74 



remember the nobles and their knightly followers were not always 

 engaged in deadly fights. 



They had their meetings at Court, at Parliaments and at 

 tournaments when all were in full dress, that is in armour 

 embellished with the greatest possible display of wealth and extra- 

 vagance from pride or rivalry. The Beaufort figure shows 

 some of these interesting details worn on such occasions. 



You will have noticed no mention is made of any head covering> 

 whereas John, Lord Beaufort wears, what is unusual on effigies of 

 this period, a light helmet or salade which was part of his suit of 

 armour worn in civil life. It is made of steel plates shaped to fit the 

 head with special heavy guards for the lower part of the face and 

 neck in case any of the weapons in striking his body might slip up- 

 wards to his throat. The part covering his head would be only of 

 moderate weight, because in the time of actual warfare or at the 

 tournament he would have put over this helmet a still heavier casing 

 of steel which completely covered his head and throat and was 

 fastened by latchets on the shoulders. This headpiece or helm as it 

 was called is often shown on effigies surmounted by the crest of the 

 knight and laid beneath his head instead of a pillow. To bear the 

 weight of this heavy helm there was a band of steel around the 

 crown of the inner helmet and on occasions of state dress this band 

 was replaced by an orle of silver gilt set with precious stones, thus 

 making a light relief of colour to the steel breastplate. In the 

 present instance in order to mark the rank of the deceased this orle 

 is replaced by a ducal coronet. 



In the same way a handsome belt was worn at such times 

 across the hips to carry the sword and dagger, and this, too, was 

 ornamented with gold work and jewels on a foundation of leather and 

 coloured velvet. The swords at this period were often engraved with 

 some motto or text on the hilt or blade, and in this instance the sacred 

 monogram is shown on the top of the scabbard. 



Just as in modern times those who are entitled to wear honours 

 or orders have the insignia of them shown on their portraits when 

 painted by leading artists, so at this time the effigies of the nobles 

 are often represented with such badges of honour as were in vogue 

 at that early period. Naturally Lord Beaufort, who was so close a 

 companion of Henry V, would have received some personal mark of 

 favour from his sovereign, and it is therefore not surprising to find 

 that these badges are shown on his effigy. To deal with the lesser 

 honour first we see that he wears round the neck the livery collar 

 known as the collar of S. S. When the great rivalry for power was 

 working out its destiny in England to culminate in the Wars of the 

 Roses, the different nobles liked to show their importance by special 

 badges or cognizance pertaining to their family, and the knights 

 attached to these families were proud to wear such from loyalty to 

 their chiefs. 



In order to confer special honour on the most influential of their 

 followers the nobles formed these badges into a collar, by fastening 

 them at intervals on a band of leather and velvet, and in a short time 



