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OF weapons Invasive or offensive we have formerly discoursed: Now come we to the handling of the other member, comprehending wea∣pons defensive, borne in Coat-armour. Of these some do serve for defence onely, others serve both for defence and habit also: of the former sort are such as next ensue and their like.
Edward the third, their right in certain lands, &c. in Herkesteed, Holbroke, Wolferston, and other Towns in Suffolk.
Touching the variety of Shields or defensible weapons, and their uses, we read that the Roman Captains or Leaders, had their light harnessed Souldiers on foot, armed onely with Sword and Target, and were called Rorarii; whose office was with a light skirmish to give the first onset on the enemy, to see if they could force them to remove their first Sta∣tion, and so make way for the Horesemen, sicut Ros ante gelu, as the Dew or moist goeth before the Frost. Alex. gen. dierum. lib. 6. pag. 369.
This sort of Souldiers were highly rewarded of Kings, in regard of their bold adventure in bearing the first brunt of the battell. Of these some were called Peltati, because they were Armed with a kind of Shield or Tar∣get, like to a half moon; some Cetrati, for that they were armed with light Targets or Bucklers after the Spanish or Africk fashion.
Caius Marius did prohibit his Souldiers the bearing of sleight and small Targets, in regard of their unserviceable use.
After that Romulus had made a league with Tatius King of the Sabines, the Romans laying aside the Grecian Shield (which formerly they used) assu∣med the Sabine Shield; and Romulus did interchange Armours with the Sabines, and continued the use of them. It is a thing that hath been of some men holden for an infallible observation, that all Nations do change (if not the form of Martiall discipline) their military weapons at the least, once in the space of an hundred years, upon some one occasion or other.
Among the Germans it was holden a thing so ignominious for a man to lose his Shield in fight, as nothing could be more reproachfull; Inso∣much as he that was found culpable therein, was excluded from all sa∣cred Rites, and common Councels; yea, so odious was it holden amongst them, as that many (having escaped the battell) were branded with this publick infamy, and being unable to sustain so great reproach, have hanged themselves.
Amongst the Romans it was in use oftentimes to lay their children new born in Shields instead of Cradles; because they held it a presage of future fortitude and valour in the Child: So we read that Hercules, who exceeded all other of that Age in fortitude, was rocked in a Shield.
A certain Lacedemonian skirmishing with his Enemy, and having his Sword drawn, and spying some advantage thereto, was minded to have run him through therewith instantly, the sign of retreat was given, where∣upon he forbare; and being demanded why he slew not his enemy when it was in his power; he answered, melius est parere Imperatori, quam hostem occidere.
Moreover as touching the Shield, we read that it was usuall to hang them up in Churches instead of Epitaphs, as is the use here amongst us at this day, though not to that end, as is gathered by the words of Trebelli∣us Pollio in the History of Claudius Caesar, where he saith, Claudium princi∣pem loquor, cujus vita, probitas & omnia quae in Repub. gessit tantam posteris famam dedere, ut Senatus populusque Romanus, novis eum honoribus post mortem affecerit. Illi Clipeus aureus, vel ut Grammatici loquntur, Clipeum aureum Sena∣tus totius Judicio in Romana Curia collatum est, ut etiam nunc videtur expressa thorace vultus Imago. Lazius lib. 9. 936.
Like as the Shield served in the battell for a defence and safegard of the Body of Souldiers against blowes and wounds; even so in time of peace, the same being hanged up, it did shield and defend the owner a∣gainst the malevolent detractions of the envious sort, who do labour to deprave mens best actions, they themselves never endeavouring any that were laudable; whereby they do verifie in themselves that most true, and no lesse approved saying of Lipsius, livor & invidia bonorum operum sunt impedimenta, aut venena: for if they cannot hinder them from passing, they will labour to corrode them with their venemous teeth of detracti∣on after they be passed. Besides these Shields which we call Armes su∣spence, do (withall) not onely possesse, but also beautifie the room with a military Ornament: wherein each mans particular Armes are expressed at this day, and the Helmets and Crests, consisting of Crowns, horns, and wings of fowles affixed upon them, are placed above the Shields. Lazius lib. 9. 934.
