George Silver's Bref Instructions Vpõ My Pradoxes Of Defence

Unpublished, dated: 1599

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Bref Instructions Vpõ My Pradoxes Of Defence

for the true handling of all Mann^r of weapons together w^t the fower grownds & the fower gou^rnors w^ch gouernours are left out in my pradoxes w^tout the knowledge of w^ch no Man can fight saf

By George Silver Gentleman

[1599]

[Sloane MS. No 376.]

To The Reader.

For as much as in my padoxes of Defence I haue admonyſhed Men to take heede of falſe teachers of Defence, yet once againe in these my bref inſtructions I do the lyke, becauſe Diuers have wryten books treating of the noble ſcience of Defence, wherin they rather teach offence then Defence, rather ſhewing men therby how to be ſlayne than to defend them ſelves frõ the Dang^r of their enemys, as we may dayly ſe to the great grief & ouerthrowe of many braue gentlemen & gallent of o^r ever victorious nation of great brytaine, And therfore for the great loue & Care y^t I haue for the well Doing & p^rſ,vation of my Countrymen, ſeeing their Dayly ruens & vtter> ou^rthrow of Diu^rs gallant gent: & others w^ch trust only to that Impfyt fyght of y^t Rapior, yeaſe although they Deyly ſe their owne ou^rthrowes & ſlaughter therby, yet becaus they are trayned vp therin, they thinke & do fully pſwade them ſelues that ther is no fight ſo excellent & wher as amongſt div^rs other their oppynyons y^t leadeth them to this errous on of y^t cheifeſt is, becauſe ther be ſo many ſlayne w^t theſe weapons & therfore they hold them ſo exelent but theſe thinges do cheifly happen, firſt becauſe their fyght is Imprfyt for that they vſe nether the prfyt gronds of true fyght, nether yet the 4 gou^rnors w^tout w^ch no man can fight ſaf, nether do they vſe such other rules w^ch are required in the right vſe of prfyt defence, and also their weapons for y^e most prte beinge of an Imprfyt length, muſt of neceſſytie make an Imprfyt Defence becauſe they Cannot vſe them in due tyme & place, for had theſe valerous mynded men the right prfection of the true fyght w^t the ſhort ſword, & alſo of other weapons of pryft length, I know y^t men would com ſaffer out of the field frõ ſuch bloddye bankets & that ſuch would be their prfections her in, that it would ſaue many 100 mens lyues. But how ſhould men lerne prfection out of ſuch rules as are nothing els but very Imprfectiõ it ſelf. And as it is not fyt for a man w^ch deſyreth y^e clere lyght of the Day to go downe into the bottom of a deepe & Darke Dungion, belyvinge to fynd it there, ſo is it as Impoſſyble for men to fynd the prfyt knowledge of this noble ſcience wher as in all their teachings every thinge is attempted & acted vpõ Imprfyt rules, for ther is but one truth in all things, w^ch I wiſh very hartely were taught & practysed here amongſt vs, & y^t thoſe Imprfyt & murtherous kynde of falſe fyghts might be by them abolyſhed. Leaue now to quaf & gull any Longer of that fylthy brynyſh puddle, seeing yõ may now drink of y^t freſh & clere ſprynge.

O that men for their Defence would but geve their mynde to practiſe the true fyght in deed, & lerne to bere true brytiſh wards for thire defence, w^ch yf they had it in prfyt practyſe, I ſpeak it of myne owne knowledge y^t thoſe Imprfyt Italyon Devyſes w^t rapyor & poynard would be clene caſt aſyde & of no account of al ſuch as blind offections do not lead beyond the bonds of reaſon. Therfore for the verye zealous & unfayned loue y^t I beare vnto yo^r high & royal prſon my Cuntrymen pyttiing their cauſes y^t ſo many braue men ſhould be dayly murthered, & spoyled for want of true knowledge of this noble ſcience & not as ſom Imagyn to be, only y^e excelence of y^e rapior fyght, & wher as my padoxes of defence is to the most sorte as a darke ryddle in many things ther in ſet downe, therfore I have now this ſecond tyme taken ſom paynes to write theſe few breef Inſtructions ther uppõ wher by they may the better attayne to the truth of this ſcyence & laying open here all ſuch things as was ſom thinge Intrycat for them to vnd^rſtand in my p^rdoxes & therfor y^t I haue the ful prfectiõ & knowledge of the prfyt vſe of all mann^r of weapons, it Doth embolden me here in to wryte for the better Inſtructiõ of the Vnſkylfull.

