furiously for hastinesse is foolishnes for if fury haue the vpper hand and so you both strike and thrust without reason and iudgement I say in such a case the skilfullest man that is may be so well hit as he hit another The next is patience and that is one of the greatest vertues that can be in a man the Wise man saith he is a foole which cannot gouerne himselfe and he very vnfit to rule which cannot rule himselfe therefore though thou be hastie or cholericke by nature and by crossing thou art moued vnto anger yet I say let the bridle of Reason and Iudgement so gouerne and ouer-rule thy hastie affections that in no case Anger get the vpper hand But of this there is more at large spoken in the eight chapter Now the last thing that I will note heere is often practise for without practise the Prouerbe sayes a man may forget his Pater noster for practise with moderation is not onelie the healthiest thing in the world for the bodie but it is likewise as defensiue for the same For skill to euerie reasonable man is a friend so that with moderation it be vsed and so long as it remaines in those of good temper for vnto such skill bringeth no more presumption nor furie then as if they had it not for in the field those which I meane will vse it as if they were in a Schoole by which meanes such haue great aduantage of the ignorant and vnskilfull for those which are vnskilfull are neither certaine of their defence nor offence but what they doe is vpon a kinde of foolish bolde hardinesse or as I may say by hap-hazzard or chance noddy and therefore gentle Reader resolue vpon skill and knowledge which follows heere immediately The true guard for the defence either of blowe or thrust with Rapier and Dagger or Sword and Dagger KEepe thy rapier hand so low as the pocket of thy hose at the armes end without bowing the elbow ioynt and keepe the hilt of thy dagger right with thy left cheeke and the poynt something stooping toward the right shoulder and beare him out stiffe at the armes end without bowing thine elbow ioynt likewise and the poynt of thy Rapier two inches within the point of thy dagger neyther higher nor lower but if the point of thy rapier be two or three inches short of touching thy dagger it is no matter but if they ioyne it is good likewise keepe both your points so high as you may see your enemy cleerely with both your eies betwixt your rapier and dagger and bowing your head somthing toward the right shoulder and your body bowing forwards and both thy shoulders the one so neere thine enemie as the other and the thombe of thy rapier hand not vpon thy rapier according vnto the vsuall fashion of the vulgar sort but vpon the naile of thy fore-finger which will locke thine hand the stronger about the handle of thy rapier and the heele of thy right foote should ioyne close to the middle ioynt of the great toe of thy left foote according to this Picture yet regard chiefly the words rather then the Picture Carrie the edge of thy rapier vpward and downeward for then thou shalt defend a blow vpon the edge of thy rapier by bearing thy rapier after the rule of the Backe-sword for this is the strongest and the surest carriage of him But now it is but a vaine thing to goe about to practise after my direction except thou vnderstand my meaning and follow my counsell as by words so plaine as I can I haue set downe both before and after for if thou obserue one thing and not an other it will profit thee but little as thus if thou place thy weapons in order and then if thy hand foote or body be out of order then it will be to small purpose to proceed in thy practise againe if thou frame thy bodie right and thy weapons and thy hand and thy foote yet if thou do not obserue a true distance withall then thy practise will be little auaileable to thee wherefore at the first beginning of thy practise take a good aduisement and be perfect by often reading of this Booke so to beginne well for if thou hast beene vsed to set thy feete abroad in thy former practise as most men doe then it will be hard for thee to leaue thy old wont Now if thou wilt breake thy selfe of that fashion and practise after my rules then will I shew thee by and by for when thou hast my fashion thou mayest goe to thine owne againe when thou wilt if in triall thou finde it better The best way to bring thy feete to a sure standing both for defence and offence is when thou dost practise with thy friend or companion at the first get thy backe to the wall and let him that playeth with thee stand about twelue foote distance and set thy left heele close to the wall and thy right foote heele to the great ioynt of the left foote great toe and when thou intendest to offend thy enemy either with blow or thrust then steppe forth with thy right foote and hand together but keepe thy left foote fast moared like an anchor to plucke home thy body and thy right foote into his place and distance againe vse this fashion but three or foure times and it will bring thee to a true standing with thy foote and it will be as easie to thee as any other way whereas if thou practise in a large roome without any stoppe to set thy foot against then will thy left foote be alwayes creeping away so that although thou wouldest refraine the setting abroad of thy feet yet thou canst not especially if thou hast been vsed to set them abroad heretofore Now your bodie and weapons being thus placed as aforesaid if your enemie strike a blow at you either with sword or rapier beare your rapier against the blow so well as your dagger according vnto the rule of the Backe-sword for in taking the blow double you shall the more surely defend your head if the blowe doe chaunce to light neare the point of your dagger for if you trust to your dagger onelie the blow may hap to glance ouer the point of your dagger and endanger your head and hauing defended the blow double as aforesaid presently turne downe the point of your rapier towards your enemies thigh or anie part of your enemies bodie as you list your selfe and with your thrust steppe forth also with your foote and hand together and so making a quicke answer you may endanger your enemie in what place you will your selfe before hee recouer his guard and distance againe and alwaies set your rapier foot right before the other and so neare the one to the other as you can and if thou be right handed then thy right foote must bee formost if left handed then thy left foote and standing thus in thy guard looke for thy aduantage I meane
