have been unparalleled in its simplicity and boldness (Fig. 1036A). The Tower of London has also a goodly array of fluted armour, but not a homogeneous suit. In the Wallace Collection, Nos. 353, 359, and 779 are of this same order. Of the Wallace examples we will describe the last, as it shows fluted armour quite in its latest form. This suit, No. 779 (Fig. 1038), was originally brought from Vienna by the French General Amielle, who was afterwards killed at the battle of Waterloo. Later it passed into the collection of Sir Samuel Meyrick, and is illustrated in Skelton's "Engraved Illustrations," vol. i, Plate XXII. Sir Samuel states that "Tradition assigns this suit to Ferdinand, King of the Romans." There can be little foundation for this assertion; as many suits of this exact type exist in the more important armouries of Europe. Indeed, in the same collection, No. 353, is a half suit closely resembling it. Like nearly all "full" suits of this style it has been restored to its present complete state. It will also be noticed that although most of the parts are genuine they are from different sets, the fluting upon the surface being of various dimensions. We illustrate it, however, as showing perhaps the latest type of channelled German armour. Its general date might possibly be as late as about 1550. It consists of a close helmet (which certainly does not belong even to the fashion of the rest of the suit), a gorget of four plates, a breast- and backplate, the former with a strong ridge down the centre, roped turnover and roped laminated gussets. It is reinforced at the bottom with a placate after the manner of the Gothic suits of the XVth century, and as in the case of the Costessey suit (Fig. 1036). The top of the placate is delicately pierced and etched with the double-headed Austrian eagle; the head of the rivet attaching the placate to the breastplate is shaped as a heart; in the centre of the breastplate, inserted in the top edge, is a staple of square section, to which would be attached a reinforcing buffe or mentonnière; and to the left of this staple is stamped the guild mark of the city of Nuremberg. The taces are of three plates; attached to them are the tassets, of four plates; attached to the backplate is the garde-de-rein of two plates; the pauldrons are of six lames, the right one hollowed to give greater freedom to the sword arm; and there are complete arms with mitten gauntlets. The cuisses are unusual, for they have ten laminated plates entirely protecting the back part of the leg and inside bend of the knee; but the genuineness of these plates is open to suspicion. The remainder of the leg armour consists of knee-cops, jambs, and sollerets, the last widening to "bear's paw" toe-caps.
