dagger drawn as you see this picture keeping out straight your dagger arme drawing backe your sword as far as conueniently you can not opening the elbow ioynt of your sword arme and looke what you can draw within your dagger that is the iust length of your sword to be made according to your owne stature AS I haue here made a figuratiue demonstration to know the perfect length of the Sword as afore is sayd so haue I in the page folowing for the plainer vnderstanding of the Reader set foorth a forme of standing to know the lengths of the short Staffe halfe Pike Forest Bill Partisan and Gleue or such like weapons of aduantage as shall also best fit the statures of all men The perfect length of your two hand sword is the blade to be the length of the blade of your single sword To know the perfect length of your short staffe or half Pike Forrest bil Partisan or Gleue or such like weapons of vantage and perfect lengths you shall stand vpright holding the staffe vpright close by your body with your left haÌ„d reaching with your right hand your staffe as high as you can and then allow to that length a space to set both your hands when you come to sight wherein you may conueniently strike thrust and ward that is the iust length to be made according to your stature And this note that these lengths will commonly fall out to be eight or nine foot long and will 〈◊〉 although not iust the statures of all men without any hindrance at all vnto them in their fight because in any weapon wherin the hands may be remoued and at libertie to make the weapon loÌ„ger or shorter in fight at his pleasure a foot of the staffe behind the backmost hand doth â—o harme And wherfore these weapons ought to be of the lengths aforesaid and no shorter these are the reasons If they should be shorter then the long staffe Morris Pike and such like weapons ouer and aboue the perfect length should haue great vantage against them because he may come boldly and safe without anie gard or ward to the place where he may thrust home and at euery thrust put him in danger of his life but if these weapons be of their perfect lengths then can the long staffe the Morris Pike or anie other longer weapon ly no where in true space but shall be still within compasse of the crosse to crosse and vncrosse wherby he may safely passe home to the place where he may strike or thrust him that hath the long weapon in the head face or body at his pleasure Of the lengths of the Battel axe Halbard or blacke Bill or such like vveapons of weight appertaining vnto gard or battell IN anie of these weapons there needeth no iust length but commonly they are or ought to be fiue or sixe foot long may not well be vsed much longer because of their weights and being weapons for the warres or battell when men are ioyned close together may thrust strike sound blowes with great force both strong and quicke and finally for the iust lengths of all other shorter or longer weapons to be gouerned with both hands there is none neither is there anie certaine lengthes in anie maner of weapons to be vsed with one hand ouer or vnder the iust length of the single sword Thus endeth the length of weapons Of the vantages of weapons in their kinds places times both in priuate and publike fight FIrst I will begin with the worst weapon an imperfect and insufficient weapon and not worth the speaking of but now being highly esteemed therefore not to be left vnremembred that is the single Rapier and Rapier and Poiniard The single Sword hath the vantage against the single Rapier The Sword and Dagger hath the vantage against the Rapier and Poiniard The Sword Target hath aduaÌ„tage against the Sword and Dagger or Rapier and Poiniard The Sword and Buckler hath aduantage against the Sword and Target the Sword and Dagger or Rapier and Poiniard The two hand Sword hath the vantage against the Sword and Target the Sword and Buckler the Sword and Dagger or Rapier and Poiniard The Battel-axe the Halbard the Blacke-bill or such like weapons of weight appertaining vnto guard or battell are all one in fight and haue aduantage against the two hand Sword the Sword and Buckler the Sword and Target the Sword dagger or the Rapier Poiniard The short staffe or halfe Pike Forrest-bill Partisan or Gleue or such like weapons of perfect length haue the vantage against the Battel-axe the Halbard the Blacke-bill the two hand sword the Sword and Target and are too hard for two Swords and Daggers or two Rapiers and Poiniards with Gantlets and for the long staffe and Morris Pike The long Staffe Morris Pike or Iauelin or such like weapons aboue the perfect length haue aduantage against all maner of weapons the short staffe Welch hooke Partisan or Gleue or such like weapons of vantage excepted yet too weake for two Swords and Daggers or two Swords and Bucklers or two Rapiers and Poiniards with Gantlets because they are too long to thrust strike and turne speedily and by reason of the large distance one of the Sword and Dagger-men will get behind him The Welch hooke or Forrest bill hath aduantage against all maner of weapons whatsoeuer Yet vnderstand that in battels and where varietie of weapons be amongst multitudes of men and horses the Sword and Target the two hand Sword the Battel-axe the Blacke-bill and Halbard are better weapons and more dangerous in their offence and forces then is the Sword and Buckler short staffe long staffe or Forrest bill The Sword and Target leadeth vpon Shot and in troupes defendeth thrusts and blowes giuen by battel-axe Halbards Blacke-bill or two hand swords far better then can the Sword and Buckler The Morris Pike defendeth the battell from both horse and man much better then can the short staffe long staffe or Forrest bill Againe the Battel-axe the Halbard the Blacke bill the two hand sword and Sword Target amongst armed men and troopes when men are come together by reason of their weights shortnesse and great forces do much more offend the enemie are then much better weapons then is the short staffe the long Staffe or Forrest bill Of the insufficiencie and disaduantages of the Rapiers fight in Battell FOr the single Rapier or Rapier Poiniard they are imperfect insufficient weapons and especially in the seruice of the Prince when men shall ioyne together what seruice can a souldier do with a Rapier a childish toy wherwith a man can do nothing but thrust nor that neither by reason of the length and in euerie mouing when blowes are a dealing for lacke of a hilt is in daunger to haue his hand or arme cut off or his head clouen And for Wardes and Gripes they haue none neither can any of these fine Rapier men
it so long as he possibly could but through his extreme sicknesse the stone with vomit was cast out of his mouth then presently he remēbred how the woman had mocked him and yet her words were true Euen so a Spaniard hauing his Rapier point put by may receiue a blow on the head or a cut ouer the face hand or arme or a thrust in the body or face and yet his Spanish fight perfect so long as he can keepe straight the point of his Rapier against the face or body of his aduersarie which is as easie in that maner of fight to be done as it was for the Doctor in the extremity of his vomite to keepe the stone in his mouth Yet one other pretie iest more scarce worth the reading in commendation of outlandish fight There was an Italian teacher of Defence in my time who was so excellent in his fight that he would haue hit anie English man with a thrust iust vpon any button in his doublet and this was much spoken of Also there was another cunning man in catching of wild geese he would haue made no more ado when he had heard them crie as the maner of wildgeese is flying one after another in rowes but presently looking vp would tell them if there had bene a dosen sixteene twētie or more he would haue taken euerie one And this tale was manie times told by men of good credit and much maruelled