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THE sword blades of this
great cutler are, to this day, much celebrated in Scotland for their
excellence. It was conjectured that he had been in Scotland in the time
of James IV. or V., who both much patronized foreign artificers, and
that he bequeathed his art and name to Scottish swords in general; but
there appears no notice whatever of him in the chamberlain's rolls, and
other public accounts, and that idea must be abandoned. It has been said
that he was a Spaniard, and dwelt at Guiposcoa, and that he had an
apprentice, anxious to discover his secret mode of tempering his blades.
This lad having made the discovery, by boring a hole through the door,
had the imprudence to declare his knowledge of it, and of the mode by
which he became acquainted with it, which so enraged Andrea Farara that
he instantly ran a sword through his body, and having fled from justice,
found refuge in Scotland. Of the truth of this story no proof can be
brought. The blades which have his name on them,
A N D
R E A
on the one side, and on
the other
F A R
A R A
are of Spanish
manufacture.
There are others, which
are stamped ANDREA FERERA, which are Italian, and must be by a different
person, unless the same manufacturer had establishments in both
countries. None of the Andrea Farara, or Ferera blades have a form of
older date than that in use in England in the time of Henry VIII. There
was in the possession of J. H. Allan, a sword of Colonna, purchased, on
its arrival from Italy, in 1822, having on each side the words COSMO
FERERA, which shows that Andrea was not the only, sword manufacturer in
the family. |
