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Difference between revisions of "Hans Medel"

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| <p>And if you stand and have your sword to the other side in the crooked setting-on and not with crossed hands, rather with open arms, then the long edge again stands above and with offsetting as before and thereafter working with warring or otherwise. That is, that you also strike him properly from the offsetting to his head. Or with that, crooking-in or winding-up strikes or thrusts is also good against the fool or the flats. If he throws you over as above, then strike as above, etc.</p>
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| <p>And if you stand and have your sword to the other side in the crooked setting-on and not with crossed hands, rather with open arms, then the long edge again stands above and with offsetting as before and thereafter working with warring or otherwise. That is, that you also strike him properly from the offsetting to his head. This is so that you also strike or thrust him well upon his head from the offsetting. [This] is also good against the fool or the flat. If he throws you over it as above, then strike as above, etc.</p>
 
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| ''When it clashes above, <br/>&emsp; then stand <ref>In the standard verse it is 'ab', not 'fast'</ref>. That I will laud.''
 
| ''When it clashes above, <br/>&emsp; then stand <ref>In the standard verse it is 'ab', not 'fast'</ref>. That I will laud.''
 
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<p>This is when you wish to weaken the master. So note when someone stands hanging in the flat or the fool with the right foot forward. So hew from your right side from the crooked setting-on and set him aside with crossed hands, crooked upon his sword and step toward and as soon as your sword has clashed upon it, stand firm and wait upon the after, etc. Or if you will not wait, then swiftly strike back out from the sword with the short or long edge at his head into his left side or wind the short edge upon his sword with the crooked-hew and stab into his chest or do whatever you think is good.</p>
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<p>This is when you wish to weaken the master. So note when someone stands hanging in the flat or the fool with the right foot forward. So hew from your right side from the crooked setting-on and set him aside with crossed hands, crooked upon his sword and step toward and as soon as your sword has clashed upon it, stand firm and wait upon the after, etc. Or if you will not wait, then swiftly strike back up from the sword with the short or long edge at his head into his left side or wind the short edge on his sword with the crooked-hew and stab into his chest or do whatever you think is good.</p>
 
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| <small>58</small>
 
| <small>58</small>
| ''The squint-hew breaks-into<br/>&emsp;whatever the buffalo strikes or stabs.''
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| ''The squinter breaks-into<br/>&emsp;whatever the buffalo strikes or stabs.''
 
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| <small>59</small>
 
| <small>59</small>
 
| ''Whoever deploys the change, <br/>&emsp;the squinter robs him from that.''
 
| ''Whoever deploys the change, <br/>&emsp;the squinter robs him from that.''
 
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<p>'''Gloss:''' The squint-hew is nothing other than the change-hew. Named according to the record, the squint-hew, which is such an exquisite hew, that breaks-into buffaloes or ruffians, which take victory by force in hews and in stabs. Deploy the hew thusly: If you stand with your right foot forward and lay in the squint-hew, then the thumb must be above on the sword. If he then hews into you from his right side, step into him swiftly in-the-moment with your left foot and offset his hew strongly with your short edge and from that, make a rapid strike from your left shoulder, crooked, with the long edge into the right side of his head, but if he comes against it very quickly and parries your hew so that you come upon his sword, then wind-in above with power and lay your sword on his throat. If he will then escape ever with force, then follow after him just mercifully so he may not rightly escape.</p>
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<p>'''Gloss:''' The squint-hew is nothing other than the change-hew. Named according to the record, the squint-hew, which is such an exquisite hew, that breaks-in<ref>alt: breaks-apart, shatters, asunders; burgles; interrupts</ref> buffaloes or thugs, which take victory by force in hews and in stabs. Deploy the hew thusly: If you stand with your right foot forward and lay in the squint-hew, so that the thumb must be above on the sword. If he then hews into you from his right side, step into him swiftly in-the-moment with your left foot and offset his hew strongly with your short edge and from that, make a rapid strike from your left shoulder, crooked, with the long edge into the right side of his head, but if he comes against it very quickly and parries your hew so that you come upon his sword, then wind-in above with power and lay your sword on his throat. If he will then escape ever with force, then follow after him just mercifully so he may not rightly escape.</p>
 