And I haue added to theſe my breef Inſtructions c^rtaine neceſarie admonytions w^ch I wiſh every man not only to know, but alſo to obſ^rve & follow, Chiefly al ſuch as are deſyrous to enter into the right vſage & knowledge of their weapons, & alſo I haue thought it good to Annexe here vnto my p^rdoxes of Defence because in theſe my bref Inſtructions, I haue referred y^e reader to div^rs rules ther in ſet down.

This haue I wryten for an Infallible truth & a note of remembrance to o^r gallant gent: & others of o^r brave mynded Nation of great bryttaine, w^ch bere a mynde to defend them ſelues & to wyn honour in the feeld by their Actions of armes & ſyngle Combats.

And know y^t I write not this for vaineglorie, but out of An entyre loue y^t I owe vnto my natyve Cuntrymen, as on who lamentith their Loſſes, ſorrye y^t ſo great an errour ſhould be ſo Carefully noryſhed as a ſ^rpant in their boſoms to their vtt^r confusfyõ, as of long tyme haue byn ſeene, wher as yf they would but ſeeke the truth her in they were eaſyly abolyshed, therfore follow the truth & fly Ignorance.

And conſyd^r y^t learnyng hath no greater enemye than Ignorance, nether can the vnſkylfull euer Judge the truth of my arte to them unknowen, beware of raſh Judgement & accept my labours as thankfully as I beſtow them willingly, cenſuer me Justly, let no man Diſpiſe my worke herin Cauſeles, & ſo I refere my ſelf to the cenſuer of ſuch as are skylful herin & ſo I cõmyt yõ to the prtection of the almyghty Jehovah.

yo^rs in al loue & fryendly Affectiõ,
George Syluer.

Admonytions
To The Gentlemen &
Brave Gallants Of Great
Britaine Against Quarrels &
Braules Writen By George Siluer.
Gent.

Wheras I have declaired in my prdoxes of defence of the falſe teachinge of the noble ſcyence of defence vſed here by the Italyon fencers willing men therin to take heed how they trusted ther vnto w^t ſuffytient reaſons & profs why.

And wher as ther was a booke wryten by Vincentio an Italiõ teacher whoſe yll vſinge practiſes & vnſkylfull teaching were ſuch y^t it hath coſt the lyves of many of o^r brave gentlemen & gallants, the vnc^rtaintye of whoſe falſe teaching doth yet remayne to y^e dayly murthering & ouer throw of many, for he & the reſt of them did not teach Defence but offence, as it doth playnlye appere by thoſe y^t follow the ſame Imprfyt fyght according to their teaching or inſtructiõs by the orders from them prceedinge, for be the actors y^t follow them neuer so prfyt or ſkylfull therin one or both of them are eyther ſore hurt of ſlaine in their Incountrs & fyghts, & yf they alledge y^t we vſe it not rightly according to y^e prfectiõ therof, & therfore cannot defend o^r ſelues, to w^ch I anſwer yf themſelues had had any prfection therin, & that their teaching had byn a truth, themſelues would not have byn beaten & ſlayne in their fyghts, & vſing of their weapons, as they were.

And therfore I proue wher a man by their teaching can not be ſaf in his defence following their owne grounde of fyght then is their teaching offence & not defence, for in true fyght againſt the beſt no hurt can be don. And yf both haue the full prfection of true fyght, then one will not be able to hurt the other at what prfyt weapon ſo ever.

