THE SCHOOL OF THE NOBLE and Worthy Science of Defence.  
Being the first of any English man's invention, which professed the said Science; So plainly described, that any man may quickly come to the true knowledge of their weapons, with small pains and little practice.  
Then read it advisedly, and use the benefit thereof when occasion shall serve, so shalt thou be a good Commonwealth man, live happy to thyself, and comfortable to thy friend.  
Also many other good and profitable Precepts and Counsels for the managing of Quarrels and ordering thyself in many other matters.  
Written by JOSEPH SWETNAM.  
LONDON, Printed by NICHOLAS OKES. 1617.   

❧ TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE CHARLES, PRINCE OF WALES, DUKE OF cornwall, York, Albany and Rothesay, Marquis of Ormount Earl of Rosse, and Baron of Armanoch, high Seneschal of Scotland, Lord of the Isles, and Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter.  
MOst Gracious and Noble Prince, the many great and kind favours which I received from the hands of your late Brother deceased, unto whom I was tutor in the skill of weapons, to my no little credit, which makes me now turn back to show my love in a small measure unto your Princely self, and yet it is as much as I am able, a bunch of grapes is but a small present, and yet King Philip of Macedon did receive them, and accept them, and the rather, because a poor man presented them, and therefore I trust your Highness will more esteem the goodwill of the giver, than the value of the gift.  
Three things did chief encourage me to publish it under the glorious name of your gracious Highness: The first is, in regard of your highness deep desire to gain experience in all Arts and Sciences, the which is seen by jour Graces favouring and furthering any man which is endued with any good quality, therein rightly resembling a branch of the same Stock from whence your Excellency sprang, of whom in my next Epistle to the Reader I will speak more at large: But at this time for doubt of being offensive, with the renewing of old griefs, I stand in a maze, like unto that child, who being asked whether he loved his father or his mother best, stood mute as doubting how to answer for fear of displeasing the one of them: even so in this place will J. Now the second cause of this my Dedication unto your Excellency is, in respect of my vehement love whereto in duty I am bound unto your Princely self: and thirdly, that it may pass under your highness protection, the better to shroud itself from backe-biters and faultfinders, lest amongst such it be taken up like a friendless vagrant: Oh therefore let it find favour, I humbly entreat your Highness, although it can little pleasure your Princely self, yet it may stead many others, and so doubting lest I have troubled your Highness over long. I will therefore here draw the Curtains, and commit your Highness to the Protection of the Almighty, who ever bless, preserve and keep your Highness with long life, and prosperous health, and happiness to the world's end.  
By your Highness to be commanded so long as I live. joseph Swetnam.   

An Epistle unto the common Reader.  
IN setting out of a book, friendly Reader, this I know, that there is no better a thing to be observed then order, for except there be an order in all things, all runneth to confusion, but what do I mean to talk of orders, which am no Scholar, nor have no learning; but only a little experience, which God and nature hath bestowed upon me. As it is unpossible to build a Church without lime or stone, no more can a workman work without tools, yet to avoid idleness, something I will make of it, although I cannot make it sound to so good a tune as I would, for want of learning, for I was never at Oxford but while I baited my horse; nor at Cambridge but while one Sturbridge fair lasted: wherefore if you do examine me concerning learning, I shall answer you as the fellow did the gentleman, who ask him the way to London, a poke full of plumbs sir said he; or as he which came from a Sermon was asked what he heard there; he said it was a good Sermon, and the Preacher spoke well, but he could not tell one word what he said, no more can I answer one word scholarlike or according to learning; yet both at Oxford and Cambridge I looked upon the Scholars, and they looked upon me, and so I became a little the older, but never the wiser; wherefore if I should continue tempering this book so long till I had put it in order, I should resemble those, which do make their apparel so long of the newest fashion, until they are quite out of fashion, or like as the fiddlers do their strings, who wrist them and temper them so long, until they bring them out of all time, tune, and reason, lest I should do so I will let it go with this draft as it is: but gentle Reader look not here to gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles: nor of a wild and a barren tree, nothing else but wild and barren fruit, yet amongst dust, sometimes there are pearls found, and in hard rocks gold and stones of great price, I have here as it were mixed wheat and rye, barley and oats, Beans and Pease altogether, now take a little pains to separate that grain which thou likest best for thine own benefit. I give thee here a friendly caveat, to prepare thyself in a readiness, for although thou art at quiet now, yet dost thou not know how soon thou shalt be urged to take weapons in hand, as myself and many others have been, when I least thought upon it, therefore to have judgement and skill in weapons is good, although thou never have occasion to use it. The Proverb saith cunning is no burden, the same mouth which at one time saith, I will live quietly, for I will make no brawls with any, yet at another time he again will say, oh that I had skill, for than would I be revenged on such a one that hath injuriously wronged me. Therefore for such a cause be prepared before hand, for if the King were sure that he should never have wars, what need had he then to provide armour and weapons, but in the time of peace he provideth himself; the wise Mariner provides in a calm for a storm, for things doubtful are to be dreadful. It is better to live in fear then in security, and to this purpose Tully hath a pretty saying which goeth thus; he which desireth peace let him provide for wars, but I fear me that the tide will be spent, before I can double this point, and therefore here I will cast anchor, and will ride in this road something longer than I would, for fear lest I cast my bark away on a lee shore, for want of water; these words of wariness do I use because there are many which no sooner out of the shell, but are cast away like an addle egg.  
Therefore I would not have young sprigs spoiled in the blossom, I mean I would not have young branches or young entereres into the world embark themselves in the ship of fools, for fear lest they cast themselves away in a manner, before they have had any beginning, for I have known many blasted in the budding in a manner, before they came to know cheese from chalk: only for want of instruction, and likewise some again have perished, and yet not for want of instruction, but they have known what was good for them, and yet would not seek it, but have delayed the means, as many delay their repentance, till the latter day, or till it be too late, not much unlike a sluggard, which rousing himself, and looking abroad in the morning, he seethe that it is high time to rise, yet sluggishly he lieth down again to sleep, and so forgetteth himself; even so many perish, some for want of good counsel, and some for lack of forecasting a mischief before it do light upon them. It is said that we must not tempt God. Math. 4. but I hold it a tempting of God to presume wholly upon him for all occasions whatsoever, without seeking other means which is commonly known, and by God prepared for us: as if we were sick men we ought to take the physicians counsel, and if wounded we must seek for help of a Chirurgeon, if our house be on fire we must power on water, and if we fall in a ditch, we must not lie still without using other means beside, saying God help us, but for this and all other things God hath appointed means, we must seek and then no doubt God will give his blessing with it, but we must not presume how carelessly soever we live, or how desperately soever we die, nothing can hinder us of our salvation, but so far deceived I fear me are such, that there is a thunderbolt of mischief prepared for their ignorance herein. Our Saviour Christ would not presume so much of the mercy of God the Father, as when he was upon the pinnacle to cast himself down, but he came down by other means, for the stairs were made for the purpose; God the father might otherwise have saved Noah without any Ark if it had pleased him, but Noah had warning that such a thing should be, whereupon he sought a means to save himself by making the Ark, therefore he that will not be prepared before hand with oil in his Lamp, or with skill in his weapons, when there is means to be found, he may be shut out of heaven as the five foolish virgins were if he chance to be slain suddenly, as many a man hath been, by dying without repentance.  
Indeed if there were no means then if we did with humbleness come unto God, no doubt than I say but God would miraculously defend his servants, as he did the children of Israel when their enemies were behind them, and the red sea before them, than there was no means nor help left them, but only in the Lord, but then the Lord stopped not his ears nor shortened not his arms, but gave them passage with his outstretched arm thorough the red sea, and then again they being in the wilderness, there was neither meat nor drink, and then and there again the Lord sent them food from heaven, and he also made the hard rocks gush forth rivers of water. The Mariner in distress throweth over board the merchants goods which are in ship, and yet then finding small hope of life he cutteth down the masts of the ship, and so he throweth them and the sails overboard, which should be the only mean to bring them to land, but then these Mariners being bereft of all hope, they rely wholly upon God, which never leaveth in distress those which trust in him, but then he miraculously doth defend them, and bring them into a safe harbour contrary unto man's expectation.  
So not only here in this place, but as I go on I will show some examples out of the book of God and from the Philosophers and other School men, and the application to be applied unto ourselves, for there is nothing written but hath been written for our learning, and of those we are to learn counsel of which have run through the brambles, briars, and the mischief of the world.  
Then be not wise in thine own conceit, for S. john and Paul saith that the wise are catched in their own craftiness. john 9 13.1 Cor. 3.19. If the wise are catched what then will become of the ignorant and foolish, not only of this profession, but of all ethers; for there are many of all trades which do think their own wit best, and hating to be reform, but I wish such to take heed of ignorance pitfall, lest they fall into the springle with the woodcock; for who is so bold as blind bayard. But as some men of all trades with small skill do go on and live by their trades and yet in a manner but butchers, even so I have often hard many a man say, that with a little skill they have saved their lives being put unto trial, for those which are in danger of drowning will catch at a straw to save their lives, but for the most part it so falleth out, that if the father or the master be a coward, or unskilful in his weapons, than the sons of that Father or the servants of that Master, seldom prove good soldiers, not much unlike that saying of the Prophet when the mother is an Hitite, and the Father an Ammorite, the child seldom proves an Israelite. Ezekiel 45. Then we must not follow or go on being led on blindfoldly, by a cowardly sort of people, which will say that a good eye or a good heart is all that belongs unto the defence of a man's body, these are they which professing themselves to be wise, are become fools. Rom. 1.22. Or they may be compared unto those which talk of Robin hood and yet never shot in his bow, so this trump have I cast in your way, 
Then show not thyself worse than a beast, for beast have wit to find out remedies to cover their grief.  for loath I am to leave you any starting holes to wind out at, but that you may keep the high beaten way, least in seeking by-ways you wander quite out of the way, yet mistake me not in thinking that hereby I seem to hale thee on for thy own good, like a beast, for I do but lead thee with the cords of love, and wish thee to taste of this my opinion which I have new broached. And I make no doubt but in trial it will be no whit distasting unto thee, for by experience I speak it that above all, skill is the key of the work, as the eye to the body, or as the Captain to the soldiers, or the pilot to the ship; if the eye be dark in walking, the body falleth, if the Captain be ignorant, then do the Soldiers march disorderly, or if the Pilot be unskilful, the ship sails in danger, but as I was about to tell you of a sort of loggerheaded asses which further more will persuade their familiar friends, by telling them that skill will do them no good, for when they have learned skill and afterwards when they shall have occasion to use their weapons, than such dunces will say that skill will be forgotten & little thought upon. Also they say that a man with a sword will cut off thy rapier at one blow, but I say this is a most cowardly kind of ignorance, for if a skilful man do hold the rapier, it is not a hundred blows with a sword can do a rapier any harm, no although they light upon him. Therefore those which will persuade any from learning skill with weapons, for the defence of their bodies, may fitly be compared unto the false Prophets amongst the jews, which persuaded them that they should not fear nothing, but peace, peace, peace, when the Assyrians were in a readiness to cut their throats as in the 6 of jeremy the 14, there you may read it, therefore a provident care ought to be had, as jehosaphat did when he feared the Moabits to come upon him, 2 Chron. 20.3. David lived securely in jerusalem, and without fear, which made him forget God, as in the 2. Sam. 11. the whole Chapter is worth the reading; doth not the wisest man that ever wrote say, that there is a time of war and a time of peace, Eccle. 3.8. If a man did know what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch, wherefore be advised to deal wisely, but not like unto Pharaoh for he said, let us deal wisely when he dealt most foolishly Exodus 1.10. and so we will go on.  
In reading over divers Histories I thereby understanding the noble acts, and also noting the manly mind of these who lived many hundred years ago, whose fame shall never die, whereas cowardly dastards which never bent their studies in marshal exploits, such I say at their death their fame dieth with them, and so they are quickly raked up in the ashes of forgetfulness, and buried in the valley of oblivion. So that if a man would go search for the pedigree of their gentility, they shall find it laid up in a beggar's box, or as the Charter of a City written in dust, whereas on the other side the valiant and gallant minded men, although they die, yet in their life time their manly acts and valiant deeds which they worthily performed, some in the wars and some at single combat, and some at other honourable and laudable exercises, whereby they merited to themselves immortal fame for ever, for to some no exercise nor weapon came amiss as in stead of many examples these two out of the book of God shall be sufficient, David with his sling, (as Hercules with his Club) and Samson with his jaw-bone or any other weapon which came next to his hand, but loath I am to trouble you with so long an Epistle or Preface, yet for an Introduction to the rest something I must say and most of that which I have and will say is so necessary as the rest, although it be longer than I would, but we will now to the matter.  
Then thus, by reason of divers errors which are in sundry men's teaching of this noble art of defence, I therefore being pricked forward by the earnest request of some of my friends, to describe the rules of weapons, which I by my study have invented, and by practice brought to perfection, and likewise for my country's benefit, I mean to better the unskilful in knowledge, I have thought it good to open plainly the best grounds, which belongeth to our English weapons, that are now in use, so far as my simple invention by great practice hath attained unto. Another reason which moved me hereunto was where some do find out many hidden secrets which they bury in the earth again with their bodies, or else if they make it known, it shall be to such a faithful friend as they love and affect dearly, all writers that ever wrote did write either for profit or pleasure: some to profit others, and some to pleasure themselves; and some have wrote common and necessary things for their own posterity after them; I writ but of common things, yet not so common as necessary, and therefore my meaning is to make my secret study known so plainly as I can unto all the world, for the benefit of many thousand yet unborn, for every man hath or should have skill in his weapons, the reasons shall follow, as occasion shall serve hereafter more at large; but as yet I know the greatest number are blinded in an ignorant conceit, I mean such as do think to overcome their enemies if occasion do serve by quickness of the eye, or by a kind of valorous resolution, which for the avoiding of this and such like abuses, I have here and there put down sundry reasons in this book, although they be not in order, yet take a little pains to seek them out, for I wrote this book at such leasurable fits as time would permit me; now for affection sake some will say it is well done, and others again will say it is reasonable and indifferent, and so I pray you let it pass, for if I should perceive it should go for stark nought, then should I account my time and labour very ill bestowed; but yet this I know, if it were ten times worse than it is, yet would it be welcome to a number of my old friends and familiar acquaintance, such as were the cause of this my idle time spending, who were earnest with me for the setting forth of this work. Lo this is the anchor whereon my hope dependeth, but yet I make a doubt lest that my book may light into the hands of some envious mates, who never knew me, yet will not stick to say upon the very first fight, oh this is such a man's work, I know well enough what he could do, and yet will not fully give up their verdict, but only shake the head, with a wry mouth and a smiling countenance, throwing it from them, and so seeming by their silence that they could further disgrace me, but will not. Indeed it is a more easier matter for such to find fault with a part of my book then to amend the whole, but I could wish such learn before they take upon them to control, but those which are wise and kind, will accept of my good will, for I have given out this but as a theme; let a wiser than I rhyme upon it, and although it seem but as it were a glimpse of the noble Art of defence, in regard of the substance, yet some will perceive day at a little hole; wherefore travel further in it, till you find out the substance, like a good Surgeon search the wound to the bottom before thou lay a plaster, I mean read it over before thou give judgement; and then play the wise man's part which is to speak little, although he think much; indeed I must confess a vanity in myself and that I have deserved blame, because so bluntly I have set forth such an unperserued piece of work, but my reasons in the latter end of the book may a little excuse me, but in the mean while let it be never the worse welcome untothee, for that it hath my poor name unto it, I speak this because I know there are some will speak they care not what, to disgrace they know not whom, without rendering any reason at all, out only out of a dogged humour, or an idle brain, some finding fault with the guards, and some because I have written of things which belongeth not to the matter or ground of this work, and some because it is a book of pictures, accounting a book of pictures fit for children and fools; to answer such I say when a child or a fool doth look in a glass, he doth think there is a baby on the other side, but when men of discretion look in a glass, they do not think so; therefore as by the Heathen we may learn many good lessons, even so a man of understanding may learn wisdom, and gain experience of a fool; I wrote not this altogether to pleasure those that are skilful already, for this book can steed them but little, for the whole and sound need not a Physician, but the ignorant and unskilful may profit by this book as much if with discretion they take regard in their practice according to my direction, as if myself were in person to teach them, but both the skilful, and unskilful, the wise and the foolish may here learn one lesson or other, which they never learned before; yet I know not how every one will take this my presumption, in adventuring to set out a book having no learning, yet I pray you read it over first, and then judge, but yet be slow in condemning me, for I have done my good will, now he which can make a simple thing better, he ought so to handle the matter, that although he get credit himself, yet condemn not me for showing the best I could; therefore so judge of me behind my back as you would have others judge of you, but if you judge well and like well of it, then shall you have the second part with six weapons more, but I will first see what will become of this first part, let it commend or condemn itself, for great bragger's cannot better it, nor dissembling specches impair it, neither will I maintain for well done, all that I have done, but if you accept it then I have all my desire, if otherwise good will shall bear the blame for my presumption: but why do I make a dought of any evil speeches, which deserus no blame, again this I know that there is none which standeth in so much need of good words as those which go about to cover dishonest deeds, wherefore I may say as that great Captain Marius who having occasion to use a speech before the people of Rome, in his conclusion he said, although my words are not well set in order I weigh not so much so that my deeds be good.  
I have made this of brick and stones, as Augustus said of Rome at the first, but now Rome is built with marble: even so I would wish that some expert and learned person or other would pull down this rude begun work of mine and build it up with marble, for the work itself if it were workmanlike handled, deserveth to be written in letters of gold, and to remain for ever, but first it must be twice or thrice distilled as they do their Rosa-solis, for first it is Aquavitae, & then in the second and third distillation, there is bestowed greater charge and more excellent matter ariseth of it.  
I have but roved at skill in weapons, yet I am sure that I have shot so near the mark that some will account me for a good Archer, otherwise they would never have been so important with me to have me put my directions in writing, and when it was in writing so many desired Copies, that amongst so many friends I knew not which to pleasure first, but especially and above all the late high and mighty Prince Henry whom I well hoped that he should have lived to have been the ninth Henry and the tenth worthy of the world, for what did any of the other nine worthies do, but this good Prince was as likely, if he had lived to have performed as much as any of them; for what hath been done but may be done again. But as I was about to say, this good Prince had the perusing of this book and earnestly persuaded me to print it, but I had not leisure to finish it before death untimely took him away to my grief and many more, for all the whole kingdom was nothing but mourning. Death were kind if he took none, but those which offended, but oh most unkind death, for thou in taking away that good young Prince, hast taken away him which never offended, for there was never the like seen in one so young, for his wisdom, learning, and kind courtesy, to all which came to see his Princely self, talking so mildly and familiarly to every one which did so rejoice and glad the hearts of all true and loving subjects, and also caused him in his fame to be spoken of, for Kings and Princes are talked of at poor men's tables, and good words he deserved, as ever any earthly creature did. For besides his skill in Music, he was able by his learning to discourse with any foreign Prince whatsoever, also his admirable and well riding of a great horse, and his excellent running at tilt or ring; likewise his cunning in weapons, for the fight on horseback or on foot, and for tossing the pike never so many feats seen in any Prince, insomuch that it made strangers stand amazed to behold him; at a word he had experience in all arts or sciences, thereby seeming as it were desirous to trust more to his own valour, if occasion served, then to the goodness of his horse. And so to make an end least of the ignorant I get the name of a claw-blacke, and also another doubt I have, least undertaking so difficult a task, and being not able to discharge it according unto the dignity and worthiness thereof, the which I cannot do, and therefore I will not wade so far in so dangerous a river, but that I may easily escape out, wherefore like the finger of a dial I will point, it must be the clock which telleth you the just time of the day, I have drawn his Highness in bare colours, and so I leave the oily colours unto those which are learned, you may see by a taste what wine is in the butt, and so to our matter again. Now he which will practise after my direction, thou mayst a little the rather attain unto that perfect knowledge in the Art or skill with thy weapons having an able body by agility to preserve that skill which I have here in this book laid open unto thee, for I did understand many things which my body was not able to perform; now because many at the first will wax weary in their practice, yet such weariness is overcome by often exercise, and that new skill once obtained will be such a pleasure to thee, 
Give not over practice nor reject not skill because thou canst not be a master of art, or a doctor at the first day, for time must work and bring all things to pass, for that is well done which is done by leisure, for hast many times makes waste.  that it putteth all weariness out of thy remembrance, now until thou hast skill thou must not think it a toil, but strive continually to overcome weariness: resolve this with thyself, that the pain will be nothing so wearisome as the gain of skill will be delightful and comfortable unto thee, and commendable amongst others: I have made it as plain and laid it as open as I can express by words, because I would have every man expert in weapons, considering that skill in weapons is so honourable and so precious a thing, that in my mind it may be preferred next unto divinity, for as divinity preserved the souls of those which follow it, from hell and the devil, so doth this noble and worthy art of defence defend the body from hurts and scars of those which learn it, but those which neither follow the one nor learn the other, the first fort for aught I know may go throw fire brands in hell, and the second sort may sit in an alehouse, and there show how many hurts, and likewise tell how many wounds he hath about his body; for I have known wany brag of their hurts, and in my conceit they take a pride In that they have stood so near the point of a weapon, whereby to receive wounds, therefore they are willing that the world should know how venturous they have been, but now in my mind if they had skill they need not be hurt: wherefore skill is not only available to preserve and keep the body without hurts and wounds, but also the use and practise with weapon, doth drive away all aches, griefs, and diseases, it removeth congealed blood, and breaketh impostumes, it maketh the body nimble, and pliant, it sharpeneth the wit, it increaseth the sight, and procureth strength, and expelleth melancholy and cholericknes, and many other evil conceits, it keepeth a man in breath, in perfect health, it makes him to be of long life which useth it, it is unto him which hath the perfect skill in weapons, a most friendly, & comfortable companion, when he is alone, having but only his weapons about him, it putteth him out of all fear, and in the wars and places of most danger it maketh a man bold, hardy valiant, and venturous. wherefore they that are once experienced in the skill of weapons will afterwards to the end of their lives enconrage the unskilful to learn still, considering how necessary a thing skill in weapons is, insomuch that God and nature tolerates the practice of this skill in weapons, which is here meant for the defence of man's body, it also preserveth many from murder, also in the wars it may likewise stead a King, gentleman, or any other private soldier; for if in the wars a single combat is desired, as that of Goliath, there started out of the army a David who with a godly valour stood in the gap, for the good and preservation of many men's lives, which no doubt else had perished in that great and dangerous battle. Therefore it behoveth Kings being challenged by their equals for the safeguard and good of their subjects and country, to adventure and hazard their own lives in hope of a conquest, so that thereby the wars may cease.  
Some there are which take delight to talk of the art of defence, and yet have no insight nor judgement therein, the proverb is verified in such which goeth thus, there are some which talk of Robin-hood which never shot in his bow, I speak this because a gentleman on a time came to my School and would not play by no means, yet he was busy with his tongue in teaching others, and in discoursing of several weapons, and several guards, but by his words he bewrayed his small judgement, for his speech founded to no sense nor reason, and so I being weary with hearing him talk so long, and far from the mark which he aimed at, so at length I rounded him in the ear, thus, hold your peace, or else speak softly, for my usher laughs you to scorn. But we will to our matter again, and draw to a conclusion of this Epistle, for the necessary use of weapons. In Luke the twelve there the Lord as it seemeth did think them to be more better than a coat upon a man's back, he therefore bade his Disciples generally, go said he, sell your coats and buy you swords, he spoke not this to one of them alone, but unto them all.  
Now the Kingly Prophet David teacheth you where to wear your swords, saying gird thy sword on thy thigh, he doth not bid thee wear it about thy neck in a string, even so as the Lord in many places of the Bible is said to be of many professions, for he is called a shepherd, a husbandman, a Physician, and David in his 144. Psalm, in a manner calleth him a fenser, for there he faith that the Lord did teach his hands to war, and his fingers to fight: He also faith in another of his Psalms, I am a worm and no man, and yet I fear not what man can do unto me. Other examples bending to this purpose hereafter shall follow more at large, some in one Chapter, and some in another, as they come in my mind, and although it hath been my study and practise this twenty years, yet now I have unfolded every place, and showed every wrinkle of these few weapons, so far as my invention hath attained unto, and I have set them down so large and made them so plain, as by words I could any way express them, so that thou mayst learn them in twenty days and less, if not all, yet enough for the sure defence of thy body, and the rest shall follow in a second book hereafter, if thou dost friendly accept of this.  
In the mean time arm thy mind to these weapons here following, for they are sufficient for thy defence at single combat, also here thou shalt find other lessons no less profitable than delightful, if thou with content peruse them, and so I will hinder thee no longer from that which ensueth, and therefore ending my Epistle with these words of the Friar, who often in his Sermon said the best is behind, so he that readeth but the beginning of a book, can give no judgement of that which enueth; then read it over, and thou shalt not be deluded with the best is behind.  
I hope I may call this book a book without any offence, for the collier he calleth his horse a horse, and the Spanish jennet is but a horse. Now as this art is called a Noble art, and not so named unfittingly, being rightly understood, for there is no art nor science more to be preferred before this, for that there is none that jumpeth in equality, nor that matcheth in singularity or that hath so many sundry subtle devices and ingenious inventions, as this noble art of defence hath. Now he that doth but read of this art, yea although he read never so much, yet without practice and by experience in trial, it will be unperfect, for how can perfection be attained but by practice, and therefore it also behoveth thee to use practice with sundry men, and so to make use of the diversity of each man's skill, and then for thy benefit, like the wise physician who of many simples maketh one compound, or as the be which by her serious industry gathereth virtue from sundry sorts of herbs and flowers, & thereof maketh her honey, she is not therefore to be condemned of envy, but rather to be commended of all.  
Neither do I write this book altogether to profit those inlearning that which they before wanted, but only to set them and other willing minds a work which by art and learning can better swim through such a deep river than I can, it should have been better if my learning had been answerable to my will, yet hoping that the wise will rather wink at small faults, then rashly reprove that which may profit the simple, for all have not skill and cunning alike, I am persuaded that some will the rather pass it over with patience, although it be but only for affection to the art, and so hoping that this my work may be profitable to all, for so it can no way be hurtful to none, but if you chance to meet with this book after he hath served out the apprenticeship of seven years, if God grant me life so long you shall see him in double apparel, and then you shall have just cause to say that his master hath fulfilled his covenants, for I wish all men well, and every one an increase of skill in all laudable and profitable arts or sciences, and so with this long entry into a little parlour, I leave you to him whose seat is in heaven, and whose footstool is the earth. And rest,  
Thine in the Lord, joseph Swetnam.   

¶ Unto all Professors of the Noble and worthy Art of Defence I send greeting.  
MOst noble brethren by profession, and brethren in Christ by Religion, wishing all health and happiness to all them of the noble Art or Science of Defence; and as your profession is noble, so in brotherly love, I do earnestly request you all to use it in that noble fashion, as the name or title requires, the rather, & for because you are men, not only noted and talked of, but often looked on and more pointed at, than any other ordinary men are, of what profession soever. Also it is the world's wonder, to set a man of civil government using this profession herefore I pray you consider with me a little, that we are as a Beacon set on a hill, or like a candle in a candlestick; then let not your candle be made with a great wike, and no tallow, but let him be so mixed with both, that your light may so shine before men, that they seeing your discreet government and good behaviour may (by your good examples) reform many ill infirmities which they see in themselves. Alas, I pray you consider and remember, that as the tree groweth, so he falleth; we are not borne for ourselves, but for our Country: and if we do no good, though we do no harm, then better it were that we had never been borne. The fig tree in the Gospel, is said to trouble the ground, because he bore no fruit, and therefore better an addle Egg then an ill Bird; for a good and a godly life, hath a good and a godly end, and an ungodly life hath an ungodly end: and therefore most happy dieth that man, of whom the world doubteth not of his salvation, although the world is given to speak well and charitably of the wicked when they are dead, and yet it may be they think in their minds they are gone to hell; then call to mind, and wisely consider of this, and also of your end, and in what great jeopardy your lives stand; for he that to day is well, lusty, and strong, may the next day, nay, the next hour, have his life taken suddenly from him at unawares, when he lest thinketh on is, for many of this profession do not live out half their days, for there is many ways to bring a man to his end, some by quarreling when they have no cause, and so are stabbed suddenly, and some by drunkenness, as you shall hear anon; for I could write of many which came to their ends, and yet died not all in their beds, nor all in the wars, nor all at the gallows, and yet many of them have gone these ways: for there are wicked and evil angels which are the waiters, and do attend upon an ungodly life, for Death respecteth no manner of person, for be doth assault the skilful so well as the ignorant, the wise so well as the foolish, and therefore it is good for every man to be prepared and in a readiness, and then he need not to fear to say, Come Lord jesus, come quickly; to day or to morrow, or when thou wilt, and with what manner of death soever, so it come by thine appointment.  
And now (for examples sake) I think it not amiss to renew your remembrance with the death of some few of the Noble Science, because I have known their ends; and first, to begin with that one of master Turner, which should be the last, he did not so speedily kill john Dun, with a thrust in the eye, but he was as soon murdered afterwards, with a shot of a Pistol; for neither of them, after they had their death's wound, spoke one word; lo, by this you may see, that some hawks are but a flight, and some horses are killed with a tournie, and a man is but a shot; but now, by reason that Master Turner, by his unlucky hand, thrust out two or three eyes, and because none others are known to do the like, it bath therefore bred an admiration in the ignorant and vulgar sort, insomuch, that generally they do applaud him with this commendation, saying that he hath not left the like behind him, nor never will be the like again: But this is a great error in thinking so, and far deceived are they; for I well knew Master Turner by familiar acquaintance, and therefore (to speak the right) he was a worthy fellow and deserved well, but yet I know many which can go so near the eye as ever he could do, if they so listed, as in this book you shall see many false thrusts at several weapons, which may endanger any man's eyes, if those which learn them do carry envious minds, or if they were desirous to work a man such a mischief, but God forbidden that any man should be so ill minded. I will not say, but that by chance such a thing may be done, and so it may be that Master Turner did it more by chance, without any intention; for so some do judge of it: but if a man chop a thrust at the face, yet, by chance, he may hit the eye: for no man is certain, that with the first thrust he will hit the eye, but with proffering many, by chance he may: now the use which we ought to make of this, is, to advise all men to take heed that they bear not a kill heart, for than we shall have no kill hand, as that example more of Henry Adlington for killing his Master john Devil, was hanged: Furlong he drunk a pint of Aqua vitae at one draft, and he fell down and died presently: Westcoat, for some unkindness received of his own daughter, he went into a wood near Perine in Cornwall, and there hanged himself: Richard Caro, he died most miserably of the French disease in an old house near Plymouth, although he had a new suit of clothes from top to toe, yet he was so loathsome a creature, that no body would let him harbour in his house, for part of his body was rotten and stunk above ground: also old Carter of Worcester lay along time sick of a linger disease, and being worn away to nothing but skin and bones, he died in his bed: and so of many more I could write, but it is not my intention to write a Chronicle, and therefore these few shall serve for this time, I wrote it but only to put you in mind, that you may so lead your lives daily and hourly, as if Death were even at your heels, and so to live as though you should live for ever, always keeping something for a rainy day, as saith the Proverb, that is to say, for sickness, if God do send it, and for old age when your aching bones do refuse to perform that labour which the heart willing to set them to.  
Therefore I would wish every one, in his youth, to provide and get himself a homely home, and to settle in one good town or other, for a rolling stone gathereth no Moss; the Grasshopper cannot live but in the grass, and the Salamander dieth if he go out of the fire: therefore, spend not thy time in travel from place to place, but keep thy homely home, and there begin thy pending as thou mayest continue, cutting thy coat according to thy cloth, and not spending all at one time, and have nothing at an other to serve thy turn, as many of all Profession do.  
Wherefore, you young branches of this noble Art of Defence, of you I mean to speak, and unto you I do make this earnest request, that you will bestow all your idle time, which too too many spend in idle company, and in drunkenness, such ill spent time, I could wish, that it were either bestowed in reading of good books, or in giving good counsel unto such young men as do frequent your company, teaching them besides skill with weapons, how to manage their weapons, and how, and when to appoint the field, but not upon every drunken quarrel, and chief of all, charging them from profaning the Sabbath day, drunkenness, and all other vices belonging thereunto, which makes their white souls so black as incks, stinking before God as it were the smoke of sulphur and brimstone: and thus doing will purchase you, not only the love of God, but likewise of all the world, and your good report will be in every man's mouth, yea it will go before you in your travels, like as with an Herald of Arms, or else like a speedy Post, overtake you wheresoever you go, whereas on the contrary side, those which do spend their days in drunkenness, and leading their lives lasciviously one misfortune or other happeneth unto them, either by the loss of a limb, or by the loss of an eye, or by the loss of their lives.  
For I have known many very skilful men not only of this Profession, but likewise of others, which delight in ungodliness, drunkenness; and being put to trial in their Art or Profession, they have received disgrace and lost the day, and they afterwards have thought that they made at good excuse, in saying that they were in drink when they went about their business, and yet it may be it was not so, but admit it was so, then is it mere madness, that any man should be so foolish in taking too much drink when before hand he knoweth this is the day, wherein I am to stand upon my credit; now because I know, that many will read this besides those unto whom it is dedicated: therefore I wish all men, of what Profession soever, to make this reckoning (as aforesaid) every day, and not to be forgetful of that which he should chief remember; for every day one time of the day or other thou mayst be put so to thy shifts, and thereby have an occasion to summon up all thy wits, and driven to use thy best skill, and yet all little enough to serve thy turn.  
Wherefore unto you which this any way may concern, I wish you to apply yourselves unto your Profession, and still to be studying and practising the true and perfect rules belonging both to the true and false play, especially unto such weapons as you are not grown unto the full perfection before hand, if they may serve either for the wars or for single combat.  
Be not wise in thine own conceit, in thinking that thou hast learned all the skill which is possible to be learned already, far deceived art thou if thou think so, for if thou live till thou art old, yet thou mayest learn still, for one guard crosseth another, and the false play crosseth the true play; there are many secret slips and guards to be invented, and one guard or one trick may more stead thee, and more prevail against some men than another; for when with plain play, thou canst not endanger thy enemy, yet with false play thou mayest hit him, for although thy enemy do know the defence of some manner of false play, yet it may be he is not acquainted, neither with the defence nor offence of thine, for there it more ways to the wood than one, and he which knoweth many ways, may go the nearest.  
Even so, he that knoweth many guards, and the true skill at many weapons may be the better able to answer any stout bragging foreigner or stranger when they come with their challenges into our country, let them be of what nation soever, and at what weapons they will, and upon what terms they dare, as hitherto they have been sufficiently answered during my time, by Master Mathews, Master Turner, Master Bradshaw, and Master Yates; for these chief stood to stake against all comers, and yet I can not choose but remember Master Church, and Master Brentley, who of this latter time have deserved to be well reported of, and for aught that I could ever hear or see any get at any of their hands, they have small cause to brag of their winning, for they always went away with shrewd shrubs and knocks, I mean with black eyes, broken shins, or cracked pates; but of myself I will say little, because the world is sufficiently satisfied of more than at this time I mean to write of now, although the ignorant can not answer them for want of skill and judgement, yet they will rejoice and clap their hands to see them answered by sufficient and able men of valour and judgement.  
Now if any should ask my reason, why some should have such good fortune, and other some disgraced, and yet by the world's judgement their skill equal; because you shall not must long about it, I will quickly tell you my opinion, good government and good carriage is the main point thereof, yet me thinks amongst the vulgar sort I hear some say, because two or three famous fellows are dead, that there will never be the like again: but far deceived are they which think so, for there hath not been so good, but there may come so good again: for as yet I never knew any man but he hath met with his match, and therefore I wish every one not to presume one step the higher, for any gift that God bestoweth on thee, neither to think thyself better than any man, though there are some which, for want of discretion, will disable others, only to magnify themselves, and thinking thereby to make the world believe there is none so good as they. Lo, this is the cause of many quarrels, and sometimes murders: Therefore speak not evil behind the back of any man, nor dispraise no man's play nor workmanship, be it never so simple, do not like other Tradesmen, which cannot live one by another, but with a kind of grudging hatred, as the Hatter against the Hatter, the Shoemaker against the Shoemaker, and the Tailor would even hang the Tailor by his good will, and so of all Trades the like; but I would gladly wish it otherwise of all Trades, but especially of this Profession, to be loving and kind one to another, meeting together in their travels, and like Birds of a feather hold together, and in brotherly love embrace one another, and let it not be from the teeth outward, but from the heart inward, for you shall have many others which will undermine you, and creep into your secrets, and so run betwixt one another with tattling tales, only to set you together by the ears, and then laugh at you when they have done: Lo, thus an evil tongue is the cause of many a man's death: wherefore leave and forsake all evil vices, though you fear not man in respect of your manhood, yet fear to offend God for doubt of his judgements, which undoubtedly lighteth upon all those that carelessly forget him.  
For, as the greatest honour that ever came to man, was through skill in weapons, and the greatest downfall that ever came to man, was through pride of his manhood, and in neglecting his duty towards God: wherefore, as you worthily carry the style or title of Masters of Defence by your Profession, then be the same yond seem to be, I mean, never leave studying and practising till you come to the ground, and until you have sounded into the depth of your Art, for there are many other principal points belonging to the wars, beside, march, troop, charge, and stand; even so unto a Master of Defence belongeth the skill of many other weapons, besides backsword, sword and dagger, rapier and dagger, and the staff: for, if he be not provided with the skill of many other weapons, he may be to seek of his defence, if he should be challenged unto some other weapons which he is unacquainted withal.  
Then he is not worthy to be called a Master of Defence, which cannot defend himself at all weapons, especially against every ordinary man not professing the Art of Defence, nor except he can play with a Lion, as well as with a Lamb, and sometimes again to play the Lamb so well as the Lion; for he that can not tell when to spare, and when to strike; and he which cannot defend himself, cannot teach others to defend themselves, nor is he not worthy to be called a Master of Defence, but he that can do it is worthy of that title; and therefore greatly wronged of them which will call such a one a Fencer, for the difference betwixt a Master of Defence, and a Fencer, is as much as between a physician and a Fiddler, or betwixt a Merchant and a peddler; it will not well please a Merchant to be called peddler, yet the Merchant selleth the like wares as the peddler doth: Is therefore a Merchant and a peddler all one? No more is every Fencer a Master of Defence; nor every Fiddler hath not skill in Pricksong, and therefore no physician; if a man have but ten shillings worth of pings, Points, and Inkle, he may then be called a peddler, but he that hath a hundred sorts of wares, shall scarce get the name to be called a Merchant, no more can he which hath gotten a little more skill at three or four weapons then every common man, yet he may be to seek of the true skill of many other weapons which belong unto a Master of Defence.  
Yet one thing more, which I had almost forgotten; unto Scholars and unto Ushers of Schools of this Procession, proffer no wrong to your Masters neither in word nor deed, nor deny not your Tutors, but bear a hearty love unto him which hath brought you from nothing to something, from a shadow unto a substance; Let not the Priest forget that he was a Clerk. I have known many Scholars so good as their Master, and (it may be) better, according to the Proverb, A man may make his own dog bite him; but in my mind, such a dog is worthy of a rope: make the application as you see occasion. For I have known many an ungrateful knave escape the gallows, by the means of an honest minded man; yet such a knave (upon small or no occasion) hath afterwards gone about to hang such a friend if he could, even so some young lusty Scholars, when they have gotten perfect skill, for lack of wit, would offer to wrong their aged Master, if they could: It is not strange to find one scabbed sheep in a whole flock; nor it is no news amongst many honest men, to find a treacherous varlet, void of all honesty, fear, and wit. Now having no warrant to force you to follow my counsel, but only in brotherly love, I thought good to request you, and every of you, to amend one; and God amend us all, he I mean, whose Seat is in Heaven, and whose Footstool is the Earth.  
Your well-willing friend, joseph Swetnam.   

