noted in diuerse partes of mine owne countrie and in other places of the world great quarrells springing from small causes and many men slayne vppon light occasions Amongest other things I remember that in Liesena a citie of Sclauonia it was once my chance to see a sodaine quarrell and slaughter vpon very small cause betweene two Iialian captaines of great familiaritie and acquaintance There was in the companie a foolish boy belonging vnto one of be Captaines who going carelesly forward approching neere vnto the other captaine began to touch the hilts of his sword wherevpon the captaine lent the boy a little blow to teach him better maners The other Captaine the boies master taking this reprehension of his boy in worse parte than there was cause after some wordes multiplyed began to drawe his sword the other Captaine in like sort betaking himselfe to his rapier did with a thrust run him quite through the bodie who falling downe dead vpon the place receiued the iust reward of his friuolous quarrell And to confesse the plaine truth in this point it is not well done either of men or boyes to touch the weapons of another man that weareth them Neuerthelesse a man ought in all his actions to seeke and endeuour to lieu in peace and good agreement as much as may be with euerie one and especially he that is a Gentleman and conuerseth with men of honorable quality must aboue all others haue a great regard to frame his speech and answeres with such respectiue reuerence that there neuer growe against him anie quarrell vpon a foolish worde or a froward answere as it often hath and daily doth come to passe whereupon follow deadly hatreds cruell murthers and extreame ruines Wherefore I saie and set downe as a most vndoubted truth that it is good for euerie man to be taught and instructed in the Rapier and Dagger not the rather thereby to grow insolent or to commit murther but to be able and ready in a case of iust necessitie to defend himselfe either at the sodaine or vpon defiance and in field assigned for at that time it is too late to looke backe and to intend this studie as many doo who hauing appointed the time and place for fight doe practise some point or other of this arte the which being so lightly learned and in such hast doth afterwards in time of need proue but little helpfull or auailable vnto them But this knowledge doeth more particularly appertayne vnto Gentlemen and souldiers that professe and followe warres for they more than other men will for the credite of their calling and the honor of Armes dispute and determine with the point of the sword all points that passe in controuersie especially amongest themselues who had rather die than not to haue reason and satisfaction for euerie worde of preiudice and disgrace offered vnto them Now in this case I am to exhort and aduise men of all sortes and condition as well the skilfull as the vnskilfull not to bee in anie wise too suspitious nor to catch as they saie at euerie flie that passeth by for in so dooing they purchase to themselues endlesse trouble and enter into actions full of danger and dishonour but rather to shunne as much as they can all occasions of quarrell and not to fight excepte as hath bene sayde vpon a iust cause and in a point of honor And to the end that euerie man may know what to doo and bee able to practise as much as hee knoweth at the request of certaine Centlemen my good friends to make the world witnes of my gratefull minde towards them for the many curtesies which I haue receiued at their handes since my first comming into this Countrie out of those preceptes which I haue learned from the most rare and renowmed professors that haue b n of this Art in my time and out of that experience which I haue obserued in diuerse fraies and fights I haue composed and framed this little worke containing the noble Arte of the Rapier and Dagger the which I haue set downe in manner of a Dialogue c. VINCENTIO SAVIOLO HIS PRACTISE I Haue long and greatly desired my deare friend V. to learne this noble science and especially of you who did put the first weapons into my hands wherefore seeing so good opportunitie is so fitly presented I coulde wishe that wee might spende this time in some discourse concerning the Arte of the Rapier and Dagger to the end that I might thereby both the better retaine the title which I haue alreadie learned and also adde some new lesson thereunto V. Ceâ—tes my louing friend L as wel for that I haue found you to be a man of a noble spirite as in regard of the great loue which I beare vnto you as also to the end that hereafter when time shall serue you may be better knowen vnto sundry Gentlemen my good friends I am content to yeeld vnto your request and therefore demand boldly any thing wherein you desire to bee