The Noble and Worthy Science of Defense, Chapter 1
❧ This firſt Chapter ſheweth what wepons are chiefly to he learned, with many other principall notes worthy obſeruation.
BECAVSE old weapons lyeth ruſty in a corner, and eueryevery man is deſirous of the neweſt faſhion of weapons, eſpecially if they ſeeme to be of more daunger to the enemy then the old, therfore it is my intent & purpoſe at this time to expreſſe and ſet downe both the true and falſe play principally of the rapier and dagger, and ſtaffe, for I hold that the skill of theſe two weapons are chiefly and neceſſary of eueryevery man to be learned, for to hauehave the vſe of a rapier to ride with, and a ſtaffe to walke a foote withall, for thoſe which hauehave the skill of theſe two weapons may ſafely encounter againſt any man hauing any other weapon whatſoeuer as hereafter you ſhall be ſufficiently ſatisfied.
But firſt a word by the way in commendations of thoſe two weapons, this I can ſay and by good experience I ſpeake it, that he which hath a rapier and a cloſe hilted dagger, and skill withall to vſe him hath great ods againſt the ſword and dagger, or ſword and buckler, and the like I doe affirme of a ſtaffe againſt all long weapons; my reaſons ſhall follow anon; but firſt I will ſpeake more in commendations of the rapier and dagger, note it well, for it is the fineſt & the comelieſt weapō that euer was vſed in England, for ſo much cunning to this weapon belongeth as to no weapon the like: wherefore I would wiſh all gentlemen and others, not onelyonly to learne the true and perfect skill thereof, but alſo to practiſe it often. For there is no exerciſe in the world ſo healthfull to the body, and the skill of it a ſure defence for the ſame, likewiſe it alſo behoueth eueryevery man to be well inſtructed in this weapon, the rather, and for becauſe it is a weapon which for the moſt part all out-landiſh men doe vſe; wherefore being vnprepared thou maiſt be the better able to anſwer them at their owne weapon either in ſingle combat or otherwiſe, but if thou delay thy practiſe till thou haſt need, then I ſay at the very time of need it will be too late, and little auaileable to thee, for being learned in ſuch haſte it is ſoone forgotten, and he which neuer learned, but doth truſt to his own cunning may ſoone loſe his life, for there is but two wayes for the doing of eueryevery thing; that is to ſay either a good or a bad, and commonly by nature eueryevery man hath the worſt way; both at this exerciſe and ſo at all others the like, but the beſt way being learned, by a little practiſe keepeth it ſo perfect, that it is neuer forgotten againe.
A Phyſitian is but little regarded, but in the time of ſickneſſe, euen ſo the practiſing of skill is not remembred vntill a man hath need to vſe it. Plato was a Diuine, yet he ſo highly eſteemed the art or skill in weapons, inſomuch that he commandeth that children ſhould learne ſo ſoone as they are able, and Cyrus ſaith that skill in weapons was as neceſſary as husbandry; but now when you hauehave the true and perfect skill, be not ouer raſh nor take not exceptions at eueryevery light occaſion, but onelyonly by good aduiſe to vſe it, in caſes of neceſſity; reuenge not eueryevery ſmall wrong, nor quarrell not vponupon eueryevery light occaſion, for the ſtrongeſt and the richeſt man that is, muſt pocket vp an iniury at ſometimes,He that to wrath and anger is thrall, ouer his wits hath no power at all. then be not haſty in thy wrath, but pauſe although thy weapon be drawne, for the thruſt being giuen, and the blow once fallen, it wil be too late then to repent; wherefore be vanant, but yet not too venturous, ſo fight as thou maiſt fight againe, for the haſty man neuer wanteth woe, and he which will quarrell for a ſmall matter truſting vntounto his owne manhood, yet for all his skill and courage, may oftentimes meete with his match, and ſo carry away the blowes with diſhonor.