For it cannot be ſayd y^t yf a man go to the feld & cannot be ſure to defend him ſelf in fight & to com ſaf home, yf goid be not againſt him whither he fyght w^t a man of ſkyll of no ſkil it may not be ſaid y^t ſuch a man is Mast^r of the Noble ſcyence of defence, or that he hath the prfection of true fyght; for yf both haue the prfection of their weapons, yf by any Device, on ſhould be able to hurt the other, ther were no prfection in the fyght of weapons, & this firmely hold in yo^r mynd for a generall rule, to be the hayth & prfection of the true handling of al maner of weapons.

And alſo wheras y^t ſaid Vincentio in y^t ſame booke hath written diſcours of honour & honorable quarrels making many reaſons to prve meanes & ways to enter y^e feeld &cõbat, both for the lye & other diſgraces, al w^ch diabolicall devyces tendeth only to villayne & diſtruction as hurtynge, Maymynge & Murtheringe or kyllinge.

Annymating y^e mynds of yonge gentlemen & gallants to follow those rules to maintaine their honors & credits, but the end ther of for the moſt prte is eyther kyllinge or hanginge or both to their vtter vndoinge & great gref of themſelues, amp; their friends, but then to late to call it againe. they conſyder not the tyme & place that we lyue in, nor do not throughly looke into the danger of the lawe til it be too late, & for that in diuers other cuntryes in theſe things they have a larger ſcope than we have in these our dayes.

Therfore it behoveth vs not upõ euery abuſe offered wher by o^r bloud ſhalbe Inflamed, or o^r choler kindled p^rſently w^t the ſword of w^t the ſtabb, or by force of Armes to ſeeke Reuenge, w^ch is the propre nature of wild beaſts in their rage ſo to do, being voyde of the vſe of reaſon, w^ch thinge ſhould not be in Men of diſcreatiõ ſo much to Degenerate, but he y^t wil not endure an Iniurye, but will seeke revenge, then he ought to do it by Cyvill Order & prof, by good & holſom lawes, w^ch are ordayned for ſuch Cauſes, w^ch is a thinge far more fyt & requiſted in a place of ſo Cyvell a gou^rnment as we lyve in, then is the other, & who ſo follow^t these my Admonycions ſhalbe accounted as valyent a Man as he y^t fyghteth & farr wyſer. for I ſee no reaſon why a Man ſhould adventure hys lyf & esftate vpõ every tryfle, but ſhould rather put vp diu^rs abuſes offerd vnto him, becauſe it is agreeable both to the Lawes of god & o^r Cuntrye.

Why ſhould not words be Anſwered w^t words againe, but yf a Man by his enemye be charged w^t blowes then may he Lawfully ſeeke the beſt meanes to defend him self, & In ſuch a Caſe I hold it fyt to vſe his ſkyll & to ſhow his force by his Deeds, yet ſo, y^t his dealynge be not w^t full Rygour to the others conſuſyon yf poſſyble it may be eſchewed.

Alſo take heed how yõ appoynt the field w^t yo^r Enemye publickly because o^r Lawes do not prmyt yt, neyther appoint to meet him in pryvat ſort lest yõ wounding him he accuſe yõ of fellownye ſaying you have robbed him &c. Or he may laye companye cloſely to Murther you & then to report he dyd it him ſelf valyently in the feld.

Alſo take heed of thyne Enemyes Stratagems,leſt he fynd Meanes to make yõ to looke a syde vpõ ſomthing, of cauſe yõ to ſhew whether yõ have on a p^rvye Coat, & ſo when you Looke from him, he hurt or kyll you.

Take not armes vpõ every light occaſyon, let not one fryend vpon a word or a tryfle violate another but let ech man zealouſly embrace fryendſhyp, & turne not famylyaritie into ſtrangnes, kyndnes into mallice, nor loue into hatred, noriſh not theſe ſtrange & vnnaturall Alterations.

Do not wyckedly reſolue one to ſeeke the others ou^rthrowe, do not confyrme to end thy Mallice by fight becauſe for the moſt prte y^t endeth by Death.

Conſyder when theſe things were moſt vſed in former Ages they ſought not ſo much by envye the ruen & diſtruction on of another. they never tooke tryall by ſword but in defence of Innocencye to maintayne blotleſs honour.

Do not vpon Euery tryfle make an Action of revenge, or of Defyance.

