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between knights both about equally armed, and one of the first signs 

 of the alterations appeared in the shape of the linen surcoat. This 

 long flowing covering was very inconvenient for getting on and off 

 horseback, and men called upon suddenly to fight on foot sometimes 

 got their legs entangled in its ample folds and fell an easy prey to 

 the enemy. The shirt was accordingly shortened, especially in the 

 front and cut up at the sides, and was known as the cyclas. The 

 cyclas, however, did not find favour amongst the nobility and does 

 not appear on more than 20 monumental effigies, and yet one example 

 is in Wimborne Minster. 



Alas ! the figure is but a relic of its past glory, for only the 

 upper portion remains, but yet enough to show this interesting 

 garment — the cyclas. Beneath it at the side is seen the chain 

 hauberk, which is also continued over the head. An interesting 

 feature is the covering for the hands, which instead of being of mail 

 is an early instance of gauntlets made of scale work. The foundation 

 of these gauntlets would have been of leather with small plates of 

 steel fastened on and overlapping one another like the scales of a 

 fish. The weapons shown are the sword and the shield. At this 

 period the sword, a long and heavy weapon, was suspended from a 

 broad belt set diagonally across the cyclas and fastened behind to 

 the waist belt to keep it in position. The shield, made of wood, was 

 shaped like a heater, and curved more or less to better cover and 

 protect the body. On it were painted the armorial bearings of the 

 owner, and it was fastened to a leather belt or guige passed over 

 the right shoulder. In this case there are traces of three lions 

 rampant, which have led antiquaries to presume that the effigy 

 represents Sir John Plecy, who is known to have died about 1313. 



On the way to the next century, the 15th, into which we have 

 roughly divided our subject, it may be well to glance at the armour 

 in use about 1360, which is half way to the next example in 

 Wimborne, and note some of the chief changes. At the middle of 

 the century fighting was continually going on in different parts of 

 England or in our territory in France, and the nobles who took part 

 in these many struggles found they were compelled to equip them- 

 selves with all the best defensive armour they could afford or obtain 

 in order to protect their bodies against all kinds of weapons in use 

 by their opponents. From this cause we see that as soon as the skill 

 of the workmen could produce better defences, the fashions in the 

 style of armour were changed and the chain mail was fast superseded 

 by plate armour. 



Let us get a good idea of the military costume of the time of 

 Edward III c. 1360. The whole body is encased in pieces of armour 

 made of steel plates, except just at those parts of the body where 

 great freedom of movement is required ; there the chain is still re- 

 tained. And in order to vie with the costly and magnificent robes 

 of the courtier, a short coat or jupon of velvet is worn over the body 

 armour, the border being often cut into a pattern of foliage or 

 Vandykes and the whole embroidered back and front with the coat of 

 arms. This garment is no doubt the origin of the term " coat of 

 arms." Over it, on the hips, was clasped the elaborate baudric or 



