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| ''Crook-up swiftly,<br/>&emsp;throw the point upon the hands.''
 
| ''Crook-up swiftly,<br/>&emsp;throw the point upon the hands.''
 
|}
 
|}
<p>'''Gloss:''' This is how you shall crooked-hew to the hands. Deploy it thusly: Stand with your left foot forward, well into the scales, and hold your sword crooked, that is with crossed hands such that the long edge stands upwards, with the point out forward upon the ground. And the first play according to the text deploys thusly: When one hews-into you from his right shoulder with an over- or under-hew, so step inward into him with your right foot in-the-moment against him and let the crossed hand or the crook go-up and set-aside the hew with your sword with the long edge or point thrown well out-over his hand against<ref>towards</ref> his left side. Thereafter, war and work as you wish. But if he throws you with the hand here-over with power with his going-up, then let it go easily and make a strike around it around your head into his left side with the short or long edge, whichever course goes nearer. He breaks that with mutating against you. This hew also breaks the guards of the oxen. When someone stands therein against you, so you must break your crooked-hew there-against. It also breaks over- and under-hews and is one of the four parries against the four guards such as the oxen.</p>
+
<p>'''Gloss:''' This is how you shall hew crooked to the hands. Deploy it thusly: Stand with your left foot forward and hold your sword crooked out forward with the point upon the ground, that is, with crossed hands such that the long edge stands upwards well in the scales and the first play according to the text deploys thusly: When one initiates a hew at you from his right shoulder with an over- or under-hew, so step in well toward him with your right foot against him in this and let the crossed hand or the crook go-up and offset the hew with your sword with the long edge or point thrown well out-over his hand against<ref>towards</ref> his left side. Thereafter, war and work as you wish. But if he over-throws you with the hands with power with his going-up, then let it go easily and make a strike around it around your head into his left side with the short or long edge, whichever course goes nearer. He breaks that with mutating against you. This hew also breaks the guards of the oxen. When someone stands therein against you, so you must break your crooked-hew there-against. It also breaks over- and under-hews and is one of the four parries against the four guards such as the oxen.</p>
 
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|-  
 
|-  
 
| <small>43</small>
 
| <small>43</small>
| ''Whoever properly sets crooked, <br/>&emsp;Disrupts many hews with stepping.''
+
| ''Crook whoever sets well, <br/>&emsp;With stepping, [he] disrupts many hews''
 
|}
 
|}
<p>'''Gloss:''' This is how you will set-aside the over-hews with the crooked-hew. It deploys thusly: Stand well crooked next to your left foot, which shall stand forward, crossing to the same side, that is, in the crooked setting-on with your sword with crossed hands with the point upon the ground. When he then strikes into the opening from his right side, so step and strike or set-aside and work as closest above. Yet, if you are able to fall well over the hands in the barrier-guard as others name, [it] goes to both sides.</p>
+
<p>'''Gloss:''' This is how you will offset the over-hews with the crooked-hew. It deploys thusly: Stand well crooked next to your left foot, which shall stand forward, crossing to the same side, that is, in the crooked setting-on with your sword with crossed hands with the point upon the ground. When he then strikes into the opening from his right side, so step and strike or offset and work as closest above. Yet, if you are able to fall well over the hands in the barrier-guard as others name, [it] goes to both sides.</p>
 
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|-  
 
|-  
 
| <small>45</small>
 
| <small>45</small>
| ''When it clashes above, <br/>&emsp;stand firm. That I will laud.''
+
| ''When it clashes above, <br/>&emsp; then stand <ref>In the standard verse it is 'ab', not 'fast'</ref>. That I will laud.''
 
|}
 
|}
 
<p>This is when you wish to weaken the master. So note when someone stands hanging in the flat or the fool with the right foot forward. So hew from your right side from the crooked setting-on and set him aside with crossed hands, crooked upon his sword and step toward and as soon as your sword has clashed upon it, stand firm and wait upon the after, etc. Or if you will not wait, then swiftly strike back out from the sword with the short or long edge at his head into his left side or wind the short edge upon his sword with the crooked-hew and stab into his chest or do whatever you think is good.</p>
 
<p>This is when you wish to weaken the master. So note when someone stands hanging in the flat or the fool with the right foot forward. So hew from your right side from the crooked setting-on and set him aside with crossed hands, crooked upon his sword and step toward and as soon as your sword has clashed upon it, stand firm and wait upon the after, etc. Or if you will not wait, then swiftly strike back out from the sword with the short or long edge at his head into his left side or wind the short edge upon his sword with the crooked-hew and stab into his chest or do whatever you think is good.</p>
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| ''The thwart-hew takes-away<br/>&emsp;whatever approaches from the roof.''
 
| ''The thwart-hew takes-away<br/>&emsp;whatever approaches from the roof.''
 
