Rapier and withall shal strike at the teacher at which time the teacher must remooue with his right foote a little aside followed with his lefte and shifting a little with his bodie shall beate outwarde the thrust or stoccata of his scholler and shall deliuer an imbroccata to his scholler as I haue tolde you before in the beginning L. I praie you therefore tell me if there be any other points in this ward V. With all my heart and therefore I must tell you of an imbroccata in manner of a stoccata which is verie good and excellent as well for practise of plaie as for fight but they must be most readie both with hand and foot that vse it therefore when the scholler shall find his masters Rapier in this ward that it bee helde vpright or toward his face then the scholler shall winne ground a little with his right foote beeing mooued somewhat aside and withall let him remoue with his left foot that it be toward the right foot of the teacher and that your right foot be against the middest of his left as I haue said before and in remouing let him turne his Rapier hand that the pointe bee conueighed vnder his masters weapon which being done promptly and readily his point will be towards the belly of his master which must bee followed with the left hand let the scholler lift vp his hand to the ward that his fist be somewhat high and let him take heed that he loose not his point because the teacher may giue him a stoccata or thrust in the belly or face for that he hath lost his time L. But I pray you cannot the teacher then defende himselfe V. He may do the self same which I told you before when I spake of the imbroccata deliuered aboue the Rapier and certainly this is a verie good play when it is performed with good measure and great agilitie and readines But besides this I will now shew you the man-riuersa in this ward Therfore when the scloer shal find his teacher with his point somewhat at length that it is not towards his face but towardes his belly then must the scholler with his left hand beat aside his masters rapier not at the point but in the strength and middest of the weapon and withall must remooue with his lefte foot both which must be done at once and let the same foot be against the right foot of the master as he did before in the foine or imbroccata deliuered aboue and vnder the rapier and the teacher at the same time must doo the like remoouing with his right foote as I haue sayd before And as the scholler remoues and beates aside the weapon let his left hand be sodainly vppon the ward of his teacher and in giuing the say de riuersa or crosse blowe let the scholler skilfully turne his Rapier hand that the knuckle or ioynt may be toward the head of the teacher for otherwise he may giue him a slicing or cutting blow which we call Stramazone therefore let him performe those things skilfully and at once and especially let him beware that he doo not beate aside his teachers weapon toward the point because he shoulde be in danger to receiue a thrust or stoccata either in the face or belly Besides the scholler so that he find his teacher in the same ward that his Rapier bee somewhat at length not directly vpon the face may strike the said riuersa or crosse blowe at his legs but beating aside the Rapier with his hande must bee done readily and hee must remoue with his hande in such sorte that his Rapier when the lefte hand beates it by may be betweene his owne hand and his teachers weapon and with this readinesse must hee strike this riuerso but withall his lefte hand must bee vppon the warde of his teacher L. But tell mee I praie you is it not all one if I take hold of the arme of my teacher or aduersarie in sted of laying my hande vppon his warde V. No in deede for if your enemie were skilfull in this art whilest you catch him by the hand or arme hee might with his lefte hand seize vpon his weapon put you in danger of your life So that you must take heed to haue all aduantage of your enemie that hee may not in anie sort do you anie harme in dooing of which you shall alwaies be to good for him L. But tell me of friendship if you take this ward to be good as well for the field as the schoole V. This ward which I haue shewed you in my opinion is verie profitable to bee taught because it breeds a iudgement of the time and a readinesse and nimblenesse as well of the hand as the foote together with the body and from this you come prepared to learne other wards with more facilitie and to haue a greater insight and vnderstanding in many things so that for many respects it is verie commodious good necessarie Now also for fight this ward is verie good to bee vnderstood and to bee fullye had and learned with beeing much practised therein and made verie readie as well wyth the hand as the foote without loosing anie time and so much the rather for that we see many Nations vse this ward in fight verie much especially with the single rapier both Italians French-men Spaniards Almanes Wherfore I aduise euery one to seeke to vnderstand it learne it and acquaint himselfe with it that hee may come to that readinesse and knowledge to doo all at once without making anie fault or false point in the said ward by reason of many inconueniences which haue chaunced and which daily chance which I will speake of when time serueth but in the meane while we will go forward with this second ward in which the scholler shall learne to giue the stoccata and imbroccata L. I thinke my selfe very fortunate that it is my hap to finde you at this time in so pleasant and conuenient a place where we may passe the time in some discourse vnder the shade of these delightfull trees and therefore according to your promise I praye shewe me your second ward which I shall be attentiue to marke V. M. Luke if all men were louers of vertue as your selfe is these things would be helde in greater account but thorough the loue of vices wherewith men are caried away they are little regarded wherefore I wil doo my best endeuour to instruct you and all other that are louers of vertue imparting vnto then that knowledge which God hath giuen me Therefore for your better vnderstanding I will first shew you how this warde is good either to offend or defend and cheefelye with the single Swoorde and the gloue which is most in vse among Gentlemen and therefore I aduise you and all other to learne to break the thrustes with the left hand both stoccataes and imbroccates as I purpose to shewe you L. But I praye you tell me is
