Mat They Works of George Silver

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THE WORKS OF

EORGE SILVERCOMPRISING

" PAR ADO XES 0 FOE FEN C E "(Pn-n!cd In 1599 and nmtJ repn·nttd]

AND

. . . . .

lNSTRUCTIONS VPO MY PRADOXES OF

DEFENCE "[Prtnlt!a for the first time from flu MS. in the On-tish Museum]

EDITED WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY

CYRIL G. R . MATTHEYCAPTAIN, f.OSDON" liTF'LE aJurrAnR; M:~MIJ.ER Oil" THE LONDO::i FE;:NCING C1.lJ!~; At-i'u

MIIM8R~ D'ItONNI!:t ,:JR :OU CltRcr_:E' 'D~ItS iC.JUl-"B DE BkUXE.a ...LEs.

WIT1-I EIGHT COLLOTYPE REPRC)DUCTIONS FRO~I TIlE ?tfS~ IN

THE BRITISII I\fUSEUh.f

LONDON

GEORGE BELL AND SONS , YORK STREET



INTRODUCTION~

N 1599 a certain George Silver published

a work entitled "Paradoxes of Defence,wherein is proved the trve grounds of Fight

to be in the short auncient weapons, and

hat the short Sword hath aduantage of the long Sword

r long Rapier. And the weakenesse and imperfection

f the Rapier-fights displayed, Together with anto the noble, ancient, victorious, valiant,

nd most braue nation of Englishmen,· to beware of false

eachers of Defence, and bow they forsake their owne

aturall fights = with a briefe commendation of the noble

cience or exercising of Armes. By George Siluerentleman~ London, Printed for Edvvard Blount. I599.

j

"

HTo the Right Honorable, my Singvlar Good

ord, Robert Earle of Essex and Ewe, Earle Marshall of

ngland, Viscount Hereford, Lord Ferrers of Chartley,

ourchier and Louaine, Maister of the Queenes Maies-ies horse} & of the Ordenance, Chancellor of the

niuersitie of Cambridge, Knight of the most noble



INTRODUCTION ~. . . .

VIi

question existed," but remained unknown except to

few people up to" about the year 1890, at which time

was discovered in the" MS. Department of the British

useum by the late Mr .. \V. London. He was warnedthe Museum to beware of assuming the work to be

but he afterwards stated in a letter to Captain

that he found U the educated but careless and

orrupt. spelling to be characteristic of Silver." and also

he Ieconsidered it to be the oldest English treatise onwith the exception of that on the two-hand sword in

Harleian MS. (3542). which dates from the fifteenth

The uBref" Instructions tJ consist of thirty-

our" closely-written pages in very good preservation,

here being but few places, and those of comparativesignificance, where the handwriting is too faded to be

in such cases the context, however, clearly con ...

eys the meaning" It is interesting to note that the

S.- of the "Paradoxes II is also in the Library of the

Museum, having been purchased in 1892 at theof the MSS. of Edwin H~ Laurence, Lot 6031 at a

ost of £I I.From the time that the MS~ of UBref Instructions H

irst became known to Mr. London he appears to have

it with considerable care, and, although not him-elf a fencer" he became at once so convinced of the prac ....

= - MS" 47 pages. No. 34,192.. UWith' Epistle Dedecatorie ' (ff~4-6)



. . . . . .IU INTRODU CTI ON.

cal value to swordsmen of its contents that ·he made a

mplete transcript of if--byno means a light undertaking

hen the caligraphy and spelling are taken into account

Knowing Captain Alfred Hutton by reputation as onethe most uni versallyrecognized authorities on all matters

specting the sword and its employment, it occurred

Mr. London after completing the transcript that

aptain Hutton was of all others the one best qualified

his practical knowledge and experience to pronounceupon the merits of the MSt He a.ccordingly

tained an introduction, and, after some correspondence,

ft the transcript for perusal. This occurred in 18941

due course it was returned, and then only Captain

utton learned of the rather sudden death of the lender,it appeared had some short time previously expressed

wish that the transcript might be allowed to remain in

Hutton's magnificent collection of fencing and

elling literature.

Thus it was, in 1895t that theHBref Instructions," by

the more valuable part of George ·Silver's work, first

under my notice ..

Realizing the value of this unpublished work Captain

eventually extracted .from Mr. London's tran ..

ript of it the material upon which he based a mostteresting article in "The Indian Fencing Review" of

1897, on HSword Fighting and Sword Play:'



INTRODUCTION~•IX

esirous of rendering himself as ~'handy t, as possible

his sword at close quarters, More recently still,

on September :25, 1897. Captain Hutton gave

ractical illustration of the" grips U mentioned byhim in

at article at an exhibition of swordsmanship at the

hitton Park Club, and this display following upon the

ublication of his paper immediately recalled to my mind

e original MS4I at the British Museum. I took an early

pportunity of consulting this in order to make a closercquaintance with S'ilver's later and more important work,

is probably the earliest (in English, at any rate) to

ach what is now considered. to be the most telling and

assic style of fence, viz .. " Parry and Riposte."

Much impressed by what I saw and afterwards read,struck me that a work so peculiarly English, containing

much matter of value to all swordsmen, and to infantry

fficers in particular, ought not to remain buried, but

rather be published for the use of those who

are to read and learn. I therefore determined tomplete the work so nearly finished by George Silver,

publishing his MS. of UBref Instructions," Captain

utton and Captain Thirnrn, whom I consulted on this

gave me every encouragement, the former most

placing at my disposal the transcript made by Mr.

for comparison when. my own transcript was



INTRODUCTION.

the work really complete, as George Silver had

idently intended it to be, by reprinting the HPara-

xes" as nearly as possible in their original form, with

"Bref Instructions tt following l£teratim et verbat£maccordance with the MS4t, and in the same style as the

Paradoxes. U

These latter alone contain much to interest the swords-

an and the antiquary, but it is not so much to this por..

of the work as to the "Bref Ins tru Ctions.u that Isire to direct attention, owing to the remarkably clear

concise manner in which much excellent and service-

advice upon the handling of the sword is given.

king into consideration the faCt that the weapon re-

mmended by Silver as the most serviceable nearly 300ars ago, though slightly longer and double-edged, was

r all praEtical purposes similar, as regards the blade, to

e regulation weapon of to-day. much, if not all, that he

s written upon the handling of it in his time may well

ove of immense service to those whose lives are at timespendent upon the more or less ready use of their swords,

The fact that so little distinction is now made between

swordsmanship of the duellist and that of the soldier

ust be incomprehensible to the majority of fencers who

given any consideration to the matter as thus defined.ncing as now taught throughout Europe is made, and

ays has been, entirely subservient to the requirements



INTRODUCTION. •Xl

ncient or of modern date) upon the art of sword-fencing,

it is moreover a rule to which there are few exceptions,

hat this distinction should exist among continental

ations cannot be altogether a matter of. surprise to us,eeing that the possibility, and even, in certain countries.

he probability of a duel is common to both civil and

ilitary society alike, but that this method. should be

dopted in this country. where duelling is altogether a

hing of the past, it is not quite so easy to understand .... As a means simply of promoting health, and as are ...

reation; fencing of the classic schools, whether French or

talian, cannot be too highly commended, and with simply

uch objects as these in view all the stringent etiquette of

duel and the extreme niceties of the art of fence

hould be strongly insisted upon in the fencing-room. It

generally admitted that the true basis of all scientific

wordsmanship is foil-play-s-meaning thereby that a man

ho is fairly expert with the foil will very soon render

imself equally so with the sabre; although I do not

that a man cannot become a good sabre fencer

the groundwork of foil-fencing-I merely say that

e is invariably the better for it.

Now in all probability the only Englishmen to whom

wordsmanship can ever be a matter of real necessity are

fficers in Her Majesty's Navy and Army, of whom it is

the infantry officer rather than any other that

hould be considered. on this account. and who in parti-



. . . INTRODUCTION 9

at exists between the sabre duel and the sabre fight,

horn of all formality and rules, as he would find it on

ervice, whether against a savage or a civilized enemy.

he method of instruction as at present authorized foris use is so closely allied to the duelling system as to be

ractically indistinguishable from it, and to such an extent

this true that the authority responsible for its invention

nd adoption has seen fit not only to neglect all instruc-

respecting either the attack or defence of the lowerbut has actually gone so far as absolutely to pro-

the attack or defence·of any part of the body below

e hip. From this, and from many other instances of a

ore or less similar nature, it is evident beyond dispute

the system and etiquette of the duel have beenadhered to throughout, and this too in a text-book

compiled to teach free sabre jight£ng, such as

ould be encountered on active service. Clearly, in the

lace of this, a simple system should have been drawn up

teach an officer how to defend himself thoroughly, andto attack an adversary, without puzzling him with a

mber of complicated parries and movements, which,

if practicable with a feather-weight duelling sabre,

d in the fencing-room, become utterly impossible with

regulation sword, and in a fight of the "rough andH order. Given the present infantry regulation

of sufficient weight and strength to render it a



INTRODUCTION.. . - - . . .

XIJl

supposed to be taught. Why not, therefore, having de-

cided upon the pattern of the regulation sword, have

drawn up. or have caused to be drawn up, by one ormore

of our well ..known swordsmen. competent from experi ..ence to judge what is really requisite for the purpose, a

simple common-sense method of sword:ftghting suitable

for service requirements, This could easily be taught, and

devoid of a great deal of that preliminary fencing-room

drudgerythat so

frequently provesto be the

realbar

tofurther interest and improvement except in the case of the

enthusiast a system. in faa~of such a description that

the advanced "science)) of the sword is as far as possible

eliminated from it, in order to make way for the simple

development of individual coolness and quickness bysuch

means as can without difficulty be practised by officers

among themselves at any time.

That such a system can be drawn up, and that there

are those who are thoroughly qualified to do it well, there

is no doubt-the main point to be borne in mind being

from the outset to dismiss all that to any unnecessary ex-

tent savours of the duelling school, and then to teach the

smallest number and the simplest of parries that will pro-

tect a man/rom head to foot, and the correc? and qu£ckest

way of delivering a cut or thrust, coupled with careful

instruction in the judicious use of the left hand in defence,which is now and has long been totally ignoredll So soon

as an officer instructed upon such simple lines as these



INTRODUCTI·ON.

thout feints (as they might usually be expected). and

rr .make .his ripostes ..with' .tolerable hope of success, he

atonce begin to .aequire confidence-in himself and in

sword' at close quarters, and before ~ong it is not un-to. beliese :t.l)atl our·.offiCers generally would

.ro·~underStaridi'and to·fotln·a· more correct

dof:vthe· .''VaNe :of e ~thewe.\p0n5 th~y( .. ear as ' a

unlj tba. . ~tb· ceAaiD. almom -tare 'e.'tC"PiWfIS ispresent.the ..ase.,·· ._ .:. :::{; ~;.' ; ~":' .. ' -,

·The,whoJe '· .matter praCtically then amounts tothis: In

to .make aman a fencer. itrequires an expenditure

much time, patience, and'labour on the part of mstructor

pupa .alike, . Why· . therefore endeavour to achieve soat the best .can only,bedone:in.compatatively

w cases, whereas far .'more practiCal ..results- can .be

and that in a muehlarger number of-cases ..with

6 ttite1y . Ie~ tr;ouble·~to a n concemed? .'.Sutely. if an

ficer a fte r. ptaaical experience. found that he could hold

s own 'and ~rende, .a ·good account 'o f himself in a hand-

-hand encounter on· such .Hnes as already .SuggeSted, is

not also reasonable .to suppose that this of itself-would

sufficient' ineentive. to him -to look into the- real

seieaee " .of ihe·art ofhis own aecord, and thu s even tu -

to -assist" .though. 'in' a way- 'unintentionally, in ·the

·of the' art: of fence .in this country upon

even better. and certainly. upon a more justifiable basis

that, upon which -it exists .in other countries ?



INTRODUCTION. xv

not, and perhaps more especially in the latter easel' I

earnestly recommend a perusal and careful study of the

if Bref I nstruClions ;" for I am convinced that a great deal

f what he reads therein can be put into practice in swordencounters with highly successful results, especially when

take place against men of savage or barbarian races

hat Her Majesty's troops are now so frequently sent to

in various quarters of the globe. To him I partieu ...

arly commend theIf

Gryps " (cap"L 6 )" and the ripostescan be made from them-powerful parries, with

trong. rapid, and, in the majority of cases, most unlocked-

or ripostes, calculated to ·thoroughly surprise an adver-

under almost any circumstances.

As an example : A rushing opponent delivers a sweep"

ng downward blow at the left side of the head or neck.

is met with a high prime parry, and nothing being

likely than a feint under such circumstances, the blow

an be met deliberately, or even with a forward movement

f the foot, andthe assailant's sword-wrist gripped firmly

ith the left hand under the right as .his cut is checked.

almost simultaneously with the formation of theIt

arry. The sword-point is then inclined to the rear over

e left shoulder, and the pommel dashed into h~ face

ith terrific force, the way being further ~Ieared for it by

ressure downwards with the left hand upon the adver-

ary's sword-arm. 'There are. of course, variations of

his, and a man fairly practised in this class of close fight-



•

most into a single action; and there iS J moreover, a

eat point in favour of this, inasmuch as it is hardly

ssible for any defence to be brought against a riposte

this kind in time to prove successful. The morerious and determined the onslaught the simpler and

ore effeClive 'the parry and riposte really become.

lver gives the "gryps " or seizures for use to meet

rious attacks with ripostes of this description (in many

ses with the alternative of using the point) ..which caneffeCtively be made from them, and these it iswhich

pear of such praEtical value as to warrant the publica-

n of them after so many years of oblivion.

It is true that they had gone out of vogue before his

e, as is shown by his statement in the If Paradoxes,""there are now in .these dayes no gripes, closes.

restlings, striking with the hilts, daggers, or bucklers)

ed in Pence ..schools," but which at the same time

oves them to have been previously recognized, taught,

d used, and to have simply been lost sight of as timesd weapons changed.

It is sufficiently. remarkable that from the very com-

encement Silver lays great stress upon defence; every

gument he makes use of points to the absolute necessity

this in the first instance, and it is only when in safetyhe advises counter-attack or riposte,

The soundness of his views in this is amply justified

INTRODUCTION ·



INTR-ODUCTION: ••

XVII

he correCtly-formed parry fol lowed by an instantaneous

iposte. He draws particular attention to the faCt that

years previous to his time all had been sacrificed, to

ttack. and that defence· had been almost if not entirelyegleCted for the sake of attack by those who made it

heir business to teach the use of the sword-e-afact which

jusdy condemns. This remains the point of primary

mportance throughout Silver's work, and forms the very

ssence of his teaching ..~M_~:~t! - c a n . read in the If Paradoxes U appears

beedf~tUtd·doubdess was, written ·in a feeling of. .

apnst and jealousy of Saviolo (the

·on"the rapier)- and. his school, but the manner

nwhich he treats his own method of defenceand

attackhis ".Brei 1nstruetions," as opposed eo that of the

talian· school of his dq.Yt c learly proves that he had

thought out the system which he advocated.

that he had reduced it to a science practically of his

wn creation, which is remarkable at any rate for much

sense, and in some respects, perhaps, for teach-

ng of a unique kind, His" Bref Instructions" can be

till used with great effeCl,almost without modification,

o suit our modem sword, and it is on this account that

have brought them forward, suppressing or adding no-

• nVincentia Savi0Io, His Practise, in two bookes: the first treat-g of the Use of the Rapier and Dagger, the second of Honour



. . . . . ~NTROPUCTION.

i n order to show how wide a scope they still possess

r providing a powerful method of defence against all

and some simple though telling ripostes for use

hand-to-hand fighting. Silver; too; fully realized thethat the hilt or pommel of the sword (or the butt of

y arm) constituted an effectively offensive portion of

weapon if properly handled. A few modem authors,

ho have written upon bayonet fighting, have taught the

e of the rifle-butt, but Silver was, so far as I have beenle to ascertain. the first writer to attach any importance

the- offensive possibilities of the sword ...hilt. That in it

indicates a weapon of great power ..when used as an

xiliary to the point" and edge at close quarters, there

n be no doubt, for whereas many a man can do muchmage to his opponent after being run" through the

especially if able for the moment to retain the

ade in himself (and thus render his enemy moment ..

powerless). few if any would be able to stand up

a back ..handed blow in the face with the pommela regulation sword,

I suggest that sword fighting is not taught, and that

ought to be. F encing should be~encouraged to the

most, but fighting should be regarded, as it was by

lver, as a distinct subjeCt, and of much greater import-ce in the majority of cases.

My advice to every infantry officer is to study these



INTRODUCTION.. .

XIX

elf that an intricate and possibly faulty duelling school

ill keep his skin whole in hand-to-hand fighting. unless

e be already an expert fencer.

CVRlL G~R~MATTHEY ..



OF DEFENCE,IS PROVED THE TRVE

rounds of Fight to be in the Ihort auncient weapons,

that the fhort Sword hath aduantage of the lOllg

word or long Rapier .. And the weakeneffe and imper-

of the Rapier-fights diiplayed. Together with an

tion to the noble, ancient , victorious, valiant,nd maft braue nation ofEngliihmen, to beware of falfe

achers of Defence, and how they forfake their owne

naturall fights ; with a briefe commendation of

the noble fcience or exercifing ofArmes.

By George S ilu er Gen tleman.





ONORABLE, MY SINGVLAR

OOD LORD, ROBERT EARLE OF

flex and Ewe, Earle Marlhall ofEng land,V if-Hereford, Lord Ferrers of Chartley, Bourchier

nd Louaine, 9vfaijler of the ~eeneJ Maiejfies horft , &of the Ordenance, Chancellor of the Vniuerfitie of Cam-

bridge, K night o f the mofl noble order of the G ar-ter, and one ..of her HighnejJe moft ho-

norable Priuy CounJell.

ENCING Right honorable

--~...~.~ ~~in this new fangled age, is like

our fafhions , euerie daye a

change, refetnbling the Ca-melion,whoalterethhinlfelfe

===~s~~· intoallcoloursfauewhite: [0

changeth into all wards faue the right.hatitisfo, experience. teacheth vs : why it is

, I doubt not but your wifedome doth con-There is nothing permanent that is not

ue, what can be true that is vncertaine? how



THE EPISTLE

ter truth , finding the feemingtruth butchaun-

ging, not alwayesone, but

alwayes diuerfe, for-fakes the fuppofed, to find out the allured cer-

taintie: and Iearching euery where faue where

it lhould , meetes with all faue what it 'Would.VVho feekes & finds not, feekes in vaine ; who

feekes in vaine, muft ifhewil find feeke againe:and feeke he may againe and againe, yet all invaine. VVho feekes not what he would, as he

fhould, and where he Ihould , as in all other

things Right honourable fo in Fencing: the

mind deGrous of truth, hunts after it,and hatingfalfhood , flies from it, and therfore hauing mif-Ied itonce, it affayes the fecond time: if then hethriues not, he tries anotherway : whe that hath

failed he aduentures on the third: & if all theie

Faile hirn , yet he neuer faileth to chaunge hisweapon, his fight, h is ward, ifb any meanes hell1ay compalle what he mo f\: a ects: for becaule

men defire to find out a true defence for them-

felues in their fight, therefo re they feeke it dili-

gently, nature hauing taught vs to defend ourfelues, and Art teaching how: and becaufe we

mitre it in one way we chaunge to another, But



~ .

DEDICATORIE._. ,

we often chop and change, turne and

froIn ward to ward, from fight to fight,this vnconfiant fearch, yet wee neuer re ll: in

and that becauie we neuerfind

the truth:

th erefore we neuer find it, beca ufe we neuer Englijb ma ijle rJ• . • of defence, areIt In that weapon where It may b e found. profitablemem-

I" . k r d .c . - - /;erJ in tAt com-or, to lee e lor a true erence In an vntrue man wealth, if

eapon is to angle on the earth for fifh and to t h e y _ teach wi~h, , 1Z1IClent Englijb

untin thefea for Hares: truth isancient though weaponJoftr~t• D efence , W!lght

Ieeme an vpll:art : our forefathers were wiie, and (ollIJlnitnt

h h h c 1·11_ 1- length, withinDUg our age account t em rOO lin, va rant thecompl1ffiif

we reputethem cowardes· they found tbeJlaturtl IJIJd, • jJ rengtb o f men

ut the true defence for their bodies in Ihort to command, be-_ • caufe it malleIn

by their wiidome, they defended them tbemfaft, oold,

.1 d r : bd d heir enemi · h h r valiant bar d ie

ues anIII

uetelr enermes , WIt tnote

jirol1g ~nd ,.

with their valour. And Right hono- };~a'th(1t'I,~ndw~mwm'

if we will haue this true Defence we mull tbewarreJ,!er-, · "r·l·

ke i here it i ·fh d Ih tac« o _ , tnetree e itw ere It IS, In ort Swor s, ort Staues Pri1Jce,difellcc

h h lrPik P ·r. Gl 1: h lik of their ftientleJIe 1 e, artllans , eues , or IUC 1 e and cauntrey,

of perfeCt legths not in long Swords Buttbe~pltrjll, .' retifon 110t to be

Rapiers, nor frog pricking Poiniards : for tought, nor / 1 I f -f h b . · ,. d c r h fred to be taugbt,t ere e no certain groun S lor Defence.w y oecauje it mo-

h h i~·f h b h h . h kethmenfiore-o t ey teac itr u t ere e, W y aue t eynotfuIlandfJll/tlfi

it ? Not becaufe it is not : to fay fo were illjingle combat;• _. ' andwedk,fS Vll-

galne[a y the truth: but becaufe It ISnot cer-ftruiCtllo/e illfbi

A 4 toarres,



THE EPISTLE

taine in thofe weapons which they teach. To

proue this, I haue fet forth thefe l l 1 y Paradoxes,

different IconfefTe from the maine current of

our outlandiih teachers, but agreeing Iam well

aifured to the truth,and tending asIhope to the

honor of our Engliili nation. The reaion whichmoued me to aduenture fo great a taske , is the

defrreIhaue to bring the truth to light, which

hath long time lyen hidden in the caue of con-tempt, while we like degenerate [annes, haue

forfaken our forefathers vertues with their wea ...

pons,and haue lufted like men fickeofafirange

ague, after the ftrange vices and deuifes of Ita-

lian, French and Spaniih Fencers,litle rernern-

bring, that thefe Apii l i toyes could not free

Rome from Brennius facke, nor Fraunce fromKing Henrie the fift his conqueft. To this deiireto find out truth the daughter oftime, begotten

of Bell011a ,Iwas alfo moued , that by itImightremoue the great loffe of our Englilh gallants,

which we daily [uffer by thefe imperfect fights,wherein none vndertake the combat, be his

caufe neuer fo good, his cuning neuer fo much,

his ftrength and agilitie neuer fo great, buthisvertue was tied to fortune: happie man, happie

deale,



DEDICATORIE.~

..

kill or be killed is the dreadful! iffue ofdiuellifh imperfect fight. If that man were

ow aliue, which beat the Maifter for the fcho-

fault, becaufe he had no better inftrudedthefe Italian Fencers could not efcape his

enlure , who teach vs Offence, not Defence,

to fight, as Diogenes Icholers were taught

o daunce, to bring their liues to an end byArt.

Vas Aiax a coward becauie he fought with a

foulded Buckler, or are we mad to go na-into the field to trie our fortunes, not our

VVas Achilles a run-away, who ware

hat well tempered armour, or are we defperat,

ho care for nothing but to fight, andlearn like

Pigmeys, to fight with bodkins, qr weaponslike defence? Is it valour for a man to go n~-

againft his enemie? why then did the La-punilh him as defperate, whom

rewarded for his vallour with a Lawrell

rowne? But that which is molt lhamefull, they 'T o thil it 'will be

me to butcher one-another here at horne ()oieBed, tbat inthe zaarres we

peace wherewith they cannot hurt their ene- 1 J f e f t Z l J ' l{gpiers, or none at 1 1 1 1 , but

ies abrade in warre. For, your Honour well foort Swords. To

.th h h b ' 1 · d d that IanJwere:nowes, atw en t e . atte s are loyne ,an T I J o j e ore in_(iffi-

orne to "thecharge there is no roome for them tientalfo,fir, ." - .. that they hilltl l1Q

.



THE EPISTLE

! , whereby

_ e y are 1 1 1 1 1 - . •

in their de- them what can they doe 'VIth them? can theyand e j p e - " ' hi f 1 . . h he ooint? hpIerCe IS Cor etWIt t e POIIlt.can t ey vn-beingftro-

1hiH

1 b· kl hi Ah

n although ace is e met , vn U;c e . IS rI110ur) ewa-a oer ie f m a l {under their Pikes with a Stocata.e: reuerfa aDritta1 8 0 ) 1 com- , } ,. , ,

is tbe loffe a Stramafon,or other fuch like tepeftuous termes?f a miJ, becau]« 4 rtbe fbrce tf his no, thefe toyes are fit for children, not lor men,

being II1{rn c ft 1· b f h C dhim, ht is lor rag Ing oyes 0 te ampe, to mur er

neither ~61~to poultrie not for men of Honour to trie the bat-defend bH life, ,

nor greatly to tell with their foes. Thus Ihaue right Honora-offend hi! enemy: •

and aga irre ,jince blc for the trial of the truth, betweene the (hort

fl~ltlc1ceofpra- liues of our Englifh gallants who are fellt tollife they baue ,

loft t I J e f i f e o f the certaine death bytheirvncertaine fights & forblour, • f h ' c

abandoning 0 t at milchieuous and imperfect

\Veapon,which Ierues to kill our frieds in peace,

but cannot much hurt our foes in warre, haue I

at this time giuen forth thefe Paradoxes to the

view of the world. And becaufe I knowe fuch

ftraunge opinions had need of {tout defence, I

humbly craue your Honorable protection, asone in whom the true nobility of our victorious

Aunceftors hath taken vp his refidence. It will

Iute to the refl of your Honours moll: noble co-plements , to maintaine the defence of their

I

.. .

weapOllS



DEDICATORY.·

whofe vertues you poffeffe. It agrees' ·

your Honourable difpofition , 'to receiue

ith tauour what is preiented with loue. It forts

ith your Lordihips high authority, to weighreafon, what is fit fortnarihallnlen. Itisan

fuall point of your Honor, whichwinnes your

Lordihip loue in your countrey , to defend the

truth in whomioeuer : and it addeth a fupply tohat vvhich your Lordihip haue of late begun

to your vnfpeakeable honor and our ineftima-benefite, to reduce the vvearing of fwordes

hilts ouer the hands, to the Romane difci- Whyjh()uldaJt• • leaue th e hand

plineyno longer then they might draw them vn-naked,Ji .7JCetber-

d hei h · n. ld I 1 1 b y our limmes f5er t elf armes , or ouer t eir mou ers. n a L iuFS are defon-

or any of there relp ects Iell: affured that your de.d, our enem ie s

, di/comforted,Lordihip vvill vouchfafe to receiue vvith fauor wounded, I 1 1 t d

d rnaintai · hh h r d f'X"lttcd? Ieean mamtame vvit onour t ele Para oxes 0 110 reofon out

· hi hi h b ih d d d f c t:c that tbe Dalldmme, VV ic 1 t ey e rou e vnc er 0 tare a )boll!d D e OJ fOell

fhield Ivvill not doubt but to m.aintaine vvitharmed alldpr~fJi-, dedfor,«: 411Zt

realon amongfl the vvife, and proue it by pra- D t n e , : part of th e

defence in the Rapier, and that there is greataduantage in the Ihort Sword againfl the longRapier, or all maner of Rapiers in generall, ofvvhat length foeuer. And that the fhort Staffe





I

N · A . · · · · · · · · · · · .r: M · · · 0 " ' / ' N · · · · . · . ' I " T ~ ·r I · 0 · · : •• · · N · . · · .. . ; ". " ".: ". . ". ," .. .

TO THE NOB·LE, AN.CIENT,VICTORIOV~J VA.LIANT, AN'n

M'OST BRA'VE NA,TION OF"

ENGLISH,MEN.

, Earge Silaer hauing the perfect r.knowledge of all maner of weapos,

~.' and bein.g experieced in all maner

.~~ .' of fig'hts, thereby perceiuing ' the~ great' abufes by the Italian Tea-

chers of Offence done vnto them,the great errors, inconueniences, &'

falfe 'refolutions they haue brought

hem into; haue inforced me, euen of ,pi tie of their moft

amentable wounds and fla~g'hte~, ~ as I,verily thinkemy bounden dutie, with al~Ioue ~d humilitie to ad-onifh them to take heed, how they fubmit them-elues into the hands of Italian teachers of Defence, ortraungers whatfoeuer , and to beware how they forfaker fufpeCl their owne naturall fight that they .m,ay by

ft· .D:' f' h...r : I al·!

d ak J:. L.....1~ } 'I . da i,n,gOtt 0 thete It tanated wea .e, rantattican, an>oft diuellifh and imperfect fights," and by exerci-

of their owne 'ancient weapons, 'be refbored, or



." A d ' "' ...An ," ,':'mon,z tton

raue nations, haue both felt and, feared, Our plough-en haue mig'htily preuailed a,gain.ft them as .alfo a.-

Maifte:rsl o l.fDefence both in Schooles and coun-

ries, that haue taken vpon t h , ; e to fl-an·d vpon, Schoole-, k d i 1 1 ' " ' . 'b' ldl

.. h . . · b ' · · · · ·ir : ", tc ,nckes ann lug:."ID"g gam, ."OI,I,!.' 8 . . . . . wnere : ,Y : 1 .. grew ":0 a

ommon fpeech among the countrie-men, Bring me, toFencer, I will bring him out. 0 · £ h i s , fence trickes with

d " h ' b l - I I ' ; ; " 11 ak h i f t · h '"oo,d owne rlg:~e .t blowes, :~will maze um rorget . is: ... ·t·" ' . . k " " ) ' . : " ' 1 1 : 1

. ' , , ""1'· t · · h " . : " I f l " , . ' a k · : ' " e ' 'n ° '0 ' · , ' t · . g a i n f tncerlC . ·,es W,l,1 i. warranl.., I.lm,~ ~. ,p,e',_".~_~:. a·G.j.,ll

aifters of Defence indeed, they are tOI

be honoured,o r a··:·g '·ainfthe Science it is noble.and in mine opinio.... ",.:'.""_,,-_Ul: _,··.··.'.··0.. » .. _[."_:, , : .',' "'" '.':,! _. ::c . ."._·_.c__:···.'· '., .

o be preferred next tO I Diuinitie ; for :asDiuinitie pre--the foule from hell and the diuell, fodorh this,

.. ble S"·~ .. - d r, d th ·b ·d'~'" £r : '- .- d Q:~ flauzhO~'e '~Cle' .nce,' : , e . E , e n l_;',· ..,.•e~'O.:·lle :.,r·omw·ou,n,'~.s,~uaug.: ~

er And moreouer, the cxercifing of w1eap'ons Putteth. . , . J i l _ '- - " ' . • :_ _ : c." __ ._ . .... ~' .. ' I " , . ' , I.... ' .'_-'.'.~' ... ,-:" '.. ':', ''''_ '1 ._ .1. '. ,..•. '....•: ;" ~.' .... ~ __ '. -.~ ',.7

..-'..-:'.,'.che I .-~ _ C · _ . , and d ' '' ', r . " ~ , . r . . ._ it .[~...afeth f t ' ~ . : - · · · · ,. .'tha.,c~·es, gr.leleS" ; a ; .0, _ '

1 ,_

neaies, 1_ InC,reale_~. : .r,eng ': . . "£b -.":".- · ·.h ' r - h l "t • _ " , • ~ . rits it I··' """ .' t : c - . ' . . ' -I:.:.n :~:,d . - : ' · - - ; " '. - ' : . " " . ,. . :t ·n n . :.arp'ne c I, : ..a e Wi ts, ll_ glue:: ...a P ' · C l · l · e : ' L · lm 'gemen,expelleth melancholy cholericke and euill con ceits,". - - '-... ..'. .. _ . , . . _" .. .. _ ' " . . _'. ._ .. ' '.' '_.. ,. ". ,keepeth a man in breath, perfect health, and

life. It is vnto him that hath the perfection there-of' a m o i l : friendly and comfortah , : ; 1 ' e com p ' - - " a ' :ion when" ...... .... '. '.. .... -1'·, 1 . . . " . : . : . : " . . : : , , _ , ' . ,I. -'- '. . . . '

e , . ' , , " . . } , . ' h, ' _ - ' I . , " ' " , : , [ " .

b · , · . . . - t · · · · · - · · · · - · ' 1 · · . - - - · . - - -_ ' . , " . - . , . - . , · · - - · · · · b · - . . h i . itie IS ao~e., .1 . aUl,ng '.cU.I~. on , Y . '1 8 we:ap1on a:. out I, im, 1 , ,

putteth him oU! of ~1 feare: &.in the warres and places0,£moft danger It. maketh him bold, hardie, and valiant,A-nd r,.. 0 m - - ' " . .h ..- t " h " " ~ " nobl .n d - - - f t " 'I' . ti Ir till,

,ill' ,J:~r~~.- .~~.,uc : 3 : 9 , . 1 S : ,~'O".'I:;ea n ! " I, mor mignne na-

non ..of E.nglifu~en, of theirgood natures, are alwayesmoil: lo~tng, vene c~,edu1ous,&; ready to cherifh &; pro-

teet ftragers: yet that through their good natures theyneuer more by ftrangers or falfeteachers may be decei-ued, once agame I ammoil humbly to admonifh the) or



A Alit'

11 ......:' ,: ' m ' · , · : , 1 ' i" " t , z > o ' " '.'.'..•.'..(If,II' ..' ,1'1# '. .

