of the war harness gradually decrease. The richly-ornamented suits which mark this period were in no way suited for any practical purpose and were used only for parades. Extended campaigns and long marches necessitated lighter equipment, and we find in contemporary records instances, not only of the men-at-arms discarding their armour owing to its inconvenience, but also of FIG. 35. Tonlet suit. FIG. 36. War suit, 1547. Madrid. Vienna Armoury. commanders ordering them to lighten their equipment for greater rapidity of movement. Sir Richard Hawkins, in his Observations on his voyage into the South Sea (1593), writes: Ί had great preparation of armours as well of proofe as of light corsletts, yet not a man would use them, but esteemed a pott of wine a better defence than an armour of proofe.' Again, Sir John Smythe, in his Instructions, Observations and Orders Militane (1595), writes : . . . ' I saw but very few of that army (at the camp at Tilbury) 78 PLATE ARMOUR CHAP, IV