rat RAYMOND J. Lorp Cele nenn OMe S EKO CRU CEO ET) Nie te Nev ENTIECES Terms of Use The following is a digital reproduction of an existing historical document. It has been scanned and converted into Portable Document Format (PDF) for the purpose of making it freely available to the public. You are welcome to redistribute unaltered copies of this document via electronic means, You may not, however, alter the document without permission nor profit from its redistribution To download other works in the Collection, and for more information, please visit: www.umass.edu/renaissance/lordPARADOXES OF DEFENCE, WHEREIN IS PROVED THE TRVE grounds of Fight to be in the fhort auncient weapons, and that the thort Sword hath aduantage of the long. Sword orlong Rapier, And the weakenefe and im fedtion of the Rapier-fights difplayed. Together with an Admonition to the noble, ancient , vitorious, valiant, and moft braue nation of Englifhmen, to beware of alle teachers of Defence , and how they forfake their owne naturall fights : with a briefe commendation of the noble fcience or exercifing of By George Siluer Gentleman. LONDON, Printed for Edvvard Blount. ee1,07 ie, RIGHA: HONORABLE, MY SINGVLAR GOOD LORD, ROBERT EARLE OF Effex and Ewe, Earle Marfhall of England, Vif- count Hereford, Lord Ferrersof Chartley, Bourchier and Louaine, Moijter of the Queenes Maier horfe , 8 ‘ofthe Ordenance, Chancellor of the Vnivefie of Cam ‘ridge, Knight ofthe moh robe rder of te Gar- oe of ber gine meh be worable Priny Counfell, Exctne (Right honorable) in this newfangled age, is like lour fafhions , euerie daye a S| change, refembling the Ca- 23] melion, whoaltereth himfelfe SSA intoall colours fzuewhite: fo Fencing changeth into all wards faue the right Thatitisfo,, experience teacheth vs : why itis fo, I doubt not but your wifedome doth con- ceiue, There is nothing permanent that is not true, what can be true that is vncertaine? how can that be certaine, that flands vpon vncertain A3Tue Evistiz grounds? The mind of managreedie hunter af- ter truth, finding the feemingtruth but chaun- ing, not alwayes one, but alwayes diuerfe, for- fakes the fappofed, tofnd out the affured cer taintie: and fearching euery where faue where it fhould, meetes with all faue what it would. WVho feekes & finds not, feckes in vaine; who feekes invaine, mutt if hewil find feeke againe: and feeke he may againe anid againe, yet all in vaine. VVho feckes not what he would, as he fhould, and where he thould , as in all other things (Right honourable) fo in Fencing: the mind deGrous of truth, huntsafterit,and hating falfhood, flies from it,and therfore hauing mif- fed itonce, itaffayes the fecond time: if then he thriuesnot,he tries anotherway: whe that hath failed headuentures on the third: & if all thefe file him, yet he never faileth to chaunge his weapon, his fight, his ward, by any meanes he may compaffe what he moft affeas: for becaufe men defire to find out a true defence for them- felues in their ight, therefore they feeke it dili- gently, nature hauing taught vs to defend our felues, and Art teaching how : and becaufe we miffe it in one way we chaunge to another. But though Depicarorie. though we often chop and change, turne and returne, from ward toward, from fight to fight, in this vnconftant fearch, yet wee never reft in anie, and that becaufe we neuer find the truth: and therefore weneuer find it, becaufe we neuer ae fecke it in that weap~a where it may be found. jefe are: For , to fecke for a true defence in an vntrue secwnky weapon, is to angle on the earth for fith, and to 2." hunt the fe forHarestruchirancient though fires it feeme an vpflart : our forefathers were wil e though our age account them foolith , valiant tseyeay though we repute them cowardes: they found Aap xt out the true defence for their bodies in thort wernt &- weapons by their wifdome, they defended them iim jgn hia felues and fubdued their enemies, with thofe yuma weapons with their valour. And (Right hono- site rable) ifwe will haue thistrue Defence, we mult mermyfr- fecke itwhere it is,in hort Swords, thort Staues an the halfe Pike , Partifans , Gleues , or fuch like 74/9" weapons of perfeét légths,, not in long Swords, Behar long Rapiers, nor frog pricking Poiniards : for sagtsmr if there be no certain grounds for Defence, why seayp inc. do they teach i? ifthere be, why haue they notte, found it? Not becaufe itis not : to fay fo, were "fit togainefay the truth : but becaufe iti Aq enrte fey ard eset ‘anteTus Eristis taine in thofe weapons which they teach. To proue this, I haue fet forth thefe my Paradoxes, different I confeffe from the maine current of our outlandith teachers, but agreeing Iam well affured to the truth and tendingas I hope tothe honor of our Englith nation. The reafon which moued me to aduenture fo great a taske, is the defire I haue to bring the truth to light, which hath long time lyen hidden in the caue of con- tempt, while we like degenerate fonnes, haue forfaken our forefathers vertues with their wea- pons,and haue lufted like men ficke ofaftrange ague, after the ftrange vices and deuifes of Ita~ lian, French and Spanith Fencers, litle remem- bring, that thefe Apith toyes could not free Rome from Brennius facke, nor Fraunce from King Henrie the fifthisconqueft. Tothisdefire to find out truth the daughter oftime, begotten of Bellona I was alfo moued , that byit I might remoue the great loffe of our Englith gallants, which we daily faffer by thefe imperfeét fights, wherein none vndertake the combat, be his caufeneuerfo good, his cining neuer fo much, his ftrength and agilitie neuer fo great, but his vertu was tied to frtone appie man, apple ale, Depicaroriz. doale , kill of be killed is the dreadfull iffue of this diuellith imperfeét fight. If that man were nowaliue, which beat the Maifter for the fcho- lers fault, becaufe he had no better inftruéted him , thefe Italian Fencers could not efcape his cenfure , who teach vs Offence, not Defence, and to fight , as Diogenes {cholers were taught to daunce, to bring their liues toan end by Art. WVas Aiax a coward becaufe he fought with a feuen foulded Buckler,or are we mad to go na- ked into the field to trie our fortunes, not our vertues? VVas Achilles a run-away, who ware that well tempered armour, or are we defperat, who care for nothing but to fight,andlearnlike the Pigmeys, to fight with bodkins, or weapons of like defence? Isit valour for a man to go na- ked againft his enemic? why then did the La- cedemonians punifh him as defperate, whom they rewarded for his vallour with a Lawrell crowne? But that which is moft bamefull, they 151» 0t teach mé to butcher one another here at home 7@r/.ar# in peaceywherewith they cannot hurt theirene-%/ Ri mies abrode in warre. For, your Honour well forr Send. 1 knowes, that when the battels are ioyned, and ti. a%eir. come to the charge, there is no roome for them Sra/=,,,Tue Eristie fineledy, to drawe their Bird-{pits, and when they haue suis dette them, what can they doe with them? can they “ih toa pierce his Corflet with the point? can they vn- ierateegh.” lace his Helmet, vnbuckle his Armour, hew a- fn ay funder their Pikes witha Stocata,a rewer/a,a Dritta, sabe lie a Stramafonor other fuch like tépeftuous termes? efrertt’ no, thele toyes are fit for children, not for men, foatatel” for ftragling boyes of the Campe , to murder ‘mfg zit poultrie, not for men of Honour to triethe bat srevabn _tellwith their foes, Thus I have (right Honora- Avie fue ble) for the trial of the truth, betweene the fhort iGNecaeh, Sword and the long Rapier, for the fauing of the Sujet" tues of our Englith gallants , who are fent to Hee cerane death by their ncertsine fights, & for * abandoning of that mifchicuous and imperfeet weapon,which ferues to killourfriéds in peace, but cannot much hurtour foes inwarre haue I at this time giuen forth thefe Paradoxes to the view of the world. And becaufe I knowe fuch ftraunge opinions had need of ftout defence, I humbly craue your Honorable proteétion , a8 one in whom the true nobility of ourvidorious Aunceftors hath taken vp his refidence. It will fate to the reft of your Honours moft noble ¢- plements , to maintaine the defence of their weapons Depicatory. weapons whofe vertues you poffeffe. It agrees with your Honourable difpofition , to receiue with Quourwhat is prefented withloue. It fort with your Lordthips high authority , to weigh with Feafon, what is fit for marfhallmen, Itisan viuall point of your Honor , whichwinnes your Lord(hip loue in your countrey , to defend the truth inwhomfocuer: and it addeth a fupply to that which your Lordthip haue of late begun to your vnfpeakeable honor and our ineftima- ble benefite, to reduce the wearing of fwordes with hilts ouer the hands,to the Romane difei- 1 fe/me pline,no longer then they might draw them vn~ siudfir thr. der their armes, or ouer their fhoulders. In all amine? orany of thefe refpeéts, I reft affured that your “i mv Lordthip vvill vouchfafe to receiue wvith fauor i, and maintaine vvith honour thefe Paradoxes of tery bat mine, which ifthey be throuded vnder fo fafe a ttt a fhield, I will not doubt but to maintaine with yarfeedne reafon amongft the wife, and proue it by pra- slept Gife vpon the ignorant, that there is no certaine defence in the Rapier, and that thereis great aduantage in the short Sword againft the long Rapier, or all maner of Rapiers in generall,, of what length foeuer. And that the fhort StaffeTue Erist. Depicarorie. hath the vauntage againft the long Staffe of twelue, foureteene, fixteene or eighteene foote long, or of what length foeuer. And againfttwo men wvith their Swordes and Daggers, or two Rapiers, Poiniards & Gantlets, or each of them acafe of Rapiers : vvhich whether I can per- forme or not, I fubmit for triall to your Honors martiall cenfure , being at all times readie to make it good, in what maner,and againftvvhat man foeuer it fhall ftand wvith your Lordthips good liking to appoint. And fo I humbly com- mend this booke to your Lordthips wviledome to perufe, and your Honour to the Higheft to proteé in all health and happineffe novve and cuer. ‘Your Honors in all dutie, George Siluer. AN AN ADMONITION TO THE NOBLE, ANCIENT, VICTORIOVS, VALIANT, AND MOST BRAVE NATION OF eMoLIsHuER, ‘Borge Siluer having the perfeét1 jnomledge of all mance of weapdn ‘and being experiéced in all maner ‘of fights, thereby perceiuing the great’ abutes by the Italian Tea TGS chers of Offence done vnto them, the great errors, inconveniences, & falle refolutions ‘they haue brought them into, haue inforced me, even of pitie of their moft lamentable wounds and flaughters, & as I verily thinke itmy bounden datie, with all love and hamilitie to ad- monifh them to take heed, how they fubmit them- {elues into the hands of Italian teachers of Defence, oF ffraungers whatfocuer; and to beware how they forfake or fufpett their owne naturall fight, that they may by calling off of thefe Italianated, weake, fantaticall, and oft diuellih and impefe® fights and by eter: fing of their owne ancient weapons, be reftor atchieue vnto their natural, and moft manly and vi rious fight againe, the dint and force whereof manie B2 An Admoniton braue nations have both felt and feared. Our plough. men haue mightily prevailed again(t them, a8 alfo a guint Maiftes of Defence both in Schooles and coun. tries, that have taken vpon thé to ftand vpon Schoole- trickes and iugling gambolds: whereby it grew to a ‘common fpeech among the countrie-men, Bring me to a Fencer, I will bring him ont of his fence trickes with od downe right blowes, I will make him forget his Hence trickes Iwill warrant him, I fpeake not again Maifters of Defence indeed, they are to be honoured, nor againft the Science, it is noble, and in mine opi be preferred next to Diuinitie for as Diuinitie pre- ferueth the foule from hell and the divell, fo doth this noble Science defend the bodie from wounds & flaugh- ter, And moreouer, the exercfing of weapon puteth away aches, griefes, and difeafes, it increafeth firength, and tharpneth the wits, it giveth a perfeét iudgement, it expelleth melancholy, cholericke and euill conceits, it keepeth a man in breath, perfeét health, and Tonglife. Its vntobim that hath the perfeGion there- of, a molt friendly and comfortable companion when he is alone, having but only his weapon about him, it putteth him out of all feare, & in the warres and places of moft danger it maketh him bold, hardie, and valiant. And for 3s much as this noble and moft mightie n tion of Englithmen, of their good natures, are alwayes moft louing, verie credulous, & ready to cherith & pro- te€t ftragers: yet that through their good natures they neuer more by ftrangers or falfe teachers may be decei~ An Admonition, rangers thall take vpon them to come hither to teach. this noble & mott valiant, & viétorious nation to fight, that firft, before they learne of them, they caufe a if cient triall of them to be made, whether the excellencie of their skill be fach as they profeffe or no, the triall to be very requifite & reafonable, euen fuch as I my felfe would be contented withall, if I fhould take vpon me to go in their countrie to teach their nation to fight. And thisis the trill: they fhall play with fuch weapos asthey profeffe to teach withall, three bouts apeece with three of the beft Englith Maifters of Defence, & three bouts apeece with three vnskilfal valiant men, and three bouts # apeece with three refolute men halfdrunke. Then ifthey can defend théfelues againft thefe maifters of Defence, and hurt, and go free from the reft, then are they to be honored, cherifhed, and allowed for perfeét good tea- thers what countrey men focuer they be: biti ofanie of thefe they take foile, then are they imperfeét in their profeffion, their fight is falfe, & they are falfe tea chers, deceiuers and murtherers, and to be punifhed ac- cordingly, yet no worfe punithment vnto them I with, then fuch asin their trail they thall find, There are foure efpciall markes to know the ltalian fight is imper felt. & that the Italian teachers and fetters “Porth of beaks of Defence, neuer had the fore Sfetlion of the true fight. he frft marke is, they feldome fight in their 2 Jowne country wnarmed, commonly in this PekStore, x paire oF Gantlettes vpon their hands, wt carpe fach as thal find in themfelues a difpofition or defie to iy ort That ct atloeee their bodies, areas lee their weapons of them that fom heneforth + "The fed marke i that nether the Lalians nor any fos A ran the he uued, once againe I am moft humbly to admonith the, orGeorge Siluer his or their beft Ghoters do never fight, but they are moft cSmonly fore hurt, or one or both of them flaine, ‘The third marke is, they neuer teach their fcholers, not fet downe in their bookes anie perfeét lengthes of their weapons, without the which no mancan by nature or Art againft the perfect legth fight fafe, for being too ‘hort, their times are too long, and fpaces too wide for theie defence, and being to long, they wilbe ypon eve- tie croffe that fhall happen to be made, whether it be done by skil or chance, in great danger of death; becaufe the Rapier being too long, the croffe cannot be vndone in due time, but may be done by going backe with the feete; but that time is alwaies too long to anfwere there ofthe hand therfore every man ought to have a weapon according to his owne ftature: the tall man muft haue his weapon longer then the man of meane ature, or elfe he hath wrong in his defence, é the man of meane ftature muft have his weapon longer then the man of final ftature, or else he hath wrong in his defence; & the man of final lature muft beware that he feed not himifelf with this vaine céceipt, that he wilhaue hiswea- pon long, to reach as arre as the tall man, for therin he thal haue great difaduantae, both in making of a flrong ‘coffe, and alfo in vncroffing againe, and in keeping his point from croffing, and when a croffe is made vpon him, to defend him@lf, or indanger his enemie, or to re- decme his loft times. "Againe Rapiers longer, then is conuenient to accord with the true flatures of men, are alwaies too long or too heauie to keepe their bodies in due time from the croffe of the light thort fword of per~ fet length, the which being made by the skilfull out of any ofthe four re times, vpon any ofthe fare chiefe i Paradoxes of Defence. Aion, by renfon ofthe mettle great fvifinele in any of thete times, they are in great danger of a blow, or of athruft in the hand, arme, head, body, or face, &in euerie true croffe in the vncroffing, in great danger of 2 blow vpon the head, or a fall thrutt in the bodie or face: and being taken in that time & place, the firft mouer in -ncroffing speedeth the Rapier man of imperfeét legth, whether it be too long, too fhort or too heauie, and go- eth free himfelfe by the dire¢tion of his gouernours. The fourth marke is, the croffes of their Rapiers for true defence of their hands are imperfett, for the true cariage of the guardant fight, without the which all fights are imperfeét, Of fixe chiefe canpes, that many valiant men thinking ‘themfelues by their prattifes to be skilfull in their secpont are yet mani times in their ight fore iurt, and manie times laine Snall shih o wae? EVER firft and chiefett caule is, the lacke of the 3 FO) fSefoure Gouernours, without the which it is GSpimpotible to fight fafe, although a man fthould praétife moft painfully and moft di- ligently all the daies of his life. "The fecond cax(eis, the lacke of knowledgein thedue obferuance of the foute Aétions, the which we cal bent, Ipen, ing fpent, and drawing backe: thee AGtons e- uerie man fighteth vpon, whether they be skilfull or vn- skilfull, he that obferueth them is fafe, he that obfer- tueth thé not, is in cotinuall danger of euerie thruft that fhalbe ftrongly made againft him. BsNefeh gen Madsen tones Soe 8 ree 6 George Siluer his ‘The third caufe is, they are vnpraétifed in the foure true times, neither do they know the true times fr the falfe: therefore the true choife of their times are moft commonly taken by chance, and feldome otherwife. ‘The fourth caufe is, they are vnacquainted out of what fight, or in what maner they are to anfwer the va~ Tiable ight: and therefore becavle the variable fights the moft eat fight of all other, moft monly do an. fwer the variable fight with the variable fight, which ‘ought neuer to be but in the firt diftance, or with the Short Sword againft the long, becaute if both or one of them fhall happen to prefe, and that in due time of nei- ther fide ight be changed, the diftance, by reason of nar- rowneffe of fpace, is broken, the place is won and loft of both fides, then he that thrufteth fit, fpeedeth: if both happento thruft together, they are both in dager. Thefe things fometimes by true times, by change of fights, by chance are auoided. ‘The fift caute is, their weapons are moft commonly too long to vncroffe without going backe with the feet, ‘The fixt caufe is, their weapons are moft commonly too heauie both to defend and offend in due time, 8 thefe two laft causes many valiat mé have loft their lives. What is the caufe that wife men in learning or pratlfing thelr weapons, are dete wh Italian Fencers, Here are foure caufes: the frft, their schoolmaifters are imperfeGt: the fecond is, that whatfoeuer they teach, is both true & fae; true in their deméftrations, accordingwiththeir force8 time in getleplay, 8 in their attions Paradexes of Defence 7 aétions according with true force & time in rough play or fight, falfe: forexaple, there is as much difference be- twixtthefe two kind of fights, 2s thereis betwixtthe true i@turcof Sir Beuis of Southampton,8e Sir Beuishimtelf, if ye were Tiuing. The third, none cd iudge oftheCraftbut the Crafis-man; the vnskilfull, be he never fo wife, can not truly iudgeof his teacher, or skill, the which helear- neth, being vnskilful himfelfe. Laftly, & to confirme for truth all that thal be amiffe, not only in this excellét Sei ‘ence of Defence, but in all other excellent fecrets, moft commonly the Iye beareth as good a thew of truth, 2s truth it (elfe, Of the falfe refolutions and vain vions of Rapie 1 foie dee ote heres ofa GT is a great queltion, & efpecially eight 4 the Rapier-men, who hath the vantage of the thrufter, or of the warder. Some hold } trongly, that the warder hath the vantage: ‘others fay, it is moft certain that the thra- fter hath the vantage. Nowwhen two do happé to fight, being both of one mind, that the thrufter hath the van- tage, they make all thift they can, who fhall giue the fir thru afr example, two Captaines at Sothonpto vuen as they were going to take thippingypon thekey, atftrife, drew their Rapiers, and prefently, being defpe- tte, hard or rele a they cll t with al force and ‘ouer great fpeed, ran with their rapiers one at the o- ther, &ewere both flaine. Now when two of the contrary opinion fhall meet and fight, you fhall fee verie peacea- Blewarresbetweene them: for theyverlythinke that he8 George Siluer bis that firft thrufteth is in great danger of his life, there. fore with all fpeede do put themfelues in ward, or Sto cata, the fate gard ofall other, ax Vincenti faith, and therevpon they ftand fare, faying the one to the other, thruft and thou dare; and faith the other, thruft and thou dare, or frike or thruft and thou dare, faith the o- ther: then faith the other, ftrike or thruft and thou dare for thy life. ‘Thefe two cunning gentlemen ftandin, Jong time together, vpon this worthie ward, they both depart in peace, according to the old prouerbe: It is ood Meeping in a whole ckinne. Again if two fall ight, the one of opinion, that he that thrufteth hath the vantage, and the other of opinion, that the warder hath the vantage, then most commonly the thrufter being valiant, with all fpeed thrufteth home, and by reafon ofthe time and fwift motion of his hand, they are moft commonly with the points of their rapiers, or daggers, or both, one or both of them hurt or flaine ; bectute their fpaces of defence in that kind of fight, are too wide due time to defend, and the place being wonne, the eye of the Patient by the fwift motion of the Agents hhand, is deceiued. Another refolution they ftand fare vypon for their lives, to kill their enemies, in the which they are moft commonly Maine themtelues: that i thi ‘When they find the point of their enemies rapier out ofthe right line, they fay, they may boldly make homea throftwith a Pafata, the which they obferue,and do ac~ cordingly: but the other hauing a thorter time with hand, as nature manie times teacheth him, fodainly tur- neth his wrift, whereby he meeteth the other in his pate fage iuft with’ the point of his rapier in the face or body. And this falfe refolution hath coft manie a life. That Paradoxes of Defence. 