and except a man doe expect it it cannot be so defended neither An other thrust called a Reuerse A Reuerse is to be made when your enemie by gathering in vpon you causeth you to fall backe with your right foote and then your left foote being formost keeping vp your dagger to defend and hauing once broken your enemies thrust with your dagger presently come in again with your right foote and hand together and so put in your reuerse vnto what part of his bodie you please for it will come with such force that it is hard to be preuented A thrust called a Mountanto THe Mountanto is to be put in with a good celeritie of the bodie and in this manner you must frame your guard when you intend to charge your enemie with this thrust beare your Rapier hard vpon or so neere the ground as you can lying verie low with your bodie bowing your left knee verie nere the ground also and either vpon your enemies thrust or in lying in his guard you may strike his rapier point toward your right side with your dagger so that it may passe cleere vnder your rapier arme and with the same motion as you strike his rapier so dainely mount vp your Rapier hand higher then your head turning your knuckles vpward but turne the point of your Rapier downewards ouer his Rapier arme into his breast or shoulder and you must be quicke in the performance of this thrust and likewise nimbly you must leape out againe This thrust must bee put in by the stepping forward of your left leg now if you vse this thrust more then once your enemie will expect your comming a loft with him as you did before but then put it in the second or third time vnderneath and you shall hit him about the girdle stead and so because at this time I will not bee ouer tedious I leaue to speake of manie other thrusts The best way for the holding of a Dagger either to breake blow or thrust and foure waies bad as followeth FIrst if you hold your dagger too high you may be hit vnder the Dagger-arme Secondly and if to low you may bee hit ouer the Dagger-arme either in the arme shoulder or face Thirdly if you beare your dagger too much towards your rapier-shoulder then you may bee hurt on the out-side of the arme by bearing narrow for so we call the carriage of him being borne in this manner before spoken of Fourthly if to wide from your bodie you may bee hurt on the in-side of the arme face or breast if the dagger-elboe ioynt bee crooked then there is small force in the dagger-arme for the defence of blow or thrust but the dagger being borne out stiffe at the armes end defendeth a blow strongly as you shall heare by and by Foure waies naught to breake a thrust FIrst if you breake a thrust downe-wards it may hit you in the bottom of the bellie Secondly if you breake him vpwards it may endanger you in the face Thirdly and if you breake your enemies thrust towards your Rapier-side it may hit you in the Rapier-arme Fourthly or in breaking a thrust if you let the weight of your Dagger carrie your Dagger-arme backe behinde you then your enemie may with a double thrust hit you before you can recouer vp your Dagger in his place againe A good way to defend a thrust or blow THe best holding of a Dagger is right out at the armes end and the hilt euen from your left cheeke and the point compassing your bodie I meane bowing towards your rapier-Rapier-shoulder and when you breake a thrust turne but only your hand-wrist about letting fall the point of your Dagger downe-ward but keepe out your Dagger-arme so stiffe as you can so shall you bee readie to defend twentie thrusts one after another if they come neuer so thicke and likewise you are as readie for a blow whereas if you fall your arme when you breake your thrust your enemie may hit you with a second thrust before you can recouer your Dagger in his place to defend it for a thrust goeth more swifter then an arrow shot out of a bow wherefore a man cannot bee too ready nor too sure in his gard Now both for defence and Offence of euerie blow and thrust thou must turne thy knuckles vp-ward or downe-ward inward or out-ward alwaies turning your hand according to the nature of the guard that you frame your selfe vnto or according as when you see enemies guard then you must determine before you charge your enemie either with blow or thrust in what manner to turne your hand in your Offence or Defence sometimes after one manner and sometimes after another as both before and hereafter shal be sufficiently fatisfied more at large The true guard for the single Rapier KEepe your Rapier point something sloping towards your left shoulder and your Rapier hand so low as your girdle-stead or lower and beare out your Rapier hand right at the armes end so farre as you can and keepe the point of your Rapier something leaning outwards toward your enemie keeping your Rapier alwaies on the out-side of your enemies Rapier but not ioyning with him for you must obserue a true distance at all weapons that is to say three foote betwixt the points of your weapons and twelue foote distance with your fore foote from your enemies fore foote you must bee carefull that you frame your guard right now you must not beare the Rapier hand-wide of the right side of your bodie but right forward from your girdle-stead as beforesaid The Reasons of this guard IN keeping your point something sloping or compassing your face your enemie cannot offend you with a wrist blow which if you keepe your point directly vpright you may verie easily bee hit in the face Being guarded as beforesaid if your enemie discharge a thrust at you carrie your Rapier hand ouer your bodie towards you left side keeping your point directly in his place vntill you haue defended your enemie assault then presently after let fall the point of your Rapier turning your knuckles inwards and discharge your thrust at your enemies thigh or bodie as you see occasion There are likewise many other guards to be framed at single Rapier as that one of the short Sword is a good guard at some times and for some purposes if a man be perfect in it by skill and practise aforehand as heereafter you shall see the manner thereof more at large when I come to that weapon Now another fashion is by holding your left hand vpon the blade and so with the strength of your fore-finger and thumbe of your left hand you may breake your enemies thrust cleere off your bodie by turning of your rapier point downe-ward or vp-ward accordingly as your enemie chargeth you and then charge your enemie againe with a quicke answer Now another is by standing vpon the stocke readie to choppe in vpon your enemies assault but you must turne in
weapon as this Picture seemeth but so long as you lie in your guard let there be three foote distance betwixt your weapons but if your enemie do charge you either with blow or thrust carrie your Sword ouer your bodie against your enemies assault and so crosse with him according to the Picture beare also your point stedie ouer your bodie something sloping towards your left shoulder I meane the point must goe so farre as the hilt but not turning your point the contrarie waie but carrie them both together I will make it plainer by and by because I would haue thee to vnderstand it wisely for hauing with a true defence defended your enemies blow or thrust by crossing with him or by bearing your weapon against his assault as before said the danger being past then presently at the same instant and with one motion turne downe the point of your Sword turning your knuckles inward and so thrusting it home to our enemies thigh but with all steppe forth with your foote and hand together But there is a great obseruation to be had in your practise concerning the true carriage of your point for in your defence if you do not carrie your Sword true then it is hard to defend either blowe or thrust for if you carrie the hilt of your Sword against either blow or thrust as doe not carrie the point withall leuell euen as you lay in your gaurd according to the Picture then your hand and face is endangered but bearing the hilt and the point about a foot ouer your bodie towards your left side and likewise to beare your Sword stiffe