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 known how to temper a sword in such
a way as to bend so that the point should touch the hilt and spring