Page:Athletics and Manly Sport (1890).djvu/207

182 on several accounts besides that for which it is used here, which is merely the shape of the king's sword. It will be seen that this weapon corresponds in blade with the ancient bronze sword (No. 3, page 177), and with the still more ancient blades of the Tuatha Dé Danann (Nos. 5, 6, and 7, page 179). The latter swords, judging from the rivet-holes, had, probably, cross-hilts.

The history of this antique seal is very interesting. The following, from the "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Vol. IV., pp. 484-5 (25th February, 1850), will suffice:—

"Sir William Betham exhibited an impression of an ancient seal, lately found near Beverley, in Yorkshire, on which is