The 'Almain Armourer's Album'

The original manuscript is likely to have been the drawings of an armourer working in England during Elizabeth I reign, most likely those of Jacob Halder. The original ‘Jacob Album’, or ‘Almain Armourer’s Album’, is in the Victoria & Albert Museum. The Royal Armouries Library owns a facsimile published in 1905.

The ‘Album’ contains armour design drawings for some of Queen Elizabeth I leading courtiers, advisors and military leaders including Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Sir Henry Lee and Sir Christopher Hatton.

The drawings consist of a single page showing the main armour and a further page with images of all the additional parts needed to make the armour adaptable for different purposes.

Did you know?

Extra pieces to provide appropriate protection for the left side when jousting over a barrier often included a grandguard (to protect the chest and neck), a pasguard (to protect the elbow) and a manifer (to protect the bridle hand).

For foot combat the armour would protect the left and right sides equally, with the addition of leg defences if not fought over a barrier.

For the tourney there was a locking gauntlet to hold their weapon firmly in their right hand.

To protect the horse’s head a shaffron was needed and the designs also show saddle steels to reinforce and decorate the front and back of the saddle.

Want to know more?

The related documents below are free articles from Henry VIII: Arms and the Man. This major publication can be purchased from our shop online.

To read PDF documents you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
If you do not currently have it installed you can download Adobe Acrobat Reader here.

Henry VIII: Arms and the Man

Published to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the accession of King Henry VIII to the English throne. This definitive publication illustrates and records over 90 Henrician treasures from the Royal Armouries own collections and from around the world.

To close the image view pop up click on Esc.