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André des Bordes
| André des Bordes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1582 Nancy, Lorraine |
| Died | 28 January 1625 Nancy, Lorraine (?) |
| Spouse(s) | Marie Olivier |
| Occupation | Fencing master |
| Patron | Henri II, Duke of Lorraine |
| Genres | Fencing manual |
| Language | Middle French |
| Notable work(s) | Discours de la théorie de la pratique et de l’excellence des armes (1610) |
| Manuscript(s) | MS E.1939.65.435 |
André des Bordes (Abraham Racinot; 1582-1625) was a 17th century French fencing master. Nothing is known of this master's youth other than the fact that he studied fencing in Italy for many years and achieved some degree of mastery. After returning to his native France, he soon befriended the future duke Henri, and was appointed fencing master to Duke Charles III of Lorraine in 1606. When Henri became duke in 1609, Bordes was named a gentleman, and in August of 1609 he was raised to nobility (with the usual fees waived). Earlier that year in June, he had married Marie Olivier, a woman from a distinguished family in Pont-à-Mousson.
In 1610, Bordes completed a treatise on fencing entitled Discours de la théorie de la pratique et de l’excellence des armes ("Discourse on Theory, Practice, and Excellence at Arms"); it was published in Nancy and dedicated to the Duke. Bordes' treatise seems to largely be an abbreviated French translation of Camillo Palladini's Italian treatise Discorso di Camillo Palladini Bolognese sopra l'arte della scherma come l'arte della scherma è necessaria à chi si diletta d'arme (De Walden Library 14/10).
After this, Bordes' wealth and prestige increased; in 1612 he was appointed captain, warden and tax collector of Boulay, and in 1615, captain and provost of Sierck. In 1617, he joined the duchy's Council of State and gained the title Squire. At some point, Bordes also seems to have served as a foreign ambassador for Lorraine. Events turned against Bordes after the death of Henri II in 1624. His political enemies contrived to have him imprisoned on charges of witchcraft in November of that year, and on 28 January 1625 Bordes confessed to the crime and was executed by strangulation and burned.
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DISCOURSE OF THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF THE EXCELLENCE OF ARMS By Sieur Des-bordes. At NANCY, by ANDRE BLAISE, ordinary printer of His Highness, with Privilege. |
[ⅰr] DISCOURS DE LA THEORIE DE LA PRATIQUE ET DE L’EXCELLENCE DES ARMES, Par le Sieur Des-bordes. A NANCY, Par BLAISE ANDRE, Imprimeur ordinaire de SON ALTESSE, Avec Privilege |
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NOBILIS LOTHARINGUS / ANDREAS DESBORDES ANNO AETATIS XXVIII MANET ALTA / MENTE REPOSTUM This book you can make wise of the body, of the spirit, of courage Made at Nancy by I.A. 1610 |
[ⅰv] NOBILIS LOTHARINGUS / ANDREAS DESBORDES ANNO AETATIS ⅩⅩⅧ MANET ALTA / MENTE REPOSTUM Ce livre te peut faire sage du corps de l'esprit du courage Faict à Nancy par .I.A. .1610. |
TO HIS HIGHNESS SIR My inclination, having taken me away from your regions, the place of my birth, [was] to make me capable in some way to the honour of your service. I made the choice of arms, to have more confidence to carry my life to that which Your Highness would look upon. Italy, which has given me the lessons [in arms], and the memory of my homeland obliged me to come offer the effects.[1] And now that the beneficence of your highness has drawn me from the exercise of arms and given me the means and leisure to put down the Theory, I have provided a few hours of my service with Your Person, for the employment in this work, who has sympathy for this feat, familiar to anyone of your house. Finding that it will always serve you, whether to teach for your nobles and from the greatest of your subjects and the bravest, to the least of your people, the most necessary postures for the preservation of their persons, so that one cannot reproach me of ingratitude that I pay the benefits of Your HIGHNESS, not to leave to posterity another mark of my obedience, the honour of being your premier Valet de Chambre. Therefore, receive in the attendant discourse that I am so happy to be able to merit the quality of MONSIEUR, very humble, and very obedient, a subject and servant of your Highness. Des-bordes. |
[ⅱr] A SON ALTESSE, MONSEIGNEUR. Mon inclination, m’ayant eslongné de voz Pays, lieu de ma n’aissance pour me rendre capable en quelque sorte de l’honneur de vostre service, je fis election des armes, pour avoir plus d’assurance a porter ma vie a ce qui regarderoit vostre ALTESSE, l’Italie, m’en a donné les leçons, & le souvenir de ma patrie m’obligea de luy en venir offrir les effaictz. Et maintenant que les liberalitez de vostre ALTESSE m’ont tiré de l’exercice des armes & m’ont donné le moyen & le loisir de me mettre sur la Theorie, Je may dispensé quelques heures de ma subjettion aupres de vostre Personne, pour les employer a [ⅱv] ce labeur, qui a de la simpatie a ceste prouesse familiere a tous ceux de vostre maison. Jugeant que cestoit tousjours vous servir, que d’enseigner a vostre Noblesse, aux plus eslevez de voz subjetz, & aux plus courageux de la lie de vostre peuple les postures les plus necessaires pour la conservation de leurs personnes, afin aussi qu’on ne me reproche que je paye d’ingratitude les bienfaicts de vostre ALTESSE, de ne laisser a la posterité autre marque de mon obeissance, que l’honneur d’estre vostre premier Valet de Chambre. Recevez en donc le discours attendant que je sois si heureux que de pouvoir meriter la qualité. de MONSEIGNEUR,
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To Monsieur Baron D'Anserville, Sir If it is allowed for everyone to talk about his art, and no one to abuse it, will I have license to talk to you about the excellence of fencing, and that my discourse cannot approach the esteem of you in deeds? You are born with this advantage that your valour makes your life without enemies, and [with] your courtesy you have acquired many friends. I promise myself at least this favour that cannot hate anyone, you honour me with your gallantry; taking the cause of this issue against those who despise its value, it is an effect of leisure that your good nature obtained me, which I beg you not to disavow the quality [of the aforementioned gallantry]. Your humble servant Des-bordes |
[ⅲr] A MONSIEUR LE BARON D’ANSERVILLE, MONSIEUR S’il est permis a tout le monde de parler de son art, et a personne d’en abuser, auray je licence de vous entretenir de l’excellence de l’escrime, puis que mon discours ne peut aprocher de l’estime que vous en faictes. Vous estes né avec cest avantage, que vostre valeur vous faict vivre sans ennemis, & vostre courtoisie vous acquiert plusieurs amys. Je me prometz au moins ceste faveur que ne pouvãt hayr personne, vous m’honoreres de vostre bien-vaillance, prenant la cause de ce volume, contre ceux qui en mespriseroient l’utilité, cest un effaict du loisir que vostre bon naturel ma procuré, qui vous supplie de ne me point desnier la qualité.