resolued L. Sir the loue which you beare mee I know to bee exceeding great and therefore haue no doubt that you will fayle me in anie part of your promise for the which fauour I acknowledge my selfe infinitly beholding vnto you I shall desire you therefore according to your iudgement and skill to resolue and instruct mee in such doubts as doo occurre vnto me for I knowe and many noble men and Gentlemen do likewise know that you are exquisitly able not only to resolue vs of anie doubt readily but also to instruct vs in this science perfectly V. Sir I desire nothing more than to please and satisfie you and such other Gentlemen my good friends and therefore you may expounde questions at your pleasure L. From my first yeres I haue liked this noble Art but now doo much more loue it hauing seene such diuersitie of this exercise together with the danger thervnto belonging and since I came to be your scholler plainly perceiued how that a man in one moment may be slaine And therfore I giue God thankes that in some measure hee hath giuen mee the knowledge of this science and I hope through your good helpe to bee more fully informed therein Wherefore I desire you to tell me if there may be giuen anie certaine instruction and firme rule whereby to direct a man to the true knowledge of hereof V. Since my childhoode I haue seene verie many masters the which haue taken great paines in teaching and I haue marked their diuerse manners of playe and indangering wherefore both for the particular contentment pleasure of the Gentlemen my friends and for the general help benefit of many I haue changed fiue or six sundry maner of plaies taught me by diuerse masters and reduced them vnto one by my no little labour and paine and in this will I resolue you and geue you therein so direct a rule and instruction as that therby being my scholler you may attain vnto
hath no bones and yet it breaketh the backe ill tunges are occasions of much debate But to returne from whence I haue digressed you must neuer be too rash in fight account of your enemye yet feare him not and seeke all meanes to become victor and so you shall maintaine your reputation and not endanger your selfe in vnaduised hastines L. I haue taken great pleasure in these discourses which in my opinion importe very much the knowledge of Gentlemen and truely the Spaniards were iustly punished for their pride in scorning other nations you shall see manye of that humour that will blame other nations who deserue to be reiected out of all ciuile company for if one man haue a faulte his whole countrie is not straight to bee condemned thereof But shew me I beseech you how I must behaue my selfe when I am to fight you haue alreadye taught mee the time measure and motion of my body and now I would learne something of resolution V. Hauing taken weapons in hand you must shewe boldnes and resolution against your enimy and be sure to put yourselfe well in gard seeking the aduantage of your enemie and leape not vp and downe And beware in charging your enemie you goe not leaping if you be farre off but when you approch gard your selfe well for euerie little disorder giueth aduantage to your aduersarie therefore learne to knowe aduantages and thrust not at your enemie vntill you bee sure to hit and when you haue giuen measure note when it is time to thrust then finding your enemie out of garde make a stoccata resolutely or else not at all for although you be in time and measure and yet your enemie bee well garded he may verie easily hurt you though his skill be but small As may be seene in many which altogether ignorant in the vse of weapons will naturally put them selues in some gard so that if one looke not well about him he shal be much endangered by such a one not because he knoweth what he doth but by reason that not foreseeing the danger hee followeth his purpose wyth resolution without being able to yeelde a cause for that he hath done Therefore I saie you must seeke to gain not measure onely but time and opportunitie as wel to saue your selfe as anie your enemie if you will do well then if it happen not well vnto you thinke that God doth punish you for your sinnes for wee see often that at some one time a man will doo excellent well yet afterward he shall seeme as though he had neuer taken weapons in hand And to make it the more apparant There was a souldier in Prouence for his valor in many exploites before shewed generally reputed a verie gallant man who on a time being in a town besieged was so suddenlye stricken with the terrour of the batterie and dismaide therewith that hee could no longer refraine from seeking some caue to hide himselfe who afterward taking hart agresse came foorth againe and beeing demaunded of the Captaines where hee had been who told them the truth of