Wiktenauer logo.png

Difference between revisions of "Fiore de'i Liberi/Poleaxe"

From Wiktenauer
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 15: Line 15:
 
| [[File:Pisani-Dossi MS 27a-a.png|300px|center]]
 
| [[File:Pisani-Dossi MS 27a-a.png|300px|center]]
 
|  
 
|  
[1] {{red|The Stance of the Shortened Serpent}}'''
+
[1] {{red|b=1|The Stance of the Shortened Serpent}}
  
<poem style="font-style:italic;">I am the Shortened Stance, the Serpent, with axe in hand;  
+
<poem style="font-style:italic;">I am the Shortened Stance, the Serpent, with axe in hand;
 
If my thrust does not miss, I will made trouble for you.
 
If my thrust does not miss, I will made trouble for you.
 
&nbsp;</poem>
 
&nbsp;</poem>
  
I am ''Posta Breve la Serpentina'' (Short Serpentine Position), I maintain myself better than the others. To whom I give my thrust, the sign will show itself well. This point is strong, for passing through cuirasses (''coraze'') and breastplates (''panceroni'').<ref name="armor">Possibly the first refers to a coat of plates while the latter refers to a solid breastplate.</ref> Defend yourself, that I want to try it.
+
I am the Short Serpent Guard and I consider myself better than the other guards. And whoever receives one of my thrusts will bear the scars.<ref>Fiore literally says “will be marked”.</ref> This guard delivers a powerful thrust that can penetrate cuirasses and breastplates. Fight with me<ref>Fiore literally says “defend yourself”.</ref> if you want to see the proof.
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
Line 39: Line 39:
 
| [[File:Pisani-Dossi MS 27a-b.png|300px|center]]
 
| [[File:Pisani-Dossi MS 27a-b.png|300px|center]]
 
|  
 
|  
[2] {{red|The Stance of the True Cross}}'''
+
[2] {{red|b=1|The Stance of the True Cross}}
  
 
<poem style="font-style:italic;">I am the strong stance called the Cross:
 
<poem style="font-style:italic;">I am the strong stance called the Cross:
 
Neither blows of the axe nor thrusts can bother me.</poem>
 
Neither blows of the axe nor thrusts can bother me.</poem>
  
I am ''Posta di Vera Crose'' (Position of the True Cross), because with a cross I defend myself and all the art of fencing and armed combat defends itself with covers of the ''armizare incrosare'' (crossed-weapon armed combat). Attack, because I am waiting for you well, because of that way in which the first student of the Master Remedy of the sword in armour does, and with the pass that thrust with my pollaxe, I can do to you.
+
I am named the Guard of the True Cross, since I defend myself by crossing weapons, and the entire art of fencing and armed combat is based on defending yourself with the covers of crossed weapons. Strike as you wish, I’ll be waiting for you. And just as the student of the First Remedy Master of the sword in armor does, so I can do with a step and a thrust with my pole axe.
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
Line 62: Line 62:
 
| [[File:Pisani-Dossi MS 27a-c.png|300px|center]]
 
| [[File:Pisani-Dossi MS 27a-c.png|300px|center]]
 
|  
 
|  
[3] {{red|[The Stance of the Queen]}}'''
+
[3] {{red|b=1|[The Stance of the Queen]}}
  
 
<poem style="font-style:italic;">I am the Stance of the Queen, of pure loyalty:
 
<poem style="font-style:italic;">I am the Stance of the Queen, of pure loyalty:
 
I make great blows from a different measure.</poem >
 
I make great blows from a different measure.</poem >
  
I am ''Posta di Donna'' (Position of the Lady) against ''Dente Zengiaro'' (Boar's Tooth). If he waits for me, I want to make great strike at him, in which I pass the left foot forward out of the way, and I enter with a ''fendente'' to his head. And if he comes with force under my pollaxe with his, then not being able to injure him in his head I will not fail to injure him in his arms or hands.
+
I am the Guard of the Lady, and I go against the Boar’s Tusk guard. If he waits for me, I will make a powerful strike at him, in which I move my left foot off the line, and then I pass forwards, striking downwards at his head. And if he blocks strongly under my pole axe with his, then even if I can’t strike him in his head I will not fail to strike his arms or hands.
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
Line 86: Line 86:
 
| [[File:Pisani-Dossi MS 27a-d.png|300px|center]]
 
| [[File:Pisani-Dossi MS 27a-d.png|300px|center]]
 
|  
 
|  
[4] {{red|[The Wild Boar's Tusk/Middle Iron Gate]}}'''
+
[4] {{red|b=1|[The Wild Boar's Tusk/Middle Iron Gate]}}
  
