Answers to Correspondents: The heel s history is fascinating. It all started from the patten , a thick wooden or cork-soled undershoe attached by strings or laces.
Cornish Knockers were small, impish creatures that inhabited Cornish tin mines. Miners would often hear knocking sounds underground, which they attributed to these sprites.
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS: In medieval warfare, a man-at-arms had to be in excellent physical condition. He had to be able to rise from a fall in full armour.