the whole matter and afterward behaued himselfe very valiantly In like sorte Marco Querini a gentleman of Venice Captaine of the Gallies belonging to the signorye of Venice in the sea Adriaticum liuing delicatelye in all carelessenes suffered the Turkes to run ouer the gulfe spoyling and robbing at their pleasure not daring to make resistance which the Generall of the Signory vnderstanding repaired thither with all expedition thretning Querini Captaine of the gulfe if hee perfourmed his office no better the whole shipping should bee taken from him he sent home to Venice on foot The shame whereof moued him so farre that afterward hee became famous for his exploites Moreouer in the time of the Venecians warres with the Turke the Generall of the Turkish forces beeing come into the Sea Adriaticke neere vnto Schiauonia Allibassa Carracossa who afterward died in the battaile of Pautou would needs inuade the Isle Cursolla with some forces and batter a towne there where the men disinaied with the soddainnes of the attempt betooke themselues to flight and left the place to the desence of the women who quitted thēselues with such vndaunted courage that one of them betaking her self to a peece of artillerie plaied the gunner so artificiallie that she directed a shot cleane through the ship where Allibassa was much spoyling the same which hee perceiuing presently commaunded the ancker to be waied and hoising vp sailes retired all his forces by which meanes the women saued the cittie so that heerin we see the difference of mens dispositions in courage at diuers times and yet I commend it not in any man to want valour at any time But to come to the purpose albeit one be not so well disposed to the managing of weapons at one time as at some other yet hauing the practise and vnderstanding thereof he shall euer be sufficient to maintaine his parte L. It may well be that you haue saide and I thinke that hee that hath the perfect vse of his weapons may very well defend himselfe against any man though hee finde his body but ill disposed but seeing you haue begun to discourse of time I pray you teach mee something concerning the difference of time V. You know what I haue saide concerning the same in my discourse of the single Rapier and in like sorte I must instruct with Rapier and dagger therefore you must at the first charge your enemye and hauing gotten aduantage of ground on the lefte side you must make a stoccata vnder his dagger if he hold it too high retiring immediately a little with your lefte foote accompanied with your right but finding his dagger low you must make a fincture vnderneath and thrust aboue his dagger that is the iust time in doing whereof you must remember to carry your right foote a little aside following with the left toward the left part of your aduersary and if he offer you either stocata or imbrocata you may answer him with a half incartata turning your hands as in doing the stoccata or otherwise if hee beare his dagger low you may thrust to his face which is les danger for you because euerye little blowe in the face staieth the furie of a man more than anie other place of his body for being through the bodie it happeneth often times that the same man killeth his enimy notwithstanding in the furie of his resolution but the bloud that runneth about the face dismaieth a man either by stopping his breath or hindering his fight and he shall oftner find aduantage to hit in the face than in the belly if he lie open with his weapons but marke wel how he carrieth his rapier if long straight with his Dagger aloft you must charge him lowe on your right foot and hauing gained measure beate downe the pointe of his sword with your dagger and make a stoccata vnder his dagger without retiring but
giue lybertie to infamous persons to require the Combat as men desirous and willing to beholde others in fight as if it were at the baiting of a bull or some other wilde beast whose successours imitating theyr predecessours haue brought these thinges to this passe as generallye it is holden that whosoeuer hee bee that receiueth the Lie bee it vppon whatsoeuer occasion hee is presentlie bounde to discharge himselfe thereof onely by his swoorde and not by anye other meanes Which disorder beeing thus farre proceeded ought no doubt to bee carefully redressed that Gentlemen maye bee reduced from theyr erronious opinion by the selfe same waie and means that they fell first into it And to the ende that men maye bee rightly perswaded The Lie doth not leade a man to fight I saie that the Lye is not the thing that induceth fight but the occasion whereupon it was giuen and if there were no proofe of the defect whereof a man is blamed that hee can in no sorte binde the other to fight because the regarde ought to bee to the