Go not into the feeld w^t thy fryend at his Intreatye to take his prte but firſt know y^e mann^r of y^e quarrell how Juſtly or vniuſtlye it grow, & do not ther in maintaine wronge againſt ryght, but examyne the cauſe of the contravercye, & yf ther be reaſon for his rage to lead him to y^t mortall reſolution.

Yet be the cauſe neuer ſo Juſt, go not w^t him neyther further nor ſuffer him to fight yf poſſyble it may by any meanes be otherwyſe ended & wyll him not to enter into so dangerous an action, but leaue it till necceſytie requireth it.

And this I hold to be the beſt Courſe for it is fooliſhness & endleſſe troble to caſt a ſtone at euery Dogge y^t barks at you. this noble ſcyence is not to cauſe on man to abuſe another iniuriosſlye but to vſe it in their neceſſyties to defend them in their Juſt Cauſes & to maintaine thier honour & Credits.

Therfore flye al raſhnes, pryde, & doynge of Iniurie all foule faults & errours herin, p^rſume not on this, & therbye to think it lawfull to offer Iniurye to Anye, think not yo^rſelf Invincible, but conſyder y^t often a verye wretch hath kylled a taule man, but he y^t hath humanytie, the more skylful he is in this noble ſcience, the more humble, modeſt, & V^rtuous he ſhould ſhew him ſelf both in ſpeech & Action, no lyer, no vaunter nor quarreller, for theſe are the cauſes of Wounds, Diſhonour & Death.

Yf you talke w^t great men of honourable qualitie w^t ſuch chiefly haue regarde to frame yo^r ſpeeches & Anſwer ſo reverent, y^t a fooliſh word, or froward Anſwer geve no occaſyon of offence for often they breed Deadly hatred, Cruell murthers & extreem ruens &c.

Ever ſhun al occaſyons of quarrels, but marſhall men cheiflye generals & great com̅anders ſhould be exelent skylfull in the noble ſcience of defence, therby to be able to anſwer quarrels, Combats & Chalenges in Defence of their prince & Cuntry.

Vale.

Bref Inſtructions vpõ my pradoxes of Defence for the trye handlying of all Mann^r of weapons together w^t the fower grownds & the fower gou^rnors w^ch gouernours are left out in my pradoxes w^tout the knowledge of w^ch no Man can fight ſaf.

Cap. I
The fower grownds or principls of y^t true fyght at all manner of Weapons are theſe 4, viz.

• 1. Judgment
• 2. Diſtance
• 3. Tyme
• 4. Place.

The reaſon wherof theſe 4 grownds or p^rnciples be the fyrſt & cheefeſt, are the followinge, becauſe through Judgement, yõ kepe yo^r dyſtance, through Diſtance yõ take yo^r Tyme, through Tyme yõ ſafly wyne or gayne the Place of yo^r adu^rſarie, the Place beinge woon or gayned yõ haue tyme ſafly eyther to ſtryke, thruſt, ward, cloze, grype, ſlyp or go back, in the w^ch tyme yo^r enemye is diſapoynted to hurt yõ, or to defend himself, by reason that he hath loſt his true Place, the reaſon y^t he hath loſt his True place is by the length of Tyme through the numb^r of his feet to w^ch he is of neceſſytie Dryven to y^t wilbe Agent.

The 4 gou^rnors are thoſe y^t follow.

• 1.

  The fyrſt gou^rnor is Judgment w^ch is to know when yo^r Adverſarie can reach you, & when not, & when yõ can do the lyke to him, & to know by the goodnes or badnes of his lyinge, what he can do, & when & how he can p^rforme it.

• 2.

  The ſecond gou^rnor is Meaſure. Meaſure is the better to know how to make yo^r ſpace true to defend yo^rſelf, or to offend yo^r enemye.

• 3.
  4.

  The third & fourth gou^rners is a tywfold mynd when yõ preſs in on yo^r enemye, for as yõ have a mynd to go forwarde, so you muſt have at y^t inſtant a mynd to fly backwarde vpõ any action y^t ſhalbe offered or don by yo^r adu^rſarie.

Certaine general rules w^ch muſt be obſyved in y^t prfyt vſe of al kynde of weapons

Cap. 2.

