Of the defence of the thrustes of the Javelyn.

F

Or him that would defend himſelfe from thoſe two thruſts, and ſtrike under them, it is neceſsarie to call to remembraunce the moſt ſubtill conſideration of times, without knowledge whereof, there is no man that may ſafelie beare himſelfe under anie weapon: Comming therefore to the ſaid conſideration, I ſaie, that if the enimie would beate of the Iavelyn, (his owne Iavelyn being either within, either without) of force hee muſt enlarge and widen it from out the ſtraight lyne, if he would as aforeſaid forciblie beat off the other Iavelyn. Therefore at what time ſoever a man ſeeth the enimies Iavelyn wide of the ſtraight lyne, then, and in the ſame time (in the which it commeth purpoſing to beat off) he muſt nimblie deliver a thruſt. And in like maner, finding himſelfe, either within, either without, and the enimies Iavelyn ſomething wide of the ſtraight lyne, then before it come into the ſaid lyne againe, he ſhall with the increaſe of a pace deliver a thruſt, at the length of the hinder arme, and then retyring his ſaid pace, ſettle himſelfe at his ward againe.

Of the Partisan.

F any would handle the Partiſan in ſingle combat, they ſhall not ſtrike with the edge, becauſe the time is too long, and they may eaſilie be ſtroken under the ſame. Therefore practizing the thruſt, they ſhall uſe the ſelfe ſame offence and defence, which I have ſhewed in the Iavelyn, to the which I referre them.

Of the Pike.

S among all other weapons, which are worn by the ſide, the ſingle ſword is the moſt honorable, as beeing ſuch a one which is left capable of deceit of any other: So among the weapons of the Staffe, the Pike is the moſt plaine, moſt honorable, and moſt noble weapon of all the reſt.

Therefore among renowned knightes and great Lords this weapon is highly eſteemed, becauſe it is as well voide of deceite, as alſo, for that in well handling thereof, there is required great ſtrength of bodie, accompanied with great valure and deepe iudgement: for there is required in the uſe thereof a moſt ſubtill & delicate knowledge and conſideration of times, and motions, and a readie reſolution to ſtrike. Theſe qualities may not happen or be reſident in any perſons, but in ſuch as are ſtrong of armes and couragious of ſtomacke. Neither may they procure to get any other advantage in the handling thereof, then to be more quick and reſolute both in iudgement and hande than their enimie is. Therefore ſeeing every man may hereby knowe what is neceſsarie for him ſo to handle it, as he may obtaine victorie thereby: let him reſolve himſelfe either to give it over quite, or els to handle it as he ought, and is required.

The manner how to handle the Pyke

T

His renowmed weapon hath beene of divers diverſly handled, in ſingle combat: (for the manner of uſing it in the warres, maketh not at this preſent for my purpoſe.) Therefore it ſhall not be amiſse, if (ſpeaking of the manner of his uſe in theſe are daies) I declare alſo mine opinion concerning the ſame. There have beene ſome (who greatly regarding eaſe & little paine) would have the Pike to be borne in the middle. Other ſome, more ſtrong of arme, but weaker of hart, (to the end they might be the farther off, from hurte) accuſtomed to beare it at the beginning neere the heele or blunt end thereof: which two waies in my iudgement are to be refuſed, the one being too daungerous (I meane the bearing of it in the middle) the other too difficult (I mean, the bearing it at the blunt end,) becauſe a man is not able to ſtande long at his ward, neither to defend himſelfe ſtrongly, nor offend ſafely, conſidering, much of his force is taken away, by ſtſteining and bearing it at the ſaid end. So that, when a forcible blow commeth he hath not ſufficient power to beat it off. And foraſmuch as the Pike is a long ſtraight lyne, which hath his motion in the head or beginning thereof, which motion be it never ſo finall, neere the hand, is yet verie great at the point, it is requiſite, if he would ſtrike iuſt and ſtraight, (when he ſo holdeth it at the end) that he be greatly practiſed, and have great ſtrength whereby he may be both ſkilfull & able to beare it ſo iuſt & even, that the point thereof ſtrik or hit there where the hand & eie would have it. This is verie hardly accompliſhed, aſwel beecauſe it is a thing impoſsible to ſtrike by the ſtraight lyne, as alſo for that the armes being weakened with the paize of the Pike, do ſhake and deliver unſtedfaſtly. Therefore, for the avoyding of theſe two inconveniences, the Pike muſt be born within an armes length of the ſaid heele or blunt end, in which place, it is ſufficiently diſtant from hurt, & it is not borne with much difficultie if the hands be placed an armes length one from another of the which the hinder hand muſt be ſtedfaſt, I meane, holde the Pike harde, and the forehand ſomewhat lookſe: So that the Pike may ſhift through it to and fro.