9 Thot the caufe that manie are fo often flaine, and manic fore hurt in fight with long Rapiers is not by reafon of their dangerous thrusts, nor cunningneffe of that Tealienated fight, but in the length and unweildineff thereof. ‘Tis moft certaine, that men may with 5 SEY thort fwords both firike, thruft, fale and 483 double , by reafon of their diftance and YEH nimbleneffe thereof, more dangeroully SFL2IO] chen they can with long Rapiers: and yet when two fight with thort fwordes, having true fight, there is no hurt done:neither is it poflible in anie reafon, that anie hurt thould be done betwixt them of either fide, and this s well knowne toll fach as haue the per- feétion of true fight . By this it plainely appeareth, that the cau ofthe great aughter,andfndrie hurts done by long Rapiers, confifteth not in long Reach , dang case tk ates nee cunningnete ofthe Italian ight, but inthe Incomienient length, and vnweildinee of thet ong Rapiers: whereby it commonly falleth out thatin all their A@ions petaining to their defence, they are ‘vnable, in due time to performe,and continually in dan- ger of cucriecroffe that thal happen to be made with their rapier blades, which being done,, within the halfe rapien(vnleffe both be of one mind with all fpeed to de- part which fldome or neuer happneth betweene men Ef valiant difpofition jit is impotible to vncrofle, oF ge out or to auoid the ftabbes of the Daggers. And this hath falne out manie times amongft valiant men at thofe weapons, c10 George Siluer bis Of running and landing faft in Rapier fight, the runner ‘hath the vantage. F two valiant men do fight being both cun- ng in running, e that they both vfe the fame at one inftant, their courle is doubled, the place is wonne of both fides, and one or both of them will commonly be flaine or fore hurt: and if one of them {hall runne, and the other ftand faft vpon the Imbrocata or Stocata, or howfoeuer, the place wilbe at one inftant wwonne of one fide, and gained of the other, and one oF both of them wilbe hurt or ine: if both thall prefe hard vpon the guard, he that firft thrufteth home in trae place, hurteth the other: cif both thruft together, they are both hurt: yet fome vantage the runner hath, be~ ccaufe he is an vncertaine marke, and in his motion: the other isa certaine marke, and in a dead motion: and by reafon thereof manie times the vnskilfull man taket vantage he knoweth not how, againft him that lyeth watching vpon his ward or Stecata guard. Offriking and thrajting both together. It is ftrongly holden of manie, that if in fight they find their enemy to haue more skill then themfelues, they prefently will ‘continually ftrike, & thrutt iuft with him, ‘ whereby they will make their fight as ‘good as his, and thereby haue as good aduantage as the other with all his skill: but if their fwordes be longer then the other, then their aduantage is great; for it is certaine Paradoxes of Defence. certaine (fay they) that an inch will kill a man: but if their fiwordes be much longer then the other, then their aduantage is fo great, that they wilbe fare by thrafting and ftriking iuft with the other, that they will alwaies hurt him that hath the thort word, and go cleare them- felues, becaufe they will reach him, when he thall not reach them. Thefe men fpeake like fuch as talke of Ro- bin Hoode, that neuer thot in his bow; for to ftrike or thru fot together with aman of il yeth not nthe will of the ignorant, becaufe the skilfull man alwaies fighteth vpon the true times, by the which the vnskilfull is ill difappointed of both place and time, and there- fore driuen of neceflitie fill to watch the other, when & what he will does that is, whether he will ftrike, thruft, orfalfe:if the vnskilfal trike or thruft in the time of fal fing, therein he neither ftriketh nor thrafteth iuft with the other: he may faie, he hath ftroke or thruft be- fore him, but not iuft with him, nor to anie good pur- pole for in che time of falling, if he frike or thrut, he riketh or thrufteth too fhort: for in that time he hath neither time nor place to firike home, and as itis faid, the vnskilfall man, that will take vpon him to ftrike or thrutt iuft with the skilfoll, mutt firft behold what the man of ski will doe, and when he will doe it and ther- fore of neceffti is driuen to fuffer the skilfull man tobe the firft mouer, and entred into his Aétion, whether it be blow or thrutt, the truth therof in reafon cannot be denied. Now indge whether it be poffible for an vnskil- fall man to ftrike or thruft iuft together with a man of skill; but the skilful man can moft certainly ftrike and thruft iuft together with the vnskilfull, becaufe the vn- skilfull fighteth vpon falfe times, which being too long. C212 George Situer bis to anfwere the true times, the skilfull fighting vpon the true times, although the vnskilfull be the firft mouer,, & entred into his Adtion, whether it be blow or thrutt; yet the thortneffe of the true times maketh at the plea fare of the skilfall a iuft meeting together: in perfect fight two neuer firike or thruft together, becaule they neuer fuer place nor time to performe it. ‘Two vnskilfall men manie times by chance ftrike and thrufte together, chance vnto them, becaufe they know not what they doe, or how it commeth to paffe: but the reafons or caufes be thefe. Sometimes two falfe times meet & make a iuft time together, & fometimes a true time and a falfe time meeteth and maketh a iuft time together, and fometimes two true times meet and make aiuft time together. And all this hapneth becaule the true time and place is vnknowne vnto them, George Siluer his refolution upon that hidden or doubt- Sil quefion, wwho hath the aduantage of the Offender or Defender. he aduantage is ftrongly holden of many to be in the offender, yea in fomuchy that Rif two minding to offend in their fight, it is thought to be in him that firft triketh or thrufteth. Others ftrongly hold opini: on that thewardr abfolutely hath fll the aduantage, but thefe opinions as they are contrary the one to the other: fo are they contraric o true fight, as may well be feene by thefe thort examples, Ifthe aduantage be in the war- der, then it is not good anie time to ftrike or thrult: if the aduantage be in the ftriker or thrufter, then were it a frivolous Paradoxes of Defence. 3 4 friuolous thing to learne to ward, o at anie time 9 fecke to ward, fince in warding lieth difduantage, Now may ipsa by thf examples appear, that if there be anie perfeeton in fight, that both fides are deceiued in their opinions, becaufe if the ftriker or thrufter have the aduantage, then is the warder {till in danger of wounds or di ind againe, if the warder hath the aduantage, then is the ftriker or thrufter in as. eat daunger to defend himfelfe againft the warder, caufe the warder from his wards, taketh advantage of the ftriker or thrufter vj euerie blow or thru that fhall be made againft im. Then thus I conclude, that if there be perfeétion in the Science of De- fence, they are all in their opinons deceiued; and that the truth may appeare for the fatisfation ofall mien, this is my retlation: there is no aduantage ablolute: ly, nor difaduantage in ftriker, thrufter, or warder: and. there is a great adwantage in the ftriker thrufter fe war- der: but inthis maner, in the perfeétion of ight the ad- uantage conffteth in fight betweene partie and partie: that is, whofocuer winneth or gaineth the place in true fice: face and time, bath ke aduantage, whether a be ftriker, thrufter or warder. And that is my re- lution. Of Spanish fight vwith the Rapier. 4\He Spaniard is now thought to be a better 9 fe2ifesgeman with his Rapier then is the Italian, rat GeyFrenchman, high Almaine, or anie other roecMcountrie man whatfocuer, becaufe they in their Rapier-fight ftand vpon fo manie intricate trickes, c34 George Siluer bis that in all the courfe of a mans life it thall be hard to Tearne them, and if they miffe in doing the leaft of them in their fight, they are in danger of death. But the Spa- ziard in his fight, both fafely to defend himfelfe , and to endanger his enemie, hath but one onely lying, and two wards to learne, wherein a man with fmall praétife in a verie thort time may become perfeét. This is the maner of Spanith fight, they Mand as brave as they can with their bodies ftraight vpright, narrow fpaced, with their feet continually mouing, as if they were in a dance, holding forth their armes and Ra- piers verie ftraight againtt the face or bodies of their e- nemies: & this is the only lying to accomplith that kind of ight, And this note) that is Tong as any man fhall Jie in that maner with his arme, and point of his Rapier fraight, it thall be impoffible for his aduerfarie to hurt him, becaufe in that firaight holding forth of his arme, which way foeuera blow fhall be made againtt him, by reafon that his Rapier hilt lyeth fo farre before him, he hath but averie litle way to moue, to make his ward per- feét, in this maner. Ifa blow be made at the right fide of the head, a verie litle mouing of the hand with the knuckles vpward defendeth that fide of the head or bo- dic, and the point being fill out fraight, greatly endan- iereth the friker: and fo ikewif, a blow be made at the left fide of the head, a verie fall turning of the wrift with the knuckles downward, defendeth that fide of the head and bodie, and the point of the Rapier much indangereth the hand, arme, face or bodie of the ftriker: and if anie thraft be made, the wards, by reafon of the indire€tions in mouing the feet in maner of dauncing, as aforefaid, maketh a perfeét ward, and fill withall the “point Paradoxes of Defence. 15 ine greatly endangers theohes. And thos i the Sranith fight perfec: fo long as you can kecpe that or- der, and foone learned, and therefore to be accounted the beft fight with the Rapier of all other. But note how this Spanith fight is perfeét, and you hall fee no Jonger then you can keepe your point ftraight againft your aduerfarie: as for example, I haue heard the like eft. ‘There was a cunning Doftor at his firlt going to fea, being doubtful that he fhould be fea-ficke, an old wo- man perceiuing the fame, faid vnto him: Sir, I pray, be ‘of good comfort, I will teach you a tricke to auoid that doubt; here isa fine pibble ftone, if you pleafe to accept it, take it with you, and when you be on thip-bord, put itn your mouth, and as long 2s you thall keepe the fame in your mouth, vpon my credit you hall neuer vo- mit:the Doétor beleeued her, and tooke it thankfully at her hands, and when he was at fea, he began to be ficke, whereupon he prefently put the flone in his mouth, Ecthere kept it © long 2s he poffibly could, but through his extreme fickneffe the ftone with vomit was caft out of his mouth: then prefently he remébred how the wo- man had mocked him, and yet her words were true. Enen fo 2 Spaniard hauing his Repier pont pot by, may receive a blow on the head, or a cut ouer the face, hand, or arme, or a thruft in the body or face, and yet hi Spanith fight perfect, (o long as he can keepe ftraight the point of his Rapier againft the face or body of his aduerfarie: which is as eafie in that maner of fight to be done, as it was for the Dottor in the extremity of his vomite to keepe the ftone in his mouth. Yet one other pretie ieft more, fearce worth the rea-16 George Situer his ding, in commendation of outlandith fight. There was fan Lalan teacher of Defence in my ttme, who was © excellent in his fight, that he would haue hit anie En- glith man with a thruft, tuft vpon any button in his dou- blet, and this was much fpoken of. ‘ANfo there was another cunning man in catching of wildgeefe, he would haue made no more ado, when he had heard them crie, as the maner of wildgeefe is, fying one after another in rowe’, but prefently looking vp, would tell them, if there had benea dofen, ixteene, twe- tie, or more, he would have taken euerie one. And this tale was manic times told by men of good cre much maruelled at by the hearers: & the man that wold hhaue taken the wildgeefe, was of good credite him(elfe hey faid, indeed he did neuer take anie, but: nie time when he had looked vp, and feene them flie in that maner, he would with all his heart haue taken thé, but he could no more tell how to do it, then could the ‘cunning Italian Fencer tell how to hit an Englithman, with a thruft iuft vpon any one of his buttons, when he lifted. Mlafions for the maintenance of imperfett weapons & falfe Seat ta fare or dfeourege the atl thee wep from tenga tr courjeor Up, for aitaining tothe perfeet know- Ledge of true fight. 10 Irft, for the Rapier (faith the Italian, or fale teacher) I hold it to be a perfect good wea- po, becaufe the croffe hindreth not to hold the handle in the hand, to thruft both far & Miraight, & to vfe all maner of aduantages in the wards, or Paradoxes of Defence. 1 a: fedanly to cll. the fame a che advertue, but with the Sword you are driven with all the ftrength of the hand to hold faft the handle, And in the: ares Twould with no friend of mine to weare Swords with hilts, be~ caufe when they are fodainly fet vpon, for hafte they fet Crit ee ne in fteed of their handles : in which time it hapneth manie times before they can Thieceenerpit daw their fwords, they areflaine by their enemies) And ar area forSword and Buckler fight, itis imperfect, Becaule the v2" ait buckler blindeth the fight, neither would I haue anie tre fish fri the man lie aloft with his hand aboue his head, to ftrike/e.t0t found blowes. Strong blowes are naught, efpecially be- ing fet aboue the head, becaufe therein all the face and boi is difcouered, Yet T confefe in old times, when fotZ Mare blowes were only vied with fhort Swords & Bucklers,8c.1i# ee poh back Sword, thefe kind of fights were good & molt mi- "74.34 'y,but now in thefe daies fight is altered, Rapiere are lof ear ba. efor aduitage the fwords were wat to be: whe blowes So docsboge vere vied, men were fo fimple in their ight, that they fe eprse, thought him to be a coward, that wold make a thruft or ont ihe perf firike a blow beneath the ire. Againe,if their weapos GAyte sort were thore, asin times paff they were, yet fight is better oot ctn, looked into in thefe dayes, than then it was. Who is it in + «te kezrnir {hele daies feeth not that the blow copaffeth round like ft f/m, awheele, whereby it hath a longer way to go, but the erfeyrike ine thruft paffeth in a ftraight Tine, and therefore commeth % hp # anearer way, and done ina fhorter time thé is the blow, face tt and is more deadly then is the blow? Therefore there ie 5! Wve: 19 wife man that will ftrike, vnleffe he be wearie weit sat ie ofhis life. Tt is certaine, that the point for aduantage at sy mt enerie way in fight is to be vfed,, the blow is vtterly M¥ a frite ‘aught, and not to be vied. He that fighteth vpon the finae yan DB18 George Siluer bis 214 te din blow elpecially with a hort fword,, wilbe fore hurt or Bitte fs faine. The deuill can fay no more for the maintenance bie a men See tar of errors. feeld bane foxght HoT AEE ae That a blow commeth continuallyas neare a way as a thrup Sepp ‘and moft commonly nearer fronger, Gatke Tew. more fuiftery andi " He blow, by rea that it compaffith round Aschteten ike a wheele, whereby it hath a longer w: catia to come, as the Tealeg Fen faiths fe that the thruit paffing in a ftraight line, commeth a nearer way, and therefore is fooner done then a blow, is not true: these be the proofes. Let two lic in their perfect ftrengths and readineffe, wherein the blades oftheir Rapiers by the motion of the body, may not be croffed of either fide, the one to ftrike, and the other to thruft. Then meafure the diftance ot courfe wherein the hand and hilt paffeth to finith the blow of the one, and the thruft of the other, and you {hall find them both by meafure, in diftance all one. ‘And let anie man of iudgement being feene in the ex- ercife of weapons, not being more addi€ed vnto nouel- ties of fight, then vnto truth it (elfe, put in meafure, and pradtife thefe three fights , variable , open , and guar- {tant, and he thal fe, that whenfocuetahie nan lyeth at the thruft vpon the variable fight, (where of neceffitie moft commonly he lyeth, or otherwife not poffiblie to keepe his Rapier from croffing at the blow & thruft, vp- ‘on the open or gardant fight,) that the blowes &cthruftes from thefe two fightes, come a nearer way, and a more fronger Paradexes of Defence. 19 ftronger and fwifter courfe then doth the thruft, out of the variable fight. And thus for a generall rule, where= foeuer the Thrufter lyeth, or out of what fight focuer he fighteth, with his Rapier, or Rapier and Dagger, the blow in his courfe commeth as neare, and nearer, and sore fwift and ftronger then doth the thruft. Porfelt fight flandeth pon both blow and thruft , there Sore the thrupt is nat onely to be ofed. Hat there is no fight perfeét without both 12 blow and thruft: neither is there snie cer- taine rule to be fet downe for the vie of the point onely, thefe be the reafons : In fight 7 inyra there are manie motions, with the hand, bodie , and feet, and in euerie motion the place of the hand i alte~ red, becaufe by the motions of the hand, the altering of the places of the hand, the changes of lyings, wards, and breaking of thruftes, the hand will fometimes be in place to ftrike, fome times to thruft, fometimes after a blow to thruft, and fometimes after & thrutt to ftrike, 8 fometimes in place where you may ftrike, and cannot thruft without loffe of time, and fometimes in place where you may thruft, and cannot ftrike without Ioffe of time, and fometimes in place where you can neither Arike nor thruft, vnleffe you fight vpon both blow and thrutt, nor able to defend your felfe by ward or going backe, becaufe your {pace wilbe too wide, and your di- flance loft . And fometimes when you haue made a thruft, a ward or breaking is taken in fach fort with the Dagger or blade of the Sword, that you ci neither thruft agtine, nor defend your felfevnleffe you doftrike, wl Da20 George Situer hit you may foundly doe, and go free, and fometimes when, you ftrike, a ward wilbetaken in fach fort, that you can. ot ftrike againe nor defend your fle» vnlee you thruft, which you may fafely doc and goe free . So to conclude, there is no perfeétion in the true fight, with- out both blow and thruft, nor certaine rule to be fer downe for the point onely. ‘That the blow is more dangerous and deadly in fight ,then a thrupt for proofe thereaf tobe made according with Art, ‘an Englishman boldeth argument againft an Italian, Italian, Hich is more dangerous or deadly in ff) fight ofa blow or athruft? ; Englishman, This queftion is not propounded ac- Ucording to art, becaufe there is no fight perfeét without both blow and throft, Italian. Let it be (6, yet opinions are otherwife holden , that the thruft is onely tobe vied, becaufe it commeth ¢ nese rer way, and is more dangerous and deadly , for thefe reafons: firtt the blow compaffeth round like 'a wheele, but the thruft paffeth in aftraight line,therforethe blow by reafon of the compaffe, hath a longer way to go then the thruft, &cis therefore longer in doing, but the thruft Paradoxes of Defence. a Englishman, Let your opiniés be what they wil, but chat the chruft cémeth a nearer way, & is fooner done then the blow, is not true: 8 for proofe thereof reade the twelfth Paradox. ‘And now will I fet downe probable reafons, that the fe ie me blow is better then the thruf, and more dangerous and dare fer deadly. Firft, the blow commeth as neare a way ,& moft cSmonly nearer then doth the thruft & is therfore done ina fhorter time then isthe thruft: therfore in refpedt of time, wherupon ftideth the perfeétion of fight, the blow ismuch better then the thruft, Againe, the force of the thruft paffeth ftraight, therefore any croffe being indi- refily made, the force of a child may put it by: but the force of a blow paffeth indireétly, therefore must be di- reflly warded in the counterchecke of his force: which cinot be done but by the cBuenient ftrength of a man, & with true croffe in true time, or elfe will not fafely defed him: and is therfore much better, & more digerous thé the thruft, and againe, the thruft being made through thehand, arme, of leg, or in many places ofthe body and face, are not deadly, neither are they maimes, or loffe of limmes or life, neither is he much hindred for the time inhis fight, as ong as the bloud is hotfor example. Thaue knowne aGétlema hurtin Rapier fight, in nine of ten places through the bodie, armes, and legges, and yethath continued in his fight, & afterward hath faine paffeth in ftraight line, therfore hath fhorter way to go the other,and come home and hath bene cured of all is ge sum cenes the hath the blow, 6cis therfore done in athorter time,& ‘woids without maime, &cis yet liuing.But the blow be=of t lv, tv is therfore much better then the blow, & more dange- ing ftrdgly made, taketh fomtimes cleane away the hand 27," ig, and rous and deadly, becaufe ifa thruft do hit the face or bo- from the arme , hath manie times bene feene. Againe, hed die, it indangereth life, and moft commonly death en- 2 fall blow vpon the head or face with a fhort pe fueth: but ifthe blow hit the bodie, it is not dgerour. Sword, is moft commonly death. A fall blow vpon the Englishman. D3He that gach the fof cored uhefimg eh the ft of evtter 22 George Siluer his necke, thoulder, arme, or legge, indangereth life , cut. teth off the veines, mu(cles, and finewes, peritheth the bones: thefe wounds made by the blow, in refpeé of perfeét healing, are the loffe of limmes, or maimes ine curable for euer. ‘And yet more for the blow:a ful blow vpon the head, face, arme, leg, or legs, is death, of the partie so woun- ded in the mercie of him that thall fo wound him. ‘what man fhall be able long in fight to ftand vp, either to reuenge, or defend himfelfe, hauing the veines, mu- fcles, and finewes of his hand, arme, or leg cleane cut a- fander? of being difmembred by fach wound vpon the face or head, but thall be enforced therby, and through the loffe of bioud, the other a litle dallying with him, to yeeld himfelf, or leaue his life in his mercie? And for plainer deciding this cOtrouerfie betweene the blow and the thruft, confider this fhort note. The blow commeth manie wayes, the thruft doth not fo. The blow commeth a nearer way then a thruft moft co monly, and is therefore fooner done. The blow requi- reth the ftrength of a man to be warded ; but the thramt may be put by, by the force of a child, A blow vpon the hand, arme, of legge is a maime incurable; but a thrutt in the hand, arme, or legge is to be recouered. The blow hath manic parts to wound, and in euerie of them commaundeth the life; but the thru hath but a few, as the bodie or face, and not in enerie part of them neither. Or Paradoxes of Defence. 