at by the hearers the man that wold haue taken the wildgeese was of good credite himselfe marie they said indeed he did neuer take anie but at anie time when he had looked vp and seene them flie in that maner he would with all his heart haue taken thē but he could no more tell how to do it then could the cunning Italian Fencer tell how to hit an Englishman with a thrust iust vpon any one of his buttons when he listed Illusions for the maintenance of imperfect weapons false fights to feare or discourage the vnskilfull in their weapons from taking a true course or vse for attaining to the perfect knowledge of true fight FIrst for the Rapier saith the Italian or false teacher I hold it to be a perfect good weapō because the crosse hindreth not to hold the handle in the hand to thrust both far straight to vse all maner of aduantages in the wards or sodainly to cast the same at the aduersarie but with the Sword you are driuen with all the strength of the hand to hold fast the handle And in the warres I would wish no friend of mine to weare Swords with hilts because when they are sodainly set vpon for haste they set their hands vpon their hilts in steed of their handles in which time it hapneth manie times before they can draw their swords they are slaine by their enemies These counterfeit shews are enough to cary the wisest that know not the true fight frō the false out of the right way And for Sword and Buckler fight it is imperfect because the buckler blindeth the fight neither would I haue anie man lie aloft with his hand aboue his head to strike sound blowes Strong blowes are naught especially being set aboue the head And if their weapons were short as in times past they were yet they could not thrust safe at body or face because in gardant fight they fall ouer or vnder the perfect crosse of the sword to strike beneath the waste or at the legges is great disaduantage because the course of the blow to the legs is too far therby the head face body is discouered and that was the cause in old time that they did not thrust nor strike at the legs not for lacke of skill as in these daies we imagine Againe if a man in those daies shold haue fought with a long sword they would presently haue put him into Cobbes Trauers because therein all the face and bodie is discouered Yet I confesse in old times when blowes were only vsed with short Swords bucklers back Sword these kind of fights were good most māly but now in these daies fight is altered Rapiers are lōger for aduātage thē swords were wōt to be whē blowes were vsed men were so simple in their fight that they thought him to be a coward that wold make a thrust or strike a blow beneath the girdle Againe if their weapōs were short as in times past they were yet fight is better looked into in these dayes than then it was Who is it in these daies seeth not that the blow cōpasseth round like a wheele whereby it hath a longer way to go but the thrust passeth in a straight line and therefore commeth a nearer way and done in a shorter time thē is the blow and is more deadly then is the blow Therefore there is no wise man that will strike vnlesse he be wearie of his life It is certaine that the point for aduantage euerie way in fight is to be vsed the blow is vtterly naught and not to be vsed He that fighteth vpon the blow especially with a short sword wil be sore hurt or slaine The deuill can say no more for the maintenance of errors That a blow commeth continually as neare a way as a thrust and most commonly nearer stronger more swifter and is sooner done THe blow by reasō that it compasseth round like a wheele A confutation of their errours whereby it hath a longer way to come as the Italian Fenser saith that the thrust passing in a straight line commeth a nearer way and therefore is sooner done then a blow is not true these be the proofes Let two lie in their perfect strengths and readinesse wherein the blades of their Rapiers by the motion of the body may not be crossed of either side the one to strike and the other to thrust Then measure the distance or course wherein the hand and hilt passeth to finish the blow of the one and the thrust of the other and you shall find them both by measure in distance all one And let anie man of iudgement being seene in the exercise of weapons not being more addicted vnto nouelties of fight then vnto truth it selfe put in measure and practise these three fights variable open and guardant and he shall see that whensoeuer anie man lyeth at the thrust vpon the variable fight where of necessitie most commonly he lyeth or otherwise not possiblie to keepe his Rapier from crossing at the blow thrust vpon the open or gardant fight that the blowes thrustes from these two fightes come a nearer way and a more stronger and swifter course then doth the thrust out of the variable fight And thus for a generall rule wheresoeuer the Thruster lyeth or out of what fight soeuer he fighteth with his Rapier or Rapier and Dagger the blow in his course commeth as neare and nearer and more swift and stronger then doth the thrust Perfect fight standeth vpon
both blow and thrust therefore the thrust is not onely to be vsed THat there is no fight perfect without both blow and thrust neither is there anie certaine rule to be set downe for the vse of the point onely these be the reasons This in truth cannot be denied In fight there are manie motions with the hand bodie and feet and in euerie motion the place of the hand is altered because by the motions of the hand the altering of the places of the hand the changes of lyings wards and breaking of thrustes the hand will sometimes be in place to strike some times to thrust sometimes after a blow to thrust and sometimes after a thrust to strike sometimes in place where you may strike and cannot thrust without losse of time and sometimes in place where you may thrust and cannot strike without losse of time and sometimes in place where you can neither strike nor thrust vnlesse you fight vpon both blow and thrust nor able to defend your selfe by ward or going backe because your space wil be too wide and your distance lost And sometimes when you haue made a thrust a ward or breaking is taken in such sort with the Dagger or blade of the Sword that you cā neither thrust againe nor defend yourselfe vnlesse you do strike which you may foundly doe and go free and sometimes when you strike a ward wil be taken in such sort that you cannot strike againe nor defend your selfe vnlesse you thrust which you may safely doe and goe free So to conclude there is no perfection in the true fight without both blow and thrust nor certaine rule to be set downe for the point onely That the blow is more dangerous and deadly in fight then a thrust for proofe thereof to be made according with Art an Englishman holdeth argument against an Italian Italian WHich is more dangerous or deadly in fight of a blow or a thrust Englishman This question is not propounded according to art because there is no fight perfect without both blow and thrust Italian Let it be so yet opinions are otherwise holden that the thrust is onely to be vsed because it commeth a nearer way and is more dangerous and deadly for these reasons first the blow compasseth round like a wheele but the thrust passeth in a straight line therfore the blow by reason of the compasse hath a longer way to go then the thrust is therefore longer in doing but the thrust passeth in a straight line therfore hath shorter way to go thē hath the blow is therfore done in a shorter time is therfore much better then the blow more dangerous and deadly because if a thrust do hit the face or bodie it indangereth life and most commonly death ensueth but if the blow hit the bodie it is not so dāgerous Englishman Let your opiniōs be what they wil but that the thrust cōmeth a nearer way is sooner done then the blow is not true for proofe thereof reade the twelfth Paradox And