Chap. I.
Containeth the use of the foure generall guards against the left handed.

1. Thee right handed man doth thrust the left handed man with the Prime onely at the outside of his Rapier, over his left arme.

2. The Secunde is used by the right handed against the left handed without, over his left arme in a long thrust, and in a Passade and in a Passade under his left arme; and is likewise used within, in a long thrust, and in a Passade.

3. The Tertz is onely thrusted at the left handed, at the outside of his Rapier, over his left arme.

4. The Quarte is thrusted at the left handed man without, over his left arme, likewise within in a long thrust and in a Volte, and then it may be called a reverse, as having changed her propertie and nature.

Chap. II.
The use of the foure guards against the left handed man is particularized, hiw thou art to thrust with the Prime or Secunde at the outside over his left arme.

1. If thine adversary be open within stringere him at the inside of his Rapier, as soone as hee caveres towards his right side under thy Rapier, for to thrust thee within with a Secunde, then just at comming of his blow thrust with a Tertz, or a Quarte at the outside of his Rapier, over his left arme; if he then parereth thy thrust with a Quarte towards his left side, then turne thy Tertz or Quarte into a Secunde or Prime, and thrust him without over his left arme at his left breast.

How to passere a left handed man with a Secunde, at the outside of his Rapier under his left arme.
2. If thy left handed adversary bee open within, then stringere him at the inside of his Rapier, as soone as he will thrust at thee within with a Secunde, then at the approaching of his thrust make at him at the outside of his Rapier over his left arme, with a Tertz or Quarte, if hee then will put by thy thrust upwards with a Secunde, then let the point of the Rapier sinke downe into a Secunde under his left arme and passe behinde him.

How thou art to use the Secunde within at thy left handed adversary.
3. Stringere thine adversary at the outside of his Rapier, when he cavereth towards his right side under thy Rapier, and will thrust thee without over thy right arme, then thrust just at the comming of his thrust with a Secunde at the inside of his Rapier close to the Secunde or weakest part of his weapon, betweene his left arme and left breast.

How the Tertz or Quarte is to be used without, over the left handed mans arme.
4. Stringere thine adversary within as soone as hee doth thrust at thee within with a Secunde, then thrust with the Tertz or Quarte close to his Secunde or weakest part of the Rapier at the outside of his weapon over his left arme at his left breast, and when thou dost thrust then goe low with thy Hilt.

How to thrust the Quarte within at thy left handed adversary.
5. Let thy left handed adversary stringere thee at the inside of thy Rapier, and upon a suddaine thrust at him within with a Secunde close to the Secunde or weakest part of his Rapier, neare his point, if hee doth strive to parere thy Secunde with a Quarte towards his right side, then change thy Secunde into a Quarte and Voltere him at the inside of his weapon at his right breast: But if hee doth parere too farre towards his right side, that thou canst not hit his breast, then let thy Quarte sinke in under his left arme and Voltere him with thy Quart at his left side.


Chap. III.
How thou art to put by those thrusts which thy left handed adversary makes at thee without, over thy right arme.

1. Stringere thine adversary at the outside of his Rapier, if then hee doth make a thrust at the outside of thy Rapier over thy right arme, then parere it towards thy right side with a Quarte, and at an instant make a long thrust with a Secunde close to his Rapier, betweene his left arme and his left breast.

2. Or parere his thrust with a Quarte towards thy right side, and instantly thrust with a secunde at the outside of his left arme at his left side, and when thy thrust is arrived, then clap thy left hand upon the outside of his Rapier, over his right arme, not catching hold of his Rapier, and putting it by with thy left hand towards thy left side, turne his Rapier out of his hand and disarme him.

3. But if hee doth thrust at thee without, over the secunde or weakest part of thy Rapier, so that thou art not able to parere his thrust, then cavere towards thy right side under his weapon, and battiering him first at the outside of his weapon, thrust Quarte contratempo at the outside of his Rapier over his left arme.

4. Or else when hee doth thrust over thy right arme againe, and close to the Secunde or the weakest part of thy Rapier, being not able to parere his thrust, cavere towards thy right side, under his thrust, and cavering turne thy point in a Secunde over his weapon towards thy left side, and let it sinke downe at the inside of his Rapier, and Passere him at the inside of his weapon at his left thigh.

Review the seventh and eighth Chapters of the first part of the first booke.


Chap. IV.
How to put by those thrusts which thy left handed adversary makes at thee at the inside of thy weapon.

