the Staffe THy enemie lying in guard proffer a fained thrust towards his foote and then presently raise thy point againe and thrust if home to his face or brest for if hee turne downe the point of his Staffe to saue the false thrust below then if he were neuer so cunning or neuer so strong yet can he not put vp his Staffe time enough to defend his vpper part and therefore not to turne downe the point if thy enemy doe proffer a thrust below is the more surest but if a thrust bee made below or aboue the knee plucke vp thy legge and either thrust with him or keepe vp thy Staffe to defend thy vpper part which are the killing places rather then to turne him downe to defend thy legge or foote wherein is not so great danger of death as the body being hit but at the Staffe all parts may be defended with skill The guard for the Sword and Dagger the which for surenesse wee will call the Castle-guard I Might heare in this place discribe many wardes or guards at the Sword and Dagger as the Looke-ward the Iron-ward the Hanging-ward the Crosse-ward three high guards the Low-guard the Broad-ward I will a little touch them all or the most part of them with words although not with pictures but in the next Impression more at large both with words and with pictures But now chiefly at this time I will proceed only with this Castle-guard or Back-sword-guard according to the picture for with the skil of this one guard thou maist safely encounter against any man which vseth any other of the foresaid guards for this one guard being perfectly learned thou maist defend thy selfe with great aduantage Now for the manner of the framing thy selfe into this guard thou must beare out the hilt of thy sword a foote from thy body so low as the pocket of thy hose and right out from thy thigh and thy Dagger out right at the armes end and thy Dagger hilt euen with thy left cheeke but barely looking ouer the vpper part of thy Dagger hilt and the points of both thy Sword and Dagger a little bowing each to the other and close aboue but open thy hilts so broad below as thou maist see cleerely thy enemie betwixt them both as at Rapier and Dagger before is discribed for both at Rapier and Dagger the guards are both verie neere alike but onely for the carriage of thy Rapier hand and foote a little neerer thy body then at Sword and Dagger the reasons are and shall be made plaine vnto thee as in reading thou shalt finde it for both at Rapier and Dagger and at Sword and Dagger a man should bee prepared as well at the one as the other to defend a thrust in fight so well as a blow and except the Rapier point be borne some thing high he is not ready to defend a blow as by this guard thus being placed as aforesaid thy Sword onely being borne out against the blow will defend all thy right-side both thy head and downe to thy knee without mooning him but if thy enemie doe charge thee with a blow at thy left-side whether he strike to thy head or side then beare both thy Sword and thy Dagger ouer thy body towards thy left-side and withall I doe aduise thee to haue a care to carry both the hilt and point leuell euen as thou liest in thy guard for if thou carry thy hilt of thy Sword ouer thy body towards thy left-side and turne thy point Back-ward then both at Sword and Dagger and at Rapier and Dagger thy head is endangered for then thou hast but a single ward for thy head I meane thy Dagger onely and that is no sure defence for the head if thy practise were neuer so much but both being borne together according vnto the Backe-sword rule thou shalt defend both thy head and body downe to thy knee very strongly and thy legge must saue himselfe by a quick pulling vp of thy foote Likewise at Sword and Dagger you may set your feete a foote distance one right before the other Thy weapons thus placed thou shalt find thy body gatded like a prisoner betwixt to keepers thy sword to guard thy right-side and thy dagger the left the other which I doe not allow of at Rapier and Dagger also you must keepe the point of your Sword on the in-side of your Dagger and halfe a foote higher then your Dagger point especially if you play at the blunt but in sight as at Rapier and Dagger then you must so exercise your foote thatyou may pluck him vp nimbly against euery blow that commeth otherwise if you doe keepe them so neare as my direction is at Rapier and Dagger then is your foote sure without plucking of him vp beare your head vpright bowing rather to the right-sholder then to the left but not forward at any weapon but your body bowing forward and keepe your points close together and your Sword point on the inside of your Dagger point as before-saide and the hilt of your Dagger from your left cheeke right at the armes end without bowing of your elbow ioynt and your Dagger point sloping or bowing towards your right side looking with both your eies betwixt your weapons looke not ouer your weapons with neither of your eies at anie hand your weapons placed and your bodie setled as aforesaide then shall you finde no part of your bodie discouered or vnguarded but onlie your left side from the Dagner arme downewards and that you must haue a care vnto and defend it in this manner If your enemie charge you with a blow defend your selfe by bearing the edge of your Sword against it and alittle beare your Dagger against the blow also onely to giue allowance for the yeelding of your Dagger if the blow should chaunce to light at your head for your guard simply of himselfe doth defend but a weake blow if you stand stocke still at your gard as a wrist blow a droppe or a mite which commeth with small force though they come with more speed then any other blow your guard will defend without moouing your weapons Now other blowes which shall come with greater force consume more time and doe fetch a greater compasse insomuch as their force is greater you shal perceiue them the plainer to which side the blow will come and if to the right side then swarue both wepons against the blow and if to the left side do likewise keeping vp the point of your sword for that will defend from the head downe to the knee and the knee and leg which you stand formost vpon you must defend by plucking them vp and your sword will defend the hind most legge if the blow should chance to reach so farre by taking it neere the hilt vpon the edge of your backe-sword as aforesaid for if you put downe the point of your sword to saue your legge then you leaue your head and your face vnguarded
