234 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period III. 



1 i 



%' 



i'l 



applied to a touch-hole on the top. The end of the 

 stock resting aga.'^st the breast, while the muzzle was 

 steadied by a rest with a fork or crotch which stood up 

 ixom the pommel of the saddle. 



At the outset, before these firearms had acquired 

 sufficient power of penetration to pierce the massive 

 breastplates of the cavalr)% the horsemen riding up 

 and firing from petronels upon lightly armed infantry 

 would have a certain advantage over them, as, being 

 invulnerable themselves, they could still inflict loss upon 

 their opponents. Armour, which had increased in 

 strength about the time of the introduction of firearms, 

 was somewhat lightened about the middle of the six- 

 teenth century ; but the movement in that direction was 

 check»„H., and towards the latter end of the century the 

 armour was heavier than ever for a short time.^ 



The constant improvements in the arquebus soon 

 rendered necessary an increased strength in the cuirass, 

 and in order to be enabled to carry the extra weight, 

 unnecessary portions of the armour were abandoned. 

 The first step in the abolition of armour took place 

 about the latter half of the sixteenth century, when the 

 greaves and sollarets (defences for the feet) began to be 

 laid aside altogether. The next step was the disappear- 

 ance of the " braconniere " and *' tassettes," which were 

 replaced by large cuissards, or thigh-pieces, which reached 

 to the knees.'* The passe-gardes, or elevated shoulder- 

 pieces, were abandoned about the same time, and simple 

 and compact epaulier^" took their place. The greaves 

 and sollarets were repi^^ed by long heavy leather boots. 

 Armour modified in this way lasted a long period, being 

 in use somewhat in this form for nearly a century. 



As the firearms improved so did the infantry improve 

 their relative position in reference to the cavalry ; and 

 partly from this cause, and partly from the difficulty of 

 obtaining the large and powerful horses required for its 

 use, the lance, as a weapon, began to lose its old pre- 

 eminence and to be less relied on b)'' the cavalry. 



The greater the prt)gress in the application of gun- 

 ' Daniel, i. 290. 2 Boutell, 156. 



