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1. A good gard	5. To keepe space.
2. True obseruing of distance.	6. Patience.
3. To know the place.	7. Often practise.
4. To take time.

The first is to learne a good and a sure gard for the defence of thy body, as when you come to the vse of weapons, as heere presently after shall follow, and when thou hast thy gard it is not enough to know it, but to keep it so long as thou art within reach or danger of thy enemy.

To obserue distance, by which is meant that thou shouldest stand so far off from thine enemy, as thou canst, but reach him when thou dost step foorth with thy blow or thrust, and thy foremost foote and hand must goe together, the which distance may be twelue foot with a rapier, or with a sword fowre foote long, and yet thy best foot which should be the hindermost foot of a right handed man, should bee mored fast and keepe his standing without moouing an inch, for then he will be the readier to draw backe thy fore foot and body into the right place of distance againe for thou must doe vpon every charge, whether thou hit thy enemy or not; whereas if in stepping foorth with thy fore-foot, when thou dost charge thy enemy either with blow or thrust, thou suffer thy hinder foot to dregge in after the other, then thou breakest thy distance, and thereby endangerest thy body.

There is no way better to get the true obseruation of

distance, but by often practise either with thy friend, or else priuately in a chamber against a wall, standing twelue foot off with thy hindermost foote, and thy weapon fowre foot long or there about, for a good gard and distance are the maine and principal points of all.

To know the place, this may be taken three wayes, as this, the place of thy weapons, the place of defence and place of offence: the place for the holding of thy weapons, thou shalt know when thou commest to it as I said before, but it is chiefly meant heere the place of offence; thou must marke which is the neerest part of thine enemy towards thee, and which lyeth most vnregarded, whether it be his dagger hand, his knee, or his leg, or where thou maist best hurt him at a large distance without danger to thy selfe, or without killing of thine enemy.

To take time, that is to say when opportunity is profered thee, either by his lying vnregarded or vpon thy enemies profer, then make a quicke answer, I meane it must be done vpon the very motion of his profer, thou must defend and seeke to offend all at once, for thou must not suffer thy enemy to recouer his gard, for if thou doe thou loosest thy advantage. But thou must answer him more quicker then I can speake it, for if thou loose thy answer, and charge thy enemy when he is garded, thou giuest thy enemy that advantage which thou mightest have had thy selfe, for he which maketh the first assault doth endanger himselfe most, if he be not very expert and cunning in his businesse, otherwise a man of reasonable skill may hurt him by making a quicke answer.

To keepe space this may be conceiued two wayes;

the

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the one in the space between thy enemie & thy selfe, this I call distance, and I have already spoken of it; but the space which in this place I will speake of, is to aduise thee to keepe a certaine space betwixt euery assault, I meane if thou charge thy enemy either with blow or thrust, recouer thy weapons into their place, and draw thy selfe into thy gard againe, and so preparing thy selfe for to defend, and likewise to make a fresh assault with discretion, but not charging thy enemy rashly or furiously, for hastinesse is foolishnes: for if fury have the vpper hand, and so you both strike and thrust, without reason and iudgement, I say in such a case the skilfullest man that is, may be so well hit as he hit another.

The next is patience, and that is one of the greatest vertues that can be in a man: the Wise man saith, he is a foole which cannot gouerne himselfe, and he very vnfit to rule which cannot rule himselfe; therefore though thou be hastie or cholericke by nature, and by crossing thou art moved vnto anger; yet I say, let the bridle of Reason and Iudgement so gouerne and ouer-rule thy hastie affections, that in no case Anger get the vpper hand; But of this there is more at large spoken in the eight chapter. Now the last thing that I will note heere, is often practise, for without practise the Proverbe sayes, a man may forget his Pater noster : for practise (with moderation) is, not onelie the healthiest thing in the world for the bodie: but it is likewise as defensiue for the same. For skill to euerie reasonable man is a friend, so that with moderation it be vsed, and so long as it remaines in those of good temper; for vnto such, skill bringeth no more presumption nor furie then as if they had it not: for

in the field, those which I meane will vse it as if they were in a Schoole, by which meanes such haue great aduantage of the ignorant and vnskilfull; for those which are vnskilfull, are neither certaine of their defence nor offence; but what they doe is upon a kinde of foolish bolde hardinesse, or as I may say by hap-hazzard or chance noddy: and therefore (gentle Reader) resolue upon skill and knowledge which follows heere immediately.

The true guard for the defence, either of blowe,

or thrust, with Rapier and Dagger,

or Sword and Dagger.
Keepe thy rapier hand so low as the pocket of thy hose at the armes end, without bowing the elbow ioynt, and keepe the hilt of thy dagger right with thy left cheeke, and the poynt something stooping towards the right shoulder, and beare him out stiffe at the armes end, without bowing thine elbow ioynt likewise, and the poynt of thy Rapier two inches within the point of thy dagger, neyther higher, nor lower; but if the point of thy rapier be two or three inches short of touching thy dagger, it is no matter, but if they ioyne it is good; likewise, keepe both your points so high as you may see your enemy cleerely with both your eies, betwixt your rapier and dagger, and bowing your head somthing toward the right shoulder, and your body bowing forwards, and both thy shoulders, the one so neere thine enemie as the other, and the thombe of thy rapier hand, not vpon thy rapier, according vnto the usual fashion of the vulgar sort, but vpon the naile of thy fore-finger, which will locke thine hand the stronger about the

handle

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handle of thy rapier, and the heele of thy right foote should ioyne close to the middle ioynt of the great toe of thy left foote, according to this Picture, yet regard chiefly the words rather then the Picture.

Carrie the edge of thy rapier vpward, and downeward, for then thou shalt defend a blow vpon the edge of thy rapier, by bearing thy rapier after the rule of the Backe-sword, for this is the strongest and surest carriage of him.

But now it is but a vaine thing to goe about to practise after my direction, except thou vnderstand my meaning, and follow my counsell, as by words so plaine as I can, I haue set downe, both before and after: for if thou obserue one thing, and not an other, it will profit thee but little, as thus: if thou place thy

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weapons in order; and then, if thy hand, foote, or body be out of order, then it will be to small purpose to proceed in thy practise: againe, if thou frame thy bodie right, and thy weapons, and thy hand, and thy foote; yet if thou do not obserue a true distance withall, then thy practise will be little auaileable to thee: wherefore at the first beginning of thy practise, take a good aduisement, and be perfect by often reading of this Booke, so to beginne well; for if thou hast beene vsed to set thy feete abroad in thy former practise, as most men doe, then it will be hard for thee to leaue thy old wont.

Now, if thou wilt breake thy selfe of that fashion and practise after my rules, then will I shew thee by and by; for when thou hast my fashion, thou mayest goe to thine owne againe when thou wilt, if in trial thou finde it better.

The best way to bring thy feete to a sure standing, both for defence and offence, is when thou dost practise with thy friend or companion; at first get thy backe to the wall, and let him that playeth with thee stand about twelue foote distance, and set thy left heele close to the wall, and thy right foote heele to the great ioynt of the left foote great toe, and when thou intendest to offend thy enemy, either with blow or thrust, then steppe forth with thy right foote, and hand together, but keepe thy left foote fast moared like an anchor, to plucke home thy body and thy right foote into his place and distance againe; vse this fashion but three of foure times, and it will bring thee to a true standing with thy foote, and it will be as easie to thee as any other way ; whereas if thou practise in a large roome without any stoppe to set thy foot a-

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gainst, then will thy foote be alwayes creeping away, so that although thou wouldest refraine the setting abroad of thy feet, yet thou canst not, especially if thou hast bee vsed to set them abroad heretofore.

Now your bodie and weapons being thus placed as aforesaid, if your enemie strike a blow at you, either with sword or rapier, beare your rapier against the blow, so well as your dagger according vnto the rule of the Backe-sword, for in taking the blow double you shall the more surely defend your head, if the blowe doe chaunce to light neare the point of your dagger, for if you trust to your dagger onelie, the blow may hap to glance ouer the point of your dagger, and endanger your head, and hauing defended the blow double (as aforesaid) presently turne downe the point of your rapier towards your enemies thigh, or anie part of your enemies bodie, as you list your selfe; and with your thrust steppe forth also with your foote and hand together, and so making a quicke answer, you may endanger your enemie in what place you will your selfe, before hee recouer his guard and distance againe, and alwaies set your rapier foot right before the other, and so neare the one to the other as thou can; and if thou be right handed then thy right foote must bee formost, if left handed, then thy left foote, and standing thus in thy guard, looke for thy aduantage, I meane where thine enemie lieth most vngarded; but first thou must be perfect in the knowledge of true and perfect guard thy selfe, so shalt thou know the better where thine enemie lieth open, the thou must steppe foorth with thy fore foot, and hand together, to offend thine enemie in such a place as thou findest vnguarded; but so soone as thou hast

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presented thy thrust, whether thou hit or misse, fall backe againe to recouer thy guard and distance so soone as thou canst, but stand alwayes fast on thine hindermost foote, I meane whether thou strike or thrust, and then shalt thou recouer thy guard; and hauing recouered thy weapons in their right place, then thou must also trauerse thy ground so leisurably, that thou mayest be sure to haue one foote firme on good ground before thou pluckest vp the other; for else, going fast about, thou maiest quickly be downe if the ground be not euen. Also haue a speciall care that thou be not too busie in making of play, though choller or stomacke prouoke thee thereunto. Furthermore, in standing in thy guard, thou must keepe thy thighes close together, and the knee of thy fore legge bowing back-ward rather then forward, but thy bodie bowing forward; for the more thou hollowest thy bodie, the better, and with lesse danger shalt thou breake thine enemies thrust, before it cometh neare to endanger thy bodie; and when thou breakest a thrust, thou must but let fall the point of thy dagger, but not thy dagger arme, for some will throw their dagger arme backe behinde them when they breake a thrust; he that so doth cannot defend a second thrust if his enemy should charge him againe sodainely.

The reasons of this guard.

First, the points of your weapons being closed, your enemy cannot offend you with a wrist blow, which otherwise may be strucke to your face betwixt your points: likewise, there is falling thrust that may hit any man which lies open with his points by following it into his face or breast, and thrusting

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it home withall: also, if you carrie your rapier point vnder your dagger, your owne rapier may hinder you, for by turning downe of your dagger point, to defend the bodie from your enemies point, according vnto the first of the foure defensible waies, as hereafter followeth: then your owne dagger may hit your owne rapier, and so your rapier will be as it were a stumbling blocke, so that you cannot discharge your enemies thrust cleane from your bodie; and also by striking your dagger vpon your rapier wilbe a hindrance vnto you, that you cannot make a quicke answer, by chopping out your point presently vpon your defence: for if you haue anie hindrance at all, then you chiefe time of offence is spent, for before you can recouer your rapier, your enemie will have recouered his guard, and he being in his guard your proffer of offence is in vaine: for if you will hit your enemie, your offence and defence must be done all with one motion, whereas if you continue a space betwixt your defence and your offence, then is your best time of offence spent, for when your enemie chargeth you, either with blow or thrust, at that verie instant time, his face, his rapier, arme, shoulder, knee, and legge are all discouered, and lie open, except the oppressor be verie cunning in recouering his guard hastily againe, or he may defend himselfe with his dagger, if he beare him stiffely out at the armes end, for in your offence the dagger hand should be borne out so farre as the rapier hand goeth, which must be done by practise and great carefulnesse; for many when they doe make their assault, they will put out their rapier, and plucke in their dagger, thereby endangering themselues greatly: for except that the dagger arme be

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kept straight, and borne out stiffe, it is hard to defend either blow or thrust.
T he first is with the dagger, onelie by turning of the point downe, and turning thy hand-wrist about withall, without bowing the elbow ioynt of thy dagger arme, but onelie turning thy dagger round, making as it were a round circle, and so presently bring vp the point of thy dagger in his place againe.

