The armourer and his craft from the XIth to the XVIth century
Part 17
_Tresses_, plaited laces or arming-points.
_Trilobed scales_, triple scales in one piece sewn upon the brigandine.
_Trombone_, It. a heavy pistol, blunderbuss.
_Trousse_, Fr. a quiver.
_Trumelière_, Fr. see jamb.
_Tuck_, see estoc.
_Tuile_, Fr. see tassets.
_Tuilette_, Fr. small tassets as on tomb of Rich. Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick.
_Turcasso_, It. quiver.
_Turves_, probably a turban or orle worn on the helmet.
U
_Umbo_, the boss upon a shield.
_Umbril_, the shade or brim of head-pieces of XVII cent.
_Uncin_, war pickaxe.
_Uncino_, O.It. a broad-pointed arrow, a hook, =F=.
_Unterarmzeug_, Germ. vambrace.
_Usbergo_, O.It. breastplate, vamplate, =F.=
V
_Vambrace_, the plate defence for the fore-arm.
_Vamplate_, a circular shield through which the tilting and war lances were fixed above the grip.
_Vedoil_, a weapon used by foot-soldiers, possibly a voulge.
_Velette_, O.It. a horse-soldier’s coat, =F=.
_Venetian sallad_, a sallad of the XV-XVI cent.; formed like the ancient Greek helmet with fixed visor, but evolved from the bascinet.
_Ventaglio_, It. } _Ventail_, Fr. } the lower part of the visor when it is _Ventalle_, Sp. } made in two parts.
_Vervelles_, the staples on the bascinet to which the carvail was laced.
_Vireton_, an arrow for the crossbow with curving wings, to produce a spinning motion.
_Visera_, It. } _Visor_, } that part of the helmet, movable or fixed, _Vista_, Sp. } which protects the eyes.
_Volant-piece_, reinforcing piece for the tilt to protect the breast and lower half of the face; possibly a spring breastplate.
_Volet_, the round disc at the back of the armet.
_Volet_, Fr. an arrow or dart.
_Vor-arm_, Germ. see vambrace.
_Vorderfluge_, Germ. the front plate of the pauldron.
_Vorhelm_, Germ. see placcate.
_Voulge_, a weapon somewhat similar to the Lochaber axe; used mostly by the peasants.
_Voyders_, see gussets.
_Voyding knife_, a knife for disembowelling deer.
_Vuiders_, } see gussets. _Vuyders_, }
W
_Wafter_, English dummy blade for fencing, XVI cent.
_Wambais_, see gambeson.
_Wappen rock_, Germ. a cloak decorated heraldically.
_Welsches gestech_, German name for the Italian course of jousting over the tilt or barrier with blunted lance.
_Whiffler_, a two-hand swordsman who cleared the way in processions.
_Wifle_, a practice-sword, possibly a two-hander.
_Winbrede_, } see gagnepain. _Wynbred_, }
_Wire hat_, see coif.
Z
_Zucchetto_, It. a species of burgonet, XVII cent.
_Zweyhander_, Germ. two-handed sword.
APPENDIX A
DOCUMENT FROM THE RECORDS OF THE ARMOURERS’ COMPANY, LONDON, 1322
This is a regulation that no armourer should attempt to sell _Bascuettes_ (Bascinets) covered with fabric, but should show them uncovered, so that the workmanship might be seen and approved.