A Table of the Contents.  

1. THe first Chapter showing what weapons are chief to be learned, with other principal notes worthy of memory.  
2. The second declareth the difference of sundry men's teaching, with other directions.  
3. Three fearful examples of murder.  
4. The fourth Chapter showeth unto whom skill belongeth, also the fruits of drunkenness.  
5. The cause of quarrels, and with what preparation you ought to be prepared withal to answer a challenge.  
6. This Chapter showeth divers reasons or introductions to bring thee the better into thy weapon.  
7. This Chapter showeth that fear and fury are both enemies unto true valour.  
8. And this Chapter showeth how the use of weapons came, also of the manner of weapons used from time to time, with other good instructions.  
9 This Chapter showeth what an excellent thing skill is, with a persuasion to all men to forbear the breeding or the maintaining of idle quarrels.  
10. This tenth Chapter showeth the tricks of a coward.  
11. This eleventh Chapter is of questions and answers betwixt the master and the scholar.  
12. The twelfth Chapter showeth seven principal rules, whereon true defence is grounded.  
Now next followeth the skill of weapons, and first the true guard of rapier and dagger for the defence either of blow or thrust.  
Many other guards following with a description thereof at the rapier and dagger.  
The rules and guard for the single rapier.  
The guard at backsword.  
Several guards at the staff or pike.  
Questions and answers betwixt the master and scholar concerning the staff.  
A sure guard and very eastly to be learned at the sword and dagger.  
Certain reasons why thou mayst not strike in fight with no weapon.  
A brief of four principal points for thy continual memory.  
The author's opinion concerning the short sword and dagger.  
A guard for the short sword and dagger to encounter against a rapier and dagger.  
Questions and answers betwixt the master and scholar concerning the government of the tongue.  
The author's opinion concerning the odds that a tall man of stature hath against a little or a mean man of stature, and the odds that a strong man hath of a weak man.  
Certain observations for a scholar or any others.  
The several kind of weapons which are to be played with.  
The author's farewell to Plymouth.  
The author's conclusion.    

❧ This first Chapter showeth what weapons are chief to he learned, with many other principal notes worthy observation.  
BECAUSE old weapons lieth rusty in a corner, and every man is desirous of the newest fashion of weapons, especially if they seem to be of more danger to the enemy than the old, therefore it is my intent & purpose at this time to express and set down both the true and false play principally of the rapier and dagger, and staff, for I hold that the skill of these two weapons are chief and necessary of every man to be learned, for to have the use of a rapier to ride with, and a staff to walk a foot withal, for those which have the skill of these two weapons may safely encounter against any man having any other weapon whatsoever as hereafter you shall be sufficiently satisfied.  
But first a word by the way in commendations of those two weapons, this I can say and by good experience I speak it, that he which hath a rapier and a close hilted dagger, and skill withal to use him hath great odds against the sword and dagger, or sword and buckler, and the like I do affirm of a staff against all long weapons; my reasons shall follow anon; but first I will speak more in commendations of the rapier and dagger, note it well, for it is the finest & the comeliest weapon that ever was used in England, for so much cunning to this weapon belongeth as to no weapon the like: wherefore I would wish all gentlemen and others, not only to learn the true and perfect skill thereof, but also to practise it often. For there is no exercise in the world so healthful to the body, and the skill of it a sure defence for the same, likewise it also behoveth every man to be well instructed in this weapon, the rather, and for because it is a weapon which for the most part all outlandish men do use; wherefore being unprepared thou mayst be the better able to answer them at their own weapon either in single combat or otherwise, but if thou delay thy practice till thou hast need, than I say at the very time of need it will be too late, and little available to thee, for being learned in such haste it is soon forgotten, and he which never learned, but doth trust to his own cunning may soon lose his life, for there is but two ways for the doing of every thing; that is to say either a good or a bad, and commonly by nature every man hath the worst way; both at this exercise and so at all others the like, but the best way being learned, by a little practice keepeth it so perfect, that it is never forgotten again.  
A Physician is but little regarded, but in the time of sickness, even so the practising of skill is not remembered until a man hath need to use it. Plato was a Divine, yet he so highly esteemed the art or skill in weapons, insomuch that he commandeth that children should learn so soon as they are able, and Cyrus saith that skill in weapons was as necessary as husbandry; but now when you have the true and perfect skill, be not over rash nor take not exceptions at every light occasion, but only by good advise to use it, in cases of necessity; revenge not every small wrong, nor quarrel not upon every light occasion, for the strongest and the richest man that is, must pocket up an injury at sometimes, 
He that to wrath and anger is thrall, over his wits hath no power at all.  then be not hasty in thy wrath, but pause although thy weapon be drawn, for the thrust being given, and the blow once fallen, it will be too late then to repent; wherefore be vanant, but yet not too venturous, so fight as thou mayst fight again, for the hasty man never wanteth woe, and he which will quarrel for a small matter trusting unto his own manhood, yet for all his skill and courage, may oftentimes meet with his match, and so carry away the blows with dishonour.  

A quarrel is oftentimes begun without discretion.  For a small or a bad quarrel hath many times ill success, therefore let thy quarrel be grounded upon a good foundation, for than it half defendeth itself, but if it be upon drink or in defence of a lewd woman, such quarrels are nought, and have ill success; again have this care, never be proud of thy skill, but go as if thou hadst it not, except occasion serve: but be not lifted up with a proud mind one step the higher, for courtesy wins favour with all men; wherefore all way so frame your speech and answers, that there never grow any quarrel upon a foolish word or a froward answer.  
And furthermore, have this skill in thy memory, so rule thy tongue as never to speak ill, whether it be true or false behind the back of any man, for if the party spoken of be not in presence, yet he may hear of it, and thou mayst be called in question for the same when thou thinkest least upon it, yea although thou suppose that thou speakest it to thy friend, for I have known many which to magnify themselves would boast and brag of their own manhood, and disable others, which were far better men than themselves; thinking never to hear of it again; but this one folly hath been the cause of many quarrels, and thereof springeth deadly hatred, and sometimes murders. Yet I do advise all men if undiscreet words do pass from the mouth of the simple for lack of wit (but I will not say for lack of drink) but whether it be drink or mere foolishness, revenge not every wrong, but first consider the worth and quality of the party which hath wronged thee, for if he be a desperate person, or one which hath nothing to lose, nor wife nor children to care for, some such there are that are desperate, and care not if they were out of the world, 
Be valiant but not to venturous.  as our proverb saith, hab or nab, fall back fall edge, they care not whose house is on sire, for they have nothing to lose, now although thou hast the perfect skill with thy weapons, yet sight not with such rascals, not with none upon every small wrong; for so thou mayst be accounted careless and bloody minded, as though Mars the God of battle were thy father, or thinking thyself to be more mighty than Hercules, or as one altogether forgetting that which so oft hath been seen, that a little wretch of stature by skill, judgement, and reason, 
As that of David he overcame great Gollas.  hath subdued and overcome a far more mightier man of person than himself.  
For he that is well instructed in the perfect skill with his weapon although but small of stature, and weak of strength, may with a little moving of his foot or a sudden turning of his hand, or with the quick agility of his body kill and bring to the ground the tall and strongest man that is.  

Forget not this lesson.  Now before thou go into the field to fight, first of all put God before, and use thy devotion to him privately, and commit thyself wholly to his mercy, because he redeemed thee, and the victory lieth in him, if thy skill and cunning were never so good; for if thou go with a sure hope and trust in God, 
Fear not if thou hast skill to answer a good quarrel for its better die like a house in battle then live like a hog in a sty.  and thy quarrel good, and some skill withal, then fight and fear not, and although at the first it will be fearful to most men, being but once experienced therein, it will encourage and make a man bold, yet take this by the way, and note it well, for skill makes some men towards, for if thou learnest the best skill thou canst, and in a fence school meetest with one that is so good, and cunning as thyself, such a one will hit thee sometimes in spite of thy teeth, the which hit makes some think with themselves, I did now lie in as sure a guard as I could for my life, and yet if I had been in the field this hit might have killed me.  
But I say there is great odds betwixt fight in the field and playing in a fence-school, for in the field being both sober, I mean if it be in a morning upon cold blood, than every man will as much fear to kill as to be killed, again a man shall see to defend either blow or thrust in the field then in a fence-school, for a man will be more bold with a foil or a cudgel, because there is small danger in either of them.  
But when they come to tell their tale at the point of a rapier, they will stand off for their own safety; go not into the field in the afternoon, partly for the avoiding of the common speech of those which will say it is a drunken match, neither go not presently upon the sudden falling out; for choler overcometh the wits of many a man, for in a mad fury skill is little thought upon, and therefore very dangerous to both; for although thy memory serve thee well; and so thou being careful and not bearing any mind to kill, yet thy enemy if he be but a rank coward, upon drink or fury, or upon hot blood, will be so desperate, that if you favour him he will endanger thee.  
There is seldom or never any quarrel begun but in an afternoon, for then commonly the drink is in and the wit is out, although thou knowest thyself in good case, and not to have received more drink then to suffice thy want, yet dost thou not know how little drink will overcome the wits of another man; and this I know, and by good experience I speak it, there is no odds during the time betwixt a mad man and a drunkard.  
Never jest with edge tools, nor play not the fool with thy weapons, but keep them to defend thyself when occasion shall require thee, or at such time as thou shalt be oppressed, for many hurts and much mischief hath been done by overmuch folly in jesting with weapons, when at the beginning there was no harm meant.  
Ever refer the quarrel to be tried in the morning, for then thy adversary so well as thyself being in cold blood, skill availeth, and he which the night before would seem to fight with the devil, will in the morning be as cold as a clock; for than it is the nature of every man as well to fear to kill, as to be killed, and so thou by skill mayst fight long without danger, and sight with many, and have no hurt.  

〈…〉  When thou goest into the field, note the Sun, for if it do thine, it may annoy thee; but get thy back toward the Sun, and so traverse the ground, that thine enemy get not about thee, so shalt thou always keep his face in the Sun, which will so annoy him, that he can not make play to endanger thee. But if there be no Sun to trouble thee, then make choice of the lowest ground, for he which hath the lowest ground, hath the greatest advantage. Also take heed that thou strike not with thy rapier, for so thou mayest break it, and bring thyself to thine enemy's mercy, and it may be he will take the advantage of thee: If thy rapier fall out of thy hand, take thy dagger by the point, and make an offer to throw it, for that will so dare thine enemy, that he will stand until thou hast taken up thy weapon again.  

Take heed of 〈…〉.  But if thou recover thine enemy's weapons, (as I have known many let fall their weapons in fight) give it not to him again; if thou mean to fight with him any more for that time; for, to unarm thy enemy, is more credit to thee, then to kill him. Never lend a weapon to sight against thyself, for these two follies have been the end of many good men's lives: if thine enemy fall, hurt him, if he will not yield up his weapon, but kill him not, though his life do lie in thine hands, but if thou spare him, sight with him no more for that time; for I have known many that might first have killed, but by sparing their enemies, have been killed themselves; if thine enemy's weapon break, than there is favour to be showed: but these two last points are to be conditioned upon. When any two Gentlemen, or other, whatsoever, shall have occasion to fight, yet it is not amiss, at their meeting in the field, for the one of them to say before they begin, Show me that favour which thou wouldst have thyself, that is, if I fall, or my weapon break, stay thy hands, and I will do the like. Have always as great care to save the life of thy enemy as of thine own, fearing more the judgements of God, than the Laws of the Realm. Likewise, never be too earnest in persuading a coward to go with thee into the field to fight; for I have known a Gull that would abuse a man in words behind his back, but when he hath been called to account for it, by the party grieved, he durst not answer him in the field, yet by earnest provoking, hath gone and put a far better man than himself to the worst.  
Therefore I hold it very unfortunate to persuade any man too too earnestly, to go into the field to fight against his will; neither go into the field with every rascal, for thou dost hazard thyself, and gettest no credit, wherefore, if such a one do challenge thee, if thou canst conveniently, break his pate, for he is worthy of somewhat for his forwardness, but to answer him otherwise, let this excuse privilege thee; say thou scornest to do him that credit. Let thy rapier be of a reasonable length, rather too long then too short, four foot at the least, except thine enemy do give or send thee the length of his weapon; than it is a point of manhood to match him as near as thou canst: always let thine enemy tell his tale at the point of thy weapon; but trust him not to whisper with thee, lest he shall stab thee, or else by strength recover thy own weapon, and so do thee a mischief before thou be aware; keep clean thy rapier; remember that of Alexander, how he cassiered a Soldier out of his Army, because he was making clean of his Armour, even then when he should have used it. Likewise there is a Proverb, A workman is known by his tools: Then if thou hast skill to use thy weapons, let it appear by the cleanly keeping of them, then leave not thy rapier in a wet scabbard, when thou comest to thy journeys end.  
Yet once more I do advise all men to take heed how they jest or show their tricks in travel in their Chambers with their weapons, no though the scabbard be on; for by such foolish jesting I have known much mischief done, and sometimes murder, when there was no hurt meant at all; therefore I do wish the wiser to rule the other, so that a mischief may be prevented before it be done, for else repentance may come too late. Also in playing with sticks, without buttons, many (for want of skill) may lose an eye, as many have done heretofore. Many a man will say, That skill in weapons is good, and one of the principallest things that belongeth to a man, yet themselves altogether unskilful; in their youth they think it too soon to learn, and in age too late, yet when they are wronged, they would give any thing, that they were able to answer their enemy without fear or hurt, as he which is skilful in his weapon may do.  

For it happens in an hour which happeneth not in seven years.  Go not into the field with one that is known to be a common drunkard, no though thou take him never so sober, for if thou chance to hurt him, the vulgar sort will deem that he was drunk, so thou dost hazard thy life, and get no credit, then take no exceptions at a Drunkard's words, for what he speaketh is not regarded amongst men of discretion, yet many times it so falleth out, that a drunken madde-braine meets with a prodigal unwise fellow, and they do quickly upon a word, nay upon a look, make a sudden brawl, to the disturbance of the rest of the company; for he that will match a crooked dagger with a crooked sheath, in seeking may find one; even so he that is given to swaggering and quarreling, doth meet with his match sometimes, nay very often it so falleth out.  
Also he is unwise which will begin a quarrel in a School of Defence, upon the taking of a knock, as many do; for a man playeth, either to give a knock, or to take a knock: but with skill a man may play a long time, and do neither of them, except their fury do overcome their wits; but he which cannot arm himself with patience, by considering with himself the danger of his rashness; let him spend all his idle time in practising in weapons, with one that is skilful; for by use of play, many a man cometh to know the danger of rashness, and so with a due consideration, do thereby come to mitigate their furious affection, whereas an other sort of harebrains (upon very small occasion) will be always ready, not only to breed, but also to maintain any idle quarrel, whether it be right or wrong, in Fair or Market, Fence school or Tavern, as many witless drunkards do; for skill without discretion makes some more forward and desperate in maintaining idle quarrels, than otherwise they would be, whereas a man of discretion and government will be no whit the prouder of skill, but go as if he had it not, and amongst wise men he is accounted most valiant which brags least, and is master of himself, in conquering his affections, and always forecasting the worst, before a mischief doth happen; for a common quarreler is like a common hackney, which is never without a galled back; even so a quarreler is seldom without hurts: let thy hands be slower than thy tongue, yet let not thy sword rust for want of use, nor yet surfeit with blood, but after many threats in place convenient unsheathe thy sword, but yet do it with an unwilling kind of willingness, as not being too prodigal of thy blond in mis-spending it idly, and yet grudge it nor when occasion shall serve, either for thy King and Country, or in defence of thine own reputation, but not in every rascally brawl, nor in a great assembly, where many times a foolish madbrain, will draw his weapon upon an idle quarrel; in such a place I have known, that after one hath drawn, many have likewise drawn their weapons for company, according to the old Proverb, One fool makes many: But howsoever, in such a case I have known much mischief quickly done, although many of them have not known the cause, nor whom to strike, until it hath been too late; but then when all is done, these great fighters, when it is too late, they would make inquiry how the quarrel began, and upon what occasion; but men of discretion and wisdom would examine the cause first, before they do unsheathe their weapon: for in my mind, he that undertaketh such quarrels, showeth neither manhood, wit, nor valour, and contrary unto all the Laws of Arms; yet I will not say, but, where much people are, a man that meaneth no harm, may be wronged; but there is no wisdom to right himself in a multitude: for fear of a mutiny, I mean in setting many together by the ears, but in a place convenient thou mayest call him in question which wronged thee before, examining the cause of the quarrel, when the heat is past; and than if you find it but a pelting quarrel, being wisely considered upon, and that it hath been no great scandal unto thy good name and credit, partly, because the match was made, and the field was appointed in a drunken humour, in such a case I say, it were a very wise part, for the one of them to make a friend acquainted, which by wisdom may end the quarrel, before a further mischief be done: Nay more, I have known as good a man as ever did draw sword, upon an idle quarrel, hath himself gone the next morning to the house of his adversary, not making any friend at all acquainted with the business, and he hath thus said; I am come to answer what the last night I promised, but yet withal, to tell thee, that our quarrel is but small, and began upon idleness, yea so small, that I am loath to have it come into the ears of wise men, left they should account us both fools: now, for the avoiding of this and other dangers, it is not amiss for the wiser to offer this reasonable composition, though we do think him too weak for thee, for then thy credit will be the less in fight with him, and yet if thou do kill him, the danger is as great towards thee, as if thou didst kill the best man in the world: now on the other side, say he is a man noted and known to be as sufficient a man as ever drew sword; then I say, if an honest end can be made, without fight, that is the best way. For if two men of war meet at Sea, they will not fight willingly one with the other, for they will consider before hand, that there is little else then blows to be gotten one of the other: wherefore, if you be persuaded to end it with a bowl of Wine, be not froward but yield unto reason, if no friends know of the quarrel, than (as I said before) the wiser of the two may say unto the other; Come, let us go and drink ourselves friends, let us take a hair of the same dog, which the last night did bite us, and made us mad, shall now cure us and make us whole; and so let us smother up this pelting quarrel.  
But now, if the other be froward, and will not accept of thy reasonable motion, but will needs end it with weapons, then, rather than show thy back to thy spiteful enemy, let him see thy heart blood: I mean, if he can get it, but there is no such danger in fight, except Skill and Discretion be wanting: wherefore rouse up thy spirit, and what thou undertakest, do it without rashness, and yet perform it without fear always; in a good quarrel, if thou be overcome, let thy heart yield last of all; and if thine enemy be not too rash upon thee, it is a sufficient conquest, that when thou mightest hurt or kill, yet do it not, but still wear Patience to the hard back, for by such victory thou workest thine own peace; and he that thus doth, getteth himself credit.  

If the peacemakers are said to be blessed, than the quarrelers & makebates are accursed.  As there are many men, so they are of many minds, for some will be satisfied with words, and some must needs be answered with weapons, and some are never well full nor fasting; therefore I would have every man fitly armed for his defence, what company soever he keep, let him be armed with patience, still a fair tongue, 
We must not seek revenge one of an other, because the Lord saith Revenge is mine.  and a good weapon: so that if one will not serve, another must, rough or smooth, as occasion serveth: for some are like unto nettles, which if thou handle tenderly, it will sting thee, but if thou gripe it hard, thou shalt have no harm: even so, if thou give unto some men never so mild and gentle words, yet will they not be persuaded, but they will the rather deem that thou fearest them, and so domineer the more upon thee: but yet for all that, they are the children of God which desire peace, for the Prophet David saith, I seek peace, but when I speak thereof, they are bend to wane, Psal. 120.7. Again, there are many reasons to persuade one Christian not to fight with another. First, the King and Council, have, and still do make straight Laws, for the keeping of peace and for preventing of murders; but above all, God expressly commands to the contrary, and if thou wilt not obey man, yet fear the displeasure of Almighty God above all.  
Consider then and meditate thus with thyself before thou pass thy word to meet any man in the field, why should I go into the field, for when thou comest there thou must not kill, for if thou dost, thou must look to answer it before that great and fearful judge which is the judge of all judges: howsoever thou by friendship or by pity dost escape the hands of the judge in this life: Besides, thou dost lose thy goods, which thy wife and thy children should possess. Again, when thou comest into the field, and there calling to mind these dangers before spoken of, and so forbearing as being loath to kill: Then thy enemy, by sparing him, may kill thee, and so thou perish in thy sins, having small or no time of repentance, and so thy death will be doubtful, except thou didst lead a very upright life before, which may very well be doubted: for if thou didst serve God aright, or fearest his judgements, than thou wouldst not for any cause fight with thy brother.  
Concerning this there is an excellent example of Patience showed by King David, in the second of Samuel 16.6.10. David being in the midst of his Army, there came a fellow with cursing and railing speeches, saying unto him, Come out thou murderer, and withal, threw stones and dust at him: and one of the servants of David said unto his Master, Shall I go and take off the head of this Railer? But David very wisely and mildly answered his Servant thus, It may be that the Lord hath sent him, and therefore let him alone: but now we have a saying, That flesh and blood cannot endure such injuries as here you see David did. But I say, those that will go to Heaven, must not look to be carried thither in a featherbed, but by enduring injuries, cross, vexations, and tribulations: O then think on Heaven, and yet forget not Hell, presume not, nor yet despair not; live to die, and yet die to live: Oh then lead thy life in true humility, for so shalt thou undoubtedly escape Hell's damnation, and enjoy Heavens everlasting salvation; which place the God of gods vouchsafe us all.   

CHAP. II. Declaring the difference of sundry men's teaching, with a direction for the entrance into the practice with thy weapons.  
AS men of all arts trades and sciences, differ in art and workmanship, (as for example) all Physicians do not use one kind of purgation, nor all surgeons one manner of salve, nor all writers writ not alike, but to make a rehearsal of all arts it were too long, my meaning is so many men so many minds, even so in this art of defence as the number which are experienced in it is infinite, even so several fashions do exceed the number of infinite, if it were possible; for every man holdeth his opinion to be best in that fashion which he hath been most used unto; although a man show them many errors by good judgement, yet it is as hard to withdraw them from their own will as it is to compel a Papist from his religion, which he hath been always trained up unto.  
But the true skill of weapons once perfectly learned is never forgotten again, for if any man were to fight for his life, as by a familiar example I will tell you of those which have been unskilful, yet have had a sudden occasion to use their weapons, and even then suddenly summoning up their wits, what defence they should use for the safeguard of their lives, being so suddenly charged, doth not he then as I said remember himself of the best defence, or the best trick, that ever was showed him, for than is the time to stand him in stead, and then will use it, although he never played nor never practised in seven years before.  
Nay further, he which never learned one trick but what nature bestowed, nor never had any other experience use nor practise at one weapon nor other, but only what he hath seen of others, by chance, where he hath happened to come: yet such a one upon a present occasion being urged thereunto, will instantly call to mind that such a time and such a time, I did see such a man fight or play, and he was accounted a very good player, or a very tall man of his hands, and thus he lay or thus he defended himself; Lo thus imitating for their defence that which they have seen others do before, another example which by experience I can speak of, and that is of some which never did nor never could swim in all their lives, yet such at sometimes have been in danger of drowning, by chance falling over board into the sea, or into other deep Rivers, where there was no hope of life but only by swimming, such I say being put to their shifts, have remembered themselves in the water, and so by labouring themselves I mean with their hands and their feet, so have escaped and saved their lives. Now I say if every man before hand were grounded in skill with his weapons, & in the art of swimming when they were young, then would either of them be the less fearful, for what is bred in the bone, will never out of the flesh.  
Yet here one example more; take a young plant, and set him, and come again within a month, and you may pull him up with ease, but let him grow a year or two and he will be so deep rooted in the ground, so that you cannot pull him up for your heart, except you use other means; even so of youth, if they give their minds to good and laudable exercises when they are young, it were great pity that they should want encouragement, whereby it might take root; but if their minds be given to any idle or bad exercises, it were good then that it were pulled up in time, before it have taken any deep root. And so I will here leave off, because I shall have occasion hereafter to speak concerning those matters.   

