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Fig. 908. Bill head

Late XVth century National Bavarian Museum, Munich

Fig. 909. Bill head

Early XVIth century Collection: the late Sir Noël Paton, Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh

Fig. 910. Large bill

Early XVIIth century Etched with the arms of Louis XIII of France. K 197, Musée d'Artillerie, Paris

Collection, Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh (Fig. 909). It has been said that so ghastly was the nature of the wounds inflicted by the bill, that towards the middle of the XVth century an agitation for its abolition was set on foot, in which it was denounced as a "vile" implement only suitable for use "against an infidel." Some of the late XVth century weapons of the bill type seem to have compared not unfavourably with the finer sword blades as examples of workmanship; for they are occasionally found forged with equal skill and care, and they seem sometimes to have been richly etched and gilded. In the late Monsieur Edmond Foulc's fine collection there is just such a weapon, doubtless the arm of a member of the household guard