ARMOURERS’ COMPANY OF LONDON
Lib. C, fol. 33, 15 Edw. II, 1322
Edward ye Second
Be it remembered that in ye hustinge of comon plaes holden ye Mondaie in ye feaste of ye conversion of Saint Paule, ye yere of ye reigne of our Lord ye king Edward, ye son of king Edward, xv th., in ye presence of Sir Hamen de Chigewelle then Maior, Nicholas de farringdon and by assent of Hugh de Auggeye, &c. Armorers. It is was ordeyned for ye comon proffyt and assented that from henceforth all Armor made in ye Cytie to sell be good and convenable after ye forme that henceforth That is to saie that an Akton and Gambezon covered with sendall or of cloth of Silke be stuffed with new clothe of cotten and of cadar and of oldn sendal and not otherwise. And that ye wyite acketonnes be stuffed of olde lynnen and of cottone and of new clothe wth in and wth out. Also forasmuch as men have founde old bascuette broken and false now newly covered by men that nothing understand of ye mystery wh be putt in pryvie places and borne out into ye contrye out of ye said Cytie, to sell and in ye same citie of wh men may not gaine knowledge whether they be good or ill, of ye wh thinge greate yill might fall to ye king and his people, and a greate slaunder to ye Armorers aforesaid and to all ye Cytie. It is ordeyned and assented that no Farrar ne other man that maketh ye Irons of bascuette hereafter so to be covered no bascuett by himself to sell be free but that he shall sell out of his hande will open and ungarnished as men have used before this tyme. And ye which shall abide ungarnished until they be sene by the myor that shall be sworn or by ny of Cz’ens whether they be convenable to garnishe or no. And there be found in any Court of Armorers or else where in wch Court is Armor for to sell, whatsoever it be, that is not proffytable or otherwise than is ordeyned and none be it taken and brought before ye Maior and Aldermen and hys Czens to be demed good or ill after their discretion. And for the wch thing well and lawfully to be kept and surveyed Roger Savage Willm. De Langgull, Richard Johonnez (John Conny) being sworne. And if they myor may not attend that ij of them Do that longeth thereto.
Fol. 135. ffirst it is a general Article ordeyned for all ye crafte of London and centred in ye Chamber of ye Guildhall of ye said City in ye booke wth ye letter C in ye xxxv leaffe in ye tyme of Adam Bury Maior, in ye yere of ye reigne of king Ed. ye thirde after ye conquest.
Lib. v. xd. It is ordeyned that all ye crafte of ye citie of London be truely ruled and governed every person in his nature in due maner so that no falsehood ne false workemanshipp nor Deceipt be founde in no maner wise in any of ye foresaid crafte for ye worshipp of ye good folke of all ye same crafte and for the comon proffytt of ye people.
APPENDIX B
REGULATIONS OF THE HEAUMERS, 21 EDWARD III, 1347
City of London Letter Book F, fol. cxlii
The Points of the Articles touching the trade of Helmetry accepted by Geffrey de Wychingham, Mayor, and the Aldermen at the suit and request of the folks of the said trade:--
In the first place that no one of the said trade shall follow or keep seld of the trade aforesaid within the franchise of the City of London until he shall have properly bought his freedom, according to the usages of the said City, on pain of losing his wares.
Also forasmuch as heretofore some persons coming in who are strangers have intermeddled and still do intermeddle in the making of helmetry, whereas they do not know the trade, by reason whereof many great men and others of the realm have been slain through their default, to the great scandal of the said trade: It is ordained that no person shall from henceforth intermeddle with or work at helmetry if he be not proved to be a good, proper, and sufficient workman by the Wardens of the said trade on pain of forfeiture to the use of the Chamber.
Also that three or four if need be of the best workmen of the said trade shall be chosen and sworn to rule the trade well and properly as is befitting for security and safety of the great men and others of the realm, and for the honour and profit of the said City and of the workers of the said trade.
Also that no apprentice shall be received by any master of the said trade for less than seven years; and that without collusion or fraud on paying to the said Chamber 100 shillings.
Also that no one of the said trade or other person of the Franchise shall set any stranger to work who is of the said trade if he be not a proper and lawful person, and one for whom the master will answer as to his good behaviour, on pain of paying to the said Chamber 20 shillings.
Also that no apprentice of the said trade who shall be indebted to his master in any sum of money at the end of his term shall serve henceforth any other person than his own master, nor shall he depart from such service or be into the service of another person in any way received until he shall have fully given satisfaction for his debt to his master. And he who shall receive in any other manner the servant or apprentice of another person shall pay to the said Chamber 20 shillings.