out at the armes end without bowing of your elbow ioynt prouided alwaies that your Sword being in your right hand you must look with both your eies on the in-side of your Sword for then you haue but one kinde of defence so that the point of your Sword be sloping toward the left shoulder but otherwise if you keepe the point of your Sword vprigth then your enemie hath three waies to endanger you especiallie if you carrie your Sword right before the middest of your bellie with the point vpright as I haue knowne some hold an opinion of that waie to be good but I say hee that trusteth to that guard may be hit in the head with a sodaine wrist-blow if his practise were neuer so good and likewise both his armes are vnguarded and to bee dangered either with blow or thrust but if you guard your selfe after my direction then your enemie hath but onelie the left side of your head and your legges open and they are easie to be defended the legge by plucking him vp the which you must doe vpon euerie blow which your enemie chargeth you withall and with the same defend the head and bodie carrying your Sword ouer your bodie towards your left side the point and hilt both steadie as I haue before said Now although I heere speake altogether of a Backe-Sword it is not so meant but the guard is so called and therefore whether you are weaponed with a two edged Sword or with a Rapier yet frame your guarde in this manner and forme as before said Another very sure and dangerous guard at the Backe-sword called the Vnicorne guard or the fore-hand guard BEare the Sword hilt so high as your face keeping him out at the armes end without bowing of your elbow ioynt and alwaies keepe your point directly vpon your enemies face and your knuckles of your sword hand vpward but if your enemie doe charge you with a blow to the right side of your head then turne but your Sword hilt and your knuckles outward still keeping your Sword arme stiffe in his place turning but onelie your wrist and your hand this is a very dangerous guard to your enemie being carried with a strong arme for by reason that you keepe him out at the points end being so directly in his face that hee cannot come neare you without great danger either of blow or thrust but indeed if your sword be not carried out with a strong arme then your enemie may endanger your head by striking of two blowes together the one being strooke at the point of your sword to strick him downe and the other to your head but they must bee strooke both together verie sodainelie or else there is small danger in them now if you are warie in watching when hee makes his first blow sodainely plucke in the point of your sword to you and so by that slippe his first stroake hee will ouer carrie him so that if you turne an ouer-hand blow to his head you may hit him before hee can recouer his sword to strike his second blow or defend himselfe lying in this long guard you may slippe euerie blow that is strooke plucke in your sword euen as you see your enemie stricke and turne it ouer to the right side of his head A Close at back-sword LYing in thy guard according vnto the picture at single Rapier and when you meane to close lift vp the hilt of thy word so high as thy cheeke and charge thy enemie with a thrust directlie at his face and with the same motion steppe in with thy hind most foote turning the knuckles of thy Sword-hand inward and so bearing thy enemies point ouer thy head and then catch hold on thy enemies Sword-hilt or on his hand-wrist with thy left hand but on his hilt is the surest to hold and then you may either trip vp his heeles or cut or thrust him with your weapon and in this manner you maie close with a Rapier also if you can make your partie good at the gripe or close for your enemie in bearing ouer his Sword ouer his bodie to defend his face from your thrust he there by carieth awaie his point so that hee cannot endanger you if you follow it in close and quicke False play with the Back-sword YOur enemie being in his guard and lying at watch for aduantage you maie faine a blow at the right-side of his head and presently with the turning of your hand-wrist strike it home to his left-side which being done quicke you may hit a reasonable good plaier for he will beare his sword against the fained blow and by that meanes vnguard his left-side but at no hand you must not let the fained blow touch your enemies sword but giue your sword a sodaine checke and so strike it to the contrarie-side for if your fained blow do ioine with your enemies sword it will staie his sword within the compasse of true defence so that hee will be readie to defend your false blow but otherwise if you touch not his sword hee will carrie him beyond the true compasse of defence of the second blow which you determine to hit him withall so likewise you may faine your blow at the left-side of your enemies head but presentlie strike it home to the right-side of his head in manner as aforesaid Another false play AGaine you may ioine
your left shoulder to your enemie nearer then the right onelie to be as it were a baite vnto him but when he doth thrust at you wheele about your bodie falling backe with your left foote but withall thrust out your rapier and so you may hit and defend onelie with the shift of the bodie and you shall find that the oppressor will come vpon his owne death by proffering at that shoulder which you make shew to be open vnto him but you must not offer to defend it with your rapier but only trust vnto the shift of your bodie False play at the single Rapier IF your enemie doe lie in this guard according to this Picture then proffer or faine a thrust vnto his left side but presently plucke backe your hand and thrust it home vnto his right arme shoulder or face for hee will carry his rapier ouer his bodie to defend the fained thrust but can hardly bring him backe againe to saue your second or determined thrust except hee be very skilfull actiue or nimble now if he doe not beare his Rapier to defend the fained thrust when you proffer it then you may hit him with a plaine thrust the second time if you put it home without falsing it at all Another deceit LIkewise you may proffer or faine a thrust two foot wide of your enemie his right side and presently thrust it home to his breast for hee will beare his rapier beyond the compasse of true defence by reason it will seeme vnto a cunning player that your intention is to hit him on the out side of the Rapier arme so that when he thinketh to strike your point from offending his arme by that means hee will open his bodie although he open himselfe but a little yet with your second thrust you may hit him as aforesaid The defence of this false play YOu must be very carefull that you doe not ouer-carry your Rapier in the defence of anie maner of thrust yet you must carrie him a little against euery proffer which your enemie doth make for if a man be verie skilfull yet is he not certaine when his enemie doth charge his point vpon him and proffer a thrust whether that thrust will come home or no wherefore as I said you must beare your Rapier against euerie thrust to defend it but beare him but halfe a foote towards the left side for that will cleare the bodie from danger of his thrust and so quicke backe againe in his place whereby to meete his