now will I set downe probable reasons The blow more dangerous then the thrust that the blow is better then the thrust and more dangerous and deadly First the blow commeth as neare a way most cōmonly nearer then doth the thrust is therfore done in a shorter time then is the thrust therfore in respect of time wherupon stādeth the perfection of fight the blow is much better then the thrust Againe the force of the thrust passeth straight therefore any crosse being indirectly made the force of a child may put it by but the force of a blow passeth indirectly therefore must be directly warded in the counterchecke of his force which cānot be done but by the cōuenient strength of a man with true crosse in true time or else wil not safely defēd him and is therfore much better more dāgerous thē the thrust and againe the thrust being made through the hand arme or leg or in many places of the body and face are not deadly neither are they maimes or losse of limmes or life neither is he much hindred for the time in his fight as long as the bloud is hot for example I haue knowne a Gētlemā hurt in Rapier fight in nine or ten places through the bodie armes and legges and yet hath continued in his fight afterward hath slaine the other The blow cutteth off the hand the arme the leg and sometimes the head and come home and hath bene cured of all his woūds without maime is yet liuing But the blow being strōgly made taketh somtimes cleane away the hand from the arme hath manie times bene seene Againe a full blow vpon the head or face with a short sharpe Sword is most commonly death A full blow vpon the necke shoulder arme or legge indangereth life cutteth off the veines muscles and sinewes perisheth the bones these wounds made by the blow in respect of perfect healing are the losse of limmes or maimes incurable for euer And yet more for the blow a ful blow vpon the head face arme leg or legs is death or the partie so wounded in the mercie of him that shall so wound him For what man shall be able long in fight to stand vp either to reuenge or defend himselfe hauing the veines muscles and sinewes of his hand arme or leg cleane cut asunder or being dismembred by such wound vpon the face or head but shall be enforced therby and through the losse of bloud He that giueth the first wound with a strong blow commaundeth the life of the other the other a litle dallying with him to yeeld himself or leaue his life in his mercie And for plainer deciding this cōtrouersie betweene the blow and the thrust consider this short note The blow commeth manie wayes the thrust doth not so The blow commeth a nearer way then a thrust most commonly and is therefore sooner done The blow requireth the strength of a man to be warded but the thrust may be put by by the force of a child A blow vpon the hand arme or legge is a maime incurable but a thrust in the hand arme or legge is to be recouered The blow hath manie parts to wound and in euerie of them commaundeth the life but the thrust hath but a few as the bodie or face and not in euerie part of them neither Of the difference betwixt the true fight the false wherin consisteth the Principles being had with the direction of the foure Gouernors the whole perfection of fight with all maner of weapons THe true fights be these whatsoeuer is done with the hand before the foot or feet is true fight The false fights be these whatsoeuer is done with the foot or feet before the hand is false because the hand is swifter then the foot the foot or feet being a slower mouer then the hand the hand in that maner of fight is tied to the time of the foot or feet
and being tied thereto hath lost his freedome and is made thereby as slow in his motions as the foot or feet and therfore that fight is false Of euill orders or customes in our English FeÌ„ce-schooles of the old or ancient teaching of weapons things very necessarie to be continued for the auoiding of errors and reuining and continuance of our ancient vveapons and most victorious fight againe THere is in my opinioÌ„ in our Fence-schooles an euill order or custome in these dayes vsed the which if it might stand with the good liking of our Maisters of Defence I thinke it necessarie to be left for as long as it is vsed it shall be hard to make a good Scholler That is this at the single Sword Sword and Dagger Sword and Buckler they forbid the thrust at the single Rapier and Rapier Dagger they forbid the blow Either they are both together best or the thrust altogether best or the blow altogether best If the thrust be best why do we not vse it at the single Sword Sword Dagger Sword and Buckler If the blow be best why do we not vse it at the single Rapier Rapier Poinyard But knowing by the Art of Armes that no fight is perfect without both blow and thrust why do we not vse and teach both blow and thrust But howsoeuer this we dayly see that wheÌ„ two meet in fight whether they haue skill or none vnlesse such as haue tied theÌ„selues to that boyish Italian weake imperfect fight they both strike and thrust and how shall he then do that being much taught in schoole neuer learned to strike nor how to defend a strong blow how shall he theÌ„ do that being brought vp in FeÌ„ce-schoole that neuer learned to thrust with the single Sword Sword and Dagger and Sword and Buckler nor how at these weapoÌ„s to breake a thrust Surely I thinke a downe right fellow that neuer came in schoole vsing such skill as nature yeeldeth out of his courage strength and agilitie with good downe right blowes and thrusts among as shall best frame in his hands shold put one of these imperfect schollers greatly to his shifts Besides there are now in these dayes no gripes closes wrestlings striking with the hilts daggers or bucklers vsed in Fence-schooles Our ploughmen by nature wil do all these things with great streÌ„gth agility but the Schooleman is altogether vnacquainted with these things He being fast tyed to such school-play as he hath learned hath lost thereby the benefite of nature and the plowman is now by nature without art a farre better man then he Therefore in my opinion as long as we barre anie maner of play in schoole we shall hardly make a good scholler there is no maner of teaching comparable to the old ancient teaching that is first their quarters then their wardes blowes thrusts and breaking of thrustes then their Closes and Gripes striking with the hilts Daggers Bucklers Wrastlings striking with the foote or knee in the Coddes and all these are safely defended in learning perfectly of the Gripes And this is the ancient teaching In the warres there is no obseruation of Stoccatas Imbroâ—uas times nor answers the perfectest most best teaching and without this teaching there shall neuer scholler be made able doe his vttermost nor fight safe Againe their swordes in schooles are too long by almost halfe a foote to vncrosse without going backe with the feete within distance or perfectly to strike or thrust within the halfe or quarter sword And in seruing of the Prince when men do meet together in publique fight are vtterly naught and vnseruiceable The best lengthes for perfect teaching of the true fight to be vsed and continued in Fence schooles Long weapons imperfect to accord with the true statures of all men are these The blade to be a yard and an inch for meane statures and for men of tall statures a yard and three or foure inches and no more And I would haue the Rapier continued in schooles alwaies readie for such as shall thinke themselues cunning or shall haue delight to play with that imperfect weapon Prouided alwaies that the Schoole-maister or Vsher play with him with his short Sword plying him with all maner of fight according to the true art this being continued the truth shall flourish the lye shal be beaten downe and all nations not hauing the true science shall come with all gladnesse to the valiant and most braue English maisters of Defence to