23 the difference betwixt the true fight & the falfe: wher- re gat (the Principles bong had ‘eihtk de rretion of the foure Gowernors) the whole perfetlion of fight with all ma~ ner of weapons. SAY He true fights be thefe: whatfoeuer is 14 SY done with the hand before the foot or Xi feet is true fight, The fale fights be thefe: PSG whatiocuer is done with the foot or feet EZECIS) before the hand, is falfe, becaufe the hand is fwifter then the foot, the foot or feet being a lower mover then the hand: the hand in that maner of fight is tied to the time of the foot or feet, and being tied there- to, hath loft his freedome, and is made thereby 2s low in his motions as the foot or feet: and therfor that fight isfalfe. Ofeuill orders or cujlomes in our English Feceehooles 8 of the old or ancient teaching of rocapons © things very neceffarie to be continued Jor the awoiding of er- rors, and reuiuing and continuance of our ‘ancient vvveapons, and moft vitlo- rious fight againe. Here is in my opinid in our Fence-fchooles 15 fan euill order oF cuftome in thefe dayes v- Ried, the which, if it might ftand with the }good liking of our Maifters of Defence, I ‘thinke it neceffirie to be left: for as long as itis vied, it thal be hard to make a good Scholier.4 George Siluer his ‘That is this, at the fingle Sword, Sword and Dagger, & Sword and Buckler, they forbid the thruft, & at the fin ig Rapier and Roper & Dagger they forbid the blow, Either they are both together beft, or the thruft altoge- ther beft, or the blow altogether beft. If the thruft be beft, why do we not vfeit at the fingle Sword, Sword & Dagger. te Sword and Buckler. Ifthe blow be bef, wh do we not vie it atthe fingle Rapier, Rapier8¢Poinyard? But knowing by the Art of Armes, that no fight is per~ feét without both blow and thrutt, why do we not vfe and teach both blow and thruft? But howfoeuer this we Paradoxes of Defence, of nature, and the plowman is now by nature wit arta farre better man then he. Therefore inmy opinion, ts long a: we barre anie maner of play in feboole, we {hall hardly make a good feholler: there is no maner of teiching comparable tothe old ancient teaching, chat issfirt their quarters, then their wardes, blowes, thrufts, and breaking of thruftes, then their Clofes and Gripes, ftriking with the hilts, Daggers, Bucklers, Wraftlings, ftriking with the foote or knee in the Coddes, and all thefe are fafely defended in learning perfettly of the Gripes. And this is the ancient teaching, the perfecteft Jxth wearer & moft bett teaching; and without this teaching, there mete {fhall neuer {choller be made able , doe his vttermoft , ta, !mbrecatox nor fight fafe. Againe their wordes in fchooles are too fits "= tong by almoft halfe a foote to vncroffe, without going” backe with the fects within ditance or prfely to dayly fee, that whé two meet in fight, whether they haue skill or none, vnleffe fach as haue tied thefelues to that boyith, Ztalian, weake, imperfeét fight, they both ftrike and thruft and how tall he then do, that being much taught in fehoole, neuer learned to ftrike, nor how to defend a ftrong blow? & how fhall he thé do, that being Boies rckroht eanhde eee amee or perfet brought yp in Fece-fehoole, that neuer learned to thrafk in feraing ofthe eee ee webb with the fingle Sword, Sword and Dagger, and Sword Mublique fights are id. vnferuic . and Buckler, nor how at thefe weapés to breake a thruft? Near hion ae ‘The beft lengthes for teaching of the true fight. igthes 1g rue fight Loe cere Surely, I thinke a downe right fellow, that neuer came in fehoole, vfing fuch skill a nature yeeldeth out of his courage, ftrength, and agilitie, with good downe right blowes and thrufls among, 2s fhall bett frame in his hands, fhold put one of thefe imperfett (chollers great- ly tohis thifts. Befides, there are now in thefe dayes no gripes, clofes, wreftlings, ftriking with the hilts, dag- gers, or bucklers, yfed in Fence-{chooles, Our plough- men by nature wil do all thefe things with great firégth & agility: but the Schooleman is altogether vnacquain- ted with thefe things. He being falt tyed to fach fehoo!~ play as he hath learned, hath fft thereby the benefite to be vfed and continued in Fence fchooles , to accord “¥#. with the true atures of all men, are thefe. The blade to be a yard and an inch for meane ftatures, and for men of tall ftatures, ayard and three or foure inches, and no more . And I would haue the Rapier continued in fhooles, alwaies readie for fach as thall thinke them- felues cunning, or thall haue delight to play with that imperfe€t weapon.Prouided alwaies, that the Schoole- maifter or Vther play with him with his hore Sword, plying him with all maner of fight according to the true art: this being continued the truth fhall Hourith, the lye thalbe beaten downe , and all nations not ha- E26 Siluer his uing the true ‘iene elt come with all gladneffe to the valiant and moft braue Englith maisters of Defence tolearne the true fight for their defence. The grounds or Principes of true fight with alt 16 maner of weapons. Irft Tudgement, Lyings, Diftance, Dire8ti fon, Pafe, Space, Place, Time, Indiretti- ISX on, Motion, Aétion, generall and conti- nual Motion, Progreffion, Regreffion , Trauerfing, and Treading of groundes, Blowes, ‘Thruftes, Faulfes, Doubles, Slipes, Wardes, breakings of Thrafts, Clofings, Gripes, & Wrafllings, Guardant fight, Open fight, Variable fight, and Clofe fight, and foure Gouernours. ‘The wardes of all maner of weapons. 1, fingle weapons have foure wardes, and PY ait double weapons have cight wardes. EB The tingle fvord hath two with the point $3} vp, and two with the point downe. The Staffe and all maner of weapons to be v- {fed with both handes have the like, ‘The Sword and Buckler, and Sword and Dagger are double weapons, and haue eight wardes, two with the point vp, and two with the point downe, and two for the legges with the point downe, the point to be caried for both fides of the legges, with the knuckles downe- ward, and two wardes with the Dagger or Buckler for the head. The Forreft bill isa double weapon byreafon Paradoxes of Def 2 ofthe headand therefore hath eight wards foure with the Staffe, foure with the head, foure of them to be vfed aswith the ftaffe, and the other foure with the head, the ‘one vp, the other downe, and the other fidewaies. ‘The names and numbers of times appertaining nto fight ‘tinea pape hates GY Here are eight times, whereof foure are 18 CIDY, true , and foure are fale: the true times G be thefe. ‘The time of the hand. A\ The time of the hand and bodie. The time of the hand, bodie and foote. ‘The time of the hand, bodie and feete. The falfe times be they. The time of the foote. The time of the foote and bodie, ‘The time of the foote, bodie and hand. ‘The time of the feete, bodie and hand. Thus haue I thought good to feparate and make knowne the true times from the falfe , with the true wardes thereto belonging, that thereby the rather in pra€tifing of weapons,a true courfe may be taken for the auoiding of errours and euill cuftomes, and fpeedie attaining of good habit or perfeét being in the true vfe ind knowledge ofall maner of weapons. Ofthe length of weapons, and how exerie man may fit him- Life inthe perf nash of Bisa, ecer- ding tohis owne lature , with Briefe rea- Sons wher fare they ugh bef 228 George Siluer his Paradoxes of Defence. 29 9 © know the perfeét length of your Sword, The perfet length of your two hand fword i the you thall ftand with your fword and dagger blade to be the length of the blade of your fingle fword. drawn, as you fee this pi€ture, keeping out ‘To know the perfedt length of your thre aff, or firaight your dagger arme, drawinge backe half Pike, Forreftbil, Partifin,or Gleue,orfuch likewea- your fword as fa as conveniently you can, not opening ponsof vantage and perfeét lengths, you thall ftand vp- the elbow ioynt of your fword arme:and looke what you right,holding the taffevpright: Sit ype ody, with can draw within your dagger, that is the ivft length of your left hd, reaching with your right hand your ftaffe your fword,to be made according to your owne ftature, ashigh as you can, and then allow to that length a fpace to fetboth your hands, when you come to ight, where- in you may conueniently frike,thruft, and ward, & that WY te fort bo is theiuft length to be made according to your ftature. Iara ‘And this note,that thefe lengths will commonly fall out etd to be eight or nine foot long, and will fit, although not Gate wk ser uf, the tatures ofall men, without any hindrance at all Seelt for, vynto them in their fight, becaufe in any weapon wherin eaneiet the hands may be remoued, and at libertie, to make the rami ‘weapon loger or fhorter in fight at his pleafure,a foot of ge Te the ftaffe behind the backmoft hand doth no harme. ‘ict tse ‘And wherfore thefe weapons ought to be of the lengths fr te aforefaid,and no fhorter , thefe are the reafons: If they time of the band. thould be thorter, then the long ftaffe, Morris Pike, and he bbe rjos fach like weapons ouer and aboue the length, ote thould haue great vantage againft them, becaufe he tay eee come boldly and fafe without anie gard or ward, to the Som Cle plscewhere he maythrufthomesand at eneythuft pat Jb ie jim in danger of his life:but if 3c oftheir fi ote danger of his life:but if thefe weapons be of the Berta lengths, then can the Tong tafe, the Morris ike, or anie other longer weapon ly nowhere in true face, but thall be fll within compaffe of the croffe, to croffe and vncroffe, wherby he may fafely paffe home to the placeswhere he may tke or thrulthim thathaththe long weapon,in the head, face,or body at his pleafure, E330 George Situer his Of the lengths of the Battel axe, Halbard, or blacke Bill, or fuch lke vvcapons of weight, appertaining ne gardor bal 3ypq N anie of thefe weapons there needeth no iuft length, but commonly they are, or 449 ought to be fiue or fixe foot long, & may EVES) not well be vfed much longer, becaule of =O) their weights: and being weapons for the ‘warres or battell, when men are ioyned clofe together, may thruft,6e ftrike found blowes, with great force both, trong and quicke: and finally for the iuft lengths of all, other fhorter or longer weapons to be gouerned with both hands, there is none: neither is there anie certaine Tengthes in anie maner of weapons to be vied with one hand, ouer or vnder the iuft length of the fingle fword. ‘Thus endeth the length of weapons, Of the vantages of weapons in their kinds, places, & times, cA Sieh end abe 7 Irft I will begin with the worft weapon, an imperfeét and infufficient weapon, SN and not worth the {peaking of ; but now Y being highly efteemed, therefore not to o be left vnremembred; that is, the fingle Rapier, and Rapier and Poiniard. ‘The fingle Sword hath the vantage againft the fin- le Rapier. or The Sword and Dagger hath the vantage agaift the Rapier and Poiniard. The Paradexes of Defence. 30 ‘The Sword & Target hath aduitage againft the Sword sod Dagger or Rapier and Poiniard, ‘The Sword and Buckler hath aduantage againft the Sword and Target, the Sword and Dagger, or Rapier and Poiniard. ‘The two hand Sword, hath the vantage againft the Sword and Target, the Sword and Buckler , the Sword and Dagger, or Rapier and Poiniard. The Battel-axe, the Halbard, the Blacke-bill,or fach like weapons of weight,appertaining vnto guard or bat- tell,are all one in fight, and haue aduantage againft the two hand Sword, the Swordand Buckler, the Sword and ‘Target, the Sword & dagger, or the Rapier & Poiniard. The thort ftaffe or halfe Pike, Forrett-bill, Partifan, or Gleue, or fuch like weapons of perfett length, haue the vantage againft the Battel-axe, the Halbard , the Blacke-bill,the two hand fword, the Sword and Target, and are too hard for two Swords and Daggers, or two Rapiers and Poiniards with Gantlets, and for the long flafle and Mortis Pike. The long Staffe, Morris Pike,or Tauelin, or fuch like weapons aboue the perfeét length, haue aduantage a- gainft all maner of weapons, the thort ftaffe, Welch hooke, Partifan,or Gleue, or fach like weapons of van- tage excepted: yet too weake for two Swords and Dag- {ers or two Swords and Bucklers, or two Rapiers and Poiniards with Gantlets,, becaufe they are too long to thruf, ftrike, and turne fpeedily: and by reafon of the large diftance, one of the Sword and Dagger-men will getbchind him, ‘The Welch hooke or Forreft bill,hath aduantage a- fainftall maner of weapons whatfoewer.32 George Siluer his ‘Yet vnderftand, that in battels ,and where varietie of weapons be, amongft multitudes of men and horfes,the Sword and Target, the two hand Sword, the Battel-axe, the Blacke-bill, and Halbard, are better weapons , and more dangerous in their offence and forces , then is the ‘Sword and Buckler, fhort ftaffe, long ftaffe, or Forreft bill. The Sword and Target leadeth vpon Shot , and in troupes defendeth thrufts and blowes given by battel. axe, Halbards, Blacke-bill, or two hand {words, far bet. ter then can the Sword and Buckler. ‘The Morris Pike defendeth the battell from both horfe and man, much better then can the fhort ftaffe, long ftaffe, or Forrett bill. Againe, the Battel-axe,, the Halbard, the Blacke bill,the two hand fword,andSword & Target, amongft armed men and troopes, when men, are come together , by reafon of their weights, thort- neffe, and great forces , do much more offend the ene- mie, & are then much better weapons, then is the thort faffe, the long Staffe, or Forreft bill. Of the infficiencie and difaduantages of the Rapiers-fight in Battell. 2} Or the fingle Rapier,or Rapier & Poiniard, FAIR they are imperfe0 & infuftcient weapons? and efpecially in the feruice of the Prince, ‘when men fhall ioyne together, what fer- SP vice can afouldier dowith a Rapier, achil- dith toy wherwith a man can do nothing but thruft,nor that neither, by reafon of the length, and in euerie mo- uing when blowes are a dealing ,for lacke ofa hilt is in daunger to have is hand or arme cat off or his hend clouen Paradoxes of Defence. 33 dlouen . And for Wardes and Gripes, they haue none, neither can any of thefe fine Rapier men for lacke of vie, tell howe to firike a found blow. Of the vantages and fuffcienci of the short _ a Sword fight in battell. He thort Sword, and Sword and Dagger, are perfeét good weapons , and efpecially in feruice of the Prince. What a braue wea- pon is a fhort tharpe light Sword, to carie, todraw, to be nimble withall,toftrike, to cut, to thruft both ftrong and quicke. And what a goodly defence isa Arong ingle hilt, when men ae lufering and hurling together , efpecially where varietie of weapons be, in their motions to defend the hand , head, face, and bo- dics , from blowes, that fhalbe giuen fometimes with Swordes, fometimes with two handed Swordes, battell ‘Axe, Halbardes , or blacke Billes , and fometimes men thalbe foneare together , that they thall haue no {pace, fkarce to vfe the blades of their Swordes belowe their waftes,then their hilts (their handes being aloft) defen- deth from the blowes, their handes, armes, heads, faces, and bodies : then they lay on, hauing the vfe of blowes and Gripes , by force of their armes with their hilts, ftrong blowes, at the head, face, armes , bodies » and ‘houlders, and manie times in hurling together , eo} isgiuen to turne downe their points,with violent thrul at their faces, and bodies, by reafon of the thortneffe oftheir blades,to the mightie annoyance , difcomfort, and great deftruétion of their enimies, One v: with a Sword in his hand, will doe better feruice then ten Tlians,orValenated with the Raper. 234 George Siluer his That all maner of deuble weapons, or rocapons to be wed swith both borides, haue aduantage againft the fin- ‘gle Rapier or ingle Sword, there is no quetion tbe made. ‘That the Sword and Buckler hatbthe vantage a- ‘gsinf the Sword and Dagger. f] He Dagger is an imperfeét ward , al- Y though borne out ftraight , to make the ARE® Space narrow, whereby by alitle mouing. SUNG f the hand,may be ficient to fae both fides of the head, or to breake the thruft from the face or body, yet for lackeof the circumference hishand will lie too highor too low,or too weake, to de- fend both blowand thruf he lye ftraightwith narrow {pace,which is beft to breake the thruft,thenhe lieth too weake, and too lowe to defend his head from a ftrong blow : ifhe lye high, that is ftrong to defend his head, but then {pace wilbe too wide to breake the thruft from his bodie. The Dagger feructh well at length to put by a thruft, and at the halfe Sword to croffe the Birord blade, todriue out the Agent, and put him in danger of hi and fafely in anie of thefe two aétions to defend himfelfe. But the Buckler,by reafon of his cir- cumference and weight, being well caried, defendeth fafely in all times and places , whether it be at the point, haife Sword, the head, bodie, and face, from all maner of blowes and thruftes whatfoeuer,yet I haue heard ma- nie hold opinion, that the Sword and Dagger hath ad- vuantage of the Sword and Buckler, at the Clofe, by rea- fon of the length and point ofthe Dagger: and at the point Paradoxes of Defence, 35 point of the Sword , they can better (ce to ward then with a Buckler. But I neuer knew anie, that wanne the Clofe with the Dagger vpon the Sword and Budkler, but did with himfelfe out againe:fordiftance being bro- ken, iudgement faileth, for lacke of time to iudge yand the cie is deceiued bythe fwift motion of the hand, and for lacke of trueSpace with thedagger hand, which can- not be otherwife , for lacke of the circumference to de~ fend both blow and thruft, itis impoffible for lacke ot true Space in iuft time , the agent hauing gotten the true place, to defend one thruft or blow ofan hundred « And it is moft certaine, whofocuer clofeth with Sword and Dagger, againft the Sword and Buckler , is in great danger to be flaine . Likewife at the point within di- lance, if he ftand to defend both blow and thruft with his Dagger, for lacke of true fpace and diftance , ifhe had the befl eye of anie man, and could fee periely« which way the thruft or blow commeth , and when it commeth , ast is not to be denied but he may, yet his fpace being too large, ithelpeth him nothing, becaufe the mane baad betng as fait ws anether mas head 5 both being within dflance, hethat rikethor thrufteth, hhurteth the warder: the reafon is this: the Agent being in the firft motion although in his offence , further to go then the warder to defend , yet the wardersfpace being too large, the blow or thruft wilbe performed home,be- fore the warder can come to the true place to defend himfelfe, and although the warder doe perfettly fee the blow orthruft comming, fo thall he fee his owne ward {6 farre from the true place of his defence , that although heddoe at that inftant time,plainly (ce the blow or thrutt comming, it thalbe impotlible for him to recouer the FaThe eye is de. mbifep Pt of te hd 36 George Siluer his ‘true place of his ward, tillhe be wounded. But let the warder with the dagger fay , that itis not true which I hhaue fid,for as he hath cies to behold the blow or thruft coming, hath he as good time to defend himfelf. Here in he fhal find himfelf deceiued to; this isthe reafor hand isthe fwifteft motion, the foot is the floweft, out diftance the hand is tied to the motion of the feet, wherby the time of the hand is made 2s low asthe foot, becaule thereby we redeeme euerie time loft v comming by the flow motion of the foot, & haue time therby to judge, whé & how he can performe any aétis, whatfocuer , and fo haue we the time of the hand to the time of the feet. Now is the had in his owne courfe more Swifter then the foot or eye,therfore within diftance the eye is deceiued,te iudgement is lot; and that is another caufe that the warder withthe dagger,although he haue perfeét eyes, is tl within diftance deceiued. For proofe that the hand is more fwifter then the eye,Setherebyde- ceiueth the eyes:let two fland within diftance,fe let one of thé ftand ftll to defend him(elf,& let the otherflorith & falfe with his hand, and he fhall continually with the fwift motions of his hand, deceiue the eyes of him that fandeth watching to defend himfelfe, & thal continual- ly trike him in diuerfe placeswith hishand.Againe,take this for an example, that the eyes by fwift motions are deceived :turne a turne-wheele fwift,& you fhall not be able to difcerne with your beft eies how many {pokes be in the wheelno nor whether there be any pokes sll or whereof the wheele is made,and yetyoufeewhen the wheele flandeth ftill there isa large diftance betweene cucrie fpoke.Hethatwill not beleeue that the fwift mo- Sion ofthehandin Fight will deceive the ee, thal fares: Paradexes of Defence. 