a native of York itself, presented it to that city on 5th May 1439, to be carried before every successive mayor. The hilt is of gilded latten with a faceted pear-shaped pommel, and long, straight quillons tapering towards the ends where they droop downwards. The grip is covered with crimson velvet, and is encircled just above the guard by a silver-gilt ring. The blade, which is double-edged with an accentuated taper, bears as an armourer's mark a Lombardic "I." Its upper half is blued, and etched with the royal arms on one side and those of the city of York on the other. The blade also bears the following inscription on one face: SIGISMVNDI . IMPERAT . DAT . MC . EB'. 1439.; and on the other: ORNAT . HENRI . MAY MAIOR . 1586. This latter inscription is no doubt a reference to the gilding and blueing on the upper part of the blade. The scabbard of the sword is covered with crimson velvet and decorated on the front face with six silver-gilt dragons.
Various items occur in the MS. annals of Coventry concerning a certain sword of state belonging to that city to which we have already referred on page 312. In 1471 Edward IV came to Coventry, and on account of the adherence of the citizens to the Lancastrian cause a mayor again fell into disgrace, but in this case the King actually took away the sword, and it was not until a payment of 500 marks had been made that the right to have a sword of state carried before the mayor was restored to this town. It is not, however, stated whether the King returned the original sword.
The present sword of state at Coventry is certainly not that about which Richard II, in 1384, gave the command that it should be carried behind and not in front of the mayor; for the weapon must be considered as dating from the first half of the XVth century. It must, then, be a sword made to replace the first state sword granted to the town. The pommel, grip, and quillons of the hilt of the weapon now at Coventry are silver-gilt. The pommel is pear-shaped and somewhat flattened; on either side are circular disks, which are, however, comparatively modern. The quillons are straight and engraved with leafwork (Fig. 697). The grip is a tube of flattened hexagonal section with medial and end bands. On one side are engraved in Gothic lettering the words CIVITAS | COVENTRE, and a decoration of foliage and the arms of the town—an elephant and castle; on the other side, DOMINE SALVŪ FAC REGEM (O Lord, save the King) and leafwork, with figures of the Virgin and Child and a saint. The edges also once bore an inscription—now illegible. The blade apparently belongs to the hilt but is much rubbed. The scabbard with its enrichment dates from the time of the Restoration.