|}
 
|}
<p>'''Gloss:''' the thwart-hew is nothing other than the middle-hew. It breaks any hew that will either approach or will be hewn from above downward or from the roof. You shall deploy it thusly: Stand with the left foot forward and hold you sword in behind in the middle-hew at the midsection or waist by the right foot or side such that the long edge is above. And when someone cleaves-in above from the roof into the opening or the head, then step or spring forth against him with the right foot and set aside his hew with the thwart, that is crooked, well to your left, etc. and after the setting-aside, then wind-in with the short edge to his left into his head if you will remain upon his sword. War if it is a necessity. But if he makes a disengaging and will strike you from his left, then come-against swiftly around that with the crooked under cut into his arm, so long as [you] do not drive away too wide in the setting-aside.</p>
+
<p>'''Gloss:''' the thwart-hew is nothing other than the middle-hew. It breaks any hew that will either arrive or will be hewn from above downward or from the roof. You shall deploy it thusly: Stand with the left foot forward and hold you sword in behind in the middle-hew at the midsection or waist by the right foot or side such that the long edge is above. And when someone cleaves-in above from the roof into the opening or the head, then step or spring forth against him with the right foot and set aside his hew with the thwart, that is crooked, well to your left, etc. and after the setting-aside, then wind-in with the short edge to his left into his head if you will remain upon his sword. War if it is a necessity. But if he makes a disengaging and will strike you from his left, then come-against swiftly around that with the crooked under cut into his arm, so long as [you] do not drive away too wide in the setting-aside.</p>
 
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| ''Whoever deploys the change, <br/>&emsp;the squinter robs him from that.''
 
| ''Whoever deploys the change, <br/>&emsp;the squinter robs him from that.''
 
|}
 
|}
<p>'''Gloss:''' The squint-hew is nothing other than the change-hew. Named according to the record, the squint-hew, which is such an exquisite hew, that breaks-into buffaloes or ruffians, which take victory by force in hews and in stabs. Deploy the hew thusly: If you stand with your right foot forward and lay in the squint-hew, then the thumb must be above on the sword. If he then hews into you from his right side, step into him swiftly in-the-moment with your left foot and set-aside his hew strongly with your short edge and from that, make a rapid strike from your left shoulder, crooked, with the long edge into the right side of his head, but if he comes against it very quickly and parries your hew so that you come upon his sword, then wind-in above with power and lay your sword on his throat. If he will then escape ever with force, then follow after him just mercifully so he may not rightly escape.</p>
+
<p>'''Gloss:''' The squint-hew is nothing other than the change-hew. Named according to the record, the squint-hew, which is such an exquisite hew, that breaks-into buffaloes or ruffians, which take victory by force in hews and in stabs. Deploy the hew thusly: If you stand with your right foot forward and lay in the squint-hew, then the thumb must be above on the sword. If he then hews into you from his right side, step into him swiftly in-the-moment with your left foot and offset his hew strongly with your short edge and from that, make a rapid strike from your left shoulder, crooked, with the long edge into the right side of his head, but if he comes against it very quickly and parries your hew so that you come upon his sword, then wind-in above with power and lay your sword on his throat. If he will then escape ever with force, then follow after him just mercifully so he may not rightly escape.</p>
 
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|  
 
|  
| <p>But if you wish to allow him to escape easily, then wind-after him with the war and between his arms as it connects, etc. But if you stand with the left foot forward, then lay your thumb below, so you may again set-aside his over-hew with the short edge and strike to his left side to the head with the short edge and with the right foot stepping-into. Or, setting-aside over his sword, winding-in to his right side to the head or laying upon the throat, etc, war. But if he wishes to change-through in his hew, then wind-in crooked upon his sword and bring forth your work and lay upon him.</p>
+
| <p>But if you wish to allow him to escape easily, then wind-after him with the war and between his arms as it connects, etc. But if you stand with the left foot forward, then lay your thumb below, so you may again offset his over-hew with the short edge and strike to his left side to the head with the short edge and with the right foot stepping-into. Or, setting-aside over his sword, winding-in to his right side to the head or laying upon the throat, etc, war. But if he wishes to change-through in his hew, then wind-in crooked upon his sword and bring forth your work and lay upon him.</p>
 
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|-  
 
|-  
 
| <small>83</small>
 
| <small>83</small>
| ''Learn to set-aside hew, thrust. <br/>&emsp;Artfully disrupt whoever''
+
| ''Learn to offset hew, thrust. <br/>&emsp;Artfully disrupt whoever''
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
| <small>84</small>
 
| <small>84</small>
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| ''Hit anytime from both sides <br/>&emsp;if you will step.''
 
| ''Hit anytime from both sides <br/>&emsp;if you will step.''
 
