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Inscriptions formerly incrusted in gold surround the figure subjects. The minuteness of the work employed upon this hilt merits close scrutiny; and this despite the fact that the design seems stunted and the workmanship appears restricted in execution, denoting the late period of its production. From the fact that the sword was a gift from the Pope, it must be supposed that Italy was the country of its production, though it is strangely German in its style. The blade is a fine example of the work of Peter Munsten, of whose work other blades are preserved at Stockholm and Copenhagen, which bear the surprising inscription, Peter Munsten me fecit London. The author expresses his surprise because the only other records of the work of Peter or Andreas, his brother, bear the inscriptions "Solingen," and later "Toledo."

Fig. 1374. Sword hilt

Italian, Milanese, 1560 Collection: Mr. S. J. Whawell

This sword came from the collection of the Baron Percy, one of Napoleon's army doctors. Baron Percy's Collection was sold in 1830, and the catalogue says that according to a memorandum left by Baron Percy, the sword was given to him at Vienna by an "august personage." This "august personage" was doubtless the Emperor Francis I of Austria; so we may fairly surmise that the sword was formerly in the Imperial Armoury of Vienna. A sword very similar to this, but more beautiful, is to be seen in the collection of Mr. S. J. Whawell (Fig. 1372). It, too, has historical associations; for upon the knuckle-guard (Fig. 1373) is the following inscription: × AMBR × SPINOLA × EXERC × IMPER × (Ambrogio Spinola commander-in-chief of the army). Ambrogio, Marquis of Spinola, one of the greatest captains of his day, was born in 1571. He served under Philip III and IV of Spain, and was received