with the parade partisan by giving illustrations of two very rich weapons. The first of these (Fig. 1417) is an example of the early years of the XVIIth century, simple in outline, but heavily incrusted with silver on a ground worked with gold azzimina. This ornamentation recalls that seen on some of the late Elizabethan and James I sword and rapier hilts (page 315 et seqq.). Though we have suggested that this type of decoration was originated by Italian work-*men, there appears little doubt that it was often used by craftsmen in England. We look upon this partisan head as English work under Italian influence. The other weapon, a very fantastically shaped partisan head is the last to which we shall allude, No. 477, Wallace Collection (Fig. 1418): it has the broad tapering central blade of no unusual design, but the lateral projections are most complicated, following the outline of two crowned dolphins' and eagles' heads all elaborately pierced, and at the same time chiselled and gilt with figure subjects, etc. The haft socket is fluted, and at its juncture with the blade there is a square-shaped block, curiously inlaid with plaques of mother-of-pearl. We are inclined to consider this pageant weapon as of French workmanship of the first quarter of the XVIIth century.
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Fig. 1418. Processional partisan
Probably French, about the year 1610. Wallace Collection (Laking Catalogue, No. 477)
The halberd throughout the latter part of the XVIth and well into the XVIIth century takes a great variety of forms, and their decoration nearly always runs riot; but in the case of the commoner and simpler weapon used by the soldiery, the simple early forms are more or less adhered to. In the head of the halberd carried by the Trabanten Guardia of the Electors of Saxony can be seen a combination of usefulness of form and of appropriate decoration; these, together with the morion helmets worn with them (see ante, Figs. 1282 and 1283), can be found in nearly all important collections. The halberds and morions date for the most part within the last quarter of the XVIth century, and vary considerably in the quality of their manufacture; some, indeed, are so poor in workmanship that they may be of later date and copied in the XVIIth century from the XVIth century Dresden or Nuremberg