Now the second defence is with the dagger likewise, but then you must beare the hilt of your dagger so lowe as your girdle-steed, and the point more vpright then is described in the first picture, and in your defence of a thrust, you must beare your dagger hand stiffe ouer your bodie, without letting fall the point but still keeping him vpright.

The third waie to breake a thrust, is, with the single rapier; this defence will defend all thy bodie from a thrust against a rapier and dagger; and likewise it is a sure defence for thine hand, if thou haue not a closed hilted dagger, when thy enemie doth proffer a thrust, plucke in thy dagger hand, and put out thy rapier arme, and beare him ouer thy bodie. the point bowing toward thy left side, breaking the thrust with the edge of thy rapier, keeping thy point vpright: but when I come to the single rapier, then you shall see it more at large.

The fourth way is to defend a thrust with both your weapons together, and that you may doe three manner of waies, either with the points of both your wea-

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pons vpwards, or both downward, vpward you may frame your selfe into two gards, the first is according as I haue described afore, the points being close together according to the picture, so carrie them both away together against your enemies thrust breaking towards your left side; the other high guard is to put your rapier on the out-side of your dagger, and with your dagger make a crosse, as it were, by ioyning him in the middest of your rapier, so high as your breast, and your dagger hilt in his vsual place, and to defend the thrust, turne down the point of your rapier sodainely, and force him downe with your dagger, by letting them fall both together: this way you may defend a thrust before it come within three foot of your bodie; and this way defendeth the thrust of a staffe, hauing onlie a rapier and dagger, as you shall heare more when I come to the staffe: for it is good to be prouided with the best way, if a sodaine occasion be offered: and for the blow of a staffe, you may verie easily defend with a Rapier and Dagger, by bearing him double; so hauing defended the blow, goe in hastily vpon him, for there is no standing out long against a staffe, and so likewise vpon defence of a thrust you must be verie nimble in your going in within the point of his staffe, I meane as soone as your enemies thrust is passed vnder your Rapier arme, for that way the thrust of the staffe should goe.

Three manner of waies for the holding of a Rapier.

T hese are three waies for the holding of a Rapier, the one with the thumb forward or vpon the Rapier blade, and that I call the naturall fashion, there

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is another way, and that is with the whole hand within the pummell of thy Rapier, and the thumbe locking in of the fore-finger, or else they must both ioyne at the least: this is a good holding at single Rapier.

Then the third is but to have onelie the fore-finger and thy thumbe within the pummell of thy Rapier, and thy other three fingers about thy pummell, and beare the button of thy pummell against the in-side of thy little finger; this is called the Stokata fashion, and these two last are the surest and strongest waies: after a little practise, thou maiest use all three in thy practise, and then repose thy selfe vpon that which thou findest best, but at some times, and for some purpose all these kinds of holding thy Rapier may stead thee, for a man may performe some manner of slips and thrusts, with one of these three sortes of holding thy weapon; and thou canst not doe the same with neither of the other; as thus, thou maiest put in a thrust with more celeritie, holding him by the pummell, and reach further then thou canst doe, if thou holde him on either of the two other fashions.

Againe, thou maiest turne in a slippe, or an ouerhand thrust, if thou put thy thumbe vpon thy Rapier according as I have set it downe, calling it the naturall fashion, and is the first of the three waies for holding of thy Rapier ; and this fashion will bee a great strength to thee, to giue a wrist blowe, the which blow a man may strike with his Rapier, because it is of small force, and consumes little time, and neither of the other two fashions of holding wil not perform neither of those three things; for if thou holde thy rapier either of the two second waies, thou canst not turne in a slippe, nor an ouer-hand thrust, nor giue a

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wrist blow so speedily, nor so strong: wherefore it is good to make a change of the holding of thy weapon for thine own benefite, as thou shalt see occasion: and likewise to make a change of thy guard, according as thou seest thy best aduantage; I meane if thou be hardly matched, then betake thee vnto thy surest guard, but if thou be matched with an vnskillful man then with skill thou maiest defend thyself, although thou lie at randome.

The reason that your points should be so high, as you may see your enemie plainely and cleerly under them, is for a sure defence of a blowe, if your enemie should charge you therewith to either side the head, then beare them both double together, and hauing defended the blowe, presently turne downe the point of your Rapier toward your enemies thigh, and with turning your knuckles inward, steppe forth with foote and hand together, whether you hitte or misse, retreit nimbly into your guard and distance againe.

And although I doe aduise you to keepe the point of your Rapier so high, yet withall I doe warne you, that you maie haue a speciall care to fall your point, and withall thrust him out, if your enemie doe ouer-reach or presse in vpon you, whether it bee upon choller, or vpon stomake, or vpon a kinde of foolish bold hardinesse, or if hee make a passage vpon you, or if hee doe breake distance by anie of those waies, although hee doe it neuer so actiuelie, yet may you defend your selfe with your Dagger and either offend your enemie by a suddaine falling the point, and with the same motion chop in with a thrust to that part which liest most discouered as you may quick-

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ly perceiue when you see his lying.

The cunningest man that is, and if hee meete with one skillful, with whom is hee is to encounter withall, cannot before hand say in such place I will sure hit thee; no more, then a gamester when he goeth to play can say before he beginne, that he will sure win, for if he doe, he may be prooued a lier if his cunning were neuer so good.

So that before hand you cannot determin where to hit your enemy, but when you see your enemies gard, then it is easie to iudge where it is open, if thou knowest a close gard thy selfe, for hee which cannot write himselfe, can giue but small iudgement whether another write well or ill, and if thine enemie doe incroach within thy distance, then bee doing with him betimes in the verie instant of his motion whether it be motion of his body, or the motion of his weapon, or in the motion of both together; put out thy point, but not too farre, but as thou maiest haue thy rapier vnder command for thy owne defence, and also to prouide him ready againe to make a full thrust home vpon a greater aduantage, for if thou answere a ful thrust home, in the instant of thy enemies assault, thou maiest endanger thy selfe if thy enemie doe falsifie his thrust, and therefore make your thrust short at the first, or if your enemie doe beare his points anie thing abroad, then you may fall in betwixt them, either to his face or breast, or if his fore foote stand two foote distant or lesse from the other if hee stand not close, then you may hurt him in the knee or legge, either with thrust or blow as hee standeth in his guard without anie danger to your selfe, and that is no killing place.

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Likewise it is said before looke vnder both your weapons, if with on eye you looke ouer either of weapons, you may bee hit one the same side, either face, head, or shoulder, either with thrust or blow before you can put vp either of your weapons in his place to defend it, and this know and remember it well, it is the nature of an Englishman to strike with what weapon soeuer he fighteth with all, and not one in twenty but in furie and anger will strike vnto no other place but onely to the head, therefore alwaies if you fight with rapier and dagger, yet expect a blow so well as a thrust, and alwaies defend the blow double as aforesaid, but if your rapier point be downe vnder your dagger, you cannot put him vp time enough to defend a blow, but must take it single on the dagger, or on the pate, for if your skill were neuer so good trusting to the dagger onelie you may bee deceiued by reason of the sharpenesse of your dagger, if the blow light neere the point it may glance ouer, and so hit you on the head, and also by reason of the shortnesse of your dagger which are now most commonly worne of all men, for I haue knowne men of good skill deceiued by trusting to the point, or dagger onely for the defence of a blow, the dagger is not sure to defend it.

But when you make anie plaie to your enemie whether it be offer, or an answer, stop, right as a line forwards from your left foote, for if you stop halfe a foote wide with the forefoote of the streight arme as it were by rule, then you loose halfe a foote of your space betwixt you and your enemie, and if you step likewise a foote wide, then you loose likewise a foote ^*

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of aduantage. For your instruction herein, when you practise in a chamber, looke what boord you stand vpon, you should in deliuering either of blow or thrust, alwaies steps foorth with your right foote vpon the same board which the left foote standeth on, for looke how much you left your fore foote wide of the straight line towards your enemie, you loose so much in your reach forward, as in your practise you maie see the triall and vsed often in practise in some Chambers with your friend vntill you are perfect, and in your practise, keepe your left foote fast moared, that as an Anchor pulleth home the ship, so the left foote must pluck home the right foote and bodie into the right place of distance againe, or as the helme guideth the ship, euen so the left foote must guide the bodie, alwaies bearing thy full belly towards thy enemie, I meane the one shoulder so neere as the other, for if thou wreathe thy bodie in turning one side neare to thy enemie then the other, thou dost not stand in thy strength, nor so readie to performe an answere, as when thy whole bodie lieth towards thy enemie.

A Passage is to bee made aduisedlie with a nimble actiuitie and celerity of the bodie, for hee which wil goe in with a passage & escape, or go cleere awaie with all, the which is very hardly to bee done if thy enemie be skilfull. and therefore in the performance thereof, thou must haue great skill, much practise and good iudgment, especially in obseruing the point of thy enemies weapon, and like-

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wise thou must consume one iote of time in thy performance, for so soone as thou seest thy enemie beare his point steadie in anie guard, whether it bee high or low, as if hee doe beare his point a loft, then step in with thy left foote with a sudden iumpe, and clap thy Dagger vnder his Rapier crosse-waies, and so bearing vp his point ouer thy head, and at the verie same instant that thou ioynest with his Rapier, then chop in with thy Rapier point withall to offend him, but thou must consume no time in staying anie space betwixt thy Defence and Offence, for thou must not make two times of that which may be done at one time, and againe, it is thy greater aduantage to doe it quickly, if thy enemie doe lie in a steadie guard, but if hee keepe the point of his Rapier variable, then it is not to bee done but with the greatest danger of all.

The second opportunitie to passe vpon your enemie you haue, if your enemie doe carrie the point of his Rapier so low as your girdle stead, or thereabouts, then you must step in with your left foote, and with your dagger strike awaie the point of his Rapier, and with the same let your Rapier passe vnto his bodie, as beforesaid, I meane both at one time.

The third aduantage is if your enemie doe laie the point of his Rapier neere, or vpon the ground, then step in with thy hindermost foote and crosse your Dagger ouerthwart his Rapier, keeping his Rapier downe, so that hee cannot raise his point before that you haue hit him, and are recouered to your distance againe.

The fourth waie is you being both in your guard

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according to the first picture, or anie other guard according to your practise, and then faine a thrust downe to his knee, but presentlie raise your point againe with a iumpe foure foote side-waies towards the left side of your enemie, and mount vp your Rapier hand withall, and put in your thrust ouer your enemies Dagger, into his Dagger shoulder, and so with all possible speede recouer your guard and distance againe, by springing or iumping towards the left hand of your enemie, and so you fall away from danger of his point: but in falling backe againe, your Dagger must be prepared to defend a second, or a parting thrust, if your enemy should charge you therwithall immediatly.

Yet there is another kinde of passage,and that is an answer upon your enemies proffer, if your enemie do offer a thrust at you, defend it with turning downward the point of your Dagger, and at the very same instant slippe in with your left foote, and put in your thrust into his bodie, for by stepping in with the left foote it goeth in so strongly, that it is hardly to bee preuented.

Some that are ignorant will say that it is not possible to defend a passage, but I say there is no deuise to hit a man neither with thrust nor blow, but there is a true defence to be shewne by one that is skilful, but yet not euery one that professeth himselfe to be a Fencer cannot teach true defence, but it must be such as haue beene grounded in the true art of Defence by great practise, such a one it must be to teach defence.

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The first is by an actiue and nimble shift of the body by falling back with the right foote, & the danger being past to charge hastily vpon your enemy againe, but the best way is in lying in your guard according to the first picture, as your enemie commeth in with his passe suddenly vpon the first motion, fall your point, and in the very same time put him out withall, and with your Dagger onely defend his passage, if it bee charged at your body, by turning the point downeward, but if hee put it into your Dagger shoulder in manner of an Imbrokata, then you must not let fall your Dagger, except you leaue your Rapier to be a watchman for the defence of your shoulder or with bearing them both together it may be defence.

