The Noble and Worthy Science of Defense, Chapter 12 · Fighting move 10 – Fighting move 31
The Stokata guard.
YOu muſt (if you will frame your ſelfe into this guard) keepe the Dagger point out-right, and ſo hie as your cheeke, and your Rapier hand ſo farre backe, and ſomething low as you can, and your feete three foote diſtance at the leaſt, and this guard many Profeſſours doe teach as the chiefe and maiſter guard of all other; Now the reaſons which they ſhew to draw men into this guard, is firſt ſay they, the head bowing backe, then the face is furtheſt from danger of a thruſt or blow: now to anſwere this againe, I ſay, that although the face be ſomething further from the enemie, yet the bottome of the bellie, and the fore leg is in ſuch danger, that it cannot be defended from one that is skilfull; and to bee hurt in the bellie is more dangerous then the face, whereas if thou frame thy guard according vntounto my direction following the firſt Picture, then ſhalt thou finde that thy bellie is two foote (at the leaſt) further from danger of a thruſt, and ſo is the foote likewiſe, and the leg ſafe and out of danger both of blow and thruſt: and now thy face will ſeeme to be, and is the neereſt part towards wards thine enemie, but then thou haſt thy dagger being in his right place, neareſt vntounto thy face, readie to defend him: againe, hee which ſtandeth abroad with his feete, will alwayes be in iealouſie of his fore leg, the which muſt be defended by plucking him vp nimbly at euerie blowe and thruſt, and yet that will not ſurely defend him from a thruſt, but admit you do defend the leg by plucking him vp, then doe you looſe your time of anſwering your enemie, which ſhould bee done in the ſame time which you plucke vp your leg, and before you can come in againe with your anſwer, your enemie will hauehave recouered his guard and diſtance againe: There are many other guards, ſome of them I will touch a little, and ſome of them I will leaue vntill an other time: there are three high guardes, one of them I will ſpeake next of, becauſe it is a great enemie, not onelie vntounto the Stokata guarde, but it likewiſe croſſeth all other guards, and it followeth in this maner.
Keepe your thumbe long wayes vponupon the blade of your Rapier, according vntounto the naturall Arte; the common holding of the vulgar ſort, and your feete ſo cloſe together, as you can, and the hilt of your Rapier ſo hie as your cheeke, bowing the elboweioynt of your Rapier arme, and your Dagger hilt ſo lowe as your gerdle ſteade, and beare the point of your Dagger vpright, and the Rapier point on the in ſide of your Dagger, both cloſe together, looking vnderunder your Rapier, and beare out your Dagger at the armes end, without bowing your elbow ioynt; and if your enemie charge you with a thruſt, carrie the thruſt with your Dagger toward the right ſide, keeping the point of your Dagger vpright, not turning him in your defence this way nor that way, but beare him ſteady ouer your body, and ſo you may defend any manner of thruſt: for if you beare your dagger (as aforeſaide) your enemies point will paſſe cleere vnderunder your Rapier arme, but hauing once defended, in the very ſame motion you muſt lift vp the hilt of your Rapier, and turning your knuckle vpward, and withall, turne your point downe into your enemies rapier ſhoulder, ſtepping foorth with the right foote and hand together, your defence and offence muſt be all done with done motion. Now if your enemie charge you with a blow, you are as readie to defend it double on this guard as in anie other: but if thou charge thine enemie, or make the firſt aſſfault, prepare thy defence for the Rapier ſhoulder, by carrying thy Dagger ouer thy bodie, keeping the point of thy Dagger vpright. This defence is good to bee vſed againſt a left handed man likewiſe.
Now he which is well experimented in this guard hee will finde it verie dangerous for offence to thine enemie, and defenſiue for thy ſelfe, aboue all other guardes, eſpecially if thou hauehave diſcretion to lie at watch diſcreetely, and to take thine opportunitie and aduantage, when thine enemie proffereth anie kinde of play vponupon thee.
The careleſſe or the lazie guard.
