The armourer and his craft from the XIth to the XVIth century

Edward ye Second
Be it remembered that in ye hustinge of comon plaes holden ye Mondaie in ye feaste of ye conversion of Saint Paule, ye yere of ye reigne of our Lord ye king Edward, ye son of king Edward, xv th., in ye presence of Sir Hamen de Chigewelle then Maior, Nicholas de farringdon and by assent of Hugh de Auggeye, &c. Armorers. It is was ordeyned for ye comon proffyt and assented that from henceforth all Armor made in ye Cytie to sell be good and convenable after ye forme that henceforth That is to saie that an Akton and Gambezon covered with sendall or of cloth of Silke be stuffed with new clothe of cotten and of cadar and of oldn sendal and not otherwise. And that ye wyite acketonnes be stuffed of olde lynnen and of cottone and of new clothe wth in and wth out. Also forasmuch as men have founde old bascuette broken and false now newly covered by men that nothing understand of ye mystery wh be putt in pryvie places and borne out into ye contrye out of ye said Cytie, to sell and in ye same citie of wh men may not gaine knowledge whether they be good or ill, of ye wh thinge greate yill might fall to ye king and his people, and a greate slaunder to ye Armorers aforesaid and to all ye Cytie. It is ordeyned and assented that no Farrar ne other man that maketh ye Irons of bascuette hereafter so to be covered no bascuett by himself to sell be free but that he shall sell out of his hande will open and ungarnished as men have used before this tyme. And ye which shall abide ungarnished until they be sene by the myor that shall be sworn or by ny of Cz’ens whether they be convenable to garnishe or no. And there be found in any Court of Armorers or else where in wch Court is Armor for to sell, whatsoever it be, that is not proffytable or otherwise than is ordeyned and none be it taken and brought before ye Maior and Aldermen and hys Czens to be demed good or ill after their discretion. And for the wch thing well and lawfully to be kept and surveyed Roger Savage Willm. De Langgull, Richard Johonnez (John Conny) being sworne. And if they myor may not attend that ij of them Do that longeth thereto.

Fol. 135. ffirst it is a general Article ordeyned for all ye crafte of London and centred in ye Chamber of ye Guildhall of ye said City in ye booke wth ye letter C in ye xxxv leaffe in ye tyme of Adam Bury Maior, in ye yere of ye reigne of king Ed. ye thirde after ye conquest.

Lib. v. xd. It is ordeyned that all ye crafte of ye citie of London be truely ruled and governed every person in his nature in due maner so that no falsehood ne false workemanshipp nor Deceipt be founde in no maner wise in any of ye foresaid crafte for ye worshipp of ye good folke of all ye same crafte and for the comon proffytt of ye people.

In the first place that no one of the said trade shall follow or keep seld of the trade aforesaid within the franchise of the City of London until he shall have properly bought his freedom, according to the usages of the said City, on pain of losing his wares.

Also forasmuch as heretofore some persons coming in who are strangers have intermeddled and still do intermeddle in the making of helmetry, whereas they do not know the trade, by reason whereof many great men and others of the realm have been slain through their default, to the great scandal of the said trade: It is ordained that no person shall from henceforth intermeddle with or work at helmetry if he be not proved to be a good, proper, and sufficient workman by the Wardens of the said trade on pain of forfeiture to the use of the Chamber.

Also that three or four if need be of the best workmen of the said trade shall be chosen and sworn to rule the trade well and properly as is befitting for security and safety of the great men and others of the realm, and for the honour and profit of the said City and of the workers of the said trade.

Also that no apprentice shall be received by any master of the said trade for less than seven years; and that without collusion or fraud on paying to the said Chamber 100 shillings.

Also that no one of the said trade or other person of the Franchise shall set any stranger to work who is of the said trade if he be not a proper and lawful person, and one for whom the master will answer as to his good behaviour, on pain of paying to the said Chamber 20 shillings.

Also that no apprentice of the said trade who shall be indebted to his master in any sum of money at the end of his term shall serve henceforth any other person than his own master, nor shall he depart from such service or be into the service of another person in any way received until he shall have fully given satisfaction for his debt to his master. And he who shall receive in any other manner the servant or apprentice of another person shall pay to the said Chamber 20 shillings.