The single Rapier alone, being carried according vnto the rule of the single Rapier, as hereafter shalbe described when I come to that weapon, now if your enemie doe take the point of your Rapier, the which hee may very well doe by reason of the high carriage of hun, if you bee not carefull to fall your point when you see him comming in, well if he doe make seisure of your point, yet hee cannot stay your Rapier hand, but that you shall haue two foote of your Rapier and the hilts at your command for the defence of your bodie, which by swearuing or beating him ouer your bodie, towards your left side, and a little turning your bodie by falling backe

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with your formost foote, this is a good defence for a passage: but indeed a man must have practise, and hee as wee call them a good scholler , that is such as bee skilfull; for a passage commeth with such celerity, that one which is not vsed to it, cannot deserne the comming of it, for there is no thrust so swift, nor so daungerous as the passage, but yet there is no thrust, nor blow nor passage, but by skill and cunning it is to be defended and auoided, for a man shall deserne the comming of passage so plaine as a Hawke, when shee intendeth to flie at Check, sitting vpon the Pearch, a man verie easily perceiue by the setling of her selfe to flie, indeed it is dangerous and deadly, except your minde bee upon your businesse, for when you are at your play, you must expect a passage and false play aswell as true play, or plaine thrusts, for the hurt of the passage is most dangerous of all and most mortall, for with a passage a man cannot say I wil hurt my enemie but a little, as you may with any other thrust, being put in at the length, I meane obseruing a true distance, for hee that otherwise breaketh distance may be assoone hit himselfe, as hee hit another; therefore the passage is seldome or never vsed in fight, although they both be neuer so skilfull in putting forth a passage, or if one can passe, and the other cannot, but hee that can passe will be doubtful left, the other wil intrap him in his owne assault, for why may not thy enemy bee as skilfull as thy selfe, once if he meete thee in the field, he sheweth himselfe valorous therein, and if it be thy fortune to hurt him by want of skill in a manner amongst men, hee is reported to be as good a man as thy selfe, in regard

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he aduentured himselfe with that small skill hee had, and then in respect of an honest minde, oughtesto shew him some fauor, if he be not too forward, whereby hee is like to endanger thee, but yet rather hurt, then be hurt, and rather kill, then be killed, if there be no remedie.

Y ou must proffer, or faine a thrust a foote aboue your enemies head, but presently plucke backe your hand againe, and put home your thrust which you meane to hurt your enemie withall vnder his Dagger arme, either vnto his body or thigh, as you will your selfe, but step not forth with your foote when you faine a thrust, but with the second thrust which you meane to speed your enemie withall, let then your foote and hand goe together, for in faining it ouer his head, it will seeme to him that you meane to hit him in the face, so that sodainely hee will lift vp his Dagger, thinking to saue his face, but he cannot put him downe so quickly againe but that you may hit him as aforesaid: againe if you profer or faine a thrust to your enemies knee, I meane more quicke then I can speake it, thrust it into his Dagger sholder, or to his face whether you lift, for you shall finde them both vngarded, for when hee putteth downe his Dagger to defend the fained thrust, hee cannot lit him vp againe before you haue hit him as beforesaid, if his Dagger arme were neuer so strong, nor neuer so ready, hee must put downe his Dagger and so hee will, or else you may hit him in the breast, for no man can tell whether the fained thrust will

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come home or not, but hee which doth thrust it, if the defence were neuer so skilfull, but now the onely way to defend a false thrust, is with the single Rapier, for when that the Dagger falleth to cleare the fained thrust from the body, then the Rapier must saue the upper part, I meane the face and shoulder, by bearing him ouer your bodie as you doe at the single Rapier, and so by that meanes the Rapier will defend all the bodie so low as your knee. By false play a Rapier and Dagger may encounter against a Sword and Buckler, so that Rapier man be prouident and carefull of making of his assault, that hee thrust not his Rapier into the others Buckler: but the false play to deceiue the Buckler, is by offering a fained thrust at the face of him that hath the Buckler, and then presently put it home to his knee or thigh, as you see occasion; for he will put up his Buckler to saue his face, but can not put him downe againe before you have hit him, as aforesaid.

Likewise you may proffer or faine a thrust to the knee of the Buckler man, and put it home to his buckler shoulder, or face, for if hee let fall his Buckler to saue below, hee can not put him vp time enough to defend the vpper parts of his body with his Buckler. but must trust for his defence, to his single Sword: wherefore it behooueth euerie man to be skilfull in the Backe-sword. The best way to make a false thrust, is to strike it downe by the out-side of your enemies Rapier hand, but not to thrust it home, and so presently bring vp the point of your Rapier, and thrust it home to his left shoulder; for if you thrust the fained thrust within the compasse of his Dagger, then it may be he will hit the point of your Rapier, in offe-

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ring to breake the fained thrust; and if he doe but touch your Rapier in your first proffer, then you cannot recouer your point to put home your second thrust, before hee hath recouered his guard, and so will preuent you: therefore, if you doe make a false thrust, present it without the circle or compasse of his Dagger, that in his defence he may misse the hitting of your point, then hath hee but the single Rapier to defend your second thrust, and he must make his preparation first before hand with his Rapier, if such an occasion be offered, otherwise it cannot be defended.

Now there be diuers other guards to be vsed at the Rapier and Dagger, but most of them wil aske a great deale more practise, to be perfect in, then this first guard, and yet not anie one of them more seuere for defence both of blow and thrust then this first guarde is, and therefore, I doe account it the master guard of all other, yet in a Schoole, to make change of your play, then the more guard the more commendable, so they be performed with discretion and iudgement: therefore I haue described those which I thinke necessary, although not so at large, as heereafter you shall haue them in a seconde booke; for at some times, and for some purposes, one guard may better serue then another: for change of guards may crosse some mens play, whereas if you vse but one guard, may in often play be worne threed-bare, therefore learne as many fashions of lying with thy weapons as thou canst, and then in thy often practice make triall which dost fit best withall, and that repose thy selfe vpon at thy most neede: for I have knowne many that could well defend themselves at one gard better then

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at another, although hee be a cunning teacher, yet he cannot make all his Schollers frame themselves vnto true defence, all vsing one guard, wherefore there must be triall made; for if the Scholler be dull of conceit in one guard, yet it may be he will fit better vnto another, so those which I haue found by my triall and practise, to be guards of defence, I put them downe briefly as followeth, but I thinke it were good left them vndone, as begunne and not end them, yet thou shalt haue a taste, for by a taste men shall see what wine is in the Butte.

Carry the point of your dagger vpright, and the hilt as low as your girdle-stead without putting your thumbe against the blade of your Dagger, but griping him fast in your hand, and the point of your Rapier vnder your Dagger hand according to the picture.

Lying thus in your guard, your bellie or breast will seeme to be open or vnguarded, so that he will make no doubt but to speede you in his first assault ; but he charging you with a thrust, for your defence, if it aboue the girdle-stead, then carry your Dagger steady ouer your bodie, keeping the point vpright and beare him towards your right side,but in your defence, doe not turne the point of your Dagger downewards, but presently bring him into his right place againe, and then vpon his offer or making of play, if he charge you aboue the gerdle-stead, then defend it with Dagger, and presently steppe in with your left foote, and thrust withall vnto what

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part of his bodie you list, but if he charge you vnder the gerdle-stead, then defend it with your Rapier, striking it downeward; now you must make your selfe ready to take your time of aduantage in your answering: I meane in the very motion of your enemies assault, defend and offend both with one time: if you both lie vpon this guard, looking who shall make play first, then make you a short thrust, but presently clap into your guard againe, and so you shall draw him to make play, and yet be firme and ready in your guard to take your greater aduantage, which must be done vpon your enemies charge; for when he hath charged you with his thrust, and you defended you selfe, as before-saide, then steppe in with your left foote to answer his assault, presently vpon your defence. Now if your enemy lying in this guard, and wil not make play, then the best aduantage which you haue of your enemy, is charging him (in a manner) as it were with a wrist or a dropping blow to his face, breast, or knee, putting it in slope wise, by turning your knuckles inward, and when it is lighted on the place which you determine to hit; then thrust it home withall, and this thrust being put in slope wise, is the best thrust to hit him which lieth in the crosse guard, and the defender must be ready and nimble with his Dagger for his defence; or otherwise to be preuented: but for a stroake, or a fore-right plaine thrust, it is with more ease defended by him which hath the perfectnesse of this guard, then it is by lying in anie other guard.

Now if your enemy doe lie this crosse guard, you may proffer a fained thrust at his breast, and presently put it into his Dagger shoulder on the out-side

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of his dagger arme: this false thrust may be defended with a quicke bringing backe of the Dagger againe: but then the defender must not ouer carry his dagger to defend the false thrust, yet hee must carry him against euery offer.

Another defence belonging to this guard is lying in this crosse guard, if your enemy charge you vnder the gerdle-stead with a thrust, strike it by with your Rapier, by letting fall your Rapier point towards the ground; but if it come aboue, then defend it with your Dagger, as before, but do not carry your Dagger aboue a halfe a foote; for if you ouer-carry your Dagger, you may be endangered by the the false play. Againe, if you make the first proffer, and your enemy lying in this guard, then, so soone as you haue made your thrust at him, presently let fall the point of your Rapier to the ground-ward, lifting vp your Rapier hand , and defend his answere with your Rapier, by striking it outward, I meane towards your right hand, so that his thrust may goe cleare on your right side, for your Dagger will not defend your enemies answere so well as your Rapier, especially vpon this guard.

Many haue had a good opinion of the stokata gard, but (in my minde) it is more wearisome vnto the bodie, and not so defensiue for the body, as the first gard following the first Picture; my reasons are these, the hilt and rapier hand being borne so farre back behind the bodie, it cannot defend a blow, for the blow will light before you can beare out your rapier to beare the blow backesword-way, as it should be done, neither can the rapier defend a false thrust, and a false thrust must be defended with the Rapier onelie: Also

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the point of the Rapier being borne so lowe as this guard restraineth them, the face and breast lieth open, or else vnto a single defence which is not sure; therefore keepe two strings to thy bowe, it is safe riding at two anchors a head, but if a man were put it to an extreamitie, then it were better to haue halfe a loafe then no breade, better to defend it single, then to take it on the skinne, and so I will with words describe this guard, and some other.
The Stokata guard
You must (if you will frame your selfe into this gard) keepe the Dagger point out-right, and so hie as your cheeke, and your Rapier hand so farre backe, and something low as you can, and your feete three foote distance at the least, and this guard many Professours doe teach as the chiefe and maister guard of all other; Now the reasons which they shew to draw men into this guard, is first say they, the head bowing backe, then the face is furthest from danger of a thrust or blow: now to answere this againe, I say, that although the face be something further from the enemie, yet the bottome of the bellie, and the fore leg is in such danger, that it cannot be defended from one that is skilfull; and to bee hurt in the bellie is more dangerous then the face, whereas if thou frame thy guard according vnto my direction following the first Picture, then shalt thou finde that thy bellie is two foote (at the least) further from danger of a thrust, and so is the foote likewise, and the leg safe and out of danger both of blow and thrust: and now thy face will seeme to be, and is the neerest part to-
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wards thine enemie, but then thou hast thy dagger being in his right place, nearest vnto thy face, readie to defend him: againe, hee which standeth abroad with his feete, will alwaies be in iealousie of his fore leg, the which must be defended by plucking him up nimbly at euery blow and thrust, and yet that will not surely defend him from a thrust, but admit you do defend the leg by plucking him vp, then doe you loose your time of answering your enemie, which should bee done in the same time which you plucke vp your leg, and before you can come in againe with your answer, your enemie will haue recouered his guard and distance againe: There are many other guars, some of then I will touch alittle, and some of them I will leaue vntill an other time: there are three high guardes, oneof them I will speake next of, because it is a great enemie, not onelie vnto the Stokata guarde, but it likewise crosseth all other guards, and it followeth in this maner.

