Le Jeu de la Hache (MS Français 1996)

Le Jeu de la Hache
MS Français 1996, Bibliothèque nationale de France Paris, France
Hagedorn JH Leng —
Wierschin — Hils —
Type	Fencing manual
Date	ca. 1400s
Language(s)	Middle French
Author(s)	Unknown
Patron	Philip II "the Bold" of Burgundy
Material	Vellum, in an 18th century binding
Size	10 folia (166 mm × 245 mm)
Format	Double-sided; space for miniatures and initials (never added)
External data	Library catalog entry
Treatise scans	Digital scans (2000x3000) Microfilm scans
Other translations	Ελληνική μετάφραση

The title of this article contains the character ç. Where it is unavailable or not desired, the name may be represented as Le Jeu de la Hache (MS Francais 1996).

Le Jeu de la Hache ("The Play of the Axe", MS Français 1996), is a French fencing manual written in ca. 1400 by an anonymous Milanese fencing master in service to Philip II "the Bold", duke of Burgundy. It currently rests in the holdings of the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris, France. The earliest extant treatise on the use of the poleaxe, the manuscript is possesses detailed descriptions of a variety of techniques. It is unillustrated, but each paragraph has a large blank space next to the smaller area reserved for an initial so illustrations were probably intended.

Provenance

The known provenance of the MS Français 1996:

• Written in the late 14th or early 15th century by an anonymous Milanese fencing master.
• 1544 – transferred from Francis I's library at Blois to Fontainebleau; listed as "Le jeu de la hache; covert de veloux noir"
• 1622 – listed in Nicolas Rigault's catalog of the Bibliothèque du Roi as "Le jeu de la hache d'armes"
• 1645 – listed in the Dupuy catalog of the museum as "Le jeu de la hache d'armes pour soi habilitier en armes"
• Later passed from the Bibliothèque du Roi to the Bibliothèque nationale de France

Contents

	Three blank parchment leaves
1rv	Prologue Complete Translation by Dr. Sydney Anglo Transcription  Here follows the prologue of Axe-play to make oneself dexterous and to exert oneself in arms. [02r] Sensuit le prologue du Jeu de la hache pour soy habiliter et esuertuer en armes. [1] Considering and seeing by experience that all human beings, noble and non noble, naturally fly from death and desire to live long in this mortal world; and afterwards to live forever in the Kingdom of Paradise. To achieve and obtain the natural desires above-said, it seems to me that every human and rational creature must keep himself in a good estate, and arm himself first with good spiritual armor, that is to say with the beautiful virtues to defend himself and to resist all vices and diabolic temptations; preserving and guarding the soul from eternal death. And for this to be done, one must arm the body with good corporeal and material armour, and provide oneself with suitable weapons, like the axe, light lance, dagger, great sword and small sword, to defend oneself and resist one's corporeal and mortal enemies. And for this, let every man, noble of body and courage, naturally desire to exercise and make himself dexterous in virtuous and honourable occupation, and principally in the noble feat of arms, that is to say in Axe-play, from which proceed and depend several weapons above-named. Moreover, the said Axe-play is honorable and profitable for the preservation of a body noble or non noble. For the above-said reasons, I have employed my slight understanding to set forth in writing some doctrines and instructions touching the said Axe-play in the manner which follows. [C]onsiderant et voyant par experience que naturelment tous corps humains nobles et non nobles fuyent la mort et desirent viure longuement en ce mortel monde. Et apres au Royalme de paradis viure pardurablement. Pour paruenir et obtenir les desirs naturelz dessusdicts il me samble que toute creature humaine et raisonnable se deuroit tenir en bon estat et soy armer premierement de bonnes armures spirituelles cest assauoir de belles vertus pour soy deffendre et resister contre tous vices et temptations dyaboliques. en preseruant et gardant lame de mourir de mort eternelle. Et cela estre fait on doit armer le corps de bonnes armures corporelles et matierielles et soy pourueoir de glaiues conuenables. comme la hache, la demy lance, la dague, [02v] a grande espee et la petite pour soy deffendre et resister contre lses ennemis corporelz et mortelz. Et pour ce que tout homme noble de corps et de courage naturelment desire dexcerciter et habilliter sa personne en occuppacion vertueuse et honnourable. Et principalment ou noble fait darmes cest assavoir au Jeu de la hache dont procedent et despendent plusieurs glaiues dessus nommez. Daultre part ledict Jeu est honnourable et proffitable pour la preseruation du corps humain noble ou non noble. Pour les raisons dessusdictes jay employe mon petit entendement a mettre par escript aucunes doctrines et enseignemens touchant ledict Jeu de hache en la maniere que sensuit. [2] And first, you who as one of the two champions are called on the field of battle, whether to the death or otherwise, whether you may be appellant or defendant, above all you must feel in your conscience that you have good and just quarrel. ¶ Et premierement vous qui estes lung des ij champions appelle en champ de battaille soit a oultrance ou aultrement soyes attendant ou deffendant sur tout deuez sentir en vostre conscience auoir bonne et iuste querelle. [3] On leaving your pavilion, you must be well armed and furnished with your axe and other relevant weapons. Recommending yourself to God, you must make the sign of the cross and march upright, with a good and valorous countenance, gazing at the other end of the field to seek out your adversary. And gazing upon him you must take in a measured manner a proud courage in youself to fight valiantly as is becoming. And have in remembrance the principal points contained in the chapters which hereafter follow. ¶ Item au partir de vostre pauillon deuez estre bien arme et embatonne de vostre hache darmes et daultres glaiues appertenans. En vous recommandant a dieu deuez faire le signe de la croix et marchier droit dune belle contenance et valereuse. en regardant vers lautre bout du parcq pour veoir vostre adverssaire. Et en le regardant deuez prendre amodereement ung fier courage en vous pour battaillier vaillamment comme il appertient. Et auoir souuenance des principaulx poins contenus es chappittres qui cy apres sensuiuent.