Also that helmetry and other arms forged by the hammer which are brought from the parts without this land beyond the seas, or from any other place unto the said City for sale, shall not from henceforth be in any way offered for sale privily or openly until they have been properly assayed by the aforesaid Wardens and marked with their mark, on pain of forfeiting such helmetry and arms to the said Chamber as shall be so offered for sale.

Also that each one of the makers aforesaid shall have his own mark and sign, and that no one of them shall counterfeit the sign or mark of another on pain of losing his freedom until he shall have bought the same back again and made satisfaction to him whose sign he shall have so counterfeited, and further he shall pay to the Chamber 40 shillings.

Wardens of the same trade chosen and sworn,
Robert de Shirwode,
Richard Bridde,
Thomas Canoun.

[376] Too my leve Lordes here nowe next folowinge is a Traytese compyled by Johan Hyll Armorier Sergeant in the office of Armory wt. Kinges Henry ye 4th and Henry ye 5th of ye poyntes of Worship in Armes and how he shall be diversely Armed & gouverned under supportacion of faveur of alle ye Needes to coverte adde & amenuse where nede is by the high comandement of the Princes that have powair so for to ordeyne & establishe

The first Honneur in Armes is a Gentilman to fight in his Souverain Lords quarell in a bataille of Treason sworne withinne Listes before his souverain Lorde whether he be Appellant or Defendant ye honneur is his that winneth ye feelde.

As for the appellant thus Armed by his owne witte or by his counsaille wch is assigned to him before Conestable & Marchall ye wch Counsaille is ordeyned & bounden to teche hym alle maner of fightynge & soteltees of Armes that longeth for a battaile sworne

First hym nedeth to have a paire of hosen of corde wtoute vampeys And the saide hosen kutte at ye knees and lyned wtin wt Lynnen cloth byesse as the hose is A payre of shoen of red Lether thynne laced & fretted underneth wt whippecorde & persed, And above withinne Lyned wt Lynnen cloth three fyngers in brede double & byesse from the too an yncle above ye wriste. And so behinde at ye hele from the Soole halfe a quarter of a yearde uppe this is to fasten wele to his Sabatons And the same Sabatons fastened under ye soole of ye fote in 2 places hym nedeth also a petycote of an overbody of a doublett, his petycote wt oute sleves, ye syses of him 3 quarters aboute wt outen coler. And that other part noo ferther thanne [377] ye waste wt streyte sieves and coler and cutaine oylettes in ye sleves for ye vaunt bras and ye Rerebrase

Armed in this wise First behoveth Sabatouns grevis & cloos quysseux wt voydours of plate or of mayle & a cloos breche of mayle wt 5 bokles of stele ye tisseux of fyne lether. And all ye armyng poyntes after they ben knytte & fastened on hym armed that ye poyntes of him be kutte of

And thanne a paire of cloos gussetts strong sclave not drawes and thatye gussets be thre fingers withinne his plates at both assises And thanne a paire of plattes at xx li lib weight his breste & his plats enarmed to ... wt wyre or wt poyntes. A pair of Rerebraces shitten withinne the plates before wt twi forlockes and behinde wt thre forlocks. A paire of vaunt bras cloos wt voydours of mayle & fretted. A pair of gloves of avantage wche may be devised. A basnet of avauntage for ye listes whiche is not goode for noon other battailles but man for man save that necessitie hath noo lawe, the basnet locked baver & vysour locked or charnelled also to ye brest & behynde wt two forlockes. And this Gentilman appellent aforesaide whanne he is thus armed & redy to come to ye felde do on hym a cote of armes of sengle tarten ye beter for avauntage in fighting. And his leg harneys covered alle wt reed taritryn the wche ben called tunictes for he coverynge of his leg harneys is doen because his adversarie shal not lightly espye his blode. And therefore also hen his hosen reed for in alle other colours blode wol lightly be seyne, for by the oolde tyme in such a bataile there shulde noo thing have be seyn here save his basnett & his gloves. And thanne tye on hym a payre of besagewes. Also it fitteth the [378] foresaide counsaille to goo to ye kyng the daye before ye bataille & aske his logging nigh ye listes. Also ye foresaide Counsaille must ordeyne hym the masses ye first masse of ye Trinitie ye seconde of ye Holy Goste & ye thirde of owre Ladye or elles of what other sainte or saintes that he hath devocion unto

