The Noble and Worthy Science of Defense, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. This Chapter ſheweth the ſeuerall kinde of weapons which are to be plaied at.
NOw one thing more vntounto the vulgar ſort concerning the ſeuerall ſorts of weapons, becauſe vntounto many it ſeemeth ſo ſtrange, that if a Maſter of Defence ſhould tell them that he can teach thee skill at Fence at twelue ſeuerall ſorts of weapons, they will ſtraight-way ſay, that there are not ſo many: now for their further ſatisfaction, they ſhall heare the diuiſion of more then twenty ſorts of weapons, which Maſters of this Noble art of Defence, are, or, elſe ought to be expert therein, like vntounto a skilfull Cooke which can of one ſort of meate make diuerſe diſhes, or like the cunning Phyſition, who can with a hearbe being diuerſely compounded, make it ſerue to diuers purpoſes and vſes: to which effect my meaning is, that an expert Maſter of Defence can of one kinde of weapon make many, as by this ſequell following ſhall appeare, and all theſe weapons hauehave beene plaied at in Challenges, here in England at ſeuerall times.
Of the Sword are deriued theſe ſeauen.
The two hand Sword.
The Back-ſword.
Sword and Dagger.
Sword and Buckler.
Short Sword and Dagger.
The ſhort Sword and Gantlet.
The Baſtard Sword, the which Sword is ſomething ſhorter then a long Sword, and yet longer then a Shortſword.
Now with the Rapier ſeauen more.
The firſt Rapier and Dagger.
The ſingle Rapier.
The caſe of Rapiers.
The Rapier and Cloake.
The Rapier and Target.
The Rapier and Gantlet.
The Rapier and Pike.
The Dutch Fauchin.
The Poll-axe.
The Battel-axe.
The two Daggers.
The ſingle Dagger.
The Halfe-pike.
The Long-pike.
The Long-ſtaffe.
The Quarter-ſtaffe.
The Welch-hooke or Bill.
The Haulbert.
The Rapier and Dagger againſt Short-ſword and Dagger.
Likewiſe Rapier and Dagger, or Sword and Dagger againſt a Staffe or Haulbert.
Alſo the Staffe againſt a Flaile.
Back-ſword againſt ſword and dagger.
Single Rapier againſt Rapier and Dagger.
Now my ſecond booke which is already in hand ſhall ſhew my iudgement, and the chiefeſt rules according vntounto my practiſe at all theſe ſeuerall weapons, if death doe not preuent me before I hauehave accompliſhed my pretence, yet for doubt thereof, the defence of the Staffe with a Rapier and Dagger, or with Sword and Dagger I will giuegive thee a little direction, which being practiſed it may ſtead thee as much as thy life is worth. I doe this the rather, and for becauſe that the Staffe is a weapon which many men doe carry, and with skill it hath great oddes againſt either of the two aforeſaid weapons, but yet becauſe euerie man which carrieth a weapon, hath the perfect skill in that weapon which hee carrieth, but admit that he hath good skill, yet in knowing the beſt Defence, it may preuent thee from a danger.
Now thou muſt remember if thou bee charged vponupon with a Staffe, ſuddenly ſummon vp thy wits in that which before hand thou haſt learned for thy Defence, and thinke this with thy ſelfe; I am now to encounter againſt a Staffe: why then thus frame thy guarde, put thy Dagger acroſſe on the in-ſide of thy Rapier or Sword, and let the croſſe bee made within halfe a foote of thy Rapier or Sword-hilt, bearing vp both thy hilts euen ſo high as thy cheeke, looking with both thy eyes betwixt both thy weapons.
Thus being guarded, it may bee, that thine enemie will charge thee with a thruſt, for becauſe thy breaſt will ſeeme moſt open to him, the which and if hee doe, then turne downe the point of thy Rapier and Sword, and with thy Dagger force him downe which will bee a ſtronger Defence then with one alone: and thus by turning downe both thy points together, ſtrike thine enemies thruſt of the Staffe towards thy right ſide: Loe, thus doe me with both thy weapons; then will thine enemies thruſt paſſe cleare vnderunder thy right arme, but neyther with the Sword nor yet with the Dagger alone; the thruſt of a ſtaffe is not to be defended without greater danger then with both of them, as before hath beene rehearſed.
Now and if thine enemie doe chaunce to charge thee with a blow, thereby thinking to driue both thy Rapier and Dagger, or Sword and Dagger vntounto thy head: For I hauehave knowne many to be of that opinion with me. But the blowe of a Staffe, ſtrucke at the head, may be defended with the ſingle Sword or Rapier according vntounto the Backe-ſword rule: but to beare thy Dagger with thy Rapier or Sword, that is the moſt ſure way, keeping both thy points vpright, and ſo to beare them towards the right ſide, or to thy left ſide, according as thou ſhalt perceiue thine enemie charge thee.
Thus will I heere conclude and make an end with this ſhort direction concerning this one weapon, becauſe I hauehave ſpoken ſomething already touching and concerning this purpoſe, although it be not ſo ample as now it is, and yet heereafter (by Almightie Gods good helpe) I will ſpeake more at large hereof, of, this onelyonly ſerueth but to rowze vp your ſpirites, that you may the better prepare your ſelfe for the next. The horſe ſtarteth at the Spurre, ſo (in louelove) I pricke you forward in this commendable Art: and ſo, I hope, that this Whetſtone will make your blunt Wittes ſomewhat ſharper: Golde is not put in the fire to be conſumed, but to bee purified; euen ſo I hope, the trauell which I hauehave taken heerein will not make you to proue worſe, but rather ſomewhat the better in all goodnes.
FINIS.