The Noble and Worthy Science of Defense, Chapter 12 · Fighting move 60 – Fighting move 61
Aguard for the ſhort ſword and dagger to encounter againſt the long Rapier and Dagger, or elſe the long ſword and Dagger.
KEepe your ſword hilt ſo high as your head or higher at the point, hanging ſlope-wayes downwards a little wide of your left ſide, looking vnderunder your ſword arme with both your eyes, and withall put out your ſword hand as far from your body as you can, I meane towards your enemy, and your dagger downe by your ſide, as if you meant not to vſe him at all, according to this picture. Lying in this guard your body will ſeeme to your enemy to be very open, inſomuch that he will make no reckoning but to hit you ſure with a thruſt; the which you muſt defend by breaking it towards your right ſide, and with the ſame motion ſtep in with your left leg, which I will call your hinmoſt leg, for ſo he ſhould be vntill you hauehave made ſeiſure of your enemies weapon: but ſo ſoone as ſeifure is made conſume no time in giuing of him leiſure to fall backe againe, whereby to recouer his point againe, but forthwith anſwer him as aforeſaid, for hauing brought his long Rapier or ſword point to paſſe cleere on the right ſide of your body, I meane vnderunder your right arme, then ſtep in cloſe with your left foot as aforeſaid, and make a croſſe with your dagger vponupon his weapon by clapping in with your dagger vponupon the middeſt of thy enemies long rapier or Sword, keepe your Dagger point vpright when you goe in, and ſo ſoone as you hauehave diſcharged the aſſize of your ſword, you may preſently turne vp the point of your ſhort ſword and thruſt, or elſe you may giuegive a ſtroke with him whether you will, and to what part of his body you liſt, and then fall away haſtily againe into your guard and diſtance; know this, that by ſtepping in with your hindmoſt foote, doth gaine more aduantage in ground then you want in length of weapon.
But at any hand ſuffer your enemy to make the firſt aſſault, becauſe hee hath the aduantage in length of weapon, and if thy enemy do charge thee with a blow you may defend it vponupon this hanging guard, but to turne vp the point of your ſword according to backeſword rule, & if your enemy charge you with a thruſt, you may after ſeiſure made vponupon his weapon with your ſword as before directed; you may preſently ſo ſoone as you are in with the hindmoſt foot turne vp your ſword point and thruſt, this offence you may performe without the helpe of your dagger, but yet hauehave a care to prepare your dagger in a readineſſe, leſt in your going in, your enemy doe alſo come in with you, and although you hauehave his long weapon at your command without any danger, yet may he ſtab you with his dagger, except your dagger be in a readineſſe to defend; for a thruſt of a dagger is as eaſie to be defended with a dagger, as any thruſt is of any other weapon, but if the defender bee ouercome with fury, and ſo thruſt both together, then they both are endangered, but to deſcend is better then to offend, and to be offended againe vpright according to the rule of the backe-ſword, it your defence be vponupon the hanging guard, then clapping vp your dagger and ioyne with him as it were in commiſſion with your ſword, and ſo defend the blow vponupon both together, now if your enemy will not charge nor make any aſſault vponupon you, then I aduiſe you not to gather nor encroach vponupon him, except you were equally matched in weapon, for you muſt obſerue the diſtance which belongeth to your enemies long weapon for this guard or any other. For this guard is but for a ſuddaine ſhift for thoſe that weare ſhort ſwords, for keeping a large diſtance a man with ſmall skill may defend himſelfe from a longer weapon, ſo he ſeek not haſtily by gathering in to offend the other; for the beſt defence of a ſhot is to ſtand out of his watch; ſo the beſt defence for a ſhort ſword man is to obſerue diſtance as beforeſaid, for he ſhall find himſelfe work enough to defend himſelfe, for not one in twenty which fighteth with the ſhort ſword once will deſire to go into the field with ſuch a weapon againe.
Now thoſe that do encounter together with ſhort ſword, to ſhort ſword, I wiſh them to frame their guard according to my former direction at the long ſword and dagger.
