Fig. 380.
Figs. 381 to 390.
A good figure of a swordsman, with sword and shield, is also given on the next figure ([fig. 391]).
Fig. 391.
Swords with ornamental pommels and hilts are of rare occurrence, but examples occur in the Faussett and other collections. Probably those with ornamented hilts would also have their chapes correspondingly ornamented. In Beowulf occur these lines:—
“When he did off from himself
his iron coat of mail,
the helmet from his head,
gave his ornamented sword,
the costliest of irons,
to his servant.”
And again:—