Part 4

The tools used by the armourers of all nations differ but little from the implements of the blacksmith and, as will be seen in considering the various inventories that survive, these have scarcely varied in form during the centuries. When once invented the hammer, the anvil, the vice, the chisel, and the pincers are open to but few improvements, and even with the advent of steam and mechanical power, the functions of the tool remain and are simply guided by a machine instead of by the hand.

The chief work of the armourer was the beating out of plates from the solid ingot of metal and therefore we find that all illustrations dealing with this craft show the workmen engaged in this operation. When once the rough shape of the piece was obtained a great deal of the work was done when the metal was cold, as will be seen from examination of the illustrations.

When the craft of the armourer became important and when a large trade was done in these munitions of war, it was found more convenient to have the plates beaten out in special mills before they were handed over to the armourer to make up into armour. These battering-mills are noticed on pages 35, 188.

In many instances they were probably owned by the armourers and were often under the same roof; but the fact that we find hammermen, millmen, platers, and armourers mentioned together in records and bills of payment to armouries seems to suggest that they had different duties assigned to them.

That the work of the plater was quite distinct from that of the armourer in the sixteenth century we gather from entries in the State Papers Domestic, and in the reign of James I, which will be discussed more fully farther on in this chapter.

The earliest European illustration of an armourer at work at present known is to be found in the thirteenth-century _Aeneid_ of Heinrich von Waldec (codex MS. Germ. fol. 282, p. 79) in the Königl. Bib. Berlin (Plate IV). From the fact that the armourer (Vulcan) is holding the helm with pincers we may infer that he is working it hot. The anvil as shown in this miniature (Plate IV) is square and of primitive form and would seem to be quite useless for the work, but this may be due to the inexperience of the artist. The hammer, however, is carefully drawn and is evidently from some real example in which the face is rounded in a slightly convex form and the toe ends in a small blunted point which may be for riveting small objects or for making small bosses.

In the fifteenth century we find more care as to details and more operations shown in the illustration on the same plate, taken from a miniature by Boccace in _Les Clercs et Nobles Femmes_ (Bib. Reg. 16, G, v. fol. II) in the British Museum. Here we have several men at work under the superintendence of a lady who is generally supposed to be the Countess Matilda, while their labours are enlivened by a flute-player. The man at the bench appears to be putting together a defence composed of circular plates laced to a leather or linen foundation which strongly resembles the culet of so-called “penny plate” armour in the Tower (III, 358). The helm-smith is working on a bascinet which he holds with pincers, but he is using the toe of the hammer and not the face, which hardly seems a likely operation. He holds the helmet on a helmet-stake which probably has a rounded surface for finishing off the curves. The seated man is perhaps the most interesting figure, for he is a rare example of a mail-maker at work, closing up the rings with a pair of pincers. Up to the present we have no definite idea as to how the intricate operation of mail-making was accomplished so as to turn out rapidly coats of mail. It is probable that some form of pincer was used which pierced the flattened ends of the ring and closed up the rivet when inserted. Possibly investigations in the East, where mail is still made, may throw some light upon the subject.[8] The illustration by Jost Amman (Fig. 15) certainly shows the craftsman using a punch and hammer for his work and the only other tool shown is a pair of shears. Mail was in use up to the first years of the seventeenth century, so we may be sure the artist drew his figure from life.

Few of the actual tools of the armourer survive to us at the present day. In the Burges Bequest in the British Museum is a fine anvil decorated with figures of saints in relief of the sixteenth century, which appears to have been used by a craftsman dealing with metal in plates or sheets, for the face of the anvil is burred over in a manner that would not be the case if the smith had worked with bars or rods, the usual materials of the blacksmith. In the same case is a pair of armourer’s pincers which resemble the _multum in parvo_ tools of to-day, for they include hammer, wire-cutter, nail-drawer, and turnscrew (Plate V). A similar pair of pincers exists in the Rotunda Museum, Woolwich (XVI, 200). In the Wallace Collection (No. 88) is an armourer’s hammer of the sixteenth century with a faceted copper head, the reason for which was probably the need for avoiding scratching the surface when finishing a piece. In the same collection is a finely decorated farrier’s hammer (1002), which also includes a nail-drawer and turn-nut. The handle is inlaid with brass and mother-of-pearl and is decorated with engravings of S. George and a musketeer of about 1640. A decorated anvil and vice which were catalogued as those of an armourer, the property of Mr. Ambrose Morell, were exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, in 1911, but from the form and size of the tools they would appear to have been rather those of the silversmith than of the armourer. Jost Amman’s “Armourer” (Fig. 16) calls for no special notice, as no tools are shown in the workshop, and is merely of interest as being included in this _Book of Trades_, published in 1590.

The earliest inventory containing armourers’ tools is found in the archives of the city of Lille. It is dated 1302 and refers to the effects of the Constable de Nesle in the Hôtel de Soissons, Paris. The inventory is a long one and includes many interesting details of furniture, fabrics, and armour. That portion relating to the tools runs as follows:--

_Arch. Dept. du Nord. Fonds de la Chambre des Comptes de Lille, No. 4401._

Une englume et fos a souffler lx s. Unes tenailes bicournes, i martel et menus instruments de forge xiii s. vi d. Item unes venterieres v s. ” xxxviii fers faites xii s. viii d. ” sas a cleus, tenons environs v sommes xxi l. v s. ” xiii douzaines de fer de Bourgoyne xxii s. vi d.

Another early inventory is that of Framlingham Castle, Norfolk, of 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.

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.

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.