If thou frame thy guard according to my former direction as it is here pictured, then if your enemy doth falſifie a thruſt, and you making account to defend it with your Sword, as before, and in turning in your left ſide hee double a thruſt, he may endanger you greatly; wherefore it behooueth thee not to ouercarrie thy Sword vponupon the firſt offer, but that you may recouer him backe into the place againe, ſo that if you hauehave a care if you miſſe the ſtriking by of his Sword on the one ſide becauſe of his falſifie, you ſhal meete with him on the other, and ſo defend your ſelf although you cannot anſwer whereby to offend him by reaſon of his falſifie, for vponupon a falſe if you make anſwer, it will be very dangerous to both.
Maſter.
Now my louing ſcholler I hauehave alreadie deſcribed the rules of ſixe weapons, which I promiſe to inſtruct thee in, but yet I hauehave ſtumbled by chance vponupon another weapon, which is as neceſſarie as anie of the reſt; nay more, for without thou be perfect in the skill of this weapon, all the reſt will rather bee hurtfull vntounto thee then doe thee good.
Scholler.
I praie you, what weapon is that?
Maſter.
Marrie it is a faire tongue.
Scholler.
Why doe you call the tongue a weapon?
Maſter.
Becauſe at manie times, and for manie purpoſes, it is the fitteſt weapon, and the moſt ſureſt for a mans owne defence, for the tongue at ſometimes runneth ſo at randome, that for want of a bridle like a yong colt ouerthroweth the rider, although it be but a little thing and ſeldome ſeene, yet it is often heard to the vtter confuſion of manie a man, for the tongue is ſuch a weapon without it bee gouerned, it will cut worſe then anie ſword; a nettle is a bad weed in a garden, but the tongue will ſting worſe then a nettle, and pricke deeper then a thorne, likewiſe manie men are taken by the tongues as birds are taken by the feete, therefore a faire tongue or a tongue gouerned well, will better keep and defend thy bodie from priſon, if thou at anie time be committed by the Magiſtrates when thy Sword will hinder thee if thou truſt vntounto thy manhood.
Scholler.
If I fight with no other weapon, but with a faire tongue, the world will condemne mee, and terme me for a coward.
Maiſter.
A faire tongue is more neceſſarie for a valorous man, then a good weapon is for a coward, as thou ſhalt heare: for with a faire tongue thou maieſt paſſe through watch and ward, if thou do chance to trauell in the night by occaſion, and thou bee late from thy lodging, at ſuch a time this is a principall weapon, and ſhall more preuaile then thy Sword, or any other weapon whatſoeuer.
Againe, a faire tongue is an excellent weapon, if thou hap in a drunken company, and there fall to quarrelling; in ſuch a caſe, if thou draw thy weapon, it were as if a man ſhould quench a great fire with a bundle of ſlaxe, for at ſuch a time, and in ſuch a company, if a man draw his weapon, he may as ſoone be killed as kill, for drunkards and madde men are all alike during time of the drinke.
Alſo a faire tongue is a principall weapon to carry with thee, if thou chance to trauell into anie ſtrange countrey: for if an iniurie be offered in a place where thou art not acquainted or vnknowne, thou maieſt be oppreſſed with more then one, for birds of a feather will holde together; and many will hold on the bigger ſide, for where the hedge is loweſt, the beaſts will ſooneſt get ouer, but in ſuch a caſe be well armed with patience for thy Buckler, and a faire tongue for thy Sword, and thy hand readie on thy hatte to doe reuerence to euerie vaſſall, although thou be a Gentleman, for the richeſt man that is, and the ſtrongeſt man that euer was, did, and muſt pocket vp an iniurie in his owne Countrey, much more it is leſſe diſgrace to thee to put vp an iniurie in a ſtrange place, if an occaſion be offered, then rather beſtirre thy ſelfe with a faire tongue, then with thy ſword; for in ſuch a caſe thy ſword will auaile thee nothing at all.
Scholer.
All this while with this weapon you hauehave not taught me how I ſhould defend my point.
Maiſter.
