"Amongst other defensive Armes, they use little Bucklers or Targets, of an Ovall forme, of such a length, that they will commonly cover the whole Man, being so light also, that they are nothing cumbersome." Cristoforo Borri, Cochin-China: Containing many admiralbe Rarities and Singularities of that Country. Exctracted out of an Italian Relation, lately presented to the Pope, by Christophoro Borri, that lived certaine yeeres there., Chapter VIII (1633).
Love the title. This is a translation published by Robert Ashley in 1633. I'm not sure when the original was presented to the Pope.
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