2r - 10v	Anonymous plays of poleaxe Complete Translation by Dr. Sydney Anglo Transcription  Here begins the science and practice of the noble Axe-play and the manner of fighting. [03r] Cy commence la doctrine et lindustrye du noble Jeu de la hache et la maniere de battaillier. [4] When one would give you a swinging blow, right-hander to right-hander. If you have the croix in front, you can step forward with your left foot, receiving his blow, picking it up with the queue of your axe and - in a single movement - bear downward to make his axe fall to the ground. And from there, following up one foot after the other, you can give him a jab with the said queue, running it through the left hand, at the face: either there or wherever seems good to you. Or swing at his head. [I]tem quant on vous donra de tour de bras droittier a droittier. se vous auez la croix au deuant vous pouez marchier auant du pie gauche en luy receuant son coup en cueillant de la queue de la hache dune venue ferez contre bas pour la luy faire cheoir a terre. Et de la pouez en marchant lung pie apres lautre en suyuant luy baillier destocq de ladicte queue en coulant par la main gauche au visage. ou la ou bon vous samblera. ou luy baillier a tour de bras sur la teste. [5] If you have the queue forward, you can do it the same way without moving. [I]tem se vous auez la queue deuant le pouez pareillement faire sans vous bougier. [6] Again, if you have the croix in front, as above. You can receive the said blow with your queue by stepping backward. From all three couvertes, you can give the said swinging blows and the jab with the queue. [I]tem encore se vous auez la croix deuant comme dessus pouez receuoir ledict coup de la queue de la vostre en desmarchant en arriere. de toutes les trois couuertes pouez donner lesdicts coups de tours de bras et de lestocq de la queue. [7] Another couverte for the swing, if you have the queue forward, without your moving or stepping back. Thrust the croix of your axe in front of his axe, to engage it crossways, so that he can only hold up the stroke which does not fall on you. And immediately the crossing has been effected, disengage your axe, jabbing at him with the queue from low to high, sweeping between his hand and his croix to make it drop from his hand. And if you should fail, you may quickly return on your guard. And if you have made it jump out of his hand, you can do whatever seems good to you with a swing or something else. [I]tem vne aultre couuerte de tour de bras, se vous auez la queue deuant sans vous bougier ne desmarchier. Ruez au deuant de sa hache de la croix de la vostre pour la trouuer en croisee seullement quil puisse soustenir le coup quil ne dessende sur vous. Et Incontinent la croisee faite destornez vostre hache en luy ruant de la queue de bas en hault en fauchant entre sa main et la croix de la sienne grant coup pour la luy faire cheoir hors de sa main. Et se faillies que soyes prestement retourne en vostre garde. Et se vous la luy auez fait saillir de la main vous pouez faire ce que bon vous samblera de tour de bras ou aultrement. [8] If you give the first swinging blow, and he covers himself in the fashion above-said. You can do the same with the queue like his swing above-said. [03v] [I]tem se vous luy rues le premier de tour de bras et quil se queure de la fasson dessusdicte vous pouez faire pareillement de la queue comme du sien dessusdict. [9] If again he comes at you with a swing, and you have the queue forward. You must move to receive the blow to the right side of your opponent, and from there receive his blow demy hache. And at the same time, as close as you can, you must advance your left foot and place it behind his heel really firmly, as you raise his axe which is above yours. And place your queue under his chin, and thus give him a jolt backwards to knock him to the ground. [I]tem se de rechief venoit a vous du tour de bras et que ayes la queue deuant deuez marchier a lencontre du coup le coste droit de vostre homme et de la receuoir de demye hache son coup. et tout d'une venue le plus pres que pourrez deuez marchier de lautre pie gauche et lassoir darriere son tallon bien ferme en luy sourdant sa hache qui est dessus la vostre. et mettre la queue de la vostre soubz son menton et de la donner une secousse en darriere pour le ruer par terre. [10] If you fail. You must return on guard. And this should be down quickly. [I]tem se vous faillies vous deuez retourner sur vostre garde. et cela se doit faire prestement. [11] If he were to use this above-said opening on you. You must quickly place the dague of your axe under his armpit to push him away from you; or pass the cross-bar of your axe under his arm to push him under the armpit with the demy hache, following it up to thrust him out of the lists. Or give him a hard blow with all your strength, simply to see whether you can hurl him on the ground. [I]tem sil vous faisoit ceste entree dessusdicte. vous deuez mettre prestement la dague de vostre hache soubz son esselle pour lesloignier de vous ou repasser la croisee de vostredicte hache par soubz son bras pour le pousser de dessoubz lesselle de la demy hache en le suyuant pour le mettre hors de la lisse. ou donner bonne secousse de la force de vos bras seullement pour sentir se le pourrez getter par terre. [12] Another couverte for swinging blows when you are on guard with the queue. Without moving, you can take it on your demy hache as high as your arms can be extended. And the moment the blow has been received, you can pick up his queue with yours in such a way that he would wish to raise it. And all in one movement push it suddenly forward. And if it does not fly out of his hand, at least you make him stagger so much that you will have time to give him a blow or thrust. [I]tem aultre couuerte de tours de bras, vous estant sur la garde de la queue sans vous bougier pouez receuoir demy hache tant que vos bras se pouuront estendre en hault. Et incontinent le coup receu pouez de la queue de la vostre cueillir la sienne, ainsi quil la vouldra leuer. et tout dune venue la ruer en auant. Et se elle ne vole hors de sa main au mains vous lesbranleuez tellement que aurez temps pour donner coup ou estocq. [13] If he comes with the croix forward to thrust at you. You must turn his queue with your queue as often as you can. And if you can turn it aside sufficiently to see a gap open up between him and his axe, you can give him a hard jab in the face with the queue. And this blow is good and sure to pursue, because it cannot do you any harm. And you must approach him with your left arm to his right. And if you see that it would be good for you, and that you have the leisure, you can let the queue of your axe run up under his chin, while you have your foot behind his heel. And from there try to