CHAP. III. Fearful examples of murder, with advise to avoid murder.  
GEnerally three sorts of men are hated for the most part, and very much abhorred, that is to say, the proud minded man, a coward, and a murderer, but especially a murderer, howsoever it be done: therefore most unhappy is he which killeth a man cowardly, in a desperate humour, but if he do it in his own defence, or in a morning upon a just quarrel in the field, and both being equally matched, than it may be the better tolerated both before God and man, yet I do not well to say so, for Romans the 9 it is said, what art thou which dost dispute with God, then why go I about to make my toleration in murder, when God hath given us an express commandment to the contrary, saying; thou shalt not kill. Exodus 20. According to this saying, 
In no case commit not murder.  he which striketh with the sword, shall perish with the sword, and likewise S. Paul giveth us a good lesson saving, do nothing without foresight and judgement. Because I touch divinity in many places of my book, no doubt some will say what should fencers meddle with divinity; but to answer you again, every Christian ought to know the word, (indeed the sword is good) but much the better when they go both together. But to our matter again: those which fear God, and by chance happen into the company of a murderer, there hair will stare, and their blood will rise, that they will inwardly wish they were out of his company again, for many simple men do fear a murderer ever after they have once known him to commit a murder, yet divers honest men do by chance happen into a murderers company, when they would be glad to shift themselves from him again; or as were to spew him out of their presence, in regard of his evil qualities, which is quarreling, and taking exceptions upon any little occasion. If any man also do seem to contrary a murderer, or a little cross him in his swaggering, he will forthwith break out into these or such like ungodly speeches, saying; I have killed a far better man than thyself; such like words will he say with a brazen face, and a stony heart, lifted up with the pride of his manhood: for he that is a murderer doth think that he is the best man in the world, especially if he escape the gallows so long, until he hath killed two or three men: I have been myself in company with many of them, 
Oh remember how the curse of God fell upon Cain for murder.  but I did never see any fruit of repentance in them; for when they have passed the hands of the pitiful judge, than they think that they are cleared for ever, as well in this world as in the world to come; and then will they say if they did offend, they had the Law for it; but I know not how so many of them escape the gallows: there is a Proverb saith, foolish pity overthroweth town and City. I think and am verily persuaded, that a murderer is accursed and hated both of God and man, yea I am also persuaded that the house is accursed wherein they dwell, and the ship wherein they sail at sea, mark their end, and you shall see that although they pass the hands of men, yet God pursues them with the hue and cry of his vengeance, which followeth them, and apprehendeth them, and bringeth some of them to one kind of death, and some to another; as these few examples following shall declare, and thou mayst consider of them to thy benefit.  
First Sir john Fitz: how wickedly and how cowardly did bewith two or three of his men pursue and overtake Master Stannell, as he was riding from Testok in Devonshire, towards his own house, this Master Stannell was beloved both of rich and poor, he was a good and bountiful housekeeper, and his untimely death was lamented of thousands, the occasion of the quarrel, was as I have heard because Master Stannell called Sir john Fitz. Tenant, for that sir john Fitz his father hide used to pay him a matter of two shillings a year: this was no great cause of quarrel if it had been weighed in the balance of discretion, considering the great love and familiarity which had continued long time betwixt them, the which also was the reason that Master Stannell had not of long time demanded the rent, nor did make any reckoning or account of it. But then both having appointed to meet at a merry making in Testok only to be merry, and there this unfortunate word tenant proceeded out of Master Stannels mouth, which sit john took in very great choler, Master Sannell perceiving that he had moved him betook himself presently to his horse, and riding homewards having but only his footman with him, before he had road two miles, sir john Fitz with two or three of his men, being well horsed overtook Master Stannell and there compassing him about some before him and some behind him, most cowardly and desperately murdered him; and upon that sir john fled into France, but before one year was past his friends procured a pardon for him, insomuch that he came home again, and to every man's seeming was at quiet, but the hue and cry of God's vengeance was in his conscience, and three or four years after upon London way there apprehended him, as you shall hear; for then and there most cruelly and devilishly he killed his host, which was a very honest man, and afterwards most desperately with his own hands took his rapier and murdered himself; yet thus much I can say of sir john Fitz he was a proper man, and for the space of thirty years he lived orderly, to the guess of the world, for he was well beloved in his country, and if he had so continued to the end, it had been well, but what should I say, a man may be an honest man thirty years, yea forty years, and yet be a knave at the last.  
Another example was that of one Hocket of Pitmouth, who looking out at a window, and espying one Captain Robinson coming down the street, and he having an old quarrel to the said Robinson which began at sea, this Hocket stepped to his door with his rapier ready drawn, and standing within his own house until Captain Robinson was come just against his door, he there without speaking one word ran him through with his rapier, and afterwards was cleared by the judge of this world, but after his coming out of the jail, he went to sea, Master in a man of war, and within ten days after he was gone from Plymouth to sea, the first ship they met withal shot but one shot, and yet killed this Hocket, and no man in the ship killed nor hurt but only this murderer.  
Likewise in Plymouth one Captain Treherne and Captain Eagles fell out about nothing in a manner, the cause was for that one of them was denied lodging, where the other did lie by the good wife of the house, for it may be she affected the one better than the other, and two dogs and one bone commonly can never agree well together, but they fell out about such a trifling matter, and at the door in the street they fought, and in the first bout, Treherne was down in the gutter, and Eagles there in presence of many might have killed him, but stayed his hand, and suffered him to rise again, but then Trehearne assaulted Captain Eagles most furiously, and it so chanced that with a blow eagle's rapier broke, and then running into a house to save himself, Traherne run him into the back and killed him, and afterwards he received his trial for it, but by the mercy of the judge he was discharged of that matter. After his coming out of the jail, he presently got a crew of twenty eight persons, and a ship, and went a roving upon the coast of France, where they were all taken, and every man of them hanged in France, now I do verily persuade myself that many of them might have been living at this day, if they had not happened into this murderers company.  
Also, one Bartlet, who appointed the field with an other, after one bout, his enemy requested him to hold his hands, that he might breath, which he consented unto; but as they both stood still, this Bartlet suddenly charged his weapon upon the other, and ran him through, that he died presently, and then Bartlet fled and escaped away for the space of seven years, but the hue and cry of God's vengeance followed him, insomuch, that he came again to Plymouth of his own accord, thinking that all was well, and forgotten; but there he was apprehended, and after the law had had his course upon him, God's vengeance left him not, but brought him to Plymouth again, and shortly after, another did challenge this Bartlet, they both met in the field, and there was Bartlet killed, not far from the place where he had killed the other before, and he that killed him, fled away, and is not taken as yet.  
Now, 
Remember this example.  to end these examples with the lamentablest history that ever pen did write, for a more cruel murder was never committed, of king Richard the third, in the Chronicles, 
If this make not your ears tingle, yet it may make your heart; tremble.  there may you read it more at large, that after he had committed his brothers two children to the Tower, he was not contented, but would have the lives of these poor Infants, the doers of this hellish and cruel murder, were sir james Tirrell, Miles Forrest, and john Dighton, these three laying their heads together, what manner of execution were best to be used in that Tragedy, 
Fearful visions do haunt a murderer.  they concluded in the end, to stifle them in their beds in the dead time of the night, and so with the clothes and pillows which were about them, these three murderers pressing them down under the clothes (as aforesaid) bereaved them quickly of their lives, now, after this, what a hellish horror had this King in his conscience, yea it so vexed and tormented his spirits, that he was never well nor at quiet sleeping nor waking; for in the night he would suddenly start out of his bed, and go up and down the Chamber like a mad man; likewise in the day he never thought himself sure, but always feared treasons, his eyes rolling continually about him, and oftentimes he would clap his hand upon his dagger, when there was no need, and afterwards he was vanquished with his enemies; and on the other three God showed his vengeance somewhat in this world. For Sir james Tirrell was beheaded afterwards at the Tower for treason, but not for that matter; and Miles Forrest had a consuming and a lingering life, for his flesh did rot away by piece-meal, and so miserably died; john Dighton lived in great hatred, and was abhorred and pointed at of all that knew him, and at the last died in great poverty and misery. But I refer you unto the Chronicle, as aforesaid, which declares it more at large: and so I will go on a little further to the same effect.  
Though the Law do spare and not cut off a murderer so soon as he hath deserved death; yet I say the horror of his murdering conscience will so be gnawing at his bloody heart, until it hath eaten and consumed him to nothing; also the horrible pains of hell will by visions show, and so plainly appear unto him, still sounding in his ears such a peal, that he many times will think that the devil is come from hell; for so long as he liveth, his spirits will be so distempered and affrighted, that in the night, many times several visions will appear, sometimes spirits with ugly shapes, and sometimes a multitude of weaponed Officers russeling in to apprehend him, and sometimes the ghost of him which was murdered, insomuch that many times he will sweat for fear, with running, labouring, and striving to keep himself out of their gripe, and in a word, afraid he will be (in a manner) of every grass; and whereas before he was accounted for a merry companion, is now overcome with wild looks and melancholy thoughts, taking no joy, in wealth, wife, and children. Lo, this is a life, but it is as wearisome as hell until death doth catch him, for death waiteth upon a murderer as a halter doth upon the stealer; as for example of sir john Gilbert ever after the kill of sir john Burrowes, of which the world saith it was an honourable quarrel, and yet in the night his friends reported, that he would suddenly start out of his bed, being sore affrighted, he knew not at what, he lived not many years after, but yet died in his bed; so likewise master Hely killed captain Foscue upon a sudden quarrel, meeting in the street in Plymouth, yet, by the course of the Law, was acquitted for it; but afterwards, so long as he lived, he lived a discontented life, and was never well in his conscience until death took him. Now all these were but young men, and in the midst of their years, to the eye of the world, either of them might have lived many years longer, and yet not have been accounted for old men.  
I could spend much paper and time with a number of examples touching this matter, but I will here conclude, and leave the rest to thy daily experience, which thine ears may hear, and thine eyes daily see (almost in every place) far more fearful examples, concerning this former matter, the more is the pity; but what becometh of them after this life is ended may seem doubtful, but I leave that to the secret wisdom and power of Almighty God; but there is no question to be made of those which lead a wicked and ungodly life, but they shall have a wicked and an ungodly end; as on the contrary side, those that lead a godly and an upright life, shall make a good and godly end: for if a man do well, he shall have well, but if he do ill, he shall have ill. More concerning this matter you may read towards the end of the eight chapter following.  
But I think it not amiss, here in this place, to show you a little concerning murders done in secret; for as the Proverb goeth; Murder will not be hid; albeit for a time God doth suffer a murderer to live and reign without apprehension, yet in the end he makes the devil bring forth his servant, to receive his wages with shame enough, a murder can not be kept still close: for the Lord sometimes doth bring a murder to light that hath been done in secret, by the birds of the air, by water, by fire, by dogs, as in brief by these examples shall plainly be demonstrated.  
It hath been known that a murdered carcase hath been thrown into the Sea when it was flowed to the full, thereby thinking, that with the ebb he would have been carried away, but the water being gone, the murdered carcase was found where it was first thrown in.  
Also, I knew a woman that was arraigned and condemned, for murdering her child, and well she deserved the same; for she cut the child into small pieces, and then she took and threw them under a hot furnace where she was a brewing: but when she had done brewing, and the fire out, there was found the pieces of the child in the ashes, so fresh (in a manner) as it was thrown in.  
Likewise, in Worcestershire were two brothers, the one a very honest man, and by his honest means I and good industry, had gotten to himself a pretty house, and crowns in his purse. But his brother being a careless unthrift, and envying at his brother's prosperous estate, yet kept he it to himself, until finding opportunity, one night (but they two being in the house together;) this graceless unthrift forthwith knocked his brother on the head, which when he had done, he cut off his legs, and buried him under the hearth in the chimney, and laid the stones again very artificially, hoping then that all the goods were his own; and when the neighbours inquired of him for his brother, he told them that he was gone a journey far off, to visit some of his friends. But (a short tale to make) this murderer made a feast, and invited his neighbours and his friends; and when they were all assembled together within the house, as they sat by the fire side, they perceived the stones in the chimney to rise, and the fire tumbled down out of the chimney, for the heat of the fire made the dead carcase swell: and then search being made, the carcase was found, and the murderer taken and executed. God I beseech him bless every good man from murder, and from being murdered.  
I have known many times, that some (through ignorance) have committed murder, in parting of a fray, I mean such as are not experimented in the Law, nor have no reason in such a case; for many times they which should keep the peace, commit murder ignorantly, I mean, in coming in, either with club or halberd, or such like weapon, and coming behind one of the two that are in fight, striketh him on the head, when he little expecteth any hurt of any other, but from him which he is now in hand withal, when indeed in such a case, they ought to strike down the weapons of those which are fight or breaking them, but not strike them. Whose minds are occupied with fury one against the other, and little expecting a mischief to come from one which they never offended. Again some in parting of a fray will run in betwixt them, and hold his familiar friend, and leave the other at liberty, and by this means he which hath been at liberty hath killed him which is so holden, when many times it had not so fallen out, if they had been both let alone to shift for themselves, therefore men ought to have experience and to use discretion in the parting of a fray, for fools do never forecast of a mischief before hand, but wise men prevent it before it falls.  
Wherefore I would wish whatsoever thou be, which readest this lesson, to remember it, and regard the life of a man, although many are at some times very unruly, yet let no abuse cause thee to commit murder, neither in thy own quarrel, nor in parting of any other: for I have heard and known many times that a small stroke hath been given with no intention of murder, yet it hath fallen out to the contrary, yea and contrary unto all men's expectation, which have seen that a man with his fist or with a riding rod, or with a penny loaf, and other things of less danger, and yet some have died being strucken therewithal.   

CHAP. FOUR which showeth unto whom skill belongeth, with the fruits of drunkenness.  

He which can govern himself is wise, but that must proceed from God.  MAny will say that skill in weapons is a good thing, and fit to be learned of every man, yet all men will say it is pity that a man without government should know the secret skill in weapons, for indeed skill doth most chief of all belong to a man that hath wit and discretion to govern it, that when he hath skill knoweth how to use it as it ought to be used, for a good thing learned and abused were better refused and never learned: for some when they have a little more skill than every common man, then will they think by braving every man which cometh in their company, by swaggering it with proud brags and high looks, yet I have known such swaggering companions which have had more hair than wit, meet with their match and carry away the blows with disgrace, and yet themselves beginners of the quarrel when they might have lived quiet if they would.  
Therefore he which weareth the greatest whistle is not the best Mariner, nor he the best man that maketh the greatest brags, for some will brave a better man than themselves, and swagger it out, and yet so little in themselves that they will scarce hold the touching when they come to the stone to be tried, yet every subject aught if occasion serve to fight for his King and country, if it be for the gospels sake, and sometimes in defence of their own reputation and credit.  
Now although this art of defence is so fit and necessary a thing for all men to be learned, yet withal I do exhort and earnestly entreat all such as have skill to use it in that fashion as it ought to be used, for if a man had twenty good qualities & yet if he be a drunkard, that one ill quality overthroweth all the rest, like as when a Cow giveth a good soap of milk, and then afterwards striketh it down with her foot: she is as much to be blamed for the loss, as commended for the gift, even so a man without government groweth out of favour both with God & man, for many a man without discretion and judgement many times doth fall out with his familiar friend, and so dare one another into the field, presently upon the sudden falling out. Now if wit be in neither of them, than a thousand to one but murder is committed, for a man with skill may better fight with a hundred in the morning one after another, then with three in an afternoon, upon drink or hot blood; for if you forbear to kill thou mayst be killed thyself, if thou take thy opportunity thou mayst easily kill a drunkard in his own coming in, for he will come in without fear or wit: for drink maketh a very coward challenge the best man living, for in drink I have known many pass their words to meet in the field upon small occasion, if with discretion the quartel were rightly considered upon; but their own selves in the morning when they have their right wits about them, then do they many times repent, and wish the match were to make, and that their words were unspoken which they spoke the night before. Yet nevertheless when a man hath passed his word howsoever things fall out, he must and will answer the challenge, yea though he lose his life by it. Lo these are the fruits of drunkenness, all other vices may be left, but no bridle will rule a drunkard, nor no counsel will make him forego his draunken and swinish life, drunkenness is the mother of all vices, for drunkenness doth beget and breed all manner of deadly sins, for by inordinate drinking thy soul is endangered, thy body is infected, thy understanding banished, thy manhood distasted, thy substance wasted, and beastliness resembled, and thy business neglected, therefore leave that one vice, and all other will fly away with it: for as I said before it is the only breeder and maintainer of quarreling and fight, by fight God is displeased, and the King's Laws broken; again if murder be committed, thou losest thy goods, and endangerest thy life; if thou lose it not, yet thou shalt live despised, & hard of all honest minds that knows thee, so that thy life will be more loathsome than death, therefore not to fight at all is best, except thou be charged upon contrary to thy expectation, then defend thyself, and yet fear as much to kill as to be killed.   

CHAP. V The cause of quarrels, and what preparation you ought to be prepared with to answer a challenge.  
Dissension, quarrels, and murder grows many times upon small occasions, yea so small, that when it cometh to the ears and to be disputed upon amongst the the wise, when they have skand it over yields up their verdict, saying such and such are fallen out for the value of a rush, and such and such have killed one another for just nothing, is not here more madness? 
Be well advised before thou do pass thy word, for a man will be as good as his word, for a man will be as good as his word, if it do cost him his life: for it is a coward's trick to cry peccavi, or least in sight the next morning.  yet I will not say but at one time or another a man's reputation may be so nearly touched, that it cannot stand with his credit to pocket it up, although it be made upon drink, for indeed the pot is the chief cause almost of all quarrels, yet being wronged, it can not stand with a man's credit, to keep his weapon in his sheath; neither do I counsel all men to pocket up all injuries which some will proffer them, but to answer a good quarrel, not only with words but with deeds, as followeth, for the further instruction. Whoso is honourably challenged unto single combat, the challenged may make choice of his weapon, and likewise of the time when, and of the place where.  
Likewise, the challenged may choose to fight on foot or on horse back, which for his best advantage he shall think fittest: now also the challenged is to consider well the quality of the Challenger, that thereby he may make the better provision of such furniture as may serve for his own defence, and likewise to terrify and hurt the challenger.  
Now, if the challenger be choleric and hasty, then charge thy point directly upon him, that if he press upon thee, he may come upon his own death: but before thou goest into the field, discharge thy duty and conscience towards God, aswell as in weapons, for thy best advantage, otherwise it can not choose but be to thy body dangerous, and unto thy soul doubtful, and a most principal note is this to be observed, for thou art not sure whether ever thou shalt return again or never.  
Remember your skill, when you are at play, or in fight, for I have known many, when their fight and play is ended, they do remember, that with this trick, or with that trick they might have defended themselves, and either hurt or disgraced their enemy, but many (through madness and fury) remember it not till it be too late.  
If you be both skilful in the false play, than I hold it good for both to play upon the true play, for it booteth but little to use false play to one that knows how to proffer it, and how to defend it; for it is ill halting before a Cripple, yet I will not say but the best of all may be deceived by false play, but especially false play may stand thee in great stead, upon those which are not come unto the full perfection of knowledge: Again, one may have skill in one kind of false play, but not in all.  
Now whether thy enemy be skilful or not, it is a very easy matter to know so soon as he beginneth to charge his weapon, if thou hadst no former knowledge before hand. If two crafty knaves meet at dice, if either of them shift in false dice, the other will perceive it presently, and so they will know each other to be gamesters, but they will give over the sooner, with small loss each to other, referring themselves to their better fortunes, and hoping to meet with easier gamesters; even so I wish all men, if they perceive themselves to be hardly matched, the wiser of them to yield upon composition, after reasonable trial made each one of the other, before any great hurt be done; for the best man that ever breathed, hath, and may meet with his equal: and when two good men meet, the conquest will be hardly and dangerously ended on the one side, except Discretion be a mediator to take up the matter, before it come to the worst, if by friends it be not ended before hand; but if thou canst hurt thy enemy, yes, although it be but a little, or unarm him of his weapon, which thou mayest very easily do, if thou do fight with good discretion. And either of these are accounted for a victory; also, take this for a general rule always, keep thy body within compass of true Defence, considering otherwise, that the danger is great in that part of the body which lieth most discovered, and is nearest unto thine enemy.  
Now when thy enemy doth assault thee, and is lifting up his weapon to discharge at thee, be not then to prepare thy Defence, but be ready before hand to defend every part of thy body, according to my directions, as when you come to it you shall see more plainly. For thou dost not know before hand where the blow will light: As shrinking up of shoulders is no payment of debts, no more will winking or blinking defend thy carcase, as those which have no skill will wink: therefore, again, and again, I say, be prepared with skill before hand. Most sure it is the blow must have his fall: but at every weapon I have showed how to defend it, therefore the Defender must be well experienced before hand with his defence, at such a weapon as he meaneth usually to carry, that when the blow doth light, thou mayest be in thy defence, not to defend thine enemies blow only, but also to answer him again in the time of advantage, for a quick answer showeth good cunning. Nor to know the true place for the holding of of thy weapon, that is not all, but always so long as thou art within thy enemies danger continue them in their place, except it be at the very instant time when thou goest about to offend thine enemy, and that must be done with a very good discretion, and thy weapon must be recovered up again into his place nimbly. Now if thy enemy do discover some part of his body, that, to thy seeming, lieth very open, yet be not too hasty in offering play, though the bait be never so fair, bite not at it too rashly or unadvisedly, lest like the foolish Fish you be taken with the hook which lieth covered with the bait; for if your enemy find your weapon or weapons out of the place of true defence, yea if it be but an inch too high, or too low, too wide, or too narrow, it is as much as concerneth thy life: if thou be matched with one that is skilful, never overlay thyself with a heavy weapon, for nimbleness of body, and nimbleness of weapon are two chief helps for thy advantage in play. Again, and again I say, strike not one blow in fight, at what weapon soever thou fightest withal, except it be a wrist blow, and that you may aswell do with a rapier, as with a sword, for a wrist blow consumeth but a little time, yet better use no blow at all, but continually, thrust after thrust: for (in my mind) he is a man ignorant and very ununskilfull that will be hurt with a blow, and if thou make an assault upon thy enemy do not tarry by it, to maintain it, for in making the assault distance is broken, wherefore recover back into your guard and distance again so soon as you can, and always let your ees be on your enemy's face, and not altogether on the point, than you may be deceived, by the swift motion of the hand, for the motion of the hand is swifter than the eye or foot, many will set their eyes upon their enemy's point, or upon his hand for the avoiding of this error, the best remedy is daily exercise and practise one with another, and to play with more than one, otherwise thou wilt never come unto true defence for it is good to be acquainted with every man's fashion, for that trick which will hit one will not hit another, and therefore be well experienced not only in the true play but in the false; I mean for the defence and offence of both, that if thou canst not prevail with the one then use the other: yet take heed of hasty adventuring in, lest thou with the foolish bird which flieth into the lime bush, and being in, the more she striveth, the faster she is; then make no more haste then good speed, lest thou be taken in thy own folly, for many times haste maketh waste: if thou shootest at a mark if the mark be never so fair, yet if thou shoot hastily without discretion, thou mayst oftener miss then hit; also I do advise thee not to determine to answer every thrust or blow home which thy enemy doth assault thee with; but to answer it something short until thou perceive whether he have any false play or not, otherwise if thou make thy answer home, he may deceive thee by false play: now if both be experienced in the true play and false than you might continue in fight a whole day, if it were possible to endure so long and have no hurt: if thou have a close hilted dagger and a rapier, I hold them more surer than a sword and dagger, but with the skilful there is no danger in either of them; again in fight a man need not use half the skill which he may learn, the second point of hawking is to hold fast, and the second and chiefest point in this exercise is to learn to defend thyself, and to use it when thou hast occasion, then remember where about thou art.  
And let no illusions cause thee to look about thee when thou art within thy enemy's distance, lest he take the advantage when thou dost not see him, or before thou be aware, as many do: for after when thou hast the wound, it is but a folly for thee to say, I had thought he would not have strucken me so cowardly: I remember a tale as I heard out of Germany, thus it was, the Master and usher of a school had upon occasion appointed the field, and their weapon was each of them a two handed sword, and meeting at the place appointed, said the Master thou art not so good as thy word, the Usher asked him why; marry said he thou promisest to bring no body with thee, and yet look yonder what a number of people are coming towards thee, the usher no sooner looked about, but the Master smote off his head, and afterwards meeting with some of his friends said, I have taught my man a new trick this morning said he, which he never learned before. Lo thus he killed him by policy, but it it was no manly trick, neither do I commend this manner of murder: in my mind the Master had been better that he had denied to go into the field with his man, then to have such a clog of murder upon his conscience by killing of him, by what means or policy soever; for every one ought to remember that he must not take vengeance, when and where he may, so oft as an inury is proffered him, concerning this there is a good example to be imitated by strong beasts which never turn again when little curs run barking after them, for the mighty or skilful aught to use their power moderately, for so they may the better use continually, for although fight be the trial of cunning and skill in weapons, and many men thereby prove their force, and yet afterwards become great friends, for fight is nothing dangerous being both wary and skilful: but now in my mind much deceived are those which think that a quarrel begun with words cannot he ended but with weapons, but my opinion is that so long as no blows pass but only words, yet words are the cause of many quarrels, for words will sting worse than a nettle, and prick deeper than a thorn, and cut more keener than a sword, yet for all that let wisdom and reason guide thy hand and after you have cross one another with two or three cross words, then fall into a civil kind of reasoning the matter, and not in fury suffering it to grow into any further quarrel, for a little spark at the first is easily quenched, even so upon the drinking of a cup of wine or a pipe of Tobacco, or upon such a light matter of no importance many a quarrel is begun; now in such a case I would wish the wiser of the two in his good discretion, to yield first, and so to end it without further grudging, for reasonable speeches may be a full satisfaction where a small offence is committed.  
But now if one of the parties in a stubborn frowardness will not yield but rather go into the field with a desire to kill the other, now if there be never a one of them wise, murder is committed and at leisure repent: but he which first beginneth the quarrel, or giveth the first box on the ear, rashly or unadvisedly, upon a small matter as aforesaid, is worthy and well deserveth to be answered again with three, or else with the bastinado. And to match with this I will tell you a tale of a Friar, who in his sermon said if one give thee a blow on the one ear, turn the other and take another, and a lusty servingman hearing him, after the sermon was ended, he came unto the Friar and said, sir you made a good Sermon, but yet in my mind there was small reason in one lesson that you gave us, what was that said the Friar, marry quoth the serving-man that if one give me a blow on the ear, I should turn the other, and take another: why saith the friar the Scripture commandeth us so to do, but quoth the serving man will you follow the scripture herein, yes marry that I will said the Friar, with that the serving-man up with his fist and gave him a good box on the ear; the friar turned the other, and took another, but now saith the Scripture (quoth the Friar) look what you would have others do to you, do the like to them; look what measure you meat, the like measure shall be measured to you again, with heap and thrust, and running over, and with that the Friar took a good crabtree cudgel and beat the serving-man well favouredly, and so to our former matter again. Doth every blow that is given deserve the answering in the field, I say not but first requite the blow again, as before said, for I have valued the rate of the first beginner so low as may be, for he is worthy to be requited, not in the same manner, but in a more open fashion, requite the box again, and then being equalled of the first wrong; let him which began the game reckon of his penniworths, and if in casting up his reckoning he find himself a loser, let him sit down by his loss, and learn to make a wiser bargain an other time; but if it cannot be so ended, than it must be answered otherwise as occasion shall serve.  
Now if the lie be given before you grow into choler with a rash foolish fellow; first, consider in what case the party is, which giveth the lie, before thou strike; for in drink or in fury I have seen one give the lie, which would not have done it at an other time, I mean when he had his right wits about him. Well, but say a man, at such time, and in such a case, do give the lie, some mad heads will say, that it deserveth the stab presently; 
Therefore do not that to day which may be repent of to morrow.  but I never knew any man stab or kill another, upon what occasion soever, but he was sorry for it afterwards: That mariner is not to be commended which getteth his cunning by many ship-wreckes; nor that man is not to be praised for his government which getteth it by his punishment, which he hath for the kill of two or three men.  
Now, upon the receiving the lie, if the stab be not given, some giddy headed kill-calues will say, that such a man took the lie, and did not answer it with a stab, wherefore he is a coward; but now I say, and this is my opinion, he showeth the best wit, and most valour, which seeing a man out of the way, (as we term it) will give a mild and a quiet answer unto a froward question: also the wiser sort will commend the patience of him that can bear with one that is past reason; for all men know, that he which committeth murder, will afterwards wish with bitter rears, that he had conquered his affections, and stayed his hands, I mean, if there be any spark of grace at all in him; and the first which striketh, many times looseth his life, therefore though thou cannot rule thy tongue, yet have a care to rule thy hands before a mischief be done, for he which committeth murder, when he cometh to examination, it is but a simple excuse to say, The other gave me the lie, and called me knave, and I could not brook it. There is a pretty example, and worth the noting concerning such a matter (as I have heard it) and thus it was. A judge sitting in judgement against a murderer, who answered for himself saying, and it please you my Lord, he gave me the lie, and called me knave. Why said the judge, wilt thou kill a man for that? call me knave, and give me the lie: the judge being importunate, in the end, the murderer said, You are a knave, and you do lie; then the judge took the skirt of his coat and shook it, and said, Lord, now what am I the worse? but every man can not be so patiented: although some will keep company seven years, and yet never give any cause of quarrel: yet some again will upon a little drink, or upon a small occasion quarrel, swagger and fight almost in every company they come into; there is a Proverb goeth, He which hath an ill name, is half hanged: Before he cometh to the Barie, another Proverb touching our former matter saith, He which is accounted for an early riser, may lie a bed till eleven of the clock: even so he which hath tried his manhood, afterwards the world will judge and say, that he is a man of his hands, and that he dare fight upon a good occasion; but if he make a common occupation of fight, he will then be accounted for a common quarreler, and his friends will refuse his company many times for doubt of his quarreling, and yet he shall never be accounted, more than a man again. He which is quarrelsome shall oftentimes meet with his match; but if a tried fellow do at sometimes forbear when he is wronged or challenged, the wiser sort will never account the worse manhood in him; therefore except it be upon a most open and great abuse, let Patience be thy buckler, and a fair tongue thy sword, and always have a care in the beginning what willbe the end; for a mischief sometimes happeneth in an hour which happeneth not in seven years again, but Oh thrice happy were that man, which towards the latter end of his days, can without a pair of lying lips say, I thank my God, I never bore malice, nor I never injuriously wronged any man, in thought, word, or deed in all my life.   

CHAP. VI diverse reasons or introductions to bring thee the better unto the knowledge of thy weapon.  
IF thou dost mean to practise after my direction, than put thy weapons in their right place, looking not only to the picture, but to the words going before and after, likewise, frame your head, body, foot, and hand, according to my direction (as it followeth) after the first picture; for if either your weapons, or any part of your body be out of their place: yea, though it be but an inch too high, an inch too low, too wide, or too narrow, it is as much as your life is worth; If your enemy be very skilful and willing withal: therefore, when thou goest to practise, read it advisedly, with understanding, for I could have made a great Volume, in describing many sorts of guards at every weapon, but it would have been an intricate piece of work, and needless for every common man to know.  
For as some Scriveners can write twenty kinds of hands, yet one or two will serve the turn; but the more sorts being well written, are the more to be commended, but to have an entrance into many, and not to do one well, is not worth commendations: even so one guard perfectly learned at every weapon, may serve thee for thy true defence whilst thou livest, against all other guards.  
It is but little available to thee, if thou see a good Scrivener write, except thou take the pen and practice to write, as he doth; even so, it booteth thee but little, that wouldst be skilful of thy weapon, if thou dost see two skilful men play except thou take weapons and practise to do as they have done before thee.  
Again, it is not enough for him that would write well, to write his copy but once over, and so leave, no more must thou, if thou wilt have skill in thy weapons, thou must not give over with playing of one bout, but thou must exercise it many times, and practise it often.  
And if a man write well, and exercise it never so much, yet he can never exceed, well written; even so in skill of weapons a man may be perfect, and play well; but when thou hast learned the true and perfect skill with thy weapons, thou mayst exercise for thine health and recreation, but thou shalt never pass that word, well played.  
Also, he which writeth much, and doth not regard his copy, but writeth after his own will, I think it were strange for such a Scholar to write well, but he will always write a ragged hand: even so he that getteth him hilts and cudgels, and goeth about to learn of his own head without direction of one that is skilful, it were better that he had never played, if afterwards he go to learn; for he must first unlearn that which he hath learned, which will be very hard to be done without great pains taking.  
Now he which writeth a good Secretary hand, and then afterwards he goeth to learn Roman hand, or Court hand, or any other the like, he doth not thereby lose his Secretary; but if he can write all kind of hands, then may he use most, that which he liketh best, or thinketh fittest: even so, he which hath (by his practice) gotten good skill, and yet being of an other man's teaching, it is of an other manner of teaching, and I will not say but that it may be so good or better than mine: yet he which learneth my rules or followeth my directions, it can not hinder him any whit at all, but if he have once gotten them by good and perfect practice, if he like them not, may go to his old fashion again, or learn of any other afterwards.  
Yet again, as the observing of a true distance in a Scrivener between every line, is commendable in his writing, so it be done without ruling of it, which cometh by much practice; even so in true skill in sight, distance is a most excellent thing, and the principallest thing of all, next unto the guard to be observed and kept, and it must be gotten by great practice.  
Again, when you learn to write at the first, you writ leisurely, but with much practice your hand cometh to be swifter; even so, with often use of thy weapon, thy hand will come to defend either blow, or thrust more readily or more speedily then at the first beginning of thy practice, albeit thou be shown how to defend; and though thou have the reason perfectly in thy head, and knowest when an other doth it well, yet without practice thou canst never be skilful in defence of thyself.  
Also, he which writeth, and with his pen doth sputter his paper with ink, a Scholar will think, if it be not a great blot, it is a small matter, but a Scrivener will say, it is a great fault; even so, if thy weapon or any part of thy body be out of the right place, yea, though it be but a little, yet it will seem to him that hath skill, as much as a great blot doth to a Scrivener in a copy Book.  
Moreover, he which learneth to write, must continually look to his copy, and must write according to it; for one letter, or one line well written, is better than a great deal of ink and paper spoiled, and not one letter well made: even so, one blow, or one thrust performed orderly, I mean, in his due time, and likewise to the right place, is better than an hundred unorderly done.  
Furthermore, if in writing an Obligation, a Scrivener do write one letter of Roman hand, and another of Secretary, another of Court hand, it will not be seemly, nor commendable, but with what hand you begin with, to end with the same; even so you may frame yourself, sometimes into one guard, and sometimes into an other, taking heed always, that you observe the same defence which belongeth to the guard; for if you are in one guard, and you use the defence of another, so you may deceive yourself (for every guard differeth in defence and offence) and betwixt every blow, and every thrust, and every guard which I have here described in this Book: there is as great odds as is betwixt Secretary hand, Court hand, and Roman hand: nay the several difference of guards are more in number then there are several kinds of hands in writing, yea many more than any Fiddler can play lessons upon his instrument, and the nature of the guards do differ as much as one lesson from another; wherefore those that think one defence serveth for defence of all guards, are as much deceived, as they that think there is but one kind of lesson to be played upon all instruments: for that several kinds of lessons are to be played upon all instruments are infinite; even so, the several guards for defence and offence are not to be numbered; for, between the true skill in weapons, and the false, are an hundred of each at the least, and the contrariest and the most unseemly, every man hath by nature, but the best and surest way is to be learned by Art of them that are skilful; wherefore see every man's judgement. For as thou mayest hear at one Sermon that which thou shalt never hear again, even so thou mayest learn of one teacher, that thou canst not learn of another: for every one that practiseth natural play without direction of one that is skilful, such a one in his practice, will have one foolish trick or other: which when they have by common practice long used, will hardly be withdrawn from it: as for example, some will be setting their foot upon their weapons, as if it were to stretch him when he was right before, but they do it of a foolish custom that they learn of themselves: likewise, some will puff and blow like a broken wound horse when they are at play, and some will dance and keep a trampling with their feet, and some will flourish and waver with their weapons, some will whistle, and some will be blabbring of spittle in their mouths, and putting out their tongues, and some again will run about as though they could stand on no ground, and it is as hard to wrest or drive them from such unseemly customs, as it is to drive a dog from a piece of bread.  
Yet many do not see it in themselves, but unto the skilful, which behold them, it will seem very unseemly, and by nature, every one hath the worst way; as for example, there are but two ways for the bowing of the head, either to the right hand, or to the left, and by nature, every one doth bow him towards the left side, rather ten to the right side; and there is very great odds betwixt the right and the wrong in true defence, as I have described in my reasons more at large, both in the place of Sword and Dagger, and Rapier and Dagger, for it is great advantage to lean thy head towards the right shoulder a little; and at the beginning of your practice it is very easy to frame yourself to my fashion, with standing both with feet and body, for the use of the foot cometh not by nature, but by practice. Again, many young men will be grown with slothfulness, and be so lazy, that they must be haled (as it were) with cart-ropes to any good exercise, accounting him their greatest enemy which giveth them the best counsel, but to all folly they are prone and apt of themselves, but persuade them to any goodness, and you shall see them hang arseward like a dog in a string.  
Most youth, for example, are willing to go to School at the first, but within a week or less, away must the book be laid, for fear lest much learning make them mad, as Festus said to Paul, for they will wax dull and weary with a little pains taking.  
And next, they must to the Fence School, but there I am persuaded they need not learn offence, and I think a little defence is enough for them; for many will be weary of well doing quickly, saying as the Porters of Bristol, a new Master, a new, and hang up the old; even so, from the Fence school they must go to the Dancing school, thinking that to be the only exercise in the world, but with a little practice they wax weary of dancing likewise: then they say, Oh that here were one to teach Music! that exercise they should never be weary of, but within a little while that will be too tedious a matter to comprehend: so you may perceive young men (by their wills) will take pains at nothing, I mean, not one in twenty, but what they are forced unto.  
Now I do not put down those vanities, here before in this Chapter expressed, thereby that thou shouldest wax the worse, by the reading of it, but I do wish thee to mark others, and likewise examine thyself, that if thou see in others, or find in thyself such foolishness, refrain while thou art young.  
Although many there be that do use foolish tricks, and perceive them not in themselves to be unseemly, but suppose they become them well, as he that wavereth his weapon, or runneth about, wearieth him self: beside, he that so runneth is in danger of falling, for a little shrub, bush, briar, stone, or moulehill, may soon overthrow him which doth not traverse his ground leisurely and orderly; for he which hath true defence must be steady in his guard with his foot and hand in their right place, whereas he which wavereth his weapon is at no certain guard for his defence; therefore, to keep steady your weapons in their right place, is the best way: for, one blow, or one thrust, orderly done, is better than an hundred without skill or out of order; for cunning in weapons may be compared to tricks at Cards, for if one show a trick at Cards, it will seem strange to him that never saw it before; but to him that can do it, it is nothing troublesome: even so, as that trick at Cards is nothing when the secret is known, but very easy to be done: even so, the best way at weapons, is as easy to be followed (being known) as the worst.  
far deceived are those which imagine they cannot attain unto the perfect skill of Defence with Rapier and Dagger, without such antic fashions of learning, which many of late years have devised, some wreathing their bodies like unto a coakes, and some, as though they were going to dance the antic, which maketh many that have no experience at this weapon think it unpossible ever to frame their bodies, as they see these do, which I speak of: but now these fantastical fellows will persuade a man, that it is not possible to play well at Rapier and Dagger, except a man can frame his body as they do; but I say, the best and surest way is the easiest to be attained unto; for a boy of fifteen years of age, may (by small practice) defend himself against any man, with his rapier & dagger; for a thrust with a rapier is more fearful then with a sword, and a man may see the thrust better of a sword then with a rapier, because there is odds in the breadth and bigness each of the other. Again, a man shall thrust further with a rapier then with a sword, for the hilt of a sword will shorten your reach, by reason of the closeness of the hilt, though they be both of one length.  
Yet many are of this opinion, and will say, it is better to fight with a Sword and Dagger, then with Rapier and Dagger, the reason is (say they) with my Sword I may both strike and thrust.  
But I say, and by good experience I speak if, that he which striketh in fight, giveth his enemy a great advantage; beside, a Sword may either bow or break, and so by that means he that striketh may fall into his enemy's mercy. Besides that, a boy of fifteen years of age may safely defend the strongest man's blow that is, according to my direction following in the first Picture; for a weak man, or a boy, may defend more with both his hands, than a strong man can charge him with one; for many can not forbear striking, being moved thereunto by anger, except they have been grounded in the disadvantage of it by much practice; he that doth defend a blow double, and make a quick answer with a thrust, by turning of his knocks inward, may hit any man that striketh, and yet defend himself without loss of time.  
For the defence of a blow double, is sure, and yet you may answer your enemy so soon, and with as much danger to him as if you did defend it single, for it may be all done with one motion, both the defence and offence.  
Furthermore, I would counsel all Clothiers or Chapmen, which carry many times more money than they are worth, for their defence against false knaves, to carry a Staff in their journeys, whether it be on horse back or on foot; for a good weapon doth not only serve to keep the peace, but also a man's purse from a thief, and likewise to be experienced in the skill thereof, if they should be driven to encounter upon a sudden at the like weapon. But a staff may easily encounter against a Sword and dagger, although but small experience be in the Staffe-man; but a little skill is a great help at a time of need, which if thou hast not obtained in thy youth, then be not ashamed to learn when thou art old; for as in a school of learning, there are some in Grammar, and some in the Crosse-row; so the greatest judge in the land was in the Crosse-row first: even so into a school of Defence there cometh, as well bad players, as good, and he which is the good player ought not, nor it is not a thing usual to mock or scoff at him which is the bad player: and what of all this? Nothing, but to show, that it is better to learn late than never, I mean especially any good exercise or quality, which is, or may be profitable for a Commonwealth, healthy to the body, and commendable to to the world, for we are not borne altogether for ourselves, but our Parents, Friends, and Country have interest in our birth.  
Now although some will talk of this and that, and say, that they have fought with four or six men at once, yet I can conceive no reason, how any man should defend two men, especially if they be both willing to spoil, or kill; for when thine eye is directly upon one of them; the other, in the mean while, may kill thee, if he be disposed; for the motion of the eye is flower then the motion of the hand; for a man cannot cast his eye about so quick, but that he which is behind thee, or on the one side of thee, may kill thee, if they be both willing (as I have said before:) But indeed if one skilful man have two or three upon him, and be in a narrow place, that they can not get about him, then may he defend himself a long time without hurt.  
A left hand skilful hath odds against a right handed man, one reason is, that a left handed man is continually used to a right hand, but a right hand doth seldom meet with a left handed man; another reason is, a right handed man, when he doth open his right side of his head, by offering play, although he bear his Dagger to the right ear, yet it doth not defend that side, so sure, nor so strong as it doth the left side. But indeed, so long as the right handed man lieth in his guard of defence upon his Backsword, for the Backsword is the chiefest point of defence against a left handed man; therefore when you encounter against a left handed man, you must be careful and heedy, if you do offer play, to recover your guard again presently, and be in the defence of your Backsword guard: But of this I will speak more at large hereafter.   

