PARADOXES OF DEFENCE, WHEREIN IS PROVED THE TRUE grounds of Fight to be in the short ancient weapons, and that the short Sword hath advantage of the long Sword or long Rapier. And the weakness and imperfection of the Rapier-fights displayed. Together with an Admonition to the noble, ancient, victorious, valiant, and most brave nation of Englishmen, to beware of false teachers of Defence, and how they forsake their own natural fights: with a brief commendation of the noble science or exercising of Arms.  
By George Silver Gentleman.  
ANCHORA SPEI  
LONDON, Printed for Edward Blount. 1599   

 blazon or coat of arms 
HONI SOYT QVY MAL Y PENSE    

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, MY SINGULAR GOOD LORD, ROBERT EARL OF Essex and Ewe, Earl Martial of England, Viscount Hereford, Lord Ferrer of Chartley, Bourchier and Louvain, Master of the Queen's majesties horse, & of the ordinance, Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Knight of the most noble order of the Garter, and one of her highness most honourable Privy Counsel.  
FENCING (Right honourable) in this new fangled age, is like our fashions, every day a change, resembling the Chameleon, who altereth himself into all colours save white: so Fencing changeth into all wards save the right. That it is so, experience teacheth us: why it is so, I doubt not but your wisdom doth conceive. There is nothing permanent that is not true, what can be true that is uncertain? how can that be certain, that stands upon uncertain grounds? The mind of man a greedy hunter after truth, finding the seeming truth but changing, not always one, but always diverse, forsakes the supposed, to find out the assured certainty: and searching every where save where it should, meets with all save what it would. Who seeks & finds not, seeks in vain; who seeks in vain, must if he will find seek again: and seek he may again and again, yet all in vain. Who seeks not what he would, as he should, and where he should, as in all other things (Right honourable) so in Fencing: the mind desirous of truth, hunts after it, and hating falsehood, flies from it, and therefore having miss it once, it assays the second time: if then he thrives not, he tries another way: when that hath failed he adventures on the third: & if all these fail him, yet he never faileth to change his weapon, his fight, his ward, if by any means he may compass what he most affect: for because men desire to find out a true defence for themselves in their fight, therefore they seek it diligently, nature having taught us to defend ourselves, and Art teaching how: and because we miss it in one way we change to another. But though we often chop and change, turn and return, from ward to ward, from fight to fight, in this unconstant search, yet we never rest in any, and that because we never find the truth: 
English masters of defence, are profitable members in the common wealth, if they teach with ancient English weapons of true Defence, weight and convenient length, within the compass of the statures and strength of men to command, because it maketh them safe, bold, valiant, hardy, strong and healthful, and victorious 〈◊〉 the wars, service of their Prince, defence of their friends and country. But the Rapter in reason not to be taught, nor suffered to be taught, because it maketh men fearful and unsafe in single combat, and weak, & unserviceable in the wars.  and therefore we never find it, because we never seek it in that weapon where it may be found. For, to seek for a true defence in an untrue weapon, is to angle on the earth for fish, and to hunt in the sea for Hares: truth is ancient though it seem an upstart: our forefathers were wise, though our age account them foolish, valiant though we repute them cowards: they found out the true defence for their bodies in short weapons by their wisdom, they defended themselves and subdued their enemies, with those weapons with their valour. And (Right honourable) if we will have this true Defence, we must seek it where it is, in short Swords, short staves the half Pike, Partisans, Gloves, or such like weapons of perfect lengths, not in long Swords, long Rapiers, nor frog pricking Poiniards: for if there be no certain grounds for Defence, why do they teach it? if there be, why have they not found it? Not because it is not: to say so, were to gainsay the truth: but because it is not certain in those weapons which they teach. To prove this, I have set forth these my Paradoxes, different I confess from the main current of our outlandish teachers, but agreeing I am well assured to the truth, and tending as I hope to the honour of our English nation. The reason which moved me to adventure so great a task, is the desire I have to bring the truth to light, which hath long time lain hidden in the cave of contempt, while we like degenerate sons, have forsaken our forefather's virtues with their weapons, and have lusted like men sick of a strange ague, after the strange vices and devices of Italian, French and Spanish Fencers, little remembering, that these Apish toys could not free Rome from Brennius sack, nor France from King Henry the fift his conquest. To this desire to find out truth the daughter of time, begotten of Bellona, I was also moved, that by it I might remove the great loss of our English gallants, which we daily suffer by these imperfect fights, wherein none undertake the combat, be his cause never so good, his cunning never so much, his strength and agility never so great, but his virtue was tied to fortune: happy man, happy dole, kill or be killed is the dreadful issue of this devilish imperfect fight. If that man were now alive, which beat the Master for the scholars fault, because he had no better instructed him, these Italian Fencers could not escape his censure, who teach us Offence, not Defence, and to fight, as Diogenes scholars were taught to dance, to bring their lives to an end by Art. Was Ajax a coward because he fought with a seven folded Buckler, or are we mad to go naked into the field to try our fortunes, not our virtues? Was Achilles a runaway, who ware that well tempered armour, or are we desperate, who care for nothing but to fight, and learn like the Pygmies, to fight with bodkins, or weapons of like defence? Is it valour for a man to go naked against his enemy? why then did the Lacedæmonians punish him as desperate, whom they rewarded for his valour with a Laurel crown? But that which is most shameful, 
To this it will be objected, that in the wars we use few Rapiers or none at all, but short Swords. To that I answer: Those are insufficient also, for that they have no hilts, whereby they are insufficient in their defence, and especially for the hand, which being strooken although with a verie small blow, most commonly is the loss of a man, because the force of his hand being taken from him, he is neither able to defend his life, nor greatly to offend his enemy: and again, since the Rapier-fight hath been taught, for lack of practice they have lost the use of the blow.  they teach men to butcher one another here at home in peace, wherewith they cannot hurt their enemies abroad in war. For, your Honour well knows, that when the battles are joined, and come to the charge, there is no room for them to draw their Bird spits, and when they have them, what can they do with them? can they pierce his corselet with the point? can they unlace his Helmet, unbuckle his Armour, hue asunder their Pikes with a Stocata, a reversa, a Dritta; a Stramason, or other such like tempestuous terms? no, these toys are fit for children, not for men, for straggling boys of the Camp, to murder poultry, not for men of Honour to try the battle with their foes. Thus I have (right Honourable) for the trial of the truth, between the short Sword and the long Rapier, for the saving of the lives of our English gallants, who are sent to certain death by their uncertain fights, & for abandoning of that mischievous and imperfect weapon, which serves to kill our friends in peace, but cannot much hurt our foes in war, have I at this time given forth these Paradoxes to the view of the world. And because I know such strange opinions had need of stout defence, I humbly crave your Honourable protection, as one in whom the true nobility of our victorious Ancestors hath taken up his residence. It will suit to the rest of your Honour's most noble compliments, to maintain the defence of their weapons whose virtues you possess. I● agrees with your Honourable disposition, to 〈◊〉 with favour what is presented with love. It 〈◊〉 with your Lordship's high authority, to weigh with reason, what is fit for marshal 〈◊〉. It is an usual point of your Honour, which win●● your Lordship love in your country, to defend the truth in whomsoever: and it addeth a supply to that which your Lordship have of late begun to your unspeakable honour and our inestimable benefit, to reduce the 〈…〉 with hilts over the hands, 
Why should we leave the hand naked, since thereby our limbs & lives are defended, our enemy's discomforted, wounded, and executed? I see no reason but that the hand should be as well armed and provided for, as any other part of the body.  to the Roman discipline, no longer than they might draw them under their arms, or over their shoulders. I call or any of these respects, I rest assured that your Lordship will vouchsafe to receive with favour and maintain with honour these Paradoxes of mine, which if they be shrouded under so safe a shield, I will not doubt but to maintain with reason amongst the wise, and prove it by practice upon the ignorant, that there is no certain defence in the Rapier, and that there is great advantage in the short Sword against the long Rapier, or all manner of Rapiers in general, of what length soever. And that the short Staff hath the vantage against the long Staff of twelve, fourteen, sixteen or eighteen foot long, or of what length soever. And against two men with their sword and Daggers, or two Rapiers, Poiniards & Gauntlets, or each of them a case of Rapiers: which whether I can perform or not, I submit for trial to your honours martial censure, being at all times ready to make it good, in what manner, and against what man soever it shall stand with your Lordship's good liking to appoint. And so I humbly commend this book to your Lordship's wisdom to peruse, and your Honour to the Highest to protect in all health and happiness now and ever.  
Your Honours in all duty, George Silver.   

AN ADMONITION TO THE NOBLE, ANCIENT, VICTORIOUS, VALIANT, AND MOST BRAVE NATION OF ENGLISHMEN.  
GEorge Silver having the perfect knowledge of all manner of weapons, and being experienced in all manner of fights, thereby perceiving the great abuses by the Italian Teachers of Offence done unto them, the great errors, inconveniences, & false resolutions they have brought them into have enforced me, even of pity of their most lamentable wounds and slaughters, & as I verily think it my bounden duty, with all love and humility to admonish them to take heed, how they submit themselves into the hands of Italian teachers of Defence, or strangers whatsoever; and to beware how they forsake or suspect their own natural fight, that they may by casting off of these Italianated, weak, fantastical, and most devilish and imperfect fights, and by exercising of their own ancient weapons, be restored, or achieve unto their natural, and most manly and victorious fight again, the dint and force whereof many brave nations have both felt and feared. Our ploughmen have mightily prevailed against them, as also against Masters of Defence both in Schools and countries, that have taken upon them to stand upon Schoole-trickes and juggling gambalds: whereby it grew to a common speech among the countrymen, Bring me to a Fencer, I will bring him out of his fence tricks with good down right blows, I will make him forget his fence tricks I will warrant him. I speak not against Masters of Defence indeed, they are to be honoured, nor against the Science, it is noble, and in mine opinion to be preferred next to Divinity; for as Divinity preserveth the soul from hell and the devil, so doth this noble Science defend the body from wounds & slaughter. And moreover, the exercising of weapons putteth away aches, griefs, and diseases, it increaseth strength, and sharpeneth the wits, it giveth a perfect judgement, it expelleth melancholy, choleric and evil conceits, it keepeth a man in breath, perfect health, and long life. It is unto him that hath the perfection thereof, a most friendly and comfortable companion when he is alone, having but only his weapon about him, it putteth him out of all fear, & in the wars and places of most danger it maketh him bold, hardy, and valiant.  
And for as much as this noble and most mighty nation of Englishmen, of their good natures, are always most loving, very credulous, & ready to cherish & protect strangers: yet that through their good natures they never more by strangers or false teachers may be deceived, once again I am most humbly to admonish them, or such as shall find in themselves a disposition or desire to learn their weapons of them, that from henceforth as strangers shall take upon them to come hither to teach this noble & most valiant, & victorious nation to fight, that first, before they learn of them, they cause a sufficient trial of them to be made, whether the excellency of their skill be such as they profess or no, the trial to be very requisite & reasonable, even such as I myself would be contented withal, if I should take upon me to go in their country to teach their nation to fight. And this is the trial: 
A great favour to give them choice of their weapons, because professors of arms ought to be skilful with all manner of weapons.  they shall play with such weapons as they profess to teach withal, three bouts apiece with three of the best English Masters of Defence, & three bouts apiece with three unskilful valiant men, and three bouts apiece with three resolute men half drunk. Then if they can defend themselves against these masters of Defence, and hurt, and go free from the rest, then are they to be honoured, cherished, and allowed for perfect good teachers, what country men soever they be: but if of any of these they take foil, then are they imperfect in their profession, their fight is false, & they are false teachers, deceivers and murderers, and to be punished accordingly, yet no worse punishment unto them I wish, than such as in their trial they shall find.  