 
<poem style="font-style:italic;">I am the Boar's Tusk, full of daring:
 
<poem style="font-style:italic;">I am the Boar's Tusk, full of daring:
 
Blows of the axe can do nothing to me.</poem>
 
Blows of the axe can do nothing to me.</poem>
  
If ''Posta di Donna'' (Position of the Lady) is against me, ''Porta di Ferro Mezana'' (Middle Iron Door); I know its play and mine. And many many times we have been in battle and with sword and with poll axe. And I say that what she says she is able to do, I can do it more to her than she can do it to me. Also, I say that if I had a sword, and not a poll axe, I would put a thrust in the face, that is, in the striking that ''Posta di Donna'' does with the ''fendente'', and I am in ''Porta d'Ferro Mezana'' two-handed with the sword, that immediately as it comes, I advance forward (''acresco'') and pass (''passo'') out of the way, under his pollaxe with force I enter and immediately with my left hand grab my sword in the middle and place a thrust in his face. So that between our others that of malice is little comparison.
+
If my Middle Iron Gate is opposed by the Guard of the Lady, we both know each other’s game, for we have faced each other many many times in battle with swords and with pole axes. And let me tell you, what she claims she can do to me, I can do better against her. Also let me tell you that if I had a sword instead of a pole axe, then I would thrust it into my opponent’s face as follows: when I am waiting in the Middle Iron Gate with my two-handed sword, if he attacked me with his pole axe with a powerful downward strike from the Guard of the Lady, then I quickly advance forward striking him strongly under his pole axe as I step off the line, and then I quickly grasp my sword in the middle with my left hand and make the thrust into his face. While there is little difference between we two guards, I am the more deceptive.
 
|  
 
|  
 
<br/>
 
<br/>
Line 115: Line 115:
 
| [[File:MS Ludwig XV 13 36r-a.jpg|300px|center]]
 
| [[File:MS Ludwig XV 13 36r-a.jpg|300px|center]]
 
|  
 
|  
[5] {{red|[The Stance of the Long Tail]}}'''
+
[5] {{red|b=1|[The Stance of the Long Tail]}}
  
I am ''Coda Longa'' (Long Tail), against ''Posta de Fenestra'' (Position of the Window) I want to do it all the time [so that] I can injure. And with my blows of ''fendente'', beat (''sbateria'') every pollaxe and sword into the ground, and to narrow play (''zogo stretto'') strongly I will make. As you find these plays after, I pray you to look at them one by one.
+
I am the Long Tail, used against the Window Guard, and I can strike at any time. With my downward strikes I can beat every pole axe or sword to the ground, setting me up nicely for close play. As you see the plays that follow, please consider each one in sequence.
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
Line 130: Line 130:
 
| [[File:MS Ludwig XV 13 36r-b.jpg|300px|center]]
 
| [[File:MS Ludwig XV 13 36r-b.jpg|300px|center]]
 
|  
 
|  
[6] {{red|[The Stance of the Casement Window on the Left]}}'''
+
[6] {{red|b=1|[The Stance of the Casement Window on the Left]}}
  
I am called ''Posta de Fenestra la Sinestra'' (Position of the Window the Left). A small arm (''brazo'') does me on the right. We do not have stability. One and the other certainly feints (''falsità''), you think that I come with the fendente and I turn a foot backwards and change my position (''posta''). From being on the left, I enter on the right. And I believe for entering in these plays which come after me I am well ready.
+
I am named Window Guard on the left, and I am made with the right arm pulled back.<ref>Literally “I am made with a short right arm”.</ref> This is not a good guard to wait in.<ref>Literally “We do not have stability.”</ref> Everything I do is deceptive. You think that I am going to strike a downward strike, but I pass backwards and switch guards. So while I began on the left, I actually enter on the right. And I can quickly transition to the plays that follow.
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
Line 147: Line 147:
 
And mine will quickly be thrust in your face.</em></poem>
 
And mine will quickly be thrust in your face.</em></poem>
  
These are the plays that the guards question. Each one wants to get it, and thinks it has the right. The one who can beat (''sbatter'') the pollaxe of the companion to the ground, as it is drawn here, does these plays; he will do them all if the ''contrario'' [counter] does not cause problems.
+
These are the plays that these guards put to the test. Each guard can do them, and each guard believes it will prevail. As is drawn here, whoever beats his opponent’s pole axe to the ground can do these plays, and will succeed as long as the opponent fails to counter him.
  
