Subarmalis in the literary sources

[M. CVRIVS ALEXANDER]

I don't follow how subarmalis cannot both be a textile garment (Vindolanda) and an item of soldiers' belongings (Carlisle). The subject matter of each tablet seems fairly clear, even if the ordering is jumbled.

Could you please explain then, 1) what is the subject matter of the Vindolanda tablet, and 2) how do you arrive from the subarmalo in the tablet, listed along with pepper, flask, tallow, and some towels to subarmalis as the arming doublet?

Before we get carried away, please note that Josephus does not mention a lance carried under the arm or couched in the arm-pit (or anything to do with arms at all, in fact). Or am I mistaken?

No, you are not mistaken, he does not. Neither does Tomlin argue that by subarmalis he means a lance couched in the arm-pit. Tomlin cites Josephus to show that a rider carried javelins in a quiver slang alongside, and thus under or below rider's arm.