turn him over. [04r] [I]tem se il vient la croix deuant pour vous estocquer. de la queue de la vostre luy deuez destourner la sienne le plus souuuent que pourrez. Et se la pouez tellement destourner que le puissez veoir descouuert entre luy et sa hache pouez ruer lestocq de la queue au visage. Et ce coup est bon et seur a poursuiuir car il ne vous en puet mesaduenir, et vous deuez approchier de luy joindre vostre bras gauche au sien droit. Et se vous voyes que bon vous soit et que en ayes le loisir pouez laisser couler la queue de la vostredicte hache soubz son menton ayant vostre pie darriere son talon. et de la essayer a le renuersser. [14] He could counter this opening by turning the cross-bar of his axe under the queue of yours, and with the said cross-bar push your queue away from him. And while carrying out this counter, he could follow you, one foot after the other, to get between you and your queue in order to jab you in the face. [I]tem Il puet deffaire ceste entree en destournant sa croisee de sa hache par soubz la queue de la vostre. et de sa ditte croisee deboutter en auant de soy vostredicte queue. Et en faisant cestedicte deffaite vous puet suyure lung pie chassant lautre pour entrer vous et vostredicte queue affin de vous estocquer au visage. [15] If he carries out the said follow-up. You have only to retreat one pace, and also pull your axe back toward you, running it through the left hand. And doing this you find yourself free, and furthermore you will be on guard with your queue. [I]tem sil vous fait ladicte poursuite nauez que a vous retraire lung pie apres lautre ung pas en arriere et retirer aussy en coulant par la main gauche vostre hache a vous. Et en ce faisant vous vous trouuens despechie et dauantage serez sur la garde de vostredicte queue. [16] If your axes are joined one croix against the other, and he pushes you to make you recoil. You can merely take half a pace back with your front foot, to draw your axe back to you. And immediately place the dague of your axe between his bec de faucon and his hand, as close as you can to the croix from the side toward his right arm, forcing his axe from the other side while following up; you can advance your left foot toward his back, pushing with your demy hache against his shoulders, and knock him to the ground. [I]tem se vos haches sont iointes lune croix contre lautre et que il vous boutte pour vous reculler pouez desmarchier seullement du pie deuant a demy pour retirer vostre hache a vous. Et incontinent mettre la dague de la vostre entre son becq de faulcon et sa main le plus pres de la croix que pourrez du coste deuers son bras droit en luy bouttant sa hache daultre coste en suyuant pouez marchier du pie gauche vers son darriere en le bouttant de demy hache contre ses [04v] espaulles et le ruer par terre. [17] Moreover, if he comes at you with the dague of his axe forward to give you a thrust; and you have your axe in the same manner as his. When you see him come at you, you can step behind him as far as you can, so that he finds nothing in front of him. As you take this step back, you must press hard with the flat of your queue onto his neck to make him trip forward. And if you fail, return immediately on guard. [I]tem plus se il vient a vous la dague de sa hache deuant pour vous baillier de lestocq et que vous ayes vostre hache pareillement auec la sienne, quant le verrez venir a vous pouez marchier sur son darriere le plus que pourres affin quil ne treuue rien deuant luy. en faisant ceste desmarche deuez boutter du plat de la queue de vostre hache sur son col pour le faire tresbuchier en auant. Et se faillies tournez prestement sur la garde de vostre hache. [18] If he should wish to give you a glancing blow with the dague of his axe at your face. You must rigorously divert the blow to see if you can make his axe fall. [I]tem se il vous vouloit donner de la dague de sa hache au visage en coulant deuez de la queue de la vostre destourner le coup rudement pour essayer se la pourrez faire cheoir. [19] If he is an expert axe-fighter, and he advances with the queue of his axe forward. You must try whether, with a back-handed blow of your dague, you can make him lose the grip of one hand on his axe. And if you can do this you can unleash on him whatever blows seem good to you. [I]tem se il est joueur de la hache et qu'il viengne la queue de sa hache deuant deuez essayer se de la dague de la vostre luy pourries de coup darriere main faire perdre la sienne dune main. Et se le pouez faire vous pouez deschergier sur luy telz coups que vous samblera. [20] If you fail. You must try to give a jab with the queue in his face to make him raise the queue of his axe. And if you can get it crossed against yours, you can draw back your queue, hitting against the side of his with your mail, or stepping behind him and hitting at his head. [I]tem se vous faillies vous deuez essayer a luy donner de lestocq de la queue au visage pour luy faire hausser la queue de la sienne. Et se vous la pouez trouuer croisee contre la vostre vous pouez retirer la queue de la vostre en luy baillant du mail contre le coste la sienne. ou en marchant en darriere luy en baillier sur la teste. [21] If he would do it to you. You must lower the queue of your axe while stepping back with your left foot, covering yourself with the demy hache or mail. And then return to the guard of whichever end seems good to you. [I]tem se il vous vouloit faire deuez baisser la queue de la vostre en desmarchant en arriere du pie gauche en vous couurant demy hache ou du mail. et puis tourner sur la garde du quel bout que bon vous samblera. [22] Whichever guard you are on, you can try to hit him on the head. Not so that, if you should miss, your axe passes beyond him: because that would be dangerous. And immediately this blow has been accomplished, you must make a feint of having another go at his head, so that he covers himself high. Whereupon you can give him one on the knee with the bec de faucon. And if your bec de faucon passes behind the plate of his knee, you must pull him toward you, to drag him to the ground. And if he steps back, so that you find nothing, take care that your axe does not pass in front of your man. And similarly with all your swinging blows. And quickly return on your guard. [05r] [I]tem en quelque garde que ce soit vous pouez essayer a luy donner sur la teste. non pas que se vous faillies que vostre hache passast oultre. car il y auroit peril. Et incontinent ce coup fait deuez faire samblant de retourner sur la teste affin quil se queuure hault, et a dont luy pouez donner sur le genoul du becq de faulcon. Et se vostre becq de faulcon passe lescreuisse de son genoil deuez tirer a vous pour le ruer par terre. Et se il desmarche que vous ne trouuez rien gardez que vostre hache ne passe plus