three representative forms. The first, which dates from about 1510, we take from the Imperial Armoury, Vienna, a very complete example with its scabbard, an historical sword indeed, for it belonged to the famous commander, Ulrich von Schellenburg (Fig. 680b). The two other swords come from the De Cosson Collection. One (Fig. 680c) is of the later German type with the knuckle guard, and dates from about 1530, the other (Fig. 680d) is an example of Swiss-Landsknecht type of about 1500. With the exception of the two Italian examples the Landsknecht swords we have chosen for illustration are all of the early years of the XVIth century; but their forms are those of an earlier generation, and that is our excuse for depicting them in a chapter devoted to the swords of the XVth century.
THE SCOTTISH SWORD
Our list of swords distinctive of XVth century fashion would be incomplete if we did not briefly allude to the Claidhmhichean mhora, the true Scottish Claidheamh-mor or "two-handit" sword. The claymore, to most persons, suggests the basket hilted weapon associated with the full highland costume of the XVIIIth century; but to call such a type of sword the claymore arises entirely from ignorance or from a desire to retain a traditional name. The word Claidheamh-mor, from which claymore is derived, comes from a Gaelic double word meaning "great sword," in fact, a two-handed sword. Consequently, this sword has no connection whatever with the basket hilted weapon, the so-called claymore of to-day, which, if it must have a Scottish name, might well be called the claybeg. As a matter of fact, the modern claymore is but a descendant of the sword carried in Venice late in the XVIth century by the schiavoni, or hired soldiery, a sword which was known as the schiavona. This sword had a splendidly contrived hilt fully guarding the hand, and it could be grasped in the manner adopted in the case of all swords of the latter part of the XVIth century. It was much appreciated as a suitable hilt for the sword used in the sword play that early in the XVIIth century was becoming universally popular; with the result that the type was very soon found in use in England. Making its way up north from England—where late in the XVIIth century