37 broad with his eyes,& feele himfelf foundly hurt, before he all pefetly fx how to defend him, 80 thole that truft to their fight,the excellécy of a good eye,their sreatcunning, & perfect wards ofthe daggers bat they can better fee to ward then with a buckler,thall ever be deceived, And whé they be wounded,they fay the Aget wasalitle too quicke for them;fometimes they fay they bare their dagger a litle too low : fometimes they are thruft under the dagger, then they fay,they bare it a litle too high fometimes a thruft being ftrongly made ,they being foundly paid therewith, fay, they were alitie too flo fometimes they be foundly paid with a thrufyte they thinke they were a litle too quick.So they that pra- id or thinke to be cunning in th the dayes of their liues learning,and are neuer taught. ‘That the Sword and Buckler hath the vantage ‘against the Sword and Target, $ He Sword & Target together hath but two 25 FOIKSS fights;that is, the variable fight, & the clofe FEVERD fight, for the clofe fight, the niber of his feet PURSN are too many to take againft any mi of skill having the Sword & buckler, fe for the variable fight al- though not fo many in number,yet too many to win the plscewithhis foot trike or thruft home. The fword&e uuckler-man can out of his variable,opé & gardit fight, come brauely off & on, falfe and double, trike & thruft home, & make a true croffe vpon euery oceafion at pleafuref the Sword & Target mi will Rie this gardit ight, the bredth ofhis Target will not fuffer it, ifto his apen ight hath the Sword & Buckler man in effet the fword and Buckler to the fingle, for in that fight by reafon of the bredth,the target can do litle good or none atall, F3 1e dagger ward, are all Y%Deteeree38 George Siluer bis The short Staffe. = Ow for the vantage of the thort Staffe 2. inft the Sword and Buckler , Sword & ‘arget, two hand fword . fingle Sword, Sword and Dagger , or Rapier and Poi” niard, there is no great queftion to he made in anie of thefe weapons: whenfoeuer anie blow or thruftthall be flrongly made with the ftafe, they are ccuer in falfe place, in thecariage of the wards, for ifat a- ny of thefe fixe weapons he caric his ward high && ftrog for his head , as of neceffitie he mult carie it verie high, otherwife it will be too weake to defend a blow being ftrongly made at the head , then will his fpace be too wide, in due time to breake the thruft from his bodie Againe, if he carie his ward lower , thereby to be in e- quall {pace for readineffe to breake both blow & thruft, then in that place his ward is too low, and too weake to, defend the blow oftthe flafe:for theblow being ftrongly made at the head vpon that ward , will beate downe the ward and his head together, and put him in great dan- ger ofhis life. And here is to be noted, that if he fight well , the ftaffe-man neuer friketh but at the head, and thrufteth prefently vnder at the body :and if a blow be firft made,a thruft followeth ;8cifa thruft be rt made, a blow followeth ; and in doing of any of them, the one breedeth the other : fo that howfoeuer anie of thefe fixe ‘weapons fhall carie his ward ftrongly to defend the fr he thall be too farre in fpace to defend the fecond, whe- ther it be blow or thruft. Yet againe for the thort faffe: the thort ftaffe hath the vantage agsinf the Batc-ax, blacke-bill or Hal bard, Paradoxes of Defince. 9 bard: the thortflafe hath the vantage,by reafon of he nimbleneffe and length:he will ftrike and thruft freely, and in better and fwifter time then can the Battel-axe, Blacke-bill, or Halbard:and by reafon of his iudgement, diftance and time,fight fafe. And this refolue vpon, the Short ftaffe is the beft weapon againft all maner of wea- pons, the Forreft bill excepted. Alf the thort ftaffe hath advantage againit two ti fe fafe Swords and Daggers, or two Rapiers, Poiniards and Mé/Pily ab Gantlets, the reafons and caufes before are for the moft (spr Ety part fet downe already , the which being well confide- ‘red, you fhall plainely fee, that whenfocuer anie one of 7, Xshirs, the Sword & Dagger men, or Rapier and Poiniard men {hall breake his diftance , or foffer the Staffe-man to breake his,that man which did irtt breake his diftice,or faffer the diftance to be won againft him, is prefently in danger of death. And this cAnot in reafon be denied, be- caufe the diftance appertaining to the Staffe-man, tokeepe or breake, fandeth Ypon the mouing of one large {pace alwayes at the moft,both for his offence or fafety. The other two in the breach of their diftance to offend the Staffe-man, haue alwayes foure paces at the leatt therin they fall too great in number with their feet , and too thort in diftance to offend the Staffe- man. Now there refteth no more to be fpoken of , but how the Staffe-man (hall behaue him(elfe to keepe that diftance, that one of the Sword & Dagger men get not behind him, while the other thal bufic him beforesto do that is very eafie,by reafon of the final naber of his feet, forby avec fall curing of his fet, a8 it were in the Center point of a wheele, the other two to keepe their diftance, are driuen to runne twentie foote for one, as it4 George Siluer his ‘were vpon the vttermoft part or circle of the wheele: all this while the Staffe-man is verie well. Then it com. meth thus to paffe, whether they both labour to get be- hind him, or one keepe direétly before him whileft the other get behind him , yet before that be brought to aff, they fhal either be both before him oriuft again th fides of him:at which time focuer the Staffe-man finding either of them within dftance, he prefently in making of his play, flayeth with blow or thruft one of thé,or at the leaft putteth himin great danger of his life. If the Staffe-man take his time , when they are both before him , that is to fay before they come to the half ring, iuft againft both fides of the Staffe-man , then he that is neareft within diftance is flain by blow or thruft, ‘or put in great danger of his life, But if the Sword and Dagger men do keepe their diftance vntill they come to the tuft halfe ring right againft the fides of the Staffe- man, and then breake diftance, that man that fir brea- keth diftance is faine with blow or thruft, or fore hurt, and in great danger of death:and the Staffe-man in ma: king that play at that inftant, muft turne with one large pace,the which he may eafily do, before the other can fet neare enough to offend him , by reafon that he rath to make with his feet but one large pace , but the other hath at the leaft three paces. But if the Sword and Dagger-men will in the time that they be before him, keep their diftance in the time of their being vpon the middle part of the outfide of the circle,right againft both fides of hire will labor witha heed & diligence to be both or one of the behind him , that troubleth the Staffe-man nothing at all,for in that very time, when he Findeth them paft the middle part ofthe circle, he pre~ fently Paradoxes of Defence. “" fently turneth, by the which he thall naturally fet him- felfe as it were in a triangle , and both the fword and dagger-men, thall thereby ftand both before him in true diflance of three paces , from offending of him at the leaft , as at the firft they did. And take this for a true ground, there sno man able to ward 2 found blow with the Sword and Dagger, nor Rapier, Poinyard, and Gantlet, being Arongiy made atthe heed ith th ‘Staffe, and run in withall, the force of both handes is fach, being in his fall motion and courfe, that although the other do carie his ward high and ftrong with both handes, yet his feete being mouing from the ground , the great force of the blow will frike him with his ward, and all downe flat to ground. But if he ftand faft with his feete, he may with both weapons together, ftrongly defend his head from the blow, but thea you are flex. ently inftrudted, the thruft being prefently made , after the blow full atthe bodie, it is impofible in due time to breake it, by reafon of the largeneffe of his fpace. The short Staff bath the vantage against the lng faffe, and Morris Pike, and he Perro bill open fh ‘maner of weapons, He reafons are thefe. The thort Staffe 27 fhath the vantage of the long Staffe and UNIS Morris Pike in’ his ftrength & narrownes Nay (pace in hit four, wardes of defence. And the Forreft bill hath the vantage of all maner of weapons in his ftrength and narrownes of {pace in his eight wardes of defence: and the rather be cause the Bill hath two wardes for one againft the Staffe GAap, 42 George Siluer his ‘or Morris Pike, that is to fay, foure with the Staffe, and foure with the head, and is more offenfiue then is the Staffe or Morris Pike: yet a queftid may be made by the vnskilfall, concerning the fight between the long Staffe and the thort , in this fort: Why thould not the long Staffe haue aduantage againtt thort Staffe,fince that the long Staffe-man, being at libertie with his handes, m: make his ong Staffe both long and fhort for his beft at vantage , when he fhall thinke it good , and therefore when he thall find himfelfe ouermatched in the length, of his Staffe, by the ftrength of the thort Staffe, and nar- rownele of fpace in his foure wardes of defence, he can prefently by drawing backe of his Staffe in his handes, make his Staff as thort as the others , and fo be readie to fight with him at his owne length. To this I anfwere, that when the long Staffe-man is driven thereto lye, the length of is Staflethat wil ye behind hi, will hinder him to ftrike, thruft, ward or goe backe in due time. Neither can he turne the contrarie end of his Staffe to kkeepe out the fhort Staffe man from the Clofe, nor fafe- ly to defend himfelfe at his comming in. Againe ofthe vantages of weapons. Ake this for a general rule, all long Staves, 28 Morris Pikes, Forreft bils , Tauelins , of @E)Cich lke Tong weaponsof what fort foe~ uer , being aboue the true lengthes , the Mhorteft haue the aduantage , becaufe they can croffe and vneroffe in thorter time then can the longer: and all maner of thort weapons to be vfed with both handes, a8 Mavs, and fich lke, Being under the perfetIengthes, the Paradoxes of Defence. 43 the longeft haue the aduantage , and all maner of wea 10 be vfed with one hand, that are aboue the per- Ein length of the fingle Sword, the fhortelt haue the vantage, and all maner of weapons vnder the iuft length ofthe thort Sword, as Fauchions, Skaines, or Hangers, ‘Woodkniues, Daggers, and fach like thort weapons of imperfe& lengthes, the Iongeft haue the aduantage, becaule the fight of thefe weapons confift within d halfe or quarter Sword, wherein by the {wift motions of their handes, their eyes are de and in thofe wea- pons, commonly for their handes lieth no defence. And TPewo thall ight with ftaues oF Swords, or what wea pons foeuer, the one of them hauing his weapon longer then the perfett length, and the other his weapon fhor- ter then the perfeét length, he that hath the longeft hath the vantage, becaufe the fhorteft can make no true Croffe in true time. The fhort Staffe or halfe Pike, For- reft bill, Partifan, or Gleue, of fuch like weapons of perfe&t length , to be vied with both handes, haue the aduantage againtt two Swordes and Daggers, or two Rapiers, Poiniardes, and Gantlets, and againft all other weapons whatfoeuer, the Forrett bill excepted. Againe for the short Staffer halfe Pike, He hort Staffe is moft commonly the 29 ‘beft weapon of all other , although other ‘weapons may be more offentiue, and efpe- sly againf! manie wespons together, by reafon of his nimbleneffe and {wift motions , and is not much inferiour to the Forreft bill, although the Forreft bil be more offefive, and hath more wardes, becaufe 2George Siluer his he Staffe is verie vncertaine , but the Bill is a more cer taine marke, by reafon of the breadth of the head, wher by as the Bill hath aduantage in his wardes in the head, fo therefore hath the Staffe the like defence, or rather more, to play vpon the head of the Bill, not onely to make a perfe8t good ward, but thereby, therather to caft the Bill out of the right line, whereby the Staffeeman may thruft fafe, and endanger the Bill-man : and the ra- ther becaufe therein he is the firft mouer, wherin there is great vantage, both in time and force. And if the Bil- man be not very skilfull (all vantages and difaduantages of both fides confidered,) the fhort Staffe will proue the better weapon. Laftly note this, that long Staves, Mor- tis Pikes tnd fach like weapons of imperfett lengthen, being to be vfed with both hands, notwithftanding their imperfeét lengthes, are perfeet weapons to be vied, the one agsinf the other and theisfightes therein perfe, becaufe in drawing of them backe betwixt their handes, their motions are fwifter backewardes, then is the time of the Agents feet forwardes, by the which all their loft times are redeemed: therefore thefe weapons in their fightes, the one againft the other are perfeét. And thefe weapons in the night are the belt weapons of all other, and haue great advantage againft the forreft Bill, thor Staffe, or anie maner of fhort weapons whatfoeuer: for thefe caufes, they boldly make home their fightes, and if neede be againft defperate men , that will venture themfelues to run in, they redeeme their loft times. But the other with thorter weapons for lacke of light, can make no true defence. Thus endeth the vantages of wea- pons. Qyeftions Paradexes of Defence. 4s Ryetions and anfioers bettovene the Schaller and the Mai- fier of the vantages and difaduantages betweene a tall man,and a man of meane flature,bauing both the perfedt knowledge in their weapons. Scholle. }Ho hath the advantage in fight, of a tall 30 ‘man, or a man of meane ftature? Maifer. ‘The tall man hath the vantage , for thefe caufes : his reach being longer, and weapon vnto his flature accordingly , he hath thereby. {horter courfe with his feet to win the true place, wher- Sayer" imr te in by the Swift motion of his hand , he may firike or wr meme thruft home: in the which time a man of meane ftature! cannot reach him, & by his large pace , in his tru in his regreffion further, fetteth himfelf out of all getsSe thefe are the vantages thata tall man hath againt anie man of fhorter reach then himfelfe. Schaller. ‘What vantage hath a man of meane ftature againft atall man? Maier. He hath none : becaufe the true times in fight, and a~ ions accordingly, are to be obferued and done, as well byatall man, as by aman of meane ature. Scboller. ‘Why then if thisbe true , that tall men have the van- tage againft mé of meane flature,it hold feeme in fight G346 George Siluer bis there is no perfetion, other then this, when men of ike ftature, reach, & length of weapon, thall fight together the which will feldome or neuer happen, but either in the length of their weapons, flatures or reaches (if their fwords thould be of iuft length) fome difference mei commonly there will be in their reaches. Maipter. ‘Yes verily, the tall man hath ftll the vantage, and yet the fight is perfeét, although the men that thall happen to fight, thall happé to be vnequall in their flatures, tea ches, or lengths of their weapons. Scholler. ‘That can I hardly belecve, valeffe you can tell me Art how to auoid or fafely defend my felfe, being but a Paradoxes of Defence, a of Defi a7 I will fatisfie you therein thus. The tall man hath the santage, he can maintaine his fight, both by nature and Art, with more eafe then can the man of meane fta- te’ becaue the man of meane fature hath there- ty 2 further courfe with his feete to paffe to the place, Oh ine may ike or thru home, ted ie wining of that place , is driuen by Art to come garded vn- der his wards to defend himfelfe, becaufe in the of hiscomming , the tall man may both naturally or artifi cially ftrike or thruft home, in the which time, ifthe ma, ‘ofmeane ftature fhould faile in the leaft iote of his Art, he thould be in great daunger of death or hurt. But the ‘all man can naturally and fafely come to the true place ‘man of meane flature, againft a tall man. ‘open, without any artificial wards at all, and therein-al- Maifter. foendanger the other, or driue him fill to trauerfe his Iwill tell you: there belongeth vnto this Art of de- ground, with all the artificiall skill that he hath to de- Zyrrisesat fence onely to be vied with the feet, progreffion, regret fend him(elfe; and all this the tall man doth by reafon jeisetutnce fion, trauerfing, and treading of grounds: in any of thefe you playing the part of the Patient or Patient Agent, Your fete are {wifter in their motions then are the gents, becaufe his weight and number of his feet in his ofhis length of weapon, large pace , hort courfe, and ssf emen long reach, with great fafetie, pleafure and eafe. And for fomtaom tho caufes the tall man hath till the vantage of men of Eire. meme flature, and yet notwitftiding the noble Science ;7™1y/ = comming to win the true place to ftrike or thruft home, are greater then yours , and therefore the true time it ‘yours to auoid him, or fafely to defend your felfe: fo the ‘Artis tll teue,and the tall man hath till the vantage. Scholler. Yet I am not fully fatisfied herein, becaufe you tell ‘me {tll that the tall man hath the vantage,and notwith~ {landing you fay the Artis true , wherein then hath the tall man the vantage, when by your Art you can defend your felfe againft him, ‘ofDefence moft perfeét and good. Of'the long fingle Rapier fight betrwcene valiant men, ha- ing kate bare FE he ‘bef crafter, or if nei~ ‘ther of them can soraftle, the rongeft man smoft commonly Rilleth the other, or la seth him at his mercie. ‘Hen two valiant men of skill at fingle Ra- 31 pier do fight , one or both of them moft c&- ‘monly ftanding vpon their ftrength or skill in wraftling, will prefently feeke to run intoB George Siluer his the clofe; but having both skill ,not without fpeciay care of their gard or croffe, the which they may fafey do, by reafon of the length of their Rapiers: but hapning, both of one mind , the rather do bring themfelues top ther: that being done,noskil with Rapiers auaileth te prefently grapple fat th »wrifts, armes , or neckes, asin luftring, wraftling, or ftriuing together they may beft find for their aduantages: wherby it moft ‘commonly falleth out, that he that is the beft wrafter, or ftrongeft man (if neither of them can wraltle) ouer. commeth, wrefting by ftrength , or fine skill in wraf. ling, the Rapier from his aduerfarie, or cafting him fré him, either to the ground, or to fuch diftance, that he may by reafon therof, vie the edge or point of his rapier, tottrike or thruft him ,leauing him dead or aline at his mercie, Butif but one of thefe valiant men fhall fecke to run into the clofe and that the other hall vfe his skill in trauerfing of his ground, or otherwife by ftanding vpon his gard or Stocata ward, to takeall maner of aduz- tages at his coming, yet all auaileth him not, becaufe the Rapiers being long, the croffing of the blades cannot be auoided: that being made,, the oppreffor runneth fafler forwards then can the defendant backwards , and fo are brought together, as in the firtaffault they were, &euerie ation therein accordingly performed. Oftthe Rapier and Poiniardefight betwixt valiant ‘men, haxcing both skill ” F two valiant men do fight at Rapier and Poi 'd hauing both skill, one or both of them i ill prefently preffe hard to winne the place, wherein in his iudgement he may thruft home. Ifboth ies Paradoxes of Defence. teof one mind , the time is doubled in winning the ffme: whereby it commeth to paffe , that then he that fethrftethendangret,killeth or hurteth he other: if they both thruft together ,as they may do by the Zqull time of thet feet, then they Oey ray do by the Fiboth Maine , or both hurt. And this is well knowne Suto all men oF skill thatthe place being once gotten, theres either indgement pace, acs, nor timeyeither ty wards with their Rapier blades, or by breaking with their Poiniards, or fying backe , that can preferue or defend them. But ifbut one of them will eeke to win Ippon, hard preig, of there the place when inhis iudgement he may thruft home, itis impoftible forthe other to denie him the fame, becaufe the length ofthe Rapiers winneth him the crofe; the eroffe ben taken, the place is had ; the place being had, he that fi throfteth, fet {peedeth: if both thruf together, they are both in danger: thé prefently followeth (vnleffeit pleafe God otherwife to have it) the ftabs with their daggers, wherein there lieth no defence. Of he long Rapier & Poiniardefight Betweene two valiant men, the one hauing skit the other none: that he tbat ‘hath no skill hath tbe vantage, Hen two valiant men thal fight with log 33 Rapiers and Poiniards , the one hauing Il, and the other none, he that hath no skill ‘moft commély proveth himfelf the better ma, for thefe caufes of reafons fol- lowing. Firft the skilfull man as knowing the other to haue no skill, or finding it to be fo by his thape or H50 George Siluer bis maner of comming towardes him , will prefently yeel to take the aduantage of his comming , or elfe witl Hd hall Speed put himfelfe into his fhort ward , to be readie at his comming to make out a flrong Socata (as the Itali= ans call its) the other knowing his imperfeétion in fight , affareth himfelfe there can be no great good for him to ftand long out at the point, prefently redoubleth or reuiueth his fpirits with perfett refolution ,to make ‘hort worke, couragioufly with fome offenfiue action , fach as nature fhall bett yeeld vnto him,flieth in with all, force and agilitie : the skilfull man ftandeth watching to take fach aduantages as his fchoolemaifter hath taught in the whichtime, manie times it falleth out he is taught anew time,euen by an vnskilfull man that neuer fought before is fore hurt or flaine : and ifit happen they both miffe in their offenfiue a€tions , then by rea- fon thereof , and of the imperfeét length of their Ra- piers, they come to ftabbingwith their Poiniards, wher- in there lyeth no defence , becaufe diftance being bro- kken, iudgement faileth, time is loftsand theireies(by the Swift motions of their handes) are deceiued. (Ofthe long ingle Rapier or Rapier and Poiniard-fight be- ‘tvcene tr00 unshilfull men being valiant. 