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TO THE READER I come to see you as a friend; do not receive me as unwelcome. Possibly, after you have paraded my reputation to your fancy, you say that I can be useful. Because I give you the same lessons that the most famous of Italy Have taught to many brave Cavaliers, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and others. |
[ⅲv.1] AU LECTEUR, JE vous viens voir comme amy, ne me receves point comme importun. Possible apres que vous aurez promené ma reputation a vostre faintaisie, direz vous que je vous puis estre utile. Parce, que je vous donne les mesmes enseignements, que le plus fameux d’Italie à faict pratiquer a tant de braves Cavaliers, François, Espagnols, Italiens, Allemans, & autres. | |
I know very well that many wish illustrations were in the suite of the discourse, some to better notice the difference in the blows, in the variety of the postures; others merely to discuss the pleasantness of the paintings. I satisfy therefore to those that the postures may only represent one action, and that through the discourse one can know all sorts of guards. I give to others the journey to Flanders or Italy to satisfy their curiosity about the pleasantries[2] that are displayed there, telling them that I only speak to those who want to learn. |
[ⅲv.2] Je scays bien que plusieurs desieroient que les figures fussent de la suitte du discours, les uns afin de mieux remarquer la difference des coups, en la diversité des postures, les autres seulement pour s’entretenir sur la douceur de la peinture. Je satis-fais ainsi a ceux la que les postures ne representent qu’une action, & que par le discours on peu congnoistre toutes sortes de gardes. Aux autres je donne le voyage de Flandre ou d’Italie pour assouvir leur curiosité sur les tailles douces qu’on y estales, leur disant que je ne parle qu’a ceux qui veulent entendre. | |
TO HIS HIGHNESS To honour the immortal |
[ⅳr] A SON ALTESSE POUR faire honneur aux immortels, | |
To MONSIEUR DESBORDES on his book, Desbordes knows to show, here by writing, P. Ditheau |
[ⅳv] A MONSIEUR DESBORDES SUR SON LIVRE, Desbordes scait monstrer, icy par escriptures,
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[1] Chap. 1. Discourse of Mr. Desbordes touching the theory, practice, and the excellence of weapons. I want to show for the understanding of weapons (a subject that I have taken to task) that the practice and the use of fencing can save lives, analyse and scare our enemies, [and] triumph over those who assail us, provided that one has the time to defend oneself as is necessary. However, so as to reach the goal more quickly, I will not detain you to describe the praises that from day to day are recognized by the children of this art. However I wish to persuade the Masters and the students to follow the precepts that I teach, and which I practice to the advantage of all those who receive the lessons. I laugh at the opinion of the vulgar who say without reason that, coming to blows, one does not have the judgement to put into practice the cut and the thrusts that one has learned in the Academies. At least, one cannot deny that it strengthens the arms, that it renders a man fitter by exercise, even that it does not carry other favours to life, and even when it happens that coming to blows he will deprive himself of his posture, the other in order not to observe the tempi, always take the risk of being injured. Besides, it is even discussed in high society that he who often makes this exercise will extend his bottes and advance the foot with more flexibility and ease than he who has no other art than the natural [and] no other handling than necessity makes him take. I have therefore concluded that those who have contempt of fencing, and who want to be practiced in arms, are like ignorant goldsmiths, burning their gold instead of refining, very different to those who have the use and the science, who, far from burning it, give such a form as they please. |
[1r] DISCOURS DU SIEUR DESBORDES TOUCHANT LA THEORIE, La pratique, & l’exellence des armes. Chap. 1. JE veux faire voir pour l’intelligence des armes (subject que jay pris en tasche) que la pratique, & l’usage de l’escrime, peut sauver la vie, faire la part, & la peur a noz ennemis, triompher mesme de ceux qui nous assaillent, pourveu qu’on ait le temps de se deffendre, tel qu’il en est de besoing. Or afin de toucher plus promptement au but, je ne m’arresteray à vous en despeindre les loûages par ce que de jour a autre elles se font recongnoistre parmy les enfans de son art. Neant-moins je vouldrois persuader, & [1v] aux Maistres, & aux Escoliers, de suivre les preceptes que j’enseigne, & que jay pratiqués a l’advantage de tous ceux qui en ont receu les leçons. Je me ris de l’opinion du vulgaire qui dit sans raison que venant aux mains on n’a pas le jugement de mettre en pratique les temps, & les coups, que l’on a appris és Academies. Au moins ne me peut on desnier quelle n’en forcisse les bras, qu’elle ne rende l’homme plus dispos par exercice, que mesme elle n’aporte d’autres faveurs a la vie, & quand mesme il adviendroit que venant aux mains, il s’osteroit de sa posture, l’autre pour ne point observer les temps, courroit tousjours fortune d’estre blessé. D’ailleurs cela est mesme en discours parmy le monde, que celuy qui faict souvent ceste exercice, allonge ses bottes, & avance le pied avec plus de souplesse & de facilité, que ne feroit celuy qui n’a autre art que le naturel, n’y autre maniement que celuy que la necessité luy faict prendre. Je conclu donc [2r.1] que ceux qui ont a mespris l’escrime, & qui veulent estre pratiques aux armes, sont comme ces orphoevres ignorantz, qui bruslent leur or au lieu de l’affiner, bien differentz de ceux qui en ont l’usage, & la science, qui tant sans faut qu’ilz le bruslent, luy donnent telle forme qu’il leur plaira. | |
[2] Chap. 2. Consideration as one must be in their guards. It will not be amiss for us to place before the eyes the works of Camille Agrippa,[3] the most expert of all of this profession. He places the guards alphabetically A B C D, wanting this order to serve the progress of his work. Nevertheless, the premiere marked A should not be in my judgement as high as D: the arm should be more ready for the offensive and for the defensive, which makes me say that it must be a little more extended with the step, because it eases the right side to be quicker to attack and to parry the blows that may occur. Also, the posture for the offensive is more sustainable than he teaches, as the enemy is more in fear of being struck from this guard than any other, and because these principal guards are more understandable. I will discuss the first four as you will see in this discourse. |
[2r.2] CONSIDERATION Commeil faut estre sur ses gardes: Chap. 2. IL ne sera point hors de propos de nous remettre devant les yeux, les œuvres de Camille Agrippa, le plus expert de tous ceux de ceste profession. Il pose les gardes par Alphabet A. B. C. D. voulant que ceste ordre serve au progrês de son œuvre: Neant-moins la premiere marque A. ne doit a mon jugement estre si haute D. le bras [2v.1] droit estant plus prompt à donner, & a parer aux coups qui pouroient ariver. Encor la posture de l’offencive est plus soustenable ainsi qu’il enseigne, veu que l’ennemy est plus en crainte de fraper en ceste garde qu’il ne seroit en une autre, & par-ce que ces gardes principales sont plus intelligibles. Je traicteray des quatre premieres ainsi que vous verrez en ce discours. | |
[3] Chap. 3. The four principal guards In this I outline the four main guards, premiere, seconde, tierce, and quarte, to serve as a beginning to this work, they consist of this kind. All those who wear a sword by custom or by merit, whether provoked by words, or agitated with anger to come to blows, represent all four. The premiere, having drawn the sword entirely out of the sheath, they raise the arm in the same tempo to strike. The seconde, while holding firm, they lower the hand a little, with the arm to the equal of the sword. The tierce, at the same time that they put themselves into posture with the sword near the knee at the outside.[4] The quarte, bringing the sword hand to the inside of the knee. These are here the principal guards, and from which all others derive as their elements, and from which they are strengthened as their foundations, that we placed here in order, but first I will discuss how to hit so you do not resemble the Alchemists without experience, who derive from their science only vanity, and who make it look like a trick, and an obscurity. |
[2v.2] DES QUATRE GARDES pricipalles. Chap. 3. A ce j’esbauche par les quatre gardes principales, premiere, seconde, tierce, & quarte, pour servir de commencement â ceste œuvre, elles se font de ceste sorte. Tous ceux qui portent une espee par par coustume, ou par [3r] merite, soit que provoquez par des parolles, ou agitez de colere de venir aux mains, les representent toutes quatre. La premiere, alors qu’ayant tiré l’espee hors du foureau entierement, ilz levent le bras a mesme temps pour frapper. La seconde, alors que tenant ferme ilz abaissent un peu la main, avec le bras, a l’égal de l’espee. La troisieme, a l’heure mesme qu’ilz se mettent en posture avec l’espee pres du genouil du dehors. La quatriéme, en rapportant la main de lespee au dedans du genouil. Ce sont icy les principalles gardes, & desquelles toutes les autres desrivent comme de leurs elementz, & desquelles elles sont fortifiees comme de leurs fondementz, que nous mettrons icy par ordre, mais au paravant je parleray de la façon de frapper afin de ne ressembler les Alchemistes sans experience, qui ne tirent de leur science qu’une vanite, & qui n’en font paroistre qu’une fourbe, & une obscurité. | |
[4] The fencing masters must, by judgement and by reason, teach steps to their pupils, to strengthen them, and to make them acquire a greater disposition; to recognize for themselves the tempi to gain the advantage, to the inside, and the outside, and to all occurrences which may occur to parry and to attack, because they will have such ease in the handling of the sword, they will do everything by industry and nothing by adventure, even as they disturb the memory of their enemies so, that they cannot use their lessons to offend, nor refrain from being offended. I take as witness the most famous Masters of antiquity, like le Pape de Milan le Beccaroni, and the Mancino de Boulogne,[5] and many others who have made a worthy profession of this noble exercise. |