qualitie of the iniurie and not to the Lie But I am sure some will account this opinion newly vpstart to whome I aunswere their custome and opinion is farre more newe and that mine is rather to bee proued auncient because no law can bee found that commandeth a man for the receiuing of the Lie to fall presentlie to fight but all those lawes whereon the Combat hath beene graunted haue expreslie reiected the occasions amongest which no mention is made of the Lie and this is the true and auncient custome approoued by the lawes of the Lombardes and by the institutions of the Emperours And if a man ought presently to fight vpon the Lie it is vaine that the Lombards and other Princes after them haue taken paines to set downe the particular causes for which a man ought to fight and those also for which it is not lawfull to fight so as I conclude that in all cases a man ought with greate iudgement and circumspection behaue himselfe wisely For what causes Combats ought to bee graunted SO greatly different is our custome now a daies from the orders laws of the first institutors of Duello as if a man shoulde go about to reduce them into particular cases it were not onely a trouble to some but a verie impossible thing for which cause I will onely treate of that which I shall iudge meetest by a generall rule to bee obserued and include all combats vnder two heads First then The causes of Duello I iudge it not meet that a man should hazard himselfe in the perill of death but for such a cause as deserueth it so as if a man be accused of such a defect as deserue to bee punished with death in this case Combate might bee graunted Againe because that in an honourable person his honor ought to be preferred before his life if it happeÌ„ him to haue such a defect laid against him as in respect thereof he were by lawe to be accounted dishonorable and should therefore be disgraced before the tribunall seate vpon such a quarrell my opinion is that hee is not to be denied to iustifie himself by weapons prouided alwaies that hee be not able by lawe to cleere himselfe thereof And except a quarrell be comprehended vnder one of these two sortes I doe not see how any man can by reason or with his honor either graunt or accompanye an other to the fight Moreouer The dutie of gentlemenâ— such Gentlemen as doe counsaile or accompany a man ought to be iudges of the quarrell for vnto them it belongeth cheefely to knowe if the quarrell deserue triall by armes or no if the person be suspected of the defect laide against him and if there be presumption thereof But if these thinges be not well iustified and proued the combate ought not to be admitted because that the profe by armes being ordained as a meanes to sift out the truth as in ciuile iudgement where the proofe is reasonable and certaine no man can be put to torture without due information and sufficient witnes much lesse ought it to be doone in the iudgement of weapons which perhaps may fall out to be as little to reason as very doubtfull Againe those Gentlemen are to vnderstand if the quarrell haue been vndertaken heretofore by any of the parties to be proued by lawe or otherwise The quarrell 〈◊〉 sayed at the ciuile law and then whether it be proued or no it is not lawfull afterward to bring it to combat besides they are diligently to consider Ciuile Proâ—â—â— if it may be iustified by any other meanes or no. And if in case it may be done by law weapons are not to be allowed for if by ciuile cause coÌ„trouersies are remitted from one iudge to another as actions more belonging to one then to another much rather is the like to bee doone from the iudgement of armes to ciuile law seeing the inequality is much the greater An oath required and vpon these two last articles these gentlemen ought to take oath of him that demaundeth the fielde and without iustification thereof there is no reason to graunt it to any man which thing is so muche the more to bee obserued by how much it is a common case that men are moued to fight vpon such quarrels as might be ended by ciuile law and whosoeuer is once challenged the fielde it is accompted a shame for him to refuse it in which case the vulgare opinion is that it is not manlynes in a gentleman to stand vpon reasons Moreouer if happilie in cartels there be any mention made that not withstanding he could proue his intent by ciuile testimony yet he inten deth to doe it by weapons this I say is a very great abuse and Gentlemen ought to take oath of infamy that is that they doe not require the fielde maliciouslye or with a minde to infame another but onely for proofe of the truth and this oath hath beene ordeined and put in practise of men long agoe And we must also adde that those gentlemen ought fullye to bee satisfied by oath from theÌ„ that