his times proportions and to know howe with skill to shifte and moue his bodie to be readie and nimble as well with his foot as hand otherwise by his owne meanes he may be wounded or slaine so that he had need to bee verie cunning and perfect in these matters wherevpon many good masters do practise their schollers in these assalts to make them readie But I will let them passe and will satisfie you concerning the skil of this ward which you haue required to know Therefore I saie when you shal stand vpon this ward and that you be assailed and sette vpon keep your point short that your enemie may not finde it with his and look that you be readie with your hand and if he make such a false proffer as I spake of before you being in the same ward in proportion may with great readines put a stoccata to his face shifting sodainly with your left foot being a little folowed with the right and that sodainly your Rapier hand be drawen backe But if he shoulde giue a stoccata to your face with ful force from your rapier side outward you may a litle shrink with your bodie beat his point with your hand outward from your right side toward your weapon withall you may strike a riuersa Furthermore if he should pul his rapier within at the same instant to be more sure you must carrie your right foot a little aside toward his left hand and with great readines of countertime you must put a thrust or stoccata to his face turning your hand most nimbly So also in such like assalts if your enemie shuld come to strike down right blows or riuersi do as I haue told you before in mouing your hand with great readinesse and finding your time and proportion Wherefore I hold this Ward to bee verie good as well to assaile as for to tarrie and watch for an aduauntage And you must especially take heede that you put not your selfe in danger because if your enemy should finde you without your sword at length beeing nimble strong striking vpon your weapon he might make a passage with greate espeede and make himselfe master as well of you as of your weapon and put you in daunger of your life Whereas contrary-wise when you doo holde your Rapier shorte as I haue tolde you and that your pointe is towardes his face you make him afraide especially when hee comes forward with his hand and bodie to finde your weapon with his he must needes come so farre that you maye easily hurt him without being hurt Besides all this if your enemy should come to deliuer a stoccata imbroccata mandritta or riuersa you haue great aduauntage for hee cannot so readily strike nor with such suretie as you may L. But I pray you tel me this if mine enemie should charge me with his weapon at length as putting forth halfe his weapon in his ward must I answere him with the like V. This warde truely is verie good against all other wards in my opinion especially if you knewe howe to charge your enemy to find time proportiō to strike knowing how to turne and shift your bodie as well on the one side as the other and vnderstanding the skill of fight and beeing most nimble you may aunswere him with it But yet I would haue you to marke and consider well in what sorte your enemie behaueth himselfe and howe hee holdeth the pointe of his weapon if that you finde him holding his pointe alofte that it bee aboue yours when that you holde it right against his face you must seeke to winne grounde a little wyth your right foote before you remooue and your hande must be nimble and readie at that verie instant make three times with your feet at once mouing a little with your right foot a little with your left and againe a little with your right But this must proceed from very great skill and knowledge for if your left foot tarrie behind he may giue you a pricke in the face or in the belly or a cut vpon the legges Wherefore you must so come forward with your right foote at once that you may haue the weapon of your enemie with your hand and your point towards his belly So that as you see many verie many things may be performed by this ward if as I haue sayd one be skilfull and nimble But this I would aduise you when you would make these passages or put your weapon vnder your enemies that you doe them not in vaine nor without some aduauntage There are many which oftentimes by chance and hap doe many things in fight of which if a man shoulde aske them a reason they themselues know not how they haue done them And sometimes men verie sufficient and skilfull at their weapon are hurt either by their euill fortune that they suffer themselues to bee carried awaie and ouermastered too much with choler and rage or else for that they make no account of their enemie Wherefore as well in this ward as in the other take heede that you suffer not your selfe to bee blinded and carried awaie with rage and furie L. I perceiue verie well that the secrets of this noble arte are verie great that with great trauell and paines a man must come to the knowledge and skill both to rightly vnderstande and practise it for otherwise I see that by verie small errour a man comes in daunger of his life But I praie you instruct me somwhat farther as if at this present I were to vndertake a combat with some valiaunt man in defence of my credite and my lyfe V. In truth the secretes which are in like fightes are such that vnlesse one haue a skilfull man in this science to instruct him and that loues him he shall neuer come to the right vnderstanding of them There are manye which will thinke they knowe inough but most commonly are deceiued and others there are which the master or teacher loues and shewes them faithfullie all that he can and yet they can neuer come to anie greate matter in this science but they who are framed of nature as it were both in respect of abilities of bodie and minde fit to learne this arte if they vse the help of a skilfull teacher come to great perfection And these abilities are the gifts of God and nature wherefore as in others so in this worthie arte you shall finde some more apt than others and especiallie to giue a right thrust or stoccata which is the chiefest matter of all For all the skil of this art in effect is nothing but a stoccata wherefore if you shall haue occasion to fight I could wish you to practise this short ward and to stand sure vpon it to seckey our aduauntage with time which when you haue found giue the stoccata withall somewhat moouing your right foot and at the same instant draw back your left let your rapier with your
