penance was only finally renounced by the local patriots in our
own day.

WAR.

"Weapons".--The sword is the weapon par excellence in Saxo's narrative,
and he names several by name, famous old blades like our royal Curtana,
which some believed was once Tristrem's, and that sword of Carlus, whose
fortunes are recorded in Irish annals. Such are "Snyrtir", Bearce's
sword; "Hothing", Agnar's blade; "Lauf", or "Leaf", Bearce's sword;
"Screp", Wermund's sword, long buried and much rust-eaten, but sharp and
trusty, and known by its whistle; Miming's sword ("Mistletoe"), which
slew Balder. Wainhead's curved blade seems to be a halbert; "Lyusing"
and "Hwiting", Ragnald of Norway's swords; "Logthe", the sword of Ole
Siward's son.

The "war-club" occurs pretty frequently. But it is usually introduced as
a special weapon of a special hero, who fashions a gold-headed club
to slay one that steel cannot touch, or who tears up a tree, like the
Spanish knight in the ballad, or who uses a club to counteract spells
that blunt steel. The bat-shapen archaic rudder of a ship is used as a
club in the story of the Sons of Arngrim.

The "spear" plays no particular part in Saxo: even Woden's spear Gungne
is not prominent.

"Bows and arrows" are not often spoken of, but archer heroes, such as
Toki, Ane Bow-swayer, and Orwar-Odd, are known. Slings and stones are
used.

The shield, of all defensive armour, is far the most prominent. They
were often painted with devices, such as Hamlet's shield, Hildiger's
Swedish shield. Dr. Vigfusson has shown the importance of these painted
shields in the poetic history of the Scandinavians.

A red shield is a signal of peace. Shields are set round ramparts on
land as round ships at sea.

"Mail-coats" are worn. Frode has one charmed against steel. Hother has
another; a mail-coat of proof is mentioned and their iron meshes are
spoken of.

"Helmets" are used, but not so carefully described as in "Beowulf's
Lay"; crested helmets and a gilded helmet occur in Bearca-mal and in
another poem.

"Banners" serve as rallying points in the battle and on the march. The
Huns' banners are spoken of in the classic passage for the description
of a huge host invading a country. Bearcamal talks of golden banners.

"Horns" (1) were blown pp at the beginning of the engagement and for
signalling. The gathering of the host was made by delivery of a wooden
arrow painted to look like iron.

"Tactics".--The hand-to