34 Hen two voskilfull men (being valiant) ‘hall fight with long fingle Rapiers, there is lefe danger in that kind of fight, By rea- fon of their diftance in conuenient length, waight, and ynweildineffe, then is with thort Rapiers: whereby itcommeth to pel, that what hure fall hap pen to be done, if anie with the edge or point of their Rapiers Paradoxes of Defence. st Rapiers is done in a moment , and prefently will gra je and wraftle together, wherin moft commonly the ft or beft Wraftler ouercommeth, and the like fight falleth out betweene them, at the long Rapier and Poiniard , but much more deadly , becaufe in ftead of Clofe and Wraftling, they fall moft commonly to ftab- ting with their Poiniardes, the in feltion and infufficiencie of Rapiers in gene- wri fa at pee they fend ) F two fight with long Rapiers , vpon euerie fesran fS5% Croffe made within the halfe Rapier, if they tsi (3) hauc Poiniardes, they moft commonly ftabbe £7-i et A# tach other, which cannot be avoided , because the Ra-purrandtce being Tong, the Croffe cannot be vndone of either 44 fom de, without going backe with their feete , the which jtryfeee Tikewife in due time cannot be done , becaufe the hand frenra/ta ismore fwifter then the feeté,and the feete more fwifter rot vg in their courfe forwardes then backwardes, neither can jrasnage the Croffe be preuented , becaufe the point of necelfitie ti Seto Iyeth too farre off in his offence,or elfe within compafle 22 refemy af the true time of the hand and bodie, by reafon of his erin imperfeét length: and fo by the like realons, if ewo fighe tend dls with long fingle Rapiers , vpon euerie Croffe made-jurfote re therewith, within the halfe Rapier, the Clofe cannot be iste dere auoided, wherby it commeth ope moft common- i 2y0s/em: ly, that the ftrongeft man orbeft Wraftler ouercom- ‘Tier ie meth. Now if two do fight with thort Rapiers, or Ra- rawr piers ofconuenient length , fuch Rapiers be inconueni- mutes ent and infuffcient alfo for lacke of an hilt to defend the mri. hand and head from the blow; for no ie (in making a mase‘/ere Ho52 George Siluer his perfe€t ward for the head, to defend a blow, can di. ccerne to take the fame within three or foure inches, wherby it may as well and as often fall vpon the hand, at ‘ponte bladcofthe Rapier, Againe,the hile aswell fre ueth to defend the head as the hand , and ig a more fare and ftrong ward, then is the blade of the Rapier. And further, vnderftand this for truth, that in gardant and o- pen fight, the hand without an hilt lieth open tomoft blowes that thalbe ftroken by the Agent, out of the gar- dant or open fight, becaufe in the true cariage of the gardant ight, the hand maf ie aboue the head in fuch raightnes and narrownes of fpace, that which way foe- uuer the Agent fhall ftrike or thruft at the head! , face,or bodie, the removing of two or foure inches thall fave all, And now fomewhat more for the fhortneffe or con- uenient length of Rapiers. Rapiers hating no hilt to defend the head, the Re- ier-man is driven of neceffitie to lie at the variable ight or low ward,andbeing there he can neither defend in due time, head, face , nor bodie from the blowes or thruftes of him, that fhail fight out of the gardant or o- pen fight, but is continually in great danger of the A= gent,for thefe caufes following. Firft, becaufe his fpace $00 wide to defend his head from blow or thf: Se- condly his Pace ftanding vpon that fight , wilbe of ne- elite too grest orto narrow: too narrow oo wes iftoo large,his weight and number of his feet , are too great to endanger im,that is vpon his gardant or open he, rs o Paradaxes of Defence. 3 the imperfetFion and infufficience ofthe fight ofthe we pois Rope and Posed k a ier and Buckler, Rapier and Cloke, and Rapier and Gloue of maile. He Rapier fight, whether it be fingle or ac- 36 eee with Poiniard, Buckler, cloke, of loue of male, is ftill by reafon of the infuf- iciencie or imperfeétion of the Rapier, an imperfeée fight : vnperfett inftruments can make no fe muficke, neither can vnperfect weapons make perfeét fight: let the men that handle them haue all the knowledge that may be in all maner of weapons, yea the full height, or perfection, and true habite by his reat labour and induftry,euen as it were naturally effer ed in him » yet if the weapons that Ge! ‘thall fight writall be imperfeEt or infuficient to performe what- foeuer appertaineth vnto true fight , as concerning the perfe€tion of their fafetie, it auaileth them nothing. What thall we then fay for the Rapier? Is the Rapi an imperfe€t or infafficient weapon to perfourme whatfoeuer appertaineth vnto the true fight? Yea: Wherefore? Becaufe vnto the true fight there apper- taineth foure fights, Gardant fight, Open fight, Varia ble fight, and Clofe fight: without all foure of thefe fights it is impoffible to fight fafe: but the Rapier for licke ofan hilt is an vnperfeet weapon, and therefore infficient to fight fafe vpon thefe foure fights, the reafons are alreadie fet downe in the Paradoxe be~ fore, but it is inferred to loofe the benefit of two of the Hs54 George Situer his beft fights, gardant and open fight,and to flie from thé, and truft only vnto variable fight, and clofe fight. Now having proued through the imperfeétion or infufficien- cic of the Rapier, the imperfettion of the Rapier fight, it remaineth that I {peake of the reft of the weapons, of inftruments appertaining vnto Rapier fight. ‘The Rapier and Poiniardfight,the Rapier &e Buckler fight, the Rapier and cloke fight, the Rapier & gloue of male fight: all thefe fights by reafon of the imperfe- tion of the Rapier, and Rapier fight,are all alfo imper- feet fights: and for proofe of the vncertaintie and im- polibilities of fafetie in any of thefe fights, thus it fan- deth, Thefe fights depend altogether vpé variable fight and clofe ght: in ani of thee ights tis impofibe in true fpace of Offence to keepe the blades of their Ra- ers from croffing, or fr6 breaking with the Poiniards, . catching with the glove of male; becaule in anie of thele two fights, the Agent ‘hath ftill in true fpace the blade of the Patients Rapier to worke vpon. Thefe things by letters cannot be made more plaine , neither is it vnknowne to the skilfall , or in fight by anie meancs to be avoided, the weapon being too farre in true fpace to be wrought vpon, the place cannot be denied ,do the patient Agent what he can for his life to the contrarie,cither by blowes,thrufts, falfing,or doubling of thrufts,going backe, indireétions, or turnings of the body, or what elfe foeuer may in the highett touch of wit or ftrength, or agilitie of bodie be deuifed or done,to keepe out the Agent: but fill the A- gent by narrowneffe of fpace bringeth himfelf by ftrog gard to the place, where being broughtitis as impofli- Bie to fight fae, ati fr two defperate men fet tge- ther Paradexes of Defence. 55 ther being both Blind ecau inthe tae place (wore in Rapier or variable fight) their: the fwift mo- tions of their hands are decei eat croffes in that fight are falfe, their diftance, iudgements and times are loft,ither to offend in fafetie, or fafely to defend them= felues: and thefe reafons, rules,or grounds of the feates ‘of armes are infallible and inuincible. Now, 6 you Italian teachers of Defence , where are your Stocatas, Imbrocatas, Mandritas Punter, 8 Paynta reuerfas,Stramifons P affatas,Carricades, Amaxzat, Sela cartatas,Se playing with your bodies , remouing with your feet alitle afide,circle wife winding of your bodies, aking ofthe times with your fet together marking with one eye the motion of the aduerfary,fewith the o- ther eye the aduatage of thrufting? What is become of all thefe iugling gambalds , Apith deuifes, with all the reft of your (quint-eyed trickes ,when as through your deep, adie, lng pralies & apt bodies bath rong tcagilious, you haue attained to the height of all the things? What then auaileth it you, when you thal come to fight for your liues with aman of skill?you fhall have neither time,nor place,in due time to any one ofthem, nor gardant nor open fight fafely to keep out 4 man of skill,2 man of no skill, or (choller of your owne teaching, from the true place, the place of ffetie, the place of uncertaintie or mifchiefe, the place of wounds or death, but are there inforced to ftand in that mifchie- uous, vncertaine, dangerous,and moft deadly place, 28, ‘two men hauing loft in part their chiefelt fences, moft forioully with their rapier or poiniards , wounding oF flaying each other. ‘Thus endeth the imperfett fights of the rapier with56 George Siluer bit all maner of weapons or inftruments thereto ap pertai. ning,with their imperfections, through the true groudy and rules ofthe Art of armes,truly difplayed Scbrought tolight. All laud be onto the Almighty God. That the reafons fed by the Italian Fencers in commen. ding the vfe of the Rapier and Priniard, becaupe it ‘maketh peace, maketh againft themfelues, xT hath bin commonly held , that fince the Italians haue taught the Rapier fight, reafon of the dangerous vie therofjit hat bred great ciuilitie amongit our Englith nation,they will not now giue the lye, nor Fraps bene with fach foule fpeeches abule themielues , therefore there are fewer frayes in thefe times then were wont to bevit cannot be denied but this is true,that we are more circumfpeét of our words, and more fearefull to fight, then heretofore we haue bene. But whereof commeth it? Ts it from this,that the Rapier maketh peace in our minds; or from hence,that it is not fo fuficient defence forour bodies in our fight? He that will fight when he is armed , will not fight when he is naked :is it therefore ‘good t0 go naked to keepe peace? he that would fight wrth his Sword and Buckler, or Sword and Dagger be ing weapons of true defence, will not fight with his Ra- pier and Poiniard , wherein no true defence or fight is erfe€tare thefe infufficiét weapos therfore the better, ecaule not vs in fight, they force vs vnto peace? What elfeis it, but to iy, itis good for fubie€ts Paradoxes of Defence. 9 {abieéts to be pore, that they may not go to law: or to {acke munition, that they may not fight, nor go to the and tocanlude, what more fol6weth throogh heimperfe€tworkes of thefe Italian peacemakers?They Migemade many a ftrong man in his fight weake, many valiant man fearefull, maniea worthie man trufting to theirimperfe€t fight, hath bene laine, and manie of our Aejerat boyes and young youthe, to become in that Rapier-fight, 2s good men 2s England yeeldeth, and the talleft men in this land, in that fight as verie boyes a8 they and no better. This good haue the Italian teachers of Offence done vs, they haue transformed our boyesin- to men, and our men into boyes, our ftrong men into ‘weakenefe, our valiant men doubtfull, and manie wor- thie men refoluing themfelues vpon their falfe refolu- tos, axe moft wilfully inthe eld, with their Rapiers ended their lives. And laftly, haue left to remaine a- mongit vs after their deathes, thefe inconveniences be- hind them, falle Fence-bookes, imperfe&t weapons, alfe fightes, and euill cuftomes, whereby for lacke of vie and aGiie in perfeét weapons and true fight, we are difa- led for the feruice of our Prince, defence of our coun- trey, and fafetie of our liues in private fight. ‘That the short Sword hath the aduantage againf? the lng Stoardor lng Rapier. Hereas for the moft part opinions are 38 KJ) generally holden, that the long Sword, \)f5A or long Rapier, hath the vantage infight AA YER sgainfthe hort Sword, which the leah < VEN an teachers of Defence,by their falfe de- I58 George Siluer his inonftratids have brought vs to belecue have thought ‘good that the truth may appeare which hath the yan tage, toadde my helpe vnto the reafons they vfe in their ‘owne behalfe, for that yet I could neuer heare them make a found reafon for the fame. Thefe are the reafons, Firft with my long Rapier, I will put my felfe into my gard or Stocata, holding my hilt backe by the outhide cf iy right thigh, keeping in thort the point of my Rapier, fos he that hath the thort Sword, fhall not be atler reach the point of my Rapier, to make his ward or Croffe with his Dagger, Buckler, Sword, or Cloke, without ftepping in of his foote, the which time is too Jong to anfwere the time of the hand, by reafon of m diftance. I can there ftand fafe without danger of blow corthroft, playing the Patients part: if you ftrike or thruft you do it too fhort, by reafon of my diftance: if you feck to come nearer, you muft do it with the time of your foote, in the which time I may fafely thruft home: if in that diftance you breake it not, you are flaine: if you do breake it, yet you do me no harme, by reafon of my di- fance, and T may fan fit and thrft aguine, of ie backe at my pleafure: fo haue you put your felfe in dan- ger of your life, and hauing hardly efeaped, are driuen a- Baine to begin a new bought, as at the firft you did. A~ Raine, if I pleafe, I can be the oppreffour, keeping the fame gard, and my point in fhort as I did before, and preffing ftrongly by putting in by litle and litle of my feete, vntill the place with my foote be gotten, wherein {in my ivdgement) I maythrufthome, the which I may boldly and fafely do, without refpeét of anie ward at all, by reafon of my diftance, in which time of my comming he mutt ftrike, thruft, ward, or go backe: if he go backe, Paradexes of Defence. 59 itisa great difgrace: if he ftrike of thraft, itis too thort: he land to defend, the place being aleadie gotten. ‘where I may thruft home, the thruft being verie quicke Se firongly made, fach is the force and {wiftneffe there- of, that it is impoffible by nature or art, for anie man to breake one thrutt of an hundred. hele reafons in my o- inion may fuffice to confirme the wife, that there is tno queftion to be made, but that the long Rapier hath theaduantage againtt the thort Sword. ‘Sir you haue pretily handled your difeourfe, concer- "watson ning the vantages of the long Rapier againft the thort an. Sword, efpcilly at the fit thew, tant according to common fence, but for the fabftance and truth of the true fight, you haue faid nothing, becaufe for the per- formance of anie of your allegations, you haue neither true Pace, Place, Time, nor Space: thefe are the rea- fons. Your Pace of necefltie mutt be too large, becaue otherwife you cannot keepe fafe the point of your lon Rapier, from the Croffe.of the thore Sword, vnletfe ou will with a narrow Pace keepe backe your hile fo Frey thatthe fpace af your offence wile too large oF too long in diftance, and your bodie vnapt to moue and tothrufl both trong and quicke in due me, nor aptly tokeepe your diftance, to win the place with your feete, to thruft home. So now you may plainely fee, if you have skill inthe art or feience of Defence, that to per- forme anie thing which you haue alleadged, you haue either true Pace, Place, time nor Space. But if you will fland vpon the largeneffe of your Pace, to keepe backe or faue the point of your long Rapier from the ward or Croffe of the thort Sword, or vpon your afin al tefe you have great diftduantages: and 260 George Siluer his thefe are my reafons: Your number will be too great, as thus: whenfocuer you meane out of your large pace to thruft home, you muft of neceffitie make foure times with your feet, and one with your hand, or two times with your feet, and one with your hand at the leaft: and whenfocuer you make any of your paffages, the naber of your feet are greater then the greateft of any of thefe times done outof thelarge pace: but the patient with his fhort ford, to auoyd you, or difippoint you of your thruft, hath but one tire with his foot, at or before the which time, as he in his iudgemét thal find you in your motion, hath by the low and great number of your me tions or times, faffcient time fafely out of all danger to make himfelfe readie to take his croffe with his hort Sword. Now Sir, whether you thruft or not thruft, whe- ther you play the part of an Agent, or Patient, it ek peth you nothing, for he that hath the thort ford hath foure times or motions againft the long Rapier, name- ly, bent, fpent, lying fpent, and drawing backe, in all maner of fights thefe are to be obferued both by the Patient and’ Agent. Now not, he that hath the long Rapier mutt of neceffitie play vpon one of thefe foure rotions, or be Patient, which foeuer he tall 0. fe is Rill in great danger of the croffe of the fhort fword, becaufe if he be Agent, his number is too great, he falleth into one of the foure motions, the Patient wit his thore fword, hauing but the time of the hand, or hid & foot, fafely vpon thefe ations or times taketh his croffe with the thort Sword: that being done, he pre- fently vncroffeth and ftriketh or thrufteth at his pleafure him that hath the long Rapier, in the head, face, or bo- die. Now here is againe to be noted, that when the croffe Paradoxes of Defence. 61 is made, if he that hath the long Rapier ftand faft, heis wounded prefently in the vncroffing of the thort fword, if he flep or leape backe to fane himfelfe, yet the time ofthe hand being fwifter then the timeof the foot, ouer- taketh him,with blow or thruftin the arme, hand, head, face and bodie. Now if he that hath the fong Rapier will be patient & make no play, but lie ftill watching to make his thruft or Stocata iuft in the comming or mo- uing of the Agents feete with his thort fword, then he hath as great difaduantage as he had when he was Pa- tient becaufe thé the Agent with his fhort Sword hath but hand and foot to make his croffe: which is moftfafe- ly tobe done in that time, which we call Bent, and isas impoffible for the Rapier-man to preuent, a itis for an snskilfull o ftrike or thruft iuft together with a man of skill. Then thus I conclude, that he that fighteth witha long Rapier, againft him that fighteth with a thort Sword, can do nothing in due time to defend himfelfe, or hurt the other, but is till in daunger of his life, or at the mercie of him that hath the thort Sword, or elfe hath no fafe way to helpe himfel, but onely Cab co Tor Trauerfe. This Cob was a great quareller, and did de- light in great brauerie to giue foule words to his bet- ters, and would not refule to go into the field to fight with any man, and when he came into the field, would draw his Sword to fight, for he was fare by the cun- sing of his Trauerfe, not to be hurt by anie man: for at anie time finding himfelfe ouermatched would fad denly turne his backe and ronne away with fuch fwift- neffe, that it was thought a good horfe would fearce take him. And this when I was a young man, was ve- Hiemuch fpoken of by many Gentlemen of the Innes of 362. George Siluer his the Court, and was called Coby Trauerfe and thofe that had feene anie go backe too fat in his fight, would fay, he did tread Cobs Trauerfe, * George Siluer his militarie riddle, truly fet downe Betwocene the Perfettion and Imperfetlion of fight: containing the ‘handling of the foure fights: wherein true confifetb the wwhole furme and full perfetlon of the true fight, with all maner of wea- ‘fons, rwithan inuicible conclufion. 