Talk:Torse

origin story: I'm skeptical

The torse is a protective cloth crown worn under a knight's coif and helmet and is represented in two colours, generally the same pair of colours used on the mantle. The torse was made up of a thick heavy sewn pad covered by a pair of ribbons twisted together, tinctured of the principal metal and colors of the shield, the livery colours who's [sic] ribbons extended far enough down the back to be seen beneath the knights helmet from the rear.

If the torse was originally worn under the helm (it seems thoroughly impractical as padding), why was it made of the liveries, and why did it have trailing ribbons? —Tamfang (talk) 23:43, 27 November 2010 (UTC)

I too am skeptical. "It was originally a protective pad worn under a knight's coif and helmet, covered by a pair of ribbons, of the principal tinctures of the shield, twisted together and extended far enough down the back to be seen beneath the helmet from the rear.[citation needed] The torse is sometimes mistakenly said to be the token, such as a handkerchief or sleeve, which the crusader’s lady-love gave him when he left for the wars, and which he twisted round the top of his helmet, masking the join where the crest was fixed to it. This is due greatly to its original use being lost in history as the heraldic crest became more and more stylized rather than representative of actual use" This all sounds like romantic nonsense to me. The original editor has contradicted himself. Either this totally impractical system was used universally OR its original use being lost in history - it can't be both. Kiltpin (talk) 09:01, 20 June 2013 (UTC)