- •The Authors Epiſtle unto divers Noble men and Gentle-men.
- •The Author, to the Reader
- •The meanes how to obtain Judgement.
- •The division of the Art
- •Of the Sword.
- •The division of the Sword
- •That everie blow of the point of the sword striketh circulerly and how he that striketh with the point, striketh streight.
- •Of wards
- •The high ward.
- •The broad ward.
- •The low Ward.
- •The hurt of the high warde at single Rapier.
- •The defence of the thrust of the high warde at Single Rapier
- •The hurt of the broad warde at Single Rapier.
- •The Defence of the broad Ward at Single Rapier.
- •The hurt of the Lowe warde at Single Rapier.
- •The Defence of the Lowe warde at Single Rapier.
- •The Rapier and Dagger.
- •The offence of the High warde at Rapier and Dagger.
- •Of the defence of high Warde at Rapier and Dagger.
- •The hurt of the broad warde at Rapier and Dagger.
- •The defence of the broad warde at Rapier and Dagger.
- •The hurt of the lowe warde at Rapier and dagger.
- •The defence of the lowe warde at Rapier & Dagger.
- •The Rapier and Cloake.
- •The manner how to handle the Cloake.
- •An advertisement concerning the warding and wrapping of the Cloake.
- •The hurt of the high ward at Rapier and Clok
- •The defence of the thrust, right and reversed blowes of the high warde at Rapier and Cloake.
- •The hurt of the broad warde, at Rapier and Cloake.
- •The defence of the broad warde, at Rapier and Cloake.
- •Of the hurt of the lowe warde, at Rapier and Cloake.
- •Of the defence of the lowe Warde at Rapier and Cloak.
- •Of the Sworde and Buckler
- •Of the Forme of the Buckler.
- •The manner how to handle the Buckler.
- •Of the hurt of the high warde at Sword and Buckler.
- •Of the defence of the high warde at Sworde and Buckler
- •Of the hurt of the broad Warde, at Sworde and Buckler.
- •The defence of the lowe warde, at Sword & buckler.
- •Of the Sworde & Target, called the Square Target.
- •The manner how to holde the Square Target.
- •The hurt of the high warde, at Sworde & Square Target.
- •The defence of the broad warde, at Sworde and Square Target.
- •Of the hurt of the lowe warde, at Sworde and Square Target.
- •Of the defence of the high warde, at Sworde and Square Target.
- •Of the Sworde & rounde Target.
- •Of the maner how to holde the round Target.
- •The hurt of the high warde, at sworde and round Target.
- •The defence of the high ward, at Sword & round Target.
- •The hurt of the broad warde, at Sworde & round Target.
- •The defence of the broad warde, at Sword & round Target.
- •The hurt of the lowe warde, at Sword & round Target.
- •Of the defence of the lowe warde, at Sword and round Target.
- •Of the Case of Rapyers
- •The manner how to handle two Rapiers
- •Of the high ward at two Rapiers
- •The defense of the high warde, &c.
- •Of the hurt of the broad ward at the two Rapyers
- •Of the defense of the broad ward at two Rapyers
- •Of the hurt of the low ward at the two Rapyers
- •Of the defense of the low ward at the two Rapyers
- •Of the two hand Sword
- •Of the maner how to handle the Two hand Sword, in single combat
- •Of the defense of the high ward, at the two hand sword
- •Of the hurt of the low ward at the two hand sworde
- •The defense of the low warde, at the two hand sword
- •Of the weapons of the Staffe, namely, the Bill, the Partisan, the Holbert, and the Javelin.
- •Of the Partesan.
- •Of Bill against Bill, Holberd against Holberd, or Holberd against Bill.
- •How to strike with the Holberd.
- •Of the defence of the heele, or blunt ende of the Holberd.
- •Of the hurt and ward of the Javelyn.
- •Of the defence of the thrustes of the Javelyn.
- •The manner how to handle the Pyke
- •For what cause the Pike maketh greater passage with the point than any other shorter weapon.
- •Of the wardes of the Pike.
- •Of the maner how to strike in the said wardes.