394 Ardant fight Mayeth , putteth backe, or AiFGRY) beateth gardant fight. YRS Open fight Mayet, putteth backe, or >» beateth open fight. Variable fight anfwereth variable fight in the fire diftance, and not otherwife, except it be with the perfeét length againft the imperfeet. Clofe fight is beaten by gardant fight. Variable clofe & gardan fight, beateth gardant fet, open fight, variable ght and clofe fight, Gardant fight in the imperfettion of the Agent or Patient, winneth the halfe fword, and preuenteth the clofe, and whofocuer firtt ventureth the clofe, loofeth it, and is in great danger of death, and not poffible to cefeape or get out againe without great hurt. ‘There attendeth molt diligently vpon thete foure fights foure offenfiue a€tions, which we call certaine, vncertaine, firft, before, iuft, and afterwards: they are to be performed through iudgement, time, meafure, number and waight, by which all maner of Blowes, thrufts, Paradoxes of Defence, thrutts, falles, Goebi ne are preuented, orm fey defended. And thas endeth my riddle, ° iow followeth the conclufion, that whofoeuc thinke or find himfelfe in his fight too weake rere gery Patent Agent and therefore, or byron of is drunkenneffe, or vnreafonable defperateneffe thall prefe within the halfe Sword, or deferately runne in of purpofe to giue hurt, or at leaft for taking of one hurt, to give another, hall moft affuredly be in great daun get of death or wounds, and the other fhall ftill be fafe and go free. Veritas vincit,A BRIEFE NOTE OF THREE ITA. Fian Teachers of Offence, Torna ti (Er aBBs Here were three Italian Teachers of Of. se ben re UN ats fence in my time. The firkt was Signior input ince MAKER) Rocko: the fecond was Jeronimo, that was ailing (MUIR. Signior Rocko his boy , that taught Gen rs =O] tlemen in the Blacke-Fryers, as Viher for gigas his maifter in teed of a man.The third was Vincenti ReeeaLe" This Signior Rocko came into England about fome thir. Srifemiemay tie yeares paft: he taught the Noblemen & Gentlemen seqremenirare of the Court; he caufed fone of them to weare leaden ‘eearrayhal foales in their thoes, the better to bring them to nimble = nefle of fst n thet ight He dsburted great fumme ‘of mony for the leafe of a faire houfe in Warwicke lane, which he called his Colledge, for he thought it great difgrace for him to keepe a Fence-fchoole, he being then thought to be the onely famous Maifter of the Art of armes in the whole world. He caufed to be fairely drawne and fet round about his Schoole all the Noble- mens and Gentlemens armes that were his Schollers, and hanging right vnder their armes their Rapiers, dag gers, gloues of male and gantlets, Alfo, he had benches and fooles, the roome being verie large, for Gentlemé to fit round about his Schoole to behold his teaching. He taught none commonly vader twentie, forte, fifty, or an hundred pounds. And becaufe all things thould be verie neceffary for the Noblemé & gentlemé, he had in 6 in his Ghoole a large fquare table, with a greene cat petsdone round with a verie brode rich fringe of gold, Alwaies fanding vpon it a verie faire Standith couered with Crimfon Veluet, with inke, pens, pin-duft, and faling ware, and quicrs of verie excellent fine paper gilded, readie for the Noblemen & Gentlemen (rpon ‘occafion) to write their letters, being then defirous to follow their fight, to fend their men to difpatch thei bufineffe.And to know how the time paffed, he had in one corner of his fehoole a Clocke, with a verie faire large Diall, he had within that fehoole, a roome the which was called his priuie fchoole, with manie wea- 8 therein, where he did teach his fchollers his fecret Fett, after he had perfedtly taught them theirrales Hie was verie much beloued in the Court. There was one Aufen Bagger, a verie tall gentle- man of his handes, ot tandie ‘much vpon his sl.bat ‘arying the valiant hart of an Fnglithman, vpon a time being merrie amongtt his friendes, faid he would fight with Signior Rocco, prefently went to Signior Rocco his hovfe in the Blackefriers, and called to him in this maner: Signior Rocco, thou that art thought to be the onely cunning man in the world with thy weapon, thou that takeft vpon thee to hit anie Englishman with athruft vpon anie button, thou that takeft vpon thee to come ouer the (eas, to teach the valiant Noblemen and Gentlemen of England to fight, thou cowardly fellow come out of thy houfe if thou dare for thy life, I am come to fight with thee.Signier Recco looking out at a window , perceiuing him in the flreet to ftand readie with his Sword and Buckler, with his two hand Sword drawne, with all fpeed ran into the ftreet, and manfully K66 let fie at Aujfen Bagger, who moft brauely defended himfelfe, and prefently clofed with him, and flroke vp his heeles, and cut him ouer the breech, and trode vpon him, and moft grieuoufly hurt him vnder his feet in the end Aufen of his good nature gaue him hi life, and there left hin. This was the firtt and laft fight that euer Signior Rocco made, faving once at Queene Hith he drew his Rapier vpon a waterman, where he ‘was throughly beaten with Oares and Stretchers, but the oddes of their weapons were as great againft his Ra- pier, as was his two hand Sword againtt Auflen Bog- gers Sword and Buckler, therefore for that fray he wes tobe excufed. ‘Then came in Vincentio and Ieronimo, they taught Rapicr-fight at the Court, at London, and in the coun- trey, by the {pace of feauen or eight yeares or therea- bouts Thefe two Halion Fencers, efpecially Vincenti, faid that Englithmen were ftrong men, but had no cun- ning, and they would go backe too much in their fight, which was great difgrace vnto them.Vpon thefe words of difgrace againft Englifhmen, my brother Toby Siluer and my felfe, made challenge againft them both, to play with them at the fingle Rapier, Rapier and Daggers the fingle Dagger, the fingle Sword, the Sword and Target, the Sword and Buckler, & two hand Sword, the Staife, battell Axe, and Morris Pike, to be played at the Bell Saua ge vpon the Scaffold, where he that went in his fight fafter backe then he ought, of Englithman or Ita- lian, thold be in danger to breake his necke off the Scaf- fold. We caufed to that effett, fiue or fixe {Core Bils of challenge to be printed, and fet vp from Southwarke to the Tower, and from thence through Londen vnto Weft oy ainfler, we were at the place with all thefe weapons at Nie pointed, within a bow thot of their Fence fehoole: many gentlemen of good accompt, caried ma- nie of the bils of chalenge vnto them, telling them that now the Siluers were at the place appointed, with all their weapons, looking for them, and a multitude of gzape thereto behold the fight, fying vnto them, now ome and go with v (you fhall take no wrong) or ele jou are thamed for ever. Do the gentlemen what they coald, the gallant would not come to the place of trial I verily thinke their cowardly feare to anfwere this, chalenge, had vtterly thamed them indeed, had not the imaifters of Defence of London, within two or three daies after, bene drinking of bottell Ale hard by Uin- centiosSchoole, in a Hall where the Italians mutt of ne- cefltie paffe through to go to their {choole: and as they were comming by, the maifters of Defence did pray them to drinke with them, but the Ztalians being verie cowardly, were aftaide, and prefently drew their Ra~ piers: there was pretic wench fanding by, that loved the Ialians, the ran with ourerie into the ftreet, helpe, helpe, the Italians are like to be laine: the people with alfpede ame runing into the howe, and with thee Cappes and fuch things as they could get, parted the frat, for the Englith maifters of Defence, meant no- thing leffe then to foile their handes vpon thefe two fuintcharted fellowes. ‘The next morning after, all the Court was filled, that the Italian teachers of Fence had beaten all the maifters of Defence in London, who fet v- pon them in a houfe together. This wan the Italian Fe cerstheir credit againe, and thereby got much,{till con- tinuing their falfe teaching to the end of their lives. Ka68 This Vincentio proued himfelfe 2 ftout mi Jong before he died, that it might be feene in time he had bene a gallant, and therefore no maruaile he tooke vpon him fo highly to teach Englithmen to fight, and to fet forth bookes of the feates of Armes, V._ pon a time at Wels in Somerfetthire, as he was in great braucrie amongft manie gentlemen of good accompe, with great bolineffe he gave out fpeechesy that he teal bene thus manie yeares in England, and fince the time of his firft comming, there was not yet one Englith- ‘man, that could once touch him at the fingle Rapier, or Rapier and Dagger. A valiant gentleman being there amongt the ref his Engh har did if to heare this wroude boalter, fecretly fent a meffenger to one Barthe. Timew Bramble’ friend of his a ver tll man both of his hands and perfon, who kept a fchoole of Defen the towne, the meffenger by the way made the maifter of Defence acquainted with the mind of the gentleman that fent for him, and of all what Vincentio had fiid,this maifter of Defence prefently came, and amongft all the gentlemen with his cap off, prayed maifter Vincenti, that he would be pleafed to take a quart of wine of him. Vincentio verie feornefully looking vpon him, faid nto him.Wherefore thould you giue mea quart of wine? Marie Sir, faid he, becaufe I heare you are a famous man at your weapon. Then prefently faid the gentleman that fent for the maifter of Defence: Maifter Vincenti, 1 pray you bid him welcome, he is a man of your pro- fellion. My profeffion faid Vincentia? what is my profef- fion. Then faid the gentleman, he is a maifter of the no- ble feience of Defence. Why faid maifter Vincttie, God make him a good man.But the maifter of Defence wold not Rot life, 69 rotthus eave him, but prayed him egrine he would be leafed to take a quart of wine of him. The Guid Vinctio, hhaue no need of thy wine. Then fad the maifter of De- fence: Sir I haue a fChoole of Defence in the towne, will itpleae you to go thither. Thy fhoole, id maiftr Fincento? what thallT do at thy fehoole? play with me (Gid the maifter) at the Rapier and Dagger, if it pleafe you, Play with thee faid mater Vincentiot if] play thee, Iwill hit thee 1. 2.3. 4. thruftes in the cie toge- ther. Then faid the maifter of Defence, if you can do, the better for you, and the worfe for me, but furely Jean hardly beleeve that you ean hit me: but yet once againe I hartily pray you good Sir, that you will go to My fale, ad psy with me, Play with ec id sake fter Vincentio (verie fcornefully?) by God me feome to ay with thee. With that word feome, the maifter of Defence was verie much moued,and vp with his great Englith fit, and ftroke maifter Vincentio uch a boxe on the eare that he fell over'and ouer, his legges iuft 2- int a Butterie hatch, whereon ftood a great blacke jacke: the maifter of Defence fearing the worft, againft Vincentio his rifing, catcht the blacke Tacke into his Sand, being more then hale full of Beee, Vineet fly ftart vp, laying his hand vpon his Dagger, & with theother hand pointed with his ger, ying very well Twill eaufe to lie in the Gaile for this geare, 1.2. 3 4. yeares. And well faid the maifter of Defence, fince you will drinke no wine, will you pledge me in Beere? I drinke to all the cowardly knaues in England, and T thinke thee to be the verieft coward of them all: with that he caft all the Beere vpon him: notwithftanding Fieeno having nothing but his guilt Rapier, and K3a Bagger about him, and the other for his defence the blacke lacke, would not at that time fight it out :butthe. next day met with the maifter of Defence in the flreete, and faid voto him, you remember how mifuled a me yellerday, you were to blame, me bean excellent man, me ‘ou how to thruft two foote further then ani¢ Englifhman, but firt come you with me: then he brought him toa Mercersfhop, and (aid to the Mercer, let me fee of your bettfilken Pointes, the Mercer did prefently thew him fome of feauen groates a dozen, then he payeth fourteene groates for two dozen, and faid to the maiter of Defence, there is one dozen for /ou, and here is another for me. This was one of the va- jianteft Fencers that came from beyond the feas, to teach Englithmen to fight, and this was one of the man- Tieft frayes, that I haue hard of, that euer he made in England, wherin he thewed himfelfe a farre better man in his life, then in his profeffion he was, for he profetfed armes, but in his life a better Chriftian. He fet forth in print a booke for the vle of the Rapier and Dagger, the which he called his pra@tfe, I haue read it over and be- caufe I finde therein neither true rule for the perfeét teaching of true fight, not true ground of true fight, nei- ther fence or reafon for due proofe thereof. I have thought it frivolous to recite any part therin cont yet that the truth hereof may appeae, let two me bein wel experienced in the Rapier and Dagger fight, choofe any of the beft branchesin the fame booke, &c make trial with force and agility, without the which the truth be- tweene the true & falfe fight cannot be knowne, & they {hall find great imperfettions therein. And againe, for proofe that there is no truth, neither in his rules, groiids or 1 or Rapice-fight, lt trial be madeinthis maner: Set two Gaskill men together atthe Rapier and Dagger, be. jng valiant, and you thall fee, that once in two boutes there fhallcither one or both of them be hure-Then fet two skilfall men together, being valiant at the Rapier and Dagger, and they thall do the like-Then feta skilful Rapier and Dagger-man the beft that can be had, and a rallant man hauing no skill together at Rapier 8¢ ger, and once in two bouts vpon my credit in all the ex- rience I haue in fight, the vnskilful man, do the other ‘what he can for his life to the contrarie, hall hurt him, and moft commonly if it were in continuance of fight, you thal fe the vnskilfull man to haue the advantage And if I thould chule a valiant man for ferice of the Prince, of to take part with me or anie friend of mine inagood quarrell, would chufe the vnskilfull man, be- ing vnencombred with falfe fights, becaulefach a man Aundeth free inhi valour with length and agilite of hodic, freely taketh the benefit of nature, ighteth mot brave by Toofing no of ither Gundly to hurt his enemie, or defend himfelfe, but the other landing forhis Defence, vpon his cunning Italian wardes, Poirs tareuerfay the Imbrocata, Stocata, and being falttyed vn- tothele fale fightes, ftandeth troubled in his wits, and nature therby racked through the largeneffe or fll ly- ings or Spaces, whereby he is in his ight as a man halfe maimed, loofing the oportunity of times & benefit of nature, & whereas before being ignorant of thefe fale Rapier fghtes, ftanding in the free libertie of nature fiuen him by god, he was able in the field with his wea [Boantwere the valiante! man inthe world, but now ing tied vnto that falfe fickle vneertaine fight, there Ke Beith,2 & hath toft in netare his Feedome, is now become farce halfe a man, and euerie boye in that fight is be- ‘come as good a man as him(elfe. Jeronimo this gallant was valiant, and would fight indeed, and did, as you thal heare. He being in a Coch with a wench that he loued well, there was one Chee/e, a verie tall man, in his fight naturall Englith, for he fought with his Sword and Dagger, and in Rapier-fight had no skill at all. This Chee having a quarrell to Ie renina, ouertooke him pon the way, Rime being om horfebacke, did call to Jeronimo, and bad him come forth of the Coch or he would fetch him, for he was come to fight with him. lerenimo prefently went forth of the Coch and drew his Rapier and dagger, put him- {elf into his beft ward or Stecata, which ward wastaught by himfelfe and Vincentio, and by them beft allowed of, tobe the bet ward to and ypon in ight for life, either to affault the enemie, or ftand and watch his comming, which ward it thould feeme he ventured his life vpon, but howfocuer with all the fine Italienated skill Jeroni- mo had, Cheefe with his Sword within two thruftes ran him into the bodie and flue him. Yet the Italian tea- chers will fay, that an Englithma cannot thruttftraight with a Sword, becaufe the hilt will not faffer him to put the forefinger ouer the Croffe, nor to put the thumbe vypon the biade, nor to hold the pummell in the hand, whereby we are of neceffitie to hold faft the handle in the hand: by reafon whereof we are driuen to thruit both compatte and thort, whereas with the Rapier they ‘can thruft both ftraight and much further then we can with the Sword, becaufe of the hilt: and thefe be the rea- fons they make againft the Sword. FINIS, BREF INSTRUCTIONS vPO MY PRADOXES OF DEFENCE for the true handling of all Mann of weapons together w! the fower grownds & the fower gou'nors w gouernours are left out in my pradoxes wiout the knowledge of w* no Man can fight faf By George Silver Gentleman Ess99] [Sloane MS. No. 376.]efence, yet once againe in ZB thefe my brefin(truétions I do the lyke, be- 52 caufe Divers have wryten books treating of the noble feience of Defence, wherin they rather teach offence then Defence , rather fhewing men therby how tobe layne than to defend them felues fré the Dangt of their enemys, as we may dayly fe to the great grief & ouerthrowe of many braue gentlemen & gallent of ot ever vidtorious nation of great brytaine, And therfore for the great loue &e Care y# I have for the well Doing pihvation of my Countrymen, feeing their Dayly ruens & vtter ou'throw of Diu® gallant gent: & others ws truft only to that Impfyt fyght of y* Rapior, yeafe al- though they Deyly fe their owne outthrowes & flaugh- ter therby, yet becaus they are trayned vp therin, they thinke & do fully pfwade them flues that ther is no fight fo excelent & wher as amongtt div's other their oppynyonsy®leadeth them to this errous on of y‘cheifeft is, becaufe ther be fo many flayne w* thefe weapons & therfore they hold them fo exelent, but thefe hinges do7 To the Reader. cheifly happen, firlt becaufe their fyght is Imprfyt for that they vfe nether the prfyt gronds of true fyghe, nether yet the 4 gou'nors wiout w' no man can fight faf, nether do they ve fach other rules w' are requited in the right vfe of prfyt defence, and alfo their weapons for y* mott prte beinge of an Imprfyt length, mutt of neceffytie make an Impriyt Defence becaufe they Can- not vfe them in due tyme & place, for had thefe valerous Imynded men the right priclion of the true fyght wt the thort ford, & alfo of other weapons of prfyt length, I know y! men would com faffer out of the field fr fach bloddye bankets& that fuch would be their prfec- tions her in, that it would faue many 100 mens lyues, But how thould men lerne prfeétion out of fuch rules as are nothing els but very ImprfeCtié it (elf. And as it is not fyt for a man w* defyreth y* clere lyght of the Day to go downe into the bottom of a deepe & Darke Dungion, belyvinge to fynd it there, fo is it as Impoffyble for men to fynd the prfyt knowledge of this noble fcience wher asin all their teachings every thinge is attempted & ated vpé Imprfyt rules, for ther is but fone truth in all things, w I with very hartely were taught & praétyfed hereamongit vs, &y' thofe Imprfyt Se murtherous kynde of alle hts might be by them abolyfhed. Leaue now to quaf & gull any Longer of that fylthy brynyfh puddle, feeing yo may now drink of y' freth & clere fprynge. . O that men for their Defence would but geve their mynde to praGtife the true fyght in deed, &c lerne to bere true beytfh ward fr tire defence, wt yf they bedi in prfyt pra€tyle, I {peak it of myne owne knowledge y* thofe Impriyt Htalyon Devyfes w rapyor & ponyard woul To the Reader. 7 would be clene caft afyde & of no account of al fach a5 blind offeétions do not lead beyond the bonds of reafon. ‘Therfore for the verye zealous & vnfayned loue y* I bere nto yor high royal prfon my Cuntrymen pyti- ing their caufes y* 0 many braue men fhould be dayly murthered, & fpoyled for want of true knowled; this noble fcience & not as fom Imagyn to be, only y* cxeclence of y apn fyght fe wher a my patoxes of fefence isto the moht fortes a darke rydde in many things ther in fet downe, therfore I have now thisfecond me taken fom paynes to write thefe few breef Inftruc- dons ther vppé wher by they may the better atayne to she tath of this fence fe laying open here all fach things 28 was fom thinge Intrycat for them to vnd* ftand in my p'doxes & therfor y* I haue the fal prieétio & knowledge of the prfyt vfe of all mann’ of weapons, it Doth embolden me here in to wryte for the better In- Airuéti6 of the Vnfkylfull. And I haue added to thefe my breef Inftruétions etaine necefarie admonytions wi { with every man not nly to know but alfo to obf've & follow, Chiefly al fach 1s are defyrous to enter into the right viage & know- Isge oftheir weapons alfT hae thoughe i to Annexe here vnto my p'doxes of Defence becaufe in thefe my bref Inftruétions, I haue referred y* reader to divs rules ther in fet down. This haue I wryten for an Infallible truth & 2 note of remembrance to o' gallant gent: & others of of brave tynded Nation of great bryttaine, w* bere amynde to defend them felues & to wyn honour in the feeld by their Adtions of armes & fyngle Combats. ‘And know y' I write not this for vaineglorie, but out L276 To the Reader. of An entyre loue y'I owe vnto my natyve Cuntrymen, as on who lamentith their Loffes, forrye y* {0 great an errour thould be fo Carefully norythed as afpant in their bofoms to their vet" confulj, as of long tyme haue byn feene, wher as yfthey would but feeke the truth her in they were aiylyablyfed, therfore fllow the rath & iy Ignorance. ‘And confydt y*learnyng hath no greater enemye than Ignorance, Mder car the vnfkylfull ever Judge the truth of my arte to them unknowen, beware of rafh Judgment & accept my laboursas thankfully as I betow them willingly, cenfaer me Juftly, let no man Difpite my worke herin Caufeles, & fo Trefere my felf to the cenfuer of fuch as are fkylfal herin & fo I comyt yo to the prtettion of the almyghty Jehovah, yor in al loue & fryendly Affects, Gronce SvveR. Admonytions ADMONY ON TO THE GENTLEMEN & BRAVE GALLANTS OF GREAT BRITAINE AGAINST QUARRELS & -BRAULES WRITEN BY GEORGE SILUER omer. £2 Heras Uhave declaired in my prdoxes of de- fence of the falfe teachinge of the noble fs (cyence of defence vied here by the Italyon fencerswilling men therintotakeheed how YSY they trufted ther vnto w* fuffytient reafons k profs why. ‘And wher as ther wasa booke wryten by Vincentioan Italid teacher whofe yll vfinge pragtifes & vnflylfull teaching were fach y* it hath coft the lyves of many of ofbrave gentlemen & gallants, the vncttaintye of wh falfe teaching doth yet remayne to y* dayly murthering &ouer throw of many, for he & the ret of them did not teach Defence but offence, as it doth playnlye appere by thofe y' follow the fame Imprfyt fyght according to their teaching or infra by the orders from therm Mrcedinge, fr be the ators fllow them never fo Friytor Kyifull therin one or both of them are eyther Ls8 Admonytions, Fore hurt or fainein their Incoontts 8 fyghts, &yfthey alledge y' we vie it not rightly according to y* prieaiy titerof, & therfore cannot defend of (elues, to wT an. fwer yf them(elues had had any prfeétion therin, & that their teaching had byn a truth, themfelues would not have byn beaten & flayne in their fyghts, & vfing of their weapons, as they were. ‘And therfore I prove wher a man by th can not be fof in his defence fellowing their owne roundeof fyght thenis their teaching offence ¬ de. Fence, for in true fyght again the bet no hurt can be don . And yf both haue the full prfeétion of true fyght, then the one will not be able to hurt the other at what Prfye weapon fever "rit cannot be fayd ytyfa man goto the feld &ecan- not be furetodefend him felf in fght&tocom faf home, yf goid be not againft him whither he fyght w' a man of ‘Skyll or