A quarrell is oftentimes begun without diſcretion.For a ſmall or a bad quarrell hath many times ill ſucceſſe, therefore let thy quarrell be grounded vponupon a good foundation, for then it halfe defendeth it ſelfe, but if it be vponupon drinke or in defence of a lewd woman, ſuch quarrells are naught, and hauehave ill ſucceſſe; againe hauehave this care, neuer be proud of thy skill, but goe as if thou hadſt it not, except occaſion ſerue: but be not lifted vp with a proud minde one ſtep the higher, for curteſie wins fauour with all men; wherefore all way ſo frame your ſpeech and anſwers, that there neuer grow any quarrell vponupon a fooliſh word or a froward anſwer.
And furthermore, hauehave this skill in thy memory, ſo rule thy tongue as neuer to ſpeake ill, whether it bee true or falſe behind the backe of any man, for if the party ſpoken of be not in preſence, yet he may heare of it, and thou maiſt be called in queſtion for the ſame when thou thinkeſt leaſt vponupon it, yea although thou ſuppoſe that thou ſpeakeſt it to thy friend, for I hauehave knowen many which to magnifie themſelues would boaſt and brag of their owne manhood, and diſable others, which were far better men then themſelues; thinking neuer to heare of it againe; but this one folly hath been the cauſe of many quarrells, and thereof ſpringeth deadly hatred, and ſomtimes murthers. Yet I doe aduiſe all men if vndiſcreet words doe paſſe from the mouth of the ſimple for lacke of wit (but I will not ſay for lacke of drinke) but whether it be drink or meer fooliſhneſſe, reuenge not eueryevery wrong, but firſt conſider the worth and quality of the party which hath wronged thee, for if hee be a deſperate perſon, or one which hath nothing to looſe, nor wife nor children to care for, ſome ſuch there are that are deſperat, and care not if they were out of the world,Be valiant but not to venturous. as our prouerbe ſaith, hab or nab, fall backe fall edge, they care not whoſe houſe is on ſire, for they hauehave nothing to looſe, now although thou haſt the perfect skill with thy weapons, yet ſight not with ſuch raskalls, not with none vponupon eueryevery ſmall wrong; for ſo thou maiſt be accounted careleſſe and bloody minded, as though Mars the God of battaile were thy father, or thinking thy ſelfe to bee more mighty then Hercules, or as one altogether forgetting that which ſo oft hath been ſeen, that a little wretch of ſtature by skill, iudgement, and reaſon,As that of Dauid he ouercame great Gollas. hath ſubdued and ouercome a far more mightier man of perſon than himſelfe.
For he that is well inſtructed in the perfect skill with his weapon although but ſmall of ſtature, and weake of ſtrength, may with a little moouing of his foote or a ſuddaine turning of his hand, or with the quicke agility of his body kil and bring to the ground the tall and ſtrongeſt man that is.
Forget not this leſſon.Now before thou goe into the field to fight, firſt of all put God before, and vſe thy deuotion to him priuately, and commit thy ſelfe wholly to his mercy, becauſe hee redeemed thee, and the victory lieth in him, if thy skill and cunning were neuer ſo good; for if thou goe with a ſure hope and truſt in God,Feare not if thou haſt skill to anſwer a good quarrell for its better dy like a houſe in battell then liue like a hog in a ſtie. and thy quarrell good, and ſome skill withall, then fight and feare not, and although at the firſt it will be fearefull to moſt men, being but once experienced therein, it will encourage and make a man bold, yet take this by the way, and note it well, for skill makes ſome men towards, for if thou learneſt the beſt skill thou canſt, and in a fence ſchoole meeteſt with one that is ſo good, and cunning as thy ſelfe, ſuch a one will hit thee ſomtimes in ſpite of thy teeth, the which hit makes ſome thinke with themſelues, I did now lye in as ſure a gard as I could for my life, and yet if I had been in the field this hit might hauehave killed me.
But I ſay there is great ods betwixt fighting in the field and playing in a fence-ſchoole, for in the field being both ſober, I meane if it be in a morning vponupon cold blood, then eueryevery man will as much feare to kill as to be killed, againe a man ſhall ſee to defend either blow or thruſt in the field then in a fence-ſchoole, for a man will be more bold with a foile or a cudgell, becauſe there is ſmall danger in either of them.
