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.
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