avant que vostre homme, et pareillement en tous vos coups de tour de bras et prestement tournez en vostre garde. [23] If one tries the knee stroke. You must step forward to the right side toward your man, placing the queue of your axe between his axe and your knee. And with your said queue you must try to tear it from his hands, giving him a good back-hander against the cross-bar of his axe. And if you cannot: from there approach him, following up one foot after the other. And give him a jab in the face with your dague. [I]tem et se on faisoit ledict coup de genoul deuez marchier en auant le coste droit vers vostre homme en luy mettant la queue de vostre hache entre sa hache et vostre genoul, et de la vostredicte queue deuez essayer a luy errachier de ses mains en donnant darriere main bonne secousse contre la croisee de la sienne. Et se ne pouez de la approchies de luy en suyuant lung pie apres lautre, et luy donnez de lestocq de la dague de la vostre au visage. [24] If he holds his axe with the queue forward. Give him a hard back-handed blow with the queue of your axe against his, to make it jump out of his hand. And if you cannot do it with the blow, stepping forward between him and his axe, you can hit him with a jab of the dague to the face. [I]tem se il tient sa hache la queue deuant, frapper grant coup de la queue de la vostre arriere main contre la sienne pour la faire saillir hors de la main. Et se ne pouez auecques le coup marchant en auant entre luy et sa hache le pouez frapper de lestocq de la dague au visage. [25] If he were to do it to you. You must lower the queue of your axe close to your feet and step backwards, and with the demy hache turn his (dague) aside from in front of your face, and remain on the guard of the dague. And then you can step and turn on whichever guard seems good to you. And you must deliver these jabs frequently, sometimes at the foot and sometimes at the hand or face; so that he does not find your axe at all still, and you can, wholly at your own initiative, make any opening. [I]tem se il le vous faisoit deuez baisser la queue de la vostre pres de vos pies et desmarchies en arriere et de demy hache destourner la sienne de deuant vostre visage et demourez en vostre garde sur la dague. Et puis pouez desmarchier et tourner sur la garde de laquelle se bon vous samble et souvent le deuez arguez de ces estocs puis sur le pie puis sur la main et [05v] au visage et quil ne treuue point vostre hache au ferme que vous puissez se non a vostre requeste pour faire aucune entree. [26] If he comes at you with the queue forward, and he is holding it high. Stepping to his left side, you can place your; queue under his arm, so that the queue passes under his axe between his two hands, and pull toward his hand with a good sudden jolt, to make him lose his grip with one hand. And from there you can push with demy hache in his side, to hurl him to the ground. At least you will be able to move forward and have sufficient leisure to swing at him. [I]tem se Il vient a vous la queue deuant et quil la tienne haulte pouez mettre la queue de la vostre en marchant sur son coste gauche de dessoubz son bras et que la queue passe par soubz la sienne hache entre ses deux mains et tirer vers sa main bonne secousse pour la luy faire perdre dune main. Et de la pouez boutter de demy hache en son coste pour le getter par terre, au mains le ferez vous marchier auant et aurez assez loisir de hausser de tour de bras sur luy. [27] If he does the same thing to you. You have only to release the grip of your lower hand, and immediately take hold of your axe again higher up, while stepping back, and return on your guard. [I]tem se Il vous fait ceste mesme chose vous nauez a faire que de lachier a coup la main basse, et de reprendre a coup vostre hache plus hault en desmarchant et tourner sur vostre garde. [28] If he has nullified this move which you will have practiced on him in this manner above-said, and he has put himself on the guard of the dague. You can similarly place your queue under his demy hache, stepping face to face, and pass your said queue over his right arm, and give him a good hard jolt to make him lose the butt of his axe. And from there you will have leisure to give him a blow or a thrust. [I]tem se il dessaisoit ceste prinse que luy aurez faite en la maniere dessusdicte et quil fust sur la garde de la dague pouez pareillement mettre la queue de la vostre soubz sa demy hache en marchant visage contre visage et passer vostredite queue par dessus son bras droit et donner bonne secousse pour luy faire perdre le gros bout de sa hache, et de la aurez loisir de donner coup ou estocq. [29] And if you cross your axes in the middle to push one another. Do it so that, in crossing, you have the croix of your axe higher than the queue; and, as you push, turn your bec de faucon toward his axe to draw it toward you, while stepping back, with all your strength of your arm. Merely hook the said bec de faucon to the middle of his axe and it will make him lose his axe. [I]tem et se vous venez croiser vos haches a demy a pousser lung lautre faites que en croisant vous ayes la croix de la vostre plus hault que la queue et en poussant tournez vostre bec de faulcon vers sa hache pour la tirer a vous en desmarchant de la force de tous vos bras seullement acrochies ledict becq de faulcon au millieu de sa hache et sera pour luy faire perdre sa hache. [30] If he does not drop or lose his axe, at least he will come one pace after you. At which march forward, giving him a jab in the face; and then return on your guard. [I]tem se il ne chiet ou ne pert sa hache au mains [06r] vendra il ung pas apres vous, a dont remarchies au deuant en luy baillant au visage de lestocq et puis tournez en vostre garde. [31] If he does the same move to you. Release your lower hand and he will do nothing. [I]tem se il vous fait la pareille prinse lachies vostre main de dessoubz et il ne fera rien. [32] You can otherwise counter it by following up his tugging, stepping forward as he pulls. And from there, stepping with your left foot to his right side, hit him violently with the queue of your axe on his neck, knocking him over, as it is said in the aforesaid parry of the demy hache. [I]tem vous la pouez aultrement deffaire en le suyuant en son tirer marchies en auant ainsy quil tirera, et de la pourrez en marchant du pie gauche sur son coste droit getter la queue de la vostre sur son col en le verssant comme me dessus est dit en la parade de demy hache. [33] If he does it to you. You already know the counter to it in the said parry of the demy hache. [I]tem se il le vous fait ia en sauez vous la deffaire en ladicte parade de demy hache. [34] If he gives you a jab to the foot with his queue. You must lift your foot, while presenting your queue against