. . . . - . . - 1 \ . . ' 1 1 ' ,..I..ak ,... - .I.'L." •. , - .. , ....• hith..···· chI t. r-angers mai I t, te vp lo"n them to come tntr ic r to teac .hi h I ' - f t · · . 1'" . ;i'fi if. .. 6 '. hIS . 11.0 , " .e & molt valiant, 1 & victorious nation to i' , g ' I · . t ,

f i r i l , , . 'before they learne of them, they caufe a £uffi-

cient triall 0 , £ ' them tO be made, whether the excellencieof their skill be fuch as they profefie or no, the triall to

be very requifite &; reafonable, euen fu.ch as I my (eIfe,.Id 'b d ..h 1 " ) 1 ifI fh ld kou: u oe contentec wrtnai .., 1 . 1 , I,., !~'OIU.;I!."ta: e vpon me to~ th -ill II! h 'h .. i ! I ' fi h A' dgo In their countne to teach t nerr nation to 'n g : 1 .t:~,~ no

hisis the triall: they {hall. plaY'with fach ' w ' e a , p - o : s as they . A _ trial/llfl{Jf' rtf)

rofefle to teach withall three bouts apeece with three grill 1m . .-hom."r':--~h'b•........•.- -'-~~ . ~ ,-,', ";, " _ ' " ' : 1 ' - C oj t ! J 8 i , . flJlUll'JIJ,or t e befl Engllfh. Maifte',rs. of Defence, & ..hree bouts 6e&liltft pr;ftjfori

apeece with three vnskilful 'valiant men, and three bouts ,if armil o u g h t to

. . . .= :. . - = :: _ ,. . ~ - : , : " . : : , - . . ~ th rh:' ,..:' ~ ~,_:_,.(: 'I ! " 1 .," ,, . h a l f d ' - _ " .nk..... · T - h · : ' - . , ' : ' i 'ifth .:.,,"6,Jlli/folfwilnlJlJt~~.:eerelO:tute.m~na,_ru~. e. . en 1 t ,ey 1II11111r iffiJl4pOJ.

defend thefelue~' ag""all1ft t , c h e £ e maiflers of Defen Ice-: -, -, ---'---- •••• , _ '_ ' . '_ _"__:~ ,:_:. : : : _ •••_ ;~ I . ,:_ " ':-.J "'." .- ["._,' ,'_ _::··_,,_' __ ll:..~.' '_' "., , .. ~,. ..... "-,

and hurt" and. go free: .from the reft , then are they to hieonored, cherifhed, and allowed for perfect g,ood tea....

' . : ' h e . . ~ . - ' . , : . . ·::--::·hL--,.c t ' - ' ' . , ' . : Y '1 ' , · t - · : " . ; . ' . - - . - - . ' . . r . " . " , . , ; : - " . ~ " : f o h - " =',," b = - . " bi .t- '~ ' " ' f : ' - , ' . f ' - - . , . . ' . ' , ' ", =c ..e rs W.I ~~.-C.OUD __re y men ioeuer 'l:,e.y ~_e..I=U~.1. or arnethefe they take foile, then are they imperfect in

thei ..- , - - . . _ . . . . - . . .£ : : · f f i· : · . ' . th .,~'f',_ · f i ' · - - : ' : ' h - i- ,t, :':., , e . ' 1 ; . 1 " . - . . Q_ th..·'·. ' ,-,.;c ~ , · ' l · r . ~t..,-_'..elf pro:e'~:.lon." 'i ·e,lr , - ~ . g . : :I"IS Ial.lle,.I(X; .,," e , Y are l(.tJJc.ea-

de..eiuers andmurtherers, and tal 'b e punithed ac-. ' . o r d '~",~"C .')," .. ~." ... ' '' '1 - '- :: '' '~" '. -- -- -: . . ( . .. r . - , ·.-,c-- ' ..'~ .o;~ ,_ ,_ ,-' ,- ; . .. .. - '.1, .-" to t h . . ., '. . . '1 " - - ifh-l~,g Y » ye" D_Owone pU.Dll.iJlm:ent.vn, 0 ...ern " WI ..'"

h c h .. h iall h Jll... 1-fi den fuel a s , m taeir tria ; J ! . t 'ley rna 1~ nd,

tI lz ere are flurt .ej}4cia.ll,markts to know the- ,Italian fightis i f l 1 . p e r : f i a , , ~& tnat the , I t l l / i ' a n ' teachers and fettersforth f [ { D(Jf)~IS ofDefena«, neuer " I l a d , t A t per. . .

fia.:~l()n of tA t true fight.,

:be fi.rft marke i s " they feldome fi.,ghtin their 2

..'owne c,on,ntry vnarmed;: commonly in this ret tbe, p e r - ,

""-->-__."iIl_____V" ...... 1 ; . , :. 1 ' . . ' rt, a·paireo_f GantIe!tes vpon th~r hands, ~~:;:; t Z ' ; ~ '. .and a .good,fhirt of maile V.PO'D their bodies, pier fl)itnotl·t / J , i l t

The. fecod marke is, that Dlcith,erB;the Italians, nor any ' ;;/1J~,:ktilflt.ffi. 1 ' 2



George Siluer his0

their heft Icholers do neuer fight, but they are

cornonly fore hurt, or one or both of t~emo.aine.

" ' f J 1 C third marke is, they neuer teach their fcholers,

let downe in their bookes anie p,erfeCt Iengthes of

heir weapons, without the which no man can by naturer , A rt a,gainil: t h e perfect' legth fight fafe, F o r b e i : f 1 , g too

hort, their times are too long, and fpaces too wide forrdefence, and b e i n g too long" they wilbe vpon e u _ , e . . . .

crotT e that {hall happen to 'be made, 'whether it be

by skil or chance, iii great danger of death; becaufeRapier being too long, the croffe cannot be vndonen due time, butmay be done by going backe with theeete ~ but that time is, alwaies too long to anfweret : c _ " _ . , ~ ~ _ .~ _ . , , ~ ~_ _ , . ~ _ ... . _ _ .. . .

he time of the hand, therfore eu.ery man ought to haue'w e,apon according to his owne ftature : the tall man

haue his weapon longer then the, man of rneanetature, or elfe 'he' hath w'r,ong in his defence, & the man

meane ,ftature muft haue his w,eapon Ionger then thean of fmal {tat-ure, or else he hath wron,g in h is defence';

&; the man, of frnal ftature muft beware that "he feed not

imfelf with this vaine coceipt, that he wil haue hiswea ....

pan long" to reach, as farre as the tall man" for therin hefhal haue great difaduantage, both in making of a ftrongcroffe, and alfo in vncroifmg againe, and in keeping hispoint from croffing_j. and when a croffe is made vponhim to defend hirnfelf or inda;nger 'his enemie, or to- re-deeme his loft times. Againe Rapiers longer, then is

conuenient to accord with the true ftatur,es, of men, arealwaies too long .or too .heauie ta keepe their bodies in

~ue time ~romthe,c:oife o~the light fhort [word of per-



P aradoses ofDefence. 5AA·' b _,J: f he vncertainti it_ J'!' + £ 1 rr. '~~lons,' ..y reaion ,0, t," e vncertainne ~ greatiwittnette

in any of thefe times, rhey are.in great danger of a blow' ,or of a thruft in the 'hand, arme, head, 'body, or face, & ineuerie true croffe i.n the vncrofiing, in great danger of a

blow v 'pon . the head, or 'a full thrufl in the bodie or face:and bei.ng taken in that time & place, the firft mouer in.

vncrofling fpeed,eth the Rapier man of imperfect legth,whether it h'e too long, too {hart or too heauie, and go-eth free himfelfe.by the direction of'his go.u.ernours.The fourth marke is, the croffes of thei.r 'R apie rs for

true defence of their hands are imperfect, for the truecariage of the guard,ant fi,ght,. without the which all

'fig'hts are imperfect ..

Of jix.e .chlefi COUP!, that many voii(l,l1t men th£nllingthemftlues o y their p,raCIifts to be skilfull in their

weapon,,;,, are yet manie times in their'fight p , r e-hurt, and manie times jJoint by men ofJmall sk.ill~or none at all.

SW~.·.·.,····He firft and chiefefl caufe is, the lacke of the' 3~ ' •..·,,·fo,ure Gouernours without the which, it is

" ':'impoffible to -fight fafe, although 'a man~~',-.;' "'~',ihould practiie mofl painfully and mofl di-

Iigently all the daies of his life. .

The fecond caufe is, the lacke of knowledge in the due'ohferuance ofthe foure.Actions, the which we cal bent,fpe,nt, lying {pent, and. drawing backe: thefe Action.s e-

uerie man.fightethvpon, whether they 'be skilfull or vn....skilfull, .he that obferueth .themis fafe, ·he: that obfer-ueth th,e not, is in, c,otin,naIl danger of eueriethruft thatIhalbe ftrongly made ..gainft. him.



6 GttJ.rge Siluer n , t · s ' . . . .

The third canfe is l' th!ey are vn,p:ractiCed in, the fouretr-ue' times." neither do! they know the true t imes ,fro thefalfe: therefore the true choife oftheir times are moil:commonly taken by chance, and feldome orherwife. .

The fourth caufe is:" t h , e ' y are: vnacquainted out o,fwhat 6,g'bt'l o:rin what maner t h , e ' y ' are to anfwer the, V'Q,-

riable £ig'ht: and therefore becaufe the variable fight i s -the mo,a. 'e'aheft f i g ' , h t 0£ 'all other , moft comonly' do an-ewer the variable fight with the variable fight, whichought neuer to . be but in the nrft diftance., or with thefhort Sword again,'il: the long" becaufe if both, or one of

them tha1l happen to prefe, and that in due time of nei-ther ij,de:fi,g'htbe changed.the diil'a'nc,e, ' b , y ' reason of'nar-rownefle of f p a , c e : , is broken, the place is: 'won and loft ofboth fides,then be thatthrufleth lirH:,fpeedeth: if bothhappen ttl thrnft together, they are both in dager. Thefethings fometimes by true times, by change of fights, bychance are auoided- " , . , ' _ - ' - , ~ . Ac~-~)_ ,·1.· : ' \ ; ; i " _ ' 1 1 1 1 1

T··he fi~t::,canfe is their W - : : : - " ~ a : " p " : o " ' : ' n : - 's - - : : ' "r e m o··:ft<-..x irnrn ..nonly.. : '.:- : III '__:_..:.._.,.. . , : . 1 ' · . - , . '_ _ . , . ' ' : _ : ' - , , ' ' _ . " , ~ : - . " :1 . .>1" ,_~ .. _ ~J' • - " _ ""l , ,.~., _.. __-,1, , . I _" '.

too Iong to vncroffe without going backe with. the feet.

'Th,hei _ x t b ~ . ' a n t h ' l , " : : f e is'd'~eir weapons are moft commonlytoo ,_,',ea,me ,: '~"-'_ to defend and .offend in. due time, & : bythefe two laft canfes manyvaliitme haue 10ft their lines.

7"'1 . - t o , " , - t o . 1. '--lj,i:J · t , l . - - t : · : " - ' - ' i f i " ' " - . . . - ' ~ I. .. . - -'~ . , 1 : 1 . ' 1 " "&" " , . 0 . , 'IS . ne C,QIlJ,e ...•nat w'J.'e me« In , l t t Z r , n , l n . g or prllw!t~l1gtheir n : d ' j l t · ,. ; · ,· ,6 _ ,· ·" " ; " -_ , . . . .' , ~ , . I, . J '. -, . .. ..- . '- .~ . .. .J .'-' . t t ~ " ,l,,'nen 'w , Q r , r ) i f l S " are a e c e s u e a W,: .·Il

L--'n 'V, tauan , c , { ! ' n c e r s , _ ,



PArnJ(J'VD~·lJn'~D~'~-Cd 7a uaLj~i"', ._.'~l:!-li- ~ ........

according with true force & time' i n , rough playfight" falfe: for exaple, there is as much difference be-

two kind offights.as there is 'betwixt_th,e tr_u.e.+ . . . a , . f S · . . . B • fS ' h ; Q : - S " ; ' B '" · hi felf ifl","-Lureo: :.'·If' tseuts '0, .•'outampton,~~lr ' : ' e , u t s umieir,r

1·... Th hi d ..-. d f ' h C '-- c. b'were nnng, The t Ird none' ca iu ..ge ot theCrattbute Crafts-man ; 'the vnskilfull, be he neuer fo wife, canot truly Iudgeof'his teacher.or skill, thewhich helear-eth, being vnskilful himfelfe, L,aftly, & : to confirme forh h IL _b '"m 1 _;; hi .. .- ..ut _ __all that 1 11al..e amine, not on. y In t ' " 1 S excellet 'Sci-

nee, o,f Defence, but in all other excellent fecrets mofthel b h d fh fommonly t e lye' ~•earetn as goo_1 a .. rew of truth, ashit: 1 1 : .ruth it telfe•

.~......••....... is a g~eat queflion, & efpecially amogfl: 4 -, t h e R " "a - - - " l ' e " r m - c 'n w ' - . . : , h o · · ' - : · hath the " " v = q ' I 1 · - : : - · · t a g · e o f\A~ ~~.' ..'':'''L''~ = < c : - ; -_ : : _ ... . " : _ - : . .. . .: .. , , '. ' . '. '- ._ = - - ', - - " .~ .: . . ~ _ : - : ': " ._ !Q.__-:,>.~_ .. ~..

~ e : : E i S · · the thrufler, or of the warder, Some hold

it::J~"'", ftrongly', that the 'warder hath the vantage :others f a : r , it is moft certain that the thru ..

ter hath, the !antag,e~Nowwhen two do hacppe to fight.,eing both of one mind that the thrufter hath the van-ge, they make all !hift theycan.who !hall gine the firf]hruft: as for example, two _Ca,ptaine's at Southampton e...en as they were goin,g to take fhippingvpon thekey.feltftrife, drew their Rapiers, and prefently 'being defpe-

ate, hardie or refolute, as they call it, 'with all force anduer great fpeed , ran with their rapiers one at the o-

&were 'both Ilaine, Nowwhen two ofthe contrary



" G / " ' : ' . ' " s · · , ~ ~ " " " t: t:8 :, t.orge, .t l . : u e . r £J ts . , "

that firft thrufteth is in. g:re.:atdang er o f his life, there-fore with a.ll fpeede do put themfelues. in w~r~.~or Sto-cata, the fare'ft , g a r 1 d of all ~t:h:e'r~is , Y z n , c , e n t z ! ) falth", and

therevpon they fraud fiire, faying the one tothe other,thruft and thou dare; and faith the other thruft and

thou dare, ,0,:[' 'ftrik:e or thruft and thou dare". faith the '0,-

ther: then faith the other, f t r . i i k , e : orthruft 'and, thou dare

for thy life. Thefe two c~nning~.entlemenftandinglong time tog",ether vp·~onhis worthie ward they both. ' ":"':'. ' . ,, , ,, , ••• , ":'. ::. ," "':"". '" "" ',', •• ""''' ''''' '''' ':':'" . . 1 , '. ' . . I •. , •. , . . •• -', . , . . , " ",'

depart in p e : , a c l e , according tOI the old prouerbe : It: 1Sgo'od tie,, p P · " J . ~ · ' n " g . · ' 1 ' " ' 1 n a who..Ie skinne, Ag::;,aine if two fhall' , " . _ I 11..· ."io,;. . . c'.. . ' .. J J . , J m , . . . ~ . . . . . , . I I " , " . . , . _ . . . ' , . , . , . . , "

fight, the one of opinion, that he that tbrufteth hath theva,ntage, and the other of opinion, that the warder haththe vantage, then most commonly the thrufter 'being

valiant, with all {peed thrufteth home, and by reafon

of the t ime: and fwii£t motion of his hand ',.they are mofl:'I ' ith th .. f thei .. -dommon y witn t. .e points a" tneir raplers" or ,I,. a,g.gers,bh bothof th h 111· b r.r bota, one 0; notr -01

: ' . ' t nem hurt ,or ttame, oecaui ..e

their fpal,cesofdefence in, that: kind offight, are too, wide.;0. di ... .t..·····t .. defe: 'dl'd the ,,'. . . b '" .. . . - ... . . theIn .uenme·'O:~I.CI'e,n'··" allI " '.'; .e p l r a 1 c , e '·,'eln.g· wonne, t" e

eye of the Patient by the fwift motion of the Agents

h d" d ,', d A' h r: I-t'

'h f t · , - ,, an,', lSi ' - ,ec,e~rue/, .·<'not: ,er ' retotunon tley I:. 'and fures: . h . .. 1" . kill h ." ..!II, h h'''' h'v,po·n ror therr nues, to ,;')!.I tneir enern es, In the W",lC .

they are moft: commonly Ilaine rhem fe ues .;.that is this:\\Then ~hey~d the point of their enemies rapier outof the right Iine, tbey fay, they may bold! ymake home athruftwitha Paifata'" the which th..yob{eru,e"an,d do ac-

. d' .. - 1 .. 'b ' .t"h . th · h · · ·' > I i ' .i1 ,,_. ,"" h hicor, 109, y: IU I . : ti..e OIII:,'ler . ' la:01:ng a. inorter timewith hIS

hand, as nature manie times teacherh him" fodainly tur-hhi ' " ' f t h b h h hi' .?et :.IS wrr "w iere I ;Y . , .e meetet ..the other in, h i s P ':a{:

r: .' 11. Oi' h h '.' Fhi ' h



Paradoxes ifDtftnce. 9

.. T is mofl: certaine, that men may wi th 5~ .. Ihort fwords both ftrike, thrufl, falfe and

.... . double , by :reafon of their d:iftance and. ' . . . . . . . . • ' . . . . • I : . . . . . • . . . . . . • . . . , nimblene1fe thereof, more dangerou,tly... , '.. ' .. . / then they can,with long Rapiers: and yet

hen two fight with. fhort fwordes , hauing true fight,ere is no hurt done:neith.er is it poflible in anie reafon,at anie hurt fhould b ·e done betwixt them of eitherde , and this is well knowne to all fitch as haue the per,-

,ction of true fight. ~B'y,this it plainely appeareth, thate caufe ofthe great Ilaughter , and. fundrie hurts done

long Rapiers, confifteth not in l~ln,gReach, dange-thruftes, nor cunningnefle of the Italian fight, but

the inconuenient length, and vnweildineife of their

ng Rapiers: whereby it commonly falleth out , that in

ll their A.d : ions appertaining to their defence, they arein due time to performe.and continually in dan-

er of euerie croffe, that fhall happen to be made with.eir rapier 'blade's,which being done , 'within the halfepier; (vnlefle 'both be of one mind with all fpe,ed to de-rt, which feldome or neuer happneth betweene men

valiant difpofition ,,)it is impofiible to vncrofle 'or gett , or to auoid the ftabbes of the Daggers . And this..

:ath falne out manie times amongft valiant: men at





plar'4.·.Jn.~~I·1t ! i ? f · · · · " - · · · · . D · / I . · · · ; e · ~ ~ ' , ' ~ · M ; ; ; : ~ . . I . " I . '~~~~~. v. _._ ~~~~~. .

(fay they) that ~n inch. will kill a man: but iffwordes bemuch longer then the other, then. their

. . , - , . -. . .~'.r. .'.. --, : I " h l

-,,' t h e s '. , · " I · ' · b · - ~J:.. ". b · - -. . h , . : . . 11 ."' . -. ,uantage ]8 J,O great, that t •e : y Wl ne lure _y t .rwLID,gd ftriking iuft. with the other, that they will alwaies··t h.',.;...that 'L ·..th tht { b " I I ' 1 1 t,/:."-.",'.I d " I"

dI-:''_- : .•.-,].:. - .....

t h - '·_···.-.·c.· •

ur_ Im ,_ a . J:la, . '. e. ~or, .l.w,o.rc,,-,an, g 'o c"e,are ..' ,e,m-...'- .... b e c a ... ..·I':· th I' .; . ... - " " ' " 1 ' 1 ' · ' - " , , . , . . ..h h ir - , '. - . 'her h".hal 1 ..-:t.ues, .·ecaw'e .." , e . y WI I. re·ac. ' ,1 _ ,1m, W ," , e a ! _ . e .lil~__·.n'o_

them Th e · , l " . e ~ ·m' ' : : ; ' ' 0 ' ' f ! p : · · e ' a · " k l " ' , · · e · lik At(!, c h - . :t Ik ___:_f R ..'. __ ._ .' ,\;;0 "',.' .__. '_, i t _ . , ' 1 , _ , ~ : ' ,;[1 1 :-,_ , _ , ) , J . l . _ . ' 1 j , , ; o ltO,I._ asa ,:e O .. '0-

in Hoode, that neuer fhot in his ·]b,O;W,; for to ftr.~keoriufl together with a 'man of skill, IY',eth not in the

of th '.."'.--'".,--,rt L. - .""/':..th '. 'k4 !1 fi,~ lI] ' - '. '- ' - - al .'~...ui or tne l,gnoran.:) necauie 111__10sxurur man a wales,true times.bythewhich the vnskilfull

frill difappointed 1 0 1 f : both place and. time and there-; . __ _ _ _ _ _ . _ __ _ ______ ___ _e " _n _ . _ , _e

re dri uen of' neceflitie fti]l towatch the other, when &;

h-e ' w · · · · : litl doe: that is, whethe r he will A r - - ' l ~ ' k - ' e - - - - : thn 4'-'--' c..__ '._ .' .. ''-'---' _., .... _- ,,-IJla., .. ,.." ' .. .1[1"' , 1 . 1 " " I. __ __ .1 _ -I 11[, ' . '- '- ' . . . ) _ ,-_-,rUl"[,

. C _ ] - , r , . .ifth -::".--:.1 · . - ki· : i ·lf1c , · ' 1 1 · f t 'l - - · - - = ~ ' k · ' · ' · - : , _ . tb.,._'t ' ; -!'" the time of c. ' 1 · 'ra ue: 1- tne vnsxnrmutruce or tnnn -_n tl': e nrne 0_1]1,~

·····--h "'e' -", ... ~.; . ' h i ; " , - 1 " 1 1 - ith "'~I-' , 1 l . 1 : ~ · k ' , ~t C - ' h - · · · - 1 - ' - ' - : ' , , , - - th ,- ; - f t , - : ~ · : · , · - · · · t h - ' · · · . ~ · · c - f t · " ' . :L.

ere1 .n , ,e nell: ,.__r 1 1 : r l . _·el,_.

n o r _ _I.ru e - .'1

U - _ _- t - h . e, 0 - ' t - h ~ r - - - ' O i h - e ' m ' a ' - Y ' .(q,;,;i h · · · ·- h a t h o 1l.r e k e .- - - th - r - " - - f t · · · · b ' - ''.~'. ~'_- .. 1~'Iil: :_~.~.,,:, _:,J .:~,""~"I,i.I:-,.:_:I-;",I~,.(t,.--·or . _ , · U _ 'e-h ' " . . . - . b ' .c- t .-.', t - : .,Ii; "I':-Ift~.,- r i t h · h · ~ ·~I, C·--. . '..- c , - , _ - ' t - . . , -- . - : - ' - . . . .' - . - : - - : . . d ' - . - . "re' .rm , .·U.no·.;,1 U , - - , I . , Wl_ :.'._J..m"" nor .:0 anILe goo.' pur .....

fe: for ·in.the time of.falfing, ,~. he flrike ,~r thruff, he-ik ---h _. .-h f r " - , - ,h t - - t h · , · t f i " - _';;!o th -- .-" h ha. h'. ..,.. '. ,"' .-.... . . '. _ . ._-_-" .' '.' "- I I',· I . . [ ' . . . . . - : i " iii I I • '. '. _ ,:. .. '. . : J ': . I ' :": ' .~ - .:", . '-. -.-: . ", ,".. : -. .nket c,r t ·,ru~~et:--..00 -'..or ""or In ..nat nme ne . at, "_~h Ii! " £ 1 : ' - ' - ' ~'k h d ". 'i!I r: idtime nor piace to ' ~~-rt:~e nome, anc, as It IS 121;_,

vnskilfnll man ,',that will take vpon him to flrike orr u f l .<i~",A ' w · · ' - - : l ~ t h t h e I f ' ; · k - I .~ l -~ " , " , l ' I - ; 'm ' - 'U ' ' f £ ' f i " - - , ~ b e h o ld : : - . :h'-,o . ·t· h. - = - ' ,. '-'_ . lWl:,,_ ,I .. '--. i;)' 1 ,(!Llll', I . I._IL . 1 . . :rJ.~ I : . . . D.O· .... w-. - , . a - - ; '-C

-:-.-.--skilc -' ~ l ' l - Idoe .and .u 'h'...,---.- '".~-..~]"1d e - , ! i I i : . - ' . • d he0.' S ...l. -W,J·." .'· - . Q ' C \ ' - I an, i.l:W , en . ··e'WI , J L IuI O ' C : rt , an,. _ t· ·er-

re of n eceflitie ' ; " 8 ' ; driu ten · · t ' _ - O : I I:u:fer the S : ' ~ - I < i ! ! , ' ] . £ ' . U - ' 1 , 1 ma n to.'b . e · ·... . ",'. .111.. . £., . I .. ' . 'I .' 1~ .I!J[L\ I '~. . ..•K. _ E'~ :_ . . 'L . . " . ~ . ' ,

f i r - f t , m l : - - - : · ' . Q : - · : · u - i e · ·. - .. ' . a ' " ' n " ' d , , - : e · . : n - - - : , · · t r " ~ ; d . · · , - · 1 ' 1 ' . - n - - · - · t : , o , h i - 1 1 ' l t I S A · : " : a · · ~ · · · I ~ ~ . o , n - - - . w · - · · · : : · h · - - ' e - · · t - · , h 6 r - - l ! i 1 ! · t-' . - -' .. ' -'. . -'. " " ' .... " . , - ~. - .' - - , ,. " . , . ,. -' '" - ' . . '. ~,

b l -_· , · · · , · · · . - - · · · ·, t · · h · · , JlL. t h - · · · · t - : - , · , t ' h · · t h , · - · - · - · · , · · - - , · - · - f · _ - · - : ~ - . . . _ , . . :" " " ,1 : ; .- - . .• ' .' - · · - · · t " · ' b ~ " "e ..ow o r , _ - . rUIE,.I._:lc,rUI:.1 ·ero I n . rew,on ,canna· _ e

N'ow iu;dge· 'wheth,er it be' p ( ) I , R i b l e ,for : a n vnskil-,:m·anto .ft:rike o,r' t~:rnft inft: t,ogether with. a man of'

- " 1 - '1 'b h k " '1 6 ' " ' 1 ' 1 f t · - - · · , . ' 1 f t · · · ' " ' k dI ~",' , . . < , . . ' " , ~ . , ~ : " ' . . ' II ,I : : t. " '!. . " i . , , ; . " J ".... • 1 " " - , . : . " . ' . \ . . , " . ' ~I! ,!II, • ' .. ' . i . . • ., ' . ", - . "1,_, ..,ut t.., ,S,'l .. i.U ·.,man, c , a . n , mlo. ,eertamn.y r l·· .···ean ...



8 ' " ' h " I!!'2 George, ttuer \"1.! "

anfwere the true times" the skilfull fightin,g "pen the

times, although the vnskilfull be the firft mouer ,, entred into his ,ACtion, whether it 'be blow or thruft;

the fhortn~eof ~etrue ti~es maketh at.the plea-

of the skilfull a lUt,meeting together: In perfectight two, neue'! ftrike or thruft together, becaufe theyeuer fuffer place nor time to performe it,

Two vnskilfull men manie times by chance ft:ri,kend. thrufte together .. chance vnto them , becaufe they".... ~ ~ . . '_ . ' - - '_ . - _' . - J I' _( _I.. .., . - • ._ • - • - - . ., _ _ . .:

n · · O · - 'W ' , . ' , : n.ro t what they doe ' or how it cornmeth to p.:,'a{fe,:---, , " ~ . -' , -' -- .. - - -,' ' , . . ,"" ',-'", "- --

ut th e reafons or c · = " ~ u r . . e · " s · . · : · b 'e...':· ' h , , : : r ~ Sometim - 8 · < two CaKe:. .__:_.. . '_-:l1t..:.'.; ,_.__:.._.~__t.: _ ~ '. -._ eJ. '~1 ! . :" . .. ..__. :_ :. ,1- _. I ~< ,',' .~ J:~_ .,._.

m e ieet .2,.. m~','k e ? l i ! i U " f [ " , - " time rogeth er . & , , : - f i · · · · · . . .om e ' t : irn es a. " " . . ' - ' : - , : ' " , 1 L J I i i . , . " . . . . . . : . , ' , _ . a·,,:. " ~_.'':_"'.2 ,",.,',-,, ':-' " ') '.,,' _ """' __ "_:',, •. _." "

'" 'J :. iii - h d k " ~ Jl.time and a falfe nme meetetl an. rna.ceth a 1 .U J i :

ime together, and fometimes two true times meet andake,a iufl time together. And all this hapneth becaufet- - ' h ' , ' "tr ,.--.in ... a n d , l~"".... ,.. " kr . , , - - - = - - ; - : . ' . - . v n t t h , · , , · · · ' , ' . . ' : " ,

..,-e true nme anc p,a'ce IS , vnxnowne vnto tnem.

George S'iluer h i! rifo lutlon T 1 p o n that hidden or doubt-foil f ~ e f l i o n j ~ h ( J l z a ; h the aJuantage:j t h e . . . . . . .

Offender or Defender .

. ••...he. aduantage is ftrongly holden of many~..... ~obe in !he. o ffender, yea .in {o~uch~th~t~/· if two minding to offend In their fight, It

is thought to be in him, that ,6rft fi:riketh......•. •.. ... or, thrufteth. Others ftrongly hold opini-

on that t?:wardr abfolutely hathftill the aduantage, but

thefe oplnlo,ns as they are contrarythe one to the other:fa a~e they contrarie to true fight, as may well be feeneby thefe ~or~ e:x:amples~If ~he ~duantag~ be in the war-:-



Par ·)a······~() ' ,""' ; !J~,? ! · · · " · . :· · : · · : n · ' · : : . . . .1J i f t ) ' ' i " ' ' p ' " ' ' 1 3 ' :".,"', ·al\iil'llio;t;.,tI iCl," ," .. t;" : e . r : l . , L , . 'C , , . " : .

friuolous thing to leame toVvard, Of' at anie time t~k d fi ,.' d'., I'"' h d " ' u : ' d.... '_ :; , '; ": -_" ' ". -_ -!. ; I" . '1 : \ ~ ~ - .. ~ : ' : : - " . " ' ~ ' 'i' "1 : ' : . 1 . - : : I";~. I"

J(:: : · : · " , · 1 'I' ',", '_. ', ';' "e to ware , nnce 1 ,R Wa{ln,g .1 let __nr a _.uantage ..

;0, 1" 1 b 'h , . . . . . J h if,,-' .- ., I· [ .[. I 'I , ",' _ ' 1 - ' 1 ' _ - . . . . . . . . . ' : " , , _ . - " , . . . . . . ' , , , .

ow may It ,P':"aJ[D, , Y ; ' Y tnete exam"p es :3,plpeare" tat I,

ere be anie pe'r.felttio:n in, fight:" that both, fides areceiued in their opinions ,',becaufe if the ftrik:er ,or

rufter haue the adnantage, then is the warder frill inr -.' f wo nds ....death A nd "-",-",:,'.,,-,,,f th- ',-"."d·',-0, woun ,s or ·.,ea[~,~." 0,1- agaln,e, L , I . e warner

the' aduantage , then is,the ftrike:r lor thrufler in, as., - - - '- '- d ' . . . .'J--' ',., .'. --' tc : d ' · · ,L · · , d · · . ' h "~'I·I"i". ,llf_, '-". '.'''''I ··4, t h " . " . ' . . . . ; d . . , .eat :aunge . r ,,0 ,_,'eIen,-,_,.. ,1mleiIe ,a.galnll[ '. I e war· ..er,

the: warder from his wards , taketh aduantagef·'h , flri T i_ . . , ' , . thrt " f t l ' - ' " . , . ' . , . " . . ' , ~ , ' . bl -'. '. th ' f t - - · ·tne : ..nxer or jnrurrer vp:oneuerie ruow or .nrun,,- 1 _ ' , I ' l ' b · , - · made ....,..:.,-.,--,,~,: ' f t i : ' h i n ' T " i 'he ' 1 ' - th ,.... ' , . , . . . ' " , , - , , 1 , : d , . . . ...t Ina·, -,e m ,a,·e ,ag alln ,.,, ,I· lm , .. ,- ,,·e ,n ,t. ,u s · con ,e ll..,

at if there. 'b e perfection in the Science of De-_ '. the --'. 1 1 1 " , ' ' ' ' " . th .__'Ii,_ . ,.' ' d " :.'."ed .. d rh rtnce " " e y 'are a ,I, In, rneir ;opllno,n,s aecerueu; ' a n , • •at

truth m'ay ap_peare for the fa,tisfa,Ctio,n of all men,

is is ,my refolution: there: is D ..O ' aduantage abfolute-·"·'-.--.', d - ' ' ' ' ' , / ' : . d -'. 'tl' .... - ,~ ,,-.f t ' I , · ~ ~ " k l " ' . ' thr d. '.'.vard " I I ! " , '- - d, nordnanuantage In, I,TI :er,I' mnter, or warner .. an,r · · · e · · · ·s a ; g-rea t l ' ad•.a n t a . : . g - ' · , e . · ,; ' 0 " the r P - - r , - · ' I " : k ' - · - . e ' r th ru ! f , e ' , r ' ,Q,. wa r .... .

~ " ~ b - - · · ·' 't' _.',.:" h ~ '~ , . ' . . . . - , , . . . : ' , " ~ n - " t '~ h " " -e "- p ~ l e " - ' . -'£~I..o.: I· 0 - - " · f - · - ' : f i - 1 , l [ h 1 t - ' , t ~ h ' : - ' ' , .'eI~·.'U In.1 ,I, ISmaner, 1 . " " . , , ' , . ' . ,:I'r,.e'~illon......, ' g ' ~ I : .'f: a-

confifbeth in, fight: betweene partie and partie:. t i· · · W' h . 0 : L O · . : · ' e -- ' · 0 · , e · ' r l . W · · . rinneth " · a · · ' · r · : g " · . a ' I " " ' n ~ 'eth th"e - ' p l a c e , l . n · · · · r u ' e . -, .. ." . ,l{ .. _ .. . '" ., " """', .\. ,'"' .. ..

, r : . . .d tii -.'. ' h ' · , t : h · th.. id - '.t .. '- ,',h· th . -,I,pa,c,e an I,mle,.),:3. ,I: . rne :a;uan_:age, wr etnerbe ftriker, thrufler or warder ~And that is , m ' y ' re-

'} IIunon ..