weapon on the other side if he charge you with a second thrust thinking to deceiue you as aforesaid A slippe at single Rapier NOw if your enemy doe charge you with a blow when as you see the blow comming plucke in your Rapier and let the blow slippe and then answer him againe with a thrust but bee carefull to plucke in your rapier to that cheeke which hee chargeth you at so that if the blow doe reach home you may defend him according vnto the rule of the back-sword The defence of this slippe is to forbeare striking at all but if you doe strike not to ouer-strike your Sword but so trike your blow as you may recouer him into his place hastily againe for in sight if you doe strike you must forbeare strong blowes for with a strong blow you may fall into diuers hazzards therefore strike an easie blow and doe it quicke but to thrust and not strike at all it to thy best aduantage Another slippe PVt your thumbe long wayes or forward vpon the handle of your rapier according vnto the natural fashion and your enemie lying in this guard ioyne your Rapier according as the Picture and so soone as you haue ioyned turne the heele of your hand vpward and your point downeward and so bring you point compassing vnder your enemies right elbow and then with the strength of the thumb turne it into his breast the like you may doe if your enemie offer to close with you at single rapier for if bee come hastily vpon you you can not drawe out your point whereby to offend him but by turning it in as before-said you may hit the skilfullest man that is in his comming in Now if hee doe defend your point below you may by a sodaine turning vp your point thrust it home to his right shoulder or face whether you will your selfe The defence of this slippe IF your enemie doe ioyne his weapon with yours to close or to turne in a slippe then make your selfe readie quickely by putting your thumbe vpon your rapier as aforesaid when he falleth his point towards his left hand to fetch the compasse of your rapier arme then fall your point the contrary way I meane towards your left hand so shall you meete with his weapon below againe and this will defend your selfe and when he raiseth his point againe then doe you raise yours likewise into his place againe Another Slippe IF your enemie doe ioyne his rapier with yours and doe beare him strongly against you thinking to ouer-beare you by strength of arme then so soone as hee beginneth to charge you strongly beare your rapier a little against him and then sodainely let fall your point so low as your gerdle-steed and thrust it home withall and so you may hit him for by letting his Rapier goe away sodainely he swayeth away beyond the compasse of defence so that you may hit him and fall away againe before hee can recouer his Rapier to endanger you A dazeling thrust at single Rapier or Backe-sword PRoffer or faine a thrust at the fairest part of your enemies bodie with lieth most vnguarded and then more quicker then I can speake it thrust it in one the other side and so changing three or foure times and then choppe it home sodainely and you shall find his bodie vnguarded by reason that he will carrie his Rapier or Sword this way or that way thinking to defend the false thrust because he supposeth them to be true thrusts for there is no man so cunning that knoweth if a thrust be proffered within distance but that it may hit him or whether it will be a false thrust or no the defender knowes not and therefore he must prepare his defence against euery thrust that is proffered A close at single Rapier or at Backe-sword FIrst charge your enemie with a thrust aloft with an ouer-hand thrust directly at your enemies face and withall follow it in close bearing your your enemies point ouer your head by the carrying vp of your Rapier hand and then may you make seisure on the hilt of your enemies Rapier or Sword or on his hand-wrist with your left hand and then hauing made seisure of his weapon you may then vse what execution you wil I mean either blow or thrust or trip vp his heeles The guard for the Backe-sword CArrie your Sword-hilt out at the armes end and your point leaning or sloping towards your left shoulder but not ioyning with your enemies
defence of his left side if it bee struck in with a quicke hand All manner of false blowes slips and thrusts at what weapon soeuer are to be auoided and defended with the true carriage of thy weapon as at Rapier and Dagger if a false thrust be made below it must be defended with the Dagger below and with the Rapier aboue And if either blow or thrust be falsified at the Back-sword or at Sword and Dagger thou must beare thy Sword against euery proffer but be sure thou doe not ouer-carrie him but that thou maist be quick backe againe to meete his second blow on the other side as bringing thy weapon into his place by practise thou shalt finde thy selfe surely guarded as in some places in this booke thou shalt finde the defence After the false play at euerie weapon although I haue not set downe the defence of euerie slip nor of euerie fault which had beene verie necessarie for as euerie lesson on a fiddle hath a seuerall tune euen so euerie guard and euerie falsifie hath a seuerall kinde of Offence and Defence but heere thou shalt finde the Defence that belongeth vnto manie of them and the rest I left out for want of leasure to write them but they shall follow in the next Impression The true guard for the Staffe which we will call the Low guard KEepe the point of your Staffe right in your enemies face holding one hand at the verie butt end of the Staffe and the other a foote and a halfe distant looking ouer your Staffe with both your eies and your feet a foot and a half distance or thereabouts according to this picture alwaies standing crosse with your enemie I meane if his right hand and foote be foremost let yours be so likewise and if his left-hand and foote be formost then make you your change and crosse with him also Now if your enemie doe charge you either with blow or thrust you lying in the guard as aboue shewed then your defence is thus and if he charge you aboue the gerdle-steade either with blow or thrust strike your selfe against it keeping vp the point of your staffe so high as your head but so soone as you haue defended whether it be blow or thrust presently answer your enemie againe with a thrust and then hastily recouer your guard againe and in giuing of a thrust you may let goe your fore-hand from off your Staffe but hold the butte end fast in one hand and so soone as you haue discharged your thrust plucke backe your Staffe and clap both your hands on him againe and recouer your guard but yet stay not long to see whether your enemie will beginne with you but begin with him first with a false thrust as anone you shall see the manner how to doe it and when you can doe it what neede you to stand long about that which may be done presently and without danger Now if hee proffer either blow or thrust vnto your lower parts vnder your gerdle-stead if it be a thrust strike it awaie by turning the point of your Staffe towards the ground but be sure to strike it with that large compasse that the point of your Staffe maie pitch not in the ground for so you may deceiue your selfe in your defence if he charge you so lowe with a blow then you may strike