performe any great matter but with great danger I come therefore to the point and say that when the teacher wil enter his scholler he shal cause him to stand vpon this ward which is very good to bee taught for framing the foote the hand and the body so the teacher shall deliuer the Rapier into his hand and shall cause him to stand with his right foote formost with his knee somewhat bowing but that his bodye rest more vpon the lefte legge not stedfast and firme as some stand which seeme to be nayled to the place but with a readines and nimblenes as though he were to performe some feate of actiuitie and in this sorte let them stand both to strike and to defend themselues Now when the maister hath placed his scholler in this sorte and that the scholler hath receiued his Rapier into his hand let him make his hand free and at lyberty not by force of the arme but by the nimble and ready mouing of the ioynt of the wriste of the hand so that his hand be free and at libertie from his body and that the ward of his hand be directlye against his right knee and let the teacher also put himselfe in the same ward and holde his Rapier against the middest of his schollers Rapier so that the pointe be directlye against the face of his schooler and likewise his schollers against his and let their feete be right one against another then shall the maister begin to teach him mouing his right foot somwhat on the right side in circle wise putting the point of his Rapier vnder his schollers Rapier and so giuing him a thrust in the belly L. And what then must the scholler doo V. At the selfesame time the scholler must remoue with like measure or counte-time with his right foote a little aside and let the left foote follow the right turning a little his bodye on the right side thrusting with the point of his Rapier at the belly of his teacher turning redily his hand that the fingers be inward toward the body and the ioint of the wrist be outward In this sort the saide scholler shall learne to strike and not be stricken as I alwaies aduise the noble-men and gentlemen with whome I haue to deale that if they cannot hit or hurt their enemy that they learn to defend them selues that they be not hurt Then to make the scholler more ready the teacher shall cause his scholler firste to part wherefore he shall remoue with his right foote on the right side a little in circle wise as the maister did before to the scholler L. What then must the maister or teacher doo V. At the same time that the scholler remoueth his foote the teacher shall play a little with stirring of his body and with his lefte hand shall beat away his schollers rapier from his right side and shall remoue his right foot behinde his left striking a crosse blow at the head L. And the scholler what shall he doo V. When I remoue with my foote and lifte vp my hand let the scholler passe with his lefte foote where his right was and withall let him turne his hand and not loose the opportunity of this blow which must be a foyne in manner of a thrust vnder his Rapier and let him lifte vp his hand with his ward that he be garded and lie not open meeting with his left hand the rapier of his teacher and let him hot beat aside the blow with his Rapier for hee endangereth the point and bringes his life in hazard because he loseth the point But I wil goe forward At the selfesame time that the scholler goes back the maister shall play a little and shifting his body shall breake the same imbroccata or foyne outward from the lefte side remouing with his left foote which must be carried behinde the right and withall shall giue a mandritta at the head of his scholler at which time the scholler must remoue with his right foote following with his lefte and let him turne his Rapier hand as I haue saide and that the scholler obserue the same time in going backe as the teacher shall to the end that his point maye be toward the bellye of his maister and let him lifte vp his other hand with his ward on high that he be not stricken on the face with the mandritta or in the belly with the thrust or stoccata Wherefore at the selfesame time that the scholler shall deliuer the fore saide stoccata to the teacher the teacher shall yeelde and shrinke with this bodye and beate the stoccata outward on the lefte side and shall bring his right foot a little aside in circlewise vpon the right side shall giue an imbroccata to the face of his scholler at which time the saide scholler shal go backe with his right foote a little aside with the same measure and shall beate aside the imbroccata of his maister with his left hand outward from the lefte side and withall shall deliuer the like imbroccata of counter-time to the teacher but onlye to the face and then the maister shall goe backe with his right foote toward the left side of his scholler in breaking with his lefte hand the saide imbroccata outward from the lefte side and shall strike a downe-right blowe to his head because that by beating aside his foyne with his hand he shall finde him naked and without garde L. And what then cannot the Scholler defend him selfe V. Yes very easilye with a readie dexteritie or nimblenes for at the same time that the maister shall giue the saide mandritta the scholler shall doo nothing else but turne the pointe of his foote toward the bodye of his maister and let the middest of his left foote directly respect the heele of the right and let him turn his body vpon the right side but let it rest and staye vpon the lefte and in the same time let him turne the Rapier hand outward in the stoccata or thrust as I haue giuen you to vnderstand before that the point be toward the bellye of his maister and let him lifte vp his hand and take good heede that hee come not forward in deliuering the saide stoccata which is halfe an incartata for how little soeuer hee should come forward he would put himselfe in danger of his life and beleeue me euery man which shall not vnderstand these measures and principles incurres the danger of his life and who so despiseth these grounds which are necessarye as well for the schoole as the combat it may bee to his confusion dishonour and losse of his life wherefore euerye one which makes profession of this art should seek to learn them and vnderstand them L. For this master I am fullye satisfied wherefore I praye you proceed to teach me that which remaineth to be taught for this ward V. When the maister will make his scholler readye hee shall practise him to be the first in going backe by remouing his right
it not better to breake with the Swoorde then with the hand for me thinketh it should be dangerous for hurting the hand V. I will tell you this weapon must bee vsed with a gloue and if a man should be without a gloue it were better to hazard a little hurt of the hand thereby to become maister of his enemies Swoorde then to breake with the swoord and so giue his enemy the aduantage of him Moreouer hauing the vse of your lefte hand and wearing a gantlet or gloue of maile your enemy shall no sooner make a thrust but you shal be readye to catch his swoorde fast and so commaund him at your pleasure wherfore I wish you not to defend any thrust with the swoorde because in so dooing you loose the point L. But I pray you is it not good sometimes to put by a thrust with the swoord V. I will tell you when it is good to vse the swoord but now I will tell you how to vse your hand in that case and cheefelye in this warde wherewith I will beginne Therefore if the maister desire to make a good scholler let him begin in this sorte causing his scholar to place his right legge formoste a little bending the knee so that the heele of his right foote stand iust against the midst of his left foote holding his swoord hand close on the outside of his right knee with his swoorde helde in shorte least his aduersarye should gaine the same euer keeping the poynte directlye on the face or bellye of his enemye and the master shall dispose of him selfe in the same manner as well with his foote as with his poynt Moreouer you must obserue iust distance which is when either of you stand in such place that stepping forward a little you maye reache one another and then the maister shall make a stoccata to his scholler going aside somewhat with his right legge and following with the other in manner of a circulare motion towarde the lefte side of his scholler and so hee maye haue the aduauntage if hee take it within distance and the scholler shall remoue his right legge in counter-time after the same order that his maister dooth answering him with a stoccata to the belly but hee must take heede not to remoue too much aside or retire too farre backwarde for so the one shall neuer hitte and the other shall neuer learne Moreouer hee must beware of comming too much within his iust distance because if he hit his aduersary hee may bee hitte againe by his aduersarye wherfore I will teache you how to offend and defend in the same time As the Scholler parteth in the counter time hee must in the same instant breake the stoccata with his lefte hande and aunswere againe with an other also the Maister to make his scholler quicke and readye shall vse to aunswere him in the same time that his scholler deliuereth his stoccata going aside with his right legge and following with the other toward the left hand of his scholler breaking the saide stoccata with his lefte hand and shall aime the imbrocata at his face and the scholler must parte also with his right foote toward the lefte side of his maister circularlye beating the thrust with his lefte hand outward toward the left side and then he shall in like sort make an imbrocata to the face of his maister and the maister parting againe with his right foote aside toward the left hand breaking the saide imbrocata with his lefte hande shall thrust a stoccata as I saide before to the belly of his scholler and the scholler in the same instant shall parte with a counter-time with his right foote aside towards the lefte hand of his maister breaking it with his left hand downward and shall make a stoccata againe to his master and the maister therwithall shall retire a little with his body breaking the saide stoccata outward toward his right side parting with his right foote backward to the left hand and shall answer with a punta riuersa to the head of his scholler wherewithall he shall parte sodenlye stepping forward with his left legge before his right turning his point quickly to the belly of his maister bearing vp the dagger hand that he be not hitte in the face with a riuerso and so he shal be well garded then the maister shall parte with his right leg offering him a straight stoccata to the head as in the first ward L. But I pray you why doo you vse so many stoccataes and imbroccataes V. Because they may learne the iust time and measure and make the foote hand and body readily agree together and vnderstand the way to giue the stoccata and imbroccata right so that these principles are very necessarye and will serue for the Rapier and Dagger therefore whosoeuer will make a perfect scholler let him shew the principles in this warde L. I perceiue very well that these things which you haue spoken of are to be doon with great agility and quicknes but especially by the maister if he entend to make a perfect scholler because the maister often putteth him self in danger and the scholler regardeth him not neither is his hand firme and therefore the maister must be respectiue two waies in sauing him selfe and not hurting his scholler but I praye you are these thinges as good in fight as necessary to be practised V. I haue taught you already how to place your self in this ward with the iust distance and time belonging thereunto L. But I pray you instruct me a little further concerning time V. As soone as your Rapier is drawne put your selfe presently in garde seeking the aduantage and goe not leaping but while you change from one ward to another be sure to be out of distance by retiring a little because if your enemy be skilfull hee may offend you in the same instant And note this well that to seek to offend being out of measure and not in due time is very dangerous wherefore as I tolde you before hauing put your selfe in garde and charging your aduersarye take heed how you go about and that your right foot be formost stealing the aduantage by little little carying your lefte legge behinde with your poynt within the poynte of your enemies swoord and so finding the aduantage in time and measure make a stoccata to the belly or face of your enemy as you shall finde him vngarded L. Are there many sortes of times L. Many are of diuers opinions in that pointe some hold that there are foure times other fiue and some six and for mine owne parte I thinke there are many times not requisite to be spoken of therfore when you finde your enemye in the time and measure before taught then offer the stoccata for that is the time when your enemie will charge you in aduancing his foot and when he offereth a direct stoccata in lifting or mouing his hand then is the time but if hee will make a punta