Now I will tell thee, with a faire tongue, thou mayeſt ſaue thy money many times, by promiſing much, and performing little, eſpecially where little is deſerued, for thoſe which deſerue little, a faire promiſe will paſſe, in a manner, as currant as thy money: I hauehave knowne many Muſitions many times paid with faire words: and now that it commeth into my minde I will tell thee a tale (as I hauehave heard it reported:) How King Dyoniſius rewarded a crew of Muſitions which came to him with excellent Muſicke, and after the Muſicke was ended, come againe to me to morrow ſaid the King, and I will giuegive you a thouſand talents; the which promiſe ſounded to a ſweete and pleaſant tune in the Muſitions eares: But in the morning they came, expecting the Kings reward, according to his promiſe: But the King looked ſtrangely vponupon them, and asked them what they would hauehave, And it like your Highneſſe, ſaid one of the chiefeſt of them, we are come for your gracious reward which you promiſed vsus. What was that, ſaid the King? A thouſand talents ſaid the Fidler. Why ſaid the King, Is not that out of thy head yet? thy Muſicke is quite out of mine, thou pleaſedſt my eares with thy muſick for the preſent, & I likewiſe filled thy eares with a pleſant ſound of ſo much mony: to our matter againe.
A faire tongue, and kinde behauior winneth fauor, both with God and men, whereas thoſe which cannot gouerne their tongues are ſeldome at quiet: but always puniſhed or vexed with the Law, and troubles in the Lawe conſume much money, which with discretion might be kept by gouernement of the tongue.
Now by the hieway, if a careleſſe roiſter in his own name require thee to ſtand, and by vertue of his owne warrant doth require thy purſe; in ſuch a danger, and in ſuch a caſe betake thy ſelfe to thy weapon, rather then truſt to thy tong: for to ſpeake faire vntounto ſome in ſuch a caſe will auaile thee nothing at all, but yet for all that, a faire tongue is as a precious balme to beare about thee although it bee not ſufficient to heale wounds, yet it may be a preſeruatiue to keepe thee without hurts: all the comfort thou canſt hauehave of thy deareſt friends is but little elſe thē bodily ſuſtenance, nay if thy kind and louing wife which is or ſhould be thy greatſt comfort in this life vnderunder God, if ſhe I ſay do all that euer ſhee can to pleaſure thee, yet thou maiſt hap to find in this booke, if thou reade it ouer, one leſſon or other which may ſtead thee, or do thee more pleaſure then all thy other friends: for here are many things written by me, that peraduenture thou maiſt ſeeke after a great while, and yet not finde them elſe-where, and ſo farewell.
Scholler.
Yet ſtay I pray you, reſolue me in two queſtions more afore you goe.
Maſter.
What are they?
Scholler.
Firſt I would know what oddes a tall man of ſtatute hath againſt a little mans ſtature, and the oddes that a ſtrong man hath againſt a weake man.
Maſter,
Indeed theſe are queſtions which I did meane to write of in my next booke, and therefore will but a little touch them at this time, but for my beginning or proofe of this matter the better to encourage little men to take heart of grace, and not to diſmaied by the high lookes of a tall man, nor feared by their great bragges, there is an old ſaying, goeth I neuer ſaw, ſaith the prouerb, a little man borrow a, ſtoole to breake a tall mans head, and this prouerb runneth throughout the world, as the corrant through the Gulfe which our Marrinors doe ſpeake of in the way to wards the Indies.
Againe, it is not common to fee a tall man valorous and skilfull withall, but generally, little men are valorous although not skilfull, now if the tall man be skilfull, the little man muſt for his aduantage, ſuffer the tall man to proffer him play firſt, but then vponupon the little mans defence preſently, with the ſame motion ſteppe forth with foote and hand, and ſo by a quicke anſwere endanger the tall man: now if the tall man be not skilfull, whereby to ſteppe forth with his hand and foote together, when hee maketh play to the little man, then the little man skilfull herein, getteth three foote at the leaſt by anſwering eueryevery aſſault that the tall man maketh by ſtepping forth with the foote and hand as beforeſaid: but this muſt be thy helpe and this muſt be thy care, though a little man alwaies ſuffer the tall man to make play firſt, eſpecially if he be skilfull, and then be nimble with the anſwere, ſtepping it home with thy foote and hand together, according to my directions, following the firſt picture, for what thou wanteſt in reach, is gotten by thy comming.