it as you do a thrust or you may pitch the point of your staffe into the ground two or three foote wide of that side which he chargeth you at and you may in the pitching downe of your Staffe let goe your sore-hand that hee doe not hit him and then all parts is defended so high as your head so that you alwaies haue a care to keepe your staffe in his right place that is to say if your right hand and foote be formost then leaue all your bodie open so that your enemie can not endanger you on the out-side of your staffe but if hee will hit you he must needes strike or thrust on the in-side of your staffe and then you must defend all blowes or thrusts by bearing your staffe ouer your bodie towards the left side for this we call the Fore hand Defence and this defence consumeth no time but if in holding your staffe in the right hand as before is said and yet for your guarde doe beare your Staffe ouer towards the left hand then you leaue your right shoulder arme or face open or vnguarded the which must bee defended backeward but you may defend twentie thrusts or blowes before hand better then one backeward for the backe defence is nothing so readie nor so certaine as the fore-hand defence is and therefore keepe and continue your guard according vnto the Picture for then if hee proffer a thrust on the out-side of your Staffe you neede not to feare nor offer to defend it for there is no place in anie danger but all is guarded especiallie from the gerdle-stead vpward And in your defence haue alwaies a care to the true carriage of your Staffe that you doe not carrie him beyond the compasse of true defence for feare of the false plaie for if you ouer-carrie your Staffe I meane further then neede doth require you can not recouer him backe againe quicke enough to defend the false Now if your enemie doe assault you vpon the contrarie side you must change both your foote and hand to crosse with him as before but take heed when you change you do not come in with your hinder foote but let him stand firme and fall backe with the fore-most foot vpon euerie change And hauing defended your enemies assault with a little encreasing in answere him with a thrust thrusting out your staffe with your hindermost hand and stepping forth withall with your foremost foote and in the same instant of your proffer let goe your fore-hand but after your offence presently recouer your hand vpon your staffe againe now if your staffe be shorter then your enemies then for your better aduantage step in with your hinder foote with your answere but at no hand neuer strike one blow with your Staffe for hee that doth but lift vp his Staffe to strike may easily be hit by the defender with a thrust for in the same motion that the oppressour doth lift vp his staffe to strike the defender may with a speedie thrust hit him in the breast and holde him off vpon the point of his staffe if the Defender thrust out his staffe with his hinder hand especially if their staues be both of one length then hee that striketh cannot endanger the other with a blow for hee that striketh holdeth both his hands vpon his staffe vntill hee hath discharged his blow whereby hee that thrusteth hath two foot oddes of him in length that striketh so that hee putteth out his staffe to his most aduantage as beforesaid It is necessary that hee which vseth the Staffe should haue vse of both his hands alike for thereby he may the
better shift his staffe from hand to hand whereby to lie crosse alwaies with your enemie changing your hand and foote as hee changeth for lying the one with the right hand and foote for-most and the other with the left then he that striketh first can not choose but endanger the others hand but if you cannot change your Staffe to lie crosse with your enemies Staffe then for your defence of a blow pitch the point of your Staffe into the ground and let go your fore-hand and when you haue discharged the blow with as much speed as you can answer his blow with a thrust for the greatest secret of all most chiefly to be remembred at this weapon is if your enemie doe but once offer to lift vp his hand to strike then presently choppe in with a thrust at his breast shoulder or face for so you may hit him as you will your selfe so that you take your time of answering If your enemie strike with his staffe hee holdeth him fast in both his hands when hee deliuereth his blow by reason thereof he which thrusteth and looseth his fore-hand when hee dischargeth his thrust or draweth in the fore-hand close vnto the hinder hand which holdeth the butte end of his Staffe and so thrust him out withall you may keepe the striker vpon the point of your Staffe so that with his blow hee can not reach you being equally matched in length but must come vpon his owne death or danger himselfe greatly The high guard for the Staffe LOoke vnder your Staffe with both your eies with the point hanging slope-waies downe-wards by your side bearing out your Staffe at the armes end higher then your head a little according to this Picture In looking vnder your Staffe it will seeme to your enemie that your defence is onelie for your head then he wil thinke to hit you in the body with a thrust for the bodie seemeth to lie very open vnto him and if hee doe charge you with a thrust carry the point of your Staffe ouer your bodie close by the ground towards the other side and hauing defended the thrust turne vp the point of your staffe presently towards your enemies breast and charge him with a thrust againe if your enemy charge you with a blowe at your head lift vp the point of your staffe meete the blow halfe way and withal draw back your hands for feare of endangering your fingers hauing striken away his staffe answer him againe with a thrust as beforesaid Now if your enemy charge you with a blow at your side either pitch the point of your staffe into the ground to defend it or else change into thy low gard and so crosse with him if your enemy do strike a full blow at your head you need not feare neither of your hands but by striking with your staffe to meete his blow you shall defend it vpon the middle or neere the point of your staffe although hee doe strike purposely at your hand yet can he not touch your hands not anyother part of your body but vpon the defence of your body draw backe your hands Now it behoueth you to be perfect not only in this gard but also in changing your staffe from hand to hand according to your enemies lying to do well you should change as hee changeth sometimes the point of your staffe should be hanging downe by the right side of your body and sometimes by the left according to your enemies lying the best way to make your change is to let your staffe slippe through your hands like a Weauers shuttle for this is a more speedie change then to shift him after the common manner and by a little practise you may grow perfect in it The best guard for a darke night at Staffe IF thou meet with thine enemie in the night and he charge vpon thee the best means for thy defence is presently to chop vp into this high guard except thy staffe be of a sufficiēt length to keep him off with charging the point vpon him or else the third means is to trust to thy heeles but if thou wilt trust to thine hands then either keep him off with thy point or else aboue all parts chiefly