his, to turn him aside and make it jump out of his hand, if you can. And whether this has been accomplished or not, without moving you can hit him quickly with the mail of your axe on his head or on his hands, to your advantage. [I]tem se il vous donnoit de lestocq de sa queue au pie vous deuez leuer vostre pie en luy donnant de vostre queue contre la sienne pour le destourner et faire saillir hors de sa main se pouez. Et fait ou non vous luy pouez donner prestement sans vous bougier du mail de la hache sur la teste et sur les mains a vostre auantage. [35] If your axes are crossed at the two queues. Make him, if you can, raise the queue of his axe very high, and from there you can lower the end of your queue while drawing it back a little, running it through the hand until you can pass it again under his without stretching more than the least possible. And from there to strike back-handed against his axe to try to make it escape from his hand; or at least to misdirect it in such a way that you might be able to get between him and his axe while stepping to his left side. And from there you can push with your demy hache against his side to knock him to the ground. [I]tem se vos deux haches sont en croix des ii queues, faites se vous pouez quil hausse la queue de la sienne bien hault et de la pouez baisser le bout de la queue de la vostre en la retirant ung peu coulant par la main tant que la puissez repasser par dessoubz la sienne sans esloignier que le mains que pourrez, et de la frapper darriere main contre la sienne pour essayer se la pourrez faire eschapper de la main au mains la desuoyer par fasson que puissez entrer entre luy et sa hache en marchant sur son coste gauche. Et de la pouez boutter de demy hache [06v] sur la coste pour le ruer par terre. [36] To protect yourself against his doing this to you. Ensure that he does not find your axe crosswise - at least that your axe should not be behind his. And certainly do not hold it in one position. [I]tem pour vous garder quil ne le vous face gardez quil ne treuue vostre hache en croisee au mains que la vostre ne soit darriere la sienne et ne la tenez guieres en ung lieu. [37] If by chance he were to do it to you. You could counter it by holding your axe close to you, and passing your queue low down, between you and him, and from there raise it up to meet his stomach and push him from you. [I]tem se dauenture il le vous faisoit vous vous en poes deffaire en dressant vostre hache pres de vous et passer vostre queue par bas entre vous et luy et de la la sourdre a lencontre de son estommacq et le deboutter de vous. [38] Another counter, if he does it to you. You must hold your axe out straight, well away from you; and from there heave it up to meet his stomach as you straighten up against him, and push him from you. [I]tem aultre deffaite sil le vous faisoit Il vous fault dresser vostre hache loing de vous et de la la hausser encontre son estommacq en vous redressant contre luy et le deboutter de vous. [39] If you can do this well suddenly. As you turn you can hook the bec de faucon around his neck and pull him toward you to see whether you can overthrow him. [I]tem se vous le pouez a coup bien faire en vous tournant pouez getter le beq de faulcon en son col et tirer a vous veoir se le pourrez desroquer. [40] If he does it to you. You must step forward with your right foot, while pushing his axe away from you with the demy hache, and you can remain on your guard. [I]tem se il le vous fait deuez marchier du pie droit en auant en bouttant demy hache la sienne loing de vous et pouez demourer en vostre garde. [41] Again, if the queues of the said axes are crossed. You must push his axe with yours, placing it below yours until you have caused it to be lowered so much that you should have made the said queues pass on your left side, so that you have the leisure to step with your right foot behind him. And from there you can give him a great blow with the demy hache against his shoulders. Or if he has turned his back on you sufficiently so that you can get at the flat of his shoulders, you can push him with the demy hache, following him very quickly, first on one side and then on the other, according to which side you perceive that he wishes to turn against you. Then strike against this shoulder; and if he wishes to turn to the other side push him there without moving your demy hache from his back. And in doing this you could put him out of the lists. [I]tem se de rechief les queues desdictes haches sont croisees deuez pousser de la vostre la sienne en la mettant dessoubz la vostre tant quee vous layes fait baisser si bas que ayes fait passer lesdictes queues sur vostre coste gauche tant que ayes loisir de marchier du pie droit sur son darriere et de la le pouez demy hache pousser contre les espaulles grant coup. Ou sil vous a le darriere tant tourne que puissez auoir le plat des espaulles vous le pouez boutter de ladicte demy hache en le suyuant bien prestement puis sur lung coste puis sur lautre selon que pourrez apperceuoir du quel coste il veult retourner contre vous, alors bouttez contre ceste espaulle, et sil veult tourner daultre coste poussez sur lautre sans bougier vostre demy hache de dessus son dos. Et en ce faisant le pouez mettre de dehors la lisse. [42] If he were to use this opening against you. Immediately that you perceive it, parry with your axe on his, and he will find nothing. [I]tem se Il vous faisoit cestedicte entree. Incontinent [07r] que vous lapperceurez desuoyes la vostre sur la sienne et il ne trouvera rien. [43] If he comes at you with his face forward. You can jab at his face with the queue of your axe, or at his foot which has no protection; or you can give several other strokes. [I]tem se il vient a vous le visage deuant le pouez estocquer au visage de la queue de vostre hache ou au pie quil na point de couuerte ou vous pouez tirer plusieurs aultres coups. [44] If he comes as above-said, with his face forward. You can give him a jab with the queue in the face so that he raises his axe. And if he holds it away from him, you can place the queue of your axe under his demy hache right against his neck, and strike it. And if you do not find it to your advantage to strike, pass the said queue over his head to take him from the other side of his neck to pull him backwards. And if you fail so that you cannot strike him: from there pull as you move backwards and you will encounter no hindrance. [I]tem se il venoit comme dessusdict le visage deuant vous luy pouez donner dung estocq de la queue au visage affin quil hausse sa hache, et se il la tient loing de luy vous pouez mettre la queue de la vostre par dessoubz sa demy hache droit encontre son col et le boutter. Et se ne trouvez vostre auantage a boutter passez ladicte queue par sus sa teste pour le