[3v.1] Les Maistres d’escrime, doivent par jugement & par raison enseigner les desmarches a leurs escoliers, afin de les enforcir, & de leur faire acquerir une plus grande disposition: pour recognoistre en eux mesmes les temps de gaigner le dessus, le dedans, & le dehors, & toutes les occurences qui peuvent survenir pour parer & donner: parce que ce leur sera une telle facilité au maniement de l’espee, qu’ils ferront tout par industrie & rien par advanture ; que mesme ilz troubleront la memoire de leurs ennemis en sorte, quilz ne pourront se servir de leurs leçons pour les offencer, ny se garder d’estre offencez. J’en prends a tesmoins & a maistres les plus fameux de l’antiquité, Comme, le Pape de Milan le Beccaroni, & le Mancino de Boulogne, & plusieurs autres qui ont fait une digne profession de ce noble exercice. | |
[5] That is why he who knows the way to advance and to retire may render himself expert in making his observations. |
[3v.2] Voilà pourquoy celuy qui scait la maniere d’avancer & de se retirer, se peut rendre expert en faisans ses observations, | |
[6] Here are the observances which I intend that one teaches to students. That they walk step by step, both forwards and backwards, with weapons in hand, traversing only the right and the left, exercising to make the steps on the line that traverse the circle. |
[4r.1] Voicy les observances que j’entends qu’on enseigne aux escoliers. Qu’ilz marchent pas a pas, tant en avant qu’en arriere, avec les armes aux poings, traversans seul le droit & le gauche, l’exerçant a faire les7 pas sur la ligne qui traverse le cercle. | |
[7] Chap. 4. Of Tempo Since in all other sciences the Masters observe an order, I want to see one here, even though I do not want to make this a profession, which is why I shall say that it is of tempo, half-tempo, and counter-tempo. |
[4r.2] DU TEMPS Chap. 4. Puis qu'en toutes autres sciences les maistres observent un ordre, j’en veux icy observer un, encore que je ne vueille faire ceste profession, voilà pourquoy je diray que cest du temps, du demy temps, & du contre-temps. | |
[8] Tempo is when coming into combat your enemy strikes a blow of maindroit or of revers and in raising his arm to hit you he gives you the time to hit him. |
[4r.3] Le temps, est lorsque venant au combat ton ennemy te tire un coup de droit, ou de revers & qu’en levant le bras pour te frapper il te donne le temps de luy porter. | |
[9] The half-tempo is when one hits with the point, or with the edge, at the same tempo that one parries and is called on this occasion demi-tempo for what is a half sword. |
[4r.4] Le demy temps, est quand on frappe de pointe, ou de taille a mesme temps que l’on pare & s’appelle a ceste occasion demy-temps pour ce que cest a demie espee. | |
[10] The counter-tempo is, when seeing your enemy in guard to strike you with an estocade, you go to the counter, sliding your sword against his. It is so called because the swords meet each other. It is a blow of an alert, wellpractised by the French Nobility. The thrust is now in use in Spain, Poland, and in Germany, formerly little used, for which I praise and approve, especially as the thrust keeps the enemy farther away, because the slender man can measure his sword with the stronger, provided that he has experience of this fencing to make up for his weakness. The honour of this fencing is due to the invention of my Italian Master, who gave the teachings to defend in this way. |
[4v.1] Le contre-temps est lors que voyant ton ennemy en garde de te tirer une estoquade tu iras à l’encontre, glissant ton espee contre la sienne. Il est ainsi appellé a cause que les espees se rencontrent. Cest un coup d’un homme alerte fort pratiqué de la Noblesse Françoise. Ainsi que l’estoquade est maintenant en usage en Espagne, en Poulongne, & en Allemagne, autrefois peu usitee, Ce que je loue & appreuve d’autant que lestoquade faict que lennemy se tient plus eslongné, car l’homme le plus fluet peut mesurer son espee avec le plus fort, pourvueu que l’experience qu’il aura de ceste escrime supplee a sa foiblesse, l’honneur de ceste escrime est deu a l’invention de mon Maistre Italien, qui a donné les enseignementz de se deffendre de la sorte. | |
[11] I will discuss several other ways of hitting such as with a thrust; a cut; with a maindroit as that of revers; a fente;[6] an estramasson;[7] a rising [cut with the false edge]; with the moulinet;[8] the feint to the right; the feint to the left; jartiere;[9] estocade,[10] and of several other blows to the legs. But because they are commonplace, I will not make further discourse, especially that nature communicates the science to everyone, and although at present we do not face as large an estate of cuts as are among the common. However, even if this cut had been made promptly, it is helpful and prompt to strike as I have proved with experienced men, and brave, and who made me carry the sword to a palm's width near the face, or even less, in order to riposte my cut, [but] which was beyond their power because the movement of the wrist is swifter than the movement of the foot to carry a thrust. |
[4v.2] Je parleray de plusieurs autres manieres de frapper tant d’estocque, de taille, de droit que de revers, de fente, que destramasson, de montant que de molinet, de feinte a droit, de fein- [5r.1] te a gauche, jartiere, estoquade, & de plusieurs autres coups par les jambes. Mais parce que ceux cy sont vulgaires je n’en feray autre discours, d’autant que la nature en communique la science a tout le monde, & bien qu’a present on ne face pas grande estat des coups de taille que parmy le commun, si est ce toutes-fois qu’estant donné a propos, il est util & prompt a frapper, comme j’en ay faict l’espreuve avec des hommes experimentez, & courageux, & qui m’ont fait porter l’espee a une palme pres du visage, ou encor moins, pour pouvoir faire riposte a mon coup de taille, ce qui a esté hors de leurs puissance, parce que le mouvement du pougnet est plus prompt que le mouvement du pied pour porter une estoquade. | |
[12] Chap. 5. As one must have alert eyes After having dealt with tempo, with striking, it is worth warning you, in what place one must have the eye to the time of combat. So many Masters so many opinions: some want us to look at the hand, such as that from which comes the blow, others at the movement of the arm, others the face. Very good opinions and well considered, but for me I require that one looks at the tip of the enemy's sword, as it is the quickest to offend, being closer to your body than the hand. Considering that, while you would take care of the hand or the face, you can be hit easily if you have not parried the tip of your enemy's sword by ensuring that it was past your body. But because this detail requires a different reason, I will distinguish the whole in order, putting the figures where I will judge the most necessary and the easiest to the reader. |
[5r.2] COMME IL FAUT AVOIR LES yeux au guet, Chap. 5. APres avoir traictê du temps, de frapper, [5v] il est bon de vous advertir, en quelle lieu il faut avoir l’oeil a l’heure du combat. Autant de Maistres autant d’opinions, les uns veulent qu’on regarde la main, comme celle de laquelle vient le coup, les autres au mouvement des bras les autres au visage, opinion fort bonne & bien consideree, & moy je veu qu’on regarde a la pointe de lespee de son ennemy, comme la plus prompte d’offencer, pour estre plus proche de ton corps, que la main. Juge donc par là, que ce pendant que tu prendrois garde a la main ou au visage tu pourois estre frapé facilement, si tu n’avois paré la pointe de l’espee de ton ennemy, en sorte qu’elle eust passé ton corps. Mais parce que ceste particularité demande une autre raison, je distingueray le tout par ordre, mettant les figures ou je les jugeray le plus necessaire & le plus facille pour le lecteur. | |
[13] Chap. 6. As it is necessary to know how to handle all kinds of weapons Everyone holds that the sword is the queen of weapons, because all the others have some exception [in their use], and that the sword is worn everywhere and in all companies. So that in the army soldier puts down all kind of weapons except for the sword. This is a great ignorance of all those who show to handle several kinds of weapons, and do not show the single sword only because he can barely teach the handling of several kinds of weapons, if they ignore the handling of the principal; one must therefore exercise it from the beginning otherwise it is [like] beating the head against the wall, as the saying goes. Afterwards one must learn the use of two swords, and then the sword & dagger. I will teach you when it is expedient to use two swords all that one can. All that one being struck to right and to left. One must show how to defend oneself, secure with the hands and making steps to the right and to the left with disposition. It is necessary that the student learns to use the pike, carrying it with good grace, in order that being at war, and passing to show it in the presence of the Captains, he is seen to have experience. |
[6r] COMME IL EST NECESSAIRE de sçavoir manier toutes sortes d’armes, Chap. 6. TOut le monde tient que l’espee est la roine des armes, parce que toutes les autres ont quelque exception, & que l’espee se porte en tous lieux & en toutes compagnies. Tellement qu’es armees le soldat met bas toute sortes d’armes fors l’espee. Cest donc une grande ignorance a tous ceux qui monstrent a manier plusieurs sortes d’armes, & ne monstrent de lespee seule car a peine peut il enseigner le maniement de plusieurs sortes d’armes, sils ignorent le maniement de la principalle, il faut donc s’y exercer du commencement autrement c’est heurter de la teste contre la muraille, ce dit le proverbe, apres il faut aprendre a saider des deux espees, & enfin de l’espee & du pongnart: Je vous enseigneray quand il est expedient de se servir des 2. espees d’autant que lon peut estre frappé a droit & a gauche, il faut monstrer comme on doit se deffendre, sassurer avec les mains & faire les [6v.1] desmarches a droit & a gauche, avec disposition. Il faut que l’escolier apprenne a manier la picque, la porter de bonne grace, afin qu’estant a la guerre, & passant a la monstre en la presence des Capitaines il paroisse avoir de l’experience. | |
