The two we illustrate, one from the collection of Dr. Bashford Dean of New York (Fig. 29), and a simpler, but equally representative head of the same type, found in the Thames at London, now in the London Museum (Fig. 30), are representative. We are aware that this particular type of head with the lateral lugs at the half socket is assigned to a period anterior to that with which we now deal, but as an XIth century evidence of their continued use we reproduce from the Harl. MS. 603, f. 73, the figure of Goliath armed with a spear, the head of which is apparently of this form (Fig. 31). It is interesting here to note that the oldest relic of the Romano-Germanic Empire, now preserved in the Imperial Treasury of Vienna, the lance-head known as that of St. Maurice, or the holy lance of Nuremberg, containing in the centre of its blade a nail of the Holy Cross, was originally just such a head as Dr. Dean's specimen. As it now appears, the centre of the blade has been cut away to receive the relic. At some period in the reign of the Emperor Henry IV (1056-1106) the spear-head was broken in the centre and mended with bands of silver. On these bands are contemporary inscriptions recording the event. Further restorations and additions were added to the spear-head under the Emperor Charles IV (1347-1378). Our certain knowledge of this holy lance commences with the year A.D. 918, when Widukind, monk of the Abbey of Corbie, writes in that year it formed a part of the regalia of King Conrad I of Franconia (A.D. 911-918). Its previous history is purely mythical.
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Fig. 32. Axe-head, Xth or XIth century
Found in the Thames, Hammersmith. London Museum
The axe, though used as it was by the knightly class of the old English, has seldom been found in any way enriched, though perhaps it was occasionally beautified in outline—indeed, of the many axe-heads discovered it is almost impossible to determine which are of English and which of Norman or Danish origin. The axe we may consider as Saxon is shown in our illustration (Fig. 32), a specimen found in the Thames, whilst our illustration (Fig. 33) shows combatants, armed with the axe matched against the spear.
