THE SWORD CALLED CURTANA

In the wardrobe account for the year 1483, are "iij swerdes, whereof oon with a flat poynte, called *curtana*, and ij other swords, all iij swords covered in a yerde di of crymysym tisshue cloth of gold." The name of *curtana* for many ages continued to be given to the first royal sword in England. It existed as long ago as the reign of Henry III., at whose coronation (A.D. 1236) it was carried by the Earl of Chester. We find it at the coronations of Edward II. and Richard II.; also in the time of Henry IV., Richard III., and Henry VII.; and among the royal arms of Edward VI. we read of "a swe…