CHAP. VII. That Fear and Fury are both enemies to true valour.  
I Have taken upon me a very hard question to decide: for I can not well set out the office of the one, but with disgrace of the other; the one is so clean contrary to the other: First, that Fear is an enemy unto valour, I need not to make any long discourse, for every one will say, that the fearful man will never attempt any thing worthy the name of Valour, but always bear a load of injuries upon his broad shoulders, excusing all the wrongs which are done him, saying, that they were done with no intent of wrong, and so himself first craving pardon of those which offend him, but yet bearing an injury in his mind, until he can revenge it, by virtue of an office, or one way or another; also, he is a raiser of mutinies, and loveth to see other together by the ears, and yet keep himself out of danger, but some I have known, which have been timersome and cowardly, show great valour, but indeed it was when there was no remedy but that they must needs fight. Again, I have known many simple cowardly men, who being well experienced with skill, and being practised therein, do wax bold and valorous; for when (by often trial) they see that they can save and defend themselves, what need have they to fear, for there is a certainty of defence, and he which hath it, may be as sure without making any doubt or question, as it is for Arithmetitian to cast up several sums just to a penny: even so certain may a skilful man be in his defence: and it is as easy to make a fearful or cowardly man, perfect in knowledge, and so by knowledge to bring him to be valorous; yea more easy it is then to make a hasty man, of valour and stomach, to forbear his former resolution; for as no persuasions will make a drunkard forsake his drunkenness, but only poverty or death: even so there is almost no means to persuade the furious and hasty man from this sudden quarreling and stabbing, but only many dangerous wounds, imprisonment, or death: Yet if such a one do run through many brawls, and so continue, until his own rod hath beaten him, by crosses and troubles: if all these can not make him live civil, and in sober fashion, as he ought to do, yet old age will bring experience, and will make him as tame as a sheep; for when he is old, than he will say, that a man should not adventure further than skill being tempered with discretion, doth allow: for observe I pray you, if you chance to see two skilful men play or fight; and if these two fall into choler and fury, so that like two wild Bulls they go to it pell-mell, than it is chance noddy to hit or miss; for where fury hath the upper hand it is not worth the sight to the beholders, for they can show no true Art, except they observe distance, for distance being broken, they cut or hurt one another which is a great disgrace unto true Art, and a discouragement to many which would learn skill, but that they see by such hasty fools, that skill availeth not, and indeed it doth little avail such as cannot bridle their hasty affections; but yet many will say it is true, yet they cannot beware of the devil, until they are plagued with his dam. For after a skilfuil man hath received hurt he presently condemneth his own folly, for receiving that which he might have avoided if his mind had been on his business; now as I would have no man turn coward but to answer a good quarrel, so likewise I would most earnestly wish all men to forbear and not maintain such light and idle brawls which either spring from lewd women, as that are pot frays, for drunkenness is the cause of the most quarrels that be, yet still I do allow and commend any man to answer his enemy upon a good quarrel, and to stand against him, if he do assault thee: for that will make others to fear to do thee wrong or thy friend wrong, thinking that thou wilt rite it. Now he which is valorous by nature, and hath no skill, and yet hath a good strength, courage, and stomach, many times doth adventure rashly without fear or wit, not much unlike a foolish gamester which urgeth and never counteth upon his fellows game, but many times it were better hold then vie, for as some lose their money by their rash vying at the one, so many lose their lives by a foolish bold hardiness at the other: for many in their very first attempt, or as it were their entering into hope to get the praise of the world to be accounted valorous lose their lives, which is for want of mixing discretion with stomach.  
Many examples to this effect might be shown which happened in the wars of France, Flanders and Ireland, for in all these places as good men for valour as ever the Sun did shine upon, lost their lives upon the very first attempt, only by rashness, and so their honour is written in a Chronicle of dust, for it even died with them.  
I hold it a greater credit to retreat for thine own safety being in danger, rather than still to charge one and so be slain or sore wounded, yet mistake me not, for I do not here commend running away neither, but use a mean and policy in retreating, for running away is a coward's defence. A good man may give back for his advantage, and no disgrace at all, if men of judgement do see it, and do judge with discretion. For the valiantest Captain that ever did breath, for his advantage would retreat without any dishonour at all, therefore he which will be accounted valorous, and run through many dangers and bry at's of mischief, quarrels and troubles of this world, he must many times be patiented upon a great wrong proffered him, but afterwards with discretion examine thy force and thy skill together, how thou mayst without hazard of thy life revenge the wrong offered, and that thou mayst so fight as thou mayst fight again, without losing thy life upon the first assault as many do. but he is a fool which will adventure all his goods in one ship, especially if it be in a dangerous voyage, or all his money at one throw at dice although he know the run of the dice never so well, for he that doth so may hap to lose all. For there are many dangers at sea and many chances at dice, but a good quarrel doth half defend himself, and also a good quarrel many times maketh a coward fight: again, it is a great discredit to be counted a run away, the unskilful must do for his own defence at sometimes and yet stomach enough.  
Therefore whether it be in single combat or other wise, use thy weapon with discretion, without choler or hastiness, looking unto thy business which thou hast in hand, soberly & mildly, and let wisdom guide the bridle, for so mayst thou go through many a quarrel and run through many skirmishes often without hurt, although not without danger.  
There is no exercise learned but by often practise, for so it is made perfect: valour, and stomach cometh by nature, but skill never cometh by nature, and he which is grounded in skill by art and practice will not fear the proud brags of any man. But now if such a one fight he useth his skill and dependeth chief upon it, but the hasty and furious man thinketh tstat he is never near enough, and so many of them never fight but once, for they are slain in their own hastiness, the very first time of adventuring; for haste oftentimes maketh waste.  
I do remember a pretty jest of King Henry the eight as I have heard it, that when he went to Boulogne he sent out his Presse-masters, commanding them to bring all the lustiest hackers in the country, and they brought and presented him with many that in fight had received many wounds, the scars whereof remained, and the King beholding them saw that some of them had been cut in the face in one place, and some in another, and some on the head, and some had lost some of their singers; then said the King unto the Presse-masters, I like these men well; but yet go fetch me them which did cut those fellows, whereby he meant that those which had the most hurts were not the best men.   

CHAP. VIII. How the use of weapons came, also the number of weapons used from time to time, with other good instructions.  
MAN was first created naked, without any weapons naturally, saving only hands and feet, which are able to make but a weak resistance against any great violence, only this the hands to thrust away that which may annoy us, and the feet to run from that which may hurt us. Now all other creatures except man are naturally armed with such weapons as doth oftentimes kill and destroy any other beast which doth offend them.  
As for example, God in his creation furnished the Lion, the Bear, the Dog, and the Wolf, and other such like beasts,  long and sharp teeth and claws, and they are with them able to tear in pieces and devour any man or beast, which they oppose themselves against, now other beasts there are whose strength consisteth in other parts, and they do avenge themselves in other manner; as the Unicorn and the Bull, with their horns, and the force of their heads, so that there is no other beast or creature is able to abide the violence and force thereof.  
Also note the force of fowls of the air as the falcon, and the Eagle, what a dangerous weapon is the beak of them unto such fowls or beasts as they oppose themselves against.  
Likewise for venomous beasts, as the Serpent, the Viper, the Scorpion, and such like, are so armed with poisoned and venomous stings, which not only terrifieth but hurteth and destroyeth those men or beasts cometh near them.  
Likewise God in his creation made all creatures to several purposes, but most of all for the use of man, for some he made to feed us, some to  us, some to sport us, and some to carry us, and some to destroy us.  
Lo thus much by the way of argument, as a preamble to that which I intent to speak of concerning weapons as followeth.  
In old time amongst men the strongest carry away the victory, I mean at that time when there was little or no other weapon used, but only tooth & nail, hands and feet: now in those days many men did think that they made a good hand when they saved themselves by flight, or any other means, from those which were to strong for them, and so the world continued a long time, the strongest still carrying away the victory.  
For what weapons had they I pray you in the time of Samson, did not he for want of other weapons with a law bone kill and destroy a thousand Philistims in a small time without any hurt to himself?  
Now at this time if there had been any weapons of more danger put the case this. Although Samson was charged upon such a sudden whereby he had no leisure to arm himself, yet you must understand and know, that his enemies came purposely to be revenged upon him, because he had burned up their corn: wherefore if there had been weapons they would have been so armed without all doubt or question, and so provided for him, that either they would have wounded or killed him, before he should have made such havoc or slaughter amongst them.  
Again, what weapons had they when Saingar slew six hundred Philistimes with an ox goad, as in the third of judges there you may read it in the last verse.  
But after this as the number of people begun to multiply, and the malice, rage, and fury of man began to increase, first they began to revenge themselves with clubs, staves, slings, and darts. And afterward they studied and invented other weapons and armour for wars, as at the first beginning of wars they made Iron chariots, and then they armed Elephants, and horses, afterwards they found out the forging of swords, spears, Bills, Halberds, javelins and Partisans, Crossbows and long bows, and such like; and every kind of weapon for more advantage and danger one than another, still changing only to make trial of the best, for their advantage, and such they keep in use that were of greater force not only to terrify, but to hurt and destroy their enemies. But of late years they have changed all weapons for muskets, Harquebus, and Crossbows, Calievers, Pikes, Swords, and Rapiers, and such like manly weapons of great danger, especially unto the ignorant and unskilful.  
Now therefore as we are provided of sundry kind of dangerous weapons, I could wish every man to spend a little time in practising to learn skill and cunning at such weapons, as with skill are most safe to defend, and yet most dangerous, and hurtful to thy enemy, considering this that the skilful and cunning man fighteth without fear; for not only those which use the making of arms and weapons are well accepted of, wherein many are accounted famous, & thereby making a good living for their continual maintenance, but yet more accepted are they which can use weapons well both for defence and offence: for many thereby have gotten such credit through out all the world, insomuch that Kings and Princes do a dorne them which are excellent therein with the names of Knights, and some with greater titles of honour: wherefore it is a great shame for any carrying the shape or parsonage of a man, but that he should be so cunning and so furnished with skill and with continual practice, so to use it, as not only to defend thyself, but also to speak and to discourse of weapons and arms in what company soever thou come into fitting such a matter.  
The Romans soon after the invention of swords generally they grew so expert and cunning, that they were able and did set forth whole armies of sword-players, such as are now called Fencers.  
It is a woeful sight unto the skilful to see so many young gentlemen, which being once blind folded with ignorance and for want of skill many times lose their lives in fight, without reason or judgement, and yet some such there are which will adventure; only they do it upon an aspiring mind, thinking thereby to get the praise of the world, which is to be accounted valorous, and tall men at arms, for to be accounted wise and valiant is every man's desire.  
Wherefore as amongst the wise and ancient writers that ever wrote, we find the wise to provide in summer for winter, in time of peace for wars; for there is nothing so sure but as that after peace there will come wars, there is no man living that although he carry himself never so uprightly yet at one time or other he may be so wronged that he must needs fight: therefore he that is wise will be armed before hand, not only with weapons, but skill; thereby to prevent a mischief if occasion serve, as you shall hear more at large in the next Chapter.   

CHAP. IX. showeth what an excellent thing skill is, with persuasion to all men to forbear the maintaining of idle quarrels.  
TO show you what skill is it will be a hard question to decide, and a matter too deep for me to handle, for we see daily many principal and cunning men even at their wits end in studying and devising skill and cunning in all arts and science, and yet to the end of their lives they find themselves ignorant in many things, and are still to learn, yea even in that which they have always been trained up unto.  
Wherefore I think the ground of art and cunning is not to be found out, no although a man do travel more larger ground than the whole earth, or if he should fly above the clouds, or dive deeper than the sea, all which is unpossible: wherefore seeing it is so large that I cannot compass it, so high I cannot reach it, and so deep a hidden secret, that I cannot sound the bottom of it; for I cannot travail so far, climb so high, nor wade so deep, yet so far have I traveled and so high have I climbed, and so deep have I waded, that I see art & skill so prevail with those which bendeth their minds thereunto, they become more famous than any other ordinary men are, for skill is such an excellent thing, that it abateth the choler and courage of the hasty and furious man, so that he be tempered with discretion; even as iron being tempered with steel, maketh a blade; whereas if it be all steel, it will be too brittle and soon broken; or all iron, than it will be too blunt: even so, he which is furious and hasty will be soon killed. Again, skill, use and exercise therein doth overcome many ill humours, which without it, are never to be left, as you shall hear.  
For, skill maketh those hardy at their weapons, which are so timersome, as they will wink at every blow; yea, and if he were as fearful and as cowardly as a Hare by nature, yet such a one (by skill) becometh, bold, hardy, and valorous; also (by use and practise) it maketh a man to use both his hands alike: wherefore I would have no man that carrieth the parsonage or shape of a man, but he should learn as much skill in his weapons as possible he can; and likewise learn as many guards at each weapon as thou mayest, that thereby thou mayest be the better able to answer any man upon a good quarrel, if his skill and cunning were never so good, but he which hath skill but at one weapon, and is acquainted but with one guard, and hath but one kind of blow, or but one kind of thrust; I do not see how such a man should be able to defend himself from one that is skilful and cunning in many other guards, and many blows and thrusts; for one guard, one blow, or one thrust will quickly be worn threadbare; it is supposed, that if a horse did know his own strength, a man could not rule him; even so, for want of such manly knowledge, as every one ought to be experienced in, do never come to the knowledge of their strength, nor dare not attempt any thing worth the commendations of manhood, only for want of experience and practise; for little doth any man know what good fortune is allotted out for him, and sure the greatest credit and honour that ever came to any man, was through skill in weapons: such an excellent armour is Skill, that it maketh a man fight without fear: and he which hath it, will fight with such wariness, that he will hurt, and not be hurt himself, except it be by great odds of weapons, or more than one weapon at once.  
He which is a man of his hands will have many tales brought him, but before thou give any credit unto a talebearer, consider well the condition of the messenger, before thou put any confidence in his speeches, whether he be a drunkard, a coward, or a fool; for any of these three sorts of men, there is no credit nor trust to be given unto their speech. Again, a Gentleman, or a man of any good fashion, ought not to carry tales: but if such a one do hear his friend wronged behind his back, he ought with discretion to answer him, in his friend's behalf, with reasonable words, and not to report unto his friend, the worst that he heareth an idle fellow speak, except it be a matter which concerneth his life, than it is not amiss to warn thy friend, to the end he may be provided against such a mischief; but the carrying of every idle tale betwixt man and man, doth much hurt, and setteth whole households together by the ears. Again, he which is a carrier of tales, can not truly deliver a man's speech, without adding or diminishing: and either of these two do alter the whole property of the speech which was first delivered, and it so falleth out many times, that the talebearer bringeth himself into many quarrels, and to be envied on both sides: therefore, he which can hear, and see, and say little, will find most quietness, for little said is soon answered: but he that talketh much, can never place all his words well, nor please every man's humour: and surely talebearers are the breeders of great mischief.  
For many times upon others words some do bear malice one to another, without cause of desert, and yet occasion is taken, and perhaps none given neither; the one party doth not know of the malice the other beareth him of a long time, and this is not well, for if thou be grieved, reveal thy mind, and make a bolt or a shaft of it quickly, either to end it with weapons or with words or by the persuasions of friends, as occasion shall serve, when it cometh in question, and then afterwards be friends, but at no hand, let no envious hatred remain in thy heart against any person, of what condition soever; but rather go unto him which spoke ill words against thee, and ask him in courteous means, but not in outrage and anger, until thou hear his tale; for the talebearer it may be, is in the fault, in telling a tale to make a quarrel, when there is none meant.  
Meddle not with great men which are above thy calling, for though they wrong thee, and that thou hast a good quarrel), yet thou canst get little by maintaining such a quarrel; for might (oftentimes) overcometh right, and the weakest goeth commonly to the walls: then is it better to bear the burden of the mighty, and endure their malice with patience and let such quarrels slip, rather than stir further in them, lest it be thy overthrow: and, he carrieth the most honourable mind, which in talking of his enemy, can so bridle his affections, as to use no railing, nor undecent speeches behind his enemies back, for he that doth so, dishonesteth himself: beside, those which hear him, will judge that he had rather fight with his tongue then with his sword.  
Again, a man of great power and authority ought not to offer wrong unto any man of meaner sort: for it hath been often seen, that a worm being trodden upon, will turn again; and many poor men will rather lose their lives, if so 'ttwere they durst adventure to challenge the rich for fear of the Law, I do mean when they are oppressed, wronged, and disgraced by the rich and mighty men; for the Law is a quirk to restrain or to check poor men's wills, for it doth hamper and temper, and bring them into subjection: and as the old Proverb goeth, The rich men have the Law in their own hands.  
Even as the ignorant and unskilful do many times fear to displease a swaggerer or a common quarreler; even so poor men are afraid to offend the rich.  
Now concerning a rich man, I remember a pretty example or a tale, and as I heard it, you shall hear it, There was a Gentleman which built a gallant fair house, whom I will leave nameless, but he had many ploughs and carriages for timber, lime, and stones; some serving his present need, for love, some for money, and some for fear (as you shall hear) for at night, (when the carriage was ended) the Gentleman called them one after an other, and unto the first he said; What have you earned? Sir (said he) I came for love, and not for money. I thank you (said the Gentleman.) So then he asked another, saying Sirrah, what came you for? Sir (said he) I am but a poor man, and I came for money. And so the Gentleman paid him his wages: Then he called an other, and asked him wherefore he came, or what he had deserved? Sir (said he) I came not to you for love, nor for money, but only for fear of your displeasure. Said the Gentleman, why art thou afraid of me which never did thee hurt in all my life? Yea, but sir (said he) I have seen many poor men envy, wronged, and imprisoned many times for ill will by the rich, when they have but little deserved it; thereby showing, that some rich men will bear such malice unto a poor man, if he shall deny him such carriage, or if he do not help him in the harvest, or if he shall deny him the selling of a horse, ground, or cattle, that the Gentleman hath a mind unto; for many of them think that a poor man should deny them nothing, but if they do, a grudging hatred continueth until they have revenged it; but if in a long time they cannot find a hole in his coat, whereby to revenge their malice: yet when a press cometh, than they put him forth for a Soldier, although there be twenty others in the same Parish, which would willingly serve, and likewise that might be far better spared, and a great deal more fit, for an unwilling servant seldom doth his master good service.   

Chap. X. The tricks of a Coward.  
THE first reason which I will set down, whereby you may know a coward, is, by the lading of himself with weapons; for I have known a very fearful man to see to, and yet a coward, carry a Welsh hook upon his back, a close hilted Sword and Dagger, yet (mistake me not) for I do not call every man that is so weaponed, a coward, but stand still a little, and you shall know who I mean.  
When a man (upon a good quarrel) doth challenge a coward into the field, it may be it cometh to this point; Where shall we meet saith the one? In such a place or such a place saith the other; but in the end, they make a secret conclusion, and choice of a place is agreed upon; but then, if the coward go into the field at all, he will be sure to go where he will not meet with his enemy, but to one of the aforenamed places, and there he will stay a while, and if any company come by, he will tell them, that he stayeth to fight with such a man, because they shall note him for a tall man of his hands: and then at his coming back again, amongst his companions, he will brag and boast that he hath been in the field, to meet with such a man, and he came not; when the other all the while was at the place where they concluded to have met.  
Again, some cowards will so dare and brag out a man in company, with such swaggering words, whereby the heaters should think there were not a better man to be found: and if it be in a Fair or Market, than he will draw his weapons, because he knoweth that he shall be soon parted, for the people will say, that such a one and such a one made a great fray to day, but I account this but pot-valour, or a Coward's fray to fight in the street, for a man can give no due commendations of manhood unto such fighters, for there is no valour in it.  
Again, I have known a Coward cunningly challenge a very sufficient man, and they have met in the field, but at their meeting, the Coward will say thus unto him, Now I see thou art a man, and I will take thy part against all men, but I will never draw my Sword against thee, that which I did was but to try thee.  
Also a cunning Coward, when he hath wronged or misused a man, the party grieved doth challenge the field of him, than he will bear it out with great brags and high looks, enough to fear any man, that will be feared with words, showing himself outwardly as though he would fight indeed; for the Coward will say unto the challenger, Thou wilt not meet me, if I should appoint thee a place, for thou darest nor answer me: for be it known unto thee, if I unsheathe my Sword, I will not draw him in vain; but now if he see these brags can not dismay nor assuage the fury of the other, but that he will needs fight, than he assayeth other ways, if it be one of his acquaintance, he will say, The world shall not speak of it, that we two should fall out: or, if it be to an inferior, than he will stand upon his gentility, saying that he will not do him that credit, for thou art a base fellow, a fellow of no fashion, to compare with me. I have known in a strange place, that a scurvy base fellow will stand so much upon his gentility, and think to make the world believe he is a great man in his own Country. Also, in a Tavern or such like place, if there be company ready to hold him, than he will draw his Dagger upon very small occasion, showing himself resolute, as though he would fight with the devil; and then the company (with a little persuasion) brings them friends, which I discommend not, but I discommend the falling out about a pipe of Tobacco, or a cup of Wine or Beer. But of this I have spoken something before, and shall have occasion to speak more at large of it hereafter; But first, to end this I have in hand, many a Coward may say, when he hath lived so long in the world until the world is weary of his company, I may be the best man in the world, for I was never yet tried, nor never drew my Sword in earnest in all my life hitherto: again, it is good sleeping in a whole skin.  
And a wise or a valorous man may even say so as well as a Coward: for I say a man may very well answer a good quarrel, if occasion be offered, yet sleep in a whole skin; why shall we fear to go to our beds, because some die in their beds; some die at Sea, and therefore shall we fear to cross the Sea; some fall by chance, shall we never therefore rise for fear of falling? And what is all this? Nothing, but to show, that there is less danger in fight a good quarrel with skill and discretion, upon cold blood: but of this I have spoken sufficiently already, if words would serve. But if I should write a whole Volume of one matter, yet it would serve to small purpose to some; and so where we left there we will begin, for what I have said before, it is but as it were a dew, but this last shower shall wet them to the skin; a Coward will have a Sword or a Rapier, for length (in a manner) like a half Pike: but since the use of short Swords came, you cannot know them by that mark, as you might before, for many of them are got into the fashion, and it is the fittest weapon that ever came for their purpose; for short swords are worn both of one and other, more for the fashion then for any other purpose: but because men of good worth do wear them, therefore I will not call it the fools fashion, but let every man alone with his humour. Again, a Coward will have as good and as gallant a weapon as may be gotten for money; but I do not commend the man by the largeness nor goodness of his weapons, neither he that hath many hurts and scars about his body. There is no due commendations to be given of a judge, by his scarlet Gown; neither can a man commend the skilfulness of the Mariner by his wearing of a great whistle: gold is not certainly known to be gold, before it is tried, every thing is not as it seemeth to be for many a man carrieth the shape and parsonage of a man: but when they come to the touch like gold to be tried, prove but shadows, as that which is like gold many times doth prove worse than Copper: even so, there is no certain true report can be given of a man touching manhood upon the first sight, without some trial. You shall seldom see a Coward use his weapon, except it be upon a drunken humour, or else, when he is driven to it by extremity, and that he seethe no remedy, but that he must needs fight, but he will many times be drawing in some Alehouse or Tavern, and there he will be fencing with him, and showing his tricks, thinking to make the company believe, that he is an excellent fellow of his hands: and there many will be hewing of bed-postes, or table-boords, or many such like tricks he will use: then some Cowards will (by casting abroad of libels) and by nightwalking, do many mischievous tricks, only to revenge a malice which they bear in mind, because they can not revenge it manfully, and yet a Coward will grieve and fret if justly he hear any other to be commended of any man for his manhood and valour, for he would have no man better than himself. And if such a one bear office in City or Town, he will at no hand abide to hear, that a master of Defence should inhabit in the place where he governeth.  
Also if any other commend a man that is a man indeed, a coward will discommend him saying, he is no body; or he is not the man you take him for; with such like disabling speeches, for if a coward cannot disgrace a man with deeds to his face, than he will deprive him with words behind his back.  
Also a coward delighteth to breed quarrels betwixt man and man, and to set such as are named to be men of their hands, together by the ears by false reports, and by carrying of tales, and by making of molehills mountains, of half a word a long tale, to the hurt of others, and no good to themselves: and what is the chief cause of all cowardly minds but only ignorance, and want of skill: but to conclude, never trust a coward in his fury, nor suffer him not to come nearer than the point of thy rapier, and there let him tell his tale, but let him have no advantage upon thee by no kind of illusions, especially if he be thy professed enemy.  
That he is a coward which practiseth the throwing of a dagger or the darting of a rapier, I will not say, but he which putteth it in practice upon a man, is a coward, for if he kill a man with such a trick, in my mind it is pity but he should die for it: and so I will end with that example of a cowardly murderer of one Cosbe, whose murdering hands by a cozening device bereaved the Lord of Burke of his life, and as I heard it, thus it was: a quarrel grew between them, and the field was appointed, where they both met, and being ready to charge each other, Cosbe said my Lord you have spurs which may annoy you: therefore if you please put them off, and even as he was unbuckling of his spurs, this cowardly and murdering minded Cosbe ran him through with a mortal wound, whereof he died presently.  
Now to my own knowledge, my Lord Burke was very skilful in his weapons, and sufficient to have answered any man being equally weaponed, or upon equal terms, therefore hard was his hap to meet with such a cowardly murderer, for his death is lamented of many, and Cosby was hanged for it.  
Yet touching this matter, here followeth another example, as I heard it I will declare it: thus, there was a murderer who escaping the pitifully hands of the merciful judge, after he had killed two men, being taken and apprehended for the third murder, and being arraigned before the same judge which had before showed pity, began now to condemn this murderer, and give the sentence of death, and so began to declare to this murderer that had small grace, which could not beware being twice warned, but must now kill the third man: therefore thou (saith the judge) well deservest death, & death thou shalt have: when the murderer saw that he must die, he said thus unto the judge: My Lord you do me wrong to condemn me for the kill of three men, for it was you that killed two of them: yea said the judge, how can that be? marry thus: if you had hanged me for the first I had not killed the other two: therefore it is pity in my mind, that a manslayer should live to kill two men, but to be hanged for the first if it be not in his own defence, or upon a very good quarrel, and so I will strike sail for a while.   

CHAP. XI. Questions and Answers. Scholar.  
I Have hearkened all this while unto your discourse, the which I like very well of, but now I am desirous if it please you to be instructed with some of your skill.  Master. 
At what weapon are you desirous to learn.  Scholar. 
Such as you think fit for my defence.  Master. 
Then I hold it necessary for thee to learn the perfect use of six kinds of weapons, not that thou shouldest still be armed with so many weapons, but with the skill of them, for that will not burden thee nothing at all: for thou mayst in travel by chance meet at sundry times, with sundry men, which are armed with sundry kind of weapons, now if thou be provided before hand with skill at such a weapon, as by chance thou mayst meet withal, knowing the danger thou wilt the better prevent the mischief.  Scholar. 
What be the six weapons which you would have me to learn.  Master. 
The first and two principal weapons are the rapier and dagger, and the staff, the other four are the back sword, the single Rapier, the long sword and dagger, and the short sword and dagger, but with the two former weapons thou mayst encounter by skill with any man in the world, the rapier and dagger against any weapon of the same length, at single hand and with a staff against any two handed weapon, as against the welsh hook, two hand sword, the Halberd, Partisan, and glove, or any other weapon of the like advantage: but provided always thou must be sure armed with skill at those two especially: and with all the rest if thou canst, for then mayst thou be the bolder to encounter with any man at any of the other, if thy enemy charge thee upon the sudden with a contrary weapon, thou wilt presently know what thy enemy can do with his weapon, which if thou hast no skill in, it will seem the more fearful unto thee.  
For if Goliath had been experienced in the cunning of a sling, he would not have condemned David so rashly, nor made so light account of him as he did: but if thou have skill with such a weapon, as thou art to encounter against, it will be nothing troublesome unto thee, for there is no way to hit, but there is a way to defend, as thou shalt here more at large, but first tell me what thou art, and thy bringing up.  Scholar. 
I was a yeoman's son, and always brought up idle under my father, but now my father is dead, and that little which he left me for the most part I have consumed and spent, wherefore I pray you direct me my course, by some of your good counsel, for I have little to trust to, but only my hands, therefore I am willing to learn any thing which may gain me a good report, and something beneficial for my maintenance.  Master. 
Indeed means to live and a good name withal, is more than gold, and because thou showest thyself willing to be instructed, thou shalt hear briefly what I would do if myself were in thy case, for if I should enter into large discourses I might thereby well make thee weary with the hearing of it, but perhaps never the wiser, and so thereby thou mightest well give me occasion to account the time very ill spent in writing of it. Nevertheless I will reckon little of my labour, for I am in hope to do thee good, for thou must or shouldest know not only how to use and govern thy weapon, but also thyself, in all companies, and in all places, where thou shalt happen to come; for kind and courteous behaviour winneth favour and love wheresoever thou goest, but much the better if it be tempered with manhood and skill of weapons. Now some will say that skill in weapons is good most chief for gentlemen, but I say it should be in all men, for I have known and seen many poor men's sons come to great honour and credit, and chief it was because they had skill in weapons, wherefore in my mind it is the most excellent quality of all both for high and low, rich and poor. But when thou art experienced at thy weapon, I would wish thee to make choice of one of those three exercises for thy continual expenses and maintenance so long as thou livest, and not live like a drone upon other men's labours, for least in time if thou wert never so good a man, yet every one would wax weary of thy company.  Scholar. 
I pray you, what be the three Exercises which you would counsel me to take my choice of?  Master. 
Marry, thyself being of reasonable good years, and having neither lands, nor but a little living left thee, choose whether thou wilt go learn some trade or occupation, or else go into the wars, or be a serving man; for when thou hast skill in thy weapon, thou must have some means to maintain thine expenses; for idle hands will make a hungry belly, and a hungry belly must needs have meat, and meat will not be bought in the market for honesty without money.  Scholar. 
Which of these Exercises would you advise me to follow?  Master. 
I commend them all, but yet an occupation is a more certain stay unto a man, both in his youth and in his age, than any of the other two are; and as thou art in years, so oughtest thou to be the more witty, if it be not so, it should be so, and a man of reason will the sooner be his craftsmaster. A man is never too old to learn, especially any thing that may be to the good and profit of the commonwealth; and it is better to learn late than never: and he that hath a trade, let him look unto it, and he which will not labour, let him not eat, saith Saint Paul.  Scholar 
What trade would you have me to learn?  Master. 
Such a trade or occupation, as thy mind bendeth most unto, and then to apply thyself to it, and follow it, and strive by honest means and painful labour to be rich, for thou mayest be poor when thou wilt, but there is no trade good to him which will not to follow it, for he that hath never so many trades, and yet giveth his mind to drunkenness, and loveth to lead an idle and loitering life: such a one will never thrive, but fit in an Alehouse, and complain, that the world is hard, and that work is very scant; indeed, so it is with such a one, for a man can seldom find them in their own houses, whereby to put work into their hands, but those that do look for work, and attend it, need never to want work, but will always be in other men's work, or else they will be able (by their good husbandry) to set themselves awork, and it is a very bad commodity, that will not yield money at one time or other.  
Do you understand me? if not, I will make it more plain, hearken to that which followeth, then above all, give not thy mind to ranging or running from Town to Town, or from Country to Country, for a rolling stone will never gather moss, the Grasshopper will rather die then go out of the grass; and thou (with good behaviour) mayest better live with a groat in thine own Country, then with a pound in a strange place, for in a strange place, although thou be of good behaviour, yet many will fear thee, and be loath to give thee credit, and will think, if thou wert of good behaviour, thou shouldest have had no need to come out of thine own Country: Again, thy flying away will be a great discredit unto thee, if thou think to come home again; for every man almost will be loath to put credit, or any thing of value into the hands of a ranger, because that they are not resolved that thy mind is settled to stay in thine own Country, when thou dost turn from thy race again. Many men there are that consume their time in ranging abroad, and at the last, seeing the vanity of the world, they recall themselves, and repent of the time which they have consumed in travel: but then they have experience although no money; now Experience is no coiner, nor a tradesman worth a pin without his tools; for what availeth it to be a cunning Goldsmith, and have neither gold nor silver: few there are that will trust a traveler any further than they can see him, especially, if he have been one that hath served as a Soldier in a foreign Country: therefore, although home be homely, endeavour thyself to live by honest and good means, and be contented with thine homely home; but beware, spend not Michaelmas rend in Midsummer quarter abroad, as many bad husband's use to do.  
Now if a trade be too tedious for thee to learn, or too painful for thee to follow, then go thou unto the wars, and serve either by Sea or Land, as thy affections shall best lead thee unto: but in seeking by the wars to get wealth, if thou losest thy life while thou art young, thou needest not to care for old age; yet by the wars (if fortune serve) but to speak more Christianlike (if God will) thou mayest get that in one hour, which (with good discretion and government) thou mayest be the better for, so long as thou livest: the goods which do come by the wars, are neither light come by, 
The wars are not like throwing of snow balls: far deceived are they that so think.  nor godlily gotten (in my mind;) yet many think that wealth gotten by the wars, is easily gotten; for so it appeareth by the prodigal and vain spending of it: wherefore I would have thee furnish thyself with Discretion and Knowledge before hand, that thereby thou mayst the better use wealth when thou hast it; but then thou must not abuse it, as many other Soldiers have done heretofore: for I have known many get both goods and money by the wars, but have made no other reckoning, but as one would say, lightly come lightly go; and so suffering it to melt away like butter in the Sun: therefore if thou happen, by the wars, upon that may do thee good, keep it warily, and spend it wisely: for it is said, a dog shall have a day, and a man shall have his time; but if he let Time slip, she is bald behind, and therefore no hold to be taken of her after her back is once turned; for I have known many by the wars, get at one voyage, enough to live by all their lives long, if with discretion it had been governed; but they have consumed it in so short a time, that a man would think it impossible; and then to the wars again they go in hope of the like fortune, but they have not in seven years, nay all their life time got so much, as they spent in one day, when they had crowns.  