1. If thine adversary doth make a thrust at thee within, neare the hilt over the Prime and strongest part of thy Rapier, then put by his thrust with a Secunde towards thy left side downewards, and in one tempo or motion of thy wreast, change thy Secunde into a Quarte, not stirring from his Rapier, and thrust with a Quarte at the outside of his Rapier over his right arme.

2. Or else when his thrust approacheth, then battiering him first at the outside of his weapon over his left arme, at his left breast.

3. But if he thrusteth at thee within close to the Secunde or weakest part of thy Rapier, then cavere towards thy left side, under his thrust, and first putting him by towards thy right side with a Quarte, Passere him at his left breast, within.

4. Or if hee doth thrust at thee within againe close to the weakest part of thy Rapier with a Secunde aiming at thy right breast, then let thy point sinke downe into a hanging Quarte, at the outside of his weapon, and thrust him at his left thigh.

Review the seventh and eighth Chapters of the first part of the first booke.


Chap. V.
How thou art to demeane thy selfe against severall guards which thine adversary might use.

Against the Secunde
1. If thine adversary doth hold his weapon in a high Secunde, with a stretched arme, and is open without, then stringere him without, as soone as hee doth thrust at thee within with a secunde, then let thy point sinke downe in a Quarte close to his Rapier without, and lifting up thy hilt behinde, thrust him with a Quarte under his Rapier, at his left side.

2. Or if he doth hold his Rapier in a high secunde with a stretched arme and is open without, then stringere him likewise without, if he then doth thrust at thee without, over thy right arme with a secunde, then at the comming of his thrust, cavere towards thy right side under his Rapier, and thrust Quarte contra-tempo at the outside of his weapon over his left arme.

3. But if he holding his Rapier in a high secunde be open within stringere him within as soone as he doth make a thrust at thee within, then let thy point sinke downe into a secunde at the inside of his Rapier, and passere him at his left thigh.

4. Or when thou stringerest him within, and he doth make at thee with a secunde, at the inside of thy Rapier, at thy right breast, step then with thy right legge towards thy right side, and thrust him with a Quarte at the outside under his Rapier at his navell, and thy hilt lift up something behind.

Against the middle Secunde
5. If thine adversary doth hold his Rapier in a middle secunde with a bended arme, so that the point of his Rapier lookes quite towards his right side out, then stringere him at the outside of his Rapier, and stringering goe about towards thy left side; thus thou dost constraine him to thrust at thee; as soone as his thrust approacheth at the outside over thy right arme, then put by his thrust towards thy right side with a Quarte, and instantly changing thy Quarte into a secunde, thrust him at the inside of his Rapier at his left breast.

6. Or if hee doth lye in a middle secunde, as before, then stringere him likewise at the outside of his Rapier, upon a suddaine make a Finda at his face upwards with a Tertz, not stirring they whole arme, but onely thy wrist; as soone as he lifteth up his arme for to defend his face with his Rapier, then let thy point sinke downe into a secunde under his left arme, and passe behind him: But if he parereth thy finda with a Quarte towards thy left side, then cavere in one motion towards thy left side under his Rapier, and thrust him with a secunde at the inside of his Rapier, at his right breast.

Against the Tertz
7. If thine adversary holdeth his Rapier in a high Tertz with a bended arme, so that the point of his Rapier standeth upright, and he be open within, then make a finda at him within, as soone as he doth catch after thy finda with his Rapier towards his right side out, then lift the point of thy Rapier towards thy right side over his Rapier, and thrust with a Quarte at the outside of his Rapier over his left arme at his left breast.

8. Or when hee doth catch after thy finda towards his right side, then let thy point sinke in under his left arme, and thrust him witha Quarte at his left side.

9. If he doth not catch after thy finda, then thrust home at the inside of his weapon with a secunde at his left breast.

10. And if thou wilt stringere him within thou must observe well that (if hee lifteth the point of his Rapier towards his right side, at the inside over thy Rapier) thou thrusteth Quarte, the selfe same time his thrust approacheth, at the outside of his Rapier at his left breast.

11. If thine adversary holdeth his Rapier in a Tertz with a stretched arme, so that the point of his Rapier be lineally answerable to his left shoulder, then stringere him without, and when thou dost stringere him goe about towards thy left side as it were in a circle, not stirring from his Rapier the meane while thou goest about, then he will be forced to thrust at thee, at the outside of thy Rapier over thy right arme, then just when he is turning his point under thy Rapier for to thrust thee without over thy right arme at thy right breast, bow thy body, and thrusting him with a Secunde under his left arme passe behind him.