 
''[In the Getty and Pisani-Dossi, the Master is missing his crown.]''
 
''[In the Getty and Pisani-Dossi, the Master is missing his crown.]''
Line 162: Line 162:
 
| [[File:MS Ludwig XV 13 36v-b.jpg|300px|center]]
 
| [[File:MS Ludwig XV 13 36v-b.jpg|300px|center]]
 
|  
 
|  
[8] The student puts his axe between the player's legs, and with the left hand he covers his view. And when the player can not see, and wants to turn, he falls to the ground without failing.
+
[8] This student puts his axe between his opponent’s legs, and covers his eyes with his left hand. When the opponent, who cannot see, tries to turn, he will surely fall to the ground.
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
Line 175: Line 175:
 
And with that I have wounded you in the face.</em></poem>
 
And with that I have wounded you in the face.</em></poem>
  
Also the student which is before me can do this play when he is in close, as you can see. He puts his left foot over his [the opponent's] pollaxe, and pulls his own back, and puts the point [thrust] at the player, in the face.
+
The previous student can also do this play when he is at close range, as you can see here. He steps with his left foot on top of his opponent’s pole axe head, and draws back his own pole axe, then thrusts it into his opponent’s face.
  
 
''[In the Getty, the Scholar's right foot is on his opponent's poleax.]''
 
''[In the Getty, the Scholar's right foot is on his opponent's poleax.]''
Line 195: Line 195:
 
And I will bore out your teeth with my axe.</em></poem>
 
And I will bore out your teeth with my axe.</em></poem>
  
The student which was before saw that with the point of the pollaxe it was not possible to do anything to the player in the face, for the visor which was strong. He advances forward (''acresse'') the left foot, and lifts the visor, and puts the point in the face with as much force as he can give to the poll axe. This play which I do follows those that were before, and then all those after.
+
The previous student saw that it was not possible to strike his opponent in the face with his pole axe, because his opponent’s visor is too strong. So he advances his left foot forward and lifts the opponent’s visor, and drives his point into his face with as much force as he can give to his pole axe. You can add on this play to any of the previous plays, as well as to any of the plays which follow.
 
|  
 
|  
 
<br/><br/>
 
<br/><br/>
Line 213: Line 213:
 
I will cause you trouble in the strong key.</em></poem>
 
I will cause you trouble in the strong key.</em></poem>
  
Due to this hold, with which I keep you in this way, with my pollaxe I injure you in the head. And with my left arm, I will put you in Ligadura de Sotto la Forte (Under Bind, the Strong), which more than the others is dangerous to death [is more likely to enable a kill].
+
With this hold<ref>“Presa” means a hold, a grip or a grapple.</ref> I can strike you in the head with my pole axe, and with my left arm I will put you in the Strong Lower Bind, which is more deadly than any other lock.  
  
 
''[These two images seem to show the beginning and end of the technique.]''
 
''[These two images seem to show the beginning and end of the technique.]''
Line 231: Line 231:
 
&nbsp;</em></poem>
 
&nbsp;</em></poem>
  
With a middle-turn/half-turn (''meza volta'') I will take this pollaxe from your hands. And as I have removed it from you, in just that one turn, I injure you in the head, as this student which is after me does. You will fall down dead I think.
+
With a half-turn of this pole axe I will take it from your hands. And once I have taken it from you with this particular turn, I will strike you in the head with it, as the next student shows. And I do not believe you will survive this.
 