beware that in breaking his point you put not downe his dagger arme but hold it firme neither draw it in least your enemie hit you on the face or giue you an imbrocata aboue your dagger but bearing your dagger firme and straight if your enemie should answere your stoccata he might be in daunger to receiue a thrust If your enemie carrie his sword short in an open ward you maie come straight on him and giue him a puntariuersa either in the belly or face with such readines that your sword be halfe within his dagger before hee can breake it turning nimblye your hand toward your left side so that in offering to breake he shall make himselfe be hit either in the face or in the belly and forget not to retire an halfe pace with the right foot accompanied with the left Moreouer if your enimie lie with his sword alofte and the point downwards you maie charge him foure waies first on the right side closing your weapons in a lowe gard and your right foot within the right foot of your enimie toward his left side and then being within distance giue him a stoccata sudenly drawing home your point againe or you may play with your bodie but hold your dagger firm marking as it were with one eye the motion of your aduersarie and with the other the aduantage of thrusting Secondly you may make a stoccata to his bellye not resolutely but to cause him to answere you and then you must playe with your bodye toward your lefte side and bearing the thrust on your right side passe a little on his right side and make a riuersa aboue his sworde Thirdly you may come vpon his point with your dagger closing well your weapons and then beating away his point with your dagger in the same instant put a stoccata either to his face or bellye but in anye case stirre not your dagger arme least hee falsifie and giue you an imbroccata aboue the dagger therefore remember to beare your arme straite and only your wrist higher or lower Fourthly you may charge him on the right side in the same warde but contrariwise for where before you bent your body on the right side you must now turne on the left so that his pointe may still be without your body and hold your dagger at length then being within measure you may suddenly passe with your left foot carrying the point of your dagger vpward and turne your point vnder his Rapier that it goe directly to his belly in manner of an imbroccata in doing whereof you must turne your body well lifting vp your sworde hand and with your Rapier and Dagger assure your selfe of his otherwise your weapons lying open if your enemye bee skilfull and know how to turn his hand hee might hit you either in the bellye or face with a riuersa or cut you on the head for euery disorder endangereth a mans life Furthermore if your enemy carry his sword low charge him directly turning your body on the right side with your dagger at length the pointe hanging something toward the ground and then as you finde his dagger so make your thrust if high to his belly if lowe to his face if his head be aboue put a stoccata to his face by a trauersa as it were vnder his dagger and forget not to retire withall with your right foot and if hee hold out his sword with the the pointe vpward when you are toward his right side you shall put your self in the ward aforesaid bending your body on your lefte side and so gaining ground make a stoccata vnder his sworde so that your dagger be vnder his rapier and keepe it without your bodye from your left side and your point in his belly and remember alwaies that in taking your enemies pointe you stir not your dagger arme because hee may then endanger you as I haue before said Moreouer if your enemie put himselfe in the same gard with his rapier at length and you in your gard with your right foot formost and your point held short so that your right foot be opposite to his you shall little and little steale ground with your right foote and followe with the left till you are within distance and then with agilitie thrust either to his belly or face and this is a notable thing if it bee well vnderstoode for beside the knowledg it requireth practise that you learne not to approche neerer to your enemy then you may saue your self otherwise you may charge him on the right side bending your body to the left side and then hauing gotten the aduantage you must suddenly passe with your left foote turning withall your pointe vnder his sworde that it ascend to his bellye and clap your dagger as neere as you can to the hiltes of his swoorde all which together with the motion of the body must be done at one instant I shall not need to discourse much of your enemies holding of his dagger but as your enemy carrieth it either high or low so I say you must with discretion thrust either to his face or belly but you must bee verye well exercised in these passataes for perfourming them with quicknes of the bodye albeit you happen to faile of your purpose yet your enemie shal be able to take no aduantage therof but you shal be ready to anoy him stil either aboue or beneath wherein you must followe him in mouing his body so shall you stil holde your aduantage and hit him where you will if he thrust again you shall break toward your right side and reply with a riuersa to the face Againe if your enemie beare his rapier long and straight you may charge him and beating away his sworde with your owne sudenly turn in your point to his face or belly which is a verie good thrust being done with great agilitie If you perceiue your enemies rapier farre out that he go about to falsifie vpon you either aboue or vnderneath your dagger then put your selfe in your ward with your weapons close together and as low as you may holding firme your dagger hande and whatsoeuer falsifieng he maketh neuer moue awaie your Dagger hande neither lifte it high or lowe to get your enemies Rapier and if you lye belowe in the ward when he falsifieth remaine so without styrring any higher for otherwise hee might at that time finde fit opportunitie to hit you if he be skilfull in wepons but follow him close for if he once thrust resolutely be it aboue or beneath he must needs lose his whole Rapier and you may easily hit him and in your thrusting stand firme with your body and dagger Also if he holde his dagger straight vpward and that the point of his rapier be at the hiltes of his dagger as you shall finde occasion so doe that is if his dagger hand be high thrust a stoccata to him vnder his dagger if lowe make a stoccata to his face either close by the