hand or by the middest of his arme and and if you will thrust as you are in your warde you may or else with retiring Moreouer if your enemie turne his dagger point toward his right side charge him on that side with a punta riuersa to his face remaining in your warde or retiring as you please Againe if he lying in that warde carry his point out of the warde of your dagger any whit a little too high charge him close and holding forth your Dagger you may suddenly take his point with your Dagger or if you will you may by remouing the right foote a little forward giue him a stoccata but keepe stedfast your dagger hand as I taught you before least otherwise he make an imbroccata to your face Againe if he carrye his point any whit too much toward your right side turn your body on your left side in a good ward charging him on the right side and bring your right foote cleane without his right foot and hauing so doone thrust your rapier vnder his about the middle and so make a passata vpon him or you may charge with a riuersa to his throte or such like either abiding in your warde or suddenlye scaping away with your body If you perceiue he holde his rapier farre out and not turned charge him below turning your body on the right side and turne your dagger point somewhat lowe vpon your enemies point and hauing gotten this aduantage being within measure thrust either to his bellye or face as you shall best see cause L. I finde now that after a man hath the arte hee must also haue great exercise and practise to bring his bodie to a true frame But as you haue hetherto shewed me to charge mine enemie in due time so now I praie you teach me to defend my selfe when my enimie chargeth me V. If your enemie charge you and haue gotten anie aduantage of you either with his foot or turning of the bodie or rapier or dagger or by what meanes soeuer seeke to put your selfe in a sure warde and retire a little keeping your selfe still in gard least else by retiring if you moue vp your bodie or dagger your enemy might by dexteritie and quicknes offend you greatly but whilest hee chargeth you couet to turne your bodie to one side or other as you find the point of your enemies rapier and euen at that instant that he moueth his foot in charging you as you finde him open in any place so seeke to offend him and beware as I sayd before in what sort you retire for somtime there is a fit time when you thrust to retire and some times not therefore take diligent heed thereunto Moreouer when he hath gotten aduantage being in his ward if he wold thrust a stoccata to you vnder your dagger you shall be nimble to auoide it by turning your daggers point downward you shall answere him with a stoccata or imbrocata or punta riuersa as you shall finde opportunitie but if he make an imbrocata aboue your dagger you may auoide it by lifting vp a little the point of your dagger and by turning the wrist of your hand to the left side for that his imbrocata shall go cleane without your left side you may make a thrust to him as you shall finde him open in anie place Againe if hee make an imbrocata to your bodie you may giue backe a little with your bodie and beat it awaie with your right side may make to him a punta riuersa to his bodie or face likewise if he be towards your right side thrust at your face you may yet beat it awaie answere him with a punta riuersa or a passata Againe if he make an imbrocata aboue your dagger beware that your rapiers point be within his and make vnto him a meza-incarta turning the pointe either to the belly face or throate but you must with greate agilitie turne your point bodie on your right side Againe if he make a blow to your head at the instant that he moueth his hand make you sodainly a stoccata vnto him and if you be in a good ward you may make a punta riuersa to his thigh but if he make a blow to your leg stand fast in your warde with your bodie farre out and in his thrusting come forwarde with your right foote whereby you shal cause him to leese the greatest part of his rapier and turne your dagger point low receiuing the blow on the same and you may make vnto him either a stoccata to the face or a riuersa to his necke or arme Again when he thrusteth to your leg remoue your right foote to your right side as it were making a circle so offend your enimy as if he make a riuersa to the head you may take it vpon your rapier dagger passing with your left foot turning your rapier hand making a stoccata and if you will you may by passing receiue the riuersa vpon your dagger onely but looke you carrie your dagger point aloft as I haue told you before Againe if hee make the riuersa to your leg you may sodeinly passe with your left foot to his right take the riuersa on your dagger for thereby you get the strength of his rapier and are master of it and may easily strike him Again if he make anie violent blow at your head retire a litle on your lefte side receiue it with your rapiers point passing with your left foote turning your point to his face clapping your dagger on his rapier all other blowes and riuersaes you may easily receiue on your dagger but it behoueth you to receiue thē with the point of your rapier otherwise your enemie might thrust his rapier between your rapier dagger especially if he cast his hande vpward and his pointe downward therefore take heed how you thrust for these are all good times If your enemie come furiouslie vpon you to assault you keep you still in your gard and in his comming neere to you thrust at him for he is neither in ward nor yet standeth firme and the more resolutely he commeth vpon you the more he is in danger and the woorse is it for him because hee may easily with a little pricke bee slaine but courage ioyned with skill and knowledge is verie good Againe if a tall man should assault a little man this ward is exceeding good for the tal man because if he charge the other the tall man thrust being within rech he loseth his point the litle man may giue him a stoccata or make a passata at him but if the tall man know how to put himself in ward thrust he might haue great aduauntage by the length of his reach in thrusting a stoccata and retiring with his bodie Againe if your enemie woulde make a passata on you with his left foote when you finde him to remoue woulde beate your weapons
belly by turning the knuckle of his hand downwards towards his left side V. It seemeth that you doo all contrarie to the right hand because in teaching the right hand hee vseth the stoccata but the left hand you make him to begin with the imbroccata But what will you doo to defend your selfe in the meane time V. I will auoide somewhat with my body and with my hand beate downe his imbroccata without my left side and carrying my right foot after my left foot giue him a riuersa at the head L. What shal the scholler doo in his defence both to hurt you and saue himselfe V. He shal doo quite contrarie vnto him that is right handed because the right hand when I offer him a riuersa at the head passeth with the left foote and giueth me the imbroccata vnder my rapier but the left hande whilest I go backe with my right foot and that I lift my rapier to giue him the riuersa he swiftly passeth with his right foot before his left and giueth me a stoccata lifting his hand from behinde so in the passataes which he shall make standing with his left foote forward and passing with his right foot to strike his enemie whereas the right hand passeth with his left foot when he giueth a stoccata to his enemie the left hand cleane contrarie in passing giues the imbroccata to his enemie wheras the right hand shal giue the imbroccata the left hand quite contrarie shall giue the stoccata and that which I saie is for the left handes instruction against the right But nowe I will speake no further of this warde for so much as no other thing foloweth but that which I haue tolde you alreadie concerning the first warde of the single rapier and I will declare vnto you the warde of the rapier and dagger both to instruct the lefte handed how to deale against the right hand and how the right hand ought to behaue himselfe against the lefte hande which shall be our next discourse And for this time I praie you pardon me hauing occasion to go a little way hence to take vp a matter betweene two of my friends vpon certaine differences happened betweene them by and by we will meet againe Farewell The lefte handes Warde at Rapier and Dagger L. Seeing you haue alreadie declared howe a lefte hande is to bee taught at single Rapier I praie you also tell mee how you woulde likewise instruct him at Rapier and Dagger and afterwardes the defence against him V. If I should make a good lefte handed scholler I would place him with his lefte foote forward and his lefte heele against the middle of his right foote making him to holde his Rapier shorte and his Dagger out long L. In what warde would you put your selfe V. I would put my selfe in the firste warde of Rapier and Dagger carrying my bodie in good ward towards my left side and I would giue him a stoccata vnder his Rapier bearing my right foote towards his lefte side turning well my bodie circularlie vpon my right side and he in the same time turning the point of his dagger downe shall beate by my stoccata from his lefte side and withall passing with his lefte foote towardes my lefte side hee shall giue me an imbroccata vnder my Dagger I in the meane while will auoide a little with my body striking by his imbroccata from my left side and carrying my right foote againe towardes his lefte side I will giue him an imbroccata vnder the Rapier then he shall turne his Dagger pointe vpwarde and strike by my imbroccata from his lefte side going with his lefte foote circularly towards my left side and shall giue me a stoccata in the face ouer my Dagger and I will beate by his stoccata outwards