Treatise of the Points of Worship in Arms by John Hill,
Armorer Sergeant in the King’s Armory, 1434
Bodleian Library, Ashmole Collection. MS 856, article 22, pp. 376-83
Bodleian Library, Ashmole Collection. MS 856, article 22, pp. 376-83
Traytese of the poyntes of worship in armes by Johan Hill, Armorer sergeant in the kinges armory 1434 [376]
Too my leve Lordes here now next following is a Traytese compiled 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 supportatcion of faveurof alle ye Needes to converte adde & amenuse where nede is by the high comandement of the Princes that have powair so for to ordeyne & establisheTreatise of the Points of Worship in Arms by John Hill, Armourer Sergeant in the King’s Armoury, 1434
To my liege lords, the following is a treatise compiled by John Hill, Armourer Sergeant in the office of the Armoury of Kings Henry IV and Henry V on the points of worship in arms and how he should be diversely armed and governed under support of favor. All the needs to convert adds and lessens where need is by the high commandment of the princes that have power to ordain and establish. 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 feeld.
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 & bouden to teach him all maner of fightynge & soteltees of Armes that longeth for battaile sworne.
The first honour in arms is for a gentleman to fight in his Soverign Lord’s quarrel in a battle of treason within the lists before his sovereign lord whether he is the appellant or defendant, the honour is his that wins the field.
As for the appellant thus armed by his own wit or by his council which is assigned to him before the Constable and Marshal, which counselor is appointed and obligated to teach him all manner of fighting and the subtleties of arms that long for trial by combat.
As for the appellant thus armed by his own wit or by his council which is assigned to him before the Constable and Marshal, which counselor is appointed and obligated to teach him all manner of fighting and the subtleties of arms that long for trial by combat.
First him nedeth to have a paire of hosen of corde wtoute vampeys And the said 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 wr 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 sleves and color and cutaine oylettes in ye sleves for ye vaunt bras and ye Rerebrase.
First he needs to have a pair of corded wool hose without lower legs. These hose are cut off at the knees and lined with linen cloth cut on the bias (diagonal) as hose normally are. A pair of red leather shoes with thin laces and with knotted whipcord underneath in a wavy pattern [see image below]. And the insides lined with linen cloth three fingers wide and cut on the bias from the top down to rest over the ankles (for padding). And so behind at the heel from this up half a quarter of a yard (4.5 inches) is to fasten well his sabatons. And the same sabatons are fastened under the sole of the foot in 2 places. He also needs a petticoat of an overbody of a doublet. This petticoat is sleeveless, the sizes of him 3/4 about without a collar. And the lower part should go no farther down than the waist with straight sleeves and collar and containing eyelets in the sleeves for attaching the vambraces and rerebraces.
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.
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.
He is armed in this way: First he has need of the sabatons, greaves, and closed cuisses with voiders of plate or maille and breeches of maile closed with 5 steel buckles of steel and fine buff leather. And all the arming points after they have been knotted and fastened on him should be cut off.
And then a pair of close-fitting gussets strong [sclave] not [drawes] and those gussets be 3 fingers inside his plates at both sides. And then a pair of plates weighing about 20 pounds for his breast and his plates armed with wire or with points.
And then a pair of close-fitting gussets strong [sclave] not [drawes] and those gussets be 3 fingers inside his plates at both sides. And then a pair of plates weighing about 20 pounds for his breast and his plates armed with wire or with points.
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 wehe may be devised. A basnet of avauntage for ye listes whiche is not goode for noon other battailes but man for man save that necessitie hath noo lawe, the basnet locked baver & vysour locked or charnelled also to ye breast & behynde wt two forlockes. And this Gentilman appellant 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 tarten the wche ben called tuniets 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 him a payre of besagewes. Also it fitteth the [378] foresaid 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.
A pair of rerebraces whose plates are closed in front with 2 locks and in rear with 3 locks. A pair of closed vambraces with voiders of maille [& fretted/interlaced]. A pair of gloves of advantage which may be fashioned. A bascinet of advantage for the lists which is not good for no other battles but one-on-one save that necessity has no law. The bascinet locked bevor plate and visor locked or [charnelled/entombed] also to the breast and behind with 2 locks. And when this aforesaid gentleman appellant is thus armed and ready to come to the field, place on him a coat of arms of a single silk cloth, the better for advantage in fighting. And his leg harness covered all in red silk cloth, the which has been called tunics. The covering of his leg harness is done because his adversary shall not lightly see his blood. And therefore also his hose should be red for in all other colors blood will be easily seen, for by the old times in such a battle nothing should be seen except his bascinet and his gloves. And then tie on him a pair of besagews. Also it fits the aforesaid counselor to goto the king the day before the battle and request for lodging near the lists. Also the aforesaid counselor must ordain him the masses: the first mass of the Trinity, the second of the Holy Ghost, and the third of Our Lady or of whatever other saint or saints that he has devotion to.
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GLOSSARY OF FIGHTING TERMS
Appellant - the party or representative bringing the charge or suit
Besagews - small circular or shield-shaped plates attached with laces to protect the space between breastplate and shoulder plate
Bascinet - fully-enclosed helmet that straps onto the breast and back plates
Bevor plate - hinged plate on the bottom of a bascinet that protects the throat and lower chin area
Closed Cuisses - armour for protecting the upper legs consisting of articulated and hinged plates enclosing the thigh, side, and back of the legs from groin to knees.
Defendant - the party or representative defending against the charge or suit
Greaves - armour for the lower legs a pair of hinged plates formed to enclose the legs between the knee and ankles
Gussets - sections of maille to cover small openings such as the elbow
Besagews - small circular or shield-shaped plates attached with laces to protect the space between breastplate and shoulder plate
Bascinet - fully-enclosed helmet that straps onto the breast and back plates
Bevor plate - hinged plate on the bottom of a bascinet that protects the throat and lower chin area
Closed Cuisses - armour for protecting the upper legs consisting of articulated and hinged plates enclosing the thigh, side, and back of the legs from groin to knees.
Defendant - the party or representative defending against the charge or suit
Greaves - armour for the lower legs a pair of hinged plates formed to enclose the legs between the knee and ankles
Gussets - sections of maille to cover small openings such as the elbow
Rerebrace - armour protecting the upper arms consisting of either a c-shaped or pair of hinged plates formed to protect the arms between the armpits and elbows.
Vambrace - armour protecting the lower arms consisting of a pair of hinged plates formed to protect the arms between the elbows and wrists
Voiders - sections of maille to cover the gaps in the armour such as the armpit, inner elbows, and backs of legs and/or knees.
Vambrace - armour protecting the lower arms consisting of a pair of hinged plates formed to protect the arms between the elbows and wrists
Voiders - sections of maille to cover the gaps in the armour such as the armpit, inner elbows, and backs of legs and/or knees.