View source for H. Beringer

{{infobox medieval text
<!-----------Name---------->
 | name                  = Modus Dimicandi
 | alternative title(s)  = Method of Fighting
<!----------Image---------->
 | image                 = File:MS G.B.f.18a 123v.png
 | width                 = x200px
 | caption               = 
<!----------Information---------->
 | full title            = 
 | also known as         = 
 | author(s)             = 
 | ascribed to           = [[name::H. Beringer]]{{#set:occupation=Fencing master}}
 | compiled by           = 
 | illustrated by        = 
 | patron                = 
 | dedicated to          = 
 | audience              = 
 | language              = {{plainlist
  | [[language::Early New High German]]
  | [[language::Renaissance Latin]]
 }}
 | date                  = 
 | state of existence    = 
<!----------Manuscript Information---------->
 | genre                 = [[Fencing manual]]
 | archetype(s)          = [[Modus Dimicandi (MS G.B.f.18a)|MS G.B.f.18a]] (1416-44)
 | manuscript(s)         = [[Die Meisterlieder des Hans Folz (MS Q.566)|MS Q.566]] (1479)
 | principal manuscript(s)=
 | first printed edition = 
 | wiktenauer compilation by=[[Michael Chidester]]
 | translations          = {{plainlist
  | {{english translation|http://talhoffer.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/ms-g-b-f-18-a-modus-dimicandi-magistri-h-beringois/}}
  | {{german translation|http://talhoffer.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/ms-g-b-f-18-a-modus-dimicandi-magistri-h-beringois/|1}}
 }}
 | below                 = 
}}
'''Magister H. Beringer''' was a [[century::15th century]] writer credited with recording a poem on fencing with some connection to the [[Recital]] of [[Johannes Liechtenauer]]. It is first recorded in the [[Modus Dimicandi (MS G.B.f.18a)|MS G.B.f.18a]] (ca. 1416-44), and thus predates all records of Liechtenauer's teachings.<ref name="Kleinau">[[Jens P. Kleinau]]. "[https://talhoffer.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/ms-g-b-f-18-a-modus-dimicandi-magistri-h-beringois/ 1418 Modus Dimicandi Magistri H. Beringois of the Ms. G.B.f.18.a]". ''Hans Talhoffer ~ A Historical Martial Arts blog by Jens P. Kleinau'', 09 July 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2017.</ref> The opening of the verse includes a blessing indicating that Beringer was deceased at the time of writing. With only a last name and very common first initial, it is difficult to identify Beringer as any historical person; James Acutt suggests that he may have been Heinrich Beringer of Wismar, thereby placing both Beringer and Liechtenauer as priests, but there is no strong corroborating evidence.<ref name="Acutt">James Acutt. "[http://chivalry.org.uk/beringois.html Magister H. Beringois: An investigation into ThULB Jena: Ms.G.B.f.18a (Bl. 123va-b)]". ''Chivalry''. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2017.</ref>

The extreme difference in the order of verses between Beringer and Liechtenauer, along with the fact that Beringer's text includes only half<ref>113 of the 218 lines.</ref> of one section of Liechtenauer's Recital, makes a direct transmission from one master to the other seem unlikely. Rather, it may be that both men were heritors of an older oral tradition in which the exact sequence of verses was not set, or even that Beringer's verse represents just one of the teachings that Liechtenauer learned and compiled over the course of the journeys described by [[Pseudo-Hans Döbringer]].<ref>See MS 3227a, [[Page:MS 3227a 13v.jpg|fol. 13v]].</ref>

Beringer's verse was recapitulated by [[Hans Folz]] in the [[Die Meisterlieder des Hans Folz (MS Q.566)|MS Q.566]] (1479), but in an unattributed and garbled form which indicates that he did not copy from the MS G.B.f.18a. The fact that this version includes four couplets recognizable from Liechtenauer but omitted from the Beringer version suggests that Folz's source may have been a more complete version.<ref name="Acutt"/>

== Treatise ==

In the presentation below, the teaching has been arranged in verses for clarity; line divisions are determined based on rhyme scheme and extrapolation from Liechtenauer. Hans Folz's verses have been rearranged to match the sequence given by Beringer, and the verses that are not found in Beringer have been inserted based on their positions in Folz and checked against Liechtenauer's verse.