• 1.

  Fyrſt when you com into the feeld to encounter w^t yo^r Enemy, obſyve wel the ſcope, Evenness & vneunnes of yo^r grounde, put yo^rſelf in redynes w^t yo^r weapon, before yo^r enemye Com w^tin diſtance, ſet the ſvnn in his face travers yf poſſible yõ can ſtill remembrynge yo^r gou^rnors.

• 2.

  Let all yo^r lyinge be ſuch as ſhal beſt like yo^rſelf. euer conſyderinge out what fyght yo^r Enemye chargeth yõ, but be ſure to kepe yo^r diſtance, ſo y^t nether hed, Armes, hands, body, nor legges be w^tin hys reach, but y^t he muſt fyrſt of neceſſytie put in his foote“Put in his foot,” i.e. advance. [Matthey] or feet, at w^ch tyme yõ haue the Choyſe of iij Actions by the w^ch yõ may endang^r him & go free yo^rſelf.

  • 1.

    The fyrſt is to ſtrike or thruſt at him, at y^t inſtant when he haue gayned yõ the place“To wyn or gayne the place;” i.e.to come within ſtriking diſtance. [Matthey] by his cominge in “His cominge in.” It muſt be remembered that in Silver's time the lunge was unknown, at leaſt to English fencers, & the only movement of the feet were “paſſes” and “traverſes,” which with “ſlips” conſtituted a great part of the defence as well as of the attack.
    “Paſſes” were ſteps either forwards or backwards and the “traverſes” were ſteps in a lateral direction. “Slips” were little ſhort sfteps either lateral or backwards. Theſe movements were alſo much uſed in feints of the attack. [Matthey]

  • 2.

    The ſecond is to ward, & Aft^r to ſtrike of thruſt from y^t, remembringe yo^r gou^rnors

  • 3.

    The thyrd is to ſlippe alyttle backe & to ſtrike or thruſt after hym

  but euer remember y^t in the fyrſt motion of your Adverſarye towarde yõ, y^t yõ ſlyde a lyttle back ſo ſhall yõ be p^rpred in due tyme to prforme anye of the iij Actions Aforeſaid, by diſdappointynge him of his true place, whereby yõ ſhall ſaflye defend yo^rſelf & endanger him.

  remember alſo y^t yf through fear or polyſye, he strike or thuſt ſhort, & ther w^t go back, or not go back, follow him vpon yo^r twofold gou^rnors, ſo ſhall yo^r warde & ſlype be prformed in lyke mann^r as before, & yo^rſelf ſtil be ſaf.

• 3.

  Kepe yo^r dyſtance & ſuffer not yo^r adu^rſarie to wyn or gayne the place of you, for yf he ſhall ſo do, he may endanger to hurt or kyll you.

  Know y^t the place is, when on may ſtryke or thruſt home w^tout puttinge in of his foot.

  Yt may be obiected againſt thys laſt ground, y^t men do often ſtrike & thruſt at the half ſword, & yet the ſame is prfytly defended, wher to ansfwer y^t that defence is prfytly made by reason y^t the warder hath his true ſpace before the ſtryker or thruſter is in his force or entred into his action.

  Therfor alwaies do p^rvent both blow & thruſt, the blow by true ſpace, & the thruſt by narrow ſpace “Space” is the diſtance which the ſword blade has to traverſe in changing from one poſition to another: thus from “medium” to “quarte” or “tierce” would be a “narrow ſpace,” while from “tierce” to “ſeptime” or from “feconde” to “quarte” would be a very “wyde ſpace.” [Matthey] y^t is true croſſinge it before the ſame com into their full force, other wyſe the hand of the Agent beinge as ſwyft as y^e hand of the patient, the hand of y^e Agent beinge the fyrsft mou^r, muſt of necessytie ſtrike of thruſt y^t prte of y^e patient w^ch ſhalbe ſtryken or thruſt at becauſe the tyme of y^t hand to the tyme of y^e hand, beinge of lyke ſwyftnes the fyrſt mou^r hath y^e aduantage.

• 4.