Goods gotten by the wars are like a live Bird in the hand, which, the hand no sooner opened but she straight flieth away.  Then consider with thyself, that if thou do light upon wealth, that thou comest not light by it, if thou get it by the wars, though indeed it is gotten in an hour, yet it is gotten with great hazard of thy life, and no doubt it is displeasing to God, for goods gotten by the wars serve but for spending money for the time present; those which do save them, and hoard them up, they are consumed before two generations do pass, yea though it were abundance, it cometh to nothing, as in my farewell to Plymouth more at large appeareth.  
Now (in my mind) the third and the worst choice I have left till the last, and that is a serving-man's life, yet it is as it happeneth, for some happen into good service, and some again spend seven years, yea all their life time, and so they grow the older, little the wiser, nor never a whit the richer; and some of them never care so they have from hand to mouth, nor never think upon a rainy day until it come, and gentlemen are wise for they will not keep a dog and bark themselves, neither will they keep a cat except she will catch mice; therefore if thou wilt be a serving-man thou must take great pains, otherwise thou wilt have small gains at the end of thy service; yea though thou be never so painful and dutiful, yet when thou lookest to receive thy reward, there may be such great fault found in thy service, that all the golden words and fair promises which thou hast been deluded and haled forward withal, they may all come to nothing except thy bare wages, there may be a bill of caviling put in for the rest, saying if thou hadst been an honest man, thou shouldest have had this or that, if thou live never so uprightly, yet there may be faults found, for it is a very easy matter to find a staff to beat a dog withal, but because I cannot well display the life of a servingman, but either I shall displease the Master or the man, or both; therefore I will here conclude, and leave the rest to thy daily experience, and so for a while hearken unto the skill of weapons.   

CHAP. XII. showeth of seven principal rules whereon true defence is grounded.  

1 A good guard.  
2 True observing of distance.  
3 To know the place.  
4 To take time.  
5 To keep space.  
6 Patience.  
7 Often practice.   
THe first is to learn a good and a sure guard for the defence of thy body, as when you come to the use of weapons, as here presently after shall follow, and when thou hast thy guard it is not enough to know it, but to keep it so long as thou art within reach or danger of thy enemy.  
To observe distance, by which is meant that thou shouldest stand so far off from thine enemy, as thou canst, but reach him when thou dost step forth with thy blow or thrust, and thy foremost foot and hand must go together, the which distance may be twelve foot with a rapier, or with asword four foot long, and yet thy best foot which should be the hindermost foot of a right handed man, should be mored fast and keep his standing without moving an inch, for than he will be the readier to draw back thy forefoot and body into the right place of distance again for that thou must do upon every charge, whether thou hit thy enemy or not; whereas if in stepping forth with thy forefoot, when thou dost charge thy enemy either with blow or thrust, thou suffer thy hinder foot to drag in after the other, than thou breakest thy distance, and thereby endangerest thy body.  
There is no way better to get the true observation of distance, but by often practise either with thy friend, or else privately in a chamber against a wall, standing twelve foot off with thy hindermost foot, and thy weapon four foot long or there about, for a good guard and distance are the main and principal points of all.  
To know the place, this may be taken three ways, as this, the place of thy weapons, the place of defence and the place of offence: the place for the holding of thy weapons, thou shalt know when thou comest to it as I said before, but it is chief meant here the place of offence; thou must mark which is the nearest part of thine enemy towards thee, and which lieth most unregarded, whether it be his dagger hand, his knee, or his leg, or where thou mayst best hurt him at a large distance without danger to thyself, or without killing of thine enemy.  
To take time, that is to say when opportunity is proffered thee, either by his lying unregarded or upon thy enemy's proffer, then make a quick answer, I mean it must be done upon the very motion of his proffer, thou must defend and seek to offend all at once, for thou must not suffer thy enemy to recover his guard, for if thou do thou losest thy advantage. But thou must answer him more quicker than I can speak it, for if thou lose thy answer, and charge thy enemy when he is guarded, thou givest thy enemy that advantage which thou mightest have had thyself, for he which maketh the first assault doth endanger himself most, if he be not very expert and cunning in his business, otherwise a man of reasonable skill may hurt him by making a quick answer.  
To keep space this may be conceived two ways; the one in the space between thy enemy & thyself, this I call distance, and I have already spoken of it; but the space which in this place I will speak of, is to advise thee to keep a certain space betwixt every assault, I mean if thou charge thy enemy either with blow or thrust, recover thy weapons into their place, and draw thyself into thy guard again, and so preparing thyself for to defend, and likewise to make a fresh assault with discretion, but not charging thy enemy rashly or furiously, for hastiness is foolishness: for if fury have the upper hand, and so you both strike and thrust, without reason and judgement, I say in such a case the skilfullest man that is, may be so well hit as he hit another.  
The next is patience, and that is one of the greatest virtues that can be in a man: the Wise man saith, he is a fool which cannot govern himself, and he very unfit to rule which cannot rule himself; therefore, though thou be hasty or choleric by nature, and by crossing thou art moved unto anger; yet I say, let the bridle of Reason and judgement so govern and overrule thy hasty affections, that in no case Anger get the upper hand; But of this there is more at large spoken in the eight chapter. Now the last thing that I will note here, is often practise, for without practise the Proverb says, a man may forget his Pater noster: for practice (with moderation) is, not only the healthiest thing in the world for the body: but it is likewise as defensive for the same. For skill to every reasonable man is a friend, so that with moderation it be used, and so long as it remains in those of good temper; for unto such, skill bringeth no more presumption nor fury then as if they had it not: for in the field, those which I mean will use it as if they were in a School, by which means such have great advantage of the ignorant and unskilful; for those which are unskilful, are neither certain of their defence nor offence; but what they do is upon a kind of foolish bold hardiness, or as I may say by hap-hazzard or chance noddy: and therefore (gentle Reader) resolve upon skill and knowledge which follows here immediately.  

The true guard for the defence, either of blow, or thrust, with Rapier and Dagger, or Sword and Dagger.  
Keep thy rapier hand so low as the pocket of thy hose at the arms end, without bowing the elbow joint, and keep the hilt of thy dagger right with thy left cheek, and the point something stooping toward the right shoulder, and bear him out stiff at the arms end, without bowing thine elbow joint likewise, and the point of thy Rapier two inches within the point of thy dagger, neither higher, nor lower; but if the point of thy rapier be two or three inches short of touching thy dagger, it is no matter, but if they join it is good; likewise, keep both your points so high as you may see your enemy clearly with both your eyes, betwixt your rapier and dagger, and bowing your head something toward the right shoulder, and your body bowing forwards, and both thy shoulders, the one so near thine enemy as the other, and the thumb of thy rapier hand, not upon thy rapier, according unto the usual fashion of the vulgar sort, but upon the nail of thy forefinger, which will lock thine hand the stronger about the handle of thy rapier, and the heel of thy right foot should join close to the middle joint of the great toe of thy left foot, according to this Picture, yet regard chief the words rather than the Picture.  
Carry the edge of thy rapier upward, and downward, for than thou shalt defend a blow upon the edge of thy rapier, by bearing thy rapier after the rule of the Backsword, for this is the strongest and the surest carriage of him.  
But now it is but a vain thing to go about to practise after my direction, except thou understand my meaning, and follow my counsel, as by words so plain as I can, I have set down, both before and after: for if thou observe one thing, and not an other, it will profit thee but little, as thus: if thou place thy weapons in order; and then, if thy hand, foot, or body be out of order, than it will be to small purpose to proceed in thy practice: again, if thou frame thy body right, and thy weapons, and thy hand, and thy foot; yet if thou do not observe a true distance withal, than thy practice will be little available to thee: wherefore at the first beginning of thy practice, take a good advisement, and be perfect by often reading of this Book, so to begin well; for if thou hast been used to set thy feet abroad in thy former practice, as most men do, than it will be hard for thee to leave thy old wont.  
Now, if thou wilt break thyself of that fashion and practise after my rules, then will I show thee by and by; for when thou hast my fashion, thou mayest go to thine own again when thou wilt, if in trial thou find it better.  
The best way to bring thy feet to a sure standing, both for defence and offence, is when thou dost practise with thy friend or companion; at the first get thy back to the wall, and let him that playeth with thee stand about twelve foot distance, and set thy left heel close to the wall, and thy right foot heel to the great joint of the left foot great toe, and when thou intendest to offend thy enemy, either with blow or thrust, then step forth with thy right foot, and hand together, but keep thy left foot fast moared like an anchor, to pluck home thy body and thy right foot into his place and distance again; use this fashion but three or four times, and it will bring thee to a true standing with thy foot, and it will be as easy to thee as any other way; whereas if thou practise in a large room without any stop to set thy foot against, then will thy left foot be always creeping away, so that although thou wouldst refrain the setting abroad of thy feet, yet thou canst not, especially if thou hast been used to set them abroad heretofore.  
Now your body and weapons being thus placed as aforesaid, if your enemy strike a blow at you, either with sword or rapier, bear your rapier against the blow, so well as your dagger according unto the rule of the Backsword, for in taking the blow double you shall the more surely defend your head, if the blow do chance to light near the point of your dagger, for if you trust to your dagger only, the blow may hap to glance over the point of your dagger, and endanger your head, and having defended the blow double (as aforesaid) presently turn down the point of your rapier towards your enemy's thigh, or any part of your enemy's body, as you list yourself; and with your thrust step forth also with your foot and hand together, and so making a quick answer, you may endanger your enemy in what place you will yourself, before he recover his guard and distance again, and always set your rapier foot right before the other, and so near the one to the other as you can; and if thou be right handed then thy right foot must be foremost, if left handed, than thy left foot, and standing thus in thy guard, look for thy advantage, I mean where thine enemy lieth most ungarded; but first thou must be perfect in the knowledge of the true and perfect guard thyself, so shalt thou know the better where thine enemy lieth open, than thou must step forth with thy fore foot, and hand together, to offend thine enemy in such a place as thou findest unguarded; but so soon as thou hast presented thy thrust, whether thou hit or miss, fall back again to recover thy guard and distance so soon as thou canst, but stand always fast on thine hindermost foot, I mean whether thou strike or thrust, and then shalt thou recover thy guard; and having recovered thy weapons in their right place, than thou must also traverse thy ground so leisurably, that thou mayest be sure to have one foot firm on good ground before thou pluckest up the other; for else, going fast about, thou mayest quickly be down if the ground be not even. Also have a special care that thou be not too busy in making of play, though choler or stomach provoke thee thereunto. Furthermore, in standing in thy guard, thou must keep thy thighs close together, and the knee of thy fore leg bowing backward rather then forward, but thy body bowing forward; for the more thou hollowest thy body, the better, and with less danger shalt thou break thine enemies thrust, before it cometh near to endanger thy body; and when thou breakest a thrust, thou must but let fall the point of thy dagger, but not thy dagger arm, for some will throw their dagger arm back behind them when they break a thrust; he that so doth cannot defend a second thrust if his enemy should charge him again suddenly.   

The reasons of this guard.  
FIrst, the points of your weapons being closed, your enemy cannot offend you with a wrist blow, which otherwise may be struck to your face betwixt your points: likewise, there is a falling thrust that may hit any man which lies open with his points by following it into his face or breast, and thrusting it home withal: also, if you carry your rapier point under your dagger, your own rapier may hinder you, for by turning down of your dagger point, to defend the body from your enemy's point, according unto the first of the four defensible ways, as hereafter followeth: then your own dagger may hit your own rapier, and so your rapier will be as it were a stumbling block, so that you cannot discharge your enemies thrust clean from your body; and also by striking your dagger upon your rapier willbe a hindrance unto you, that you cannot make a quick answer, by chopping out your point presently upon your defence: for if you have any hindrance at all, than your chief time of offence is spent, for before you can recover your rapier, your enemy will have recovered his guard, and he being in his guard your proffer of offence is in vain: for if you will hit your enemy, your offence and defence must be done all with one motion, whereas if you continue a space betwixt your defence and your offence, then is your best time of offence spent, for when your enemy chargeth you, either with blow or thrust, at that very instant time, his face, his rapier, arm, shoulder, knee, and leg are all discovered, and lie open, except the oppressor be very cunning in recovering his guard hastily again, or he may defend himself with his dagger, if he bear him stiffly out at the arms end, for in your offence the dagger hand should be borne out so far as the rapier hand goeth, which must be done by practice and great carefulness; for many when they do make their assault, they will put out their rapier, and pluck in their dagger, thereby endangering themselves greatly: for except that the dagger arm be kept strait, and borne out stiff, it is hard to defend either blow or thrust.   

A thrust may be defended four ways.  
THe first is with the dagger, only by turning of the point down, and turning thy handwrist about withal, without bowing the elbow joint of thy dagger arm, but only turning thy dagger round, making as it were a round circle, and so presently bring up the point of thy dagger in his place again.  
Now the second defence is with the dagger likewise, but than you must bear the hilt of your dagger so low as your girdle-steed, and the point more upright than is described in the first picture, and in your defence of a thrust, you must bear your dagger hand stiff over your body, without letting fall the point but still keeping him upright.  
The third way to break a thrust, is, with the single rapier; this defence will defend all thy body from a thrust against a rapier and a dagger; and likewise it is a sure defence for thine hand, if thou have not a close hilted dagger, when thy enemy doth proffer a thrust, pluck in thy dagger hand, and put out thy rapier arm, and bear him over thy body, the point bowing toward thy left side, breaking the thrust with the edge of thy rapier, keeping thy point upright: but when I come to the single rapier, than you shall see it more at large.  
The fourth way is to defend a thrust with both your weapons together, and that you may do three manner of ways, either with the points of both your weapons upwards, or both downward, upward you may frame yourself into two guards, the first is according as I have described afore, the points being close according to the picture, so carry them both away together against your enemies thrust breaking towards your left side; the other high guard is to put your rapier on the outside of your dagger, and with your dagger make a cross, as it were, by joining him in the midst of your rapier, so high as your breast, and your dagger hilt in his usual place, and to defend your thrust, turn down the point of your rapier suddenly, and force him down with your dagger, by letting them fall both together: this way you may defend a thrust before it come within three foot of your body; and this way defendeth the thrust of a staff, having but only a rapier and dagger, as you shall hear more when I come to the staff: for it is good to be provided with the best way, if a sudden occasion be offered: and for the blow of a staff, you may very easily defend with a Rapier and Dagger, by bearing him double; and so having defended the blow, go in hastily upon him, for there is no standing out long against a staff, and so likewise upon defence of a thrust you must be very nimble in your going in within the point of his staff, I mean so soon as your enemies thrust is passed under your Rapier arm, for that way the thrust of the staff should go.   

Three manner of ways for the holding of a Rapier.  
THere are three ways for the holding of a Rapier, the one with the thumb forward or upon the Rapier blade, and that I call the natural fashion, there is another way, and that is with the whole hand within the pummel of thy Rapier, and the thumb locking in of the forefinger, or else they must both join at the least: this is a good holding at single Rapier.  
Then the third is but to have only the forefinger and thy thumb within the pummel of thy Rapier, and thy other three fingers about thy pummel, and bear the button of thy pummel against the inside of thy little finger; this is called the Stokata fashion, and these two last are the surest and strongest ways: after a little practice thou mayest use them all three in thy practice, and then repose thyself upon that which thou findest best, but at some times, and for some purpose all these kinds of holding thy Rapier may stead thee, for a man may perform some manner of slips and thrusts, with one of these three sorts of holding thy weapon; and thou canst not do the same with neither of the other: as thus, thou mayest put in a thrust with more celerity, holding him by the pummel, and reach further than thou canst do, if thou hold him on either of the two other fashions.  
Again, thou mayest turn in a slip, or an overhand thrust, if thou put thy thumb upon thy Rapier according as I have set it down, calling it the natural fashion, and is the first of the three ways for holding of thy Rapier; and this fashion will be a great strength to thee, to give a wrist blow, the which blow a man may strike with his Rapier, because it is of small force, and consumes little time, and neither of the other two fashions of holding will not perform neither of those three things; for if thou hold thy rapier either of the two second ways, thou canst not turn in a slip, nor an over-hand thrust, nor give a wrist blow so speedily, nor so strong: wherefore it is good to make a change of the holding of thy weapon for thine own benefit, as thou shalt see occasion: and likewise to make a change of thy guard, according as thou seest thy best advantage; I mean if thou be hardly matched, then betake thee unto thy surest guard, but if thou be matched with an unskilful man, then with skill thou mayest defend thyself, although thou lie at random.  
The reason that your points should be so high, as you may see your enemy plainly and clearly under them, is for a sure defence of a blow, if your enemy should charge you therewith to either side the head, then bear them both double together, and having defended the blow, presently turn down the point of your Rapier toward your enemy's thigh, and with turning your knuckles inward, step forth with foot and hand together, whether you hit or miss, retreat nimbly into your guard and distance again.  
And although I do advise you to keep the point of your Rapier so high, yet withal I do warn you, that you may have a special care to fall your point, and with all thrust him out, if your enemy do overreach or press in upon you, whether it be upon choler, or upon stomach, or upon a kind of foolish bold hardiness, or if he make a passage upon you, or if he do break distance by any of those ways, although he do it never so activelie, yet may you defend yourself with your Dagger and either offend your enemy by a sudden falling the point, and with the same motion chop in with a thrust to that part which lieth most discovered as you may quickly perceive when you see his lying.  
The cunningest man that is, and if he meet with one skilful, with whom he is to encounter withal, cannot before hand say in such a place I will sure hit thee; no more, than a gamester when he goeth to play can say before he begin, that he will sure win, for if he do, he may be proved a liar if his cunning were never so good.  
So that before hand you cannot determine where to hit your enemy, but when you see your enemy's guard, than it is easy to judge where it is open, if thou knowest a close guard thyself, for he which cannot write himself, can give but small judgement whether another writ well or ill, and if thine enemy do encroach within thy distance, then be doing with him betimes in the very instant of his motion whether it be motion of his body, or the motion of his weapon, or in the motion of both together: put out thy point, but not to far, but as thou mayest have thy rapier under command for thy own defence, and also to provide him ready again to make a full thrust home upon a greater advantage, for if thou answer a full thrust home, in the instant of thy enemy's assault, thou mayest endanger thyself if thy enemy do falsify his thrust, and therefore make your thrust short at the first, or if your enemy do bear his points any thing abroad, than you may fall in betwixt them, either to his face or breast, or if his fore foot stand two foot distant or less from the other if he stand not close, than you may hurt him in the knee or leg, either with thrust or blow as he standeth in his guard without any danger to yourself, and that is no kill place.  
Likewise it is said before look under both your weapons, if with on eye you look over either of weapons, you may be hit one the same side, either face, head, or shoulder, either with thrust or blow before you can put up either of your weapons in his place to defend it, and this know and remember it well, it is the nature of an Englishman to strike with what weapon soever he fighteth with all, and not one in twenty but in fury and anger will strike unto no other place but only to the head, therefore always if you fight with rapier and dagger, yet expect a blow so well as a thrust, and always defend the blow double as aforesaid, but if your rapier point be down under your dagger, you cannot put him up time enough to defend a blow, but must take it single on the dagger, or on the pate, for if your skill were never so good trusting to the dagger only you may be deceived by reason of the sharpness of your dagger, if the blow light near the point it may glance over, and so hit you on the head, and also by reason of the shortness of your dagger which are now most commonly worn of all men, for I have known men of good skill deceived by trusting to the point, or dagger only for the defence of a blow, the dagger is not sure to defend it.  

For look how much you step wide you lose so much ground forwards.  But when you make any play to your enemy whether it be offer, or an answer, stop, right as a line forwards from your left foot, for if you stop half a foot wide with the forefoote of the straight arm as it were by rule, than you lose half a foot of your space betwixt you and your enemy, and if you step likewise a foot wide, than you lose likewise a foot of advantage. For your instruction herein, when you practise in a chamber, look what board you stand upon, you should in delivering either of blow or thrust, always steps forth with your right foot upon the same board which the left foot standeth on, for look how much you left your forefoot wide of the strait line towards your enemy, you lose so much in your reach forward, as in your practice you may see the trial and used often in practice in some Chambers with your friend until you are perfect, and in your practice, keep your left foot fast moared, that as an Anchor pulleth home the ship, so the left foot must pluck home the right foot and body into the right place of distance again, or as the helm guideth the ship, even so the left foot must guide the body, always bearing thy full belly towards thy enemy, I mean the one shoulder so near as the other, for if thou wreath thy body in turning the one side near to thy enemy then the other, thou dost not stand in thy strength, nor so ready to perform an answer, as when thy whole body lieth towards thy enemy.   

The manners of a passage.  
A Passage is to be made advisedly with a nimble activity and celerity of the body, for he which will go in with a passage & escape, or go clear away with all, the which is very hardly to be done if thy enemy be skilful, and therefore in the performance thereof, thou must have great skill, much practice and good judgement, especially in observing the point of thy enemy's weapon, and likewise thou must not consume one jot of time in thy performance, for so soon as thou seest thy enemy bear his point steady in any guard, whether it be high or low, as if he do bear his point a fit, then step in with thy left foot with a sudden jump, and clap thy Dagger under his Rapier crosseways, and so bearing up his point over thy head, and at the very same instant that thou joinest with his Rapier, then chop in with thy Rapier point withal to offend him, but thou must consume no time in staying any space betwixt thy Defence and Offence, for thou must not make two times of that which may be done at one time, and again, it is thy greater advantage to do it quickly, if thy enemy do lie in a steady guard, but if he keep the point of his Rapier variable, than it is not to be done but with the greatest danger of all.  
The second opportunity to pass upon your enemy you have, if your enemy do carry the point of his Rapier so low as your girdle stead, or thereabouts, than you must step in with your left foot, and with your dagger strike away the point of his Rapier, and with the same let your Rapier pass unto his body, as beforesaid, I mean both at one time.  
The third advantage is if your enemy do lay the point of his Rapier near, or upon the ground, then step in with thy hindermost foot and cross your Dagger overthwart his Rapier, keeping his Rapier down, so that he cannot raise his point before that you have hit him, and are recovered to your distance again.  
The fourth way is you being both in your guard according to the first picture, or any other guard according to your practice, and then feign a thrust down to his knee, but presently raise your point again with a jump four foot sideways towards the left side of your enemy, and mount up your Rapier hand withal, and put in your thrust over your enemy's Dagger, into his Dagger shoulder, and so with all possible speed recover your guard and distance again, by springing or jumping towards the left hand of your enemy, and so you fall away from danger of his point: but in falling back again, your Dagger must be prepared to defend a second, or a parting thrust, if your enemy should charge you therewithal immediately.  
Yet there is another kind of passage, and that is an answer upon your enemy's proffer, if your enemy do offer a thrust at you, defend it with turning downward the point of your Dagger, and at the very same instant slip in with your left foot, and put in your thrust into his body, for by stepping in with the left foot it goeth in so strongly, that it is hardly to be prevented.  
Some that are ignorant will say that it is not possible to defend a passage, but I say there is no devise to hit a man neither with thrust nor blow, but there is a true defence to be shown by one that is skilful, but yet not every one that professeth himself to be a Fencer cannot teach true defence, but it must be such as have been grounded in the true art of Defence by great practice, such a one it must be to teach defence.   

The danger of a passage is to be presented three ways.  
THe first is by an active and nimble shift of the body by falling back with the right foot, & the danger being passed to charge hastily upon your enemy again, but the best way is in lying in your guard according to the first picture, as your evemie cometh in with his pass suddenly upon the first motion, fall your point, and in the very same time put him out withal, and with your Dagger only defend his passage, if it be charged at your body, by turning the point downward, but if he put it into your Dagger shoulder in manner of an Imbrokata, than you must not let fall your Dagger, except you leave your Rapier to be a watchman for the defence of your shoulder or with bearing them both together it may be defence.   

Another defence of a passage.  
THe single Rapier alone, being carried according unto the rule of the single Rapier, as hereafter shallbe described when I come to that weapon, now if your enemy do take the point of your Rapier, the which he may very well do by reason of the high carriage of him, if you be not careful to fall your point when you see him coming in, well if he do make seizure of your point, yet he cannot stay your Rapier hand, but that you shall have two foot of your Rapier and the hilts at your command for the defence of your body, which by swearuing or beating him over your body, towards your left side, and a little turning your body by falling back with your foremost foot, this is a good defence for a passage: but indeed a man must have practice, and be as we call them a good scholar, that is such as be skilful; for a passage cometh with such celerity, that one which is not used to it, cannot deserve the coming of it, for there is no thrust so swift, nor so dangerous as the passage, but yet there is no thrust, nor blow nor passage, but by skill and cunning it is to be defended and avoided, for a man shall deserve the coming of a passage so plain as a Hawk, when she intendeth to fly at Check, sitting upon the Perch, a man may very easily perceive by the settling of herself to fly, indeed it is dangerous and deadly, except your mind be upon your business, for when you are at your play, you must expect a passage and false play aswell as true play, or plain thrusts, for the hurt of the passage is most dangerous of all and most mortal, for with a passage a man cannot say I will hurt my enemy but a little, as you may with any other thrust, being put in at the length, I mean observing a true distance, for he that otherwise breaketh distance may be assoon hit himself, as he hit another; therefore the passage is seldom or never used in fight, although they be both never so skilful in putting forth a passage, or if one can pass, and the other cannot, but he that can pass will be doubtful left, the other will entrap him in his own assault, for why may not thy enemy be as skilful as thyself, once if he meet thee in the field, he showeth himself valorous therein, and if it be thy fortune to hurt him by want of skill in a manner amongst men, he is reported to be as good a man as thyself, in regard he adventured himself with that small skill he had, and then in respect of an honest mind, oughtest o show him some favour, if he be not too forward, whereby he is like to endanger thee, but yet rather hurt, then be hurt, and rather kill, then be killed, if there be no remedy.   

False play at Rapier and Dagger.  
YOu must proffer, or feign a thrust a foot above your enemy's head, but presently pluck back your hand again, and put home your thrust which you mean to hurt your enemy withal under his Dagger arm, either unto his body or thigh, as you will yourself, but step not forth with your foot when you feign a thrust, but with the second thrust which you mean to speed your enemy withal, let then your foot and hand go together, for in feigning it over his head, it will seem to him that you mean to hit him in the face, so that suddenly he will lift up his Dagger, thinking to save his face, but he cannot put him down so quickly again but that you may hit him as aforesaid: again if you proffer or feign a thrust to your enemy's knee, I mean more quick than I can speak it, thrust it into his Dagger shoulder, or to his face whether you list, for you shall find them both ungarded, for when he putteth down his Dagger to defend the feigned thrust, he cannot lift him up again before you have hit him as beforesaid, if his Dagger arm were never so strong, nor never so ready, he must put down his Dagger and so he will, or else you may hit him in the breast, for no man can tell whether the feigned thrust will come home or not, but he which doth thrust it, if the defence were never so skilful, but now the only way to defend a false thrust, is with the single Rapier, for when that the Dagger falleth to clear the feigned thrust from the body, than the Rapier must save the upper part, I mean the face and shoulder, by bearing him over your body as you do at the single Rapier, and so by that means the Rapier will defend all the body so low as your knee. By false play a Rapier and Dagger may encounter against a Sword and Buckler, so that the Rapier man be provident and careful of making of his assault, that he thrust not his Rapier into the others Buckler: but the false play to deceive the Buckler, is by offering a feigned thrust at the face of him that hath the Buckler, and then presently put it home to his knee or thigh, as you see occasion; for he will put up his Buckler to save his face, but can not put him down again before you have hit him, as aforesaid.  
Likewise you may proffer or feign a thrust to the knee of the Buckler man, and put it home to his buckler shoulder, or face; for if he let fall his Buckler to save below, he can not put him up time enough to defend the upper parts of his body with his Buckler, but must trust for his defence, to his single Sword: wherefore it behoveth every man to be skilful in the Backsword. The best way to make a false thrust, is to strike it down by the outside of your enemy's Rapier hand, but not to thrust it home, and so presently bring up the point of your Rapier, and thrust it home to his left shoulder; for if you thrust the feigned thrust within the compass of his Dagger, than it may be he will hit the point of your Rapier, in offering to break the feigned thrust; and if he do but touch your Rapier in your first proffer, than you cannot recover your point to put home your second thrust, before he hath recovered his guard, and so will prevent you: therefore, if you do make a false thrust, present it without the circle or compass of his Dagger, that in his defence he may miss the hitting of your point, then hath he but the single Rapier to defend your second thrust, and he must make his preparation first before hand with his Rapier, if such an occasion be offered, otherwise it cannot be defended.  
Now there be divers other guards to be used at the Rapier and Dagger, but most of them will ask a great deal more practice, to be perfect in, than this first guard, and yet not any one of them more severe for defence both of blow and thrust then this first guard is, and therefore I do account it the master guard of all other, yet in a School, to make change of your play, than the more guard the more commendable, so they be performed with discretion and judgement: therefore I have described those which I think necessary, although not so at large, as hereafter you shall have them in a second book; for at some times, and for some purposes, one guard may better serve then another: for change of guards may cross some men's play, whereas if you use but one guard, may in often play be worn threadbare, therefore learn as many fashions of lying with thy weapons as thou canst, and then in thy often practice make trial which thou dost fit best withal, and that repose thyself upon at thy most need: for I have known many that could well defend themselves at one guard better than at another, although he be a cunning teacher, yet he cannot make all his Scholars frame themselves unto true defence, all using one guard, wherefore there must be trial made; for if the Scholar be dull of conceit in one guard, yet it may be he will fit better unto another, so those which I have found by my trial and practice, to be guards of defence, I put them down briefly as followeth, but I think it were as good left them undone, as begun and not end them, yet thou shalt have a taste, for by a taste men shall see what wine is in the Butt.   

The cross guard.  
CArry the point of your Dagger upright, and the hilt so low as your girdlestead, without putting your thumb against the blade of your Dagger, but gripping him fast in your hand, and the point of your Rapier under your Dagger hand according to the picture.  
Lying thus in your guard, your belly or breast will seem to be open or unguarded, so that he will make no doubt but to speed you in his first assault; but he charging you with a thrust, for your defence, if it be above the girdlestead, then carry your Dagger steady over your body, keeping the point upright and bear him towards your right side, but in your defence, do not turn the point of your Dagger downwards, but presently bring him into his right place again, and then upon his offer or making of play, if he charge you above the gerdle-stead, then defend it with the Dagger, and presently step in with your left foot, and thrust withal unto what part of his body you list; but if he charge you under the gerdle-stead, then defend it with your Rapier, striking it downward; now you must make yourself ready to take your time of advantage in your answering: I mean in the very motion of your enemy's assault, defend and offend both with one time: if you both lie upon this guard, looking who shall make play first, then make you a short thrust, but presently clap into your guard again, and so you shall draw him to make play, and yet be firm and ready in your guard to take your greater advantage, which must be done upon your enemy's charge; for when he hath charged you with his thrust, and you defended yourself, as beforesaide, then step in with your left foot to answer his assault, presently upon your defence. Now if your enemy lying in this guard, and will not make play, than the best advantage which you have of your enemy, is charging him (in a manner) as it were with a wrist or a dropping blow to his face, breast, or knee, putting it in slope wise, by turning your knuckles inward, and when it is lighted on the place which you determine to hit; then thrust it home withal, and this thrust being put in slope wise, is the best thrust to hit him which lieth in the cross guard, and the defender must be ready and nimble with his Dagger for his defence; or otherwise to be prevented: but for a stroke, or a foreright plain thrust, it is with more ease defended by him which hath the perfectness of this guard, than it is by lying in any other guard.  
Now if your enemy do lie on this cross guard, you may proffer a feigned thrust at his breast, and presently put it into his Dagger shoulder on the outside of his dagger arm: this false thrust may be defended with a quick bringing back of the Dagger again: but then the defender must not over carry his dagger to defend the false thrust, yet he must carry him against every offer.  
Another defence belonging to this guard is lying in this cross guard, if your enemy charge you under the gerdle-stead with a thrust, strike it by with your Rapier, by letting fall your Rapier point towards the ground; but if it come above, then defend it with your Dagger, as before, but do not carry your Dagger above half a foot; for if you over-carry your Dagger, you may be endangered by the false play. Again, if you make the first proffer, and your enemy lying in this guard, then, so soon as you have made your thrust at him, presently let fall the point of your Rapier to the ground-ward, lifting up your Rapier hand, and defend his answer with your Rapier, by striking it outward, I mean towards your right hand, so that his thrust may go clear on your right side, for your Dagger will not defend your enemies answer so well as your Rapier, especially upon this guard.  
Many have had a good opinion of the stokata guard, but (in my mind) it is more wearisome unto the body, and not so defensive for the body, as the first guard following the first Picture; my reasons are these, the hilt and rapier hand being borne so far back behind the body, it cannot defend a blow, for the blow will light before you can bear out your rapier to bear the blow back sword-way, as it should be done, neither can the Rapier defend a false thrust, and a false thrust must be defended with the Rapier only: Also the point of the Rapier being borne so low as this guard restraineth them, the face and breast lieth open, or else unto a single defence which is not sure; therefore keep two strings to thy bow, it is safe riding at two anchors a head, but if a man were put to an extremity, than it were better to have half a loaf than no bread, better to defend it single, then to take it on the skin, and so I will with words describe this guard, and some other.   