demaund the fielde if that which they pronounce be their true quarrell because many times some men will not stick to determine to themselues one pretence of their fight yet make known to the world another which abuses gentlemen ought diligently to take heed of because many times such malice hath been discouered Touching all such matters whereon anye controuersie or dissencion maye growe men ought specially to beware not to be self-willed but are rather to take counsail and aduise both of their freends and experienced men and if there be cause to iudge this course necessarie in anye matter it ought cheefelye to bee in such cases wherein a mans life and honour is touched for we see that euen the wisest sorte to study and endeuour by all meanes possible to furnish themselues with men experienced
liues by mony so seuerely did they execute the iudgement of their Duello And our learned men alleadge that because this proofe is vncertaine albeit a man shoulde in the Listes bee founde in fault worthie to receiue punishment yet hee were not to suffer death but a mitigation ought to bee vsed giuing him some easier punishment Which as they alleadge truelye and verie commendably so is that custome of theirs to bee condemned who in case of Duello cause galowses to be set vp neere to the place and doo immediatly hang vp the vanquished But what greater punishment can there be than that which our lawes do inflict vpon the vanquished they doo not chasten them in the purse nor in cutting off anie member nor in theyr lyfe but in that which to euerie wise man is more deare than all the rest for they depriue him of his honour for loue whereof there is no noble mind that will not spend his bloud Those that issue vanquished out of the Lists carrie awaie so much the more shame by howe much they came thether desirous of honour and that not because one man ouercame another for of necessitie two fighting together one must be the victor as I haue sayde before the Challenger not loosing doth loose so as hee is not dishonourable for beeing ouercome but because he is accounted a badde man that would take vpon him an vniust quarrell and that hee would fight against the truth which hee is chiefelye bound to maintaine And therefore weighing and considering the greate daunger those men incurre that commit these things to the proofe of the sword Gentlemen ought to bee more slowe in fighting except great occasion vrge them and vnlesse they bee certaine to fight vppon iustice so as they may haue great hope to obtaine Gods fauour in it Touching the vanquished and of the restoring of Honor. AS I sayd before so I will here again say that the chalenger that doeth not ouercome his aduersarie in the Lists doeth remaine the looser not hauing proued so much as hee ought and that hee may neuer after challenge anie which is confirmed with this reason that whosoeuer prooueth not his woordes true is to bee thought a false accuser and consequently is regarded and esteemed a badde man And the lyke is also of euerie other man whether hee bee Challenger or Defendant that is ouercome by force or made to yeelde or denie his wordes or runne awaie for hee can neuer after that time demaunde Combat nor bee allowed it But I knowe some that are of opinion that if I ouercome one in the Listes and afterwardes release him if a newe quarrell or controuersie befall him wyth another by my leaue hee maye challenge his aduersarie the Combate whereto no man of anye reason or vnderstanding ought to consent For if I ouercomming him shall haue condemned him as infamous how can I allowe him fit to fight with a man as good as my selfe And if hee challenge me I shall refuse him I cannot take awaie his fault that hath beene ouercome by mee vnlesse that I confesse I ouercame him wrongfully and so condemne my selfe of infamie and if I cannot take awaie his blotte from him I cannot make him equal with an honorable person and therefore this opinion is wholye to be reproued of euerie Gentleman And as this restoring of a man to his honour is by occasion giuen mee to speake of it bringeth mee in remembraunce of the restoring which Princes were wont to make of treasons and rebellions doone against them and such lyke faults Wherein to speak my opinion I thinke well that albeit the Prince may after my treason committed graunt mee fauour and pardon of my lyfe and goods and giue mee honour and a thousande other fauours yet shee cannot make that that which is doone shoulde bee vndoone or that the ill fact past bee not an ill fact or that I committed not anie treason or that my soule is not defiled and that I am not anie notorious vilaine And that Prince whatsouer that shall restore mee ought neuer to trust mee but shoulde rather still presume that whereas I was once inueigled and drawen to