Hans Talhoffer/First Manuscript

Personal Edition
Hans Talhoffer is welcomed as he arrives at a town to do a job (folio 27r).
Author(s)	Hans Talhoffer
Illustrated by	Unknown
Date	1443
Genre	Fencing manual Wrestling manual
Language	Early New High German
Archetype(s)	MS Chart.A.558
Manuscript(s)	MS 26.236 (1500s) 2º MS iurid. 29 (1600s) 2º Cod.MS Philos.61 (late 1600s) Cod.Guelf.125.16.Extrav. (late 1600s) Cod.icon. 395 (ca.1820)

The archetype of this version of Hans Talhoffer's fencing manual, the MS Chart.A.558, was created in 1443 as a personal reference manual for Talhoffer himself.^{[citation needed]} It exists in at least five additional manuscript copies created before 1820 and was published in facsimile by Gustav Hergsell in 1893. Only the grappling portion of this version contains text and will be compiled below; the uncaptioned images may be viewed on the individual manual pages.

Treatise

Grappling

Images from the Archetype	Draft Translation by Tyrone Artur Budzin	Archetype (1443) by Dierk Hagedorn	New York Version (1600s)	Göttingen Version (1600s)	Wolfenbüttel Version (1600s)	Kassel Version (1600s)	Munich Version (ca.1820)
	A beginning, with same grasping of the arms.	[116v] Ain an hebung czw gleichm~ fassen auß den armen
	This is a strike, to come at the man.	[117r] Das ist ain abslahen czw komen an den man
	This is the hip-wrestle by the neck.	[117v] Das ist das hueff ringen beÿ dem hals
	This is a break against the hip wrestle by the neck.	[118r] Das ist der bruch vber das hueff ringen pey dem hals
	The arm close over the hip.	[118v] Das arm~ slyssen vber dy hueff
	This is an advance to grasp the same leg.	[119r] Das ist das dringen pey dem pain zu gleichm~ fassen
	This is the forward step when equal in grasp.	[119v] Das ist das fur treten czw gleichem fassen
	He who presses you, throw over your head like so.	[120r] Wer dich tringt den burf vber das haubt also
	This is the slip-through outside of the leg.	[120v] Das ist das durch sliffen aussen pey dem pain
	This is the slip-through inside of the leg.	[121r] Das ist das durch sliffen In wen dem pain
	That is the wrong slip-through when back to back.	[121v] Das ist das ebich durch sliffen ruck an ruck
	The limb breaking at the outside of the arm.	[122r] Das glit prechen aussen an den arm~
	This is the break against the slip-through on the outside of the leg, grasp to send him into a vertigo spin.	[122v] Das ist der bruech vber das durch sliffñ aussen an dem pain faß In in dy swindel wait
	This is the break against the slip-through inside the leg.	[123r] Das ist der bruch vb° das durch sliffñ In an dem pain
	Right against right left against left.	[123v] Recht gein recht glinck gein glinck
	This is the break against the slip-through the outside at the leg, grasp to send him into a vertigo spin.	[124r] Das ist der pruch vber das durch sliffen aussen an dem pain faß In In dy swindel wag
	This is the hurl by the arm.	[124v] Das sit das sleuderñ pey dem arm~
	This is the step-behind in the arm where you press.	[125r] Das ist das hintter tretten In dem arme~ wer dich truckt
	How to push away from you when someone closes in.	[125v] Das von dir stossen wer in dich dringt
	This is the vertigo spin when you raise him.	[126r] Da hat die swindel wag ain end
	This is the ending of the vertigo spin.	[126v] Da hat die swindel wag ain end
	This is the knee kick against the limb.	[127r] Das ist das knye ab tretten wider das glit
	This is the arm break against the shoulder.	[127v] Das ist das arm~ ab prechen vber dy achsel
	One should play on a board like this.	[128r] Also sol man auff aim In dem pret spilen
	The twist at the arm.	[128v] Das vmb dreen bey dem arm~
	The French Wrestling.	[129r] Das franczosis ringen
	This is how to go through back to back.	[129v] Das ist das mit durch gen ruck ruck an
	Back to back is finished.	[130r] Ruck an rück hat ein end
	This is the defense against a hard press.	[130v] Das ist al pruch vber hart trücken
	How the man who is caught throws two.	[131r] Wye ainer czwen sol werffen den man gefangñ fürt
	That is how one should close one arm with both arms.	[131v] Das ist das wie man aim ain arm~ sol slissen mit payden arm~
	That is how you can close in with the elbow in his shoulder.	[132r] Das ist wie man aim sol enfaln mit dem elpogen In sein achsel glit
	That is the defense when one has the leg on the others arm.	[132v] Das ist der bruch wen ainer hat das pain auff der achsel
		[133r] [No text]
		[133v] [No text]

Additional Resources

• Hergsell, Gustav, and Talhoffer, Hans. Livre d'escrime de Talhoffer (codex Gotha) de l'an 1443. Prague: Chez L'Auteur, 1893.
• Hergsell, Gustav, and Talhoffer, Hans. Talhoffers Fechtbuch (Gothaer Codex) aus dem Jahre 1443: gerichtliche und andere Zweikämpfe darstellend. Prague: Selbstverlag, 1889.