The hurt of the broad warde, at Rapier and Cloake.

N this warde, as well as in others, a man may both thruſt and ſtrike, yet diverſly: For he may not diſcharge a right edgeblowe beneath. And the reverſe is manifeſtly dangerous: So that, when he is to deliver it, he ought to perfourme it in this order.

Firſt, he ſhall drive a thruſt, fetching a compas with his hinder foote, that by that meanes it may reach the farther, then ſuddenly (without moving of himſelfe) he ſhall diſcharge a right edgeblowe, from the wriſt, after the which preſently, the reverſe muſt followe, with the encreaſe of a pace of the right foote: and further, muſt follow on with the thruſt alreadie prepared, and increaſe the like pace.

The defence of the broad warde, at Rapier and Cloake.

O him that will ſafely warde himſelfe from the hurt of the broad warde, it is requiſite, that he ſtand at the lowe warde. And when the thruſt underneath hand commeth, he ſhall thruſt at the face, fetching a compas with his hinder foote towardes the right ſide, with which kinde of thruſt, it doth lightly happen that the enimie is hit in the face: but if it faile, yet for all that, the enimie obtaineth not his purpoſe, in the diſcharge of the thruſt underneath, and compaſsing of the hinder foote, the bodie is carried out of the ſtraight lyne: So that, as ſoone as the thruſt is delivered at the face, and the enimie not ſtrooken therewith, but paſseth beyond his head, the reverſe is to be turned at the face, and the foote to be plucked backe, ſetling in the broad warde. To warde the right and reverſed blows, there is a thruſt to be given at the thighes or ſome other place that may moſt hinder them, in the verie ſame time that ſuch blowes are in their circle or compas. Although I do not beleve that there is any man ſo fooliſh, that (in this warde) will deliver a reverſe onely.

Of the hurt of the lowe warde, at Rapier and Cloake.

His warde is ſo ſtraight and perilons, that no man ought to aſsure himſelf to deliver an edgeblow any manner of waie. For under any of them he may be eaſily ſtrooken, and each of them may eaſily be warded with the Cloake. Therefore, he muſt diligently take heed, that he thruſt onely, the which muſt never be diſcharged before the enimies ſworde be found, and then as farre forwardes as is poſsible. So then finding it, he may thruſt both within and without. Neither is there in this thruſt any other advantage to be gotten, then to ſteale a halfe pace unwares of the enimie, which may be done verie commodiouſly, conſidering the cloak occupieth the enimies ſight, And having drawen this halfe pace, and found the enimies ſword, he muſt encreaſe an other halfe pace forwardes, and ſtrike him, coſting and forcing the enimies ſworde, on that ſide where it may do no hurt. And this maie be uſed both within and without: But he whome it pleaſeth, and who doubteth not to be entangled in the Cloake, maie (finding himſelfe within) carrie his left foote making a pace therewith, and betweene his cloake & his ſworde, cloſe the enimies ſworde, and deliver a thruſt with the encreaſe of a pace of the right foote: And finding the enimies ſword without, he may uſe the ſelfe ſame encreaſe and thruſt. But if he finde not the enimies ſword, he may deliver a litle edgeblow from the wriſt of the hand, in ſuch ſorte, that the enimy have no leaſure to enter in: And having found the Sword, to diſcharge a right or ſtreight thruſt, or elſe not voyding the enimies ſword by the encreaſe of a left pace, to drive a thruſt from aloft downwards, lifting up the fiſt ſomewhat high, and delivering it with the increaſe of a pace of the right foote.