globose breastplate is seen rapidly replacing the elegantly attenuated outline of that of the previous century. The placate, or plastron, except in very occasional instances, has indeed almost entirely disappeared, and becomes a short waist plate, laminated beneath the lower edge of the breastplate itself. The attractive so-called "Gothic" channelling of verging flutes, often meeting at obtuse or acute angles, gives way to the channelled armour so universally popular in the time of Maximilian. The cuff of the gauntlet again shortens, while the toe plates of the sollerets no longer assume the general outline of the human foot, but spread to widely exaggerated ends, known as "bear paws." Finally the armet à rondelle and the open salade are almost universally superseded by the close helmet, opening on a hinge down the side of the cheek-pieces, and by the open casque or burgonet with its protective buffe. The transitional suits of the dawning years of the XVIth century are pleasing, because they are essentially workmanlike, well proportioned, and, as a rule, of the best craftsmanship.
Before attempting a classification of those suits of the XVIth century which have distinctive character, we shall pause in order to examine some of the harnesses in the Tower of London, so easily accessible to the amateur. The most important armour in the Tower belongs to the earlier part of the XVIth century, and the reader is referred to Mr. C. ffoulkes' "The Armouries of the Tower of London" for the catalogue of those harnesses of which we shall give but a brief account. If the visitor to the Tower wonders at the smallness of the collection as compared with those of Continental nations, Mr. ffoulkes' History of the Tower Armoury will tell him that the marvel is that there is so much to be seen, for the collection has been pillaged for pageants, neglected for long periods, and placed under the charge of ignorant and careless officials, and has only in modern times received care and understanding. The first important royal English armoury of which there is accurate record was brought together at the Palace of Greenwich. The exact date of its formation is not known; but it may be put as early in the reign of King Henry VIII, and perhaps at the time when that monarch established the new armouries there, that is to say in 1514. It appears that an armoury was attached to the palace and built in the year 1517. For twenty-five years, however, it must have only partially fulfilled its purpose. In an inventory of Greenwich Palace, taken in 1543, arms only are mentioned; but four years after that date, in an inventory of the property
