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Because of their “protection to weight ratio” two forms of body defence, worn since medieval times by the common foot soldier, the “Brigandine” and the “Jack”, were still being worn.

The Brigandine

The arrangement of plates on the inside of the Brigandine. Click on the photo for a larger image

In the Brigandine, metal plates are riveted on to  pieces of cloth which form the outer surface of the garment. The rivets heads, which are normally tinned for protection against the weather, then show on the surface of the material. For added security it was normal to use three rivets, so that if one broke the metal plate did not become dislodged from its position.

In this close-up of a section of Brigandine, the characteristic trefoil heads of the rivets can be seen.