Also that helmetry and other arms forged by the hammer which are brought from the parts without this land beyond the seas, or from any other place unto the said City for sale, shall not from henceforth be in any way offered for sale privily or openly until they have been properly assayed by the aforesaid Wardens and marked with their mark, on pain of forfeiting such helmetry and arms to the said Chamber as shall be so offered for sale.
Also that each one of the makers aforesaid shall have his own mark and sign, and that no one of them shall counterfeit the sign or mark of another on pain of losing his freedom until he shall have bought the same back again and made satisfaction to him whose sign he shall have so counterfeited, and further he shall pay to the Chamber 40 shillings.
Wardens of the same trade chosen and sworn, ROBERT DE SHIRWODE, RICHARD BRIDDE, THOMAS CANOUN.
APPENDIX C
TREATISE OF WORSHIP IN ARMS, BY JOHAN HILL, ARMOURER TO HENRY VI, 1434
TRAYTESE OF THE POYNTES OF WORSHIP IN ARMES BY JOHAN HYLL, ARMORER SERGEANT IN THE KINGE’S ARMORY 1434
Bod. Lib., Ashmole. MS. 856, art. 22, pp. 376-83
[376] Too my leve Lordes here nowe next folowinge is a Traytese compyled by Johan Hyll Armorier Sergeant in the office of Armory wt. Kinges Henry ye 4th and Henry ye 5th of ye poyntes of Worship in Armes and how he shall be diversely Armed & gouverned under supportacion of faveur of alle ye Needes to coverte adde & amenuse where nede is by the high comandement of the Princes that have powair so for to ordeyne & establishe
The first Honneur in Armes is a Gentilman to fight in his Souverain Lords quarell in a bataille of Treason sworne withinne Listes before his souverain Lorde whether he be Appellant or Defendant ye honneur is his that winneth ye feelde.
As for the appellant thus Armed by his owne witte or by his counsaille wch is assigned to him before Conestable & Marchall ye wch Counsaille is ordeyned & bounden to teche hym alle maner of fightynge & soteltees of Armes that longeth for a battaile sworne
First hym nedeth to have a paire of hosen of corde wtoute vampeys And the saide hosen kutte at ye knees and lyned wtin wt Lynnen cloth byesse as the hose is A payre of shoen of red Lether thynne laced & fretted underneth wt whippecorde & persed, And above withinne Lyned wt Lynnen cloth three fyngers in brede double & byesse from the too an yncle above ye wriste. And so behinde at ye hele from the Soole halfe a quarter of a yearde uppe this is to fasten wele to his Sabatons And the same Sabatons fastened under ye soole of ye fote in 2 places hym nedeth also a petycote of an overbody of a doublett, his petycote wt oute sleves, ye syses of him 3 quarters aboute wt outen coler. And that other part noo ferther thanne [377] ye waste wt streyte sieves and coler and cutaine oylettes in ye sleves for ye vaunt bras and ye Rerebrase
Armed in this wise First behoveth Sabatouns grevis & cloos quysseux wt voydours of plate or of mayle & a cloos breche of mayle wt 5 bokles of stele ye tisseux of fyne lether. And all ye armyng poyntes after they ben knytte & fastened on hym armed that ye poyntes of him be kutte of
And thanne a paire of cloos gussetts strong sclave not drawes and thatye gussets be thre fingers withinne his plates at both assises And thanne a paire of plattes at xx li lib weight his breste & his plats enarmed to ... wt wyre or wt poyntes. A pair of Rerebraces shitten withinne the plates before wt twi forlockes and behinde wt thre forlocks. A paire of vaunt bras cloos wt voydours of mayle & fretted. A pair of gloves of avantage wche may be devised. A basnet of avauntage for ye listes whiche is not goode for noon other battailles but man for man save that necessitie hath noo lawe, the basnet locked baver & vysour locked or charnelled also to ye brest & behynde wt two forlockes. And this Gentilman appellent aforesaide whanne he is