But when they come to tell their tale at the point of a rapier, they will ſtand off for their owne ſafety; go not into the field in the afternoone, partly for the auoiding of the common ſpeech of thoſe which will ſay it is a drunken match, neither goe not preſently vponupon the ſuddain falling out; for choller ouercommeth the wits of many a man, for in a mad fury skill is little thought vponupon, and therefore very dangerous to both; for although thy memory ſerue thee well; and ſo thou being carefull and not bearing any mind to kill, yet thy enemy if he be but a ranke coward, vponupon drink or fury, or vponupon hot blood, will be ſo deſperate, that if you fauor him he will endanger thee.
There is ſeldome or neuer any quarrell begun but in an afternoone, for then commonly the drinke is in and the wit is out, although thou knoweſt thy ſelfe in good caſe, and not to hauehave receiued more drinke then to ſuffice thy want, yet doſt thou not know how little drinke will ouercome the wits of another man; and this I know, and by good experience I ſpeake it, there is no ods during the time betwixt a madde man and a drunkard.
Neuer ieſt with edge tooles, nor play not the foole with thy weapons, but keepe them to defend thy ſelfe when occaſion ſhall require thee, or at ſuch time as thou ſhalt be oppreſſed, for many hurts and much miſchiefe hath been done by ouer-much folly in ieſting with weapons, when at the beginning there was no harme meant.
Euer refer the quarrell to be tryed in the morning, for then thy aduerſary ſo wel as thy ſelfe being in cold blood, skill auaileth, and he which the night before would ſeeme to fight with the diuell, will in the morning be as cold as a clocke; for then it is the nature of eueryevery man as well to feare to kill, as to be killed, and ſo thou by skill maiſt fight long without danger, and ſight with many, and hauehave no hurt.
…When thou goeſt into the field, note the Sunne, for if it doe thine, it may annoy thee; but get thy backe toward the Sunne, and ſo trauerſe the ground, that thine enemy get not about thee, ſo ſhalt thou alwayes keepe his face in the Sunne, which will ſo annoy him, that hee can not make play to endanger thee. But if there be no Sunne to trouble thee, then make choice of the loweſt ground, for he which hath the loweſt ground, hath the greateſt aduantage. Alſo take heede that thou ſtrike not with thy rapier, for ſo thou mayeſt breake it, and bring thy ſelfe to thine enemies mercy, and it may be he will take the aduantage of thee: If thy rapier fall out of thy hand, take thy dagger by the point, and make an offer to throw it, for that will ſo dare thine enemy, that hee will ſtand vntill thou haſt taken vp thy weapon againe.
Take heede of ….But if thou recouer thine enemies weapons, (as I hauehave knowne many let fall their weapons in fight) giuegive it not to him againe; if thou meane to fight with him any more for that time; for, to vnarme thy enemie, is more credite to thee, then to kill him. Neuer lend a weapon to ſight againſt thy ſelfe, for theſe two follies hauehave beene the end of many good mens liues: if thine enemy fall, hurt him, if he will not yeelde vp his weapon, but kill him not, though his life do lie in thine hands, but if thou ſpare him, ſight with him no more for that time; for I hauehave knowne many that might firſt hauehave killed, but by ſparing their enemies, hauehave beene killed themſelues; if thine enemies weapon breake, then there is fauour to be ſhewed: but theſe twoo laſt points are to be conditioned vponupon. When any two Gentlemen, or other, whatſoeuer, ſhall hauehave occaſion to fight, yet it is not amiſſe, at their meeting in the field, for the one of them to ſay before they beginne, Shew mee that fauour which thou wouldeſt hauehave thy ſelfe, that is, if I fall, or my weapon breake, ſtay thy hands, and I will doe the like. HaueHave alwayes as great care to ſaue the life of thy enemy as of thine owne, fearing more the Iudgements of God, then the Lawes of the Realme. Likewiſe, neuer be too earneſt in perſwading a coward to go with thee into the field to fight; for I hauehave knowne a Gull that would abuſe a man in words behinde his backe, but when he hath beene called to account for it, by the partie grieued, hee durſt not anſwere him in the field, yet by earneſt prouoking, hath gone and put a farre better man then himſelfe to the worſt.