|  
 
|  
 
<br/><br/><br/>
 
<br/><br/><br/>
Line 247: Line 247:
 
| [[File:MS Ludwig XV 13 37r-c.jpg|300px|center]]
 
| [[File:MS Ludwig XV 13 37r-c.jpg|300px|center]]
 
|  
 
|  
[13] This play is that of the student which is before me. As he said, well I believe that you will fall to the ground dead for the blow in the head that I did to you. And if this blow is not enough then I can give another and can pull you by your visor into the ground. Like it is drawn after, and this I do to you if I do not repent.
+
[13] This play follows on from the student before me. As he clearly told you, you will likely drop to the ground dead after being struck in the head like this. And if this blow is not enough then I can give you another. If I choose I can also drag you to the ground by your visor, which is drawn next.
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
Line 258: Line 258:
 
| [[File:MS Ludwig XV 13 37r-d.jpg|300px|center]]
 
| [[File:MS Ludwig XV 13 37r-d.jpg|300px|center]]
 
|  
 
|  
[14] What the student who was before me said, I do to you, that I want to pull you in to the ground by your visor. And if I want, I can do it with wrestling (''abrazare''), which is better than the others, and this I can do well.
+
[14] I am demonstrating what the student before me said he would do to you, that is dragging you to the ground by your visor. This is a grappling technique that is one of the better ones you can do.<ref>Fiore actually writes that this grappling move is “better than the others”, but gives us no clue as to what the “others” are.</ref>
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
Line 269: Line 269:
 
| [[File:Pisani-Dossi MS 36a-d.png|300px|center]]
 
| [[File:Pisani-Dossi MS 36a-d.png|300px|center]]
 
|  
 
|  
[15] This play is easy to understand, as well it can be seen that I can pull him to the ground. And when I have him on the ground, I will drag him behind me. And when I don't pull the long tail anymore, he will get injuries from me.
+
[15] This play is easy to understand, and you can clearly see how I can drag him to the ground. And when I have him on the ground, I can drag him behind me. And when the long tail of my pole axe can no longer hold him, then he’ll feel my strikes.
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
Line 281: Line 281:
 
| [[File:MS Ludwig XV 13 37v-b.jpg|300px|center]]
 
| [[File:MS Ludwig XV 13 37v-b.jpg|300px|center]]
 
|  
 
|  
[16] This pollaxe of mine is full of powder and the said pollaxe has holes around. And this powder is so strong and corrosive that immediately as it touches the eye, the man can not open it in any way, and maybe will not be able to see anymore. And I am a heavy (''ponderosa''), cruel and mortal pollaxe, better blows I make than other manual weapons. And if I fail the first strike that I come to do, the pollaxe will damage me and is no more of any use. And if I fiercely make the first blow, I avoid troubles of all the other manual weapons. And if I am with good weapons [armour?] well accompanied for my defence I take the ''pulsativa'' guards of sword. Very noble ''Signore, my Signor Marchese,'' there are a lot of things in this book, such maliciousness you would not do. But to know better, be pleased to see them.
+
[16] This pole axe of mine is filled with a powder and is hollow and perforated.<ref>As in full of holes.</ref> And this powder is so strongly corrosive that the moment it touches your eye, you will no longer be able to open it, and you may be permanently blinded.
 +
 
 +
I am the pole axe, heavy, vicious and deadly. I deliver blows more powerful than any other hand-held weapon. If my first strike misses, then my pole axe becomes risky to hold on to and is no more of any use to me. But if my first blow is powerfully made on target, then I can stop any other hand-held weapon. And if I am accompanied with good protective armor, then I can defend myself with any of the powerful striking guards of the sword.
 +
 
 +
My most noble lord, my Marquis, there are some vicious things shown in this book that you would never do. I show you them purely to aid your knowledge.<ref>I believe this is not an apology for the pole axe itself but an apology for showing the dirty trick of the corrosive powder. As such it should really be placed higher up.</ref>
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
Line 293: Line 297:
 
| [[File:Pisani-Dossi MS 36a-b.png|300px|center]]
 
| [[File:Pisani-Dossi MS 36a-b.png|300px|center]]
 
