tournay. Item, bracheres knet to the schuldres of the cuyrie," or leathern cuirass[1]. They were not to be worn by the esquire. The ancient French text of this very curious document gives "bracellets" as the original term. The armour in the illumination which has been described, is of polished steel, formerly designated as white armour, and the margin of each plate is gilded, a decoration frequently used in the times of Henry V., and, probably, during the reign of his predecessor.
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Lastly, must be mentioned the two long-handled weapons which appear behind the board on trestles, and rest against the wall of the lodge in which the combatant is standing. One of these is the military axe, or hache d'armes, a very favourite weapon in single combats during the fifteenth century, and one which in times of war was frequently carried by the leader, or by captains of bands. It has been already brought under the notice of our readers in the curious subject from Rous's Beauchamp Roll, representing the memorable fight performed by Earl Richard at Verona[2]. By the kindness of the Hon. Richard Neville, I am enabled to give a representation of a curious specimen of this rare weapon, recently purchased by him from the old collections at Debden Hall, Essex, the seat of Sir Francis Vincent, Bart. It is of somewhat later date than the Astley MS., and may be attri-
- ↑ Harl. MS. 6149, f. 46. It is printed in Archæol., vol. xx. p. 510, and Meyrick's Crit. Enqu., vol. i. p. 133.
- ↑ See Archæological Journal, vol. i. p. 287. It forms one of the embellishments of Mr. Shaw's choice work on "Dresses and Decorations." See also Strutt's Horda, vol. ii. pl. iv. fig. 6. p. 44.