Keepe your thumbe long wayes vpon the blade of your Rapier according vnto the naturall Arte; the common holding of the vulgar sort, and your feete so close together, as you can and the hilt of your Rapier so hie as your cheeke, bowing the elbowe-ioynt of your Rapier arme, and your Dagger hilt so lowe as your gerdle steade, and beare the point of your Dagger vpright, and the Rapier point on the in-side of your Dagger, both close together, looking vnder your Rapier, and beare out your Dagger at the armes end, without bowing your elbow ioynt, and if your enemie charge you with a thrust, carrie the thrust with your Dagger toward the right side, keeping the point of your Dagger vpright, not tur-

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ning him in your defence this nor that way, but beare him steady ouer your body, and so you may defend any manner of thrust: for if you beare your dagger (as aforesaid) your enemies point will passe cleere vnder your Rapier arme, but hauing once defended, in the very same motion you must lift vp the hilt of your Rapier, and turning your knuckle vpward, and withall, turne your point downe into your enemies rapier shoulder, stepping foorth with the right foote and hand together, your defence and offence must be all done with one motion. Now if your enemie charge you with a blow, you are as readie to defend it double on this guard as in anie other: but if thou charge thine enemie, or make the first assault, prepare thy defence for the Rapier shoulder, by carrying thy Dagger ouer thy bodie, keeping the point of thy Dagger vpright. This defence is good to bee vsed against a left handed man likewise.

Now he which is well experimented in this guard hee will finde it verie dangerous for offence to thine enemie, and defensiue for thy selfe, aboue all other guardes, especially if thou haue discretion to lie at watch discreetely, and to take thine opportunitie and aduantage, when thine enemie proffereth anie kinde of play upon thee.

Lay the point of your Rapier vpon the ground a foote wide of your left side ouerthwart your bodie, and let the hilt of your rapier rest upon your
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right thigh, and your dagger vnder your rapier about a foot forward of the hilt, and so leauing your whole belly or brest, will seeme a verie faire baite for your enemie to thrust at, but when hee chargeth you with a thrust, your defence must bee by the lifting vp of your Rapier point, with your Dagger, throwing him ouer towards your right side, but lift not vp your Rapier hand in the time of your defence in anie case, for so it may endanger the face, but so soone as you haue turned it cleere ouer your bodie with both your weapons as aforesaid (it may be done with one of them, but not so well because not so sure as with both together) then vpon your defence recouer your point hastily againe and chop him in with an ouer-hand thrust, turning your knuckles vpwards into his right shoulder where you may easily hit him if you bee quicke in taking your time before hee recouer his distance, or get out of your reach. This is no painefull guard, but verie easie and quickly learned, and it is a verie sure guard to defend any manner of thrust, now vpon this guard if your enemie doe falsefie a thrust upon you by offring it at breast or face, whereby to make you lift vp your weapons, thinking to hit you beneath with a second thrust by reason of your lifting them vp to saue the other parts the which you must doe but fayling of it aboue, bring downe your Dagger quickly againe to defend below the second thrust.

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The fore-hand guard at Rapier and

Pvt thy Rapier hand vnder the hilt of thy Dagger, alwaies keeping the point of thy Rapier something variable, and yet something directly about the girdle-stead of thy enemie, and the point of thy Dagger in a manner vpright, or a verie little leaning towards thy left side, and both thy Dagger and thy Rapier hilts together, and both so low as thy girdle-stead: those being guarded, if thy enemie doe charge thee with a thrust, carrie thy dagger quicke ouer towards thy right side, and make a present answere by chopping out the point of thy rapier, and so hastily into thy guard againe, expecting a fresh charge.

Beare out both your armes right out from your bodie stiffe at the armes end, and a foote at the left a sunder, and turne both the Rapier and Dagger hilts so high as your brest or hier, leauing all your bodie open, or vngarded to seeme to, and when your enemie doth charge you with a thrust, strike it with your Dagger towards your right side, and withall answere him againe with an ouer-hand thrust vnto his Dagger shoulder, but you must keepe your thumb vpon the blade of your rapier, for then shall you put in your thrust the more steddier, and the more stronger.
The

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A Right Stock, or Stockata, is to bee put in vpwards with strength and quicknesse of the bodie, and the guard for the putting in a stoke is leaning so farre backe with your face and bodie as you can, and the hilts of your Rapier so neere the ground, or so low as you can, but of this guard I haue spoken sufficientlie alreadie.

A slope Stocke is to be make vnto your enemies breast, or vnto his Rapier shoulder, if hee doe looke ouer his Rapier, but in putting it in, you must wheele about your Rapier hand, towards your left side turning your knuckles inward, this thrust being put in slopewise as aforesaid, will hit thy enemie which lieth vpon the Crosse-guard, or the Carelesse-guard, or the Broad-ward, when a right Stocke or plaine fore right thrust will not hit.

An Imbrokata, is a falsifying thrust, first to proffer it towards the ground, so low as your enemies knee, and then presently put it home vnto your enemie Dagger-shoulder, or vnto anie part of his Dagger-arme, for hee will put down his Dagger to defend your fained thrust, but cannot recouer his Dagger againe before you haue hit him in the Dagger arme, Shoulders or Face, whether you will your selfe, for in proffering this thrust, there is no waie to defend the vpper part, the Dagger being once downe, but onely with single Rapier, and except a man doe expect it, it cannot be so defended neither.
An

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A reuerse is to be make, when your enemie by gathering in vpon you, causeth you to fall backe with your right foote, and then your left foote being formost, keeping vp your dagger to defend, and hauing once broken your enemies thrust with your dagger, presently come in again with your right foote, and hand together, and so put in your reuerse vnto what part of his bodie you please, for it will come with such force that it is hard to be preuented.

The Mountanto is to be put in with a good celeritie of the bodie and in this manner, you must frame you guard when you intend to charge your enemie with this thrust, beare your Rapier hard vpon, or so neere the ground as you can, lying verie low with your bodie, bowing your left knee verie nere the ground also, and either vpon your enemies thrust or in lying in his guard you may strike his rapier point towards your right side with your dagger so that it may passe cleere vnder your rapier arme, and with same motion as you strike his rapier, sodainely mount vp your Rapier hand higher then your head, turning your knuckles vpward, but turne the point of your Rapier downewards ouer his Rapier arme into his breast or shoulder, and you must be quicke in the performance of this thrust, and likewise nimbly you must leape out againe. This thrust must bee put in by the stepping forward of your left leg: now if you vse this thrust more then once, your
enemie

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First, if you hold your dagger to high, you may be hit vnder the Dagger-arme.

Secondly, and if to low, you may bee hit ouer the Dagger-arme, either in the arme, shoulder or face.

Thirdly, & if you beare your dagger too much towards your rapier-shoulder, then you may be hurt on the out-side of the arme by bearing narrow, for so we call the carriage of him, being borne in this manner before spoken of.

Fourthly, if to wide from your bodie you may bee hurt on the in-side of the arme, face, or breast: if the dagger-elboe ioynt bee crooked, then there is small force in the dagger-arme for the defence of blow, or thrust, but the dagger being borne out stiffe at the armes end, defendeth a blow strongly, as you shall heare by and by.

First, if you breake a thrust downe-wards, it may hit you in the bottom of the bellie.

Secondly, if you breake him vpwards it may

endan-

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endanger you in the face.

Thirdly, and if you breake your enemies thrust towards your Rapier-side, it may hit you in the Rapier-arme.

Fourthly, or in breaking a thrust, if you let the weight of your Dagger carrie your Dagger-arme backe behinde you, then your enemie may with a double thrust hit you before you can recouer vp your Dagger in his place againe.

The best holding of a Dagger is right out at the armes end, and the hilt euen from your left cheeke, and the point compassing your bodie, I mean bowing towards your Rapier-shoulder, and when you breake a thrust, turne but only your hand-wrist about, letting fall the point of your Dagger downe-ward, but keepe out your Dagger-arme so stiffe as you can, so shall you bee readie to defend twentie thrusts one after another, if they come neuer so thicke, and likewise you are as readie for a blow; whereas if you fall your arme when you breake your thrust, your enemie may hit you with a second thrust before you can recouer your Dagger in his place to defend it, for a thrust goeth more swifter then an arrow shot out a bow, wherefore a man cannot bee too ready, nor too sure in his gard; Now both for defence and Offence of everie blow and thrust, thou must turne thy knuckles vp-ward. or downe-ward, in-ward or out-ward, alwaies turning your hand according to the nature of the guard, that you frame your selfe vnto, or according as when you see your ene-

mies guard, then you must determine before you charge your enemie either with blow, or thrust, in what manner to turne your hand in your Offence or Defence, sometimes after one manner, and sometimes after another, as both before and hereafter shalbe sufficiently satisfied more at large

Keepe your Rapier point something sloping towards your left shoulder, and your Rapier hand so low, as your girdle-stead, or lower, and beare out your Rapier hand right at armes end, so farre as you can , and keepe the point of your Rapier something leaning outwards toward your enemie, keeping your Rapier alwaies on the out-side of your enemies Rapier, but not ioyning with him, for you must observe a true distance at all weapons, that is to say, three feete betwixt the points of your weapons, and twelve foote distance with your fore foote from your enemies fore foote, you must bee carefull that you frame your guard right, now you must not beare the Rapier hand-wide of the right side of your bodie, but right forward from your girdle-stead, as before-said

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Being guarded as beforesaid, if your enemie discharge a thrust at you, carrie your Rapier hand over your bodie towards you left side, keeping your point directly in his place untill you have defended your enemies assault, then presently after let fall the point of your Rapier, turning your knuckles inwards, and discharge your thrust at your enemies thigh, or bodie, as you see occasion.

There are likewise many other guards to be framed

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at single Rapier, as that one of the short Sword is a good guard at some times, and for some purposes, if a man be perfect in it, by skill and practice aforehand, as heereafter you shall see the manner thereof more at large, when I come to that weapon.

Now another fashion is, by holding your left hand upon the blade, and so with the strength of your forefinger and thumbe of your left hand, you may breake your enemies thrust cleere of your bodie, by turning of your rapier point downe-ward or up-ward accordingly as your enemie chargeth you; and then charge your enemie againe with a quicke answer.

Now another is, by standing upon the stocke, readie to choppe in upon your enemies assault, but you must turne in your left shoulder to your enemie nearer then the right, onelie to be as it were a baite unto him, but when he doth thrust at you, wheele about your bodie, falling backe with your left foote; but withall, thrust out your rapier, and so you may hit, and defend, onelie with the shift of the bodie, and you shall find that the oppressor will come upon his owne death, by proffering at that shoulder, which you make shew to be open unto him: but you must not offer to defend it with your rapier, but only trust unto the shift of your bodie.

If your enemie doe lie in this guard, according to this Picture then proffer or faine a thrust unto his left side, but presently plucke backe your hand, and thrust it home unto his right arme shoulder or face; for hee will carry his rapier over his bodie, to defend
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the fained thrust, but can hardly bring him backe againe to save your second or determined thrust, except hee be very skilfull, active, or nimble: now if he doe not beare his Rapier to defend the fained thrust when you proffer it, then you may hit him with a plaine thrust a second time, if you put it home without falsing it at all.
Likewise, you may proffer or faine a thrust two foot wide of your enemie his right side, and presently thrust it home to his breast, for hee will beare his rapier beyond the compasse of true defence, by reason it will seeme unto a cunning player that your intention is to hit him on the out side of the Rapier arme, so that when he thinketh to strike your point from offending his arme, by that means hee will open his bodie, although he open himselfe but a little, yet with your second thrust you may hit him as aforesaid.