[14] When a soldier has experience of all these things, he is in better esteem. That is why it is a great error for Masters to not teach the handling of all kinds of weapons, and an even greater ignorance to presume so much faith to want to teach what they themselves do not know how to practice with reason, and with even less experience. I say that the use of weapons in general is very necessary to students who want to throw in with the militia, because their skill can be recognised to circumstances that happen in an army, according to the command of the Leader; that not being in the sight of his enemy, takes the time to exercise the soldiers, so as to harden them; as to give pleasure to some Prince who visits, so by any combat at the barrier which could be ordered, as by some other worthy exercise of his profession. It would be a shame to the soldier to pay an excuse to the command of his captain, and remain like a statue, having not devoted himself to the exercises of his vocation. Having the assurance to say he knows not how to handle the halberd, that he has not taken a lesson, since that in war he must serve in the custody of a door, and of a narrow passage, where one cannot use the pike, nor other weapons there, so if the soldier knows not how to handle it, and it is attacked with a two-handed sword, he will lose his posture. On the contrary if he knows how to handle the halberd, he will defend himself [Against the two handed sword] and with the pike because the halberd is more agile for parrying, as I shall show in its place with such ease that you will be compelled to acknowledge that all the others have but skimmed over this discourse, and that I have hit the target. |
[6v.2] Quand un soldat a de l’experience a toutes ces choses, il en est en meilleure estime. Voilà pourquoy cest une grande erreur aux Maistres de n’enseigner le maniement de toutes sortes d’armes, & encores une plus grande ignorance de presumer tant de foy que de vouloir enseigner ce qu’eux-mesmes ne scauroient pratiquer avec raison, & moins encor avec experience. Je dis donc que le maniement des armes en general est fort necessaire aux Escoliers, qui se veulent jetter en la milice, parce que leur industrie se peut recognoistre aux accidentz qui arrivent en une armee, selon le commandement du Chef, qui pour n’estre a la veue de son ennemy, prend le temps de faire [7r] exercer les soldatz, tant pour les aguerrir, que pour en donner le plaisir a quelque Prince qui les visite, tant par quelque combat de barrier qui luy pourroit estre commandé, que par quelque autre exercice digne de sa profession. Ce seroit une honte au soldat de payer d’excuse le commandement de son Capitaine, & demeurer comme une statue, pour ne s’estre adonné aux exercices de sa vacation, auroit il bien l’assurance de dire qu’il ne scait manier la halebarde, qu’il n’en a point pris de leçon, puis qu’a la guerre il s’en faut servir a la garde d’une porte, & d’un passage estroit, ou l’on ne se peut servir de la picque, n’y d’autres armes, si donc le soldat ne la scait manier, & qu’il soit attaqué avec une espee a deux mains, on luy fera perdre sa posture, Au contraire s’il scait manier la halebarde, il s’en deffendra, & de la picque mesme parce que la halebarde est plus agile pour parer, comme je feray voir en son lieu avec tant de facilité que vous serez contrains [7v.1] d’avouer que tous les autres n’ont qu’efleuré ce discours, & que jay touché au but. | |
[15] Chap. 7. As one must defend with the thrust, and the manner of giving with great agility Many expert men have discoursed on fencing, and have even written on it, wanting particularly that to strike a thrust one makes the largest pass that one can, of which I cannot approve, for this reason. He that carries it is not assured to give, and although that he gives, by making such a great pass and turning his back according to the instruction of his Masters, he loses the sight of the use of the left hand,[11] it will be even precipitate against the sword of his enemy. Thus we can easily understand how this guard is dangerous, and that he must avoid the great pass, because in addition to the peril it causes, he wastes breath and force. |
[7v.2] COMME IL SE FAUT DEfendre destoquade, & la maniere de donner avec une grande agilité Chapitre 7. PLusieurs hommes expers ont discouru de l’escrime, & mesmes en ont escrit, ilz veulent particulierement que pour tirer une estoquade on face le pas le plus grand qu’on peut, ce que je ne puis approuver, pour ceste raison. Celuy qui porte n’est assuré de donner, & bien qu’il donne, en faisant un si grand pas & tournant le dos selon l’instruction de ces maistres, il s’oste la veue du repart de la main gauche, & de luy mesme se va precipiter contre l’espee de son ennemy: Ainsi peut on comprendre aisement combien ceste garde est dangereuse, & qu’il faut eviter ces grands pas, car outre les perilz qu’ilz causent, ilz font perdre l’haleine & la force. | |
[16] Chap. 8. As must give[12] and parry Having shown the four main guards, and given the essential rules for true fencing, of no small value, I will start with striking, and then finish with the parry, all for the common service of those who are inquirers of the virtue. |
[8r.1] COMME IL FAUT DONNER Et parer, Chap. 8: Ayant monstré les quatres gardes principalles, & donné les reigles des choses les plus necessaires a la vraye escrime, non de petite utilité, je commenceray par le frapper, & puis acheveray par le parer, le tout pour le service commun de ceux qui sont enquesté de la vertu. | |
[17] Chap. 9. Of striking The philosophers are of opinion that we must understand things before starting them and that after it is easy. It is this which to me makes take guard to which the man engages most and by what manner he can keep from being offended, be it in the premiere, in the seconde, the tierce, or in the quarte. I will teach him as [to how] he can strike, starting with the premiere guard. To follow the proposed order, here is one example. |
[8r.2] DU FRAPPER Chap. 9. LEs philosophes, sont d’opinion qu’il faut bien entrendre les choses avant que les commencer, & qu’apres il est facille. Cest ce qui me faict prendre garde a quoy l’homme s’adonne le plus & par quelle maniere il se peut garder d’estre offencé, soit en la premiere, en la seconde, en la tierce, ou en la quarte. Je luy enseigneray [8v.1] comme il pourra frapper, en commençant par la premiere garde. Pour suivre l’ordre proposé, en voicy une exemple. | |
[18] Take your sword, and put yourself in the position that we have said above; if your enemy wants to attack you in this premiere guard, it will be good to find his sword to the outside in a cross, in order for him to disengage his to strike underneath and, in case that he is not too distant, when he wishes to lengthen his thrust this way, you shall lower your point towards the ground, shocking his own in passing with the left foot, and striking him under the sword.[13] |
[8v.2] Tirez vostre espee, & vous mettez en posture comme nous avons dit cy dessus, si vostre ennemy vous veut assaillir par ceste garde premiere, il serà bon de retrouver son espee au dehors en croix, afin quil la desgage pour frapper du dessoubs, & au cas quelle ne soit trop a costé quand il vouldra alonger son estoquade de la sorte, tu ne feras quabaisser la pointe vers terre, chocquant la sienne en passant du pied gauche, & le frapper sous lespee. | |
[19] Chap. 10. As one must strike seconde against seconde From the premiere guard, it is fitting to come to the seconde, so if you want to attack from the seconde guard, you must find the sword of your enemy from within, so that he has subject to move. Let us say also, if he moves to strike at the same tempo as you have covered. So without parrying you lower your sword, while that of your opponent makes his journey towards yours. |
[8v.3] COMME IL SE FAUT FRAPPER Second contre-second. Chap. 10. DE le Premiere garde, il est fort a propos de venir a la seconde, si tu veux donc assaillir par la seconde garde, il te fault aller retrou- [9r.1] uer l’espee de ton ennemy du dedans, afin qu’il aye subjet de se mouvoir. Posons mesme le cas qu’il s’esmouve pour frapper a mesme temps que tu l’auras couverte. Alors sans parer tu avaleras ton espee, pendant que celle de ton adversaire faict son voiage devers la tienne, | |
[20] Chap. 11. The tierce against the tierce Having discussed the first two, we must not forget the tierce against the tierce, so that everything feels its order, facilitating our work to give a greater understanding to those who are curious to have knowledge of arms. |
[9r.2] DE LA TIERCE CONTRE la Tierce, Cap. 11. AYant discouru des deux premieres, il ne faut point oublier la tierce, contre la tierce, afin que le tout se resente de son ordre, facilitant nostre oeuvre pour en donner une plus grande intelligence a ceux qui sont curieux d’avoir la congnoissance des armes. Assaillant de la tierce, contre la tierce, je veu que tu entre dedans avec resolution, que tu batte l’espee de ton ennemy, feignant de luy porter une estoquade en l’estomac, qui | |
[21] Attacking with the tierce against the tierce, I want you enter to the inside with resolution, that you beat the sword of your enemy, feigning to carry a thrust to him in the stomach, which will oblige him to parry, and then you lower the point and strike to him to the right side over his sword, and it will hit without you running any risk. |
[9r.3] Assaillant de la tierce, contre la tierce, je veu que tu entre dedans avec resolution, que tu batte l’espee de ton ennemy, feignant de luy porter une estoquade en l’estomac, qui [9v.1] lobligera a parer, & lors tu abbaisseras la pointe & luy donnera du costé droict dessus l’espee, ainsi sera il frappé sans que tu courres aucune risque. | |
