"----un Engleiz vint acorant: Hache noresche[78] out mult bele, Plus de _plain pié_ out l'alemele[79].
---- la coignie K'il aveit sus el col levée, Ki mult esteit _lonc enhanstée_[80]." _Rom. de Rou_, ii. 225.
"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.
En lor cols aveient levées Dui gisarmes lunges è lées[83]."--_Ib._, l. 13431.
The Statute of Arms of King William of Scotland (1165-1214) enacts: "Et qui minus habet quam XL. solidos, habeat Gysarm, quod dicitur Hand-axe[84]." From another Scottish ordinance we learn that the hand-axe was a long-handled weapon. The Provost of Edinburgh in 1552 directs: "Because of the greit slauchteris done in tyme bygane within the burgh, and apperendlie to be done, gif na remeid be provydit thairto; that ilk manner of persone, occupyaris of buthis or chalmeris in the hie-gait, that they have lang valpynnis[85] thairin, sic as handex, Jedburgh staif, hawart jawalyng[86], and siclyk lang valpynnis, with knaipschawis[87] and jakkis; and that they cum thairwith to the hie-gait incontinent efter the commoun bell rynging[88]."