learne the true fight for their defence The grounds or Principles of true fight with all maner of weapons FIrst Iudgement Lyings Distance Direction Pase Space Place Time Indirection Motion Action generall and continuall Motion Progression Regression Trauersing and Treading of groundes Blowes Thrustes Faulses Doubles Slipes Wardes breakings of Thrusts Closings Gripes Wrastlings Guardant fight Open fight Variable fight and Close fight and foure Gouernours The wardes of all maner of weapons AL single weapons haue foure wardes and all double weapons haue eight wardes The single sword hath two with the point vp and two with the point downe The Staffe and all maner of weapons to be vsed with both handes haue the like The Sword and Buckler and Sword and Dagger are double weapons and haue eight wardes two with the point vp and two with the point downe and two for the legges with the point downe the point to be caried for both sides of the legges with the knuckles downeward and two wardes with the Dagger or Buckler for the head The Foâ—â—est bill is a double weapon by reason of the head and therefore hath eight wardes foure with the Staffe foure with the head foure of them to be vsed as with the staffe and the other foure with the head the one vp the other downe and the other sidewaies The names and numbers of times appertaining vnto fight both true and false THere are eight times whereof foure are true and foure are false the true times be these The time of the hand The time of the hand and bodie The time of the hand bodie and foote The time of the hand bodie and feete The false times be these The time of the foote The time of the foote and bodie The time of the foote bodie and hand The time of the feete bodie and hand Thus haue I thought good to separate and make knowne the true times from the false with the true wardes thereto belonging that thereby the rather in practising of weapons a true course may be taken for the auoiding of errours and euill customes and speedie attaining of good habit or perfect being in the true vse and knowledge of all maner of weapons Of the length of weapons and how euerie man may fit himselfe in the perfect length of his weapon according to his owne stature with briefe reasons wherefore they ought to be so TO know the perfect length of your Sword you shall stand with your sword and
That the short Sword hath the aduantage against the long Sword or long Rapier WHereas for the most part opinions are generally holden that the long Sword or long Rapier hath the vantage in fight against the short Sword which the Italian teachers of Defence by their false demonstratiōs haue brought vs to beleeue I haue thought good that the truth may appeare which hath the vantage to adde my helpe vnto the reasons they vse in their owne behalfe for that yet I could neuer heare them make a sound reason for the same These are the reasons First with my long Rapier These reasons are vsed by the Italians I will put my selfe into my gard or Stocata holding my hilt backe by the outside of my right thigh keeping in short the point of my Rapier so as he that hath the short Sword shall not be able to reach the point of my Rapier to make his ward or Crosse with his Dagger Buckler Sword or Cloke without stepping in of his foote the which time is too long to answere the time of the hand by reason of my distance I can there stand safe without danger of blow or thrust playing the Patients part if you strike or thrust you do it too short by reason of my distance if you seek to come nearer you must do it with the time of your foote in the which time I may safely thrust home if in that distance you breake it not you are slaine if you do breake it yet you do me no harme by reason of my distance and I may stand fast and thrust againe or flie backe at my pleasure so haue you put your selfe in danger of your life and hauing hardly escaped are driuen againe to begin a new bought as at the first you did Againe if I please I can be the oppressour keeping the same gard and my point in short as I did before and pressing strongly by putting in by litle and litle of my feete vntill the place with my foote be gotten wherein in my iudgement I may thrust home the which I may boldly and safely do without respect of anie ward at all by reason of my distance in which time of my comming he must strike thrust ward or go backe if he go backe it is a great disgrace if he strike or thrust it is too short if he stand to defend the place being alreadie gotten where I may thrust home the thrust being verie quicke strongly made such is the force and swiftnesse thereof that it is impossible by nature or art for anie man to breake one thrust of an hundred These reasons in my opinion may suffice to confirme the wise that there is no question to be made but that the long Rapier hath the aduantage against the short Sword Sir you hue pretily handled your discourse A confutation of the Italians reason concerning the vantages of the long Rapier against the short Sword especially at the first shew and according to common sence but for the substance and truth of the true fight you haue said nothing because for the performance of anie of your allegations you haue neither true Pace Place Time nor Space these are the reasons Your Pace of necessitie must be too large because otherwise you cannot keepe safe the point of your long Rapier from the Crosse of the short Sword vnlesse you will with a narrow Pace keepe backe your hilt so farre that the space of your offence wil be too large or too long in distance and your bodie vnapt to moue and to thrust strong and quicke in due time nor aptly to keepe your distance to win the place with your feete to thrust home So now you may plainely see if you have skill in the art or science of Defence that to performe anie thing which you haue alleadged you haue neither true Pace Place time nor Space But if you will stand vpon the largenesse of your Pace to keepe backe or saue the point of your long Rapier from the ward or Crosse of the short Sword or vpon your Passatos in all these you haue great disaduantages and these are my reasons Your number will be too great as thus whensoeuer you meane out of your large pace to thrust home you must of necessitie make foure times with your feet and one with your hand or two times with your feet and one with your hand at the least and whensoeuer you make any of your passages the nūber of your feet are greater then the greatest of any of these times done out of the large pace but the patient with his short sword to auoyd you or disappoint you of your thrust hath but one time with his foot at or before the which time as he in his iudgemēt shall find you in your motion hath by the slow and great number of your motions or times sufficient time safely out of all danger to make himselfe readie to take his crosse with his short sword Now Sir whether you thrust or not thrust whether you play the part of an Agent or Patient it helpeth you nothing for he that hath the short sword hath foure times or motions against the long Rapier namely bent spent lying spent and drawing backe in all maner of fights these are to be obserued both by the Patient and Agent Now note he that hath the long Rapier must of necessitie play vpon one of these foure motions or be Patient which soeuer he shall do he is still in great danger of the crosse of the short sword because if he be Agent his number is too great he falleth into one of the foure motions the Patient with his short sword hauing but the time of the hand or hād foot safely vpon these actions or times taketh his crosse with the short Sword that being done he presently vncrosseth and striketh or thrusteth at his pleasure him that hath the long Rapier in the head face or bodie Now here is againe to be noted that when the crosse is made if he that hath the long Rapier stand fast he is wounded presently in the vncrossing of the short sword if he step or leape backe to saue himselfe yet the time of the hand being swifter then the time of the foot ouertaketh him with blow or thrust in the arme hand head face and bodie Now if he that hath the long Rapier will be patient make no play but lie still watching to make his thrust or Stocata iust in the comming or mouing of the Agents feete with his short sword then he hath as great disaduantage as he had when he was Patient because thē the Agent with his short Sword hath but hand and foot to make his crosse which is most safely to be done in that time which we call Bent and is as impossible for the Rapier-man to preuent as it is for an vnskilfull to strike or thrust iust together with a man of skill Then thus I conclude that he that fighteth with a long Rapier against
