The meanes how to obtain Judgement.

Lthough I have verye much in a manner in all quarters of Italie, ſeene moſt excellent profeſſors of this Art, to teach in their Schols, and practiſe privately in the Liſtes to traine up their Schollers. Yet I doo not remember that ever I ſaw anie man ſo throughly indewed with this firſt part, to wit, Iudgement, as is in that behalfe required.

And it may bee that they keep it in ſecreat of purpoſe: for amongſt divers diſorderlie blowes, you might have ſeen ſome of them moſt gallantlie beſtowed, not without evident coniecture of deepe iudgment. But howſoever it bee ſeeinge I purpoſe to further this Art, in what I may, I wil ſpeak of this firſt part as aptly to the purpoſe, as I can.

It is therefore to be conſidered that man by ſo much the more waxeth fearefull or boulde, by how much the more he knoweth how t' avoid or not to eſchew daunger.

But to attain to this knowledg, it is moſt neceſſarie that he alwaies kepe ſtedfaſtly in memorie all theſe advertiſements underwritten, from which ſpringeth al the knowledge of this Art. Nether is it posſible without them to perfome any perfect action for the which a man may give a reſon. But if it ſo fall out that any man (not having the knowledg of theſe advertiſements) performe any ſure act, which may be ſaid to be handled with iudgement, that proceedeth of no other thing, then of very nature, and of the mind, which of itſelfe naturally conceiveth all theſe advertiſementes.

1. Firſt, that the right or ſtreight Line is of all other the ſhorteſt: wherefore if a man would ſtrike in the ſhorteſt lyne, it is requiſite that he ſtrike in the ſtreight line.

2. Secondly, he that is neereſt, hitteth ſooneſt.. Out of which advertiſment a man may reap this profit, that ſeeing the enemies ſword farr off, aloft and readie to ſtrik, he may firſt ſtrik the enemie, before he himſelfe be ſtriken.

3. Thirdly, a Circle that goeth compasſinge beareth more force in the extremitie of the circumference, then in the center thereof.

4. Fourthly, a man may more eaſely withſtand a ſmall then a great force.

5. Fifthly, everie motion is accompliſhed in tyme.

That by theſe Rules a man may get iudgment, is moſt cleere, ſeing there is no other thinge required in this Art, then to ſtrike wiht advantage, and defend with ſafetie.

This is done, when one ſtriketh in the right line, by giving a thurſt, or by delyvering an edge blow with that place of the ſword, where it carrie th moſt force, firſt ſtriking the enemie beefore he b e ſtroken: The which is perfourmed, when he perceiveth him ſelfe to be more nere his enemie, in whic h caſe, he muſt nimbly deliver it. For there are few nay there is no man at all, who (perceiving him ſelfe readie to be ſtroken) gives not back, and forſaketh to performe everie other motion which he hath begun.

And foraſmuch, as he knoweth that every motion is made in time, he indevoreth himſelfe ſo to ſtrik and defend, that he may uſe as few motions as is posſible, and therein to ſpend as litle time, And as his enemie moveth much in divers times he may be advertiſed hereby, to ſtrike him in one or more of thoſe times, ſo out of al due time ſpent.