from my lefte side going againe with my right foote circularlye towards his lefte side and giue him another stoccata vnder the Dagger and hee shall beate it by as before going aside with his lefte foote towards my lefte side and shall giue me an imbroccata vnder the Dagger as before and I auoiding a little with my bodie will beate his imbroccata outwards on my right side parting at the instant with my right foote and carrying after my lefte and giue him a riuersa at the head and if I should not bowe backeward with my bodie when I did beate by his imbroccata towardes my right side I my selfe should receiue it in mine owne bellie or the face and whilest I goe with my right foote and giue him a riuersa he shal goe with his right foote where my right foote was and giue me a stoccata in the bellie whereas he shal receiue the riuersa vpon his Rapier and Dagger L. These thinges would seeme very strange to such as vnderstand them not because when you offer that riuersa to the right handed man you teach him to passe with the lefte foote and to giue you the imbroccata contrarilie you in the same case make the lefte handed man to passe with his right foote giuing you the stoccata V. Did I not tell you that the lefte hand had no aduantage of the right nor the right of the lefte onelye vse and knowledge giueth the better either to the right or the lefte and oftentimes you shal be occasioned to doe manye thinges dealing with the left handed man which you must do cleane contrary to that which you would doe dealing with the right handed man wherfore seek to learne and to practise your selfe that when occasion shall be offered you maye knowe how to behaue your selfe and contemne the opinions of these Spaca montagne which despise arte because ignorance was euer the enemy of knowledge Is it possible that he which neuer saw the warres can be better knowledged then he which hath spent his life wholye therein and borne honorable charges can hee which neuer made shot in anie peece of artillerie or hargebuse or bow be more perfect or at least know so muche as they which of long time haue made profession therof so it is in the vse of weapons and in euery other facultie for example take a Cannoneer which well vnderstandeth his arte and he will charge his Peeces in such good sorte that it shall be a hard matter or almost impossible for them to break afterward take one of these contemners of arte who with their blinde iudgement presume to be able to doe all thinges to such a one giue the handling of a Peece of ordinance and let him not want pouder shot or any necessaries therto belonging and let him charge according to his vaine knowledge you shal see him presentlye breake all and kill himselfe The like falleth out in the handling of armes the ignorant will doe one thing for an other which shall turne to his own confusion for by the mouing of his bodie or foot onely out of time and order he may easilie ouerthrow him selfe and hasten his owne death L. It hath been seene neuertheles
the weapons of defence were both weapons of armes and warre and if so be a man would fight with weapons only of defence the gentlemen should in no case admit it but that they should fight like gentlemen as it hath been many times done Touching the choice of your weapons and of the inequalitie of them The aduantage of the Defen dant and the imperfections of the bodie the Defendant hath great aduantage and it is not without iust cause for seeing hee is both accused and constrained to fight it is great reason that hee should haue all the honest fauour that might be and it is no little honor to him that in case he onely be not ouercome hee is accounted the vanquisher where contrarily the Challenger is to ouercome vnles hee will altogither loose the quarrell whereof there is great reason because to the one it appertaineth to prooue and to the other it is sufficient onely to defend Likewise it is as great a fauour that hee hath to choose the weapons which is also very meete for if a man choose to call me to fight the election of the weapons is mine In this choic it is certain that there is not the liberty giuen as is thought for this parte also as all other partes of duello is grounded vpon reason and if wee will be nyce to see how a man is authorised to make the choyce wise men are of opinion that gentlemen should receiue their sentence of weapons from diuine iudgement if in case the iustification cannot by other meanes be made How to appoint the weapons and if they will haue the benefite of that it is necessary that they abandon all violence and deceite which as Cicero saith are the properties of the Lyon and the Foxe and farre from the nature of man Now if these things should in the whole course of our life be helde and perfourmed much more should they be desired in the sifting out of a truth and in the direction of iudgement And touching violence me thinkes the law hath well prouided by giuing the aduantage of the weapons to the Defendant which if it were not so euerie naughty man would embolden himselfe to make wrong accusations and vrge euerie man of lesse strength to fight perswading himselfe to be able to beate him downe to the ground But seeing the law hath so well prouided against this seeing that deceit as the same Cicero likewise affirmeth is worthie of much hatred it is a commendable thing that it is so For in the choise of weapons it belongeth to vs to make some lawe for the Defendâ—nt which should be such as he should not vse anie deceit in nor graunt such wepons as fit not with the disposition of a mans bodie For albeit a man maie saie that wee are natuly apt in all exercises to vse both handes yet it is manifest that vse dooth ouercome nature to make vs right or left handed And therfore if I shall be knowen to be right handed I cannot force my aduersarie to fight with a weapon for the lefte hande seeing the disposition of my bodie is not such And if I haue no defect in my arme or my thighe or legge I cannot come to fight with vambraces or such lyke harneis for those partes which hinder the bending of the elbow or of the knee for this is an apparent deceit and ought to bee refused in the Combat and the Padrini ought not to admit such weapons If in case I be lame or hurt in one of mine armes or my hands or want an eie I may verie wel appoint my enemie such weapons as maie in lyke sorte bind his legge his arme or his hand or that may hide one of his eies but yet if he bee lame of one arme I maye sure appoint him such armour as may hinder the other that is sound And to conclude if it be lawfull for me to appoint such weapon or armour to mine enemie as may hinder him in the same sort that I am hindred yet I must not hinder him vnlesse my selfe be also hindered as thus If I be blinde of my right eie and he of his left I must not therefore also hinder his right eie for this is not to make equalitie of my wants but to take his whole sight from him Likewise a right handed or left handed man or a man weakned or maimed so of his hand as he cannot well close it or that wanteth a finger whereby hee is not able to holde his weapon in his hand in my opinion is not to be constrained to fight with his imperfect hand but may lawfully and iustly denie the challenge which is also to bee vnderstoode of all other members and lims so as it is requisite that all things be guided with reason and iudgement for both parties that it doo not appeare that that which is done is done for reuenge or to infame another but onely for the iustifieng of the truth Of the time for Duello THe time appointed for Duello hath alwaies bene twixt the rising and setting of the Sunne whosoeuer in that time doth not prooue his intent can neuer after bee admitted the Combat vppon that quarrell And in case the day be spent without any combat it cannot be remited to the daie following without the consent of the Defendant who being challenged for that daye and appearing there hath performed all partes of his honour and dutie vnlesse thorough anie default of his the combat was not attempted and is farre from all matters touching that quarrell But it is not sufficient for the Defendant onely to consent except likewise the Lord that granteth the field do condescend thervnto for hauing once admitted the field in a prefixed daie that being past he is discharged Againe such may the case be as the first daie being gone the combat may bee lawfull on the second daye but without newe conditions in ordinarie course wee are to obserue that which we sayd before Of accidents that happen in the Combat AS I haue alredie begun for to treate of Duello so I doo meane to prosecute it according to our vse now a daies First then after that the Combatters are entered the lists if they haue no further agreement betwixt them which of them so euer shall happen to touche the railes or bounds or shall haue anie part of him out of the lists is not to be accounted neither prisoner or ought he to haue that member cut off but the fight is to continue to the death or flight or til it be forbidden But if any of them go out of the lists he is become prisoner if his horse be wounded or slaine or if anie part of his armour breake he is not to be supplied And if he let fall his weapon out of his hand it is lawfull for the other to wound him vnarmed I saie lawfull in this respect that it is accounted an honour to the other to bid him take vp his weapon and to staie from hurting
that this knowledge and skill which groweth and riseth from this art of Defence is necessary And therfore I say that when vpon iust ground and occasion a man shall take a quarrell in hand and shal haue courage reason boldnes and force to maintaine it hauing also the meanes and helpe of this art it will seldome or neuer chaunce but that he shall ouercome his aduersary and vpon this reason and ground proceedeth my argument But when he forsaketh the fauour and benefit graunted by God in that he wil not learne how to defend himselfe if the quite contrary happen to him he must impute the fault and blame to himselfe And therefore I must tell you this also that he hath most neede of this art which lacketh courage and strength because that by this art and practise he groweth in vre with his weapon and to haue skill and iudgement to defend himselfe And this also I saye that strength and valiant courage is not it which giueth victorye but a skill and knowledge in the vse of his weapon and a certaine nimblenes and actiuitie aswell of the body as of the hand and the foot L. In sooth by that which you say it seemes to me that nature is she which worketh and perfourmeth all and not art because that from nature commeth courage force and a right frame and aptnes of the body therefore he which shal be furnished with these partes and shall vndertake a right and iust cause is like to beare away the victory without hauing any or very little skil in the art of Defence V. Certes we may graunt that nature may doo very much to frame a man apt and fit for this exercise both in respect of conuenient courage and strength but all these abilities and giftes which nature can bestow on a man are nothing except he haue knowledge or arte for we see that the very thinges themselues which are brought foorth by nature good and perfect if they be not holpen by arte by very course of nature become naught and vnprofitable As the Vine if it be not holpen by art comes to no proofe nor profit so likewise other trees how apt so euer they be to bring forth