|  
 
|  
[17] This is the powder that goes into the pollaxe drawn above. Take the milk of the ''titimallo'',<ref>[[Matt Easton]] notes that ''Titimalo'' is an obsolete Italian word for the spurge family of plants (genus ''Euphorbia''). Members of the spurge family produce latex sap, some species of which can cause blindness when put in contact with the eyes, blistering of the skin and poisonous fumes, or smoke if burned, due to phorbol (tigliane polyol) esters, caustic diterpene compounds, and/or daphnane (tricyclic diterpenoid) esters that can act as cocarcinogens contained in the latex. This latex has a milky appearance, hence the author's description of the 'milk of titimalo'.<p>The Spanish explorer Oviedo documented the effects of the 'Manchineel tree' or 'beach apple' (Hippomane mancinella), a member of the Euphorbia genus found on the east coast of the Americas, in 1555:</p><dl><dd>''"If a man do but repose himself to sleep a little while under the shadow of the same, he has his head and eyes swollen when he rises, that the eyelids are joined with the cheeks. And if it chance one drop or more of dew of the said tree to fall into the eye, it utterly destroys the sight."'' (Quoted in Lovell CR, ''Plants and the skin'', Oxford, 1993.)</dd></dl><p>The latex from this tree was used by native Americans as a poison for arrows and to blind people and animals.</p><p>In AD 50, Dioscorides recommended using seven different species of Euphorbia in medicines, but warned that caution should be exercised in using these plants:</p><dl><dd>''"But being beaten of itself in a mortar, it is formed into pills and set up. But in the juicing, one must not stand against ye wind, nor put his hands to his eyes, but also before the juicing he must anoint his body with grease, or oil with wine, and especially ye face, and ye neck, and ye scrotum."'' (Taken from Gunther PT, ''The Greek herbal of Dioscorides'', New York, 1909.)</dd></dl><p>More information on Euphorbia can be found [http://www.telemedicine.org/botanica/bot4.htm here], from whence I take much of the information above.</p><p>[[Guy Windsor]] offers additional comments on the identification and etymology of the herb in [http://guywindsor.net/blog/2014/06/beingwrong/#sthash.2WaPuk2R.GeiEPsy0.dpbs "Being wrong can lead to wonderful things"] (2014).</p></ref> and dry it over a warm oven and make it powdery, and take two ounces of this powder and one ounce of powder of the ''fior di preda'',<ref>Tom Leoni notes that this is a flower also used to create a powder commonly used as makeup. It had a swelling effect on the skin.</ref> and mix them together. And put this powder in the axe which is above, as you can do it well with any ''rutorio''<ref>Tom Leoni notes that this is a caustic or blistering powder sometimes used in medicine. Also known as Epispastic powder.</ref> that is sharp, because you can find sharp things well in this book.
+
[17] This is the powder that you use in the pole axe drawn above. Take the sap of the spurge,<ref>“Titimallo” refers to a plant named spurge, genus Euphorbia. Used in medieval medicine as a laxative, spurge has a poisonous milky white latex-like sap. For more information, see [http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/getty/pollaxe.html "Pollaxe in Armour"] by [[Matt Easton]] and [http://guywindsor.net/blog/2014/06/beingwrong/#sthash.2WaPuk2R.GeiEPsy0.dpbs "Being wrong can lead to wonderful things"] by [[Guy Windsor]].</ref> and dry it in a warm oven to make a powder. Now take two ounces of this powder and one ounce of powder of ''fior d'preda'',<ref>Tom Leoni notes that this is a flower also used to create a powder commonly used as makeup. It had a swelling effect on the skin.</ref> and mix them together. Now load this powder into the pole axe shown above. You can do this with any good caustic powder, but you won’t find a better recipe than the one in this book.
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  

Revision as of 01:13, 9 February 2016

Images

Images

PD Complete translation by Michael Chidester
Getty Complete translation by Matt Easton and Eleonora Durban

Paris (Open for translation) Not started
Morgan Complete translation by Michael Chidester

Morgan Transcription [edit]
Open for editing

Getty Transcription [edit]
Open for editing

Pisani Dossi Transcription [edit]
by Francesco Novati

Paris Transcription [edit]
by Kendra Brown and Rebecca Garber

Pisani-Dossi MS 27a-a.png

[1] The Stance of the Shortened Serpent

I am the Shortened Stance, the Serpent, with axe in hand;
If my thrust does not miss, I will made trouble for you.
 

I am the Short Serpent Guard and I consider myself better than the other guards. And whoever receives one of my thrusts will bear the scars.[1] This guard delivers a powerful thrust that can penetrate cuirasses and breastplates. Fight with me[2] if you want to see the proof.






