And again, line 13536:—
"Un Engleiz od une coignie,
Ke il aveit, lungue emmanchie,
L'a si féru parmi li dos
Ke toz li fet croissir les os."
The same Master Wace has recorded his objection to the Northern axe; that, requiring both hands to wield it, the weapon cannot be used effectively with the shield:—
"Hoem ki od hache volt férir,
Od sez dous mainz l'estuet tenir[81].
Ne pot entendre à sei covrir,
S'il velt férir de grant aïr[82].
Bien férir è covrir ensemble,
Ne pot l'en faire, ço me semble."
Rom. de Rou, ii. 262.
The handle of the Axe was of wood, traces of which have been observed in the relics obtained from the graves. In a single instance, it has been found of iron. This example occurred at Lède, in Belgium, and has been described by M. Rigollot in the Mémoires de la Société des Antiquaires de Picardie, vol. x.
The Guisarme is a weapon frequently mentioned by our early chroniclers and poets; but, though it is sometimes made to be identical with the pole-axe, at others it is distinguished from that arm. Wace tells us it was "sharp, long, and broad:"—
"E vos avez lances agües,
E granz gisarmes esmolues."—Rom. de Rou, l. 12907.
"Dous Engleiz vit mult orguillos:
En lor cols aveient levées
Dui gisarmes lunges è lées[83]."—Ib., l. 13431.