Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 3).djvu/58

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opinion it is one of the most interesting daggers that has ever come under his notice. In the London Museum there is another of these ring pommelled daggers (Fig. 759). This specimen, which was found in the Thames at Westminster, has its blade somewhat curved. Another dagger slightly varying in form is also to be seen in the London Museum. In the case of this example (Fig. 760), which was found in Kingsway, it will be noted that the ring formation of the pommel has disappeared, the grip finishing above in an octagonal disk fixed cap-wise. The original wooden grip is still in position. The date of this dagger is, we should think, about 1400.


THE SECOND TYPE OF DAGGER—VARIETIES OF THE RONDEL ORDER

Fig. 761. From the brass of Sir Edward Cerne

1393. Draycot Cerne Church, Wiltshire

Fig. 763. From the brass of Ystase de Seron

About 1382. Chapel of Ease at Seron, near Forville

Fig. 762. From the brass of John Cressy, Esq.

1414. Dodford Church, Northamptonshire

The construction of the last-named dagger affords us material assistance in tracing the evolution of the dagger which has the rondel type of guard—a form of dagger hilt that seems to have superseded all others in popularity in the latter part of the XIVth century and continued in fashion until the middle of the XVIth century. This is evidenced from its constant representation on brasses and in engravings of knightly harnesses of which a late example is afforded by the Plate 102 by Hans Schauffelin in Theuerdank (Fig. 764). We will turn first to the earliest of these in order to supply the few missing links in the chain of evidence that help to show its evolution into the true rondel-hilted dagger as seen in the third quarter of the XVth century. The brass