We come now to speak of such Artificials as are used amongst Military men, and how they are borne in coats of Armes. By things Military, is to be vnderstood all such as do pertaine to the use and exercise of Martiall discipline and service: Whereof some doe serue for Order, some for defence; and some againe, for execution.
The first Armes and weapons they aunciently used to fight withall were stons and clubs, but afterwards they came to swords and speares, which was attributed to Pallas, of which they took speciall care. The first maker of Armour were the Lemnians of whom Vulcan was the chief workman: the Mettal thereof at first was Brasse, whereas the most noted parts of peeces were the Helmet, the Shield, and the coats of Male.
Helmets Book III, Chapter 17, Section 1a
Morion
1. He beareth a Morion, or steele cap. This is the old way of making the head peece, for the defence
of the head of a footman that served in the warrs. ... The steele cap betokeneth wisdome as well as
Valour: therefore to wear the helme of a gentleman, who ought to be truly generosus is to look the right
way, viz: to virtue; which otherwise is an emblem of nothing else but cowardly security.
Morion
2. He beareth a Morion. This is another manner of making the steele cap or head peece with an open[ing]
on one side, by meanes whereof it fell lower vpon the hinder part of the head for the security thereof.
Sallet
3. 4. 5. These are also three other fashions of steele caps which I have seen ... and have bine
of old termed a Sallad, and head peece, a Pot, a Bassenet, or Sculle.
Pot helmet
Basenett
Sallet
In this quarter you are presented with two other sorts of Head peeces, called by the name of Salletts,
of all which in their places. The first is a Sallett, with a stay pendant. The stay was to tie, or Buckle
vnder the chin, thereby to keepe the Sallett fast, and sure vpon the head of him, that weared it. Some
will haue it, that the sharp point was of old worne ouer the face, being a defence for the face, and so
Mr Gwilliam hath drawn them with the point before, fol.347.
Sallet
The second (in the sinister) is another kind of Sallet without a stay.
Morion
The third (which is in the dexter chiefe) is termed an old fashioned head peece, but is no other then a
Morion open before, with a shut to secure the face, (for a Beever it cannot be termed) this that covers
the face turneth vp and downe vpon an Iron pin with a head, else the head could not be put in it. All these
Morions, and Salletts, and head peeces, here demonstrated differ much in forme from those which are
now in use: which because they are borne in coats I shall give some examples.
Roman headpiece
7. He beareth a Roman head piece Garnished and studed.
Roman headpiece
8. He beareth a Roman Head piece. This is another forme without garnishing, and is one
belonging to a Legion soldier, the former to the centurian, or captaine.
English headpiece with ears
9. He beareth a English headpiece with eares. This I term an English head peece, because this fashion
is principally used in England, and the dominions thereof. Now of these there are two sorts, some with
eares, others without eares, some with crests all over the head, others have the crest but halfe through,
that is from the hinder part of the head to the crowne as in this example.
Mail cap
10. He beareth a Male cap, or hood. This was an auncient way of securing the head, by plate
of steele before (as I suppose) the full or perfect way of making the helmet was found out.
In the line between this and the next square, is an old forme or fashion of an head peece used both by the Jews and the Mores.
[Omitted from proof plate.]
Morion
11. He beareth a Morion or Head peece, with a high pointed crowne: with a Gorgett, or cover for the neck and shoulders.
Old fashioned helmet
12. He beareth an old fashioned helmet with a round Bever. By the name of an helmett. This is the most auncient that I ever saw with a Bever, and is about Edward the fourth tyme ...
Old fashioned helmet
13. He beareth an old fashioned helmet. These are Helmets also of an auncient standing.
Old fashioned helmet
Image from proof plate14. He beareth an old fashioned helmet.
Old fashioned helmet
15. This was the auncient way of Mantling the helmet. This is an open helmet which was made without either Bever, or bars: which was the way of making them about Henry the fourths tyme, except for Kings or Princes, which were barred ...
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