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| <p>But if you wish to allow him to escape easily, then wind-after him with the war and between his arms as it connects, etc. But if you stand with the left foot forward, then lay your thumb below, so you may again offset his over-hew with the short edge and strike to his left side to the head with the short edge and with the right foot stepping-into. Or, offsetting over his sword, winding-in to his right side to the head or laying upon the throat, etc, war. But if he wishes to change-through in his hew, then wind-in crooked upon his sword and bring forth your work and lay upon him.</p>
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| <p>But if you wish to let him off easy, then wind-after him with the war and between his arms as it connects, etc. But if you stand with the left foot forward, then lay your thumb below, so you may again offset his over-hew with the short edge and strike to his left side to the head with the short edge and with the right foot stepping-into. Or, offsetting over his sword, winding-in to his right side to the head or laying upon the throat, etc, war. But if he wishes to change-through in his hew, then wind-in crooked upon his sword and bring forth your work and lay upon him.</p>
 
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| ''Squint-on if he shortens you. <br/>&emsp;Changing-through brings victory.''<ref>ansiegen: to return with victory</ref>
 
| ''Squint-on if he shortens you. <br/>&emsp;Changing-through brings victory.''<ref>ansiegen: to return with victory</ref>
 
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<p>'''Gloss:''' This is a teaching. When you come to him with the approach, you should squint<ref>glance, discern, glean</ref> whether he stands short or badly against you. So, with this, you shall identify when he hews into you, if he then does not stretch his arms out long from himself, then the sword is shortened. If you then lay before him in the squinter or lay before you in the fool by the head<ref>Ochs</ref>, then it is again shortened. For all windings or standings crooked in the sword in front of the opponent are short and shorten the sword. To all that hold themselves thusly, you shall freely change-through them with the long point out of hews and out of stabs into the face. With that you threaten them such that they must parry or allow themselves to be wounded or pierced. War. Master Hans easily<ref>likes to</ref> changes-through if the right foot is before him and stands in the change or squinter and when one is shortened against him, especially standing in the fool<ref>Ochs</ref>.</p>
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<p>'''Gloss:''' This is a teaching. When you come to him with the approach, you should squint<ref>glance, discern, glean</ref> whether he stands short or badly against you. So, with this, you shall identify when he hews into you, if he then does not stretch his arms out long from himself, then the sword is shortened. If you then lay before him in the squinter or lay before you in the fool by the head<ref>Ochs</ref>, then it is again shortened. For all windings or standings crooked in the sword in front of the opponent are short and shorten the sword. To all that hold themselves thusly, you shall freely change-through them with the long point out of hews and out of stabs into the face. With that you threaten them such that they must parry or allow themselves to be wounded or pierced. War. Master Hans likes to change-through if the right foot is before him and stands in the change or squinter and when one is shortened against him, especially standing in the fool<ref>Ochs</ref>.</p>
 
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| ''Squint to the top of the head <br/>&emsp;if you wish to ruin the hands.''
 
| ''Squint to the top of the head <br/>&emsp;if you wish to ruin the hands.''
 
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<p>'''Master Hans' Gloss:''' This is when you stand in the squinter with your left foot forward and he also holds himself with the left foot forward in the squinter or otherwise as he will. So snap with your sword or flat to his right side into the head. If he overlooks this, then he will be quite prodigiously<ref>could also mean 'carelessly'</ref> struck and thereafter pull swiftly and from that make a hew upon his sword to his left side into his head with the short edge. War.</p>
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<p>'''Master Hans' Gloss:''' This is when you stand in the squinter with your left foot forward and he also holds himself with the left foot forward in the squinter or otherwise however he wishes. So snap in with your sword or flat to his right side into the head. If he overlooks this, then he will be quite prodigiously<ref>could also mean 'carelessly'</ref> struck and thereafter pull swiftly and from that make a hew upon his sword to his left side into his head with the short edge. War.</p>
 
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| <p>Others say as well: When he will cleave-in to you above or stand against you in the long point, then squint with the face as if you will strike atop the head, hew with the short edge against his hew and strike him with the point to the hands upon his sword's edge.</p>
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| <p>Others speak thusly: When he will cleave-in to you above or stand against you in the long point, then squint with the face as if you will strike atop the head, hew with the short edge against his hew and strike him with the point to the hands upon his sword's edge.</p>
 
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| ''With it's turn, <br/>&emsp;the chest is quickly<ref>Alternately: strongly, firmly, steadfastly.</ref> threatened.''
 
| ''With it's turn, <br/>&emsp;the chest is quickly<ref>Alternately: strongly, firmly, steadfastly.</ref> threatened.''
 
