Primitive armour was based on a leather foundation, hence the name cuirass, was derived from cuir (leather).  In a former book I have alluded to the armour of the nomadic tribes, which is described by Pausanias as coarse coats of mail made out of the hoofs of horses, split, and laid overlapping each other, making them “something like dragon’s scales,” as Pausanias explains; adding for the benefit of those who are unfamiliar with dragons’ anatomy, “Whoever has not yet seen a dragon, has, at any rate, seen a pine cone still green.  These are equally like in appearance to the surface of this armour.”  These horny scales of tough hoofs undoubtedly suggested, at a later date, the use of thick leather as a form of protection, and the gradual evolution may be imagined.

The art of the armourer was in early mediaeval times the art of the chain maker.  The chain coat, or coats of mail, reached in early days as far as the knees.  Finally this developed into an entire covering for the man, with head gear as well; of course this form of armour allowed of no real ornamentation, for there was no space larger than the links of the chain upon which to bestow decoration.  Each link of a coat of mail was brought round into a ring, the ends overlapped, and a little rivet inserted.  Warriors trusted to no solder or other mode of fastening.  All the magnificence of knightly apparel was concentrated in the surcoat, a splendid embroidered or gem-decked tunic to the knees, which was worn over the coat of mail.  These surcoats were often trimmed with costly furs, ermine or vair, the latter being similar to what we now call squirrel, being part gray and part white.  Cinderella’s famous slipper was made of “vair,” which, through a misapprehension in being translated “verre,” has become known as a glass slipper.

[Illustration:  ARMOUR, SHOWING MAIL DEVELOPING INTO PLATE]

After a bit, the makers of armour discovered that much tedious labor in chain making might be spared, if one introduced a large plate of solid metal on the chest and back.  This was in the thirteenth century.  The elbows and knees were also treated in this way, and in the fourteenth century, the principle of armour had changed to a set of separate plates fastened together by links.  This was the evolution from mail to plate armour.  A description of Charlemagne as he appeared on the field of battle, in his armour, is given by the Monk of St. Gall, his biographer, and is dramatic.  “Then could be seen the iron Charles, helmeted with an iron helmet, his iron breast and broad shoulders protected with an iron breast plate; an iron spear was raised on high in his left hand, his right always rested on his unconquered iron falchion....  His shield was all of iron, his charger was iron coloured and iron hearted....  The fields and open spaces were filled with iron; a people harder than iron paid universal homage to the hardness of iron.  The horror of the dungeon seemed less than the bright gleam of iron.  ’Oh, the iron! woe for the iron!’ was the confused cry that rose from the citizens.  The strong walls shook at the sight of iron:  the resolution of young and old fell before the iron.”