LAy the point of your Rapier vponupon the ground a foote wide of your left ſide ouerthwart your bodie, and let the hilt of your rapier reſt vponupon your right thigh, and your dagger vnderunder your rapier about a foot forward of the hilt, and ſo leauing your whole belly or breſt, will ſeeme a verie faire baite for your enemie to thruſt at, but when hee chargeth you with a thruſt, your defence muſt bee by the lifting vp of your Rapier point, with your Dagger, throwing him ouer towards your right ſide, but lift not vp your Rapier hand in the time of your defence in anie caſe, for ſo it may endanger the face, but ſo ſoone as you hauehave turned it cleere ouer your bodie with both your weapons as aforeſaid (it may bee done with one of them, but not ſo well becauſe not ſo ſure as with both together) then vponupon your defence recouer your point haſtily againe and chop him in with an ouer-hand thruſt, turning your knuckles vpwards into his right ſhoulder where you may eaſily hit him if you bee quicke in taking your time before hee recouer his diſtance, or get out of your reach. This is no painefull guard, but verie eaſie and quickly learned, and it is a verie ſure guard to defend any manner of thruſt, now vponupon this guard if your enemie doe falſefie a thruſt vponupon you by offring it at breaſt or face, whereby to make you lift vp your weapons, thinking to hit you beneath with a ſecond thruſt by reaſon of your lifting them vp to ſaue the other parts the which you muſt doe, but fayling of it aboue, bring downe your Dagger quickly againe to defend below the ſecond thruſt.
The fore-hand guard at Rapier and Dagger.
PVt thy Rapier hand vnderunder the hilt of thy Dagger, alwaies keeping the point of thy Rapier ſomething variable, and yet ſomething directly about the girdle-ſtead of thy enemie, and the point of thy Dagger in a manner vpright, or a verie little leaning towards thy left ſide, and both thy Dagger and thy Rapier hilts together, and both ſo low as thy girdle-ſtead: thoſe being guarded, if thy enemie doe charge thee with a thruſt, carrie thy Dagger quicke ouer towards thy right ſide, and make a preſent anſwere by chopping out the point of thy Rapier, and ſo haſtily into thy guard againe, expecting a freſh charge.
The broad Warde.
BEare out both your armes right out from your bodie ſtiffe at the armes end, and a foote at the leſt a ſunder, and turne both the Rapier and Dagger hilts ſo high as your breſt or hier, leauing all your bodie open, or vngarded to ſeeme to, and when your enemie doth charge you with a thruſt, ſtrike it with your Dagger towards your right ſide, and withall anſwere him againe with an ouer-hand thruſt vntounto his Dagger ſhoulder, but you muſt keepe your thumb vponupon the blade of your rapier, for then ſhall you put in your thruſt the more ſteddier, and the more ſtronger.
The names of the chiefeſt thruſts, which are vſed at Rapier and Dagger, with the manner how to performe them.
A Right Stock, or Stockata, is to bee put in vpwards with ſtrength and quickneſſe of the bodie, and the guard for the putting in a ſtoke is leaning ſo farre backe with your face and bodie as you can, and the hilts of your Rapier ſo neere the ground, or ſo low as you can, but of this guard I hauehave ſpoken ſufficientlie alreadie.
A ſlope Stocke is to be made vntounto your enemies breaſt, or vntounto his Rapier ſhoulder, if hee doe looke ouer his Rapier, but in putting it in, you muſt wheele about your Rapier hand, towards your left ſide, turning your knuckles inward, this thruſt being put in ſlopewiſe as aforeſaid, will hit thy enemie which lieth vponupon the Croſſe-guard, or the Careleſſe-guard, or the Broad-ward, when a right Stock or plaine fore right thruſt will not hit.
A Imbrokata, is a falſifying thruſt, firſt to proffer it towards the ground, ſo low as your enemies knee, and then preſently put it home vntounto your enemies Dagger-ſhoulder, or vntounto anie part of his Dagger-arme, for hee will put downe his Dagger to defend your fained thruſt, but cannot recouer his Dagger againe before you hauehave hit him in the Dagger arme, Shoudlers or Face, whether you will your ſelfe, for in proffering this thruſt, there is no waie to defend the vpper part, the Dagger being once downe, but onelyonly with ſingle Rapier, and except a man doe expect, it, it cannot be ſo defended neither.