  When yo^r enemy ſhall preſs vpon you, he wilbe Open in one place or other, both at ſyngal & dubble weapon, or at the leaſt he wilbe to weake in his ward vpon ſuch p^rſſinge, then ſtrike or thruſt at such open or weakeſt prte y^t yo ſhal fynd neereſt.

• 5.

  When yõ attempt to wyn the place, do it vpon gard, remembringe yo^r gou^rnors, but when he p^rſſeth vpõ yõ & gayneth yõ The place, then ſtrike of thruſt at him in his cõmynge inA time hit of thruſt [Matthey].

  Or yf he ſhal ſtryke or thruſt at yõ, then Ward it, & ſtryke of thruſt at him from yo^r warde, & fly backe Inſtantly accordinge to yo^r gou^rnorsParry and Riposte. Silver is very careful to emphaſiſe the neceſſity of “flying backe,” i.e. getting away, immediately after an attack, whether it be ſucceſſful or otherwiſe [Matthey], ſo ſhall yõ eſcape ſaflie, for that the fyrſt Motion of the feete forwarde, wher byyo^r regreſſyon wilbe more ſwyfter, then his courſe in prgreſſyon to Anoye you, the reaſon is, that in the fyrſt motyon of his prgreſſyon his Numb^r & Waight is greater then yo^rs are, in yo^r firſt motyon of yo^r regreſſyon, neu^rtheleſs al men knowe that the cõtynual courſe of the feet forwarde is more ſwyft then the Contynuall Courſe of y^e feet backwards.

• 6.

  yf yo^r enemye lye in varyable fyght, & ſtryke or thruſt at yõTime hits & thruſts. [Matthey] then be ſure to kepe yo^r Diſtance & ſtrike or thruſt at ſuch open prte of him as are neereſt vnto you, viz, at the hand, Arme, hed, or legg of himm, & go back w^t all,

• 7.

  yf ij men fight at varyable fyght. & yf w^tin disftance, they must both be hurt, for in ſuch fight they Cannot make a true Croſſe, nor haue tyme trulye to Judge, by reaſon y^t the ſwyft motyon of the hand, beinge a ſwyfter moue^r, then the eye Deceyveth the eye, at what weapon soeuer you ſhal fyght w^tall, as in my pradoxes of defence in the chapter therof doth appere.

• 8.

  Looke to the grype of yo^r Enemye,The “grype” is the ſeizing of the ſword-hilt with the left hand, – for this purpoſe a “guanto da preſa,” or gripping gauntlet with the palm protected with fine mail, was ſometimes uſed. [Matthey] & vpõ his ſlype take ſuch a warde as ſhal beſt fyt your hand, from w^ch warde ſtrike or thruſt, sftil remembrynge yo^r gouernors,

• 9.

  yf yõ can Indirect yo^r enemyeTo “indirect” is to either manœuvre or force him from the true line of direction. [Matthey] at any kynde of weapon, then yõ haue the aduantage, becauſe he muſt moue his feet to direct him ſelf Againe, & yõ in the meane tyme may ſtike or thruſt at him, & fly out faſt, before he can offer anything at you, his tyme wilbe ſo longe.

• 10.

  When you ſhal Ward blow of thruſt, made at yo^r right or left prte, w^t any kynd of weapon, rememb^r to Draw yo^r hynde foot a lyttle c^rculerlye,A Demi-volte. [Matthey] from that prte to w^ch the fame ſhalbe made, wher by yõ ſhall make yo^r defence the more prfyt, & ſhal ſtand the more Apt to strike or thuſt from yt.

A declaraton of al the 4 generall fyghts to be uſed w^t the ſword at dubble of ſyngle, longe or ſhort, & w^t Certaine p^rticuler rules to them Annexed.

Cap. 3.

• 1.

  Open fyght is to Carrye yo^r hand & hylt a loftThe “Guardia alta” of Marozzo & “Terza guardia” of Viggiani. [Matthey] aboue yo^r hed, eyther w^t poynt vpright, or point backwards w^ch is beſt, yet vse that w^ch yõ ſhall fynd moſt apteſt, to ſtrike, thruſt, or ward.