There are four especial marks to know the Italian fight is imperfect & that the Italian teachers and setters forth of books of Defence, never had the perfection of the true fight.  
The first mark is, 
Yet they persuade us that the cross of the Rapier without hilt or gauntlet is sufficient.  they seldom fight in their own country unarmed, commonly in this sort, a pair of Gantlettes upon their hands, and a good shirt of mail upon their bodies. The second mark is, that neither the Italians, nor any of their best scholars do never fight, but they are most commonly sore hurt, or one or both of them slain.  
The third mark is, they never teach their scholars, nor set down in their books any perfect lengths of their weapons, without the which no man can by nature or Art against the perfect length fight safe, for being too short, their times are too long, and spaces too wide for their defence, and being too long, they willbe upon every cross that shall happen to be made, whether it be done by skill or chance, in great danger of death; because the Rapier being too long, the cross cannot be undone in due time, but may be done by going back with the feet; but that time is always too long to answer the time of the hand, therefore every man ought to have a weapon according to his own stature: the tall man must have his weapon longer than the man of mean stature, or else he hath wrong in his defence, & the man of mean stature must have his weapon longer than the man of small stature, or else he hath wrong in his defence; & the man of small stature must beware that he feed not himself with this vain conceit, that he will have his weapon long, to reach as far as the tall man, for therein he shall have great disadvantage, both in making of a strong cross, and also in uncrossing again, and in keeping his point from crossing, and when a cross is made upon him, to defend himself, or endanger his enemy, or to redeem his lost times. Again Rapiers longer, then is convenient to accord with the true statures of men, are always too long or too heavy to keep their bodies in due time from the cross of the light short sword of perfect length, the which being made by the skilful out of any of the four true times, upon any of the four chief Actions, by reason of the uncertainty & great swiftness in any of these times, they are in great danger of a blow, or of a thrust in the hand, arm, head, body, or face, & in every true cross in the uncrossing, in great danger of a blow upon the head, or a full thrust in the body or face: and being taken in that time & place, the first mover in uncrossing speedeth the Rapier man of imperfect length, whether it be too long, too short or too heavy, and goeth free himself by the direction of his governors.  
The fourth mark is, the crosses of their Rapiers for true defence of their hands are imperfect, for the true carriage of the guardant fight, without the which all fights are imperfect.   

Of six chief causes, that many valiant men thinking themselves by their practices to be skilful in their weapons, are yet many times in their fight sore hurt, and many times slain by men of small skill, or none at all.  
THe first and chiefest cause is, the lack of the four Governors, without the which it is impossible to fight safe, although a man should practise most painfully and most diligently all the days of his life.  
The second cause is, the lack of knowledge in the due observance of the four Actions, the which we call bend, spent, lying spent, and drawing back: these Actions every man fighteth upon, whether they be skilful or unskilful, he that observeth them is safe, he that observeth them not, is in continual danger of every thrust that shallbe strongly made against him.  
The third cause is, they are unpractised in the four true times, neither do they know the true times from the false: therefore the true choice of their times are most commonly taken by chance, and seldom otherwise.  
The fourth cause is, they are unacquainted out of what fight, or in what manner they are to answer the variable fight: and therefore because the variable fight is the most easiest fight of all other, most commonly do answer the variable fight with the variable fight, which ought never to be but in the first distance, or with the short Sword against the long, because if both or one of them shall happen to press, and that in due time of neither side fight be changed, the distance, by reason of narrowness of space, is broken, the place is won and lost of both sides, than he that thrusteth first, speedeth: if both happen to thrust together, they are both in danger. These things sometimes by true times, by change of fights, by chance are avoided.  
The fift cause is, their weapons are most commonly too long to uncrosse without going back with the feet.  
The sixth cause is, their weapons are most commonly too heavy both to defend and offend in due time, & by these two last causes many valiant men have lost their lives   

What is the cause that wisemen in learning or practising their weapons, are deceived with Italian Fencers.  

No fight perfect that is not done in force & true time.  THere are four causes: the first, their schoolmasters are imperfect: the second is, that whatsoever they teach, is both true & false; true in their demonstrations, according with their force & time in gentle play, & in their actions according with true force & time in rough play or fight, false: for example, there is as much difference betwixt these two kind of fights, as there is betwixt the true picture of Sir Bevis of Southampton, & Sir Bevis himself, if he were living. The third, none can judge of the Craft but the craftsman; the unskilful, be he never so wise, can not truly judge of his teacher, or skill, the which he learneth, being unskilful himself. Lastly, & to confirm for truth all that shall be amiss, not only in this excellent Science of Defence, but in all other excellent secrets, most commonly the lie beareth as good a show of truth, as truth itself.   

Of the false resolutions and vain opinions of Rapier-men, and of the danger of death thereby ensuing.  
IT is a great question, & especially amongst the Rapier-men, who hath the vantage of the thruster, or of the warder. Some hold strongly, that the warder hath the vantage: others say, it is most certain that the thruster hath the vantage. Now when two do hap to fight, being both of one mind, that the thruster hath the vantage, they make all shift they can, who shall give the first thrust: as for example, two Captains at Southampton even as they were going to take shipping upon the key, fell at strife, drew their Rapiers, and presently, being desperate, hardy or resolute, as they call it, with all force and over great speed, ran with their rapiers one at the other, & were both slain. Now when two of the contrary opinion shall meet and fight, you shall see very peaceable wars between them: for they verily think that he that first thrusteth is in great danger of his life, therefore with all speed do put themselves in ward, or Stocata, the surest guard of all other, as Vincentio saith, and thereupon they stand sure, saying the one to the other, thrust and thou dare; and saith the other, thrust and thou dare, or strike or thrust and thou dare, saith the other: then saith the other, strike or thrust and thou dare for thy life. These two cunning gentlemen standing long time together, upon this worthy ward, they both depart in peace, according to the old proverb: It is good sleeping in a whole skin. A gain if two shall fight, the one of opinion, that he that thrusteth hath the vantage, and the other of opinion, that the warder hath the vantage, then most commonly the thruster being valiant, with all speed thrusteth home, and by reason of the time and swift motion of his hand, they are most commonly with the points of their rapiers, or daggers, or both, one or both of them hurt or slain; because their spaces of defence in that kind of fight, are too wide in due time to defend, and the place being won, the eye of the Patient by the swift motion of the Agents hand, is deceived. Another resolution they stand sure upon for their lives, to kill their enemies, in the which they are most commonly slain themselves: that is this: When they find the point of their enemy's rapier out of the right line, they say, they may boldly make home a thrust with a Passata, the which they observe, and do accordingly: but the other having a shorter time with his hand, as nature many times teacheth him, suddenly turneth his wrist, whereby he meeteth the other in his passage just with the point of his rapier in the face or body. And this false resolution hath cost many a life.   

That the cause that many are so often slain, and many sore hurt in fight with long Rapiers, is not by reason of their dangerous thrusts, nor cunningness of that Italienated fight, but in the length and unweildinesse thereof.  
IT is most certain, that men may with short swords both strike, thrust, false and double, by reason of their distance and nimbleness thereof, more dangerously than they can with long Rapiers: and yet when two fight with short sword, having true fight, there is no hurt done: neither is it possible in any reason, that any hurt should be done betwixt them of either side, and this is well known to all such as have the perfection of true fight. By this it plainly appeareth, that the cause of the great slaughter, and sundry hurts done by long Rapiers, consisteth not in long Reach, dangerous thrusts, nor cunningness of the Italian fight, but in the inconvenient length, and unweildinesse of their long Rapiers: whereby it commonly falleth out, that in all their Actions appertaining to their defence, they are unable, in due time to perform, and continually in danger of every cross, that shall happen to be made with their rapier blades, which being done, within the half rapier; (unless both be of one mind with all speed to departed, which seldom or never happeneth between men of valiant disposition,) it is impossible to uncrosse, or get out, or to avoid the stabs of the Daggers. And this hath fallen out many times amongst valiant men at those weapons.   

Of running and standing fast in Rapier fight, the runner hath the vantage.  
IF two valiant men do fight being both cunning in running, & that they both use the same at one instant, their course is doubled, the place is won of both sides, and one or both of them will commonly be slain or sore hurt: and if one of them shall run, and the other stand fast upon the Imbrocata or Stocata, or howsoever, the place willbe at one instant won of one side, and gained of the other, and one or both of them willbe hurt or slain: if both shall press hard upon the guard, he that first thrusteth home in true place, hurteth the other: & if both thrust together, they are both hurt: yet some vantage the runner hath, because he is an uncertain mark, and in his motion: the other is a certain mark, and in a dead motion: and by reason thereof many times the unskilful man taketh vantage he knoweth not how, against him that lieth watching upon his ward or Stocata guard.   

Of striking and thrusting both together.  
I It is strongly holden of many, that if in fight they find their enemy to have more skill than themselves, they presently will continually strike, & thrust just with him, whereby they will make their fight as good as his, and thereby have as good advantage as the other with all his skill: but if their sword be longer than the other, than their advantage is great; for it is certain (say they) that an inch will kill a man: but if their sword be much longer than the other, than their advantage is so great, that they willbe sure by thrusting and striking just with the other, that they will always hurt him that hath the short sword, and go clear themselves, because they will reach him, when he shall not reach them. These men speak like such as talk of Robin Hood, that never shot in his bow; for to strike or thrust just together with a man of skill, lieth not in the will of the ignorant, because the skilful man always fighteth upon the true times, by the which the unskilful is still disappointed of both place and time, and therefore driven of necessity still to watch the other, when & what he will do; that is, whether he will strike, thrust, or false: if the unskilful strike or thrust in the time of falsing, therein he neither striketh nor thrusteth just with the other: he may say, he hath stroke or thrust before him, but not just with him, nor to any good purpose; for in the time of falsing, if he strike or thrust, he striketh or thrusteth too short: for in that time he hath neither time nor place to strike home, and as it is said, the unskilful man, that will take upon him to strike or thrust just with the skilful, must first behold what the man of skill will do, and when he will do it, and therefore of necessity is driven to suffer the skilful man to be the first mover, and entered into his Action, whether it be blow or thrust, the truth thereof in reason cannot be denied. Now judge whether it be possible for an unskilful man to strike or thrust just together with a man of skill; but the skilful man can most certainly strike and thrust just together with the unskilful, because the unskilful fighteth upon false times, which being too long to answer the true times, the skilful fight upon the true times, although the unskilful be the first mover, & entered into his Action, whether it be blow or thrust; yet the shortness of the true times maketh at the pleasure of the skilful a just meeting together: in perfect fight too never strike or thrust together, because they never suffer place nor time to perform it.  
Two unskilful men many times by chance strike and thrust together, chance unto them, because they know not what they do, or how it cometh to pass: but the reasons or causes be these. Sometimes two false times meet & make a just time together, & sometimes a true time and a false time meeteth and maketh a just time together, and sometimes two true times meet and make a just time together. And all this happeneth because the true time and place is unknown unto them.   

George Silver his resolution upon that hidden or doubtful question, who hath the advantage of the Offender or Defender.  
The advantage is strongly holden of many to be in the offender, yea in somuch, that if two minding to offend in their fight, it is thought to be in him that first striketh or thrusteth. Others strongly hold opinion that the warder absolutely hath still the advantage, but these opinions as they are contrary the one to the other: so are they contrary to true fight, as may well be seen by these short examples. If the advantage be in the warder, than it is not good any time to strike or thrust: if the advantage be in the striker or thruster, than were it a frivolous thing to learn to ward, or at any time to seek to ward, since in warding lieth disadvantage. Now may it plainly by these examples appear, that if there be any perfection in fight, that both sides are deceived in their opinions, because if the striker or thruster have the advantage, then is the warder still in danger of wounds or death. And again, if the warder hath the advantage, then is the striker or thruster in as great danger to defend himself against the warder, because the warder from his wards, taketh advantage of the striker or thruster upon every blow or thrust, that shall be made against him. Then thus I conclude, that if there be perfection in the Science of Defence, they are all in their opinions deceived; and that the truth may appear for the satisfaction of all men, this is my resolution: there is no advantage absolutely, nor disadvantage in striker, thruster, or warder: and there is a great advantage in the striker thruster & warder: but in this manner, in the perfection of fight the advantage consisteth in fight between party and party: that is, whosoever winneth or gaineth the place in true pace, space and time, hath the advantage, whether he be striker, thruster or warder. And that is my resolution.   