right foote bee without side of his right foote and when hee giues the foresaide thrust take heed you strike neither with your Rapier nor Dagger if you meane to enter vpon him with a passata because hee hauing once gained of you both opportunitie of time and measure of grounde you endaunger your selfe verie much but you shall onelye turne your Rapier hande inwarde passing speedelie with your lefte foot to his right foote placing the middest of your right foote iust at the heele of your lefte foote holding your bodie on the left side As for your Dagger that must bee helde vp with the pointe alofte to the ende that it maie bee master of his Rapier and so shall hurte him either vnder or aboue his Dagger But you must beware and take greate heede not to passe directlie right vppon him when you make your passata with your lefte foote towarde his right foote for if that he bee anie thing skilfull hee maie giue you a stoccata or imbroccata Wherfore wheÌ„ you make towards him see you throw your selfe wholie on the lefte side accompanying your left foot with your right in the manner aforesaid Furthermore if your perceiue your enemies Rapier pointe to bee borne towardes your right side hauing gotten vppon him with your right foote passe with your lefte foote verie speedilie and quicklie to his right foote and carrying your Dagger as in the manner aforesaid and giue him an imbroccata vpon his Rapier But if you finde his Rapier point born vpon your bodie you shall turne your bodie on your lefte side and with great celeritie drawe your point vnder his Rapier that the point thereof be vpon his bellie and your left foote by the right your dagger being readie with the point vpward to command his rapier resting your bodie on your right side Furthermore if you perceiue his Rapier to be long and the point thereof borne somewhat high you shall neuerthelesse answere him in this ward now not holding your Rapier hand on the inside of your knee but carrying your dagger straight out and winding your bodie on your lefte side you shall make semblaunce to beate by his weapon with your dagger and with great quicknesse you shall draw the point of your dagger vnder his Rapier readily turning your bodie vppon your right side and carrying your right foote together with your left somewhat towards his lefte side c. But beware how you vse this passata vnlesse you bee well practised in it and see you holde stiffe your dagger hande for if you suffer your hand to swarue anie thing downward your enemie maie giue you an imbroccata in the face Moreouer in your passata lift not your dagger too high because if he bee skilfull with whome you fight whilest you lifte vp your dagger or holde your Rapier and Dagger too open and not inough closed hee maie retire a little and so giue you a stoccata or imbroccata insomuch that you must haue an especiall care of all or or else you cannot auoide daunger of death Againe when you make this passata see that you remaine not with your lefte foote he cause he may giue you a mandritta vppon the legge or else a stoccata in the bellie Also in the same passata see that your bodie rest not wholie vppon your lefte side because that so dooing you shall your selfe beare your enemies Rapier pointe vpon your face Besides this when you lie in this warde and make vppon your enemie towardes his right side if you perceiue that hee holde his Rapier hande somewhat high and farre off from his bodie followe you well in this warde and getting sufficient grounde of him you maie giue him a stoccata in the bellie and in giuing it see that the pointe of your Rapier enter vnder the middest of his being your selfe readie to winde awaie with your bodie Furthermore in charging him if you finde that his pointe bee carried to the ground-ward turne steadfastly vppon your lefte side and holde your dagger out in length towards his right side and if you can beate the middest of his Rapier with your Dagger at the same instant giue him a stoccata You maie also in the same warde make a passata with your lefte foote But if perhappes your enemie when you lie in this warde should make semblaunce to thrust you not meaning so to do but onelie for vauntage so you bee in equall measure answere him and loose not that time but if you be not in equall reach thrust not earnestly nor make a passata vppon him for so you shoulde endaunger your lyfe but in aunswering him make but a short thrust at him to the ende that if your enemie or aduersarie afterwarde make a true thrust or else come forwarde with his lefte foote to make a passata vppon you you maie sodainly turne your bodie on your lefte side and place your Dagger-hand right with your right knee And so you maie giue him a stoccata in the bâ—llie or else a riuersa vpon the legge and become maister of his weapon and by howe much the more strongly hee thrusteth and the more furiouslie hee entereth with the passata by so much the more easilie may you hurt him but haue a great and speciall regarde to doo it with much nimblenesse and dexteritie both of bodie and hand Furthermore if you finde his Rapier long in charging him you maie strike the middle of his Rapier with yours and sodainely giue him the punta riuersa but it must be done with great quicknesse of the hand beeing readie with your right foote to steppe towardes your enemies right side or else to recoile somewhat with your bodie backwardes as swiftly as you canne for else if your enemie at that instant shoulde enter with a passata something fiercelye your lyfe were in greate hazarde and especiallye if you shoulde make your thrust straight carrying your foote right towards his as manie doo but if you steppe with your right foote aside you maie verie easilye auoide the daunger Againe if you finde his Rapier point out at length you maie strike his Rapier with yours and giue him a greate mandritta or riuersa at the head but with greate swiftenesse of hand and bodie Also lying in the same warde towardes the right side of your enemie you may giue a false stoccata at his bellie and if your enemie doo happe to strike it backe with his Rapier you shall sodainely put the pointe of your Rapier ouer his and giue him a stoccata or punta riuersa vpon his face or his bellie if hee shoulde too much hang downe his hand at which time you must beare your right foote aside towardes his right side You maie also offer a false thrust at his face and if hee go about to strike it by with his Rapier you maie put your pointe vnder his Rapier and carrying your right foote side-waie giue him a stoccata in the bellie or in both these false thrusts when he beateth them by with his