excellent frutes if they are not husbanded growe wilde and degenerate from their naturall perfection Suppose that nature bring foorth a most goodly and beautifull tree if it begin once to growe crooked and be not holpen it looseth all his beautye and therefore as you see arte is an aide and helpe to nature so that one hauing those good partes and abilities by nature before mentioned yet not knowing them he cannot vse them to his benefite but by the meanes of skill and iudgement which a man by his industrie and practise attaineth vnto And although he may strike right and crosse blows and giue the foyne and thrust yet these being not guided by reason and skill may as well harme him as profit or procure him any aduantage but art which imitateth and perfiteth nature if a man apply his minde therunto by many experimentes and much practise will make him skilfull and capable of great perfection And to proue that this is true we see little infants which although as soone as they are borne they haue a tung yet they cannot speake and after when they haue learned to speake yet they want eloquence nature maye bestowe a gift of memory which when it is accompanied with art and knowledge they are able in good sorte to expresse their minde and conceipt How can you be skilfull in riding if you haue not learned the arte nature may helpe but not bring to perfection how is it possible that you should proue a skilfull Carpenter or Saylor if you haue not by practise acquainted your selfe with those thinges which appertaine thereunto how can a man be a professour in any art or science vnlesse he haue learned it first himselfe and therefore they which make so small reckoning of art in my fancie and conceipt in this respect are worse than beastes especially those which are practised in fight in which a man may perceiue a kinde of reason and arte and for proofe of this take a young Dog which hath not been accustomed to fight and set him on a Bull and you shal see him assaile him with more courage and fiercenes then another which hath beene beaten and practisde in the matter but you shall see him by and by hurte and wounded whereas in the other you shall see the quite contrary for before he set vpon his aduersary you shall see him spie all aduantages that maye be and hauing found his aduantage he wil after make an assault wherfore these braggers which without iudgement and reason will take vpon them to kill the whole worlde at the least wise should order and gouerne themselues more discreetely then beasts and if they being without reason can help themselues with art which is taught them how much rather should a man which is indued with reason make his profit therof seeke to learne it and not to scorne and despise it especiallye in such a case where so deepely it concerneth a mans life that in the stirring of a foote he may be soddenlye ouertaken and slaine but the more skill a man hath of his weapon the more gentle and curteous should he shewe himselfe for in truth this is rightly the honour of a braue Gentleman and so much the more is hee to bee esteemed neither must he be a bragger or lyer and without truth in his word because there is nothing more to be required in a man then to know himselfe for me therefore I thinke it necessarye that euery one should learne this arte for as a man hath voice and can sing by nature but shall neuer doo it with time and measure of musicke vnlesse he haue learned the arte and as a horse may he strong and fyt for fight by nature but can not serue a man to any vse in the feelde vnlesse he haue beene first broken and taught and framed to be obedient to his maisters pleasure and minde So much more should a man learne how to mannage and vse his body his hand and his foote and to know how to defend himselfe from his enemy And heereupon we see that how stoute or couragious soeuer a man be yet when he is challenged into the feelde he seeks then to learn the skill and practise of his weapon of some braue and skilfull man against the daye of the fight and combate and for no other cause but that he knoweth that it is necessarye for him that it concerneth his honor and life and they which affirme the contrary if euer they haue occasion to fight shall perceiue to their disaduantage and discredit how much they haue erred and bene out of the way and this which we haue discoursed hitherto as I thinke may suffise to proue the necessitie of this art L. You haue with so manye reasons and proofes shewed the necessitie of this
his weapon drawen to no purpose and if in that sorte he will talke of the matter with you cause him to stand aloofe off and so let him speake for of the inconuenience that hath growen thereby wee haue many examples as I will shew you more at large by and by I would wish that euerie one should beware to offend any man either in wordes or deedes and if you haue offered offence seeke to make amends as a ciuill and honest man should and suffer not the matter to grow to such extremitie and inconuenience as wee see examples euerie daie whereby God is highly displeased And amongst others I will tell you of an accident which hath happened in Padoua where I my selfe was borne of a master of Fence called M. Angelo of Alezza who many yeres brought vp maintained and taught a nephew of his in such sort that hee became a verie sufficient and skilfull man in this art Which his nephew whereas by reason should haue beene louing and faithfull to him as to his owne father hauing so long eaten of his bread and receiued from him so many good turnes especially hauing bene brought vp by him from his childhoode and infancie he did the quite contrarie for his vnckle Angelo yet liuing and teaching schollers hee openly dyd teach and plaie with many and by that meanes came acquainted with many Gentlemen so that hee set vp a schoole of Fence and beganne to teach entising awaie many which were schollers of his vnckle Angelo A part truly verie vile and of an vnkinde vnthankfull man Whereupon the sayd Angelo complained of this iniury and wrong offered by his nephew to a gentleman who was his scholler and loued him entirely shewing howe his nepbew had not onely impaired his credite but defrauded him of the aide and helpe which he looked for at his hands hauing brought him vp as I haue said and especially being now growen old Which nephew as he sayd in respect of kinred bringing vp and teaching of his arte and skill was bound to haue shewed him all friendship and curtesie Heereuppon the Gentleman Angelo his scholler promised to seeke redresse although hee was a friende also vnto the nephewe of Angelo And so by badde happe finding the sayde nephew of Angelo tolde him that for the wrong offered to his master and vnckle he would fight with him and therewithall put hande to his weapon the other refused to fight with him because hee was his friend but the Gentleman tolde him that if hee woulde not defend himselfe hee woulde runne him thorough as hee dyd in deede for whilest hee stoode vppon tearmes and would not do his best to defend himselfe he ranne him quite thorough the bodie Therefore when a man sees anie one with a drawen weapon let him take care to defend himselfe because it is nota master of friendshippe But I thinke verily in this man that the iustice of God and his owne conscience tooke awaie all courage and wit of defending himselfe And this was the ende of his vnthankfulnesse which God would not leaue vnpunished And if all vnthankfull and trecherous men were so serued after the same sorte I thinke there woulde not be found so many and truly of all vices I take this vnthankfulnesse to be one of the greatest that is incident to man Therefore to conclude this master I woulde counsell and aduise euerie one to giue as small occasion of offence anie waie vnto anie as may be and especially vnto his friend to whom hee is in anie sorte beholding but when that hee is forced to laie hande on his weapon to doe the best he can as well in respect of his credite as for to saue his owne lyfe L. Verily this example which you haue heere brought in is verie good and necessarie as well to instruct and teach a man not to trust his enimie when he seeth him comming with his weapon in his hand as also to warne these vnthankfull men to bee more true and faithfull But I praie you go forward to tell me that which is behinde concerning this ward V. I will verie willingly but I praie mislike not that I haue somewhat digressed from the master which wee were about for I haue spoken these few words not with out cause but now I will go forwarde with that which remaineth Therefore I saie when the master and scoller stand vpon this ward and that the point of the scollers weapon is towarde the face of the teacher and the point of the masters without the bodie of the scoller toward the right side both of them being vpon this ward the scholler must bee readie and nimble to remooue with his left foote that the point or ende thereof bee against the middest of his masters right foot turning his Rapier hand and that his point be in imbrocata-wise aboue his teachers Rapier and that his left hand bee toward the ward of his teacher and let all this be done at once by which meanes the scholler shall come to haue his masters weapon at commandement and if it were in fight his enemies L. This plaie which now you tell me of me thinkes is contrarie to many other and I my selfe haue seen many plaie and teach cleane after another fashion for I haue seene them all remoue in a right line and therfore you shall doe mee a pleasure to tell mee which in your opinion is best to vse either the right or circular line V. I will tell you when you stand vpon this ward if you remoue in a right line your teacher or your aduersarie may giue you a stoccata either in the bellie or in the face Besides if your master or your aduersarie haue a Dagger be may doo the like hitting you with his dagger either in die belly or on the face besides other harms which I lift not to write And therefore to proceede I saie that in my opinion and iudgement it is not good to vse the right line whereas in remoouing in circular-wise you are more safe from your enemie who cannot in such sort hurt you and you haue his weapon at commandement yea although he had a dagger hee coulde not doo you anie harme L. But I praie you tell me whether the master may saue himselfe when the scholler makes this remoue vppon him in circular-wise without being hurt V. When the schollar remoueth with his left foot the master must steppe backe but yet in such sorte that the lefte foot be behinde the right and that he remoue to the right side and shall strike a mandritta at the head of the scholler and whilest the master shifteth with his foote and striketh the mandritta at the selfe same time must the scholler bee with his right foot where the teachers was being followed with his lefte and shall delyuer a stoccata or thrust in his masters belly turning his bodie together with his hand on the lefte side and lifting his hand on high to the end the master may in striking hit his
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
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