thus armed & redy to come to ye felde do on hym a cote of armes of sengle tarten ye beter for avauntage in fighting. And his leg harneys covered alle wt reed taritryn the wche ben called tunictes for he coverynge of his leg harneys is doen because his adversarie shal not lightly espye his blode. And therefore also hen his hosen reed for in alle other colours blode wol lightly be seyne, for by the oolde tyme in such a bataile there shulde noo thing have be seyn here save his basnett & his gloves. And thanne tye on hym a payre of besagewes. Also it fitteth the [378] foresaide counsaille to goo to ye kyng the daye before ye bataille & aske his logging nigh ye listes. Also ye foresaide Counsaille must ordeyne hym the masses ye first masse of ye Trinitie ye seconde of ye Holy Goste & ye thirde of owre Ladye or elles of what other sainte or saintes that he hath devocion unto
And that he be watched alle that night ... hym that he is watched and light in his Chambre alle that night that his counsaille may wite how that he slepeth. And in ye mornyng whanne he goeth to his Masses that his herneys be leyed at ye North end of ye Auter and covered wt a cloth that ye gospell may be redde over it and at ye laste masse for to be blessed wt ye preist and whanne he hath herde his Masses thanne to goo to his dyner. And soo to his Armyng in ye forme aforesaide. And whanne he is armed and alle redy thanne to come to ye feelde in forme to fore rehersed, thanne ... his counsaille bounden to counsaille hym & to teche hym how he shal gouverne hym of his requests to ye kyng or he come into ye feelde and his entrie into ye felde and his gouvernance in the feelde for ye saide Counsaille hath charge of hym before Constable and Mareschal til that Lesses les aller be cryed. The whiche requestes ben thus that ye saide Appellant sende oon his counsaille to the kyng for to requeste hym that whanne he cometh to ye barrers to have free entrie wt his counsaille Confessour & Armorers wt alle maner of Instruments wt breede & wyne hymself bringing in in an Instrument that is to saye a cofre or a pair of bouges. Also their fyre cole & belyes and that his chayre wt [379] certaine of his Servants may be brought into ye feelde and sette up there the houre of his comyng that it may cover hym and his counsaille whanne he is comen into ye feelde this forsaide gentilman Appellant comyng to ye Listes whether he wol on horsebak or on fote wt his counsaille Confessour & other Servaunts aforesaide havyng borne be fore hym by his counsaille a spere a long swerde a short swerde & a dagger fastined upon hymself his swerdes fretted and beasagewed afore ye hiltes havyng noo maner of poyntes for and ther be founden that day on hym noo poyntes of wepons thanne foirre, it shall tourne hym to gret reproof. And this gentilman appellant that come to ye barrers at ye Southeest sone, his visier doune And he shal aske entrie where shal mete hym Constable and Mareschal and aske hym what art thou. And he shal saye I am suche a man & telle his name to make goode this day by ye grace of God that I have saide of suche a man and tell hys name bifore my Souain Lord and they shal bidde hym putte up his visier and whanne he hath put up his visier they shal open the barrers and lette hym inne and his counsaille before hym & wt hym his Armorers & his servaunts shal goo streight to his chayer wt his breed his wyne & alle his instruments that longe unto hym save his weppons. And whanne he entreth into the felde that he blesse hym soberly and so twys or he come to before his Souverain Lord And his Counsailles shall do thair obeisaunce before thair souverain Lord twys or they come to the degrees of his scaffolde and he to obeye him wt his heed at both tymes Then whanne they to fore thair souverain Lord they shal knele a downe and he also they shal aryse or he aryse he shal obeye hym at his heed to his