top-arming

Updated: May 14, 2025

Sometimes they rigged what was called a top-arming, or top armour, a strip of cloth like the "war girdle" of the Norse longships, across the unprotected space. It gave no protection against shot, but it prevented the enemy's gunners from taking aim at the deck, or from playing upon the hatchways with their murderers and pateraroes.

John Masefield - On the Spanish Main: Or, Some English forays on the Isthmus of Darien.

It also kept out boarders, and was a fairly good shield to catch the arrows and crossbow bolts shot from the enemy's tops. Sometimes the top-arming was of scantling, or thin plank, in which case it was called a pavesse. Pavesses were very beautifully painted with armorial bearings, arranged in shields, a sort of reminiscence of the old Norse custom of hanging the ship's sides with shields.

John Masefield - On the Spanish Main: Or, Some English forays on the Isthmus of Darien.

The buccaneers had comrades, and the strength to live their own lives. They may laugh at those who, lacking that strength, would condemn them with the hate of impotence. Galleys Dromonds Galliasses Pinnaces Pavesses Top-arming Banners Boats Until the reign of Henry VIII. the shipping of these islands was of two kinds.

John Masefield - On the Spanish Main: Or, Some English forays on the Isthmus of Darien.