on some ancient metallic Arms and Utensils. 445 
parts of Europe. We cannot however determine whether it be 
Danish, or Saxon. It was found in the river Witham, with 
a large quantity of other arms, in the neighbourhood of the 
site of Bardney abbey ; and was brought up by an eel-spear, 
by a man who was fishing in that river, near Kirksted Wath, 
in 1788. 
11. An Axe. Its form is evident from the fig. 2. Tab. XV. 
It was snipt a good deal, and several holes were worn in the 
middle, otherwise it was in a state of good preservation. It was 
found, with other axes, chopping instruments, and carpenters* 
tools, in the river Witham, in 1787, and 1788. 
This axe perfectly resembles that carried by the lictors in 
their fasces, in basso-relievos. Its form induces one to suppose, 
or indeed to believe, that it was made for parade rather than 
use ; its edge being very thin, and immediately above it the 
blade being thicker ; but behind the thick part, exactly where 
the strength of an axe ought to be placed, it is thinner than in 
any other part. It was therefore not well calculated for chop- 
ping. The weight of this axe was one pound, and somewhat 
more than a quarter. Its length from eye to edge was seven 
Inches, and the breadth was about six inches. 
hi. A Dagger : its form is represented by fig. 4. Tab. XV. 
It was made with great ingenuity and skill for answering the 
main purpose of it, that of piercing armour. It was found, to- 
gether with another dagger, in Barling's Eau, near Short Ferry, 
ill 1788. 
iv. A Sword in its Scabbard , fig. 3. Tab. XI. I could not 
by any force draw it out of the scabbard. On breaking the 
scabbard, I found the sword destroyed by rust ; but the guard, 
and hilt were still in a metallic state, and the pommel had 
