but they may be taken to be
spindles of some kind, possibly for the grindstones. The “wynches”
explain themselves, but the addition of “as meme la peer” is not so
clear, for from the next item “peer” evidently means “stone,” for
it is a trough of stone for water; at the same time the word “pair”
is often written “peer” at this period, so it may refer to a pair
of winches. The bellows, shears, and grindstone call for no special
comment, but the “hurthestaf” presents some difficulty. It would
seem to be derived from the word “hearth” or “herth,” in which case
it would probably be a long iron rod, rake, or poker, used for
tending the forge-fire. This seems to be borne out in the inventory
of 1514, where it is spelt “harth stake.” The “cottyngyre” and
“markingyre” may be found in every blacksmith’s shop to-day as
cold-chisels and marking-iron.
The next entry bearing upon the subject of tools and workshop
requirements is found in an _Inventory under Privy Seal of Henry
VI_, dated 1485, at which time John Stanley, of Wyrall, Cheshire,
was Sergeant of the Armoury of the Tower.[26] Here we find the
following items recorded:--
it’m ij yerds iij q’ters of corse rede sylke } All splendid and moch
It’m d’yerds d’q’reters of rede vele wet } more to coom of the
It’m iiij grosses of poyntes[27] } king’s harneys
It’m vj armyng nales[28] }
It’m hamer, j bequerne, j payr of pynsonys, iij pounde of wyre
which was sold by Mastr. Wylliam Fox amerer
The “bequerne” is the same as the “bicorn” mentioned in the Dover
Castle inventory.
In the earlier periods we have no records as to the material
used or the quantities required. It is only when we come to the
sixteenth century that we find detailed accounts kept to assist our
investigations respecting the making of armour.
The next inventory worthy of note contains a list of payments made
to John Blewbery, who was in charge of the workshops in 3 Henry
VIII, 1514.
_Public Record Office._
xviii September Also payde by Owre Commandement to John Blewbery
for the new fforge at Greenwiche made for the
Armarers of Brussells these peces ensuynge.
s. d.
a vyce xiii iv
a greate bekehorne lx
a smalle bekehorne xvi
a peyre of bellowes xxx
a pype stake[29] iii iv
a Creste stake[30] iv
a vysure stake[31] iv
a hanging pype stake[32] iv iv
a stake for the hedde pecys[33] v
ii curace stakes[34] x
iv peyre of Sherys[35] xl
iii platynge hamers[36] viii
iii hamers for the hedde pecys v
a creste hamer for the hedde peces xx
ii hamers ii viii
ii greve hamers[37] iii iv
a meeke hamer[38] xvi
ii pleyne hamers ii
ii platynge hamers ii
ii chesels wt. an halve viii
a creste hamer for the curace xii
ii Rewetinge hamers[39] xvi
a boos hamer[40] xii
xi ffylys[41] xi
a payre of pynsors xviii
ii payre of tongs xvi
a harth stake[42] vi
ii chesels & vi ponchons ii
a watr. trowgh xviii
a temperinge barrelle xii
one Andevyle xx
vi stokks to set the Tolys x
xvi dobles at xvi d every doble xxi iv
xviii quarters of Colys vi ix
in alle xiii li. xvi s. xi d.
Here we find the outfit more elaborate than that scheduled at
Dover. The various “stakes” in use show that there were special
appliances for making every part of the armour, both as regards the
anvils and the hammers. The “halve” with the two chisels is, of
course, the haft or handle, which could be fitted to either. The
“vi stokks to set the Tolys” are presumably handles in which the
tools were fixed. The “ponchons” are punches used in the repoussé
work. The “xvi dobles” were probably heavy iron models on which the
various pieces were shaped. Two specimens in the Tower (a morion,
IV, 227, and a breastplate, III, 209), are considered by the
present Curator to be dobles, for they are cast and not wrought,
are far too heavy for actual use, and have no holes for rivets or
for attaching the lining.
In the illustration given on Plate VI, taken from Hans Burgmair’s
_Weisz Künig_, many of these tools are shown in use. The engraving
was produced by an artist who was also a designer of armour, so
they would certainly be correctly drawn. The various small stakes
are all in use and all the work is being done with the metal cold,
for the men are holding it with their hands. This working of the
cold metal tends to compress the crystals and to make the metal
hard, and is more than once alluded to in works upon armour. Gaya,
in his _Traité des armes_,[43] mentions this detail, and again Jean
de Saulx-Tavannes[44] mentions “cuirasses battues à froid” when
speaking of armour of “proof,” which is also noticed in the present
work under that heading.