Of Spanish fight with the Rapier.  
THe Spaniard is now thought to be a better man with his Rapier then is the Italian, Frenchman, high Almain, or any other country man whatsoever, because they in their Rapier-fight stand upon so many intricate tricks, that in all the course of a man's life it shall be hard to learn them, and if they miss in doing the least of them in their fight, they are in danger of death. But the Spaniard in his fight, both safely to defend himself, and to endanger his enemy, hath but one only lying, and two wards to learn, wherein a man with small practice in a very short time may become perfect.  
This is the manner of Spanish fight, they stand as brave as they can with their bodies strait upright, narrow spaced, with their feet continually moving, as if they were in a dance, holding forth their arms and Rapiers very strait against the face or bodies of their enemies: & this is the only lying to accomplish that kind of fight. And this note, that as long as any man shall lie in that manner with his arm, and point of his Rapier strait, it shall be impossible for his adversary to hurt him, because in that strait holding forth of his arm, which way soever a blow shall be made against him, by reason that his Rapier hilt lieth so far before him, he hath but a very little way to move, to make his ward perfect, in this manner. If a blow be made at the right side of the head, a very little moving of the hand with the knuckles upward defendeth that side of the head or body, and the point being still out strait, greatly endangereth the striker: and so likewise, if a blow be made at the left side of the head, a very small turning of the wrist with the knuckles downward, defendeth that side of the head and body, and the point of the Rapier much endangereth the hand, arm, face or body of the striker: and if any thrust be made, the wards, by reason of the indirections in moving the feet in manner of dancing, as aforesaid, maketh a perfect ward, and still withal the point greatly endangereth the other. And thus is the Spanish fight perfect: so long as you can keep that order, and soon learned, and therefore to be accounted the best fight with the Rapier of all other. But note how this Spanish fight is perfect, and you shall see no longer than you can keep your point strait against your adversary: as for example, I have heard the like jest.  
There was a cunning Doctor at his first going to sea, being doubtful that he should be seasick, an old woman perceiving the same, said unto him: Sir, I pray, be of good comfort, I will teach you a trick to avoid that doubt; here is a fine pebble stone, if you please to accept it, take it with you, and when you be on shipbord, put it in your mouth, and as long as you shall keep the same in your mouth, upon my credit you shall never vomit: the Doctor believed her, and took it thankfully at her hands, and when he was at sea, he began to be sick, whereupon he presently put the stone in his mouth, & there kept it so long as he possibly could, but through his extreme sickness the stone with vomit was cast out of his mouth: then presently he remembered how the woman had mocked him, and yet her words were true.  
Even so a Spaniard having his Rapier point put by, may receive a blow on the head, or a cut over the face, hand, or arm, or a thrust in the body or face, and yet his Spanish fight perfect, so long as he can keep strait the point of his Rapier against the face or body of his adversary: which is as easy in that manner of fight to be done, as it was for the Doctor in the extremity of his vomit to keep the stone in his mouth.  
Yet one other pretty jest more, scarce worth the reading, in commendation of outlandish fight. There was an Italian teacher of Defence in my time, who was so excellent in his fight, that he would have hit any English man with a thrust, just upon any button in his doublet, and this was much spoken of.  
Also there was another cunning man in catching of wild geese, he would have made no more ado, when he had heard them cry, as the manner of wild-geese is, flying one after another in rows, but presently looking up, would tell them, if there had been a dozen, sixteen, twenty, or more, he would have taken every one. And this tale was many times told by men of good credit, and much marveled at by the hearers: & the man that would have taken the wild-geese, was of good credit himself: marry they said, indeed he did never take any, but at any time when he had looked up, and seen them fly in that manner, he would with all his heart have taken them, but he could no more tell how to do it, than could the cunning Italian Fencer tell how to hit an Englishman, with a thrust just upon any one of his buttons, when he listed.   

Illusions for the maintenance of imperfect weapons & false fights, to fear or discourage the unskilful in their weapons, from taking a true course or use, for attaining to the perfect knowledge of true fight.  
FIrst, for the Rapier (saith the Italian, or false teacher) I hold it to be a perfect good weapon, because the cross hindereth not to hold the handle in the hand, to thrust both far & strait, & to use all manner of advantages in the wards, or suddenly to cast the same at the adversary, but with the Sword you are driven with all the strength of the hand to hold fast the handle. And in the wars I would wish no friend of mine to wear Swords with hilts, because when they are suddenly set upon, for haste they set their hands upon their hilts in steed of their handles: in which time it happeneth many times before they can draw their swords, they are slain by their enemies. 
These counterfeit shows are enough to carry the wisest that know not the true fight from the false, out of the right way.  And for Sword and Buckler fight, it is imperfect, because the buckler blindeth the fight, neither would I have any man lie aloft with his hand above his head, to strike sound blows: Strong blows are nought, especially being set above the head, 
And if their weapons were short, as in times past they were, yet they could not thrust safe at body or face, because in gardant fight they fall over, or under the perfect cross of the sword & to strike beneath the waste, or at the legs, is great disadvantage, because the course of the blow to the legs is too far, & thereby the head, face, & body is discovered: and that was the cause in old time, that they did not thrust nor strike at the legs, & not for lack of skill, as in these days we imagine. Again, if a man in those days should have fought with a long sword, they would presently have put him into Cobs Travers.  because therein all the face and body is discovered. Yet I confess, in old times, when blows were only used with short Swords & bucklers, & back Sword, these kind of fights were good & most manly, but now in these days fight is altered. Rapiers are longer for advantage than swords were wont to be: when blows were used, men were so simple in their fight, that they thought him to be a coward, that would make a thrust or strike a blow beneath the girdle. Again, if their weapons were short, as in times past they were, yet fight is better looked into in these days, than then it was. Who is it in these days seethe not that the blow compasseth round like a wheel, whereby it hath a longer way to go, but the thrust passeth in a strait line, and therefore cometh a nearer way, and done in a shorter time than is the blow, and is more deadly than is the blow? Therefore there is no wise man that will strike; unless he be weary of his life. It is certain, that the point for advantage every way in fight is to be used, the blow is utterly nought, and not to be used. He that fighteth upon the blow especially with a short sword, willbe sore hurt or slain. The devil can say no more for the maintenance of errors.   

That a blow cometh continually as near a way as a thrust, and most commonly nearer, stronger, more swifter, and is sooner done.  
THe blow, by reason that it compasseth round like a wheel, 
A confutation of their errors.  whereby it hath a longer way to come, as the Italian Fenser saith, & that the thrust passing in a strait line, cometh a nearer way, and therefore is sooner done then a blow, is not true: these be the proofs.  
Let two lie in their perfect strengths and readiness, wherein the blades of their Rapiers by the motion of the body, may not be crossed of either side, the one to strike, and the other to thrust. Then measure the distance or course wherein the hand and hilt passeth to finish the blow of the one, and the thrust of the other, and you shall find them both by measure, in distance all one. And let any man of judgement being seen in the exercise of weapons, not being more addicted unto novelties of fight, then unto truth itself, put in measure, and practise these three fights, variable, open, and guardant, and he shall see, that whensoever any man lieth at the thrust upon the variable fight, (where of necessity most commonly he lieth, or otherwise not possibly to keep his Rapier from crossing at the blow & thrust, upon the open or gardant fight,) that the blows & thrusts from these two fights, come a nearer way, and a more stronger and swifter course than doth the thrust, out of the variable fight. And thus for a general rule, wheresoever the Thruster lieth, or out of what fight soever he fighteth, with his Rapier, or Rapier and Dagger, the blow in his course cometh as near, and nearer, and more swift and stronger then doth the thrust.   

Perfect fight standeth upon both blow and thrust, therefore the thrust is not only to be used.  
THat there is no fight perfect without both blow and thrust: neither is there any certain rule to be set down for the use of the point only, these be the reasons: 
This in truth cannot be denied.  In fight there are many motions, with the hand, body, and feet, and in every motion the place of the hand is altered, & because by the motions of the hand, the altering of the places of the hand, the changes of lyings, wards, and breaking of thrusts, the hand will sometimes be in place to strike, some times to thrust, sometimes after a blow to thrust, and sometimes after a thrust to strike, & sometimes in place where you may strike, and cannot thrust without loss of time, and sometimes in place where you may thrust, and cannot strike without loss of time, and sometimes in place where you can neither strike nor thrust, unless you fight upon both blow and thrust, nor able to defend yourself by ward or going back, because your space willbe too wide, and your distance lost. And sometimes when you have made a thrust, a ward or breaking is taken in such sort with the Dagger or blade of the Sword, that you can neither thrust again, nor defend yourself unless you do strike, which you may fondly do, and go free, and sometimes when you strike, a ward willbe taken in such sort, that you cannot strike again, nor defend yourself, unless you thrust, which you may safely do and go free. So to conclude, there is no perfection in the true fight, without both blow and thrust, nor certain rule to be set down for the point only.   

That the blow is more dangerous and deadly in fight, than a thrust, for proof thereof to be made according with Art, an Englishman holdeth argument against an Italian.  Italian. 
WHich is more dangerous or deadly in fight of a blow or a thrust?  Englishman. 
This question is not propounded according to art, because there is no fight perfect without both blow and thrust.  Italian. 
Let it be so, yet opinions are otherwise holden, that the thrust is only to be used, because it cometh a nearer way, and is more dangerous and deadly, for these reasons: first the blow compasseth round like a wheel, but the thrust passeth in a strait line, therefore the blow by reason of the compass, hath a longer way to go then the thrust, & is therefore longer in doing, but the thrust passeth in a strait line, therefore hath shorter way to go than hath the blow, & is therefore done in a shorter time, & is therefore much better than the blow, & more dangerous and deadly, because if a thrust do hit the face or body, it endangereth life, and most commonly death ensueth: but if the blow hit the body, it is not so dangerous.  Englishman. 
Let your opinions be what they will, but that the thrust cometh a nearer way; & is sooner done then the blow, is not true: & for proof thereof read the twelfth Paradox. And now will I set down probable reasons, 
The blow more dangerous than the thrust.  that the blow is better than the thrust, and more dangerous and deadly. First, the blow cometh as near a way, & most commonly nearer than doth the thrust, & is therefore done in a shorter time than is the thrust: therefore in respect of time, whereupon standeth the perfection of fight, the blow is much better than the thrust. Again, the force of the thrust passeth strait, therefore any cross being indirectly made, the force of a child may put it by: but the force of a blow passeth indirectly, therefore must be directly warded in the countercheck of his force: which cannot be done but by the convenient strength of a man, & with true cross in true time, or else will not safely defend him: and is therefore much better, & more dangerous than the thrust, and again, the thrust being made through the hand, arm, or leg, or in many places of the body and face, are not deadly, neither are they maims, or loss of limbs or life, neither is he much hindered for the time in his fight, as long as the blood is hot: for example.  
I have known a Gentleman hurt in Rapier fight, in nine or ten places through the body, arms, and legs, and yet hath continued in his fight, & afterward hath slain the other, 
The blow cutteth off the hand, the arm, the leg, and sometimes the head.  and come home and hath been cured of all his wounds without maim, & is yet living. But the blow being strongly made, taketh sometimes clean away the hand from the arm, hath many times been seen. Again, a full blow upon the head or face with a short sharp Sword, is most commonly death. A full blow upon the neck, shoulder, arm, or leg, endangereth life, cutteth off the veins, muscles, and sinews, perisheth the bones: these wounds made by the blow, in respect of perfect healing, are the loss of limbs, or maims incurable for ever.  
And yet more for the blow: a full blow upon the head, face, arm, leg, or legs, is death, or the party so wounded in the mercy of him that shall so wound him. For what man shall be able long in fight to stand up, either to revenge, or defend himself, having the veins, muscles, and sinews of his hand, arm, or leg clean cut asunder? or being dismembered by such wound upon the face or head, but shall be enforced thereby, and through the loss of blood, 
He that giveth the first wound with a strong blow, commandeth the life of the other.  the other a little dallying with him, to yield himself, or leave his life in his mercy?  
And for plainer deciding this controversy between the blow and the thrust, consider this short note. The blow cometh many ways, the thrust doth not so. The blow cometh a nearer way than a thrust most commonly, and is therefore sooner done. The blow requireth the strength of a man to be warded; but the thrust may be put by, by the force of a child. A blow upon the hand, arm, or leg is a maim incurable; but a thrust in the hand, arm, or leg is to be recovered. The blow hath many parts to wound, and in every of them commandeth the life; but the thrust hath but a few, as the body or face, and not in every part of them neither.   

Of the difference betwixt the true fight & the false: wherein consisteth (the Principles being had with the direction of the four Governors) the whole perfection of fight with all manner of weapons.  
THe true fights be these: whatsoever is done with the hand before the foot or feet is true fight. The false fights be these: whatsoever is done with the foot or feet before the hand, is false, because the hand is swifter than the foot, the foot or feet being a slower mover than the hand: the hand in that manner of fight is tied to the time of the foot or feet, and being tied thereto, hath lost his freedom, and is made thereby as slow in his motions as the foot or feet: and therefore that fight is false.   

