Only the nobility may wear armor ... has a sort of medieval ring to it, eh?
“Only the nobility may wear armor ... has a sort of medieval ring to it, eh?”
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/aams/hd_aams.htm
“In other words, it was by no means an exclusive right of the knight to wear and fight in armor. Foot soldiers such as mercenaries, or groups of retainers comprising peasants, as well as burghers, also participated in armed conflict and accordingly protected themselves with armor of varying quality and extent. Indeed, the burghers (of a certain age, and above a stipulated wealth or income) of most medieval and Renaissance cities were expected—an expectation often enforced by laws and decrees—to acquire and keep their own arms and armor.”
“It depended on the time, place, and gender, but generally a peasant was not allowed to own or borrow land, leave their lord’s land without permission, or own a sword, although they could have a dagger. Serfs could not become priests or take oaths of any sort, and were not allowed to own a baking oven; they had to pay to use the lord’s oven to bake their bread. Commoners were also not taught Latin, the language which church services were conducted, and they were forbidden from reading the Bible.”