souverain Lord and then aryse and whanne he is up on his feete he shal blesse hym and turne hym to his chayre and at the entryng of his chayr [380] soberly tourne hym his visage to his souverain Lord wards and blesse hym and thanne tourne hym againe and soo go into his chayre and there he maye sitte hym downe and take of his gloves and his basnet and so refresh hym till the houre of hys Adversarie approche wt breed and wyne or wt any other thing that he hath brought in wt hym. And whanne the Defendaunt his Adversarie cometh in to the feelde that he be redy armed againe or that he come into the feelde standing withoute his chayre taking hede of his Adversaries comyng in and of his countenance that he may take comfort of. And whanne the defendant his Adversarie is come int ye felde and is in his chayre thanne shal the kyng send for his wepons and se him and the Conestable and the Marschal also and if they be leefull they shal be kept in the feelde & kutte the same day by ye comaundement of the kyng and the Conestable and Mareschal in ye kynge’s behalve. And thanne fitteth to the foresaide counsaille to arme hym and to make hym redy against that he be called to his first ooth and whanne he is called to his first oothe thanne fitteth it to alle his counsaille to goo wt hym to his first ooth for to here what the Conestable and Mareschal seyen unto hym and what contenaunce he maketh in his sweryng And whanne he hath sworne they shl ryse up by ye comaundement of the Conestable and Mareschal. And whanne he is on his feete he shal obey hym to his Souverain Lord and blesse hym and thanne turne hym to his chayre his visage to his souveraine Lord wards and in his goinge blesse hym twys by ye weye or he come to his chayre. And at ye [381] entryng to his chayre soberly tourne hym his visage to his Souverain Lord wards and blesse hym and soo go into his chayre. Thanne fitteth it to his fore saide Counsaille to awayte where the defendaunt shal come to his first ooth and that they be ther as sone as he for to here how he swereth for he must nedes swere that al that ever th appellant hath sworne is false substance and alle. And if he wol not swere that every worde & every sillable of every worde substance and alle is false the Counsaille of ye saide appellant may right wisly aske jugement by lawe of Civile and raison of Armes forafter ye juge is sette there shulde noo plee be made afore hym that daye.
And if so be that the Defendant swere duly thanne ye Counsaille of the foresaide Appellant shal goo to his chayre agayne and abide ther til they be sent for. And thanne shal they bringe hym to hys second Ooth and here how he swereth and whanne he hath sworne they shal goo wt hym to hys chayre againe in the forme aforesaide. And whanne he is in his chayre the saide Counsaille shal awayte whanne ye Defendaunt cometh to his seconde ooth and here how he swereth and if he swere under any subtil teerme cantel or cavellacion the foresaide Counsaille of th appellant may require the jugement. And if he swere duely thanne shal ye Counsaille of ye foresaide Appellant goo to his chayre againe and abide there til they be sent for. And thanne shal they brynge hym to his thirde ooth and assuraunce. And whanne they be sworne and assured the saide appellant wt his Counsaile shal goo againe to his chayre in the fourme afore saide and there make [382] hym redy and fastene upon hym his wepons and so refresche hym til ye Conestable and Mareschal bid hym come to ye feeld. Thanne shal his Armorers and his Servaunts voyde the Listes wt his chayre and alle his Instruments at ye Comandement of ye Conestable and Mareschal. Thanne fitteth it to the Counsaille of the saide Appellant to ask a place of ye kyng afore hym withinne the barres upon his right hande that ye saide Counsaille of th appellant may come and stande there whanne they be discharged of ye saide Appellant.