And that he be watched alle that night ... hym that he is watched and light in his Chambre alle that night that his counsaille may wite how that he slepeth. And in ye mornyng whanne he goeth to his Masses that his herneys be leyed at ye North end of ye Auter and covered wt a cloth that ye gospell may be redde over it and at ye laste masse for to be blessed wt ye preist and whanne he hath herde his Masses thanne to goo to his dyner. And soo to his Armyng in ye forme aforesaide. And whanne he is armed and alle redy thanne to come to ye feelde in forme to fore rehersed, thanne ... his counsaille bounden to counsaille hym & to teche hym how he shal gouverne hym of his requests to ye kyng or he come into ye feelde and his entrie into ye felde and his gouvernance in the feelde for ye saide Counsaille hath charge of hym before Constable and Mareschal til that Lesses les aller be cryed. The whiche requestes ben thus that ye saide Appellant sende oon his counsaille to the kyng for to requeste hym that whanne he cometh to ye barrers to have free entrie wt his counsaille Confessour & Armorers wt alle maner of Instruments wt breede & wyne hymself bringing in in an Instrument that is to saye a cofre or a pair of bouges. Also their fyre cole & belyes and that his chayre wt [379] certaine of his Servants may be brought into ye feelde and sette up there the houre of his comyng that it may cover hym and his counsaille whanne he is comen into ye feelde this forsaide gentilman Appellant comyng to ye Listes whether he wol on horsebak or on fote wt his counsaille Confessour & other Servaunts aforesaide havyng borne be fore hym by his counsaille a spere a long swerde a short swerde & a dagger fastined upon hymself his swerdes fretted and beasagewed afore ye hiltes havyng noo maner of poyntes for and ther be founden that day on hym noo poyntes of wepons thanne foirre, it shall tourne hym to gret reproof. And this gentilman appellant that come to ye barrers at ye Southeest sone, his visier doune And he shal aske entrie where shal mete hym Constable and Mareschal and aske hym what art thou. And he shal saye I am suche a man & telle his name to make goode this day by ye grace of God that I have saide of suche a man and tell hys name bifore my Souain Lord and they shal bidde hym putte up his visier and whanne he hath put up his visier they shal open the barrers and lette hym inne and his counsaille before hym & wt hym his Armorers & his servaunts shal goo streight to his chayer wt his breed his wyne & alle his instruments that longe unto hym save his weppons. And whanne he entreth into the felde that he blesse hym soberly and so twys or he come to before his Souverain Lord And his Counsailles shall do thair obeisaunce before thair souverain Lord twys or they come to the degrees of his scaffolde and he to obeye him wt his heed at both tymes Then whanne they to fore thair souverain Lord they shal knele a downe and he also they shal aryse or he aryse he shal obeye hym at his heed to his souverain Lord and then aryse and whanne he is up on his feete he shal blesse hym and turne hym to his chayre and at the entryng of his chayr [380] soberly tourne hym his visage to his souverain Lord wards and blesse hym and thanne tourne hym againe and soo go into his chayre and there he maye sitte hym downe and take of his gloves and his basnet and so refresh hym till the houre of hys Adversarie approche wt breed and wyne or wt any other thing that he hath brought in wt hym. And whanne the Defendaunt his Adversarie cometh in to the feelde that he be redy armed againe or that he come into the feelde standing withoute his chayre taking hede of his Adversaries comyng in and of his countenance that he may take comfort of. And whanne the defendant his Adversarie is come int ye felde and is in his chayre thanne shal the kyng send for his wepons and se him and the Conestable and the Marschal also and if they be leefull they shal be kept in the feelde & kutte the same day by ye comaundement of the kyng and the Conestable and Mareschal in ye kynge’s behalve. And thanne fitteth to the foresaide counsaille to arme hym and to make hym redy against that he be called to his first ooth and whanne he is called to his first oothe thanne fitteth it to alle his counsaille to goo wt hym to his first ooth for to here what the Conestable and Mareschal seyen unto hym and what contenaunce he maketh in his sweryng And whanne he hath sworne they shl ryse up by ye comaundement of the Conestable and Mareschal. And whanne he is on his feete he shal obey hym to his Souverain Lord and blesse hym and thanne turne hym to his chayre his visage to his souveraine Lord wards and in his goinge blesse hym twys by ye weye or he come to his chayre. And at ye [381] entryng to his chayre soberly tourne hym his visage to his Souverain Lord wards and blesse hym and soo go into his chayre. Thanne fitteth it to his fore saide Counsaille to awayte where the defendaunt shal come to his first ooth and that they be ther as sone as he for to here how he swereth for he must nedes swere that al that ever th appellant hath sworne is false substance and alle. And if he wol not swere that every worde & every sillable of every worde substance and alle is false the Counsaille of ye saide appellant may right wisly aske jugement by lawe of Civile and raison of Armes forafter ye juge is sette there shulde noo plee be made afore hym that daye.

