Authoritative reference guide, using the documents in which arms and armour first appeared to explain and define them. Medieval arms and armour are intrinsically fascinating. From the smoke and noise of the armourer's forge to the bloody violence of the battlefield or the silken panoply of the tournament, weapons and armour - and those who made and bore them - are woven into the fabric of medieval society. This sourcebook will aid anyone who seeks to develop a deeper understanding by introducing and presenting the primary sources in which these artefacts are first mentioned. Over seventy original documents are transcribed and translated, including wills, inventories, letters and chronicle accounts, from a period which saw rapid advances in military technology. The book also includes an extensive glossary, and is lavishly illustrated with images of both extant armour and weapons from the period, and contemporary artistic depictions from illuminated manuscripts and other sources. This book will therefore be of interest to a wide audience, from the living history practitioner, crafter, and martial artist, to students of literature, military history, art, and material culture. Moffat wendet sich ausdrücklich an den vergleichsweise kleinen Kreis von Expertinnen und Experten mediävistischer Militärgeschichte wie auch an eine breite und oftmals durchaus belesene Leserschaft und reenactors, die sich schlicht für mittelalterlichen Waffen interessieren. Und tatsächlich gelingt dieser Spagat in der inhaltlichen Aufarbeitung auch einigermaßen. " ( Moffat explicitly addresses both the relatively small circle of specialists in medieval military history and a broader, often quite well-read readership-including reenactors-who are simply interested in medieval weapons. And indeed, this balancing act is handled reasonably well in terms of content.) ― MILITÄRGESCHICHTLICHEN ZEITSCHRIFT As a sourcebook for medieval armour these books are unsurpassed. They are essential for anyone interested in the subject. It is possible that the glossaries will become the standard that many publications from Blair to the Glossarium Armorum have sought after. [Review of volumes II and III] ― CHURCH MONUMENTS RALPH MOFFAT is the Curator of European Arms and Armour at Glasgow Museums. He is responsible for the care of, research, and dissemination of information on the people of this City's collection.