The second volume of Sir Guy Francis taking's Record of
European Armour and Arms (Bell and Sons; 5 vols., £15 15a) iH as fascinating as was the first. The text is as informing and the illustrations are as carefully chosen and as delightful as ever. One could hardly have believed without taming the leaves of the book how wonderful a picture of the beauty, splendour, and interest of mediaeval life is brought back to us by a pictorial record of armour. The present volume contains a great deal about chain mail, and very curious it is—for example, the jacket of quilted linen drawn by Memling. The volume ends with sone wonderful pictures of bucklers and swords. Very magnificent is the ceremonial sword whieh Pope Julian, IL presented to King James IV. of Scotland, as also is the sword which Pope Leo X. is said to have given to Henry VIII., though it appear!' that in reality this, beautiful outcome of the forge is of later date.
Anyway it is a very beautiful object, and the Aehmolean ought to be proud of it.
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