And if so be that the Defendant swere duly thanne ye Counsaille of the foresaide Appellant shal goo to his chayre agayne and abide ther til they be sent for. And thanne shal they bringe hym to hys second Ooth and here how he swereth and whanne he hath sworne they shal goo wt hym to hys chayre againe in the forme aforesaide. And whanne he is in his chayre the saide Counsaille shal awayte whanne ye Defendaunt cometh to his seconde ooth and here how he swereth and if he swere under any subtil teerme cantel or cavellacion the foresaide Counsaille of th appellant may require the jugement. And if he swere duely thanne shal ye Counsaille of ye foresaide Appellant goo to his chayre againe and abide there til they be sent for. And thanne shal they brynge hym to his thirde ooth and assuraunce. And whanne they be sworne and assured the saide appellant wt his Counsaile shal goo againe to his chayre in the fourme afore saide and there make [382] hym redy and fastene upon hym his wepons and so refresche hym til ye Conestable and Mareschal bid hym come to ye feeld. Thanne shal his Armorers and his Servaunts voyde the Listes wt his chayre and alle his Instruments at ye Comandement of ye Conestable and Mareschal. Thanne fitteth it to the Counsaille of the saide Appellant to ask a place of ye kyng afore hym withinne the barres upon his right hande that ye saide Counsaille of th appellant may come and stande there whanne they be discharged of ye saide Appellant.

The cause is this that suche pyte may be given to ye kyng if God that noon of hem shal dye that daye for he may by his prowaie royal in such a cas take it into his hande the foresaide Counsaille of the Appellant to abyde in the saide place til the kyng have geven his jugement upon him—And thanne ye Conestable and Mareschal shal deliwer the foresaide Appellant by ye Comandement of the kyng to his foresaide Counsaille to govern hym of his going out of ye feelde as wele as they did of his comyng in his worship to be saved in al that lyeth en hem. And soo to bryng hym to his Logging agayne to unarme hym comforte hym and counsaille hym And some of his Counsaille may goo to the kyng and comon wt hym and wite of the kyng how he shal be demeaned. This enarmyng here aforesaide is best for a battaille of arreste wt a sworde a dagger an Ax and a pavys til he come to th asseblee his sabatons & his tunycle evoyded And thanne the Auctor Johan Hyll dyed at London in Novembre the xiii th yere of kyng Henry the Sixt so that he accomplished noo mor of ye compylyng of this [383] trayties on whose soulle God have mercy for his endles passion Amen.

Mais quant à la faczon de leur harnoys de jouste, suis content de le vous déclairer plus largement, affin que pour lavenir ceulx qui voudront jouster y preignent exemple, soit de y adjouster ou de y oster, comme mieulx verront et congnoisteront y estre nécessaire.

