weapon, with its straight expanding blade of portentous size, double edged and sharp in the point, with its long hilt also and its massive cross-guard, and with the threatening spikes that usually give a species of grim decoration to the base of the blade, presents an alarming figure in our armouries and museums. It appears, however, from the reports of military historians, that this gigantic variety of the sword in reality was by far less formidable than might have been expected from its appearance. The blade of this sword not uncommonly affected a wavy or flaming (flamboyante) outline. The "lansquenets," who were provided with this great sword [for was not by any means in universal use amongst them], were generally posted in the front line; and it required both a special training and no ordinary skill to enable them to use their weapon effectively against their enemies, without at the same time seriously damaging either their comrades or themselves. On the march this sword was carried, after the manner of a guitar, on the back, where it was suspended from a broad leather belt, which crossed the figure diagonally."

The braquemard, or cutlass, a comparatively short weapon, holding a place midway between a sword and a dagger, has a straight flat wide blade, that is pointed and very sharp at either edge. It generally has on the hilt only a cross-guard that curves on both sides towards the point of the weapon. A variety of this class of sword, which is remarkable for the width of its flat blade, is called a malchus. Fig. 33, No. 5, shows an Italian example of the malchus, with a blade of unusual length, and also a distinct variety of hilt.

The épée de ville, or civic sword, that has been already mentioned, has a great variety of blades. A sword of this class, with a long straight and narrow blade, has been distinguished by the title of verdun. Examples of these swords may be seen in the Artillery Museum, at Paris, in extraordinary numbers; when placed erect, they would reach from

the heel to the middle of the chest of a man of ordinary height; and it is evident that the examples in question have been worn only when the wearers were in their saddles.

With its long and slender blade very sharp near the point, the rapier (rapière), above all others, has always been the favourite sword for single combat. For its guard, this weapon generally has a kind of small basket or shell (coquille), pierced with a multitude of minute perforations, designed to entangle and break off the adversary's point. Straight and long— sometimes very long-cross-guards project on either side of these shells. This kind of hilt gives ample opportunity for ornamentation; and, in fact, rapier-hilts are very generally seen to have been chased and pierced with astonishing lightness and delicacy. In this case the perforations that have been mentioned are superseded by the details of the decorative designs, by the sunk spaces amidst the foliage, by the flowers in relief, or by geometrical figures that take a part in the composition.

It can be scarcely necessary to state, and yet it is only simple justice to record here, that the most renowned swordblades were forged in Spain, and particularly at Toledo, from whence they were eagerly sought by princes, nobles, and knights throughout Christendom.80

Throughout the whole of the 16th century, the sword was worn suspended from a belt; and when the hand of the wearer was not resting on the pommel, the blade of the weapon crossed the calves of the legs on the slope.

Under Louis XIII. (A.D. 1610—1643), the blade of the military sword has no particular characteristics. The hilt has its cross-guard bent with a contrary curvature, so that on one side the curve sweeps up towards the pommel, and on the other side it falls towards the blade. The habit of wearing the sword behind the person commenced in this reign. This adjustment was effected by attaching the weapon to a shoulder