|}
 
|}
<p>'''Master Hans' Gloss:''' This so that you shall learn to set-aside artfully disrupting hew, thrust also breaking point thusly: If someone hews or thrusts against you, plainly setting-aside and breaking strike and point from all positions and hews or stances and setting-upon from all sides as they encroach you and hitting the point with your point or sword and setting-aside well and from that make a strike-in above with the short edge to the head to whichever side it then gives itself up. Thereafter work in-the-moment with the after and war.</p>
+
<p>'''Master Hans' Gloss:''' This so that you shall learn to offset artfully disrupting hew, thrust also breaking point thusly: If someone hews or thrusts against you, plainly setting-aside and breaking strike and point from all positions and hews or stances and setting-upon from all sides as they encroach you and hitting the point with your point or sword and setting-aside well and from that make a strike-in above with the short edge to the head to whichever side it then gives itself up. Thereafter work in-the-moment with the after and war.</p>
 
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|-  
 
|-  
 
|  
 
|  
| <p>Or<ref>marginalia: 'malz' => bad, weak</ref> else according to the interpretive intent of others as they deploy the setting-aside: When you come to him with the onset, if he then positions himself against you as so in the plow, as they call it (but I call it the ox down by the knee) and acts as if he will thrust into you, the set your left foot forward and stand against him as well in the ox to your right side with crossed arms or hands and give yourself an opening with the left side. If he then thrusts into your opening, then wind against his thrust to you left side with your sword on his sword and step into with the right foot and with that set-aside such that the point always remains standing against him and in-the-moment stab him in the face or chest. Thus, your point hits and his does not. Or also make a strike and otherwise do whatever you wish if you would like to work with the warring.</p>
+
| <p>Or<ref>marginalia: 'malz' => bad, weak</ref> else according to the interpretive intent of others as they deploy the setting-aside: When you come to him with the onset, if he then positions himself against you as so in the plow, as they call it (but I call it the ox down by the knee) and acts as if he will thrust into you, the set your left foot forward and stand against him as well in the ox to your right side with crossed arms or hands and give yourself an opening with the left side. If he then thrusts into your opening, then wind against his thrust to you left side with your sword on his sword and step into with the right foot and with that offset such that the point always remains standing against him and in-the-moment stab him in the face or chest. Thus, your point hits and his does not. Or also make a strike and otherwise do whatever you wish if you would like to work with the warring.</p>
 
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| <p>'''Work from the fourth stance, the crooked setting-upon with the after.'''</p>
 
| <p>'''Work from the fourth stance, the crooked setting-upon with the after.'''</p>
  
<p>'''The first:''' When you stand in the crooked setting-on to your left side, if he then means to seek the openings of your right side with thrusts from the ox, or else strikes; then go up against him and set-aside upon his sword with a stepping-into well over<ref>alt: across</ref> his hands and await his work and war. If he will then throw you over with force, then let go so that you come to the war or strike or work-in with him into the crook and lay upon his neck.</p>
+
<p>'''The first:''' When you stand in the crooked setting-on to your left side, if he then means to seek the openings of your right side with thrusts from the ox, or else strikes; then go up against him and offset upon his sword with a stepping-into well over<ref>alt: across</ref> his hands and await his work and war. If he will then throw you over with force, then let go so that you come to the war or strike or work-in with him into the crook and lay upon his neck.</p>
 
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|-  
 
|-  
 
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| rowspan="3" | [[File:Cod.I.6.2º.5_40v.jpg|300x300px|center]]
| <p>'''The fifth:''' When you stand as before and he also counters you in the crooked setting-on on his right side and he goes-up and means to strike you crooked to your right side, then you may strike, set-aside, etc. and await the war. You may even also change-through well in that, etc. War if it is necessary.</p>
+
| <p>'''The fifth:''' When you stand as before and he also counters you in the crooked setting-on on his right side and he goes-up and means to strike you crooked to your right side, then you may strike, offset, etc. and await the war. You may even also change-through well in that, etc. War if it is necessary.</p>
 
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| <p>'''Work from the fifth'''</p>
 
| <p>'''Work from the fifth'''</p>
  
<p>'''The first:''' When you stand in the crooked setting-on upon your right side and he counters you on his right and means to strike you with an over-hew, then set-aside with crooked hands and do not uncover<ref>alt: open</ref>. If he then throws you over, then again let go and strike him crooked into his right. War.</p>
+
<p>'''The first:''' When you stand in the crooked setting-on upon your right side and he counters you on his right and means to strike you with an over-hew, then offset with crooked hands and do not uncover<ref>alt: open</ref>. If he then throws you over, then again let go and strike him crooked into his right. War.</p>
 