Therefore I hold it very vnfortunate to perſwade any man too too earneſtly, to goe into the field to fight againſt his will; neither goe into the field with eueryevery raſcall, for thou doſt hazard thy ſelfe, and getteſt no credite, wherefore, if ſuch a one do challenge thee, if thou canſt conueniently, breake his pate, for he is worthy of ſomewhat for his forwardnes, but to anſwer him otherwiſe, let this excuſe priuilege thee; ſay thou ſcorneſt to doe him that credite. Let thy rapier be of a reaſonable length, rather too long then too ſhort, foure foote at the leaſt, except thine enemie doe giuegive or ſend thee the length of his weapon; then it is a point of manhoode to match him as neare as thou canſt: alwayes let thine enemy tell his tale at the point of thy weapon; but truſt him not to whiſper with thee, leſt hee ſhall ſtabbe thee, or elſe by ſtrength recouer thy owne weapon, and ſo doe thee a miſchiefe before thou be aware; keepe cleane thy rapier; remember that of Alexander, how he caſſiered a Souldier out of his Army, becauſe he was making cleane of his Armor, euen then when he ſhould hauehave vſed it. Likewiſe there is a Prouerbe, A workeman is knowne by his tooles: Then if thou haſt skill to vſe thy weapons, let it appeare by the cleanly keeping of them, then leaue not thy rapier in a wet ſcabbard, when thou commeſt to thy iournies end.
Yet once more I doe aduiſe all men to take heede how they ieaſt or ſhew their trickes in trauell in their Chambers with their weapons, no though the ſcabbard be on; for by ſuch fooliſh ieaſting I hauehave knowen much miſchiefe done, and ſometimes murder, when there was no hurt meant at all; therefore I do wiſh the wiſer to rule the other, ſo that a miſchiefe may be preuented before it be done, for elſe repentance may come too late. Alſo in playing with ſticks, without buttons, many (for want of skill) may looſe an eie, as many hauehave done heeretofore. Many a man will ſay, That skill in weapons is good, and one of the principalleſt things that belongeth to a man, yet themſelues altogether vnskilfull; in their youth they thinke it too ſoone to learne, and in age too late, yet when they are wronged, they would giuegive any thing, that they were able to anſwere their enemy without feare or hurt, as hee which is skilfull in his weapon may doe.
For it happens in an houre which happeneth not in ſeuen yeares.Goe not into the field with one that is knowne to be a common drunkard, no though thou take him neuer ſo ſober, for if thou chance to hurt him, the vulgar ſort will deeme that he was drunke, ſo thou doſt hazard thy life, and get no credite, then take no exceptions at a Drunkards words, for what he ſpeaketh is not regarded amongſt men of diſcretion, yet many times it ſo falleth out, that a drunken madde-braine meetes with a prodigall vnwiſe fellow, and they do quickely vponupon a word, nay vponupon a looke, make a ſodaine brawle, to the diſturbance of the reſt of the company; for hee that will match a crooked dagger with a crooked ſheathe, in ſeeking may finde one; euen ſo he that is giuen to ſwaggering and quarrelling, doth meet with his match ſometimes, nay very often it ſo falleth out.