betraye my maister I will easilye be perswaded againe to the like and euery honourable person should conceiue ill of me and auoyde my company And it ought rather to be saide that I am restored to my goods and the fauour of my Prince if happilye she will take me into her fauour than to my former honour because that albeit my Prince restore me to all those degrees that she may yet she cannot restore me to my firste innocencie as for example if I be good she cannot make me bad for it is not in her power to reforme my minde Princes cannot take from good men their goodnes nor from the wicked their wickednes for their power extendeth on their goods and person but not on their mindes my Prince may make me poor or rich but not good or bad for God onely hath power ouer our affections I conclude therefore that if one that is restored from some notable and manifest villany would challenge another to combat and that this other refuse him I would iudge him to haue behaued himselfe honorably and that in reason he might refuse him for if as I haue saide before a Princes restoring to honor is not lawfull I will lesse think that a gentleman by licensing one ouercome by him in combate can make him lawfull to fight with an honorable person But returning to the restoring which I spake of before vsed by Princes my opinion is that it ought to bee good in the children of traitours and in the rest of their discent as in those that ought not beare the punishment of others offences especially seeing that those that are baptised are by Gods lawes freed from the sinnes of their fathers Whether one once ouercome and afterward being vanquisher may challenge another SOme men doubting whether one once ouercome in the listes and afterward challenged to fight doe ouercome be to be saide that he hath recouered his honour and if after that hee may challenge any man to the field it hath been thought that by the honour of his second combating he hath taken away the blotte of the first but yet for the better conclusion wee are to think that the first losse cannot be recouered by any new combate And vpon this question I haue seene the iudgement of Alfonzo d' Auolos Marques of Vasto which was this The dutie of gentlemen is to preferre their honor before their life and he whosoeuer goeth the looser out of the listes sheweth that hee accounted more of his life than honor and therefore albeit hee should afterward enter combate and ouercome yet it is not to be saide that hee hath recouered his honor because it may be presumed that hee came thether with an intent to trye his fortune if hee could ouercome and yet with a minde in all accidentes to saue his life because
VINCENTIO SAVIOLO his Practise Jn two Bookes The first intreating of the vse of the Rapier and Dagger The second of Honor and honorable Quarrels LONDON Printed by IOHN WOLFE 1595. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MY singular good Lord Robert Earle of Essex and Ewe Viscount Hereford Lord Ferrers of Chartley Bourghchier and Louain Master of the Queenes Maiesties horse Knight of the most noble order of the Garter and one of her Highnesse most honorable Priuie Councell HAuing of late right Honorable compiled this simple Discourse of managing wepons and dealing in honorable Quarrels which I esteeme an Introduction to Martiall affayres I haue thought good to dedicate the same vnto your Honor as vnto him whose bountie most bindeth me whose valour inforceth all soldiers to acknowledge you the English Achilles whose fauouring good literature celebrateth your name for the students Mecenas whose benigne potection and prouision for strangers maketh you reported off as theyr safe sanctuary This work I must needs confesse is farre vnworthie your Lordships view in regard eyther of method or substance and being much vnperfecter than it shoulde haue beene if I had had copie of English to haue expressed my meaning as I would But I humbly beseech your good Lordship to accept this Booke howsoeuer it be as a new yeeres gifte proceeding from a minde most dutifully affected towards you that wisheth and prayeth that your Honour may inioy many good and prosperous yeres and is presented by him that is and will be readie euerie yere daie and houre to liue and die at your Lordships foot to do you seruice Your Honors in all dutifulnes Vincentio Sauiolo TO THE READER THE meanes whereby men from time to time haue bene preferred euen to the highest degrees of greatnes and dignitie haue euer bene and are of two sortes Armes and Letters weapons bookes as may most plainly bee proued out of antique and moderne histories Let it not seeme strange vnto anie man that I haue placed Armes before Letters for in truth I haue found by obseruing the course of times and by comparing the occurrents of former