A trip to the Royal Armouries in Leeds is always a treat.  However, our recent visit was made extra-special by the knowledge that one of the artefacts from the Stonyhurst Collections was at the centre of a major new exhibition:  The Chronicles of Jean Froissart.  This copy of the 14th century manuscript was captured from a French knight at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and was considered at the time to be a highly-prized possession; just the kind of thing any self-respecting knight would wish to own.   Many thanks to all at the Royal Armouries for making our visit such a memorable one.

A mail shirt needs an alternative approach to dressing ... you have to crawl into it.

Once all the armour is in place, we look quite the part.

This helmet is a relic of the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. Its wearer is a more recent addition, however.

The ladies don 'outfits' which span the centuries.

A trusty knight and his fair maid?

T'is the real thing. This helmet is an original and features many times in the Froissart manuscript illuminations.

The Stonyhurst Chronicles form the centre piece of this wonderful exhibition.

Here we see a demonstration of a double-handed sword fight ...

... and a chance to handle the weapons themselves.

We all had an excellent day!!