Fechtbuch zu Ross und zu Fuss ("Manual on Fencing, on Horse and on Foot"; MS Var[ia] 82) is a German fencing manual created in the 1560s and acquired by Joachim Meyer some time before 1570.[1] The original currently rests in the holdings of the Universitätsbibliothek Rostock in Rostock, Germany. Like many manuscripts from the previous century, the MS Var. 82 contains an assortment of older treatises from the tradition of Johannes Liechtenauer; perhaps the most significant portion is the notes that Meyer added to the front and back, including an outline for adapting the traditional German Messer teachings (exemplified in the writings of Johannes Lecküchner) to the newly-popular side sword.
Much of the older content seems to have been sourced from a manuscript similar to Codex I.6.4º.3, perhaps the one from which that manuscript was also copied. The two notable exceptions to this are Sigmund ain Ringeck's glosa, which do not match any other extant version and contain clues to the nature of the lost original, and an anonymous multiweapon treatise toward the back which also appears in the compilations of Paulus Hector Mair, but whose origins are completely unknown.
One final note of interest about this manuscript is that it mentions a Master Pegnitzer,[2] a name that also appears on Paulus Kal's roll of the Fellowship of Liechtenauer[3] and a master from whom no treatise is known to survive. The name is mentioned in reference to a device of the poleaxe, which might indicate the subject of his teachings.
Provenance
Contents
| 1r - 5r
|
Notes on striking by Joachim Meyer
|
| 6r - 13v
|
Gloss of Liechtenauer's Recital on long sword fencing by Sigmund ain Ringeck (fragmentary)
|
| 13v - 39v
|
Gloss of Liechtenauer's Recital on long sword fencing by Pseudo-Peter von Danzig
|
| 39v - 41r
|
Recital on long sword fencing by Martin Syber
|
| 41r - 58r, 75v
|
Gloss of Liechtenauer's Recital on mounted fencing by Jud Lew
|
| 58r - 67r
|
Short sword fencing and grappling by Martin Huntfeltz (attributed to Jud Lew)
|
| 67r - 74v
|
Short sword fencing by Andre Liegniczer (attributed to Martin Huntfeltz)
|
| 74v - 75r
|
Recital on short sword fencing by Johannes Liechtenauer
|
| 76r - 90r
|
Anonymous devices of dagger
|
| 86rv
|
No Translation 
|
Transcription [edit]
by Dierk Hagedorn
|
|
|
[86r] Mit dem schwert ein stuck, leg dich fur mitt dem schwert als in die eisnen pfortenn, wen gener au[f] dich haut ein oberhaw, In des far auf mit gecreutztenn hendenn, mit dem schwert, vnnd drit nebenn aus, mi[t] deim linckenn zu genes linckenn, vnnd wen der schlag trift, so trit bald nach mit dem Rechten, vnnd schlag wo du in wilt. Optimum. Wen gener auf fert vnd trit, so tzuck du vnd schlag nit, vnnd stich In In Bauch.[4]
|
|
|
Im harnisch, ergreift dir einer dein schwert bey der spitz, vnnd du im das sein, so wirf dein schwert vonn dir ob du stercker bist, vnnd nim im das sein bey seim knopf oder Ring. Oder behalt dein schwert vnter der vchsenn, vnd wirf sein ort memẽ [?] aus, In des resch trit im ein, vnd begreif dein schwertt mit der linckenn in der mitt, vnnd windt Im dein ort vber sein arm oder hant, vnnd wind Im [86v] das schwert aus, setz ann oder arbeit mitt dem knopff.
|
|
|
Mit dem Spies, ob er mit einem spies auf dich schiessenn oder stechenn wil, setz den lincken fus vor fas dein Spies in der mitt, leg dein ortt auff die erdenn, fur denn fus, vnnd wenn der schus oder stich auf dich gehet, so trit mit dem Rechtenn hintenn vmb dein lincken vnnd setz ab vnnd setz im an.
|
|
|
Sticht einer auf dich oder scheust mit dem Spies so nim dein schwert in die lincken handt, vnnd setz fur dein lincks pain, vnd setz im ab mitt dem schwert, trit tzu im, arbeit mit dem degenn, tzu sein henden, oder cum gladio zu dem Visier.
|
|
| 90r - 96v
|
|
| 97r - 98r
|
Sword and Buckler by Andre Liegniczer
|
| 98r - 110r
|
Gloss of Liechtenauer's Recital on short sword fencing by Sigmund ain Ringeck (disordered)
|
111r - 122v,
123r - 127r
|
Rapier by Joachim Meyer
|
Gallery
Images hosted by the Universitätsbibliothek Rostock.
Additional Resources
References
- ↑ The only date, 1570, is given on folio 123 (between the first and second sections of Meyer's rapier text); the rest of the manuscript shows a few different hands and was likely compiled prior to its acquisition by Meyer. See Joachim Meyer. The Art of Combat. A German Martial Arts Treatise of 1570. Trans. Jeffrey L. Forgeng. London: Frontline Books, 2014. pp 32-33.
- ↑ See folio 94r.
- ↑ 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).
- ↑ Unleserliche Einfügung. Illegible insertion.
Copyright and License Summary
For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.