Dagger and the scholler shall breake the imbroccata with his Dagger vpward parting circularely with his right foote toward my lefte side and so thrust vnto mee an imbroccata aboue my Dagger in which time with the pointe of my Dagger I will beate it outward toward my lefte side and answere him with a stoccata in the bellye vnder his Dagger parting circularely with my right foote toward his left side and in the same time he must answere me with the like vnder my Dagger breaking my stoccata outward toward his lefte side stepping toward my lefte side with his right foote at which time I must mooue with my bodye to saue my face and breake his poynte toward my right side answering him with a riuersa to the head and so retire with my right foote at which time he must come forward with his lefte foote in the place of my right and his Dagger high and straite turning his swoorde hand so that his poynte may goe directlye to my bellye and he must take the riuersa on his sworde and Dagger Luke But is it not better for the scholler to holde his Dagger with the point vpward as I haue seene many doe to defend a riuersa Vincentio He that holdeth the point vpward is euer in danger to be hurt on the head or to receiue a findure in the bellye or in the face and likewise he is in ieoperdye to be hurt with a Stramazone betweene the Rapier and the Dagger because hee closeth not his weapons therefore remember well how to carrye your Dagger and by exercise you shall see the Dagger for there are many that breake the stoccata inward L. Why then do you neuer breake anie thrust inward V. All stoccataes comming vnder the Dagger imbroccataes aboue the Dagger are to bee beaten outward toward the lefte side but an imbrocata by a riuersa either in the belly or in the face should be broken inward toward the right side with a little retiring of the bodie which must be answered with a riuersa well followed in which instant the scoller must passe forward with his lefte foote then will I retire wyth my left foote behinde my right and yeelding backe with my bodie I will beate the point of his swoorde with my dagger toward my lefte side and so make a direct thrust to his head then the scholler must step with his right foote in the place of my lefte carrying his Dagger not too high but so that his arme and his Dagger be held straight out to receiue a blow if it be offered and then he shall thrust a stoccata to my belly which I will beat toward my left side and make an imbrocata aboue his Dagger stepping with my right foote toward his left side then must he beate my imbrocata toward his lefte side parting with his right foot on my left side and so make an imbrocata aboue my Dagger then I parting with my right foot on his lefte side will beate his imbrocata towarde my lefte side and make a blow to his head in which time hee must do the halfe incartata that is he must bee readie while I lift vp my hand to put a stoccata to my belly bearing out wel his dagger to receiue the blow turning sodainly his body on the left side so that the heel of his right foot be iust against the middle of his left and this is the true halfe incartata L. I pray you why do you make your schollers vse so many stoccataes and imbrocataes V. To make my schollers apt and readie with rapier dagger and foot that they may accompany one another in one instant whereof there is great vse in fight But one that would teach these principles and cannot plaie with his body putteth himselfe in great danger to be hit on the face especially if the scholler bee anie thing readie and thrust a long stoccata for if the scholler answere readily his dagger cannot saue him Therefore hee that wil exercise these rudiments must haue a very apt and well framed body so that if you desire to bee made readye and perfect practise these principles learning well the time and measure and therby you shall open your spirites in the knowledge of the secrets of armes neither do as many do who when they are to fight playe like children that runne to learne their lessons when they should repeat them therefore learne that in time of peace you may vse it for a good excercise of the bodye and in time of warre you may knowe how to defend your selfe against your enemies and do not as many that when they haue iust occasion to fight withdraw thēselues despising knowledge and vertue not considering that almost euery little prick killeth a man and I haue seen which thorough a foolish conceite of their owne abilitie haue been wounded and slaine therfore if you will preuent the fury of such you must be well practised in your weapons L. As farre as I can perceiue the rules of the single rapier and of Rapier and Dagger are alone and I see well that to learne first the Rapier alone is very necessary to bring the body hand and weapon to be readye together in one instant but one difference I finde betweene the single Rapier and the other because in managing the Rapier alone you cause the scholler to hold his left hand shorte and in the other to holde out his hand and Dagger as straight as hee may whereof I would gladly know the reason V. At the single Rapier if you holde foorth your lefte hand at length your enemye maye wound you thereon because you are not so well garded as if you withdrew it shorter neither so readye to put by the swoorde of your aduersarye as with a Dagger and therefore remember this well L. I see it standeth with good reason but I praie you shew how I must assault mine enemie in fight or how being assaulted by him I must defend my selfe V. There are many that when they come to fight runne on headlong without discretion because finding themselues iniured they holde it their partes to assault first L. Why is it not the challengers parte to bee the first assaulter V. Yes if you finde time and opportunitie for I pray tell me why goe you to fight L. To defend mine honour and maintaine my right V. What is to defend your reputacion but so to hurt your enemye as your selfe may escape free for when you goe to fight put on this resolution either to take away his life or to cause him to acknowledge his faulte with seeking pardon for the same which is more honorable then a blody victory neither do like children which in their wanton fighting stand farre a sunder and make semblance to beate one another therefore note it well for if your aduersary be a man of iudgement and valour and you be the first in offering you bring your lyfe in ieopardye for either of you being within distāce
hath no bones and yet it breaketh the backe ill tunges are occasions of much debate But to returne from whence I haue digressed you must neuer be too rash in fight account of your enemye yet feare him not and seeke all meanes to become victor and so you shall maintaine your reputation and not endanger your selfe in vnaduised hastines L. I haue taken great pleasure in these discourses which in my opinion importe very much the knowledge of Gentlemen and truely the Spaniards were iustly punished for their pride in scorning other nations you shall see manye of that humour that will blame other nations who deserue to be reiected out of all ciuile company for if one man haue a faulte his whole countrie is not straight to bee condemned thereof But shew me I beseech you how I must behaue my selfe when I am to fight you haue alreadye taught mee the time measure and motion of my body and now I would learne something of resolution V. Hauing taken weapons in hand you must shewe boldnes and resolution against your enimy and be sure to put yourselfe well in gard seeking the aduantage of your enemie and leape not vp and downe And beware in charging your enemie you goe not leaping if you be farre off but when you approch gard your selfe well for euerie little disorder giueth aduantage to your aduersarie therefore learne to knowe aduantages and thrust not at your enemie vntill you bee sure to hit and when you haue giuen measure note when it is time to thrust then finding your enemie out of garde make a stoccata resolutely or else not at all for although you be in time and measure and yet your enemie bee well garded he may verie easily hurt you though his skill be but small As may be seene in many which altogether ignorant in the vse of weapons will naturally put them selues in some gard so that if one looke not well about him he shal be much endangered by such a one not because he knoweth what he doth but by reason that not foreseeing the danger hee followeth his purpose wyth resolution without being able to yeelde a cause for that he hath done Therefore I saie you must seeke to gain not measure onely but time and opportunitie as wel to saue your selfe as anie your enemie if you will do well then if it happen not well vnto you thinke that God doth punish you for your sinnes for wee see often that at some one time a man will doo excellent well yet afterward he shall seeme as though he had neuer taken weapons in hand And to make it the more apparant There was a souldier in Prouence for his valor in many exploites before shewed generally reputed a verie gallant man who on a time being in a town besieged was so suddenlye stricken with the terrour of the batterie and dismaide therewith that hee could no longer refraine from seeking some caue to hide himselfe who afterward taking hart agresse came foorth againe and beeing demaunded of the Captaines where hee had been who told them the truth of the whole matter and afterward behaued himselfe very valiantly In like sorte Marco Querini a gentleman of Venice Captaine of the Gallies belonging to the signorye of Venice in the sea Adriaticum liuing delicatelye in all carelessenes suffered the Turkes to run ouer the gulfe spoyling and robbing at their pleasure not daring to make resistance which the Generall of the Signory vnderstanding repaired thither with all expedition thretning Querini Captaine of the gulfe if hee perfourmed his office no better the whole shipping should bee taken from him he sent home to Venice on foot The shame whereof moued him so farre that afterward hee became famous for his exploites Moreouer in the time of the Venecians warres with the Turke the Generall of the Turkish forces beeing come into the Sea Adriaticke neere vnto Schiauonia Allibassa Carracossa who afterward died in the battaile of Pautou would needs inuade the Isle Cursolla with some forces and batter a towne there where the men disinaied with the soddainnes of the attempt betooke themselues to flight and left the place to the desence of the women who quitted thēselues with such vndaunted courage that one of them betaking her self to a peece of artillerie plaied the gunner so artificiallie that she directed a shot cleane through the ship where Allibassa was much spoyling the same which hee perceiuing presently commaunded the ancker to be waied and hoising vp sailes retired all his forces by which meanes the women saued the cittie so that heerin we see the difference of mens dispositions in courage at diuers times and yet I commend it not in any man to want valour at any time But to come to the purpose albeit one be not so well disposed to the managing of weapons at one time as at some other yet hauing the practise and vnderstanding thereof he shall euer be sufficient to maintaine his parte L. It may well be that you haue saide and I thinke that hee that hath the perfect vse of his weapons may very well defend himselfe against any man though hee finde his body but ill disposed but seeing you haue begun to discourse of time I pray you teach mee something concerning the difference of time V. You know what I haue saide concerning the same in my discourse of the single Rapier and in like sorte I must instruct with Rapier and dagger therefore you must at the first charge your enemye and hauing gotten aduantage of ground on the lefte side you must make a stoccata vnder his dagger if he hold it too high retiring immediately a little with your lefte foote accompanied with your right but finding his dagger low you must make a fincture vnderneath and thrust aboue his dagger that is the iust time in doing whereof you must remember to carry your right foote a little aside following with the left toward the left part of your aduersary and if he offer you either stocata or imbrocata you may answer him with a half incartata turning your hands as in doing the stoccata or otherwise if hee beare his dagger low you may thrust to his face which is les danger for you because euerye little blowe in the face staieth the furie of a man more than anie other place of his body for being through the bodie it happeneth often times that the same man killeth his enimy notwithstanding in the furie of his resolution but the bloud that runneth about the face dismaieth a man either by stopping his breath or hindering his fight and he shall oftner find aduantage to hit in the face than in the belly if he lie open with his weapons but marke wel how he carrieth his rapier if long straight with his Dagger aloft you must charge him lowe on your right foot and hauing gained measure beate downe the pointe of his sword with your dagger and make a stoccata vnder his dagger without retiring but
