Of the defense of the low ward at the two Rapyers
A
L three thruſts of the low ward, by ſtanding at the ſame ward, may eaſilie be warded, and that after one maner. If a man remember firſt to void his bodie from hurt, by the increaſe of a pace, that is verie ſlope, or crooked, either before the enemie cometh thruſting, either as ſoone as he moveth himſelf for the ſame purpoſe, or if he be active and nimble to traverſe, and in defending himſelfe to ſtrike the enemie.
Therefore when any of the ſame three thruſts come, and before he perceiveth his Rapier to be cloſed, and barred in, he ſhall move a ſlope pace, to th'entent to avoid himſelfe from hurt, and with his Rapier, which is at libertie, he ſhall go forwards and deliver a thruſt at the enemies face, which thruſt, doeth ſurelie ſpeed, if he be reſolute to enter.
Of the two hand Sword
He
two hand Sword, as it is uſed
now a daies being fower handfulls in the handle, or more, having alſo
the great croſse,
was found out, to the end it ſhould
be handled one to one at an equall match, as other weapons, of which
I have intreated. But becauſe
one may with it (as a galleon among many gallies) reſiſt
many Swordes, or other weapons: Therefore in the warres, it is uſed
to be placed neere unto the Enſigne
or Auncient, for the defenſe
thereof, becauſe,
being of itſelfe
able to contend with manie, it may the better ſaveguard
the ſame.
And it is accuſtomed
to be carried in the Citie, aſwell
by night as by day, when it ſo
chaunceth that a few are conſtrained
to withſtand
a great manie. And becauſe
his waight and bignes, requiers great ſtrength,
therefore thoſe
onlie are allotted to the handling thereof, which are mightie and big
to behould, great and ſtronge
in bodie, of ſtoute
and valiant courage. Who (foraſmuch
as they are to incounter manie, and to the end they may ſtrike
the more ſafelie,
and amaſe
them with the furie of the Sword) do altogether uſe
to deliver great edge blows, downe right and reverſed,
fetching a full circle, or compaſse
therein, ſtaying
themſelves
ſometimes
upon one foote, ſometimes
on the other, utterlie neglecting to thruſt,
and perſwading
themſelves,
that the thruſt
ſerveth
to amaze one man onlie, but thoſe
edge blowes are of force to incounter many. The which maner of
ſkirmiſhing,
beſides
that, it is moſt
gallant to behold, being accompanied with exceeding ſwiftnes
in deliverie, (for otherwiſe
it works no ſuch
effect) it alſo
moſt
profitable, not properly of itſelfe,
becauſe
men conſidering
the furie of the ſword,
which greatly amaſeth
them, are not ſo
reſolute
to do that, which otherwiſe
they could not chooſe
but doe. That is, either to incounter the ſword
in the middle towardes the handle, when it carrieth ſmall
force, or els to ſtand
far off, watching whileſt
the ſword
goeth, & is caried compaſsing
in his great cirkle, being of the compaſse
of tenne armes, or more, & then to run under it, and deliver a
thruſt.
And theſe
two waies are effectual, when ſuch
men are mett withall, who are exerciſed
to enter nimblie and ſtrike,
or ſuch
as dare, and have the ſpirit
& courage, to ſet,
and oppoſe
themſelves
ſingle
againſt
the two hand ſword,
even as the ſingle
two hand ſword
adventureth to oppoſe
itſelf
againſt
many. Neither is this thing to be marvailed at, for in theſe
our daies, there be things performed of greater activitie &
daunger. And there be ſome
which dare do this with the ſword
and round Target, but yet they are not reſolute
to ſtrike
firſt,
but will receave and ſuſtain
the blow, with the round Target, and then enter and thruſt,
this trulie betokeneth great courage and activitie, although not ſuch
is required in this behalfe.
This much concerning that, which appertaineth to the defenſe of circuler blowes, of the two hand ſword, when it indeavoreth to oppoſe itſelf againſt manie. And foraſmuch as men have, and ſometimes do uſe, both in the liſts & other places, to fight ſingle combats, one to one with the ſingle two hand ſword, I will alſo declare my opinion touching the ſame.