Pisani-Dossi MS 27a-b.png

[2] The Stance of the True Cross

I am the strong stance called the Cross:
Neither blows of the axe nor thrusts can bother me.

I am named the Guard of the True Cross, since I defend myself by crossing weapons, and the entire art of fencing and armed combat is based on defending yourself with the covers of crossed weapons. Strike as you wish, I’ll be waiting for you. And just as the student of the First Remedy Master of the sword in armor does, so I can do with a step and a thrust with my pole axe.





Pisani-Dossi MS 27a-c.png

[3] [The Stance of the Queen]

I am the Stance of the Queen, of pure loyalty:
I make great blows from a different measure.

I am the Guard of the Lady, and I go against the Boar’s Tusk guard. If he waits for me, I will make a powerful strike at him, in which I move my left foot off the line, and then I pass forwards, striking downwards at his head. And if he blocks strongly under my pole axe with his, then even if I can’t strike him in his head I will not fail to strike his arms or hands.






MS Ludwig XV 13 35v-d.jpg
Pisani-Dossi MS 27a-d.png

[4] [The Wild Boar's Tusk/Middle Iron Gate]

I am the Boar's Tusk, full of daring:
Blows of the axe can do nothing to me.

If my Middle Iron Gate is opposed by the Guard of the Lady, we both know each other’s game, for we have faced each other many many times in battle with swords and with pole axes. And let me tell you, what she claims she can do to me, I can do better against her. Also let me tell you that if I had a sword instead of a pole axe, then I would thrust it into my opponent’s face as follows: when I am waiting in the Middle Iron Gate with my two-handed sword, if he attacked me with his pole axe with a powerful downward strike from the Guard of the Lady, then I quickly advance forward striking him strongly under his pole axe as I step off the line, and then I quickly grasp my sword in the middle with my left hand and make the thrust into his face. While there is little difference between we two guards, I am the more deceptive.




[The Paris image resembles the Pisani-Dossi.]






MS Ludwig XV 13 36r-a.jpg

[5] [The Stance of the Long Tail]

I am the Long Tail, used against the Window Guard, and I can strike at any time. With my downward strikes I can beat every pole axe or sword to the ground, setting me up nicely for close play. As you see the plays that follow, please consider each one in sequence.


MS Ludwig XV 13 36r-b.jpg

[6] [The Stance of the Casement Window on the Left]

I am named Window Guard on the left, and I am made with the right arm pulled back.[8] This is not a good guard to wait in.[9] Everything I do is deceptive. You think that I am going to strike a downward strike, but I pass backwards and switch guards. So while I began on the left, I actually enter on the right. And I can quickly transition to the plays that follow.


MS Latin 11269 09r-c.png

[7] I have beaten your axe to the ground;
And mine will quickly be thrust in your face.

These are the plays that these guards put to the test. Each guard can do them, and each guard believes it will prevail. As is drawn here, whoever beats his opponent’s pole axe to the ground can do these plays, and will succeed as long as the opponent fails to counter him.

[In the Getty and Pisani-Dossi, the Master is missing his crown.]



MS Ludwig XV 13 36v-b.jpg

[8] This student puts his axe between his opponent’s legs, and covers his eyes with his left hand. When the opponent, who cannot see, tries to turn, he will surely fall to the ground.

Pisani-Dossi MS 27b-b.png

[9] I have come from the Boar's Tusk with my axe,
And with that I have wounded you in the face.

The previous student can also do this play when he is at close range, as you can see here. He steps with his left foot on top of his opponent’s pole axe head, and draws back his own pole axe, then thrusts it into his opponent’s face.

[In the Getty, the Scholar's right foot is on his opponent's poleax.]



[In the Paris, the Scholar wears a crown.]



Pisani-Dossi MS 27b-c.png

[10] I have lifted your visor—you can feel it—
And I will bore out your teeth with my axe.

The previous student saw that it was not possible to strike his opponent in the face with his pole axe, because his opponent’s visor is too strong. So he advances his left foot forward and lifts the opponent’s visor, and drives his point into his face with as much force as he can give to his pole axe. You can add on this play to any of the previous plays, as well as to any of the plays which follow.



[In the Paris, the Scholar wears a crown.]



Cod.1324 25r-a.png
Pisani-Dossi MS 27b-d.png

[11] Because of my hand which I have under your arm
I will cause you trouble in the strong key.