no fkil it may not be faid y' fuch a man is Maft’ the Noble feyence of defence, or that he hath the prfedtion of tre ght, for fboth hau the prfettion of their weapons, yf by any Device, on fhould be able to hurt the other, ther were no prfettion in the fyght of weapons, & this firmely hold in yo' mynd for a generall. rule, to be the hayth & prfestion of the true handling of al maner of weay And alfo wheras y* aid Vincentio in y* fame booke hath written difcours of honour & honourable quarrels, making many reafons to prve meanes & wayes to enter J feel de cObat, both forthe Iye fe other difgraces, al iw diabolicall devyces tendeth only to villayne & dif- truétion as hurtynge, Maymynge & Murtheringe or kyllinge. Annymating Adnangions 7” Annymating y* mynds of yonge gentlemen é& gallants tofellowtho tiesto mainiaine ir onorte Seed, butthe end ther of for the moft prte is eyther kyllinge or hanginge or both to their vtter vndoinge & great grefof themfelues, & their friends, but then to late to call ita- gaine. they confyder not the tyme &e place that we l in, nor do not throughly looke into the danger of the lawe tl it be to late, & for that in divers other cuntryes in thefe things they havea larger feope than we have in thefe our dayes, ‘Therfore it behoveth vs not upé euery abufe offered. wher by of bloud fhalbe Inflamed, or o choler kindled plently wt the fword or w* the ftabb, or by force of Armes to fecke Reuenge,, w' is the propre nature of wild beafts in their rage foto do, being voyde of th of eafon, wt thinge fhould not be in Men of difcreatio fo much to Degenerate, but he y* wil not endure an In- iurye, but will feeke revenge, then he ought to do it by Cyvill Order & prof , by good & holfom lawes, ws are owdayned for foch Cauley w® isathinge fa more fyt 6 requifted in a place of fo Cyvell a gou'ament as we lyve in, thenis the other, & who fo follow‘thefe my Admony- cions fhalbe accounted asvalyent aMan as hey'fyghteth & fare wyfe. for I fee no reafon why a Man Thould adventure hys lyf & eftate up3 every tryfle, but fhould rather put vp diu’s abufes offered vnto him, becaufe it ‘ereale both tothe Lawes of god & o Contre. ‘Why fhould not words be Anfwered w‘ words againe, but ya Man by his enemye be charged w!Blowes then may he Lawfully fecke the belt meanes to defend him FE, fe In ach Care hold it fye to fe his fkyll & to ‘how his force by his Deeds, yet (0, ythis dealynge be not80 a Admonytions. ae 7 not w* full Rygour tothe others confutjon yf pollybe may be echewed. na Alfotake heed how: Earby the field w' yo'Enemye publickly becaufe o Lawes do not prmyt yt, neyther appoint to meet him in pryvat fort left yo wounding him he accufe y5 of fellownye faying you have robbed him &c. Or he may laye companye eiaety ‘to Murther yous then toreporthe dy yt him ft valyently in the Alfo take heed of thyne Enemyes Stratagems, left he fynd Meanes to make yé to looke a fyde vpo fomthing,, or cau to thew whethery@ have ona prye Conte, & fo when y3 Looke from him, he burt or kyll you, Take not armes vpocuery light occafyon, let not one fryend vpon a word or a tryfle violate another but let ech man zealoufly embrace fryendthyp , & turne not famylyaritie into ftrangnes, kyndnes into mallice , nor Tous into hatred north not the trang 6 vnatorll Alterations, Do not wyckedly refolue one to fecke the others ou'throwe,do not confyrme to end thy Mallice by fyght becaufe for the moft prte y¢ endeth by Death. ‘Coniyder when thefethings were moft vfed inf Ages they fought not fo much by envye the ruen &¢ di trudion on of mater, they never tooke tryallby fword but in defence of Innocencye to maintayne blotlefé honour. Do not vpon Euery tryfle make an A€tion of revenge, or of Defyance. Go not into the feeld w* thy fryend at his Intreatye to take his prte but firft know y¢ mann’ of y* quarrel how Juflly or vniuitlye it grow, & do not ther in maintaine wronge Admonytions, srongeagnnftryght,butexamyne the crue ofthe travercye , & yf ther be reafon for his rage to lead him toy! mortall refolution. ‘et be the caufe never f Jutt, go not w' him neyther farther nr ffer him to ight yf poly be it may by any wyll meanes be otherwy{e.ended & wyll him not to enter into fo dangerous an ation, but lve it ill ecetti re- uireth it. ‘Mand this T hold to be the bet Courfe for itis foo!- ihnes & endleffe troble to cafta tone at euerye Dogge y‘ barks at you. this noble feyence is not to caute on ‘man to abufe another iniuriouflye but to vfe it in their neceflyties to defend them in their Juft Caules & to ‘maintaine their honour & Credits. Therfore lye al rathnes, pryde, & doynge of Iniurie all foule faults & errours herin, prfame not on this, 6 therbye to think it lawfull to-offer Iniurye to Anye, thik not yor Invincible, but confer 9 often & verye wretch hath kylled a taule man, but fe yt hath hactanyte, the more skyIfal he isin this noble Rience, the more humble, modeft, & V'tuous he fhould thew him felf both in fpeech &¢ A@tion, no lyer, no vaunter nor quarreller, for thefe are the caufes of Wounds, Dif- honour & Death. ‘YF you talke w* great men of honourable qualitie w! fach chiefly have regarde toframe yo" fpeecheséc Anfwer fo reverent, y‘a foolith word, or froward Anfwer geve no occafyon of offence for often they breed Deadly ha- teed, Cruell murthers & extreem ruens &c, ‘Ever thun al occafyons of quarrels, but marthall men cheifye generals & great comianders fhould be exelent Skyfll in the noble fence of defence, herby to be82 Brof Inftrutfions. able to anfwer quarrels, Combats & Chalenges in De. fence of their prince & Cuntry, Vale. Bref Inftruttions pd my pradoxes of Defence for the true handing of all Mant of weapons together -w the fower grownds & the fower gow nors sw gouernours are left out in Pradoxes weout the knowledge of sw" no Man can fight faf. Cop. I. The force. grownds || Tedgment principls of y true] 2.| Diflance fag at all manner of | 3. | Tyme ‘eapons are thyf 4,viz, | 4. | Place. 9) He reafon wherof thefe 4 grownds or praci- ples be the fyrft & cheefeff, ae the follow- nge, becaufe through Judgments 76 kepe Sp yo" dyftance, through Diftance y6 take yor ‘Tyme, through Tyme yo fay wyne or gayne the Place of yor adu‘farie, the Place beinge won or gayned yd haue tyme fafly eyther to ftryke, thrutt, ward, cloze, grype, flyp or go back, in the we tyme yyo' enemye isdifapoynted to hurt y@, or to defend him- felf, by reafon that he hath loft his true Place, the rea- fon'y he hath Toft hi True place i by the length of "yme Brof Inftruttions. 83 ‘Tyme through the numbs of his feet, to wt he is of neceflytie Dryven to yt wilbe Agent. The 4 gow nors are thfey follow, 1. The fyrft gounor is Judgment wis to know when yot Adverfarie can reach you, & when not, & when yo ‘an do the lyke to him, & to know by the goodnes or badnes of his lyinge, what he can do, & when & how he can p'forme it. 2, The fecond gou'nor is Meafure. Meafure is the better to know how to make yo" (pace true to defend yor felf, or to offend yor enemye, ‘The third & fourth gou'nersis atwyfold mynd when 4 prefs in on yo" enemye, for as yo have a mynd to 4s forwarde, fo yo muft have at y'inftant a mynd to fy backwarde vpé any a€tion y*fhalbe offered or don by yo" adv'laries Certaine general rules w* muft be obfjved in PEt af of al hynde of weapons. Cop. 2, Yrfewhen you com intothe feeld to encounter wt yor Enemy, obfyve wel the feope, Evens nes & vneunnes of yo" grounde, put yorfelf in redynesw‘yo' weapon, before yo'enemye Com win diftance, fet the fvnn in his face travers yf poffible yScan tll remembrynge yo" gow'non. 2. Letal yo! lyinge be fuch 28 thal beft like yorfelf, euer confyderinge out what fyght yor Enemye chargeth yé, bute fre to hepe yo diftance, fey nether hedy Armes 284 Bref Inftruttions. hands, body, nor legges be wiin hys reach, but yt he iZeyihiupen nvutt fyrit of neceflytie put in his foote or feet, at weh "tyme yo haue the Choyfe of iij A@ions by the wi 6, _.tMay endang" him & go free yorfelf. inept” 1. The fyi eto ike orthrft a him, a y*inftant imalerdtiatin When he have gayned ya the place by his cominge in Sierstiertte 2, ‘The fecond is to ward, & Aft to ftrike or thrutt from fewer, yieemembringe yo! gou'nors Engi faery, 3» The thyrd is to flippe alyttle backe & to ftrike or alee throftafter hym. Geese". but euer remember y* in the fyrft motion of your andvireorfo” Advertarye towarde yo, y* y6 flyde a lyttle back fo thall sitet... yo be ppred in due tyme to prforme anye of the ij inrdagres ‘Ations Aforefaid, by difappointynge him of his true porttcke place, whereby 6 fall thye defend yorelle te cn. Jentadtat senger him. “Pape"ers remember alfoy' yf through fear or polyfye, he trike seer member ax 3 trough uo poly, he fete him vpon yo twofold gou'ors, f hall yo warde fe Aype be piformed in Iyke mann’ as before, fe yorelt fil be ff. fut forth ox gayne the place of you, for yFhe fhall fo do, he may lekwords.”” endanger to hurt or kyll you, Know y* the place is, when on may ftryke or thruft home w'out puttinge in of his foot. Ye may be obie¢ted againft thys laft ground, yt men “Teaynegeyne do often ftrike & thruft at the half {word & yet the epee # fame is prfytly defended, where to I antwer y'that de- Reatont.”* fence is prfytly made by reafon y* the warder hath his true {pace before the ftryker or thrufter is in his force or entred into his aétion. Therfore Kepe yo" dyftance & fuffer not yo' adu'farie to wyn 3, Brof Inpirudtcas. 85 ‘Therfore alwaies do p'vent both blow & thraft, the "Spee blow by true fpace, & the thruft by narrow fpace y* is, afomrais, true croffinge it before th: fame comintotheirfull force, het trnreia other wyie the hand of the Agent beinge as fwyft as y* amt /ve hand of the patient, the hand of yt Agent beinge the mir sr fyrft mou’, mutt of neceffytie ftrike or thruft y* prte of femme” y* patient we thalbe ftryken or thruft at becaule the afew", tyme of yt hand to the tyme of y* hand, beinge of lyke ire“seree fwyftnes the fyrft mou’ hath y¢ advantage. facie, 4... When yo' enemy thal prefs vpon you, he wilbe Open stay in one place or other, both at fyngal & dubble weapon, fom "ed" or at the leaft he wilbe to weake in his ward vpon fuch "fea" piflinge, then trike or thruft at fuch open or weakelt "aydijran prte y'yo thal fynd neereft. 5. When yo attempt to wyn the place, doit vpon gard, remembringe yo" gou'nors, but when he piffeth vpo & gayneth y8 The place, then trike or thruft at him 4 teste in his comynge in, Or yf he thal ryke or thraftat 8, then Ward it, & fryke or thruft at him from yo" warde, 8: fly backe Zorgd Inftamly according to yo gona fo hall ye ees Erinn fafli, for that the fyrft Motion of the feete backwarde ryelir=- is more fwyft, then the firt motion of the feet forwarde, Me wher by yo regreffyon wilbe more fwyfter, then his mydute courfe in prgreflyon to Anoye you, the reafon is, that 7 in the fyrit motyon of his prgrefiyon his Numb¥ & rea, ‘Waight is greater then yo" are, in yot frft motyon of eter i yo" regreffyon, neu'thelefs al men knowe that the cO-w//elw tynual courfe of the feet forwarde is more fwryft then “”"/* the Contynuall Gestoip eens neers 6. _ yF yot enemye lye in varyable fyght, © of Tine i thiol at yo then be fare to kepe ‘yo Diftance & ftrike Mo M386 Bref Inftruttions. or thraft at fach open prte of him as are neereft wnto you visyat the hand, Acme, hed, orleg ofhim, go rack w all, yf ij men fight at varyable fyght, & yf w'in diftance, 7, they mult both be hor, toric fight they Cannot” make a true Croffe, nor haue tyme tralye to fudge, by reafon y* the fwyft motyon of the hand, beinge a fwyfter mone then the eye Deceyveththeeyeat what we focuer 8 thal fyght wall, as in my pradoxes of defence in ee : poate eae appere.. bet eke to the grype of yor Enemye, & vp3 his lype 8, eles lae cake tach warderts thal bet fyt your hand, from Ww ‘ein tet warde flrike or thruft, itil remembrynge yor gouernors, Aqimturl* — yfyocan Indireétyotenemyeat any kynde of weapon, g. Mpuente de yrys ‘y' ny y! % pra," grip. then y@ haue the aduantage, becaufe he muft moue his Tears ie ‘Parguenlt feet to dire€t him {elf Againe, & yo in the meane tyme Fucachen, may ftrike or thruft at him, & AY out fatt, before he Junaiwes can offer anything at you, his tyme lbs fone Anaime el. When you thall Ward blow or thruft, made at yo" 10, lector right or left prte, w* any kynd of weapon, rememb* to munrsrew Draw yor hynde foot a lyttle cculerlye, from that Tectactaey prte to we the fame fhalbe made, wher by yo thall dretivn. "make yo" defence the more prfyt, & thal ftand the more 4 Denieiit. Aptto ftrike or thruft from yt. a Brof Inftrutfions. 87 A declaration of al the 4 generall fyghts to be ‘ed we the ford ot dabble whee lenge or foort, 8 wl Certaine Piculer rules to them Annexed. Cap. 3. en fyght is to Carrye yor hand & hylt aloft ove yo" hed eythor * poynt vpright, or Dpoine backwards w' is bet, yet vie that wa ry Ye all fynd mofkapteft, to rke, chr or Gardant fyght in gentall is of ij forts, yt fyrft is true. gardant fyght, wis eyther prfyt or Imprfyt. ‘The prlyt is to carry yor hand & hylt aboue yo" hed w* yor poynt doune to wards yo" left knee, wt yo" fword blade fomewhat neer yor bodye, not bearing out your poynt, but rather declynynge in a lyttle towards yor faid knee, y* yor enemye crofe not yor poynt &e fo hurt you, land bolt vpright in this fyght, ke yf he offer to Prof n then bere yot hed body ate backward ‘The Imprfye i when y8 bere yo hand & ford hy prfyt hayth aboue yor hed, as aforefayd but leanynge or ftoopinge forwarde w! yor body & therby yor fpace’ wilbe to Wyde on both yds to defend the blow ftryken. at the left {yde of yot hed or to wyde to defend a thruft from the rght fy ofthe body, Alf itis Imprfyt, yf yS bere yor hand & hylt as aforefayd, berynge yo" poynt to farr out from yor knee, fo y! yor enemy May Crof, or ftrike Afyde yo" poynt, & therby endanger you, The The Guards ae of Mere ‘rts A teree ard of Visit A hanging” pe. Ere pendent ea igh Prin, Conant. Efendi firmed i88 Bref Inftruttions. “Beterége. The fecond is baftard gardant fyght wis to Carrye Miiuautad yor hand & hyle below yo" hed, breft hye or lower wt smicaura”" yot poynt downwarde towarde yo" left foote,thisbaltard gardant ward is not to be vied in fyght, ecept it be to Croffe yor enemyes Ward at his comynge in to take the sype of him or fac other advantage, ain dv’ placs of y* fword fyght is fet forth. Clofe fyght is when y Crofs at y‘ half fword eyther 3, egitd gous at frchand ward" is w poynt hye, Shunde Satwpeara, hylt lowe, or at true or baftard gardant ward w' both Yo" poynts doun. Clofe is all mann* of fyghts wherin y6 have made a 4. true Crofe at the half fword w* yor fpace very narrow Snot Croft, isalfo clofe fyght. Ti tues Variable fyght is al other mannt of lyinge not here irmartin. before tpoken of, wher of thefe 4 that follow are. the cates in o ne tocata: wis to lye w' yor right legge forwarde, w* (1 FEeeEe™ yor fword or rapior hylt back on the out fyde of ‘yor avidly mew ight thygh w' yor poynt forewarde to ward yorenemye, Agtin™ —w! yor daget in yo" other hand extendinge yo" hand to gariey wards the poynt of yot rapior, holdinge yot dage* wt Contos a poynt vpright wt narrow fpacebetwecne yo! rapior ie lade, & the nayles of yor dagg' hand, kepynge vor Prins, rapior poynt back behind yor dagg* hand yf poflyble, gertaty FOr Pe may lye wyde below’end his dager w his “Geedeate" rapior poynt doun towards his enemyes foote, or w' {dR Sis poynt fourth w' out his dage’. letepagirer_ Umbrocata: is to lye wt yor hylt hyer then yo" hed, Marken.” beringe yor knuckles vpwarde, & yo point depending ‘“Querre — towarde yo! Enemys face or brett. sigte’t —“’Mountanta: is to Carrye yo' rapior pummell in the palm Bref Infruttions, 89 alm of yor hand refting it on yor lyttle fynger w* yor Rand belowe & fo movatynge It vp lof 6 fo to.com in w' a chruft vp yot Enemyes face or breft,as out of staat 4 Paffata; is eyther to pa w* y* Stocata, or to carrye yo fword oF rapior hye by es right flanke, wt yor Teche poynt dire€ly azainft ynt Watmjes belly, w! yo! let fleas Tote torwarde, extendinge fourth yor dagg’ hand wt frlaith arm. the poynt of yor dagger forwarde as y5 do yor fword, syle 1 narrow fpace between yo! ford & dagg’ blade, & afned2 foto make vypon him, foc ment Alfo pd my or varyable fyght or _ Taljort whatfoeuer a man can devife not here expre! eStayned vnder this fight. a ae Lfyghe ageing the be rocapin. Cap. 4. 1» F yor enemye lye a loft, eyther in open or true 44 prin, gordant Gght, then fre atthe felt fyde of yo" hed or body yor bett ward to defend yor felf, is to bere itw! true gardant ward, & yfhe trike & com in to the cloze, or to take the grype of you yS may then fly take the grype of him a Ht appereth in the chapter of the grype, . ane, 2, but yf he do ffrike & not com in, then inftantly vpé “rae” yor ward, vncrofe & (trike him either on the right or "Zot /ip- left Syde of y*hed, & fy out inftantly. eee 4 Yey6 bere this w! forhand ward, be fare to ward his dermal, Bowe, or kepe yo" ditance, otherwyfe he tall decue Sra you9° Bref Inftruttons. “Infiruttios, : you w* euery fale, itil endangeringe yo" hed, face, hand, 8. Allo yFij fyghe we we fyghtit is better for the Armes, bodye, & bendynge knee, w' blow or thruft. patient to ftrike home ftrongly at the Agents hed, when Therfore kepe well yo" dyftance, becaufe y6 can very the faid Agent fhal prefs vpon him towyn the place then hardly deferne (being w' in dyftance), by w* {yde of tothrutt, becaufe the blow of the patient is notonly hurt- eager eed hoe pres afore- foltothe Agent, but it alfo maketh a true Crofe to defend fay Becaufe the fwyft motion of y* hand deceyveth Minow not ‘ } a e 1. yFhe charge y6 aloft, out of the open or true gardant fhe lye aloft & ftrike as aforefsid at yo" head, yO may 4, gyghe, yf yosntwer him w* y* Imprfyegerdant FV ght, wt endanger him yf yé thrutt at his hand, hile, or Arme, 7S body ieanynge forwarde. yo" pace wilbe to wede on turninge yo® knuckles dounwarde, but fly back w* all in th fyde to make a true ward in due tyme, & yo! arme the inflant y*y6 thru, ibe to necce vata him. : ihe lye soft as aortid, fe rke a Toft atthe lefts Fava tee, Sacer a es oe, oe fide of yorhed, yf yowil ward his blow w* forehand ward, take the grype of " then be fare tokepe yor ditance,excepthecom foctsine but yfye Rand ypright in true gardantfyght, then he that yo be fare to ward his blow, at w* tyme yf he com cannot Fetch to take the grype of you, nor otherwife to in wall, y6 may endanger him from y* ward, eyther by offend yo yf you kepe yo" diftance, wout puttinge in of blow, thrutt or grype, YE he Iye a lot fe yBlye a lowe w* yor ford in the 6. vaiyable fyghe, then yf yo offer to ward his blow made ‘at yo hed, w' true gardant ward yor tyme wilbe to longe Dia in tyme to make s fre ward, fr that it is ete’ bere it w! forehand ward, butbe fare tokepe yordiftance, wreorctin on ei tomake him com in w his feet, wher by bis tyme will ans See ors, fe more ofthis, in the chap- to longe todo y‘ he intendeth. 10. oF be ceL El piffe forcibly a loft vp3 you, Chargi e . yf he wil fil prife forcibly a loft vpé you, Charginge mr iiketbrseripetey atte, li eapdi eee me is diftance, yf he attempt tofiry} a to hurt y6 in the face or hed, or to take the grype of yo oF Nene wile f his eyme wie to longe, fe y6 in that tyme may by ofa pattinginef yo" body taketh grype ofhim, pth pet es tocomin wtetng only yot hand, or hand & foote, & ther 4 ‘pon y may ftryke or thruft w* yotfword & fly outw'all thalbe farely fryken on the hed him@elf, yf the patient ReaietP ech son you tat vie both gardent fe open ‘Agent ftrike ther at in his Comynge in, & yp a lyttle {hehe wherby vpon every Blow or thru that he ‘fall back w* al, for y lydinge back maketh an indireétion, make at you, you may from yor wards, frike or thrutt wherby yo" blow Crofeth hished, & maketh atrueward Him'on che fate hed or bodys az ie appeareth more at foryotowne, this will yt be, becaufe of his length of tyme large in the s Chapter of thefe my Tnftrudtions. a Alf 14.” plyofyghtw'onyandethonlyyponhisgardant ght éowso92 Brof Infirutlions. seer tel on yf he feck to com into yy the fame fyeht then do inorder. yoltrike & thruft Contynually at al mann’ of open place Bref Inftruttions. 93 by prfinge ny! may 7 fale dos for pret the firte’ porte fee, hralf fworde may fafflye be woon, but hey’ firftcometh in, that thall com neereft vnto you, ftill remembringe yor Matt yet go out &y'prfenlyotherwife hs gard ibe gou'nors, {0 fhall he Contynually be in dang’, & often to wyde aboue to defend his hed, or yfyt for ' defence, wounded, & weryed in that kynd of fyght, & you fhalbe then wil it be to wyde vnd'neath to defend y* thrutt fro af, the reafon is, he is a c'taine marke to you, & yo are an'vncttaine marke to hym. And fustherbecaufe he tyeth him felfynto on kynd of fyght only, he fhalbe wearyed for want of Change of his body ws things the patient Agent may do, & fy out Tair af, & y* Agent cannot avoyd it, becaufe the moving of Atm it, his feet maketh his ward vnequall to defend both prts in syrniedoem. due tyme, but the one or the other wilbe difceived & in ftk"dert” ‘oie InsSoudend lyinge, & yB by reafon of many changes thal not only ffyttjehe steal, fe much more brave, but you have Iykewyle ij fyghts to his one, to wytt, gardant, open, clofe, & variable fyght, to his gardant only, therfore y* fight only is not to be ftode vpon or vied. ‘But yfalthis will not fue, &calthough hehath receyved 12, Many Wounds, wyl contynually run on to com in, & forcibly breake yotdyftance, then may you faffly take the grype of him, & hurt him at yot pleafurew' yo" fword, as appeareth in the chapter of the grype, & he can nether hurt nor take y* geype of yd, because the numb’ of his feet are to many, tobringe hishandin place in due tyme, for fuch a on ever geueth yo the place, therfore befure to take yo! tyme herin. Inthe lyke fort may yé do at fword & dagg’,or {word danger, forhe being Agentvpon hisfirftentrancehistyme sar (by realon of ytnumb of his feet), wilbe to lon Dy event Agend may fr enterintohisaion the Agent Inuft bef force an after doer, therfore cannote avoyde this offence aforetid. 