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-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
foote thrusting a stoccata either at his face or brest L. And what shall the scholler doe then to defend himselfe and offend you V. Whilste I thrust my stoccata at him and that I passe about towards his lefte side in that moment that I parte from him and thrust hee shall likewise in that counter-time passe circularly towards my left side and then shall thrust a stoccata at my brest or face winding his body vpon his left side L. And how will you saue your selfe V. In that instant wherein both my selfe and he doe passe thrusting at me in that counter-time if I be not very prompt with the motion of my bodie hee maye easilie strike me in the brest or face therefore whilest that I thrust at him and he at me I will break it with my Dagger from my lefte side turning the pointe either high or lowe according as hee thrustes and I would helpe my selfe with drawing my body backwards and in that time I would carry my right foote towards his lefte and then would I thrust an imbroccata aboue his Dagger L. And what can he doe V. Hee shall doe the like guiding his right foote toward my lefte and shall breake my imbroccata outwarde from his lefte side and thrust an imbroccata at mee aboue my Dagger and I wil retire aside as I haue tolde you in the former wardes and make at him with a dritta or riuersa or an imbroccata with the dritta as in the others L. I am of this minde that whosoeuer would performe this warde had neede to be perfectlie instructed and throughly exercised and that he be of good knowledge for certainly this I thinke it is an excellent ward for him that knowes to doe it well but very dangerous for a raw scholler or imperfect And if you would mamifest some lying to counter-check this warde we haue spoken of I should thinke my selfe highlye beholding for such a fauour V. Obserue this firste if you were in fight to vse this warde and that your enemie in like forte should garde him selfe with the same lying marke this cheefely and first how hee beares his weapons and his bodie high or lowe and how hee holdes his Rapier and Dagger and according to his lying assaulte and offer to him Therfore in the encounter that you shall make charge him towardes his lefte side keeping your selfe safelye in your warde and haue this regarde to keepe your poynte within his And if hee lye high with his bodye and Dagger keepe your poynte vnder his Dagger hande and thrust your stoccata at his breste but if you see him lye with his Dagger lowe thrust an imbroccata at his belly with great celeritye or at his face auoiding with your right foote circularlye towardes his lefte turning quickly your body vpon your lefte side in manner of an halfe wheele but it behoues you to be verye readye otherwise in staying in your passage if hee auoyde in that counter-time hee maye put you in danger of life the like is if you passe directlye you are both of you in danger of death or if you should passe directlye and hee keepe him selfe in safe warde or that he auoide in compasse he may well saue him selfe and endanger you Therefore finding your enemie in this warde euer obserue to carrie your selfe in compasse Moreouer if you assaile your enemie with this warde and hee lye with his right foote formost if hee holde his Rapier far from him you may directlye take his pointe keeping your dagger long out and your bodie lowe and if he thrust either aboue or belowe keep your Dagger ready to break his thrust and offer home to him vpon the lefte foote or passe towards him with your right foote as you shall finde best And in your caricado see if you can commaund his swoorde with your Dagger either from your lefte or right side and then thrust your stocceta or punta riuersa If you see him lye displaied followe him bearing your Dagger within his sword and you maie well thrust your stoccata either at his face or brest or else make a passata resolutelie wheeling halfe about keeping your selfe presentlie in a good warde vpon your right foote Moreouer in this warde you maye easilie giue him a mandritta or riuersa vpon his legge or you maie vse a caricado vpon his right side keeping your warde and carrying well your bodye that the halfe of your right foote garde your lefte heele and guiding your body directly vpon your left side make forwarde directly vpon his right foot thereby to commaund his swoorde and then may you strike him vpon the lefte foote Againe if you see hee keepes his Dagger pointe vpon you thrust a stoccata at his face if you finde him not well commanding his point charge him vpon his right side bearing the dagger long and break his thrust outwards offring your stoccata at his face or brest Likewise if you see he commaund not his point and being aduantaged vpon his right side you maye with great readines put your pointe vnder his swoord lifting your swoord hand and your dagger when in the mean time you may giue him a stoccata or imbroccata and be master of his swoorde with yours and your Dagger And in charging him vpon his right side you may giue him a riuersa vpon his legge Againe if hee offer a mandritta at your head in the lifting of his hand aduance your selfe with your right foote and receiue it vpon your Dagger giuing him a stoccata at his brest or face so if hee thrust a riuersa at your head you shal lift vp the point of your Dagger receiue it on your dagger sworde in the same time thrust an imbroccata at his belly or else taking the riuersa vpon your Dagger you shall giue him another vpon the legges or a stoccata in the belly Likewise if your enemie shall giue you a mandritta vpon the legge you shall nimbly passe circularly with your right foote towards his lefte side for so hee cannot offend you and you may hit him either in the belly or face Moreouer if your enemie thrust an imbroccata aboue your Dagger you must readilye passe with your right foote before he retire with his point and you may well hit him in the face breast or legges Again if when you charge him towardes his right side you see his point be farre out and somewhat hight keepe your bodie vppon your lefte side and lie lowe couered in your ward bearing your dagger at the length of your arme keeping good measure and in your cariage make shew to put by his Rapier with your dagger and so dainly fal your point vnder his sword trauersing with your right foot round turning your bodie vppon your right side so thrust your stoccata at his face or breast And if he hold his point high you may charge him directly with his point for if hee thrust either aboue or below in the time of his thrust aduaunce your left foote
extending your dagger and by that aduancing hee shall loose his point and you maie hit him with a dritta or riuersa at your pleasure And if he thrust at you and you passe about with your right foote then you maie likewise hit him L. Truly you haue giuen mee to vnderstand excellently of this ward but let me intreate you to teach me how I maie defende my selfe if one assaile mee in that ward and how I may best offend my enemie keeping my right foot formost V. I haue tolde you many things concerning this ward if you know how to doo them and practise them Besides there bee diuerse other thinges which I cannot shew you with speaking but for this time it will bee sufficient if you can perform what I haue declared And I will tell you if you lie with your right foote formost and he keepe his left foote forwarde according as you marke his lying so do charging him either on the lefte or right side And although you hit him not and that he passe vpon his right foote doe you but change your bodie to your left side lifting vp the point of your poniard firming your hand on your right knee so shall you he master of his sword and maie easily strike him and the more fierce he is the more shall you commaund his weapon and endanger him neither can hee strike you either within or without your dagger or on the legges And if you see he keepes his dagger winding towardes his right side thrust a riuersa at his face so that your point may enter in the midst of his dagger and so dainly recoile and if he likewise parte turne your bodie as I haue tolde you vpon your left side and as you see him lie so guarde your selfe bearing your bodie on which side you thinke best And surely beleeue mee the first warde I taught you of Rapier and dagge is absolutely the best both against this and anie other kinde of lyings Therefore I woulde wish you to learne it perfectly and exercise it thoroughly that if occasion happen you may be both skilfull and well practised But take heede of one fault which many incurre who if in plaie they receiue one or two stoccataes they inforce themselues to giue one to be reuenged But this is neither fit for a scholler nor orderlie since in plaie we shuld behaue our selues friendlie both to learn and passe the time and also to exercise our selues in stirring our bodies and vse this arte for the right effect Wherein wee ought especiallie to auoide choler and anger For where occasion happens to fight in deede rapiers are not as foiles which cannot doo much hurt but a small pricke of a Rapiers pointe maie either kill or at the least maime So that in anie wise auoide so daungerous an ouersight And if you happe to wound your enemie though verie smallie yet by the sight of his blade hee heeing kindled with furie shall both enfeeble his strength and fall from his right bias Therefore I wish you take good heede and if you see your selfe apte to incline to such a faulte amende it and learne perfectlie to defende your selfe well to the end that if perhappes you cannot hurt your enemie either for that he surpasseth in skil or you want strength yet you maie auoide danger of beeing hurt your selfe which will bee both honorable and profitable to you considering that euen the verie first thrust is sufficient to ende the whole controuersie Therefore bee heedfull and wise and remember I haue tolde you soundly for your owne safetie L. I assure you I will followe your aduise which I see grounded on such reason as