Welcome to the Knyghtly Armes Resource Library

We are pleased to provide an ever-growing collection of arms and armour photographs as a resource to students of Medieval history. We have been fortunate enough to view some of the finest Medieval collections in Europe including the Wallace Collection in London, Royal Armouries in Leeds, Musée de l'Armée in Paris, Legermuseum in Delft, La Real Armería in Madrid, and, most recently, the Imperial Armoury (Weltmuseum) in Vienna, Austria. Images created by Knyghtly Armes may be reused for non-commercial educational purposes with attribution. Images originating from museums or other rights holders remain subject to their respective permissions and license terms. Alternatively, you may visit our Facebook page to browse our arms and armour photo albums. Simply give us a ”like" if you find them beneficial.

Transcription of “How a Man schall be armyd” English Treatise

“How a Man Shall Be Armed” is perhaps the most famous example of a knight being armed in period illustrations. The English medieval fighting treatise is found on folios 122v–123v of Ordonances of Chivalry [Morgan Library MS M.775], a manuscript created for Sir John Astley, who died in 1486. It describes step-by-step how a knight would be dressed in armour before fighting on foot in a judicial duel. Knyghtly Armes has transcribed the original text as well as provided by a modern English translation and glossary.

Transcription of “The Man That Will” English Fighting Treatise

The MS Harley 3542 is a compilation manuscript that contains a early- to mid-15th-century English fencing manual. It currently resides in the British Library, London. The fencing treatise, known as Man yt Wol ("The Man That Will"), comprises folios 82 through 83 and is bound between two alchemical compendia and a medical compendium. It is one of only three extant treatises on Medieval English martial arts. Knyghtly Armes has transcribed the original text and provided a side-by-side modern English translation and glossary.

Transcription of “The Play with the 2 Hand Sword in Verse”

Folios 84 and 85 of the MS Harley 3542 is a continuation of "The Man That Will" in verse form. The poem is titled as "The Play with the 2 Hand Sword in Verse." Knyghtly Armes has transcribed the original text and provided a side-by-side modern English translation and glossary.

Transcription of “Treatise of the Points of Worship in Arms by John Hill, Armorer Sergeant in the King’s Armory, 1434

Bodleian Library's Ashmole Collection MS 856, article 22 (pages 376-83) contain an incomplete treatise on judicial duels in England that is dated to 1434. It is entitled "Treatise of the Points of Worship in Arms by John Hill, Armorer Sergeant in the King’s Armory". Similare to Sir John Astley's Ordonances of Chivalry [MS M.775], it contains a section detailing how a man should be armed when it is to fight in a judicial duel on foot. Knyghtly Armes has provided a modern English translation of the transcription made during the reign of Charles II which was part of the Ashmolean Collection.