- •The Authors Epiſtle unto divers Noble men and Gentle-men.
- •The Author, to the Reader
- •The meanes how to obtain Judgement.
- •The division of the Art
- •Of the Sword.
- •The division of the Sword
- •That everie blow of the point of the sword striketh circulerly and how he that striketh with the point, striketh streight.
- •Of wards
- •The high ward.
- •The broad ward.
- •The low Ward.
- •The hurt of the high warde at single Rapier.
- •The defence of the thrust of the high warde at Single Rapier
- •The hurt of the broad warde at Single Rapier.
- •The Defence of the broad Ward at Single Rapier.
- •The hurt of the Lowe warde at Single Rapier.
- •The Defence of the Lowe warde at Single Rapier.
- •The Rapier and Dagger.
- •The offence of the High warde at Rapier and Dagger.
- •Of the defence of high Warde at Rapier and Dagger.
- •The hurt of the broad warde at Rapier and Dagger.
- •The defence of the broad warde at Rapier and Dagger.
- •The hurt of the lowe warde at Rapier and dagger.
- •The defence of the lowe warde at Rapier & Dagger.
- •The Rapier and Cloake.
- •The manner how to handle the Cloake.
- •An advertisement concerning the warding and wrapping of the Cloake.
- •The hurt of the high ward at Rapier and Clok
- •The defence of the thrust, right and reversed blowes of the high warde at Rapier and Cloake.
- •The hurt of the broad warde, at Rapier and Cloake.
- •The defence of the broad warde, at Rapier and Cloake.
- •Of the hurt of the lowe warde, at Rapier and Cloake.
- •Of the defence of the lowe Warde at Rapier and Cloak.
- •Of the Sworde and Buckler
- •Of the Forme of the Buckler.
- •The manner how to handle the Buckler.
- •Of the hurt of the high warde at Sword and Buckler.
- •Of the defence of the high warde at Sworde and Buckler
- •Of the hurt of the broad Warde, at Sworde and Buckler.
- •The defence of the lowe warde, at Sword & buckler.
- •Of the Sworde & Target, called the Square Target.
- •The manner how to holde the Square Target.
- •The hurt of the high warde, at Sworde & Square Target.
- •The defence of the broad warde, at Sworde and Square Target.
- •Of the hurt of the lowe warde, at Sworde and Square Target.
- •Of the defence of the high warde, at Sworde and Square Target.
- •Of the Sworde & rounde Target.
- •Of the maner how to holde the round Target.
- •The hurt of the high warde, at sworde and round Target.
- •The defence of the high ward, at Sword & round Target.
- •The hurt of the broad warde, at Sworde & round Target.
- •The defence of the broad warde, at Sword & round Target.
- •The hurt of the lowe warde, at Sword & round Target.
- •Of the defence of the lowe warde, at Sword and round Target.
- •Of the Case of Rapyers
- •The manner how to handle two Rapiers
- •Of the high ward at two Rapiers
- •The defense of the high warde, &c.
- •Of the hurt of the broad ward at the two Rapyers
- •Of the defense of the broad ward at two Rapyers
- •Of the hurt of the low ward at the two Rapyers
- •Of the defense of the low ward at the two Rapyers
- •Of the two hand Sword
- •Of the maner how to handle the Two hand Sword, in single combat
- •Of the defense of the high ward, at the two hand sword
- •Of the hurt of the low ward at the two hand sworde
- •The defense of the low warde, at the two hand sword
- •Of the weapons of the Staffe, namely, the Bill, the Partisan, the Holbert, and the Javelin.
- •Of the Partesan.
- •Of Bill against Bill, Holberd against Holberd, or Holberd against Bill.
- •How to strike with the Holberd.
- •Of the defence of the heele, or blunt ende of the Holberd.
- •Of the hurt and ward of the Javelyn.
- •Of the defence of the thrustes of the Javelyn.
- •The manner how to handle the Pyke
- •For what cause the Pike maketh greater passage with the point than any other shorter weapon.
- •Of the wardes of the Pike.
- •Of the maner how to strike in the said wardes.
- •Of the defence of the wardes.
- •The Second Part intreatinge of Deceites and Falsinges of Blowes and Thrusts
The Second Part intreatinge of Deceites and Falsinges of Blowes and Thrusts
Einge come to the end of the true Arte, and having declared all that which ſeemed convenient and profitable for the attaynement of true judgement in the handling of the weapon & of the entire knowledg of al advatages, by the which as well al diſadvantages are knowen: It shall be good that I intreat of Deceite or Falsing, aswel to performe my promiſe, as alſo to ſatisfie those who are greatly delighted to skirmiſh, not with pretence to hurt or over come, but rather for their exercise & paſtime:
In which it is a brave and gallant thing and worthy of commendations to be skilfull in the apte managing of the bodie, feete and hands, in moving nimblie ſometimes with the hand, ſome-times with the elbow, and ſometimes with the ſhoulder, in retiring, in increaſing; in lifting the bodie high, in bearing it low in one inſtant: in breif, delivering ſwiftlie blows aſwell of the edge as of the point, both right and reverſed, nothing regarding either time, advantage or meaſure, beſtowing them at randone everie waie.
But diverse men being blinded in their owne conceites, do in theſe actions certainly beleeve that they are either more nimble, either more warie & diſcreet then theire adverſarie is: Of which their foliſh opinion they are all beaſtlie proud and arrogant:
And becauſe it hath manie times happened them, either with a falſe thruſt, or edge blowe, to hurte or abuſe the enemie, they become loftie, and preſume thereon as though their blowes were not to be warded. But yet for the moſt part it falleth out, that by a plain ſimple ſwad having onely a good ſtomack and ſtout courage, they are chopt in with a thruſt, and ſo miſerablie slaine.
For avoiding of this abuſe, the beſt remedie is, that they exerciſe themſelves in delivering theſe falſes onlie in ſport, and (as I have before ſaid) for their practiſe & paſtime: Reſolving themſelves for a truth, that when they are to deal with anie enemie, & when it is upon danger of their lives, they muſt then ſuppoſe the enemie to be equall to themſelves aſwel in knowledge as in ſtrength, & accustome themſelves to ſtrik in as litle time as is posſible, and that alwaies beeing wel warded. And as for theſe Falſes or Slips, they muſt uſe them for their exerciſe & paſtimes ſake onelie, and not preſume upon them, except it bee againſt ſuch perſons, who are either much more slow, either know not the true principels of this Art. For Diſceit or Falſing is no other thing, then a blow or thruſt devered, not to the intent to hurt or hitt home, but to cauſe the enemie to diſcover himſelfe in ſome parte, by meanes whereof a man maie ſafely hurt him in the ſame part. And looke how manie blowes or thruſts there maie be given, ſo manie falses or deceits may be uſed, and a great manie more, which ſhal be declared in their proper place: The defence likewiſe whereof ſhall in few words be laſt of all laid open unto you.
Deceits or Falsings of the single Sword, or single Rapier