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'''Discussion'''<br>
We have no Viking Age evidence of any padding being worn under the mail shirt. Many people point to the late C4th Roman document ‘De Rebus Bellicis’ and its reference to a ‘thoracomachus’ [BISHOP and & COULSTON 2006:p.63]. The thoracomachus is described as “it is made of thick cloth, covered with leather (or with a separate leather garment over it) for waterproofing” [LEGIO 2004: Subarmalis 2004]. <br>
Mail would be more effective over a leather jerkin but there is no evidence until the middle ages. [POLLINGTON 2006: p.152]<br>
It is possible that the jack was attached to the mail shirt. Arguments for this come from manuscript evidence. Manuscripts often show a line around the hem and cuffs that could be interpreted as either a leather edging or an attached jack. On the Bayeux Tapestry fallen warriors can be seen being stripped of their armour, that appears to be removed in one go leaving the warrior naked underneath.<br>