worthie art that in truth I greatly esteeme and honor it and could wish that euery man of honour would seeke to know it and practise it that it might be more esteemed but now that I know the excellency of this art I would gladly know wherein consisteth the order and manner to vnderstand it V. Certes my freend L. I will not faile in that which I haue promised And therefore I wil begin this small worke to leaue some remembrance of me with these Gentlemen and my good freendes and with you who are desirous to vnderstand it and especially because I haue alwaies found you to be a louer of gentleman-like qualities L. I thanke you sir for your good will and good opinion conceiued of me and therfore according to the desire which you haue to make me vnderstand this worthie arte I require you to tell me with what weapon a good teacher minding to make a good scholler ought to begin V. Sol will yet I must tell you that I haue seene many braue sufficient men teach with great diuersitie and diuers sortes and fashions of play and I my selfe haue had many teachers and found them all to differ one from the other L. But I pray you of freendship tell me how there can be such disagreement since that all that art consisteth in down-right or crosse blowes thrustes foynes or ouerthwart prickes V. That which you say verilye is true but consider also that we see many precious stones and yet the one to be more esteemed then the other although they be of the same sorte and kinde and we see many excellent men which studie the same art and yet one is more esteemed then the other as well ingrauers as Painters the same is seene amongst learned men all are learned but one better learned then the other and the like is to be seene in all sciences and artes and so in this noble art God hath giuen more to one then to another I will begin therefore to tell you how that of many that teach some begin and enter their schollers with the rapier and Dagger some with the Rapier and Cloake some with the Rapier and Buckler and some with the Rapier alone some after one forte and some after an other L. Is it not all one for a scholler to begin with the Rapier alone or with the Rapier and Cloake or any other weapon may not he become a braue man as well with one weapon as with an other V. Surely they may proue well but not so well as those which begin with the true ground the which schollers should learne of good maisters and teachers should with all diligence teach their schollers L. And what I pray you is this ground V. The true foundation verily and the true beginning from whence you may learne all thinges belonging to this art is the Rapier alone and from it will I begin and you shal perceiue of what great importance this beginning is and how without it hardly or neuer any commeth to true skill and perfection yet proceed you to aske such questions as you shall thinke best and take good heede to that which I shall say for I will beginne as I tolde you L. In truth M. Vincent although as yet I haue no great skil yet me thinkes you haue reason in your assertion and that you haue got the right and true knowledge of this science and therefore I praye you shew me the reason why the Rapier alone is the ground and beginning of this art V. The reason as I take it is because that amongst Knightes Captaines and valiant Souldiours the Rapier is it which sheweth who are men of armes and of honour and which obtaineth right for those which are wronged and for this reason it is made with two edges and one point and being the weapon which ordinarily Noble men Knightes Gentlemen and Souldiours weare by their side as being more proper and fit to be worne then other weapons therefore this is it which must first be learned espcciallye being so vsuall to be worne and taught In my discourse therefore of this fight of the single Rapier I will speake onelye of three wardes L. Tell me I pray you firste how it is best to holde a mans Rapier in his hand and how to stand vpon his garde V. For your Rapier holde it as you shall thinke most fit and commodious for you but if I might aduise you you should not holde it after rhis fashion and specially with the second finger in the hylte for holding it in that sorte you cannot reach so farre either to strike director crosse blowes or to giue a foyne or thrust because your arme is not free and at liberty L. How then would you haue me holde it V I would haue you put your thumbe on the hylte and the next finger toward the edge of the Rapier for so you shall reach further and strike more readily L. You haue fully satisfied me concerning this matter but I pray you proceede and shew me how I must stand vpon my garde or assaile myne enemy V. So I will and as before I haue tolde you of diuersitie of teachers and varietie of wardes so in this poynt also must I tell you that mens fashions are diuers for some set vpon their enemies in running and there are other which assaile them with rage and furye after the fashion of Rammes and both these sortes of men for the moste parte are slaine and come to misfortune as may be seene in many places of such like fights Which I speak not as though those two fightes were not good for him which knowes how to vse them because that sometimes they are very necessary according as a man findes his enemy prepared with his weapon but then they must be doone with time and measure when you haue got your enemye at an aduantage with great dexteritie and readines But as for me I will shewe you the wardes which I my selfe vse the which if you well marke and obserue you cannot but vnderstand the art and withall keepe your bodye safe from hurte and danger L. At this present I take wonderfull delight in your companye and nothing pleaseth me so much as this discourse of yours to heare you giue me the reasons of those things which so much concerne the life and honour of a man wherefore performe that which you haue promised wherein you shall not onelye pleasure mee but many other gentlemen and Noble-men will thinke themselues to haue receiued a fauour at your handes therefore begin I pray you V. That which I haue promised you I will now performe therfore I say that when a teacher will begin to make a Scholler as for me I wil begin with the single Rapier and at this weapon will firste enter you to the ende you maye frame your hand your foote and your body all which partes must goe together and vnlesse you can stirre and moue all these together you shall neuer be able to