ages with those which haue fallen out and followed as it were by succession in later yeeres that the first Princes and patrones of people did obtaine their titles and dominions by force of Armes and that afterwards learning vertue did as it were by degrees grow and succeede for the making and establishing of good orders customes and lawes amongest them And then did common-wealths begin first to flourish when their Princes were like Minerua whom the Poets fained to bee the goddesse not onely of studies but also of Armes inspiring wit into schollers and fauoring those that follow warres Wherefore knowing that such men as endeuour themselues to attaine vnto the excellencie of anie art or science are worthie both of praise and preferment because they seeke for that onely true nobilitie which is in deede much more to be accounted of than birth and parentage I haue beene induced for the satisfaction of such and other like noble spirites desirous to imploie either their studies in the profession or their liues in the practise of the arte militarie to bestowe my paines in the writing of this Treatise concerning the Art exercise and manneging of the Rapier and Dagger together with the ordering and mouing of the bodie in those actions A thing I confesse in shewe the least peece and practise as a man might saie of the arte Militarie but in verie deed to most important excellent and noble practise thereof For when I consider with myselfe how some Authors doo write that hunting hauking wrastling c. are things in some sort belonging vnto Militarie profession for that men thereby doo both make their bodies strong and actiue and also learne to marke the scituation of hils woods lakes and vallies together with the crooked and turning courses of riuers It seemeth vnto mee that I may with farre greater reason saie that the Arte and exercise of the Rapier and Dagger is much more rare and excellent than anie other Militarie exercise of the bodie because there is very great and necessarie vse thereof not onely in generall warres but also in particular combats many other accidents where a man hauing the perfect knowledge and practise of this arte although but small of stature and weake of strength may with a little remouing of his foot a sodain turning of his hand a slight declining of his bodie subdue and ouercome the fierce brauing pride of tall and strong bodies Moreuer it doth many times come to passe that discords and quarrels arise amongest souldiers and Gentlemen of honor account the which when they cannot be accorded compounded by lawe learning and perswasion must bee determined and the truth thereof tried by armes and combat And therefore he that is wise carefull of his safetie and prouident against danger will be at all times stored and furnished with this honorable vrgent necessity and instant shortnes of time he shal be constrained to expose himselfe vnto euident danger Wherefore vpon these occasions and also for that I haue bin thereunto requested by sundrie Gentlemen my good friendes I haue endeuoured to expresse in this discourse and to make plain by pictures all the skill and knowledge which I haue in this art Exhorting all men of good mindes and noble spirites to learne and purchase the same not to the end to abuse it in insolencies and iniuries but to vse it in cases of necessitie for the defence of iust causes and to the maintenance of the honour of themselues and others For whosoeur will followe this profession must flie from rashnes pride and iniurie and not fall into that foule falt and error which many men incurre who feeling themselues to be strong of bodie and expert in this science presuming thereupon thinke that the may lawfully offer outrage and iniury vnto anie man and with crosse and grosse tearmes and behauiour prouoke euerie man to fight as though they were the onely heirs of Mars more inuincible than Achilles not remembring how it hath oftentimes happened that a little wretched man of stature by skill and reason hath ouercome a vast mightie man of person and ouerthrowen the vnweldie masse and burthen of his bodie vpon the face of his kind liberall mother the earth This manner of proceeding and behauiour doth plainely shew that these men although peraduenture they haue learned the vse of the weapon haue not yet beene fufficiently instructed in the Arte of Armes For by the rule and precept of this Art men are taught by how much they are resolute in courage and skilful of the vse of the same weapon by so much the more to shew themselues virtuous humble and modest both in speech action and not to be liers vanters or quarrellers for those which in this sort demeane themselues notwithstanding their skill or courage do commonly carry away wounds and dishonor and sometimes death I haue seene and