_Scanderbeg's Sword_ (Vol. vii., pp. 35. 143.).--The proverb, "Scanderbeg's
sword must have Scanderbeg's arm," is founded on the following story:
"George Castriot, Prince of Albania, one of the strongest and
valiantest men that lived these two hundred yeares, had a cimeter,
which Mahomet the Turkish Emperor, his mortall enemy, desired to see.
Castriot (surnamed of the Turks, Ischenderbeg, that is, Great
Alexander, because of his valiantnesse), having received a pledge for
the restitution of his cimeter, sent it so far as Constantinople to
Mahomet, in whose court there was not any man found that could with any
ease wield that piece of steele: so that Mahomet sending it back
againe, enioyned the messenger to tell the prince, that in this action
he kind proceeded enemy-like, and with a fraudulent mind, sending a
counterfeit cimeter {512} to make his enemie afraid. Ischenderbeg writ
back to him, that he had simply without fraud or guile sent him his
owne cimeter, with the which he used to helpe himselfe couragiously in
the wars; but that he had not sent him the hand and the arme which with
the cimeter cleft the Turkes in two, struck off their heads, shoulders,
legs, and other parts, yea, sliced them of by the wast; and that verie
shortly he would show him a fresh proofe thereof; which afterwards he
performed."--_Historical Meditations from the Latin of P. Camerarius_,
by John Molle, Esquire, 1621, book iv. Cap. xvi. p. 299.
The following, relating to the arm and sword of Scanderbeg, may perhaps not
inappropriately be added, although not connected with the proverb:
"Marinus Barletius (lib. i.) reports of Scanderbeg, Prince of Epirus
(that most terrible enemy of the Turks), that, from his mother's womb,
he brought with him into the world a notable mark of warlike glory: for
he had upon his right arm a sword, so well set on, as if it had been
drawn with the pencil of the most curious and skilful painter in the
world."--Wanley's _Wonders of the Little World_, 1678, book i. cap.
vii.