• 2.

  Gardant fyght A “hanging” guard. [Matthey] in gen^rall is of ij ſorts, y^e fyrsft is true gardant“True gardant” is a High Prime. [Matthey] fyght, w^ch is eyther prfyt or Imprfyt.

  The prfyt is to carry yo^r hand & hylt aboue yo^r hed w^t yo^r poynt doune to wards yo^r left knee, w^t yo^r ſword blade ſomewhat neer yo^r bodye, not bearing out your poynt, but rather declyninge in a lyttle towards yo^r ſaid knee, y^t yo^r enemye croſe not yo^r poyntCommand [Matthey] & ſo hurt you, ſtand bolt vpright in this fyght, & yf he offer to preſſe in then bere yo^r hed & body a lyttle backwarde.

  The ImprfytTo ſtand with the body leaning forward is an “imperfect” poſition. [Matthey] is when yõ bere yo^r hand & ſword hylt prfyt hayth aboue yo^r hed, as aforeſayd but leanynge or ſtoopinge forwarde w^t yo^r body & therby yo^r ſpace wilbe to Wyde on both ſyds to defend the blow ſtryken at the feft ſyde of yo^r hed or to wyde to defend a thruſt from the ryght ſyde of the body,

  Alſo it is Imprfyt, yf yõ bere yo^r hand & hylt as aforeſayd, berynge yo^r poynt to farr out from yo^r kneee, ſo y^t yo^r enemy May Croſ, of ſtrike Aſyde yo^r poynt, & therby endanger you,

  The ſecond is baſtard gardant“Baſtard gardant” is a kind of high ſeconde, but more central. [Matthey] fyght w^ch is to Carrye yo^r hand & hylt below yo^r hed, breſt hye or lower w^t yo^r poynt downwarde towarde yo^r left foote, this baſtard gardant ward is not to be vsed in fyght, ecept it be to Crosse yo^r enemyes Ward at his comynge in to take the grype of him of ſuch other aduantage, as in diu^rs placs or y^e ſword fyght is ſet forth.

• 3.

  Cloſe fyght is when yõ Croſ at y^e half ſword eyther aboue at forehand ward“Forehand ward” is a medium guard. [Matthey] y^t is w^t poynt hye, & hande & hylt lowe, or at true or baſtard gardant ward w^t both yo^r poynts doun.

  Cloſe is all mann^r of fyghts wherin yõ have made a true Croſe at the half ſword w^t yo^r ſpace very narrow & not Croſt, is alſo cloſe fyght.

• 4.

  Variable fyght is al other mann^r of lyinge not here before ſpoken of, wher of theſe 4 that follow are the cheefest of them.The Italian terms were imperfectly underſtood in England at the end of the XVIth century, & Silver has evidently miſconſtrued them. [Matthey]

  • (1.)

    Stocata:“Quinta guardia” of Capo Ferro. [Matthey] w^ch is to lye w^t yo^r right legge forwarde, w^t yo^r ſword or rapior hylt back on the out ſyde of yo^r right thygh w^t yo^r poynt forewarde to ward yo^r enemye, w^t yo^r dagg^r in yo^r other hand extendinge yo^r hand to wards the poynt of yo^r rapior, holdinge yo^r dagg^r w^t y^e poynt vpright w^t narrow ſpace betweene yo^r rapior blade, & the nayles of yo^r dagg^r hand, kepynge yo^r rapior poynt back behind yo^r dagg^r hand yf poſſyble,

    “Prima guardia” of Capo Ferro, “Guardia alta” of Alfieri, & “Guardia di becha poſſa” of Marozzo. [Matthey] Or he may lye wyde below vnd^r his dagg^r w^t his rapior poynt doun towards his enemyes foote, or w^t his poynt fourth w^t out his dagg^r.

  • Imbrocata: is to lye w^t yo^r hylt hyer then yo^r hed, beringe yo^r knuckles vpwarde, & yo^r point depending towarde yo^r Enemys face of breſt.