Of evil orders or customs in our English Fence-schooles, & of the old or ancient teaching of weapons, & things very necessary to be continued for the avoiding of errors, and revining and continuance of our ancient weapons, and most victorious fight again.  
THere is in my opinion in our Fence-schooles an evil order or custom in these days used, the which, if it might stand with the good liking of our Masters of Defence, I think it necessary to be left: for as long as it is used, it shall be hard to make a good Scholar. That is this, at the single Sword, Sword and Dagger, & Sword and Buckler, they forbidden the thrust, & at the single Rapier, and Rapier & Dagger, they forbidden the blow. Either they are both together best, or the thrust altogether best, or the blow altogether best. If the thrust be best, why do we not use it at the single Sword, Sword & Dagger, & Sword and Buckler. If the blow be best, why do we not use it at the single Rapier, Rapier & Poniard? But knowing by the Art of Arms, that no fight is perfect without both blow and thrust, why do we not use and teach both blow and thrust? But howsoever this we daily see, that when two meet in fight, whether they have skill or none, unless such as have tied themselves to that boyish, Italian, weak, imperfect fight, they both strike and thrust, and how shall he then do, that being much taught in school, never learned to strike, nor how to defend a strong blow? & how shall he then do, that being brought up in Fence-school, that never learned to thrust with the single Sword, Sword and Dagger, and Sword and Buckler, nor how at these weapons to break a thrust? Surely, I think a down right fellow, that never came in school, using such skill as nature yieldeth out of his courage, strength, and agility, with good down right blows and thrusts among, as shall best frame in his hands, should put one of these imperfect scholars greatly to his shifts. Besides, there are now in these days no gripes, closes, wrestle, striking with the hilts, dagger's, or bucklers, used in Fence-schooles. Our ploughmen by nature will do all these things with great strength & agility: but the schoolman  is altogether unacquainted with these things. He being fast tied to such school-play as he hath learned, hath lost thereby the benefit of nature, and the ploughman is now by nature without art a far better man than he. Therefore in my opinion, as long as we bar any manner of play in school, we shall hardly make a good scholar: there is no manner of teaching comparable to the old ancient teaching, that is, first their quarters, than their wards, blows, thrusts, and breaking of thrusts, than their Closes and Gripes, striking with the hilts, Daggers, Bucklers, wrestlings, striking with the foot or knee in the cods, and all these are safely defended in learning perfectly of the Gripes. And this is the ancient teaching, 
In the wars there is no observation of Stoccatas, Imbro●uas, times, nor answers.  the perfectest & most best teaching; and without this teaching, there shall never scholar be made able, do his uttermost, nor fight safe. Again their sword in schools are too long by almost half a foot to uncrosse, without going back with the feet, within distance or perfectly to strike or thrust within the half or quarter sword. And in serving of the Prince, when men do meet together in public fight, are utterly nought and unserviceable. The best lengths for perfect teaching of the true fight to be used and continued in Fence schools, 
Long weapons imperfect.  to accord with the true statures of all men, are these. The blade to be a yard and an inch for mean statures, and for men of tall statures, a yard and three or four inches, and no more. And I would have the Rapier continued in schools, always ready for such as shall think themselves cunning, or shall have delight to play with that imperfect weapon. Provided always, that the Schoolmaster or Usher play with him with his short Sword, plying him with all manner of fight according to the true art: this being continued the truth shall flourish, the lie shallbe beaten down, and all nations not having the true science, shall come with all gladness to the valiant and most brave English masters of Defence to learn the true fight for their defence.   

The grounds or Principles of true fight with all manner of weapons.  
FIrst judgement, Lying, Distance, Direction, Pase, Space, Place, Time, Indirection, Motion, Action, general and continual Motion, Progression, Regression, Traversing, and Treading of grounds, Blows, Thrusts, Faulses, Doubles, Slipes, Wards, break of Thrusts, Closing, Gripes, & wrestlings, Guardant fight, Open fight, Variable fight, and Close fight, and four Governors.   

The wards of all manner of weapons.  
ALL single weapons have four wards, and all double weapons have eight wards. The single sword hath two with the point up, and two with the point down. The Staff and all manner of weapons to be used with both hands have the like.  
The Sword and Buckler, and Sword and Dagger are double weapons, and have eight wards, two with the point up, and two with the point down, and two for the legs with the point down, the point to be carried for both sides of the legs, with the knuckles downward, and two wards with the Dagger or Buckler for the head. The Fo●●est bill is a double weapon by reason of the head, and therefore hath eight wards, four with the Staff, four with the head, four of them to be used as with the staff, and the other four with the head, the one up, the other down, and the other sideways.   

The names and numbers of times appertaining unto fight both true and false.  
THere are eight times, whereof four are true, and four are false: the true times be these.  
The time of the hand.  
The time of the hand and body.  
The time of the hand, body and foot.  
The time of the hand, body and feet.   

The false times be these.  
The time of the foot.  
The time of the foot and body.  
The time of the foot, body and hand.  
The time of the feet, body and hand.  
Thus have I thought good to separate and make known the true times from the false, with the true wards thereto belonging, that thereby the rather in practising of weapons, a true course may be taken for the avoiding of errors and evil customs, and speedy attaining of good habit or perfect being in the true use and knowledge of all manner of weapons.   

Of the length of weapons, and how every man may fit himself in the perfect length of his weapon, according to his own stature, with brief reasons wherefore they ought to be so.  
TO know the perfect length of your Sword, you shall stand with your sword and dagger drawn, as you see this picture, keeping out strait your dagger arm, drawing back your sword as far as conveniently you can, not opening the elbow joint of your sword arm: and look what you can draw within your dagger, that is the just length of your sword, to be made according to your own stature.   man with swords 
AS I have here made a figurative demonstration, to know the perfect length of the Sword, as afore is said; so have I in the page following, for the plainer understanding of the Reader, set forth a form of standing, to know the lengths of the short Staff, half Pike, Forest Bill, Partisan and Gleve, or such like weapons of advantage, as shall also best fit the statures of all men.   man with pike 
The perfect length of your two hand sword is, the blade to be the length of the blade of your single sword.  
To know the perfect length of your short staff, or half Pike, Forrest bill, Partisan, or Gleve, or such like weapons of vantage and perfect lengths, you shall stand upright, holding the staff upright close by your body, with your left hand, reaching with your right hand your staff as high as you can, and then allow to that length a space to set both your hands, when you come to sight, wherein you may conveniently strike, thrust, and ward, & that is the just length to be made according to your stature. And this note, that these lengths will commonly fall out to be eight or nine foot long, and will 〈◊〉, although not just, the statures of all men, without any hindrance at all unto them in their fight, because in any weapon wherein the hands may be removed, and at liberty, to make the weapon longer or shorter in fight at his pleasure, a foot of the staff behind the backmost hand doth ●o harm. And wherefore these weapons ought to be of the lengths aforesaid, and no shorter, these are the reasons: If they should be shorter, than the long staff, Morris Pike, and such like weapons over and above the perfect length, should have great vantage against them because he may come boldly and safe without any guard or ward, to the place where he may thrust home, and at every thrust put him in danger of his life: but if these weapons be of their perfect lengths, then can the long staff, the Morris Pike, or any other longer weapon lie no where in true space, but shall be still within compass of the cross, to cross and uncrosse, whereby he may safely pass home to the place, where he may strike or thrust him that hath the long weapon, in the head, face, or body at his pleasure.   

Of the lengths of the Battle axe, Halberd, or black Bill, or such like weapons of weight, appertaining unto guard or battle.  
IN any of these weapons there needeth no just length, but commonly they are, or aught to be five or six foot long, & may not well be used much longer, because of their weights: and being weapons for the wars or battle, when men are joined close together, may thrust, & strike sound blows, with great force both strong and quick: and finally for the just lengths of all other shorter or longer weapons to be governed with both hands, there is none: neither is there any certain lengths in any manner of weapons to be used with one hand, over or under the just length of the single sword.  
Thus endeth the length of weapons.   

Of the vantages of weapons in their kinds, places, & times, both in private and public fight.  
FIrst I will begin with the worst weapon, an imperfect and insufficient weapon, and not worth the speaking of; but now being highly esteemed, therefore not to be left unremembered; that is, the single Rapier, and Rapier and Poiniard.  
The single Sword hath the vantage against the single Rapier.  
The Sword and Dagger hath the vantage against the Rapier and Poiniard.  
The Sword & Target hath advantage against the Sword and Dagger, or Rapier and Poiniard.  
The Sword and Buckler hath advantage against the Sword and Target, the Sword and Dagger, or Rapier and Poiniard.  
The two hand Sword, hath the vantage against the Sword and Target, the Sword and Buckler, the Sword and Dagger, or Rapier and Poiniard.  
The Battle-axe, the Halberd, the Blacke-bill, or such like weapons of weight, appertaining unto guard or battle, are all one in fight, and have advantage against the two hand Sword, the Sword and Buckler, the Sword and Target, the Sword & dagger, or the Rapier & Poiniard.  
The short staff or half Pike, Forrest-bill, Partisan, or Gleve, or such like weapons of perfect length, have the vantage against the Battle-axe, the Halberd, the Blacke-bill, the two hand sword, the Sword and Target, and are too hard for two Swords and Daggers, or two Rapiers and Poiniards with Gauntlets, and for the long staff and Morris Pike.  
The long Staff, Morris Pike, or javelin, or such like weapons above the perfect length, have advantage against all manner of weapons, the short staff, Welsh hook, Partisan, or Gleve, or such like weapons of vantage excepted: yet too weak for two Swords and Daggers or two Swords and Bucklers, or two Rapiers and Poiniards with Gauntlets, because they are too long to thrust, strike, and turn speedily: and by reason of the large distance, one of the Sword and Dagger-men will get behind him.  
The Welsh hook or Forest bill, hath advantage against all manner of weapons whatsoever.  
Yet understand, that in battles, and where variety of weapons be, amongst multitudes of men and horses the Sword and Target, the two hand Sword, the Battle-axe, the Blacke-bill, and Halberd, are better weapons, and more dangerous in their offence and forces, then is the Sword and Buckler, short staff, long staff, or Forrest bill. The Sword and Target leadeth upon Shot, and in troops defendeth thrusts and blows given by battle-axe, Halberds, Blacke-bill, or two hand swords, far better than can the Sword and Buckler.  
The Morris Pike defendeth the battle from both horse and man, much better than can the short staff, long staff, or Forrest bill. Again, the Battle-axe, the Halberd, the Black bill, the two hand sword, and Sword & Target, amongst armed men and troops, when men are come together, by reason of their weights, shortness, and great forces, do much more offend the enemy, & are then much better weapons, then is the short staff, the long Staff, or Forrest bill.   

Of the insufficiency and disadvantages of the Rapiers fight in Battle.  
FOr the single Rapier, or Rapier & Poiniard, they are imperfect & insufficient weapons: and especially in the service of the Prince, when men shall join together, what service can a soldier do with a Rapier, a childish toy wherewith a man can do nothing but thrust, nor that neither, by reason of the length, and in every moving when blows are a dealing, for lack of a hilt is in danger to have his hand or arm cut off, or his head cloven. And for wards and Gripes, they have none, neither can any of these fine Rapier men, for lack of use, tell how to strike a sound blow.   

Of the vantages and sufficiency of the short Sword fight in battle.  
THe short Sword, and Sword and Dagger, are perfect good weapons, and especially in service of the Prince. What a brave weapon is a short sharp light Sword, to carry, to draw, to be nimble withal, to strike, to cut, to thrust both strong and quick. And what a goodly defence is a strong single hilt, when men are clustering and hurling together, especially where variety of weapons be, in their motions to defend the hand, head, face, and bodies, from blows, that shallbe given sometimes with sword, sometimes with two handed sword, battle Axe, halberds, or black Bills, and sometimes men shallbe so near together, that they shall have no space, scarce to use the blades of their sword below their wastes, than their hilts (their hands being aloft) defendeth from the blows, their hands, arms, heads, faces, and bodies: then they lay on, having the use of blows and Gripes, by force of their arms with their hilts, strong blows, at the head, face, arms, bodies, and shoulders, and many times in hurling together, scope is given to turn down their points, with violent thrusts at their faces, and bodies, by reason of the shortness of their blades, to the mighty annoyance, discomfort, and great destruction of their enemies. One valiant man with a Sword in his hand, will do better service, than ten Italians, or Italienated with the Rapiers.   