Now will we exemplifie such as are for defence and habit also.
Navita de ventis, de tauris narrat Arator, Enumerat miles vulnera, pastor Oves.
The true Ornaments of Martiall men, are a shattered Shield, a dented Helmet, a blunted Sword, and a wounded face, all received in battell.
This is to be understood in private challenges; for otherwise it is where the Combatants are sentenced by the publick magistrate to fight, in which case with us in England, the time, place, and weapons are to be appointed by Judges of that Court, before whom the matter depends.
Concerning the defensive furniture of mans body, we read that anci∣ently they were made of linnen cloath, of exceeding high proof: Such was that much famoused linnen Brigandine of Amasis King of Aegypt, whereof every thread consisted of three hundred and sixty other threads, wherein were portrayed and set forth the forms and shapes of manifold sorts of Animals (that he used to prosecute in his accustomed exercise of hunting) in gold, and divers coloured yarne. And not onely the furniture ordained for the safety of mans body, were made of linnen in those dayes, but also the furniture of the Horses (of such as were called Cataphracti Equites) as their bardings and Caparisons, were also made of linnen, artificially wrought with bars of Iron after the manner of fea∣thers, and both of them so curiously intermixt, and platted together, as that (in fine) it becometh a defence of impenetrable resistance against a∣ny sort of weapons: which kind of furniture was in use with the Ro∣mans, not onely for the safeguard of the Horses, but also for the safety and preservation of the Cataphracti, or such as we term men of Armes compleatly furnished a Cape a pee (as the French phrase is) to withstand and sustain the shock or brunt of the enemy, by whom also the discom∣fited forces have been often repaired.
Of the first sort, are the Shafron, the Cranet, and the Bard, whereof I find no particular examples of Bearing single and apart, but as they are borne conjunct in the totall furniture of Horses for the Field, as shall hereafter in their due place be shewed. I will here therefore set forth such as are of ordinary and common use, as they are severally borne in Escocheons as followeth.
To these may be added whatsoever other parts of the furniture of Horses fitting for the wars: As Snaf∣fles, Bits, Bridles, and such other like tokens, whereby is signified restraint of liberty, or servile subjection, as appeareth where it is said, After this now David smote the Philistims and subdued them, and he took the bridle of bondage out of the hand of the Philistims.
A Horse thus furnished, is fitted and prepared for the use of a Souldier of that sort which we call Cata∣phracti milites, or men at Armes, of whom I shall make mention in the next Escocheon. Not much unlike this is the Caparison wherwith we use to set out our horses prepared for the Tilt, in our joyfull triumphs of peace. I read that it was a custom amongst the Ro∣mans (as well in their lesser as greater Triumphs) that no man (but such as by prerogative, either in respect of some honou∣rable or eminent place, or speciall merit, were thereto priviledged) might meet or accompany him that triumphed on horse-back, but altoge∣ther on foot, which custom was of long time observed amongst them.
These were those Souldiers strongly armed in steele called Cataphracti Equites, which I lately spoke of, they were habited with Habergions, which were ei∣ther Coats of Maile or of Plate, and differed much from those that we call Levis Armaturae milites, in respect of the ponde∣rous weight of their furniture, wherby both themselves and their Horses were the better inabled to receive the shock and strong encounter of their enemy. Whose Armour were a Sallad or Head-piece, their Shield, Graves and Brigantines, all of Brasse, their Bassenets or Sculls, Spears and Swords, like those in use with footmen. Such was the force of these Cataphracti milites (or as we call them, men mounted upon Barded Horses) as that they were able to endure the brunt of the enemies, and did oftentimes repaire the forces of the trembling and distrustfull Armies.
Three Esco∣cheons.
Three Esco∣cheons Barrey.
A close Hel∣met.
Three Hel∣••ets with ••heir bevers ••pen.
The Morion now in use.
Three left Gauntlets Panormitan.
Baron le De∣spencer and Burghurst.
Honour and Armes, pag. 73. M. S. Lordre & for∣me de la Ba∣taille devant le Connestable & marschall Gloss. Dom. Hen. Spelman.
Three Saddles.
Three Horse-shooes on a Bend.
A barded Horse.
A Chevalier Armed at All points.