Et tout premièrement vueil commancer au harnoys de teste, cest assavoir au heaume, lequel est fait en ceste faczon, comme cy après me orrez déclairer; et premièrement lesdiz heaumes sont, sur le sommet de la teste jusques à la veue, fors et espes et ung pou sur le rondelet, par faczon que la teste ne touche point encontre, ainçois y peut avoir espace de troiz doiz entre deux.

Item, de dessobz de la veue du heaume, qui arme par davant tout le visaige depuis les deux aureilles jusques à la poitrine et endroit les yeulx qui s’appelle la veue, avance et boute avant troiz bons doiz ou plus que n’est le bort de dessus; entre lequel bort de dessus et celuy de dessobz ny a bonnement despace que ung bon doy et demy pour y povoir veoir, et n’est ladicte veue, tant dun cousté que dautre, fendue que environ dun espan de long, mais voulentiers vers le cousté sénestre est ladicte veue plus clouse et le bort plus en bouty dehors que n’est de lautre costé droict.

Item, et ledit dessobz ladicte veue marche voluntiers sur la pièce de dessus la teste deux bons doiz, tant dun cousté que dautre de la veue, et cloué de fors clox qui ont les uns la teste enbotie, et les autres out la teste du clou limée affin que le rochet ny prengne.

Item, la pièce dessusditte qui arme le visaige est voluntiers large et destendant presque dune venue jusques à la gorge, ou plus bas, affin quelle ne soit pas si près des visaiges quant les cops de lance y prennent. Ainçois qui le veult faire à point fault quil y ait quatre doiz despace du moins entre deux. Et à ceste dicte pièce, du costé droict de la lance, endroit la joue, deux ou trois petites veues qui viennent du long depuis le hault de la joue jusques au collet du pourpoint, affin que l’en nait schault dedens le heaulme, et aussi affin que on puisse mieulx ouir ou veoir celuy qui le sert de la lance.

Item, l’autre pièce dudit heaume arme depuis les aureilles par darrière le long du coul jusques trois doiz sur les espaulles par bas, et par hault, aussi jusques à trois doiz sur la nuque du coul. Et vient faczonnée une arreste aval qui vient en estroississant sur le collet du pourpoint, et se relargist sur les espaulles en deux; laquelle pièce dessusdicte nest jamais faicte forte ne espesse, ainçois la plus legière que on la peult faire est la meilleure; et pour conclusion faire ces trois pièces dessusdictes font le heaulme entier.

Item, quant à larmeure du corps, il y en a de deux faczons; cest assavoir: la première comme curasse à armer saufve que le voulant est clox et arresté à la pièce, par faczon que le voulant ne peut aller ne jouer hault ne bas.

Item, lautre faczon est de brigandines ou aultrement dit currassines, couvertez et clouées par pièces petittes depuis la poitrine en a bas, ne ny a aultre différance de celle cy aux brigandines que on porte en la guerre, sinon que tout ce que contient la poitrine jusques aux faulx est dune seulle pièce et se lace du costé de la main droite ou par darrière du long de leschine. Item, larrest est espès, grox et matériel au plaisir de celui qui le fait faire.

Item, oudit harnoys de corps y a principallement deux boucles doubles, ou une boucle double et ung aneau limé, ou meilleu de la poitrine, plus hault quatre doiz que le faulx du corps, et lautre du cousté sénestre longues; de lautre ung pou plus haulte: lesquelles deux boucles ou aneau sont pour atacher ledit heaume à la curasse ou brigandine; cest assavoir: la première sert pour metre une tresse ou corroye oudit heaulme à une autre pareille boucle comme celle là, qui est oudit heaume clouée sur la pate dudit heaume davant le plus à lendroit du meillieu du travers que len peult, et out voulentiers lesdictes tresses et couvertures de cueur trois doubles lun sur lautre; lautre seconde boucle ou aneau à main sénestre respont pareillement à une aultre boucle ou aneau qui est oudit heaulme à la sénestre partie sur la pate dudit heaulme; et ces deux boucles ou aneaux sénestres servent espéciallement pour la buffe, cest assavoir que quand le rochet atache (a touché) sur le hault de lescuczon ou heaume, ceste tresse ou courroye dessusdicte garde que le heaulme ne se joigne à la joe sénestre par la faczon que ledit jousteur en puisse estre depis.

