01-28-2005, 05:44 PM
From Vegetius (writing later) "The falx is the term for a very sharp iron blade curved like a sickle and mounted on long poles. It quickly cuts the rigging from which the yard-arm is suspended and the sails collapse rendering the warship slow and useless. The battle-axe is an axe which has on both sides a very broad and very sharp iron blade,. By means of these in the midst of the heat of battle very skilled sailors or marines secretly cut the adversaries steering-gear. Once this is done the ship is captured immediately, being disarmed and disabled. For what escape is left for him who has lost his rudder?" <p></p><i></i>