[22] Chap. 12. The quarte against the quarte Since I have divided the guards into four, and as I have already talked about the first three, it remains to deal with the quarte against the quarte. In this exercise caution is necessary, and in this posture, we must be as swift in striking on the firm foot as to pass. I want that, going to find your enemy in this guard, you go to the outside, in order that he is forced to move his sword, and in the same tempo strike him with the quarte. At this time I have shown you the four principal guards for offending, I will speak of the defence according to the design that I have proposed. |
[9v.2] DE LA QUARTE, Contre la Quarte. Chap. 12 Puis que jai divisé les gardes en quatre, & que desja jay parlé des trois premieres il reste de traitter de la quarte, contre la quarte, en ceste exercice la prudence est necessaire, & en ceste posture, il faut estre prompt tant a frapper de pied ferme, qu’a passer, je veux qu’allant trouver ton ennemy sur ceste garde, tu ailles dehors, afin qu’il soit contraint de mouvoir son espee, & en mesme temps frappe le de la quarte. A ceste heure vous ay je monstré les quatre gardes principalles pour offencer, je parleray de la deffence selon le dessein que jay proposé. | |
[23] Chap. 13. To defend against the premiere guard Having shown how one can offend in the premiere, seconde, tierce, and quarte guards, I will teach the means of defence with the same postures. So while using the premiere, one comes to the outside to find he who is in the same guard; we must lower the body, and pass under his sword in the same tempo provided he comes, or deceive his sword, putting it to the inside of the quarte evading with the body. He will find nothing with which to offend, and will find himself offended. I will speak in another place as the tempo to make another blow. |
[10r] POUR SE DEFFENDRE CONtre la premiere garde, Chapitre 13 Ayant faict voir comme on peut offencer en la premiere, Seconde, Tierce, & Quastriesme garde, j’enseigneray le moyen de se deffendre par les mesmes postures. Alors que ce servant de la premiere, on vient hors pour treuver celuy qui est sur la mesme garde, il faut baisser le corps, & passer sous son espee, a mesme temps pourveu qu’il vienne, ou bien luy fausser son espee, la mettant du dedans de la quarte esquivant du corps, il ne treuvera rien de quoy offencer, & se treuvera offencé. Je parleray en un autre endroit selon le temps de faire un autre coup. | |
[24] Chap. 14. Defence of the seconde against the seconde All the same, when being on the seconde guard you will go to find to the inside one who is in the seconde, so that your enemy caver, and gives you the tempo to carry to him; you will strike him with the quarte if you can, so that being forced to parry, and parrying he covers the stomach to guard his face, then making the quarte from under the sword, you will strike him beneath the armpit with the hand as you wish. |
[10v.1] DEFFENCE DE LA SECON Contre la seconde. Chap. 14 TOUT de mesme, lors qu’estant sur la seconde garde tu iras treuver du dedans celuy qui est sur la seconde, afin que ton ennmy cave, & te donne le temps de luy porter, tu luy tireras de la quarte si tu peux, afin qu’estant contrainct de parer, & que parant il se couvre l’estomac pour garder son visage, alors faisant la quarte du dessous de l’espee, tu luy donneras dessoubs l’aisselle avec la main comme tu voudras. | |
[25] Chap. 15. Defence of the tierce against the tierce So that one avoids with honour being offended with the tierce, as that one comes on this guard to give you, he must be taken on the inside; and lowering the point of his right side, carry to him in the shoulder, and if he parries turn the hand in the high quarte, and he will be hit hard in the arm, body, and elsewhere. This is why he that understands the force of this science holds that the angle can be more advantageous than the straight line. |
[10v.2] DEFENCE DE LA TIERCE contre la tierce. Chap. 15. AFIN qu’on evite avec honneur d’estre offencé de la tierce, ainsi que l’on vient sur ceste garde pour te donner, il te faut tenir du dedans & abaisser la pointe de son costé droit, luy por [11r.1] tant en l’espaule, & s’il pare tourne la main, en la quarte haulte, & il sera frappé au fort du bras, au corps, & ailleurs: Voilà pourquoy celuy qui congnoit la force de ceste sçience, tient que langle peut davantage que la ligne droitte. | |
[26] Chap. 16. Defence of the quarte against the quarte To put an end to the defences of the four guards, we must speak of the last. If your enemy is on the quarte, and that you want him to find [you] from the outside, so that he gives you the tempo to hit him, you must raise your sword above his making a high quarte and carry to him with resolution, so that you parry, and that in parrying you uncover yourself, then you will have the tempo to pass in seconde under his sword. |
[11r.2] DEFFENCE DE LA QUARTE Contre la Quarte: Chapitre 16 Pour mettre fin aux deffences des quatres gardes, il faut parler de la derniere si ton ennemy est sur la quarte, & que tu le vueille aller retrouver du dehors, afin quil te donne le temps de le frapper, il faut lever ton espee par dessus la sienne faisant une quarte haulte & luy porter avec resolution, afin que tu pares, & qu’en parant tu te descouvres, alors tu auras heu le temps de passer de seconde soubs son espee. | |
[27] Chap. 17. The quarte against the premiere I want to talk equally of the first style to show the other guards in the proof of the figures that follow. This is why I told you, being in the quarte, to wait for your opponent [who is] in premiere; when he advances his point, you will parry being in quarte, and going in seconde, you will carry to him in the stomach on the right side, and if he parries, you will come in passing to fall under his sword. |
[11v.1] DE LA QUARTE Contre la Premiere. Chap. 17 JE veux parler indiferemment du premier stile pour monstrer les autres gardes en la preuve des figures qui suivront. Voilà pourquoy je t’averty qu’estant sur la quarte, pour attendre ton adversaire sur la premiere, alors qu’il avancera sa pointe, tu pareras estant en quarte, & allant en seconde, tu luy porteras dans l’estomac de la part du costé droict, & s’il pare, tu viendras en passant tomber sous son espee. | |
[28] Chap. 18. The seconde against the tierce If you are in seconde wanting to attack he who is in tierce, you must with resolution go to your opponent's stomach, who for his defence will come to beat your point from the inside, as is more convenient for him and to his advantage; then you must lower his point down, and carry to him on the right side in a high quarte. If he comes to fall back, you will lift yourself from your position with resolution and strike him in the shoulder. One could even feint with similar blows but I shall finish [so as] not to weary you by the length of their lecture. |
[11v.2] DE LA SECONDE Contre la tierce. Chap. 18 Si tu es sur la seconde, voulant assaillir celuy qui est sur la tierce tu dois avec resolution aller a l’estomac de ton adversaire, qui pour [12r.1] sa deffensive viendra batre ta pointe du dedans, comme luy estant plus commode, & a son avantage, alors il te faut baisser sa pointe en bas, & luy porter au costé droict en quarte haulte, sil vient a la rabatre, tu te leveras de ta posture avec resolution, & le frapperas en l’espaule, on pourroit encore feindre des coups semblables, ma j’y mettray fin pour ne vous point atedier par la longueur de leur lecture. | |
[29] Chap. 19. The premiere against the tierce If you put yourself in the tierce, and your enemy is in premiere, and that he strikes you, you must parry and present the point of your sword to his face, so that he parries; and while he parries, you will pass on his side, striking him with the seconde. |
[12r.2] DE LA PREMIERE Contre la Tierce Chap. 19 SI tu te mets sur la tierce, & que ton ennemy soit en premiere, & quil te tire, il te faut parer, & luy presenter la pointe de ton espee an visage, afin qu’il pare, & ce pendant qu’il pare, tu passeras de son costé, le frappant de la seconde | |
[30] By parrying still the same botte, you will be able to strike him a slash to the face and, parrying suddenly, lower a blow to his leg; in parrying you can even enter with the left foot and join the arms of your enemy to his sword, giving him a thrust in the stomach. Besides this you will be able to relieve him of his sword by turning your left arm. |
[12r.3] En parant encores la mesme botte, tu luy [12v.1] pourras donner une balafre au visage, & parer soudainement en luy ravallant une jartiere, en parant mesme tu peus entrer du pied gauche & joindre les bras de ton ennemy a son espee, luy donnant une estoquade en l’estomac, outre cela tu luy pourras oster son espee en tournant ton bras gauche. | |
[31] Chap. 20. Various ways of the premiere If you want to cover the sword of your enemy outside or to the inside so that he disengages, you will be able to hit him in the same tempo that he moves. But if he wants to set upon yours, and he does not move his, you will only put your hand in seconde, presenting the point to the stomach, and he will be struck; and you will understand that the angle beats the straight line, by observing the posture that I teach. |
[12v.2] DIVERSES MANIERES De la premiere Chap. 20. Si tu veux aller couvrir l’espee de ton ennemy ou dehors, ou dedans, afin qu’il la desgage, tu le pourras frapper a mesme temps qu’il la meut, mais sil veut charger la tienne, & qu’il ne meuve la sienne, tu ne feras que tirer ta main en la seconde, luy presentant la pointe a l’estomac, & il sera frappé, ainsi congnoistra on que l’angle bat la ligne droitte, en observant la posture que j’enseigne. | |
[32] While your enemy sets upon your sword, you will be able to hit him, or in lowering the point, pressing on the sword, or, under the armpit in passing the left foot, he will be struck with the quarte, though this kind of blows rarely happen, and by observing the tempi you will make this blow, and many others even more difficult. |
