Die Inschrift auf dem River Witham Sword entschlüsselt !?

Abstract

The River Witham “knightly” Sword was found in 1825 near Lincoln (England). The medieval weapon now belongs to the British Museum (museum number 1858, 1116.5) and is dated at the period between 1250 and 1330. On one side of the sword there is a mysterious inscription, made of gold wire inlaid into the steel, which reads +NDXOXCHWDRGHDXORVI+ and has not been deciphered yet. The previous attempts to interpret the inscription as an invocation or incantation were not successful. Therefore I, in contrast, presume the inscription to contain a clear message in just one sentence, the W being the initial of the sword’s owner. And here is my interpretation:

N(OMINE) D(OMINI) X=CH(RISTI)
O(PE) X=CH(RISTI) CH(EVALIER) W
D(EFENDIT) R(E)G(EM) H(ONOREM) D(OMINI) X=CH(RISTI) OR(BOS) VI(DUAS)

Freely translated: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. With Christ’s help, Sir W. is defending the king, the honour of God, orphans and widows.