{{master begin
 | title = Long Sword
 | width = 93em;
}}
{| class="master"
|-  
! style="width:33em;" | <p>{{rating|c|Draft Translation (from the Jena)}}<br/>by [[Jay Acutt]]</p>
! <p>[[Modus Dimicandi (MS G.B.f.18a)|Jena Version]] (1416-44){{edit index|Modus Dimicandi (MS G.B.f.18a)}}<br/>Transcribed by [[Jay Acutt]]</p>
! <p>[[Die Meisterlieder des Hans Folz (MS Q.566)|Weimar Version]] (1479){{edit index|Die Meisterlieder des Hans Folz (MS Q.566)}}<br/>Transcribed by [[Andreas Meier]]</p>

|- 
| <p>'''Here follows Master Beringer’s (blessed memory) Good and True mode of Combat'''</p>
{| class="zettel"
|- 
| <small>1</small>
| Young knight study <br/>to love God and to treat women with dignity.<ref>The word “Ere” may be aligned with the modern German “Ehre” meaning “honour”. I have aimed to use a translation which rhymes, but have also suggested the term stemming from the Latin term for honour: dignitas. Dignity and Honour in this context are therefore captured as synonyms. Bailey (1675), seems to agree “Dignity (dignité, F. of Dignitas, L) Honour, Reputation</ref>
|- 
| <small>2</small>
| <br/>Practice knighthood and study,
|- 
| <small>3</small>
| the material<ref>Aristotle’s Res (material, or “thing”). HS3227a, Wolfenbüttel record “Matter” (Dingen), whereas Talhoffer (1443), Rome (1452), Ringeck Dresden (1504) record “Art” (Kunst), Aristotle’s Ars.Wachter (169-170) suggests “Dinghen” means “to contend” (contendere), whilst “to ding” is to “give a great blow”.</ref> that exalts you, <br/>and in battle truly glorifies you.
|- 
| <small>4</small>
| Lance,<ref>I offer “Lance” in accordance with the aforementioned dialect (Schiller & Lübben (1875, 119) Mittelniederdeutsches Wörterbuch. (1863, 136) Urkunderbuch des Historischen Vereins für Niedersachsen, Volumes 6-8. von der Hagen, FH (1843, 62) Germania, Volumes 5-6;). Kleinau suggests “Glaive, wrestling, spear,” (Glevringen . sper)</ref><br/>Spear, Sword and Machete,
|- 
| <small>5</small>
| Manfully wield<br/>and be a threat in another’s hands.
|- 
| <small>6</small>
| Wrathful cuts Crumple, Across<br/>with Scalps<ref>Kleinau offers “Wrath-Strike, Crook-Strike, Cross-Strike has Slant-Strike with Parting-Strike” although the use of the term “strike” is a modern extrapolation which does not appear in the source. I have offered a pseudo- sentence in a bid to suggest that the couplet means something different to the uninitiated; whereas the initiated would understand the keywords as names for strikes.</ref> has Squints.
|}
| {{section|Page:MS G.B.f.18a 123v.png|1|lbl=123v-a}}
| 
<p>{{section|Page:MS Q566 147v.jpg|2|lbl=147v|p=1}}<br/><br/></p>

<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>{{section|Page:MS Q566 147v.jpg|9|lbl=-|p=1}}

