In Bolton's _Elements of Armories_, 1610, p. 67., is an engraving of
a very interesting shield, of the kind called "Pavoise," which at
that period hung over the tomb of Edward the Black Prince, at
Canterbury, in addition to the shield still remaining there. Bolton
says, "The sayd victorious Princes tombe is in the goodly Cathedral
Church erected to the honour of Christ, in Canterburie; there
(beside his quilted coat-armour, with half-sleeves, Taberd fashion,
and his triangular shield, both of them painted with the royall
armories of our kings, and differenced with silver labels) hangs
this kind of Pavis or Target, curiously (for those times) embost and
painted, and the Scutcheon in the bosse being worne out, and the
Armes (which, it seemes, were the same with his coate armour, and
not any particular devise) defaced, and is altogether of the same
kinde with that upon which (Froissard reports) the dead body of the
Lord Robert of Dvras, and nephew to the Cardinall of Pierregoort,
was laid, and sent unto that Cardinale, from the Battell of
Poictiers, where the Blacke Prince obtained a Victorie, the renowne
whereof is immortale."
Can any of your correspondents inform me when this most interesting
relic disappeared? Sandford, whose _Genealogical History_ was
published some sixty or seventy years later, says, "On an iron barr
over the Tombe are placed the Healme and Crest, Coat of Maile, and
Gantlets, and, on a pillar near thereunto, his shield of Armes,
richly diapred with gold, all which he is said to have used in
Battel;" but he neither mentions the missing "Pavoise," engraved in
Bolton, or the scabbard of the sword which yet remains, the sword
itself having been taken away, according to report, by Oliver
Cromwell. Did that unscrupulous Protector(?) take away the "Pavoise"
at the same time, or order his Ironsides to "remove that
bauble?"--and how came he to spare the helmet, jupon, gauntlets,
shield, and _scabbard_? I have strong doubts of his being the
purloiner of the sword. The late Mr. Stothard, who mentions the
report, does not quote his authority. I will add another query, on a
similar subject:--When did the _real_ sword of Charles the First's
time, which, but a few years back, hung at the side of that
monarch's equestrian figure at Charing Cross, disappear?--and what
has become of it? The question was put, at my suggestion, to the
official authorities, by the secretary of the British Archæological
Association; but no information could be obtained on the subject.
That the sword _was_ a real one of that period, I state upon the
authority of my lamented friend, the late Sir Samuel Meyrick, who
had ascertained the fact, and pointed out to me its loss.