euerie wise and reasonable man ought to followe it estraunging himselfe from all furious fellowes who thinke to purchase honour by running headlong on their death Therefore will I sequester my selfe from their acquaintance But I praie you prosecute and go forward with the rest of this ward V. Sithence I see you conceiue such pleasure in it I will proceede on and goe forward a little farther Manie there bee which exercise this warde vppon theyr lefte foote but therein they differ Therefore it importes to bee well instructed in the diuersitie for if your enemie lie in that warde and you vppon your right foote and hee beare himselfe and his Dagger highe charge him towardes his lefte side and in the approche see you parte with greate readynesse with your right foote towards his left and speedilie thrust you a stocata in his belly in the thrusting look you enter vnder his arme or hande turning your bodie on the right side and the back side of your sword and toward your left If he hold his dagger low charge him towards his left side with your right foote side-waies and thrust either a stoccata or imbroccata as you shall thinke best aboue his dagger and for your owne safegard turne your bodie vpon the right side And if you see him lie displaide carrie your bodie on your right side and trauerse to his lefte and then thrust your stoccata betweene his sword and dagger Moreouer you maye thruste your stoccata either at his face or breast but doo it with greate promptnesse and in the same time recoile with your left foot drawing after your right and be quicke in the retire to recouer your rapier that if your enemie make forward you may be readie againe to thrust therefore be quicke and vigilant otherwise if in your thrusting you be not readie in that selfe same time your enemie maie well hit you but retiring with your feete and escaping with your bodie you shall shunne all daunger Againe if you finde his rapier point high charge him lowe vpon the left foot and directlie with your dagger at his Rapiers point bearing your Dagger as I haue taught you so you maie thrust either at his face or brest without retiring but being sure to lie wel in your ward for in the time whilest you retire or withdraw your feet you shall be in danger but keeping that ward sure you are without perill for whether hee thrust aboue or belowe you beeing in that ward are safe and more ready to winde your pointe aboue or belowe his dagger or you maie giue him a mandritta on the legs neither can he hurt you in his circular or turning if he should so recoile Againe if you see him lie vpright lie you so likewise but euer keepe your Dagger readie and you maie feigne a stoccata at his face and whilest he goeth about to breake it winde your pointe quicklie vnder his dagger and wheele with your bodie halfe compasse auoiding with your right foote side-waies as I haue tolde you And if hee charge you lowe and lie open comming directlie on your pointe giue backe your bodie a little and thrust a riuersa or a stoccata like an imbroccata and readilie remoue with your right foot backward or if hee lie as manie doe with his sword vpon his dagger crosse-wise you may
redilie thrust him in the face and retire backeward towards his lefte side Againe in that maner of lying you maie charge him towardes his right side and thrust a stoccata at his face betweene his Rapier and Dagger euer remembring that your sword passe by the middest of his Dagger and giue him a riuersa in recoiling backward towards his right side And if you fortune not to hitte him and that he passe vpon his right foote doe you but change your bodie to the lefte side lifting vp your poniard and holding your hand firmelie on your right knee so shal you be master of his swoorde and maie easilie hit him and the more fierce he is the more you shall commaund his weapon and mangle him neither can he strike you either within or without your Dagger or with a dritta or riuersa vpon the legges Againe if you see him holde his dagger with the point turning to his lefte side thrust at his face a riuersa guiding your pointe to enter in the middest of his dagger and soddenlie recoile and if he likewise parte doe as I haue alreadie tolde you winding your bodie well vpon your lefte side if you finde him lying open vse your caricado toward his right side and lye lowe in your warde carrying your bodie on your lefte side bearing your Dagger out at length as I haue taught you in the first warde but let your hand beeing directly with your knee turne with your bodie and in this manner you maie offer a thrust and if hee thrust first beare your dagger readie to defend your selfe and your rapier to offend him But in this be very heedful as I haue often tolde you neither eleuate nor abase your dagger hand nor beare him ouer the one side or the other for if your enemy haue good skill in his weapon and withall a readie hand he may easilie beare his pointe compasse and hurt you or many times feigne a thrust to deceiue you Therefore be alwaies aduised to keepe your hand firme not abasing or lifting vp your pointe or turning your wrist on the one side or other and if he thrust at you you maie well readilie both defend your selfe and offend him Moreouer if he abase his point lie in your lefte foot warde and vse your caricado vpon his right side and if hee thrust either an imbrocca aboue your Dagger or a mandritta at your head remouing his right foot turne readilie your bodie on your right side lifting vp your Dagger and turning your wriste Againe is you finde his pointe farre out charge him in your left foot warde towards his right side and charge him with your Dagger close to his sworde and letting fall your pointe vnder his you maie easilie thrust a stoccata or imbroccata but euer keepe firme your Dagger hand and lift not vp your bodie and in breaking his thrust toward his left side you maie giue him a riuersa either in the brest or on the legs Besides this many more practises there be which with good exercise of body and readines of hand might easilie be effected But because it groweth somewhat late and our discourse hath lasted so long I will take my leaue of you retiring my selfe to dispatch some busines before my going home L. I am infinitely beholding vnto you for these good instructions and to morrow I wil meete you to vnderstand somewhat more for my farther skil and auoiding of idlenes V. God be your guide and to morrow I will expecte you THE FOVRTH DAYES Discourse of single Rapier Entreating how a lefte handed man shall plaie with one that is right handed Luke AFfter your departure yesterdaie in the after-noone I was in an honorable place wher vpon occasion of some ielousie of loue of certaine gentlewomē two gentlemen of the companie fell at words and from words to deeds but they were not suffered at that time to proceede to any further action neuertheles they gaue their faithes the next morning to trie it with their weapons and so accordinglie they met and brauely perfourmed their combate in the execution whereof I tooke great pleasure to be a beholder not that I had anie delight to see them kill one another but for another cause and that was to see by experience the truth of that which I haue heard manie affirme and seeing there is so good an opportunity offered I wil entreat you hauing troubled you in a greater matter that you will assoyle me certaine doubtes which I shall demaund of you and make me rightly vnderstand them whereby I shall remaine greatly bound vnto you V. I praie you tell me what were these gentlemen which fought and whether anie of them be hurt after be bolde to declare to me your doubtes and I will not faile to resolue you the best I can L. Sir I doubt not of your curtesie which I haue found you alwaies willing to shewe to euerie man but cheefely to your freends but to tell you the truth I haue forgot the gentlemens names but this I can well saie that in the handling of their weapons they behaued themselues very manfullie neither of them receiuing any wound for they were both very quicke with the rapier to offend and with their daggers to defend but the greatest reason that led me to be present there was to see how well they managed their weapons one of them being right handed and the other left handed because I know many of opinion that the left handed haue great aduantage of the right yet I see both doe their vttermost this morning without any hurt of either partie and in beholding both the one and the other diligently I could not discerne anie iot of aduantage betweene them therefore you shall doe me great fauour if you discourse vnto me whether the left hand can haue any aduantage of the right or the right of the lefte withall instructing me both how to defende my selfe from such a one and how to offend him V. Of this question I haue heard many times much reasoning and many there are indeede which so think but beleeue me the left hand hath no aduantage of the right hand nor the right of the lefte no otherwise than you your selfe finde your owne aduantage L. Tell me therfore if you would teach a left hand how would you begin V. I would teach him first with the single rapier making him to stand with his left foote forwardes and that his heele should be right against the middle part of his right foote I would put my selfe with my right foot forward as I told you before concerning the single rapier I would that the scholler should hold his sword our at length that the point thereof bee directlie at my face and that he holde his swoord-hand as it were in a line from his bodie outwards of my sword towards my right side passing withal with his left foot towards my left side putting his rapier vnder mine and to giue me an imbroccata in the
that many altogether vnexperienced in the hargebuse haue made as good shot as they which haue long practised the same V. It is an olde saying that one flower maketh not a spring for although this vnskilful man haue made or may make at any time some good shot assure your selfe it is to be attributed to chaunce or fortune or as it is said to his good hap and if he should bee demaunded at what thing hee made his leuell if hee wil confesse a truth hee will not denie that his leuell was set at an other marke and in truth it may not be otherwise for triall wherof make him shoote again and you shall see hauing no more knowledge then before nor practising the said exercise that scarse euer hee will make the like shot againe But they which are wel instructed and exercised therin will seldome make one fault In like sort in the vse of other weapons one maye giue a cunning stroke but it shal be by fortune and no cunning so that thinking to giue the like blowe againe he will occasion his owne death and that onely by not knowing what time to strike after the same manner hee that will take vpon him to charge a Peece of artillerie not knowing the charge thereof according to the waight of her bullet will soone breake all and murder him selfe but he which truely hath his arte you shall see him with dexteritie charge discharge without any encombrance hauing his secrets readie to coole the Canon when she is ouerheated and other artificiall feates which hee can make to serue his turne so that it is no meruaile that he which is guided onely by presumption and will thrust him selfe into matters which hee knoweth not if hee ouerthrowe him selfe and such as rely vpon him and especially certaine harbrainde wits who vse to despise euery thing with whom I