With this hold[13] I can strike you in the head with my pole axe, and with my left arm I will put you in the Strong Lower Bind, which is more deadly than any other lock.

[These two images seem to show the beginning and end of the technique.]



Pisani-Dossi MS 28a-a.png

[12] I will make a quick rotation from this catch:
Your axe will be lost, and mine will strike you in the face.
 

With a half-turn of this pole axe I will take it from your hands. And once I have taken it from you with this particular turn, I will strike you in the head with it, as the next student shows. And I do not believe you will survive this.




[In the Paris, the Scholar's right foot is forward and he wears a crown.]




MS Ludwig XV 13 37r-c.jpg

[13] This play follows on from the student before me. As he clearly told you, you will likely drop to the ground dead after being struck in the head like this. And if this blow is not enough then I can give you another. If I choose I can also drag you to the ground by your visor, which is drawn next.

MS Ludwig XV 13 37r-d.jpg

[14] I am demonstrating what the student before me said he would do to you, that is dragging you to the ground by your visor. This is a grappling technique that is one of the better ones you can do.[15]

Pisani-Dossi MS 36a-c.png
Pisani-Dossi MS 36a-d.png

[15] This play is easy to understand, and you can clearly see how I can drag him to the ground. And when I have him on the ground, I can drag him behind me. And when the long tail of my pole axe can no longer hold him, then he’ll feel my strikes.

[36a-cd] [No text]

MS Ludwig XV 13 37v-b.jpg

[16] This pole axe of mine is filled with a powder and is hollow and perforated.[16] And this powder is so strongly corrosive that the moment it touches your eye, you will no longer be able to open it, and you may be permanently blinded.

I am the pole axe, heavy, vicious and deadly. I deliver blows more powerful than any other hand-held weapon. If my first strike misses, then my pole axe becomes risky to hold on to and is no more of any use to me. But if my first blow is powerfully made on target, then I can stop any other hand-held weapon. And if I am accompanied with good protective armor, then I can defend myself with any of the powerful striking guards of the sword.

My most noble lord, my Marquis, there are some vicious things shown in this book that you would never do. I show you them purely to aid your knowledge.[17]

[36a-b] [No text]

Pisani-Dossi MS 36a-b.png

[17] This is the powder that you use in the pole axe drawn above. Take the sap of the spurge,[19] and dry it in a warm oven to make a powder. Now take two ounces of this powder and one ounce of powder of fior d'preda,[20] and mix them together. Now load this powder into the pole axe shown above. You can do this with any good caustic powder, but you won’t find a better recipe than the one in this book.

[36a-b] [No text]

  1. Fiore literally says “will be marked”.
  2. Fiore literally says “defend yourself”.
  3. Added later: "quisquam".
  4. Corrected from "e" to "i".
  5. Marginal note: "+ ecce".
  6. The text says "a doii mane cum la spada" with symbols next to "a" and "cum" apparently indicating that it should move. Since "cum a doii mane" makes no sense, I've moved the whole phrase "cum la spada".
  7. This may be an error for fascis.
  8. Literally “I am made with a short right arm”.
  9. Literally “We do not have stability.”
  10. Added later: "scilicet subito".
  11. Word partially effaced.
  12. Added later: "+ tibi".
  13. “Presa” means a hold, a grip or a grapple.
  14. We are translating 'captura' as 'the taking' or 'the takings'. Other possible contexts for this word in Latin are from hunting (captura=prey, the fishing catch, the bag of animals brought in) or from economics, in which 'captura' refers to ill-gotten or immorally gained profits.
  15. Fiore actually writes that this grappling move is “better than the others”, but gives us no clue as to what the “others” are.
  16. As in full of holes.
  17. I believe this is not an apology for the pole axe itself but an apology for showing the dirty trick of the corrosive powder. As such it should really be placed higher up.
  18. "intorno" appears twice, but neither is struck out.
  19. “Titimallo” refers to a plant named spurge, genus Euphorbia. Used in medieval medicine as a laxative, spurge has a poisonous milky white latex-like sap. For more information, see "Pollaxe in Armour" by Matt Easton and "Being wrong can lead to wonderful things" by Guy Windsor.
  20. Tom Leoni notes that this is a flower also used to create a powder commonly used as makeup. It had a swelling effect on the skin.