0 > . [ " " S i · · / J . n · " " " ' J · ' l " l . A : ' · : - ~ : ' · · , " t t · · · · t r , ~ ' ~ ; t , C , ~",In; R ' ; ·- - · " · W · ': l r '" ,". ~U~',*,~I~rJ"'<'.:! .. , t " , · ILl ~ " ' i · .I;} :··Il.~, ,:' ",.. ".'. ,f.-itr.,:: II'

. I ' .~" ..•. .' •

Sp,a:nia,rd'is now thought to be' a better 9.. " '., ' :man with, his: Rapier then is the Italian. . . . . . .•. . .. '-'· ·.· --':F 're.nch,m :an, high Almaine, ,or anie other

- " "-., I, ..,': .. .- ,.,' ----, .'- " " " h " , ' j j ' . . . , - , _ . _ . , . - b - " - f C ' - - -h 0 1'



Geiirgt St1uer hz,;'·

in all the courfe ofa mans Iife it fhall be hard to. . . . . . , ' ' " f f i : · · . , doi he I f t · : · · · f harne them and If they mnie in, ~.o ln ,.g t.·e~_e:a .• 0:' taem

. their fight, they '~rle in dangerof death ...But. the ,Spa-in his fig,h.t·"both 'fafely t [o defend hirnfelfe, and to

danger his enemie, hath but oneonely lying, and twolearne, wherein a man 'with fmall practife in a

Ihort time··'m a•.' y · ' bee om e P , e : r f e ' c t , ..._:_..',l~l·., ,..:______.,"'~ I.:. . ,'_,I, "_ I " . ' " _ " - -

This is the maner of Spanifh fight, they ftand as~I h hi-~, b d ' ' ' ' i t@ > 'h ' ' " ' 'h 'eue as the.y can WIt.1 tnerr oonres ~,-ralg,'t vprJg~~~,t;_

rrow fpaced, with their feet continually mouing, ~s if-.. d h Idi c h h '" d R""y were in a'. ance, holdingforth tneir armes ann tea-· - ., ft .. h ., f t · · h c: 'b di f ' h ;t;v e r r e 'l:.r'aI,g',·.:'t , a . g a lO . _ · I : tl.· e race o r 1"0': 11~~ 'O~.tt eI~ e ; [ l ·

& this is the only , l , y i n [ g ' toaccomplifh that kindf fight, A nd this note, that :3S long as an.y.man Ihalliii t· ·h~·t maner 'with his arme and . Point of his Rapier,' • ~_. _. _ ...;.. - _ . •• • •• ' . ' •• _. _ " J _ . '_ .' _ . • • ~ ~ _ ., .~. _ ,. I _" _ I ' I, . _ ., _. ~ . _

· ..o

ht ~t iL'.1 1 " b'."-.-...'-,.-.JL h · ' 1 · ' . L." h e -'"'1 .'. -

d . ' . . ' . - 1 ' : . . . . . tc h,. tf'alg.u',..~~IlJ.al· ae impouune ror ....1,8·c nenarie .-0 nurt. . . _ b - . . . . , - r . . <ii. , th . · f t ': [ , . ' . , - ivh.t.h~-.l d - ' " . - ' . forth ..· · · · h i - . . - - -im , oeceaein 'i~ I at 'IJ:alg I.·.~~O (·._.lD.,g, .!u,r:~[_·: or.r .IS arme,

w : a 1 1 ' .iOe'll.e.ra bltlw'fh,all·be made a'g[:-~ainfthim" ' b y ' "r h 'J h i ~ ' R . . . hil I' ' h - r . t: b , . : _ ' · JJ:. hi h <t " ' a t '~'l$'.'_ : c a p i , e r , . . lit .yet. .1 , to 'ia'rr'~ oerore ,1,' im, '":e

- , ' .'h b . ,. .t.','-.."'' ! t 1 - . ._ . t · . , . . _ . . _ - ' . . - - - - k ' - h - 'iI' - - d - ..at· ou t averre .,I1'::-.e·l!ay· _0 mO'D,~: ,o lila se -):1.,8 ware per-..A ._,. t"h'~"'-~-""~".... · I · · , f ' · - · - · , blow b ,'.mad .....'--··h·· ..··ht fideect , In·:,~, maner, .[ 1 8· ,,J:IOW !,emane at tne rIg[' t nce

f b h d'i O J • ] ' " - } ' ' ' ' . f t h o b d- ~ .h ht.,~ neae, .~vene ..IIt~em()u.log 10/'the ~I rand witn then uckles vpw ard defendeth that . f i d , e o.f the head or bo-.. d th io bei f t · ill ftraizh ] de, an'.:·~::le:pl·~l.n.'tbeing it .1 i ._ o"ut ttraignt, greatty encan....

the ftriker: and fO I Iikew ife, if a 'b low be made athe left fide of the head, a verie finaU turning of the

',' -Ii 1l.... i t h th knu . k , 1 : · · · · · · · " ' \. . : . .. . . . . . . - , - d ' · ' def d e 'h " " ' h " f i ' " d - fw n r " . e '>DUc,·:I:e·s· r ow.a.war:" ..1 [e len[ .e t .! . t: at.l· .. or

h d d b di d· 'b ... f - h . h.e . .eao ' a n " : . I O I · ~ . ie , I . a n " , tne pO l.lllt 0 ,1 t · , - e Rkpier rnuclthe hand, arme.face or bodieofrhe ftri,k.er:

d if .. h f t ' b de h db'n 1 ', arl1e thru I" , i "e maoe , ~\~.,ewares, I'y reafon of the



Po.rado:ttsilf,DifenCt. _ !

greatly endangereth the other, And thus is.thef ig·ht perfect: folong as 'yo,n can keepethat, or-

er, and ,(0an'e.learned, and therefore. to. be accountedbef] fight with the' Rapier; of all:other But note how

his Spanifh fight is perfect , and 'you Ihall fee nothen y:o'u can keepe your. point. flraight a,gainil,

aduerfarie: as for example, I hane heard. the likeell. · .

There W as a cunning Doctor at his ttdl going to lea;ing doubtfull.that ~.e Ihould befea-fieke.ian old 'WO~'

an perceiuing the-fa·me, faid vnto him: Sir', I pray" begoodcomfort , I will teachyoua tricke to auoid thatoubt; here is a fine ·pibble fron.e, if you pleafe to .accepttake it 'with .you, and 'when you be on fbip-bord, p_ut

t: in your mouth, and as.long as you Ihall keepe the

ame in yo'ur mouth, vpon mycredityoufhall neuer vo-it; the Doctor beleeued her" and rooke it .thankfully ater hands, and w hen .he was at fea, he began to be ficke,hereupon .he prefenrly put the flone .in. his mouth,there.kept it fa long as hepoffibly could, but throughis extreme ficknefle the flone with vomit 'was caft out

f his mouth ; then prefently he remebred how the W~an had mocked-him, and yet her words were' true,Euen fo, a Spaniard bauing his Rapier- point 'put. by',receiue a blow on the head, or a cut ouer the face,

and" or arme, or a,thruft in- the 'body or face, and yet hispaniih fight perfect , foIong as he can, keepe ftraight

he point.of his. Rapier againf] ..he face or body ofhisduerfarie.which is as eafie in that maner 0 , £ ' l ight to bedone, as it was -fer the'.Doctor .in the extremity of his



16 . George Siltier hzsding, in commendation of outlandifh figh.t~ 'There was

,an Italian reacher of Defence in my time, 'who 'was faexcellent in his fight, that he would haue ,hit anie En-

glith man with a thruft, iuft vpon , a n ' y 'button i n , his dou-blet, and this was,much fpoken of

Alfo there was another cunning man in catching ofwildgeefe, he 'would haue made no more ado, 'When he

d ' iii; th f ,",d r:.: 11 ,.ha heard them, erie, as ']',.emaner 0, wi "ge,ele 1 . ' 8 ,~ n y l n g

one after another in rowes, but prefently looking vp ,

would tell them, if there had 'bene a dofen, fixreene, twe-tie, or more, he 'would haue taken euerie one, And this

tale was manie times told by men. of good credit, and

much maruelled at by the hearers: '& ' the man that wold

haue taken the wildgeefe, was 'of'good credite himfelfe:marie they [aid, indeed 'he did, neuer take anie ,.'but at a-

.. "'~ vh h had I ked d ' l " : . h f l . . . . . .e time wr en. ie r a ,00 ce V ' P , an", ieene t iem " ie Inth.at maner, he would with all his heart hau.. taken, the,'but he could no more, tell how to do it, then could thecunning Italian F encer tell how to hit an.En glilh.man.,'Yith a thrufl iuft vpon any one of his 'buttons, when he.lifted.

I llufions for the maintenance o f illlp ufoS 'Weap ons&f"!fi}ights f to feare or diji:(Jurage tke 'lln.rki!foll in their

w'eapon;s,from . tQ , l l ' i n g a true C Q , u i f e o r ~ftJ ..

for attaining to the perftfJ know -'

ledge if true fight ~."":' Irfl, for the Rapier (faith. the Italian, or falfe

" te!-cher) I hold it to be a perfect good wea-, ' , " " " ~ , '. ' _ : > , " , po, becaufe the crofle hindreth not to h,old



P ~ ?tD 'rfi.• ,. . • . ., . .. : •.• ,••: :, I ." ·1- .l · ... ,. . I" '. ',., _, ., i.' .. ., araaose J D ,· :,~ ,,'tI lC ;e,~ I7or fodainly 'to ca.ff th e' fame at the adnerfarie hat 'with. - .,. -, -". - - .. , , '" - . - ' '"., "- - - - ,- - ' .. - -' . - --.. " ' [ - _"- '-

the Sword Y ' o ! 'u are driuen with ;a11the, ,firle,n,gth ,of the'a d t-:.h o ld , / : ' . , , 1 1 . . th -, '1 ' d l l il " A " - " ,' d " i ,"'-j th".'.:'-'-':'"-'."' . - , - : " J d "an ,0 0 , · _ rarr re "an , :- ,el' ",D, _1.11, e warres ,WO,U,,-.

wiih no friend, o f mine to weare Swords with, hilts, be-- ' - . . ' ' r " . . , ,J " ;. . . ' ,' , r h e , , ' , · t h · · · · , . - , - J i ' : _ d " , , ~ - ~ ' I I " , . r _ . ' · ·t ' , , - , . . -- ' " -" . £,' h ' . . . . . A th '-, r : · · tcaure wnen _"' y are lo,·._ : a l D , _ y iet vpI,on, LIQ1r narre i~ey,j:eh e i r handc o vpon t h e i ~ h ' ;,]'~"~t-S : ' i- . ' . f t · · · : · ~ ' e : _e . :'I " 1 0 : ' : f"heir h a nd ].es .. i n_ " , . " _ _ _ _ _ ' . . _ . ~ , ~ . . , . ; : . I I . . _ ____1 ,, • ..L _ :. . _ _ _ ~ .f _ t [ __ '_, 1,[ ," t _ • _" ._. -, __ . :. ..__ ,,_.~. __:_~~,,:. • _' ._ ' ~ _ _::",__ ,_

hi h' .. '~ , h h ,i/; -iii' bef h .w ic _,~,ime rt hapnetn marne nmes before tney can 'TlJt}i l"fI11f:erj i i~

their {words, they are Ilaine by their enemies. And·fol1rDl f i r : BtNl tgh: S : - ' ~ - - , - - ' . . - i d - B " , ---k'-'ll' -,-':n::';-- - h " ~ ' _ ~ , -~ , - ,, ~ , , : ' ,- ' , ' - _ c - : _ - : - _ " [ - - ' . - ~ : , - ' ~ - ~ '- - , - ' - - - , t o cary tell w i / I i !ar ,'.lword an '- ,n ,c ,· · ·.IIA:!r, I. g, t,:1.t IS , imperfect, becaufe the tblll' /(nno I J ' f ) j : 1/;,

uckler blinderh the' fight , neither would I haue anie ,tT"~tfigDtfr~ t~t

,,,'--,:."---,ie aloft .-;. ', t · -h h i '~";:'I h ~ - - n d I ' , ' : b ,· ·'' ',.,,-,i' ~ ,ii[:_ h..-'-'-'d ' i to J ) . ' " : ' ' ' · k " " , / a / f i ! , , ONI if tIMIl,~ l.e,_ a to rt ~ ~ ~ ,:~:_ ,lS["._,an '_' a[_IIOU.e " IS ieau, I~IO!Ltrl~,e T ~ g , A , tfQI1J~

o u n d b l o w e s S "t " r - o ' · · - - - - g -b l1o..· · ' w ' e " ~ 8" " ' e ' ' ' - ' n ' 4 ' u g '- h ' '. . . . . . . f j - , -. . : . : . a ] ' I '' " b - · , ·L ____ _, J , l o w e · II' _-', I : : : > n , : , ~ '.( , ._ ' , , , : ~ , , ~ -~ -~ : I ~ ~ , "" - . : - 1 ' "lk" e " . , P I C Cl_ , _Y ,~e-

~ , . " fe t a b ' - . , " '·C·, t h e h ·. .· · - , = " d :i·,'b ,,: .: :: -,'. ',-. .1 " . ' . ._ therei ", ' ~ l the c . , ' ~. . , idn , g . L e t R'oue, Ie " e . 1~,ea;· , ! . l e , c , a , U l , e . . I , e . . r ' e l D ,ai_ tnetace , a n l . J i f . . . . .· .~ , ~ : ~ _. . .

d : - ' " ' . . d i I ' : f i d - - ' y- 10, - - I f i - f f i : " - - ' , , . Id ti h ,.Q'IIa: t· Jlmtr 'lUIII:, . 1 ": _ 11" ._ : , " ," '.• ' • . : . • -_.: .: 1<-" , ( . ' , ,, l~: ' .• : ' , _ ' 1 . _ - ' ' - . . I·

i. ,- " -. ' __ _,-_:1 " - = ' . ': ' . _ , - 'I . ,", _o re is aucouerec ~_:'et ,co'n,e: :e ",In ~,I-I- times w en",Otli tVJlre , j J J ; r t . ,

b · · l : " - : , , '''C······c '~" .' ..... 1 ',. .fed' ",-::! i th ,iL.__.-.,"S : : ' . ' - ' " . : 1 " " " , B · · · ·- : - - - : ' ~ " " 'l " '- = ' " - . . Q:._ -. - #1- :. MS,o'wes we're 'OlllY VJl.C ', -WI' 1 t n o r t " WIOI S l.1V II,jl1'C~ e r s - ' l : . ' I J flllll.l'meS r"'fJ"

-_-:c ,:-:-_.~:: :----; I', I,I,~--, ' k " , : , , - r ' ' "- f ' ~ ~6 . ' - c - , ~ - \" =: '-,-,[.-,', -, : d : ' , ~--I~'--,~:-,~ > " ' ~ _ t};'J 1 1 ) " , . , , : - , , 1ack Sword, th.efe._m~ o~_gu~s were g Q ~ c ~ moft m~- t h s J tf.WtilHll.but now In , thefe daies fi,g'ht ,1:8altered. Rapiers are 1.0... .t~r,1JjIoft at b O "

er for ad,nata,g'e the, ,~.~iwlord8were 'wo't to be: 'w,h~blow....es '~~I~~!~;I!, j , .---. r: d O , - - - - - - - r: , J ' ! : . . ' 1 - ' . . ' . . ' . t .. ..- ~ .. J : ! - b ' c' , . " h ' . - ' . - ,h., ' l 1 J ,garutlm J; .gh, t

Vie..., men were 10'1 Im , p ' , tem tJ!]eI~ng ,at , t , : , at t ' _ - I e y the"foll ' r i t t e r , Dr

hought him to 'be a coward that wold make 'a thruft or , ' O n d e p ' , t h e I"fts- ; . : ' - - , . . . . . . " _ . '' . . .. > ' . : ' . , _ , " . , , . ~ , - ' - " 'J c c ;., '..~if,if h , j r i , o ; . da blow beneath the g.~.lrdle.A g · · ·rne, ,iftheir w,eapos ~:A -,- -( 4 .rz , 1-

- - . - .. " '- - ,- . 'I~ __ ,.,'. _ [:__ " ',- . . .... - . _.... .. '--,' - ~ Ii '. ,,'. - ~ ~ ,(j prtgt 08-...

I h o r t , as 111 times paft ,they were y l e ' t , n g , h t IS , better , t u 4 t l J - 1 / ; ; ' _ f d a j 1 . t . ,

into in t ' - b i l - ' , f e , ' - - - dayes than then itwas W · ~ " ~ h · I [ O - '' 8 - l ' " ' t · · · : 1 ; 1 ' 0 : "4t,t6eltU.~:-:-,'J.,il. ...-_j _ -. '. " ,- .~-_. cu- '- L . c ' _ i : '-"1:"'_, ,.,P i._ ". . ..... ~ , [. ~ ,' . '~ '~_ '. -, . ' ,4,~. .:." -' gre41 m f 4 ' ( J i t t . m ~

:he,fe' daie-.s,feet'h not_ th,a.t ,the b .lo 'w c'opatfeth round Ilk,e t s g e " 6,~t.~flfo,tlJt

, wheele :"w , h , e re : b , y ' ~t b ' a ; ' t h , !1longe.r 'w ': a y to go, bu:t -the l.'tillrft'(liJ4~a/lifO. h : ' " . ' . . f t - - ·-_,m · - h · · · , ~ , - . ' f t l -~':~I'~',-:h'~1~" .- · d - ' ; ( · - · b : - , · .,."r.:,-~-.~,:, ',,,- -,' ·th it) tA~IlgI ts t ( ) ( J"u ,-pCUlet_ In, a_: ral~" ,'It ,J.ln,e, ani ' " , t I, ,e,IeJ.~,:ecom,me

fttr

, f! 1 ,therlJ, , t b e

,ne'arer"way" and dOID,e 10,;a,~;o'rter tIme tb,e lS , th ,e b ,low" i J t a , J " f i t c : e , t5 6 o ~

nd , is, :more de,'adl.y ~h,en, is 'the: ' b : 1 . 0 i W , ? Th,er;efor,e ther,e is l l y , !J,JifilJ.tte:t~7- - . - ~ r . - - . . . . · h - . ' - ~ ' 1 1 1 ,4__l"~,... . I~h " · - . b " . . . - ~ . . IIna ,that ' f I) ,OJ th&o' W Ile man, t .'a t WIjL I, J J l . .flllte, vn :el!e; I · ·~e ·"c W'ea.(le' , ' - d a f t , i n old tim,',

, £ his life,. It is ce:rtain ,e:" th,at ' f h " e ' p ' ; Q I . i n t fo r a,d ,uan tage that,thl1 ,tiii ~Dt., ""'" ..", '\' J! ....h l , - ~ . . ' . . . . ' b · · '. . , f d ' · , 'h - ' " . : " 'b:·],'····, i' .,tt 1, I IJ r IJ jJ 1Ior jJr l luJeue.r le wa.y 10 ' " J g , ,It . IS, t,o' ,:,e: V ,t,e ,. " t -'e :-,,",QW 8 , V ;er Y - / . ' t-·t~ ' ; :t , lI 'S ' .~ no t

. b . r : . d H' h fi h b h tl., De ,I,IIii,b_' i I ; . , , ; . I !naug ,ht, :and, not to ' ,_Ie' v , l l , e ~ '~ " , : 'e t,~t.:"g'~"~t:[et},, vpo,n, t:·e fw.llJ'cic iflkill,' D - "1



IS ,Geo~g,eS i l u e ' T ' bis .. .

i~ theft JOi fJ blow etpecially with a fhort {word,. wilbe fo~ehurt or. l m o g s n c + , . 1 1 - f i la ' in ' : re T ' I . h i . . e ", d · · · · · : I · e u ' · 1 ' · · 1 1 · ! c ~ ' a ' , r . .a · ·y. n : ' 1 ' 0 ; " 1 : m n o r e·'f o r the maintenance, .I . . '. '.'. ..: I, . . .1;( .",'.' ",' .', . IJ.., - '. .'. . . _

iNt t i f . · · II. m a t i " . ' , " " . ' . " . , . ., _ f ' _ ,

.t/m jt Ja ie ; 0, ', ,e:rf ';Q'! 's" .

/ J 1 t 1 . , t J e fought

8./,ng l ' .J trll.n·t·· a blo.na commeth conti1tu'4.Jl~'as'neare II wa1! 'as a thru R . ,tbl:j"lIJOu:a :l. {l.lr.f," HO.lt -,I,U' '" .I'~", .\1,.., . . ',' ". ,.' .. . ,.' ':J .: ':. . 'J ~~

! J a a e " ( J , n ' d ' m'o} l ' c ( )m1 1 J t J : 1 J l y nearer , j J r : o n g · e r . ,A im mto ... , tTl'o,rc'.fwijter., and i s f o O l l e r

oo / ; . e l 'Ira.ftlrl., .1., '. ,.alone.

I 1 · . · · . · . . . 1 ~ . . ' . , \ He blow, by rew that it compa1feth round"llfuta.ll~ Oll ...! .... '.•. ', •.• : like a. wheele, whereby it hath a, long~r way

theirerrOfm. . .. " i ' , ' to come, as the Italian Fenfer faith, & that

.....~" ,the thrufl pa~ffin.,g in 'a ftraight Iine, commetha. nearer w':aY "1and therefore ~ :fooner done then a blow',

is ,not true·: these be the proofes, '. ...

Let two lie in their ,per'fe,Ct'ftren.gths and r · e : a · d in .e _ 1 fe ,

wherein the blades of their Rapiers by the motion ofthebody, 'may not. be crofied ofeither fide, the one to ftrike,and the other to thrufl.Then meafure the, diftance or

courfe wherein the hand and hilt: , p a i T e t h , to finifh theblow of tbe one, and the thruft 0 .£ the other ,. and Y'Oll .

fhall find them 'both by meafiire , in diftan.ce all one.And let anie man of iudgement being feene in the ex-ercife of w·ieap.onsll not being more :add;~·ct,edvnto nouel ....

ties: ()f'fi,ght" then vnto truth, .it {eIfe" p'ut ,i.nmeafure, andpralCtife thefe three :fights J 'variab le , open, and guar-,

dant, and he fhall fee, that whenfoeuer anie man lyeth atthe thruft vpon. the variab le fig :h.t., (where of nece:ffi.tie:moft commonly he Iyeth, ~orotherwiie not pofii.blie to

keepe his.Rapier from cro~ng at the blow &;thrufl, vp-on the oplen or ,gard.ant fi..ght, ) that the blowes &.thruftesfrom thefe two, fightes, come a nearer way ,and a more

i1:ronger



,Paradox'es , i f , D e ; f o , l l C e ' l 19and (wifier courfe thendoth the tb.ru,il" our of

e varia b · · · · . , l ' ~ g · ' · · · ' h · . I , t : , A·: ,d thu l i S , for : " 1 [ g , r ' I ~ · n , [ ' . ; e . : r ' l ,a 1 , ' 1 : rule where-, ," '" ". ],1.. ,. Ii ' ",', ". ,,' .It, . 1 3 1 . " 11 ; ; . 0 \ , . ,. , J . " . , ' , . , _ _

the Thrufter l Y l e ' t h " ' 1 o r out of what :fig',h.tfoeuerfighteth.,with his Rapier j. or Rapier and Dagger, the

o w , : in ' h ' l " ' S ' · c ' · · o · · · · ' u 'f e comm..eth 'iIlIe' n e a r e a n d nearer a n d' '. .., ," . . ,:: ' _ . , l~_ . '. ' I , " , ' , ,a.i3 .I, .... ".Ji,,' :,. ,Pi; ".', .- ,--'ilL ,:. , '., .' _

,fwift and ftro,.nger then doth the thrufl,

fi:8 fight ,jlo;ndetn ~poln D ( ) : t h , b l o w and t/; r,u jl :)there-fo re the-thru jl' is 12'Ot one',,' to b e ' 'vjid.,

:!~~ •.1 Hat there is no :fight perfect without -both :I . '2

..........., blow and thruft: neither is there anie cer-

taine rule to 'be Iet downe for the vfe of the~~~ point onely thefe 'be, the reafons .. In fight rbis in tFlllh .

. . , ' '-!I'. ,.1 " ':~" ,:' .•... " ' · · · · h i.'' h · · ' · · · ·' h l - " d " ; ' ' . b ' ·o d . .· ' · ' , : · - : · · . · d " ~ {41t1l:at beltttierJ ..ere are; marne motions ' I witn the nana , :~[O<Ie :" anaet, and in euerie motion the place of' the hand is alte-& becaufe by the motions of the hand , the altering

f' the places ofthe hand, the changes oflyings, wards

breaking' of thruftes, the hand 'will fometimes be inace to ftrike, {orne,times tO I thrnft, fometimes after a ,

to thruft and fometimes after a thruft to 11rike, &;·m·,,·t imes ';'n place ' W , · : here · y · · , : · · - · o · " · · · ' - u ' · m a"y " , flrike and c a nn ot~ .~ .- i ' .. _" -: ~.... i ," • I" '_". ..:...•: .. 1 . . • :1, .~ .: .... r _ .. ' I, '._~:: ' .... ,] ...... '._ 4 ... . : ' . • IuI, ,I, ._ .1 . .

ruft without lofie of time , and 'fom.etimes in placeh ' h ' f t · 1 d ./l. I I ! ! k , . ,h Im fere y"ou ,may thrutt, ano cannot itnke WIt'; out roue 0"

me, and fometimes In place where you , can, neither

nor rhruft , vnleffe you figbt vp,on both blow andrufl , nor able to, defend yOI'ur felfe by' 'ward, or goingcke , becaufe yo'u,r- ,fp,acewi Ibe tOIO wide, and your di-

· : " n - · · c · ' - e ·Io.- ' · , f t , · · · , And fometime s w h e n Y " ' , o ' : " u ,haue u n a d e '3,. , . . : - .~ . . ' ' . , : . . _ . 1 ' .. 1 1 . .: ." " _ . . ·_"·:"····,L~,·,, .... · .. ·I :.:'. ]..... ',_,: ... : 1 . · ' . . ·· . : ' . ' .• . . . . . ' . . . _ . - _ . . .. _ .. .. . " I

rufl , a ward or breaking ,is taken in: ,[nch, {o,rt with, the,

or blade ofthe Sword, that y o u c ' : a n..eirherthrufl· · · i n'.e_. n " : 0 ' . r ' d ) efend ' y . : , Q :' , 11"1'[' ( ' ; e " , l , ~e,: ' - _ . : n ", ' l e ; f f i : - e :y , ' : " " ' o : ' , ', U , d.··,'0 ; f t · [ : ' P J . : ~k , e w · · rh,;C " .h. .• . . . . 1 . , . . , , ' " ' . ·· . . 1 ~ iL \ I , J ! _ " . . . . u. I,"t,l!t,.., _' _' ".' .•....•............ ,~ " , ,-" ,.!I,. ' .. ,'.

D ,2



20 G e o , r g : e ' S lluer hisyou may foundly doe, and go free, and fornetimes whenyou ihike, a ward wilbetaken in fuch fort, that you can-

not Itrike againe , nor defend your (eIfd ) vnldfe you

thruft, which you may fafely doe and goe free · So toconclude, there is no perfeB :ion in the true fight, with-out both blow and thruft , nor certaine rule to be fet

downe for the: point onely,

That the blow is more dangerous and deadly injig~t,then atltyuft ,fo r pr()()fi thereof to be made according 'WIth Art,

a n Englishman J w l d e t l z argument I l g l Z i n j f anItalian.r.,.,~~4~A',"' ,..1.£, iw.I'puxl. II!

3 '..•. ' ..' ' > _ , : ' Hich is more dangerous or deadly in

.' '. I • " fight of a blow or a thrall!"""'.:,. ,'.\,', ,.' ",.,; EngJ£shma~n.

I ..· ••• ~ I This queftion is not propo1!nded ac-

.• .... . '.cording to art Ibecanfe there IS no fightperfea without both blow and th ,ru ft . .

. ltal£an'.

Letit be fo, yet opinions are othe:rwife holden, thatthe thruft is onely to be vied, becaufe it co1Jlmeth a nea-rer way, and is more dangerous and deaJly, for there

reafons: iirft the blow compafieth round like a wheele,but the thruft pa1feth in aft~aightlint; thetforethe blowby reafon of the compatfe, hath a longer way to go thenthe thruft, &is therefore longer in doing, put the thruftp~eth in a ftraight line, therfore hath iliorter way to gothe hath the' blow, & i S I therfore do:ne in 'afuorte:r time, I X

is therfore much better then the blow,&:mo·redange-rous and deadly, becaufe if a thruft do b .,;"tthe face or b,o-

die, it indangereth life, and' mofl; c;oJDlmoJlly death en-fueth: ,b'ut if the blow hit the bodie, it is: not fo da::g·erolls.



P . . . . .1.. " . f : ·D : ·~ , t: ;_ · " " '2 Iaraaoxes ' ! ! . , , _ : ! J · , e , n c , e . . · · ' .E l· t ' l n n, n:U :Z 'J> ·..an., .

L · !Ii - b 0,' h h ·1 b 'h th h f t ·etyour opinios e what tey wu, but that ·., e tnrun ..a nearer way, &. is ,fooner done then. the blow, is

t true: & for proofe thereofreade the twelfth. Paradox.

nd now 'will I ret downe probable reafons , that the 91£ ! J / , f i J tIl'f)reis 'better then the thruft and more dangerous and t h m ." • . .. . ·.!ger,()tls t6en_ ' . - . . . - - _ . - _ _ . _ - . . , . , ' . . . . . - , : . _ . ' . . - ' . . - t . : .l. .J.l.,./I. ..

- . F - '" ' f t · · h bl h '. f I : .01 ,WrUJf.,. ... ,',: I . . -,' [ '. ," . .~ . '. ....,' .:.'. - " ,. - . II ,.,' .,: [ '. .. .'. -.' " I . - '.' ", .. ' ," '. -',.. - "'eadl y . , . . _ I r , . _ ) tr 'e :. ; _ _ o w commet ~_. s , n e : a r , e a way, &mo; ..:m·.o.. · n l , · y . . ·neare r-then I do....h th le~.h ru: 0 : ' 1 . 1 ' . . : ~ ~ is th.erfore donre, "' .. :' _ - - - -' ._ --,. ._., ..' - •. -' - - .' -"- i!' ~, . -'- .. '.', 1( .' . . . '-

a Ihorter tittle. then is 'the thruft: eherfore In t,efp'lec.t of'. .'. .' . . , . ' . - j ) _ j - d · ' · · · · " t - ' 1 l .. . . .. . 1-... . . ..... , ..It. ..a .'" '. . -:- .. f · · · .c....·h i ·t the h ' 1 ' · " ~ . . .W ·_·erupoD rrac e . : , i , . 1 me perrecnon OI=--ll.g~:_',.. ·emow'.-.ch hi. t " ' - . ' th-,.'..' t · h · · · . thrt .ft. A···· , ·· ·~,·th . .. .: ; . . . , . : " , . f - . ' th.'..muc _~e:_ter ~I_en .. '.~ e ,t, ..rUll:'j,,,:~,.galn,e, . l~e .lO rC le ·o, .' e

pafleth .ftraight.- therefore a n · crofle being indi ....n , - . • . . . .ad-_-'. 'h'~.. - : - ' ~ ~ , . . . ~ " f " - - , " ' h ' - ! ' > I ' d ' . .!r ..it b ....., ' ~ " - · ,t rh '-

~a __e, tne 'orce 0'1a C - , · , 1 . . '~ . ma,y put It I ' . y • : ~ut t., ef bl _,.IT' thi d'. 0 ; _ , , 4 ] h c. b di0" a c .__w paJll le:~.~ndrrectly, rnererore must ~Ie: t-

warded in the counterehecke of his force: whichbe done bu thy' the c:o,uenient ,ft'reng'rh of a man, &true croffe in true time, or lelfe' will not £a£ely dlereld

im, and is therfore much better, '&more , d , a g , e r o ' u s the

thruft , and ·ag'a in .e,the thruft being made throughe h a n d . , ' : ~ " ' : ' . : ' ."''''le .',...." .. ~'," -'-", '-, I '. · · · : c : l · ~ · '" , ' _ " " F t h e · b · , . ' ,, d - ' ~ · d ·zane, arme, or 1eg,. or. Inm,any P acesort .I e ..[0._ y:an.-e ! !! 'l're ' t de - d ' l - Iy'- neither are the - . imes or Ioffe of;_:."are :)or : ea -"") : 1. ' . • ;.'e ;.::1 re [..1 " 1 mal. I, '.::, (' J (··11C· (:,1,.

'· '1 '" £ ' - P .h iii h i h h i d d f th to: ~ . . ' ". - . ' . . , .. ;-:. - . - I ' - - ', ~ {.' ,< ')- . '_., !:" -I ,-~ "1 ':..-. . '-'1-:--' ,- ' ...-. :. .-, -. , - .... ..... ..,-'_ .' _ " _' .'. .: -. - I -_ ' .. __mmes or .., : t . I , e "neit ..er 1,S,., I e muc I . , l in,;, ,r·ell.. o r t n e time-. h ~. . f i~ ' . h " ·t ....}'.-.. - th . . b - · 1 ' . u d _ . h . ' · t £ - . . . , . - - - I ' - .. IS .. ,g..:,..~ ,as ··on,g·as tne ,.:;'00,,' ,tS ;·O:i::!o..r·exam.p ·e.

I haue knowne a Get]em.a hurt in,R ..apier :ti,g·.ht,in . niner ten. places through the bodie, armes, and legges, and .

h' ath .~:.. ' t l '~ " " , - d iI his f i" j··,·..

;·hl.:· , ' & . : ' . . . . · · · '" t , ,· . . . . . . . . . . . . . d h .'.th f l ' " ' . ' <i :, "

a.-. con Inue,·. l.n, 1.S g . , . - . . . , . ' ) ,a lJ erw,a -r ' .. a l e ' " aIDeother, and come horne and hath. bene cured of all his ' 7 : o e b l e D ! tut·tlth

-d ..h "'I:.... .. I'''· 'B h b '1 - b . ,without maime, ec IS yet lUln.,g,.,:.I'uttne mow ~e-o j{ the i)iI~',he

- f t · , ~··ll.. ..'..d : ' " : · · · · k - · ·. : t b l. (:," .. -~ .. ' • . ~ l " : ' . h . h ' , ' d J

'4rtfIett'IJ"Jlg~ a 1 I dg ..rug 11ma.' "e, ta, ·..e '.',lo, .mtlm.es Ie ·,e\ane a.way t , e_ aD,: .f.'". t im e . . .t h e '~ . t h " ' . . . ' h ' · ·, , ' h : l. '. "'"":"'~"" .. ". ' b ' . ' . / : - . . ' . . . . A · · · · · . ~ . , JOfJJl .... 1. .. e arme )1 ~ _ a t ' . marne tImes ,"eo,e:. le e , D . -e . - '. gatne, he4.tli

'blow vpon the~h e'ald o ir fa.c:e 'with 'a fh.ort :lli'arpeis ·mo.ft, cOlmmo.nlv' de,'ath .•A full 'blow' , r p . ,on th.e.. J .

D·':·· . .· ·' '.',

[-."



22, Georg« Siluf'r ' , 1 1 £ . r

necke, ilioulder, arme, o r legge, indangereth life, cut-'.".',h ' , , 1 " , : , : 1 . " . " ' , ' . , ' · . " " . r " ' " , d ' f i " : ' , , ' , : , , ' ,~'n, e t h h '< ',tett off the veines ,"mufcles " I a n , ' , nnewes ,per.llIlet, ' t iebones : thefe wounds made ' b i y ' : the blow .. in r e : u p , e , a of·~ ., " .lil·, 1 ",[I" ", I '_, ..:1., ,_ ," '_~" :"·_ ': i,·.. ' '~_ _.

