The offence of the High warde at Rapier and Dagger.

A

S in handling the ſingle Rapier, ſo likewiſe in this, it ſhall not be amiſse to begin with the High warde, which in managing theſe two weapons may be framed after two fortes. The one with the right foote before, which I will call the firſt: and the other with the ſame foot behind, which I will terme the ſecond. This ſecond requireth a

greater time, becauſe the point of the ſworde is farther off from the enimie. The firſt (being more neere) with the onely encreaſe of the foote forwardes, ſtriketh more readily, yet not more forcible than the ſecond, which, when it ſtriketh with the encreaſe of a ſtraight pace, ioyneth to the force of the arme & hand, the ſtrength of the whole bodie.

Beginning then with the firſt, as with that which each man doth moſt eaſilie find: I ſaie, he ought if he will keepe himſelfe within the boundes of true Arte, to thruſt onely with the increaſe of the foote forwards, ſetling himſelfe in the lowe warde.

In the ſocond waie, which is framed with the righte foote behind, the ſword alofte, and the dagger before, & borne as aforeſaid, he ought in like ſorte diſcharge a thruſt as forciblie as he may, with the increaſe of a ſtraight pace, ſtaying himſelfe in the lowe warde. Neither ougt anie man in the handling of theſe weapos to aſsure himſelfe to deliver edgeblowes, becauſe he knoweth that there is an other weapon which defendeth: For he that defendeth hath the ſelfe ſame advatage, to witt, to be able with one weapon (and happelie the weaker,) to defend himſelf and ſtrike with the ſtronger. The which ſtroake is painfully warded by him, who hath alreadie beſtowed all his force and power, in delivering the ſaide edgeblowe, by meanes whereof, becauſe there remaineth in him ſmall power to withſtand anie great encounter, let him provide to thruſt onelie.

Of all, or of the greater parte of the edgeblowes, aſwell of ſtriking as defending, I wil reaſon at large in the Treatiſe of Deceite.

Of the defence of high Warde at Rapier and Dagger.

O ſpeake of the manner how to withſtand the blowes of the edge, having alreadie ſaide that all ſuch blowes may eaſelie be warded by givinge a thruſt, I omit as ſuperfluous. But for the defences of both ſides of the bodie: I ſaie, it is greate vantage, to ſtand at the lowe warde, with the right foote forwardes, by the which manner of ſtanding, the right ſide is put fourth towarde the enimie, whereunto he will direct all his thruſtes: and thoſe may be encountred after three fortes, that is to ſaye: with the Dagger onely: with the Sworde onely: and with both ioyned together. But in each of them, a man muſt remember to encreaſe a ſlope pace, whereby that parte of the bodie which was to be ſtrooken is voided out of the ſtraight lyne.

When one wardeth with his Dagger onely, he ſhall encreaſe a pace, and be are his arme forwards, and having found the enimies ſworde, he ſhall (with the encreaſe of a ſtraight pace) ſtrike him with a thruſt underneath, alreadie prepared.

When he wardeth with his ſworde onely, it is requiſite, that making a ſlope pace, he lift up his ſworde, and beare it outwards, or els, as ſoon as he hath found the enimies ſworde, that with his dagger he ſtrike at the temples of hes enimies head, ſtaying his ſworde with his owne: or els in ſteede of ſtriking with the Dagger, therewith to ſtaie the enimies ſword, & with it, (encreaſing another ſtraight pace) to deliver a thruſt: but it is verie commodious to ſtrike with the Dagger.

The thirde waie: As ſoone as he hath made the ſlope pace, and found the enimies ſworde, he ought to ſtaie it with his Dagger, and therewithall, withdrawing his owne ſworde, to diſcharge a thruſt underneath with the encreaſe of a ſtraight pace.