The Francisque is rare in the Saxon graves compared with the spear and knife, but it is more common than the Sword.[316] [Illustration: FIG. 96.—HINDÚ HATCHET FROM RAJPUTANA.] [Illustration: FIG. 97.—GERMAN HATCHET OF BRONZE PERIOD.] [Illustration: FIG. 98.—1. BURGUNDIAN AXE; 2. FRANCISQUE OR TAPER AXE.] [Illustration: FIG. 99.—IRON SCRAMASAX (16 inches long).] [Illustration: FIG. 100.—SCRAMASAX (18 inches long).] [Heading: _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. 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. [Illustration: FIG. 101.—GUNNAR’S BILL.] [Illustration: FIG. 102.—VOULGES.] 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.