prendre a lautre coste du col a tirer arriere. Et se faillies que ne le puisses pousser de la tirez en suyuant vos pas en arriere et vous ne trouuerez point dempeschement. [45] And if he makes the said move against you. You can push with your demy hache against his neck or his shoulders, and thus drive him back from you. [I]tem se il vous faisoit ladicte prinse vous pouez boutter a demy hache encontre son col ou son espaulle et de le deboutter de vous. [46] If he counters you in this manner. You must remember to draw back, and as you do so you must cross the said queue of your axe over his right arm, giving him a great jolt to make him lose the butt. [I]tem se Il la vous deffaisoit en ceste maniere vous deuez obeyr a reculler et en vous recullant deuez trauersser ladicte queue de vostre hache par dessus son bras droit en tirant grant secousse pour la luy faire perdre du gros bout. [47] Another counter. The moment that his queue is on your neck, release your left hand, and take up your axe again higher up, above his, as you step backwards: which is a good and sure counter. [I]tem une aultre deffaite. Incontinent que sa queue sera sur vostre col lachies vostre main gauche et reprenez vostre hache plus hault par dessus la sienne en vous desmarchant en arriere qui est bonne et seure deffaite. [48] If he holds the queue high. You must hold it high like him: but one end as high as the other, so as to show the palm of your hand as little as you can. And from there you can guard against his thrust if he strikes at your face. [I]tem se il tient la queue haulte, vous la deuez tenir hault comme luy mais autant hault lung bout comme lautre affin de non monstrer le creux de la main que le mains que vous pouez, et de la vous pouez garder se son [07v] estocq sil vous tiroit au visage. [49] If he holds the queue of his axe higher than the croix, he shows the palm of his hand, whereupon you can give him a jab with your said queue at the palm of his hand. [I]tem se il tenoit la queue de sa hache plus hault que la croix il monstre le creux de sa main dont vous luy pouez donner de lestocq de vostredicte queue au creux de la main. [50] If he comes at you as before, his face toward you, to strike you demy hache or otherwise. If you can get near him, you can put the queue of your axe between his thighs as far forward as you can, and then lift up the butt which you are holding in your hand, with all your strength, to raise him high and make him lose contact with the ground. [I]tem se il vient a vous comme deuant le visage deuers vous pour vous boutter demy hache ou aultrement, se pouez approchier de luy vous pouez mettre la queue de vostre hache entre ses cuisses le plus auant que pourrez et lors leuez le gros bout que tenez en la main de toute vostre puissance pour le sourdre hault et luy se perdre terre. [51] If you do it thus, he will of necessity fall backwards. And if he wishes to do it to you, you have only to put your demy hache quickly against his neck or his shoulder, and this will prevent his being able to lift so great a weight. [I]tem se ainsy le faites force luy est de tumber en arriere, et se il le vous vouloit faire nauez a faire que prestement mettre la demy hache contre son col ou son espaule et cela le gardera de pouoir leuer sy grans fais. Here begins the Play of the left-hander against the right-hander. And first. Cy commence Le Jeu du gauchier au droittier & premierement. [52] If the left-hander comes at you swinging. You must step forward on your left foot, hitting hard with the queue of your axe to intercept his stroke so that the blow does not fall on you. And the counter having been made, you must quickly withdraw your queue, bringing down the mail of your said axe against the back of his axe to help him go with the swing with which he thought to strike you. Or to make the butt escape from his hand. [I]tem se le gauchier vient a vous donner de tour de bras deuez desmarchier du pie gauche en auant en ruant la queue de vostre hache au deuant de son coup affin que le coup ne tumbe sur vous, et de la couuerte faite prestement deuez retirer la queue a vous en ruant du mail de vostredicte hache encontre le dos de la sienne pour luy ayder a sen aler auecques son branle dont il vous cuide ferir, ou pour luy faire eschapper du gros bout de sa main. [53] If he has withdrawn his axe so suddenly that it causes you to miss. You must immediately withdraw to the guard of your queue. [I]tem se il auoit retire sa hache sy a coup quil vous conuenist faillir retirez vous prestement sur la garde de vostre queue. [54] If the said left-hander comes at you swinging. In whatever guard you may be, step back one pace and he will find nothing. [08r] [I]tem se ledict gauchier vous vient donner de tour de bras en quelque garde que vous soyes desmarchies ung pas en arriere et il ne trouuera rien. [55] If you hit out at your left-hander with a swing, and it is met with his queue in the above-said fashion. Immediately his stroke has been delivered, give him a great blow with your queue against the back of his, to try to make him lose his grip with one hand. But whether or not he loses his grip, you can, with the said blow, immediately advance your left foot behind his heel, putting your queue under his chin to knock him backwards, if you can. And if you can do nothing, return quickly on your guard. As you retire following your steps thus remain on the guard of your queue. [I]tem se vous ruez a tour de bras a vostre gauchier se il se treuue se sa queue en la fasson dessusdicte Incontinent le coup fait donnez de la queue de la vostre contre le darriere de la sienne grant coup pour essayer a la luy se perdre dune main, mais perdre ou non vous pouez auecques ledict coup a tant marchier du pie gauche en auant darriere son talon et luy mettant la queue de la vostre par dessoubz le menton pour le reuersser se pouez, se ne pouez rien faire tourner vous prestement en vostre garde, en vous retirant suyuant vos pas ainsy demourrez sur la garde de vostre queue. [56] If he applies this said opening on you. You have only to thrust your said queue under his and raise it up: doing to him the same as he has done to you, and doing this you counter his move. [I]tem se il vous faisoit cestedicte entree, nauez a faire que tirer vostredicte queue par dessoubz la sienne et la hausser en la mettant a luy pareillement comme il la a vous auoit mise et en ce faisant deffaites sa prinse. [57] He can counter the move when you have done it again in the manner above-said, in as much that - as you have your axe under his chin - you have the arm high. And from there, he can place his demy hache under your armpit, and he can push you very vigorously. And equally you can do it to him if he uses the same opening on you. And whether this works or fails, do not tarry at all. [I]tem il la