Item, en ladicte brigandine ou curasse y a en la senestre partie en la poitrine, près du bort du braz senestre, à ung doy près endroit le tour du braz hault, troiz doiz plus bas que la boucle de quoy on lasse ladicte brigandine sur lespaulle, ung crampon de fer du gros dun doy en ront, dont les deux chefz sont rivez par dedens et ladicte pièce au mieulx quil se puet faire, et dedens dudit crampon se passe deux ou trois tours une grosse tresse bonne et forte qui depuis passe parmy la poire, laquelle poire est assise et cache ledit crampon; de laquelle poire la haulteur est vouluntiers dun bon doy, sur laquelle lescu repose, et est ataché par lesdits pertuys dudit escu de la tresse qui est atachée audit crampon, laquelle sort par le meilleu de ladicte poire.

Item, en ladicte curasse y a darrière, ou meilleu du creux de lespaulles, une boucle ou aneau qui sert pour atacher une tresse ou courroie à une autre boucle du heaulme darrière, si que le heaulme ne chée davant, et affin aussi que la veue soit de la haulteur et demeure ferme que le jousteur la vieult.

Item, oultre plus en ladicte curasse y a ung petit aneau plus has que nul des aultres, assis plus vers le faillement des coustez à la main sénestre, auquel len atache dune aultre legière tresse la main de fer, laquelle main de fer est tout dune pièce et arme la main et le braz jusques troiz ou quatre doiz oultre le code.

Item, depuis le code jusques au hault, cache (cachant) tout le tour de lespaulle y a ung petit garde braz dune pièce, et se descent jusques sur le code quatre doiz.

Item, à la main droite y a ung petit gantellet lequel se appelle gaignepain; et depuis le gantellet jusques oultre le code, en lieu de avant braz, y a une armeure qui se appelle espaulle de mouton, laquelle est faczonnée large endroit le code, et se espanouist aval, et endroit la ploieure du braz se revient ploier par faczon que, quant len a mis la lance en larrest, laditte ploieure de laditte espaulle de mouton couvre depuis la ploieure du braz ung bon doy en hault.

Item, pour armeure de lespaulle droite y a ung petit garde braz fait à lames, sur lequel y a une rondelle joignant une place, laquelle rondelle se haulse et se besse quant on vieult metre la lance en larrest, et se revient recheoir sur la lance quant elle est oudit arrest, par telle faczon quelle couvre ce que est désarmé en hault dentre la lance et ledit garde braz.

Item, aussi oudit royaulme de France se arment de harnoys de jambes quant ilz joustent.

Item, quant à la faczon des estacheures dudit harnoys par bas, si que il ne sourmonte point encontremont par force des copz, je men passe à le déclairer pour le présent, car il y en a pluseurs faczons. Ne aussi daultre part ne me semble pas si quil se doye divulguer si publicquement.

Item, quant est des lances, les plus convenables raisons de longueur entre grappe et rochet, et aussy celles de quoy on use plus communuement est de treze piez ou de treze piez et demy de long.

Item, et lesdiz rochez sont vouluntiers de ouverture entre chascune des trois pointes de deux doiz et demy ou trois au plus.

Item, lesdictes grappes sont voulentiers plaines de petittes pointes agues (aiguës) comme petiz dyamens, de grosseur comme petittes nouzilles, lesquelles pointes se viennent arrester dedens le creux de larrest, lequel creux de larrest plain de bois ou de plomb affin que lesdittes pointes ne puissent fouir, par quoy vient ladicte lance à tenir le cop: en faczon quil fault que elle se rompe en pièces, que len assigne bien ou que le jousteur ploye leschine si fort que bien le sente.

Item, les rondes dessusdictes lances ne couvrent tout autour au plus aller que ung demy pié, et sont vouluntiers de trois doiz despès de bourre feutrée entre deux cuirs, du cousté devers la main par dedens.