|- 
| <p>'''The War'''</p>
{| class="zettel"
|- 
| <small>7</small>
| Whoever cuts above you, <br/>Wrathful cuts-point threatens.
|- 
| <small>8</small>
| Should he defend, <br/>Take it over without risk.
|- 
| <small>9</small>
| Against stronger <br/>then turn the point, if he spots that aim it low.
|- 
| <small>10</small>
| Pull up high overhead,<br/>thus resolves the battle.<ref>Read: Trial by battle.</ref>
|- 
| <small>11</small>
| Crumple not, with the shift,<br/>the short cut is evident:
|- 
| <small>12</small>
| Crumple up lithely, <br/>throw the point over the [his] hands:
|- 
| <small>13</small>
| Crumple whoever wants to position <br/>with stepping, many cuts are harmed: 
|- 
| <small>14</small>
| Crumple who confuses you, <br/>with the noble war you confuse, 
|- 
| <small>15</small>
| The Cross escorts<br/>what comes from Heaven,<ref>I believe the wording here lends a clue to the meanings, by referencing the double-meaning of “Cross” as crucifix, the scribe suggests that Christ welcomes that which comes from God, a reference inevitably to the trial by combat as a Judgement of God.</ref>
|- 
| <small>16</small>
| Cross to the point <br/>to take the neck without fear,
|- 
| <small>17</small>
| Squint from on high, <br/>so that you will be in command, 
|- 
| <small>18</small>
| The scalper at his angle <br/>is a threat to the face.
|}
| {{section|Page:MS G.B.f.18a 123v.png|2|lbl=-}}
| <p><br/></p>

{{section|Page:MS Q566 147v.jpg|10|lbl=147v|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:MS Q566 148r.jpg|1|lbl=148r|p=1}}

|- 
| <p>'''Here are precautions'''</p>
{| class="zettel"
|- 
| <small>19</small>
| If you’re easy to flight,<br/>never shall you learn to fight.
|- 
| <small>20</small>
| <br/>Now, 
|- 
| <small>21</small>
| Before and After, those two things<br/>are the origin of all things.
|- 
| <small>22</small>
| Now, Before and After<br/>into the battle, do not be last;
|- 
| <small>23</small>
| if the battle roams up high,<br/>then down below may he be shamed.
|- 
| <small>24</small>
| Hear what is worst:<br/>don’t fight from the left when you are right, 
|- 
| <small>25</small>
| since left instead of right,<br/>also hear, lags behind.
|- 
| <small>26</small>
| I say veritably,<br/>no man may protect himself without risk, 
|- 
| <small>27</small>
| so you have been told&mdash;<br/>do not let him come to blows.
|}
| 
{{section|Page:MS G.B.f.18a 123v.png|3|lbl=-|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:MS G.B.f.18a 123v.png|4|lbl=123v-b|p=1}}
| <p><br/></p>

{{section|Page:MS Q566 148r.jpg|2|lbl=148r|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:MS Q566 147v.jpg|3|lbl=147v|p=1}}

|- 
| <p>'''On the inclines'''<ref>Trajectories/planes.</ref></p>
{| class="zettel"
|- 
| <small>28</small>
| Two inclines:<br/>down from both hands, up from the ground.
|- 
| <small>29</small>
| Whoever pulls his blow<br/>quickly away from you,
|- 
| <small>30</small>
| then so the master<br/>strikes at the flat
|- 
| <small>31</small>
| firmly, at the Plough, <br/>at the Ox.
|- 
| <small>32</small>
| He who cuts afterwards:<br/>his skill cuts with little joy<ref>Avail.</ref>,
|- 
| <small>33</small>
| and cut whatever you wish,<br/>so that no shifts<ref>''Wechseler''.</ref> may penetrate your defence.<ref>''Schilt''.</ref>
|- 
| <small>34</small>
| <br/><br/>

|}
| {{section|Page:MS G.B.f.18a 123v.png|5|lbl=-}}
| <p><br/></p>

{{section|Page:MS Q566 147v.jpg|4|lbl=147v|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:MS Q566 148r.jpg|5|lbl=148r|p=1}}

