Hugold Behr's Fechtbuch (MS Var.83)

Hugold Behr's Fechtbuch
MS Var.83, Universitätsbibliothek Rostock Rostock, Germany
Hagedorn HB Leng 38.9.10
Wierschin — Hils —
Type	Fencing manual
Date	Before 1573
Language(s)	Early New High German
Author(s)	Unknown
Scribe(s)	Unknown
Material	Paper
Size	51 folia (160 mm × 200 mm)
Format	Text with scattered illustrations
Script	Cursive
External data	Library catalog entry
Treatise scans	Digital scans

Hugold Behr's Fechtbuch (MS var. 83) is an anonymous 16th century German fencing manual created some time before 1573. The original currently rests in the holdings of the Universitätsbibliothek Rostock in Rostock, Germany. It was previously owned by Hugold Behr the Elder, from whom it takes its nickname, but its original author and artist are unknown.

Contents

1r - 39r

Anonymous rapier and dagger treatise Images Draft Translation by Reinier van Noort Transcription  by Matthias Johannes Bauer [01r] [No text] [02v]  1 3 5 7 9 2 4 6 8 10 The short guard In this short guard, indicated with the numbers 2 and 3, you must firstly observe that your left foot must stand on the 3, and your right behind on the 2. Then deliver a full thrust to his left breast, so that your counterpart likewise attacks with a full thrust. You must take this out with your dagger, and immediately attack this arm in the same thrust. [4r.1] Dasz kurtze lager In diesem kurtzen lager gezeichnet mit der ziffer 2 und 3 ist vor erst zu observiren das der lincken fuß sol auff die 2 stehen und der rechte hinden auff die dry und bringen einen vollen stich nach der lincken brust auff das dein widderpart im geleichen mit einen vollen stich auß fahre welchen du mit den dolchen außnemmen salt und fahren strax zu auff denselbigen arm im geleichen stich. But if he delivers a strike above, then cross against this with your dagger, and drive your point against his arm from below. [4r.2] So er aber oben einen streich bringet so creuitz mit den dolch dargegen und fahre mit der spitzen unten gegen seinen arm. Secondly, if your counterpart attacks hard with a full thrust on the outside of your dagger, then step with your right foot onto the 6, threaten him above with a half thrust, and strike through below to his legs. [4v.2] Zum zweiden so dein widderpart mit vollen stich auswendichs des dolchs hart einfalt so verfal mit dem rechten fuß auf die 6 dreu ihm oben mit einen halben stich und slach unten durch nach den schenckelen. Thirdly, if he thrusts on the inside of your dagger, to your right side, you must drop against that with your dagger straight, and attack with a thrust over [your] dagger, to his right side. [4v.2] Zum dritten so er inwendicks dolchs nach der rechten seitten sticht solt du dargegen fallen mit stracken dolch und fahren auß mit einen stich uber dem dolch nach der rechten seitten. Fourthly, make a half thrust to his face and lower your blade to the middle of the body, and then drive on in the same thrust. [5r.1] Zum vurdten thue einen halben stich nach dem gesicht undt laß die clinge zu halben leib sincken undt fahre also im geleichen stich fort. Or threaten him below with a half thrust, and attack above with a full thrust. [5r.2] Oder dreu ihm unten mit einem halben stich undt fahre oben zu mit follen stoes Observation If your counterpart stands in the same guard with you, then step into the long guard. [5r.3] Obseuation So dein widderpart im geleichen lager mit tier leicht soo verfalle in dem langen lager Secondly If your adversary stands short, remember to [go] with your rapier into the long [guard], staying with your foot in the short guard. [5v.2] Zum zweiden So der adversarius corts leigt salt gedenken das rappier zu langen undt mit die fuß im cortsen lager zu bleiben Thirdly If your fist is not protected well by your dagger, you must always remember to stand with your blade long. [5v.2] Zum dritten So tier die faust nit wol mit dem dolch verwaert is salt altzeit gedenken im langer clingen zu leigen If in this previous guard of 3 and 6, a thrust is delivered at you below your dagger, or between your two weapons, to your right breast, you must take this out with your dagger blade flat, and complete a strike to his right ear. [7r.1] Wan in diesem vorigen lager 3 und 6 dier einen stich unten dem dolch gebracht wirdt oder zwischen beide wehr nach der rechten brust solt du den selbigen mit platter dolch clingen ausnhemen undt einen streich folfuhren nach dem rechten ohr 3. Secondly, in the same strike to his right ear, you can lower your blade, and, with a movement of your right foot, attack with a full thrust to his breast. [7r.2] Zum anderen magstu in geleichem streich nach dem rechten ohr die clinge sincken lassen et admoto pede dextro mit einem vollen stich nach der brust außfahrn. If you get the opportunity, you can take out a thrust with your dagger blade flat, and direct a strike over your adversary’s blade, very low to his right knee. [7v.1] So sich die gelegentheit gebe canstu einen stich ausnemmen mit flach dolch clinge undt den streich fuhren uber des adversarii clinge gar nidderich nach das rechte cnie. Then, if someone thrusts below to your legs, you must take this out with your blade hanging, and step forth with your right foot, changing with [your] blade to his groin. [7v.2] Item so einer unten naech den schenklen sticht salt den selbigen mit hangender clinge außnehmen undt tridten mit den rechten fuß vorts mit abwexel der clinge auff die virilia.

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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.

• Bauer, Matthias Johannes (2007). "Die unbekannte illustrierte Fechthandschrift des Hugold Behr. Vorbemerkungen zur Edition von Rostock UB Mss. Var. 83." Medium Aevum Quotidianum 55: 80-85.
• Bauer, Matthias Johannes (2020). "The Fight Book of Hugold Behr: A Late Sixteenth-Century Fight Book in Comparative Perspective." Acta Periodica Duellatorum 8(1): 89-104. doi:10.36950/apd-2020-006.

Copyright and License Summary

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

Work	Author(s)	Source	License
Images	Universitätsbibliothek Rostock	Universitätsbibliothek Rostock
Translation	Reinier van Noort	Ensis et Mente
Transcription	Matthias Johannes Bauer	Index:Hugold Behr's Fechtbuch (MS Var.83)