Alſo he is vnwiſe which will beginne a quarrell in a Schoole of Defence, vponupon the taking of a knocke, as many do; for a man playeth, either to giuegive a knock, or to take a knocke: but with skill a man may play a long time, and doe neither of them, except their fury doe ouercome their wittes; but hee which cannot arme himſelfe with patience, by conſidering with himſelfe the danger of his raſhnes; let him ſpend all his idle time in practiſing in weapons, with one that is skilfull; for by vſe of play, many a man commeth to know the danger of raſhneſſe, and ſo with a due conſideration, doe thereby come to mittigate their furious affection, whereas an other ſort of harebraines (vponupon very ſmall occaſion) will be alwayes ready, not onelie to breede, but alſo to maintaine any idle quarrell, whether it be right or wrong, in Faire or Market, Fence ſchoole or Tauerne, as many witleſſe drunkards doe; for skill without diſcretion makes ſome more forward and deſperate in maintaining idle quarrells, then otherwiſe they would be, whereas a man of diſcretion and gouernement will be no whit the prouder of skill, but goe as if he had it not, and amongſt wiſe men he is accounted moſt valiant which brags leaſt, and is maiſter of himſelfe, in conquering his affections, and alwayes fore-caſting the worſt, before a miſchiefe doth happen; for a common quarreller is like a common hackny, which is neuer without a galled backe; euen ſo a quarreller is ſeldome without hurts: let thy hands be ſlower then thy tongue, yet let not thy ſword ruſt for want of vſe, nor yet ſurfet with bloud, but after many threats in place conuenient vnſheathe thy ſword, but yet do it with an vnwilling kind of willingnes, as not being too prodigall of thy blond in miſ-ſpending it idlely, and yet grudge it nor when occaſion ſhall ſerue, either for thy King and Countrie, or in defence of thine owne reputation, but not in eueryevery raſcally brawle, nor in a great aſſembly, where manie times a fooliſh mad-braine, will draw his weapon vponupon an idle quarrell; in ſuch a place I hauehave knowne, that after one hath drawne, many hauehave likewiſe drawen their weapons for company, according to the olde Prouerbe, One foole makes many: But howſoeuer, in ſuch a caſe I hauehave knowne much miſchiefe quickely done, although many of them hauehave not knowne the cauſe, nor whom to ſtrike, vntill it hath beene too late; but then when all is done, theſe great fighters, when it is too late, they would make enquirie how the quarrell beganne, and vponupon what occaſion; but men of diſcretion and wiſedome would examine the cauſe firſt, before they do vnſheathe their weapon: for in my minde, hee that vndertaketh ſuch quarrells, ſheweth neither manhoode, wit, nor valour, and contrary vntounto all the Lawes of Armes; yet I will not ſay, but, where much people are, a man that meaneth no harme, may be wronged; but there is no wiſedome to right himſelfe in a multitude: for feare of a mutiny, I meane in ſetting many together by the eares, but in a place conuenient thou maieſt call him in queſtion which wronged thee before, examining the cauſe of the quarrell, when the heate is paſt; and then if you finde it but a pelting quarrell, being wiſely conſidered vponupon, and that it hath beene no great ſcandall vntounto thy good name and credite, partly, becauſe the match was made, and the field was appointed in a drunken humour, in ſuch a caſe I ſay, it were a verie wiſe part, for the one of them to make a friend acquainted, which by wiſedome may end the quarrell, before a further miſchiefe be done: Nay more, I hauehave knowne as good a man as euer did draw ſword, vponupon an idle quarrell, hath himſelfe gone the next morning to the houſe of his aduerſarie, not making any friend at all acquainted with the buſines, and hee hath thus ſaid; I am come to anſwere what the laſt night I promiſed, but yet withall, to tell thee, that our quarrell is but ſmall, and beganne vponupon idleneſſe, yea ſo ſmall, that I am loath to hauehave it come into the eares of wiſe men, left they ſhould account vsus both fooles: now, for the auoyding of this and other daungers, it is not amiſſe for the wiſer to offer this reaſonable compoſition, though wee doe thinke him too weake for thee, for then thy credite will be the leſſe in fighting with him, and yet if thou doe kill him, the danger is as great towards thee, as if thou diddeſt kill the beſt man in the world: now on the other ſide, ſay he is a man noted and knowne to be as ſufficient a man as euer drew ſword; then I ſay, if an honeſt end can be made, without fighting, that is the beſt way. For if two men of warre meete at Sea, they will not fight willingly one with the other, for they will conſider before hand, that there is little elſe then blowes to be gotten one of the other: wherefore, if you be perſwaded to end it with a boll of Wine, be not froward but yeeld vntounto reaſon, if no friends know of the quarrell, then (as I ſaid before) the wiſer of the two may ſay vntounto the other; Come, let vsus goe and drinke our ſelues friends, let vsus take a haire of the ſame dogge, which the laſt night did bite vsus, and made vsus madde, ſhall now cure vsus and make vsus whole; and ſo let vsus ſmother vp this pelting quarrell.