puet deffaire quant lauries reffaite en la maniere dessusdicte et tant que vous auez la vostre hache soubz son menton auez le bras hault, et de la vous puet mettre a demy hache dessoubz vostre esselle, et vous puet pousser bien fort. Et pareillement la luy pouez faire sil vous faisoit ladicte entree. Et pour ce fait ou failly ny deuez point seiourner. [58] And to counter this said push under the armpit. As soon as you feel it, you can suddenly release your left hand and place your arm between his demy hache - which he is holding well away from himself in order to push you - and his body; and all in one movement get your hand under his crotch and heave him up in order to overthrow him. [I]tem et pour deffaire ceste dite bouttee soubz lesselle. Incontinent que la sentirez vous pouez lachier a coup vostre main gauche et mettez vostre bras par entre sa demy hache quil tient loing de luy pour vous boutter et son corps et faites tantost dune venue que luy mettez la [08v] main par le fourc et le haussez hault pour le desroquer. [59] If he were to do it to you. You must immediately release the grip of your left hand from the queue of your axe and, with this left hand, take up the croix of your axe, running the right hand downward and thus push against his neck, and he will not have the power to lift you. [I]tem se il le vous faisoit deuez a coup lachier la main gauche de la queue de vostre hache et reprendre de ceste main gauche la croix de vostredicte hache en coulant la main droite contre bas et de la pousser contre son col et il naura pouoir de vous hausser. [60] If the said left-hander comes at you with the dague of his axe forward, to jab you in the face or another place above the belt. You can keep circling with your queue in front of his face to put him off his intended stroke; and from there you can give him a blow with the mail on the head from high to low in such a way that, were you to miss, your axe does not carry you so that you are obliged to turn your back: which would be a great danger. [I]tem se ledict gauchier vient a vous la dague de sa hache deuant pour estocquer au visage ou en aultre lieu au dessus de la sainture pouez tourner de la queue de la vostre souuent deuant son visage pour luy troubler son avis quil auroit entreprins de fairee quelque coup et de la pouez tirer coup de mail sur la teste de hault en bas ainsy se failliez que vostre hache ne vous emporte tant quil vous conuenist luy tourner le dos qui seroit grant peril. [61] If he covers himself with the cross-bar of his axe. For the first stroke, make as if to shape up for another blow so that he covers himself high as before, to guard his head. Then give a great blow at the knee and well forward, so that if he takes a step the axe between his legs finds the other knee. And if he does not move you must give a great sudden pull toward you, so that your bec de faucon hooks itself behind his knee to pull him to the ground. And if you are able, do not give this stroke below the armour plate: but on the plate or above, so that if you fail to overthrow him you may be able to disarm him of some piece of his cuisse. [I]tem sil se couuroit de la croisee de la hache pour le premier coup faites samblant de recouurer ung aultre coup affin quil se queuure hault comme deuant pour garder sa teste, de la tirez grant coup par le genoul et bien auant affin que sil desmarchoit que la hache treuue lautre genoul par dedens jambes. Et sil ne desmarchoit deuez tirer grant secousse a vous affin que vostre becq de faulcon sacroche a son genoul pour le ruer par terre. Et se vous pouez ne tirez pas ce coup audessoubz de lescreuisse, mais en lescreuisse ou au dessus affin que se vous failliez a le desroquer que vous le puissez desarmey de quelque piece de cuissot. [62] If he does it to you. You have only to take a step with your left foot which is behind, and advance it before the other, in order to push with your knee against the middle of his axe in order to free yourself. [I]tem se il le vous faisoit nauez a faire que desmarchier du pie gauche qui est darriere et le mettre deuant lautre pour hurter du genoul le millieu de sa hache pour vous desenferrer. [63] From there, you can jab at his face with the queue of your axe, which is a good reply. And for this, when you make the said stroke, do it quickly. And if you miss, return immediately on your guard. [I]tem de la le pouez de la queue de vostre hache estocquer au visage qui est bonne deffence. Et pour ce quant ferez ledit coup faites le prestement, et se vous faillies tournez vous a coup en vostre garde. [64] If the said left-hander comes at you with his dague forward. You must immediately thrust aside the croix of his axe with your queue, now here, now there. And while doing this, you can place your said queue against his croix on the haft towards his body, and you must let the said queue run through your left hand toward his croix, so that you have the power to push it away backhanded. And as you do this sliding movement, immediately step with your right foot to his rear, close to him, and all in one movement you must push your butt demy hache to try to beat him to the ground. Or at least if he draws back, you can deliver a blow. [09r] [I]tem se ledict gauchier vient a vous la dague au deuant de rechief deuez de la queue de la vostre deboutter la croix de la sienne puis sa puis la. Et en ce faisant pouez mettre vostredicte queue contre la croix de la sienne sur le manche par deuers son corps et deuez laisser couler de la main gauche ladicte queue encontre la croix de le sienne tellement que ayes force de la esloignier en arriere main. Et en faisant ceste coulisse droitement deuez marchier de vostre pie droit sur son darriere pres de luy et tout dune venue deuuez boutter a demy hache vostre grant bout pour essayer se le boutterez a terre, ou au mains se desmarchera il et pouez faire coup. [65] If he were to do it to you. As soon as you feel yourself thrust at, you must lower the butt of your axe, turning the axe under his queue, without getting out of distance, and so that your axe comes behind his queue. And from there you can move so that you have the leisure to step back to return on the guard of the queue because it is more advantageous than that of the dague. [I]tem se il le vous faisoit deuez si prestement que vous vous sentez enferre baisser le gros bout de vostre hache en la tournant par dessoubz la queue de la sienne sans guieres la esloignier et tant que vostredicte hache viengne sur la darriere de sa queue. Et de la pouez esbranler tant que aurez loisir de desmarchier en arriere pour tourner en la garde de la queue car elle est plus auantageuse que celle de la dague. [66] If your queues are crossed together. You can hold them fast together, so that he holds his tight. And then you must step back with your