.10.  ARMOURY

The entrance across the CLOCK COURTYARD is flanked by two suits of armour belonging to mounted knights (15^th and 16^th centuries). On the right there is a child's suit of armour, some halberds from the reigns of Alfonso XII and Alfonso XIII. Then there are five pieces of early artillery: a 14^th century bombard, a "verso" (small culverin), a 15^th century blowpipe, a culverin and a powerful calibre mortar. Behind these, there are two bombard chambers, some cannon shells and cannon balls.

On the wall we can see some halberd, "partesanas" (large halberds), and breach knives next to four suits of armour (two for children), a helmet and a small cuirass. Above these there are some escutcheons with the coats of arms of feudal houses.

On the opposite wall there are five incomplete suits of armour, four helmets, four suits of armour belonging to mounted knights, breastplates, round shields and seven crossbows. Through a small door, a superb example of the handcrafted wrought ironwork typical of Segovia, we go into a narrow room where we find a press for the minting of coins from the period of the first Bourbons and two curious cash-boxes.

Then we can see six rapiers and a "dagger of mercy" (16^th and 17^th centuries). In a glass case there is a German hunting crossbow made of wood with inlaid work, similar to the one held by Emperor Charles V in the painting by Lucas Cranach.

On the next wall, there are six 18^th century cavalry swords, a 16^th century bombard barrel, two lances, a breastplate, a "pavés" (an oblong shield) and a 16^th century wheel-lock harquebus, below which there are six rapiers and an engraved swordblade.

In front of the big window, there is a bombard and a stone mortar, and on the wall some "partesanas" and escutcheons.

In the centre of the room there is an equestrian suit of armour, a big brazier, a stone mortar and inside a glass case a beautiful 17^th century wheel-lock musket.