folds of the buff are very clearly expressed. In the second quarter of the century we find gauntlets in which the cuff is formed of scale, of splints, or of leather only. The first of these is seen in our woodcut, No. 17, from Sloane MS. 346, date about 1325. It occurs also in the effigy of Littlebury, c. 1360 (Stothard, pl. 75). The cuff marked in strips occurs in the Ash Church monument, c. 1337 (Stothard, pl. 61), in the Tewkesbury effigy, c. 1350 (Stothard, 73), and on many knightly figures in the Meliadus manuscript, Add. MS., 12,228. The leather cuff appears in the Sandwich monument, c. 1340 (woodcut, No. 9, vol. cciv. p. 592), and in the statue of Blanchfront, c. 1360 (Stothard, pl. 71); the latter example having the addition of a tassel. About the middle of the century arose the use of plate gauntlets, the fingers being articulated, the remainder of a broad piece or pieces. These were principally of two kinds, which we may call the two-part and the three-part gauntlets. The two-part consisted of the articulations for the fingers, and a broad plate which covered the back of the hand and the wrist. The three-part had the articulated fingers, a plate for the back of the hand, and another plate forming a cuff. The first sort is represented in our engravings, Nos. 12, 14, 15, 10, 11, 2 (vol. cciv. p. 11), 31 and 24, ranging from 1360 to the end of the century. The broad plates of such gloves exist in one or two instances; as in the Tannenberg example, found and figured by Dr. Hefner", and in the specimen preserved in the Tower Armories. But best of all is the relic at Canterbury, the pair of gauntlets of this fashion, which once belonged to the Black Prince, and which still retain the interior glove of leather, forming a necessary part of their construction. These are figured in Stothard's “Monuments,” but with less prominence than they deserve. The three-part gauntlets are shewn in our woodcuts, Nos. 1 (vol. cciv. p. 4), 16, 29, 26, 32 and 37, dating from 1349 to 1400. A variety of the steel gauntlet has the cuffs articulated. Examples are found in the effigies of Whatton, c. 1325 (Stothard, pl. 52); of Pembridge, 1330 (Hollis, pt. 5); of John of Eltham, 1334 (Stothard, pl. 55); and of Cheyne, 1368 (woodcut, No. 13). The statue of Eltham offers a further novelty, in the side-plates which are affixed to the y Die Burg Tannenberg, pl. 10. cuffs. They again appear in the monument of Ingham, 1343 (Stothard, pl. 66). Another curious device was that of arming the knuckles of the gauntlets with spikes (gads or gadlings), by which they became weapons as well as defences. See our engravings, Nos. 1 (vol. cciv. p. 4), 21 and 26. The real gauntlets of the Black Prince have gads on the middle of the fingers, while at the base of them are little figures of lions or leopards. The iron glove, as an instrument of offence, is mentioned by D’Orronville in the Life of Louis of Bourbon.” In an encounter between a champion of the French party and an “ English Gascon” in 1375, the former threw his adversary on the ground, "et se jeta sur luy, et luy leva la visière en luy donnant trois coups de gantellet sur le visage ?." Towards the close of the century appears a singular ornament: the last joints of the gauntlet are formed in imitation of the nails of the finger. See woodcuts, Nos. 28, 26 and 37. Such gauntlets have been described as terminating at the third finger-joint; but it is quite certain that the nail ornament belongs to the glove, for in the Arderne monument at Elford, Staffordshire, the knight's glove lies by his side, and is thus fashioned. Compare the Brocas effigy, 1406, and other sculptures (of the next century) given by Stothard, where similar gauntlets are found. Another ornament, characteristic of the close of the century, consists of a sort of lozenge, sometimes foliated at the points, the centre richly coloured, as if to represent enamelling; and of these lozenges, four are placed side by side on the back of the hand. See our woodcuts, Nos. 26 and 37, dating 1400 and 1401. Gauntlets of stud-work appear in our engraving, No. 42, from Roy. MS. 16, G, vi., fol. 304, c. 1330; and again in plate 100 of Strutt's “Dress and Habits." In lieu of the inner glove of leather, this portion of the hand equipment was occasionally of chainmail . Good examples occur in the effigies of Conrad von Bickenbach, 1393 (woodcut, No. 24), and of Johann von Wertheim, '1407 (Hefner, pl. 106)." Whalebone appears to have been occasionally employed in the construction of the military glove. Under 1382, Froissart tells us that certain soldiers of Bruges " étoient armés la greigneur partie de maillets, de houètes et de chapeaux de fer, d'hauquetons et de gands de baleine b.” Velvet was also used in its formation. The Inventory of Louis Hutin, in 1316, has, “ Item, uns gantelez couvers de velveil vermeil." Brass as a material for the knightly gauntlet has already been noticed in the relic at Canterbury, suspended over the tomb of the Black Prince. Some further varieties of this defence may be found in a few monuments, but they are rather fanciful exceptions than types, and do not therefore require a particular description. See, among others, the examples offered by the brass of De Cobham, 1367 (Boutell's “Brasses of England”), the effigies of Seinsheim and Schöneck (Hefner, pls. 46 and 22), and the figure here given (No. 29), the brass of Sir John de St. Quintin, 1397, at Bransburton, Yorkshire. In the second half of the century the gauntlets are often found of a highly enriched character. The arts of the goldsmith, the chaser and the enameller were employed in their adornment. A beautiful example of this de coration is supplied by the monument of Sir Thomas Cawne at Ightham, Kent O (Stothard, pl. 77). See also Stothard's plates 90 and 95. Ailettes — those curious appendages which, fixed to the shoulders, appear to have answered the purpose of a neckshield—are of frequent appearance during the first quarter of the century, and are occasionally found for a few years beyond this limit. Examples occur in the seal of Thomas, Duke of Lancaster, son and heir of Edmund Crouchback (Select Seals in British Museum); in the brass of Septvans, 1306 (Waller, pt. 9); in the subject here given • Vol. ii. p. 247. And see above, vol. cciv. p. 586. From Add. M3. 10,293, fol. 157. No. 30. |