An other thruſt called a Reuerſe.
A Reuerſe is to be made, when your enemie by gathering in vponupon you, cauſeth you to fall backe with your right foote, and then your left foote being formoſt, keeping vp your dagger to defend, and hauing once broken your enemies thruſt with your dagger, preſently come in again with your right foote, and hand together, and ſo put in your reuerſe vntounto what part of his bodie you pleaſe, for it will come with ſuch force that it is hard to be preuented.
A thruſt called a Mountanto.
THe Mountanto is to be put in with a good celeritie of the bodie and in this manner, you muſt frame your guard when you intend to charge your enemie with this thruſt, beare your Rapier hard vponupon, or ſo neere the ground as you can, lying verie low with your bodie, bowing your left knee verie nere the ground alſo, and either vponupon your enemies thruſt or in lying in his guard you may ſtrike his rapier point toward your right ſide with your dagger ſo that it may paſſe cleere vnderunder your rapier arme, and with the ſame motion as you ſtrike his rapier, ſo dainely mount vp your Rapier hand higher then your head, turning your knuckles vpward, but turne the point of your Rapier downewards ouer his Rapier arme into his breaſt or ſhoulder, and you muſt be quicke in the performance of this thruſt, and likewiſe nimbly you muſt leape out againe. This thruſt muſt bee put in by the ſtepping forward of your left leg: now if you vſe this thruſt more then once, your enemie will expect your comming a loft with him as you did before, but then put it in the ſecond or third time vnderneath, and you ſhall hit him about the girdle ſtead, and ſo becauſe at this time I will not bee ouer tedious I leaue to ſpeake of manie other thruſts.
The beſt way for the holding of a Dagger, either to breake blow or thruſt, and foure waies bad as followeth.
FIrſt, if you hold your dagger too high, you may be hit vnderunder the Dagger-arme.
Secondly, and if to low, you may bee hit ouer the Dagger-arme, either in the arme, ſhoulder or face.
Thirdly, & if you beare your dagger too much towards your rapier-ſhoulder, then you may bee hurt on the out-ſide of the arme by bearing narrow, for ſo we call the carriage of him, being borne in this manner before ſpoken of.
Fourthly, if to wide from your bodie you may bee hurt on the in-ſide of the arme, face or breaſt: if the dagger-elboe ioynt bee crooked, then there is ſmall force in the dagger-arme for the defence of blow, or thruſt, but the dagger being borne out ſtiffe at the armes end, defendeth a blow ſtrongly, as you ſhall heare by and by.
Foure waies naught to breake a thruſt.
FIrſt, if you breake a thruſt downe-wards, it may hit you in the bottom of the bellie.
Secondly, if you breake him vpwards it may endanger you in the face.
Thirdly, and if you breake your enemies thruſt towards your Rapier-ſide, it may hit you in the Rapier-arme.
Fourthly, or in breaking a thruſt, if you let the weight of your Dagger carrie your Dagger-arme backe behinde you, then your enemie may with a double thruſt hit you before you can recouer vp your Dagger in his place againe.
A good way to defend a thruſt or blow.
THe beſt holding of a Dagger is right out at the armes end, and the hilt euen from your left cheeke, and the point compaſſing your bodie, I meane bowing towards your Rapier-ſhoulder, and when you breake a thruſt, turne but only your hand-wriſt about, letting fall the point of your Dagger downe-ward, but keepe out your Dagger-arme ſo ſtiffe as you can, ſo ſhall you bee readie to defend twentie thruſts one after another, if they come neuer ſo thicke, and likewiſe you are as readie for a blow; whereas if you fall your arme when you breake your thruſt, your enemie may hit you with a ſecond thruſt before you can recouer your Dagger in his place to defend it, for a thruſt goeth more ſwifter then an arrow ſhot out of a bow, wherefore a man cannot bee too ready, nor too ſure in his gard; Now both for defence and Offence of euerie blow and thruſt, thou muſt turne thy knuckles vp-ward, or downe-ward, inward or out-ward, alwaies turning your hand according to the nature of the guard, that you frame your ſelfe vntounto, or according as when you ſee enemies guard, then you muſt determine before you charge your enemie either with blow, or thruſt, in what manner to turne your hand in your Offence or Defence, ſometimes after one manner, and ſometimes after another, as both before and hereafter ſhalbe ſufficiently fatisfied more at large.
