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the village。 Hence Shakespeare's picture of the smith in King John：
〃I saw a smith stand with his hammer； thus；
The whilst his iron did on the anvil cool；
With open mouth swallowing a tailor's news。〃
The smith's tools were of many sorts； but the chief were his hammer；
pincers； chisel； tongs； and anvil。 It is astonishing what a variety
of articles he turned out of his smithy by the help of these rude
implements。 In the tooling； chasing； and consummate knowledge of the
capabilities of iron； he greatly surpassed the modern workman； for
the mediaeval blacksmith was an artist as well as a workman。 The
numerous exquisite specimens of his handicraft which exist in our old
gateways； church doors； altar railings； and ornamented dogs and
andirons； still serve as types for continual reproduction。 He was；
indeed； the most 〃cunninge workman〃 of his time。 But besides all
this； he was an engineer。 If a road had to be made； or a stream
embanked； or a trench dug； he was invariably called upon to provide
the tools； and often to direct the work。 He was also the military
engineer of his day； and as late as the reign of Edward III。 we find
the king repeatedly sending for smiths from the Forest of Dean to act
as engineers for the royal army at the siege of Berwick。
The smith being thus the earliest and most important of mechanics； it
will readily be understood how； at the time when surnames were
adopted； his name should have been so common in all European
countries。
〃From whence came Smith； all be he knight or squire；
But from the smith that forgeth in the fire？〃*
＇footnote。。。
GILBERT； Cornwall。
。。。＇
Hence the multitudinous family of Smiths in England； in some cases
vainly disguised under the 〃Smythe〃 or 〃De Smijthe；〃 in Germany； the
Schmidts； in Italy； the Fabri； Fabricii；or Fabbroni； in France； the
Le Febres or Lefevres； in Scotland； the Gows； Gowans； or Cowans。
We have also among us the Brownsmiths； or makers of brown bills； the
Nasmyths； or nailsmiths； the Arrowsmiths； or makers of arrowheads；
the Spearsmiths； or spear makers； the Shoosmiths； or horse shoers；
the Goldsmiths； or workers in gold； and many more。 The Smith proper
was； however； the worker in ironthe maker of iron tools；
implements； and armsand hence this name exceeds in number that of
all the others combined。
In course of time the smiths of particular districts began to
distinguish themselves for their excellence in particular branches of
iron…work。 From being merely the retainer of some lordly or religious
establishment； the smith worked to supply the general demand； and
gradually became a manufacturer。 Thus the makers of swords； tools；
bits； and nails； congregated at Birmingham； and the makers of knives
and arrowheads at Sheffield。 Chaucer speaks of the Miller of
Trompington as provided with a Sheffield whittle： …
〃A Shefeld thwytel bare he in his hose。〃*
＇footnote。。。
Before table…knives were invented； in the sixteenth century； the
knife was a very important article； each guest at table bearing his
own； and sharpening it at the whetstone hung up in the passage；
before sitting down to dinner； Some even carried a whetstone as well
as a knife； and one of Queen Elizabeth's presents to the Earl of
Leicester was a whetstone tipped with gold。
。。。＇
The common English arrowheads manufactured at Sheffield were long
celebrated for their excellent temper； as Sheffield iron and steel
plates are now。 The battle of Hamildon； fought in Scotland in 1402；
was won mainly through their excellence。 The historian records that
they penetrated the armour of the Earl of Douglas； which had been
three years in making； and they were 〃so sharp and strong that no
armour could repel them。〃 The same arrowheads were found equally
efficient against French armour on the fields of Crecy and Agincourt。
Although Scotland is now one of the principal sources from which our
supplies of iron are drawn； it was in ancient times greatly
distressed for want of the metal。 The people were as yet too little
skilled to be able to turn their great mineral wealth to account。
Even in the time of Wallace； they had scarcely emerged from the Stone
period； and were under the necessity of resisting their iron…armed
English adversaries by means of rude weapons of that material。 To
supply themselves with swords and spearheads； they imported steel
from Flanders； and the rest they obtained by marauding incursions
into England。 The district of Furness in Lancashirethen as now an
iron…producing districtwas frequently ravaged with that object；
and on such occasions the Scotch seized and carried off all the
manufactured iron they could find； preferring it； though so heavy； to
every other kind of plunder。*
＇footnote。。。
The early scarcity of iron in Scotland is confirmed by Froissart； who
says；〃In Scotland you will never find a man of worth； they are like
savages； who wish not to be acquainted with any one； are envious of
the good fortune of others； and suspicious of losing anything
themselves； for their country is very poor。 When the English make
inroads thither； as they have very frequently done； they order their
provisions； if they wish to live； to follow close at their backs； for
nothing is to be had in that country without great difficulty。 There
is neither iron to shoe horses； nor leather to make harness； saddles；
or bridles： all these things come ready made from Flanders by sea；
and should these fail； there is none to be had in the country。'
。。。＇
About the same period； however； iron must have been regarded as
almost a precious metal even in England itself； for we find that in
Edward the Third's reign； the pots； spits； and frying…pans of the
royal kitchen were classed among his Majesty's jewels。*
＇footnote。。。
PARKER'S English Home； 77
。。。＇
The same famine of iron prevailed to a still greater extent in the
Highlands； where it was even more valued； as the clans lived chiefly
by hunting； and were in an almost constant state of feud。 Hence the
smith was a man of indispensable importance among the Highlanders；
and the possession of a skilful armourer was greatly valued by the
chiefs。 The story is told of some delinquency having been committed
by a Highland smith； on whom justice must be done； but as the chief
could not dispense with the smith； he generously offered to hang two
weavers in his stead！
At length a great armourer arose in the Highlands； who was able to
forge armour that would resist the best Sheffield arrow…heads； and to
make swords that would vie with the best weapons of Toledo and Milan。
This was the famous Andrea de Ferrara； whose swords still maintain
their ancient reputation。 This workman is supposed to have learnt his
art in the Italian city after which he was called； and returned to
practise it in secrecy among the Highland hills。 Before him； no man
in Great Britain is said to have