Authorised Guide to the Tower of London | Page 9

made by Jacobe Topf, for Sir John Smith,
cousin german to Edward VI, and a great military writer of the
sixteenth century. Many other pieces of this suit are in the Royal
collection in Windsor Castle. The two foot figures came from the Great
Armoury at Malta. Beyond the passage are a mounted figure showing

how the lance was held when jousting at the tilt or barrier in the
sixteenth century and later, and inferior suits for horsemen, and some
other suits from Malta.
On leaving the large room, in the case in the archway will be seen axes,
horsemen's hammers and maces, all designed for breaking and rending
armour. Observe also various forms of the bayonet, from the early plug
bayonet to the later socketed type of that weapon.
The first case on the right contains crossbows of various types. This
weapon, at no time our national arm, was used for the defence of
fortresses, and later on for sport. The heavy kind were bent by means of
arrangements of pulleys, the windlass, or a kind of lifting jack called
the Cranequin or Cric. The lighter forms were bent by an attached lever
called the Goat's Foot. Specimens of these are in the case, as also two
bowstaves from the wreck of the Mary Rose, 1545, and some leaden
sling bullets from the battle field of Marathon. In the next case are
firearms of early types. Among these observe two guns which belonged
to Henry VIII, both of them breechloaders on a system resembling the
modern Snider rifle. Note also the German Reiter wheel-lock pistols,
with ball pommel; the William III match-lock, with plug bayonet stuck
in the muzzle; the bandoliers, each containing twelve charges of
powder and a bullet bag; the Vauban lock, combining the flint and
match; also a still earlier form of this lock of English make.
Montecucuh says he had similar locks made, having seen them used
still earlier by the Turks.
The next case contains rapiers and swords and bucklers. Observe the
raised bars on the latter, to entangle and break the sword-point. The
mounted figure in brown armour shows the equipment of the cavalry in
the early part of the seventeenth century, the armour being browned or
blacked to prevent rust and to avoid detection at a distance.
The figure (XXIV) in the first enclosure is that of James II. It will be
seen that it only consists of a headpiece, breast and back plates, and a
long gauntlet to protect the bridle arm. All the pieces bear the King's
initials, and the face guard is pierced with the design of the Royal Arms.
The next equestrian figure is a gilt suit of Charles I (XIX), said to have

been given to him by the City of London. It is the latest complete suit
in the collection, and was probably never worn by him. In the centre of
the room is a case containing gun locks, powder flasks, and other
pieces for the furnishing of a soldier's equipment. The cannon were
made for the instruction of Charles II when a prince. In the wall case
observe with other objects two swine feathers, or feather staffs, having
one long and two short blades which can be concealed in the shaft, also
a German Calendar sword with the saints' days marked in gold, and
other swords. Below are two waistcoat cuirasses opening down the
front.
In the next enclosure on the right is a mounted figure (XVIII) of
Charles I when young. The armour is apparently of French make, and is
very interesting as being a double suit--that is, it represents the
equipment of the cuirassier or cavalryman of about 1610, and then by
removing the helmet and the armour for the arms and legs, and
substituting the pott and the short thigh defences (in the small glass
case) we have the equipment of the foot soldier as seen in the figures of
pikemen on the other side of the room. The small silvered cap and
breast and back in another glass case was made for Charles II when
prince.
In a table case are a gun and pistol dated respectively 1614 and 1619,
made for Charles I when Prince of Wales. The gun is not quite perfect,
but the two weapons are the earliest examples of flint locks in the
collection. Note also a fine wheel lock of about 1600. The gunner's axe
was used for laying cannon, and has on its shaft scales showing the size
of cannon balls of stone, iron, lead, and slag. It belonged to the Duke of
Brunswick Luneburg. The last enclosure contains a suit (XVII) of
richly decorated armour given to Henry Prince of Wales by the Prince
de Joinville. This suit, though rich, is of late and inelegant form,