Balthasaro Cramonio Pomerano

Balthasaro Cramonio Pomerano
Influences	Johannes Herbart von Würzburg
Influenced	Heinrich von Gunterrodt
Genres	Fencing manual
Language	Early New High German
Notable work(s)	Austeilunge oder Ordnunge des Zirckelfechtens
Translations	Alternate English translation

Balthasaro Cramonio Pomerano was a 16th century Polish fencing master. What little is known about his life is recorded in the 1579 treatise of his associate (or possibly student) Heinrich von Gunterrodt. From this source, we know that he was a student of Johannes Herbart von Würzburg and was also a medical student at the time. Gunterrodt also states that he had been maimed in a fight with "criminals" and lost the use of his left arm (and then learned to fence with his right, implying that he had been left-handed).

He is likely the author of a broadside titled Austeilunge oder Ordnunge des Zirckelfechtens ("Exposition or Ordering of the Circle-fencing"). It is written in German with scattered Latin words and phrases and signed B. C. P.; curiously, it includes many references to a diagram consisting of circles, triangles, and curved lines which is not present on the broadsheet but survives separately. The short Latin and German poems at the bottom also appear in Gunterrodt's works and he includes similar fencing teachings in his book, suggesting that the two texts are part of the same tradition.

It's unclear where or when these two documents were printed or distributed; the two known copies of the broadsheet and three known copies of the diagram were all inserted into copies of other fencing treatises. Both are glued into one surviving copy of Gunterrodt's book, and copies of the diagram without the broadsheet are glued into another copy of Gunterrodt's book and his 1579 manuscript. The other known copy of the broadsheet is glued into a copy of the 1570 treatise of Joachim Meyer.

