Of Bill against Bill, Holberd against Holberd, or Holberd against Bill.

Oraſmuch, as the Bill and Holberd, have the ſelfe ſame offence and defence, and be of one length: I thought it not good to make two Treatiſes thereof, becauſe I ſhould be forced to repeat the ſelfeſame thing in both, the which, being ſuperfluous, would breed loathſomenes. I ſay therefore, that whoſoever would handle the Bill or Holberd, which beeing all

one, I will name indifferently, by the name of the Holberd, I ſay, to him that would uſe them, & ſtrike aſwell with the point, as with the edge, which blowes at theſe weapons are mightie and forcible, it is neceſsarie, that he conſider the difficultie in ſtriking with the point, and the daunger in ſtriking with the edge. That it is difficult to ſtrike with the point, it is moſt cleere, becauſe the full courſe of the point, may verie eaſilie be hindered and tyed, by meanes of ſo many hookes and forkes which are in the Holberd.

And that it is perilous to ſtrike with the edge, hath bin declared when I intreated of the ſingle Rapier, which perill ought the more to be conſidered in this weapon, becauſe by meanes of his length, it frameth a greater circle, and therein giveth more time to enter under it.

Therefore no man may ſafelie handle the Holberd, if firſt he do not conſider theſe two thinges, the one, (which he may verie hardlie withſtand) and that is the thruſt, becauſe theſe hookes and forkes, are properlie belonging unto it, and are impoſsible to bee untyed and taken away, when a man would the forme being as it is. 2. The peril of the edge blow, may ſome time be voided, if he be nimble and bold, performing all that in due time, which ſhall heere be laid down for his inſtruction.

How to strike with the Holberd.

I

N the handling of this weapon, there ſhall be framed (by my counſel) no more than one ward, bearing in the hands, for the more ſuretie in the middle of the ſtaffe. And that ward muſt be the lowe ward. The hands muſt be ſomewhat diſtant, one from an other, and the point of the weapon directlie towards the enimie, regarding alwaies to place himſelfe with the contrarie foote before, to that, which the enimie ſhall ſet forth, that is to ſay: Yf the enimie be before with the left foote, then to ſtand with his right foote, or contrarie wiſe. And ſtanding in maner aforeſaid, he muſt alwaies prove & trie (before he be determined to deliver a thruſt) to beat off the enimies weapon, which being done, preſently deliver a forcible thruſt toward the enimie. But becauſe it may lightly ſo fall out, that in beating off the enimies weapon (the enimie happelie pretending to do the like) the weapons be intangled faſt together. Therefore, as ſoone as it is perceaved that they be grappled faſt, ſtanding ſure, and firmelie on his feete, he ſhall increaſe a pace towardes the enimie, lifting up aloft the enimies weapon, together with his owne by force of the ſaid intangling, and then with the heele, or the blunt end of the Holberd ſhall ſtrike the enimie in the breſt, (for which conſideration it ſhould not diſlike me, if for that purpoſe, there be faſtned in the ſaid blunt end, a ſtrong and ſharpe pike of iron) and as ſoone as he hath ſtroken with the ſaid blunt end, (becauſe, by meanes of the ſaid lifting upp, the weapons ſhall b e now unhooked) and retyring that pace which he had before increaſed, without removing of his hands, he ſhall deliver a ſtrong edge blow, which then is verie commodious.

And it is to be underſtood, that this edge blow being delivered in this maner, is ſo ſtrong, that it is apt to cutt the enimies ſword, if it be oppoſed in his ward. Only that which is to be regarded in the delivering of this blow, is, that he be nimble, and of ſtout courage, not doubting that he ſhal be ſtrooken againe, becauſe he is to goe ſo neere his enimie, for beſides, that he is in ſuch caſe, that he may eaſilie ward any blowe, the enimie findeth no waie, to ſtrike, except he performe it in two times, to witt, by retyring his pace and Holberd, and then by delivering a thruſt.

That this waie of ſtriking is good, after the tying, and intangling of the weapons, it may be hereby underſtood, that as a man indevoreth to untye, and unlooſen the weapons, either by retyring himſelfe, either by carying them on the one ſide, to the intent to ſtrike, he may then go foorth of the ſtraight lyne, by going to one of the both ſides, or els loſe one time, by retyring himſelfe, under which two inconveniences, either he muſt needes be hurt, or els defending himſelfe, tye faſt the weapons againe. But theſe inconveniences happen not in the foreſaid maner of ſtriking.