Authorised Guide to the Tower of London | Page 8

man's armour is 81 lbs. The two foot figures are
those of a horseman and an officer of foot, both of Henry's time. The

first bears on it Nuremberg marks; the second has an engraving of the
Crucifixion on the left breast. The next equestrian figure (VII), also of
Henry VIII, much resembles the last, and has at its feet extra pieces for
the tilt yard. Other extra pieces which might be worn with these two
suits are in the Royal Armoury at Windsor Castle.
The suit (V) on the equestrian figure in the middle of the room is one of
the finest in existence. It was made by Conrad Seusenhofer, one of a
family of Augsburg armourers, and given in 1514 to Henry VIII by the
Emperor Maximilian. The man's armour is engraved with roses,
pomegranates, portcullises, and other badges of Henry VIII and his first
queen Katharine of Arragon, and has on the metal skirt which imitates
the cloth bases of the time the letters H and K. The horse armour,
probably made afterwards in England by one of Henry's German
armourers, is also covered with engraving, and has panels on which are
depicted scenes from the life and death of St. George and St. Barbara,
both military saints. The whole armour was formerly washed with
silver, of which some traces still remain.
In the enclosure on the left is a mounted figure (XI) of about 1550, and
in front are a pistol shield, one of 80 made for Henry VIII, and a helmet
with grotesque mask formerly attributed to Will Somers, the king's
jester, but since identified as a present from the Emperor Maximilian.
In the next cases are portions of armour of Henry VIII; also of a puffed
and engraved suit of the same time, and of a richly worked russet and
gilt suit of George Earl of Cumberland, who in Elizabeth's time fitted
out at his own cost eleven expeditions against Spain. In the archway are
some combined weapons having gun barrels in the staff and pole-axe
heads; also the three-barrelled weapon formerly called Henry VIII's
walking staff. In the corner of the room are an old German tilting
saddle, which protected the legs of the rider, who stood up in his
stirrups, a large tilting lance shown as far back as the days of Elizabeth
as that of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk. At the end of the room are
five suits of the second third of the sixteenth century. The centre one,
which is damascened, has in front of it an extra gorget, and a placcate
to strengthen the breast. The next figure (XXX) is a large suit of
armour 6 feet 10-1/2 inches in height of the time of Henry VIII, though

formerly incorrectly called that of John of Gaunt, of whom, of course,
no armour exists. This suit weighs about 66 lbs.
Descending the room in the first enclosure is the armour (IX) of the
Earl of Worcester, who died 1589. This suit is very massive, the breast
and back plates together weighing 40 lbs. 3 oz. In the same enclosure
are two figures made up of Maximilian armour, and a bowman and a
musketeer of the Earl of Worcester's time. In the archways will be seen
early forms of guns and pistols of various types and swords and other
weapons.
The next mounted figure (VIII) (formerly called Sir Henry Lee) is of
the middle of the sixteenth century, and the two foot figures are made
up of early sixteenth-century armour.
At the side is a cuir bouilli crupper as worn by the English heavy
cavalry in the sixteenth century.
The next enclosure contains an equestrian figure (X) of Robert Dudley
Earl of Leicester, the favourite of Elizabeth. This fine suit bears all over
it the badge of the Ragged Staff, and is engraved with the badges and
collars of the Garter and of the Order of St. Michael of France. The suit
was made between 1566 and 1588, and is of very great interest as one
of the very few known which also possesses the extra pieces for the tilt
yard, viz.: the Grandguard and the Passguard, ornamented like the suit,
which with them weighs about 83-1/2 lbs. It will be seen that the extra
pieces are for the left side, and the helmet has no air holes on that side,
as the tilters passed left arm to left arm on either side of the tilt or
barrier. The two foot figures are of about the same date.
The next mounted figure (XII) is one still showing the gilt enrichment
so many of these suits for the tilt yard originally had. It was attributed
to Robert Earl of Essex, another favourite of his Queen, but has now
been identified as the armour