[Illustration: _PLATE VII_
ARMOUR OF KURFÜRST MORITZ. BY MATTHAÜS FRAUENPREIS, 1548]
The following extracts from various books and documents relate to
the tools and appliances of the armourer:--
1278. _Roll of Expenses for a tournament in Windsor Park._
It qualibet cresta j per chaston
These chastones or clavones were rivets for fastening the crests of
the knights and also of the horses. Most of the items in this roll
were supplied by curriers or tailors, for the weapons and armour
were of wood or leather, and metal does not seem to have been used.
1300. _Wardrobe Expenses of Edward I._[45]
Una Cresta cum clavis argenti pro eodem capello.
1301. _An indenture on the delivery of the Castle of Montgomery
by William de Leyburn to Hugo de Knoville._[46]
Unum incudem et i martellum et ii suffletis ovi valoris.
These are evidently the contents of the castle armourer’s workshop:
an anvil, a hammer, and a small pair of bellows of no value.
Perhaps such items are hardly worth chronicling, but in a work of
this nature it seems to be advisable to collect every entry bearing
upon the subject, so as to make it a complete study of the craft
of the armourer both technically and historically, as far as is
possible with the very limited material obtainable.
1369. _Dethe Blaunche, l. 9964._ Chaucer.
As hys brothres hamers ronge
upon hys anuelet up and doon.
1386. _Knight’s tale, l. 1649._ Chaucer.
Faste the armurers also
with fyle and hamer prikynge to and fro.
This refers to the travelling armourer who accompanied his lord to
the tournament or to war.
1465. _Acts. of Sir John Howard._
20,000 Bregander nayle 11s. 8d.
These are the small rivets used in making the brigandine. A
brigandine with sleeves at Madrid (c. 11) is composed of 3827
separate plates and over 7000 rivets were used in putting it
together.
1460 (?). _Ordinances of Chivalry, fol. 123b._[47]
Also a dosen tresses of armynge poyntis.
Also a hamyr and pynsones and a bicorne.
Also smale nayles a dosen.
The “tresses” were plaited laces for fastening the various portions
of armour to the wearer. These may be seen in the portrait of the
Duc de Nevers(?) at Hampton Court, the picture of S. Demetrius
by L’Ortolano in the National Gallery, and more clearly in the
portrait of an unknown navigator in the Fortnum Room of the
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. The arming-points will be found described
and illustrated on page 109.
1513. _Equipage of Henry, Earl of Northumberland._[48]
Emmery & oile for dressing my Lord’s harnes.
Leather, bokills & naylles for mendyng my Lords harnes.
Towles conserning the mending of my Lord’s harnes. Item a payre
of nyppers, a payre of pynsores, a pomyshe,[49] & ij fylles.
Item a small sti’the, a hammer, and all ouy^r stuffe and tooles
belonginge an armorer. Item viij yards of white blaunkett for
trussing of my Lord’s harnes in.
The emery and oil were used in cleaning the armour and will be
noticed in due course on page 78. The nippers, pincers, etc., have
been alluded to before. The “sti’the” is an anvil, a term used up
to Shakespeare’s time, as may be found in _Hamlet_, iii. 2, 89. All
these “Towles” or tools would be part of the travelling equipment
of the armourer who accompanied his lord on active service.
1514. _Record Office, 9 July, to John Blewbery._
For a millwheel with stondard, 2 beams & brasys [braces]
belonging thereto and two small wheels to drive the
glasys 40s.
For two elm planks for lanterns for the same mill 5s.
13 lbs. of tin at 5d. a lb. 5s. 5d.
28 lbs. of white soap for tempering the said mill at 2d. lb. 4s. 10d.
500 gauntlet nailes 8d.
100 & a half of iron 4/8, 3 rivetting hamers 2/- 6s. 8d.
a payre of pynsers 2/8, 4 crest fylys 4/- 6s. 8d.
2 greate fylys 5s.
100 & a half of steele for vambraces & gaunteletes 60s.
The mill-wheel was for the water-power used for turning the
grind-stones and other appliances which will be noticed later on
in this chapter. The “glasys” are probably the glazing-wheels for
putting the final polish upon the finished armour. The white soap
was for lubricating the axle of the mill-wheel or for the final
polish of the metal on the wheel or buff. The “gauntlet nailes” are
small rivets for gauntlets which, being of thinner metal, would
require a smaller-sized rivet than the rest of the body armour. The
steel for vambraces and gauntlets was probably thinner than that
used for other portions of the suit.