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<p>'''Gloss:''' This is when you stand in the squinter with the right foot forward and someone initiates a hew at you with over-hews, etc. So swiftly throw your sword back around into the plunge-hew while he strikes, this is the scalper in the recital and the point opposes him well inside in the scales under his hew or sword into the face or chest. Thereafter, work whatever you wish that is quite threatening to him.</p>
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<p>'''Gloss:''' This is when you stand in the squinter with the right foot forward and someone initiates a hew at you with over-hews, etc. Then, while he strikes in the plunge-hew (this is the scalper in the recital), swiftly throw your sword back around with the point against him well inside in the scales under his hew or sword into the face or chest. Thereafter, work whatever you wish that is quite threatening to him.</p>
 
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| <p>Master Hans Seydenfaden also taught the scalper thusly: straight above from the top of the head striking-into with the long edge and swiftly upon that, an under-hew to the right side of his head. Thereafter according to the two plays in his school rules with other strikes, steps and deception.</p>
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| <p>Master Hans Seydenfaden also taught the scalper thusly: initiate a hew straight above from the top of the head with the long edge and swiftly upon that, an under-hew to the right side of his head. Thereafter according to the two plays in his school rules with other strikes, treads and deception.</p>
 
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| ''What comes from him, <br/>&emsp;the crown takes away.''
 
| ''What comes from him, <br/>&emsp;the crown takes away.''
 
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<p>'''Master Hans' Gloss:''' This is when someone has thrown-in the point at you with the scalper as is first taught. So break the crown against it, because it breaks the scalper thusly: If he also stands as such, then fall into the hew with your hilt over his blade or over the grip between both hands and back off so he will be struck upon the head, etc. This is called the crown.</p>
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<p>'''Master Hans' Gloss:''' This is when someone has thrown-in the point at you with the scalper as is first taught. So break the crown against it, because it breaks the scalper thusly: If he also stands as such, then fall into the hew with your hilt over<ref>across</ref> his blade or over<ref>across</ref> the grip between both hands and back off so he will be struck upon the head, etc. This is called the crown.</p>
 
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| <p>Others differ thusly: When you hew-in above with the scalper, if he then parries high with the sword gripped with an armed hand or athwart over the head. That is called the crown against Seydenfaden's scalper and with that run-in with shoving, etc. It also takes away the scalper. It also breaks one as such again as above with the hilt thrown over that and cast down.</p>
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| <p>Others differ thusly: When you hew-in above with the scalper, if he then parries high with the sword gripped with an armed hand or athwart over the head. That is called the crown against Seydenfaden's scalper and with that run-in with shoving, etc. It also takes-off the scalper. This also breaks someone like this again as above with the hilt thrown over that and cast down.</p>
 
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| ''Press the strike. <br/>&emsp;It moves-aside with cutting.''
 
| ''Press the strike. <br/>&emsp;It moves-aside with cutting.''
 
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<p>'''Master Hans' Gloss:''' This is when someone moves the scalper aside with the crown in the same way as above. So follow after him and move him so you cut him in the head, etc. Then you withdraw to the side.</p>
+
<p>'''Master Hans' Gloss:''' This is when someone backs off the scalper with the crown in the same way as above. So follow after him and backing him so you cut him on the head, etc. Then you separate off to the side.</p>
 
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| <p>Other differ thusly: when he parries the scalper or otherwise a hew with the armed crown and with that runs-in, then take the cut under his hands, into his arms and press firmly upward and with the strike move yourself aside with it.</p>
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| <p>Other differ thusly: when he parries the scalper or otherwise a hew with the armed crown and with that runs-in, then take the cut under his hands, into his arms and press firmly upward and with the stroke back yourself off with it.</p>
 
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| <p>Master Hans makes one thing out of the fool from-the-roof thusly: When he stands with the right foot forwards, then he guilelessly hews-down from-the-roof and makes no more than three positions, and how you shall fence from the guards or positions, you shall find it before and hereafter. Particularly, you may also make your work from those as follows hereafter in the seven stances, therein other positions are understood if someone wishes to break them, etc.</p>
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| <p>Master Hans makes one thing out of the fool from-the-roof thusly: When he stands with the right foot forwards, then he guilelessly hews-down from-the-roof and hews-through before him upon the left side in the fool. This he calls the 'fool from the roof' and makes no more than three positions. And how you shall fence from the guards or positions, you shall find that before and herafter. Also in particular, you may make your work from those as it follows hereafter in the seven stances. Therein other positions are handled if someone will break yours<ref>your leger</p>, etc.
 
