Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 1).djvu/334

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To the skull-piece of this bascinet is riveted a chin-piece; but it is exceedingly thin, and might be an addition of later date. Against this hypothesis are the facts that the holes for sewing in the lining cease where the chin-piece begins, and that the chin-piece has rivets for a lining. Still, the form of the chin-piece is so bad, and it is so very thin, that it seems likely that, in its present form at least, it is not coeval with the rest of the helmet. The back of the helmet extends down between the shoulders, so that it could be fastened securely to the back-plate, as in the case of the Norwich bascinet just described. The metal is very thick towards the apex, where there is a small hole for fixing either the ring, as in the case of the Yorkshire helmet, or more likely a crest.

Fig. 306. Skull-piece of a "great" bascinet helmet

Possibly English, first half of XVth century. A buffe of somewhat later date is riveted to the front. Marston Moretaine Church

Fig. 307. Skull-piece of a "great" bascinet helmet

Possibly English, first half of XVth century. It was discovered in the north of Spain. Collection: M. George Pauilhac, Paris

At the risk of wearying readers by our apparent] duplication of descriptions, we will continue to mention the other existing examples of this particular type of bascinet head-piece; as a matter of fact, however, specimens are so rare that, as we have said, only thirteen in all are known to the present writer. Of the remaining three which are to be found in England, the example in Warwick Castle perhaps is the more interesting; for attached to it is the tradition of its having been found in the castle ditch, and it has been known