Et oultre plus pour faire fin à la manière que len se arme en fait de jouxtes ou pais et contrée que jay cy desous déclaié, ne diray aultre chose pour le présent, sinon que ung bon serviteur dun jousteur doit regarder principallement trois choses sur son maistre avant quil luy donne sa lance; cest assavoir que ledit jousteur ne soit désarmé de nulles de ses armeures par le cop précédent; laultre si est que ledit jousteur ne soit point estourdy ou méhaigné pareillement par ledit cops précédent quil aura eu; le tiers si est que ledit serviteur doit bien regarder sil y a autre prest sur les rengs qui ait sa lance sur faulte, et prest pour jouster contre sondit maistre, affin que sondit maistre ne tienne trop longuement sans faire course la lance en larrest, ou quil ne face sa course en vain et sans que autre vienne à lencontre de luy.

1. Quiconque vouldra estre armurier ou brigandinier, fourbisseur et garnisseur d’espées et de harnois ... faire le pourra....

2. It. les quels maistres desd. mestiers seront tenus besoigner et faire ouvrage de bonnes étoffes, c’est assavoir pour tant que touche les armuriers, ils feront harnois blancs pour hommes d’armes de toute épreuve qui est à dire d’arbalestes à tilloles et à coursel a tout le moins demie espreuve, qui est a entendre d’arbaleste a crocq et traict e’archiers, et pour tant que touche les brigandiniers ils seront tenus pareillement faire brigandines, c’est assavoir les plus pesantes de 26 à 27 livres poix de marc tout au plus, tenant espreuve d’arbaleste a tillolles et marquées de 2 marques, et les moindres de 18 a 20 livres, tel poix que dessusu et d’espreuve d’arbaleste a crocq et traict d’archier, marquées d’une marque. Et seront icelles brigandines d’assier, trampees partout et aussi toutes garnies de cuir entre les lames et la toile, c’est assavoir en chacune rencontre de lames, et ne pourront faire lesd. brigandines de moindre poix de lame....

3. It. et fauldra qe lesd. lames soient limees tout a l’entour a ce que tes ettoffes durent plus largement....

10. Que las marchans et ouvriers desd. mestiers, tant faiseurs d’espées, haches, guysarmes, voulges, dagues et autres habillemens de guerre, seront tenus de faire tout ouvrage bon, loyal, et marchant.

11. It. que tous fourbisseurs et garnisseurs d’espées, tant vielles que neuves, seront tenus de faire fourraux de cuirs de vache et de veau, et les jointures de cuir de vache, la poignee d’icelles nouee de fouer [fouet?] et se aucunes poignées sont faictes de cuir, icelles poignées seront garnies de fisselles par dessouez, led. cuir.

12. Et pareillement les atelles des fourreaux seront neufvs et de bois de fouteau sec....

18. It. que nuls marchans ne maistres forains ne pourront tenir ouvrouers ne boutiques de harnois, brigandines, javelines, lances, picques ne espees, ne choses deppendantes desd. mestiers en ceste ville s’ils ne sont maistres en cette ville.

1375. Conegude cause sie que Guitard de Junquyères, armurer de Bordeu, Lambert Braque, d’Alemaine, armurer de cotes de fer, reconegon e autreyan e en vertat confessan aver pres e recebut de la man de Moss. de Foxis 100 florins d’aur d’Aragon, per los quans lo prometan e s’obligan aver portat a Morlaas 60 bacinetz ab capmalh e 60 cotes de fer o plus si plus poden, boos e sufficientz.

1490. Sachent tous ... que cum le temps passe de 6 ans ou environ Estienne Daussone, Ambroye de Caron, Karoles et Glaudin Bellon natifs du pays de Mylan en Lombardie et Pierre de Sonnay natif de la duché de Savoye, les quels ce fussent associés, acompaignés et adjustez entre eulx l’un avecques l’autre, de faire leur résidence pesonnelle et continuelle a ouvrer et trafiquer du mestier de armurerie et pour l’espace de 20 ans ou environ....

Min. dec. not. Frapier, Arch. de la Gironde, Rev. d’Aquitaine, XII, 26.

The charges of the king’s own armoury accounting the Master of the Armourie’s fee, the Clerk & Yeoman’s wages and 5 armourers for his Highness’ own person with 1 Gilder 2 Lockyers, 1 Millman and a prentice, in the year.