1514. _Record Office, 22 July, to John Blewbery._
for the glasyers of the said mill and one spindle to
the same glasyers £4 0 0
for a grind stone & the beam for the same mill 1 0 0
_Kings Book of Payments, Record Office._
1516. _Feb., to Edith, widow of Fountain, millman._
for milling & carriage of harness 15 0 0
1516. _Record Office_, _loc. cit._, _May, John Hardy, fishmonger_.
4 bundles of Isebrooke stuff for making parts of
harness £8 6 8
It is difficult to see why this payment should have been made
unless the fishmonger had imported the Innsbruck metal in one of
his boats. The term “Isebroke” will be found mentioned under the
chapter dealing with the Proving of Armour.
1517. _Record Office_, _loc. cit._, _April, to John de Mery_.
2541 lbs. of steel plates of Isebroke and Lymbrickes
stuff £26 12 0
The “Lymbricke” metal came from Limburg, in North Brabant.
1517. _Record Office_, _loc. cit._, _May, to Sir Edw. Guylford_.
making two forges & the repairs in the Armory at
Southwark £19 2 0
1520. _Record Office,[50] April, Richd. Pellande, Rauffe Brand,
Richd. Cutler, and Hans_, four of the King’s armourers, brought
to the Field of the Cloth of Gold all sorts of necessaries for
armour, such as buckles, files, chisels, punches, hinges, hides,
and rivets.
The glazing-mill was taken down at Greenwich and was set up at
Guisnes with four forges.
1544. _Cott. App. XXVIII, f 69, Brit. Mus._
Working in the privy Armoury upon the filing of the king’s
Majestie’s harnes & other necessaries from May 11-July 16. (This
is part of the account of Erasmus, the King’s armourer, who is
noticed elsewhere.)
1544. _Loc. cit., f. 76. Charges of the King’s Armoury._
Item 8 bundles of steel to the said Armoury for
the whole year 38/- the bundle li. xv iiii
(Lockers and Millmen are mentioned in this entry.)
On page 31 it was noted that in 1516 four bundles of steel cost £8
6s. 8d., in 1517 2541 lb. cost £26 12s., that is about 2½d. per lb.
From these three entries taken together we gather that the “bundle”
was about 20 lb.
1544. _Cott. App._[51] XXVIII, f. 76.
Item for 16 bundles of steel to serve both shops
a whole year at 38/- per bundle li. xxx viii
Item i hide of buff leather every month for both
shops at 10/- the hide vi x
Item to every of the said shops 4 loads of
charcoal a month 9/- the load xl xix
Item for both shops 1 cowhide every month at
6/8 the hide iv vi viii
Item 100 of iron every month for both shops at
6/8 the 100 iv vi viii
Item in wispe steel for both shops every month
15 lbs. at 4d. lb. lxv
Item in wire monthly to both shops 12 lb.
monthly at 4d. the lb. lii
Item in nayles & buckles for both shops monthly lxv
This record contains other details in connection with the two
workshops of Greenwich and Westminster, in which 12 armourers, 2
locksmiths, and 2 millmen and 2 prentices are employed who “will
make yearly, with the said 16 bundles of steel and the other stuff
aforesaid, 32 harnesses complete, every harness to be rated to the
king’s Highness at £12, which amounteth in the year towards his
Grace’s charge iii^c iiii^{xx} iiii^{li}” (£384).
From these details we can find approximately that the 32 suits
required 13 hundred of iron and 195 lb. of whisp steel. Therefore
each suit took 40¾ lb. of iron and about 6 lb. of whisp steel.
[Illustration: _PLATE VIII_
ARMOUR OF HENRY VIII FOR FIGHTING ON FOOT IN THE LISTS]
The leather was either for straps and linings for the armour, or
may have been used for facing the polishing-wheels or “buffs.” The
year was divided into thirteen lunar months.
1559. _Henry V, iv, chorus._ Shakespeare.
The Armourers accomplishing the knights
With busy hamers closing riuets up.
This is more or less a poetic licence, for the riveting was only
done on each separate piece, and these were joined on the wearer
with straps, arming-points, or turning-pins. Of course this entry
should be taken as made at the year when Shakespeare wrote, and not
as representing an actual occurrence at Agincourt.
1562. _State Papers Domestic, Elizabeth, Vol. XXI_, 14.
Due also to the armorers of the Tower for their wages &
for leather, buckels, nailes & other paiments in indent
to the said armory at the feast of Christmas last past vj^{li} xv^s
In this entry are mentioned arming nails, butret nails, hammers,
punshions, sheres, fyles, sand for scouring, cords, points,
oyletholes, tow and butten nails.