defend thy head which is not to be done but only by this guard except a man may see the blow before it do light now thou must put thy hands alittle further asunder then thou dost for the day that the blow may be defended by taking him vpon thy staffe betwixt both thy hands if it light at your head as it is the fashion of most men to strike at the head as I haue said before rather then to any part of the bodie Now hauing taken the blowe betwixt your hands withall run in and close with him for if you stand off at the length in fight anie time being in the night it cannot chuse but be verie dangerous if you suffer him to discharge many blows but either answer him with a thrust or else close with him and turne the butte end of your staffe into his breast or face as you see occasion now if it be in the day or that you can see the blow before it light if your enemie charge you with a blow at the side meet his blow by carrying ouer to the other side pitch the point of your staffe in the ground and loose your foremost hand for dangering of your fingers but hold the hinder hand fast at the butte end of your staffe But now vpon this high guard you can not defend the false so wel nor so sure as when you lie on the low gard for if your enemie doe proffer a thrust on the one side your staffe and presently chop it home to the other side he may endanger nay hee may hit a skilfull and cunning player especially if you ouer-carrie your staffe in defence of the fained blow or thrust Wherefore if you lie on the low guard with your staffe or pike you shall defend a thrust with the point of your weapon long before it come neare you yet your point is readie to answer more speedily then it is when you lie on anie other guard but he which lieth with his point of the staffe or pike on the ground hath verie little space to his bodie no more then the length of his arme wherein hee holdeth his weapon therefore he which suffreth a thrust to come so neare it will quickelie come to the face or bodie yet bicause most souldiers heretofore haue vsed this fashion of lying and are not experienced in the low guard according to the first Picture of the Staffe but if in your practise you vse both you shall find the benefit thereof the better now if you frame your selfe into the hie guard your staffe must not be in length aboue eight foot at the most but rather shorter for else in defending your enemies thrust a long staffe will hit in the ground and by that means your enemies
but let it fall two foote wide of that side which lieth open and then bring it vp againe on the other side and put it in with a thrust for hee will carrie his staffe to defend your false and so by that meanes open the side which lieth well guarded and alwaies marke which part of your enemies bodie lieth open or most discouered vnto you there proffer you your fained thrust first to the fairest but hit him with your second or determined thrust to the contrarie side and if you faine your thrust to the right side then thrust it home to the left and if you faine your thrust to the left fide then put it home to the right and you may hit him in the breast shoulder or face whether you list your selfe so that you proffer your fained thrust three foote wide of his bodie for if in offering your fained thrust he hit your staffe it will so intangle your point that you cannot recouer him to hit him with your determined thrust for before you can cleare your point he will be in his guard of defence againe The defence of this false thrust THis thrust is to be defended two waies the first is to beare him against your enimies proffer but haue a care that you doe not ouer-beare him so that if he mock you with his fained thrust on the one side you must quicklie bring your staffe backe againe into his place to meet him when he commeth on the other side of his staffe and so to defend it keeping your point vpright now the second defence is to beare your staffe ouer your bodie against his proffer as you doe against euerie ordinarie thrust for you must suppose that euerie thrust will come home for the defender doth not know if his enimy doe proffer a thrust whether it will come home or not therefore as I said you must beare your staffe against euerie thrust but you should beare your staffe but a foote out of his place whether it be against blow or thrust for if you ouer-carrie him you can not recouer him to defend neither blowe nor thrust if it be falsified vpon you Now if your enemie doe falsifie vpon his first proffer carrie your staffe ouer your bodie keeping the point vpright against his first proffer now vpon your offer of defence at the first you see that you make no seisure vpon his staffe then presently you may perceiue he doth but dallie with you onlie to deceiue you with false play but then your proffer of defence both for the true and false play must be all done with one motion for if you see that with the first proffer aboue he shorten his thrust without putting it home then turne downe the point of your staffe towards the ground and meete him below and so strike it away but be sure that you defend alwaies before hand for to strike it backeward is no sure defence Yet to make this fore-hand defence plainer why then it is thus meant if your right hand be placed formost in holding your staffe then you must defend both the true play and the false towards your left hand but you must not defend the first proffer forward and the next which may bee the false thrust backe-ward but both must be defended towards your left side and so likewise if your left hand be formost then frame your defence towards your right side as before said Now if you cannot change hands as it may be your enemie can then keepe your guard vpon that and which you can best vse and you shall finde that hee hath very little oddes after you haue practised it a while for you may offer or defend anie false play so well as if you lay crosse handed one to the other A false blowe NOw if you would hit your enemie on the head with a blow you must proffer a false blow at the head as if you would strike him downe at the first but when it is come halfe way stay your hand or checke your blow before it meet with his staffe for he will beare his staffe against your blow thinking to defend it strongly before it come to endanger him but the checking of the first blow will be an occasion that he wil ouer-carry his staffe beyond the compasse of true defence so that you may presently come with a second blowe and strike it home ouer the point of his staffe so by this determined blow you may hit him on die head or face A Slippe at a Staffe IF your enemie charge you with a blow you lying in your guard according to the Picture euen as you see the blow comming plucke in your staffe and withall withdraw your head and bodie alittle backe bearing your staffe during the time while the blowe hath his passage close vpright by that side of your face which your enemie chargeth you at to defend that side if the blow doe reach home but if it doe passe short and goe cleare of you without touching your staffe then will his staffe flie away with the greater swinge so that it will passe beyond compasse of true defence but if it be a Welch-hooke or anie other head weapon then will the slipping of his blow be a more occasion of the