CHAP, v.] 



CHIVALRY. 



Ul 



86. 



The Gambcson, or under garment, was generally 

 stuffed with wool and quilted, and was a protection as 

 well against weapons as against injuries caused by the 

 chafing of the armour, the weight of which was very 

 burdensome. 



In course of time the chain mail was first added to, 

 and then superseded by plate armour, which was made 

 of solid pieces with movable joints, to meet the require- 

 ments of the human frame. These were first attached 

 to the arms and legs, afterwards they were applied to the 

 protection of the body, and for a long period a species of 

 mixed plate and chain armour was preferred by the 

 knights. The heavy plate armour was often worn over 

 the hauberk, the horsemen believing the polished plates, 

 from which the sword or lance glided easily, to be a 

 better defence than the coat of mail, which was not proof 

 against injury. The invention of gunpowder also placed 

 the solid armour in higher favour than ever, as it was a 

 better protection against fire-arms. This kind of defence 

 was maintained in use until the end of the seventeenth 

 century, when it was reduced, the breast and back pieces 

 only being retained, and being much about the same as 

 those at present used by the cuirassiers of most European 

 armies. 



With the plate armour came into use also the hook, or 

 lance rest, which was attached to the breastplate, to aid 

 the knight in holding his lance up steadily while making 

 a charge, whence comes the phrase of putting the lance 

 in rest as in the passage : — 



" A thousand spurs are striking deep, 

 A thousand spears in rest ; 

 A thousand knights are pressing close 

 Behind the snow-white crest." 



When chain armour was in use the horses also were 

 covered with it, as they were armed afterwards with 

 solid plates, when their riders adopted that kind of pro- 

 tection. Before the introduction of fire-arms, these 

 powerfully armed knights were almost impregnable, and 

 the art of defensive warfare was far superior to the 

 arts of destruction. This, of course, gave an enormous 