The cause is this that suche pyte may be given to ye kyng if God that noon of hem shal dye that daye for he may by his prowaie royal in such a cas take it into his hande the foresaide Counsaille of the Appellant to abyde in the saide place til the kyng have geven his jugement upon him--And thanne ye Conestable and Mareschal shal deliwer the foresaide Appellant by ye Comandement of the kyng to his foresaide Counsaille to govern hym of his going out of ye feelde as wele as they did of his comyng in his worship to be saved in al that lyeth en hem. And soo to bryng hym to his Logging agayne to unarme hym comforte hym and counsaille hym And some of his Counsaille may goo to the kyng and comon wt hym and wite of the kyng how he shal be demeaned. This enarmyng here aforesaide is best for a battaille of arreste wt a sworde a dagger an Ax and a pavys til he come to th asseblee his sabatons & his tunycle evoyded And thanne the Auctor Johan Hyll dyed at London in Novembre the xiii th yere of kyng Henry the Sixt so that he accomplished noo mor of ye compylyng of this [383] trayties on whose soulle God have mercy for his endles passion Amen.
APPENDIX D
TRAITÉ DU COSTUME MILITAIRE, 1446
_Bib. Nat., Paris_ (fonds Français, 1997)
Given in full in _Du Costume Militaire des Français en 1446_, René de Belleval, 1866
Mais quant à la faczon de leur harnoys de jouste, suis content de le vous déclairer plus largement, affin que pour lavenir ceulx qui voudront jouster y preignent exemple, soit de y adjouster ou de y oster, comme mieulx verront et congnoisteront y estre nécessaire.
Et tout premièrement vueil commancer au harnoys de teste, cest assavoir au heaume, lequel est fait en ceste faczon, comme cy après me orrez déclairer; et premièrement lesdiz heaumes sont, sur le sommet de la teste jusques à la veue, fors et espes et ung pou sur le rondelet, par faczon que la teste ne touche point encontre, ainçois y peut avoir espace de troiz doiz entre deux.
Item, de dessobz de la veue du heaume, qui arme par davant tout le visaige depuis les deux aureilles jusques à la poitrine et endroit les yeulx qui s’appelle la veue, avance et boute avant troiz bons doiz ou plus que n’est le bort de dessus; entre lequel bort de dessus et celuy de dessobz ny a bonnement despace que ung bon doy et demy pour y povoir veoir, et n’est ladicte veue, tant dun cousté que dautre, fendue que environ dun espan de long, mais voulentiers vers le cousté sénestre est ladicte veue plus clouse et le bort plus en bouty dehors que n’est de lautre costé droict.
Item, et ledit dessobz ladicte veue marche voluntiers sur la pièce de dessus la teste deux bons doiz, tant dun cousté que dautre de la veue, et cloué de fors clox qui ont les uns la teste enbotie, et les autres out la teste du clou limée affin que le rochet ny prengne.
Item, la pièce dessusditte qui arme le visaige est voluntiers large et destendant presque dune venue jusques à la gorge, ou plus bas, affin quelle ne soit pas si près des visaiges quant les cops de lance y prennent. Ainçois qui le veult faire à point fault quil y ait quatre doiz despace du moins entre deux. Et à ceste dicte pièce, du costé droict de la lance, endroit la joue, deux ou trois petites veues qui viennent du long depuis le hault de la joue jusques au collet du pourpoint, affin que l’en nait schault dedens le heaulme, et aussi affin que on puisse mieulx ouir ou veoir celuy qui le sert de la lance.
Item, l’autre pièce dudit heaume arme depuis les aureilles par darrière le long du coul jusques trois doiz sur les espaulles par bas, et par hault, aussi jusques à trois doiz sur la nuque du coul. Et vient faczonnée une arreste aval qui vient en estroississant sur le collet du pourpoint, et se relargist sur les espaulles en deux; laquelle pièce dessusdicte nest jamais faicte forte ne espesse, ainçois la plus legière que on la peult faire est la meilleure; et pour conclusion faire ces trois pièces dessusdictes font le heaulme entier.
* * * * *
Item, quant à larmeure du corps, il y en a de deux faczons; cest assavoir: la première comme curasse à armer saufve que le voulant est clox et arresté à la pièce, par faczon que le voulant ne peut aller ne jouer hault ne bas.