ouer-carrying his blow by carrying his body round so that his blow being past you may presently charge him with a blow at the head or thrust him in the backe so that it be done quicke before your enemie doe recouer his weapons into their place of defence Another falsifie YOu may profer a downe-right blow at your enemies head fetching him with a great compasse so that it may seeme to your enemie that you meane to strike him downe but as your blow is comming draw backe your hand and change your blow into a thrust and chopping home to his breast or any other part of his body that you will your selfe for he will beare his Staffe to defend the blow I meane if hee be not very skilfull and cunning the which if he doe hee can but defend himselfe the which to doe he must be very wary when he beareth his staffe to defend then the blow so that he doe not ouer-carrie his staffe and yet to beare him a little and then to checke his Staffe and be readie to turne downe the point to defend the thrust but he that is skilfull will or should chop out a thrust if his enemie doe proffer a blow and the thrust should be put out with one hand and to loose the other I meane with that hand which holdeth the butt-But-end of the Staffe for so thou shalt keepe him out at the point of thy Staffe for then the blow cannot endanger thee except there be great oddes in the length of your staues for commonly he that striketh holdeth both his hands vpon his Staffe when hee deliuereth his blow whereby there is three foote oddes in reach betwixt the striker and he which thrusteth Another very deceiuing false thrust at
vsed vnto a right-handed man but a right-handed man doth seldome meete with a left-handed man for in Schooles or such places where play is a man may play with forty men and not meete with too left-handed men except it be a great chance another reason is when a right-handed man doth offer or make play first vnto the left-handed man then doth he endanger the right-side of his head although hee doe beare his Dagger to the right-side yet it doth not defend so strong nor so sure as it doth the left yet vnto one that is well instructed with the true skill of the Back-sword and other rules which belongeth for the best aduantage against a left-hand it wil be the lesse dangerous or troublesome vnto such a one for he wil presently cal himselfe to minde when he seeth that he is to encounter against a left-handed man he will frame himselfe presently to the best guard of defence for that purpose which is the Back-sword for that is the chiefest weapon to be grounded in not onely a left-hand but many other weapons haue the true stroke of that weapon and are guided onely by the rules of the Back-sword euen as the helme guids the ship now if thou offer play first to the left-handed man thou must be carefull and heedy to recouer vp thy Back sword againe presently into his place so quicke as thou canst or else turne ouer your Dagger to the right-eare these very rules likewise must a left-handed man obserue to encounter against a right-handed man yet furthermore I haue knowne some right-handed men that were very skilfull and verie ready if it had beene to encounter against a right-handed man but by no meanes would not deale with a left-handed man and this was for want of a good teacher for the teacher should instruct euery one which they doe teach by playing with his left-hand with them for it is an easie matter to haue the oddes of both the hands a like with little practise and then a man may vse which he will as if a right-handed man were to encounter against a left and can vse both hands alike then if he play with his left-hand against one that is left-handed by nature it will seeme more crosse and more dangerous vnto him then a left-handed man vnto a right the reason is that two left-handed men seldome meete together now to end with this one speech according to the vulgar sort that is an ignorant and a simple man of skill by great and often royling and moyling of his body in practising naturall play I meane onely that which commeth into his head and being right-handed meeteth with another right-handed man that is very skilfull and hath very artificiall play and yet the vnskilfull hath plied so fast and let his blowes fall so thicke that the skilfull man had enough a doe to defend himselfe so that the vnskilfull hath made such good shift and defended himselfe contrary vnto any mans expectation that was so experience and saw it but there is not one of the common streete plaiers in a hundred that can doe the like as I haue said before but not one in fiue hundred of them that can vpon the point of a weapon hurt or wrong one that is skilfull or cunning for many of these streete players are so vsed to bangs that they care not for a blow with a blunt cudgell but most of them are fearefull to deale against a sharp weapon but now to conclude this with that which toucheth this Chapter concerning these streete players which haue so well shifted with a cunning player right-handed the same I say meeting with a left-handed man was not able to defend in a manner one blow in twenty except it were in falling backe from him and the cunningest man that is cannot hit the vnskilfullest man that is if the vnskilfull man do continually keepe him out of his reach or distance for he which hath courage without skill although well prepared yet wants his armes to fight but of this it is sufficiently spoken of in the Treatise in the former part of the Booke A briefe of my principall points which I would haue thee keepe in continuall remembrance NOw to summe vp all the chiefest lessons into one summe and for order sake wee will make foure deuisions of them The first is to remember to frame thy selfe into thy guard before thou come within thy enemies distance and so to approach in guarded Secondly remember if thy enemy charge thee with a blow at what weapon soeuer Be constant and steady in a good guard bee slow to make play except thy enemy doe encrease vpon thee yet answere him with a thrust presently after you haue borne the blow double according to my direction following the first picture but if thy enemy charge thee with a thrust then answere him with a thrust at the nearest place which lieth most vnguarded whether it be his knee or in his making play your answere may be to his right arme shoulder or face all which you shall finde vnguarded in time of his profer now if he haue a close hilted dagger yet with a false thrust thou maist hit him in the Dagger-arme if he fight not very warily or else in the dagger-Dagger-hand if hee haue not a close hilted dagger Thirdly let not fury ouer-come thy wits for in a made fury skill is forgotten for he which is in drinke or ouer hasty such a one in his anger doth neither thinke vpon the end of killing nor feare to bee killed Now the fourth and last which should haue beene the first is to remember to keepe a true distance and if thy enemie doe gather and incroach in vpon thee charge him with a thrust although thou put it not home for a thrust will feare him and he which is in his right wits will be loath to come within the reach or danger of thy weapon but if thou suffer thy enemy to come within thy distance then if thou haddest all the guards in the world and yet stand still without making play hee will hit thee in spight of thy teeth wherefore be doing with him betimes and he will retreate and fall away from thee for his owne ease Loe his I wrote because I would not haue thee in an error when thou shouldest haue occasion to vse thy weapon as the best defence for a shot is to stand out of the reach of him euen so the best defence of thy bodie from hurts and skars is to be proceeded before hand with skill and cunning and to remember it when thou hast occasion to vse it but if thou want skill then keepe out of thy enemies reach now if thou canst not remember these foure chiefe points beforesaid yet beare in minde these two the first is to defend the blow double keeping both the points vpward and secondly remember that if thy enemy doe gather in vpon thee thrust to his knee or whether hee doe gather in or no