But now, if the other be froward, and will not accept of thy reaſonable motion, but will needs end it with weapons, then, rather then ſhew thy backe to thy ſpitefull enemy, let him ſee thy heart bloud: I meane, if he can get it, but there is no ſuch danger in fight, except Skill and Diſcretion be wanting: wherefore rowze vp thy ſpirit, and what thou vndertakeſt, doe it without raſhneſſe, and yet performe it without feare alwaies; in a good quarrell, if thou be ouercome, let thy heart yeelde laſt of all; and if thine enemie be not too raſh vponupon thee, it is a ſufficient conqueſt, that when thou mighteſt hurt or kill, yet do it not, but ſtil weare Patience to the hard back, for by ſuch victory thou workeſt thine owne peace; and he that thus doth, getteth himſelfe credite.
If the peacemakers are ſaid to be bleſſed, then the quarrellers & make-bates are accurſed.As ther are many men, ſo they are of many minds, for ſome will be ſatisfied with words, and ſome muſt needes be anſwered with weapons, and ſome are neuer well full nor faſting; therefore I would hauehave euerie man fitly armed for his defence, what companie ſoeuer he keep, let him be armed with patience, ſtill a faire tongue,We muſt not ſeeke reuenge one of an other, becauſe the Lord ſaith Reuenge is mine. and a good weapon: ſo that if one will not ſerue, another muſt, rough or ſmoothe, as occaſion ſerueth: for ſome are like vntounto nettles, which if thou handle tenderly, it will ſting thee, but if thou gripe it hard, thou ſhalt hauehave no harme: euen ſo, if thou giuegive vntounto ſome men neuer ſo milde and gentle words, yet will they not be perſwaded, but they will the rather deeme that thou feareſt them, and ſo domineere the more vponupon thee: but yet for all that, they are the children of God which deſire peace, for the Prophet Dauid ſaith, I ſeeke peace, but when I ſpeake thereof, they are bent to wane, Pſal. 120.7. Againe, there are many reaſons to perſwade one Chriſtian not to fight with another. Firſt, the King and Councell, hauehave, and ſtill doe make ſtrait Lawes, for the keeping of peace and for preuenting of murders; but aboue all, God expreſly commaunds to the contrary, and if thou wilt not obey man, yet feare the diſpleaſure of Almighty God aboue all.
Conſider then and meditate thus with thy ſelfe before thou paſſe thy word to meete any man in the field, why ſhould I go into the field, for when thou commeſt there thou muſt not kill, for if thou doeſt, thou muſt looke to anſwer it before that great and fearfull Iudge which is the Iudge of all Iudges: howſoeuer thou by friendſhip or by pitty doſt eſcape the hands of the Iudge in this life: Beſides, thou doeſt looſe thy goodes, which thy wife and thy children ſhould poſſeſſe. Againe, when thou commeſt into the field, and there calling to minde theſe dangers before ſpoken of, and ſo forbearing as being loath to kill: Then thy enemie, by ſparing him, may kill thee, and ſo thou periſh in thy ſinnes, hauing ſmall or no time of repentance, and ſo thy death will be doubtfull, except thou diddeſt leade a very vpright life before, which may very well be doubted: for if thou diddeſt ſerue God aright, or feareſt his iudgements, then thou wouldeſt not for any cauſe fight with thy brother.
Concerning this there is an excellent example of Patience ſhewed by King Dauid, in the ſecond of Samuel 16.6.10. Dauid being in the middeſt of his Army, there came a fellow with curſing and rayling ſpeeches, ſaying vntounto him, Come out thou murtherer, and withall, threw ſtones and duſt at him: and one of the ſeruants of Dauid ſaide vntounto his Maiſter, Shall I goe and take off the head of this Rayler? But Dauid very wiſely and mildely anſwered his Seruant thus, It may bee that the Lord hath ſent him, and therefore let him alone: but now we hauehave a ſaying, That fleſh and blood cannot endure ſuch iniuries as heere you ſee Dauid did. But I ſay, thoſe that will go to Heauen, muſt not looke to be carried thither in a feather-bed, but by enduring iniuries, croſſings, vexations, and tribulations: O then thinke on Heauen, and yet forget not Hell, preſume not, nor yet deſpaire not; liue to die, and yet die to liue: Oh then leade thy life in true humilitie, for ſo ſhalt thou vndoubtedly eſcape Hels damnation, and enioy Heauens euerlaſting ſaluation; which place the God of gods vouchſafe vsus all.