- •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.
- •The broad ward.
- •The low Ward.
- •Of wards
- •The high 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 Defence of the broad Ward at Single Rapier.
I
F a man would defend himſelfe from the blowes of the foreſaide broad warde, it is good that he ſtande againſt the enimie in the lowe warde: for whileſt he is ſo oppoſite in the ſame warde, the enimie may neither eaſily enter, neither commodiouſly defend himſelfe. So that he which is in the lowe warde may very eaſily withſtand the downright blow, and the reverſe by giving a thruſt, for that he ſhall hit him firſt, And if he would onely oppoſe his ſworde, and not ſtrike alſo therewithall, he muſt encounter the enimies ſword with the edge of his owne, and turning the ſame edge fetch a reverſe, ſtriking at the face of the enimie. And as he ſo turneth his hand and edge of his ſworde, it ſhalbe good that he carrie his forefoote a halfe crooked or ſlope pace towards his right ſide, ſtaying himſelfe in the broad warde. For defence of the reverſe, it is to be marked, when the enimie lifteth up the point of the Rapier out of the ſtraight lyne, becauſe then of force he fetcheth a compaſſe: And whileſt he ſo doth, a man muſt make a ſtraight pace forwardes, and with his left hande take holdfaſt of the ſworde hande of the enimie, and incontinently wound him with a thruſt underneath alreadie prepared.
Now, the verie ſame defence is to be uſed againſt the thruſt underneath, which is againſt the right edgeblowe. Neither is there any other difference between theſe two defences, but that whileſt the right blowe fetcheth his compas, a man may give a thruſt and hit home firſt: For the thruſt underneath, muſt onely of neceſſitie be warded, becauſe, coming in the ſtraight lyne, it miniſtreth no advantage or time to hit home firſt.
The hurt of the Lowe warde at Single Rapier.
A
Man may in like maner in this ward, as in others, deliver a thruſt, a right blowe, and a reverſe: but the true and principall effect of this warde, is to expect the enimie, aſwell for that a man beareth him ſelfe without warineſſe, as alſo, becauſe it is apt and readie to defende all blowes either high or lowe: For being in the middle, it is as eaſily ſomewhat lifted up, as ſomething borne downe: So that when one ſtandeth in this warde, he may not (as for his advantage) be the firſt that ſhall give either the down-right blowe, or the reverſe: for both the one and the other (departing out of the ſtraight lyne) are deadly, becauſe they give time to the enimie to enter nimbly with a thruſt, The thruſt therefore, may be only uſed when one meaneth to ſtrike firſt, and it is practiſed either within, or without, alwaies regarding in either of the waies, ſo to beare and place his arme, that he have no neede (before he thruſt) to drawe backe the ſame. And if the enimie warde it, by the traverſe or croſſe motion of his Rapier, as many uſe to do, then he ought to encreaſe a ſtraight pace and lift up his ſword hand, holding the point thereof downwards betwixt the enimies arme and his bodie, & with the encreaſe of a ſtraight pace to deliver a thruſt. And this maner of thruſt doth eaſily ſpeede, becauſe it increaſeth continually in the ſtraight lyne in ſuch ſort that the enimie can do no other then give backe, and eſpecially when it is done without, for then the ſworde is ſafe from the traverſe motion of the other ſworde.