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| <p>Master Hans also explains the four positions or guards differently than the others, as you generally find in all other glosses (which are not as deceptive to me).</p>
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| <p>Master Hansen's art also explains the four positions or guards differently than some as you generally find in all other glosses which are not as sensible to me.</p>
 
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Revision as of 22:40, 29 April 2017

Hans Medel von Salzburg

A play from Medel's fencing manual
Born 15th century
Died 16th century
Occupation Fencing master
Citizenship Salzburg, Germany
Movement Liechtenauer tradition
Influences
Genres Fencing manual
Language Early New High German
Manuscript(s) Codex I.6.2º.5 (1539)
Concordance by Michael Chidester
Translations Magyar fordítás

Hans Medel von Salzburg (Hans Niedel, Hans Mendel) was an early 16th century German fencing master. Salzburg is a city in northern Austria, and he seems to have operated as a burgher and Schirmmeister there from at least 1503.[1] Little else is known about this master, but he seems to have been associated with the tradition of Johannes Liechtenauer. He may have traced his lineage through Hans Seydenfaden von Erfurt, a member of the Fellowship of Liechtenauer,[2] as Medel's text is the only known source that mentions the earlier master's teachings.

Medel's name is attached to a manuscript treatise on swordsmanship from 1539, including an incomplete gloss of Liechtenauer's Recital and an addendum on fencing based on "the Seven Stances". This gloss is unique in the Liechtenauer tradition in that it not only offers direct commentary on the Recital, but also demonstrates an awareness of the earlier glosses of Sigmund ain Ringeck (from which a great deal of text is lifted) and Pseudo-Peter von Danzig, and even includes occasional criticisms of and corrections to their teachings. In a few places the gloss specifically describes a teaching of Hans Seydenfaden or Hans Medel, but in several more it merely attributes the teaching to "Master Hans" without indicating which one. This manuscript eventually passed into the library of Paulus Hector Mair, who bound it into the current Codex I.6.2º.5 some time after 1566; unfortunately, the extant fragment of the gloss terminates abruptly at the beginning of the section on Zucken, and the remainder of Medel's gloss is currently lost.

Treatise

Additional Resources

References

  1. Mitteilungen der Gesellschaft für Salzburger Landeskunde, vol. 40. Salzburg, 1900. p 177.
  2. The Fellowship of Liechtenauer is recorded in three versions of Paulus Kal's treatise: MS 1825 (1460s), Cgm 1570 (ca. 1470), and MS KK5126 (1480s).
  3. alt: right
  4. alt: side
  5. alt: defense
  6. the artist/professional doing their work
  7. alt: gladly valuing in the arts
  8. alt: gladly valuing with kindness
  9. alt: right
  10. alt: weapon
  11. eindrohen: to imminently threaten
  12. Zeck: a biting insect, ie: a tick.
  13. alt: closer, sooner
  14. this is usually the term for the severing of limbs/extremities, though can mean hewing while exiting
  15. widerschlagen: to strike against, in a reverberating sense
  16. rechnen: compute, take into account, align
  17. towards
  18. In the standard verse it is 'ab', not 'fast'
  19. severely, precisely, ruthlessly, violently
  20. videlicet: namely; to wit
  21. abhauen: to sever or to hew in exit
  22. alt: high
  23. ausheben: lift out
  24. conjecture, possibly: 'neben'
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 25.6 25.7 25.8 25.9 The text here is hidden by a crease in the page.
  26. alt: breaks-apart, shatters, asunders; burgles; interrupts
  27. ansiegen: to return with victory
  28. glance, discern, glean
  29. Ochs
  30. Ochs
  31. Ochs
  32. could also mean 'carelessly'
  33. Alternately: strongly, firmly, steadfastly.
  34. across
  35. across
  36. rappen: to gather, to snatch, to seize
  37. no apparent verb here. A similar construction appears below with the added phrase: "set-upon upon the four endings to both sides"
  38. alt: flying
  39. alt: exit
  40. mitmachen: join, unite, combine, participate
  41. alternately: old
  42. marginalia: 'malz' => bad, weak
  43. Or possibly "maler"
  44. Here some pages apparently have been lost, unfortunately.
  45. alt: across
  46. alt: it
  47. alt: inside
  48. alt: misleading
  49. alt: across
  50. alt: open