10 CROSS-LEGGED EFFIGIES IN DORSET. 



angular finish at the sides, as we see on the Bridport and on 

 one of the Wareham effigies. Over the coif a massive " heaume," 

 or helm, was worn, either with or without a nasal, and some- 

 times with a movable " ventaille," or visor." 



From the shoulders the hood extends in close-fitting sleeves 

 to the hands, where it terminates in mittens, or splits up into 

 stalls for the fingers and thumbs, thus forming a kind of glove. 

 The lower limbs are also covered in mail, the portions above the 

 knees being called " chaussons," and those below the knees 

 "chausses." The feet usually have spurs with a single spike, 

 and called "pryck," or spike spurs, which are fastened round the 

 ankle by two straps. 



It has already been stated that there was only one kind of 

 mail in actual use chain mail which was made up of a series 

 of interlaced rings riveted together. Ring mail and the other 

 varieties (with the exception of banded mail, which is still an 

 enigma) are simply conventional methods of representing chain 

 mail on effigies. The only departures from the pure mail during 

 this period were the lengthening of the tunic and the more or 

 less general addition of small elbow guards and knee caps. 



Over the hauberk is the long loose flowing surcoat, without 

 sleeves, and gathered by a narrow belt round the waist, below 

 which it is open. The surcoat is stated to have been used in the 

 Crusades as a veil to protect the armour from the direct rays of 

 the sun ; but the earliest representation we have of the surcoat 

 is, I think, on the seal of St. Louis, who led the last Crusade, 

 and its general use was probably not adopted until some time 

 after the Holy Wars. 



The hauberk had a stout leather lining, and was worn over a 

 quilted tunic, called a haketon, or gambeson. The swords of this 

 period have a great similarity, being long and straight, with 

 recurved cross -guards and flat circular pomels. The shields, 

 sometimes of the triangular or " heater" shape, are borne on the 

 left arms and- suspended from the right shoulders by straps. 

 The effigies lie flat on the back with the heads but slightly raised 

 by shallow cushions, and they recline upon coffin lids of stone or 



