29 



and figures of saints on the breast-plate., The coinlisse, or 

 lady's scarf, was an important part of the decoration of the 

 helmet. 



The breast-plate becomes more globular during the reign 

 of Henry VI., and is of two or more pieces, called placcarts. 

 Suspended from the tassets were tniles, or tiles, covering the 

 thighs, and often worn in numbers round the body. 



The period from Edward IV. to Henry VII. is distin- 

 guished by very globular breast-plates, one tuile for each 

 thigh, and enormous elbow pieces. 



The solleret, or covering for the foot, which had been 

 so long pointed, became, in Henry VTII.'s reign, broad 

 and square. From the waist, instead of the tuiles, hung 

 plates of steel called lamboys, in imitation of folds of 

 drapery, and cut out so as to fit into the saddle and protect 

 the lower part of the body completely. Armour-ribbed, 

 puffed, engraved, long-bodied, and of a thousand fashions, 

 rendered it as difficult for a knight of Henry's Court to 

 chuse his suit as it is for a fashionable belle to select her 

 dress from the extensive assortment of a modern linen 

 draper. 



To trace the fall of armour is less necessary, as so 

 many sources of information exist which cannot be brought 

 to bear on its earlier history. The great national armouries 

 contain many and elaborate specimens, and the pictures of 

 the artists of the time afford excellent authorities for the 

 artist and the antiquary. 



EIGHTH MEETING. 



ROYAL INSTITUTION, February 9th, 1846. 



The PRESIDENT in the Chair. 



Mr. Higginson exhibited a specimen of striated 

 vegetable remains from the coal formation. 



Mr. Archer exhibited the section of a plank from 

 central South America, apparently combining the exoge- 

 nous and endogenous forms. Mr. Archer stated that, when 

 scraped, it was used by the natives as a substitute for tea. 



The President exhibited the series of Engravings of 