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|-  
 
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| <p>But if you do not wish to cut, then mutate. But if he is from the right, then double him. If you do not wish to cut, then break him and strike. But if he will thrust from his left side and not disengage, then wind-in crooked against him, etc. You may also go-up or set-aside into yours when he thrust upon you, also pulling and striking, etc. War.</p>
+
| <p>But if you do not wish to cut, then mutate. But if he is from the right, then double him. If you do not wish to cut, then break him and strike. But if he will thrust from his left side and not disengage, then wind-in crooked against him, etc. You may also go-up or offset into yours when he thrust upon you, also pulling and striking, etc. War.</p>
 
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Revision as of 20:14, 22 April 2017

Hans Medel von Salzburg

A play from Medel's fencing manual
Born 15th century
Died 16th century
Occupation Fencing master
Citizenship Salzburg, Germany
Movement Liechtenauer tradition
Influences
Genres Fencing manual
Language Early New High German
Manuscript(s) Codex I.6.2º.5 (1539)
Concordance by Michael Chidester
Translations Magyar fordítás

Hans Medel von Salzburg (Hans Niedel, Hans Mendel) was an early 16th century German fencing master. Salzburg is a city in northern Austria, and he seems to have operated as a burgher and Schirmmeister there from at least 1503.[1] Little else is known about this master, but he seems to have been associated with the tradition of Johannes Liechtenauer. He may have traced his lineage through Hans Seydenfaden von Erfurt, a member of the Fellowship of Liechtenauer,[2] as Medel's text is the only known source that mentions the earlier master's teachings.

Medel's name is attached to a manuscript treatise on swordsmanship from 1539, including an incomplete gloss of Liechtenauer's Recital and an addendum on fencing based on "the Seven Stances". This gloss is unique in the Liechtenauer tradition in that it not only offers direct commentary on the Recital, but also demonstrates an awareness of the earlier glosses of Sigmund ain Ringeck (from which a great deal of text is lifted) and Pseudo-Peter von Danzig, and even includes occasional criticisms of and corrections to their teachings. In a few places the gloss specifically describes a teaching of Hans Seydenfaden or Hans Medel, but in several more it merely attributes the teaching to "Master Hans" without indicating which one. This manuscript eventually passed into the library of Paulus Hector Mair, who bound it into the current Codex I.6.2º.5 some time after 1566; unfortunately, the extant fragment of the gloss terminates abruptly at the beginning of the section on Zucken, and the remainder of Medel's gloss is currently lost.

Treatise

Additional Resources

References

  1. Mitteilungen der Gesellschaft für Salzburger Landeskunde, vol. 40. Salzburg, 1900. p 177.
  2. The Fellowship of Liechtenauer is recorded in three versions of Paulus Kal's treatise: MS 1825 (1460s), Cgm 1570 (ca. 1470), and MS KK5126 (1480s).
  3. alt: right
  4. alt: side
  5. alt: defense
  6. the artist/professional doing their work
  7. alt: gladly valuing in the arts
  8. alt: gladly valuing with kindness
  9. alt: right
  10. alt: weapon
  11. eindrohen: to imminently threaten
  12. Zeck: a biting insect, ie: a tick.
  13. alt: closer, sooner
  14. this is usually the term for the severing of limbs/extremities, though can mean hewing while exiting
  15. widerschlagen: to strike against, in a reverberating sense
  16. rechnen: compute, take into account, align
  17. towards
  18. In the standard verse it is 'ab', not 'fast'
  19. severely, precisely, ruthlessly, violently
  20. videlicet: namely; to wit
  21. abhauen: to sever
  22. letz: reversed, disrupted, perverted, refuting, incorrect, twisted, unjust, left
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 23.7 23.8 23.9 The text here is hidden by a crease in the page.
  24. ansiegen: to return with victory
  25. glance, discern, glean
  26. Ochs
  27. likes to
  28. Ochs
  29. Ochs
  30. Can also mean "to tame or incapacitate".
  31. This is a markedly different reading of the verse from the usual: "Squint to the top of the forehead if you wish to incapacitate the hands". Hand can either mean "hand" or "side" and Medel adds "sy" which refers to the head.
  32. could also mean 'carelessly'
  33. Alternately: strongly, firmly, steadfastly.
  34. the leger or hut
  35. rappen: to gather, to snatch, to seize
  36. no apparent verb here. A similar construction appears below with the added phrase: "set-upon upon the four endings to both sides"
  37. alt: flying
  38. alt: exit
  39. mitmachen: join, unite, combine, participate
  40. alternately: old
  41. marginalia: 'malz' => bad, weak
  42. Or possibly "maler"
  43. Here some pages apparently have been lost, unfortunately.
  44. alt: across
  45. alt: it
  46. alt: inside
  47. alt: misleading
  48. alt: across
  49. alt: open