You must be very carefull that you doe not overcarry your Rapier in the defence in anie maner of thrust, yet you must carrie him a little against every proffer which your enemie doth make: for if a man be verie skilfull, yet is he not certaine when his enemie doth charge his point upon him, and proffer a thrust, whether that thrust will come home, or no: wherefore (as I said) you must beare your Rapier against everie thrust to defend it, but beare him but

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halfe a foote towards the left side, for that will cleare the bodie from danger of his thrust, and so quicke backe againe in his place, whereby to meete his weapon on the other side, if he charge you with a second thrust, thinking to deceive you as aforesaid.

Now if your enemy doe charge you with a blow, when as you see the blow comming, plucke in your Rapier, and let the blow slippe, and then answer him againe with a thrust, but bee carefull to plucke in your rapier to that cheeke which hee chargeth you at, so that if the blow doe reach home, you may defend him according unto the rule of the backsword.

The defence of this slippe is to forbeare striking at all, but if you doe strike, not to over-strike your Sword, but so strike your blow as you may recover him into his place hastily againe; for in fight if you doe strike, you must forebeare strong blowes, for with a strong blow, you may fall into divers hazzards; therefore strike an easie blow, and doe it quicke, but to thrust, and not strike at all, is to thy best advantage.

Put your thumbe long wayes, or forward upon the handle of your rapier according unto the natural fashion, and your enemie lying in this guard, ioyne your Rapier according as the Picture, and so soone as you have ioyned, turne the heele of your

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hand upward, and your point downeward, and so bring your point, compassing under your enemies right elbow; and then with the strength of the thumb, turne it unto his breast: the like you may doe if your enemie offer to close with you at single rapier, for if hee come hastily upon you, you can not drawe out your point whereby to offend him, but by turning it in as before-said, you may hit the skilfullest man that is in his comming in: Now if hee doe defend your point below, you may by a sodaine turning up your point, thrust it home to his right shoulder or face, whether you will your selfe.

If your enemie doe ioyne his weapon with yours, to close or to turne in a slippe, then make your selfe readie quickely, by putting your thumbe upon your rapier, as aforesaid, when he falleth his point towards his left hand, to fetch the compasse of your rapier arme; then fall your point the contrary way, I meane towards your left hand, so shall you meete with his weapon below againe, and this will defend your selfe; and when he raiseth his point againe, then doe you raise yours likewise into his place againe.

If your enemie doe ioyne his rapier with yours, and doe beare him strongly against you, thinking to over-beare you by strength of arme, then so soone as hee beginneth to charge you strongly, beare your rapier a little against him, and then sodainely let fall

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your point so low, as your gerdle-steed, and thrust it home withall, and so you may hit him, for by letting his Rapier goe away sodainely, he swayeth away beyond the compasse of defence, so that you may hit him, and fall away againe before hee can recover his Rapier to endanger you.
P roffer or faine a thrust at the fairest part of your enemies bodie which lieth most unguarded, and then more quicker then I can speake it, thrust it in on the other side, and so changing three or foure times, and then choppe it home sodainely, and you shall find his bodie unguarded, by reason that he will carrie his Rapier or Sword this way or that way, thinking to defend the false thrust, because he supposeth them to be true thrusts: for there is no man so cunning, that knoweth if a thrust be proffered within distance, but that it may hit him, or whether it will be a false thrust, or no, the defender knowes not, and therefore he must prepare his defence against every thrust, that is proffered.
F irst, charge your enemie with a thrust aloft with an over-hand thrust, directly at your enemies face, and withall follow it in close, bearing your your enemies point over your head, by the carrying up of your Rapier hand, and then may you make seisure on the hilt of your enemies Rapier or Sword, or on his hand-wrist with your left hand, and then having made seisure of his weapon, you may then use

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what execution you wil, I mean either blow or thrust, or trip up his heeles.

C arrie your Sword-hilt out at the armes end, and your point leaning or sloping towards your left shoulder, but not ioyning with your enemies weapon, as this Picture seemeth, but so long as you lie in your guard, let there be three foote distance betwixt your weapons, but if your enemie do charge you, either with blow or thrust, carrie your Sword ouer your bodie against your enemies assault, and so crosse with him according to the Picture, beare also your point stedie ouer your bodie, something sloping towards your left shoulder; I meane the point must goe so farre as the hilt, but not turning your point the contrarie waie, but carrie them both toge-

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ther. I will make it plainer by and by, because I would haue thee to vnderstand it wisely, for hauing with a true defence defended by your enemies blow or thrust by crossing with him, or by bearing your weapon against his assault (as beforesaid) the danger being past, then presently at the same instant, and with one motion turne downe the point of your Sword, turning your knuckles inward, and so thrusting it home to your enemies thigh, but with all, steppe forth with your foote and hand together.

But there is a great obseruation to be had in your practise concerning the true carriage of your point, for in your defence if you do not carrie your Sword, true, then it is hard to defend either blowe or thrust; for if you carrie the hilt of your Sword against either blow or thrust, and doe not carrie the point withall leuell, euen as you lay in your guard according to the Picture; then your hand and face is endangered, but bearing the hilt and the point about a foot ouer your bodie towards your left side; and likewise to beare your Sword stiffe out at the armes end, without bowing or your elbow ioynt: prouided alwaies, that your Sword being in your right hand, you must look with both your eies on the in-side of your Sword, for then you haue but one kinde of defence, so that the point of your Sword be sloping towards the left shoulder: but otherwise, if you keepe the point of your Sword vpright, then your enemie hath three waies to endanger you, especiallie, if you carrie your Sword right before the middest of your bellie, with the point vpright, as I have knowne some hold an opinion of that waie to be good, but I say, hee that trusteth to that guard, may be hit in the head with a sodaine wrist-

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blow, if his practise were neuer so good: and likewise both his armes are vnguarded, and to bee dangered, either with blow or thrust; but if you guard your selfe after my direction, then your enemie hath but onelie the left side of your head, and your legges open, and they are easie to be defended; the legge, by plucking him up, the which you must doe vpon euerie blow, which your enemie chargeth you withall, and with the same defend the head and bodie, carrying your Sword ouer your bodie towards your left side, the point and hilt both steadie, as I haue before said.

Now although I heere speake altogether of a Backe-Sword, it is not so meant, but the guard is so called: and therefore, whether you are weaponed with a two edged Sword, or with a Rapier, yet frame your guarde in this manner and forme, as before said.

B eare the Sword hilt so high as your face, keeping him out at the armes end, without bowing of your elbow ioynt, and alwaies keepe your point directly vpon your enemies face, and your knuckles of your Sword hand vpward; but if your enemie doe charge you with a blow to the right side of your head, then turne but your Sword hilt, and your knuckles outward, still keeping your Sword arme stiffe in his place, turning but onelie your wrist and your hand: this is a very dangerous guard to your e-

nemie, being carried with a strong arme, for by reason that you keepe him out at the points end, being so directly in his face, that hee cannot come neare you without great danger, either of blow or thrust, but indeed if your sword be not carried out with a strong arme, then your enemie may endanger your head by striking of two blowes together, the one being strooke at the point of your sword to strick him down and the other to your head but they must bee strooke both together verie sodainelie, or else there is small danger in them, now if you are warie in watching when hee makes his first blow, sodainely plucke in the point of your sword to you, and so by the slippe his first stroake hee will ouer carrie him, so that if you turne an ouer-hand blow to his head, you may hit him before hee can recouer his sword to strike his second blow, or defend himselfe lying in this long guard, you may slippe euerie blow that is strooke, plucke in your sword euen as you see your enemie stricke and turne it ouer to the right side of his head.

L ying in thy guard according vnto the picture at single Rapier, and when you meane to close, lift vp the hilt of thy word so high as thy cheeke, and charge thy enemie with a thrust directlie at his face, and with the same motion steppe in with thy hindmost foote, turning the knuckles of thy Sword-hand inward, and so bearing thy enemies point ouer thy head, and then catch hold on thy enemies Sword-hilt, or on his hand-wrist, with thy left hand,

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but on his hilt is the surest to hold, and then you may either trip vp his heeles, or cut, or thrust him with your weapon, and in this manner you maie close with a Rapier also, if you can make your partie good at the gripe or close, for your enemie in bearing ouer his Sword ouer his bodie to defend his face from your thrust, he there by carieth awaie his point, so that hee cannot endanger you if you follow it in close and quicke.
False play with the Back-sword.
Your enemie being in his guard, and lying at watch for aduantage, you maie faine a blow at the right-side of his head, and presently with the turning of your hand-wrist, strike it home to his left-side, which being done quicke you may hit a reasonable good plaier, for he will beare his sword against the fained blow, and by that meanes vnguard his left-side but at no hand you must not let the fained blow touch your enemies sword, but giue your sword a sodaine checke and so strike it to the contrarie-side, for if your feined blow do ioine with your enemies sword, it will staie his sword within the compasse of true defence, so that hee will be readie to defend your false blow, but otherwise if you touch not his sword hee will carrie him beyond the true compasse of defence, of the seconde blow, which you determine to hit him withall, so likewise you may faine your blow at the left-side of your enemies head, but presentlie strike it home to the right-side of his head, in manner as aforesaid.
An

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Againe, you may ioine your sword within you enemies sword according vnto the picture, but presentlie so soone as you have ioyned, strike it downe to his legge, but nimblie recouer your sword in his place againe falling a little awaie withall, for so soone as you have discharged your blow, you may verie easilie before hee can endanger you recouer your guard and distance: likewise you maie giue a back-blow vnto the right side of his head, and presentlie withall, fall downe againe with another blow vnto the inside of his legge, stepping home with your second blow, for when you haue made your first blow as aforesaid, it may bee your enemie will winke, and so you may hit his legge before his eies open againe, so that you do it quick, but if he doe not winke, yet a good plaier will think that when hee hath defended your first blow a loft, hee will not expect a blow so sodainelie as this ought to be strooke, and therefore may be hit with a second blow, yea although hee looke well to himself, and the rather that manie doth not alow in there teaching a backe-sword blow to be stroken at the legge, but I say a man may giue a square, or fore-hand blow to the inside of his enemies legge, and yet verie well recouer vp your sword againe before your enemie can endanger you
Another deceipt.
Standing in your guard, and your enemie charging you with a blow, pluck in your sword sodainelie, and let his blow slippe, and so soone as his blow

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is past, answere him againe, either with a low or thrust whether you will, but if it bee at blunt with a blow, put in right with a thrust, or by plucking in your sword, and alwaies haue a care you plucke him in vnto that side of the head which hee chargeth you at, for in so doing, if his weapons point do reach home, yet you are at a guard of defence, but with this skill and a little withdrawing your bodie with all, his weapon will passe clear, for the force of his blow will ouerswaie his weapon, and he will so ouer carrie his bodie, that in a manner his backe wilbe towards you, so that with a quick answere you may but him at your pleasure or close with him if you thinke you can make your partie good at the gripe; likewise you may cloose upon the crosse, by ioyning weapon to weapon, but when you have made your cloose in your first encounter, take hold on your enemies hand-wrist, or else on the hilt of your enemies weapon, for then hee cannot well offend you being but single weaponed. But to trie your man-hood, at the length of your weapon, I hold it the best fight and lesse danger to both, for there is no more certaine defence in a close, then is in a passage, for they are both verie dangerous.
Another deceipt.
Your enemie lying in guard, you may strike a backe blow vnto his right eare, although it light vpon his sword, that is all one, for in striking it aboue, it may cause him to wink, or he will thinke you haue don, but so soone as you have deliuered your blow aboue, then presentlie, I meane more quicker

then

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then I can speake it, strike it downe into the inside of his right-legge, or if you doe but touch his sword in ioyning him close as the picture standeth, and so soone as you haue but touched his Backe-sword on the out-side, strike it downe vnto the in-side of the legge presentlie, yet alwaies haue a care to recouer your sword into his place againe for your owne defence, the which you may easilie doe, yea although you encounter with a verie skilfull man, but if you strike a plaine blow at the legge without profering it aboue first, as is beforesaid, then you endanger your owne head, but in presenting it aboue, you busie him to defend the first fained blow, so that he cannot be readie prepared to charge you with anie blow of danger before you haue recovered your guard, the which you may well doe, although he answere you neuer so quicke.
An other verie cunning deceipt with the