exhorte you to haue no dealing seing they are men void of al reason which ought to be the rule of mans life and without which a man is no man but the outward shape of a man onely L. Truly I know you fay the truth and of force the knowledge of al good sciences must come from God which is of a diuine nature But let this passe I pray you resolue me in this wherfore vse you not to strike at the poniard side as wel as at the right side and by what reson strike you at the sworde side tell me also which is the better side to strike either the poniarde side or the sworde side and which of them is more safe V. When you goe to charge a lefte handed man in your warde looke first in what ward he lyeth and how hee holdeth his weapons answering him in the same forme and touching your demaund to knowe wherfore I strike not at the Dagger side I wil tell you when I finde him in this ward carrying his lefte foot formost if I should make at his Dagger side and strike firste I put my selfe in danger to hurt my self because in thrusting I runne vpon the pointe of my enemie but making at his lefte side I am out of danger of his pointe whereof making to his Dagger side I am in perill for if you strike firste and the lefte handed man haue a good Dagger and be quicke with his sworde he will alwaies put you in hazard of an imbroccata and in truth there are fewe lefte handes which vse stoccataes but for the most parte imbroccataes Now if he offer you the imbroccata first being towards his dagger and you being nimble with your bodie whilest hee strikes at you you shall a little bow aside with your body and be at by the pointe outwards from your left side and you may easilye giue him a stoccata or an imbroccata but if you strike first you endanger your self and if you will strike the first you shall go towards his left side to be in more safetie and offering your blowe seeke to be without his pointe striuing to fasten your stoccata at his face and retire your lefte foot back with great swiftnes your right foot accompanying your left but finding him in his ward to beare his swoorde out at length if you be well aduised you shall carrie your right foot after your left and lye in the third ward I taught you concerning the left foot and regarde wel whilest you are in warde vpon the right foot and if you wil out of the first ward of Rapier and dagger enter into the third be sure that you passe not forward with the left foot firste for in so doing he might giue you a stoccata in the belly or face therefore carie your right foot after your left and in the said ward charge him towards his left side who lying with his left foot forward as you do if you charge him on the left side vnles he be verie ready and perfect at his weapon you shal haue great aduantage of him make your selfe master of his weapons and greatly indanger his life Neuerthelesse if he be skilful and know how to plaie with his bodie he maie auoide the foresayd dangers and hazard your life if you bee not the more skilfull albeit you finde him as l said before lying with his left foot forward Wherefore it is necessarie that you vnderstandand and practise well your selfe seeing the least errour you maie make may be your great hurt L. But suppose that one be altogether ignorant and haue not these turnings of his bodie in a readinesse you tolde mee there was no difference betweene the right hand and the left hand neither of them hauing aduantage of the other And now you tell mee that the right hand in case he lie in the third ward trauersing toward the left side of his enemy hath great aduantage of a left hand I praie you therefore shew mee if there be anie other ward wherein the lefte hande may so lie that the right hand shall haue no aduantage vpon him V. You know how I saide there was no aduauntage betweene them besides that which vse and knowledge giueth to either partie wherefore if the right hande change from the first warde into the third to assault the left hand then the lefte hand shall carrie his lefte foote after his right so lying with the right foote fowarde in good ward and the right hande lie in the third warde with his lefte foot forward and so shall neither the one or the other haue a iote of aduantage except that which he can giue by true obseruation of time and measure and his better knowledge so that if the lefte hand be well instructed finding his aduersarie with his right foote forward and with his owne right foote forward chargd toward the right side in good warde then shall he haue the aduantage upon the right handed and be able to make him selfe maister of his enemies armes But if the right hand bee well knowledged and bee acquainted with the turnings and windings of the body and
doo proceed as well against the one as the other so in such case the combate beeing permitted a Gentleman ought to proceede as well against the one as the other of them True it is it is sayde that when the one hath to endure and the other endured that when the thing is no more but manifest hee that is offended ought not to leaue the certaine for the vncertaine And beeing assured that he is oppressed of some body his doubt or presumption doeth not make him apte to require another person of estimation before he doo discharge himselfe of him that oppressed him and be offended against him that hath with hand offended him and ouercomming him it is cleere that hee remaineth discharged But to kill or ouercome him that required him as principall Challenger I doo not see how hee is relieued or eased for the other may alwaies saie that hee strake me for his owne particular interest that the proofe of Armes is an vncertaine proof but the stroke is certain in such case the blame or griefe will still remaine vpon himselfe Wherevpon I resolue to saie that the manifest deed of the offence and not the occult author of the same is to be called And this assure againe that although there are some shewes of them a man maye also doubt whether they may be false but there is no doubt of him that is the offender What is to be done if question rise vpon the quarrell or vpon the person of the Challenger MAny times if falleth out that one calleth another vnto the fielde and therefore must accept the defie but aunswereth the same with some exception obiecting either that he did not vnderstand the quarrell or that it doth not touch him or that the caller is infamous or hath other charge or is not of lyke condition or such lyke In which case there is nothing to say but that it is necessarie before wee passe anie further that such difficulties bee made cleere and the meane to cleer them is that the gentlemen submit themselues to the iudgement of some prince or noble man trusted on both partes and chosen of both the parties and accordingly as they do censure it so the quarrell to be left or followed And be it that the one wil not accept the proposed iudgment the opinion of gentlemen shall bee of him if he were Challenger that the oppositions made were iustly made to him and if he were Defendant that hee had an vniust quarrell to defend And when the Challenger should be the man that shoulde refuse the iudgement to the Defendant remaineth nought else to doo but to stand vpon it firmely truely yet when the Defendant shall auoid the determination then it appertaineth to the Challenger to proceede further hauing shewed or sent him the letters patents or of the fielde hee hath more to do he must send them him notifie them requiring him that either hee accept the one or send backe the others or else let him choose one of them with protestation that if hee do not accept the same or refuse to send hee doeth cause him to vnderstand that she shall auoide it and is to accept such an offer specifieng one of his patents and letters and that in conuenient time hee shall finde him in that place or field to make an end with his weapon of the quarrel if hee shall bee there otherwise with all disdaine and contumacie hee shall proceede to his infamie wyth those clauses which shall bee necessarie for such an effect And this is both a Gentlemans course and reasonable order of proceeding for if there were not such an order of proceeding founde out for euerie one that woulde finde out meanes to auoyde all calling into the fieldes most men would refuse all fighting iudgement the required shall remaine mocked without anie remedie And this remedie is lawfull to be vsed when the Defendant doth flie the iudgement thereof that the same shoulde be chosen of both the parties by cōmon accord for when the quarrell is contested and cleere no matter now standeth to be determined on for there remaining anie one Article to be determined on they cannot binde another to accept it nor to send patents or letters of the fielde for that hath his time and place when all controuersie is past and that done then there resteth nothing but to come to blowes Whether the subiecte ought to obey his Soueraigne being by him for bidden to Combat THis doubt is often moued by them that write of this matter concerning which Gentlemen are resolued that for their Prince and Soueraigne they will gladly hazard their liues euen into greatest daungers but their honour will they not in anie case suffer to be spotted with disgrace or cowardise wherby they are growen into this custome that beeing challenged to the combate or vnderstanding or perceiuing that others meane to challenge them or else intending and resolued wyth themselues to challenge others they will retire into some secrete place where it shall not consist onely in theyr Princes power to forbidde or staie them from it and so laying aside all respect either of their Princes fauour or losse of goods or bannishment from their Countrie they take the combate in hande And whosoeuer shoulde doo otherwise amongst men professing Armes shoulde bee iudged to haue greatly empayred his credit and reputation and dishonoured him selfe in high degree Also he should bee esteemed vnworthie to conuerse with Gentlemen and if chance he should challenge anie man afterward he might deseruedly bee repulsed lawfully Which manner and order being confirmed by long custome and vniuersally approued and helde for sterling among knightes and Gentlemen of all sortes I thinke it needles heere to trouble my selfe with aunswering all such friuolous obiections as diuerse make that haue written of this subiect whereof some alleadge the ancient description of warre wherein it was not lawfull for anie souldier to combate against the commandement or without speciall leaue of the Generall for they consider not the difference of the cases which is greate seeing it is another matter to be in an armie where a man is bound to attend to especiall enterprises and to bee idle at home Besides this there is also muche difference betweene the defiances vsed in auncient times and oures which being in no vse or custome scarse knowen vnto the Romanes how could they make any lawes or take any order concerning them Furthermore those Gentlemen or Souldiers that in ancient time challenged one another to the combate beeing of contrarye armies and enemie one to the other whom these writers alleadge against vs were induced to seeke the tryall of armes for one of these two causes either for that the decision of the whole warre was agreed vpon by both parties to be committed to some fewe of eche armie as it fell out when the Horatij and Curatij tried their valour for the whole armies and in this case it is most necessarye that the election