The true guard for the ſingle Rapier.
KEepe your Rapier point ſomething ſloping towards your left ſhoulder, and your Rapier hand ſo low, as your girdle-ſtead, or lower, and beare out your Rapier hand right at the armes end, ſo farre as you can, and keepe the point of your Rapier ſomething leaning outwards toward your enemie, keeping your Rapier alwaies on the out-ſide of your enemies Rapier, but not ioyning with him, for you muſt obſerue a true diſtance at all weapons, that is to ſay, three foote betwixt the points of your weapons, and twelue foote diſtance with your fore foote from your enemies fore foote, you muſt bee carefull that you frame your guard right, now you muſt not beare the Rapier hand-wide of the right ſide of your bodie, but right forward from your girdle-ſtead, as beforeſaid.
The Reaſons of this guard.
IN keeping your point ſomething ſloping or compaſſing your face, your enemie cannot offend you with a wriſt blow, which if you keepe your point directly vpright, you may verie eaſily bee hit in the face.
Being guarded as beforeſaid, if your enemie diſcharge a thruſt at you, carrie your Rapier hand ouer your bodie towards you left ſide, keeping your point directly in his place vntill you hauehave defended your enemie aſſault, then preſently after let fall the point of your Rapier, turning your knuckles inwards, and diſcharge your thruſt at your enemies thigh, or bodie, as you ſee occaſion.
There are likewiſe many other guards to be framed at ſingle Rapier, as that one of the ſhort Sword is a good guard at ſome times, and for ſome purpoſes, if a man be perfect in it, by skill and practiſe aforehand, as heereafter you ſhall ſee the manner thereof more at large, when I come to that weapon.
Now another faſhion is, by holding your left hand vponupon the blade, and ſo with the ſtrength of your fore-finger and thumbe of your left hand, you may breake your enemies thruſt cleere off your bodie, by turning of your rapier point downe-ward or vp-ward accordingly, as your enemie chargeth you; and then charge your enemie againe with a quicke anſwer.
Now another is, by ſtanding vponupon the ſtocke, readie to choppe in vponupon your enemies aſſault, but you muſt turne in your left ſhoulder to your enemie nearer then the right, onelie to be as it were a baite vntounto him, but when he doth thruſt at you, wheele about your bodie, falling backe with your left foote; but withall, thruſt out your rapier, and ſo you may hit, and defend, onelie with the ſhift of the bodie, and you ſhall find that the oppreſſor will come vponupon his owne death, by proffering at that ſhoulder, which you make ſhew to be open vntounto him: but you muſt not offer to defend it with your rapier, but only truſt vntounto the ſhift of your bodie.
Falſe play at the ſingle Rapier.
IF your enemie doe lie in this guard, according to this Picture, then proffer or faine a thruſt vntounto his left ſide, but preſently plucke backe your hand, and thruſt it home vntounto his right arme ſhoulder or face; for hee will carry his rapier ouer his bodie, to defend the fained thruſt, but can hardly bring him backe againe to ſaue your ſecond or determined thruſt, except hee be very skilfull, actiue, or nimble: now if he doe not beare his Rapier to defend the fained thruſt when you proffer it, then you may hit him with a plaine thruſt the ſecond time, if you put it home without falſing it at all.
Another deceit.