The Stokata guard.  
YOu must (if you will frame yourself into this guard) keep the Dagger point outright, and so high as your cheek, and your Rapier hand so far back, and something low as you can, and your feet three foot distance at the least, and this guard many Professors do teach as the chief and master guard of all other; Now the reasons which they show to draw men into this guard, is first say they, the head bowing back, than the face is furthest from danger of a thrust or blow: now to answer this again, I say, that although the face be something further from the enemy, yet the bottom of the belly, and the fore leg is in such danger, that it cannot be defended from one that is skilful; and to be hurt in the belly is more dangerous than the face, whereas if thou frame thy guard according unto my direction following the first Picture, then shalt thou find that thy belly is two foot (at the least) further from danger of a thrust, and so is the foot likewise, and the leg safe and out of danger both of blow and thrust: and now thy face will seem to be, and is the nearest part towards wards thine enemy, but then thou hast thy dagger being in his right place, nearest unto thy face, ready to defend him: again, he which standeth abroad with his feet, will always be in jealousy of his fore leg, the which must be defended by plucking him up nimbly at every blow and thrust, and yet that will not surely defend him from a thrust, but admit you do defend the leg by plucking him up, then do you lose your time of answering your enemy, which should be done in the same time which you pluck up your leg, and before you can come in again with your answer, your enemy will have recovered his guard and distance again: There are many other guards, some of them I will touch a little, and some of them I will leave until an other time: there are three high guards, one of them I will speak next of, because it is a great enemy, not only unto the Stokata guard, but it likewise crosseth all other guards, and it followeth in this manner.  
Keep your thumb long ways upon the blade of your Rapier, according unto the natural Art; the common holding of the vulgar sort, and your feet so close together, as you can, and the hilt of your Rapier so high as your cheek, bowing the elbowejoint of your Rapier arm, and your Dagger hilt so low as your gerdle stead, and bear the point of your Dagger upright, and the Rapier point on the in side of your Dagger, both close together, looking under your Rapier, and bear out your Dagger at the arms end, without bowing your elbow joint; and if your enemy charge you with a thrust, carry the thrust with your Dagger toward the right side, keeping the point of your Dagger upright, not turning him in your defence this way nor that way, but bear him steady over your body, and so you may defend any manner of thrust: for if you bear your dagger (as aforesaid) your enemy's point will pass clear under your Rapier arm, but having once defended, in the very same motion you must lift up the hilt of your Rapier, and turning your knuckle upward, and withal, turn your point down into your enemy's rapier shoulder, stepping forth with the right foot and hand together, your defence and offence must be all done with done motion. Now if your enemy charge you with a blow, you are as ready to defend it double on this guard as in any other: but if thou charge thine enemy, or make the first assfault, prepare thy defence for the Rapier shoulder, by carrying thy Dagger over thy body, keeping the point of thy Dagger upright. This defence is good to be used against a left handed man likewise.  
Now he which is well experimented in this guard he will find it very dangerous for offence to thine enemy, and defensive for thyself, above all other guards, especially if thou have discretion to lie at watch discreetly, and to take thine opportunity and advantage, when thine enemy proffereth any kind of play upon thee.   

The careless or the lazy guard.  
LAy the point of your Rapier upon the ground a foot wide of your left side overthwart your body, and let the hilt of your rapier rest upon your right thigh, and your dagger under your rapier about a foot forward of the hilt, and so leaving your whole belly or breast, will seem a very fair bait for your enemy to thrust at, but when he chargeth you with a thrust, your defence must be by the lifting up of your Rapier point, with your Dagger, throwing him over towards your right side, but lift not up your Rapier hand in the time of your defence in any case, for so it may endanger the face, but so soon as you have turned it clear over your body with both your weapons as aforesaid (it may be done with one of them, but not so well because not so sure as with both together) then upon your defence recover your point hastily again and chop him in with an over-hand thrust, turning your knuckles upwards into his right shoulder where you may easily hit him if you be quick in taking your time before he recover his distance, or get out of your reach. This is no painful guard, but very easy and quickly learned, and it is a very sure guard to defend any manner of thrust, now upon this guard if your enemy do falsify a thrust upon you by offering it at breast or face, whereby to make you lift up your weapons, thinking to hit you beneath with a second thrust by reason of your lifting them up to save the other parts the which you must do, but failing of it above, bring down your Dagger quickly again to defend below the second thrust.   

The forehand guard at Rapier and Dagger.  
Put thy Rapier hand under the hilt of thy Dagger, always keeping the point of thy Rapier something variable, and yet something directly about the girdlestead of thy enemy, and the point of thy Dagger in a manner upright, or a very little leaning towards thy left side, and both thy Dagger and thy Rapier hilts together, and both so low as thy girdlestead: those being guarded, if thy enemy do charge thee with a thrust, carry thy Dagger quick over towards thy right side, and make a present answer by chopping out the point of thy Rapier, and so hastily into thy guard again, expecting a fresh charge.   

The broad Ward.  
Bear out both your arms right out from your body stiff at the arms end, and a foot at the lest a sunder, and turn both the Rapier and Dagger hilts so high as your breast or hire, leaving all your body open, or ungarded to seem to, and when your enemy doth charge you with a thrust, strike it with your Dagger towards your right side, and withal answer him again with an over-hand thrust unto his Dagger shoulder, but you must keep your thumb upon the blade of your rapier, for than shall you put in your thrust the more steddier, and the more stronger.   

The names of the chiefest thrusts, which are used at Rapier and Dagger, with the manner how to perform them.  
A Right Stock, or Stockata, is to be put in upwards with strength and quickness of the body, and the guard for the putting in a stoke is leaning so far back with your face and body as you can, and the hilts of your Rapier so near the ground, or so low as you can, but of this guard I have spoken sufficiently already.  
A slope Stock is to be made unto your enemy's breast, or unto his Rapier shoulder, if he do look over his Rapier, but in putting it in, you must wheel about your Rapier hand, towards your left side, turning your knuckles inward, this thrust being put in slopewise as aforesaid, will hit thy enemy which lieth upon the Crosse-guard, or the Carelesse-guard, or the Broad-ward, when a right Stock or plain fore right thrust will not hit.  
A Imbrokata, is a falsifying thrust, first to proffer it towards the ground, so low as your enemy's knee, and then presently put it home unto your enemy's Dagger-shoulder, or unto any part of his Dagger-arme, for he will put down his Dagger to defend your feigned thrust, but cannot recover his Dagger again before you have hit him in the Dagger arm, Shoudlers or Face, whether you will yourself, for in proffering this thrust, there is no way to defend the upper part, the Dagger being once down, but only with single Rapier, and except a man do expect, it, it cannot be so defended neither.   

An other thrust called a Reverse.  
A Reverse is to be made, when your enemy by gathering in upon you, causeth you to fall back with your right foot, and then your left foot being foremost, keeping up your dagger to defend, and having once broken your enemies thrust with your dagger, presently come in again with your right foot, and hand together, and so put in your reverse unto what part of his body you please, for it will come with such force that it is hard to be prevented.   

A thrust called a Mountanto.  
THe Mountanto is to be put in with a good celerity of the body and in this manner, you must frame your guard when you intent to charge your enemy with this thrust, bear your Rapier hard upon, or so near the ground as you can, lying very low with your body, bowing your left knee very near the ground also, and either upon your enemies thrust or in lying in his guard you may strike his rapier point toward your right side with your dagger so that it may pass clear under your rapier arm, and with the same motion as you strike his rapier, so dainely mount up your Rapier hand higher than your head, turning your knuckles upward, but turn the point of your Rapier downwards over his Rapier arm into his breast or shoulder, and you must be quick in the performance of this thrust, and likewise nimbly you must leap out again. This thrust must be put in by the stepping forward of your left leg: now if you use this thrust more than once, your enemy will expect your coming a fit with him as you did before, but then put it in the second or third time underneath, and you shall hit him about the girdle stead, and so because at this time I will not be over tedious I leave to speak of many other thrusts.   

The best way for the holding of a Dagger, either to break blow or thrust, and four ways bade as followeth.  
FIrst, if you hold your dagger too high, you may be hit under the Dagger-arme.  
Secondly, and if to low, you may be hit over the Dagger-arme, either in the arm, shoulder or face.  
Thirdly, & if you bear your dagger too much towards your rapier-shoulder, than you may be hurt on the outside of the arm by bearing narrow, for so we call the carriage of him, being borne in this manner before spoken of.  
Fourthly, if to wide from your body you may be hurt on the inside of the arm, face or breast: if the dagger-elboe joint be crooked, then there is small force in the dagger-arme for the defence of blow, or thrust, but the dagger being borne out stiff at the arms end, defendeth a blow strongly, as you shall hear by and by.   

Four ways nought to break a thrust.  
FIrst, if you break a thrust downwards, it may hit you in the bottom of the belly.  
Secondly, if you break him upwards it may endanger you in the face.  
Thirdly, and if you break your enemies thrust towards your Rapierside, it may hit you in the Rapier-arme.  
Fourthly, or in breaking a thrust, if you let the weight of your Dagger carry your Dagger-arme back behind you, than your enemy may with a double thrust hit you before you can recover up your Dagger in his place again.   

A good way to defend a thrust or blow.  
THe best holding of a Dagger is right out at the arms end, and the hilt even from your left cheek, and the point compassing your body, I mean bowing towards your Rapier-shoulder, and when you break a thrust, turn but only your handwrist about, letting fall the point of your Dagger downward, but keep out your Dagger-arme so stiff as you can, so shall you be ready to defend twenty thrusts one after another, if they come never so thick, and likewise you are as ready for a blow; whereas if you fall your arm when you break your thrust, your enemy may hit you with a second thrust before you can recover your Dagger in his place to defend it, for a thrust goeth more swifter than an arrow shot out of a bow, wherefore a man cannot be too ready, nor too sure in his guard; Now both for defence and Offence of every blow and thrust, thou must turn thy knuckles up-ward, or downward, inward or outward, always turning your hand according to the nature of the guard, that you frame yourself unto, or according as when you see enemies guard, than you must determine before you charge your enemy either with blow, or thrust, in what manner to turn your hand in your Offence or Defence, sometimes after one manner, and sometimes after another, as both before and hereafter shallbe sufficiently satisfied more at large.   

The true guard for the single Rapier.  
Keep your Rapier point something sloping towards your left shoulder, and your Rapier hand so low, as your girdlestead, or lower, and bear out your Rapier hand right at the arms end, so far as you can, and keep the point of your Rapier something leaning outwards toward your enemy, keeping your Rapier always on the outside of your enemy's Rapier, but not joining with him, for you must observe a true distance at all weapons, that is to say, three foot betwixt the points of your weapons, and twelve foot distance with your fore foot from your enemies fore foot, you must be careful that you frame your guard right, now you must not bear the Rapier hand-wide of the right side of your body, but right forward from your girdlestead, as beforesaid.  
  

The Reasons of this guard.  
IN keeping your point something sloping or compassing your face, your enemy cannot offend you with a wrist blow, which if you keep your point directly upright, you may very easily be hit in the face.  
Being guarded as beforesaid, if your enemy discharge a thrust at you, carry your Rapier hand over your body towards you left side, keeping your point directly in his place until you have defended your enemy assault, then presently after let fall the point of your Rapier, turning your knuckles inwards, and discharge your thrust at your enemy's thigh, or body, as you see occasion.  
There are likewise many other guards to be framed at single Rapier, as that one of the short Sword is a good guard at some times, and for some purposes, if a man be perfect in it, by skill and practise aforehand, as hereafter you shall see the manner thereof more at large, when I come to that weapon.  
Now another fashion is, by holding your left hand upon the blade, and so with the strength of your forefinger and thumb of your left hand, you may break your enemies thrust clear off your body, by turning of your rapier point downward or up-ward accordingly, as your enemy chargeth you; and then charge your enemy again with a quick answer.  
Now another is, by standing upon the stock, ready to chop in upon your enemy's assault, but you must turn in your left shoulder to your enemy nearer than the right, only to be as it were a bait unto him, but when he doth thrust at you, wheel about your body, falling back with your left foot; but withal, thrust out your rapier, and so you may hit, and defend, only with the shift of the body, and you shall find that the oppressor will come upon his own death, by proffering at that shoulder, which you make show to be open unto him: but you must not offer to defend it with your rapier, but only trust unto the shift of your body.   

False play at the single Rapier.  
IF your enemy do lie in this guard, according to this Picture, than proffer or feign a thrust unto his left side, but presently pluck back your hand, and thrust it home unto his right arm shoulder or face; for he will carry his rapier over his body, to defend the feigned thrust, but can hardly bring him back again to save your second or determined thrust, except he be very skilful, active, or nimble: now if he do not bear his Rapier to defend the feigned thrust when you proffer it, than you may hit him with a plain thrust the second time, if you put it home without falsing it at all.   

Another deceit.  
LIkewise, you may proffer or feign a thrust two foot wide of your enemy his right side, and presently thrust it home to his breast, for he will bear his rapier beyond the compass of true defence, by reason it will seem unto a cunning player that your intention is to hit him on the out side of the Rapier arm, so that when he thinketh to strike your point from offending his arm, by that means he will open his body, although he open himself but a little, yet with your second thrust you may hit him as aforesaid.   

The defence of this false play.  
YOu must be very careful that you do not over-carry your Rapier in the defence of any manner of thrust, yet you must carry him a little against every proffer which your enemy doth make: for if a man be very skilful, yet is he not certain when his enemy doth charge his point upon him, and proffer a thrust, whether that thrust will come home, or no: wherefore (as I said) you must bear your Rapier against every thrust to defend it, but bear him but half a foot towards the left side, for that will clear the body from danger of his thrust, and so quick back again in his place, whereby to meet his weapon on the other side, if he charge you with a second thrust, thinking to deceive you as aforesaid.   

A slip at single Rapier.  
NOw if your enemy do charge you with a blow, when as you see the blow coming, pluck in your Rapier, and let the blow slip, and then answer him again with a thrust, but be careful to pluck in your rapier to that cheek which he chargeth you at, so that if the blow do reach home, you may defend him according unto the rule of the backsword.  
The defence of this slip is to forbear striking at all, but if you do strike, not to over-strike your Sword, but so trick your blow as you may recover him into his place hastily again; for in sight if you do strike, you must forbear strong blows, for with a strong blow, you may fall into divers hazards; therefore strike an easy blow, and do it quick, but to thrust, and not strike at all, it to thy best advantage.   

Another slip.  
Put your thumb long ways, or forward upon the handle of your rapier according unto the natural fashion, and your enemy lying in this guard, join your Rapier according as the Picture, and so soon as you have joined, turn the heel of your hand upward, and your point downward, and so bring you point, compassing under your enemies right elbow; and then with the strength of the thumb turn it into his breast: the like you may do if your enemy offer to close with you at single rapier, for if be come hastily upon you, you can not draw out your point whereby to offend him, but by turning it in as beforesaid, you may hit the skilfullest man that is in his coming in: Now, if he do defend your point below, you may by a sudden turning up your point, thrust it home to his right shoulder or face, whether you will yourself.   

The defence of this slip.  
IF your enemy do join his weapon with yours, to close or to turn in a slip, then make yourself ready quickly, by putting your thumb upon your rapier, as aforesaid, when he falleth his point towards his left hand, to fetch the compass of your rapier arm; then fall your point the contrary way, I mean towards your left hand, so shall you meet with his weapon below again, and this will defend yourself; and when he raiseth his point again, then do you raise yours likewise into his place again.   

Another Slip.  
IF your enemy do join his rapier with yours, and do bear him strongly against you, thinking to ouer-beare you by strength of arm, than so soon as he beginneth to charge you strongly, bear your rapier a little against him, and then suddenly let fall your point so low, as your gerdle-steed, and thrust it home withal, and so you may hit him, for by letting his Rapier go away suddenly, he swayeth away beyond the compass of defence, so that you may hit him, and fall away again before he can recover his Rapier to endanger you.   

A dazzling thrust at single Rapier or Backsword.  
PRoffer or feign a thrust at the fairest part of your enemy's body with lieth most unguarded, and then more quicker than I can speak it, thrust it in one the other side, and so changing three or four times, and then chop it home suddenly, and you shall find his body unguarded, by reason that he will carry his Rapier or Sword this way or that way, thinking to defend the false thrust, because he supposeth them to be true thrusts: for there is no man so cunning, that knoweth if a thrust be proffered within distance, but that it may hit him, or whether it will be a false thrust, or no, the defender knows not, and therefore he must prepare his defence against every thrust, that is proffered.   

A close at single Rapier or at Backsword.  
FIrst, charge your enemy with a thrust aloft with an over-hand thrust, directly at your enemy's face, and withal follow it in close, bearing your your enemy's point over your head, by the carrying up of your Rapier hand, and then may you make seizure on the hilt of your enemy's Rapier or Sword, or on his handwrist with your left hand, and then having made seizure of his weapon, you may then use what execution you will, I mean either blow or thrust, or trip up his heels.  
  

The guard for the Backsword.  
Carry your Sword-hilt out at the arms end, and your point leaning or sloping towards your left shoulder, but not joining with your enemy's weapon, as this Picture seemeth, but so long as you lie in your guard, let there be three foot distance betwixt your weapons, but if your enemy do charge you, either with blow or thrust, carry your Sword over your body against your enemy's assault, and so cross with him according to the Picture, bear also your point steady over your body, something sloping towards your left shoulder; I mean the point must go so far as the hilt, but not turning your point the contrary way, but carry them both together. I will make it plainer by and by, because I would have thee to understand it wisely, for having with a true defence defended your enemy's blow or thrust by crossing with him, or by bearing your weapon against his assault (as before said) the danger being past, then presently at the same instant, and with one motion turn down the point of your Sword, turning your knuckles inward, and so thrusting it home to our enemy's thigh, but with all, step forth with your foot and hand together.  
But there is a great observation to be had in your practice concerning the true carriage of your point, for in your defence if you do not carry your Sword, true, than it is hard to defend either blow or thrust; for if you carry the hilt of your Sword against either blow or thrust, as do not carry the point withal level, even as you lay in your guard according to the Picture; then your hand and face is endangered, but bearing the hilt and the point about a foot over your body towards your left side; and likewise to bear your Sword stiff out at the arms end, without bowing of your elbow joint: provided always, that your Sword being in your right hand, you must look with both your eyes on the inside of your Sword, for than you have but one kind of defence, so that the point of your Sword be sloping toward the left shoulder: but otherwise, if you keep the point of your Sword uprigth, than your enemy hath three ways to endanger you, especially, if you carry your Sword right before the midst of your belly, with the point upright, as I have known some hold an opinion of that way to be good, but I say, he that trusteth to that guard, may be hit in the head with a sudden wrist-blow, if his practice were never so good: and likewise both his arms are unguarded, and to be dangered, either with blow or thrust; but if you guard yourself after my direction, than your enemy hath but only the left side of your head, and your legs open, and they are easy to be defended; the leg, by plucking him up, the which you must do upon every blow, which your enemy chargeth you withal, and with the same defend the head and body, carrying your Sword over your body towards your left side, the point and hilt both steady, as I have before said.  
Now although I here speak altogether of a Backsword, it is not so meant, but the guard is so called: and therefore, whether you are weaponed with a two edged Sword, or with a Rapier, yet frame your guard in this manner and form, as before said.   

Another very sure and dangerous guard at the Backsword, called the Unicorn guard, or the forehand guard.  
Bear the Sword hilt so high as your face, keeping him out at the arms end, without bowing of your elbow joint, and always keep your point directly upon your enemy's face, and your knuckles of your sword hand upward; but if your enemy do charge you with a blow to the right side of your head, then turn but your Sword hilt, and your knuckles outward, still keeping your Sword arm stiff in his place, turning but only your wrist and your hand: this is a very dangerous guard to your enemy, being carried with a strong arm, for by reason that you keep him out at the points end, being so directly in his face, that he cannot come near you without great danger, either of blow or thrust, but indeed if your sword be not carried out with a strong arm, than your enemy may endanger your head by striking of two blows together, the one being struck at the point of your sword to strick him down and the other to your head but they must be struck both together very suddenly, or else there is small danger in them, now if you are wary in watching when he makes his first blow, suddenly pluck in the point of your sword to you, and so by that slip his first stroke he will over carry him, so that if you turn an over-hand blow to his head, you may hit him before he can recover his sword to strike his second blow, or defend himself lying in this long guard, you may slip every blow that is struck, pluck in your sword even as you see your enemy strick and turn it over to the right side of his head.   

A Close at backsword.  
LYing in thy guard according unto the picture at single Rapier, and when you mean to close, lift up the hilt of thy word so high as thy cheek, and charge thy enemy with a thrust directly at his face, and with the same motion step in with thy hind most foot, turning the knuckles of thy Sword-hand inward, and so bearing thy enemy's point over thy head, and then catch hold on thy enemy's Sword-hilt, or on his handwrist with thy left hand, but on his hilt is the surest to hold, and then you may either trip up his heels, or cut, or thrust him with your weapon, and in this manner you may close with a Rapier also, if you can make your party good at the gripe or close, for your enemy in bearing over his Sword over his body to defend his face from your thrust, he there by carrieth away his point, so that he cannot endanger you if you follow it in close and quick.   

False play with the Backsword.  
YOur enemy being in his guard, and lying at watch for advantage, you may feign a blow at the rightside of his head, and presently with the turning of your handwrist, strike it home to his left-side, which being done quick you may hit a reasonable good player, for he will bear his sword against the feigned blow, and by that means unguard his left-side but at no hand you must not let the feigned blow touch your enemy's sword, but give your sword a sudden check and so strike it to the contrarieside, for if your feigned blow do join with your enemy's sword, it will stay his sword within the compass of true defence, so that he will be ready to defend your false blow, but otherwise if you touch not his sword he will carry him beyond the true compass of defence, of the second blow, which you determine to hit him withal, so likewise you may feign your blow at the left-side of your enemy's head, but presently strike it home to the rightside of his head, in manner as aforesaid.   

Another false play.  
Again, you may join your sword within you enemies sword according unto the picture, but presently so soon as you have joined, strike it down to his leg, but nimbly recover your sword in his place again falling a little away withal, for so soon as you have discharged your blow, you may very easily before he can endanger you recover your guard and distance: likewise you may give a backblow unto the right side of his head, and presently withal, fall down again with another blow unto the inside of his leg, stepping home with your second blow, for when you have made your first blow as aforesaid, it may be your enemy will wink, and so you may hit his leg before his eyes open again, so that you do it quick, but if he do not wink, yet a good player will think that when he hath defended your first blow a fit, he will not expect a blow so suddenly as this aught to be struck, and therefore may be hit with a second blow, yea although he look well to himself, and the rather that many doth not allow in there teaching a backsword blow to be strooken at the leg, but I say a man may give a square, or forehand blow to the inside of his enemy's leg, and yet very well recover up your sword again before your enemy can endanger you.   

Another deceit.  
STanding in your guard, and your enemy charging you with a blow, pluck in your sword suddenly, and let his blow slip, and so soon as his blow is past, answer him again, either with blow or thrust whether you will, but if it be at blunt with a blow, put in right with a thrust, or by plucking in your sword, and always have a care you pluck him in unto that side of the head which he chargeth you at, for in so doing, if his weapon's point do reach home, yet you are at a guard of defence, but with this skill and a little withdrawing your body with all, his weapon will pass clear, for the force of his blow will overswaie his weapon, and he will so over carry his body, that in a manner his back willbe towards you, so that with a quick answer you may but him at your pleasure or close with him if you think you can make your party good at the gripe: likewise you may close upon the cross, by joining weapon to weapon, but when you have made your close in your first encounter, take hold on your enemy's handwrist, or else on the hilt of your enemy's weapon, for than he cannot well offend you being but single weaponed. But to try your manhood, at the length of your weapon, I hold it the best fight and less danger to both, for there is no more certain defence in a close, then is in a passage, for they are both very dangerous.   

Another deceit.  
YOur enemy lying in guard, you may strike a back blow unto his right ear, although it light upon his sword, that is all one, for in striking it above, it may cause him to wink, or he will think you have done, but so soon as you have delivered your blow above, then presently, I mean more quicker than I can speak it, strike it down into the inside of his right-legge, or if you do but touch his sword in joining him close as the picture standeth, and so soon as you have but touched his Backsword on the outside, strike it down unto the inside of the leg presently, yet always have a care to recover your sword into his place again for your own defence, the which you may easily do, yea although you encounter with a very skilful man, but if you strike a plain blow at the leg without proffering it above first, as is beforesaid, than you endanger your own head, but in presenting it above, you busy him to defend the first feigned blow, so that he cannot be ready prepared to charge you with any blow of danger before you have recovered your guard, the which you may well do, although he answer you never so quick.   

An other very cunning deceit with the Backsword.  
STrike a blow to the inside of the right leg, or foot of thy enemy, but draw it to thee, striking it something short, and then presently strike it home again to the left ear of a right handed man, but it must be done more quicker than I can speak it, and thou shalt find his left ear ungarded, for he will look for it at the right side, and it were not amiss to strike it once or twice from the leg to the right ear first, for than he will look for the same blow again, but yet I would not have you make all your play at the leg, but sometimes to offer a blow at the one side of the head, and then to the other, so by making often change of your blow, is the best way to deceive thy enemy.   

A very dangerous blow at Backsword.  
THy enemy lying in this guard, suddenly pluck in the pummel of thy sword to thy breast, and with all turn thy knuckles inward, and the presently proffer a thrust towards thy enemy's breast, but turn it over with a blow to his right ear, with the which blow thou mayst hit a good player, if he be not aware of it before hand, for he must bear his sword against the thrust for the defence thereof, now if he do over carry him never so little further than he ought to do for his true defence, than he cannot bring him back time enough to defend the blow before you have hit him, as beforesaid.   

This blow is also good for a Lefthanded man, or against a Lefthanded man.  
IF you would hit a Lefthanded man with this blow, then present your thrust full at his face by a sudden lifting up the hilt of your sword so high as your head, and withal you must now turn your knuckles outward, and so soon as you have presented your thrust, presently strike it home unto the left side of his head.   

A false thrust to be used in fight at Backsword.  
PRoffer your thrust two or three foot wide of thy enemies left care, and withal let fall thy point so low as thy enemy's girdlestead or lower, and then presently with the same motion, raise thy point on the other side of thy enemy's sword, and chop it home unto his right arm, shoulder or face whether you will yourself, for in bearing his sword over his body to defend the feigned thrust, he cannot well recover him back again to defend your second thrust before you have hit him, as beforesaid, except he hath by much practice been used to that false thrust before hand.   

An other dangerous blow.  
THy enemy lying in his guard, strike a blow to the inside of his right leg, and presently with as much speed as possible thou canst strike it home unto his left cheek, for he will bear over his sword to defend the first proffer, and so withdraw himself into his guard, so that he will be unprovided for the defence of his left side, if it be struck in with a quick hand. All manner of false blows, slips and thrusts at what weapon soever, are to be avoided and defended with the true carriage of thy weapon, as at Rapier and Dagger, if a false thrust be made below, it must be defended with the Dagger below, and with the Rapier above. And if either blow or thrust be falsified at the Backsword, or at Sword and Dagger, thou must bear thy Sword against every proffer, but be sure thou do not overcarrie him, but that thou mayst be quick back again, to meet his second blow on the other side, as bringing thy weapon into his place by practice, thou shalt find thyself surely guarded as in some places in this book thou shalt find the defence.  
After the false play at every weapon, although I have not set down the defence of every slip, nor of every fault, which had been very necessary: for as every lesson on a fiddle hath a several tune, even so every guard and every falsify hath a several kind of Offence, and Defence, but here thou shalt find the Defence that belongeth unto many of them, and the rest I left out for want of leisure to write them, but they shall follow in the next Impression.   

The true guard for the Staff, which we will call the Low guard.  
Keep the point of your Staff right in your enemy's face, holding one hand at the very butt end of the Staff, and the other a foot and a half distant, looking over your Staff with both your eyes and your feet a foot and a half distance, or thereabouts, according to this picture, always standing cross with your enemy, I mean, if his right hand and foot be foremost, let yours be so likewise, and if his lefthand and foot be foremost, then make you your change and cross with him also.  
Now, if your enemy do charge you, either with blow or thrust, you lying in the guard, as above showed, than your defence is thus: and if he charge you above the gerdle-steade, either with blow or thrust, strike yourself against it, keeping up the point of your staff, so high as your head; but so soon as you have defended, whether it be blow or thrust, presently answer your enemy again with a thrust, and then hastily recover your guard again, and in giving of a thrust, you may let go your forehand from off your Staff, but hold the butt end fast in one hand: and so soon as you have discharged your thrust, pluck back your Staff, and clap both your hands on him again, and recover your guard; but yet stay not long, to see whether your enemy will begin with you, but begin with him first, with a false thrust, as anon you shall see the manner how to do it: and when you can do it, what need you to stand long about that which may be done presently, and without danger?  
Now if he proffer either blow or thrust unto your lower parts under your gerdle-stead, if it be a thrust, strike it away, by turning the point of your Staff towards the ground, but be sure to strike it with that large compass, that the point of your Staff may pitch, not in the ground, for so you may deceive yourself in your defence, if he charge you so low with a blow, than you may strike it as you do a thrust, or you may pitch the point of your staff into the ground two or three foot wide of that side which he chargeth you at, and you may in the pitching down of your Staff, let go your sore-hand, that he do not hit him, and then all parts is defended so high as your head, so that you always have a care to keep your staff in his right place, that is to say, if your right hand and foot be foremost, then leave all your body open, so that your enemy can not endanger you on the outside of your staff, but if he will hit you, he must needs strike or thrust on the inside of your staff, and then you must defend all blows or thrusts, by bearing your staff over your body towards the left side, for this we call the Fore hand Defence, and this defence consumeth no time: but if in holding your staff in the right hand, as before is said; and yet for your guard do bear your Staff over towards the left hand, than you leave your right shoulder arm or face, open or unguarded, the which must be defended backward, but you may defend twenty thrusts or blows before hand, better than one backward; for the back defence is nothing so ready, nor so certain, as the forehand defence is, and therefore keep and continue your guard, according unto the Picture, for than if he proffer a thrust on the outside of your Staff: you need not to fear nor offer to defend it, for there is no place in any danger, but all is guarded, especially from the gerdle-stead upward.  
And in your defence, have always a care to the true carriage of your Staff, that you do not carry him beyond the compass of true defence, for fear of the false play: for if you overcarrie your Staff, I mean further than need doth require, you can not recover him back again quick enough to defend the false. Now, if your enemy do assault you upon the contrary side, you must change both your foot and hand to cross with him, as before: but take heed when you change, you do not come in with your hinder foot, but let him stand firm and fall back with the fore-most foot upon every change. And having defended your enemy's assault, with a little increasing in, answer him with a thrust, thrusting out your staff with your hindermost hand, and stepping forth withal, with your foremost foot, and in the same instant of your proffer, let go your forehand, but after your offence presently recover your hand upon your staff again: now if your staff be shorter than your enemies, than (for your better advantage) step in with your hinder foot with your answer, but at no hand, never strike one blow with your Staff; for he that doth but lift up his Staff to strike, may easily be hit by the defender with a thrust, for in the same motion that the oppressor doth lift up his staff to strike the defender, may with a speedy thrust hit him in the breast, and hold him off upon the point of his staff, if the Defender thrust out his staff with his hinder hand, especially if their staves be both of one length, than he that striketh, cannot endanger the other with a blow, for he that striketh, holdeth both his hands upon his staff, until he hath discharged his blow, whereby he that thrusteth, hath two foot odds of him in length that striketh, so that he putteth out his staff, to his most advantage, as beforesaid.  
It is necessary, that he which useth the Staff, should have use of both his hands alike, for thereby he may the better shift his staff from hand to hand, whereby to lie cross always with your enemy, changing your hand and foot, as he changeth for lying the one with the right hand and foot foremost, and the other with the left, than he that striketh first, can not choose but endanger the others hand, but if you cannot change your Staff to lie cross with your enemy's Staff: then for your defence of a blow, pitch the point of your Staff into the ground, and let go your forehand, and when you have discharged the blow with as much speed as you can, answer his blow with a thrust, for the greatest secret of all most chief to be remembered at this weapon, is, if your enemy do but once offer to lift up his hand to strike, then presently chop in with a thrust at his breast, shoulder, or face, for so you may hit him as you will yourself, so that you take your time of answering.  
If your enemy strike with his staff, he holdeth him fast in both his hands when he delivereth his blow, by reason thereof, he which thrusteth and looseth his forehand, when he dischargeth his thrust or draweth in the forehand close unto the hinder hand which holdeth the butt end of his Staff, and so thrust him out withal, you may keep the striker upon the point of your Staff, so that with his blow he can not reach you, being equally matched in length, but must come upon his own death, or danger himself greatly.   

The high guard for the Staff.  
Look under your Staff with both your eyes, with the point hanging slope-ways downwards by your side, bearing out your Staff at the arms end, higher than your head a little according to this Picture.  
In looking under your Staff it will seem to your enemy, that your defence is only for your head, than he will think to hit you in the body with a thrust, for the body seemeth to lie very open unto him, and if he do charge you with a thrust, carry the point of your Staff over your body close by the ground towards the other side, and having defended the thrust, turn up the point of your staff presently towards your enemy's breast, and charge him with a thrust: again, if your enemy charge you with a blow at your head, lift up the point of your staff & meet the blow half way, and withal, draw back your hands, for fear of endangering your fingers: having stricken away his staff, answer him again with a thrust (as beforesaid:) Now if your enemy charge you with a blow at your side, either pitch the point of your staff into the ground to defend it, or else change into thy low guard and so cross with him; if your enemy do strike a full blow at your head, you need not fear neither of your hands, but by striking with your staff to meet his blow, you shall defend it upon the middle, or near the point of your staff, although he do strike purposely at your hand, yet can he not touch your hands not any other part of your body: but upon the defence of your body draw back your hands. Now it behoveth you to be perfect, not only in this guard, but also in changing your staff from hand to hand, according to your enemies lying: to do well you should change, as he changeth, sometimes the point of your staff should be hanging down by the right side of your body, and sometimes by the left, according to your enemies lying, the best way to make your change, is to let your staff slip through your hands, like a weavers shuttle, for this is a more speedy change then to shift him after the common manner, and by a little practice you may grow perfect in it.   