That all manner of double weapons, or weapons to be used with both hands, have advantage against the single Rapier or single Sword, there is no question to be made. That the Sword and Buckler hath the vantage against the Sword and Dagger.  
THe Dagger is an imperfect ward, although borne out strait, to make the Space narrow, whereby by a little moving of the hand, may be sufficient to save both sides of the head, or to break the thrust from the face or body, yet for lack of the circumference his hand will lie too high or too low, or too weak, to defend both blow and thrust: if he lie strait with narrow space, which is best to break the thrust, than he lieth too weak, and too low to defend his head from a strong blow: if he lie high, that is strong to defend his head, but then his space willbe too wide to break the thrust from his body. The Dagger serveth well at length to put by a thrust, and at the half Sword to cross the Sword blade, to drive out the Agent, and put him in danger of his life, and safely in any of these two actions to defend himself. But the Buckler, by reason of his circumference and weight, being well carried, defendeth safely in all times and places, whether it be at the point, half Sword, the head, body, and face, from all manner of blows and thrusts whatsoever, yet I have heard many hold opinion, that the Sword and Dagger hath advantage of the Sword and Buckler, at the Close, by reason of the length and point of the Dagger: and at the point of the Sword, they can better see to ward then with a Buckler. But I never knew any, that wan the Close with the Dagger upon the Sword and Buckler, but did wish himself out again: for distance being broken, judgement faileth, for lack of time to judge, and the eye is deceived by the swift motion of the hand, and for lack of true Space with the dagger hand, which cannot be otherwise, for lack of the circumference to defend both blow and thrust, it is impossible for lack of true Space in just time, the agent having gotten the true place, to defend one thrust or blow of an hundred. And it is most certain, whosoever closeth with Sword and Dagger, against the Sword and Buckler, is in great danger to be slain. Likewise at the point within distance, if he stand to defend both blow and thrust with his Dagger, for lack of true space and distance, if he had the best eye of any man, and could see perfectly, which way the thrust or blow cometh, and when it cometh, as it is not to be denied but he may, yet his space being too large, it helpeth him nothing, because one man's hand being as swift as another man's hand, both being within distance, he that striketh or thrusteth, hurteth the warder: the reason is this: the Agent being in the first motion although in his offence, further to go then the warder to defend, yet the warders space being too large, the blow or thrust willbe performed home, before the warder can come to the true place to defend himself, and although the warder do perfectly see the blow or thrust coming, so shall he see his own ward so far from the true place of his defence, that although he do at that instant time, plainly see the blow or thrust coming, it shallbe impossible for him to recover the true place of his ward, till he be wounded. But let the warder with the dagger say, that it is not true which I have said, for as he hath eyes to behold the blow or thrust coming, so hath he as good time to defend himself. Herein he shall find himself deceived to; this is the reason: the hand is the swiftest motion, the foot is the slowest, without distance the hand is tied to the motion of the feet, whereby the time of the hand is made as slow as the foot, because thereby we redeem every time lost upon his coming by the slow motion of the foot, & have time thereby to judge, when & how he can perform any action whatsoever, and so have we the time of the hand to the time of the feet. Now is the hand in his own course more swifter than the foot or eye, therefore within distance the eye is deceived, & judgement is lost; and that is another cause that the warder with the dagger, 
The eye is deceived by the swift motion of the hand.  although he have perfect eyes, is still within distance deceived. For proof that the hand is more swifter than the eye, & thereby deceiveth the eyes: let two stand within distance, & let one of them stand still to defend himself, & let the other flourish & false with his hand, and he shall continually with the swift motions of his hand, deceive the eyes of him that standeth watching to defend himself, & shall continually strike him in diverse places with his hand. Again, take this for an example, that the eyes by swift motions are deceived: turn a turne-wheele swift, & you shall not be able to discern with your best eyes how many spokes be in the wheel, no nor whether there be any spokes at all, or whereof the wheel is made, and yet you see when the wheel standeth still there is a large distance between every spoke. He that will not believe that the swift motion of the hand in fight will deceive the eye, shall stare abroad with his eyes, & feel himself sound hurt, before he shall perfectly see how to defend himself. So those that trust to their sight, the excellency of a good eye, their great cunning, & perfect wards of the daggers, that they can better see to ward then with a buckler, shall ever be deceived. And when they be wounded, they say the Agent was a little too quick for them; sometimes they say they bore their dagger a little too low: sometimes they are thrust under the dagger, than they say, they bore it a little too high: sometimes a thrust being strongly made, they being sound paid therewith, say, they were a little too slow, & sometimes they be sound paid with a thrust, & they think they were a little too quick. 
The Dagger is an imperfect ward.  So they that practise or think to be cunning in the dagger ward, are all the days of their lives learning, and are never taught.   

That the Sword and Buckler hath the vantage against the Sword and Target.  
THe Sword & Target together hath but two fights; that is, the variable fight, & the close fight, for the close fight, the number of his feet are too many to take against any man of skill having the Sword & buckler, & for the variable fight although not so many in number, yet too many to win the place with his foot to strike or thrust home. The sword & buckler-man can out of his variable, open & gardant fight, come bravely off & on, false and double, strike & thrust home, & make a true cross upon every occasion at his pleasure: if the Sword & Target man will fly to his gardant fight, the breadth of his Target will not suffer it, if to his open fight, them hath the Sword & Buckler man in effect the sword and Buckler to the single, for in that fight by reason of the breadth, the target can do little good or none at all.   

The short Staff.  
NOw for the vantage of the short Staff against the Sword and Buckler, Sword & Target, two hand sword, single Sword, Sword and Dagger, or Rapier and Poiniard, there is no great question to be made in any of these weapons: whensoever any blow or thrust shall be strongly made with the staff, they are ever in false place, in the carriage of the wards, for if at any of these six weapons he carry his ward high & strong for his head, as of necessity he must carry it very high; otherwise it will be too weak to defend a blow being strongly made at the head, then will his space be too wide, in due time to break the thrust from his body. Again, if he carry his ward lower, thereby to be in equal space for readiness to break both blow & thrust, then in that place his ward is too low, and too weak to defend the blow of the staff: for the blow being strongly made at the head upon that ward, will beat down the ward and his head together, and put him in great danger of his life. And here is to be noted, that if he fight well, the staffe-man never striketh but at the head, and thrusteth presently under at the body: and if a blow be first made, a thrust followeth; & if a thrust be first made, a blow followeth; and in doing of any of them, the one breedeth the other: so that howsoever any of these six weapons shall carry his ward strongly to defend the first, he shall be too far in space to defend the second, whether it be blow or thrust.  
Yet again for the short staff: the short staff hath the vantage against the Battle-axe, blacke-bill, or Halberd: the short staff hath the vantage, by reason of the nimbleness and length: he will strike and thrust freely, and in better and swifter time than can the Battle-axe, Blacke-bill, or Halberd: and by reason of his judgement, distance and time, fight safe. And this resolve upon, the short staff is the best weapon against all manner of weapons, the Forest bill excepted.  
Also the short staff hath advantage against two Swords and Daggers, or two Rapiers, 
The short staff or half Pike hath the advantage against two sword and dagger men, or two Rapiers. Poiniards, and Gauntlets.  Poiniards and Gauntlets, the reasons and causes before are for the most part set down already, the which being well considered, you shall plainly see, that whensoever any one of the Sword & Dagger men, or Rapier and Poiniard men shall break his distance, or suffer the Staff man to break his, that man which did first break his distance, or suffer the distance to be won against him, is presently in danger of death. And this cannot in reason be denied, because the distance appertaining to the staff-man, either to keep or break, standeth upon the moving of one large space always at the most, both for his offence or safety. The other two in the breach of their distance to offend the staff-man, have always four paces at the least therein they fall too great in number with their feet, and too short in distance to offend the staff-man. Now there resteth no more to be spoken of, but how the staff-man shall behave himself to keep that distance, that one of the Sword & Dagger men get not behind him, while the other shall busy him before: to do that is very easy, by reason of the small number of his feet, for by a very small turning of his feet, as it were in the Centre point of a wheel, the other two to keep their distance, are driven to run twenty foot for one, as it were upon the uttermost part or circle of the wheel: all this while the staff-man is very well. Then it cometh thus to pass, whether they both labour to get behind him, or one keep directly before him whilst the other get behind him, yet before that be brought to pass, they shall either be both before him or just against both sides of him: at which time soever the staff-man finding either of them within distance, he presently in making of his play, slayeth with blow or thrust one of them, or at the least putteth him in great danger of his life. If the staff-man take his time, when they are both before him, that is to say, before they come to the half ring, just against both sides of the staff-man, than he that is nearest within distance is slain by blow or thrust, or put in great danger of his life. But if the Sword and Dagger men do keep their distance until they come to the just half ring right against the sides of the staff-man, and then break distance, that man that first breaketh distance is slain with blow or thrust, or sore hurt, and in great danger of death: and the staff-man in making that play at that instant, must turn with one large pace, the which he may easily do, before the other can get near enough to offend him, by reason that he hath to make with his feet but one large pace, but the other hath at the least three paces. But if the Sword and Dagger-men will in the time that they be before him, keep their distance in the time of their being upon the middle part of the outside of the circle, right against both sides of him, & will labour with all heed & diligence to be both or one of them behind him, that troubleth the staff-man nothing at all, for in that very time, when he findeth them past the middle part of the circle, he presently turneth, by the which he shall naturally set himself as it were in a triangle, and both the sword and dagger-men, shall thereby stand both before him in true distance of three paces, from offending of him at the least, as at the first they did. And take this for a true ground, there is no man able to ward a sound blow with the Sword and Dagger, nor Rapier, Poniard, and Gauntlet, being strongly made at the head, with the Staff, and run in withal, the force of both hands is such, being in his full motion and course, that although the other do carry his ward high and strong with both hands, yet his feet being moving from the ground, the great force of the blow will strike him with his ward, and all down flat to ground. But if he stand fast with his feet, he may with both weapons together, strongly defend his head from the blow, but than you are sufficiently instructed, the thrust being presently made, after the blow full at the body, it is impossible in due time to break it, by reason of the largeness of his space.   

The short Staff hath the vantage against the long staff, and Morris Pike, and the Forest bill against all manner of weapons.  
THe reasons are these. The short Staff hath the vantage of the long Staff and Morris Pike in his strength & narrowness of space in his four wards of defence. And the Forest bill hath the vantage of all manner of weapons in his strength and narrowness of space in his eight wards of defence: and the rather because the Bill hath two wards for one against the Staff or Morris Pike, that is to say, four with the Staff, and four with the head, and is more offensive than is the Staff or Morris Pike: yet a question may be made by the unskilful, concerning the fight between the long Staff and the short, A question. in this sort: Why should not the long Staff have advantage against short Staff, since that the long staff-man, being at liberty with his hands, may make his long Staff both long and short for his best advantage, when he shall think it good, and therefore when he shall find himself overmatched in the length of his Staff, by the strength of the short Staff, and narrowness of space in his four wards of defence, he can presently by drawing back of his Staff in his hands, make his Staff as short as the others, and so be ready to fight with him at his own length. Answer. To this I answer, that when the long staff-man is driven there to lie, the length of his Staff that will lie behind him, will hinder him to strike, thrust, ward, or go back in due time. Neither can he turn the contrary end of his Staff to keep out the short Staff man from the Close, nor safely to defend himself at his coming in.   

Again of the vantages of weapons.  
TAke this for a general rule, all long staves, Morris Pikes, Forest bills, javelins, or such like long weapons, of what sort soever, being above the true lengths, the shortest have the advantage, because they can cross and uncrosse in shorter time than can the longer: and all manner of short weapons to be used with both hands, as stanes, and such like, being under the perfect lengths, the longest have the advantage, and all manner of weapons to be used with one hand, that are above the perfect length of the single Sword, the shortest have the vantage, and all manner of weapons under the just length of the short Sword, as Falchions, Skeins, or Hangers, Woodknives, Daggers, and such like short weapons of imperfect lengths, the longest have the advantage, because the fight of these weapons consist within the half or quarter Sword, wherein by the swift motions of their hands, their eyes are deceived, and in those weapons, commonly for their hands lieth no defence. And if two shall fight with staves or sword, or what weapons soever, the one of them having his weapon longer than the perfect length, and the other his weapon shorter than the perfect length, he that hath the longest hath the vantage, because the shortest can make no true Cross in true time. The short Staff or half Pike, Forrest bill, Partisan, or Gleve, or such like weapons of perfect length, to be used with both hands, have the advantage against two sword and Daggers, or two Rapiers, Poiniardes, and Gauntlets, and against all other weapons whatsoever, the Forest bill excepted.   