Strike a blow to the in-side of the right leg, or foot of thy enemie, but draw it to thee, striking it something short, and then presently strike it home againe to the left eare of a right handed man, but it must be done more quicker then I can speake it, and thou shalt finde his left eare vngarded, for he will looke for it at the right side, and it were not amisse to strike it once or twice from the leg to the right eare first, for then he will looke for the same blow againe, but yet I would not haue you make all your play at the legge, but sometimes to offer a blow at the one side of the head, and then to the other, so by ma-
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king often change of your blow, is the best waie to deceiue thy enemie.
A verie dangerous blow at Back-
sword.
Thy enemie lying in this guard, soddenly plucke in the pummell of thy sword to thy breast, and with all turne thy knuckles inward, and the presentlie proffer a thrust towards thy enemies breast, but turne it ouer with a blow to his right eare, with the which blow thou maist hit a good plaier, if he bee not aware of it before hand, for hee must beare his sword against the thrust for the defence thereof, now if he do ouer carrie him neuer so little further then he ought to doe for his true defence, then hee cannot bring him back time enough to defend the blow before you haue hit him, as beforesaid.
This blow is also good for a Left-handed man, or
against a Left-handed man.
If you would hit a Left-handed man with this blow, then present your thrust full at his face by a sodaine lifting up the hilt of your sword so high as your head, and withall you must now turne your knuckles outward, and so soone as you have presented your thrust, presently strike it home vnto the left side his head.
A

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Proffer your thrust two or three foot wide of thy enemies left eare, and withall let fall thy point so low as thy enemies girdle-stead of lower, and then presently with the same motion, raise thy point on the other side of thy enemies sword, and shop it home vnto his right arme, shoulder or face whether you will your selfe, for in bearing his sword ouer his bodie to defend the fained thrust, hee cannot well recouer him backe againe to defend you second thrust before you have hit him, as beforesaid, except hee hath by much practice beene vsed to that false thrust before hand.
An other dangerous blow.
Thy enemie lying in his guard, strike a blow to the in-side of his right leg, and presentlie with as much speed as possible thou canst strike it home vnto his left cheeke, for he will beare ouer his sword to defend the first proffer, and so with-draw himselfe into his guard, so that he will be unprouided for the defence of his left side, if it bee struck in with a quicke hand. All manner of false blowes, flips and thrusts at what weapon soeuer, are to auoided and defended with the true carriage of thy weapon, as at Rapier and Dagger, if a false thrust be made below, it must be defended with the Dagger below, and with the Rapier aboue. And if either blow or thrust be falsified at the Back-sword, or at Sword and Dagger, thou must beare thy Sword against euery proffer.
but

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but be sure thou doe not ouer-carrie him, but that thou maist be quick backe againe, to meete his second blow on the other side, as bringing thy weapon into his place by practise, thou shalt finde thy selfe surely guarded as in some places in this booke thou shalt finde the defence.

After the false play at euerie weapon, although I have not set downe the defence of euerie slip, nor of euerie fault, which had been verie necessarie: for as euerie lesson on a fiddle hath a seuerall tune, euen so euerie guard and euerie falsifie hath a seuerall kinde of Offence, and Defence, but heere thou shalt finde the Defence that belongeth vnto manie of them, and the rest I left out for want of leasure to write them, but they shall follow in the next Impression.

K eepe the point of your Stafffe right in your enemies face, holding one hand at the verie butt end of the Staffe, and the other a foote and a halfe distant, looking over your Staffe with both your eies and your feet a foot and a half distance, or thereabouts, according to this picture, alwaies standing crosse with your enemie, I meanie, if his right hand and foote be foremost, let yours be so likewise, and if his left-hand and foote be formost, then make you your change and crosse with him also.

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Now, if your enemie doe charge you, either with blow or thrust, you lying in the guard, as aboue shewed, then your defence is thus: and if charge you aboue the gerdle-steade, either with blow or thrust, strike your selfe against it, keeping vp the point of your staffe, so high as your head; but so soone as you haue defended, whether it be blow or thrust, presently answer your enemie againe with a thrust, and then hastily recouer your guard againe, and in giuing of a thrust, you may let goe your fore-hand from of f your Staffe, but hold the butte end fast in one hand: and so soone as you haue discharged your thrust, plucke backe your Staffe, and clap both your hands on him againe, and recouer your guard; but yet stay not long, to see whether your enemie will beginne with you, but begin with him first, with a false thrust,

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as anone you shall see the manner how to doe it: and when you can doe it, what neede you to stand long about that which may be done presently, and without danger?

Now if hee proffer either blow or thrust vnto your lower parts vnder your gerdle-stead, if it be a thrust, strike it awaie, by turning the point of your Staffe towards the ground, but be sure to strike it with that large compasse, that the point of your Stafffe maie pitch, not in the ground, for so you may deceiue your selfe in your defence, if he charge you so lowe with a blow, then you may strike it as you do a thrust, or you may pitch the point of your stafffe into the ground two or three foote wide of that side he chargeth you at, and you may in the pitching downe of your Staffe, let goe your fore-hand that hee doe not hit him, and then all parts is defended so high as your head, so that you alwaies haue a care to keepe your stafe in his right place, that is to say, if your right hand and foote be formost, then leaue all your bodie open, so that your enemie can not endanger you on the out-side of your staffe, but if he will hit you, he must needes strike or thrust in the in-side of your staffe, and then you must defend all blowes or thrusts, by bearing your staffe ouer your bodie towards the left side, for this we cal the Fore hand Defence, and this defence consumeth no time: but if in holding your staffe in the right hand, as before is said, and yet for your guarde doe beare your Staffe ouer towards the left hand, then you leaue your right shoulder arme or face, open and vnguarded, that which must be defended backeward, but you may defend twentie thrusts or blowes before hand, better

then one backeward; for the backe defence is nothing so readie, nor so certaine, as the fore-hand defence is, and therefore keepe and continue your guard, according vnto the Picture, for then if he proffer a thrust on the out-side of your Staffe: you neede not to feare nor offer to defend it, for there is no place in anie danger, but all is guarded, especiallie fron the gerdle-stead vpward.

And in your defence, haue alwaies a care to the true carriage of your Staffe, that you doe not carrie him beyond the compasse of true defence, for feare of the false plaie: for if you ouer-carrie your Staffe, I meane further then neede doth require, you can not recouer him backe againe quicke enough to defend the false. Now, if your enemie doe assault you vpon the contrarie side, you must change both your foote and hand to crosse with him, as before: but take heed when you change, you do not come in with your hinder foote, but let him stand firme and fall backe with the fore-most foot vpon euerie change. And hauing defended your enemies assault, with a little enreasing in, answere him with a thrust, thrusting out your staffe with your hindermost hand, and stepping forth withall, with your foremost foote, and in the same instant of your proffer, let goe your fore-hand, but after your offence presently recouer your hand vpon your staffe againe: now if your staffe be shorter then your enemies, then (for your better aduantage) step in with your hinder foote with the answere, but at no hand, neuer stike one blowe with your Staffe, for he that doth but lift vp his Staffe to strike, may easily be hit by the defender with a thrust, for in the same motion that the oppressour doth lift vp his staffe to

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strike the defender, may with speedie thrust hit him in the breast, and holde him off vpon the point of his staffe, if the Defender thrust out his staffe with his hinder hand, especially if their staues be both of one length, then hee that striketh, cannot endanger the other with a blow, for hee that striketh, holdeth both his hands vpon his staffe, vntill hee hath discharged his blow, whereby he that thrusteth, hath two foote oddes of him in length that striketh, so that hee putteth out his staffe, to his most aduantage, as beforesaid.

It is necessary, that hee which vseth the Staffe, should haue vse of both his hands alike, for thereby he may the better shift his staffe from hand to hand, whereby to lie crosse alwaies with your enemie, changing your hand and foote, as hee changeth for lying the one with right hand and foote for-most, and the other with the left, then he that striketh first, can not choose but endanger the others hand, but if you cannot change your Staffe to lie crosse with your enemies Staffe: then for your defence of a blow, pitch the point of your Staffe into the ground, and let go your fore-hand, and when you haue discharged the blow with as much speed as you can, answer his blow with a thrust, for the greatest secret of all most chiefly to be remembered at this weapon, is, if your enemie doe but once offer to lift vp his hand to strike, then presently choppe in with a thrust at his breast, shoulder, or face, for so you may hit him as you will your selfe, so that you take your time of answering.

If your enemie strike with his staffe, hee holdeth him fast in both his hands when hee deliuereth his blow, by reason thereof, he which thrusteth and loo-

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seth his fore-hand, when hee hath dischargeth his thrust or draweth in the fore-hand close vnto the hinder hand which holdeth the butte end of his Staffe, and so thrust him out withall, you may keepe the striker vpon the point of your Staffe, so that with his blow hee can not reach you, being equally matched in length, but must come vpon his owne death, or danger himselfe greatly.
L ooke vnder your Staffe with both your eies, with the point hanging slope-waies downe-wards by your side, bearing out your Staffe at the armes end, higher then your head alittle according to this Picture.

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In looking vnder your Staffe it will seeme to your enemie, that your defence is onelie for your head, then he wil thinke to hit you in the body with a thrust, for the bodie seemeth to lie very open vnto him, and if he doe charge you with a thrust, carry the point of your Staffe ouer your bodie close by the ground towards the other side, and hauing defended the thrust, turne vp the point of your staffe presently towards your enemies breast, and charge him with a thrust: againe, if your enemy charge you with a blowe at your head, lift vp the point of your staffe and meete the blow halfe way, and withal, draw back your hands, for feare of endangering your fingers: hauing striken away his staffe, answer him againe with a thrust (as beforesaid:) Now if your enemy charge you with a blow at your side, either pitch the point of your staffe into the ground to defend it, or else change into thy low gard and so crosse with him; if your enemy do strike a full blow at your head, you need not feare neither of your hands, but by striking with your staffe to meete his blow, you shall defend it vpon the middle, or neere the point of your staffe, although hee doe strike purposely at your hand, yet can he not touch your hands not anyother part of your body: but vpon the defence of your body draw backe your hands. Now it behoueth you to be perfect, not only in this gard, but also in changing your staffe from hand to hand, according to your enemies lying: to do well you should change, as hee changeth, sometimes the point of your staffe should be hanging downe by the right side of your body, and sometimes by the left, according to your enemies lying, the best way to make your change , is to let your staffe slip through your hands, like a Wea-

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uers shuttle, for this is a most speedie change then to shift him after the common manner, and by a little practise you may grow perfect in it.

I f thou meet with thine enemie in the night, and he charge vpon thee, the best means for thy defence, is presently to chop vp into this high guard, except thy staff be of a sufficięt length, to keep him off, with charging the point vpon him, or else the third means is to trust to thy heeles, but if thou wilt trust to thine hands, then either keep him off with thy point, or else aboue all parts, chiefly defend thy head, which is not to be done, but only by this guard, except a man may see the blow before it do light; now thou must put thy hands a little further asunder, then thou dost for the day, that the blow may be defended, by taking him vpon the staff betwixt both thy hands: if it light at your head, as it is the fashion of most men to strike at the head (as I haue said before) rather then to any part of the bodie. Now hauing taken the blow betwixt your hands, withall, run in and close with him, for if you stand off at the length in fight, anie time, being in the night, it cannot chuse but be verie dangerous, if you suffer him to discharge many blows, but either answer him with a thrust, or else close with him, and turn the butte end of your staffe into his breast or face, as you see occasion: now if it be in the day, or that you can see the blow before it light; if your enemie charge you with a blow at the side, meet his blow by carrying ouer to the other side, & pitch the point of your staffe in the ground, and loose your foremost hand for dangering of your fingers, but hold the hin-

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der hand fast at the butte end of your staffe. Butt now, vpon this high guard you can not defend the false so wel, nor so sure, as when you lie on the low gard; for it your enemie doe proffer a thrust on the one side your staffe, and presently chop it home to the other side, he may endanger, nay, hee may hit a skilfull and cunning player, especially if you ouer-carrie your staffe in defence of the fained blow or thrust.

