280 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 16g8, 



centre of these 1 1 rows of brass studs ; the inmost circle is placed on the umbo 

 itself, the next 8 upon as many circular plates of iron, each a third of an inch 

 broad. The two outermost upon one thicker plate, an inch broad : in the little 

 intervals between these circular plates are plainly discovered certain cross laminae, 

 that pass on the back, of the other, from the umbo to the exterior circle ; and 

 these iron plates are also about the third part of an inch at the broader end to- 

 wards the circumference, but gradually contracted into a narrower breadth, that 

 they may be brought into the compass of the umbo at the centre. The inner 

 coat next to those iron plates is made of very thick hard strong leather, which 

 cuts bright, somewhat like parchment. Upon that is a second cover of the 

 same, and on the outside of this are plaited the iron pins that run through the 

 brass studs ; for the abovemenlioned brass studs are cast purely for ornament 

 on the heads of the said iron pins the sixth part of an inch long, that none of 

 the iron appears. The next cover to the plaiting of the said nails (which pass 

 through the circular and cross iron plates, and both the leather covers) is a pure 

 linen cloth, but discoloured, though perhaps not with age only, but sour wine 

 and salt, or some other liquid wherein it seems to have been steeped. And 

 lastly, upon the said linen is the outer cover, which is of softer leather, all 

 which coats are bound together by two circular plates of iron, a thin and narrow 

 one towards the centre, and a thicker and large one, an inch broad at the cir- 

 cumference which is curiously nailed with two rows of very small tacks, above 

 400 in number, the vacant holes whence some of the nails are dropped out, are 

 little larger than to admit the point of a pair of small compasses, both which 

 rims do likewise fasten the handle (the only part of wood) which has also 6 

 other iron plates, about 3 or 4 inches long, to secure it. 



That shield which I lately procured, differs not so much in size, though it is 

 completely a foot larger in the circumference, as in the form ; for whereas that 

 already described is almost flat, except the swelling umbo, this is absolutely 

 concave, and from the skirts of the protuberant boss in the middle, it rises 

 gradually to the circumference, which is near 3 inches perpendicular from the 

 centre; this has 14 rows of the like brass studs, but the circular plates of iron 

 they are fixed in, do not lie upon other cross plates, as the former do, but each 

 from the centre, on the outer edge of the other, which occasions its rising in 

 that concave manner. 



That these were part of the accoutrements of the Roman equites, rather than 

 either the velites or hastati, I conclude, because though all in general had 

 shields, yet those of the velites, who were as the forlorn hope, seem more slight, 

 and are expressly said to be, e ligno corio supcrinducto, those of the hastati are 

 not only said, e pluribus lignis et asserculis constitut. &c. but were also 4 feet 