In most humble wise shew & beseche your honours your poor suppliants the Armourers of London that whereas we having been at great charges these six or seven years as well in making & providing tools & instruments as in entertaining and keeping of foreign men from beyond the seas to learn & practice the making of armour of all sorts which by the goodness of God we have obtained in such sort that at this time we make not onlie great quantitie But also have farre better armors than that wch cometh from beyond the Seas as is sufficiently proved, and fearing that for lack of sale and utterance of the same we shall not be able to keep & maintain the number of our apprentices & servants which are vy well practised in making of all sorts of armors. Our humble suite therfore to yr honors is that it shall please you to be a means to Her Mtie that we may be appointed to bring into her Mties Store at reasonable prices monthly or quarterly the Armor that we shall make till Her Mties Store shall be furnished with all sorts of Armor in such numbers as Her Mtie shall think good & appoint. And we and our posterity shall not only pry for your Honors but also being strengthened by your Honors we do not doubt to serve this land of Englishe Armor in future years as well as it is of Englishe Calyvers and muskets wch within this thirtie years or thereabouts was servd altogether with Outlandish peces with no money in respect of those wch are now made in this land, And we are the more bould, to make this our sute to your Honors because it is not a particular Comoditie to us but a benefit to the whole land as may be proved by these reasons viz:

1. Armour made in this land being not good, the makers may be punished by the laws provided for the same.

2. It is a means to set a great number of Her Majesty’s subjects on work in this land, which now setteth a great number of foreigners on work in other lands.

3. It will furnish the land with skillfull men to make and fit armour to men’s bodies in far better order than it hath been heretofore.

4. We shall be provided within this land of good armour, what restrayntments or quarrels so ever be in other lands, whereas hertofore we have been beholding to other countries for very bad armour.

5. We shall be free from all those dangers that may ensue by the number of bad and insufficient armour which are brought into this land by unskilfull men that know not what they buy and sell it again to them that know not where to have better for their money although they know it to be very bad.

Her Majesties armories at this parte are very weakly furnished and that wch remaynes is neither good in substance nor yet in fashion. So as if it might stande in wth yor. LL. good liking it is very needfull the same should be supplied wth better choise.

The armor that is here made is accompted far better than that wch cometh from beyond the Seas and would well servi for he Mties store So as it might be delivered in good tyme wch the Armorers will undertake to prove but the armor wch they make is wholly blacke, so that unless they will undertake to serve white wth al it will not be so serviceable. The proportion that shall be delivered I refer to yor ll. consideracion theire offer is to deliver to the number of eight thousand wth in fyve yeres and so after a further proporcion it so shall seem good to yor LL. Theire severll prices are hereunder written wch is as lowe as can bring it unto.

Launce armor compleat     iii li     vi s.     viii d.
Corslets compleate     xxx s.
Curate of proofe wth poldrons     xl s.
Ordinary curate wth poldrons     xxvi s.     viii d.
Target of proofe     xxx s.
Murrions     iii s.     iiii d.
Burgonetts     iiii s.

Endorsed the humble petition of the Armorers of London.

It is signed by Richard Harford.

John Sewell.

Richard Woode RW.

Wm. Pickering.         13 July 1590.

Lee to inform.

The Privy Council on the 15th of March, 1618, made inquiry:—

“Who be the ingrossers of Plate to make Armor in London, and secondly what is the reason of the scarcity of Armor, and how it may be remedied?”

The Company agreed to the following answer being sent:—

“That concerning the first we know no ingrossers of such Plate and we have called to our Hall all the workmen of Armor in London and we find them very few, for that in regard of the long peace which, God be thanked, we have had, they have settled themselves to other trades, not having imployment for making of Armor, nor the means to utter the same if they should make it, for the remedy of which scarcity, if it please the Privy Council to take order that the Armorers’ work to be by them made in London, may be taken and paid for at every six months’ end. They will undertake, if continually employed, to use their best means for provision of stuff to make armor in every six months to furnish One hundred Lance Armor, Two hundred Light Horsemen’s Armor, and Two hundred Footmen’s Armor at such rates and prices as followeth.”