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covered with leather and lined with wool, fur or parchment. Tenth- and nth-century chapes might be of openwork design but by the i2th century a simple ‘U’ shape seems morę usual. The scarcity of survivors suggests that many swords were simply bound at the tip with an extra layer of leather or had no chape at all. Lockets, too, might be of openwork design or even of bonę but few have come down to us from the nth or i2th century, possibly because the means of fastening the sword was altering. The method of attaching the sword belt to the scabbard in the ioth and i ith century is not known for certain. In some cases additional suspension straps may have been used. The Bayeux Tapestry almost seems to suggest a stud fastening similar to early Germanie varieties. Other illustrations, especially in the i2th century, freąuently depict a cross of straps which strongly suggests the type of fixing used in the 13th century. In this, the shorter end of the belt was split, one piece being threaded through slits cut in the scabbard leather while two others passed down and were laced together. By threading through slits cut in the other part of the belt, the two halves were prevented from sliding apart while keeping the sword at a convenient angle. Sometimes only one strip passed down between the upper and lower belt halves.

The lance, probably of ash wood, was fitted with an iron head provided with a socket in which the shaft was secured by a nail. The flags have been drawn from the Bayeux Tapestry, including what is probably the papai banner blessed for the invasion of England. The semicircular flag seems likely to be a representation of the raven banner used by the pagan Danes. Knights of rank were marked by a smali pennon nailed below their lance head.

G: Horses

The saddles shown on the Bayeux Tapestry and a number of other representations do not give a great

The second grea t seal of Richard I, struck in 1194 on his release from captivity. Despite popular opinion, the King is not shown wearing a surcoat. A long undergarment issues from beneath his mail. The shield now carries the three lions of England for the first time. His hełm is quite adyanced, almost fully co ycring the head and proyided with a fan crest, prcsumably of metal, on which are echoed the lions of the shield. (Public Records Office, London)

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