I doe not say all other are of my minde for there is an old saying goeth thus so many men so many mindes what other mens opinions is I haue not to doe withall but this I can say of my owne knowledge that I haue not knowen one tall man amongst twenty that hath good skill nor sufficient valour answerable vnto their statures for tall men are more fearefull then men of a meane stature for I haue seene the triall both in the warres and in single combat yet take me not vp before I bee downe for I doe not here condemne all tall men of personage for so I should greatly ouer-shoote my selfe and greatly wrong many tall men of stature and vallour and also of good resolution but yet all of them are not so wherfore what I haue said it is to encourage little men of meane stature hauing skill not to feare any man vpon good occasion those that spend their daies without practising skil in weapons so that when they are wronged they fall to wishing oh I would to God I had skill in my weapon for then would I answere the wrong that such a man and such a man hath done mee but I could wish such vnskilfull to liue quiet and not to maintaine any quarrell lest they loose their liues for want of experience as many of them haue done Scholler Now as you haue promised me I pray you let me heare your opinion concerning the oddes betweene a strong man of strength and a little or a weake man of stature and strength Master Then this briefely is my opinion a strong man hath great oddes at the gripe or in a close at any blunt weapon but vpon the point of a sharpe weapon in fight a strong man hath small or no oddes at all of the little or weake man wherefore I would not haue a little man bee afraide of a tall or ouergrowne man no although he were farre bigger then a man for in performance of any things to be done with weapons there is no more to bee found in the best of them of great stature vpon triall then is in the ordinary men or then is in a little or weake man nay many times the little or weake man doth as good or better seruice in the face of the enemy vpon the point of the weapon then the taller man doth for although his stature be small yet commonly a little mans heart is bigge Obseruations for a Scholler or any other What length thy weapons should be How you should button your foiles for your practise An easie way to weapon thy selfe at time of need Let thy Rapier or Sword be foure foote at the least and thy Dagger two foote for it is better haue the Dagger too long then too short and rather hard then soft for a short dagger may deceiue a skilfull man his defence either of blow or thrust I haue often knowen a soft dagger cut in twaine with a Rapier Let thy Staffe of practise be seauen or eight foote and better button both thy foiles and thy staues before the practise with them for otherwise the vnskilfull may thrust out one anothers eyes yea although there was no harme meant yet an eye may be lost except the occasion be preuented To make your buttons take wooll or flocks and wrappe it round in leather so bigge as a Tennis-ball then make a notch within halfe an inch of your woodden foile or staffe but if it be an Iron foile then let there be an Iron button riuetted on the point so broad as two pence and then take your button being made as beforesaid and set it on the end of your Staffe or Foile likewise and then take leather and draw hard vpon it and binde it with Shoomakers-ends or parck-thread in the notch and another leather vpon that againe for one leather may bee worne out with a little praclise Now if thou haue a quarrell and willing to answere and being not furnished with a Rapier then take a cudgell of what length thou wilt thy selfe and make a shoulder within a handfull of the ende of it by cutting him halfe way through and there binde the haft of thy knife and so the shoulder will keepe him from slipping backe and this is as sure and as fearefull and as good as a Rapier to encounter against a Rapier and Dagger or a Sword and Dagger so that you haue a close hilted Dagger likewise you may tie a point at the But-end of the Cudgell to put in thy finger that thy Cudgell slippe not out of thy hand this weapon I haue made good proofe of but it was in another Country where I could get no other weapon to my minde CHAP. XII This Chapter sheweth the seuerall kinde of weapons which are to be plaied at NOw one thing more vnto the vulgar sort concerning the seuerall sorts of weapons because vnto many it seemeth so strange that if a Master of Defence should tell them that he can teach thee skill at Fence at twelue seuerall sorts of weapons they will straight-way say that there are not so many now for their further satisfaction they shall heare the diuision of more then twenty sorts of weapons which Masters of this Noble art of Defence are or else ought to be expert therein like vnto a skilfull Cooke which can of one sort of meate make diuerse dishes or like the cunning Physition who can with a hearbe being diuersely compounded make it serue to diuers purposes and vses to which effect my meaning is that an expert Master of Defence can of one kinde of weapon make many as by this sequell following shall appeare and all these weapons haue beene plaied at in Challenges here in England at seuerall times Of the Sword are deriued these seauen The two hand Sword The Back-sword Sword and Dagger Sword and Buckler Short Sword and Dagger The short Sword and Gantlet The Bastard Sword the which Sword is something shorter then a long Sword and yet longer then a Short-sword Now with the Rapier seauen more The first Rapier and Dagger The single Rapier The case of Rapiers The Rapier and Cloake The Rapier and Target The Rapier and Gantlet The Rapier and Pike The Dutch Fauchin The Poll-axe The Battel-axe The two Daggers The single Dagger The Halfe-pike The Long-pike The Long-staffe The Quarter-staffe The Welch-hooke or Bill The Haulbert The Rapier and Dagger against Short-sword and Dagger Likewise Rapier and Dagger or Sword and Dagger against a Staffe or Haulbert Also the Staffe against a Flaile Back-sword against sword and dagger Single Rapier against Rapier and Dagger Now my second booke which is already in hand shall shew my iudgement and the chiefest rules according vnto my practise at all these seuerall weapons if death doe not preuent me before I haue accomplished my pretence yet for doubt thereof the defence of the Staffe with a Rapier and Dagger or with Sword and Dagger I will giue thee a little direction which being practised