14. yfhe com in to encounter the Cloze & grype vp8: tal SaRiake we ard gardant ward, then y6 Maye Croffe yo" vpo the lyke gardant ward alfo, & as he cometh in ‘his Feet have gayned the place, yOmay prenty vyncroffe & ftryke him a found blowe on y* hed, & ty out inftantly, wher in he cannot offend yd by reafon of his loft tyme, nor defend him felf vpon yor vncroffing, becaufe his {pace is to wyde wherby his tyme wilbe to Jonge in doe tyme to preent yo" lowe, hit may 76 do ey. Bele" ge buckler, at fuch tyme as I fay, y' yo Maye take the 15.__ yf he 8 in vpon the baftard gardant ward, bearing Se his hylt lower than his hed, or but breft hye or lower, metraites SPR. erype,feundly Mryke himwtyo'buckleron thehed then rik him foundly on the hed w* thinge yo may we thaker zor tabb him w* yo" dagg? &inftantly eyther tryke vp his eaiylye do, becaufe his fpace is to wyde in due tyme to zrgpngcint rrp hecles or fly out, & as he lyketh y* coolinge card to his ward the fame. ae . sptoterln hot braine, fyck fyt, fo let him com for another, 16. yf he Enemy charge you vp6 his Stocata fyght, yo — yyfij fyght & that both lye vps the true gardant fyght 13- May ly cote fe that one of them will neede eek towyn the half (word yy oa variable wt large Diftance ts vnettaine wt iv ford & bodye at yo" pleafure, yet fo y* yo may ftryke, lye at yo" pl sy yoeay AyeThe senior ations, ape be eit hve nena Tien Memeo reommended iy Rewer. 94 Bref Infrruttions. thruft or Ward, & go. Brits back sccafon is, to take ytadvantage of this cOmynge in, whether he doth it out of the Stocata, or paffata, wt advantage yo fhalbe fare to haue, yf y6 obfrue this rule & be not to rath in yor reafon y* yt numb? of his feet wilbe great, &e alfo becaufe when thofe ij fyghts are met together, hard to Make 2 true Croffe, therfore wout Large dyf- dance be kept of them, Commonly they are both hue or flayne, becaufe in narrow diftance their hands haue fice Courfe fe are not tyed to the tyme of y foot, by vw" fwyft motion of the hand the eye is deceyved, 28 yo may read more at large in the ofdefence. ‘You may alfo vfe this fyght, againtt the longe fword, ‘or longe rapior, fyngle & dubble, pon this ground frm tallow wyted fellow may fy, yf the patient muft keep large diftance then he mutt be nyven to goback yl to wa T anfwer yin the con tynnuall motion & travers of his ground he is to travers circuler wyfe, forwards, backwards, vp6 the right hand, & vpo the left hand, the we travers is tll a certaintye tobe vied wiin him flf,Scnot to be prvented by y* Agent, becaufe the Agent cometh one vpo an vnc'taine marke, for when he thinketh to be fure of his purpofe, the patient is fonitymes on the on fyde, & fom tymes on y* other fyde, fomtymes to far back, & fomtymesto neere, fy fl the Agent rf ve the mamb’ of his feet wo wilbe to Tonge to anfwer y* hand of y* patient Agent, & it cannot be denyed but the patient Agent by rexfon of his large diftance, ftil feeth what y* Agent doth in his cmyng, but the Agent cannot fe what the other doth, til the patient Agent be into his Aétion, therfore to cap: of my prdoxes ____Bref Inftruttions, 95 to late for him eyther to hurt the patient, or in due tyme to defend him felf, becaufe he entreth his a€tid vp yt knowledge of the patient, but he know! not what y* patient Agent will do tl itbe tolate. 17. yf the Agent fay y* then he wil ftand faft vpon fom fare gard & fomtymes moving & trav'fing his ground, & kepe large diflance as y* patient do, to w* I anfwer, yt when jj men thal meete y* haue both the prfeétion of their weapons, againft the beft no hurt canbe don, ‘other wife yf by any devife on thould be able to hurt theother, then werther no prfeétion in y* vfeof weapons, this prfeétion of fyght being obfived, p'venteth both clofe fyght, & al mann of clozes, grype & wreftling & almann’ of fach other devics what fo euer. 18. Allo yf he charge yé vp@ his Stocata, or any other lying aft” y* fathion, w* his poynt low & large paced, then Iye y6 2 loft w! yor hand & hylt aboue yor hed, eyther true gardant, or vp6 the open fight, then he can- not reach yo yf y6 kepe yor diftance wout putting in of his foot or feet, but yo may reach him w' the tyme of yor hand, or w' the iyme of your hand & body, or of hand, body & foot, becaufe Ne hath al redy po his body win yo" reach &e have gayned 9 the place, fe y are at lybertye & wiout his reach, til he put in his foot or feete, w** tyme is to longe to anfwer the of yor hand, &¢ his fpace to wyde in that place to make a ward in due tyme to defend his hed, Armes & hande, ‘one of wt wilbe alwaies w' in yo" reach, note fil in this y* yo" weapons be both thort of y* Equal & convenient length of fhort fword. "9 oat of his varable fyght he fke a right or left fyde of the hed or body, then yo" beft ward is to bere96 Brof Infruélions. bere it w* fore hand ward, otherwife yo" Space wilbe to yd & to far to make yo" ward in due tyme. ‘YF he lye variable aft’ the mann' of the paffata then 20, YE78 lye lofts ie above fi, yo have the Advantage, ule he y*lyeth varyable cannot reach home, at hed hand or ane, wut puting in of his foot or fet fe therfore it cannot be denyed, but y* he y* playeth aloft, hath ftil the tyme of the hand to the iyme of y* foot, ‘w* fight beinge truly handled is aduantage invincible, Yfhe lye variable vps the Imbrocata, then make a 21. narrow {pace w* yo" poynt vpwarde, & fodainly yf ys can Crofe his poynt wt yo! blade put afyde his poyne Arongly w* yor ford &¢ ferik or thruft at him, & fly out inflntj, ever remembring yo" governors he de- eve y@not in taking of his poynt yf he firike or thruft at yo" lege or lower prte out of 22, any fyght, he thal not be able to reach the fame vnlef Paring From hit “ar, ttt, yo ftand large paced w' bendinge knee, or vnle& hecom fiers tnt th Sy wt his foote o feete, the wt yf he thal fo do, then Jin beae. "796 may ftrik or thrutt at his arme or vpper prte for 4 tine fs wr then he putteth them into the place gayning yo the eal a ticarn glace wherby you may frike home vpo him & he omen Sie yEhe Rend sd w* bendinge knee th but ani raced wt bendinge knee then vwyn the place & te home freely at his knee, ey back ther w', ‘yf he com to the clofe fight w! y6 & yt y6 are both 23. craft alft at x half ord w! both yo points wpwards Fevibe prporethen yf he com in w* all in his Croffing bere ftrongly Sepiciad Yor hand fe hylt out hie wri cle by his ye putting “Aalffewre” ie ouer at y* backfyde of his hand & hylt p'ffinge doune his hand & hylt rongly 8 fedainy, in yo entring i, Brof Inflruttions, { fo thruft yor hyle sy his fae, or ike him wp ye Revammad hed w'y* ford, & ftrike vp his heeles, &fly out, fy 24 yf yo are both f croft at baltard gardant ward, ‘Fhe then prefs in, then take the grype of him as is jewed in y® chapter of y¢grype, nore 2 kt hand or ame, Arike hie fvord Blade ae trongly & fodainly towarde yo" left fyde by we meanes ="! vo yb are uncrof, & he is difecwed, then may yo thro tafe him in the body w! yor fword & Ay out inftantly, w thinge he cannot avoyd, nether ean he offend y3 Or being fo croft, yo may fodainly vncrofe & ftrike Me ature, hhim vpé the hed & fly out inftantly we thinge y6 may fafly do & go out free, 25. _ yf y@ be both croft at y* half Sword w* hys poynt & yo? poy done inti toe garda wad hen YF he'prefs to com in, then eyther take y* grype of hit, Apes te as in the chapter of the grype, or wee hand or VF you fight byl to byll do the like tm al vefpeG 3 as w! ye flat in yo" fyght, for yor byl fight Sat fyght Brof Inftruttions, 12: is alone, but only for the defence & offence wt the he of y* byl, & wher y* {taf man vpé the cloze yf he vle ¥ abd w the butt end of his af, the byll aan at tyme is to vfe y* catch at his lege w* y* edge of his byl a in 7 cond ground above isd 4. Rememb euer in al yot fyght w! this wespon to make yo' fpace narrow whether it be againft the ftaf or byll fo y* what fo euer he thal do againt you, yo fhal fill make yor ward before he be in his fal force to offend you. gla fy can reach win the hed of his byll the hed of yor byll then fodainly wt the hed of yor byll fhach bs byl hed eongly towards you, & thera indie i byl hed &¢ forcibly ran ¥p yo! by! hed 19 is hands, fo haue yo the lyke advantage as abouefaid, wheras I fpake of runyng vp towards his hands. 6. YF he lye alowe w* his byl hed then yf y6 can put 17 byl ed inou che hed of hi bye ftrongiye ‘oune his byl ftaf w* yor byl hed, bearinge it flat, then. } may prfently run vp yo* byll hed fingle handed to hands 8 Ay out there, fo thal y6 hort him in ye hand & go free yorfelf. aye The like may yo do wt againft the fhort ” haf yfyscan pref te doune ipeta bt yeh 2 Tonge fat then run vp dubble handed w! Both hands pon yor byll, we thynge yé may fafly do becaufe 6 are in yor flrength & haue taken him in the weak prte of his ftaf ea 1 8. ¥fhe lye hye w* his byll hed then pat vp yor byl hed und his & caft his Byll out toy" fyde 178 fynd fyttet, f haue y6 the aduantage to thruft or hook at him & fly out. Ra Or124 Beef Infiruttios. ‘Or yf y6 calt his byl farr out of the right Iyne then run in & take him by the legg w* y* edge of yor byll, as is (aid in the 2 ground of this chapter. YF y6 ward his blow w* yor byll ftaf win yo" byll 9 hed, then anfwer him as w' y* fhort ftaf. Note y* asthe by! mane auantage isto tk the Raf wy" hed of * byll & the flaf man by reason ¥" y= hed of y* byll is a faire mark hath y* aduantage of him in YE cafling afde of the hed of the byl w his af or g Y" alyde, the we yf y¢ byll man looke not very well intoit the ftaf man ther vpon wil take al mann’ of aduantages of y* ftaf fyght againtt him. Of the fyght of morris pyke ogainpt the byke weapon. Cap: 14. FF y6 fight w* yo" enemy having both morris 1 pyks wi both poynts of yor poke forwards, alowe upon y* ground, holding the butt end ofthe pyke in one hand fyngle w! knuckles vpwards & the thumb undrneth, w' the thumbe & forefing® towards yo' face & the Iyttle fynger towards the poynt of y* pyke, bering the butt end of the ryke {5 the one fyde toy other right before the fee then lye yo w! yo" arme fpent & yo" body open w* yo" hand {Oy right fyde we yor knuckles Dounwards eyo males vpwards. Por yé may lye in y* fort, wt yor hand over to the left fyde wt yor knuckles vpwards & yo" nayles Doun- wards, wherby al yor body wilbe Open. yf then he thal fodainlye rayle vp the point of his pyke w* his other hand Bref Infiruttions 15 hand & com to thruft at 6, then in the Mountinge of his poynt or his coynge in fodainlye toffe vp the poynt of yo" pyke w yr hand fyngle & f thru him in the eggs wy" pyke 8 flyout therm r els you May ftand vpé yot ward & Not toffe vp yo™ pykes poynt but breake his thruft by croffynge the poynt of his pyke w the Mads of yo pykeby eatin fp yo" hand, w the butt end of yo" pykeaboue yor hed, Woo bering over hys point wt yo" RAE tothe other fyae as for example, 2. Yfy6 lye w yot hand {pent towards the left fyde of yor bode, then fodintye bere hia poyne over Rongly towards yor right fie. ‘yo lye w! yor hand fpent towards yor right fyde then Bere hin payne tomar yo" let yee, ther gather vp yor pyke wt yor other hand & thruft at bim & fly out. ie ‘YE he cétynew his fyght w* his point aboue, & 3 ye 70" pyke brett hye seh er w your band & iat fo, yor yt yo may Make yo" thruft at his face or body wt ‘poynt Direétly towards his face, holding yot pyke ‘wt both your hands on yoF ftaf yor hinder hand we knuckles vpwards & yo? formuft hand w' yor knuck dounvards te ther thaking yo" pyke & fling a hie face w* yo" poynt as Neere his face as you may, then fodainlye Make out yor thrutt fyngle handed at his face & fly Backe w'all, w* thruft he can hardly breake one of 20 by reafon y* y8 have made yo" fpace {0 narrow vpon his gard, fo y* yo beinge frit in yor ation he F—h—rT——C—C 4 but note while y6 lye faulfinge to Deceve him looke well toyo'leggs y*he inthe Meane tyme toffe not vp the R3 Poynt126 Brof Inftruttions. poynt of his pyke fyngle Winged & hort 6 therw® in Shynes. Yf he lye {0 w" his poynt vp a loft as you do then 5. Make yor fpace Narrow Mountinge yot point a lyttle & crofe his pyke w' yo" & ftronglye and fodainly caft his oynt out of the right lyne and thruft whome from the Eime fyngle or dubble as you fynd yor bet advantage, & fly out therw!, Or y6 may run in when yi haue caft out his poynt flydinge both yor hands on yo ftaf til y8 com wiin arters of a yard of the hed of yo pyke & ftabb him therw! wt one hand & w! yor other hand kepe him of from y* grype- Now yf he be a man of Skyll, notw'ftandinge y* 6. Making of y* faulte in faffering you to do {0 yet this help he hath, as y@ are cémynge in he will fainlye draw in his pyke poynt & fly back wall, then haue yo no helpe but to fly out inftantly to the myddle of yo" ‘ke & from thence backe to y* end &e then are yas at the firtt begynnynge of yor fyght yo were. YF you fynd y' he tye fart out of x right tyne w 7. his poynt or yt yo can fo farr Indireét y* fame then caft yor pyke out of yo" hands, erofe over vpon the myds of his pyke, by we meanes y6 thal entangle his pyke, then while he doth ftryve to get hit pyke at Iybertye, run you in fodainlye drawing yo' Dagg* & ttrike or ftabb at him, ‘Then yf he haue the prfeétion of this fyght as well 8, as you, he wilbe as reddy w* his dagg* as yo are w' yor, then mut 6 fyghtit out at the Sngle dag’ fyght 2s is thewed in the 15" Cap: then he yt hath not the prfedtion of y' fyght gow! to wracke. And Bref Inftruttions. 127 And here note yin al the cours of my tachinge of thefe my breef Inftruétions yf both the prtyes have the ful prfeétion of y¢ true fyght then the on will not be able to hurt thother at what prfyt weapon fo euer. yo. But yfa Man y* haue the prfeétion of fight thal fight w! on y* haue it not then mutt y* vafkylful man go to wrack & thother goe free. Of the fingle Dagger fight againft the lyke weapon. Cap: 15. IRST know y' to this weapon ther belon; no Wards oor grype bat aunt ech one as is foolehardy & will fuffer himfelf to-haue a ful flabb in the face or bodye to hazard the geving of Another, then againft him yS may vie r Teft hand in throwinge him afyde or flrike vp his a if ye haue ftab¢ him. 2. In this dagg’ fyght, yo mutt vfe cétynual motion fo thal he not Beale te put yo toy cle ot pres be caufe yor contynuall motion difappointeth him of his true place, & the more ferce he is in runynge in, the foont he gayneth you the place, wherby he is wounded, & ee not any thing the rather endangered, ‘he mann’ of | handing yor ‘cétynuall motion is this, epe out of diftance & ftrik or thruft at his hand, Arme, face or body, y* fhal prefs vpon yd, & yf he defend. How or thruft wt his dagg? make yd blow or thruft at sis hand, 4 _ Yfhe com in wt his left legg forewards or wt the Fight, do you ftrike at yt prte as foone as it fhalbe win yor reach, remembring yt y6 vfe contynual motion b128 Brof Infiruttions. in yor prgreffion & regreffyon according to yo" twyfold Although the dagg' fyght be thought 2 verye dan- 5. gerous fyght by reafon of y* thortnes & fynglenes therof, yet the fight therof being handled as is afore- faid, iss faf & as defencive as is the fight of any other ‘weapon, this endeth my bref Inftruétions. Finis, Sundry Sundry kinds of play or fight. Thornborow. 1 Uncttaine variable 2 Single 3 gardant. ‘if differene kinds of fight. 1 y' forceth or a on whe 2 he 7! goeth back w" fom Blow of jventnptwed ghe yt flandeth to his wards or| out of y* way. paffato 1. Againft him y* ptfeth ys, naked play is belt becs he ufeth his foote, pen Woty play J hand, 2. y* 2! is belt followed w* y* variable & vne'taine handling els thould yé be a matke to yor enemy & too flow in motion. 3. y° 3% mutt be incountred w* y* gardant pl wltrn you thal try him at y"B fword of how hetean efeape y° prting blow or thrult. y gather kepe yo" place & fpace equal & only be a patient & remembt y' y* gardant play bring- ‘eth yo fafly in & keps yor enemy out. Know this ord of play els y* beft may be deceaved, tobe ufed again al thele diffrencs fe bring y" good 8 nes130 Bref Inftrubtions. nies therof in fufpitid, for al thele plaies are good in their kynd, tyme & occafid offered by divvfitie of play, but not on of them to be continually ufed & played ‘ypon as a prfecti6 againft every affault. 1. In y' naked play y6 mutt fet yortelf vpright wt 0 feet ina finale fpace, obPving ” plac of yo! hand wher yé may flrike or thruft mott quickly & redely & {0 take y* tyme of him y* pifeth on (ving y* tyme of his feei) w! yor blowe or thruft wher he is moft open. 1. In y* variable phy, y5 dryve him to his thyfis changing yore intoundey kynde of blowes thre & lyings, we yé mutt not ftay upon, 2. fecking to + him ftil in his playes as yo may, wherby. 78 fal force him to fy, or els to and to 7 proof of his B fword play. Bathe gudant play i to be_ ved agunf| 7 blowe, thruft & paffata yt cometh wn dang” of hurt, for treading y* right way & keping yo" place & hand in fpace & ftrength you cannot loofe y* tyme to defend £19 either of thofe offers. thefe Judged of in reafon & known by fom pradtife wil make yo deale fafly againft al forts, fkilfal or vn- {kilfal, fo y* feare or Ang® hinder not yor Knowledge. Of Tymes. hand 1. The tyme of y7{f00"S og {foot & hand. naught or Bref Inftruttions. 1g Of place Space. irength & tyme. 1. ytyme ey: Tid ished 8 fee eS a wl or and in place to ftrike, 2. the tyme of y* foot is when yi ftep forward to ftrike or when yo gather towarde yor own right fyde. 4. y" tyme of y* hand & foot is when y6 tread yor {ground in courfe to ftrike rather than p'fing forwards, or when yé flide back or go back, yo! hand & foot being then of equal agillitie. 4. y" tyme of y* foot & hand is when y6 handle yo" pardant play vfing then a flowe motid in both. ther is but 1 good way to gather vpé yo" enemy, gardant, Al other are dangerous &¢ fubieét to y* blowe on y" hed or thruft on y* body for no way can ward both but as afort#, yor hand & feet in good play muft go together, whether it be in quick or flow motion, Tn gathering forwards or tows yo right SYde yor hhand falleth fr yor place, fpace, & ftrength & fo falleth out y* lof of tyme. ‘when y6 gather && fuffer y* gou'ne yo' fight, defend only. when y6 do, be fingle, or not fixed towards on any lying, but alfo y* quicknes of yo" hand in its ppt place carried, . Tn breaking y* thruft when y8 lye aloft fingle or gardant & fpace yor arme fomwhat bowing in ward- ing y* blowe, have refpett to yo" place of hand & frrength, yor arme ftrait. this courfe in yo" tyme is it prformed, the on of thefe w* yot hand aloft point downe thother yot hand in place yo" more high yo" fpace lefs curious. 82 Dubble132 Bref Infirudtions. Dubblej(fence 7 treble tyme ward ptace way Iipace flow motid hand Dubble (fals arme, weapd| true fingle Spations y Strait obfcure. foote Manifeft IT tyme is cheefly to be obfved in both aétions vps 93" wet ( ace ) waiters. Upon thele 3 y* 4 following, vpon thele 4 y* frit jr upon thete y" later 3. to hurt or defend, a in both is to be obftved toy" furtherance of w** place is to be gotten, wiout wi tyime wilbe to long to p'form y* w* is intended, y* fpace is to be noted betwene ij oppolits & in refpett of touching, or in regard of faving as alfo for priving of tyme, by y* finale way it hath either to y" body, or puting by y* weapon. fhe next 4 muft be vfed together to p'forme thother rules, for y* hand being nymble & quick of itflf may els be hindered in I sant of any of thefe, the weapon muft be framed & inclyned to sive y* agilitie of y* hand eyther in hurting of defending. 4 the body prighe or leanyng to y" weapon, yt it hinds not y* difpofitié of thother ij the foot anfwerable to them plying y* hand & ward al in ftrait {pace, y" w" w* hand high w" y* point downe, the arme frat Sut as redy for both adtions. the Brof Inftruttions. 133 the way vnd" yt wit arta y" body from harmes, the moti lowe yy 2049 of y hand be not hindered, the reft are y* difpofitions of y* placed difplaced handlin Slowhot :fwift hand : quick foot : low hand. tread : firide : follow : falaway = ‘When yo feck to offend w* blow or thruft, yo place of hand is loft, y" way to redeeme it is to flyde back vnd* yor lofty ward as aforefd alwaies y* yor adu'farie lye aloft redy to ftrike or thrutt or vfe his hand only, fy would offend kim y* eth lowe vps 7 thrat then when y6 diplace yor weapon fi aloft 75 may aft’ yo" blow at hed or arme or neereft place, ftand & thraft before y5 go backe becaufe he is out of place & fpace & cannot +, & therby loofeth his tyme toannoy 6 & yd may thruft & retyre for a new affault, this not fo fownd, In ftriking or thrufting neu' hind! yo" hand w* putin forth yo foote but kepey place thaof tl ys have fended w! y" one only 7° Bending of yor body. very Tittle foreward may futhéte, els yo loofe a dubble tyme, fon in fetting forth yo" foot thother in recox‘ing yor oft place of yor {St both to y* lols of tyme & yor Pee: drut: ward: brake: the dubble offence is in ftriking & thrufting. va rota (W#ding y* blow the ij fold {re re " a 1d. |reaking or puting bye y* thru defence in [Ayding back wnd" yo" hanging ward. n y* place: ftartd fait, trike home fend, defend, & go fal 83 al134 Bref Inftruttions. 3h nar play is bencen wt moft agil, fingle & y* lofty the lofty w* y* gardant, His when w' his foot he fecke y' low lying is out of place to} peat, fend defend one or lack tne 32 fading Space & ci yf he lye out w! bis 3p orner (hires Jong’ weap. it bye fr6 aloft, whol tncree adinne hath place tyme & reach of body Sine" hoyne arme al wy" +. (Crofs thelofty naked play is beaten wty* ward becs ofree} tyme to Defend, y" lofty naked fingle loofe play fveth to win y* Tyme of y* lowe & dubble play. the bent gardant requireth yor arme frit high & ‘out y* point down towards (93 re II wel) y* body & foote y' way inclyned.