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Glasgow Gloss Fragment
| Glasgow Gloss Fragment | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Unknown |
| Date | 15th-16th century |
| Genre | Fencing manual |
| Language | Early New High German |
| Principal Manuscript(s) |
MS E.1939.65.341 (1508) |
| Translations | |
The Dresden Gloss Fragment is an anonymous 15th or 16th century German commentary on a few lines of Johannes Liechtenauer's Recital (Zettel) on the short sword. The only known copy is in the manuscript E.1939.65.341 (known as the "Glasgow Fechtbuch"), where it occupies three folia and is followed by six blank folia, perhaps indicating that it was left incomplete by the author or scribe. Its teachings are compatible with those of other 15th century glossators, but it includes a few ideas not seen anywhere else (such as the wrathful cut being intended for use against strikes straight down from above and the crooked cut being intended for use against all other strikes).
Contents
Treatise
Glasgow Transcription (1508) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[1] Here begins the gloss and the explanation of the knightly art of the combat fencing, which Johannes Liechtenauer, known as a great master in the art, has composed and made. |
[83r] Alhye hebt sich an Dye glos vnd die auß legung der ritterlichen kunst des kampfs fechtens / Dye gedicht vnd gemacht hat Johannes Liechtenawer der ein grosser maister In der kunst gewessen ist | ||||
[2] This is the foreword
Gloss: Note, this is that you shall know, when two shall fence with one another on foot in armor, each shall have three weapons: a spear, a sword, and a dagger. And the first wielding in the fight, that shall happen with the spear. Therefore you shall know to arrange yourself in two stances with correct weapon against him with the spear. |
Das ist der text von der vor red Wer absÿnnet Glosa Merck das ist / das du wissen solt / wen zwen Im harnasch zu fuesss mit ein ander vechtñ sullen / So solt ÿtlicher habñ haben dreÿ wer Ein sper / ein swert / vnd ein tegen / vnd das erst an hebñ in dem kampf das sol geschechñ mit dem sper / daru~b solt du dich mit rechter wer / gegen im mit dem sper wissen zu schicken in zwen stendt / | ||||
[3] This is the text of the first stance with the spear
Gloss: When you have your spear and he his, arrange yourself with the first stance against him like this: stand with the left foot forward, and hold your spear in the right hand, preparing to throw,[1] and throw before he throws[2] without any apprehension, and follow after the throw quickly to him with the sword, so he may have known no throw to you with the spear. And how you shall then fence with the sword against the spear, you find that written hereafter. |
Das ist der text des erstn Stands mit dem sper Sper vnd ortt / Glosa Wen du hast dein sper vnd er das sein / so schick dich mit dem erstñ standt gegen Im also / Ste mit dem linckñ fueß vor / vnd halt dein sper in der rechtñ hant zu dem schuß / vnd schews den vorschuß an alle vorcht / vnd folg pald dem schuß nach zu im mit dem schwert / So mag er zu dir mit dem sper kainen gewissen schuß gehabñ / vnd wie du den mit dem schwert solt vechtñ gegen dem sper / das vindest du hernach geschribñ / | ||||
[4] This is the text of the second stance with the spear
Gloss: This is if you do not want to throw your spear as is written before, arrange yourself with the second stance against him like this: Stand with the left foot forward, and hold your spear with both hand in the middle (like the half sword), next to your right side in the under guard, and stab the before-stab without any apprehension to his opening. If he then does not want to parry and stabs in equally with you, jump to him with your stab, and rise with the arms, and wind in your point above, and set it correctly into his face. If he then shoves your point upwards out of his face with the left arm, set your point under his left armpit into the opening, or otherwise wherever you may, and force him from you with it. |