The best guard for a dark night at Staff.  
IF thou meet with thine enemy in the night, and he charge upon thee, the best means for thy defence, is presently to chop up into this high guard, except thy staff be of a sufficient length, to keep him off, with charging the point upon him, or else the third means is to trust to thy heels, but if thou wilt trust to thine hands, then either keep him off with thy point, or else above all parts, chief defend thy head, which is not to be done, but only by this guard, except a man may see the blow before it do light; now thou must put thy hands a little further asunder, than thou dost for the day, that the blow may be defended, by taking him upon thy staff betwixt both thy hands: if it light at your head, as it is the fashion of most men to strike at the head (as I have said before) rather then to any part of the body. Now having taken the blow betwixt your hands, withal, run in and close with him, for if you stand off at the length in fight, any time, being in the night, it cannot choose but be very dangerous, if you suffer him to discharge many blows, but either answer him with a thrust, or else close with him, and turn the butt end of your staff into his breast or face, as you see occasion: now if it be in the day, or that you can see the blow before it light; if your enemy charge you with a blow at the side, meet his blow by carrying over to the other side, & pitch the point of your staff in the ground, and lose your foremost hand for dangering of your fingers, but hold the hinder hand fast at the butt end of your staff. But now, upon this high guard you can not defend the false so well, nor so sure, as when you lie on the low guard; for if your enemy do proffer a thrust on the one side your staff, and presently chop it home to the other side, he may endanger, nay, he may hit a skilful and cunning player, especially if you overcarrie your staff in defence of the feigned blow or thrust.  
Wherefore, if you lie on the low guard with your staff or pike, you shall defend a thrust with the point of your weapon long before it come near you, & yet your point is ready to answer more speedily than it is when you lie on any other guard, but he which lieth with his point of the staff or pike on the ground, hath very little space to his body, no more than the length of his arm wherein he holdeth his weapon: therefore he which suffereth a thrust to come so near, it will quickly come to the face or body, yet because most soldiers heretofore have used this fashion of lying, and are not experienced in the low guard, according to the first Picture of the Staff; but if in your practice you use both, you shall find the benefit thereof the better; now if you frame yourself into the high guard, your staff must not be, in length, above eight foot at the most, but rather shorter, for else in defending your enemies thrust, a long staff will hit in the ground, and by that means, your enemy's thrust may endanger you: therefore, for this high guard, you must look that your staff be of that length, that you may carry the point clean from the ground in defending of a thrust, but for the low guard it is no matter of what length your staff be.   

Questions and answers betwixt the Master and Scholar, concerning the Staff.  The Scholar. 
You have given me directions for two sorts of guards, which do you commend best that I may repose myself upon?  The Master. 
I commend the low guard best, for that it serveth with the Quarterstaff of seven or eight foot, or for the Long-staffe of twelve foot, and for the Pike of eighteen foot, for I have made trial with men of good experience which have lain in other guards according to their practice, as some at Quarterstaff will lay their point upon the ground overthwart their body, holding the butte-end of their Staff so low as their girdlestead: he that thus lieth the best way to hit him is to proffer, or feign a thrust at his face, and presently put it home below, for he will carry his Staff up to save his face, but cannot put him down again before you have hit him underneath as beforesaid, but with quickness you may hit him in the face or breast, and never falsify your thrust but put it in suddenly, turning the heel of hinder hand upward withal: and if your enemy lie at Halfe-staffe, holding him in the midst, his hands that so lieth, are in danger of every blow that cometh, but the best way to hit him that so lieth without danger to thyself, is with a false thrust, and that is to proffer it on the one side of his staff, and to put it home on the other, according to the direction of the false play that followeth: but first let me make an end of that which I have begun, and so we will proceed, some will lie with the Long-staffe, or Pike with the point on the ground, and the butt end so high as his head or higher; indeed this hath been and is common fight with the Pike amongst the soldiers, and the defence of this guard either for blow or thrust, is to swerver his uper-hand, this way, or that way, according as he seethe the danger of the oppressors assault, and then presently launch out the Staff or Pike by lifting them up, upon the outside of their foot or else by gathering him upon their left arm, and so launch him out as aforesaid: he that useth this guard, must be strong, and very active, and nimble, but whatsoever he be, high or low, weak or strong, the low guard is best.  The Scholar. 
If the low guard be so strong for my defence what need have I to learn any other?  The Master. 
It is true, a man can be but sure if he practise all the days of his life, but it is not amiss for thee to know more than ever thou shalt have occasion to use; for having the perfect use of the low and high guard, you may close with any Staff man, if you think you can make your party good with him when you have closed.  The Scholar. 
I pray you direct me the best manner of closing.  The Master. 
When you encounter with any man that hath a Staff, a Welch-hooke, or a Halberd, and yourself being armed with any one of these weapons, present a thrust to the face of your enemy, and withal, follow it in with your hindmost foot also; and as you encroach in, clap up your Staff into the high guard, and you shall carry your enemy's point over your head by that means, but you must not be slack in following of it in, for he will bear the point of his weapon so high to defend his face, that he cannot recover his Staff by no means to endanger you, and when you have made your close, you may turn the Butt-end of your Staff in his face if you list, or you may trip up his heels, if you be cunning in wrestling: but if he have any short weapons about him, than I wish you to take him about the middle and unarm him of it, or else to hold him fast that he hurt you not, but if you be armed with a Bill or a Hook, then in your halfe-close you may fall away turning the edge of your Bill or Hooke towards his leg, and so by a drawing blow rake him over the shins, and keeping up the Butt-end of the Staff for the defence of your own head, and so you may fall out of his distance, and recover your guard before he can any way endanger you.  
If your enemy close with you after this manner, and do offer the Butt-end of his Staff unto your face or breast, then fall back with your fore foot, and make a quick change, and you shall have him at great advantage, both for defence and likewise to turn in the Butt-end of your Staff unto his face or breast, and if you list this is a sure defence for such an assault, believe it, for I know it, he that is perfect in the low guard, may with a Staff encounter against the Welch-hooke, Holbert, Partisan, or Gleave, and I hold that a Staff with a Pike to have odds against any such long weapon, being equally matched in length, for odds in length with any weapon is very much advantage, where I wish if any do appoint the field with any of these aforesaid weapons, it is not amiss for the one of them to condition to bring a hatchet or some other edged tool into the field to cut the longest staff, except you match them before hand.  The Scholar. 
I pray you let me here your reason, for many think that the hook or any edged weapon hath great odds against the Staff.  The Master. 
Indeed without cunning and skill, the Welch-hooke, and these other weapons are more fearful unto the ignorant, but he that is cunning in the false play and slips, belonging unto the Staff may with a false thrust or with slipping his blow endanger any other, being weaponed with any other of these weapons aforesaid. For if you falsify your thrust according to my direction in the false play, that is, to proffer your thrust on the one side, and then to put home the second determined thrust unto the other side of his weapon, and then if your enemy have a Hook, Halberd, or Bill in defending the false, the head of his weapon will so overcarrie him by the reason of the weight, that he cannot command him nimbly back again, whereby to defend the false, if your enemy be armed with a Hook, Holbert or Partisan or Gleave, if he charge you with a blow, then slip his blow, either by plucking in of your Staff, keeping of the point upright until his blow be past, and then you may answer him again, either with blow or thrust, for by slipping a blow, the weight of the head of any of these aforesaid weapons will go with such a swing that it will turn his body in a manner round, I mean beyond the compass of defence.  
Again if you think that your face is out of his reach, he which chargeth you with a blow with any of these aforesaid weapons, you may let fall the point of your staff, so that his blow may pass clear over your staff, and so chop home a thrust withal under your enemy's weapons, and then recover the point of your Staff up hastily again.  The Scholar. 
What if I be armed with any of these weapons aforesaid, what guard will your direct me to frame myself unto?  The Master. 
I still commend the low guard for any long weapon, whether it be Staff, Pike, Hooke, Halberd, Partisan or Gleave, my reason is the point being so high as your head, and the Butt-end so low as your thigh, then is your weapon more readier to defend either blow or thrust, if you be charged never so suddenly, whereas if your point hang downwards toward the ground, you can never lift him up quick again to defend your thrust, but a blow may be defended easily, for that a blow cometh more leasurably, for why it is fetched with a greater compass, and a thrust goeth with far more celerity than a blow, being put in cunningly, but of these weapons shall follow more at large in the second book.  
Now if thy enemy have odds in length in his Staff, then let thy enemy make the first assault, and upon defence of his assault step forth with thy hindermost foot, and so thou shalt gain six foot at the least in reach, but if your staves be both of one length, then upon a charge or answer, increase in only with thy fore foot, and stand fast with thy hinder foot, only to pluck back thy body again, and if thou make the first assault, and thy enemy defend it, and so he make a sudden answer, than it willbe hard to recover up thy staff into his place, to defend it according to the low guard: but for a sudden shift the best defence is bearing your upperhand over your body, and letting your point fall to the ground, according to the old common order of the fight with the Pike, at single hand, I mean, hand to hand, or I may say, man to man.  The Scholar. 
I pray you how would you direct me to frame my guard with my staff, if I were to encounter with my enemy, being armed with Sword and Dagger, or Rapier and Dagger?  The Scholar. 
I hold the low guard best, charging thy point directly to the enemy's breast, and always have a special regard, that thou poffer nor a blow, for so he may defend it double on the Backsword and Dagger, and run in under the Staff, likewise if thou proffer a thrust, let not thy Staff lose out of thy forehand, but hold him fast, that thereby thou mayst be the more ready to charge him again, and again if he encroach in upon thee, for if thou let go one hand, then may thy enemy very well defend the thrust of a staff, according as I have directed in the description of the Rapier and Dagger, concerning the staff, for with that one defence, being experienced in it, thou mayst endanger any Staffe-man, that is not wary, and withal, well experienced in both these weapons, so that thou take thy opportunity upon his assault, I mean in answering him quick, so soon as you have defended his assault, whether it be blow or thrust.  
Now if thy enemy do strike at the point of thy Staff, thinking to cut him off, then, as you see his blow coming, let fall the point of your Staff, and presently chop home a thrust, for in so doing his blow will fly over your Staff, as by your practice you may be perfect in this slip, for so we call it. I have known a man with a Sword and Dagger hath cut off the end of a Pikestaff, but I hold him an ignorant and an unskilful man, that hath held the staff, for though I hold, that a man skilful at the Sword and Dagger may encounter against a reasonable Staffe-man, the same opinion I hold still, and my reasons thou shalt hear; if extreme need require, and upon a necessity, than the best means is to be used wherefore to be furnished with the best means before hand at the time of need, it may greatly stead thee, for every common man hath not knowledge of the best rule, except he have learned it and practised it by those which could show it, for it cometh not by nature to none, yet every ignorant dunce, when he is persuaded to go learn skill, will say, when I am put to my shift I will do the best I can: so a man may, and yet without skill be killed, although he do his best, my opinion further of this followeth.  
Now the best guard with a Sword and Dagger, or Rapier and Dagger against a Staff, is this, put your Dagger on the inside of your Rapier or Sword, and join them both together, making your cross with them within a foot or thereabouts of the hilt of your Rapier or Sword, and looking clear with both your eyes under them, or betwixt both your weapons, and then if your enemy charge you with a blow at your head with his Staff, bear them both double against the blow, and having defended it, turn your point and turn your knuckles inward of your right-hand, and so to go in amain upon him.  
But if he charge you with a thrust, then presently let fall the point of your Rapier downward, and force him down the more stronger, and more quicker with your Dagger, for to that end I do appoint you to put your Dagger in the inside of your Rapier or Sword. Lo in this manner you may defend either blow or thrust of the Staff, yet I must needs confess, there is great odds in the Staff, if the Staffe-man be very skilful, but otherwise the Rapier and Dagger hath the odds being furnished with skill.   

False play to be used at the Staff.  
IF you both lie in the low guard, according unto my former direction, than proffer or feign a thrust unto your enemy's face to the fairest side of the staff, which to your seeming lieth most open or ungarded, but then presently in the same motion let fall the point of your staff so low as his girdlested, so that you may pass clear under the But end of his staff; for if with any part of his staff he touch or entangle your staff, than you can not put in your false so directly as you should, or as you may, if you pass clear with your first offer, then may you bring up your point on the other side of his staff, and thrusting it home, you may hit him in the shoulder or face, as you will yourself, yea although he be very skilful or cunning, so that yond have the true stroke of it: as to make it plainer, then in offering your false, do but fall the point of your staff, striking it as it were a blow, but let it fall two foot wide of that side, which lieth open, and then bring it up again on the other side, and put it in with a thrust, for he will carry his staff to defend your false, and so by that means open the side which lieth well guarded, and always mark which part of your enemy's body lieth open or most discovered unto you, there proffer you your feigned thrust, first to the fairest, but hit him with your second or determined thrust to the contrary side, and if you feign your thrust to the right side, than thrust it home to the left, and if you feign your thrust to the left fide, then put it home to the right, and you may hit him in the breast, shoulder, or face, whether you list yourself, so that you proffer your feigned thrust three foot wide of his body, for if in offering your feigned thrust, he hit your staff, it will so entangle your point, that you cannot recover him to hit him with your determined thrust, for before you can clear your point, he will be in his guard of defence again.   

The defence of this false thrust.  
THis thrust is to be defended two ways, the first is to bear him against your enemies proffer, but have a care that you do not ouer-beare him, so that if he mock you with his feigned thrust on the one side, you must quickly bring your staff back again into his place, to meet him when he cometh on the other side of his staff, and so to defend it, keeping your point upright: now the second defence is to bear your staff over your body against his proffer, as you do against every ordinary thrust; for you must suppose that every thrust will come home, for the defender doth not know if his enemy do proffer a thrust, whether it will come home or not: therefore (as I said) you must bear your staff against every thrust, but you should bear your staff but a foot out of his place, whether it be against blow or thrust: for if you overcarrie him, you can not recover him to defend neither blow nor thrust, if it be falsified upon you. Now if your enemy do falsify upon his first proffer, carry your staff over your body, keeping the point upright against his first proffer: now upon your offer of defence, at the first you see that you make no seizure upon his staff, then presently you may perceive he doth but dally with you, only to deceive you with false play, but then your proffer of defence, both for the true and false play, must be all done with one motion; for if you see that with the first proffer above he shorten his thrust, without putting it home, then turn down the point of your staff towards the ground, and meet him below, and so strike it away, but be sure that you defend always before hand, for to strike it backward is no sure defence.  
Yet to make this forehand defence plainer, why then it is thus meant, if your right hand be placed foremost in holding your staff, than you must defend both the true play, and the false towards your left hand, but you must not defend the first proffer forward, and the next, which may be the false thrust, backward, but both must be defended towards your left side: and so likewise, if your left hand be foremost, then frame your defence towards your right side, as before said.  
Now if you cannot change hands, as (it may be) your enemy can, then keep your guard upon that and which you can best use, and you shall find that he hath very little odds after you have practised it a while; for you may offer or defend any false play so well as if you lay cross handed one to the other.   

A false blow.  
NOw, if you would hit your enemy on the head with a blow, you must proffer a false blow at the head, as if you would strike him down at the first; but when it is come half way, stay your hand, or check your blow before it meet with his staff, for he will bear his staff against your blow, thinking to defend it strongly, before it come to endanger him: but the checking of the first blow will be an occasion, that he will over-carry his staff beyond the compass of true defence, so that you may presently come with a second blow, and strike it home over the point of his staff, so by this determined blow, you may hit him on die head or face.   

A Slip at a Staff.  
IF your enemy charge you with a blow, you lying in your guard according to the Picture, even as you see the blow coming, pluck in your staff, and withal, withdraw your head and body a little back, bearing your staff, during the time while the blow hath his passage, close upright by that side of your face which your enemy chargeth you at, to defend that side, if the blow do reach home, but if it do pass short, and go clear of you, without touching your staff, then will his staff fly away with the greater swinge, so that it will pass beyond compass of true defence; but if it be a Welch-hooke, or any other head weapon, then will the slipping of his blow be a more occasion of the over-carrying his blow, by carrying his body round, so that his blow being past, you may presently charge him with a blow at the head, or thrust him in the back, so that it be done quick before your enemy do recover his weapons into their place of defence.   

Another falsify.  
YOu may proffer a downright blow at your enemy's head, fetching him with a great compass, so that it may seem to your enemy, that you mean to strike him down, but as your blow is coming, draw back your hand and change your blow into a thrust, and chopping home to his breast or any other part of his body, that you will yourself, for he will bear his Staff to defend the blow, I mean if he be not very skilful and cunning, the which if he do, he can but defend himself, the which to do he must be very wary when he beareth his staff to defend then the blow, so that he do not overcarrie his staff, and yet to bear him a little and then to check his Staff, and be ready to turn down the point to defend the thrust, but he that is skilful will, or should chop out a thrust if his enemy do proffer a blow, and the thrust should be put out with one hand, and to lose the other, I mean with that hand which holdeth the Butt-end of the Staff, for so thou shalt keep him out at the point of thy Staff; for then the blow cannot endanger thee, except there be great odds in the length of your staves, for commonly he that striketh, holdeth both his hands upon his Staff when he delivereth his blow, whereby there is three foot odds in reach betwixt the striker and he which thrusteth.   

Another very deceiving false thrust at the Staff.  
THy enemy lying in guard, proffer a feigned thrust towards his foot, and then presently raise thy point again, and thrust if home to his face or breast, for if he turn down the point of his Staff to save the false thrust below, then if he were never so cunning, or never so strong, yet can he not put up his Staff time enough to defend his upper part; and therefore not to turn down the point, if thy enemy do proffer a thrust below is the more surest, but if a thrust be made below or above the knee, pluck up thy leg, and either thrust with him, or keep up thy Staff to defend thy upper part, which are the kill places, rather than to turn him down to defend thy leg or foot, wherein is not so great danger of death as the body being hit, but at the Staff all parts may be defended with skill.   

The guard for the Sword and Dagger, the which for sureness we will call the Castle-guard.  
I Might hear in this place describe many wards or guards, at the Sword and Dagger, as the Looke-ward, the Iron-ward, the Hanging-ward, the Crosse-ward, three high guards, the Low-guard, the Broad-ward. I will a little touch them all, or the most part of them with words, although not with pictures, but in the next Impression more at large, both with words and with pictures.  
But now chief at this time I will proceed only with this Castle-guard, or Back-sword-guard according to the picture, for with the skill of this one guard thou mayst safely encounter against any man, which useth any other of the foresaid guards, for this one guard being perfectly learned thou mayst defend thyself with great advantage.  
Now for the manner of the framing thyself into this guard, thou must bear out the hilt of thy sword a foot from thy body, so low as the pocket of thy hose, and right out from thy thigh, and thy Dagger out right at the arms end, and thy Dagger hilt even with thy left cheek, but barely looking over the upper part of thy Dagger hilt, and the points of both thy Sword and Dagger a little bowing each to the other, and close above, but open thy hilts so broad below as thou mayst see clearly thy enemy betwixt them both, as at Rapier and Dagger before is described, for both at Rapier and Dagger, the guards are both very near alike, but only for the carriage of thy Rapier hand and foot, a little nearer thy body then at Sword and Dagger, the reasons are, and shall be made plain unto thee, as in reading thou shalt find it, for both at Rapier and Dagger, and at Sword and Dagger, a man should be prepared as well at the one, as the other to defend a thrust in fight so well as a blow, and except the Rapier point be borne some thing high, he is not ready to defend a blow, as by this guard thus being placed, as aforesaid, thy Sword only being borne out against the blow, will defend all thy rightside, both thy head, and down to thy knee, without mooning him, but if thy enemy do charge thee with a blow at thy left-side, whether he strike to thy head or side, then bear both thy Sword and thy Dagger over thy body, towards thy left-side, and withal I do advise thee to have a care to carry both the hilt and point level, even as thou liest in thy guard, for if thou carry thy hilt of thy Sword over thy body towards thy left-side, and turn thy point Backward, then both at Sword and Dagger, and at Rapier and Dagger, thy head is endangered, for than thou hast but a single ward for thy head, I mean thy Dagger only, and that is no sure defence for the head, if thy practice were never so much, but both being borne together, according unto the Backsword rule, thou shalt defend both thy head and body down to thy knee very strongly, and thy leg must save himself by a quick pulling up of thy foot.  
Likewise at Sword and Dagger, you may set your feet a foot distance one right before the other, 
Thy weapons thus placed thou shalt find thy body gatded like a prisoner betwixt to keepers, thy sword to guard thy rightside, and thy dagger the left.  the other which I do not allow of at Rapier and Dagger, also you must keep the point of your Sword on the inside of your Dagger, and half a foot higher than your Dagger point, especially if you play at the blunt, but in sight as at Rapier and Dagger, than you must so exercise your foot, thatyou may pluck him up nimbly against every blow that cometh, otherwise if you do keep them so near as my direction is at Rapier and Dagger, then is your foot sure without plucking of him up; bear your head upright, bowing rather to the right-sholder, then to the left, but not forward at any weapon, but your body bowing forward, and keep your points close together, and your Sword point on the inside of your Dagger point (as beforesaide) and the hilt of your Dagger from your left cheek, right at the arms end, without bowing of your elbow joint, and your Dagger point sloping, or bowing towards your right side, looking with both your eyes betwixt your weapons, look not over your weapons with neither of your eyes at any hand; your weapons placed, and your body settled (as aforesaid) then shall you find no part of your body discovered or unguarded, but only your left side from the Dagner arm downwards, and that you must have a care unto, and defend it in this manner.  
If your enemy charge you with a blow, defend yourself, by bearing the edge of your Sword against it, and a little bear your Dagger against the blow also, only to give allowance for the yielding of your Dagger, if the blow should chance to light at your head, for your guard simply of himself doth defend but a weak blow; if you stand stock still at your guard as a wrist blow a drop or a mite, which cometh with small force, though they come with more speed than any other blow, your guard will defend without moving your weapons. Now other blows which shall come with greater force, consume more time, and do fetch a greater compass, insomuch as their force is greater, you shall perceive them the plainer, to which side the blow will come, and if to the right side, then serve both weapons against the blow, and if to the left side, do likewise (keeping up the point of your sword, for that will defend from the head down to the knee, and the knee and leg which you stand foremost upon, you must defend by plucking them up, and your sword will defend the hind most leg, if the blow should chance to reach so far, by taking it near the hilt, upon the edge of your backsword, as aforesaid, for if you put down the point of your sword to save your leg, than you leave your head and your face unguarded; for when you see your enemy charge you with a blow, there is no rule to be shown to know where the blow will light, until it do light: but this assure yourself, the blow must have a lighting place; for when the sword is up, where he will fall there is no rule to be shown, for when the blow is charged, it cometh so swift and lighteth where the striker thinketh good; wherefore arm yourself to defend every place, whether it cometh above or below; for if you turn down the point of your sword beforehand, thinking the blow will light at your leg, for so you must do it you will defend him with your sword, otherwise you cannot be down quick enough, for the blow will pass more speedier than the turning of a hand; wherefore I wish you to save your leg by plucking of him up, and open not your head, in hope to save your leg, and so save neither of them, for the head is the principal place that your enemy will strike at; therefore keep your points always upright, and in their place, according to my direction following the first Picture; and likewise as here I have described it, for it is not enough to know the place of your weapons, but always to continue them in their place, except it be at the very instant time of your defence, and offence: but if you make play to offend your enemy, recover your weapons into your guard speedily again whether you hit or miss: Now in striking thy blow, let not thy Sword swing under thine arm by ove-striking thy blow, but wind him up presently into his place again; alway keep the points close, and defend the blow double: for so doing the point of your sword will be a great strengthening unto your Dagger, for he that doth trust to defend a blow with the Dagger only, may be deceived, if his cunning were never so good; for if the blow should light near the point of your Dagger, by reason of the sharpness and weakness of the Dagger, it may glide over, and hit him that is skilful, if his cunning were never so good: likewise, the blow may hit him under the Dagger-arme, which trusteth to the Dagger, except he use the defence of his backsword, for which both together a weak man, yea, a boy may defend a strong man with both, for no man is able to charge a blow with one hand, if his force were never so great, but one that is very weak and skilful of the Backsword, may defend himself double (as aforesaid) for he that chargeth with one hand, a very wretch is able to defend with both, having skill and practise in all fashions, for when one cannot hit thee, yet another whose fashion thou art unacquainted with may hit thee, but being experienced in many weapons, and in many guards, and practising with many men, then if thou have an occasion to answer any one which thou never sawest before, thou wilt presently call to mind, that he can but strike and thrust: therefore being prepared before hand, than so soon as thou seest his guard and charge, thou knowest thy defence.  
Now (as I have said before) you must be careful in your defence, and so soon as you come within the reach of your enemy, prepare yourself into your guard, to defend every part both from blow and thrust, defending the blow with the Backsword so low as your knee, and the point helping to strengthen the point of your Dagger: then if your enemy charge you with a blow, you must not prepare to strike with him; for so you may be hurt, and then say afterward, I thought he would have struck at mine head, and so never reckon upon your side nor your leg, or if you should think he would have struck at your leg, and so never regard your head: But I say you must not deal upon thought, but upon a sure guard, and it is not sufficient, to know your guard of defence, but you must keep him, for if your enemy have once hit you for want of keeping your guard, it will be too late for you to remember your defence afterwards, therefore look to it afore the blow doth light; or if you fight at Rapier and Dagger, you must look for both blow and thrust, for your enemy may strike with his Rapier, and hit you if you do not look for a blow, and when you are hit, it is too late to say, I thought he would not have struck with his Rapier. Again, at Sword and Dagger, it may be your enemy will thrust, and you must not say, I thought he would not thrust, for every one will, in a quarrel, do what his affection leadeth him best unto, except he altar his affection by practice.   

Hear followeth the chiefest blows at Sword and Dagger, and the manner how to perform them.  
NOw for thy best advantage, in as plain manner, as by words I can express them, amongst many other blows, we will here observe these three: the first, a wrist blow, a half blow, and a quarter blow; every one of these must be used in their time and place (as this) sometimes with a wrist blow, thou mayest speed thine enemy when thou canst not hit him with a half blow, nor with a quarter blow, because there is in the delivering of either of the two last blows, more time spent, for every blow exceedeth each other, in force, and in quickness; this wrist blow will hit thine enemy either head or face, if his points lie any thing open, or on either side of his head, if he do look over either of his weapons: for although he do see it coming never so plain, yet he cannot prevent it, if he had Argus' eyes, if his weapons be but an inch too low, but if your enemy do lie more open, than you may charge him with a half blow, or a full quarter blow▪ but the quarter blow serveth best for the leg. If thine enemy do encroach or gather in upon thee, then strike down to his leg and bear up thy Dagger over thy head, with the point something sloping towards thy right shoulder, for so thy Dagger will save thy head, and the point of thy Sword will hit him on the leg in his own coming, and the upper part of thy Sword will defend thine own leg, if he charge thee in thine own assault; but so soon as thou hast stricken thy blow, recover thy guard hastily again: the quarter blow doth fetch a compass about the head, that although he come strong, it is not so quick as many other: now there is a washing blow, which the unskilful do use much, and with that blow thou mayest hit thy enemy under the Dagger arm, if he be not skilful, with his Backsword, for there is no other defence for it, but the Backsword only.  
Then there is a whirling blow, & that is after thou hast waif thy Sword, or flourished him over thine head twice or thrice, thou mayest deliver thy blow, either to the head or leg, or to what place thou seest most for thine advantage, for it is such an uncertain blow, that he must be a good player that defendeth it.  
Also there is a back blow which is to be made two ways, the one is a plain Dunstable way, that is, to fetch thy sword from off thy left shoulder, & so to strike it to the right side of thy enemies head, or to the outside of his right leg, but the cunningest way is to bow thy Sword-elbow joint, & with thy knuckles upward, and thy Sword hilt so high as your ear, and then by turning of your sword hand wrist, bend, or proffer the point of thy Sword with a blow towards your enemy's Dagger ear, but presently turning your wrist, bringing the midst of your Sword close over the crown of thy head, and with a compass blow, striking it home to his Sword ear, or to the outside of his leg: I cannot with words make this blow so plain as I would, for I would gladly the ignorant should understand it, for of all the blows of true play, this is the best, for you may likewise feign it unto the outside of your enemy's head, and strike it home to the other, or unto his side.   

Here followeth the false play at Sword and Dagger.  
IF your enemy be in this guard, as I have here described by false play, you may cause him to open his guard, but if he lie upon any other guard, than you need not to falsify, for you may hit him with true play.  
If you would hit your enemy on the right side of the head, then strike a blow to his foot, but strike it somewhat short, then presently bring it with a back blow to his right ear, the which will be unguarded, by reason of the carrying his Sword to save his left side, if he be not the better grounded with experience.  
And if you would hit him on the side of his head, than thrust a full thrust at his belly, turning your knuckles inward, and he will put down his Dagger to defend it, but then, so soon as you have offered your thrust, presently bring up your Sword close up by the outside of his Dagger elbow, and with a wrist blow strike him on the ear or head, keeping your knunckles inward, till the blow be delivered: with this blow you may hit a good Player, but indeed it is not a very strong blow. Now to hit thy enemy in the foot, is to thrust two or three thrusts short at his face, and then fall it down to the leg or the foot with a blow, for the fear of the daungering of his face with a thrust will make him forget his leg.  
Another way is to strike a back blow strongly to his Sword ear, and presently fall it down to his foot, for he seeing it come to his head, not one in twenty, but will wink, and before he open his eyes again, you may hit him upon his foot or leg.  
But the chiefest blow of all for the leg, is to lift up the heel of your Sword hand higher than your head, and tip in the point over your enemy's Sword, as though you would hit him in the right eye, but presently bring down your Sword with a full blow to the inside of his leg, for this blow in offering aloft fit, will sure make him wink and deceive a skilful man, and if in the lifting up of your Sword, you say, Beware your foot, it will serve to him, that you go about to hit him on the head, so he will lift up his weapons to save the head, but this blow being cunningly delivered cometh down to the leg, with such celerity and violence, that he cannot prevent it, except he hath been used to it with much practice, but it seldom misseth if it be cunningly delivered.  
Yet there is another deceitful blow for the leg or foot, that is, to strike a back blow to the sword care (as beforesaide) stepping out your foot with our blow a little, and see that your blow reach but to his Sword, it is enough, but hastily pluck back your foot, and your Sword in their place, and provide to charge him with a blow to the foot, as he cometh in to answer your first blow: now in striking at his leg, be a little before hand; for as he maketh a motion of lifting up his Sword to charge you, step in with the same motion, and in falling your point to his leg, you save your own leg, if he do strike at your leg, than the Dagger must at such a time, defend your head single, which you may very well do, if you bear him a little the higher, but withal, turn the Dagger point down towards the right shoulder.  
Also, you may deceive some, with casting your eyes down, and looking to his foot, and presently strike it home to his head, for with your eye you may deceive him which is not perfect in this deceit.   

Certain reasons why thou mayst not strike with thy weapon in fight.  
THe first danger is described following the first picture in this book, and in this manner, the defend or is to take the blow double, or on the Backsword only, and then presently to charge him again with the point, with the which the defender may hit the striker in the face, breast or thigh, as he will himself, the like may be done with a staff, first, defend the blow, and answer quick with a thrust.  
The next danger, if it be with a sword, is this, thou mayst break or bow him, or he may slip out of the hilts, any of these dangers may happen at the very first blow that thou strikest, and if it be a staff it may likewise be broken, or the pike may fly out, and then thou art not assured whether thy enemy upon such an occasion will take the advantage upon thee, if such a chance do fall out, therefore beware of striking.  
An other hazard by striking is unto the striker, if his enemy the defender do but slip his blow by a little withdrawing of his body back, even as he seethe the blow come, and so I say by a little withdrawing the body, and also by plucking in his weapons, he that striketh the blow will oversway his body beyond the compass of true defence, and so the blow being past, charge him presently with a thrust, for he that striketh his blow will carry his body in a manner round, so that the blow be not defended, but let slip, as aforesaid, and then you may hit him in the back, either with a blow or thrust, if you take your opportunity in making a quick answer, as more at large of this slight I have shown in the false play at each weapon, also divers reasons here and there in this book, concerning the disadvantage of a blow.   

The Author's opinion concerning th' odds betwixt a lefthanded man, and a right-banded man.  
A Lefthanded man being skilful hath odds against a right-handed man being skilful likewise, one reason is a lefthand man is always used unto a right-handed man, but a right-handed man doth seldom meet with a lefthanded man, for in Schools or such places, where play is, a man may play with forty men, and not meet with too lefthanded men, except it be a great chance, another reason is, when a right-handed man doth offer or make play, first unto the lefthanded man, then doth he endanger the rightside of his head, although he do bear his Dagger to the rightside, yet it doth not defend so strong, nor so sure, as it doth the left, yet unto one that is well instructed with the true skill of the Backsword, and other rules which belongeth for the best advantage against a lefthand, it willbe the less dangerous or troublesome unto such a one, for he will presently call himself to mind, when he seethe that he is to encounter against a lefthanded man, he will frame himself presently to the best guard of defence for that purpose which is the Backsword, for that is the chiefest weapon to be grounded in, not only a lefthand, but many other weapons have the true stroke of that weapon, and are guided only by the rules of the Backsword, even as the helm guides the ship, now if thou offer play, first to the lefthanded man, thou must be careful and heedy to recover up thy Back sword again, presently into his place so quick as thou canst, or else turn over your Dagger to the right-eare, these very rules likewise must a lefthanded man observe to encounter against a right-handed man, yet furthermore I have known some right-handed men, that were very skilful, and very ready if it had been to encounter against a right-handed man, but by no means would not deal with a lefthanded man, and this was for want of a good teacher: for the teacher should instruct every one which they do teach by playing with his lefthand with them, for it is an easy matter to have the odds of both the hands a like with little practice, and then a man may use which he will, as if a right-handed man were to encounter against a left, and can use both hands alike, then if he play with his lefthand against one that is lefthanded by nature, it will seem more cross, and more dangerous unto him then a lefthanded man unto a right, the reason is that two lefthanded men seldom meet together, now to end with this one speech according to the vulgar sort, that is an ignorant and a simple man of skill by great and often roiling and moiling of his body, in practising natural play, I mean only that which cometh into his head, and being right-handed meeteth with another right-handed man that is very skilful, and hath very artificial play, and yet the unskilful hath plied so fast and let his blows fall so thick, that the skilful man had enough a do to defend himself, so that the unskilful hath made such good shift, and defended himself contrary unto any man's expectation, that was so experience and saw it, but there is not one of the common street players in a hundred that can do the like as I have said before, but not one in five hundred of them, that can upon the point of a weapon hurt or wrong one that is skilful or cunning, for many of these street players are so used to bangs, that they care not for a blow with a blunt cudgel, but most of them are fearful to deal against a sharp weapon, but now to conclude this, with that which toucheth this Chapter, concerning these street players, which have so well shifted with a cunning player right-handed, the same I say meeting with a lefthanded man was not able to defend in a manner one blow in twenty, except it were in falling back from him, and the cunningest man that is, cannot hit the unskilfullest man that is, if the unskilful man do continually keep him out of his reach or distance, for he which hath courage without skill, although well prepared, yet wants his arms to fight, but of this it is sufficiently spoken of in the Treatise, in the former part of the Book.   