Wherefore, if you lie on the low guard with your staffe or pike, you shall defend a thrust with the point of your weapon long before it come neare you, & yet your point is readie to answer more speedily then it is when you lie on anie other guard, but he which lieth with his point of the staffe or pike on the ground, hath verie little space to his bodie, no more than the length of his arm wherein he holdeth his weapon: therefore he which suffreth a thrust to come so neare, it will quickelie come to the face or bodie, yet bicause most souldiers heretofore have vsed this fashion of lying, and are not experienced in the low guard, according to the first Picture of the Staffe; but if in your practise you vse both, you shall find the benefit thereof the better; now if you frame your selfe into the hie guard, your staff must not be, in length, aboue eight foot at the most, but rather shorter, for else in defending your enemies thrust, a long staffe will hit in the ground, and by that means, your enemies thrust may endanger you: therefore, for this high gard, you must looke that your staffe be of that length, that you may carrie the point cleane from the ground in defending a thrust, but for the low gard it is no matter of what length your staffe be.

Y ou haue giuen me directions for two sorts of guards, which doe you commend best that I may repose myself vpon?
I commend the low guard best, for that it serueth with the Quarter-staffe of seauen or eight foot, or for the Long-staffe of twelue foote, and for the Pike of eighteene foote, for I haue made triall with men of good experience which haue lien in other guards according to their practise, as some at Quarte-staffe will lay their point vpon the ground ouerthwart their bodie, holding the butte-end of their Staffe so low as their girdle-stead: he that thus lieth the best waie to hit him is to proffer, or faine a thrust at his face, and presently put it home below, for hee will carrie his Staffe vp to saue his face, but cannot put him downe againe before you haue hit him vnderneath as beforesaid, but with quicknesse you may hit him in the face or breast, and neuer falsifie your thrust but put it in sodainely, turning the heele of hinder hand vpward withall: and if your enemie lie at Halfe-staffe, holding him in the middest, his hands that so lieth, are in danger of euery blow that cometh, but the best way to hit him that so lieth without danger to thy selfe, is with a false thrust, and that is to

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proffer it in the one side of his staffe, and to put it home on the other, according to the direction of the false play that followeth: but first let me make an end of that which I haue begunne, and so wee will proceed, some will lie with the Long-staffe, or Pike with the point on the ground, and the butte end so high as his head or higher; indeed this hath beene and is common fight with the Pike amongst the souldiers, and the defence of this guard either for blow or thrust, is to swerue his vper-hand, this way, or that way, according as he seeth the danger of the oppressors assault, and then presently launch out the Staffe or Pike by lifting them vp, vpon the out-side of their foote or else by gathering him vp on their left arme, and so launch him out as aforesaid: he that vseth this guard, must be strong, and very actiue, and nimble, but whatsoever hee be, high or low, weake or strong, the low guard is best.

If the low guard be so strong for my defence what need haue I to learne any other?
It is true, a man can be but sure if hee practise all the daies of his life, but it is not amisse for thee to know more than euer thou shalt haue occasion to vse, for hauing the perfect vse of the low and high guard, you may close with any Staffe man, if you think you can make your partie good with him when you haue closed.
I pray you direct me the best manner of closing.
When you encounter with any man that hath a

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Staffe, a Welch-hooke or a Halbert, and your selfe being armed with any one of these weapons, present a thrust to the face of your enemie , and withall, follow it in with your hind-most foote also; and as you incroach in, clap vp your Staffe into the high guard, and you shall carrie your enemies point over your head by that meanes, but you must not be slack in following of it in, for hee will beare the point of his weapon so high to defend his face, that he cannot recouer his Staffe by no meanes to endanger you, and when you haue made your close, you may turne the But-end of your Staffe in his face if you list, or you may trip vp his heeles, if you be cunning in wrestling: but if hee haue any short weapons about him, then I wish you to take him about the middle and vn-arme him of it, or else to hold him fast that hee hurt you not, but if you bee armed with a Bill or a Hooke, then in your halfe-close you may fall away turning the edge or your Bill or Hooke towards his legge, and so by a drawing blow rake him ouer the shins, and keeping vp the But-end of the Staffe for the defence of your owne head, and so you may fall out of his distance, and recouer your guard before he can any way endanger you.

If your enemie close with you after this manner, and doe offer the But-end of his Staffe vnto your face or breast, then fall backe with your fore foote, and make a quicke change, and you shall haue him at great aduantage, both for defence and likewise to turne in the But-end of your Staffe vnto his face or breast, and if you list this is a sure defence for such an assault, beleeue it, for I know it, he that is perfect in the low guard, may with a Staffe encounter against

the

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the Welch-hooke, Holbert, Partizan, or Gleave, and I hold that a Staffe with a Pike to haue oddes against any such long weapon, being equally matched in length, for oddes in length with any weapon is verie much aduantage, where I wish if any doe appoint the field with any of these aforesaid weapons, it is not amisse for the one of them to condition to bring a hatchet or some other edged toole into the field to cut the longest staffe, except you match them before hand.
I pray you let me here your reason, for many thinke that the hooke or any edged weapon hath great ods against the Staffe.
Indeed without cunning and skill, the Welch-hooke, and these other weapons are more fearefull vnto the ignorant, but hee that is cunning in the false play and slippes, belonging vnto the Staffe may with a false thrust or with slipping his blow endanger any other, being weaponed with any other of these weapons aforesaid. For it you falsifie your thrust according to my direction in the false play, that is, to proffer your thrust on the one side, and then to put home the second determined thrust vnto the other side of his weapon, and then if your enemy haue a Hooke, Halbert, or Bill in defending the false, the head of his weapon will so ouer-carrie him by reason of the weight, that hee cannot command him nimbly backe againe, whereby to defend the false, if your enemy bee armed with a Hooke, Holbert or Partizan or Gleaue, if he charge you with a blow, then slippe his blowe, either by plucking

in of your Staffe, keeping of the point vpright vntill his blow be past, and then you may answere him againe, either with blow or thrust, for by slipping a blow, the weight of the head of any of these aforesaid weapons will goe with such a swing that it will turne his body in a manner round, I meane beyond the compasse of defence,

Againe if you thinke that your face is out of his reach, he which chargeth you with a blow with anie of these aforesaid weapons, you may let fall the point of your staffe, so that his blow may passe cleere ouer your staffe, and so choppe home a thrust withall vnder your enemies weapons, and then recouer the point of your Staffe vp hastily againe.

What if I be armed with any of these weapons aforesaid, what guard will your direct mee to frame myself vnto,
I still commend the low guard for any long weapon, whether it be Staffe, Pike, Hooke, Halbert, Partizan or Gleaue, my reason is the point being so high as your head, and the But-end so low as your thigh, then is your weapon more readier to defend either blow or thrust, if you bee charged neuer so sodainely, whereas if your point hand downe-wards toward the ground, you can neuer lift him vp quick againe to defend your thrust, but a blow may be defended easily, for that a blow commeth more leasurably, for why is it fetcht with a greater compasse, and thrust goeth with farre more celerity than a blow, being put in cunningly, but of these weapons shall follow more at large in the seconde booke.

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Now if thy enemie haue oddes in length in his Staffe, then let thy enemie make the first assault, and vpon defence of his assault steppe forth with thy hindermost foote, and so thou shalt gaine sixe foote at the least in reach, but if your staues bee both of one length, then vpon a charge or answere, increase in onely with thy fore foote, and stand fast with thy hinder foote, onely to plucke backe thy body againe, and if thou make the first assault, and thy enemie defend it, and so hee make a sodaine answere, then it wilbe hard to recouer vp thy staffe into his place, to defend it according to the low guard: but for a sodaine shift the best defence is bearing your vpper-hand ouer your body, and letting your point fall to the ground, according to the olde common order of the fight with the Pike, at single hand, I meane, hand to hand, or I may say, man to man.

I pray you how would you direct mee to frame my guard with my staffe, if I were to encounter with my enemy, being armed with Sword and Dagger, or Rapier and Dagger?
I hold the low guard best, charging thy point directly to the enemies breast, and alwaies have a speciall regard, that thou poffer not a blow, for so hee may defend it double on the Back-Sword and Dagger, and runne in vnder the Staffe, likewise if thou proffer a thrust, let not thy Staffe loose out of thy fore-hand, but hold him fast, that thereby thou maist bee the more readie to charge him againe, and againe if hee encroach in vpon thee, for if you let

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goe one hand, then may thy enemie very well defend the thrust of a staffe, according as I haue directed in the description of the Rapier and Dagger, concerning the Staffe, for with that one defence, being experienced in it, thou maist endanger any Staffe-man, that is not wary, and withall, well experienced in both these weapons, so that thou take thy opportunity vpon his assault, I mean in answering him quick, so soone as you haue defended his assault, whether it be blow or thrust.

Now if thy enemie doe strike at the point of thy Staffe, thinking to cut him off, then, as you see his blow comming, let fall the point of your Staffe, and presently chop home a thrust, for in so doing his blow will flie ouer your Staffe, as by your practise you may perfect in this slippe, for so wee call it. I have knowen a man with a Sword and Dagger hath cut off the end of a Pike-Staffe, but I hold him an ignorant and vnskillful man, that hath held the Staffe, for though I hold, that a man skillful at the Sword and Dagger may encounter against a reasonable Staffe-man, the same opinion I hold stil, and my reasons thou shalt heare; if extreme need require, and vpon a necessity, then the best meanes is to be vsed wherefore to be furnished with the best means before hand at the time of neede, it may greatly stead thee, for euery common man hath not the knowledge of the best rule, except he hath not knowledge of the best rule, except hee haue learned it and practised it by those which could shew it, for it commeth not be nature to none, yet euery ignorant dunce, when hee is perswaded to goe learne skill, will say, when I am put to my shift, I will do the best I can: so a man may, and yet without skill bee killed, although

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hee doe his best, my opinion further of this followeth.

Now the best guard with a Sword and Dagger, or Rapier and Dagger, against a Staffe, is this, put your Dagger on the in-side of your Rapier or Sword, and ioyne them both together, making your crosse with them within a foote or thereabouts of the hilt of your Rapier or Sword, and looking cleere with both your eyes vnder them, or betwixt both your weapons, and then if your enemy charge you with a blow at your head with his Staffe, beare them both double against the blow, and hauing defended it, turne your point and turne your knuckles inward of your right-hand, and so to goe in amaine upon him.

But if hee charge you with a thrust, then presently let fall the point of your Rapier downe-ward, and force him downe the more stronger, and more quicker with your Dagger, for to that end I doe appoint you to put your Dagger in the in-side of your Rapier or Sword. Loe in this manner you may defend either blow or thrust of the Staffe, yet I must needes confesse, there is great oddes in the Staffe, if the Staffe-man bee verie skilfull, but otherwise the Rapier and Dagger hath the oddes being furnished with skill.