Treatise

Broadside

Illustration from Sciomachia et hoplomachia	Draft Translation (2019) by Reinier van Noort	Transcription  by Michael Chidester
	Exposition or ordering of the Circle fencing. How this must be practiced and used according to this ordering with all weapons, as required by the workings and division of a man, as well as the division of the blade of every weapon, presented in a thorough explanation. However, those who want to learn and fence with the rapier alone must note the following rules and what they contain very thoroughly.	AVsteilunge oder Ordnunge des Zirckelfechtens / wie dasselbige in allen Wehren / nach solcher Ordnung sol geübet vnd gebraucht werden / wie es die Erbeit vnd die Teilung des Mans / auch die Teilung der Klingen in einer jedern Wehren erfodert / one gründtliche erklerung fürgestellet. Welche aber im Rapier allein lernen vnd fechten / sollen nachfolgende Regulas fein unterschiedlich / was sie in sich halten / mercken.
	First Rule. Preparation in the thrusts. The thrusts with displacement. How you must all learn the upper thrust, firstly with a step, then also before someone or the circle, from above to the point ●, or from the circumference to the centre ●, with displacement or a rotated hand. In this manner all thrusts are formed, and used before someone, when you thrust at their body; namely the middle, lower and changing thrusts, from both sides. Radii A, B, C, etc. Secondly, the thrusts and cuts together, as you learned the middle, lower and changing thrusts, which are also commonly thrust with openings, and are also called the thrusts with openings. Radially from the circumference in to the centre ●. The third manner of thrusting are the wound thrusts, as the figure set above the circle demonstrates. This has has been placed outside the circle because this does not perturb the circle. They must also be thrust wound and thrust with displacements, in accordance with the special form of the radius from the circumference to the ●.	Ⅰ. Regula / Vorarbeitt mit den Stichen. Ⅰ. Die Stiche mit versatzunge wie ir alle den Vberstich / erstlich mit dem Tritt / darnach auch für dem Man oder Zirckel von oben nach dem Puncto ● oder ex circumferentia ad centrum ● mit Vorsatzung oder vorwandter Hand habt erstlich stechen gelernet / nach solcher art werden alle stich formieret / vnd vor dem Man gebraucht / die man stracks nach dem Leibe zusticht / als nemlich der Mittel / Unter / vnd wechsel Stich von beiden Seiten Semidiametri A. B. C. etc. Ⅱ. Vors ander die Stiche vnd Hiebe zusammen / wie ir den Mittelstich / vnder / vnd wechsel gelernet / welche auch gemeiniglich werden mit blösse gestochen / werden auch die Stiche mit blösse genandt Semidiametri à circumferentia vsque ad centrum ●. Ⅲ. Die dritte art zu Stechen sein die Gewundene Stiche / wie die Figura vber dem Circulo gesetzet ausweiset / ist derwgen ausserhalb dem Circulo gesetzet / das es den Zirckel nicht perturbierer, sollen auch mit vorsatzunge gewunden vnd gestochen werden / iuxta formam specialem Semidiametri ex circumferentia ad ●.
	Second Rule. Secondly, you must note the displacements or barring-thrusts. These barrings or displacements are also threefold, or of three kinds. Firstly, that you interchange the thrust with the hand, with a fore-cut. Radially, from the circumference to the centre. Secondly, that you set on with displacement. This shall be done before you touch the other’s blade, or when someone goes off the blade again, and pulls back the hand in all workings, whether thrusts or cuts. Radially, letters A, B, C, etc. The third manner of the displacement of the thrusts is done with the half circle, and must be used when you thrust at someone’s hand, or on the blade, when with the thrusts, you go or wind through on either side of the hilt. Half-circle 1, 2.	Ⅱ. Regula. Zum Andern sollet ir die Vorsatzungen oder Stich sperren mercken / welcher sperren oder vorsatzungen auch dreierley oder dreier art sein. Ⅰ. Erstlich als das man der Handt / mit dem Vorhiebe den Stich vorbeut. Semidiametri ex circumferentia ad centrum. Ⅱ. Zum Andern / das man ansetzet mit vorsatzung / Solches sol geschehen ehe man einem andern an die Klinge kümpt / oder wenn einer wider von der Klingen abgehet / vnd die Hand zu rücke zucht in aller erbeit / es sein Stiche oder Hiebe. Semidiametri lit: A. B. C. &c. Ⅲ. Die Dritte art der Vorsatzunge der Stiche geschiet mit dem halben Zirckel / vnd sol gebraucht werden / wenn man jemand nach der Handt sticht / oder an der Klingen / wenn man mit dem Sticheneben dem Gefess auff beiden seiten durchgehet oder durch windet mit dem Stich. Semicirculus. Ⅰ. ⅱ.
	Third Rule. After-work. After-thrust against all cuts and barring-thrusts. Figure 7 is here. As often as I have displaced a thrust or cut correctly, I can give a thrust again with a good displacement on the blade to the openings on the body of my opponent, before he comes to the displacement again, as you are all taught.	Ⅲ. Regula. Nacharbeit. Nachstich auff alle Haw vnd Stichsperren. Figur: 7. hoc est. So offt als ich einstich oder hieb recht vorsetzet hab / kan ich mit guter vorsatzunge an der Klingen nach den blössen des Leibes meinem Widerpart wider ein Stichgeben / ehe derselbe wider zur Vorsatzunge kümpt / wie ir alle vnterrichtet worden.
	Fourth Rule. Fore-work of the cuts. Driving cuts at someone from above and below, from the middle, and from all places, cut at the opponent however you can and may. Diameters letters A, B, C, etc. Half and full cut before someone, with the due edge. Radii letters A, B, C, etc. This is when, with the half and full edge, you cut to around from all capitals in the circle, on the blade.	ⅢⅠ. Regula. Vorarbeidt von den hieben. Ⅰ. Triebhewe zu dem Man von oben vnd vnten / aus der mitte / vnd von allen örten / wie man immer kan vnd mag zu dem Gegentheil zuhewet. Diametri lit: A. B. C. &c. Ⅱ. Halb vnd gantze haw vor dem Man mit gehöriger Schneide Semidiametri lit: A. B. C. &c. Das ist wenn man mit halber vnd gantzer Schneide an der Klinge von allen buchstaben im Zirckel herumb zuhawet.
	Fifth Rule. Barring-cuts, or displacing[-cuts]. Triangle number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. This is how you must displace all cuts that are struck from the circumference to the centre, only with the double or twofold triangle, though according to the particular divisions of both blades. This will be discussed orally, and not be set here duly. However, the four circles, from the centre to the edge of the circle, by the joining of the division. Then the triangle.	Ⅴ. Regula / Hewsperren oder Vorsatzungen Triangulus. Num. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Das ist / wie man alle Hew die ex circumferentia ad centrum geschlagen werden / allein mit dem doppelten oder zweyfechtigen Triangulo / doch nach vnterschiedlicher austeilunge beider Klingen versetzen sol / welchs mündlich bericht werden sol / hie nicht gebürlich zusetzen / doch zeigen die 4. Circuli à centro ad extremum circulum diuisionem armorum. Item Triangulus.
	Sixth Rule. After cut and after-thrust against the upper barring-cuts, letters a, b, c, etc. This is, when with the triangle, you have displaces all cuts that are struck from above, properly according to the division of both blades, that without reaching back or twitching, you cut or thrust after, though in the right place in the blade. This will also be discussed orally, in person.	Ⅵ. Regula. Nach hew vnd Nachstich auff die obern Hawsperren litt: a. b. u. ß. Das ist / wenn man mit dem Triangulo alle Hew die von oben geschlagen werden / recht nach der austeilung beider Klingen versetzet hat / das man vnausgeholet oder gezuckt / stracks nachhewet oder sticht / doch am rechten ort in der Klingen / welches auch mündlich in gegenwart sol bericht werden.
		Pancratiasten agens fortem distinguere recta,  Corpus & arma simul diuisione sciat.
	They who want to fence and grapple right, They divide the opponent and the blade. Thus, you will always persist well, When you can use this properly before your opponent.   B[althasaro] C[ramonio] P[omerano]	Wer recht wil Fechten vnd Ringen / Der teil den Mann vnd die Klingen / So wird er allzeit wol bestahn / Wenn ers vorm Mann recht brauchen kan.   B. C. P.

Copyright and License Summary

For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.

Work	Author(s)	Source	License
Illustration (MS Dresd.C.15)	Sächsische Landesbibliothek	Sächsische Landesbibliothek
Translation	Reinier van Noort	Ense et Mente
Transcription	Michael Chidester	Wiktenauer

Additional Resources

• Gevaert, Bert. The True Principles of Combat: An underestimated martial arts treatise from the 16th century. Freelance Academy Press, 2020. ISBN 978-1-937439-06-4