  • Mountanta:“Quarta guardia” of Alfieri. [Matthey] is to Carrye yo^r rapier pummell in the palm of yo^r hand reſting it on yo^r lyttle fynger w^t yo^r hand belowe & ſo movnynge it vp a loft, & ſo to com in w^t a thruſt vpõ yo^r Enemyes face or breſt, as out of y^e Imbrocata.

  • 4.

    Paſſata: is eyther to paſs w^t y^e Stocata, or to carrye yo^r ſword or rapior hylt by yo^r right flanke, w^t yo^r poynt directly againſt yo^r Enemyes belly, w^t yo^r left foote forwarde, extendinge fourth yo^r dagg^r hand w^t the poynt of yo^r dagger forwarde as yõ do yo^r ſword, w^t narrow ſpace between yo^r ſword & dagg^r blade, & ſo to make yo^r paſſage vpon him.

  Alſo any other kynd of varyable fyght or lyeinge whatſoeuer a man can deviſe not here expreſſed, is cōtayned vnder this fight.

Of the ſhort ſyngle ſword fyght againſt the lyke weapon.

Cap. 4.

The “ſhort ſyngle ſword fight” was a fight with a one-hand ſword, and without the aſſiſtance of a defenſive weapons in the left hand. The “ſword dubble” is any kind of ſingle-hand ſword aſſiſted by a defenſive weapon in the other. [Matthey]

• 1.

  Yf yo^r enemye lye a loft, eyther in the open or true gardantA high prime. [Matthey] fight, & then ſtrike at the left ſyde of yo^r hed or body yo^r beſt ward to defend yo^rſelf, is to bere it w^t true gardant ward & yf he ſtrike & com in to the cloze, or to take the grype of you yõ may then ſafly take the grype of him as it appereth in the chapter of the grype,

• 2.

  but yf he do ſtryke & not com in, then inſtantly vpõ yo^r ward, vncroſe & ſtrike himA direct “riposte.” [Matthey] either on the right or left ſyde of y^e hed, & fly out“Fly out” ſuggeſts a lateral movement of the feet, but might alſo mean a backward one. [Matthey] inſtantly.

• 3.

  Yf yõ bere this w^t forhand ward, be ſure to ward his blowe, or kepe yo^r diſtance, otherwuſe he ſhall decue you w^t euery falſe, ſil endanggeringe yo^r hed, face, hand, Armes, bodye, & bendynge knee, w^t blow or thruſt. Therfore kepe well yo^r dyſtance, becauſe yõ can very hardly deſerne (being w^tin dyſtance), by w^ch ſyde of yo^r ſword he will ſtryke, nor at w^ch of thoſe prts aforeſayd, becauſe the ſwyft motion of y^e hand deveyveth the eye,

• 4.

  yf he lye a loft & ſtrike as aforeſaid at yo^r head,A ſimilar guard is favoured by ſome modern Auſtrian ſabre players. [Matthey] yõ may endanger him yf yõ thruſt at his hand, hilt or Arme, turninge yo^r knuckles dounwarde,A time thruſt in “quarte” at the ſword hand. [Matthey] but fly back w^t all in the inſtant y^t yõ thruſt,

• 5.

  yf he lye a loft as aforeſaid, & ſtrike a loft at the left ſyde of yo^r hed, yf yõ wil ward his blow w^t forehand ward, then be ſure to kepe yo^r diſtance, except he com ſo c^rtaine that yõ be ſure to ward his blow, at w^ch tyme yf he com in w^t all, yõ may endanger him from y^t ward eyther by blow, thruſt or grype,A “quarte” parry. followed by “riposte” or “grip.” [Matthey]

• 6.

  yf he lye a loft & yõ lye a lowe w^t yo^r ſword inthe varyable fyght, then yf yõ offer to ward his blow made at yo^r hed, w^t true gardant ward yo^r tyme wilbe to longe Due in tyme to make a ſure ward, for that it is bett^r to bere it w^t forehand ward, but be ſure t okepe yo^r diſtance, to make him com in w^t his feet, wher by his tyme wilbe to longe to do y^t he intendeth.

• 7.

  yf ij Men fight both vpõ open fyght he y^t firſt breaketh his diſtance, yf he attempt to ſtryke at the others hed,