The hurt of the high warde at single Rapier.

He trueſt, and ſureſt blowe that may be given when a man lyeth at the high warde, is, the thruſt above hande, aſwell for that it is in the ſtraight lyne, as alſo, becauſe it naturally ſtayeth it ſelfe in the lowe warde: So that from the beginning to the ending of this blowe, there is never any time given to the enimie to enter, by reaſon, that the point ſtandeth alwayes directly againſt him. But in the diſcharging of this blowe, a man muſt remember to drawe his left foote neere his right foote, & deliver it as forcibly as he may, ſtaying him ſelfe in the lowe warde.

True it is, that he may alſo deliver a right and reverſed edgeblowe at the head: or els, ſtrike downwardes from the wriſt of the hand: but becauſe he is not able to turne his wriſt in ſo ſmall a compaſſe, in the diſcharge of an edgeblowe, either high or lowe, but that the poynt of the ſworde will be out of the ſtraight lyne, by the length of a ſworde, in the which (before it returne) the enimie hath ſufficient time to ſtrike: Therefore I would not councell any man to uſe them either alone, or both togither. But yet betweene two thruſts, they may be verie well uſed togither, by continuing the one after the other (though tye be voyded) untill the laſt thruſt, the which doth ſafely reſt it ſelfe in the lowe ward. The uſe of them is one this manner.

When one having diſcharged a thruſt from the highe warde, perceiveth that it doth not hurt, becauſe it was voyded by the enemies ſword, he muſt turne a right edgeblowe from th wriſt athwart the enemies head, fetching a compaſſe with his foote behind him toward the right ſide, to the ende the blow may be the longer, which is the longeſt blowe of all others. But if the enemie voide this in like caſe (which is very difficult) then he muſt ſuddenly turn the reverſe from his elblowe encreaſing therewithall a ſlope pace with the hinder foote. And it is to be noted, that in delivering a reverſe, the ſlope pace is in a manner alwaies to be uſed, to the ende that he may go foorth of the ſtraight lyne, in which (if he ſhould deliver it) he may eaſily be ſtrooken. Having uſed this pace & reverſe, whether it hit or not, the ſworde in the ſame inſtant is ſomething to be drawen or ſlyded: which drawing is profitable in this, that in giving the reverſe it doth both cauſe the weapon to cut, and make the greater blowe. Wherefore it is to be underſtood, that all edgeblowes ought to be delivered, that they may cut: for being directly given without any drawing, they cauſe but ſmall hurt.

Comming therefore to my purpoſe, I ſay: that as ſoone as he hath drawen his ſworde, he ought with the ſtraight pace of the right foote, diſcharge a thruſt underneath, being already prepared, the which thruſt is ſo ſtrong, both for the aptnes thereof and encreaſe of the pace, that it pearceth through any impediment withſtanding it. And all theſe blowes (beginning from the thruſt above hand, till the ende of the thruſt underneath) being roundly delivered one after another with ſuch ſwiftnes as is required, are in a manner not to be warded. Beſides, they have ſo great increaſe of pace, that it is not almoſt poſſible for the enemie to retyre ſo much backwarde, as theſe encreaſe upon his forward