(_From a Correspondent._)
Previous to the time of Edward I., the body-armour may be distinguished
by the appellations of _trelliced, ringed, rustred, mascled, scalad,
tegulated, single-mailed_, and _banded_. The _trelliced_ method
has not been properly ascertained: it probably consisted of leather
thongs, crossed, and so disposed as to form large squares placed
angularly, with a round knob or stud in the centre of each. The
_ringed_ consisted of flat rings of steel, placed contiguous to
each other, on quilted linen. The _rustred_ was nothing more than
one row of flat rings, about double the size of those before used, laid
half over the other, so that two in the upper partially covered one
below. _Mascled_; the hauberk composed of several folds of linen,
covered with diamond-shaped pieces of steel touching each other, and
perforated: so called from their resemblance to the _meshes_ of a
net. _Scaled_; formed of small pieces of steel like the scales of
fish, partially overlaying each other. This species was used only during
the reigns of Henry II and Richard I. The _tegulated_ consisted of
little square plates, partly covering one another, like tiles.
_Single Mail_ was composed of rings set edgeways on quilted linen.
It came into use about the close of John's reign, and continued to be
partially worn till that of Edward I. At the commencement of Henry
III.'s reign, it covered not only the head, but hands, legs, and feet.
It was very heavy, and likewise the rings were liable to be cut off by
the blow of a sword; which latter circumstance, perhaps, introduced the
contrivance of _banded_ armour, which was composed of parallelogramic
pieces of metal, sown on linen, so placed as to fold perpendicularly
over each other, like palings, and kept in their places by bandy or
hoops of leather.
We now come to the _Double-chain Mail_, consisting of interlaced
rings, which made its first appearance in the triumphant reign of Edward
I. It is said to be of Asiatic invention, and was composed of four rings
within a fifth, each of which was rivetted. _Single-chain mail_ was
worn by the Crusaders, in Henry III's time; and when the number of rings
was doubled, it became _double-chain mail_. Its great advantages
were compactness and pliability. Horses were now clothed in mail.
In the latter part of Edward III.'s reign, the _double-chain mail_
became so covered with pieces of steel as to cause them in a little time
to supersede it altogether. This, therefore, was termed _mixed_.
The _double-chain_ hauberk had been found, owing to its weight, to
press injuriously upon the chest; to remedy which, a breastplate of
steel was contrived, which being placed underneath, kept the mail from
pressing upon the stomach. The throat was protected by a chain-covering
that surrounded the neck, and hung down to the shoulders like a tippet.
We now come to _Plate Armour_. In Henry IV.'s reign, the adoption
of the _mixed_ armour soon pointed out, by experience, the
inutility of retaining the _ringed_ hauberk. The thighs and legs
were no longer covered with _double-chain mail_, and the arms only
partially. A back-plate was added, which, with the breast-plate, formed
a cuirass. During the use of _mixed_ armour, the arms, thighs,
knees, and legs were covered with plates of metal; and for the hands
were invented gloves of plate, with fingers, called _gauntlets_.
From the Conquest to the time of Richard III., the fashion was to ride
with the toes down; after which period, the heel was dropped, and the
toe raised. Spurs were not screwed to the armour before the time of
Henry V.
No higher degree of perfection was ever attained in armour than during
the reign of Richard III. The outline of the suit was most elegant, the
workmanship most elaborate, and the choice of ornaments full of taste.
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