Again for the short Staff or half Pike.  
THe short Staff is most commonly the best weapon of all other, although other weapons may be more offensive, and especially against many weapons together, by reason of his nimbleness and swift motions, and is not much inferior to the Forest bill, although the Forest bill be more offensive, and hath more wards, because the Staff is very uncertain, but the Bill is a more certain mark, by reason of the breadth of the head, whereby as the Bill hath advantage in his wards in the head, so therefore hath the Staff the like defence, or rather more, to play upon the head of the Bill, not only to make a perfect good ward, but thereby, the rather to cast the Bill out of the right line, whereby the staff-man may thrust safe, and endanger the Billman: and the rather because therein he is the first mover, wherein there is great vantage, both in time and force. And if the Bilman be not very skilful (all vantages and disadvantages of both sides considered,) the short Staff will prove the better weapon. 
Note this.  Lastly note this, that long staves, Morris Pikes, and such like weapons of imperfect lengths, being to be used with both hands, notwithstanding their imperfect lengths, are perfect weapons to be used, the one against the other, and their fights therein perfect, because in drawing of them back betwixt their hands, their motions are swifter backwardly, then is the time of the Agents feet forwards, by the which all their lost times are redeemed: therefore these weapons in their fights, the one against the other are perfect. And these weapons in the night are the best weapons of all other, and have great advantage against the forest Bill, short Staff, or any manner of short weapons whatsoever: for these causes, they boldly make home their fights, and if need be against desperate men, that will venture themselves to run in, they redeem their lost times. But the other with shorter weapons for lack of light, can make no true defence. Thus endeth the vantages of weapons.   

Questions and answers between the Scholar and the Master, of the vantages and disadvantages between a tall man, and a man of mean stature, having both the perfect knowledge in their weapons.  Scholar. 
WHo hath the advantage in fight, of a tall man, or a man of mean stature?  Master. 
The tall man hath the vantage, for these causes: his reach being longer, and weapon unto his stature accordingly, 
Tall men have the vantage against men of mean stature.  he hath thereby a shorter course with his feet to win the true place, wherein by the swift motion of his hand, he may strike or thrust home: in the which time a man of mean stature cannot reach him, & by his large pace, in his true pace in his regression further, setteth himself out of all danger, & these are the vantages that a tall man hath against any man of shorter reach than himself.  Scholar. 
What vantage hath a man of mean stature against a tall man?  Master. 
He hath none: because the true times in fight, and actions accordingly, are to be observed and done, as well by a tall man, as by a man of mean stature.  Scholar. 
Why then if this be true, that tall men have the vantage against men of mean stature, it should seem in fight there is no perfection, other than this, when men of like stature, reach, & length of weapon, shall fight together, the which will seldom or never happen, but either in the length of their weapons, statures or reaches (if their swords should be of just length) some difference most commonly there will be in their reaches.  Master. 
Yes verily, the tall man hath still the vantage, and yet the fight is perfect, although the men that shall happen to fight, shall hap to be unequal in their statures, reaches, or lengths of their weapons.  Scholar. 
That can I hardly believe, unless you can tell me by Art how to avoid or safely defend myself, being but a man of mean stature, against a tall man.  Master. 
I will tell you: there belongeth unto this Art of defence only to be used with the feet, progression, regression, traversing, and treading of grounds: in any of these you playing the part of the Patient, or Patiented Agent, your feet are swifter in their motions then are the Agents, because his weight and number of his feet in his coming to win the true place to strike or thrust home, are greater than yours, and therefore the true time is yours to avoid him, or safely to defend yourself: so the Art is still true, and the tall man hath still the vantage.  Scholar. 
Yet I am not fully satisfied herein, because you tell me still that the tall man hath the vantage, and notwithstanding you say the Art is true, wherein then hath the tall man the vantage, when by your Art you can defend yourself against him.  Master. 
I will satisfy you therein thus. The tall man hath the vantage, he can maintain his fight, both by nature and Art, with more ease than can the man of mean stature, because the man of mean stature hath thereby a further course with his feet to pass to the place, wherein he may strike or thrust home, and in winning of that place, is driven by Art to come guarded under his wards to defend himself, because in the time of his coming, the tall man may both naturally or artificially strike or thrust home, in the which time, if the man of mean stature should fail in the least jot of his Art, he should be in great danger of death or hurt. But the tall man can naturally and safely come to the true place open, without any artificial wards at all, and therein also endanger the other, 
Four invincible advantages consist in a tall man against a man of mean stature. Long reach. Short course. Length of weapon. Large pace.  or drive him still to traverse his ground, with all the artificial skill that he hath to defend himself; and all this the tall man doth by reason of his length of weapon, large pace, short course, and long reach, with great safety, pleasure and ease. And for those causes the tall man hath still the vantage of men of mean stature, and yet notwithstanding the noble Science of Defence most perfect and good.   

Of the long single Rapier fight between valiant men, having both skill, he that it the best wrestler, or if neither of them can wrestle, the strongest man most commonly killeth the other, or leaveth him at his mercy.  
WHen two valiant men of skill at single Rapier do fight, one or both of them most commonly standing upon their strength or skill in wrestling, will presently seek to run into the close; but having both skill, not without special care of their guard or cross, the which they may safely do, by reason of the length of their Rapiers: but happening both of one mind, the rather do bring themselves together: that being done, no skill with Rapiers availeth, they presently grapple fast their hilts, wrists, arms, bodies or necks, as in lustring, wrestling, or striving together, they may best find for their advantages: whereby it most commonly falleth out, that he that is the best wrestler, or strongest man (if neither of them can wrestle) overcometh, wresting by strength, or fine skill in wrestling, the Rapier from his adversary, or casting him from him, either to the ground, or to such distance, that he may by reason thereof, use the edge or point of his rapier, to strike or thrust him, leaving him dead or alive at his mercy. But if but one of these valiant men shall seek to run into the close, and that the other shall use his skill in traversing of his ground, or otherwise by standing upon his guard or Stocata ward, to take all manner of advantages at his coming, yet all availeth him not, because the Rapiers being long, the crossing of the blades cannot be avoided: that being made, the oppressor runneth faster forwards than can the defendant backwards, and so are brought together, as in the first assault they were, & every action therein accordingly performed.   

Of the Rapier and Poiniard fight betwixt valiant men, having both skill.  
IF two valiant men do fight at Rapier and Poiniard having both skill, one or both of them will presently press hard to win the place, wherein in his judgement he may thrust home. If both be of one mind, the time is doubled in winning the same: whereby it cometh to pass, that then he that first thrusteth, endangereth, killeth or hurteth the other: and if they both thrust together, as they may do by the equal time of their feet, than they are most commonly both slain, or both hurt. And this is well known unto all men of skill, that the place being once gotten, there is neither judgement, space, pace, nor time, either by wards with their Rapier blades, or by breaking with their Poiniards, or flying back, that can preserve or defend them. But if but one of them will seek to win by passage, hard pressing, or otherwise the place, wherein in his judgement he may thrust home, it is impossible for the other to deny him the same, because the length of the Rapiers winneth him the cross; the cross being taken, the place is had; the place being had, he that first thrusteth, first speedeth: if both thrust together, they are both in danger: them presently followeth (unless it please God otherwise to have it) the stabs with their daggers, wherein there lieth no defence.   

Of the long Rapier & Poiniard-fight between two valiant men, the one having skill, the other none: that he that hath no skill hath the vantage.  
WHen two valiant men shall fight with long Rapiers and Poiniards, the one having skill, and the other none, he that hath no skill most commonly proveth himself the better man, for these causes or reasons following. First the skilful man as knowing the other to have no skill, or finding it to be so by his shape or manner of coming towards him, will presently yield to take the advantage of his coming, or else with all speed put himself into his short ward, to be ready at his coming to make out a strong Stocata (as the Italians call it) the other knowing his imperfection in fight, assureth himself there can be no great good for him to stand long out at the point, presently redoubleth or reviveth his spirits with perfect resolution, to make short work, courageously with some offensive action, such as nature shall best yield unto him, flieth in with all force and agility, the skilful man standeth watching to take such advantages as his schoolmaster hath taught him, in the which time, many times it falleth out, he is taught a new time, even by an unskilful man that never fought before, is sore hurt or slain: and if it happen they both miss in their offensive actions, then by reason thereof, and of the imperfect length of their Rapiers, they come to stabbing with their Poiniards, wherein there lieth no defence, because distance being broken, judgement faileth, time is lost, and their eyes (by the swift motions of their hands) are deceived.   

Of the long single Rapier, or Rapier and Poiniard-fight between two unskilful men being valiant.  
WHen two unskilful men (being valiant) shall fight with long single Rapiers, there is less danger in that kind of fight, by reason of their distance in convenient length, weight, and unweildinesse, then is with short Rapiers, whereby it cometh to pass, that what hurt shall happen to be done, if any with the edge or point of their Rapiers is done in a moment, and presently will grapple and wrestle together, wherein most commonly the strongest or best Wrestler overcometh, and the like fight falleth out between them, at the long Rapier and Poiniard, but much more deadly, because in stead of Close and Wrestling, they fall most commonly to stabbing with their Poiniardes.   

Of the imperfection and insufficiency of Rapiers in general, of what length soever they be.  
IF two fight with long Rapiers, 

If they stand upon breaking with their Daggers, he that first winneth the place, and thrusteth home, hurteth the other for lack of the circumference: if both thrust together, they are both sped, because their Spaces of Defence are too wide to answer the time of the hand, and by the swift motion thereof, the eye in that distance is by the same deceived.  
The feet in their course, but not in the first motion, always note for the avoiding of great errors.   upon every Cross made within the half Rapier, if they have Poiniardes, they most commonly stab each other, which cannot be avoided, because the Rapiers being long, the Cross cannot be undone of either side, without going back with their feet, the which likewise in due time cannot be done, because the hand is more swifter than the feet, and the feet more swifter in their course forwards then backwards, neither can the Cross be prevented, because the point of necessity lieth too far off in his offence, or else within compass of the true time of the hand and body, by reason of his imperfect length, and so by the like reasons, if two fight with long single Rapiers, upon every Cross made therewith, within the half Rapier, the Close cannot be avoided, whereby it cometh to pass, most commonly, that the strongest man or best Wrestler, overcometh. Now if two do fight with short Rapiers, or Rapiers of convenient length, such Rapiers be inconvenient and insufficient also for lack of an hilt to defend the hand and head from the blow; for no eye (in making a perfect ward for the head, to defend a blow, can discern to take the same within three or four inches, whereby it may as well and as often fall upon the hand, as upon the blade of the Rapier. Again, the hilt as well serveth to defend the head as the hand, and is a more sure and strong ward, then is the blade of the Rapier. And further, understand this for truth, that in gardant and open fight, the hand without an hilt lieth open to most blows that shallbe strooken by the Agent, out of the gardant or open fight, because in the true carriage of the gardant fight, the hand must lie above the head, in such straightness and narrowness of space, that which way soever the Agent shall strike or thrust at the head, face, or body, the removing of two or four inches shall save all. And now some what more for the shortness or convenient length of Rapiers.  
Rapiers having no hilts to defend the head, the Rapier-man is driven of necessity to lie at the variable fight or low ward, and being there he can neither defend in due time, head, face, nor body from the blows or thrusts of him, that shall fight out of the gardant or open fight, but is continually in great danger of the Agent, for these causes following. First, because his space is too wide to defend his head from blow or thrust. Secondly his Pace standing upon that fight, willbe of necessity too great or too narrow: if too narrow, too weak: if too large, his weight and number of his feet, are too great to endanger him, that is upon his gardant or open fight.   