[13r.1] Ce pendant que ton ennemy chargera ton espee, tu le pourras frapper, ou en abaissant la pointe, l’appuiant sur l’espee, ou bien, sous laisselle en passant du pied gauche, il sera frappé de la quarte bien que telz coups arrivent assez rarement, & en observant les temps tu feras ce çoup, & beaucoup d’autres plus dificilles encores. | |
[33] Chap. 21. Resolution of the single sword which is used in disputes In the play of the single sword there are greater virtues which do not consist in the postures as for the other plays, that with the single sword you will find the enemy to give him terror. To do this, you must hold the sword high in the tierce, going against his opponent until you approach the point of his sword, then you must make a feint over his point to the outside, returning quickly with the hand in quarte; you will avoid the blow of his sword, and will carry to him in the face. |
[13r.2] RESOLUTION DE L'ESPEE seule quis s'use es querelles Chap. 21 AU jeu de l’espee seul il y a plus grande force tant pour ce qu’il ne consiste a la posture comme les autres jeus, que pour ce qu’avec lespee seule vous alles treuver lennemy pour luy donner de l’effroy. Et pour ce faire, il faut tenir l’espee haute sur la tierce, allant contre son adversaire, jusques a ce qu’on aborde la pointe de son espee, alors il faut faire une [13v.1] feinte dessus sa pointe au dehors, retournant prestement avec la main en la quarte, on evitera le coup de son espee, & luy portera on au visage. | |
[34] The same is made with the opposite effect; in striking you must move the sword in seconde. |
[13v.2] Le mesme se faict par le contraire effaict, en frappant il faut tirer l’espee en la seconde. | |
[35] So this manner of fencing is called the step of deception. |
[13v.2] Aussi ceste façon d’escrime s’appelle pas de tromperie: | |
[36] He who has the patience to stand in that high tierce, when the enemy comes to cover his sword, while he covers it, must remove the body back without stepping, so that he [the enemy] pursues it, and he must as he advances the foot carry to him[the enemy] with resolution to the inside, depending on whether you recognize the advantage provided on the left foot, and therefore you will learn to break your measure, and to not let yourself be forced to leave by necessity. |
[13v.4] Celuy qui a de la patience de se tenir en ceste tierce haulte, alors que l’ennemy luy vient couvrir l’espee, tandis qu’il la couvre, il doit retirer le corps en arriers sans desmarcher, afin qu’il le poursuive, & ce pendant qu’il avance le pied il luy faut porter au dedans avec resolution selon qu’on recognoit son advantage pourveu qu’il soit sur le pied gauche, & parainsi il apprendra a luy rompre sa mesure, & a ne se laisser contraindre par necessité. | |
[37] Chap. 22. To strike with a cut To strike with a cut, if you want to be the first assailant, you must be in the wide tierce, attacking him in this way: if your enemy holds his sword long in the tierce you will strike his point with the false edge on the weakest place, and if he carries a cut to your face or leg, remaining with his sword in quarte, to parry several blows by removing your point, you must parry in quarte, going in the seconde which you will carry to his stomach: afterwards you must retire first in order that he does not have the satisfaction of coming to carry to you. And in case he comes in desperation to thrust you below the hand, you must lower yours to hinder his sword, and suddenly you will strike to him in the stomach, striking him first. |
[14r] POUR FRAPPER DE TAILLE Chapitre 22 Pour frapper de taille, si tu veus estre le premier assaillant, il te faut estre sur la tierce assez large, l’attaquant de ceste sorte, si ton ennemy tient son espee longue en la tierce tu hurtera sa pointe du revers de ton espee comme le lieu le plus foible, & s’il te porte de droict fil au visage, ou a la jambe demeurante avec son espee en quarte, pour parer quelques coups, en retirant ta pointe il te faut parer de la quarte, en allant en la seconde de laquelle tu luy porteras en lestomac, apres il te faut retirer le premier afin quil naye l’assurance de te venir porter. Et au cas quil vienne a la desesperade a te tirer un estoquade dessous main, il te faut abaisser la tienne en bas pour empescher son espee, & soudain tu luy donneras en l’estomac le frappant le premier. | |
[38] Being still in the same tierce, you will carry to him a quarte to the face to force him to parry, and by feinting you will strike him a revers to the head, or a jartiere, or else some other downward blow, passing on your left foot to his right side, and if he parries and your sword remains in the presence, in his first movement you can enter with the point, feinting to give him a downwards blow to the arm with a maindroit or a revers, and if striking the sword to the inside he lowers the point in changing his posture, he will be struck by the sword in the stomach. |
[14v.1] Estant encore sur la mesme tierce, tu luy pourras porter une quarte au visage, pour l’obliger a parer, & par ceste feinte tu luy donneras un revers sur la teste, ou bien une jartiere, ou bien quelque autre estramasson passant sur ton pied gauche de son coste droict, & s’il pare, & que ton espee demeure en presence, au premier mouvement qu’il fera tu pourras entrer de pointe avec feinte de luy donner un estramasson au bras, ou de droict, ou de revers, & si hurtant l’espee aux dedans il abaisse sa pointe en changeant de posture, il sera frappé de la pointe en l’estomac. | |
[39] If you want to wait for your enemy to force him to come to you and to carry to you with a maindroit or a revers, if he strikes with a maindroit, you need to parry with the sword to the end hand in quarte, by binding with the point as we have said here before. |
[14v.2] Si tu veux attendre ton ennemy pour l’obliger a venir a toy, & a te porter de droict ou de revers, s’il tire du droict, il te faut parer de la main de l’espee en quarte, en le contraignant avec la pointe comme nous avons dict cy devant. | |
[40] If he carries a revers to you, parry with the seconde, so that he lowers his sword, and with the same seconde you will carry to him in the stomach. |
[14v.3] S’il te porte un revers, pare de la seconde, a fin qu’il abaisse son espee, & de la mesme seconde tu luy porteras en l’estomac. | |
[41] If your enemy wants to strike you with a premiere, you must parry with a revers, and strike him in the same tempo a maindroit to the face, or parry on the outside and strike him with a seconde. So I will put an end to the discourse of cuts and estramasson (stramazone).By our discourse it will seem to many that it is difficult to offend and to defend oneself with the point, to attack and to parry, because there are many feints, which nevertheless can be done easily. |
[15r.1] Si ton ennemy te veut donner de premiere, il te faut parer avec un revers, & luy donner en mesme temps un droit au visage, ou bien parer de dehors, & le fraper de seconde. Ainsi mettray je fin au discours de taille & destramasson. Par noz discours il semblera a plusieurs qu’il est difficile d’offenser & de se deffendre de la pointe, d’aissallir & de parer, parce qu’il y a beaucoup de feinte, ce qui ce peut faire aisement neaumoings. | |
[42] To not cool the courage of the Cavaliers, and to not remove their assurance to strike their enemies [when] coming to blows, this way of striking is very good. |
[15r.2] Pour ne refroidir le courage des Cavaliers, & pour ne leur oster l’asseurance d’aller frapper leurs ennemys venant aux mains, ceste façon de frapper est fort bonne. | |
[43] Especially since the premiere guard is dreadful, and it seems difficult to deal a more dangerous blow: however I want you to advance first up to two or three steps until you make your blow, and that you can hit your opponent, you must suddenly, without closing yourself, strike straight to the face, and inasmuch that such a blow leans to the ground you will turn the hand when you can in quarte, however, lowering with the same guard to the right side of your enemy that you want to hit with this botte, you can parry then that this quarte to such an industry when properly implemented. I say the same to those who understand this profession, that there are many things that can be understood naturally, even if they be children of the art. |
[15r.3] Dautant que la premier garde est espouvantable, & semble dificille portant un coup plus dangereux : pourtant veu-je que tu t’avance, le premier, allant devant deux ou trois pas jusques à ce que tu voyes ton coup, & que tu puisses frapper ton adversaire, il te faut soudain sans te fermer tirer droict au visage, & [15v.1] dautant que tel coup panche en terre tu tourneras la main quand tu pourra en quarte, toutes-fois l’abaissant avec la mesme garde au costé droict de ton ennemy, qui te voulant fraper de ceste botte, pourra parer puis que ceste quarte a une telle industrie quand elle est bien mise en pratique. Je parle mesme a ceux qui entendent ceste profession, qu’il y a plusieurs choses qui peuvent estre entendues naturellement, encor que ce soient enfans de l’art. | |
[44] I will leave you in quarte having struck with the premiere, recommending you take similar guard to better parry all sorts of moves with this guard, without being subject to so many feints, as are other guards. When your enemy is in quarte for all sorts of blows, either of the point or the edge, you will put yourself in premiere, the point not as high with the arm so that your enemy cannot feint striking you in one place and striking in another, although parrying there you had the advantage of your body no matter what occurs, because the nature of the man is to carry thrusts under hand, with maindroit and with revers. |
[15v.2] Je te laisseray en quarte ayant frappé de premiere en te conseillant de teuir semblable garde pour la meileure pouvant avec celle garde parer toutes sortes de coups, sans estre subject a tant de feintes, comme es autres gardes. Quand ton ennemy sera en quarte pour toutes sortes de coups, soit de pointe ou de taille, tu te mettras en premier, non point haute de bras beau coup, afin que ton ennemy ne face feinte de [te] [16r.1] donner en un lieu & qu’il tire en un autre, s’y bien qu’en parant tu ayes l’advantage de ton corps quoy quil survienne, parce que le naturelle de l’homme est de porter des estoquades soubz main, de droict, & de revers. | |