being taken from him he is neither able to defend his life nor greatly to offend his enemy and againe since the Rapier-fight hath bene taught for lacke of practise they haue lost the vse of the blow they teach meÌ„ to butcher one another here at home in peace wherewith they cannot hurt their enemies abrode in warre For your Honour well knowes that when the battels are ioyned and come to the charge there is no roome for them to drawe their Bird spits and when they haue them what can they doe with them can they pierce his Corslet with the point can they vnlace his Helmet vnbuckle his Armour hew asunder their Pikes with a Stocata a reuersa a Dritta a Stramason or other such like teÌ„pestuous termes no these toyes are fit for children not for men for stragling boyes of the Campe to murder poultrie not for men of Honour to trie the battell with their foes Thus I haue right Honorable for the trial of the truth betweene the short Sword and the long Rapier for the sauing of the liues of our English gallants who are sent to certaine death by their vncertaine fights for abandoning of that mischieuous and imperfect weapon which serues to kill our frieÌ„ds in peace but cannot much hurt our foes in warre haue I at this time giuen forth these Paradoxes to the view of the world And because I knowe such straunge opinions had need of stout defence I humbly craue your Honorable protection as one in whom the true nobility of our victorious Auncestors hath taken vp his residence It will sute to the rest of your Honours most noble coÌ„plements to maintaine the defence of their weapons whose vertues you possesse Iâ— agrees with your Honourable disposition to 〈◊〉 with fauour what is presented with loue It 〈◊〉 with your Lordships high authority to weigh with reason what is fit for marshall 〈◊〉 It is an vsuall point of your Honor which winâ—â— your Lordship loue in your countrey to defend the truth in whomsoeuer and it addeth a supply to that vvhich your Lordship haue of late begun to your vnspeakeable honor and our inestimable benefite to reduce the 〈…〉 vvith hilts ouer the hands Why should we leaue the hand naked since therby our limmes liues are defended our enemies discomforted wounded and executed I see no reason but that the hand should be as well armed and prouided for as anie other part of the bodie to the Romaine discipline no longer then they might draw them vnder their armes or ouer their shoulders I call or any of these respectes I rest assured that your Lordship vvill vouchsafe to receiue vvith fauor and maintaine vvith honour these Paradoxes of mine vvhich if they be shrouded vnder so safe a shield I vvill not doubt but to maintaine vvith reason amongst the vvise and proue it by practise vpon the ignorant that there is no certaine defence in the Rapier and that there is great aduantage in the short Sword against the long Rapier or all maner of Rapiers in generall of vvhat length soeuer And that the short Staffe hath the vauntage against the long Staffe of twelue foureteene sixteene or eighteene foote long or of what length soeuer And against two men vvith their Swordes and Daggers or two Rapiers Poiniards Gantlets or each of them a case of Rapiers vvhich vvhether I can performe or not I submit for triall to your Honors martiall censure being at all times readie to make it good in vvhat maner and against vvhat man soeuer it shall stand vvith your Lordships good liking to appoint And so I humbly commend this booke to your Lordships vvisedome to peruse and your Honour to the Highest to protect in all health and happinesse novve and euer Your Honors in all dutie George Siluer AN ADMONITION TO THE NOBLE ANCIENT VICTORIOVS VALIANT AND MOST BRAVE NATION OF ENGLISHMEN GEorge Siluer hauing the perfect knowledge of all maner of weapoÌ„s and being experieÌ„ced in all maner of fights thereby perceiuing the great abuses by the Italian Teachers of Offence done vnto them the great errors inconueniences false resolutions they haue brought them into haue inforced me euen of pitie of their most lamentable wounds and slaughters as I verily thinke it my bounden dutie with all loue and humilitie to admonish them to take heed how they submit themselues into the hands of Italian teachers of Defence or straungers whatsoeuer and to beware how they forsake or suspect their owne naturall fight that they may by casting off of these Italianated weake fantasticall and most diuellish and imperfect fights and by exercising of their owne ancient weapons be restored or atchieue vnto their natural and most manly and victorious fight againe the dint and force whereof manie braue nations haue both felt and feared Our ploughmen haue mightily preuailed against them as also against Maisters of Defence both in Schooles and countries that haue taken vpon theÌ„ to stand vpon Schoole-trickes and iugling gambalds whereby it grew to a common speech among the countrie-men Bring me to a Fencer I will bring him out of his fence trickes with good downe right blowes I will make him forget his fence trickes I will warrant him I speake not against Maisters of Defence indeed they are to be honoured nor against the Science it is noble and in mine opinioÌ„ to be preferred next to Diuinitie for as Diuinitie preserueth the soule from hell and the diuell so doth this noble Science defend the bodie from wounds slaughter And moreouer the exercising of weapons putteth away aches griefes and diseases it increaseth strength and sharpneth the wits it giueth a perfect iudgement it expelleth melancholy cholericke and euill conceits it keepeth a man in breath perfect health and long life It is vnto him that hath the perfection thereof a most friendly and comfortable companion when he is alone hauing but only his weapon about him it putteth him out of all feare in the warres and places of most danger it maketh him bold hardie and valiant And for as much as this noble and most mightie nation of Englishmen of their good natures are alwayes most louing verie credulous ready to cherish protect straÌ„gers yet that through their good natures they neuer more by strangers or false teachers may be deceiued once againe I am most humbly to admonish theÌ„ or such as shal find in themselues a disposition or desire to learne their weapons of them that from henceforth as strangers shall take vpon them to come hither to teach this noble most valiant victorious nation to fight that first before they learne of them they cause a sufficient triall of them to be made whether the excellencie of their skill be such as they professe or no the triall to be very requisite reasonable euen such as I my selfe would be contented withall if I should take vpon me to go in their countrie to teach their nation to fight And this is the