|- 
| 
{| class="zettel"
|- 
| <small>35</small>
| <br/><br/>
|- 
| <small>36</small>
| Whoever does fore-stall,<br/>severely damages the Postures.
|- 
| <small>37</small>
| Set upon the four extremities,<br/>and remain there if you wish to stop.<ref>Read: Stop the fight.</ref>
|- 
| <small>38</small>
| Guard yourself from Fore-stalling,<br/>since if it’s done to you,
|- 
| <small>39</small>
| it is difficult to defend. <br/>Thus it is that you fore-stall, however he comes at you.
|- 
| <small>40</small>
| Heed my advice:<br/>quickly strike cuts away<ref>Read: Away from you.</ref> with diligence.
|- 
| <small>41</small>
| Learn ''terminus''<ref>''Nach rysen''.</ref><br/>tread forwards, and slice in defence.
|- 
| <small>42</small>
| Do the ‘Speaking-Window’<br/>to stand bravely and observe his form.
|- 
| <small>43</small>
| Without any risk<br/>regardless of how he persists.
|- 
| <small>44</small>
| In all rotations<br/>learn to find the cut, stab, slice.
|- 
| <small>45</small>
| That should you note above,<br/>if the Postures are flexible or firm.
|- 
| <small>46</small>
| Pull if he pulls, pull moreso,<br/>[then] he will work to step toward you.
|}
| 
<br/><br/>{{section|Page:MS G.B.f.18a 123v.png|6|lbl=-|p=1}}
| 
{{section|Page:MS Q566 148r.jpg|8|lbl=-|p=1}}<br/><br/><br/>{{section|Page:MS Q566 147v.jpg|7|lbl=147v|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:MS Q566 147v.jpg|5|lbl=-|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:MS Q566 147v.jpg|6|lbl=-|p=1}}<br/><br/><br/>{{section|Page:MS Q566 147v.jpg|8|lbl=-|p=1}}

|- 
| 
{| class="zettel"
|- 
| <small>47</small>
| <br/><br/>
|- 
| <small>48</small>
| Shifting twofold,<br/>the Ancient Slice shall you perform.
|- 
| <small>49</small>
| Feint who is below,<br/>afterwards flow where you want.
|- 
| <small>50</small>
| March forward twice <br/>into your guard, and don’t be sluggish.
|- 
| <small>51</small>
| If you clash above,<br/>then going to a stand-off I do condone.
|- 
| <small>52</small>
| Whoever goes to strike you,<br/>hit transversely, and a break 
|- 
| <small>53</small>
| will you reckon:<br/>four openings skilfully broken.
|- 
| <small>54</small>
| High duplicate,<br/>Low mutate&mdash;
|- 
| <small>55</small>
| know four openings,<br/>thus you may strike with certainty.
|- 
| <small>56</small>
| Allow the point to hang, <br/>seize the pommel so that you may grapple,
|- 
| <small>57</small>
| four are the slices:<br/>with two low, two high, etc.
|}
| 
<br/><br/>{{section|Page:MS G.B.f.18a 123v.png|7|lbl=-|p=1}}
| 
{{section|Page:MS Q566 148r.jpg|7|lbl=148r|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:MS Q566 148r.jpg|3|lbl=-|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:MS Q566 148r.jpg|6|lbl=-|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:MS Q566 148r.jpg|4|lbl=-|p=1}}

|- 
| class="noline" | <p>'''And here is the Art at an End.'''</p>
| class="noline" | {{section|Page:MS G.B.f.18a 123v.png|8|lbl=-}}
| class="noline" | 

|}
{{master end}}

{{master begin
  | title = Copyright and License Summary
  | width = 100%;
}}
For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the [[Talk:{{PAGENAME}}|discussion page]].

<section begin="sourcebox"/>{{sourcebox header}}
{{sourcebox
 | work        = Translation
 | authors     = [[translator::Jay Acutt]]
 | source link = http://chivalry.org.uk/beringois.html
 | source title= "Magister H. Beringois: An investigation into ThULB Jena: Ms.G.B.f.18a (Bl. 123va-b)"
 | license     = copyrighted
}}
{{sourcebox
 | work        = Jena Transcription
 | authors     = [[Jay Acutt]]
 | source link = 
 | source title= [[Index:Modus Dimicandi (MS G.B.f.18a)]]
 | license     = copyrighted
}}
{{sourcebox
 | work        = Weimar Transcription
 | authors     = [[Andreas Meier]]
 | source link = 
 | source title= [[Index:Die Meisterlieder des Hans Folz (MS Q.566)]]
 | license     = copyrighted
}}
{{sourcebox footer}}<section end="sourcebox"/>
{{master end}}

== Additional Resources ==



== References ==

{{reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beringer, H}}
{{Liechtenauer tradition}}
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[[Category:Masters]]

[[Category:German]]
[[Category:Latin]]

[[Category:Longsword]]

[[Category:New format]]