LOMBJRDY AND FLEMISH HORSES. 429 



met resting upon the pommel of his saddle ; and when 

 preparing for light, this helmet and all the other parts of 

 his arms, offensive and defensive, were given him by the 

 different squires, who had them in their keeping ; all 

 evincing equal eagerness in assisting him to arm. By 

 this means they were taught the art of arming themselves 

 on a future day, and with the despatch and caution 

 necessary for the protection of their persons. It de- 

 manded much skill and ability to place together and 

 fasten the joints of the cuirass, and the other pieces of 

 armour ; to fit and lace the helmet upon the head with 

 correctness ; and to nail and rivet carefully the visor or 

 ventail.' The burgesses and yeomen, who were not by 

 the rules of chivalry permitted to enter the lists as com- 

 batants at jousts and tournaments, nor to appear mounted, 

 used in England to tilt on foot against a large wooden 

 shield on which a horse-shoe was painted.^ In a manu- 

 script in the Bodleian Library (No. 264, and dated 1344), 

 there are delineations of both the fixed and movable 

 quintain, upon each of which is a large horse-shoe re- 

 markable for its equal breadth, the ends of the branches 

 being turned out and somewhat upwards, and from their 

 being pierced with nail-holes throughout their entire 

 length. This is indeed the form of shoe which, in 

 heraldry, according to Guillim, is borne by the families 

 of Borlace, Cripps, Crispe^, Ferrers, Randall, and Shoys- 

 well.3 



The very heavy armour worn by man and horse at 



' L. de Sainte-Palaye. Mem. sur rAncienne Chevalerie. Paris, 

 1826. " Strutt. Sports and Pastimes, p. 117. 



' Sifer Ci/Di'ing. Op. cit. 