Das ist der text des andern stands mit dem Sper Spring windt setz recht an Glosa das ist / Ob du dein sper nit verschissen wild / also vor geschribñ stet / So schick dich mit dem anderñ stant gegñ Im also / Ste mit dem linckñ fues vor / vnd halt dein sper mit peidñ hendtñ in der mit / (als das halb schwert) neben deine° [83v] rechtñ seyttñ / in der vntter huet / vnd stich den vor stich an alle forcht im zu der ploß / wil er dir dan nit versetzñ / vnd sticht mit dir gleich ein / So spring mit deine~ stich zu im vnd far auff mit den armen / vnd wint im dein ort oben ein / vnd setz im deñ recht in sein gesicht / Stost er dir den mit dem linckñ arm~ dein ort vbersich auß seine~ gesicht / so setz im dein ort vndter sein lincks vchsñ in die ploß / oder sunst wo du hin magst vnd tring in da mit von dir | ||||
[5] This is the text regarding the jerk
Gloss: his is when you want to stab before or otherwise come before with the stab, you shall know, when he parries, how you shall jerk so that he does not plant to you while you jerk through, and hear it like this: If he parries your stab with strength, so that your point goes out next to you besides, and does not remain against your opening with it, jerk and stab him to the other side. |
Das ist text von dem Zucken Wildu vostechñ/ Glosa / daz ist / Wen du vor wild stechñ / oder sunst vor kumbst mit dem stich / So soltdu wissen / wen er versetzt wie du zückn solst / das er dir nit an setz die weil du durch zuchst / vnd das vernym also · Versetzt er dir den stich mit sterck / das sein ort neben dir beseittz auß gett / vnd dir damit nicht pleibt gegñ der ploß / So zuck vnd stich im zu der anderñ seÿttñ / | ||||
[6] Note, if he remains with the point against your opening in the parry, do not jerk, remain with your spear at his, and aim for the nearest opening with the point, to wherever they may be to you. |
Merck pleibt er dir in der versatzu~g mit dem ort gegen der ploß / so zuck nit / so pleib mit deinem sper an dem seinem / vnd rem mit dem ort der nechstñ ploß zu wo dir die werdñ mag | ||||
[7] The traveling after with the spear.
Gloss: Note, this is when you have planted into his face with the spear, or otherwise at another instead, if he then falls with the hand into your spear and wants to wrench your point out of the face, and flee back backwards with stepping away, and wants to draw his dagger from scabbard, note when he steps back backwards, he gives himself an opening against you with the side, drop your spear in front,[4] and go near him[5] with the body, and assess, so that [you] win the same side and the back, and grab around him wisely, and raise him up, and strike his right foot out with your right, and throw him onto your right side. |
Das ist der text võ ansetzñ / vnd von ringñ Merck wil er zuchñ Glosa Merck das ist / wen du im mit dem sper dem ort hast angesetzt in sein gesicht / oder sunst an ein ander stat / velt er den mit den hendtñ in dein sper / vnd wil dein ort auß dem gesicht reÿssñ vnd mit abtrettñ hindtersich zu rück fliechñ / vnd wil von schaidñ ziechñ sein degñ / So merck wen er hindter sich zu ruck trÿtt / so gebt er sich gegñ dir ploß mit der seÿttñ / So laß for dein sper fallñ vnd nachen dich zu im mit dem leib vnd wart [84r] das im die selbig seÿtt vnd den ruck gewinnest / vnd vmbfach in weÿslich / vnd heb in auff / vnd schlag im sein rechtñ fueß auß / mit deinem rechtñ / vnd wirff in auff dein rechte seyttñ / |
For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.
| Work | Author(s) | Source | License |
|---|---|---|---|
| Translation | Stephen Cheney | Wiktenauer |  |
| Glasgow Transcription | Dierk Hagedorn | Index:Glasgow Fechtbuch (MS E.1939.65.341) |  |
Additional Resources
References
- ↑ “zu dem schuß,” literally “to the shoot.” “Schuss/schiessen” with a spear means to throw it in other KdF texts.
- ↑ “schews den vorschuß,” literally “shoot the before-shoot.”
- ↑ “Kuck,” Kucken = to watch, look, peak, in northern German. Other sources have this as “zuck,” to jerk, twitch, etc.
- ↑ “Lass for dein sper fallñ,” literally “let your spear fall before.”
- ↑ “Nachen dich zu him,” literally “near yourself to him.”