LIkewiſe, you may proffer or faine a thruſt two foot wide of your enemie his right ſide, and preſently thruſt it home to his breaſt, for hee will beare his rapier beyond the compaſſe of true defence, by reaſon it will ſeeme vntounto a cunning player that your intention is to hit him on the out ſide of the Rapier arme, ſo that when he thinketh to ſtrike your point from offending his arme, by that means hee will open his bodie, although he open himſelfe but a little, yet with your ſecond thruſt you may hit him as aforeſaid.
The defence of this falſe play.
YOu muſt be very carefull that you doe not ouer-carry your Rapier in the defence of anie maner of thruſt, yet you muſt carrie him a little againſt eueryevery proffer which your enemie doth make: for if a man be verie skilfull, yet is he not certaine when his enemie doth charge his point vponupon him, and proffer a thruſt, whether that thruſt will come home, or no: wherefore (as I ſaid) you muſt beare your Rapier againſt euerie thruſt to defend it, but beare him but halfe a foote towards the left ſide, for that will cleare the bodie from danger of his thruſt, and ſo quicke backe againe in his place, whereby to meete his weapon on the other ſide, if he charge you with a ſecond thruſt, thinking to deceiue you as aforeſaid.
A ſlippe at ſingle Rapier.
NOw if your enemy doe charge you with a blow, when as you ſee the blow comming, plucke in your Rapier, and let the blow ſlippe, and then anſwer him againe with a thruſt, but bee carefull to plucke in your rapier to that cheeke which hee chargeth you at, ſo that if the blow doe reach home, you may defend him according vntounto the rule of the backſword.
The defence of this ſlippe is to forbeare ſtriking at all, but if you doe ſtrike, not to ouer-ſtrike your Sword, but ſo trike your blow as you may recouer him into his place haſtily againe; for in ſight if you doe ſtrike, you muſt forbeare ſtrong blowes, for with a ſtrong blow, you may fall into diuers hazzards; therefore ſtrike an eaſie blow, and doe it quicke, but to thruſt, and not ſtrike at all, it to thy beſt aduantage.
Another ſlippe.
PVt your thumbe long wayes, or forward vponupon the handle of your rapier according vntounto the natural faſhion, and your enemie lying in this guard, ioyne your Rapier according as the Picture, and ſo ſoone as you hauehave ioyned, turne the heele of your hand vpward, and your point downeward, and ſo bring you point, compaſſing vnderunder your enemies right elbow; and then with the ſtrength of the thumb turne it into his breaſt: the like you may doe if your enemie offer to cloſe with you at ſingle rapier, for if bee come haſtily vponupon you, you can not drawe out your point whereby to offend him, but by turning it in as before-ſaid, you may hit the skilfulleſt man that is in his comming in: Now, if hee doe defend your point below, you may by a ſodaine turning vp your point, thruſt it home to his right ſhoulder or face, whether you will your ſelfe.
The defence of this ſlippe.
IF your enemie doe ioyne his weapon with yours, to cloſe or to turne in a ſlippe, then make your ſelfe readie quickely, by putting your thumbe vponupon your rapier, as aforeſaid, when he falleth his point towards his left hand, to fetch the compaſſe of your rapier arme; then fall your point the contrary way, I meane towards your left hand, ſo ſhall you meete with his weapon below againe, and this will defend your ſelfe; and when he raiſeth his point againe, then doe you raiſe yours likewiſe into his place againe.
Another Slippe.
IF your enemie doe ioyne his rapier with yours, and doe beare him ſtrongly againſt you, thinking to ouer-beare you by ſtrength of arme, then ſo ſoone as hee beginneth to charge you ſtrongly, beare your rapier a little againſt him, and then ſodainely let fall your point ſo low, as your gerdle-ſteed, and thruſt it home withall, and ſo you may hit him, for by letting his Rapier goe away ſodainely, he ſwayeth away beyond the compaſſe of defence, ſo that you may hit him, and fall away againe before hee can recouer his Rapier to endanger you.
A dazeling thruſt at ſingle Rapier or Backe-ſword.