bodie shift vpon the left side because if your enemy be cunning he may sodainly aunswere you with a thrust and beate aside your weapon and therefore if you minde to giue a right stoccata there is no other waie to saue your selfe from harme But if your enemie bee cunning and skilfull neuer stand about giuing any foine or imbroccata but this thrust or stoccata alone neither it also vnlesse you be sure to hit him suffer your enemie to doo what he list onely stand you vpon a sure ward and when you finde opportunitie and time deliuer the stoccata and shift with your foot And this also you must marke that sometimes it is good to giue the stoccata to the right side which must bee doone when your enemies right foot is ouer against yours and sometimes to the lefte side Wherefore when you will deliuer a stoccata to the right side see that you go not aside with your foot but giue the thrust and then shifte backward with your left foot as also when you deliuer your stoccata to the left side you must shift aside with your right foot These things must be knowen much practised But if your enemie vse a mandritta or riuersa you haue had instructions already how to behaue your selfe There are many other secrets of this ward which cannot be written nor be made plaine or sufficiently expressed to bee vnderstoode And that it is so many Gentlemen can witnes who although they haue seene me doo yet coulde neither vnderstand nor practise them vntill that I shewed them the waie and then with much adoo and verie hardly Therefore I thinke I haue spoken inough concerning this ward and if you can perfourme all that I haue tolde you it will suffice this our discourse may pleasure many which take delight to vnderstand and learne these things but if they will repaire to the teachers of the arte they shal better and more fully vnderstand and conceiue of all because both knowledge and practise is required L. I would thinke my selfe happie Master Vincent if I coulde remember and perfourme all which you so courteouslie haue imparted vnto mee of the former fight and as farre as I maie I wyll doo my diligence to practise that which you haue taught but hauing found you thus friendlie and readie to shew me what fauour you may I am emboldned to trouble you farther and your curtesie hath increased my longing desire to know more in this matter and therfore I praie you make the vnderstand the other kind of fight which heretofore you haue tolde me of and you call it Punta riuersa V. I haue alredie shewed you of what importance profit the two former wardes are as well for exercise of plaie as for combat fight if a man will vnderstand practise them Now also perceiuing you so desirous to go forward I will not faile in anie part to make you vnderstand the excellencie of this third warde which notwithstanding is quite cōtrarie to the other two Because that in this you must stand with your feet euē together as if you were readie to sit down and your rapier hand must bee within your knee and your point against the face of your enemie and if your enemie put himselfe vpon the same ward you may giue a stoccata at length betweene his rapier and his arme which shall bee best performed reach farthest if you shift with your foot on the right side Moreouer if you would deliuer along stoccata and haue perceiued that your enemie would shrinke awaie you may if you list at that verie instant giue it him or remoue with your right foot a little back toward his left side and bearing backe your bodie that his point may misse your bellie you maie presentlie hit him on the brest with your hand or on the face a riuerso or on the legs but if your enemie would at that time free his point to giue you an imbroccata you may turn your bodie vpon your right knee so that the said knee bend toward the right side shifting with your body a little keepe your left hand ready vpon a soddaine to finde the weapon of your enemie and by this meanes you may giue him a punta riuersa a stoccata or a riuersa to his legs But to perform these matters you must be nimble of body much practised for although a man haue the skill vnderstand the whole circumstance of this play yet if he haue not taken paines to get an vse and readines therein by exercise as in all other artes the speculation without practise is imperfect so in this when he commeth to performance hee shall perceiue his want and put his life in hazard and ieopardie L. But tell me I pray you if my enemy should firste strike at me how may I defend my selfe V. If your enemy be first to strike at you and if at that instant you would make him a passata or remoue it behoueth you to be very ready with you feet and hand and beeing to passe or enter you muste take heede when hee offereth a stoccata that you doo not put it aside with your weapon because if hee should finde you in good time and measure you could not so readilye put it by as hee should be readye to giue it you But when that hee offereth the saide stoccata be readye to turne the knuckle of your hand toward you right side and let your point be right vpon the bellie of your enemie and let your left foote accompanie it in such sorte that the pointe thereof be against the right foot of your enemie and let your right foot follow the left that the middest thereof be straight against the heele of your lefte the one being distant from the other halfe a pace that you may stand more sure vpon your feete and be more redy to perform at things which shal be required L. But tell me I praie you whether this warde may serue me to any other purpose then for this stoccata V. If you minde to deliuer a stoccata like to the before mentioned you must win ground with your right foot toward the right side of your enemie and as you finde the time and measure giue him a stoccata either in the belly or in the face and if your enemie shrink at that time that you deliuer your stoccata it stands vpon you to be most readye and nimble shifting with your bodie and weapon and somewhat with your right foote a little aside towards the right side of your enemie turning readilie your bodie and knee vpon your right side so that your enemie himselfe shal come with his bodie vpon your pointe and the more furious he commeth the greater danger shall he incurre because he cannot helpe nor recouer himselfe But remember to thrust alwaies at the face if you may for therby you shall the better saue your selfe and haue the greater aduantage Moreouer if your enemie should make a false proffer or
