The manner how to handle the Buckler.

F a man would, that the Buckler worke the ſaid effect, to wit: that it may be hable with his ſmalneſse to cover the whole bodie, he muſt holde and beare it in his fiſt, as farre off from the bodie as the arme may poſsibly ſtretch foorth, moving alwaies the arme & buckler together, as one entire and ſolide thing, having no bendign, or as if the arme were united to the buckler, turning continually al the flatt thereof towards the enimie. From which kionde of holding proceed all theſe commodities following.

1. The firſt is, that the arme (ſtanding directly behinde the Buckler) is wholy covered, neither may be ſtrooken by any manner of thing which is before it.

2. The ſecond, that all edgeblows are of force encountred in the firſte and ſecond parte thereof, where they carrie leaſt force: neither can it fall out otherwiſe, if the enimie woulde (in manner as he ought) ſtrike either at the head or bodie. For if the enimie would ſtrik them, it is neceſsarie, that his ſword come within the buckler ſo much as the arme is long: For otherwiſe it ſhal never hit home. And in this caſe he may well warde each great blow, and therewithal eaſily ſtrike, and that in ſhort time.

3. The thirde commoditie is, that all thruſtes are moſt eaſily warded: for the Buckler being rounde, with the directly flatt oppoſite againſt the enimie, & warding all the bodie, the enimie will not reſolve himſelfe to give a thruſt but onely againſt thoſe partes which are ſo well covered by the Buckler, as, the head, the thighes, or ſome parte of the bodie, being found diſcovered by ill bearing of the Buckler. And ſeeing that theſe thruſtes, having to hit home, ought to enter ſo farre in, as is from the buckler to the bodie & more (and that is the length of an arme) they maye eaſily and without doubt (making leſse motion, and therefore in little time) be driven outwardes by the Buckler before they come to the bodie.

There are many other commodities to be gathered by ſo holding of the buckler, which at this preſent are not to be recyted.

Wherefore being to finiſh this Chapter, I ſay, that the Buckler ought not to defend, but onely down to the knee and leſse. And reaſon that it ſhould defend no farther than the arme can ſtretch it ſelfe, that is to the middle thigh. In the act of fighting, a man ſtandeth alwaies ſomewhat bowing, therefore a little more is allowed. The reſt of the bodie downwardes muſt be warded with the Sword onely.

Of the hurt of the high warde at Sword and Buckler.

Ecauſe it is a verie eaſie matter to ward both the right and reverſed blowes of the edge: And for that a man may eaſily ſtrike under them, I will not lay down either for the one or the other their ſtrikings or defendings, but onely talke of the thruſt. I ſaye, the thruſt above may be

delivered in two ſortes, the one with the right foote behinde, the other with the right foote before.

When the thruſt is diſcharged that carrieth the right foote behinde, there muſt (in deliverie thereof) be encreaſed a ſtraight pace of the right foote. And it muſt be driven & forced with all that ſtrength which it requireth, and that is verie great, then ſetling in the lowe warde.

When one would deliver a thruſt with the right foote before, he muſt remember in any caſe, firſt (unawares of the enimie) to ſteale a halfe pace, that is to ſaie: to drawe the hinder foote neere the forefoote, & then to caſt a thruſt with the encreaſe of a halfe pace forwardes, ſetling himſelfe after the deliverie thereof in the lowe warde.