vnskilful himselfe Lastly to confirme for truth all that shal be amisse not only in this excellēt Science of Defence but in all other excellent secrets most commonly the lye beareth as good a shew of truth as truth it selfe Of the false resolutions and vaine opinions of Rapier-men and of the danger of death thereby ensuing IT is a great question especially amōgst the Rapier-men who hath the vantage of the thruster or of the warder Some hold strongly that the warder hath the vantage others say it is most certain that the thruster hath the vantage Now when two do happē to fight being both of one mind that the thruster hath the vantage they make all shift they can who shall giue the first thrust as for example two Captaines at Southampton euen as they were going to take shipping vpon the key fel at strife drew their Rapiers and presently being desperate hardie or resolute as they call it with all force and ouer great speed ran with their rapiers one at the other were both slaine Now when two of the contrary opinion shall meet and fight you shall see verie peaceable warres betweene them for they verily thinke that he that first thrusteth is in great danger of his life therefore with all speede do put themselues in ward or Stocata the surest gard of all other as Vincentio saith and therevpon they stand sure saying the one to the other thrust and thou dare and saith the other thrust and thou dare or strike or thrust and thou dare saith the other then saith the other strike or thrust and thou dare for thy life These two cunning gentlemen standing long time together vpon this worthie ward they both depart in peace according to the old prouerbe It is good sleeping in a whole skinne A gaine if two shall fight the one of opinion that he that thrusteth hath the vantage and the other of opinion that the warder hath the vantage then most commonly the thruster being valiant with all speed thrusteth home and by reason of the time and swift motion of his hand they are most commonly with the points of their rapiers or daggers or both one or both of them hurt or slaine because their spaces of defence in that kind of fight are too wide in due time to defend and the place being wonne the eye of the Patient by the swift motion of the Agents hand is deceiued Another resolution they stand sure vpon for their liues to kill their enemies in the which they are most commonly slaine themselues that is this When they find the point of their enemies rapier out of the right line they say they may boldly make home a thrust with a Passata the which they obserue and do accordingly but the other hauing a shorter time with his hand as nature manie times teacheth him sodainly turneth his wrist whereby he meeteth the other in his passage iust with the point of his rapier in the face or body And this false resolution hath cost manie a life That the cause that manie are so often slaine and manie sore hurt in fight with long Rapiers is not by reason of their dangerous thrusts nor cunningnesse of that Italienated fight but in the length and vnweildinesse thereof IT is most certaine that men may with short swords both strike thrust false and double by reason of their distance and nimblenesse thereof more dangerously then they can with long Rapiers and yet when two fight with short swordes hauing true fight there is no hurt done neither is it possible in anie reason that anie hurt should be done betwixt them of either side and this is well knowne to all such as haue the perfection of true fight By this it plainely appeareth that the cause of the great slaughter and sundrie hurts done by long Rapiers consisteth not in long Reach dangerous thrustes nor cunningnesse of the Italian fight but in the inconuenient length and vnweildinesse of their long Rapiers whereby it commonly falleth out that in all their Actions appertaining to their defence they are vnable in due time to performe and continually in danger of euerie crosse that shall happen to be made with their rapier blades which being done within the halfe rapier vnlesse both be of one mind with all speed to depart which seldome or neuer hapneth betweene men of valiant disposition it is impossible to vncrosse or get out or to auoid the stabbes of the Daggers And this hath falne out manie times amongst valiant men at those weapons Of running and standing fast in Rapier fight the runner hath the vantage IF two valiant men do fight being both cunning in running that they both vse the same at one instant their course is doubled the place is wonne of both sides and one or both of them will commonly be slaine or sore hurt and if one of them shall runne and the other stand fast vpon the Imbrocata or Stocata or howsoeuer the place wil be at one instant wonne of one side and gained of the other and one or both of them wil be hurt or slaine if both shall prese hard vpon the guard he that first thrusteth home in true place hurteth the other if both thrust together they are both hurt yet some vantage the runner hath because he is an vncertaine marke and in his motion the other is a certaine marke and in a dead motion and by reason thereof manie times the vnskilfull man taketh vantage he knoweth not how against him that lyeth watching vpon his ward or Stocata guard Of striking and thrusting both together I It is strongly holden of manie that if in fight they find their enemy to haue more skill then themselues they presently will continually strike thrust iust with him whereby they will make their fight as good as his and thereby haue as good aduantage as the other with all his skill but if their swordes be longer then the other then their aduantage is great for it is certaine say they that an inch will kill a man but if their swordes be much longer then the other then their aduantage is so great that they wil be sure by thrusting and striking iust with the other that they will alwaies hurt him that hath the short sword and go cleare themselues because they will reach him when he shall not reach them These men speake like such as talke of Robin Hoode that neuer shot in his bow for to strike or thrust iust together with a man of skill lyeth not in the will of the ignorant because the skilfull man alwaies fighteth vpon the true times by the which the vnskilfull is still disappointed of both place and time and therefore driuen of necessitie still to watch the other when what he will doe that is whether he will strike thrust or false if the vnskilfull strike or thrust in the time of falsing therein he neither striketh nor thrusteth iust with the other he may saie he hath stroke or
thrust before him but not iust with him nor to anie good purpose for in the time of falsing if he strike or thrust he striketh or thrusteth too short for in that time he hath neither time nor place to strike home and as it is said the vnskilfull man that will take vpon him to strike or thrust iust with the skilfull must first behold what the man of skil will doe and when he will doe it and therfore of necessitie is driuen to suffer the skilfull man to be the first mouer and entred into his Action whether it be blow or thrust the truth therof in reason cannot be denied Now iudge whether it be possible for an vnskilfull man to strike or thrust iust together with a man of skill but the skilfull man can most certainly strike and thrust iust together with the vnskilfull because the vnskilfull fighteth vpon false times which being too long to answere the true times the skilfull fighting vpon the true times although the vnskilfull be the first mouer entred into his Action whether it be blow or thrust yet the shortnesse of the true times maketh at the pleasure of the skilfull a iust meeting together in perfect fight two neuer strike or thrust together because they neuer suffer place nor time to performe it Two vnskilfull men manie times by chance strike and thruste together chance vnto them because they know not what they doe or how it commeth to passe but the reasons or causes be these Sometimes two false times meet make a iust time together sometimes a true time and a false time meeteth and maketh a iust time together and sometimes two true times meet and make a iust time together And all this hapneth because the true time and place is vnknowne vnto them George Siluer his resolution