Belt or point? Mail fauld question.

Churburger · Post by **Churburger** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:26 am

For a mail fauld, it is common for modern people to wear it with a belt. Is this historical (15th century)? Is it more correct to point it to the arming coat? Or does it matter?

Sean Powell · Post by **Sean Powell** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:41 am

I believe that it is more correct to point it to the gambeson or arming clothes. 'How a man shall be arymed' shows this quite clearly. I don't know of many other documentable references.

I like to remove my mail for weekely practices and to wash my gambeson so I pointed my maile skirt to a military web-belt and put the buckle in the back. The maile is slit verticly and 2 S-hooks keep the maile shut in back.

I still havn't figured out a good way to attach my maile voiders that can be removed for ease of maintenance and cleaning.

Sean

Adriano · Post by **Adriano** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:15 am

I've got a question: do you ever see a separate mail fauld before the late 14th century? It seems plausible that in earlier times, a soldier who couldn't afford a full hauberk might be able to afford at least enough for a fauld.

Churburger · Post by **Churburger** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:18 am

Adriano wrote:I've got a question: do you ever see a separate mail fauld before the late 14th century? It seems plausible that in earlier times, a soldier who couldn't afford a full hauberk might be able to afford at least enough for a fauld.

I'd suspect that a soldier with less money would purchase full hauberk, but couldn't afford plate.

James Arlen Gillaspie · Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:31 am

There is a painting by Moroni that may be a bit late, but it might give you a clue as how to attach your voiders. I would have attached it, but it's too big.
This will get you to it, however.

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/cgi-bin/WebObjects.dll/CollectionPublisher.woa/wa/work?workNumber=NG1022

Churburger · Post by **Churburger** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:06 pm

James Arlen Gillaspie wrote:There is a painting by Moroni that may be a bit late, but it might give you a clue as how to attach your voiders. I would have attached it, but it's too big.
This will get you to it, however.

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/cgi-bin/WebObjects.dll/CollectionPublisher.woa/wa/work?workNumber=NG1022

Excellent picture! Thanks for that find!

Here's a related question, while on the subject of voiders: Does a 15th century, full plate harness have to have voiders to be correct? Certainly, mail voiders make perfect sense. But is there any evidence of someone not wearing them?

Kaos · Post by **Kaos** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:36 pm

Well, I`ve heard of a theory that voiders are a typical english custom (hence the hastings manuscript), in a 15th century context.
It seems that on the continent there is very little evidence for voiders.
It`s hearsay for me, but the source was quite reliable.

I have my fauld stitched to a belt (without closure/buckle) which is in turn pointed to my arming doublet. This makes the maille hang nice and straight and you notice the weight much less than when you belt it on your hips.

This is the only picture I could find of how it's attached to the doublet, but it was when I just finished it. I haven't trimmed the maille here yet and normally the leather doesn't hang this long, but it is pointed straight to the doublet. At least it shows what I mean. The right picture is the current length.