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An initial from the Winchester Bibie ofc.nyo shows knights in flowing surcoats with simple decoration. Their mailcoa ts ha ve the sleeves extended to cover their hands while leaving the ńngers exposed. (Reproduction by permission of the Dean and Chapter of Winchester Cathedral)

Another style of ventail is the long tongue of mail which is drawn up across the face before combat and laced to a thong at the side of the head. This was certainly in use by the early i2th century. Ventails, which are mentioned in the Song of Roland of c.i ioo, may have been lined for added comfort. Some may simply have consisted of a loose vertical slit which was drawn tight by a thong when action was expected. One form of leg protection consisted of a strip of mail, laced behind the leg and braced to the waist girdle.

The Norman shaven head as seen in the Bayeux Tapestry is probably an extreme form of the earlier warrior’s bowl crop. It is partly borne out by the remark of Wace, who says that in 1066 Englishmen spying on the Norman camp reported that William had brought an army of priests. The style disap-peared in the reign of the Conqueror’s son, William Rufus, when long hair and beards were in vogue.

C: Norman knight, c .1066

The mail hauberk is split front and rear to facilitate movement, particularly when mounted, when the side of the skirt would hang round the thigh. His mail is provided with a coif and ventail. The segmented helmet was perhaps the most common form in use in 1066, to judge from the Bayeux Tapestry. It was constructed from four shaped iron segments riveted together. The browband with nasal was then applied. Contemporary illustrations suggest that this was the most freąuently seen method of securing the nasal. The rivet holes could also be used to fix a lining band. This helmet sports a rough and ready repair, the work of a local smith rather than a professional armourer. The shield is now kite-shaped, defending the left side but capable of protecting much of the horse when held out horizontally. This is the attitude usually seen on the Tapestry and may have been common when used by mounted men against footsoldiers. When

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