There is another old ſaying going thus, a tall man is ſo faire a marke, that a little man skilfull cannot miſſe him, and a ſhort man is ſo little and ſo nimble, that if he hauehave but a little skill, a tall man cannot hit him for with his weapons, and a good guard in a manner hee will couer all his whole body with his weapons. Lo this is my opinion, I doe not ſay all other are of my minde, for there is an old ſaying goeth thus, ſo many men, ſo many mindes, what other mens opinions is, I hauehave not to doe withall, but this I can ſay of my owne knowledge, that I hauehave not knowen one tall man amongſt twenty, that hath good skill, nor ſufficient valour anſwerable vntounto their ſtatures, for tall men are more fearefull then men of a meane ſtature, for I hauehave ſeene the triall both in the warres and in ſingle combat; yet take me not vp before I bee downe, for I doe not here condemne all tall men of perſonage, for ſo I ſhould greatly ouer-ſhoote my ſelfe, and greatly wrong many tall men of ſtature and vallour, and alſo of good reſolution, but yet all of them are not ſo, wherfore what I hauehave ſaid, it is to encourage little men of meane ſtature, hauing skill not to feare any man vponupon good occaſion, thoſe that ſpend their daies without practiſing skil in weapons, ſo that when they are wronged they fall to wiſhing: oh I would to God I had skill in my weapon, for then would I anſwere the wrong that ſuch a man, and ſuch a man hath done mee, but I could wiſh ſuch vnskilfull to liue quiet, and not to maintaine any quarrell, leſt they looſe their liues for want of experience, as many of them hauehave done.
Scholler.
Now as you hauehave promiſed me, I pray you let me heare your opinion concerning the oddes betweene a ſtrong man of ſtrength, and a little or a weake man of ſtature and ſtrength.
Maſter.
Then this briefely is my opinion, a ſtrong man hath great oddes at the gripe, or in a cloſe at any blunt weapon, but vponupon the point of a ſharpe weapon, in fight a ſtrong man hath ſmall or no oddes at all of the little or weake man, wherefore I would not hauehave a little man bee afraide of a tall or ouergrowne man, no although he were farre bigger then a man, for in performance of any things to be done with weapons, there is no more to bee found in the beſt of them of great ſtature vponupon triall, then is in the ordinary men, or then is in a little or weake man, nay many times the little or weake man doth as good or better ſeruice in the face of the enemy vponupon the point of the weapon then the taller man doth, for although his ſtature be ſmall, yet commonly a little mans heart is bigge.
Obſeruations for a Scholler or any other.
What length thy weapons ſhould be.
How you ſhould button your foiles for your practiſe.
An eaſie way to weapon thy ſelfe at time of need.
Let thy Rapier or Sword be foure foote at the leaſt, and thy Dagger two foote, for it is better hauehave the Dagger too long then too ſhort, and rather hard then ſoft, for a ſhort dagger may deceiue a skilfull man his defence, either of blow or thruſt: I hauehave often knowen a ſoft dagger cut in twaine with a Rapier.
Let thy Staffe of practiſe be ſeauen or eight foote, and better, button both thy foiles and thy ſtaues before the practiſe with them, for otherwiſe the vnskilfull may thruſt out one anothers eyes, yea although there was no harme meant, yet an eye may be loſt except the occaſion be preuented.
To make your buttons take wooll or flocks, and wrappe it round in leather ſo bigge as a Tennis-ball, then make a notch within halfe an inch of your woodden foile or ſtaffe, but if it be an Iron foile, then let there be an Iron button riuetted on the point, ſo broad as two pence, and then take your button being made as beforeſaid, and ſet it on the end of your Staffe or Foile likewiſe, and then take leather and draw hard vponupon it, and binde it with Shoomakers-ends or parck-thread in the notch, and another leather vponupon that againe, for one leather may bee worne out with a little pracliſe.
Now if thou hauehave a quarrell and willing to anſwere, and being not furniſhed with a Rapier, then take a cudgell of what length thou wilt thy ſelfe, and make a ſhoulder within a handfull of the ende of it▪ by cutting him halfe way through, and there binde the haft of thy knife, and ſo the ſhoulder will keepe him from ſlipping backe, and this is as ſure and as fearefull, and as good as a Rapier to encounter againſt a Rapier and Dagger, or a Sword and Dagger, ſo that you hauehave a cloſe hilted Dagger: likewiſe you may tie a point at the But-end of the Cudgell, to put in thy finger that thy Cudgell ſlippe not out of thy hand: this weapon I hauehave made good proofe of, but it was in another Country, where I could get no other weapon to my minde.