Of the imperfection and insufficiency of the fight of the single Rapier, Rapier and Poiniard, Rapier and Buckler, Rapier and Cloak, and Rapier and Glove of mail.  
THe Rapier fight, whether it be single or accompanied with Poiniard, Buckler, cloak, or glove of male, is still by reason of the insufficiency or imperfection of the Rapier, an imperfect fight: unperfect instruments can make no perfect music, neither can unperfect weapons make perfect fight: let the men that handle them have all the knowledge that may be in all manner of weapons, yea the full height, or perfection, and true habit by his great labour and industry, even as it were naturally effected in him, yet if the weapons that they shall fight withal be imperfect or insufficient to perform whatsoever appertaineth unto true fight, as concerning the perfection of their safety, it availeth them nothing. What shall we then say for the Rapier? Is the Rapier an imperfect or insufficient weapon to perform whatsoever appertaineth unto the true fight? Yea: Wherefore? Because unto the true fight there appertaineth four fights, Gardant fight, Open fight, Variable fight, and Close fight: without all four of these fights it is impossible to fight safe: but the Rapier for lack of an hilt is an unperfect weapon, and therefore insufficient to fight safe upon these four fights, the reasons are already set down in the Paradox before, but it is inferred to lose the benefit of two of the best fights, gardant and open fight, and to fly from them, and trust only unto variable fight, and close fight. Now having proved through the imperfection or insufficiency of the Rapier, the imperfection of the Rapier fight, it remaineth that I speak of the rest of the weapons, or instruments appertaining unto Rapier fight.  
The Rapier and Poiniard fight, the Rapier & Buckler fight, the Rapier and cloak fight, & the Rapier & glove of male fight: all these fights by reason of the imperfection of the Rapier, and Rapier fight, are all also imperfect fights: and for proof of the uncertainty and impossibilities of safety in any of these fights, thus it standeth. These fights depend altogether upon variable fight and close fight: in any of these fights it is impossible in true space of Offence to keep the blades of their Rapiers from crossing, or from breaking with the Poiniards, buckler, cloak, or breaking or catching with the glove of male; because in any of these two fights, the Agent hath still in true space the blade of the Patient's Rapier to work upon. These things by letters cannot be made more plain, neither is it unknown to the skilful, or in fight by any means to be avoided, the weapon being too far in true space to be wrought upon, the place cannot be denied, do the patiented Agent what he can for his life to the contrary, either by blows, thrusts, falsing, or doubling of thrusts, going back, indirections, or turnings of the body, or what else soever may in the highest touch of wit or strength, or agility of body be devised or done, to keep out the Agent: but still the Agent by narrowness of space bringeth himself by strong guard to the place, where being brought, it is as impossible to fight safe, as as it is for two desperate men set together being both blind, because in the the true place (won in Rapier or variable fight) their eyes by the swift motions of their hands are deceived, the crosses in that fight are false, their distance, judgements and times are lost, either to offend in safety, or safely to defend themselves: and these reasons, rules, or grounds of the feats of arms are infallible and invincible.  
Now, o you Italian teachers of Defence, where are your Stocatas, Imbrocatas, Mandritas, Puntas, & Puynta reversas, Stramisons, Passatas, Carricadoes, Amazzas, & Incartatas, & playing with your bodies, removing with your feet a little aside, circled wise winding of your bodies, making of three times with your feet together, marking with one eye the motion of the adversary, & with the other eye the advantage of thrusting? What is become of all these juggling gambalds, Apish devices, with all the rest of your squinteyed tricks? when as through your deep studies, long practices, & apt bodies, both strong & agilious, you have attained to the height of all these things. What then availeth it you, when you shall come to fight for your lives with a man of skill, you shall have neither time, nor place, in due time to perform any one of them. Nor gardant nor open fight safely to keep out a man of skill, a man of no skill, or scholar of your own teaching, from the true place, the place of safety, the place of uncertainty or mischief, the place of wounds or death, but are there enforced to stand in that mischievous, uncertain, dangerous, and most deadly place, as two men having lost in part their chiefest senses, most furiously with their rapiers or poiniards, wounding or slaying each other.  
Thus endeth the imperfect fights of the rapier with all manner of weapons or instruments thereto appertaining, with their imperfections, through the true grounds and rules of the Art of arms, truly displayed & brought to light.  
All laud be unto the Almighty God.   

That the reasons used by the Italian Fencers in commending the use of the Rapier and Poiniard, because it maketh peace, maketh against themselves.  
IT hath been commonly held, that since the Italians have taught the Rapier fight, by reason of the dangerous use thereof, it hath bred great civility amongst our English nation, 
There are few frays, but more valiant Gentlemen slain now then were the●.  they will not now give the lie, nor with such foul speeches abuse themselves, therefore there are fewer frays in these times than were wont to be: it cannot be denied but this is true, that we are more circumspect of our words, and more fearful to fight, than heretofore we have been. But whereof cometh it? Is it from this, that the Rapier maketh peace in our minds; or from hence, that it is not so sufficient defence for our bodies in our fight? He that will fight when he is armed, will not fight when he is naked: is it therefore good to go naked to keep peace? he that would fight with his Sword and Buckler, or Sword and Dagger, being weapons of true defence, will not fight with his Rapier and Poiniard, wherein no true defence or fight is perfect: are these insufficient weapons therefore the better, because not being sufficient to defend us in fight, they force us unto peace? What else is it, but to say, it is good for subjects to be poor, that they may not go to law: or to lack emunition, that they may not fight, nor go to the wars: and to conclude, what more followeth through the imperfect works of these Italian peacemakers? They have made many a strong man in his fight weak, many a valiant man fearful, many a worthy man trusting to their imperfect fight, hath been slain, and many of our desperate boys and young youths, to become in that Rapier-fight, as good men as England yieldeth, and the tallest men in this land, in that fight as very boys as they and no better. This good have the Italian teachers of Offence done us, they have transformed our boys into men, and our men into boys, our strong men into weakness, our valiant men doubtful, and many worthy men resolving themselves upon their false resolutions, have most wilfully in the field, with their Rapiers ended their lives. And lastly, have left to remain amongst us after their deaths, these inconveniences behind them, false Fence-bookes, imperfect weapons, false fights, and evil customs, whereby for lack of use and practise in perfect weapons and true fight, we are disabled for the service of our Prince, defence of our country, and safety of our lives in private fight.   

That the short Sword hath the advantage against the long Sword or long Rapier.  
WHereas for the most part opinions are generally holden, that the long Sword, or long Rapier, hath the vantage in fight against the short Sword, which the Italian teachers of Defence, by their false demonstrations have brought us to believe. I have thought good that the truth may appear which hath the vantage, to add my help unto the reasons they use in their own behalf, for that yet I could never hear them make a sound reason for the same. These are the reasons. First with my long Rapier, 
These reasons are used by the Italians.  I will put myself into my guard or Stocata, holding my hilt back by the outside of my right thigh, keeping in short the point of my Rapier, so as he that hath the short Sword, shall not be able to reach the point of my Rapier, to make his ward or Cross with his Dagger, Buckler, Sword, or Cloak, without stepping in of his foot, the which time is too long to answer the time of the hand, by reason of my distance. I can there stand safe without danger of blow or thrust, playing the Patient's part: if you strike or thrust you do it too short, by reason of my distance: if you seek to come nearer, you must do it with the time of your foot, in the which time I may safely thrust home: if in that distance you break it not, you are slain: if you do break it, yet you do me no harm, by reason of my distance, and I may stand fast and thrust again; or fly back at my pleasure: so have you put yourself in danger of your life, and having hardly escaped, are driven again to begin a new bought, as at the first you did. Again, if I please, I can be the oppressor, keeping the same guard, and my point in short as I did before, and pressing strongly by putting in by little and little of my feet, until the place with my foot be gotten, wherein (in my judgement) I may thrust home, the which I may boldly and safely do, without respect of any ward at all, by reason of my distance, in which time of my coming he must strike, thrust, ward, or go back: if he go back, it is a great disgrace: if he strike or thrust, it is too short: if he stand to defend, the place being already gotten, where I may thrust home, the thrust being very quick & strongly made, such is the force and swiftness thereof, that it is impossible by nature or art, for any man to break one thrust of an hundred. These reasons in my opinion may suffice to confirm the wise, that there is no question to be made, but that the long Rapier hath the advantage against the short Sword.  
Sir you hue prettily handled your discourse, 
A confutation of the Italians reason.  concerning the vantages of the long Rapier against the short Sword, especially at the first show, and according to common sense, but for the substance and truth of the true fight, you have said nothing, because for the performance of any of your allegations, you have neither true Pace, Place, Time, nor Space: these are the reasons. Your Pace of necessity must be too large, because otherwise you cannot keep safe the point of your long Rapier, from the Cross of the short Sword, unless you will with a narrow Pace keep back your hilt so far, that the space of your offence willbe too large or too long in distance, and your body unapt to move and to thrust strong and quick in due time, nor aptly to keep your distance, to win the place with your feet, to thrust home. So now you may plainly see, if you have skill in the art or science of Defence, that to perform any thing which you have alleged, you have neither true Pace, Place, time nor Space. But if you will stand upon the largeness of your Pace, to keep back or save the point of your long Rapier from the ward or Cross of the short Sword, or upon your Passatoes, in all these you have great disadvantages: and these are my reasons: Your number will be too great, as thus: whensoever you mean out of your large pace to thrust home, you must of necessity make four times with your feet, and one with your hand, or two times with your feet, and one with your hand at the least: and whensoever you make any of your passages, the number of your feet are greater than the greatest of any of these times done out of the large pace: but the patiented with his short sword, to avoid you, or disappoint you of your thrust, hath but one time with his foot, at or before the which time, as he in his judgement shall find you in your motion, hath by the slow and great number of your motions or times, sufficient time safely out of all danger to make himself ready to take his cross with his short sword. Now Sir, whether you thrust or not thrust, whether you play the part of an Agent, or Patient, it helpeth you nothing, for he that hath the short sword hath four times or motions against the long Rapier, namely, bent, spent, lying spent, and drawing back, in all manner of fights these are to be observed both by the Patient and Agent. Now note, he that hath the long Rapier must of necessity play upon one of these four motions, or be Patient, which soever he shall do, he is still in great danger of the cross of the short sword, because if he be Agent, his number is too great, he falleth into one of the four motions, the Patient with his short sword, having but the time of the hand, or hand & foot, safely upon these actions or times taketh his cross with the short Sword: that being done, he presently uncrosseth and striketh or thrusteth at his pleasure him that hath the long Rapier, in the head, face, or body. Now here is again to be noted, that when the cross is made, if he that hath the long Rapier stand fast, he is wounded presently in the uncrossing of the short sword, if he step or leap back to save himself, yet the time of the hand being swifter than the time of the foot, overtaketh him, with blow or thrust in the arm, hand, head, face and body. Now if he that hath the long Rapier will be patiented & make no play, but lie still watching to make his thrust or Stocata just in the coming or moving of the Agents feet with his short sword, than he hath as great disadvantage as he had when he was Patiented, because then the Agent with his short Sword hath but hand and foot to make his cross: which is most safely to be done in that time, which we call Bend, and is as impossible for the Rapier-man to prevent, as it is for an unskilful to strike or thrust just together with a man of skill. Then thus I conclude, that he that fighteth with a long Rapier, against him that fighteth with a short Sword, can do nothing in due time to defend himself, or hurt the other, but is still in danger of his life, or at the mercy of him that hath the short Sword, or else hath no safe way to help himself, 
Cobs Traverse.  but only Cobs Traverse. This Cob was a great quarreler, and did delight in great bravery to give foul words to his betters, and would not refuse to go into the field to fight with any man, and when he came into the field, would draw his Sword to fight, for he was sure by the cunning of his Traverse, not to be hurt by any man: for at any time finding himself overmatched would suddenly turn his back and run away with such swiftness, that it was thought a good horse would scarce take him. And this when I was a young man, was very much spoken of by many Gentlemen of the Inns of the Court, and was called Cobs Traverse and those that had seen any go back too fast in his fight, would say, he did tread Cobs Traverse.   

George Silver his military riddle, truly set down between the Perfection and Imperfection of fight: containing the handling of the four fights: wherein true consisteth the whole sum and full perfection of the true fight, with all manner of weapons, with an invincible conclusion.  
GArdant fight stayeth, putteth back, or beateth gardant fight.  
Open fight stayeth, putteth back, or beateth open fight.  
Variable fight answereth variable fight in the first distance, and not otherwise, except it be with the perfect length against the imperfect.  
Close fight is beaten by gardant fight.  
Variable close & gardant fight, beateth gardant fight, open fight, variable fight, and close fight.  
Gardant fight in the imperfection of the Agent or Patient, winneth the half sword, and preventeth the close, and whosoever first ventureth the close, looseth it, and is in great danger of death, and not possible to escape or get out again without great hurt.  
There attendeth most diligently upon these four fights four offensive actions, which we call certain, uncertain, first, before, just, and afterwards: they are to be performed through judgement, time, measure, number and weight, by which all manner of blows, thrusts, falses, doubles, or slips, are prevented, or most safely defended. And thus endeth my riddle.  
Now followeth the conclusion, that whosoever shall think or find himself in his fight too weak for the Agent, or Patiented Agent, and therefore, or by reason of his drunkenness, or unreasonable desperateness shall press within the half Sword, or deserately run in of purpose to give hurt, or at least for taking of one hurt, to give another, shall most assuredly be in great danger of death or wounds, and the other shall still be safe and go free.  Veritas vincit.   

