Of the Case of Rapyers

Here are alſo uſed now adaies, aſwell in the ſcholles, as in the liſts, two Swordes or Rapiers, admitted, and approved both of Princes, and of the profeſsors of this art, for honourable and knightly weapons, albeit they be not uſed in the warres. Wherefore I ſhall not varie from my purpoſe, if I reaſon alſo of theſe, as farre as is agreeable to true art. To him that would handle theſe weapons, it is neceſsary that he can aſwell manage the left hand as the right, which thing ſhalbe (if not neceſsarie) yet moſt profitable in every other kind of weapon. But in theſe principally he is to reſolve himſelfe, that he can do no good, without that kind of nimblenes and dexteritie. For ſeeing they are two weapons, & yet of one ſelf ſame kind, they ought equally and indifferently to be handled, the one performing that which the other doth, & every of them being apt aſwel to ſtrik as defend. And therefore a man ought to accuſtome his bodie, armes and handes aſwell to ſtrike as defend. And he which is not much practiced and exerciſed therein, ought not to make profeſsion of this Arte: for he ſhal finde himſelfe to be utterly deceived

The manner how to handle two Rapiers

I

T is moſt manifeſt that both theſe weapons may ſtrike in one and the ſame time: for there may be delivered ioyntly togither two downright edgeblowes on high and two beneath: two reverſes, and two thruſtes, and are ſo rich and plentifull in ſtriking, that it ſeemeth they may be uſed onely to ſtrike. But this ought not to be practiced, neither may it without great daunger For all that, whatſoever may be done with either of them, is divided into ſtriking and defendinge. That this is true, it may be perceived in the ſingle Sworde, which aſsaieth both to ſtrike and defend. And thoſe who have taken no ſuch heede, but have beene bent onely to ſtrike being moved either through choller, either beleeving, that they had to deale with an ignorant perſon, have remained thereby mightily wounded. of this, there might be laid downe infinite examples, which I leave to the entent I may not ſwarve from my purpoſe. I ſaie therefore that of the two Rapiers which are handled, the one muſt be applyed towardes the other to ſtrike, regarding alwies to uſe that firſt which wardeth, then that which ſtrikeeth: for firſt a man muſt endevour to defend himſelfe, and then to ſtrike others.

Of the high ward at two Rapiers

Reſuppoſing alwaies, that either hand is very well exerciſed, aſwell in ſtriking as in defending, this ward ſhalbe framed after two waies, which yet in manner is all one. The one with the right foot, and the other with the left, ſo working continually, that the hind arme be aloft, the former beneath in maner, as when the lowe warde is framed at ſingle ſword. And as a man ſtriketh, he muſt alwaies maintaine & continue this high warde, which at the two rapiers, is the moſt perfect & ſureſt and he may eaſily performe & do it: for whileſt he entreth to give a high thruſt with his hinder foote, although that foot be behind yet it muſt accompanie the arme until it hath finiſhed his thruſt, & ſettled itſelf in the low ward. The other ſword & hand (which was borne togither with the former foote in the lowe ward) remaining behind by reaſon of the increaſe of the high thruſt, muſt preſently be lifted up & be placed in the ſame high ward.

Therefore it is to be noted, that whoſoever meaneth to ſhift from this ward & ſtrike, whether it be with his right or left foot, before or behinde, it is requiſite that he ſtand without, & when he would ſtrike, he ſhal firſt prove with his low ſworde, whether he can finde the enemies weapons, & having ſuddenly found them, he ſhal nimbly beat them back, and (in a maner) in the ſame inſtant force on a high thruſt, with the increaſe of a pace of the right foot: from the which, if the enemie (for ſaving of himſelfe) ſhal haſtily and directly give backwards, he ſhal follow him, delivering preſently the other high thruſt behind, alreadie lifted up. And this thruſt wil ſafely hit home & ſpeede, becauſe it is not poſsible that one may go ſo faſt backwards, as an other may forwards.

Farther, aſwel in this ward, as in others, the warde may be framed with the right foote before, & the right arme lifted, & ſo contrariwiſe. But becauſe there is ſmal force in this ward both in the feete and handes, which ſtand not commodiouſly either to ſtrike or defend, and ſeeing that there is required in the handling of thoſe weapons, great ſtrength and ſtedfaſtnes I have thought good, not to laie it down, as to ſmall purpoſe.