The Noble and Worthy Science of Defense, Chapter 12 · Fighting move 59
The Authors opinion concerning the Short Sword and Dagger.
IN deſcribing of this weapon I ſhall account the time ill ſpent, yet becauſe Short ſwords are in vſe and worne of many that would leaue them off if that they knew what an idle weapon it were, I meane to encounter againſt a long Sword and Dagger, or a long Rapier and Dagger, ſo ſmall is their Iudgement, but onelyonly this, many of them will ſay it is a better weapon then any of the two foreſaid weapons are, but in my minde they may aſwell ſay that chalke is cheeſe becauſe they are both white, for I hauehave had much triall and great practiſe with the ſhort ſword, yet could I neuer find, nor neuer wilbe perſwaded but that a Rapier foure foote long or longer, hath ſuch great oddes, that I neuer meane to arme my ſelfe with a ſhort againſt it; for in my minde and by experience I ſpeake it, there is ſmall skill to be learned with the ſhort ſword to encounter as aforeſaid, but onelyonly reſolution and courage.
He that is valiant and venturous, runneth in, breaking diſtance, if hee eſcape both in his going in, and in his comming our vnhurt; from a man skilful, in my minde it is as a man would ſay chance-medly, for if I hauehave the Rapier and Dagger, I will hazard both games, and ſet againſt any man that holdeth the ſhort ſword to be a better weapon, although that George Giller hath moſt highly cōmended the ſhort ſword & dagger, yet one Swallow maketh not a Summer, nor two Woodcocks a Winter, if a thouſand more were of his opinion, yet without all doubt there is a great deale more danger then at Rapier and Dagger, for he that fighteth with a ſhort ſword muſt aduenture in pell mell without feare or wit, but I hauehave ſeldome heard or ſeene any fight with ſhort ſword and dagger, although they be each weaponed alike, but one or both commeth home moſt grieuous wounded: my reaſon is the diſtance is ſo narrow that a man can hardly obſerue it, except they hauehave beene both practicioners a long time before hand, for if a man practiſe continually long ſword or long Rapier, yet vponupon ſuch a Challenge goeth into the field with a ſhort ſword, then the daunger is greateſt of all: aske Auguſtin Badger, who ſpeaketh highly in praiſe and commendation of the ſhort ſword, for hee hath tried that weapon in the field ſo often, and made as many tall fraies as any man that euer I heard of or knew ſince my time, yet hee will ſay that he neuer fought in all his life: but was ſore and dangerouſly hurt.
I hauehave knowen ſome beſides my ſelfe, that hauehave fought with Rapier and Dagger twenty times, and hauehave neuer had one droppe of bloud drawne, and yet were accounted men of ſufficient vallour and reſolution, thoſe which weare ſhort ſwords depend onelyonly vponupon the taking of their enemies point, which is not to bee done if they meete with one that is skilfull: I hauehave heard many ſay in talking familiarly concerning this weapon, if I take the point of your long Rapier, then you are gone, but that is not to be done if thou meete with one that is skilfull except thou canſt take thy enemies point in thy teeth, otherwiſe thou canſt neuer make ſeaſure vponupon his point, if hee bee skilfull as aforeſaid, but indeed it is an eaſie matter for a man skilfull to take the point of one that is altogether vnskilfull; but rather not anſwer thy enemy vntill thou be better weaponed, there are all theſe excuſes to bee framed as in the tenth Chapter of the treatiſe, there you may find excuſes fit for ſuch as weare ſhort Swords, if thou like them not I refer to thy owne wit to frame an excuſe; for ſome ſhift he muſt hauehave that weareth ſuch an idle weapon, for in a word a ſhort ſword and dagger to encounter againſt a skilfull man with rapier and dagger, I hold it a little better then a tobacco-pipe, or a foxe tayle, but yet a ſhort ſword is good to encounter againſt a ſhort ſword.
Alſo a ſhort ſword is good to encounter againſt a naked man, I mean a man vnweaponed, and it is good to ſerue in the wars on horſe-backe or on foote, yet a Rapier will doe as good ſeruice in the wars as a ſhort ſword, if a skilfull man hauehave him in hand: we hauehave diuers examples of thoſe which come out of the field ſore wounded, and they will ſay it was becauſe their enemy had a handfull or a foot ods in length of weapon vponupon them; wherefore I ſay one inch is great ods and enough to kill a man, if they both hauehave skill alike, and doe obſerue a true diſtance: yet now you that are as it were married vntounto ſhort ſwords, becauſe ſome will not giuegive their bable for the Tower of London, although another doe not eſteeme it worth two-pence, yet a man ſhall as well driue a dog from a peece of bread, as wreſt many from that fooliſh kind of weapon; againe a ſword whether he be long or ſhort, is more weariſome and more troubleſome then a rapier, for a ſword will weare out your hoſe and three paire of hangers, before a Rapier doe weare out one paire; but ſome doe weare their ſhort ſwords about their neckes in a ſtring, ſo that if they ſhould hauehave occaſion to vſe him, he cannot ſo ready draw out his ſword vponupon a ſuddaine, as he which weareth him vponupon his thigh, but of this faſhion of wearing their ſwords, I wil not ſpeake much, becauſe I ſee it is almoſt left off, for a man may buy a girdle and hangers for ten groats, which will ſerue for thy Rapier two or three yeere, and a ſcarfe will coſt ten ſhillings, and yet be worne out in a fortnight; but I will ſay no more becauſe many giuegive it ouer for their owne eaſe, I holde a ſhort ſword for to encounter againſt a rapier very little better then a tobacco pipe as aforeſaid, and ſo as I began I conclude, yet behold a little helpe for him that weareth it.