If you both lie in the low gard, according vnto my former direction, then proffer or faine a thrust vnto your enemies face to the fairest side of the staffe, which to your seeming lieth most open or vnguarded

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but thę presently in the same motion let fall the point of your staffe so low as his girdle-sted, so that you may passe cleare vnder the But end of his staffe; for if with any part of his staffe he touch or intangle your staffe, then can not put in your false so directly as you should, or as you may, if you passe cleare with your first offer, then may you bring vp your point on the other side of his staffe, and thrusting it home, you may hit him in the shoulder or face, as you will your selfe, yea although he be verie skilfull or cunning, so that you haue the true stroke of it : as to make it plainer, then in offering your false, doe but fall the point of your staffe, striking it as it were a blowe, but let it fall two foote wide of that side, which lieth open, and then bring it vp againe on the other side, and put it in with a thrust, for hee will carrie his staffe to defend your false, and so by that meanes open the side which lieth well guarded, and alwaies marke which part of your enemies bodie lieth open or most discouered vnto you, there proffer you your fained thrust, first to the fairest, but hit him w ith your second or determined thrust to the contrarie side, and if you faine your thrust to the right side, then thrust it home to the left, and if you faine your thrust to the left side, then put it home to the right, and you may hit him in the breast, shoulder, or face, whether you list your selfe, so that you proffer your fained thrust three foote wide of his bodie, for if in offering your fained thrust, he hit your staffe, it will so intangle your point, that you cannot recouer him to hit him with your determined thrust, for before you can cleare your point, he will be in his guard of defence againe.

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T his thrust is to be defended two waies, the first is to beare him against your enimies proffer, but haue a care that you do not ouer-beare him, so that if he mock you with his fained thrust on the one side, you must quickly bring your staffe backe againe into his place, to meet him when he commeth on the other side of his staffe, and so to defend it, keeping your point vpright: now the second defence is to beare your staffe ouer your bodie against his proffer, as you doe against euerie ordinarie thrust; for you must suppose that euerie thrust will come home, for the defender doth not know if his enimy doe proffer a thrust, whether it will come home or not: therefore (as I said) you must beare your staffe against euerie thrust, but you should beare your staffe but a foote out of his place, whether it be against blow or thrust: for if you ouer-carrie him, you can not recouer him to defend neither blowe nor thrust, if it be falsified vpon you. Now if your enemie doe falsifie vpon his first proffer, carrie your staffe ouer your bodie, keeping the point vpright against his first proffer: now vpon your offer of defence, at the first you see that you make no seisure upon his staffe, then presently you may perceiue he doth but dallie with you, onlie to deceiue you with false play, but then your proffer of defence, both for the true and false play, must be all done with one motion; for if you see that with the first proffer aboue he shorten his thrust, without putting it home, then turne downe the point of your staffe towards the ground, and meete him below, and

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so strike it away, but be sure that you defend alwaies before hand, for to strike it backeward is no sure defence.

Yet to make this fore-hand defence plainer, why then is is thus meant, if your right hand be placed formost in holding your staffe, then you must defend both the true play, and the false towards your left hand, but you must not defend the first proffer forward, and next, which may be the false thrust, backe-ward, but both must be defended towards your left side: and so likewise, if your left hand be formost, then frame your defence towards your right side, as before said.

Now if you cannot change hands, as (it may be) your enemie can, then keepe your guard vpon that hand you can best vse, and you shall finde that hee hath very little oddes after you haue practised it a while; for you may offer or defend anie false play so well as if you lay crosse handed one to the other.

N ow if you would hit your enemie on the head with a blow, you must proffer a false blow at the head, as if you would strike him downe at the first, but when it is come halfe way, stay your hand, or checke your blow before it meet with his staffe, for he will beare his staffe against your blow, thinking to defend it strongly, before it come to endanger him: but the checking of the first blow wil be an occasion, that he wil ouer-carry his staffe beyond the compasse of true defence, so that you may presently come with a second blow, and strike it home ouer the point of

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his staffe, so by this determined blow, you may hit him on the head or face.

A Slippe at a Staffe
If your enemie charge you with a blow, you lying in your guard according to the Picture, euen as you see the blow comming, plucke in your staffe, and withall, withdraw your head and bodie alittle backe, bearing your staffe, during the time while the blowe hath his passage, close vpright by that side of your face which your enemie chargeth you at, to defend that side, if the blow doe reach home, but if it doe passe short, and goe cleare of you, without touching your staffe, then will his staffe flie away with the greater swinge, so that it will passe beyond compasse of true defence, but if it be a Welch-hooke, or anie other head weapon, then will the slipping of his blow be a more occasion of the ouer-carrying his blow, by carrying his body round, so that his blow being past, you may presently charge him with a blow at the head, or thrust him in the backe, so that it be done quicke before your enemie doe recouer his weapons into their place of defence.

Another falsifie.
You may profer a downe-right blow at your enemies head, fetching him with a great compasse, so that it may seeme to your enemie, that you meane to strike him downe, but as your blow is comming, draw backe your hand and change your blow into a thrust, and chopping home to his breast or any other part of his body, that you will your selfe, for he will beare his Staffe to defend the blow, I meane

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if hee be not very skilfull and cunning, the which if he doe, hee can but defend himselfe, the which to doe he must be very wary when he beareth his staffe to defend then the blow, so that he doe not ouer-carrie his staffe, and yet to beare him a little and then to checke his Staffe, and be readie to turne downe the point to defend the thrust, but he that is skilfull will, or should chop out a thrust if his enemie doe proffer a blow, and the thrust should be put out with one hand, and to loose the other, I meane with that hand which holdeth the But-end of the Staffe, for so thou shalt keepe him out at the point of thy Staffe; for then the blow cannot endanger thee, except there be great oddes in the length of your staues, for commonly he that striketh, holdeth both his hands vpon his Staffe when hee deliuereth his blow, whereby there is three foote oddes in reach betwixt the striker and he which thrusteth.

T hy enemie lying in guard, proffer a fained thrust towards his foote, and then presently raise thy point againe, and thrust it home to his face or brest, for if hee turne down the point of his Staffe to saue the false thrust below, then if he were neuer so cunning,or neuer so strong, yet he can not put vp his Staffe time enough to defend his vpper part; and therefore not to turne downe the point, if thy enemie doe proffer a thrust below is the more surest, but if a thrust bee made below or aboue the knee, plucke vp thy legge, and either thrust with him,

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or keepe vp thy Staffe to defend thy vpper part, which are the killing places, rather than to turne him downe to defend thy legge or foote, wherein is not so great danger of death as the body being hit, but at the Staffe all parts may be defended with skill.

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but in the next Impression more at large, both with words and with pictures.

But now chiefly at this time I will proceed only with this Castle-guard, or Back-sword-guard according to the picture, for with the skil of this one guard thou maist safely encounter against any man, which vseth any of the foresaid guards, for this one guard being perfectly learned thou maist defend thy selfe with great aduantage,

Now for the manner of the framing thy selfe into this guard, thou must beare out the hilt of thy sword a foote from thy body, so low as the pocket of thy hose, and right out from thy thigh, and thy Dagger out right at the armes end, and thy Dagger hilt euen with thy left cheeke, but barely looking ouer the vpper part of thy Dagger hilt, and the points of both thy Sword and Dagger a little bowing each to the other, and close aboue, but open thy hilts so broad below as thou maist see cleerely thy enemie betwixt them both, as at Rapier and Dagger before is discribed, for both at Rapier and Dagger, the guards are both verie neere alike, but onely for the carriage of thy Rapier hand and foote, a little neerer thy body then at Sword and Dagger, the reasons are, and shall be made plaine vnto thee, as in reading thou shalt finde it, for both at Rapier and Dagger, and at Sword and Dagger, a man should bee prepared as well at the one, as the other to defend a thrust in fight so well as a blow, and except the Rapier point be borne something high, he is not ready to defend a blow, as by this guard thus being placed, as aforesaid, thy Sword onely being borne out against the blow, will defend all thy right-side, both thy head,
and

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and downe to thy knee, without moouing him, but if thy enemie do charge thee with a blow at thy left-side, whether he strike to thy head or side, then beare both thy Sword and thy Dagger ouer thy body, to-wards thy left-side, and withall I doe aduise thee to haue a care to carry both the hilt and point leuell, euen as thou liest in thy guard, for if thou carry thy hilt of thy Sword ouer thy body towards thy left side, and turne thy point Back-ward, then both at Sword and Dagger, and at Rapier and Dagger, thy head is endangered, for then thou hast but a single ward for thy head, I meane thy Dagger onely, and that is no sure defence for the head, if thy practise were neuer so much, but both being borne together, according vnto the Backe-sword rule, thou shalt defend both thy head and body downe to thy knee very strongly, and thy legge must saue himselfe by a quick pulling vp of thy foote.

Likewise at Sword and Dagger, you may set your feete a foote distance one right before the other, the other which I doe not allow of at Rapier and Dagger, also you must keepe the point of your Sword on the in-side of your Dagger, and halfe a foote higher then your Dagger point, especially if you play at the blunt, but in fight as at Rapier and Dagger, then you must so exercise your foote, that you may pluck him vp nimbly against euery blow that commeth, other-wise if you doe keepe them so neare as my direction is at Rapier and Dagger, then is your foote sure without plucking of him vp; beare your head vpright, bowing rather to the right-sholder, then to the left, but not forward at any weapon, but your body bowing forward, and keepe your points close together,

[Thy weapons thus placed thou shalt find thy body garded like a prisoner betwixt to keepers, thy sword to guard thy right-side, and thy dagger the left.]
and

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and your Sword point on the inside of your Dagger point (as before-saide) and the hilt of your Dagger from your left cheeke, right at the armes end, without bowing of your elbow ioynt, and your Dagger point sloping, or bowing towards your right side, looking with both your eies betwixt your weapons, looke not ouer your weapons with neither of your eies at anie hand; your weapons placed, and your bodie setled (as aforesaide) then shall you finde no part of your bodie discouered or vnguarded, but onlie you left side from the Dagner arme downewards, and that you must haue a care vnto, and defend it in this manner.

If your enemie charge you with a blow, defend your selfe, by bearing the edge of your Sword against it, and alittle beare your Dagger against the blow also, onely to giue allowance for the yeelding of your Dagger, if the blow should chaunce to light at your head, for your guard simply of himselfe doth defend but a weake blow; if you stand stocke still at your gard as a wrist blow a droppe or a mite, which commeth with small force, though they come with more speed then any other blow, your guard will defend without moouing your weapons. Now other blowes which shall come with greater force, consume more time, and doe fetch a greater compasse, insomuch as their force is greater, you shal perceive them the plainer, to which side the blow will come, and if to the right side, then swarue both wepons against the blow, and if to the left side, dolikewise (keeping vp the point of your sword, for that will defend from the head downe to the knee, and the knee and leg which you stand formost vpon, you must defend by plucking
them

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them vp, and your sword will defend the hindmost legge, if the blow should chance to reach so farre, by taking it neere the hilt, vpon the edge of your backe-sword, as aforesaid, for if you put downe the point of your sword to saue your legge, then you leaue your head and your face vnguarded, for when you see your enemie charge you with a blow, there is no rule to be shewen to know where the blow will light, vntill it doe light: but this assure your selfe, the blow must haue a lighting place; for when the sword is vp, where he will fall there is no rule to be shewen, for when the blow is charged, it commeth so swift and lighteth where the striker thinketh good, wherefore arme your selfe to defend everie place, whether it commeth aboue or below; for if you turne downe the point of your sword before-hand, thinking the blow will light at your legge, for so you must doe if you will defend him with your sword, otherwise you cannot be downe quicke enough, for the blow will passe more speedier than the turning of a hand; wherefore I wish you to saue your legge by plucking of him vp, and open not your head, in hope to saue your legge, and so saue neither of them, for the head is the principall place that your enemie will strike at; therefore keepe your points always vpright, and in their place, according to my direction following the first Picture; and like-wise as heere I haue described it, for it is not enough to know the place of your weapons, but alwaies to continue them in their place, except it be at the verie instant time of your defence, and offence: but if you make play to offend your enemie, recouer your weapons into your guard speedily againe whether you hit or misse: Now in striking thy blow, let not thy
Sword

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Sword swing under thine arme by ouer-striking thy blowe, but winde him vp presently into his place againe; alwaies keepe the points close, and defend the blow double: for so doing the point of your sword will be