The sword of the thirteenth century is more distinctly pointed, and has the cross-guard either straight or curving more or less towards the blade; the grip is rather short, and the weapon is usually about two feet six inches to over three feet long, and there is a large heavy pommel of various shapes. A good example may be seen on the Daubernoun brass. Some of the German swords of the century, actual specimens of which may be seen at Dresden, are, however, very much longer. The short handle could be rigidly gripped, so that the entire force came more from the arm and shoulder. The sword blades of Damascus, India, and Persia were equal, if not superior, in temper, finish, and decoration to any made by the sword-smiths of Europe, but the Eastern smiths devoted much more care to the edge than to the point. In the main, they were curved blades. There is a good deal of romance in old Japan about the sword, and some very remarkable weapons have been turned out by their craftsmen. There were numerous distinct varieties of Asiatic swords and daggers; but to give even the merest outline of these would make the present notes far too long. Single-handed swords of Europe consisted of curved weapons like the scimitar or falchion, the dusack, cutlass and sabre, and those with a straight, double-edged blade. The scimitar is of Persian origin, and was introduced into Europe during the first crusade; it did not, however, come very much into vogue before the middle of the fifteenth century. Like most swords of Asiatic origin, it is specially devised for cutting; and its curved blade, and the setting of the hilt, in relation to it, is well adapted for the delivery of a highly penetrating stroke. This weapon, the blade of which is short and single-edged, has probably its prototype in the “Acinace” of the Romans, a representation of which may be seen on that instructive monument of contemporary history, the column of Trajan. Possibly the Romans themselves derived it, like so much besides, from an Eastern source. The falchion, or fauchon, which is a smaller type of scimitar, appears in England early in the thirteenth century, and is mentioned in the fourteenth century romance of _Richard Cœur de Lion_, “broad fawchons and fawchons kene.” It is in two varieties--a broad blade widening towards the point, with a concave back and sharp edge; and the other with a straight back. The curious tenure falchion of the Conyers is an example of the latter kind. This weapon is figured in _Archæologia Æliana_, vol. xv.; and is also referred to in Blount’s _Antient Tenures_. Sir Edward W. Blackett, Bart., in a communication to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-upon-Tyne,[36] says that this weapon measures two feet eleven inches in length; on one side of the pommel are three lions, the arms of England, with remains of red enamel in the ground; and on the other an eagle with outspread wings, which Mr. Longstaffe considered to relate to Richard, King of