- [ : -.

perfect healing are the l l o : f f " e :of I im m e s or maimes in-

curable for e'uer ~A d " " " " " , - , , C ; - . , ' . ' h " , ' b l o " , " , ' , ' fu" " " I i :b" I " ' " , - " , ' ' , . , ' " : ' , , ' rh ,'"h " " , .d",n yet more lor t ie mowea: : ,I .' D·W vp'on tne nean,

face, arme, leg, or legs, is death, or the partie so woun-ded in the mercie of him that {hall ' [6, wound ,him,.. For, h ", ' "t o . ' . ,/jL 1 1 b " , ' , a b ' l ~ ' l ' , , ,,'Ii, f i e " , b , t , t c f t ' , ' " · d : , , .~ ,~h ' , ' ,wr a man rnai I:Lf, aore :o,o,g,]In,g,'', roi ano vp , ei ner

tO I r e : u i e n g e : , or defend himfelfe, h:auin"g'the veines mu-, r . " 1 , ' , , ' " d ~ ' , , - - , f 'Lti., ' h " d " , . , ' , 1 , " " " ' I I ' . . . . " . . . . . . . , t ' " ,icies, an ,11 'neWeS, '0,' 111~Snann, arme, or,' eg ' C , eane CU.:_a,-

(under? or being difinembred by fnch wound vpon the£ ""'' ': ' ",', ' h i . " d but 1 j 1 . . . . . '1 1'1 1' b ' . . . " . c . . . . . " . d t h erbs a n d th ""'::,'' h '~ , _ , , , a c e o r , I , c : a i ",:,ut J i l l a ' : , , , ~ , l e f::,nlorc,e·. t~i,e.r".y,) an: ._,.,.iOUg ..

thlJ'l g J ; l l l , t h · t ' h " , " 'I ' 0':' . fb.~...., t : 'h 'I"" ,,',' h" ,'.' . .tle · d ' -' - 1 - ] " , , ,. , , ' " , ' " 'ith hi ,,', tcfirjJ f»lJUnJ''.• eOJl::, 0 , . , ~ ,~ ll 1 " : I " I 'C l o t " " , ~ r" ~ I ' l',..e .'.~~,ylng~wit . .nn .0

l . f I ' " yeeld him J ' : e " l f or leau ' C ' " his 1 ' I £ e " m his m erciei((;rollg,' ' " ' , . 1 . . _ 11. 11. , ,'I ','" ,' ••.• ",,', i. ,: ,JJ,.~. ", ~: . t ; ; ; I ~.,,",!

tommlf1l1JY And for plainer d.eciding this cotroueme betweene'the D : f o 0 /' th', : b - l : : - " ' ,d " I ' ' '' ' " '; 'h : I : 'I , h ; I _ · · · · · , , · ,' '. ft · , ': I '' ' I . ! ., ', , ;, ' " S = : d ' : ! ~ ! ' - ' " ' h ' ~ " ~ : ' , ', ',. . . ., , : '. " T " " - ' h • . . , . . . . .. .titheT'~ . ,e " . ,OW an tne t,rn "" conu" ,e r t,. 1S 1,110 . r t note, " "e

. b lo w ' ' ' ' : ' : : C ', ' 'O ' ; : ' ( I ' 'm , ' 'e t h ' ; ' 1 1 " ' 1 " ' ' ' ' ; ' " , - " " " , ' , ' , , , t · · h ' , .thruft, : : " " d 'o t h ;ot r: T : 'he' ' . ,m e Ie, man,le w,~ye8 'J , _ , C ,,',r, ....,'0' ,II no ~O '~ ,. .. '

blow commeth a nearer way then II thruft moil cam-m 1 di 'L C' r: d Th b l 'ill', o , n _ ' y " a J ? l " IS :tnererore aooner l o n e . " ,I ie .' ow' requl-

reth the ftrength ofa man to be warded; but the thruftm a y ' 'b e p u t ' b , y ' , " , ; " bv theforce of a C ' h 'I 1 ' " ' 1 1 d " " A , ; " b l o w v " ' p ' " o " ' n " t h e",.' ,"" ,,' .. ,: " I:,J ' ',,',,'l I J . .: , . . , : , " " , , " ' , ' ',',,.r.'" "'" ,.' :,,': :':,.. .... ''',:' , .' ",,"',,' ... ",',,,"

hand ~ arme, OIl' l l e g , c r , " e is a"·,maime incurable: bu ' t , . . a,"hru , f t ' · _ ',iI ' " '10 .. "'. - . , " , .'. ....,

~nthe hand ~arm~)or l,egge is to be recouered. Theblow hath manie parts to wound, and in . euerie of

them commaundeth the' life ~bu e he th··r'uft.··,at h bur a ' . ''" " " , , '" " ' ',',,,,, '," ,,,,',", ' '''', " ,', "., , .

few, as :the bodie or face" and not in euerie part ofthem neuther., e .•.• 1. :. .. ".: ~, .I. ,.,

011"~





.4 G e a r g t " i S Z /U c ." '- h £ J '

hat is this, at tile fingle Sword , Sword and Da,gger, &' , , , , ' d ' , - , d E " " k I " : h , " ' C " : b , . .d t " 'h : " " t h "{l.;:.".,,, ,t ,',h ' . " u ' "an. . r oucxrer, t,ey ,lOT 1" en .ruu, ~ a, r e nn-

le Rapier.and Rapier &Dag,ge.r, t:he,Yforbid the blow.~,h' , "h ,', "both ,t " ethe b ,4,. " "tJ"e' th u f t " , ' ' ' ' I t ' ' ' - ' ' ' g ' ' ' 'ft er 1 . . , ey are eo -'"age:, ner :'en, er :11_, r, :', 4 0, _,

beft, or the blow 'altogether bef] , Ifthe thruft be

why do we notvfe it at the fingle Sword, Sword &' - ' , ' , ' , ' , " & " ' " ' s , ' : " " , : ' " d " , , " ,d B '· " ·, c k l ' : , I : ' f ' rh,", 1 ' " , , ' rb""b i l l . w h , " y - "agger""" ' , , , awor an oucxier . ":,,',,C,.',-O" ""e ieu.. "",

we not vfe it. at the :lingle Rapier.Rapier S e Poinyard?knowing by the Art of Armes" that no, fight is, per-

A" ~ , t h , , , " " , ' b ' : ' - ' < h " ,b lo t ' , ' rd : h " , ' f t ' , wh ,,:" ' : , , ' , ' ' - ' : ' , ' '0" , t , , : r ;

WI.Q'ut not _' .ow an .jnru , w " " Y ' " Q we n .. viend tea C" h both b '- - 1 , ' 0 ' : " w , • . and t h ru ' ! l - ? Bu t , howfoeuer this we',: I ',. •• • 'i ..•• , " •• , , _ •• ' ... ll!iIi ..:_ ,'[ . l~ ,'.', . I • •

fee, thatwhe two meet in, fight, 'whether they hauekill or none, vnleffe fiich a's haue tied thefelues to that

Italian, weake, Imperfect fig'ht, they both Itrike",d th "Il. ". d' ho .~, ' 1 ' 1 h . th"'".-',' .h':',t b t '.. uch,n tr rUl"[, ·an. "ow 111~t.-.,',e .;-en .'0, t ·a - ' ..el,ng m ,ue,

h '" b hoolec

neuer I d, i t : , . . .k hov raug,t In ,'C, ,00 e , neuer rearnec to,' ru ej

nor now ,0efend a 'ftrong blow!' &how fhall he the do, that 'beingroughtvp in.Fice-!choole, that neuer learned to thruft

the fingle Sword, Sword and Dagger, and Swordd, Buckler, nor how' at thefeweapcs t.obreake a , thrufli

I thinke ' a , downe right fellow, that neuer came

n fchoole, vfing fuch skill as nature yeeldeth out of hisftrength, and agilitie, with good downe right

and thrufis a,m o,ng., as fhall beft frame in his.ands.Thold put one of thefe imperfect fchollers great~y to his fhifts. Befides, there are now in there dayes nogripes, clofes, wreftlings J fhiking with the hilts, dag-gers, or bucklers., vfed in Fence-fchooles ..Our plough-men by nature wil do allthefe things with great firegth& agility: but the Schooleman is altogether vnacquain-



P . ' ~ . .. 11 , '.~! . " . . r . D : : · · t c d . r ; : +'1'1'1' A.' 2 / . , t : 'ar aa 0xe S 'II ' . . . .r : J ' eTS.,,""~'#1 . J

f nature, and the pI0wma 0 i s . now b,f nature withoutc b h h Th' s : ' . . ' .ararre ':etterman t ien ne, ....,:lerle,I'Olre,lnm'Yolpln,lo,n,

'1 b ",. folav i r . h · 1,ong as; we narre ame maner or p l : . a , : y In l:C::i oore, wehardly make a good fcholler: th ·e rc : Is no maner ofhi bl h i Id anci bi hac In,g co:m,par.a,,· Ie:to tie 01','.'1ancient teacnmg, tl_at

f i . ft h · h hei d b1 h Jl.r '.t eirquarters, t I en their warnes, :',:,owes;,t ' , I . fUl11S,

b r e a k i D ; f · of.thrufles, t h e n . ' . their I C l o . : . { c . s : a . n , [ d [ G , . , c r i p e , - ' s ,· · , · k ' " ', · · . . .. ,·"!t· · · c . t h e · h · ~ ' l · · t · , , · , · · . . · · · · · " . : : ' : , : ' B " c k le t . '. 'W : :: · i · , · a f t · . ' · · l ; · ·rl In.gWI I ' . ' . . ' e. ··1 IS, ./a ; g g e r s , . , : IU :C I . .; ,ers, " ' .r , l.ngs,, i k i . " : ' ' . ; ' ith th '. s: .. te '" kn •. ~,-th,. ' C " : '.o d d . .". . . ' . ' . d ' · I I · I [l ':lng WI·", ,e IOOI,e, or .',[ ee,l.n ...e ." 0 :"es, an. ,a",

efe are..rafely defended in Iearning perfe·Etly of the , ,.ripes And this is the ancient teaching the perfeCteft /1Ii/;efl)arreJ. ' . . . . . : . - " . , f t · <- L .",' ..•. '.,' •..I"' ......•..•...•.•......~, .•.."..•.. •..••.....•......••.....•• •. tbETe U no flbJer-

moft be. teaching; and without this t~~ch~ng, therefUt i tJn of SIOC'C4-

1 neuer fcholler be made able d.oe his vttermofl ,'Ar T.. };........" ' ~ " " i I '.c .... t "' .l~.'..' .' i . '.:- , !. . C iL " : . ' : : . ' , I I '... ' .: .' .', . " . 1 . < ... '.:' J ;~, ~~E'" ,. "',. IWf,g..!.,.

f i g · . . ht fa fe . Ag ':"'a in le their [wolt'ldes in fchooles are too ~imel,1I0rll1t-' .. : ., .. '.11 .' .'.... - ,. '., ... .. ,' .. ".. . - .. ," ..... , .' I" JtI1erl~

by alrnoft halfe a foote to vncrofle, with ..out g · O J . D " ga c k e. W ' · · · irh · t l h . · e fe , 1 ; J I ; ' t · , c · within diftance , 0 ' i i ' . p , · e . -rfe..n~y.,- t o"_'. " '. " -',' I'·~IJ': 11 :',:1 ]1 •. ,'11 ,.,:rl.ll:III-l.· .... :. J- ••••• ,I,~,.~[t;I... ~.'

trike or thruft within the halfe or quarter fword 'II Andr,." f h p ' <I I ' h d'" h ,.J.erulng · O · , ! t~,·.e Prmce, when men · . · · ' · 0 meet to .g ·[et:.:· .erin

fig hr , are: vtterly naught and vnferuiceable ~he beft Iengthes for ,p,er.feet: reaching ofthe true fight: ~Ollg flJea/onlbe vfed and continued in Fence fchooles ,.to accord Il1Ipufill ..

ith the true ftatures of all mien". are thefe, The blade to' · . ' " ' , rd . i d . ' , ' inch £:., ... '.',. At, .. · . · d · ; £. ......e a yar. an· ' an lOC· · , .1 ror meane natures, ana 10Irmenf tall ftatures, a yard and three. or foure inches, and no

AdJ' Id h he Rani · d Jore. nc . wonm naue t ae .:' ap'le:r continued m

hooles, alwaies readie for' fiich as {hall thinke them--. " 1 ' . ', '. . " I h a l l h , , ' . '. d ~ ' '1 [ ' ' ' ' ht t '1.,. ~~.h thues cunnmg, or J.Il:lJL· naue iel,g ,t to pJ.~ ayW it . ' t at

w·eap·o·n Prouide d alwaie s that the S:'' c h · : · ' 0 " , 0 ' .le .• . .. . . , • . . • .. . • .. .1 . . '!II.. ..:. .': I •• , . 1 : ' A.rl )i ,'.'~, : .:.. : '. ' •• ' " • • l . . " ~

or Vfli 'er , p l . a y ' withhim with his Ihort Sword,him with all mane!" of fight according to the

ue art: this being continued the truth , f h , a l l . , tlourifh,

e lye fhalbe beaten downe " and ,all nations not ha-

E



G S·J ' 1...

' 2 6 , :t!.,)~gi...1IU'er' Ill'S

uing the true fcience, (hall come with all gladneffe to

the valiant and rnoft braue Englifh maisters of Defenceto learne the true :f ight for their defence,

. • ', .~ . ." . '. Ir ft Iudgement, L'yings" Diflance, Directi-

, ~ . ~ " " " ; ; J " . "~I':' '~: on, Pafe~ Space, Place, Time, Indirea~-, ." " on." Motion, AEtio,n, generall and conn-

_~"._~.', nuall Motio,n" Pro',grefiion" Regreffion ,.~ .'. Trau ..erfing, and Treading of grou,n,d.'es~

Blowes , LThruft1es" Faulfes, ,D o ,u 'b le s" S lipes War,des"

breakings of Thrufts, C lo fing s, G ripes, & W raftlings,

Guardant ·fight, Open fight" Variab ' e fight,: and Clofefight, and fou:re Gouemours,

L f i n g ' l " e ' - w e

- a p n n ' 'S ' haue foure W ' ard e ' s " ' a 'nd,',' 11,,".'::.:.':,' :.I'V ', I:·: ::a,I:.I.I' ,I': '" : '_.',' .. ', ._,' ".

--- al dou l ' b : 1 1I e , · · ' weapons haue eight w.a"rd e · · s ·, • ".:_. :1 ··. ".L ' ••• ~ ••.-, ·" :."rJ~1 ,___ },. . . . '"" ill

. . .

~~~r"'Il"'1\I'\"~f1'Ml The fingle fword hath two with the point

. ' . . .. . . . 'v P " and two with the point d o w n e The'., .. , . '. '.' . , :. ''.,'' .... . " , .. '.'.:....,. '.: .! ,:', :.\ " .~ '.: : . '. '.. '..1 . : ' _ . . ' : ' . . ' : , . ' ';iI, '_.

. ,; •Stafl"e and all maner of weapons to he v-r: d II' h b hb d h 'h like: witr .. iotn handes naue t.. nke,

The Sword and Buckler, and Sword and Dagger aredouble w,ea,pOlriS, and haue e i , g ' h . t : wardes , NIQ with the

point vp " and tWOI with. the "point downe , and two for

hel . ith th intdot h ,," b .. de .:,egg·esWIt.':. t ,: p'olnt i. r owne, the p!IOl,nt to ."e cane· 'for both fides of the legges, 'with theknuckles downe-ward ,.·and. tWIQ wardes with, 'the Dagger 0,[ Buckler for



P a& ifD ift·

'. 'aradaxes ~"'..sJetenc«: , 2 7f th e head and the',refore hath , e : i g . · _ . rhtwardes foure wi th',:,', ,'" . ' _ " : ' ' ' . : , ",.', """,,.,"'" .... ""_ ":",.,,,,- ," ' .. ', , . , " , , ' , ' , .. .- . .,, " ---,-"

s , t - , _ £ r e , foure wit h th.ehe a :d foure o l f them to ' h i e vfed. ' ..aI~rt.',It·,.] . _' '," ' ... ,..... , ',''1 I., '" ," I~.""·_·' '_,1_1'1 I, .. :,1 . ,~ .' . .._ : ,", .. .. 1 . ..:. .•. : 1,',", . . .... .

. ' . '. - - 1 1 - . h the f t < , · · , · a . ' , ' . -" " ' d " th , ."thei C'- ,-., ..... ,- " ' ~ t 'h".th__-head t h ' , .WIt, _'_ , ie t .arre, , a n , I, " I , e '0 aer i : o u r [ e W1h, , ! I, .e __e , 3 . J , rne

n e V " " P " - the other downe and the other t i , d c 'w ': ' , 'a i - e s,,' ,', ",_' ,_" .. ,,,,",.!L,,I'V ,I"'," __·_· _"", ,. :_, '_"""',,' ."'.".

I h e n a m e s and t l I l , t I l 6 e r ; s ' tif ti»Je1 oppertll:enlng 'vnto fig!ltbothtrue ondfa!fo., ',. ' ' ,',',

~_"'. " Here are, eight times , whereof foure are I8true ,',and foure 'are falfe:::.th'e true times

'be the,fe, ..~"" 'Th" ~-, of 'L·. h . d

. . , ' , _ - = J _ , e tune o _ ~ tne , I , _ , a ' R : , I , .The time of the hand and bodie,

time ofthe hand.bodie and foote.he time of the hand, bodie a - n d , feete,

, ''rhefo,/ft times 6 e ,th,~e,.

time ofthe foote,time of the foote and bodie,

he. time ofthe foote, bodie 'and hand,he time ofthe feete, bodie and hand. ~Thus haue I thought g ' o l o l d tiC fe,parate and makenowne the true times f r o m , the '{ a lC e , , with the true

d 'h-' belIi! t h o h b h her iar es theretc be. on.g.mng; tnat 't(,erlel'-~'y the ratr er In

ra8:ifing ofweapo~·,a.ttue courfemay be taken fare auoiding of errours and euil] cuflomes, and fpeediettaining of g O l o d _ , h a : b l i t or-perfect being in the tru ..c vfend knowledge of all maner of we:apo,ns~



G C ' o r : g e Stluer , b . 'i s , , _, 0 ' ' , k ' ~ ' l " 'O - - ' ,W " : ' , : : t h e p - . / f l J i ' r c e : . ' " ' t ' '1,nzth ' 0 - ' , ' f y ' , e u : , ' r Sword",I, "-' '.'.' a ,'I;;;,;, , , r~\,.;., '."b ',. --',' " --,, ,,'_'".,L, ,

you {hall 'ft:and with 'your fword and d,aggerdr: -- - ,--, - u this - ' " ' t : - - t " - - , - ke - ~ -,rawn, ,a s you, tee t ._IS P ,ll_" ture ,e,e,pID,g out

ftraight your dagger arrne, drawinge backe

your {ward as far ' a s conueniently y'ou can , not opening- h , i,; - lb ' - ,, ' , '" '- , , ',, ', -- -t - - - - ' , " ' f ' , , , ' : ' - - , - : f '_--,",d ' - - - - ._ -- : -- 'i i! ! " ,' , n d l o o k e ' " h ' - " ' " t " , , " , _ _t , e _ e , ,owloyn, 0, your~_wo,r armecancrcoxe w.. a you

can draw within your ,d'a,gg,er ) that is the iuft length ofyon,r fword.to be made according to y,Qur owne ,ft:atu,f,e.

2 ' 8 · : : · · ' ",

tD tffl1otJ' 6 $

l l i lr , J tilt' to,"

- - , , " , r . r d / it 6 1 ) fit g l i i ' l l ; g

,f " mit!;,Dlrf~ lfjhorl"-,.

~ I J " -'ost"tJTlar'~

makl II tr Be- n e fD4~"1. ~.," t :iJ ! ~ --- T . " '.,V1Il

m ! f jOUTtnt .,Alii;

-- 1

es are t6,0 ~'Otlg. Jij4ljhC1I'-#" t l.# .

; ; ' ( } ~ ~ ; A ~ , ( J ; r i W : J" : f ; / . Ii' 0., 1 1 : Ii



Paradoxes o f D t f e n c e . 29The perfeCt' length of' 'you,r two hand fword is, thelade to be the length of the blade of yon.r 1ingle {word.To know the pe,rfeCt length of your fhort ft:afFe, orIfP' "k F _11.b '.'1P ..r. Gl f h lika .' ,:.I'e, '. o,rr~.1t,:1,'., .artllan" or '...., .e'ue,or:,uc··, ,1. ".ew'ea-

ofvantage and perfect lengths, 'you {hall fland vp-the ftaffevpright clofeby Y'our 'body,wi~h

left hid, reaching with Y O ' u r right hand your ftaffehigh as y'ou can, and then allow to 'that length a rpace,fet both, .your hands, when you come to fight, where-

: . . '.'.' .. e " , 1 ' flr ' " ' k · · · ' t h o · f t ' : . . , . d ' · ' · .c· d : & '" th, tyou may conuement ,y , '1:e, 'rur "an warc.. '.' .".athe iuft length to be made according to yo'ur ftature.nd this note,that. thefe lengths will commonly fall out

be eight. or nine foot long, and 'will fit, although not

il:, the ftatures of all men, without any hindrance at allnto t.hem in their fi,ght, becaufe in any weap,on wherin

e hands maybe remoued, and at Iibertie, tomake thelog,er or thorter in fight at his pleafure, a foot of

fta£fe behind the backmofi hand doth no harme,

nd wberfore there weapon.s ought to be of the Iengthsrefaid, an-d n ' 0 ' - fhorte r th efe a t- re the reafon " S " !ill If -the y '. r;J,Q..... .. , .. ' . .' ill· . ..~_,1( . " . cue: ._.. " -_ ..

be Ihorter, then, the long·ftaffe,Mor.ris Pike, and

like, w'e,apons ouer and aboue the perfect length,ould hane -g.te:at vantage againft them, becaufe he may

boldly and fafe without anie gard or ward, to thewhere h,emaythruflhome.and at euery thruft putin danger of his Iifeibutifthefe 'weapo,DS be of theirlengths, thea can, the Iong .f~affe, ·the Morris'

ik .. h I I here ike, or arne other Iongerweapon y now .ere in truebui fhall b f t · , · Ill ....hi H e ' ' ' ' f h f f i ' " .ut ','aar e- - . WI _In compa-' . .e ,0'"t .e ero, .e, to

rofle and vncrofle, wherby he may .fafely paffe horne to



30

Of the lengths q{ tht~ Bartel axe , HalIJd'r:d, 0,." h . / a , c l i . e B , i / / ,

orJuch l i k e ' 1 J v e a p o n . r if'weight, appertainings m t o g a r d or hott e/ I O j ,

:N anie of thefe we,ap'ons there needeth

no iuft length" but commonly they are, orought to be fiue or fixe foot .long, '& may

ur~~.;:,," not well be vfed much longer, becaufe of~. ~ their weights; and being' w,eap,o'ns for tbe

warres or battell, when, men, are: ioyned c lo fe together,may thrnfr, &' ftrik,e found blowes, with great force bothftrong and quicker and finally for the, iuft lengths of allother Ihorter or Ion g ,e r 'weapons to be gouerned 'with

both hands, there is none: neither is there' anie certaineIengthes in anie maner 0 '£ weapons to be vied with one

hand, ouer or vnder the iuft Iength of the fingle fw'ord~,'Thus tTl,detk the length ifweap()n/~ ..

Of tM "Uantagu ,if 'W e a p o n s i n their kl1itl.I, places, &' times,t.: ,l. • < Ii d -~,llr:l....G . 1 . .oot:" zn'p,Tluate a n , p U O , " tK t j ~ g F " , t .

1 Irft I will begin with the worft weapon,

-.__ ,-~ .n , imperfect and infufficient we'apon"1iS=I~~~ and not worth the fpeaking of; but now

, '.'.. .' .. being highly efleemed , therefore not to...... . · .: .., .be ~eftvnr~Ill:e~bred; that is , the fingleRapier, and,Rapier and Poiniard,

The ~ngle Sword hath the vantage againfl the fin-gle Rapier, .

. The-Sword and Dagger hath the vantage againf] the



P t J ifDift·

... .' • " i-.', ,'.. . ._ ,," .'

ara "o:ceS ' or ue mee, , 3 ISword ,& ; Target hath 'adu,a.tag'e againft the SwordDagg'er,[ iO'r Rapier and Poiniard, . .

T h S ', ' : d d l ' B - : ' k '- ' } ' · - - ' h . 'h i . id -- t ' - · · · · , . . " .JL, t . ' h ·. e eworo ann suckier natr annan ;age :agatnl'L rneand Tarzet the Sword and D·,·······[-'-[·····,,-. Ranieror an" ar,gel!., _ -e Swon an ' [a,gg[er, or _aple.

d P < ! I I ' • d-n 'Q'I"'Dll'ar:-,'"- , - - - - "

The two hand Sword, hath the v'ant:age '~gainft theand Target, the Sword and Buckler ,',the Sword

nd D :a;,gg'er"o r R ap ier and Poiniard.The Bartel ....xe, the Halberd, the Blacke-bill, or fuch

ke 'wea.,p ,ons.of w'[eig,ht",ap'pe,rtainin.g vnto ,guard or bat-ll, are' all one in ,f ight" and haue aduantage againft' theo hand Sword.the Swordsnd Buckler.the Sword and- " , ' - " , et · t ' , h · · · - S - ' · " c - ' . - · · - ' - - d ·

c• & ; · · ·· · J J i ,- ":1'·" ir th.."-.· · · · . , . '~ , , , & : . p ': : . . - iarda o rg , e , , ' " .e oworo e ua,ggle 'r" or ne ,:a,pler, r'oimar .

T h e fhort f t · ·: ' · , a f f e o '- : 'r '"ha l ~ e ' · c. P i k e Forreft-bill Par tifan",'' c . ' III c · _ . - -J,jJ :' , c ' [ , ' _ l ~ · . " 1", ,,' ·f[ [, .1.,' , 1 . , _ , . ' . 11,_.· ,',

- G - : · c c l ' e : . : u ' e 0 "- fuch I I ~ k ' , · - .we, " : " - r "I["_ of oerf ... 1 " " " " , ' , rth ha "rC." • ' . ",r lU ",I,e w"ap,o,ns 0" peClel,.it, "eng ., . aue

: : taze s '. ' ~ f t : , , : th B:l·,·t·-···'II, the H ' - ' [ l'b 'd .'h.e van_age a,g,alln, . t.. ",;2,te ....xe: ,'~; ,e ': ,':a ..,ar , theI'" eke-bill the t :..,.,[,and ,(!,:",., ,d,'"he Swo d nd 'T '"', et41c, e-m ",I_,e,w!o, " an. rworc ',': ",eeworo an", .. arge,n d a r e t - ' O - " I ' O ' h' : a "rd f o r two S w o r d s . i '! I [ D · l d ' : · 'D ' -" ' a g 'g - " ' - e : ' ' ' f ' ' S ' o r t w o. _,_: ,- ,:"." _ '.... _'-' ,:'._'."-'._ ,__ ,'-'''',_ '__"',".',""'.' :_.: ," . .... ::., .,." .. ' ~".I .. , ',"_ '-:~_',_", ..> , c - . . . : . , ":_C ,' C,'

..... -nd Poi .....rd - ith G"'" "'1 ' d f h 1' . - _ _ , ' - ' , ' , - , : . - 1 : - , . . . . , " ( - '1 ': . - '1 ' " " 1 " . - . , ' . . ' , " . . ' . . , , : . " : ' , ' , . ' 1 , . , , ' . ' _ . " ' ' ' . - " ~ I , " '- ' , " , - . ' , " " , : - . - , - , . '' aple,rs an.'" . IOInl,a,rS witt ......'nt, ets ) an, ". ",or t.eo,ngaffe and M'-o rr 1 ~ ' S P l . " 1 ' " keI~J.~·:; a ' , [ ' [ " , : . . . . . , . . . . . ' . . [ 1 1 ' , " ' , . , ' , : ' . : ' : " [ ' " " : ' . 1

' T h e o ' I o · I g . - · ' S ' : · ' t ' - . ' ~ e , , - M ; " , Q , '" : ~ ~Pike ,.:.: 1 -- 1 ' , ' , ' ' 1 '· ~ . , ' . ' f j " - " . - h l . .k e. ' , " , n " , .,an[' ,,_,I,rr.l~ 1.,le"or 1 " a , n e In, or U,C, ' ,l,e

abone the perfect Iength, haue aduantage a-ainft all ma_ne:r o ,f' 'w '· e : p o n , s , the Ihort ,ftaffe, W e l c h

e ' P a r t i C - a n ' - '' ' 0 ' : r - ' G ' · : ' · ' I I · e u ' · e ' : " " r ; ' f i i c h ' . ' ] i ' ' , · k ' · " · -. , " _ . " _ _- . - . . · · f - · " , ' . ' _ .<'<', ,-~, ..,)'c-",·'[, 1 _ " ' , - ; " 0 1

,, , mci _I Ie ,weapons or van-ge excepted: yet too weake for tWIO Swords and Dag-ers or two Swords amid,Bucklers , or two Rapiers and

'with Gantlets, becaufe the:y' 'are too long torufl, ~rik,e" and turne fp,eedily':: and by' reafon 0'[ the

rge diflance, one of the Sword and, Dagg'e::r-men willb hi d 'hill'- '. " ',' " . , " -- ~enma mm. .



, - ' [ G '_ " . - '1 "" ." r r · . . S,, : ' I .~.- '" J . . ~2: '.c . "reC _ . ' " ,t , U [ r , r a1'J

" r e t vnderfland, that in barrels ~Iand w here varietie ofhe, ,am.'oiI1gfi: multitudes o,f men and horfes.the

and,Tarvet ...he two hand Sword, the Barrel-axe., # ~ ~

Blacke-bill, and Halberd, are better w " e a , p o , n : s , , 1 l ' n d

d · h , . , f f i " " " I " ~ - , " .he '~' h,, .: '._ •. , 1- --: ••.. n" - •• '. . :. " " '. . "L 1 • " -.-, I I "., _ .-~ ',--:- . ~ -, • . ,":: I !, ::. : .. _ ~-i _ 1:"

,'-,,' '.' .' . ::" . '-,a,nger'OllS m t" ~ lr orrence ann orces , rr 'en,IS the' · · . " w ' O · . - , d .....d B ' : . : . - , - , k l , ' , f l : · ' · · . ' t I l L [ . , + + - , ' I ' ' , ~ " ' g " , 1 1 ; . , , f f i : " , " ' - " o - : ' r F " orreft. ' , f _ , 'an< ,~u,c' er" .-.10r. l . t ; a . " " e ; . , _ ' , o ' n , : ' , l:ta l , e : , , " ' , : " : - ' . .~ . .

1 " " ' 1 ' I ' ' - T h e " S : " z o r d "I-'I;',d:,': T ' " " . ' " " , - ' · ' e · - t : -Ieadeth .-p · · · · · , O ' i · · · , ' n - : · S h ot and i n- - , , - ,~ _ _- , . ' : . . w o r , a, aD:, ~a r g , " _ " ,·c,ea~,',,",,-Ij v,, ;'_ ,' -'" [~_", 1 _

d £ '. d II h f t . - ' db] .. b b '}:'·:,':"1','. :.-"':",'-: I' ·::·-,.-',···-'Ij "J :··'1 ,.(,:1: .... '. "'<'1"'" ''-> ~'.', .-_ -., "'1' i ' - ' · " - ~ . .':I.'.,-'" ':'~'.:' -(,.' 1,-' ,'1":" '- :- - ::"I~'- '·""~troupes aerenc .etn tnrutts ann uowes ,glu..en .-y ' atte -- . -. . . .. " H '~ -albards B la c k : : :. . . .,:~ll'"-":'-.-."'('--h ' - I , - . . ' nd.. ' / : I ' : : - " d - " f:.:. bet-axe", - _ . 8 . narcs, ,",:,a,C,l\.e " 1 . - , , , Q,r wo an" 1\\'or as rar oetter then :l"iI'-;n -'he S · · : · : \ , ' · ' - ' ' - " ' ,

'd,.<, d - ' : ' B ' : " - C ' I , " k : · ' ~ , ~ ,

~." _~~,n, " - a u , _ " " e , : - - w , o , r , : . [ a n '" . ' U "c"J;,er '"Thre - M , " I - ' : . , - . : ~ ' " P i k e d';'fender h · ' h " " , · b:':'utell C o r '0 - : ' rn both__:',_ ,__orriS:, _l:~ . 'e '_" C le n , : _ [e : _ : ' , , " , ~'e . :a '-_'_c, 11,·,,- -' [.-'. ---

horfe s " d :: , . . " ,: : . - : ':'''C' :'-". " h ' , · , - , ·e t t e r then '---::":".,he ~,o,,;-t-~ , f t ' ~ " ~ a , < a : e,l~ a n · - ,m an, mue, I :,f;" . ' , " , c r ' , : " e , n can: _ , f ! ; lIl_r," .' ..1.l~._,

10"'"- g - f t a - · - · t J : ' , 1 " 1 ' F : - _ " - · I ' . f l · ' " , b " ' 1 : 1 ' ; A " , : . ' , ' ,j Io.~,. 'n , , t · t· " ' 1 - ' a x e the_ : , n : _ , : tarre or ',:c r r e u mu, ,~',g:,alD:c"m e .oa re -axe "- -,,~ 'H - a l b s rd t ' - h ' , -' " " B ; ' . ' I ' : · I · · ' · k , ' I - . : b i l l - h " - " ' - " ' - . - ' . " " , . ha d ,I ' :-[c··,·d····! md S w o r d- ,-~---,,ar , , - c , ce' . _ : a ' c " , e , " 1 - . : "" " t:.~_' two ,'.'n . , , _ _ : _ _ .1w o r - _ " a n - : _ - '- , ~ , - '

&Target amongft armed men and troopes, whenmen

are',~come',together , b , y reafon of their ,y,teigh.ts, ,ih,ort-~ ,Jl":',-- d s , - . , ' - ~ - - . : d - " ch - - -l:J:.'., d~'ht ....,"':neJle, an:. great , , [ ' o r c : e s " ,~:o m , u 'c , : · 1 m,lore ,0'11e o , - . ~ ·. ' -_ _e e ' n e -

mie, &' a : r ~ then much better weapons, then, is the fhort. J l._ n :: th " -'1 S · · ' . a f f i " [ - ' : " F ' - - ' e f t : , bill"L a.;ue" .~ ' ~ " e , : o , n g , " ···.t:' I e , . ., o r r i , , ~ ~ , o , ~ , r ' r :, ' ; " - ' . . " ,1 - . · ' .

~ -, - - - - ._,_ .---::.I . ,- - . .iii - .! '. ... - 1 " " " . _ I, _ _ I.

O'- '~ t- "l. < ~~ t:J.Ih,'~'~-:-~',,-,;J.J~~'t:.'.l,- -.,;# .--" . " ,rt, l. . . ."',:}' ·IJ·~ t1l.l~;Ctenl:,te,anu " b ! t Z a : u a n , a g e : . r D J . tne

R .. ~...zt.

B - ' l ' . ,- a '/ l I 1 J e ' r s - , , ; ; u - f t . t : ~ . Bsuell.",r " ~0:' - #i'_' ,,~, ~" ""_

"..: Or thefingle Rapier I , o r Rapier & : Poiniard,

. they are im,pe.rf~a'·&infuRicient weapons, :-------,. ,nd le~peci~l\yin,the {eruice of the Prince,

,··,w'ben'-m'en ' l l i a l l l ' ; ' o · ' - ' y · , · ' n ' : l e ' · , together w ' - -- - ; . . h·.at fer-" .-,.~ I, • - e . . .-J . "" . •. : :._ •. ~ 1

1" . - " " ' • • ,.1_,.-", ., ~ . J : : } l~·.

d ifh . '. 'hi"uicehcan a"fo~~~ierdowirh a Rapier, '2 chil-l~-_' toy wherwith aman can do l)()~tJtingbut thruft.northat, neither, 'b y reafon 0 , £ the lc'n,gth" and in euerie mo-





\,4 G t _ ' , - r g - e Siiuer h-/s .

7"hat all maner if doubl: ":wei1p~1Jj,or tztteapon! to h , e vjidwitli D t i t l l bandes, hau« (J,Juant age' a g ' , a i n f l thrfin-

gie Rapier or jingk S'll:orJ, there is no

q l i t . : ( f i o . 1 Z · tob t l 1114'de . .

'rl,at the Sword and Buckler hath the 'Utlnfage a-'I! ! f l ' " h e - ' S " " d d ' D ' ".'.'- - . Ii - .'., '.' ': _.-". '-

gaIn'.', t..-,wor;~ an . :·a,gger.

4 .'.': He Dagger is an imperfed ward, al-:..' t..h.ough born a, e . ' out . d r - a i g - : : , h t to make the,: ,_~ •.•.••• [ _ _ ,.1 " "__ , • l-~ _ ·,"I.~!. _ , '.

'.~ .ft~·· •. Space narrow, whereby by a Iitle mouing.•. o f the hand.may be fuff i:cie'nt to faueboth

