From Weapons offensive and defensive, we come now to the Military persons themselues, and shew how they were armed, both to offend and defend, and also how the said warlike Heroes haue both in part and in the whole bine cognizans and badges of honor and Armes.
Armour Book III, Chapter 18, Section 1
There are some old fashioned kind of head peeces and helmetts which were omitted in the fore going chapter which I have set here, which when I haue giuen you the examples thereof and what famileys use them In their Armes I shall then proceed to other sorts of martiall Instruments some where of are for shew and terrour, others for slaughter.
Capped head piece
1. He beareth a copped head piece with two flaps for the eares. This was the forme of the Morion in use in the tyme of William Rufus King of England ano 1088 ...
[Image labelled Helmet of old time]
Helmet
2. He beareth in this quarter a Helmett of King Edward the first and seconds as I tooke it from the broad seales
made about the yeares 1273 and 1308 ...
[Second image labelled Helmet of the time of King Edward I
Third image labelled Helmet of the time of King Henry III]
Helmet
3. Here I present you with an other Helmett taken from the great seale of King Edward the fourth with
the mantell hanging one the back of it vpon which stood his crest.
Shield back
Image from proof plate4. He beareth ... an hand holding the back side of a shield by the handle, and strapt ouer the Arme. ... This is to shew you how the sheilds and bucklers (that were large ones) were supported in fights in former tymes.
Shield back
Image from proof plate5. He beareth an ovall sheild, the back side to sight.
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