1574. _State Papers Domestic, Elizabeth, Vol. XCIX_, 50.
The monthly charge ordinary, vez coles, stele
Iron nayles, buckills & lether &c. vij^{li}
1593. _Auditor’s Privy Seal Book_, 353.
Elizabeth to the Treasurer & Chamberlain of the Exchequer.
Whereas we ... are informed that the mills serving for our
Armoury at Greenwich are decayed, you are to pay to Sir H. Lee
such sums as are necessary for the repairs ... for the mills not
to exceed £80.
1622. _Record Office, Sir Henry Lee’s Accounts of the Armoury._
The following details are mentioned:--
Redskins for bordering of armour, calfskins for the same, leather
for gauntlets, Round headed nails, Tynned nails, flat headed
nails, white nails, yellow nails, double buckels, buckels, nails
and taches for gantlets, copper nails, brockases, tacejoyntz.
The “nails” here mentioned are rivets of iron or brass or copper.
Some were tinned to prevent rusting, a custom which was practised
as early as 1361, for we find in one of the inventories of Dover
Castle[52] under that date “xiii basynetz tinez.” The “taches” for
gauntlets were fastenings of some kind, possibly turning-pins. The
“brockases” were also probably brooches or fastenings of some sort,
and the “tacejoyntz” hinges for attaching the tassets to the taces.
1624. _State Papers Domestic, Jac. I, Vol. CLXXX_, 71, 72.
_Erection of Plating-mills by Capt. Martin at Erith._ (This
document is quoted at length in Appendix J, p. 188.)
The rates for Plaetes and armors exectly examined for the prices the
strength and lightness considered are thus reduced.
The chardge of a tun of Armer plaetes £18 0 0
Two chaldron of coles wt. carriadge will be 11 2 0
Reparation for the mill 12 0
The workmen for battering this tun of plaetes 4 0 0
The armourers may make them wt due shape black
nayle and lether them for 7 10 0
etc. etc.
The entries in this document will be examined fully on page 41.
1631. _Fœdera, xix, p_. 312. Rymer.
Unstriking new fyling russetting new nayling lethering
and lyning of a cuirassiers armor i iii 0
This entry occurs in a document under the Privy Seal of Charles
I, dated Westminster, June 29, which refers to the using of a
hall-mark for armour. The principal portion of this is given in
Appendix K, page 191.
1643. _State Papers Domestic, Car. I, Nov. 20._
Letter from Privy Seal to treasurer & under Treasurer of
Exchequer to pay Wm. Legg Master of the Armoury £100 by way
of imprest upon account to be employed in building a mill at
Woolvercote near Oxford for grinding swords & for building forges
providing tools & other necessaries for sword blade makers to be
employed to make swords for our service.
1644. _State Papers Domestic, Car. I, D, Feb. 26._
Warrant of the Privy seal to Exchequer.
By our special command Legg has caused to be erected a mill
for grinding swords at Woolvercote co Gloucester & forges at
Gloucester Hall, you are therefore to pay upon account to Wm.
Legg Master of the Armory a sum not exceeding £2000 for grinding
swords and belts in the office of the armory the same to be made
at the usual price and according to pattern as by us appointed
also to provide tools and other necessaries for sword blade
making employed by the said Master of the Armory.
In the second of these extracts “co Gloucester” is a slip of the
pen due to the close proximity of “Gloucester Hall.” It should of
course read “Oxford.” The mill was originally owned by the nuns
of Godstow, who received it from Henry I. It is now used by the
Clarendon Press for paper-making. Gloucester Hall is now Worcester
College. There are no records either in the city or university to
throw more light on these entries.
1649. _Parliamentary Survey, Feb., No. 30._
The Armory Mill consisted of two little rooms and one large one
in which stood two mills, then lately altered. The mill with
stables stood in an acre of ground abutting on Lewisham Common
and was used till about twelve years before the above date for
grinding armour and implements for the King’s tilt-yard.
The mill is described in the rental of the manor, 44 Edw. III,
1371, as one for grinding steel and valued at 3s. 4d. per ann.
1660. _Harl. MSS._ 7457.
A view and Survey of all the Armour and other Munitions or
Habiliaments of Warr remayneing at the Tower of London.[53]
Armorers Tooles.
Small bickernes, Tramping stakes,[54] Round stake,[55] Welting
stake,[56] straite sheres,[57] fileing tonges, Hamers, Old tew
iron,[58] Great square anvill, Bellows, Smiths vices, Threstles.
