This collection has most in common with that at Vienna; and if not actually founded by the Emperor Charles V., it contains a good deal of his armour, and many weapons used by him. It was Philip II. who ordered the arrangement of the collection then existing, and his successors continually added to it; and when one considers how it has suffered from the robberies of Napoleon, and the neglect consequent upon the unsettled state of Spain for so many years, it is a matter of surprise that it has survived in its present fine condition. The collection comprises a number of most beautiful examples of armour, especially of the reigns of Charles V. and the Philips II. and III. A harness made by Koloman Helmschmied of Augsburg, for the emperor, is very notable. It bears the armourer’s mark, in conjunction with the guild monogram of the city; the suit has tuilles. There are many mounted suits, all remarkable specimens of the armourer’s art; and with the bards of one of them is a chanfrein with ram’s horns. Suits with lamboys are finely represented; as also is enriched armour. The collection of helmets, swords, shields, daggers, and separate pieces of armour and arms generally, represents almost all schools and varieties. The “Catálogo” prepared by Count Valencia is very fully and splendidly illustrated.
Die Waffensammlung des Kaiserl. Hauses at Vienna.
This collection includes that of Ambras, and the range of examples, especially armour, is even more complete and comprehensive than that at Madrid. It is rich in the most important of all schools, viz., the “Gothic”; and the general arrangement of the examples leaves little to be desired. With Custos Wendelin Boeheim at its head, it has provided the great educational agency in Europe in the determination of both arms and armour of the different periods covered in this book.
The Musée d’Armures at Brussels.
This collection has been placed in the Porte de Hal tower, an old fortress built in 1381, and all there is remaining of the old fortifications of the city. The museum is not in possession of a complete “Gothic” suit, but “Maximilian” fluted armour is worthily represented; and a later suit, with a tournament shield, is very notable. Armour of late sixteenth and early seventeenth century is there in quantity, and the collection of arms and cannon is very important. The catalogue, compiled by the accomplished antiquary, the late Hermann Van Duyse, leaves little to be desired.
The Historische Vaabensamling at Copenhagen.
This collection is placed in the old historic Töjhus, built in the reign of Christian IV. It is practically an arsenal. The collection of arms is arranged under the reign of each king, this giving obvious chronological data. A harness, with a tournament shield, reminds one strongly of the work of Peter von Speyer; the leg armour is missing in this case. Another suit in this collection is mentioned in our text.
The Armeria Reale at Turin.
This collection is especially rich in weapons of the sixteenth century, and is one of the most important in Europe.