~~~ ".fides of the head " or to' breake ..the thruftfrom the face or bod.y,yet for lackeof the circumferencehis hand will lie too high or' too Iow.ortoo weake, to ,de-·fend both blowand thruft: ifhe lye ftraigh,twith na~row

fpace,which is b,eft to b:reak .e th ,e' t :hruft,th~n'h·e lieth tooweake, and too lowe-to defend his head from a, ftrongb low : if he: lye high", that is ftrong to defend his head,b u t · ehen his r . p " ace wilbe to 0 '" wide to breakce t· hA th r-uft.~":

',_ilo,_ .:llJ.·, - '_. 1~··.... .' ."'" '_-.,-,,' .-.' .... '.' .'/ ·..,..:G.·· '.:_ ..:~ _.:.'~";_

from his bodie ~ The Dagger ferueth well at len,gth toput by a thruft , and at the halfe Sword to crofle the

Sword.bhld.e t . t_odriue out t~e Agent" and put him in. danger of his life J and fafely In anie of thefe two aCtions-to defend himfelfe, But the Buckler,by reafon of his cir-curnference and weighe , being well caried , d,efend,ethfafelyin all times and places, whether it be at the point,halfe Sword" the, he-ad , bodie, and face" from , all manerofblowes and thruftes whatfoeuer,yet I haueheard ma-

nie hold opinion, that the Sword and Dagger hath ad-uantage of the Sword an~ Buchler, at the Clofe, by rea-fon of the length and pOInt of the Dagger: and at the



Paradoxe s if Dtfince~, , 3 5

oint of the Sword, . they' can better fee to ward then'aBuckler ~But I neuer knew anie, that wanne the

Clo,fe with the Dagger vpon the Sword and Budkler ,

ut did with himfelfe out againe .fo r diftance' being bro-< ! ! o d C o t o ] h c. 1 k ' f ti ..d den." iudgement rar etr 1 tor Iacke 0' time to lu'ge:l an'

he eie is deceiued bythe [wife motion of the hand, andor lacke oftrueSpacewith the d,ag,ger hand which can-

ot be otherwife , for lacke of the circumference to de..both blow and thruft , it is im.poffible for Iacke ot

rue Space in iu-tl: time, the agent hauing gotten therue place, to defend one thruft or 'blow of an hundred "_d '" 'iii f t ~ ' 'Ii h r: I r. h i. h S':· dn it 18mot _certaine, wnoioeuer c otetr witn sworn

a n d D · ' · ' . ' ' . , ' , ' , ' , ' , ,""r·: '"' , f t · , , - - , t h ' · ' S ' " , . , " d : ' . d · B '" c k k . ' . . ' " ' . . . . . . · · · · · tagalo,.. , e owora am .me uer , IS In, gre'ab fl·.. Lik i r: h ... 'f' ' h ' " ' dianger to oe uame :.. ucewne at the point wrtmn m-

"'·,-·,..' ifhe 1 1 : " ' " , n d t c d ..c. rd both b · , ' I " - " md thrufl irh.aneet 1, ,e "an ,0 .'.e i l e , n , ,.0" . ' ..'ow an '.rn, WI.'·

Dagge:r, for laeke of true. {pace and diftance t ifhed h b f t · , f ani . d ld f i : ' fe a '" Hc tne ber eye 0" ame man, an, cou ......•.ee per> 'y ,hi h . h th f t ' " bl h ' d h ~nicr way t. .e tnru or mow commetr ,an, 'W·~en It

omrneth , as it is not to be. denied but he m,ay"yet hisb 'I " J 'Ii h 1 h hi .h'" b {C 'pace.elng too ,ar'ge" tt neipet '.,,__mnot :,lOg I necau e

hand being as ,{wift. as another mans hand ,oth being ' 'within diftance., he that ftrik,eth or tbrufteth, '

the warden the reafon is this: the Agen t beingthe firftm orion ,,,,!"l£."LO ' U , "g.··.h:·n 'h o I ~ offen tee . further eo g 'o-' '., ,., " .... '., WUl ' .' ._ ! I i ; I I . . J .1 ,1 ,.;.. . ,. ... . , r :

the warder to defend:; yet the warders lpacebeingoo large, the blow orthruft wilbe performed. home.be-ore the

wardercan C,OM'e'·

tothe true'

plsee.eo

defend"

imfelfe, and although the warder doe p:ene'tIly fee-theI". 7,. '.. t ' " b ' , ', , · f t · " " , . - ii;, • , r : . . . I l .. . .. , . ] -- . ] h e " , ~.. 'h.., _..,.". .". d ' r.lOW or ru ' CQ,mtnlng,lo rna , ..e ~,ee···ISowne warc io

from the true "place 'of his defence .~.hat although



, G " . . S ' ' ~ L " ! z " ~ ,_ , • ~ . r- r . :'1., ,';1 . :":: ,",,":'.- ''-.1 ',: :1",,11.:, 'J , 6 . . ' . -e~~ge. , I "uer ,,1 J , .

1 f ' h ' · · d · 1 " 1 h b d d BIbrue : P I ace 0,':.,"I!1.5 ward, tu i, .e ce wounces '". ,'",ut tet t ,ewarder with the dagger fay;, that it is not true which I' h - ' ' - , . r. i d C ., -. he h uh .: ,','t' beholdtb eblow 0 ' " - t, h , · · , f t ·aue iam.ror as,ne iatn eies 0 1,~,e· .~Q!, ._,~,~,:Ov or mrur

- < . ', h i ' iI d c. d h ~ r : I'f" 'H ~comln,g"Co hath ,~ :.eas goo,d,tI ,me to derenc mmieir. '~~re-

in he fhal find himfelfdeceiued to'; this is the reafon ethch d... h , I ' . ; , . ,f' f t · . . , h c ,., h' J1 11 oi, h_ anc is tne J.Wi'I,t:e,L"monon, tn e root is the uoweit, wrtl '_" . " d , I ' ' ' ' ' f t ( I. . ' , ' th.. ha d ~,.,!ii' ' d ; t -- " h ' " , r o t . . . ._ · , 'f' th feetout. u .•nce rne nam I. .IS tied ' : - , 0 1_ ,," ' e mo: ion o ..... reet,

wherby the time of'the hand is made as flow a:sthe foot,- r. h b d ~ .. 1 f t ' hiecatne t ,:1 re . _ ; ' y we re ~eeme euerre time IOI·~..vpo,n _ , _ 1 8

... b h 11 '., f " h fi &h ~ommlng ,~,ytne ' :, i . .O'Wmotion 0,' tne toot, < ' : < naue trme

therby to iudge , whe & how he can performe any ' a C t i o~ ~ h - ' - ' " , , - ~ ' , . - _ . - '~ . ' " ' · ~ ' · : · · - d ~: ' h : ' - - , , : ' . - , ' h - ' ' . . ~ . _ ' :..~.~..~ , "" f " · · - · . , - - ' h " - c - h ~ ' ' , - d ~ ~ ' '. . h " , ' - '"whatfoeuer, anr__0' ~ .aue we t " " e tlm e, 0_ t:~e . an to the

. . . . f " h £. 'N '" --~' h h -d '.. hi . t:time 0 ~rnereet.rx O'W IS the had rn ::~IS,owne courie morer : ' ' ' , I : " . h h c. 'h C o '1 hi din.. h-lwtite:r then tne foot 0,:( e:ye,..nertore withm diitance ~~~,e

. " , c · ' 1 ! ! . c " deceiued & ~ : , ~ . "ds _'-"',:. .c " !Ii,. - l · - - f t " ; ;. , / " ;id th at is a n o th e reye 15 aeceme l."l.,'~," ru e ..ge'lne.. t is0'1,., ano I., a .is ano aer.~c~,(;_ t ': ' h - - ' - · ' I · t ' · the '-.:.:," ' - " : 1 ' d ': I " , - ~ . : - - . -. i t h t - " I 'I - · d ' :' , " " _ ' : , ' , ~ ' . .-} I t ' · ' h · · " · · . ' : , I = - r h h "e h , ' 4 ' u ' - ecaUie, ... I a , . . , e ,w a r . · ,er Wl ..., . , _ , 1 , I e I . ' ag ger.,a. - , . a u g , ' , ' _ _ . .~ . _ _

e tJ " is J.e'ti~Pe'rfelEt , e y : ~ ' " ' e s is ftil within diftanlce deceiued For P roofeb y th efwift ." ~'_'._. c," - ' j ' : ' , _ ' : ~ ' ~ , ~ ~ ' . - _ ~ , , , " - > _I ..... :;,~ :", v ._ '.~~- ,,~:_ •.. ','- - :,;:.''. _" ,_: . ,~-: ', '_::.,

ofth J J a t i . that the hand 1Smore ,[wifter then the eye,,& thereby de--

._ ' e e iu e t h t h e " ' .? ~ " . . · · · , s ·'1 ' · t · tw,.'.A,'....d with.,t . d · - : - ;"4 ' ' .. ,·· .....1:.~t · a - ; ; n ·~c·· .} ,,_- ~I''-- -, .. " e y e , , _ < i , e r c ., :",0 .t.-Lan,.:·Wll~.J,1n" ,11Lance,'c(";' c . e~, .,e:: .. ~

'o f th[c:'ft:anld!till to defend ,niinfe'l:(,& Iet the otherflorifh&; falfe with his hand, and. he fhall continually with thefwift motions _ofhis hand, deceiue the eyes of him thatftandeth watching 'to defend ,himfelfe",&; ilia! continual-}- ft ~ ' k - h i . ' d ' . . . .r . . . . 0·' ;Ii ,y ,\,.I:rlce ..mm 10,II:Iue.rlepla,lclesw]th"hl,s,hanld,~Againe)take

this for an example, that the eyes by fwift motions are

deceiued :turne a turne-wheele fwit t ,&; you {hall not beb] . d ~: iIo h i 'b it '0; h . . - ba r e to! .mcerne W i t . ' y ~ ~ . u r " " 'C " " " ' ; e i e s I · I I O - : " I « : r m-- . ' " ,n "" ' Y " r . . p I o k e s ' ' ' ' : , .e-" , ,.,' .. ,. ',' "-' ,,- ." ",' !".'" .[., " .. _-c~, .... " .. ,J'·'I" ,_ 'C , " J . . : I , ' . " , , , _ . '_ " : , ' . :

in.be wheele.no nor w~ether there be any {pokes at all,Of whereof the wheele ISmade,and yetyoufeewhen the

h ] ft d h ft·' " ' 1 ' 1 h 'Ii' 1 d l l ! i J lw, e'~,'e:.", ,an!',et,.·~'··l.--.,.t.:",ere, ls.a : : a r , g ' e ! ..; ' _ , J . l l , a n c , e hetweeneeuerie Ipoke.Hetbatwillnot beleeue that: the fwift rno ......tion of the hand in fight will decei-ue·the ·eye~lhalftarea-

br '0 " " a ' d.... " .





George Siluer h,li

' ' L I t e short S t a f f i " I '

. ~ . ' ' . . ' " C : ' : O'W' for the vantage [of the Ihort Staffe ,a-. . . . ' , ' . . . . • • . . j' . . . . . sainft the Sword and, Buckler " Sword &

T;rget,twQ hand fword , lingle Sword," - _ , 0 , : ' - , ' I ': S ,' wor ' d - , ' - ' " an d D , : · · · " " g . · · · g - ~ · e - r · · · or Rap •.er an.d·~ Poi-,-" >.' ".' '.' ',_. , '. '.' . _" 1- . ,a"i. _" ., .. ' ,',_ l.. ., , .

. . ............•.•......•.......,niard, there iSIIO great queftion to be

made in anie of thefe weapons.; whenfoeuer .anie blow

or thruft fhall be ft 'ron"gly made with the ftaffe,) they areeuer in, falee plaice" in the cariage ofthe wards for if at a-, n , y of thefe fixe 'w ,ea,p ,o ,n ,she carie his 'ward high &;,firogfor his head , a'sofneceflitie he m,o.'ft carie it verie high,at:h e r w i f e it W " , , - ' " ' I ' i Ibe to.o··:weaketo d · : . . .e · ' ·:· · d · · : ' a b l o w b · e in g

I.. ~.··"I; "'"IUI··. 1.1~ .·.,.~.'l~"l, 'I," .~.' ',1,'1,_.,11<./ ...r .. r ..... •_:K.;.~: .1 .... -1. : , .· . I ;i I: I " 1 · . . ._ .·,I··._ ' _ ."_:[ _. ' ." :. '._" , ,:.:-

ftron,g]y made at the head , then will his fp,ae,e be, toowide, in ,due time to, breake the thruft from his bodie..A ga'ine,~ifhe carie 'his,ward Iower ., thereby to be in e-

quall ~p;ac:efor readineffe to -bireak,e 'both blow & thruft,then in that place his. ward is,too low, and too weake todefend th..eblow ofthe 'ftaffe:::for theblow being ftron,glymade a t , 'tbe headvpon that ward "will beate downe theW"ard.and h i s he , ' ~ , d . " ,to [ g · · · · . · · e. . t , b -ier, and.. n u t h i m - . ' " ' n - ' " g · : ·. r · e , . · · : a · ' . : ' t ' , d · ' a n " ' , ' -.. - Go .... ,'.: .. "',,, Q-,. _ . p _ _ . ,1 , ,1 ,,' .... _,--

g'er 'o 'f,his life. And here i s ; to he noted, eh..at if h ..e fight

well " the fta 'ffe~m'an neuer f t : r i k . l e t ' b , hut at the head, andthrnfteth prefentlyvnderat the body: and ifa blow be,firfi:made, a tb,:rllft followeth ;& if a.'thruft 'b e firft made,a blow followeth j and in doing of any of them, the onebreedeth the: other ':'fo that howfoeuer anie ofrhefe fixewea'po:n .s ilial! c arie his ward ' f t r o n g t : y to defend the fi,.rfi:,

he, fhall be too farre in, ~p,aceto defend the fecond, whe-ther it.be 'blow IOlr thruft. .

. Yet againe for the .{htirt fia 'ffe ' : thefhort ftaffe haththe 'van,ta,g'e.:-ag'ainft the Battel-axe, blacke-bill, or H al-



Paradoxes of,Defince;. 39'ard: the Ihort flaffe hat.h the' Vltnta.ge',by reafon of theimblenefie and Iength; he will flrike and rhruft freely,

nd in better and fwifr,er time then can the: Barrel-axe,lacke-bill, or Halbard.and by reafon of his iudgem.e,nt,~'il'anC'end t i m n e fi.' ht fafe And this r e f o l u e v p =on th el .', .." .. ,.,.'....". . "'.. '.' "'... . ' .':,' .'

ftaffe is the beft weapon againft all maner of wea-the Forrefl bill excepted,

Alfo the Ihort ftaffe hath aduantage aga,int1: two ~/;e,j1ulrtft~

and Daggers, or two. Rapiers, Poinisrds .an~ ~ ! J : ! : : r ! ~ :antlets" the reafons and caufes before are for the mofl ,gomj1 ,twfl/flJO.r:,jt fer d · ' · · · · · · w ·ne a - I r "ead y ' " ,t "he W " · ,· h ie 'h b e i n g' w , e " I I ' confide .....1 n 4 t J o . , ! f' t T e r :mGS . ',!I . . " .. - ' ".............. ,......". .. ..... ...'. '6Q ,

d, you {han plainely fee, that whe.nfoelle.r anie one of':~~l)~ilr~S d'·', . R" d P ~ ~ ,- ,.cRJI,tOTUJ-,,4ti ..

e ··W'O.f_' & Dagger men or .: ,apler anr "'o,lflla,rdmen Gn,:iltstt,

all breake his diflance ,or C u f f e r the Staffe-man tok h 'Ii h hi h did' fi ft 'b k hill! d .. t · . -eaxe ..is.that man W_' lC ,~ , u tdnrtt breake >IS1 , race.or

f f i : : ' . . .. . th .. d " : " " ' f t a · · · · · ' : " , " ' . ' . t..,b .....,"''','"',~'!Ii,.Jl. h.'~..' ,~:',: ~._.tlv ·,,'~ er .ne 1,·tance ..0 ' e won Q,galnl[ ,..rm, 1Sprelen yIn,

f·~: h A d hi - .. _ , r . b d '" d banger 0 ', ' eath, a ,'D t . <18canot In reaion ne ueme ,e ...· '· . i':. the d ~ft:.' , . -.. . t - · , . ii, ,.', '," t· , · t · - h : S ' : · · : t " , _ .1 r '. c : " . ' : . ., . - . ' . . , . th ,,aU1e·. ,.e. ~ l_ an,ce ,apper_ alnln,g, 0 .. ,e . (u1e-man,el .'.er

keepe or hreake, ftandeth vpon, the' mouing of one{pace alwayes at the moft.both for' his offence or

The other two in the breach' of their diftance toff .. d ~ ' t ' ' h , ,S o' · ' t · e. ' 6 1 " " ' " . . . . - . . . . - . haue al .. .. .... , L . . - . . . . . . . atren .., .....e o ,a . e-man ,;a,ue iU.way,es roure paces a

e leaft therin th'ey fall too great in number withtheirer , and too fhort in diftance to offend the Staffe-an, Now there refteth no more:' to be: f p o , k , c ' n . of :;.but

the Staffe-man fhall behaue himfelfe to keepe 'thatone of 'the SwordSs Dagger men g,et noth'. . d h o t h ' I h h rt, '1b _ , _ J ! ' ' h ' i ! ! b c d·~·ln·.. .im,W auet e otner mar nune arm oeroreeto .....0

at is ver,Y eafie.by reafo:n of the (mal nuber ofhis feet,b · f i n ' II · fL,: c. i; 'Ii h'.....'averie i '- _.turning 0' his.tcety.as Itwere rn t ienter point of'a wheele.the oeher .two, to keepe their" ....... , .... ' ' ' ' : -~. . . : t ' , . , . . . . ' t · , ~ . . . ' . : . . . . .,r......· , . ' . r.:.. ,... ., ., it

, ance, 'are azauen ,.0.rU':lD'e ..wenne 100. e ror one, as 1,.



.·· Georre Siluer his"". ' .. "',0 .. , -

ere 'vpon the vtterrnofi part or circle of the wheele :ll this 'while the Staffe ...man is verie well, Then it com-eth thus to paife, whether they both labour to g'et be-'"' hi k d·''''fil bef hili hil f t · · · hind mm, Of' one keepe directty before rnm W· iuer t e

ther get behin d him , yet. 'before that. be brought to....r: h fh 1 ..h b b h b c. h"" .j ft .. ftaJ.1e"t-ey' ',:'.a. eit ..r be botr before rum or nnt agam

both fides of him: at which time foeuer the Staffe-rnanfinding either of them within diflance , he prefently in,

ki fhi '1' fl h .,h bl h fl: fna lng ,0 ,', . . :18pay, ,a,yet,. Wlt,:'!.'OW or t,ru:_ one 0'

the, or at the Ieafl putteth him in great danger of his. life.I f ' , t · · · · h ' · ·St....r:· ,',' .-.... ak ...h . o ; , . . , . . . . . . . ' . h .. th '.- .......b oth... ..e '_ ·_ a.ue-m 'an ta , . · · · e . " 18, tim e , WH' e,n . ,: e , v a r e . a ..

J

'before him that. is to fay, before they cometo the half.r . ~ f t · · - . . . . . , · f t · , - - · 'b th f i d e s f · · ~ h 'S · · · ·' . f f i · c

'. th .' be. "." i" ...•. '.. ._ .. .' ._ .. ,"_-, '. -, ... ',' I,' ,," ,-,-._,. . '-, I I .... Iring, III . agaln,e,O. ~ l,es 0" t ie otai e-,man, .. ,en . e

that is neareft 'within diftance i s , Gain,by ' blow or thruft ,.. d Fhi Ii~c, B ..f h S d dr put In great danger 0':, ,cIS ' re, But 1,' tne Sworn an,

Dagger men do keepe their diftance vntill they come tothe inft halfe ring right againft the fides ofthe Staffe-" rdthe breake d,..t · · · _ . ' th .,' rhat firft brean , ann t· en . reaxe , 1 . tance , t: atman that 11.-'· irea..,

keth diftan..ce is ilaine with blow or thruft, or fore hurt,and in great danger of'death, and the Staffe-man in rna-king that play at that inftan t" muft turne with one largepace.the which 'h e m'a'y' ea'fily do, before the other can

get neare enoll~h , t o . offend. him s by reman that hehath '[,0 make WIth his feet but one large pace , but theother hath at the leaft three paces. But if the Sword .,and Dagger-men will in the time that they be beforehim ,keep thei r diftance in the time of their being vponthe middle part of the outfide of the circle.right a,gain'ft

both fides of him,&; wi~llab?r wi~h all heed &; diligenceto be both or one of the behind him , that troubleth theStaffe-man nothing at all.for in.that very time" when he



P aradoxes , o f D~nce .. 4 , rfently turneth, by the which he ilial! naturally' fet him-(dfe as it were in. a . triangle , and 'bo th the fwo.rd andda.g'ge.r-m.en, (hall thereby ftand both before 'him in, truediftance of three paces from offending of h im a ·.t rhe '". ',' " , "..... " "". '. " ..... . ... " '.. -". , ',' . '. :"., :. :' .. ::'.. ,'." . " . , .:' .. _ '. ' .. '

1 · . ' . J1 . - at t · h ' , . f i r f t , · , . the .,- d '· ' " ' · d ' A , . - . . · d · · · - 1_ t h . . · - ' ,1 :.,. . : '. . . ' t · . . . . ' .iean , ,as a ienr ..eyl' •. 0.· rake .. IS ro r a,.rue. . , ' .u n d t h e " ' r e " 'III. "". "-" . '.' '. '. b l e t o 'W " " rd · . r ; . . , . d - ' 'b " I '" .rou,n )< ,. .... 1 . 8 ,no ma,D. a e·· ,ar. a .Iou .n '.. ow

with the, Sword and Dagger, nor Rapier, Poinyard, andGantlet, being ftron.gly· made at the head "with theStaffe, and run in withall, the force of both' handes is, / : h bei ~ h i , C , . 'I I ' - d r: h _ 1 -h 'hen, :',.ln:g 1.0 '..1.8ru..'.mot~o,:n anc.. coune, t: .at attt oug :"",t.h e " .t h e . d '_ . ' , ', . , . ". ." . · h · : t ti r d h i r h,. d · · 'f l · : . . · · " , ' . - . . ' . . , ' . . ' it.. · b · : c t h ·eotner .',0 canerus warlg· anc . .r~ .ng Wl '0

h a n d e. .· · '.L e t 'h · i s f e et "b ' · · · · ·. . . . . . . . . . ' . , . ~ . .g , C ' - . m · · : ·t h e " . ~ . . " n dnc . · : S " ye . 1· IL . , e e l n g m o u r n . . .rror '" e groun ,h s : f h b l ill ft ik hi ith hi degreat rorce 0. t re OW-WI .. rnxe mm witn mswara,and 'all downe flat to gro ,und ~ But ·if he ftand faft with

he ,may with both weapons together, ftronglydefend his head from the blow, 'but then. you are .fu,ffi.ci-ently iilfir.u.Ct·e·d,the thruft being prefently made , afterthe blow full at the bodie, it is impoflible in due time to

it, by reafon of the Iargenefle of his Ipace, .

. .

The shor,t StaJfi h;a~k .tbe f).anta.ge againlt the long jlqffi,

and MOrris Pike, and tAt ForrtjJ ! JillagainjJ all .maner: o r wea J J01l.1. . .• ~ • = , T ~.

• • r"

~~..~_,,: .-,He reafons are there : '" . ' , T h , e _ 'fhort Stafle , 2 7 '

....•.' '-~hath the van tage of' the long Staffe and.. ...••MorrisPike ., i l l his .ftrengtb & narrownes

_. :. of fp'ac,e in, his foure wardes (jf defence..i·!!!D~~~ " .' ..• ~nd' the Forreft hill . .hath rhe-vantage of

ll maner of weapons in his . ftre i1gt'h and ;n'arrown,es of( pace In his .eIght wardes ·of·defence ~and the rather be-



- . . ~

42 George Siluer hisor Morris Pike, that is to f a y " foure with the Staffe, and

foure with the head. and is more offenfiue then is the~.... ' .' . '. . .' ... .., ,,-,,;., " . .... .' ..' .' Jl'lp., _, . .. " '.' .. " .

. .'. M .. p" ik f t ' ..ji- b d b hStaffe or, orns i"(:,<e: yet a que." 10m ,ay' ..e rna __ " Y ' tae

vnskilfull, concerning the 'iig'ht between the long Staffe

and:' the{hart

in this fort ..Whyfhould

not the Ioug·_ -_-__ .' _ "_"_ ., --" _ I... _•"II; _ _ '. _ .. -- _ _ . _ -. I .

Staffe haue aduantage againft fhort Staffe, fince that the] . . . ." . ' . ' S · · · · · ,J :J :. .. . .. .. .. .• .. . ... b . . . . 'I!I .. ''': . t ' 1 "~ b '· · . ~ . . . ' z i t h h ~ ' " · h · . . - i d . .' . . . . ' . : " . ' .,ong otatre-man, e1 .ng ar u iertre W I_ .., ·IS an, . .,es;may.-.iak', h r. , ' 1 ' , , - , , ' . - ' - S · _ ' ·· ~ J : r . · b . th ' 1 . . · · · _ . ' · d · · · h " " ' . - _ · t c·· h i ' b · · · · · , · f t · ; - · d ' · · ~mas e _ ).son,g ':_ '.arre not ong an _ ,. 'ort lor lS._ eit a:..

uantage " 'wh-en he {hall thinke it g'ood " and thereforerh ..- h .n.. ' 1 " 1 ' f t · - . _ .d h ~ - · r . - ' I ' C . · . . . - . - arch . d i ... 1 · · · , - . ··th·wnen ne 111a,--~n mrrne re ouermatcneo intneiengtn

o f 'h i s Staffe, b y · . · · . · the f t . - ; · - r e n g · ·h of the fhort Staffe a n d nar-.' '- .', _. -_. .. '.- _. - , '._" ~ _. ' ~""_'_.' ':' ': ' .. '·_'_·.c .; _._.: .. " '_', .. _ .

rownefle offpace i;'1his f?urewf•.••a~desofd~~n?eh)hedcanprefently by drawing backe 0,- his Staffe In his anaes "·.. ak .. · · · ·h is · S · : · · ·-·.tr·· .c.· f h o r t tb . - : C " otb .--'--:'.~d r; · b : · · · 'eadieake _IS etarre as lIlorc a s : -_ _e otners ,. :an. lO'C reame. .. .. .. J: . rh'-._'...'-' - : - h...."_'"".-.h - ~ . . . . . . , - - - . ' . 1 · ' ' . - ' . . .c· _.'.h T ~ . " ~ . - . , thi"",'' . - c : ! ! . - - : - " . . ' : .to ngnt Wlt,_ .. 1m at ;.~~lSowne ,engt ..~_'0 - ·S " anlwe~e,th '.'t - .'h .'-- eh.-'.1'·"-'._ .Staff '.' ..... ~.. d. .!i.. -." .... th .....-c '1 ' ' e ' " t h ' C ' - "'.. ·a --w,--·en '. .r: e .oog .···.. .al1e--man 1 & ·_rlu,e,n,_·, ere ·.~O'. Y ' . · · ' " : _ ' . ' . 'leng::-th of his Staffe that willlye b ehrind him will hinder• :.- .• " .. '~ __ -._"1 :..- ... : - - -, .• I ". ~ - ._ '_:_ '\~" ,. ~ ..... ::....-. . ::____ _" _ ... _.:....... ':_:..., .. '~ • !.. ~...___ "

hi . - f t · ik th f t · · _ · · d .. b ck .. d _;Ii= : _ ' l m to . ' , ~ r l · < e , : c _ ~ r u ,'e , w a r n or g o e nac s e m nue t~m:c<l!

Neither CQ'nhe turne the contrarie enid of his S ' - t , - d e to• •• ~ ~ • .~ - - I ." •• ' . _ . _ '.. _ . . _ '. __ -_ . .. __ "_ . '._ . . _ : I _ _ . .

la ._.' _____ _. ._ .

k . .- . .~ . " t: · t - : · t - h ·. fh.~·...t · S · · · · · · · · - . . . . .a:~ · - ... . " . ,£ : ... "-' .. ' b - ' " · C ' · ~ l· r : · · · · - - ,r....'. _-_eep e on,. ' .. e ,.: ..or- atatte man lram ,t, _e ·.: .c_Ol,e, nor ,lale""Iy to defend himfelfe at his comming in.

I'tlJillll .J '" ~. !Ii

. . B.

Agabu if'tA e <[)anlages o f weapons.

Ake this for a general rule, all long Staues,

M orris, 'Pikes, Forreft bils , Iauelins " or. fuch like lo,ng w'eapon,s,) of what fort foe-

. ..••....... ..• uer, being aboue the true Iengthes , the

fhorteft haue the aduantage , becanfe they can croffeand vncrofle in Ihorter time then can rhelongerr and allmaner of Ihort weapons to be vied with both, handes, 'a sftaues, and {ncb Iike, being vnder the perfeet lengthes,

th.e



P ~. ? / · · . .·D ' p : · · r f i · · · · · ·...... .,.,..... , l' . ",. -.,. ; ~',.. I j" •. " 'j. '. . - ." . 'i .- Dr '.''._ D x e s i t ? . . . . - ' .e~.enCI.. 43h 1 A h 'h i dl d al-I" f'he .onge,ll .....aue tt e a,,:·uantage· ' i ann Ii ..• maher 0 wea-

b f:d lrh h d h b hpons to ne vfed with one . I ! anu, that are anoue tne per-r..n le.··· , t . ' h · · · · . ' · f · t h e £ " ~ " : ' l " " , S · · · · · ·. _ 'd · · · " h ' " A.-.n.. h , · : h · · · .e~,L · ·_n .g '! ,· 0,. ' ..e .llng e '~I!worl.I., t .e tnortert .' aue t. e

antage, and all maner ofweapons vnder the iufl:'lengthf , t · · , h · · f h o . .· r · · t l··w o r d 1~ 'F '':' ' - 8 " u c h i o n · S · · : · S k a t i n e s 1 0 ' r H · ;'a n "' ' g : e rs' 111 _ ....' . ' " ~',_ "',' 1_ , I " , . ' . . t_ .-,.~, . ' '. . ' ..•..,,t

odkn~ ·· 'D ,.··'··.·I·' ····:~,·,.,·· Cc nd fachIik ..c·. · a _ · , · · · · . . . . · t · · · · : - · ' · · of.., __ .~·_ IUes" ,__ ag g le rs " an ", ,lU,C " , . I .I,e l ,l lor ,. weapon,s 0,_

er. e : e · · · lengr t h e s the 1, ..... ill. hat .""the . · d · ' . . . . at r .. ' _"',_~_':,_,'r'~·l .~.':.~:,' ,e:;J - "I.'. .I'Q.ng,ell:.· : . I a .n e . . ' · . , e a!: uan age.,the fight of thefe wie:apons confift within the

If 'S" d h .. b h r : ;iIi'~ • f ' .,a'lt or q'u,arter :_-'wor'.·.:"wnerem i_ _ : : y the IWllt motions 0_

·e i r h : a · · · n · d . . es'~:h · · · · I · · eir ·;-r' ..· ::8, · - · - · ' r - ' e - · d ~~'.:-..~.1 : , I A , d : : 1 and in th :-... . ' : ._ . . . . . . : : e · · ' · · ! ! i ' t i ; -....,: .~~ ,., .~ Cl.. e,.ye·~·a"." .ecelU~·'.. , ,_,u; 1 : . . ,·,Ole w . • -C '-'., nlv L -. , . . , he :.',-h...· l . .. 1 1 " ' . - · · h · . " . ' d " · - I : ' . : . . . - A " · · · · d "for tnesr ~.an.:_les ,Iller, n,o ;I~elen'ce.,_ _D".

two {hall fig'he.with. ftaues or Swordes, or what wea-a n ' p f o e u e r the .-:ne I l I ' I ' " \ f ' : , : 'h I = · m · - I I ; ~b a u i n g his · ' I ' . T ; ~ ' ~ ' p :.. . . . . . . . . 0 . ,longer. - '-Q1~. . ._-'" '-"~."'"o i l l . l . v" __ , c ; : , - ' . ' - · " , _ , a . . , I , . l _ _ , . , , - 1 . , 1fT ,",;"i~"" '. 0, '_''': '--":: .__

e n . . t h e P· · e : _ : · r · - ~ e ' · Aeng.- , t h · - , and the other h i s w , : · · e , c · a · p · - · o · · n · . J ' L o ' I ' r " ' 1 i I j_ '. ._ . " : . ' c , : _ '. , .IC.Lt. . . I , n . , , - , :1 _ I" ~ '&1,1,1,. _ : : - I ' , I.:. ' I l " e . . r ) 1 1 , ( , , ' _ ', : " . _ , : : : , _ In e '- .

th ",",'th '·'1' .C',.A.- '1 . "'1' th he th..···t · · h s t " L ! ' . ' , t h - I·····,-.·4:'-. ,en ....e .pe,rJ.:e~, . . l , e . n g L I 1;1 : . e _.. - · a , - - . . ·al,' J 1_,,--' e ,-·on.gel~the vantage, becaufe the Ihor · . t : , e . , : ~can maake n . 0 " " tr · U · • • ~. -- .. _ _ ' '_ ,""-, ,_ '-'_ I·.L ~'C •.,," ,lll.::. _ _ -,ll ..... ,.A. , "_"""

- . - ~ . - . ~ . . '1 .... t ' C . .- : . . . - , - . -c ti ...'.',T " ' h - - fhort Staffe or h a l f p ' - " ' i k ~ ' i ' - ' - " F " ' : " " ' : : - " - "fOlie In _rue·,lme·iI' '-. I _ I · e lnO'.r!.- ,'~ ta: . e l o . r : . _ _ 1 3 I'e ~ I'e, ,or-

bill, P arti fan, ."'or' Gleue, or fiich like 'weap ,ons oflength J to be vfed with both handes , haue theagainft two, Swordes and Dag:g,ers, or two

· · - ~ - - - ' P ' ; ' I - ii' .. ,.. -. d .. ....: · G · - = - · ~ . . ~ 'l -' . .. . . . . . . . .d -....!!'., ' f t · · - · ' - ' 1 " ' 1 . -h... • '. '. ~ • .. -..' '1 . l .. " ,. .'. I" -" I I , , ' I " . , . ' . . - . ' . l' ,- . - ~,. . ' .•.aplers.~:, omiarues, , a o : _ . · c _ a n t e t s . ; anc agaIn, '_-a otner

eapons wha tfoeuer, the Forreft bill excepted,~ ,I.

l~~=;···;:' .. :He. fhort Sta'ffe is mofl commonly the 29.••.beft '\V 'ca:pon of' all other ,J ! althou ..gh other

". L.

