An interesting will from the end of the 14th century belonging to a London Armourer named Simon Wynchecombe. It lists the components of six complete suits of armor and several armoring tools.
from British History Online:
“…To Richard Person his servant he leaves … six complete suits of harness of his armour, viz., six pairs of jambes, six habergeons of iron, six bacenettes of London make, with six aventailes, six pairs of vambras, six pairs of rerebras, six brestplates, and six pairs of gloves of plate; also his leasehold messuage in the parish of S. Margaret de Lothebury, and his implements of his craft as armourer, viz., a barell, anfeltz, Bicornes, (fn. 7)strakes, (fn. 8)hamours, tonges, sheres, &c. Alice his wife to have, by way of dower, such share of his goods as of right and by the custom of the City of London she ought to have, and no more. Dated London, 7 April, A.D. 1396. Roll 128 (17).”
- six pairs of jambes (a component of leg armor, possibly specific to the lower leg)
- six habergeons of iron (mail shirts)
- six bacenettes of London make (bascinets)
- six aventailes (mail aventails, presumably for the bascinets)
- six pairs of vambras (vambraces, armor for the lower arm)
- six pairs of rerebras (rerebraces, armor for the upper arm)
- six brestplates (breastplates)
- six pairs of gloves of plate (gauntlets)
Interesting that it specifies the bascinets are of London make, was this unusual, or an implication of a certain level of quality?
**edit 5/24** I’m very much inclined to agree with the commenter down below that ‘bacenettes of London make‘ is evidence of guild affiliation within the City of London. This would imply a certain set of guild standards were adhered to in their construction.
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