Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 1).djvu/138

 terminates in a delicately drawn-out backward curl, while the neck that connects the head of the axe with its haft is narrow and elegant, although of strong, square-shaped section.

This axe-head was formerly in the collection of the Baron de Cosson, who unhesitatingly places it as belonging to the middle of the XIIth century. It was found in the lake of Lucerne.

Of the less important weapons, that which we now call the mace deserves first place. Duke William in his eleventh representation upon the Bayeux needlework brandishes such a weapon in its most simplified form. As represented, it appears no more elaborate a weapon than a long shillelagh (page 34, Fig. 41). It was doubtless the baton-ferie with rings of metal, such as, even to-day, is used by the Khond tribes of Central India.

Norman archers

Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, is similarly armed, thus evading the denunciation against those who smite with the sword (Fig. 80). Wace describes him: "un baston tenoit en son poing."

The knight immediately behind William in the Duke's ninth representation in the Bayeux needlework carries the baston, but with a tripartite head, which we associate with the maces of a much later date (page 44, Fig. 53). We likewise see, in the roll, where the battle of Senlac rages