What goes up ~ Must come down!!!

What goes up ~ Must come down!!!

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Masculinity was big in 16th century Europe – along with notions of chivalry, honour and romance.

Codpieces were made for the purpose of proving masculinity, in the most blatant of manners.

The most elaborate versions were singularly showy, and portraits show that in the mid-16th century the codpiece reached epic proportions, the bigger the codpiece, the bigger your 'nob~ility'

No expense was spared, codpieces were made in luxury silk, velvet, bejewelled or embroidered.

Metallic thread, tufted with satin, topped with bows, or trimmed with braids and puffs, they became pretty, personal palaces for your one eyed, trouser snake.

These codpieces were hollow, made of several layers of cloth or leather, often stuffed with straw, hay, or horsehair, and made in different shapes.

The roomy space inside them, protected the genitals from friction, and the occasional bump from all the things hanging from a man’s belt, including swords, daggers, and hard purses.

By 1510, they started making codpieces in metal, and then they changed shape.

They become a little more prominent and 'proud'.

They usually had a hole at the top, with a spring latch, so you could remove them very quickly.

On the battlefield, the armour codpiece was both protective and assertive.

It was thought, that men’s meat and two veg required great protection in battle.

Just as nature has equipped nuts and seeds with a protective shell, so must the man's nuts and seeds, also be protected with a hard shell

There are few extant codpieces around today.

Rare codpiece survivors, include the metal versions, made to wear with suits of armour.

Henry VIII’s armour codpiece is on display at the Tower of London.

Tour guides in the Tower, have reported that in the past, the codpiece of Henry’s ceremonial armor on display, was often knocked off when women rubbed it for good fortune!

Probably why its now in a glass cabinet!!

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https://www.cam.ac.uk/.../what-goes-up-must-come-down-a...

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https://ko-fi.com/thetudorintruders