Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/254

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ILLUSTRATIONS OF


In a later part of the valuable MS. for which we are indebted to Lord Hastings, another document is found, of the same nature as that which has been submitted to our readers, and not less deserving of attention. This likewise has been repeatedly printed[1], but the transcript preserved in the Astley book is more ancient than the copy in a MS. in the British Museum, communicated to the Archæologia by Mr. Douce; well known, as having supplied to Sir Samuel Meyrick the text of a most instructive and interesting treatise regarding military costume, which has afforded valuable aid to antiquaries throughout Europe in this obscure subject of research[2].

How a man schalle be armyd at his ese, when he schal fighte on foote.

He schal have noo schurte up-on him, but a dowbelet of Fustean lynycl with satene, cutte fuUe of hooUs : the dowbelet muste be strongeli bounden there the poyntis muste be sette aboute the greet of the arrae, and the b(e)ste before and behynde ; and the gussetis of mayle muste be sowid un- to the dowbelet in the bought of the arme, and undir the arme : the armynge poyntis muste be made of fyne twyne, suche as men make stryngis for crossebowes, and they muste be trussid smalle, and poyntid as poyntis. Also they muste be wexid with cordeweneris coode[3], and than they wolle neythir recche[4] nor breke. Also a payre hosyne of stamyn sengille, and a peyre of shorte bulwerkis of thynne blanket, to put aboute his kneys, for chawfynge of his lighernes[5]. Also a payre of shone of thikke cordewene, and they muste be frette with smal whipcorde, thre knottis up-on a corde ; and thre coordis muste be faste sowid un-to the hele of the shoo, and fyve[6] cordis in the myddille of the soole of the same shoo ; and that ther be be- twene the frettis of the heele and the frettis of the myddille of the shoo the space of thre fyngris.

To arme a man.

Firste, ye muste sette on Sabatones, and tye hem up-on the shoo with smale poyntis that wol breke. And then griffus, and then quisses, and then the breche of mayle. And then touletis. And then brest. And then varabras. And then rerebras. And then glovys. And then hange his

    vol. iii. p. 126, from Harl. MS. 1776; and Sir Samuel Meyrick gives the same document, with large additions, from a MS. in the College of Arms ; Critical Enqu., vol.ii. p. 147.

  1. ↑ Mr. Douce's text is taken from Lansd. MS. 285. Archæol., vol. xvii. p. 295.
  2. ↑ Remarks on the ancient mode of putting on Armour, Archæol., vol. xx. p. 496. Crit. Enqu., vol. ii. p. 157.
  3. ↑ Cordeners wex, Lansd. MS. "Code, sowterys wex, ceresina."— Prompt. Parv. "Spaynisch code" is one of numerous ingredients to be used in making a good "entreet" or salve. — Sloane MS. 100, f, 17. "Thus commune, Angl. Code."—Sloane MS. 5.
  4. ↑ "Rechynne, as lethyr, dilato, extendo—Prompt. Parv. "I ratche, I strecche out a length. If it be to shorte, ratche it out."—Palsgrave, Eclairc. de la langue Francoyse.
  5. ↑ Leg harneis, Lansd. MS.
  6. ↑ Fyve ? Douce prints this word "fyne," from Lansd. MS.
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