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 and, like the pommel, cast with a lettered ornamentation. The pommel is further enriched by the addition of enamelled shields of arms appearing in the centre on either side. The blade is broad, with a wide accentuated groove on either side, and tapers gently towards the point; the grip is a restoration. There is the possibility that though the hilt is distinctly Spanish, the blade may be French, for we remember seeing two swords with blades of exactly similar section, both found in Southern France. We give illustrations of two hilts, not that they are in any way enriched examples, but because both are of London provenance, and so doubtless represent the ordinary weapon of the English knight of the first half of the XIVth century. The sword (Fig. 167) found in Cannon Street is curious, as the pommel is spheroidal and hollow, whilst the sword (Fig. 168) is unusually complete, possessing its original grip. It is of small proportions, made for a youth of twelve or fourteen. This sword was found in the Thames at Wandsworth.

The late M. Edmond Foulc, the well-known Paris collector, possessed a very beautiful sword that in 1874 was discovered in the river Gué, near Velluire (Fig. 169). It passed into the hands of the landowner, on the death of whom it was purchased by the Count de Rochebrune, an enthusiastic armour collector. Many weapons were discovered when the river Gué was dredged some forty years ago, as at the period of the Hundred Years' War the surrounding country was held by the English and many fights took place near Velluire, the Gué being the only river that communicated lower Poitou with the Aunis. In our estimation the sword is possibly English workmanship of the first half of the XIVth century, for the shape of the quillons, largeness of the pommel, etc., are much in common with the London-found sword referred to in the United Service Museum (page 131, Fig. 161). The pommel and quillons are of iron, thickly gilt, while the grip is of bronze gilt. The blade, not having been preserved by the gilding, has suffered from rust oxidization. This defect apart, it can certainly be reckoned one of the most attractive enriched swords of its time extant. The blade is short, the section being a flattened lozenge. So fine is the quality, and so perfect is the preservation of the gilding, the pommel and quillons might almost be taken for pure gold. The grip is engraved with a duplicated diaper ornament of a XIVth century nature. In the centre of the pommel is a small shield of arms, deeply impressed with a punch.

Among the many wonderful relics preserved in the Treasury of the Cathedral of Prague to which we have referred (page 11, Fig. 13, and