left foot; and as you step back, smoothly give him a blow with the mail on his hands. And this is a good stroke, but only when your queue is behind his. And to protect youreself from this blow, make sure that he never has his queue behind yours: because, if he has it in front, he cannot do it to you on account of your queue which prevents it. [I]tem se vos queues sont ioinctes en croix les pouez affermer ensamble affin quil asseure la sienne. Et de la deuez desmarchier en arriere de vostre pie gauche, et en desmarchant tirez ung coup du mail en coulant sur ses mains et cest ung bon coup mais que la vostre queue soit darriere la sienne. Et pour vous garder de coup gardez que iamais il nayt la sienne darriere la vostre car se il la deuant il ne le vous puet faire pour la queue de la vostre qui len garde. [67] When you have your queue behind his, thrusting it forward a little, you can always give him a jab in the face. [I]tem vous pouez tousiours ayant vostre queue darriere la sienne en la debouttant ung peu en auant luy tirer destocq par le visage. [68] If the said left-hander comes at you with the dague forward, and he is holding his axe long. You can put your queue crossways between his hand and the croix, and from there give him a back-hander downwards, in order to make his axe pass behind you as, stepping forward with your right foot, you can push him demy hache against his shoulders to knock him down. [09v] [I]tem se ledict gauchier vient a vous la dague deuant et quil tiengne sa hache longue vous pouez mettre la queue de la vostre en croisee entre sa main et la et de la tirer en arriere main contre bas pour la faire passer sur vostre darriere en marchant du pie droit en auant le pouez boutter demy hache contre ses espaules pour le desroquer. [69] Take care that he can never get to press crossways with his queue against the front of yours. Or, if by chance he does, then as soon as he has pressed, turn yours over his, and he will not be able to do it. [I]tem gardez que iamais il ne puisse aduenir a appuyer croisee de sa queuure contre le deuant de la vostre, ou se dauenture il faisoit prestement quil aura appuye destournez la vostre par sus la sienne et ne le pourra faire. [70] If your man comes at you guarding with the queue, and he is holding it low. You can give a forehanded blow against his queue with yours, in order to move it away from in front of him. And if you can do it, as you follow up one foot after the other, you can place yourself between his axe and him; and from there you must place your said queue between his thighs, half-way along, and you must lift up your man on the said queue as high as you can. And you can carry out this move from various other openings, neither more nor less than are set out before in the play of the right-hander against the right-hander. [I]tem se vostre homme vient a vous sur la garde de la queue et quil la tienne comme basse pouez frapper de vostre queue contrre la sienne auant main pour la esloignier sur son deuant. Et se le pouez faire en suyuant lung pie apres lautre pouez vous mettre entre sa hache et luy et de la deuez mettre vostredicte queue entre ses cuisses iusques a demy et deuez subleuer vostre homme sur ladicte queue le plus hault que pourrez. Et pouez faire cestedicte prinse de plusieurs aultres entrees ne plus ne mains comme deuant est mis au Jeu de droittier a droittier. [71] If he does it to you. You must stick your axe into the middle of his chest, and he will not be able to do it. [I]tem se il le vous faisoit deuez mettre a demy vostre hache entre sa poitrine et naura pouoir de la faire. [72] If your man comes at you with his face forward, whether right-hander or left-hander. If you can place the queue of your axe above his, and from there get the end under his right armpit, you can push him from the side of the said queue, always following him up, without his having the slightest good remedy to free himself. And by this you can put him out of the lists. [I]tem se vostre homme vient a vous le visage deuant soit droittier ou gauchier se pouez mettre la queue de vostre hache par sus la sienne et en mettre le bout sur lesselle droite le pouez pous [10r] ser du coste de ladicte queue en le suyuant tousiours sans quil y ait guieres bon remede de se desenserrer et par cela le pouez mettre hors de la lisse. [73] You must frequently attack him with jabs at the face and at the feet to make him loose his composure. [I]tem le deuez souuent arguer destocz par le visage et par les pies pour luy faire perdre son aduis.
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Additional Resources

The following is a list of publications containing scans, transcriptions, and translations relevant to this article, as well as published peer-reviewed research.

• Anglo, Sydney (1991). "Le Jeu de la Hache. A Fifteenth-Century Treatise on the Technique of Chivalric Axe Combat." Archaeologia 109: 113-128. doi:10.1017/S0261340900014053.
• Anglo, Sydney (2008). "Le Jeu de la Hache: A 15th-Century Treatise." Masters of Medieval and Renaissance Martial Arts: 143-172. Ed. by John Clements. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press. ISBN 978-1-58160-668-3.
• Deacon, Jacob Henry (2016). "Prologues, Poetry, Prose and Portrayals: The Purposes of Fifteenth Century Fight Books According to the Diplomatic Evidence." Acta Periodica Duellatorum 4(2): 69-90. doi:10.36950/apd-2016-014.
• Dupuis, Olivier (2016). "The French Fencing Traditions, from the 14th Century to 1630 through Fight Books." Late Medieval and Early Modern Fight Books. Transmission and Tradition of Martial Arts in Europe: 354-375. Ed. by Daniel Jaquet; Karin Verelst; Timothy Dawson. Leiden and Boston: Brill. doi:10.1163/9789004324725_014. ISBN 978-90-04-31241-8.
• Dupuis, Olivier; Vincent Deluz (2017). "Le Jeu de la Hache: A Critical edition and dating discussion." Acta Periodica Duellatorum 5(1): 3-62. doi:10.1515/apd-2017-0001.
• Hagedorn, Dierk (2024). Das Spiel mit der Axt - Le Jeu de la Hache. Herne: VS-Books. ISBN 978-3-932077-54-8.
• Le Coultre, Anne-Caroline (2017). "The typological debates around Le Jeu de la Hache (BnF MS Français 1996) and their stakes for HEMA practice." Acta Periodica Duellatorum 5(2): 97-114. doi:10.1515/apd-2017-0010.
• Tzouriadis, Iason-Eleftherios (2020). "The Foot Combat as Tournament Event: Equipment, Space and Forms." The Medieval Tournament as Spectacle: Tourneys, Jousts and Pas d'Armes, 1100-1600: 155-184. Ed. by Alan V. Murray; Karen Watts. Woodbridge: Boydell Press. ISBN 9781783275427.

Copyright and License Summary

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

Work	Author(s)	Source	License
Images	Bibliothèque nationale de France	Gallica
Translation	Dr. Sydney Anglo	Association for Renaissance Martial Arts
Transcription		Index:Le Jeu de la Hache (MS Français 1996)