Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 2).djvu/354

 a true fighting sword. We might even suppose that the sword given by Richard II to the mayor of York in 1388, now missing, was also an actual weapon.

Probably dating from 1386

The Bristol and Lincoln specimens are the only XIVth century swords now surviving; but of state swords dating from the XVth century nearly a dozen examples are extant. They adhere in their main lines to those of fighting swords of the period; save that the pommels and guards are more or less elaborately wrought, overlaid with silver and sometimes gilt. Good XVth century swords are preserved at Bristol (two), York, Newcastle, Kingston-on-Hull, Chester, and Coventry.

Only four or five XVIth century state swords survive. The finest of