'w'eapons m.ay ' b e ' more , o ' i F e ' n , : f i , u , e , and I c f p e -. . ' < ' · c i . a U y .againft manie weapons together, byeafon o.f his nimblenefle and .{witt: motions " and is notch inferiour'to the Forreft bill, although the Forreft



,4 4 Georg« Siluer hit,

the Stafle is: verie vncertaine :,'but the Bill is a,more cer-taine rnarke, 'b y reafon ofrhe breadth of the head, wher-by as the Bill hath aduantage in his war des in, the. head,fa therefore 'hath the ..Staffe the like, defence, or rather

m _ 'O " ' r" ' e ' t0 ' " , _ P " l a - · I ' Y ' vP · · O I O · ' n ' : ' th e h ~ ' !ead o f the B I i l l not 0 ' : - n ' - ' j e l ' y "t· ·~n:,,' .,',. '-", .,,_:' :' ," :'. '.: :_:" :'_ ,." ',1, I"., '" ", .. ' ""_'." 1' .•• • .•.. ' "" • ., .. ! " " " . . , ' , ' " " , ' " " , :

make a,p , e r f e ' E t good ward, but thereby, the rath er to caftthe Bill' out of' the :ri,g'ht line" whereby the S taffe~man

ma'Y'thruft fafe" and endangerthe Bill-man : and the ra-ther becaufe therein he is,the firft mouer i' wherin there

is great vantage, both in time and force, And if the Bil-man b e ' not ' v ' e . . r y skilfull (all 'v 'ant-ages and difaduantages

of both fides confidered.) the Ihort Statfe will ,proue, -th:ebetter 'we,apoln. Laftly note this, that Iong Staues Mor-

ri,s Pikes and fuch likeweapons o , f i m , . p e ' f , f e C t lengthes,being 'to bevfed with 'both hands, notwithftanding theirimper,fefi: Iengthes, are perfeEt, 'w'eapo,ns to be vfed, theone ag'ai-nft.the other " ' a R . d , their ,figlltes therein perfed,because in d,f 'awing of thembacke betwixt their handes,their motions are fwif t'e r' backewardes, then is the time0 '£ the Ag,en.ts feet forwardes, ' b : y the which. 'all their lofttimes 'ar~ redeemed: .therefore thefe weapons in theirfi,ghtes'J the one..a"gainft the, other :ar'eperfed ....A nd thefe

'" h · "h h bft f' 'heapOD:S In the DJ..g·,.t are, the beftweapons of all at ier,and hauegrear aduantage ,ag'ainft the :farreft Bill, fhort

Stsffe,o,raniemaner of.fhort w'eapons whatfoeuer : for'there caufes, t h e y b1lo'l d 1 . y make .home their - f i . g ' htes, and

if neede be againfl; defperate men , that will venturethemfelues tOI run in" they redeeme their loft times. Butthe other 'with, Ihorter wlcaplo 1 ; l s , for I a c k e o,fIight , canmake no, ,. 'rue defence.Thus endeth the vantagea of wea-pO i . n ' I S · .

." ill

§ { : J e j J i o n . s





r-: S·" h ' " 'Georg« Situer _1 1

... rn" h h h o i h f"li-k1S no perfection, other t__n t, 1.8,wnen men oflike

reach" & length o,f wea,po,n, fhall fight together,e 'which will feldome or neuer happen, hut either inlength oftheir ·weapons, ftatures or reaches (if' their

ords fhould be of iuft length) fome difference moftmmonly there will be in their reaches ..

nr . i j l ' : ' , - - , :iQU.,tZz·-er,

Yes verily, the tall man hath frill the vantage, and yete fight is,perfect, although the men 'that (hall happenfigh.t, Ihall hsppe to be vnequall in their ftatures" rea-

hes, or lengths of their weapo"n.s.Scholler ..

That can, I hardly beleeue, vnleffe you can tell me 'by

rt. how to auoid or :fafely' defend 'my felfe , being but aan of mesne ftat.ure, againft. a tall man.

n, i f t " , ·OYA.at ,,'er,

·1w ill tell y,ou : there belongeth vnto this A rt of de-ence onely to be vied with the feet, progreflion, regref-ion, trauerfing, and treading of grounds: in. any of thefe

1· III' h f h P ,.. Pati Ao'u p aY·l11gtf e part 0' ..t, e ' . ' anent ,or '.",anent _ - _ g e n t ,

our feete are fwifier in their motions then are the A.-

b .....: hi ~ h d b f hi £. "" b O O,gents~ ecauie ais w e lg ' . .t an,-, num •.er 0 : _ , : _1.6 teet In "15comming to win. the true place to ftrik.e or thruft home,'are gteater then yours " and therefore the true, time is'yours to auoid him" or fafely to defend your felfe: fo theArt is £Iill true, and the tall man, hath fiill the vantage,

Scholler.

Yet Im not fully Iatisfied herein, becaufe you tellme ftill that the tall man hath the 'vantage, and notwith-ftan,din,g you fay the A:rt is true, wherein then hath 'the



Paradoxes oJ:Deftnce.. 479Ila'!fter.

I will fatisfie~y:o'u therein thus, 'T he t:all m an bath, the:he can .maintaine his fight, both by nature and

with more eafe then can the man of mesne fta,·re , becaufe the man lo;,fmesne ftature hath, there-

a further courfe with his feete to paire to the' place"h e m l - , ' a " " " Y " , " i l " ' ,ike Q , ' , 1 ! - ' thrn f i l , ' , ' home .and in ' w " , : : ' n n " , i n. , g ' : '_ , 1 " . " "I. ,Il ,,',',.". ], , "~. _.. "

that place ,,'is driuen by' Art to come gar,d,led vn-

er his,wards to defend himfelfe, becaufe in the time ofis comming , the tall man may' 'both naturally or' arrifi-

ftrike cr thruft home, in, thew:hich time, ifthe m , a

meane ,ftatur,e fhould faile in the leaft iote 'of his Art,fhould be in great dannger of death or hurt. But theman can n,a'tu,ra'11yand ,fafe ly come to the true placewithout any' artificiall ward s at all, and 'therein al-

en,danger the other, or driue him frill to trauerfe his,.. .. ,.,':with all thearti~cian skill that he hath to de- ~ ; : = : ; : : ; : l

hlmfelfe'; and, all this the 'tall man doth b'y reafO,nftJlbtlllall'mall

' h is length 0'£ weapO'D" Iarge pa,ce, , fho rt courfe, and ,sg.i".jI ,II "'1l1J

ng reach, withgrea.t fafetie',pl~afureand. cafe.And £ o r . r : : ~ j : t M l ' t .ofe caufes the tall man hath Hill the 'vantag'e ofmen of 81Mrt "ufo·

ret,no~itll~dingthe noble Science t ; ;% ~ t 4 1 6 .'D efen ce m o f l ' p , - 'e r , C e -Aand good I

I • ·Qt· ,".........," _~.,":" .... . 1 ' ," ," _ ." ' .11. L.L.,.: '!.l~ • " : I .. : ". : •• : .I . ! . " " ".1 III[. " -

f tAe I()~g'i n g l e ' Rap le r fig lz t D e t w e e n e ' ''IJ'll:ltat "", luz~Bing b ; Q t n .sk ill' " he that' is //;1/' l J e j I ' " V 1 r t t j J i e r " ,w if'sei-

ther r i f them' ,tall wrajlkJ ,th' j J r ' ; , l l g e j l ' 1/ItIfl .

mofl' CDmIl lD1I . ' /y l i z . 1 l e . t h tbe f J : t h e r " or - I t& -uttlt -htm at his mercie,

"' I Hen two valiant men of ,skjill "at 'lingle .1ta•.3,J" ',pier' do ' Dgh.t~":~"olie-or boeh of',th,'em moil cO - .

, " , ,', -mo;n l,Y~ftand.ing Vpo,D -th~eir ftrc'n:gt'h ·or skiD,,in- wr,aft~g;,~WiU, ' r e f e n t ' ~ y - . ( e i c : ' k e t , IO :run In to



48 Oeorg« Siluer Illjthe clofe ; hut. hauing both s k i l l , not without fpeciaUcare of their ,gard Q I : r crofle, the which they m,a'y fafely

'by reafon ofthe length oftheir Rapiers ':,but hapningboth of'one mind ),the rather do bring themfelues toge~

th at:being done, :00skil with, Rapiers auaileth.thevgra',PJiJe faft their hilts, wrifta, armes , bodies

r neckes, as in lufiri,n,g" w : r a f i l i , n , g , , ! lor fi:riuin"g together,

they may' beft find for their aduantages :wherby itmoflcommonly falleth out, that he that is the heft wraftler,or firon,geft man (ifn,leit'h,e:.r ofthem can wraftle) ouer-

cornrneth, 'w'r[eftin,g 'by' :fi:reng,th , or fine skill in wraft-ling, t h e Rapier from .his aduerfarie , o , : r ,eailing him ' " f r o

him, either to, the gro'UlD,d, or , t 1 0 fuch dift,ao ;ce:) that he

:dr~ler:~o:~~e~~~V:~e~u~~ ~ : t o ~ f~~~~:mercie, But ifbut one ofthefe valiant men fhall feeke to

run into the clofe " and,that the other fhall vfe his skillin trauerfing of' his g rou nd .-or ' otherwife b 'y {landing

~pon bis'gard'~r S t ~ c ~ t a " , " a r d , t ot a k ~ a n l l l a n e r ~ f ~ c l u i :hi ~ ~, 'I I . ') h hi 'b - f h

tR_ag~ '~t , ,~~o~111n~,yeth"~ '"au::etl • " ' f 1 l n h ' . . n~btl'd.e~a~e~-e'.,a,plers ueln,goD;g" t, e cromng 0, 'ti e : r. a; es cannotbe, auoided: that being' made , the opprefior runneth

fafte,r forwards then can the defendant -backwards , andJ o are brought together" as in the firll a1fault they were;&; euerie action. therein accordingly performed, ' ,

Of tAe Rap.;n. 1Z1 l ( J P()mt(l~J1 ig"t/;:etV i:J:t 'VlJlitmt, m e n : , !iauing D o . t ~ _ t R ' ; I J ~

.he"· ,F.two -val~ant~en.,da .fight at Rapier and.poi~. ' niard hauing both Sk,lll:, one : .o r both of them

, ,,". "will prefentlj ' prefle hard 'to winne the place,





' . - · G · · ' · : . ' _ ' " _ _ , , , , . - ' . S · I ' · ~ l · : : C . ' . ' , ' h " " ' ~0"• '•.· t o , r : v , e ,-::t:uer ·,'tt... . '0' 1 .

.'_".:,,"' ofcor 1 ' 1 " , 1 ' ' ' ' 1 . ' . , t ' - i ' " . : , ' , r d : hir . · '~ l ; : ' I : : ' , , : , ' " , . 1 ' : . itlv .'_.-."l d -aner a ' CQ,mmlng rowar es irnJ' wn ,prelen. y y e , e , ,

o take the aduantage of his comming " or' elfe 'with all: '. d .. ' t hi ...........:]IC', ~ . 't·· h..·j I'LII····,_.· ' t - ' " "I ' d ' ; tc be .,.'.d,'.'.,'.tPU"llIJJl,e'J"e m 1,0 , IS mor w~rl' "I .o ne rea iea

his com ming '1'0 make out a ftrong S t o c a t a (""'ashe I t a ' : ' i -

an: ' c ' : " a : - } ' ' } " C l ~ ' t " ' ~ ' ) ! " , t~ h : - " e " '! " o " , ! .t - ' h ' : '; ;e · · . ' · f i " k ; : · " · n · ·. i · · ' - " o , - , . , w !._ . , ' , : ' l ~ ' n · · · " g , < h i s " ' l ' · ~ ' m ·. ·. : · · · p · : ! - e · ,r - : · £ i ' - e " ~ 1 4 ! · o ' n ' - ' ; n _ ' ._ ' S " '"'''' .'.• ,,: . 1 . " " . . . • , . , I , " . ' ' . ' ~ ' , ' , ' . . ' : ' . , , " , . . " ' , . ' j, :.-": .. " I.,'" :" :- .. L-l. ,. ._'., , .1 . "

fight , affllre.:th himfelfe there can be n'o ,great good, forhin - f t ' _ . . d' I I , ' , . . . , . , ' h ' . . . . . " ". . j -. fentl .' · d i

. ·b·1 h.nm to rtanc , " o n . , g out at tne pomt, p.r,el,en,ty recoun etn

or reuiueth 'his,fpirits, 'with, plerfeCl: refolution , to make

fhort worke couragioufly with fome offenfiue 'a,ai-on11, .' . ", "., : ,', "I '. ",' ',,' .'.' C_·. .' "-'. . .. -"" - :I

fuch as nature fhall beft yeeld vnto him.,ilieth in with allc. d ·1"'·'; hi k' ' ' ' 1 1 f ' 1 1 Il. d h hiorce ann : a , g ' ' ] l ,me : t .IeS ,lJ{.U· '.man Itandet '.,ware . : · l n g t otak r : _ ' . . h ad " 1 ' . . . . , t " I " ·1 ,····· ".: ,.., , .• .. h'~,fch ,.1,'-',,~4' ",- hs th t,..,",:.'-'ta e IUC, a iuanages as . ,lS. le· OQ.£ 'e ,m3JJ. 1ler "a! " ,a u,g .hi - --',,~--he which time _....'.,~".in ,. it falleth ' 0 ' ' - - : ' ' · t ' , he is.im ,mrr eWI ucn ume marne ,rmes 1 _ auet " ' , U , _ " , "I·

taught a new time.euen b , y 'an vnskilfull man that neuerfong<·ht before '.is, fore hurt or llain.e, .tj and if it happen

.",.' . " " " " ' , ' " . ,', ".' , " , . ','" . . . -, . -' , . , . --'

they both miffe in. their offenfiue a,ftio !os , then by'rea-fon thereof ,',and ofthe imperfect length, oftheir Ra-. ~,:. the ·':··'·.ometc , A · h · · · · b i ~ . , i I i , , ' . . ' , rith th."'~ "'P :"~ "' ..·d·',whipIers, ",eyco,m'c !"oll.a,',.J!D,gwl:., tneir. omiarcs, wner ...... th l' "h d £ , - " b . . . . . . dift beinz bn ". ere ' y'e:t'j" nOli .e I , ' e n , c e " ! ..eca'w,le: dutance , - C l n .g . .:ro-

k ,. d s: ·'1 'h" ,,",1ft'· d th 'II' .,. (b" hen.rue gementraa etn ,.tlm,eistt.and their eiestby t: efwift motions oftheir handes) are deceined.

pfthe f()1lg.fingle . R o .p ie r , Rapter ilnt! Priniard-fight / ; e . -

tsaeene tWtJ ,:;nJ:k'~!fu/J'men,/Je,ing'va/iant.

.' Hen two vnskilfall men ( being valiant){hall :fightwith long tingle Rapiers , there

is Ieffe danger in, that kind of fig 'h 't, b 'y rea-Ion 0 , £ their .~ift'an,c'ein conuenient letigth,waight, and vnweildinefle, then iswith, ili.o'.rtRapiers:wh o : e r e ' · b · · · ,y.....t, c ' ' 1 0 · ' - ' m " ' m " ' : . e ' : '·· : ' h " ' ' ' ' ' 0 ' ' ' : ' ' 1 'p. , ~~ e · , ' · , th: · " ·, t · wh a t · · , h . ' U · ' , . r t ,A. a ' 1 " l' .hap . , r... . . . " . . ' , ' , . 1 ' . " . , . , 1 Ii·;· "AU,C., .., I . . . • . , ' . ' .1 . '. ' .. , - , .. ' . III ':, '



P' ----,,-,< ' j1j, ~D,(1"1:, " - , -, 'araaoses '!l .s: , , ' t . I o z r e l l l 5 Iani · d 'ill d e J j - ' - : ] ' ' · ' 1 ' 1: . ' ,: • " , J , • • • • .. . . -, ' ' . ' ., ' i i j j , • . I '. . - - _ .[ . -." . '.. ' ' .. - . .". . ' I , -- , .• , : ' . - . -. .

ple,rS 18, ~n,e' m a,moment " · a n : , , P : f , _ - I _ , e : n t ' , , 1 WI'" grap-'Ie and wraftle together, wherin m,o:ft commonly the

' " " , - , - ' - ' e - - " f t ' - : , - ' , b Jl" ' W - ' , ': . - - - - " " , 'f t , ; , ' ] ~ ~ " " " , - , commeth a n d t h ' , - ' ' ]1 ' · k '- ' , -or iert '"rramer ouercommer I" " anc me - , I ' - , C '

falleth out betweene them at the long Rapier andi r ~ : ' , - 'd : ' b " "rt :--,',',--,h '::',-',",..-,',deadlv ' b " " , ' , ' , , , ' ,i~:'" .. • flead oflDlaf " _u" m,ue mo,re ': e a " ' - l i t y ,1.I'C,C,I,U,l'C In c _ : " e , a _ 0,_lofe and W r a f t l i n g ' - - , ' t h e ' y ' - fall moft commonly to ftab-_--- '-- - ,- '-' -" . - - , " , - , ' '",' - -' ,- - ", ',-' ,--, ,_'--,' ,:' --, -' -'-'," -",, ':_,---

with their Poiniardes, -

f the i 1 1 J p e 1 : : : i f ; ~ : : i ! : ~ j , ; : ~ ~ e ; ' % ~ Sn gene- 35

......',-: /-,-- 1 :.,-b-.-ith-,I' .,- . ~,. -.,~, -... --. -. . -~'. qtb:eJj1:IlIl(l'tJ~..._......F t"'!o , J l g " _ . t W I _ , - : '- _ ~ ' o l n , gRapilcrs_, '~plon~uerle p s , n D , ,. e I lA m g

~.. .• .C:r-offe made within, the ,balfe Rapier, if they Utt" tlMir Dsg-

·.•.·.haueh·· . · ·· .~() i~~a~d~s0 ~~Y"~d.~~cOb'~o-nl! fta~be ~~ : ; : : : f i r j J,c ',_other, w - I .. .ich cannot be auo.l...ed , _ : e e ,c , a u , s e t h e Ra....t J tJls"andJ1JI'II"'"ers being long', the Cro,;[e cannot be vndone of' either ft_et~ i 1 Q f ! J ' I > ' _ b_tl~~_

. . h - - - - ;!I b ' k ' • - h - 't.. o! ' .J : h - h - , ~ h - teth 1 1 M 81:her fire )~lt.ontgo~ng nacze Wit Ilt.o.elr~eete , tr e WIC! Itl;ilJ~t/;uirtli,

In due time cannot be done "becaufe the h,an,dft!ellcl:if!JfJ:/h

more fwifter then. the feete.and the feete more fwifier ttllfl t ~ i e t t " ' ,th-~ e - - - 1 " ' : - £ : - 0 ' r 'w -_ - rd " - , tb b - - k '- - - - -- - rd -s · . - i t h - - - 1 . _ , .tfJt_,ir __eir coune ro: -":_a_'-, s : ' ~_ - - , . e n naeswarc es, n~l:,er can /; 'ed;/;ecMtfl

Crofle be prenented , becaufe the point of neceflitiet6ri~$lAc#J 1 I j .

too farre ' O , = . - 1 ' ( r l~ n bis o . . + C e ' : , - n : - - · , c · · : , i l l ! ' , - or . - e - 1 I r e · · . ~ within ' - C - j O ' , : : m ; - : " p ' : 3 - 1 r e D ~ l I t ;e _ m : 't t1 f }"_ '. J :,h.I. ..~ '. 1~·_: " _ , U t - , ; , " - ~ , ~ , , . ,~,c .,iL_-- __ ,'_-- .. '-_"~~-.r- ,uitlSl'lllll!Wtre

the true time ,ofthe hand ID:d bodie, by reafon of ~1'8' / J I ' ~f/ if!1it "

perfecH~ngtb: .and r o ~Yt~elike~~~n~, jf~(».1igdllti;~:;:!~long fingle Rapiers , vp ,o"n , ieu ;e rle ._ CroH,e ,m.,~,.eoutof,tlntJe

rewith within the halfe Rapier, the Clofecannot be iII,th4,tiijl_r4;heiby it 'co~meth' to p a 1 r e 'moftcomm~n- ~ : ! e ~ 7 f a m ee~

, that theftrongeft ~,an ·orbeft WraftJet. ouerc?m- 1 ' h e _ f llle is

Now if two do f:ightwith Ihort Rapiers, or Ra- thro:"ltrje. {,111

.. f .. - 1 e h fach I t - 'j; b 'Ii ;0 1!fit In t~ fir jID ' - ' conuement Iengt ,'," me'-'":.,apl~"rsbemcon ueni ......'(Jti~~'t,~j'ft)llil,1

t and infuflicien,t' alfoforIscke ofan hilt to, defend the 1lo/.,f{)rtht,tZ-

n d a ,nd he ad from t . · h ' , , " e - ~ 'lo ':W',;"! for no e ie ( ' ; ' D , '! m ak , ' : ' : n - - - ' g " " ~ ,1I:fidillgf{grI41'. • . . . . . . . , . ' . ' " . , ' , I . ' . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . , It.. , . ..' ....'. .'.,1,,, '_ - .,r. _ ;.1., '. ' " . !(iii. .' . _. _ _,

- . H " . . ' . • . trr01lrl,.,

. 1 . 2 , -, '

,I ,I I "



52 George Siltier h isperfeCt ward for the head, to defend a b low" can. dif:cerne to take the fame within three or foure inches,wherby it may as well and as o ften fall vpon the hand", as

vpon the: blade of the Rapier, ,A,gaine"the hilt a'Swell fer-ueth to defend the 'head as the hand , and is a more fure

and ftrong ward, then is the blade of the Rapier. Andfurther" vnderfland this for truth, that in, g,ard 'ant and 0....pen fight, the hand without an hilt Iieth open to moil:blowes that fhalbe ftroken by the Agent, out of the' gar-dant or Q',pen fight, becaufe in the true cariage 0,[ the

gardant fight, the hand mnft lie aboue the head, in fuchfiraightnes and narrownes of fpace, that 'which way foe-uer the Agent fhall ftrike or thruft at the head , face.orbodie , the remouing of two or foure inches Ihal] faucall, And n,QW fomew'h'at more for the Ihortnefie or con-uenient length of Rapiers.

Rapiers hauing no hilts to' defend the head the Ra-pi.er-.-"m.anis.. driuen of ~ece~tie to lie at. ~he variab.I~fight or lowward.and being there' he can neither defendin due time, h,ead " face' , nor bodie from the blowes orthruftes of him, that {hall :fight out of the gardant or O i l "

pen fight, but is continually in great danger of the A-

gent.for thefe caufes following, Firft, becaufe his {paceis too wide to defend his head frorn blow or thruft, S e w

condly his P ace ftanding vp,Q ,nthat fight; wilbe of ne-ceflitie too great: or too narrow-if too narrow', too weak:

i.f too large,his weig,ht and number of his feet, are tOIO

~re'at to endanger him.that is 'vpon his gard. .nt or ope,n

figh~ ..Of



P aradaxes · ifDefi1 lCt ~ 53

Of the' impeifeRioll and i~fofficiencieofthejigA'loflhejingle Rapier, Rapier and Poiniard ,Ra'-

pitr and Buckler, R ' o p £ e r tlndCloke , a:lIt i ,Rapier and f . ,-

Gloue if 'maile.

He Rapier fight, whether it be fingle or ac- 361 I i iC I I .£ . . , . . . . . . . , -. _ . . copanied with Poiniard, Buckler, cloke, or

. . . ' . . . .,.g lo ·ue of male, is frill by reafon ·o f the infuf•/...... -.······::,fici.en.cieor' imperfection of the, Rapier, anmperfect fight : vnperfect inftruments can, make noe.rfeet· muficke , neither can.vnperfect weapons make

fight: let the men that 'handle them hauethe knowledge that may be in , all maner of w'elpons,the full height, or perfedion,and true habite by his

reat labour and Induftry, euen as itwere naturally' effe-in him , yet if the weap'ons that they Ihall fight

be Imperfect or infiifficient to performe what-appertaineth 'v'nto true fight ',.as concerning the

of their .fafetie., it. auaileth them nothing.h.'lt fhall we then. fay fo r 'the Rap.ie·rl .Is the Rapierimperfeet iOr. . infuffic:ient weapon .to:..perfourme

hatfoeuer appertaineth vnto the ,tru.e ~ii8ht? - Y e a · :

? ' B e c a m e vnto the .true fight ,tbereApp~"foure fig'hts,_ Gardanrfight, Openfighr, Varl,a~

ie tight~.anrl Clofe fig:ht: 'with'out:~all foureof thefeit is impo~ble .tofight Me: ,but ili~ Ra.pierfor

of a n . .hilt~.s ·:~~~vnpe_rfeCt'Yieap~,". .and...hereforeto· fight ~ ' : f 3 f e'vpan:~.meffi -£oitre·. ':nghts ,. t.he

are alr'eatlie~···"fe·t.dOwiit~·'i.ri,··;the·Paradoxe · ' m e . - ,





P'a<pg. ~ { J , ' - N f l ' . o ' ' : ' , n : ~ D " " . . ;J'-,f;,,'H~'LJi' S - 5 ' -_ ~I D'(4!~ ,~, ,",;;;J' ~ " -.~. c;,U~L1 ; 0 , • • , . ' , . , . ' . , '

ther being both blindibecaufe in the; true plaice (wonne~ R - " " , 'III 'b'] fi ':h) 1 . . . , ~ b h r: -ftIn,apler orvanable nght) their 'c;yes,Y the fwifi mo-tions 0 , £ their hands are deceined )1 the erofles in that6 - h i , £ ' . ; . . . ' 1 ' r. 'h - ;!! d ' i I ! ' f t , . ddt'g:rt are raue, their I! :'1,'" ance IU; .g::'ements and nmes are--_. -, - - - -- .. ,_. , . I' -- -', I' " '-"" --' - . _..

loft.either to offend in, f a f e : t i . e " or {afely to defend them-felues · and theft reafons, rules or zrounds of the feates. - - - - - - . . - - - - - - - ._- .. '''" '.' - ''''-" . - ,~'- '- -- '- _. ' --" -' - -'- - --. ".

of . ',~... " " ':', '~I f a l l i b ' 1 1 " ,- , - - d ' i ,.fj ... 'I'" - cib · · · 1 ,0 _ a rm e s are I D l a I ,_ l _ ' . I · .eani...m u m c i . . .re .

Now , 0 'you Italian teachers ofDefence , where areyo-'uri S t o c a t a if' I m b r o c a t a ,p M . . ' . • . ' a : ' - n · - - - d J ·r : - , . t . " 'as p...U - ' 1 I · t a I ' & . , ' , : . - , . P-u : r : -1 - I - I l "':. " "," · .· .· ·· 'w~ 1j.·,~VJ.···-····· '-~·······":. .JI ' . ' . - , _ r . " ., - " . ,- - '~ " " ' . ' J ," • • • • ' <.':- ..•... ,".-," .-'".' '-.<

- - - ' : _ . - ' ~ - " - . " - - - " ' - ' - ' - ' ' ~ , . " - _ " " , , , _ ' : ' : ' 1 " " - ' · · · · · · · · _ . . . . ' ~ " ' . ~ , , - , - ' ' . . ' , , : ' , . .~ ' . - - : . ' : . " ,

.q"'.J_i?i.~,r/E-. S ' -, '~ ~ ~ t ~ ~ ~ , & , ', -' I O J 4 " P,-:'4',(J;:",<,- r'.-;'~-.,, J - , L I . . . . ' , \?(hi- '.'_ 'i " , ~ 'F - . . . . .I " " U ~ 'J ' u .. S , -: _

, . T~1!~fl()"~S ,,:.-

~J la",a,I"tJ(lrrtcaa{)s,,~u:, .er~as, ecsn-cartata r. ' & " : ' : " pla - Y : - l " ' O - " ' l g " - " : with ' y " " ' : - ' o - " ~ n ' " ~ , r o o ' bodies . remo u ing with*- ---'.-~" .- ! _ _ _ - " - - / ' - ' = - , : . - ' - . . ' . - ' ' - ' - - - ' - ' " " ' . " , . , . - - - - - - - _ ' . - - -

'Y'~u;-feet ,'- l · , · ' t l · - : : s f i d - circle .:., t r . . c., ",,"" , di .-.. · · · f - · , . - . - - - Lidies_our teet a. 1ne anue.circse wne Win ,_",- -D,g 0 , your nomes,making:' '--of three: times with, 'y,onr- feet together, marking,_ - - -""~- '-'"-' - ,,- - '" - --- - -- ' '- - ' '" : - ' _ _ " -" -- -, -- -- :. --" - -" . , - - - , - - ,- '..~

"'h h ,iii' f ' ' - h ' - ' d .1 : & - ith hI tt one e y " te t ne m o t i o n o ~.ile: ad u e , r l . c a r y ' l i ~ "'-.- -WI' -r t re 0-'. - __ .- ._ ..... ,' -, .... -, - '-,,""" -- '- '-'- ,,--- '--"". , - - ----- - --, .. -

" -

t h e - , - . , - -' . th'- , ..d " I " - ' - ' - - , = f ; , - ' h ' - · · - - ' - ' i t · · · · - < ! ! ; - ' - ' : , ) ' W h · · · , " i . : . . . " ~ t O O l ' '!',:. L......= . : ' : ' - - - '. . . . . o ftner eye: t_aauarage ' 0 1 _ , t.:ru-_'_lng~_, ' 1 : _ at IS oecome 0,~ ' . 1 , 1 't - h ~ r : . " iuzl ~'-'-"I"- ._ ,'.- " .. " b - : , · ; · ' : l ' - , d · ' - , - : : ' 1 A ~ ' . ~ , . . t ; L 'd=I"':'I'~ r . - _ i t h · · , " - 1 1 "t h , - ' : .autneie lUg,lD,g g a m c c , a , , ~ s , ; : " " :_Pl11,1,' .euues, WIlL a, '.- .ere,{t of your- fq'uint~eyed trickes "when a_slthrough your. d · ,e . p < ' e ' A U - - dl i e · : . . : s ' : - · I o n - I g < ' ' p l r ' ; ~ ,~]l:~~~& ' : " . ~ . ' a -' p - . . , , - · , t ~ ' boodies bothnt r o n . · . ~ · . . . - :~__- 11:_ ... , __ "_', , _ , p " t ; . : . , I I . , l,'w, _-_, -- - - -_-" - -__ - --_--,-

2 " " " , j.l- t., ;!!, d h h ~ h f " ) 'T h r:~ agl·10U,S" y~o,u,1UUIC a t t a m e c tOI tne _ · I e . l g - .it '0', a u t _ ' c - eie

thlngs?What then, auaileth it y , o , u , , 1 when ,yo'o fhal cometo fig'h·t for Y'Q u,rIiues 'with, a man o"f,skill,r'you fhall haue

neirhe --im . '. ',',-'-,'ols , ".".. 3 " - 1 - ' ' ! I r : ~ - " .

to P i : erfo rm :IliIi

-an--y . ~0 " - ' : - - : - = -

,nCI ·er ,1,m,e,HO,[,P ' ace,lQ \I,Ue'·.lirlme, __o. r '-~ Ie,_: . .-~ , ,~,::' neof them. ," nor gardant nor open :fig'bt, faf~lyto keep out- .. - - ..,e· T . . . . - 1 - " ] - - -- . - - - . - f ' - - " ' " - " " ' ~ 1 ' - " ' ~ ' ] ' : 1 . . . . - , r : . . h . 'it[ ·· ) ',- - o - " f " - ' 0 -h. .---..

a man 0;.1 SA.l',SLman 0::no :~J "" olr ],'CJ,'O.lL er ' > , 1 : yur owne

teaching , from the true place, the place of'fafetie, thelace o ,fvncertaintie or m ifehiefe " the place of woundsd h b h '. s : d' n .. d it h : : . . 1 : hir eat .".·.u,t:are rnere IDI0I',C'e", to nanc mtnat mncr re-

uous vncertaine, dangerous, and m,oft deadly",'-lace , as.. .,,, ". . .. .". '.-'..... .j' - -,.. - - .- - -. .'. ,

..·'men hauing lo. ,f t in p . I , : a ' I t their chiefeft fences moft_ _ l..,. ", I _ l.., ... _ I . . 11 .... . . _ __ _ __ , _

~ i I " ' " - h t h " ; - , . . It' , . .Ii ii' d 'i d - . . -. :,,: < ~. '.. .. ... . ,'; I:",' ::,' :-. ,. ;: -.", ': . . . ; < . .. . i ' . ' 'I ····.(····ll'l 1 .. :·'·: ...;· I"': ", ' ,':' '-'1"" ," ..... ' " ..... ' .', ._clony witn .t eir raple ,. r:s or p0!LDlar. . 9 , woun _lD,g or' ' ' , ch ha:Y.1Dg ' 'ea, ...n otn er,



5 6 1 G e ' o r g e Siluer h i S .

all maner ofweapons or inflruments thereto ap pertai-ning, with their imperfections, through the true groiids

and rules of the Art. 0 '£ annes.truly ,difpla,yed &'bro'ught

t·····J '" ' . rh i.t· ,o .,lg, ....