A brief of my principal points which I would have thee keep in continual remembrance.  
NOw to sum up all the chiefest lessons into one sum, and for order sake we will make four divisions of them.  
The first is to remember to frame thyself into thy guard, before thou come within thy enemy's distance, and so to approach in guarded.  
Secondly, remember if thy enemy charge thee with a blow, at what weapon soever, 
Be constant and steady in a good guard be slow to make play except thy enemy do increase upon thee.  yet answer him with a thrust presently, after you have borne the blow double, according to my direction, following the first picture, but if thy enemy charge thee with a thrust, then answer him with a thrust at the nearest place, which lieth most unguarded, whether it be his knee or in his making play, your answer may be to his right arm, shoulder or face, all which you shall find unguarded in time of his proffer, now if he have a close hilted dagger, yet with a false thrust thou mayst hit him in the Dagger-arme if he fight not very warily, or else in the Dagger-hand if he have not a close hilted dagger.  
Thirdly, let not fury overcome thy wits, for in a made fury skill is forgotten, for he which is in drink or over hasty, such a one in his anger doth neither think upon the end of killing, nor fear to be killed.  
Now the fourth and last which should have been the first, is to remember to keep a true distance, and if thy enemy do gather and encroach in upon thee, charge him with a thrust, although thou put it not home, for a thrust will fear him, and he which is in his right wits will be loath to come within the reach, or danger of thy weapon, but if thou suffer thy enemy to come within thy distance, then if thou hadst all the guards in the world, and yet stand still without making play, he will hit thee in spite of thy teeth, wherefore be doing with him betimes; and he will retreat and fall away from thee for his own ease, Lo his I wrote, because I would not have thee in an error when thou shouldest have occasion to use thy weapon, as the best defence, for a shot is to stand out of the reach of him, even so the best defence of thy body from hurts and scars is to be proceeded before hand with skill and cunning, and to remember it when thou hast occasion to use it, but if thou want skill, then keep out of thy enemies reach; now if thou canst not remember these four chief points beforesaid, yet bear in mind these two, the first is to defend the blow double, keeping both the points upward, and secondly, remember that if thy enemy do gather in upon thee, thrust to his knee, or whether he do gather in or no, yet thrust to his knee or thigh, but at any hand steps not so far forth or thigh, but at any hand steps not so far forth with your thrust whereby to endanger your face, but if you do step so far forth as you can, always have a care to defend with your dagger, but if your enemy do set forth one foot above half a foot distance from the other, then may you hit him in the thigh or knee, and he cannot reach you so that you do not adventure further with your thrust, then where his knee did stand when you do offer, for it may be he will pluck him away, thereby to save him, but that is no defence for a thrust if it be put in quick: a man may defend the leg from a blow, by drawing him back, but not from a thrust, but to keep thy feet in the right place according to my direction following the first picture, and then you are defended, and ready to offend also.   

The Author's opinion concerning the Short Sword and Dagger.  
IN describing of this weapon I shall account the time ill spent, yet because Short swords are in use and worn of many that would leave them off if that they knew what an idle weapon it were, I mean to encounter against a long Sword and Dagger, or a long Rapier and Dagger, so small is their judgement, but only this, many of them will say it is a better weapon than any of the two foresaid weapons are, but in my mind they may aswell say that chalk is cheese because they are both white, for I have had much trial and great practice with the short sword, yet could I never find, nor never willbe persuaded but that a Rapier four foot long or longer, hath such great odds, that I never mean to arm myself with a short against it; for in my mind and by experience I speak it, there is small skill to be learned with the short sword to encounter as aforesaid, but only resolution and courage.  
He that is valiant and venturous, runneth in, breaking distance, if he escape both in his going in, and in his coming our unhurt; from a man skilful, in my mind it is as a man would say chance-medley, for if I have the Rapier and Dagger, I will hazard both games, and set against any man that holdeth the short sword to be a better weapon, although that George Giller hath most highly commended the short sword & dagger, yet one Swallow maketh not a Summer, nor two Woodcocks a Winter, if a thousand more were of his opinion, yet without all doubt there is a great deal more danger then at Rapier and Dagger, for he that fighteth with a short sword must adventure in pell-mell without fear or wit, but I have seldom heard or seen any fight with short sword and dagger, although they be each weaponed alike, but one or both cometh home most grievous wounded: my reason is the distance is so narrow that a man can hardly observe it, except they have been both practitioners a long time before hand, for if a man practise continually long sword or long Rapier, yet upon such a Challenge goeth into the field with a short sword, than the danger is greatest of all: ask Augustin Badger, who speaketh highly in praise and commendation of the short sword, for he hath tried that weapon in the field so often, and made as many tall frays as any man that ever I heard of or knew since my time, yet he will say that he never fought in all his life: but was sore and dangerously hurt.  
I have known some besides myself, that have fought with Rapier and Dagger twenty times, and have never had one drop of blood drawn, and yet were accounted men of sufficient valour and resolution, those which wear short swords depend only upon the taking of their enemy's point, which is not to be done if they meet with one that is skilful: I have heard many say in talking familiarly concerning this weapon, if I take the point of your long Rapier, than you are gone, but that is not to be done if thou meet with one that is skilful except thou canst take thy enemy's point in thy teeth, otherwise thou canst never make seizure upon his point, if he be skilful as aforesaid, but indeed it is an easy matter for a man skilful to take the point of one that is altogether unskilful; but rather not answer thy enemy until thou be better weaponed, there are all these excuses to be framed as in the tenth Chapter of the treatise, there you may find excuses fit for such as wear short Swords, if thou like them not I refer to thy own wit to frame an excuse; for some shift he must have that weareth such an idle weapon, for in a word a short sword and dagger to encounter against a skilful man with rapier and dagger, I hold it a little better than a tobacco-pipe, or a fox tail, but yet a short sword is good to encounter against a short sword.  
Also a short sword is good to encounter against a naked man, I mean a man unweaponed, and it is good to serve in the wars on horseback or on foot, yet a Rapier will do as good service in the wars as a short sword, if a skilful man have him in hand: we have divers examples of those which come out of the field sore wounded, and they will say it was because their enemy had a handful or a foot odds in length of weapon upon them; wherefore I say one inch is great odds and enough to kill a man, if they both have skill alike, and do observe a true distance: yet now you that are as it were married unto short swords, because some will not give their babble for the Tower of London, although another do not esteem it worth twopences, yet a man shall as well drive a dog from a piece of bread, as wrest many from that foolish kind of weapon; again a sword whether he be long or short, is more wearisome and more troublesome than a rapier, for a sword will wear out your hose and three pair of hangers, before a Rapier do wear out one pair; but some do wear their short swords about their necks in a string, so that if they should have occasion to use him, he cannot so ready draw out his sword upon a sudden, as he which weareth him upon his thigh, but of this fashion of wearing their swords, I will not speak much, because I see it is almost left off, for a man may buy a girdle and hangers for ten groats, which will serve for thy Rapier two or three year, and a scarf will cost ten shillings, and yet be worn out in a fortnight; but I will say no more because many give it over for their own ease, I hold a short sword for to encounter against a rapier very little better than a tobacco pipe as aforesaid, and so as I began I conclude, yet behold a little help for him that weareth it.   

Aguard for the short sword and dagger to encounter against the long Rapier and Dagger, or else the long sword and Dagger.  
Keep your sword hilt so high as your head or higher at the point, hanging slope-wayes downwards a little wide of your left side, looking under your sword arm with both your eyes, and withal put out your sword hand as far from your body as you can, I mean towards your enemy, and your dagger down by your side, as if you meant not to use him at all, according to this picture. Lying in this guard your body will seem to your enemy to be very open, insomuch that he will make no reckoning but to hit you sure with a thrust; the which you must defend by breaking it towards your right side, and with the same motion step in with your left leg, which I will call your hindmost leg, for so he should be until you have made seizure of your enemy's weapon: but so soon as seifure is made consume no time in giving of him leisure to fall back again, whereby to recover his point again, but forthwith answer him as aforesaid, for having brought his long Rapier or sword point to pass clear on the right side of your body, I mean under your right arm, then step in close with your left foot as aforesaid, and make a cross with your dagger upon his weapon by clapping in with your dagger upon the midst of thy enemies long rapier or Sword, keep your Dagger point upright when you go in, and so soon as you have discharged the assize of your sword, you may presently turn up the point of your short sword and thrust, or else you may give a stroke with him whether you will, and to what part of his body you list, and then fall away hastily again into your guard and distance; know this, that by stepping in with your hindmost foot, doth gain more advantage in ground than you want in length of weapon.  
But at any hand suffer your enemy to make the first assault, because he hath the advantage in length of weapon, and if thy enemy do charge thee with a blow you may defend it upon this hanging guard, but to turn up the point of your sword according to backsword rule, & if your enemy charge you with a thrust, you may after seizure made upon his weapon with your sword as before directed; you may presently so soon as you are in with the hindmost foot turn up your sword point and thrust, this offence you may perform without the help of your dagger, but yet have a care to prepare your dagger in a readiness, lest in your going in, your enemy do also come in with you, and although you have his long weapon at your command without any danger, yet may he stab you with his dagger, except your dagger be in a readiness to defend; for a thrust of a dagger is as easy to be defended with a dagger, as any thrust is of any other weapon, but if the defender be overcome with fury, and so thrust both together, than they both are endangered, but to descend is better than to offend, and to be offended again upright according to the rule of the backsword, it your defence be upon the hanging guard, then clapping up your dagger and join with him as it were in commission with your sword, and so defend the blow upon both together, now if your enemy will not charge nor make any assault upon you, than I advise you not to gather nor encroach upon him, except you were equally matched in weapon, for you must observe the distance which belongeth to your enemies long weapon for this guard or any other. For this guard is but for a sudden shift for those that wear short swords, for keeping a large distance a man with small skill may defend himself from a longer weapon, so he seek not hastily by gathering in to offend the other; for the best defence of a shot is to stand out of his watch; so the best defence for a short sword man is to observe distance as beforesaid, for he shall find himself work enough to defend himself, for not one in twenty which fighteth with the short sword once will desire to go into the field with such a weapon again.  
Now those that do encounter together with short sword, to short sword, I wish them to frame their guard according to my former direction at the long sword and dagger.  
If thou frame thy guard according to my former direction as it is here pictured, then if your enemy doth falsify a thrust, and you making account to defend it with your Sword, as before, and in turning in your left side he double a thrust, he may endanger you greatly; wherefore it behoveth thee not to overcarrie thy Sword upon the first offer, but that you may recover him back into the place again, so that if you have a care if you miss the striking by of his Sword on the one side because of his falsify, you shall meet with him on the other, and so defend yourself although you cannot answer whereby to offend him by reason of his falsify, for upon a false if you make answer, it will be very dangerous to both.  Master. 
Now my loving scholar I have already described the rules of six weapons, which I promise to instruct thee in, but yet I have stumbled by chance upon another weapon, which is as necessary as any of the rest; nay more, for without thou be perfect in the skill of this weapon, all the rest will rather be hurtful unto thee then do thee good.  Scholar. 
I pray you, what weapon is that?  Master. 
Marry it is a fair tongue.  Scholar. 
Why do you call the tongue a weapon?  Master. 
Because at many times, and for many purposes, it is the fittest weapon, and the most surest for a man's own defence, for the tongue at sometimes runneth so at random, that for want of a bridle like a young colt overthroweth the rider, although it be but a little thing and seldom seen, yet it is often heard to the utter confusion of many a man, for the tongue is such a weapon without it be governed, it will cut worse than any sword; a nettle is a bad weed in a garden, but the tongue will sting worse than a nettle, and prick deeper than a thorn, likewise many men are taken by the tongues as birds are taken by the feet, therefore a fair tongue or a tongue governed well, will better keep and defend thy body from prison, if thou at any time be committed by the Magistrates when thy Sword will hinder thee if thou trust unto thy manhood.  Scholar. 
If I fight with no other weapon, but with a fair tongue, the world will condemn me, and term me for a coward.  Master. 
A fair tongue is more necessary for a valorous man, than a good weapon is for a coward, as thou shalt hear: for with a fair tongue thou mayest pass through watch and ward, if thou do chance to travel in the night by occasion, and thou be late from thy lodging, at such a time this is a principal weapon, and shall more prevail then thy Sword, or any other weapon whatsoever.  
Again, a fair tongue is an excellent weapon, if thou hap in a drunken company, and there fall to quarreling; in such a case, if thou draw thy weapon, it were as if a man should quench a great fire with a bundle of slaxe, for at such a time, and in such a company, if a man draw his weapon, he may as soon be killed as kill, for drunkards and mad men are all alike during time of the drink.  
Also a fair tongue is a principal weapon to carry with thee, if thou chance to travel into any strange country: for if an injury be offered in a place where thou art not acquainted or unknown, thou mayest be oppressed with more than one, for birds of a feather will hold together; and many will hold on the bigger side, for where the hedge is lowest, the beasts will soon get over, but in such a case be well armed with patience for thy Buckler, and a fair tongue for thy Sword, and thy hand ready on thy hat to do reverence to every vassal, although thou be a Gentleman, for the richest man that is, and the strongest man that ever was, did, and must pocket up an injury in his own Country, much more it is less disgrace to thee to put up an injury in a strange place, if an occasion be offered, then rather bestir thyself with a fair tongue, then with thy sword; for in such a case thy sword will avail thee nothing at all.  Scholar. 
All this while with this weapon you have not taught me how I should defend my point.  Master. 
Now I will tell thee, with a fair tongue, thou mayest save thy money many times, by promising much, and performing little, especially where little is deserved, for those which deserve little, a fair promise will pass, in a manner, as currant as thy money: I have known many Musicians many times paid with fair words: and now that it cometh into my mind I will tell thee a tale (as I have heard it reported:) How King Dyonisius rewarded a crew of Musicians which came to him with excellent Music, and after the Music was ended, come again to me to morrow said the King, and I will give you a thousand talents; the which promise sounded to a sweet and pleasant tune in the Musicians ears: But in the morning they came, expecting the King's reward, according to his promise: But the King looked strangely upon them, and asked them what they would have, And it like your Highness, said one of the chiefest of them, we are come for your gracious reward which you promised us. What was that, said the King? A thousand talents said the Fiddler. Why said the King, Is not that out of thy head yet? thy Music is quite out of mine, thou pleasedst my ears with thy music for the present, & I likewise filled thy ears with a pleasant sound of so much money: to our matter again.  
A fair tongue, and kind behaviour winneth favour, both with God and men, whereas those which cannot govern their tongues are seldom at quiet: but always punished or vexed with the Law, and troubles in the Law consume much money, which with discretion might be kept by government of the tongue.  
Now by the hieway, if a careless roister in his own name require thee to stand, and by virtue of his own warrant doth require thy purse; in such a danger, and in such a case betake thyself to thy weapon, rather than trust to thy tongue: for to speak fair unto some in such a case will avail thee nothing at all, but yet for all that, a fair tongue is as a precious balm to bear about thee although it be not sufficient to heal wounds, yet it may be a preservative to keep thee without hurts: all the comfort thou canst have of thy dearest friends is but little else than bodily sustenance, nay if thy kind and loving wife which is or should be thy greatest comfort in this life under God, if she I say do all that ever she can to pleasure thee, yet thou mayst hap to find in this book, if thou read it over, one lesson or other which may stead thee, or do thee more pleasure than all thy other friends: for here are many things written by me, that peradventure thou mayst seek after a great while, and yet not find them elsewhere, and so farewell.  Scholar. 
Yet stay I pray you, resolve me in two questions more afore you go.  Master. 
What are they?  Scholar. 
First I would know what odds a tall man of statute hath against a little man's stature, and the odds that a strong man hath against a weak man.  Master, 
Indeed these are questions which I did mean to write of in my next book, and therefore will but a little touch them at this time, but for my beginning or proof of this matter the better to encourage little men to take heart of grace, and not to dismayed by the high looks of a tall man, nor feared by their great brags, there is an old saying, goeth I never saw, saith the proverb, a little man borrow a, stool to break a tall man's head, and this proverb runneth throughout the world, as the corrant through the Gulf which our Marrinors do speak of in the way to wards the Indies.  
Again, it is not common to fee a tall man valorous and skilful withal, but generally, little men are valorous although not skilful, now if the tall man be skilful, the little man must for his advantage, suffer the tall man to proffer him play first, but then upon the little man's defence presently, with the same motion step forth with foot and hand, and so by a quick answer endanger the tall man: now if the tall man be not skilful, whereby to step forth with his hand and foot together, when he maketh play to the little man, than the little man skilful herein, getteth three foot at the least by answering every assault that the tall man maketh by stepping forth with the foot and hand as beforesaid: but this must be thy help and this must be thy care, though a little man always suffer the tall man to make play first, especially if he be skilful, and then be nimble with the answer, stepping it home with thy foot and hand together, according to my directions, following the first picture, for what thou wantest in reach, is gotten by thy coming.  
There is another old saying going thus, a tall man is so fair a mark, that a little man skilful cannot miss him, and a short man is so little and so nimble, that if he have but a little skill, a tall man cannot hit him for with his weapons, and a good guard in a manner he will cover all his whole body with his weapons. Lo this is my opinion, I do not say all other are of my mind, for there is an old saying goeth thus, so many men, so many minds, what other men's opinions is, I have not to do withal, but this I can say of my own knowledge, that I have not known one tall man amongst twenty, that hath good skill, nor sufficient valour answerable unto their statures, for tall men are more fearful than men of a mean stature, for I have seen the trial both in the wars and in single combat; yet take me not up before I be down, for I do not here condemn all tall men of parsonage, for so I should greatly overshoote myself, and greatly wrong many tall men of stature and valour, and also of good resolution, but yet all of them are not so, wherefore what I have said, it is to encourage little men of mean stature, having skill not to fear any man upon good occasion, those that spend their days without practising skill in weapons, so that when they are wronged they fall to wishing: oh I would to God I had skill in my weapon, for than would I answer the wrong that such a man, and such a man hath done me, but I could wish such unskilful to live quiet, and not to maintain any quarrel, lest they lose their lives for want of experience, as many of them have done.  Scholar. 
Now as you have promised me, I pray you let me hear your opinion concerning the odds between a strong man of strength, and a little or a weak man of stature and strength.  Master. 
Then this briefly is my opinion, a strong man hath great odds at the gripe, or in a close at any blunt weapon, but upon the point of a sharp weapon, in fight a strong man hath small or no odds at all of the little or weak man, wherefore I would not have a little man be afraid of a tall or overgrown man, no although he were far bigger than a man, for in performance of any things to be done with weapons, there is no more to be found in the best of them of great stature upon trial, then is in the ordinary men, or then is in a little or weak man, nay many times the little or weak man doth as good or better service in the face of the enemy upon the point of the weapon than the taller man doth, for although his stature be small, yet commonly a little man's heart is big.   

Observations for a Scholar or any other.  
What length thy weapons should be.  
How you should button your foils for your practice.  
An easy way to weapon thyself at time of need.  
Let thy Rapier or Sword be four foot at the least, and thy Dagger two foot, for it is better have the Dagger too long then too short, and rather hard then soft, for a short dagger may deceive a skilful man his defence, either of blow or thrust: I have often known a soft dagger cut in twain with a Rapier.  
Let thy Staff of practice be seven or eight foot, and better, button both thy foils and thy staves before the practice with them, for otherwise the unskilful may thrust out one another's eyes, yea although there was no harm meant, yet an eye may be lost except the occasion be prevented.  
To make your buttons take wool or flocks, and wrap it round in leather so big as a Tennis-ball, then make a notch within half an inch of your wooden foil or staff, but if it be an Iron foil, then let there be an Iron button riveted on the point, so broad as two pence, and then take your button being made as beforesaid, and set it on the end of your Staff or Foil likewise, and then take leather and draw hard upon it, and bind it with Shoomakers-ends or parck-thread in the notch, and another leather upon that again, for one leather may be worn out with a little praclise.  
Now if thou have a quarrel and willing to answer, and being not furnished with a Rapier, then take a cudgel of what length thou wilt thyself, and make a shoulder within a handful of the end of it▪ by cutting him half way through, and there bind the haft of thy knife, and so the shoulder will keep him from slipping back, and this is as sure and as fearful, and as good as a Rapier to encounter against a Rapier and Dagger, or a Sword and Dagger, so that you have a close hilted Dagger: likewise you may tie a point at the Butt-end of the Cudgel, to put in thy finger that thy Cudgel slip not out of thy hand: this weapon I have made good proof of, but it was in another Country, where I could get no other weapon to my mind.    

CHAP. XII. This Chapter showeth the several kind of weapons which are to be played at.  
NOw one thing more unto the vulgar sort concerning the several sorts of weapons, because unto many it seemeth so strange, that if a Master of Defence should tell them that he can teach thee skill at Fence at twelve several sorts of weapons, they will straightway say, that there are not so many: now for their further satisfaction, they shall hear the division of more than twenty sorts of weapons, which Masters of this Noble art of Defence, are, or, else aught to be expert therein, like unto a skilful Cook which can of one sort of meat make diverse dishes, or like the cunning Physician, who can with a herb being diversely compounded, make it serve to divers purposes and uses: to which effect my meaning is, that an expert Master of Defence can of one kind of weapon make many, as by this sequel following shall appear, and all these weapons have been played at in Challenges, here in England at several times.  

Of the Sword are derived these seven.  
The two hand Sword.  
The Backsword.  
Sword and Dagger.  
Sword and Buckler.  
Short Sword and Dagger.  
The short Sword and Gauntlet.  
The Bastard Sword, the which Sword is something shorter than a long Sword, and yet longer than a Short-sword.   

Now with the Rapier seven more.  
The first Rapier and Dagger.  
The single Rapier.  
The case of Rapiers.  
The Rapier and Cloak.  
The Rapier and Target.  
The Rapier and Gauntlet.  
The Rapier and Pike.  
The Dutch Falchion.  
The Pole-axe.  
The Battle-axe.  
The two Daggers.  
The single Dagger.  
The Halfe-pike.  
The Long-pike.  
The Long-staffe.  
The Quarterstaff.  
The Welch-hooke or Bill.  
The Haulbert.  
The Rapier and Dagger against Short-sword and Dagger.  
Likewise Rapier and Dagger, or Sword and Dagger against a Staff or Haulbert.  
Also the Staff against a Flail.  
Backsword against sword and dagger.  
Single Rapier against Rapier and Dagger.   
Now my second book which is already in hand shall show my judgement, and the chiefest rules according unto my practice at all these several weapons, if death do not prevent me before I have accomplished my pretence, yet for doubt thereof, the defence of the Staff with a Rapier and Dagger, or with Sword and Dagger I will give thee a little direction, which being practised it may stead thee as much as thy life is worth. I do this the rather, and for because that the Staff is a weapon which many men do carry, and with skill it hath great odds against either of the two aforesaid weapons, but yet because every man which carrieth a weapon, hath the perfect skill in that weapon which he carrieth, but admit that he hath good skill, yet in knowing the best Defence, it may prevent thee from a danger.  
Now thou must remember if thou be charged upon with a Staff, suddenly summon up thy wits in that which before hand thou hast learned for thy Defence, and think this with thyself; I am now to encounter against a Staff: why then thus frame thy guard, put thy Dagger across on the inside of thy Rapier or Sword, and let the cross be made within half a foot of thy Rapier or Sword-hilt, bearing up both thy hilts even so high as thy cheek, looking with both thy eyes betwixt both thy weapons.  
Thus being guarded, it may be, that thine enemy will charge thee with a thrust, for because thy breast will seem most open to him, the which and if he do, then turn down the point of thy Rapier and Sword, and with thy Dagger force him down which will be a stronger Defence then with one alone: and thus by turning down both thy points together, strike thine enemies thrust of the Staff towards thy right side: Lo, thus do me with both thy weapons; then will thine enemies thrust pass clear under thy right arm, but neither with the Sword nor yet with the Dagger alone; the thrust of a staff is not to be defended without greater danger then with both of them, as before hath been rehearsed.  
Now and if thine enemy do chance to charge thee with a blow, thereby thinking to drive both thy Rapier and Dagger, or Sword and Dagger unto thy head: For I have known many to be of that opinion with me. But the blow of a Staff, struck at the head, may be defended with the single Sword or Rapier according unto the Backsword rule: but to bear thy Dagger with thy Rapier or Sword, that is the most sure way, keeping both thy points upright, and so to bear them towards the right side, or to thy left side, according as thou shalt perceive thine enemy charge thee.  
Thus will I here conclude and make an end with this short direction concerning this one weapon, because I have spoken something already touching and concerning this purpose, although it be not so ample as now it is, and yet hereafter (by Almighty Gods good help) I will speak more at large hereof, of, this only serveth but to rouse up your spirits, that you may the better prepare yourself for the next. The horse starteth at the Spur, so (in love) I prick you forward in this commendable Art: and so, I hope, that this Whetstone will make your blunt Wits somewhat sharper: Gold is not put in the fire to be consumed, but to be purified; even so I hope, the travel which I have taken herein will not make you to prove worse, but rather somewhat the better in all goodness.  
FINIS.   

My farewell to Plymouth.  
MOST noble Plymouth, the great love which I found in thee amongst both rich and poor, now draws me back again to give thee a now draws me back again to give thee a kind and hearty farewell, and yet at this time I yield but only thanks as my pay- Mistress, but yet I desire not to die indebted, without making some better recompense to some of my chiefest well-willers and friends, if my ability prove answerable to my mind: for a Christmas banquet may be requited at Easter, and so when I am better able I will make amends; but yet me thinks I should not leave so famous a town with such a threadbare farewell, but here may a question arise of those which know it not, why it should be more famous than any other town? which I will tell thee, set her wealth and riches aside, yet for that only not the like town in this land of her bigness, I mean so long as the wars continued, she is also famous for her strong fortification, but more famous for her entertainment; for twenty thousand strangers have had upon a sudden good and sufficient lodging, and other necessaries; yea, whether they have had money, or not, but most famous of all for her gallant harbours, for a thousand ships may safely ride, and all within half a league of the Town; it is the chief arriving place for all the South and West Countries: and in a word, the only Key of England. In the time of wars Plymouth flowed, as it were, with milk and honey, and then it flourished with Gallants great store, tracing the streets so thick in swarms like as at westminster in a Term time, and although many of them went away without bidding thee farewell; yet I will, as it were, bite thee by the finger, because thou shalt remember me, for if it be not possible for the mother to forget her child, than (without all peradventure) I shall never forget thee: Once thou wert a golden place, but now an iron or a leaden town, I mean, in a manner turned upside down, which makes me sorry, and many more; but yet be of good cheer, for after a storm cometh a calm: pluck up thy heart, and let it not grieve thee to see a King content with his kingdom; for if it were not so, it should be so.  
Although of late thy purse hath had a strong purgation, which maketh some of you to shrink up the shoulders like a Spaniard, and hang down the head like a bulrush, and repenting yourselves, that you had not kept the goods better which you got in time of wars; and this me thinketh I hear some of you say yourselves: Oh what a fool was I that took not Time by the forelock before he did pass away, but must now catch at her bald pate, where is nothing to hold by: let it not grieve thee, for if thou hadst those goods again, they would consume like butter against the Sun: for as it is not possible to keep the Indian beef sweet two days, with all the salt in the world, no more is the goods got by the wars to be of any continuance, no although a man had them that were as wise as wit could make them, but it seldom cometh into such men's hands, but rather unto such as resemble Rufus the Ruffian which had God pictured on the in side of his Target, and the devil on the outside, with this poesy on the inside, If thou wilt not have me, the other shall: as not caring whether he went to God or the devil: many such fellows attend upon the fortune of the wars, making havoc and spoil, and many times murdering those that never meant hurt unto them nor their king for whom they fight: for yet such, as I say, make no conscience, but as the Proverb goeth, Rob Peter and pay Paul, accounting all fish which cometh to the net, getting it by hook or by crook, some out of judas bag, and some out of the devils budget: for I have seen a man of war, as hungry upon a poor Fisherman, as they would be on a Carioke, as those that have seen men of war, have seen how unconscionably Rufus the ruffian and his fellows have dealt with those poor Fishermen whose whole estate, for maintenance both for their wives, and children, did rely upon the gains, which the poor men by great pains did get with their boat, yet so hardhearted have these men of war been unto those poor Fishers, that neither for the tears of the old men, which for grief would beat their heads against the ship side, yet neither this nor the pitiful complaint of the young men, for all their yielding and kneeling, yet would they take away their fish, their meat and drink, and their  from their backs, their sails from their yards, yet not so contented, but in the end set them ashore, and either finke their boat or burn him aboard the man of war, to the utter undoing of many a poor man; now judge whether it be possible, that these goods so gotten can prosper, for they are gotten with no better a conscience then a strumpet getteth her money; and therefore it will prosper no better: for look what a strumpet getteth of twenty, she spendeth it upon one which she doth love and affect above all the rest: even so, many soldiers and men of war, what spoils they get, they are not long in spending of it: but as the Proverb goeth, Light come, and light go: ill got, and wickedly spent: for they put it into a bottomless bag, which never holds thirst long.  
Lo, thus my opinion you have heard, and I yield up my verdict thus, That the goods which is gotten by the wars, is ill gotten: and he which hath but one penny worth of ill gotten goods in his house, God will send a curse upon all the rest: then let us pray for peace, rather than wars, and every man learn to labour with his hands, to maintain spending: wherefore, set thy wits and thy hands to labour, and turn over the leaf; I mean, learn a new lesson, for look what is gotten with labour, will be spent with discretion, or else kept with wariness; and so I greet not only Plymouth alone, but all Devonshire and Cornwall, with as many kind commendations, as it is possible for my Pen to express, and all I protest with true love from my heart, and so I leave you, with a thousand Farewells to you all.  
Your everloving friend, JOSEPH SWETNAM,.   

The Author's Conclusion.  
NOw (gentle Reader) I do entreat thee to bear with my rudeness, I am no Scholar, for I do protest I never went to School six months in all my life, nor I never did write one line of this Book by the direction of any other teacher; nor did I ever ask the opinion of any other Professor, since the time that I was first taught, and that was when I was young; and then I had some of my skill in London, and some in other places, where it was my chance to travel. Again, I did write this Book by piece-meal; for after I first began, I lest off writing a week, and sometimes a month together, before I writ again; and so forgetting oftentimes what I had written before. Again, some chief notes I have left out, which I thought I had written of before: wherefore they shall follow in my second Book. Now (Gentle Reader) for thy benefit I have begun, if there be any other that find fault, and cannot amend it, let them judge of their wit that hear them talk: but if I shall hear those myself speak against this Book which do not go about to amend it, then if they were as good as George a Green, yet would I not be feared with deeds, much less with words, but will answer them, not only with words, but with weapons, for this Book was printed in haste, at the earnest request of some friends of mine. Also I wrote it to profit those that can not come where Teachers are▪ and again, there are few which teach this Art that do travel, the reason is, as I think, they are little set by when they come into the country amongst you: Now it is not enough to have this book in thy pocket, but to exercise thy body with all, that thereby thou mayst have the perfect skill thereof in thy head, and so praying thee to excuse me in the gross penning of it, and bear with me a little the rather in that I was never Scholar, as I said before, and as it plainly appeareth by the gross penning of it, but my folly herein shallbe upon my head, yet I pray thee let it pass a little the rather, and give it your good word, for because I have taken pains in hope to do thee good, but not for any gain (I protest before God) but only because I know it so laudable an exercise, and more commendable than any other, we see daily these books scoffed at, which were made by learned and good Scholars, for if there were one which excel ten thousand, yet every one will not speak well of him, but he shall have in spite of his teeth backbiters and faultfinders, much more myself being the lest of ten thousand must not stab every one which will speak in discommendations, both of me and my Book, but if I may escape handwhich are usually contemnors of such laudable exercises: then I account that I have made a good hand.  
For herein I have shown but my own opinion and judgement in setting out this book, now I do not say it is other men's opinions: for none but myself was counsel, nor had any hand in this matter; therefore I make no question that other men are of other minds, yet observing these rules, and bearing these lessons in memory, they may serve thy turn aswell as they have served mine all the days of my life hitherto: but yet believe what you list of it, and leave what you like not, now if in my good intention and true meaning I be undeservedly wronged, I think it willbe by none but such pot-companions which cudgel there wits and beat their brains to shift for money to that use which oftentimes makes the son so hardy as to call his father knave, or worse.  
Now if my book do come unto the view of any such, I will impute it unto the Idleness of their brain, or unto the spitefulness of an envious mind, which will never commend nor allow any other man's manhood, opinion or judgement to be so good as their own, not much like unto the proud Pharizee, who said that his life in all respect was better than any other, now mistake me not, for I do not say so, because you should think that this work cannot be mended, for it is far from my thought to think that this book is so well penned as to be without fault, or to please all, neither is it so well as it might have been, if my leisure would have served me to amend some faults which I know in it myself, indeed, I must confess that there are many in this land of this noble and worthy art besides myself, which might have taken this matter in hand, because many of them are more fit both for wisdom and learning, but I see they have not gone about it, wherefore if any blame me for showing my good will, I hope those which have known me and seen my behaviour will answer for me with reasonable speech against those which object against me: no, if reason will not rule them, but like Balaams' Ass, will strive against weapons, than I pray you refer the quarrel unto myself, and let me answer my own wrong which I have done them herein, for I had rather lose my life in defence of my reputation and credit, if there were such a danger in fight, than my friend should lose one drop of blood in my quarrel: therefore while I am living, wrong me not, for he which fighteth for another, seeketh his own destruction, so praying you if I have offended any, let me answer it myself while I am living, for when I am dead he deals unchristianlike, that will abuse me: and so I rest,  
Thine ever to help thee hereafter in what I may, Thy friend, JOSEPH SWETNAM.