The entry which refers to the loss of the “Great Bear,” a large
anvil formerly at Greenwich, is given in full in Appendix M.
Before leaving the subject of tools and appliances, some notice
should be taken of the picture by Jan Breughel (1575-1632) entitled
“Venus at the Forge of Vulcan” (Kais. Friedrich Mus., Berlin,
No. 678), which measures 54 cm. by 93 cm. Here all the various
operations of the armourer and gun-founder are shown, with a
large quantity of armour, weapons, bells, coins, and goldsmith’s
work. The details of especial interest are the grindstones and
“glazing-wheels,” and the “tilt-hammers” worked by water-power,
which were probably the machines used in the “battering-mills” more
than once alluded to above. These water-turned hammers continued
in use in England up to the first quarter of the nineteenth
century,[59] and are still found in Italy at the present day.
They are raised by wooden cams or teeth set round the axle of the
water-wheel, to which a handle is fixed on the near side for use
when water-power was not available. The chisel-edge of the hammer
is for stretching the metal by means of a series of longitudinal
hammerings. Of the grindstones actuated by the same water-power,
the larger would be for rough work, the second for finer finish,
and the smallest, which is probably a wooden “buff,” would be used
for the high polish at the end.
It is impossible here to give a detailed description of this
very interesting picture, which has been considered elsewhere by
the present author.[60] At the same time the tools shown in this
workshop are worthy of notice as being part of the stock-in-trade
of the armourer of the seventeenth century.
[Illustration: _PLATE IX_
FRONT AND BACK OF BRASSARD, 1470
INSIDE OF LEG ARMOUR OF SUIT ON PLATE VIII
CUISSE, 1470]
[Illustration: FIG. 17. Burring-machine or “Jenny” (see
frontispiece).]
To the left of the tilt-hammers, in the foreground, are a pair
of large bench-shears, and above them, on a cooling-trough, just
below the magpie, is a long-handled swage for stamping grooves and
edgings on metal plates. Tongs, pincers, and hammers are found in
many parts of the picture, and dies for stamping coins or medals
are seen immediately below the bench-shears. Directly under the
right foot of Vulcan is a tracing-wheel, similar to that shown
on Jost Amman’s engraving of the “Compass Maker” in his _Book of
Trades_. A small bench-vice lies near the lower margin of the
picture under the figure of Cupid, and a hand-vice and repoussé
hammer on the three-legged stool to the left. In the distance,
over the figure of Venus, is the primitive contrivance for boring
a cannon, the mould for casting which is seen close by in the
floor. The most interesting detail is to be found in the machine
which lies at the foot of the small anvil at Cupid’s right hand.
This bears a strong resemblance to the modern burring-machine or
“jenny,” used for turning up the edge of thin metal plates (Fig.
17).
The armour shown, with its strongly marked volutes and
decoration, is of a type very common in the Madrid and Turin
armouries, some of which has been ascribed to Pompeo della Chiesa.
We have no clue as to whose workshop this picture represents,
but if taken from life, it must certainly have been that of some
master like Bartolomeo Campi, who, besides being an armourer, was
a bronze-founder and goldsmith as well (see Frontispiece).
FOOTNOTES:
[8] The present writer is commissioning research to this end in
Syria, where the craft still survives.
[9] _Arch. Journ._, XI, 380.
[10] Anvils.
[11] Bickiron.
[12] Sledge-hammer.
[13] Pincers and tongs.
[14] Tools for closing rivets.
[15] Shears.
[16] Bellows.
[17] Rammer (bellows?).
[18] Grindstone.
[19] Spindles (?).
[20] Bucket-hoops.
[21] Winches.
[22] Stone water-trough.
[23] Hearth-stick, poker.
[24] Cutting-iron, shears or cold-chisel.
[25] Marking-iron.
[26] _Archæologia_, XIV, 123; also Meyrick, _Antient Armour_, II, 119.
[27] See page 109.
[28] Rivets.
[29] Round-horned anvil for making tubes.
[30] For beating up a helmet-crest.
[31] For visors.
[32] Uncertain.
[33] Helmet-stake.
[34] For the cuirass.
[35] Shears.
[36] Heavy hammers.
[37] hammers for greaves.
[38] (?)
[39] Riveting-hammer.
[40] Embossing-hammer.
[41] Files.
[42] Poker.
[43] Reprint (Clar. Press, Oxon, 1911), edited by Charles ffoulkes.
[44] _Mém. rel. à l’hist. de France_ (Paris, 1866), p. 191, col. 1.