A BRIEF NOTE OF THREE ITAlian Teachers of Offence.  

I writ not this to disgrace the dead, but to show their impudent boldness and insufficiency in performance of their profession when they were living: that from henceforth this brief note may be a remembrance and warning to beware of had I witted.  THere were three Italian Teachers of Offence in my time. The first was signor Rocko: the second was jeronimo, that was signor Rocko his boy, that taught Gentlemen in the Blackfriars, as Usher for his master in steed of a man. The third was Vincentio. This signor Rocko came into England about some thirty years past: he taught the Noblemen & Gentlemen of the Court; he caused some of them to wear leaden soles in their shoes, the better to bring them to nimbleness of feet in their fight. He disbursed a great sum of money for the lease of a fair house in Warwick lane, which he called his College, for he thought it great disgrace for him to keep a Fence-school, he being then thought to be the only famous Master of the Art of arms in the whole world. He caused to be fairly drawn and set round about his School all the noblemen's and gentlemen's arms that were his Scholars, and hanging right under their arms their Rapiers, daggers, gloves of male and gauntlets. Also, he had benches and stools, the room being very large, for Gentlemen to sit round about his School to behold his teaching. He taught none commonly under twenty, forty, fifty, or an hundred pounds. And because all things should be very necessary for the Noblemen & gentlemen, he had in his school a large square table, with a green carpet, done round with a very broad rich fringe of gold, always standing upon it a very fair Standish covered with Crimson Velvet, with ink, pens, pin-dust, and sealing wax, and quires of very excellent fine paper gilded, ready for the Noblemen & Gentlemen (upon occasion) to write their letters, being then desirous to follow their fight, to send their men to dispatch their business. And to know how the time passed, he had in one corner of his school a Clock, with a very fair large Dial, he had within that school, a room the which was called his privy school, with many weapons therein, where he did teach his scholars his secret fight, after he had perfectly taught them their rules. He was very much beloved in the Court.  
There was one Austen Bagger, a very tall gentleman of his hands, not standing much upon his skill, but carrying the valiant heart of an Englishman, upon a time being merry amongst his friends, said he would go fight with signor Rocco, presently went to signor Rocco his house in the blackfriars, and called to him in this manner: signor Rocco, thou that art thought to be the only cunning man in the world with thy weapon, thou that takest upon thee to hit any Englishman with a thrust upon any button, thou that takest upon thee to come over the seas, to teach the valiant Noblemen and Gentlemen of England to fight, thou cowardly fellow come out of thy house if thou dare for thy life, I am come to fight with thee. signor Rocco looking out at a window, perceiving him in the street to stand ready with his Sword and Buckler, with his two hand Sword drawn, with all speed ran into the street, and manfully let fly at Austen Bagger, who most bravely defended himself, and presently closed with him, and struck up his heels, and cut him over the breech, and trod upon him, and most grievously hurt him under his feet: yet in the end Austen of his good nature gave him his life, and there left him. This was the first and last fight that ever signor Rocco made, saving once at Queen Hith he drew his Rapier upon a waterman, where he was thoroughly beaten with Oars and Stretchers, but the odds of their weapons were as great against his Rapier, as was his two hand Sword against Austen beggars Sword and Buckler, therefore for that fray he was to be excused.  
Then came in Vincentio and jeronimo, they taught Rapier-fight at the Court, at London, and in the country, by the space of seven or eight years or thereabouts. These two Italian Fencers, especially Vincentio, said that Englishmen were strong men, but had no cunning, and they would go back too much in their fight, which was great disgrace unto them. Upon these words of disgrace against Englishmen, my brother Toby Silver and myself, made challenge against them both, to play with them at the single Rapier, Rapier and Dagger, the single Dagger, the single Sword, the Sword and Target, the Sword and Buckler, & two hand Sword, the Staff, battle Axe, and Morris Pike, to be played at the Bell Savage upon the Scaffold, where he that went in his fight faster back than he ought, of Englishman or Italian, should be in danger to break his neck off the Scaffold. We caused to that effect, five or six score Bills of challenge to be printed, and set up from Southwark to the Tower, and from thence through London unto Westminster, we were at the place with all these weapons at the time appointed, within a bow shot of their Fence school: many gentlemen of good account, carried many of the bills of challenge unto them, telling them that now the Siluers were at the place appointed, with all their weapons, looking for them, and a multitude of people there to behold the fight, saying unto them, now come and go with us (you shall take no wrong) or else you are shamed for ever. Do the gentlemen what they could, these gallants would not come to the place of trial. I verily think their cowardly fear to answer this challenge, had utterly shamed them indeed, had not the masters of Defence of London, within two or three days after, been drinking of bottle Ale hard by Vincentios' school, in a Hall where the Italians must of necessity pass through to go to their school: and as they were coming by, the masters of Defence did pray them to drink with them, but the Italians being very cowardly, were afraid, and presently drew their Rapiers: there was a pretty wench standing by, that loved the Italians, she ran with outcry into the street, help, help, the Italians are like to be slain: the people with all speed came running into the house, and with their Caps and such things as they could get, parted the fray, for the English masters of Defence, meant nothing less than to foil their hands upon these two faint-hearted fellows. The next morning after, all the Court was filled, that the Italian teachers of Fence had beaten all the masters of Defence in London, who set upon them in a house together. This won the Italian Fencers their credit again, and thereby got much, still continuing their false teaching to the end of their lives.  
This Vincentio proved himself a stout man not long before he died, that it might be seen in his life time he had been a gallant, and therefore no marvel he took upon him so highly to teach Englishmen to fight, and to set forth books of the feats of Arms. Upon a time at Wells in Somersetshire, as he was in great bravery amongst many gentlemen of good account, with great boldness he gave out speeches, that he had been thus many years in England, and since the time of his first coming, there was not yet one Englishman, that could once touch him at the single Rapier, or Rapier and Dagger. A valiant gentleman being there amongst the rest, his English heart did rise to hear this proud boaster, secretly sent a messenger to one Bartholomew Bramble a friend of his, a very tall man both of his hands and person, who kept a school of Defence in the town, the messenger by the way made the master of Defence acquainted with the mind of the gentleman that sent for him, and of all what Vincentio had said, this master of Defence presently came, and amongst all the gentlemen with his cap off, prayed master Vincentio, that he would be pleased to take a quart of wine of him. Vincentio very scornfully looking upon him, said unto him. Wherefore should you give me a quart of wine? Marry Sir, said he, because I hear you are a famous man at your weapon. Then presently said the gentleman that sent for the master of Defence: Master Vincentio, I pray you bid him welcome, he is a man of your profession. My profession said Vincentio? what is my profession. Then said the gentleman, he is a master of the noble science of Defence. Why said master Vincentio, God make him a good man. But the master of Defence would not thus leave him, but pryaed him again he would be pleased to take a quart of wine of him. Then said Vincentio, I have no need of thy wine. Then said the master of Defence: Sir I have a school of Defence in the town, will it please you to go thither. Thy school, said master Vincentio? what shall I do at thy school? play with me (said the master) at the Rapier and Dagger, if it please you. Play with thee said master Vincentio? if I play with thee, I will hit thee 1. 2. 3. 4. thrusts in the eye together. Then said the master of Defence, if you can do so, it is the better for you, and the worse for me, but surely I can hardly believe that you can hit me: but yet once again I heartily pray you good Sir, that you will go to my school, and play with me. Play with thee said master Vincentio (very scornfully?) by God me scorn to play with thee. With that word scorn, the master of Defence was very much moved, and up with his great English fist, and stroke master Vincentio such a box on the ear that he fell over and over, his legs just against a Buttery hatch, whereon stood a great black jacke: the master of Defence fearing the worst, against Vincentio his rising, catched the black jacke into his hand, being more than half full of Beer. Vincentio lustily start up, laying his hand upon his Dagger, & with the other hand pointed with his finger, saying, very well: I will cause to lie in the gail for this gear, 1. 2. 3 4. years. And well said the master of Defence, since you will drink no wine, will you pledge me in Beer? I drink to all the cowardly knaves in England, and I think thee to be the veriest coward of them all: with that he cast all the Beer upon him: notwithstanding Vincentio having nothing but his guilt Rapier, and Dagger about him, and the other for his defence the black jacke, would not at that time fight it out: but the next day met with the master of Defence in the street, and said unto him, you remember how misused a me yesterday, you were to blame, me be an excellent man, me teach you how to thrust two foot further than any Englishman, but first come you with me: then he brought him to a Mercer's shop, and said to the Mercer, let me see of your best silken Points, the Mercer did presently show him some of seven groats a dozen, than he payeth fourteen groats for two dozen, and said to the master of Defence, there is one dozen for you, and here is another for me. This was one of the valiantest Fencers that came from beyond the seas, to teach Englishmen to fight, and this was one of the manliest frays, that I have hard of, that ever he made in England, wherein he showed himself a far better man in his life, then in his profession he was, for he professed arms, but in his life a better Christian. He set forth in print a book for the use of the Rapier and Dagger, the which he called his practice, I have read it over, and because I find therein neither true rule for the perfect teaching of true fight, nor true ground of true fight, neither sense or reason for due proof thereof. I have thought it frivolous to recite any part therein contained: yet that the truth hereof may appear, let two men being well experienced in the Rapier and Dagger fight, choose any of the best branches in the same book, & make trial with force and agility, without the which the truth between the true & false fight cannot be known, & they shall find great imperfections therein. And again, for proof that there is no truth, neither in his rules, grounds or Rapier-fight, let trial be made in this manner: 
Proofs against the Rapier fight.  Set two unskilful men together at the Rapier and Dagger, being valiant, and you shall see, that once in two boots there shall either one or both of them be hurt. Then set two skilful men together, being valiant at the Rapier and Dagger, and they shall do the like. Then set a skilful Rapier and Dagger-man the best that can be had, and a valiant man having no skill together at Rapier & Dagger, and once in two bouts upon my credit in all the experience I have in fight, the unskilful man, do the other what he can for his life to the contrary, shall hurt him, and most commonly if it were in continuance of fight, you shall see the unskilful man to have the advantage. And if I should choose a valiant man for service of the Prince, or to take part with me or any friend of mine in a good quarrel, I would choose the unskilful man, being unencumbered with false fights, because such a man standeth free in his valour with strength and agility of body, freely taketh the benefit of nature, fighteth most brave, by losing no opportunity, either sound to hurt his enemy, or defend himself, but the other standing for his Defence, upon his cunning Italian wards, Pointa reversa, the Imbrocata, Stocata, and being fast tied unto these false fights, standeth troubled in his wits, and nature thereby racked through the largeness or false lyings or Spaces, whereby he is in his fight as a man half maimed, losing the opportunity of times & benefit of nature, & whereas before being ignorant of these false Rapier fights, standing in the free liberty of nature given him by god, he was able in the field with his weapon to answer the valiantest man in the world, but now being tied unto that false fickle uncertain fight, thereby hath lost in nature his freedom, is now become scarce half a man, and every boy in that fight is become as good a man as himself.  
jeronimo this gallant was valiant, and would fight indeed, and did, as you shall hear. He being in a Coach with a wench that he loved well, there was one Cheese, a very tall man, in his fight natural English, for he fought with his Sword and Dagger, and in Rapier-fight had no skill at all. This Cheese having a quarrel to jeronimo, overtook him upon the way, himself being on horseback, did call to jeronimo, and bade him come forth of the Coach or he would fetch him, for he was come to fight with him. jeronimo presently went forth of the Coach and drew his Rapier and dagger, put himself into his best ward or Stocata, which ward was taught by himself and Vincentio, and by them best allowed of, to be the best ward to stand upon in fight for life, either to assault the enemy, or stand and watch his coming, which ward it should seem he ventured his life upon, but howsoever with all the fine Italienated skill jeronimo had, Cheese with his Sword within two thrusts ran him into the body and slew him. Yet the Italian teachers will say, that an Englishman cannot thrust strait with a Sword, because the hilt will not suffer him to put the forefinger over the Cross, nor to put the thumb upon the blade, nor to hold the pummel in the hand, whereby we are of necessity to hold fast the handle in the hand: by reason whereof we are driven to thrust both compass and short, whereas with the Rapier they can thrust both strait and much further than we can with the Sword, because of the hilt: and these be the reasons they make against the Sword.  
FINIS.