deliuer a little stoccata to the ende to procure you to answere him that presently hee might make you a passata or remoue if you be in good proportion and measure if he thrust at you answere him and if you will you may giue it him full and home or somewhat scant and with great agilitie whilest he maketh his passata or remoue turn readie your bodie with your knee but yet vpon the right side and take heede you shift not with your feete at this time but onelie turne your bodie as I haue tolde you otherwise you should be in danger of your life how little soeuer you shrincke backe and therefore I aduise you to beware that you goe not beyonde that which I haue taught you Morouer if you can win ground on the right side of your enemie and become master of his sword you need not thrust a stoccata but rather passe on him with your point aboue his sword turning wel your hand as in an imbroccata or else giue him a stoccata by a fincture vnder his swoord hand which is sooner done remembring to passe forward with your left foot toward his right and so let your right foot follow your left but beware in any case that you neuer passe directly vpon your enemy for endangering your life If your aduersary thrust directly to your face within measure answer him with a stoccata in the same time that he lifteth vp his hande but if you bee out of distance answere not for then you put your selfe in danger And when your enemie offereth a stramazone or back blowe receiue it on your sword very readilie turning your pointe and passing speedly with your left legge as before taught but if he make a punta riuersa breake it with your lefte hand toward your right side and giue him another and if he vse any fincture or false thrust answer him not Now if your enemie hold his sword out at length and you perceiue his pointe to be anie whit without your bodie especiallie on the left side you must charge him being readie with your lefte hand so that finding his point any whit high you shal falsefie with your sword hand vnder his Swoorde passing forward with your lefte foote in the same instant still following your enemie without retiring for so you shall be commaunder of his Swoord and may vse him at your pleasure but remember to be very redy for you must make but on time take good heed that you stād not stil in doing this for so if your aduersary haue any skil he may greatlye annoye you either with thrustes or blowes And oftentimes your enemy wil giue such aduantage of purpose to haue you passe on him therefore you must well vnderstand what you doo L. I praie you is this all the vse of that ward V. When you perfectlie vnderstand your weapons it maie serue you otherwise so that you hold not your swoord hand within your knee for if you finde your enemie to beare his swoord long being in distance you maie sodenlie beat it aside with your swoord and withall giue him a stoccata in the bellie which must bee done all in one time speedilie turning your bodie on the right side or else retyring with your right foote toward the right side of your enemie otherwise if you stand vpon it as manie doo you might much endanger your selfe thereby for if your aduersarie being furious should passe on you in the same time hee might put your life in ieopardie but by the agilitie of the bodie it is easilie to be auoided and againe when you finde his point long you maie breake it aside with your swoorde and giue him a Stramazone or a riuersa to the head but with readines of the bodie or you maie thrust a stoccata either to the bellie or face and if your enemie offer to breake it with his swoorde you maie falsefie soddenlie aboue his swoorde and if he breake it aboue falfesie againe vnderneath his swoorde or if you be readie with foote and bodie you maie passe on him whilste he breaketh your fincture with his sword fastning your left hand on the hiltes of his swoord and you maie giue him a stoccata either direct or with a riuersa but looke that you laie not holde of his arme for if your enemie perceiue it hee maie change his Rapier sodainly into his other hand so haue you at a great aduantage therfore I teach you to laie hold on the hilts because you haue then commanded his sword surely and if your enemie finding your point out at length would beat it aside with his rapier to passe vppon you retire your left foote a little backward and with greate promptnesse in the same instant falsifie with a riuersa either to the face or bellye of which kinde of thrusts you shal often haue vse but you must be verie readie and well practised therein therefore you must labour it that when occasion require you may performe it THE FIRST DAYES Discourse concerning the Rapier and Dagger Luke IF anie had euer cause to bee sorrowfull for their departure from friends parents then had I iust occasion to take our departures one from the other most grieuous And therfore our meeting againe in so pleasant a place as this must needes be verie ioyfull and delightsome wherefore among other fauours you haue doone mee in instructions of the single Rapier I intreate you to shew me the lyke touching Rapier and Dagger V. That which I haue heretofore shewed you is but small in regarde of that I meane to teach you hereafter so that hauing deliuered you the manner of the single Rapier you may the better conceiue my discourse of the Rapier and Dagger because it serueth much to the vse thereof and it shall not be necessary wholye to repeate the same but I will onelye shewe you how to put your selfe in garde with your Rapier and Dagger for if I desire to make a good scholler I would my self put his Rapier in one hand and his Dagger in the other and so place his body in the same sorte that I haue before spoken of in the single Rapier setting his right foot formost with the point of his Rapier drawne in short and the Dagger helde out at length bending a little his right knee with the heele of his right foote directlye against the midst of the lefte causing him to goe round toward the left side of his aduersary in a good measure that he may take his aduantage and then I would thrust a stoccata to his bellye beneath his Dagger remouing my right foote a little toward his left side L. And what must your scholler doe the whilste V. The scholler must break it downward with the point of his Dagger toward his left side and then put a stoccata to my belly beneath my Dagger in which time I breaking it with the pointe of my Dagger goe a little aside toward his lefte hand and make an imbroccata aboue his