A )l 7 ~ u · , : d i ! e · · m t a t · : h · : , 6_A..' ~ t X · ' h i y " ' : [ G o d ~ '~ : J l ta'·,: . ' 1 0 : . " -ILfI,~ .1[,,' "I:I,)L , .; .:' ; " '' ' J ' , . : ' . ', . " , . . . ' , ti

. "

'Tha·t th e T'cafln's T!fi' " Y ' the I t o ; i i a n Fencers in commen-

J£ng the'v ft of . t : n , e R a p - i e . r and Poin£a'rd, becauft itmaketh; peiz .'ce.,7Jjaleth again}1 -

.themftlue s,

T hath bin commonly held" that fince the

37 n'IL-~"I1· h h h R Ii f h b..,_'~.talians naue tang·,t t',.e'·'apler' g .t,y~ . " " , , , ,. , , ,, , , " 'I ! " " i o O " ' ~ ~ . ' reafon of the dangerous ' v e e therof.it hath

. . ' : 1 , [ , ' . ' red great ciuilitie amongft our Englifh'

'k re ll1 " l/n ll : . . < nation, they will 1 ; l 1 O t now giue the lye.nor; D . u t fiJo.r: with fuch foule fpeeches, ·ab·uCe them felues , therefore

the~e are fewer fray.es i~ the(~ t~mes then. were wont tobezit cannot be demed but this 1S , trne,that we are morecir,c 'u 'mfpieCt of our words" and more fea.refull to fight,then heretofore we haue bene, But whereof commethit ,1Is, it from this.that the R apier m aketh 'pea,ce in ourminds; or from, hence.that it is not fo fu:fficient defencefor ourbodies in our ' fight? He that will fight when he isarmed J will not fight when he is naked ::is it thereforegood to ,g'o naked to keepe p,eace l'he, that would fightwith his Sword and Buckler, or Sword. and Da.g,ger,be-ing w·e:apons of true defence, willnot fight with his R a-pier and P oiniard :,wherein no _ t~Q:edefence or fight is'perfed:are thefe infu,fficiet w[eapos therfore the better,becaufe not being fllfficiet to d e f e d v ~ in fight, they forcevs vnto peace? Wbat ehe is it,but to fay:, it is good for

fubiects



Paradoxes o f Dife l1 lc e ' . 57ubieEts to be P " - , o o ' r e ' tha'tthley' m a y " " not g>oto Iaw: o·r"to.. ", .", ... I. . .. -I ", ".I.l ',i .: _. . .~ '_.' . ," " .. [1 _:" _ j" . 1 . ' I.: ',.1 . '." ...• ', -~. "_:. • ".. '[ ",.

k _. ' h th ." f h h' " ' : : " . ' 1 " " ' ' : ' "I I , , : 'f I' .:', I " , " ' . , : . : ' : , . : , " 1 . : ' . ' , " . . . . • : : . [.c' ........ '. ". " ..''"'.' ",:.,",.' .' .ac ce mnmtron t_at , e y ,may not II , g - . t, nor go to t earres ::and to conclude, what more followeth throughe imperfectworkes of' ·thlefe Italian peacemakers ~ T · h . e ; y ·

made many' a . .il:ro,n.gman in his fight weake, m,any1'"' - £ . " fu '1 '1 ~ . h i f t · , . . .. ., " . , . [ . . [ ' , ' " , " " I " , " . . . , , " . " ' . ' . . " , . " , -' ' , ' . - - . . . . [ _ . . ' -va rant man . ·e:are~~._ "J:, 'manie a , 'wort _ie man tru< , ..1ng to

imperfelCt .fight hath bene Ilaine and manie of our' " " e f 1 " - - - - - - ' - - - . . ' - - " - " " - - - " " . , - ' " . / " , . ' - - , - - - - - - - . . - - : " "~ . - , " " , _ ' , . ' _ _ . ' . .[ " " _ : : . . _ " ~ ' i " _ , " ' 1 " " : - " - ' 1 "' " r' 'I,i "I,"' '11 I .. "., (, .. ", ,...: [ , .....:...,.-.. ,",:',' -"1", :_-.-.:-I..perate boyes and ,youn.,g yourbes, t . O I become In that.pi er-fieh t ·;ii'iO: good men 8 - - ' [ 8 ' " E i · " ' ~ D " l · n ' M d : · · · " . . . eeldeth an':d the__".::_,',,",""_11'0

1~ _ , _ , Q,Q_-,:I.:_ __ n __ '. .. i ,:.__ 1 - . . . _ _ :_ _'.1';1>0'- u."~_" .' ." .'. "_ , .."I"". '~" .. " .:_, . _.-

1 - - 1 f t · · · ii' thi l ' d " ' 1 ! ! i h ' fi.-h . . ba __~: men In. tms ~arl:~In that .~-~,g"~,.ts verle~oyes ash e y ': . an d.•no better ... ' T i- " ' h

i

, ) " ' " 8 : g.· , , ' O " . , Q · . . d bau:e t h "I e Italian teachiersOff~~ce{)~e~vs;, theyha~,~t t ~ s f o r m ~ d - ~ ; royesc~~

c ..-.~.. - " - 1 - ( d · ~ : · . " ' - , ' - ". - : ' : '-1' '. - '~...:=-. t " . . , · : · b ' . ~ ." . " ' . ' , . . . . . . . . : " - . , ~ . ~ , , : . , , : , " " ' . ' ' ' - . - - . : -. : : - ' . / ' , at '.:"omen, ano our mel'} in to .;IOlyICSI' our ltrO,n,g men, mto"akeneffe, · Q · · : - " , U , tr valian t ~ , -me n d .oub t f u - , : - ; - 1 , ' ) · an:'.-.:d m o . anie wor-' . a . . .M . , ., -. , . _ .'_llt.." .... :.1 ',' ._ ,;. J . i . . _ . I.. .:"_ .. " , I. . _ '.' ' ,' - " '_--_. ',' . _. "" __ ." _-. , .. : ..A,....! :.,,", ' .. ' ' .:'.'

- -

m e n r e f o l l 1 ' i n g . · : ~ " ·hcmfelues vp·::onheir falfe refolu-. '.".--. h .= - . . : - . . . . : " ~ , ~ - ~ : · l " . c ·'J " lL -: .~ - t h . .~ ~ . 1 d ., - - : - , . ' " ' · t - h I ' t h · " · - ~ - . R · · · · . . " . ~ . - :

1 .O~S , " . . .

aaue m '( )'I~Wl~.lu~.!.yln_,-·_: [ , e ,

ne..u, W l~ . :. "- : . "~ i

eir [....plers- :. . · d · · · ·· d : · ·their 1 1 " '-1··-····· A' - ' " id l ' I . q . · l ' · : h a u e 1 1 , ~ ' 7 t : ' t o re rm ~ - , . . ~ - -·~~-e)~"eir uucs. ~ , - . n · " _ " . , " . a l . [ . t , y " naue ten 1_0 remame a-:--' .'.-4 ..· · · - _ . l " : t · · " . . · ' . their dear ....'.'-."I th[ - 1 " " - , ~ . . - . ' . . . . . . . .. . ' , ' : : - " - ' , " , : ~ ' . - . - . . " . - ' - . b-.'.VI arter tneir :__atnesc tneie mconuemences oe-I ' i ! ! n d · - :hem J ; a ' "' l ~ e ' F - : e ' D ' , c e -bookes imperfect wea P onefalce . ' : ; "' . ' " .= . _-.).ltl't__: .I_,.,":. I'_:_-~--,-,o, :"'._ ~,.lC__ :~\' '_ ..... ,:.[' i;J,j~U

ightes and euill cuflomes, whereby for lacke ofvfe andin perfeCt w~a:po·.n.sand true fight, we are difa-

d f .h f c - ' ,ii· f " - P I " ~ d f f " ''"", :_.-: .-" .- .... : er~i-·'-I,"·· , '-I [-. ':"1\1'-':' .-,", -"""1' - I'.."" 1'-' [-:- "-- ~'.'-::[':', ~ .-[ -:- ".. ". :'0"- .""--

_.'e .."or t,.e,:.:.-UIC,C, 0 o ..r ,-~rmce.,e-en.ce 0 our c,:un' . - . . . . . . - . : : " , : . d · · · 1':-+·t- \f! "· . · · · f - · · j ' - ' . ) - ~ . - - - ' ~ ~ . ' . . . . . ~ " , :1 , ' £ ' - ' " f i · , · · " " h - ·ana iarene 0,. our ,lU.CS·1R,prlna~e j _ ,g:,'-,

•

Hereas for the m·oi, part opinions are 38'..'generally holden, that: the Io,ng :S'word,_' ....... .J!it I R· h b h' ' I I ! > & : . h. ·or . , o , n . , g · , . Ia:p . re r ' , I : " a l i : . " t· ' : c " v : ' a n t a , g e Inug··.....t

W~_ ",' againft:thif; filo.rt ·Sword, which the:Ita/i--



Tefl/1)1I1

filed / ; y t . b e

lia 7lJ...

8 G··'- S ' " . ] . , - . l 4'. , ','_...:",.-:',:,.....,'.'.',':::.'T ··'·.· s5 ' - : " 2 . ( } r g e i " -' U l e , n z

, , ,- .n ,:, ~, ,· t'- ':~ "- i. ,· 'hat b l ,j' iuaht vs t 'j b l ' 1 ; , , . : . I' haue tho rzhtmonnra lOS naue ,,fOu,g..I" " V,S 10 oereeue. naue "oug!,

good that the truth , m a , y ' :appe',a,re,which hath the, van-''''a::g'··e·,·.o.:adlde rnyhelpe vnto the reafons they V · · " re··:·,n theiri . . - : _ " . , , . . '. ' " " , . . . ' , " , . , ' . ,aJ::,(, ~ ..~..' ,lie _ _', '

b h 1 £ ' " £ . . th I ']'d h h, - . . I 1 ._ ;. " ," ..... : . . I . " I I - . : i. -. . .. - '..... . :. . .owne benarrev ror that y,et., , coui neuer neare tr ern. ' e : ' : k · , ' , J " : i : . ., rd "~ I _ , , , , , , , L , ' - , - . ~c" . th...., c : . . . , r - " . . .· . · . 'T , : ' h : .,r; .. '. , ~ the ' ,r. '.,rna e a ioun reaion ror \" e same ..., eiearen e reaions,

Firft with ",... 1 1 : " . g ' R·,:.,··"tl... '1 ' , ' ' ' 1 ' 1 ' ' - , · ' · ' "t ,- : r . e , l ' C - - : · , t - '· · ' : ', : ', , . .rrrr WII ',~my .1,o,n.:,,.....aple,r, '.wnpu my 1~ Ire In, 0 mygard, or Stoceta, holding m , y ' hilt backe b : r the outfide ofmy' right thi gh, keeping in fhort the point ofmy Rapier,r: ..as he that hat h · t . . .e { h " : " " ' 0 ' .rt I S - word (hal '1 1 n' lot be able t.o0 ,.." ,,"'." , " c ' , " · _ , ,.'.,'A,·,,,' . ',",,' "" '. ~.~i:, ','",' ...:" ,.1,1.1:,.1 ,':' ' o " : : _ ' . , . , , .. . . '

· . · · - I : ' · , h , t . ' h l

'." "":"~ rt o f ...." ." 'R ' . . . . , . to make h i s , . , . ' , d , " .reacn tne P'OlD;,_ 0,: ' my ,'Iapl'er, , , 1 0 maxe rns war: orC , oflewith h · : " ' ' ' ' . D : : · · : · · · · " , · , : · · · -. B ' : ' · , , · kler S ····.word ,". C l o k eene W.t:1 ,18 ~.,a,gger", ~'UC.i,..,er , owom or .·,0 te ,'"'h f t · " . . f hi s: h hich ti ;0;witl out tteppmg In ' 0 , : 1 : '-,'1:8, toote, t -e WI'--.·· time IS too

1" .. - f i ' ~ , , rethe ," .. f rh h - d b-' -af f " - . .1. ": . ":'1" : '<·I-·I '··!·:.·:J.··:_'~·r··_' ~11 - " i ' _,I. "'1 '" :'.". i"I',I',':, "':""',' I ,, ,1- '_ :.:: ..... t. .' ...•..on,g t . o amwere t e time 0 , 1 , t ,e ran " y re , on 0, mydiflance, I can there ft:a'D,d, fafe without danger of blowh f t · '1 '~ ' h p " , , . ' " f f t · ik b 1l.art' mnt, p,.HIYlD,g't"e.I,atl:tots: p:art:·,:t,'you,: tri..seortt run

.. d itt .,Ih . 't b . a b " ' " . . f.._. d - f t · ' - if { i ' ,ek.' " ".':. .' 'I I '. . ... j" 'J ." : '1 I "," .", . I "1",";"; /. ," I " j " " , . - . I . .", I .: - e '. • . ', '.~ 'II . '," '. '.you .,01 .00, ...ort, ,..Y rea .on 0 my antance: 1. you ees,to corn e nea rer yo'o' · m n f t · 'j d i o 1 '· t wi th t h o n '· ' - - of your'.~..c·.· 1 , . . -'I ,,~ ~_ ~: "';1 , , · ' _ 1 ] ', , I ~ ' I : : : I, ':"_ ',' ","lil '_: 1 - , . e 'm ,e-:, .. '.' " '.'

foote, ~inhe which time I ,may faiely' thruft horne: if inths t· d i i i f t · : , . " . ., , ' , " " " , : - . ' . . ." . : . .: . . . . . ' 1 b I " ' . ' k ., , ! I I I ' t ; ' '1 ; · · · · t · , - " ' " ' - ' ' : ' ' ' , " - " . n·....,.-." '," if '.,:"" d'"',. at tr tan..ce you, .reaxe 11 , n,o., Y'OU are name ~1.you ,0

breake it, yet 'Y'ou do me DIO harme, ' b ' Y reafon ofmy di-ftance, and I ma,Y' ,j\an,d, faft and thruft againe, Of' Hieb a 'C " · k : ' e ' at m i' ' Y ' , ' . -· · " ) i l e , - , i : , · ~ · . ti, r h . .· . . ' . ' . ' , . - , ' . ' , ' , . - ' 't'··, '.. " r: . " Ir',....· '. . '

. ' ,- ...•. Q.,:' , , 1 . . • ' ; , p , ,·.,i::Ullre..10' ..·],a,ueyou PUI ..,you.r J,el'e In- an -

ger of your Iife, and hauing hardly efcaped, are dri uen a-

~::~,t~fe;;:;e~~~:~~~e':;~!~;p~~!fame: gard " and my point in, fhort a s , I did before', andplreffing' , f t ' ~ , o . n , g l y 'b : y ' p'tl,ttin,g in by Iitle and Iitle of 'm yfeete, v,n.ti~lthe: place with my foote h i e , gotten, wherein( " I l ' " ' n " m " j y iudgemen t ' ) " _ " I ! ' m r . · · · a · ] : y.rthrufiho 1'- · t : h - · · ' · .whi,"'.h I : · , - . ' : . .

, " ".IU.,',-: " , : > ' ' , ' '_";',,_,ru,ll,' , o , m e , . . . · " , ' ew· ' c ' '.mayboldly and ,fafely' do, without ,[,e.fpe,.B :of anie ward at all"b , · "-'f' " f · · ' , · . . - · · , : , · ,d ' ' ' f t ' l \ , . , ~ ' - " - - h ' ' ~ · · · ' h I , " . . f ' - " , , - . - . - . ' . . . . ., yrealon ,o'~""myl', an'ce, InW"lC,.tl,meo" ,m y commlngbe muft ftnke, thrufi:,ward, or go backe: ifhe go backe,

' f ' tl



Par 'n~n4o!i"Dl" n : '* D , ,. . . .·A/;·fIIJ!'Iih 5 · 9 · · ·ilf". aaaxes 'f!I ,,'t/ir;.,.r,ij;., ,:'

is a great difgr:ac'e'! if'b e ftrik ,e' o r th,rufl', it , i s : too fhort:h,·e'·ftand to d ef md · t , : he nlace bI · ,c .. ,~ '.-, . ,. , .. . .. ':. . I I : . '; ; ." ' . · d : ~ ~ , . . : otter ."'.Ita,. _.....l"e,n ' I ,fJ.e p, at e ,.el,ng ,I.I,rear Ie ga,en,h I h- ah h th f t · , bei '"' ickere ....may t·. ,rU'Jt:Lnome, tne tnrutt ,'elng verte 'q'Ul ..··e

: A : r o " · · · · . n ; , ' g . ' ~ y . · m ,. . ' ; " " IJ : e " : ~ C U I ' i' . C . h ': ' i8 : rhe I r O . " " · · l r ' :C · · · 'I C : a n d £ . W · '· '' '_ l t ' '~ t : \ n . I~ ~ e · · ·· · · 'here-_. I. .. ' .. au" 1( ~ , ,Ii_. ,(1, 1~, JlJ '._ CD,!&;. ' '_'.'

£ : t h a " t , , ! t · · ' ~ s : ·, ' " . .' ; ' , ' . , , n : = ; , ' b 'I " - ' · h 'e " ,' n a t u i , · " · . , . " . ,. . . . - . " . , , - t , c ; . ' , . . . . ' - . , ' - . o J ! ! . . . . . : , ; ' . to

- -, . _.. . l~ :l~, lmpOll.l ...c_,e,Y D,a:u:re or a , r l . ' ~ '~IO.r aR le m an I~Oreake .....,.,,,.. . ,t' ,h"'~""~" £ . , - . ' , . . ' .c h ,:md .. , · d , · · ' · ' T : I h L "I_I';, .. ,~ .... ", ...·c···· as,...o n e . 1 _ . . c , l r 'W L 0" an", un,··,re,,~,.' I,~"el,e;remon,s lD, D l : Y o-

m,'ay fuBic'e tOI confirme the wife" that there isq '. ueftio n to be m ade, but · t h ' l ' J r . I , t l ' the } , Q I : n · - ' - I · l g ; ' -R :,"a:"nl~~rath

,'- - , ," -' - -. --'_'- ··_·'-·'1 ,~. ,-. , __ ..A_ , '-'- '-','., -'-'<I''' "\;0.,, -'-- ---':_'

.h d o i I I i ft · 'h 1h- S·· d lne a ' · , . . ' ' . . - . . . ·1., .' ,' 1'1 " I'" ', .. -,, . . , . , . . . , . , . . . , . . I - , . I· ' " . . .-_..aduantage agam ~t:.e".· OI.fI:>='WQ1.,,j! .. . .~ ...

S ir ' y , · o : · ' ' " u · · , h· · : · 8 ' I U - ' e - p · r , ~ e , , · · · t : _ I ~ ] l y ' . ' .handled 'y . " · O · : D ' · · ' r · · ' d ! ' ~ C · · I O - I U · ' 'r ,t '~ con cer- ,4t'nftt.'tJnif: , ~ - : , , - . . ~ - " , e ~ " , . ' - : _ '. : _ , , " . . c . ' i t l ' _ " 'J_. -. " , . , _ , I c ' _ ' . l l l - ,_ '-_ .l~ , :' e-e ,' ' - - - - t/;,, /laM 1JS rea-,'~,. r ~th' _ : . . . . : : . . . ta .......I"·: I····f : - the ' 1 : . '- . ' 'Ri , : , " ' 1 ' f,'ii', -:' -"."1 ' ':, '~; , - : : f l - ' t ' · h i· ~ ,.J . n , . rt f l · ' : . .nID ,g me van 'a,ges O o _ c , _ _ C j ; , Q , n g ' . . l a p , l , e r agalnl~1: 1_ _ ae mort, tJ7IJ~

e f i p : e , c i a l l y ' It' the firft' fhew and according to... -','.'- ., ·.".·'I·.· ..

· ' - · , · . . c , . ' . ' . - " . . , _ ' . ' . ' . . . . " , ' ,a . . _ . . . - ' ._ , . . , , -. ' - ' . . , ,J.... "_ '..... ',"":: -"...'

o m m ion . r : . e ' - : n · ' · · · c - ' e , -but fo...r · th e £ ' n " " · · bftan:c e and truth , 0 · · · · , · 1 £ : - the' , : : . . . : _. : _ 1 1 · ~ , . . . • . ; ' . _ , : , _ I C . , : . . . , _c.~' ,11._,I,L_·,.·'- ,_-,-",_ '_ '_ '. I~ '_. ,c._·,

-- u · e : 6 ' . . . g . h. ' . . . , , - ha - ' e l i a · l ~ ' d n o r h . i ! ! I n g be · c ' ' - \W - , · · ' · e ·LO·"r h-. p ' er- - , , ' . ' ~ : ~ I~ ': . ~ . . . ' . . " , : ·~·.:·'.1·. ;· :;· _· -, · ~! ' i . · .I : , " : I.I'~: : .. < ,: ~ · I " . .,I ~ I, : ~ " I i ! . l : '~ - .. ; : ' - - :' - :: . ' , : ' " J : ~ " ' :. . ~ I r iC . . . ' < . - : ~ " ~ < , : ~ . ' . ~_~._-" you >U ' .... , , .... ~~l '_'~."". ... a ._ _~_._'~'.__ ,___· o , ~ f : , ' ~anie , 0 : . · ' , £ " - " ' y : o · ! = ; , ' u ~ " " , : r ' . 'allegations ' y · , · ' · ' · · O - ' U haue neither. _ . " - _ . - - ' . . . " . _ . . ' . ~ ' ' ' - . . - - ' , ' < , ' - , . , , - - . - - , > - : . : , - _ . . . " " " : . , . . . . - - .=. ,-_.- '-- .'.,.._.._--

" 'p ' . . . . . ) . - - . - -T"~_..- .- ,.- ' S " ~ : - - , . I;"t. . . f . ' - - th . -...Pace ,__,a,c,e,' l.m,e" D 'o r :" p 'a ce~ ,tnete : a r . e t , _ ~ .e rea~( " y . ' C ' " . ' . - . . - p '. .- . , - f : · : · - . . _ . " ' f f i : - · - illi'.. '., - - f t ' b.' .. ' I ' _ " , . . b- . ,-. I i · · · : ·. .. . . . :. . . - . _" :..: ~ " :" . ' '_ " ._ ::,' . . . . :. . ', , =: " ,_ ' 1,'·.]. . \,.-...::. i.· •.• _• I_.:,'.,-.:,~ ,_. '.,',.,', ,',-, __ :,",', :-'~ons~ ,our '---"c , e 'O,~ necemtie , m , u , . ' , - . e tO IO ..arg,t" : ec,aue

y : o ' u , cannot keepe f a f e the point of y,our long

' - ' - ' ~ : 4.', th C · · · - ' ·-,-#::, · " f , - - ' th .., ~ , · ' - t c ,' S _ . · ~ : , , ' , , - , ' , - , . , ;

" d ; ~ vnleffelapl"Cr" rrom jne x.rone 0'" ie mer [ "war ' , ' I vmene. 1 1 ' 1 1 · ith P - . k - ' 'b - k - - h i l r:will witn a narrow I, ace = e e 'p e : . .acke your I , : : 1 t .10

that the f ; p l & C ' C , of y'O'at ,0ffence wilbe tOIQ Iarge oro I O D - · · . g · : - ~ 'i n . ; I ~ ~ - ' ~ o < e . ~ - ~ : n , d ~ '~ ' v n , u · , · r ~ · b - ' . , o l - . i d ~ " : J . ~ ' ~ e · : · ,V " : , D[ i a - p - ; t · , t : ' IO ~ ' m · ;o '.U J e . · · · . · · ' , a , . n ' ~ d < - ,...... - .'...- QUtall, _,' &1..1,. ,, J U-..' ,.' -"" .. ',". [l, .. ,_.- _ .. ' .. -

·· · , t h - ' f ' I ' u · f t · ' · · · · , ' ·· · o · t h - ' · · 4"-..nlng · ~ n ' d · · · ' q ' . - u - ' ~ c k · " ' e · · '!nd , - · " u e · · t ' ~ m - ' e n o · [ . a - · p - ' r - - ' I y•~...- c' .1 ,, ' ,', ; ~ - ':, , .... - 11.r.()J~~.".i' I, .: ;' 11 .'>:' I ~ J l ~ . : . ' ,11 '; ,_ , · 1 [ _ , _ < " , , : _ : : 1 ' , ' ; , , _ ~ .

keepeyonr d i f t a n e e , to w in the place with·your f e e t e ~

~:~~~:~e~(D~}:::~;t~::~anie thin,g' whic_h, yo'u han,~ :allead,ge~",'y,o'n h'au,e· ~ , th '" ' , . t · , -" ' p . . . . . . " . P · I . " " ) ' - . ' . ' ' - . . ' . t ' , ' . ' . . . ' . " . . ' . ' S · · · ' . . . . . . . . . · B - t'.'.e,r·m'e. I ac,e,, ,'I, ';ac'c,"lm'e -n,:or. , ! , p ' i , c , e 4 1 ' . - U,I

'will ftand 'vpon t b 1 e l iarg,en,ej{e- of yo,ur' Pace, to ':·'1· b : · · · · ·' k · · · · . . . , . . . . , . : ' f a i- I . ' . . , thl. . . . " , · " I ' ~ , , · , ' f : , . . , . " " . : : , : 1 " " , R'" ,''', ..,~ .".:.eepe ·~ace or .··ue .~.Ie P'OlDt 0, ' your Ji,ong 'c ,:apler 1 , r o , m ,

,e ward 'o 'r' e'r,o'ffe o"f'-he 1h'o,rt S:wiord, or vpo,n, your- 1 ' o ; ' , t ' . - , ~ . .. . . .1 ' ) l ' h · _ , ( : . ' . , ' i I · h · · " , ,. . . . . - , . ' , . -. . ' " t · · d , ' · I - : r - d ~ ' - , " . . ' ' [ t · · . ' · ' e · € }i ' '. . a · , n · d "qgtJJJS", In iU I , , ' . . . g,e, YOD::.I,ane ,gr'e,~"'llii,!,u,an.:agQ"~ "

. I.~2·



George SI.~/utrltis

are ro,y reafons: Y o'ur number 'will be too great,thus: whenfoeuer you meane out of yo'ur large, pa,cethruft home, you muft of neceflitie make foure t imesyour feet, and one with. 'yolIr hand, or two t imes,

your feet, and one with your hand at the Ieaft: andn foeue..!· ' Y " " ' 0 " " u. rna..ke a : " f i ' , y " o..· f · · y",o'urp' ~ , d a · · · g · · · : . · e . o s · · , the n u - b ' e ' r ' , of'., 11,......, . .... 0' '.' ,.'. .' • .' ." . ",. aJ1:(,...,,. I ; . .' • ,0'. '.'

feet are greater then the greateft of any of thefees done out ofthe Iarge pac,e: bur the patient with 'his

fwo,rd, to auoyd you, or difappoint you of yo'urrufl , hath but one time 'with his foot, at or before the

time, as he in his iudgemet ,{h·all::6.nd'Y'o'u in your

otion, hath by the flow and great number of your mo-ons or times, fufficie:nt time, fafely out of all danger toake himfelfe readie to take his crofle 'with his Ihort

ord.Now Sir, whether you thruft or not thrufl, whe-

er you play the .p'a.rt of an, Ag'ent, or Patient, it hel-.,'h '.', ' .'hin .'. ~"'"hi that h · . 'h .h '. 11... ... ' . r.. . 'd"h· , het '.you not ,lng, lor re tr 'at ."at t, . 'e thort tworn i,'at.

times or motions again'i1: the long Rapier, name- 'bent, fpent, lying [pent, and drawing backe , in all

aner of fights there are to be obferued both by theand, Agent. Now note, he .that hath the long

apier muft of neceflitie play vpon one ofthefe foureor be Patient, which Ioeuer he Ihall do" he

s ,frill in . gre'at. danger of the crofle of the Ihort {word"if he 'be Agent, his number is, too great" h i e

alleth into one of the foure motions, the Patient with,

is fhort fword, hauing 'but the time of the hand, or hid

&' foot, fafely vpon thefe :actiQns or times taketh hiscroffe with the fhort Sword : that being done he p,'re-

, ' ."" • . " _ 0' ' ,., "", '.. ' •

fendy vncroffeth and Ilrikethor thrufleth at his pleafure



P.~. .1'. n , + D " ; 7 ' 1 ! . - . . ~ 6 ' : - .ar aaox es f b i " ~ ' ence, .,I.Id if ' h ' .h hi . i h I; R -·' i1 d ,£_A h ~mac e 1 ne that hath tne long ,:,.a,plerlL':an!:~zan, neis

p ,refen tlY 'in, the, vncroffing ofthe 1holr~,fw,ord:th f t · · . . ] ' b k . i i : hi : G ' / W ' - ' . -h .... -. .". " ..... - '. . ...". 1 1 ,".. (.,." - , . ,. .". . ",". l - " . ". . '.·e _,ep or ,e'ap,e oacxe to,raue rum eire, yet, t .e time'

the hand, being ,fw i£ te.:rthen the, ' t ime:ofthe foot, ouer-

him with blow' or thrufl in the arme, hand, head,d b di N-' if h h h h t h · , ] ~ ' 'R'~.'. '. .':'.', ':' ::- .. : I'" ." - "-',' ,.', ." p i : . ( - ' . , i:~ ~,'::.,:., .~~""":I'I;:', : I,." "- , I' [....•., . . 'J , . -: 1 " 1 ' " - :ce an· ,O ..ie ..IOW.1 ne t I,at ,I.,at I, rne .,ong ,·.apier

ill be patient & make D ,O p l 3 - : Y " but lie-ftill 'w , a : t , e h i n g ' to'k ' ' h O I " t h A : " " S · - · " , ' - . . . . { I : " ' - " I ' iii· th · ... ' . . .'. . , , I' ,.' " ~- .'. .. .. . '.~' ..... . . . . .. " ..... " ' '.

ms t" rtn I, or Stocata .1Utm t j e c,o ,mm1.n,g~',[ mo-, '

of the Agents, feete 'with his fhort fW'O~ld, then het h a s g ' r e o a t d : ~ ' J : . , ~ I ' u ; i } l n ~ · · · t : " · ·g o : e , i ! I ' ! I I , l C ! i h · ( 1 h : · - : - ,d 'W " · rh en 'h - e W e " " 3 : - 5 · " Pa.._' __. ':" ':,_.,_ " .. ·:,ll'au":'~',Q.,.I,-_a:,-,::,:·. lAO " " e : . , a . - " - " _ I. '._.,r - ._ ,,: .. _ '." .,.: ... , .: ':~

th ,e the, Agent with his Ihorr Sword hath. h ' - d d ~.. .~, k h i f f i - ~ ' h i' ichi f t · , · , E ' a D ~ -1 . ::' " ', '::: . . : ':: .' .. : ., ', ' :1 ' : ' . . ! : · ( .' -: ·. l ' : " , ' < " : : . . !< . I : . ," ] , '. ' ~ l [ ': "~ " " : " - ! : , ' , ' ' , ~ lili ,,! '. ' : :" 1 ,: .·1 ." ~ ' '; .. , :: :":! :, ,':.' .ut an .an root to m,a __ , ,IS ero,·.,,t..w . 1 , " . ' ,18 mo ., . e-

to be done in that time, which 'we call Bent, and is 'as, I r - , 'b , ) ' : - C.-, t h : , R i , ' : - - 1 : ' - " , : • . - . ' - _ ' . . I C _ ' - - , to .'" , , " . " I ., - t,.,....".t,_....:. " '1 - , . . . . " . . -,polll,.,e ror ne '.atp,1.e~ man ,0 pre,ne,n, as 1 . . , IS , lor an

to ftr.ik.'t, or thruft io·ft ' t : - o g , c , t h . .er with, a man ofI, ., t h I ....'. I' ,_ . ,:.- ':;;-)'1"" d . . . that h'I···· ·t · hs t fizh teth r rith ---l .. ' .en :~,USI .. cone IU,- e" ....a·.. . e ..._ai, JIg, 1. 1 e. W ,l> -, a

Rapier" a,gainft him, that fighteth with. a fhort

rd < , ~ , , ~ ,· d · - I.·.·· "" ..

thi ;~:~',,.d ..,t.:." ' , - , tc I d ~ I " .· · ~ ; ~ " d · , . I 'hn n : l , f e · · · l ' ~ e · · · ·c,an .. 1 , 0 no . In.g m uue ime ro ceren,I, 1.1i' ,(LC:,

. h - . ~t th,'..,th... ' b ' t ~.f t- ' , : . ~ " Il " :, . . d a - ' ,. . . . . . .. . ' .· · f · · . , - , ' h i .I,. '1 ~ , C : ' ~ 0 '- 'r',ur :~,e o":er, ,, 'u · . l:B, .",1 1 - ,ID'i;a,un,g,er 01 . :18,Jlll'e " . . . . ,

t h ' . ' . . . . . , - , ~ · · , · · f : ' h i , " ' . , t: hat h u h the fhort ' · S · ·: . . , , - ' . - . ' d, .." 'r· .. e me.rCle 0, ;·lDl ..~,:I'a.,. " a , · I..... , _ . ' e UI,orl. , ;~ ,w,or._ . , '0,

fe 'hath no fafe w'ay to : helpe h im , { c l C e " , but onely Co! ' ! C D D , J T r 4 u e r / i

auerfe, 'This, G o l ) ' was: a ,great quareller, and did de-ingreat brauerie to g , - i u , e foule words to his bet-

, .- , - t d - , ., 'J 'd ' . . .- . _ I : . . .L:. '.1, ••.• ;iI.• ~, .. h ~ , , 6 " - ' · ld ! .. ~ I i " h trs , ano woum not rerme 'to go: mto tnene ..••. to:..gnt

..th d h h .. th ,J! lid ' . Id..any man" andwhenhe came Into me-nerd, WOU,".

aw his: Sword to fig:ht" for he was fare ' b y ' the I ( :U,O,-

. f ' : h ill. T ' j i ' . b h .,b ' ! ! I ' ~ ' _ '• ., .', • I ~. • _ .'. • •• • .' _ . - -, • 1 .' ....' , ._ .. • ... ~ •.•

ng 0 .··.1S_ " r a u e r _ e : , ~ 1 n o t to ne hurt " y arne man : ror

anie time finding himfelfe ouermatched would fad-turne his b ~ · · · · · · · · · · · . · · · · k · ' · · · · - ·and : ' 1 · , " : 1 " 1 · ' 1 " " " ' - " ' - , . : , " , , :. ., . , , ' - , t · t · _ . h , 1 fuch ~:~F-'·. " : ' . . . e ' . 1,- a.c" e , all , ronne, away WI..." ;U' . . lWll'L

~ . , 4 , ;1 . . t , " ' t · , . , " _ . " , t ' h - . , . - - · h , · · ' · - " ' , . . d : ' " ' h ~ ' ..J',.' ... ould " · ~ , r : , ~ " . , . .ne , w...' 1'., w a s i- ' 9 n g l l t : a ,gOD ..,_,:.i,-.ll,~l;e w I O ' . · · · _ · · · . ·. J.carce

ke him '. , A n d this, w ' h , c , n I was's: y , o ' u n , g man" 'w a s - · v · e .. . : ,m 'u c h t i p : ' , o · k ' · · , e ~ n · o , · " : f , -. ! b : y c . · , 'm ~I ' a · · · ~ · n ; ~ ' · , : " G · · ~ · · · : ' e , ' n · ' · · : t , , ] ' - m · · - · ! · I e - · ' i n · n f , - · , t · h ' : · e · : · 1 ' · . ' n 1 n · , , e " ' s : " , o , ' f : '" ' J;& ., " , ". _ I e ly_ " ' : ; . , _ _ ~ l ' '.1 ", , ' . . .. .'.