vpon that hidden or doubtfull question who hath the aduantage of the Offender or Defender The aduantage is strongly holden of many to be in the offender yea in somuch that if two minding to offend in their fight it is thought to be in him that first striketh or thrusteth Others strongly hold opinion that the warder absolutely hath still the aduātage but these opinions as they are contrary the one to the other so are they contrarie to true fight as may well be seene by these short examples If the aduantage be in the warder then it is not good anie time to strike or thrust if the aduantage be in the striker or thruster then were it a friuolous thing to learne to ward or at anie time to seeke to ward since in warding lieth disaduantage Now may it plainly by these examples appeare that if there be anie perfection in fight that both sides are deceiued in their opinions because if the striker or thruster haue the aduantage then is the warder still in danger of wounds or death And againe if the warder hath the aduantage then is the striker or thruster in as great daunger to defend himselfe against the warder because the warder from his wards taketh aduantage of the striker or thruster vpon euerie blow or thrust that shall be made against him Then thus I conclude that if there be perfection in the Science of Defence they are all in their opinons deceiued and that the truth may appeare for the satisfaction of all men this is my resolution there is no aduantage absolutely nor disaduantage in striker thruster or warder and there is a great aduantage in the striker thruster warder but in this maner in the perfection of fight the aduantage consisteth in fight betweene partie and partie that is whosoeuer winneth or gaineth the place in true pace space and time hath the aduantage whether he be striker thruster or warder And that is my resolution Of Spanish fight vvith the Rapier THe Spaniard is now thought to be a better man with his Rapier then is the Italian Frenchman high Almaine or anie other countrie man whatsoeuer because they in their Rapier-fight stand vpon so manie intricate trickes that in all the course of a mans life it shall be hard to learne them and if they misse in doing the least of them in their fight they are in danger of death But the Spaniard in his fight both safely to defend himselfe and to endanger his enemie hath but one onely lying and two wards to learne wherein a man with small practise in a verie short time may become perfect This is the maner of Spanish fight they stand as braue as they can with their bodies straight vpright narrow spaced with their feet continually mouing as if they were in a dance holding forth their armes and Rapiers verie straight against the face or bodies of their enemies this is the only lying to accomplish that kind of fight And this note that as long as any man shall lie in that maner with his arme and point of his Rapier straight it shall be impossible for his aduersarie to hurt him because in that straight holding forth of his arme which way soeuer a blow shall be made against him by reason that his Rapier hilt lyeth so farre before him he hath but a verie litle way to moue to make his ward perfect in this maner If a blow be made at the right side of the head a verie litle mouing of the hand with the knuckles vpward defendeth that side of the head or bodie and the point being still out straight greatly endangereth the striker and so likewise if a blow be made at the left side of the head a verie small turning of the wrist with the knuckles downward defendeth that side of the head and bodie and the point of the Rapier much indangereth the hand arme face or bodie of the striker and if anie thrust be made the wards by reason of the indirections in mouing the feet in maner of dauncing as aforesaid maketh a perfect ward and still withall the point greatly endangereth the other And thus is the Spanish fight perfect so long as you can keepe that order and soone learned and therefore to be accounted the best fight with the Rapier of all other But note how this Spanish fight is perfect and you shall see no longer then you can keepe your point straight against your aduersarie as for example I haue heard the like iest There was a cunning Doctor at his first going to sea being doubtfull that he should be sea-sicke an old woman perceiuing the same said vnto him Sir I pray be of good comfort I will teach you a tricke to auoid that doubt here is a fine pibble stone if you please to accept it take it with you and when you be on ship-bord put it in your mouth and as long as you shall keepe the same in your mouth vpon my credit you shall neuer vomit the Doctor beleeued her and tooke it thankfully at her hands and when he was at sea he began to be sicke whereupon he presently put the stone in his mouth there kept
for lacke of vse tell howe to strike a sound blow Of the vantages and sufficiencie of the short Sword fight in battell THe short Sword and Sword and Dagger are perfect good weapons and especially in seruice of the Prince What a braue weapon is a short sharpe light Sword to carie to draw to be nimble withall to strike to cut to thrust both strong and quicke And what a goodly defence is a strong single hilt when men are clustering and hurling together especially where varietie of weapons be in their motions to defend the hand head face and bodies from blowes that shal be giuen sometimes with Swordes sometimes with two handed Swordes battell Axe Halbardes or blacke Billes and sometimes men shal be so neare together that they shall haue no space scarce to vse the blades of their Swordes belowe their wastes then their hilts their handes being aloft defendeth from the blowes their handes armes heads faces and bodies then they lay on hauing the vse of blowes and Gripes by force of their armes with their hilts strong blowes at the head face armes bodies and shoulders and manie times in hurling together scope is giuen to turne downe their points with violent thrusts at their faces and bodies by reason of the shortnesse of their blades to the mightie annoyance discomfort and great destruction of their enimies One valiant man with a Sword in his hand will doe better seruice then ten Italians or Italienated with the Rapiers That all maner of double weapons or weapons to be vsed with both handes haue aduantage against the single Rapier or single Sword there is no question to be made That the Sword and Buckler hath the vantage against the Sword and Dagger THe Dagger is an imperfect ward although borne out straight to make the Space narrow whereby by a litle mouing of the hand may be sufficient to saue both sides of the head or to breake the thrust from the face or body yet for lacke of the circumference his hand will lie too high or too low or too weake to defend both blow and thrust if he lye straight with narrow space which is best to breake the thrust then he lieth too weake and too lowe to defend his head from a strong blow if he lye high that is strong to defend his head but then his space wil be too wide to breake the thrust from his bodie The Dagger serueth well at length to put by a thrust and at the halfe Sword to crosse the Sword blade to driue out the Agent and put him in danger of his life and safely in anie of these two actions to defend himselfe But the Buckler by reason of his circumference and weight being well caried defendeth safely in all times and places whether it be at the point halfe Sword the head bodie and face from all maner of blowes and thrustes whatsoeuer yet I haue heard manie hold opinion that the Sword and Dagger hath aduantage of the Sword and Buckler at the Close by reason of the length and point of the Dagger and at the point of the Sword they can better see to ward then with a Buckler But I neuer knew anie that wanne the Close with the Dagger vpon the Sword and Buckler but did wish himselfe out againe for distance being