[45] To all duels the feints are useless against those who know them. Nevertheless, it will not be out of place to learn them in order to uncover them so [that] they cannot harm. |
[16r.2] A tous duelz les feintes sont in-utilles a ceux qui en ont la cognoissance. Neantmoins il ne seras pas hors de propos de les apprendre afin de les descouvrir en sorte qu’elles ne puissent nuire. | |
[46] So, reader, that you can have the practice, and to exercise to many blows and feints, to know the amount of surprises that your enemy prepare for you, you must understand how you can gain the outside or the inside, which will be in this way. By covering the sword of your enemy from within, so that he takes resolution to not be subject to yours; when he strikes with his sword, strike with yours, and strike him in the stomach. But take care that while you go to cover his sword, he can pass underneath yours, and for your defence in this accident you must lower the hand and the wrist in quarte, voiding with the body, and he will remain struck in the same tempo. But if you cover it from the outside so that your enemy goes each time with the same quarte lowering the point to the ground: in parrying, you will hit him where convenience presents itself, further you will be able to disarm his sword. In the same tempo, I want you to strike him straight to the face, in order that you incite him to parry and, in parrying he bends the body as you can see set above, in a similar guard. But if he uncovers outside of your right side, without moving lowering the head and the point of the sword, pass under his with the left foot, striking him with the point to the stomach. |
[16r.3] Afin lecteur, que tu puisses avoir la praticque, & t’exercer a beaucoup de coups, & de feintes, pour cognoistre la quantité des surprises que ton ennemy te peux dresser, tu dois entendre comme tu pourras gaigner le dehors, ou le dedans, qui sera de ceste sorte. En couvrant l’espee de ton ennemy du dedans, afin qu’il prenne resolution de n’estre point subject a la tienne, & quand [16v] il tirera son espee, alors tire la tienne, & luy donne dedans l’estomac, mais prend garde que ce pendant que tu luy vas couvrir son espee, il peut passer dessous la tienne, & que pour ta deffence en ceste accident, il te faut baisser la main, &le pougnet en quarte, esquivant du corps, & il demeurera frappé a mesme temps. Mais si tu la couvre du dehors afin que ton ennemy passe a chasque fois de la mesme quarte, abassant la pointe en terre : en parant, tu le frapperas ou ta commodité se presentera, encore tu luy pourras oster son espee. Je veux au mesme temps, que tu luy tire droict a la face, afin que tu l’incites à parer, & en parant il panchera le corps comme tu as peu voir cy dessus, en semblable garde: Mais sil se decouvre dehors de ton coste droict, sans te mouvoir baisse la teste, & la pointe de lespee ensemble, passant soubs la sienne avec le pied gauche tu luy donneras de la pointe en l’estomac. | |
[47] While he covers, you can still go resolutely with a seconde to his face in order that he raises his arm, and [he] lifting it, pass under his sword in the same tempo, and then strike him with a seconde. Since you cover the inside, you can strike over his sword, and go to attack him with the right foot. |
[17r.1] Tu pourras encor pendant quil couvre, aller resolument de seconde a sa face, afin qu’il leve le bras, & le levant, a mesme temps passe soubs son espee, & lors tu le frapperas de seconde. Encor que tu couvres du dedans, tu pourras tirer dessus son espee, & l’aller frapper du pied droict. | |
[48] Covering the outside, feint to go under his sword and, in no way lowering the tip, turn it suddenly to his stomach, provided that it is on his own sword to avoid being subject to the feints which your enemy will make. You must lower your sword in a low quarte, seeing that such a guard can parry all kinds of feints. |
[17r.2] En couvrant du dehors, tu feras feinte de passer soub son espee : & rabaissant aucunement la pointe, tu la tourneras soudainement en son estomac, pourveu que ce soit sur sa propre espee pour n’estre point subject aux feintes quand ton ennemy en fera, il te faut abaisser ton espee en quarte basse, voyant que telle garde peut parer toutes sortes de feintes. | |
[49] But there is so much diversity that everyone makes them to their fancy. This is why I want to advise everyone to parry well with the sword as this serves the occasion of many quarrels. |
[17r.3] Mais il y a tant de diversité que chacun les faict a sa faintasie, voila pourquoy je veux àdvertir tout le monde de bien parer de l’espee pource que cela sert beaucoup a l’occurrence des querelles, | |
[50] We will leave aside all these moves that are made in tierce, and will talk about certain very useful guards, and swift for all men, weak or strong as they are. |
[17r.4] Nous laisserons a part tout ces coups qui se font [17v.1] en tierce, & nous parlerons de certaine garde beaucoup utile, & prompte a tous hommes, pour foibles ou forts qu’il soient | |
[51] Having shown clearly with care, and with exercise, which is the most useful and convenient guard. |
[17v.2] Ayant faict voir clairement avec soin, & avec exercice, laquelle est la plus utile & plus commode garde | |
[52] I find that wanting to have patience to remain in quarte, or in tierce, which are the best, since they have the power to offend, and to defend all, and if Masters keep their students more covered as they can, not considering (inappropriately) that they have to defend, and that they would be compelled to uncover on the inside or outside. But instead going from tierce to a quarte to parry, you will have more force and while parrying, you will cover yourself as much as is needed in quarrels. But we must not parry negligently as at school playing with his master. These kinds of guards can make all kinds of injuries, and parrying with the edge, as with the point in the attempt, you will find the truth because these two guards, quarte and tierce, are the ships of our art. Many believe that a left-hander has the advantage against one right-handed, but those who have that view are wrong, especially since I cannot find a left-hander who has not had lessons other than from a Master who is right-handed, and that he works more with a right-hander than with a left-hander in the general exercise so that the left-hander makes with the right-hander, giving him a great advantage. But if you have to make an estramasson with a left-hander, I want you always be with the weapons in tierce, wide on the outside of his sword, so that going to strike you, he is forced to uncover himself. Asking the case that a left-hander strikes you with the point, then you must parry with your sword of the left side, striking him with the point to the stomach to the face. Secondly, if a left-hander strikes you with the edge provided that it is with a maindroit, you must parry with a seconde, and then strike him a maindroit to the head, redoubling with another for your defence. |
[17v.3] Je trouve que voulant avoir patience de demeurer en quarte, ou bien en tierce, quelles sont les meilleurs, attendu qu’elles ont la force d’offencer, & de deffendre ensemble, & s’y les maistres font demeurer leur escolier plus couvert qu’ils peuvent, ne cosiderant point (mal â propos)28 qu’ils ont a deffendre, & qu’ils seroient contrains de se descouvrir, ou dehors ou dedans. Mais au contraire allant de tierce a quarte pour parer, tu auras plus de force & en parant, tu te couvre autant qu’il est necessaire es querelles : mais on ne doit parer aussi negligemment comme aux escolles, se jouant avec son maistre. Ces sortes de gardes peuvent faire toutes sortes de blesseures, & parer de taille, comme de pointe en l’espreuvant tu treuveras la verité [18r.1] car ces deux gardes quarte, & tierce, sont les nefs de nostre art. Plusieurs estiment qu’un gauchier a de lavantage contre un droictier, mais ceux qui ont ceste opinion se trompent, d’autant que je ne treuve autre chose a un gauchier sinon qu’il a tousiours la leçon du maistre de la main droicte & qu’il s’espreuve plus avec un droictier qu’avec un gauchier, la ou le grand exercice, que faict le gauchier avec le droictier luy donne un grand adventage. Mais si tu avois a faire a estramasson avec un gauchier, je veux que tu luy soy tousjours avec les armes en tierce, large au dehors de son espee, afin que venant a luy tirer, il soit contrainct de se descouvrir, (Comme pour exemple) posons le cas qu’un gauchier te tire de pointe, alors il faut parer de ton espee du costé gauche, luy donnant de la pointe en l’estomac, ou au visage. Secondement si un gauchier te tire de taille pourveu que ce soit de droit, il te faut parer de seconde, puis luy tirant un droit a la teste, luy en redoubler un autre pour ta deffensive. | |
[53] Thirdly, if a revers is carried to you, you will parry with the edge of the sword, carrying a revers to him on the face or you will parry with the false, striking him with a maindroit or a revers, with the edge or the point, inside or outside, depending that you are in posture. However, the right-hander is quicker to hit than the left-hander, albeit that this parry seems difficult to you, if that you exercise all will succeed very happily. |
[18v.1] Tiercement s’il te porte un revers, tu pareras du fil de l’espee, luy pourtant un revers sur la face ou bien tu pareras du faux, luy donnant un droict, ou un revers, de taille ou de pointe, ou dedans, ou dehors, selon que tu seras en posture : toutes-fois le droictier est plus prompt a frapper que le gauchier, encor que ce parer te semble difficile, si est-ce qu’en t’exerceant le tout reussiera fort heureusement. |
Illustrations |
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[1] Second book of fencing of Sieur Desbordes Chapter 1 Having promised to talk about the sword and the dagger as the main weapons of the Cavaliers, I want to carry out my promise, and all of it in order. But because in the first book I have shown those which are the principal guards, of which I kept the figures, I shall not make more repetition contenting myself with what I have written above. I will show how one must be with the body, and the hand, with the dagger, and the difference with the other guards, as one can see in the following teachings. |