PRoffer or faine a thruſt at the faireſt part of your enemies bodie with lieth moſt vnguarded, and then more quicker then I can ſpeake it, thruſt it in one the other ſide, and ſo changing three or foure times, and then choppe it home ſodainely, and you ſhall find his bodie vnguarded, by reaſon that he will carrie his Rapier or Sword this way or that way, thinking to defend the falſe thruſt, becauſe he ſuppoſeth them to be true thruſts: for there is no man ſo cunning, that knoweth if a thruſt be proffered within diſtance, but that it may hit him, or whether it will be a falſe thruſt, or no, the defender knowes not, and therefore he muſt prepare his defence againſt eueryevery thruſt, that is proffered.
A cloſe at ſingle Rapier or at Backe-ſword.
FIrſt, charge your enemie with a thruſt aloft with an ouer-hand thruſt, directly at your enemies face, and withall follow it in cloſe, bearing your your enemies point ouer your head, by the carrying vp of your Rapier hand, and then may you make ſeiſure on the hilt of your enemies Rapier or Sword, or on his hand-wriſt with your left hand, and then hauing made ſeiſure of his weapon, you may then vſe what execution you wil, I mean either blow or thruſt, or trip vp his heeles.
The guard for the Backe-ſword.
CArrie your Sword-hilt out at the armes end, and your point leaning or ſloping towards your left ſhoulder, but not ioyning with your enemies weapon, as this Picture ſeemeth, but ſo long as you lie in your guard, let there be three foote diſtance betwixt your weapons, but if your enemie do charge you, either with blow or thruſt, carrie your Sword ouer your bodie againſt your enemies aſſault, and ſo croſſe with him according to the Picture, beare alſo your point ſtedie ouer your bodie, ſomething ſloping towards your left ſhoulder; I meane the point muſt goe ſo farre as the hilt, but not turning your point the contrarie waie, but carrie them both together. I will make it plainer by and by, becauſe I would hauehave thee to vnderſtand it wiſely, for hauing with a true defence defended your enemies blow or thruſt by croſſing with him, or by bearing your weapon againſt his aſſault (as before ſaid) the danger being paſt, then preſently at the ſame inſtant, and with one motion turne downe the point of your Sword, turning your knuckles inward, and ſo thruſting it home to our enemies thigh, but with all, ſteppe forth with your foote and hand together.
But there is a great obſeruation to be had in your practiſe concerning the true carriage of your point, for in your defence if you do not carrie your Sword, true, then it is hard to defend either blowe or thruſt; for if you carrie the hilt of your Sword againſt either blow or thruſt, as doe not carrie the point withall leuell, euen as you lay in your gaurd according to the Picture; then your hand and face is endangered, but bearing the hilt and the point about a foot ouer your bodie towards your left ſide; and likewiſe to beare your Sword ſtiffe out at the armes end, without bowing of your elbow ioynt: prouided alwaies, that your Sword being in your right hand, you muſt look with both your eies on the in-ſide of your Sword, for then you hauehave but one kinde of defence, ſo that the point of your Sword be ſloping toward the left ſhoulder: but otherwiſe, if you keepe the point of your Sword vprigth, then your enemie hath three waies to endanger you, eſpeciallie, if you carrie your Sword right before the middeſt of your bellie, with the point vpright, as I hauehave knowne ſome hold an opinion of that waie to be good, but I ſay, hee that truſteth to that guard, may be hit in the head with a ſodaine wriſt-blow, if his practiſe were neuer ſo good: and likewiſe both his armes are vnguarded, and to bee dangered, either with blow or thruſt; but if you guard your ſelfe after my direction, then your enemie hath but onelie the left ſide of your head, and your legges open, and they are eaſie to be defended; the legge, by plucking him vp, the which you muſt doe vponupon euerie blow, which your enemie chargeth you withall, and with the ſame defend the head and bodie, carrying your Sword ouer your bodie towards your left ſide, the point and hilt both ſteadie, as I hauehave before ſaid.
Now although I heere ſpeake altogether of a Backe-Sword, it is not ſo meant, but the guard is ſo called: and therefore, whether you are weaponed with a two edged Sword, or with a Rapier, yet frame your guarde in this manner and forme, as before ſaid.