] 3 , ' , ·.. ,



2 G~r~Sil~hu

he Court, and was called C O b S Trauerfe and thofe that

d ' , r . , , - - . . , b - - - ke ' " £'_,JL.- his f l . " . - , ' h'- , '" ' l d - r.a, ieene arne go,ac,e too rare In, ,IS g r, WOU'.· lay,e did tread, CobJ'Trauerfe.

eorge Slluer !tis militttr'ie riddle, tru.ly fit downe lJ'ctweenc'

te P erft8 lion and' ImpetfoS'iolZ o f fight~· containing theha'ndling of'the flu.rtfights'l~' w'/zerein true conjijleth'

the whale.fum",e and fu,U perftClion if th«true fight) wit,h ail maner of soea-

- pon s ' . , with a .n inuictbk-. C - " ' . l ' ! V H C ' l;"JI'l;AH~'U",., ~U.JIiVII;.

~:!~~~:~!m~fl;~'utteth backe, or

Open -fight ftayeth putteth backe or.' . '. .••..... beateth openJight. . ", . .. . ..... ,

. < : . Vmabie fight anf~ereth vari~blefi~hhtn the fidl dii1 :ance, and not otherwife, except It be WIt, ,

"-~fibtariable: clofe & gardant fight, beateth gardant , g - " j

open fighct, variable fight, and- clo fe fight. _Gardant fight in the Imperfection of the' Agent or

Patient, winneth the halfe fword, 'and preuenteth the.~ 1 - r:~- n d - - -h - f C ~ ~ ~ e r f i - r f t - - .Ant-- -- th- th 1 -0'£ ' 1 - - ofethoie , a'nu woo oeuei ~_::. ve__uret ___ C CIC, ooier

it, and is in great danger of death" and not pofiib~e toefcape or get out againe without great hurt,

_ There attendeth moil: diligently vpon thefe fourefights foure offenfine aCtio,ns, which we, call certaine,vncertaine; fj,rft',before, iu·a, and afte.rward's: they are·





A BRIE'FE NOTE OF TH'REE ITA.-lian 'Teacher s of Offence..

Here were three Italian Teachers of Of....i . c: • • Th;c f t · S ' . . . . .

l ~ ' " ' " " " , . " , " . . . " . . . ' I e . n ° , · · _ e . ·. · ' e " in m - ~ ( ..y.....ti..me.:·,~.'-.,.e 1 1 r " · w a s _ < . ' z , ! . · n i o r ·I t ; fo.tw thIEf .•. _- . - - ~ - _ 0.

bo.ldlleffi ' ... ' Racllo: the fecond w ,as Ieronimo; that wasinfit§r(i"1I.~J Signior R o,clla his boy, that taught Ge?~

p e r fir1R811(1 i i f . . " " V f l . . . r.tlemen in the Blacks-Fryers, as 'tiler lor

, t h , ' : ! fi}t~1 his maifter in freed of a man.The third was Y incentlo ..ulng '. .t l J - n t : · f t · 0 . ' ' ' ' - - '_ . . . . . . , . . < ! I I ' - . . . = - - = - l ' " d '· b r. ' h ' •

b":,~_,~ i F ' ~ Th' -s S!"rr~~"::r Ro."ko carnie into Enu:an'"," snout iome t'lr-

i;;e~~:t;aft: h ~taughtth~N;ble~en & ; Gentie~ena r l! l1 t .em l ) ·r tm ; f . 6 of the. Court : he canted fome of them to weare leadenfOs:rnmg t o " " ' . - - ' ' . , ~ ~ - " . . . _ . . . . - - - : . . , - , - . , ' _ - . _ __ . _ , _ , _ .

; ' ! J~d1foales in their Ihoes, the better tobring them to nimble-! / l . _ neffe 0 , £ feet in their fight ..He disburfed a great fumme

of mony for the Ieafe of a faire houfe in Warwicke lane,which he called his Colledge t for he thought it greatdiigrace for him to keepe a Fence ..fchoole , he bei.ngthen thought to be the onely famous Maifler of the Artof armes in the whole world. He caufed to be' fairelydrawne and fet round about his Scheele all the Noble-mens and Gentlemens armes that were his Schollers,and hanging right vnder their arm es their Rapiers, da,g-gers, glo'ues of male and gantlets, Alfo, he had benchesand {t,ooles, the roome being verie large'., for Gentlemeto fit round about his Scheele to 'behold his teaching,He taught none commonly vnder twentie fortie, fifty·,or an hundred pounds. And becaufe all things fhouldb·everie neceffa ry fo r the Nob leme & gentleme, he had

'"



65· hi 1 ( " h 1'" )" 1 ( ' ! bl 10 h. ....-, . l . ,',... '. [ " . '.' . (. '1," :- I..... :. . . (, ' J " : l:. ...." . . '. " . . ,I,. ,- " .-. . • " ~ • " . ..•. " •m , , . IS ,C,OO e al.arge ,qu"are ta_ e, WI t _ , a ,gree:ne car-

pet, done round 'with a verie brode rich fringe of gold,alwaies ftanding vp'ion, it: a verie faire Standifh couered

with Crimfon Veluet, 'with inke, pens, pin-duff and

fealing waxe , and quiers of verie u'ce,llent fine papergilded, readie for the Noblemen &; Gentlemen (v,'po,n

occafion] to write their Ietters '"being then defirous to£ ',11"·/ thei 6 ' " , , ·rht t " ' ; 1 fend thei .. " ' 1 - ' ' ' ' ' ' > ' ' ' ' tr..·d i f atch : t , h " , · . . . ; 'row rneir , g " J .0 ten... tnerr men I ,o,upa cr neirbufinefle.And to know how the time p ! a f f e d " he had in,

one corner of his, {c,ho,ole '8, Clocke, with a verie faire

1",< ' , , ' : ' - ' "

' D ' · : · . . . .al1 '

h , . ' ' h i ' d ' , ! with .' i I ' " . . ,t~·t..;- , t "

fchool ...' ., . :.', ",":"h "_arge , .:1:_1, . [e 1 [ 1 . , , ' W,ll·. _ , 1 1 0 .!lal ~[CI, 00, , I e " a , room,e, _ ..ewhich was called his priuie ,(qho!ole~I with, manie wea-'.,:'','"th:.".,,~.'.hei "',',h i ,. . . ., · a , ' ! id ' t . · · · ach 'b"t ' , : fch , " ' 1 1 ,.' h is feci etons- erem wr ere r .e .·1.·. reac [[ . 1 , 1 8 . icr ouers ,·1· ..ie .ret

fight" after he had , p e r f e i C t J y ta,ll.g:ht them their rules.HeW-- 'a - verie m 'U "ch beloued in the C.ourt -" , ]1 _ : ,:" •. ', ,_"' _I ;~I.:,I .. ·' .. _· :··.';.'.I' .1,',. ".\ _ ., .- : ,., I I ' .

Th··· . ,..... .. A"g .... B : · ' · · · , · · · · , , . , " , , ' " - ' . t'II . '--',·tl 'r: ere was OD,e: 1ZuJ ; . , [ e , 1 Z ' " · : · , , a g g e T , a verse · . · a , l . ' gen.·"e-

man of his handes not ftan:ding; much vpon his skill.butcarying the valiant hart of an, Fnglifhman , v'pon 'a t imeb .... · f t , · h '" ', £. iend G""'d h ld. .I :" I '. . I.' '.' •. :: .... .' j - - _ , ' . ' " , . I .. ....:", - .I [ [ ..~ . - . [.~", I ': I: [' ..: . .": ; . . J " • I .".J " . . _ ; ' "" i' ': .,e1.ng merrre amo,n,g. . . ms rrtenues ,al, ae won ....go

fi h h lO t! ... R ' r: '} S '" . ,g , , :t wit" Ssgmor ,,,DCCO,, : p 1 r e l l e : ' D . t i ' , y went to , z g r n t o r

R·· hi h 1 " : . '" h BI ,1 .~ ,J : '" d Il d hi ~,oc'co ,IS ' .oute tD tne , ' ;"4CJl!J 'rters; 'an:'. c:a .iec . to -1 m In

this maner: , S i g , n . i o r Rocca , thou that art thought to be.

h 1.. '"' heworld ith h

· e onely c'uD-nIng' man in ene wor. 1 : ,

wrtn t 'y weap'on"thou that tak,eft 'vpol,n thee to hit. anie Englifhman with

a thruft v'po,n anie button, thou that takeft vpo,n thee: tocome ouer the feas, tO I teach the valiant N oblemen andGentlemen of England' to, 'fig'ht, thou cowardly fellow

come out of thy houfe if thou dare, for thy l i f e " I am," . . . . - . ' , ' . " , t , ' , , , 6 - . ; . h t ·.·;.,'.h th...','. , S ' : : ' 1 ; - , ~ ~ Rocca Iooking ' 0 ' " ' U ' · t · - · , at a':Q,me.o I g _ l . Wl!I .. _ , l e e , , , , , , z g 'U 'Z r i J " " " I ~ L - V " ' , , . ' ' _ . ' . "

window, perceiuing him in the ftr'ee:t 'to fi'an,d readie

with 'his Sword and Buckler, with, his two hand Sword

d ith 1 1 1 1 r: d I; t, 11., d c 11rawne, W.1t I a 'J l ],p,ee- i ran rnto the ttreet, an I, manrur y'~;'



·" ,"

Hie at Au}Jen Bagger, who moft brauelv defendedmfelfe, andprefently clofed with him, and {hoke vps heeles, and cut: him, ouer the, breech and, trode vpon,

im, 'and moil grieuouily' hurt him vnder his feet: yet

the end ,Auften of his good nature g'a'ue him hisand there left hin This was the firft 'and laft fight, " , " . :-.' , '- ':.' _ . . .. _ . . - ' - .'- . '. _ . - " . , , " , -- - " .. --.:: .'

euer Slgnior Rocco made , fauing once at ~enehe drew his R ·':'··.apier vp..on a waterman where he,' .. _ _ ,,--' ' . - ' , , - ' .. ' ...... : :.. : " ... ' .. ' -'.- ._' ... ' , - - - - - - , --,. " - -

throughly beaten with Oares and S trerchers , 'bute oddes of their weapo.ns were a s greatagainft his Ra-'ier as was his two hand Sword ,ag< '.ainftAul~tnBae-- - '" '- ' . -- - , , - . ' , ,. . . - , - , .. ', ' -" , - , ,- "J ~ i, ~. "0 -

- 'QrJ ' Sword and Buckler therefore for that fray'.'he was:' _. -'.' ". ':_:_'." ""_, .':', ':_:." ,'-',:_",',' ._'.:__" '. ,~ _ . : . c _ _ I I I ; . ; o 1 ' _ , . _ . : . _ _ - , ~ . , , ; , _C'cc··_ _ .:__ _"_ ..:,: ., .-. . _ '.' ,"

,

0 " , b..: , , : - : x nxcufed .._. " ., - . - ._ ~- - - -

Th ,ii TT'. '" . . d T. ~ h b.- hen carne in t/mcentto an~",terommo, t ~ ~ " - , e ytaugr tat the Court, at London, and in the .coun-

'.":.'-:'b'··'th ·C'· r.,. - .',=.'-". : · · f < r . - . . . , . . ' - . " . . . .h - · , · · , t ~ : " ' ,'C ... : : e " ~ ' : " . - ' th '--',-:c· ."

rey, ~y.....e Ipac.e 0_ ieauen or elg,: '= y,ear_ s or __erea ....outs Thefe two Italian Fencers r. efpecially Vincentia:,.. - . _ . . . -, ., . - ~- -, . . '- ,- - , - ~.... ---, . . . . . ,that E ' - · · · · n ' · · g · - : · . , 'l . ! · J 1 _ m ·nen were f t r = _ · · · o · ·n · · · g , · " · : -men .bu t h a d no cun-~":.'_:.__;Q,_, a _.' ,-, nIl :_",.-,".. _ ' ' ' ' ' ' : '\ ; . 0 . c' ,,' ",'.- . ... >_.'- .-::, '.' ,0.._ .. "_",','. -'\,..1 '.'. ,

ing, and they.·.·ould g:0backe toomuch in their fight,"..,- ..:":"-.-,,.,, -',_: ....:_.. , " ...:.: -, ~ .,"~" ," ,:.,'.-,'C. " ... .... :. __ .: '-,_:', :.- ... "C"".· , _-.., '. ' , 'o ." , , " " . . . " : '- " , : _ : , : " ., " ,

,hi 'C ' h.·W ' ~iI'!I.ii:" g ' .rea : t d l ~ r . g · · 'race vn to them V".P0 " n th efe word e. ' •• ,' I ,: . ' .'.. (Ll ,< ','i .",,' l~"..4_ ~ _ ....- '., . . . . < , c _ , , . ; , > _ , I" I ..Lo'lL< '.., ."..~

f difgrace againft Englilhme.n, my brother !TobY Siluer

. . .: . d : . -r, ..

r . · 1 : ' , C . ' . ' - , - ' d - · ' c h ' : ] ' 1 - 'c.' ".-:- " ..... ·.. ,-, .. · ..

' · f t ' - · · t h . " , ' b : " " th,'.,-. : " ' 1 ~ " "an mYole re, ma e cna ,enge agaln _them '.0 _:J to paywith them at the fingle Rapier, Rapier and Dagger, thefingle Dagger, the fingle Sword, the Sword and Target,the Sword and Buckler, &, two 'hand Sword , the Staffe,battell Axe, and Morris Pike, to be played at the BellSaua ge vpon the Scaffold, where he that 'went in his

fight fafi:er backe then he ought, of Englifhman or Ita-lian" Ihold be in danger to breake his necke off the Scaf-fold.We caufed to that effed, tiue or fixe fcore Bils of







69

not thus leane him" but prayled hi.m a ; g a i n l e hie would bepleafed tOI take a quart 0 , £ wineofhim.The { a i d , ,riMel/io,I , · h....: 'I ',. I, d ofth.."','::'":- ,. , , , '. T " ; . r h , ' "'1'·',' faid th.... · , · , · " ' ' " f r , ' ' ' ' ' . of D " ' " . . . . . .. . aue ,no ,nee· 01 t· , Y Wlne,. I. I,en ,1a.] . I , ' " ,e ma l, er 0_ . e

fence: Sir I haue a,fchoole of Defence in the towne, will

it ' · 1 . _ _r . ; ' , . ' t ''! , ., . .

, t ' h ' " - , t h , . - : " T ' . . " h ' ; " r~,'L.' ' , · 1 " r: ·d ' . : . · f t " " . , , . '1 p.eliJle yOIU ,01 g lo ,',_I ..ier, " J _ I , y J.UI0'0"e", ,131,~.mau erTr'"' .• l h , n . . . '11I' d 'b L'. h I 1 ;00 hmcentsot w~lat ma , I I , _ : 1 - : . 1 01at t,y' fchoole] pay win me'

(raid the maifter] at the Rapier and Dagger, if it pleafe. ' . , . . P l a v . , ~ ~ ~ t h ~ ' . . ' . " r ;_ ' ~ 'd ' . : ,. ., ' ' · ~ , f t · ' , · ·"IT·' .,' - - t~ , '" , " f ' - " I ' - T . ' . ' . . I t , h · ,yo,u,. ... ay WIU] riee ,llil.mau er " mcensto: 1 1 , _ _ p I , a y wr ,~c_

. h · · · . ' , I ' " :"11 ' h ,.;11,', ' , h · · · · ' . h i " I:L. ~-., th .'. "'.'toetnee, .~wm ...ir tnee I,., 2..3 II 4 " tnruttes in r ieeie _ .'og 'e.. ..ther, Then { a i d , the maifter ofDefence if,yoa can do - f o ,

it is:the better' for y'o'u and the worfe for zne but furely.. , .,- . ,.... , ... . ' , . " --_. .'--'- " '-' - '-' - -, ... , ' _. - ,. ..,

I can hardly beleeue th at Y " " , " ' l o : : : ' U " 1 1an hit mre: b ur y · , · ~ t 'once.. . _ ._ ,~ ._ . . .:', , .. -_ .. .. _ .,. '._1 [_ ".,' ,,",-.'__ _,' _: --;.~:A." _ :J il', . '. 'J--- ill ,_._..-.._~, i. W.~, .'..:...:.:.~ _.

'.' . '-'" "tio "'" .. ' I : 'h e.' rt , " ) 1 ' . , ' - , " , , ' . , " . , " : ' " . " d ' S , · · , " ! ! · t · : h " . . ' , ' . . ' . ' : : ! l " l " , . ' , tca,g aln e '.. nai Il,Y p l r a y y O lu goq;-:, '.>Ilr,,:~:at, you, wu go_,o

my':: ~ c : · : : - · h ' · ' o ' c : o l e , · - ,and p ( , l l a · > y ~ : ·with me P 1 ' 2 " : ; - ' I Y " ' : ' ' ' ' W ' rith thee f:a:,dmo.;~•' It..: cl···,,;· j , _ . : . J I" I .' ,I, 1 - , 1 1 , ,~..I,i] i l l ! . . . 1 , , , : , . , . . ' , . ' " ::-:_c_ • .'. ,_ 1e.,' '.::_ , a, ~

ft ~ r -- J : " m " ." I " e · · · · . , t · '·I~i."'ll .(",'V'eri g _ - I c o "In,, e , c ; , u , ' 'I 'I> j I ) ' I J b,y . , I G · · · " 0 ' " d ' m--;e r . c : ~ Q . · C · I rn e - - -=t : 0 :-r 1 ~ ' - r " ~ ~ ' h ~ " " -h : ~ " , ' r w · ' . : : ' , ~ I h ~ j · · · _ h ' _ " _ ' · · l l · ~ ~ . " . : ' · d · ' , : ~ ' " '_~'~'hl__-_lC" ~ · t l : · ' . ' ~ " . · : · f : "p ay witn t~'ele~' It.~.,hat WIO'f'c icorne, t e mal er o~D c , £ : ~ ' . , " , ' . . ' W ' . ',il'jl(!I, v " ' e " r · · · i e ' m ' " '" ich m " ' - o c · ' u · · e · d ' ' , : ' " d .''':C w ' . . . . .th hs ' g ' ' ' ' . ' . ' 'fe ,e:n ce _.--a.a .>.1,; _ c : , ~ U , C , ' 1 ,LII._I..= - J _ j , ani, vp ",,'1.c . l..~.-rca

E·- " ' - l ~ ' f h ''. , f i · C : : C l f t · · · and 4·· o k e - - . -:-,~',A,· "7':~-- : : - , " " - t · · · , t: f i - = ch ' b ' : ' - " , ' - ' . ' , ' , "ng' 1':.', .' .., -) anc rtroxe mautere momsta mer a '.~xe onthe eare that he: fell oner and ouer, his legges iuft a~gaiIlft: 'a Butterie hatch, whereon ft~ood 'a great blacketacIte: the ma ifte:r o f D~cnce fearing theworft, againft

. - - , > ! I • • hi : ' , .1 : : . h h hI "k" 1'- k - '!. h ' "

V'tncentto. : - ' I S

riling', catert,tt ,e

I , , "

acke ".acse mto mshand, being' more then halfe £n.11 Io,{Beere, ,Yincenti~olu-ft-"'I f t " · , 1·' hi h d hi D' 1 I . . . . ; I i hly ttart V , P I " , 'la y Ing ' ...1 ,IS I , ' anc v,pon , 1 ,: '1 , S I . .. ~gger,~,Wl~'

h b h d' -ii, d . . . ' b i hli! fi .L .. . .. ' 1 ' 1..eotner nanc pointe 1 1 _~lt, i_ ' ;ls,"."ngieI',~ylng, very we . :I will caufe ro lie in the: Gaile for this gea:re, I.2. 3. , ' . ' r e s A " " , . d , ' 1 . . . . . · 11 fa i d the m I , ' · a ' · e ·. ' . , ' f " ' : , ' D '- " - ~ e " n - 'c e finee. yea-: ... ,n" - we., J.a.l:.i!e ,11,alJ.~t,r 0, ,.,-,·CI4··.. ,., n ....

you will drinkeno wine, 'will you pledge me tn Beere ? Idrinke to 'all the c , o ' l w a r d l y knaues in Englan~J,and Ithinke thee to be the verieft coward of them all: with. h " , " h·· , . ," f t · · · . , ' } : ) I . ' hl.... B ' . - : ·. , ' · : , · . . · · him: .'··t· ' ' " t h · · f t ' · : " , d ~ . 't at ae call, a,·I,1tl e rseere vp ,o',D_ lm, .· n,'OWII, ,aD,lng



.° _ . .about him , and the other for his defence the

acke Iacke, would not at that' time f i ,ght it lout: buttheday met with the rnaifber of Defence in.the fl:reete,, f a i ' : - ~ d 'vnto h im · Y 'u remember how m i f i . u f e · d a me.' .:_.,'.-. -. ., ..j .......' .. .., -_.. _.' ... , .. ..

yOlu w e r e t o blame, me be a . f : 1e'x:,cellent man,e teach YOI'U how to th.ruft:: two foote further then anie

1 , ;o 1 h ; · · ·- b fi f t · · · · · · . . ~ .h . . '!IIi th . _. h .ng 1· :man, but nr r come Y'OIU wttn me : '.--en ne

him tO I a Mercers fhop, andfaid tO I the Mercer',t me fee of y'o'ur heft. filk,enP,oin.tes, the Mercer did.

. . 1 " ' : . ' " . ' 1 ' - - , J 1 . . . . . - . ', ' ' h i ~ ' , - . r : . . , , ' . . . ' f ' - " ~ . . ' 1 ' 1 - ' ' - - . " t · . . . d o - . ~- - -y IlJle~ mm tome '0 " seauen ,groa es a ',_c ozen

h e p a y · · . - e · ' t c , · h - > fourteens g · · · r , o a ' t ·es for two dozen and• • ': : • _ _ • • : . . . . . . . . : : . . . . : . " _ _ , ' : : . , , ' _ 1 ~ · . . : _ . · . .1 . _ '~ '" • . _ .~ _ ' ,\':_.l /,'_ "_, < . ., : . : ." _ . . _ : . - : : . _ , J _' I _' _J._, ...• ',_ '.:::. _ '_:___:, _.". :.:_

td ". ,I' ft f'~- n - c:. h !iJ d £ . : .t __o t h e . mail ter ot ' _ _ c . · · ' e J : . e . : n , ce · " r ere 1$ one nozen ror

d h 'I' her f T " " h ' " ~ f · - " hou, an, ner e ts another tor ~ e . · . _ _IS was: on_,~or _ t ; ~ _ , ev'a-

Fencers that came from beyond the feas, to. - . b · E · ; · - - ; I ' O O ; · i \ . . . · , f ~ : ·- - - - ~ . . ficht .-:· · · d 'h . . ,~., . - . " -c', ... '-'1 --. ' ' - ; f ~ : h -·cc·._.-· . = - _ _ac ..._~ .,ngc_!Jl!lm,en~o . .~gL~. , ana [.~_-. 8 was OIJl.e'? - e I!la~~···t , : - · f i · _ ' - . - · - . . . . . " . . . " tha ..t I h, '-'I~" h·ard / ,J: ths · t - ' - . : : - i', 1--'; _. h i- 1·- -,_. d....~-e r.ayes' __ar aue ..c__.arc 0.1, Ie' ~al_e~cr ne mane In--~(J"l/y*,;I wherin he fhewed himfelfe a farre better man' ' ':0

'

",1(1,.- v.ll.. - .... _ c. __ .. __ - , .' ,~ __ .. ~lt.~ l.~_ '_. ,_"",,_....'.

his l i f e , t h e n ~'q his p - ' - ' , ' r "o : - · £ : . e = · P ' ! 1 1 n h , e ' - ; ' - w e . . ' - ' i i 1 . ~ ~ o ~ · · " r · ' - h e p - - ' - r ' o - r e - · ~ e - - · . d ~. . - _ ; . c _ U \ . . . - , . . . . ' 1 , 1 1 , , . ,J\l'," .J.IJI..,.. ......' '~l,It.· ". _ I _ ' Ie..II,e.:

rmes, but in his, lire 'a .better Chriftian. He r e t forth, ina booke for the vfe of the 'Rapier and Dagger, the

hi h h - al-'l d h - I '. _nll'F,; '1 ' b - d .. d b' a ic ' _ : - .e e~'_ e . '1 ' . liS· practne, ._.~ I , a . u [ erlea Ito u e r - ,an... - - e -

n ·~ · r.e : , - '-'finde th e r ein neith er t r ue r"ule for the perfect- . ,1'··,·.,I. :' j _ I : . _ . , ' : , " - i '.--~ . _ .," . [' I I_I, _1_' :_.- ! .. ':'.ll! I' ' ~·!I._1 '. .,' .':-'. i : ll· L.L

h i! f : ' .c h d f " - 6 - ' h ' Ii.lD,g 0, true D,g:-'~t,D_ottrue groun,:_,:'OJ t:ru.e·i),g ~ _ t , nei-

fence _or ' .reafon for due proofe thereof. I haueit frinolous to recite any' p,a.rt: therin con tained :

h h hh f --t at the trutt ,hereofmay appeare. Ier two me beingel experienced ,inthe Rapier and Dagger fight, choofe

of the befl branches inthe fa'mebooke, &.make trial,...h r- "--- d ....ilit ,--i t h 'It th .-, -h.Ii .. 'h " . .:L .. h b -r ,'~_orce all. ag,l,l·y,i wrcnout n .e w ucr me trut .. ie-

true & falfe fig~h.tcannot be knowne, & th.ey·· . ' c. a'~ th ~ A ' d ! I i ' c.



7 . 1 .Rap' i e r - f i g · · r h t · let triall bemade in this maner: Set two PrlJoji!J n K a i 1 J I l

, . , ' : '. '. . .:... ' '. " ,.' , " .. , .... , . ',' , " c· ... ' '",.,.1, """_ ,: .,1., to .... " . ',,'. ':" " . I, . ~ ~ .- .: ',; . : ,- f i ~ ' : { ., ' ~ • '. • , . '. I ,_., . ," .. ' ,/I)t Iii }~r ,I toj.

skilful] men, together at the Rapier and D,a"gger, be- , r . ' ! ! .

valiant, and 'you Ihall fee, that once in, two boutese ' . n.... ' I ~ ' l ' ith ' :..,',.....'." b ' - .th i ' , . f ' ; . . . .t . . . . , ' . · i b. . ' , ' , h , . , - T i ' - : h " ' · · , · · ' t"; t".e re mar e l:, "e r o l . n e : or ·0, ,; I. 10 I ILJllem,;';e ,:'.urt, J . •en i .e.c . 'iki ' 1 '~ ' 1 1 " ' _ " , . . tc ,':.' t h . , ' b e i , . " r " , . . . 1 ] ' ' " ' . . . : ' I t at .'h....R '" ' 1 , ' " " ' , ' ,o sxnrui men ,Qlge,IJIler, ,elng vanan .at tt e. ·.,a,pler

'Dagger, and they Ihall do the Iike.Then fet a skilfuland D'a"gge,r-m,an the heft that can, be had and aman ha'u.ing no skill together at Rapier & _ Dag~

er, and D,nee in two bouts vpo,n m , y credit in , all the ex-. , " . . " . . . c · I" hi' ..' '":'. L. rht thr '.."....k ilfc ' t · - , : ' " , , " de th .. t ~h..

,I.auem ng;.I;"i" .e vnsxr IU, ,ma,n.,· 0, e '0 ..,erhat he can for his life: to, the contrarie., Ihall hurt him,d mofl commonly if it were .in continuance ,of fight,

Ihall fee the vnskilfull man to , haue the aduantage.if I ihould chufe a 'valiant man fOT Ieruice of the

rince, or to take part with me or anie friend of mi ne

a,good quarrell, I would chufe the vnskilful man, be-

vnencombred with falfe fig'hts" becaufe fuch a man

fre:e in his valour with ftrlengt'h and agil~,tie ,of

odie, freely taketh the benefit of' nature fightetll. moiib , y Ioofing no oportunitie, either foundly. t.o hu . .t

enernie , o:r defend himfelfe but. the other fta.ndinghi D J : : . his cunni I" '" ' d

l

Poi:r ,"1.S Defence, Vp!O'D lIS cunning Italian w:ar:·les.,'-,f)tn ....

reuerfa, the Imbrocata, Stocata, and being fill: tyed vn-h 1:' E ' If f h J1. d b bi d i his wi dthere talte ',.g ates, rtan ern troubled in ms wrts, anc

therby racked through the la~gen'e«e:o r .fal.fe ly...OT

Spaces, whereby he is in. his fight as a man halfeaimed, loafing the, oportunity ,of times 1 & ' benefit ofh 'b c b -II., f ' hef f lr:&. 'W ereas before being 19n,o·rant 0'. thete :aue

pier fighte.s, ft. 'anding in, the free' Iibertie of nature' " h i b ' h b " I ' · ' [ f 1 " d 'I! h hiue.n. ,'lm,y god, ,I : ewas able in the ' .elc WI t . · , . 1 S wea-- r: h '1 '" f t ' . ' h Id bo to aruwere t ne valiantef man In the WO,r_!(I,) .::·ut now'

eing tied vnto that falfe fickle vncertaine fight. there-

K4.l , '



2 .

y· hath I"'ot\. in nature h . . .s freedo me: is no.rw. becom.·e. .' . ,<. l:r; .', .. . ..' . '.' ,1] . ..' . ,. ..... _ .. " '" .

arce halfe a man, and euerie boye in that fight is he-

ome as good a man as him felfe. _ .'Ieronimo this gallant was valiant" and would fight

-deed '.and did as y ' ou {hall heare He being in a each. . ." J .. '. ., -." ." . ' - -- _.II! '. ' .. ,' . .-

a wench that he loued well, there 'was one Cheef«,. , '1 1 '" h i f i : h 1 '1 E ' 1 " J ' L s: hverie ta. man, In '_'is -',g._t naturalt } ng'~lll1.,iO'T ..e

ought w ith his Sword and, Dagger" and in Rapier-fightad no skill at all. This Cheeft hauing a quarrel! to r e S .

ouertooke him vpon the w a y ' . . . himfelfe being on. . ' . - , _ - _ . . - . " . " - . - - . , - . . > -

orfebackc, did call to" Ieronima , 'and bad him come.h '- . f " · . .h . c · · · · " h - . - h e . . . I - d ' f e t c h b - . '. 1 :. ··c· h . . . . . ' . ' .0,= t ae v.ocn or ae WOll . retcn nun, ror ne was

ome to fig'ht 'with him, Ieronimo prefently went forth,the each and drew his Rapier and dagger, put 'h im . .. .

;j! . ,. . his b · f t i : , . - : ' . " rd o . ( 1 t ' r · . ~ . -- . -_ hiio.. ·h ' ,..d ." ." ., t'-C'. . "C . . b teu into his .: c e _ : . : _ war _ o r ~'i ocara,w ."'c'~war '.was aug ,:

y him felfe and Vincentia, and by them beft allowedof,o 'be the beft ward to ftand vpon in fight fo r life, eithera : ' 1 h ~ f t · · · d d _-.hi 01 ;':!. au t tne enemie, or nan -ana watch ,-:IS ·commlng,

which ward it fhould feeme he ventured his life: vpon,but ho ......foeu er . w · . . 'l~t h a.·- 1 ' 1 ' ·h e o . fin'e',I t a li e n ared sk 1 " ' 1 ' } ' Ier 'nn·-':~.~ - '_ '. xW~~, ,,~.. ,"' I. . :"~_.. ~. l-l- ,I..~-,__: '. ' 1".__ a 0. :_~":." ~[t·. t/\: -"

. . . . . · h ' : · . . . . . . .l , '" C - · : l . " , t ; , - ' . ' rith h i : 8 : : : " - : d ' " - . ith,...wo t h _ - : - Jl. -. " . : .

1 1 1 0 . .aa, ' . f I , e e . , e wit r ms .~.won .witnm .wo n runes ran.. Ii ·iI th b di d il h .._. -' '.

him Into the bodie sno uue aim. Yet the Italian, tea~chers 'will fay, that an Eng~i ihm,a cannot thruft il:raightwith a Sword, becaufe the hilt 'will not fuffer him to putthe fo refing er. ouer the Crode, nor to put the thumbevpon the blade" nor to hold the pummell in the hand,whereby we are of' neceifitie to hold faft the handle in

the hand: by reafon whereof we are driuen to , thru,fiboth compalfe and [hart, whereas with the Rapier theycan thruft both ftraight and much further then we can'



BREF INSTRUCTIONSvso MY PRADOXES OF DEFENCEfor the. true" Jutn_W"," till' < ; d d 1 tr' ofweapons together wt the .{o"'tr ..· 'gtOWttds& : the fower gournors web. goue,noursare left out in my pradoxes ¥fout theknowledge of web QO Man can :fight C a f

By George Silver Gentleman

[1599]



TO THE READER .., .

Or as much as in my padoxes of Defence I.~ haue admonyfued Men totakeheede offalfc

teachers of Defence, yet once againe in

thefe my bref inftruCtions I do the lykc tbe-~~~ caufe Diners have wry ten books treating of

noble fcience of Defence, wherin they rather teachffence then Defence, rather fhewing men therby howbe flayne than to defend them felues fro the Danga- o fenemys t as we may dayly fe to the great grief & :

uerthrowe of many braue gentlemen & gallent of Ofver vic9:orious nation of great brytaine, And therforc

the great loue & Care yt I haue for the well Doing&

of my Countrymen, feeing their Dayly ruens. vtter ou'throw of Diu= gallant gent: & : others w e b

oll only to that Impfyt fyght of t Rafior, yeafe al-ough they Deyly fe their owne outthrowes & llaugh-therby, yet beaus they are trayned vp therin, they

inke.& do fully pfwade them felues that ther is no

C o excelent & wher as amongft divrs other theiryoosr leadeth them to this ecrous on of y t cheifeft

, becaufe ther be fo many fiayne wt thefe weapons Ie





























































































































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