a waie with his dagger moue your right foote a little backward and sodeinly turne your point ouer his dagger and make an imbrocata to him for in his passing he looseth his dagger and whilest he passeth you may retire a little into your ward and make a stoccata to his face and suche like whereof I cannot now stand to write The first Booke THE SECOND DAYES Discourse of Rapier and Dagger Luke I Haue been so well satisfied with this firste ward of Rapier and Dagger that I should thinke my selfe verye happie to put in practise as much as you deliuered vnto me in precept but I will not spare any labour to exercise all But now you shal doe me much pleasure if you will teach mee the other warde which you call Puncta riuersa V. I haue discoursed vnto you how profitable the former wardes bee as well to learne as to fight beeing well vnderstoode and practised and euen so will I now make you acquainted with the worthines of this ward and of what importance it is notwithstanding that it is quite contrary to the other especially in learning of it Therfore he that will teach that warde must place his scholler euen as at single Rapier that is that his feete stand both equall with toe and heele euen as if hee were to sitte downe and that his Rapier handle be held within side of his right knee and that somwhat shorte and that his Dagger be helde out at length with his arme stretched out holding the point of his rapier continuallie vpon the face of his maister who ought to set him selfe in the same ward and to giue a stoccato in the middle of the Rapier in punta riuersa to his scholler or else betweene the arme and the Rapier or in the bellie or in the face escaping a little backeward with his right foot accompanied somewhat with his left towards his lefte side L. What shall the scholler doe in the meane while V. While your maister giueth you the thrust you shall not strike it by with your dagger but onelie turning your Rapier hand passe with your lefte foote towards his right side and the point of your Rapier being placed aboue his and thrust forwarde shall enter right into his bellie L. And what shall the maister doe to saue himselfe V. When hee giueth the thrust and you passe towards his right side hee shall with great nimblenes recoyle a little backward with his right foot accompanied with the left toward the left side bearing his bodie backward and pearching your Rapier with his dagger shall strike it outward from his left side and giue you a Mandritta at the head L. Then what remaines for me to doe V. You shal come with your right foote to the place where your maisters right foot was and shal giue him a thrust in the belly or in the face receiuing the mandritta vpon your Rapier and Dagger and the euent will be no other then the same of the former ward and by this meanes you shall become very nimble and quick both with foote hand and bodie otherwise if you haue not all these partes readie and perfect by offering the stoccata you hazard your self gretly dangerously For while you thrust if your aduersarie surpasse you in nimblenesse and bee readie he may enter with his lefte foote and put you in great danger bringing your weapon into his owne power Therefore when you wyll giue this thrust either in the bellye or face passe wyth your right foot towardes the right side of your enemy so that your right foote bee somewhat on the out-side of your enemies right foote and so being in right measure you may giue him the said thrust either in the bellie or in the face with great celeritie and aptnesse recoiling somewhat with your left foot accompanied wyth the right and if your enemie enter with his left foote you shall speedily turne your bodie on your lefte side whereby the more secretly your enemie commeth vppon you and the more forcibly hee entereth the more hurt shall he doo himselfe and the more easily shal you be able to master him and become Lorde of his owne weapon Besides if you place your right foot a little towards your enemies right foot you may make a thrust toward his right side but in thrusting see you bring your right foote towardes your enemies left side if you see that hee goeth about to enter with his left legge turne your bodie well on your right side for then if hee enter with his left legge the point of his Rapier will go by the out side of your bodie and you may giue him a riuersa vppon his legge with your Rapier and stabbe him with your dagger in the bodie All which you must do with great celeritie and quicknesse turning your bodie with great nimblenesse on your left side and recoiling somwhat with your left foote being accompanied with the right and so you shal deliuer your selfe and your rapier withall out of the power of your enemie but if you bee not passing readie with your foot and in turning your bodie wel and fitly on your right side your enemie entering maye thrust you in the bellie with his Rapier and giue you a stabbe with his Dagger besides Therefore I aduertise you to exercise your selfe continually that occasion beeing offered you to fight you maie perfourme the same with much readinesse and without daunger otherwise if you onely faile in one and euen the least point you endanger your life For it is not maine force that doth the deede but readinesse dexteritie and vse of knowledge and arte You must therefore labour and take paines which beeing ioyned to the greate desire and loue you beare to this arte will bring you to the perfection therof Insomuch that you shall bee able to turne and winde your bodie which waye you will and therewithall know how and which waie you ought to turne it Againe to the purpose If your enemie make towardes your right side and offer a thrust happilie pressing too much forward you shall immediatlie turne your bodie on the left side so that the point of his Rapier passing beside your bodie you maye giue him a stoccata or you may plaie with your bodie and beate his Rapier pointe outward from your right side wyth your Dagger and giue him a punta riuersa ouer his Rapier in the belly or face Or also while hee thrusteth you may beate it by with your Dagger and carrying your right foote towarde his right side giue him the same thrust Or againe whilest hee doeth thrust you maye stande firmelie turning your bodie a little vpon your lefte side and strike by his Rapier pointe with your Dagger and therewithall giue him a riuersa vpon the legge And if hee bee skilfull in managing his weapon take heede in anie case that you let him not get within you or winne grounde of you but seeke still to growe vppon him with your foote that is that your