Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 3).djvu/279

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Fig. 1028a. Reinforcing plate of the Breastplate of the Genouilhac suit

Showing the designs of the etching

the two extra laminated plates on either side of its main plate, but it still retains its original tow packing, covered with coarse linen and crimson velvet. Its exterior surface is russeted to a rich brown colour, and upon the principal plate it is grooved in flutings connected by double chevron bands. These are etched with floral foliage, fully gilt, while the borderings of the various plates are decorated in a like manner, but the bands are wider. The outside plates are finished by the edge being turned under to a flattened cable; the outline is followed by a row of large hemispherically-headed rivets that retain the lining in position. This largely developed form of brayette was worn when the harness was used for contests on foot in the champ clos. Next in importance is the gauntlet, No. 106 in the 1904 Windsor Catalogue, now Class II, 8 G, in the Tower (Fig. 1027), known as "locking" on account of the fact that the top lame of finger-mittens could be fastened by a hook and staple to the inner cuff-plate, making it impossible to loosen a mace or other weapon from the