12. But if thy left handed adversary when thou Stringerest him without, will perforce put by thy point with his Quarte towards his left side, then yeeld to him by degrees and letting thy point sinke downe suddainly in a Secunde, passere him at the outside of his Rapier at his left thigh.

13. Or when thou dost stringere him without, upon a suddaine battiere him at the outside of his weapon, and thrust him witha Quarte at the outside of his Rapier, at his left breast.

14. If thy left handed adversary doth hold his Rapier in a low Tertz, with a stetched arme downewards, so that the hilt of his Rapier doth equallize his knee in height, then stringere him at the inside of his Rapier with a hanging secunde, as soone as he doth thrust at the outside of his Rapier, over thy right arme nigh thy hilt, then put his thrust by with a Quarte towards thy right side, and thrust him with a Secunde at the inside of his weapon, at his left shoulder.

15. But if hee doth thrust over the weakest part of thy Rapier, then changing thy Secunde into a Quarte thrust contra-tempo at the outside of his Rapier, over his left arme at his left breast.

16. Or if he doth holde his Rapier in a low Tertz as before, then let the point of thy Rapier sinke downe into a hanging Secunde, and direct thy point towards his hilt, as soone as hee doth thrust at thee on either side, then thrust Quarte at the outside of his Rapier over his left arme and at his left breast.

If thine adversary doth hold his right hand behind his hilt for to put by thy thrusts, what thou art then to doe.
17. Make a thrust at thy left handed adversary within with a Secunde, as soone as he doth catch with his righthand towards his right side after thy Rapier, then lifting the point of thy Rapier towards thy right side over his right hand, thrust him with a Secunde at the inside of his Rapier at his left shoulder.

18. Or when he wil put by thy thrust with his right hand towards his right side out, then let him misse thy Rapier with his hand, and cavering towards thy right side under his right hand, thrust him with a Secunde at the inside of his Rapier at his left shoulder.

19. Thrust at thy left handed adversary with a Quarte at the outside of his Rapier, over his left arme, as soone as he with his right hand towards his right side over his left arme doth catch after thy Rapier, then let the point of thy Rapier sinke in under his right hand and thrust him with a Quarte at the outside of his Rapier, over his left arme at his left breast.

20. Or if thou dost thrust something low, and he doth endeavour to put by thy thrust with his right hand under his left arme, towards his left side out, then lift thy point towards thy left side over his right hand, and thrust him with a secunde at the inside of his Rapier at his left shoulder.


Chap. VI.
How thou shalt elude thy left handed adversary his Passada.

1. If thine adversary be open without stringere him without, as soone as he cavering towards his left side under thy Rapier doth thrust at the outside of thy Rapier over thy right arme, then lift up thine arme of purpose that he may atempt a Passade, when he lets his point sinke downe in a Secunde under thy right arme, for to Passere thee then let thy point sinke downe into a Quarte at the outside of his Rapier, and thrust him with a Quarte at his left thigh.

2. Give thine adversary aportunity againe to Passere thee by lifting up thy right arme, as soone as he lets his point sinke in, at the outside under thy right arme, then stepping backe with thy right legge behind thy left legge, let the hilt of thy Rapier sinke downe close to the outside of his Rapier and stringere him, and at the same instant clap thy left hand upon the outside of his Rapier (not catching hold of it) and thrust with the Quarte over his left arme, at his left breast.

3. Give him opportunity againe to passere thee by the lifting up of thine arme, as soone as he lets his point sinke downe in a Secunde under thy right arme, then turning thy body about upon thy right legge Voltere him with a Quarte over his left arme.


Chap. VII.
How to escape the left handed mans Volte.

1. Thrust at thine adversary with a Secunde at the inside of his Rapier as soone as he will Voltere a Quarte over thy right arme contra-tempo, hanging thy Secunde into a Quarte thrust him at his left side.

2. Stringere thy left handed adversary without, if he then of his owne accord not invited by thee, doth Voltere with a Quarte over thy right arme, then stepping a little backe with thy right legge behind thy left legge, let thy hilt sinke downe at the inside of his Rapier, and instantly stepping forwards againe with thy right leg thrust him in at his back with a Tertz upwards, but hold thy hilt low behind.

3. Stringere thy left handed adversary within, if he then will make a Volte at thee with a Quarte at the inside of thy Rapier of his owne accord, then let the point of thy Rapier sinke downe into a Secunde at the inside of his Rapier, and Passere him with a Secunde at the inside of his weapon at his left thigh.

Having thus done with thrusts I proceede to blowes.

Here endeth the first part of the second book, treating how a Right handed man is to play at single Rapier against a Left handed.