- •Of the defence of the wardes.
- •The Second Part intreatinge of Deceites and Falsinges of Blowes and Thrusts
The Rapier and Cloake.
Hat I maie continue in the weapons which are moſt uſuall and moſt commonly worne: After the Dagger, I come to the Cloake: The uſe whereof was firſt founde out by chaunce and after reduced into Arte. Neither was this for any other cauſe, then for that nature doth not onely delight to invent things, but alſo to preſerve them being invented. And that ſhee may the better doe it, ſhee taketh for her help all thoſe things that are commodious for her. Wherefore, as men in divers accidets have caſually proved, that the Cloak helpeth greatly (for as much as they are to weare it daily) they have deviſed how they may behave them ſelves in all that, in which the Cloak may ſerve their turne. Which accidents, becauſe they are infinite, & do not generally ſerve for our purpoſe, I wil reſtraine my ſelfe and ſpeake of thoſe onely which appertaine to this Arte, the which are ſuch and ſo effectuall, that they may greatly helpe to the obteining of ſafe victorie, if they happen to be placed in ſuch a man as knoweth howe to uſe and handle them. And for that in true Arte it doth little pervaile, the uſe thereof being in a manner altogether deceitfull, I was reſolved to put over all this to the treatiſe of Deceit, as unto his proper place, Notwithſtanding, to the ende it may not ſeeme ſtrange to any man, to read nothing of the Cloak in al the handling of true Art, I am minded to laye downe a certaine fewe blowes in the accuſtomed wardes, referring the more abundant handling thereof unto the treatiſe of Deceit.
The manner how to handle the Cloake.
A
S the Cloake in this Arte, hath in it three things to be conſidered, to wit: length, largeneſse, and flexibilitie: ſo it is to be wayed how far each of theſe will ſtretch, to ſerve the turne. Of which tree, one doth properly belong unto it, and that is flexibilitie, which maie neither be encreaſed nor diminiſhed: The other two, may receive alteration. But yet it is at any hande to be provided, that theſe two alſo be not diminiſhed. For the Cloake is no ſtrong thing, which of it ſelfe may withſtand the blowes of the weapon, being directly oppoſed againſt them.
And therefore he ſhall prove himſelfe but a foole, who truſting to the Cloth wrapped about his arme, doth encounter any right edgeblowe therewith. For ſeeing the Cloak is not flexible in that parte (which flexibilitie is his onely ſtrength) litle prevaileth either length or largenes, wrapped about a ſolide ſubſtace. But being oppoſite in that parte thereof, where it hath length, largenes and flexibilitie (which is from the arme downwardes) it is available: for all three being ioyned togither will warde any edgeblow: which manner of warding ſhould not be ſo ſure, if the cloake had onely leng th and flexibilitie: For having behind it litle ayre, which is the thing that doeth ſtrengthen it, it may eaſily be beaten too, and cut, by any great blowe. Therefore, if a man have ſo much leiſure, he ought to wrapp his Cloake once or twice about his arme, taking it by the Cape coller, and folding his arme therein up to the elbowe, and therewithall to warde all edgeblowes from the flanke thereof downwardes, aſwell on the right ſide, as on the left ſide, alwaies remembring to carrie his foote differing from his arme, for the avoyding of danger that may riſe by bearing his legg on the ſelfe ſame ſide, neere his cloak knowing the Cloak wardeth not when there is any harde ſubſtance behind it.
Thruſtes alſo themſelves, may be given without, if with the Cloake, or with the hand in the Cloak, the enimies ſworde be beaten off, one handfull within the poynt thereof. For the edge having but ſmall power in that caſe, is not hable in ſo litle time, to cut the hand. The blowes alſo, aſwell of the poynt, as of the edge, from the flanke upwardes, ought to be warded with the ſworde: For to lift the arme ſo high being burdened with the waight of the Cloak, which naturally draweth downwards, as it is a violent thing it is alſo perilous, leaſt the arme be placed in ſteede of the Cloake, and ſo reſt wounded, or leſt the arme or Cloake be placed before the eyes, which by that meanes remaine blinded.