Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 4).djvu/81

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pass that the second Lee suit should, in the XVIIth century, have found its way to Sweden, and later to have been chosen as the military apparel in which Count Sten Bielka is depicted in the late XVIIth century portrait.

The armour of George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland, K.G. (1558-1605), in the possession of Lord Hothfield at Appleby Castle, Westmoreland (Fig. 1132). The drawing of the suit (Fig. 1137) with the extra pieces is numbered 21 in the Jacobe MS.

Fig. 1133. Gauntlets

The pair now in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, which perhaps belonged to the armour of George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland

Fig. 1134. Unfinished mezeil

From the Cumberland suit. Tower of London, Class III, No. 865

Of all these suits, with the possible exception of the Sir Christopher Hatton suit at Windsor Castle, this is the most complete extant. It has never been removed from Appleby Castle, or entrusted to the hands of inexperienced or injudicious cleaners. The surface is what is usually termed russet; but it is better described as of a brownish-blue oxidization, which effectively relieves the gilded decoration. In the centre of all the pieces is a broad vertical band of gilt floriated scrolls etched, protected by being slightly recessed below the surface the conventional interlaced strapwork being raised and left in blue, thus contrasting with the gilded diaper groundwork. The double cypher of Queen