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 CHAPTER XXXVI

From the early years of the XVIth century the hafted weapons were but an elaboration evolved from those of the previous eras. In the first half of the century they were fine fighting weapons, and eminently useful for the purposes for which they were intended. But as might have been expected, when Renaissance decoration was in universal favour, it was not long before these weapons came under the hand of the decorative artist and designer. We have very briefly dealt with them in regard to their general construction in the previous centuries, and in returning to them again, as we find them in mid-XVIth century times, there is very little to add. Taken generally, however, their utility had to a certain extent diminished; while in some cases the original principle of construction is hardly recognizable owing to the elaborate ornamentation with which they were burdened.

We have little to add to our notes on the lance; for we have already alluded to it in its XVIth century form. Late in this century all sorts of variations were made in the shape of those employed in the various military sports, such as are fully described in Pluvinel's Maneige Royal, published in 1623. The lances so employed, however, were so different from those which had any warlike significance, that we will not describe them here. War lances throughout the XVIth century still retained the leaf-shaped heads which it is customary to associate with those of almost every period. We have chosen illustrations of four XVIth century lance heads from the Royal Armoury of Madrid, so rich in lances of this period (Fig. 1395 a, b, c, d). Without exception they do not vary from those of the previous century. The second (Fig. 1395b) is of a remarkably early type, and had there not been proof of its XVIth century make, it might well pass for the head of a war lance of XIVth century date. The fourth (Fig. 1395d) is a