Brander, F.S.A., in 1775. In that inventory describing the armour then at Greenwich it figures as "In the first house":
"Itm Upon the Third horse a Harnesse given unto the Kings
Maiestie by Themperor Maximilian w^{th} a base of stele and goldesmythe
worke silver and guilte with A border abowt the same silver
and guilte of goldsmythes worke and A BARDE OF STELE W^{th} A
BURGONION CROSSE AND THE FUSYE AND A SADDELL WITH A
CRYMMYN AND A SHAFFRON TO THE SAME."
To-day we see it as the complete barding of the war horse, chanfron,
rein-steels, burr and cantle plates, full poitrel, flanchards, and complete
croupière; but the crinet that now goes with it is associated (Fig. 1002). On
this apparel can be found for the first time in our records of plate armour
true embossing of a pattern, that is to say, hammering from the back, used
for direct surface enrichment. We have noted the employment of this
method in the fluting and shaping of a piece; but as a medium for the
rendering of floral and other ornaments, this is its first appearance. Upon
the croupière appears a mark which has been much rubbed and has been deciphered
as that used by Merate and brothers of Milan and Arbois, but of the
authenticity of this attribution we remain unconvinced. Although this example
of horse armour is splendidly effective in the boldness of its enrichment, we
may with all reserve suggest that it is somewhat coarse in workmanship;
though doubtless when newly made—its whole surface plated with silver and
then possibly gilt, like the Seusenhofer suit (Fig. 1016)—it must have presented
a gorgeous spectacle, especially when associated with the splendid housings
that would have originally accompanied it. Although no such definite
description of it is given in the 1547 inventory, this "Burgundian bard,"
as it was termed in the XVIIth century Tower inventory, was probably part
of the gift made to King Henry VIII by the Emperor Elect Maximilian I, who,
out of compliment to his first wife, the daughter of the Duke of Burgundy,
had all parts of it decorated with the Burgundian badges, the cross raguly, the
briquet or steel, and the firestone emitting flames, in fact, with all the emblems
made use of by the Order of the Golden Fleece. On the armour also appears
the pomegranate in fruit, the emblem of Catherine of Aragon, which may
have led to the belief that the horse armour (Fig. 1002), together with the
Seusenhofer suit, was presented to King Henry VIII in celebration of his
marriage with Catherine of Aragon in 1509. According, however, to Viscount
