Of the hurt of the broad ward at the two Rapyers

His broad ward, may in the ſelfe ſame maner be framed two waies, and it may deliver the ſelf ſame blows, in the one as in the other: This ward is framed with one foote before, and one foot behind, the arme (which is borne on the ſide of the hinder foot) being ſtretched wide, & broad outwards. Therefore when one ſtandeth at this ward, and would deliver as ſtrayght and as ſafe a thruſt as is poſsible, he ſhal firſt prove with his low Rapyer, whether he can find his enemies Rapier, which being found, he ſhall turne his fiſt outwards, and force the enemies Rapier ſomuch, that it may do no hurt, and then withall increaſing preſentlie a ſlope pace, ſhall go forwards to ſtrike the enemie in the thigh, with the wide thruſt. He might aſwell alſo thruſt him in the flanke, or in the head, but yet the other thruſt is uſed, becauſe the Rapier, which is directed to the thigh, is in place, to hinder the enemies other Rapier to light on the legges.

And as in the high ward, ſo likewiſe in this, he muſt alwaies ſtand without, and having delivered the wide thruſt, he ought preſentlie to widen the other arme, and ſettle himſelfe in the broad ward.

Of the defense of the broad ward at two Rapyers

F

Or the defenſe of the thruſt of the broad ward, it is neceſsarie that a man ſtand at the lowe ward, and therewithall diligently obſerve, the mocions of the enemies bodie, how it compaſseth and paſseth to and froe, by knowledge and due conſideration whereof, he may eaſilie defend himſelf. Yf therefore the right arme be ſtretched out wide, the right foote alſo (being behind) ſhall be in like maner widened, the which, when it increaſeth forwards, ſhall alſo carrie with it the right ſhoulder, voyding alwayes with the left ſide.

And the ſelf ſame muſt be conſidered, & practiced, when he ſtands at this ward, the contrarie way. That therefore which he muſt doe, for the defenſe of himſelfe, ſhalbe to voide that part of his bodie, which may be hurt by the enemies wide and broad thruſt, and to oppoſe himſelf againſt that part of his enemie, which commeth forwards pretending to ſtrike: And this he ſhall doe, at what time the enemie (finding the ſword) would come forwards in his thruſt. And in the ſelfe ſame time, (aſsuring himſelf with his own low ſword) ſhall increaſe a ſlope pace, thereby inveſting and incountering that part of the enemie, which came ſtriking, and with the which framed the broad ward. Neither can it be ſafe ſtriking at any other place, for either, he ſhall find nothing to incounter, by meanes of the mocion of the bodie, or els if he do not oppoſe himſelfe againſt the ſhoulder of the enemie which carrieth the hurt, he is in hazard to be ſtroken by the enemies broad thruſt.

Of the hurt of the low ward at the two Rapyers

T

He low ward ſhall be framed after two waies, the one with the right foote before, the other with the left, and each of them may ſtrike, either within, either without. The way which ſtriketh within, hath one blow, the way which ſtriketh without hath two, and in all, they are ſixe. I will lay down but three, becauſe they differ not from the other three, but onlie in the hand and foote, which muſt be place before, ſo that they are the ſelfe ſame, for I have alreadie preſuppoſed, that he who taketh upon him to handle theſe weapons, can aſwell uſe the one hand, as he can the other. He may therefore finde himſelfe to ſtand with his right foote before and within, (I underſtand by within, when he bears one of his ſwordes between both his enemies ſwords, and likewiſe when the enemie carrieth one of his, betwene the other two. It is likewiſe true, that this alſo may be ſaid within, to wit, when both weapons are borne in the middle between the other two. But I ſuppoſe no man ſo fooliſh, who handling theſe weapons, will ſuffer both his ſwordes to be without, being a verie unſure ward whereof I leave to ſpeake.

That therefore, which he is to do, (finding himſelfe with both his rapiers below, & within, with his right foote before, and after the ſaid firſt way of being within) ſhalbe, that marking when he may cloſe in the enemies Rapier, betwene the which the enemies rapier ſhall be ſo ſhut in and barred, that it may do no hurt, and one of the two Rapiers, that is to ſay, the right Rapier ſhall paſse under the enemies rapier, and thruſt ſafelie. And his other Rapier, albeit, it may thruſt directly, yet (for the better ſaving of himſelfe, from the enemies other Rapier that is at libertie) he ſhall beare it ſomewhat abaſing his hand, with the point upwards, the which point ſhall ſafegarde him, from the enemies ſaid Rapier, although this laſt note, be ſuperfluous. For ſeeing the enemie muſt ward himſelfe from the thruſt that hurteth him, he has no leiſure, nor happilie mindeth to ſtrike, but only to defend himſelfe, either by voyding his bodie, or els by ſome other ſhift, which he ſhall then find out.

The waie of warding without, may ſtrike directlie after two waies: The firſt, by beating off the enemies Rapier, with his owne that is before, and by delivering a thruſt, either at the breſt or head, with the Rapier that is behinde, increaſing therwithall a ſlope pace, and ſetling himſelfe in the low ward, with his left foote before.

The ſecond is, by taking oportunitie, which he may do, if he be nimble. And he ought with the increaſe of a ſlope pace, to drive the point of his former Rapyer directlie towards the enemie, and above the enemies Rapier. And his other owne rapier, which before the increaſe was behind, he muſt force on, under the enemies rapier. And thus, not giving over, theſe two thruſts muſt be ſtronglie and nimblie driven towards the enemie, by meanes whereof being overtaken, the enemie has no other remedie to ſave himſelfe, then to retire backe: for he may not come forwards, but he muſt runne himſelf upon the weapons, and that he will not doe. So then, the enemie retiring himſelfe may be followed, as farre as the increaſe of the right foote will beare, then, ſetling in the low ward.