broken iudgement faileth for lacke of time to iudge and the eie is deceiued by the swift motion of the hand and for lacke of true Space with the dagger hand which cannot be otherwise for lacke of the circumference to defend both blow and thrust it is impossible for lacke of true Space in iust time the agent hauing gotten the true place to defend one thrust or blow of an hundred And it is most certaine whosoeuer closeth with Sword and Dagger against the Sword and Buckler is in great danger to be slaine Likewise at the point within distance if he stand to defend both blow and thrust with his Dagger for lacke of true space and distance if he had the best eye of anie man and could see perfectly which way the thrust or blow commeth and when it commeth as it is not to be denied but he may yet his space being too large it helpeth him nothing because one mans hand being as swift as another mans hand both being within distance he that striketh or thrusteth hurteth the warder the reason is this the Agent being in the first motion although in his offence further to go then the warder to defend yet the warders space being too large the blow or thrust wil be performed home before the warder can come to the true place to defend himselfe and although the warder doe perfectly see the blow or thrust comming so shall he see his owne ward so farre from the true place of his defence that although he doe at that instant time plainly see the blow or thrust comming it shal be impossible for him to recouer the true place of his ward till he be wounded But let the warder with the dagger say that it is not true which I haue said for as he hath eies to behold the blow or thrust cōming so hath he as good time to defend himself Herein he shal find himself deceiued to this is the reason the hand is the swiftest motion the foot is the slowest without distance the hand is tied to the motion of the feet wherby the time of the hand is made as slow as the foot because thereby we redeeme euerie time lost vpon his comming by the slow motion of the foot haue time therby to iudge whē how he can performe any actiō whatsoeuer and so haue we the time of the hand to the time of the feet Now is the hād in his owne course more swifter then the foot or eye therfore within distance the eye is deceiued iudgement is lost and that is another cause that the warder with the dagger The eye is deceiued by the swift motion of the hād although he haue perfect eyes is stil within distance deceiued For proofe that the hand is more swifter then the eye thereby deceiueth the eyes let two stand within distance let one of thē stand still to defend himself let the other florish false with his hand and he shall continually with the swift motions of his hand deceiue the eyes of him that standeth watching to defend himselfe shal continually strike him in diuerse places with his hand Againe take this for an example that the eyes by swift motions are deceiued turne a turne-wheele swift you shall not be able to discerne with your best eies how many spokes be in the wheele no nor whether there be any spokes at all or whereof the wheele is made and yet you see when the wheele standeth still there is a large distance betweene euerie spoke He that will not beleeue that the swift motion of the hand in fight will deceiue the eye shal stare abroad with his eyes feele himself soundly
there is one dozen for you and here is another for me This was one of the valiantest Fencers that came from beyond the seas to teach Englishmen to fight and this was one of the manliest frayes that I haue hard of that euer he made in England wherin he shewed himselfe a farre better man in his life then in his profession he was for he professed armes but in his life a better Christian He set forth in print a booke for the vse of the Rapier and Dagger the which he called his practise I haue read it ouer and because I finde therein neither true rule for the perfect teaching of true fight nor true ground of true fight neither sence or reason for due proofe thereof I haue thought it friuolous to recite any part therin contained yet that the truth hereof may appeare let two mē being wel experienced in the Rapier and Dagger fight choose any of the best branches in the same booke make trial with force and agility without the which the truth betweene the true false fight cannot be knowne they shall find great imperfections therein And againe for proofe that there is no truth neither in his rules groūds or Rapier-fight let triall be made in this maner Proofes against the Rapier fight Set two vnskilfull men together at the Rapier and Dagger being valiant and you shall see that once in two boutes there shall either one or both of them be hurt Then set two skilfull men together being valiant at the Rapier and Dagger and they shall do the like Then set a skilful Rapier and Dagger-man the best that can be had and a valiant man hauing no skill together at Rapier Dagger and once in two bouts vpon my credit in all the experience I haue in fight the vnskilful man do the other what he can for his life to the contrarie shall hurt him and most commonly if it were in continuance of fight you shall see the vnskilfull man to haue the aduantage And if I should chuse a valiant man for seruice of the Prince or to take part with me or anie friend of mine in a good quarrell I would chuse the vnskilfull man being vnencombred with false fights because such a man standeth free in his valour with strength and agilitie of bodie freely taketh the benefit of nature fighteth most braue by loosing no oportunitie either soundly to hurt his enemie or defend himselfe but the other standing for his Defence vpon his cunning Italian wardes Pointa reuersa the Imbrocata Stocata and being fast tyed vnto these false fightes standeth troubled in his wits and nature therby racked through the largenesse or false lyings or Spaces whereby he is in his fight as a man halfe maimed loosing the oportunity of times benefit of nature whereas before being ignorant of these false Rapier fightes standing in the free libertie of nature giuen him by god he was able in the field with his weapō to answere the valiantest man in the world but now being tied vnto that false fickle vncertaine fight thereby hath lost in nature his freedome is now become scarce halfe a man and euerie boye in that fight is become as good a man as himselfe Ieronimo this gallant was valiant and would fight indeed and did as you shall heare He being in a Coch with a wench that he loued well there was one Cheese a verie tall man in his fight naturall English for he fought with his Sword and Dagger and in Rapier-fight had no skill at all This Cheese hauing a quarrell to Ieronimo ouertooke him vpon the way himselfe being on horsebacke did call to Ieronimo and bad him come forth of the Coch or he would fetch him for he was come to fight with him Ieronimo presently went forth of the Coch and drew his Rapier and dagger put himself into his best ward or Stocata which ward was taught by himselfe and Vincentio and by them best allowed of to be the best ward to stand vpon in fight for life either to assault the enemie or stand and watch his comming which ward it should seeme he ventured his life vpon but howsoeuer with all the fine Italienated skill Ieronimo had Cheese with his Sword within two thrustes ran him into the bodie and slue him Yet the Italian teachers will say that an Englishmā cannot thrust straight with a Sword because the hilt will not suffer him to put the forefinger ouer the Crosse nor to put the thumbe vpon the blade nor to hold the pummell in the hand whereby we are of necessitie to hold fast the handle in the hand by reason whereof we are driuen to thrust both compasse and short whereas with the Rapier they can thrust both straight and much further then we can with the Sword because of the hilt and these be the reasons they make against the Sword FINIS