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-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
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
a manner round I meane beyond the compasse of defence Againe if you thinke that your face is out of his reach he which chargeth you with a blow with any of these aforesaid weapons you may let fall the point of your staffe so that his blow may passe cleere ouer your staffe and so choppe home a thrust withall vnder your enemies weapons and then recouer the point of your Staffe vp hastily againe The Scholler What if I bee armed with any of these weapons aforesaid what guard will your direct mee to frame my selfe vnto The Master I still commend the low guard for any long weapon whether it be Staffe Pike Hooke Halbert Partizan or Gleaue my reason is the point being so high as your head and the butt-But-end so low as your thigh then is your weapon more readier to defend either blow or thrust if you bee charged neuer so sodainely whereas if your point hang downe-wards toward the ground you can neuer lift him vp quick againe to defend your thrust but a blow may be defended easily for that a blow commeth more leasurably for why it is fetcht with a greater compasse and a thrust goeth with farre more celerity then a blow being put in cunningly but of these weapons shall follow more at large in the second booke Now if thy enemie haue oddes in length in his Staffe then let thy enemie make the first assault and vpon defence of his assault steppe forth with thy hindermost foote and so thou shalt gaine sixe foote at the least in reach but if your staues bee both of one length then vpon a charge or answere increase in onely with thy fore foote and stand fast with thy hinder foote onely to plucke backe thy body againe and if thou make the first assault and thy enemie defend it and so hee make a sodaine answere then it wil be hard to recouer vp thy staffe into his place to defend it according to the low guard but for a sodaine shift the best defence is bearing your vpper-hand ouer your body and letting your point fall to the ground according to the olde common order of the fight with the Pike at single hand I meane hand to hand or I may say man to man The Scholler I pray you how would you direct mee to frame my guard with my staffe if I were to encounter with my enemy being armed with Sword and Dagger or Rapier and Dagger The Scholler I hold the low guard best charging thy point directly to the enemies breast and alwaies haue a speciall regard that thou poffer nor a blow for so hee may defend it double on the Back-sword and Dagger and runne in vnder the Staffe likewise if thou proffer a thrust let not thy Staffe loose out of thy fore-hand but hold him fast that thereby thou maist bee the more readie to charge him againe and againe if hee encroach in vpon thee for if thou let goe one hand then may thy enemie very well defend the thrust of a staffe according as I haue directed in the description of the Rapier and Dagger concerning the staffe for with that one defence being experienced in it thou maist endanger any Staffe-man that is not wary and withall well experienced in both these weapons so that thou take thy opportunity vpon his assault I mean in answering him quick so soone as you haue defended his assault whether it be blow or thrust Now if thy enemie doe strike at the point of thy Staffe thinking to cut him off then as you see his blow comming let fall the point of your Staffe and presently chop home a thrust for in so doing his blow will flie ouer your Staffe as by your practise you may be perfect in this slippe for so wee call it I haue knowen a man with a Sword and Dagger hath cut off the end of a Pike-staffe but I hold him an ignorant and an vnskilfull man that hath held the staffe for though I hold that a man skilfull at the Sword and Dagger may encounter against a reasonable Staffe-man the same opinion I hold stil and my reasons thou shalt heare if extreame need require and vpon a necessity then the best meanes is to be vsed wherfore to be furnished with the best means before hand at the time of neede it may greatly stead thee for euery common man hath not knowledge of the best rule except hee haue learned it and practised it by those which could shew it for it commeth not by nature to none yet euery ignorant dunce when hee is perswaded to goe learne skill will say when I am put to my shift I will doe the best I can so a man may and yet without skill bee killed although hee doe his best my opinion further of this followeth Now the best guard with a Sword and Dagger or Rapier and Dagger against a Staffe is this put your Dagger on the in-side of your Rapier or Sword and ioyne them both together making your crosse with them within a foote or thereabouts of the hilt of your Rapier or Sword and looking cleere with both your eyes vnder them or betwixt both your weapons and then if your enemy charge you with a blow at your head with his Staffe beare them both double against the blow and hauing defended it turne your point and turne your knuckles inward of your right-hand and so to goe in amaine vpon him But if hee charge you with a thrust then presently let fall the point of your Rapier downe-ward and force him downe the more stronger and more quicker with your Dagger for to that end I doe appoint you to put your Dagger in the in-side of your Rapier or Sword Loe in this manner you may defend either blow or thrust of the Staffe yet I must needes confesse there is great oddes in the Staffe if the Staffe-man bee verie skilfull but otherwise the Rapier and Dagger hath the oddes being furnished with skill False play to be vsed at the Staffe IF you both lie in the low gard according vnto my former direction then proffer or faine a thrust vnto your enemies face to the fairest side of the staffe which to your seeming lieth most open or vngarded but thē presently in the same motion let fall the point of your staffe so low as his girdle-sted so that you may passe cleare vnder the But end of his staffe for if with any part of his staffe he touch or intangle your staffe then you can not put in your false so directly as you should or as you may if you passe cleare with your first offer then may you bring vp your point on the other side of his staffe and thrusting it home you may hit him in the shoulder or face as you will your selfe yea although he be verie skilfull or cunning so that yon haue the true stroke of it as to make it plainer then in offering your false doe but fall the point of your staffe striking it as it were a blowe