Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/378

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354
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

the mainefaire ("mano di ferro") was the defence for the left arm and wrist, of which many excellent examples may be seen in the Tower and at Good- rich Court. Its form and use, either with a gard-de-bras, or united to a rerebrace with a peculiar wing-shaped elbow-guard, are admirably shewn in Skelton's Illustrations, plates viii. and ix. In the former case this "long bridle-arm gauntlet," or "fixed gauntlet" as it is designated by Sir Samuel, is worn over the ordinary gauntlet, and attached to it by a screw and nut. It was used, as Sir Samuel remarks, in the tournament only, therefore the mention of one mainefaire with a pair of gauntlets, as part of a complete suit, is perfectly consistent with this explanation of the term[1]. The gantelet-à-coude, used in later times by the carabineers, is distinct, but it served in like manner for the bridle arm[2].

The description of head-piece termed " burgonet with a buffe or chin piece" is twice mentioned in the survey; various definitions have been given of the head-piece, supposed to have been of Burgundian origin, but the word " buffe " does not appear to have been noticed by any writer on military costume. It is of Italian derivation, as given by Florio, "buffa, the buffie or breathing hole of a head-piece," and Howell, in his useful Nomenclature, renders " the viser of a helmet, la buffa, baviera, la ventaglia." The name had doubtless been imported from Italy with the skilful productions of the Milanese armourers, long in high estimation[3].

A. W.

  1. ↑ Compare the left gauntlet of the suit in the Madrid Armory, assigned by popular tradition to Boabdil. Jubinal, Armeria Real. vSee also the representation of a suit in the Tower, formerly attributed to Edward III. Grose, pi. 25, and Hewitt's backs, Tower Armories, p. 13.
  2. ↑ There are several in the Tower. Grose, pl. 26 ; Skelton, Illustr., pi. xl.
  3. ↑ Sir John Smithe, in his Instructions Militarie, 1595, says of light horse, called Stradiots, "I would wish them all to bee armed with good burgonets and buffes, with collars, with cuirasses, with and with long cuisses," &c., p. 199.
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