I have shown how the stone celt might become a metal knife, and thence develop into the straight Sword. By noting the modifications it is as easy to see that the axe might have produced the scymitar. The earliest form would be a broad lance-head inserted into a common club (a), as is still practised in many parts of Africa. The next improvement (c) would convert the tool into an arm by increasing the cutting surface; and another step (d) would make it lighter by reducing the blade to a triangle of mere barbs, ⊣. Then (e) we have the Khond or Circar battle-axe, and the Silepe of the South African Basutos who, virtually discovered by Dr. Livingstone, have become so troublesome of late years.[314] This T-shaped blade, perpetuated in the ‘Baïonette Gras,’ was used in Switzerland and in Venice till the sixteenth century, according to Meyrick and Demmin. Afterwards the straight back next to the staff would be formed into two small and graceful crescents (f); and the weapon became far better fitted for the requirements of cavalry. This shape is world-wide, and was used in England temp. Elizabeth. A congener of the glaive was the Francisque à lance ouverte, the broad-bladed ‘taper-axe,’ used for throwing as well as for striking. According to the Abbé Cochet, this weapon took its name from the Franks. The Francisque is termed a ‘defensive weapon’ in the illustrated treatise ‘Armes et Armures.’[315] The Saxons preferred to it the Sahs, Seax or Scramasax-knife, similarly used. The Francisque is rare in the Saxon graves compared with the spear and knife, but it is more common than the Sword.[316]
Fig. 96.—Hindú Hatchet from Rajputana. |
Fig. 97.—German Hatchet of Bronze Period. |
Fig. 99.—Iron Scramasax (16 inches long). |
Fig. 100.—Scramasax (18 inches long). |
Fig. 98.—1. Burgundian Axe; 2. Francisque or Taper Axe. |
THE BILL AND VOULGE.
The Bill[317] (A.-S. byll, Irish biail, securis) was introduced into England temp. Henry VI. about the fifteenth century, when it was allied in form to the Halbard. Skinner considers it a securis rostrata (beaked axe). It was long a favourite in Scandinavia, and the illustration represents the weapon of Gunnar, the Icelandic champion, which sang before battle, as also did the Sword of Sigurd.
Fig. 101.—Gunnar’s Bill.
Fig. 102.—Voulges.
The glaive of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries was followed by the Guisarme, Gisarme, or Bisarme. This long blade, with a slender spear-point projecting from the back, is still used by the Chinese; and the Despots of Dahome borrowed it, like other quaint arms and customs, from Europe. The Voulge, an intermediate form of the halbert and the glaive, and probably a descendant of the former, was a battle-axe much used by the Swiss in the fourteenth century. The war-scythe of the same period figured by Demmin, and the scythe-Sword—a formidable-looking, but unhandy weapon—were adopted by the Hungarian rebels as lately as in 1848. Allied with these mediæval forms is a vast variety of shapes known as the Spetum (Spiedo or Spit), the Ronçeur or Ranseur, and the military fork. They were probably known to the Ancients, and reintroduced into Europe by the peasantry who, compelled hastily to arm themselves, would use the handy flails, sickles, and scythes. A well-arranged and complete collection is still wanted to show the links connecting them with a common prototype.
The interest of these weapons is chiefly connected with the various forms of curved broadsword. The leaf-shaped metal-blade for thrusting, which appears to be one of the earliest forms, and which is preserved by the Somal and other barbarians, is, I have said, evidently a spear-head fixed in a wooden handle.