[19r] LIVRE SECOND DE L'ESCRIME DU SIEUR DESBORDES Chapitre 1. AYANT PROMIS DE PARLER de l’espee & du pougnart, comme des armes principales des Cavaliers, je veux effectuer ma promesse, & le tout avec ordre. Mais par ce qu’au premier livre j’ay monstré qu’elles sont les gardes principalles, desquelles jay reservé les les figures, je n’en feray autres redite me contentant de ce que j’en ay escript si dessus. Je feray voir comme il se faut tenir avec le corps, & la main, avec le pougnart, & la difference des autres gardes, comme il se pourra voir es enseignemens suivantz. | |
[2] Chap. 2 I want to address at the beginning the premiere guard according to the started order. Here is why if you are in premiere, you will put your enemy in great terror seeing that he will not have the assurance of striking you, [and] seeing you so readily in the position to strike him to his face. |
[19v.1] Chap. 2 JE veux traicter au commencement de la premiere garde selon l’orde commencé, voila pourquoy si tu es en premiere, tu mettras ton ennemy en grande terreur voiant qu’il n’aura l’assurance de te tirer, te voyant si promptement en posture pour luy porter au visage. | |
[3] If by chance he resolutely came to bring you a thrust under the hand: rather than parry with the dagger, parry with the sword and, helping with the dagger, suddenly strike him where he uncovered himself, because in this way he will be able to make a feint on the dagger or other premeditated place. |
[19v.2] Mais si d’avanture il venoit resolument pour te porter une estoquade soub main, au lieu de parer avec le pougnart tu pareras avec l’espee, et secourant avec le pougnart, soudain tu luy donneras ou il se presentera descouvert, car en ceste maniere il te pourra faire une feinte sur le pougnart ou en autre lieu premedité. | |
[4] While you parry with your sword, your enemy will be able to enter from the outside with the left foot, covering your sword with his dagger, and might thus have the convenience of hitting you, but if you have the intelligence of that art, when your enemy passes with his left foot, void with the body, and lift up the arm in the premiere guard, and you will have the upper hand, [both] for the force and for the guard. |
[19v.3] Ce pendant que tu pares de ton espee, ton ennemy pourras entrer du dehors, du pied gauche, en couvrant ton espee avec son pougnart, & pourroit ainsi avoir la commodité de te fraper, mais si tu as l’intelligence de ceste art, lors que ton ennemy passe de son pied gauche, tu esquiveras du corps, & leveras le bras en la pre- [20r.1] premier garde, ainsi auras tu le dessus & pour la force & pour la garde. | |
[5] Chap. 3. To firstly assault with a seconde, I want you to attack your enemy in seconde so that he strikes you, and in striking, you parry with the dagger and strike him in the head. |
[20r.2] Chap. 3. Pour assaillir de seconde de premier abord je veux que tu ailles attaquer ton ennemy de seconde, afin qu’il te tire, & en tirant tu pareras du pougnart & lui donneras en la teste | |
[6] To demonstrate the defence that can be made by your enemy to your fencing, if you go to strike resolutely as I have said, your enemy can strike you with a premiere in the stomach, or a cut on the head from the right side, or with a revers, but doing as I said, you will be victorious over them, although he is in premier. You will be able to strike him with a false edge to the hand, to provoke him to make a riposte with the point or the edge, or still with a false to the hand, he could turn his hand and void with the body, hitting you with a quarte in the stomach. Or removing the hand and the sword he might go with the weapons together above yours, that is to say with both the sword and the dagger, and may do other further blows. Still attacking with the sword and dagger, you can feint a maindroit to the face of your enemy so that he parries, and by parrying you gain with the dagger, hitting him with the point or the edge as the occasion presents itself. Many other blows and other feints can be made and taught, but I want to talk about all of them after the other two guards. I will leave for the present this seconde having spoken quite enough. |
[20r.3] Pour monstrer la deffence que peut faire ton ennemy a ton escrime, s’y tu va tirer comme j’ay dit resolument, ton ennemy te pourra donner d’une premiere en l’estomac, ou un estramasson sur la teste du costé droict, ou d’un revers mais faisant comme jay dy, s’y dessus tu seras vainqueur, bien qu’il soit en premiere, tu luy pourras tirer un faux en la main, pour le provoquer de faire rispose de pointe ou de taille, ou bien d’un faux a la main, il pouroit tourner la main et esquiver du corps, te frappant d’une quarte en l’estomac, ou bien retirant la main, & l’espee il pourroit ensemble avec les armes aller dessus la tienne, cest à sçavoir avec lespee & le pougnart, et pouroit encor faire dautre coups [20v.1] Encor en assaillant avec l’espee & le pougnart tu pourras feindre de porter un droict au visage de ton ennemy afin qu’il pare, & qu’en parant tu gaignes du pougnart le frappant de pointe, ou de taille, comme l’occasion se presentera. Beaucoup d’autres coups, & d’autres feintes, se peuvent faire & enseigner, mais d’autant que je veux parler apres des autres deux gardes, je laisseray pour le present ceste seconde en ayant parlé assez suffisamment. | |
[7] Chap. 4. The tierce guard is suitable to all occasions, as can be known through experience. That is why being in tierce and wanting to attack your enemy in a narrow tierce, you must pretend to want to take his sword with your dagger, forcing him to withdraw, and that in the retreat you use the presented opportunity to hit him in the stomach or else go with your sword to cover his from the outside so that he moves it, and that by moving it he gives you the convenience to hit him. Again you can carry it over his dagger to make him parry it, and during that you prepare yourself to strike him in the stomach. |
[20v.2] Chap. 4 La troisième garde se peut aproprier a toutes occasions, comme il se peut cognoistre a l’experience. Voilà pourquoy estant en tierce, & voulant assaillir ton ennemy en tierce estroite, il faut que tu feignes de vouloir prendre son espee, avec ton pougnart, pour l’obliger a la retirer, & qu’en la retirant tu te serve de l’occasion qui se presentera de le frapper en lesto-[mac] [21r.1] ou bien tu t’en yras avec ton espee couvrir la sienne du dehors afin qu’il la meuve, & qu’en la mouvant il te donne la commodité de le frapper, encor tu luy peus porter dessus son pougnart, pour le faire parer, & ce pendant tu t’apreteras pour luy donner en l’estomac. | |
[8] Chap. 5. The quarte and last of the four, [is] our principal guard, the best, and most convenient for striking and for parrying. Being in quarte to attack your enemy first, you go to find to the outside in the cross so that you constrain him to caver his sword with a low quarte, then you will lower your dagger from quarte, going to seconde, and from this guard strike him to the most convenient and most useful; although you can make a feint from the outside and to strike to his right side, and then strike him with a quarte to the stomach: but such feints puts the man in danger of being wounded in the same tempo that he puts them in practice. This is why I have little respect [of such feints], unless to respond to your opponent's feints. |
[21r.2] Chap. 5 La quarte & derniere des quatre, nostre principale garde, la meilleure, & la plus comode qui soit pour frapper & pour parer, cest qu’estant en quarte pour assaillir ton ennemy en premiere, tu l’yras trouver du dehors en croix, afin que tu le contraignes de caver son espee de quarte basse, alors tu abaisseras ton pougnart de quarte, allant en seconde, & de ceste garde tu le frapperas comme la plus commode & plus utile, encor que tu peux faire une feinte du dehors, & tirer a son costé droict, & puis luy donner d’une [21v.1] quarte en lestomac : mais pour ce que telles feintes mettent l’homme en danger destre blessé en mesme temps qui les met en pratique : voila pourquoy j’en fais fors peu destime, si ce n’est pour respondre aux feintes de ton adversaire. | |
[9] Chap. 6. Other Bottes Having brought to light the four main guards, I will show other bottes dependent on each other, which everyone may give according to their inclination, since all the blows and all the guards may succeed in each, in all the opportunities that may arise. Here is why when you see your enemy advancing his dagger, and holding his sword short and withdrawn, you can make many blows, but I want to teach you in my judgement the four most necessary bottes. |
[21v.2] Chap. 6 AYant mis en lumiere les quatre gardes principales, je feray voir d’autre bottes dependantes les unes des autres, ausquelz chascun se pourra addonner selon son inclination propre, puisque tous les coups, & toutes les gardes peuvent bien reussir a chacun, a toutes les occasions que peuvent survenir. Voila pourquoy lors que tu vois ton ennemy advancer son pougnart, & tenir son espee courte & retiree tu pourras faire assez de coups, toutes-fois je te veux enseigner quatre bottes les plus necessaires a mon jugement | |
[10] Firstly, you will go with resolution to strike him from within, close to his dagger, since you will force him to parry, thinking to do this and not finding your sword. Immediately repeat the step, and turning the wrist to advance a thrust straight to his stomach, and this is called a strike of the firm foot, being firm from the beginning. |
[22r.1] La premiere tu iras avec resolution luy tirer du dedans, proche de son pougnart, d’autant que tu le contraindras de parer, ce que pensant effectuer & ne trouvant ton espee, incontinant redoublant le pas, & tournant le pougnet tu advanceras une estoquade droict a son estomac, & cecy s’appelle frapper de pied ferme, estant ferme du commencement. | |
[11] The second blow you can do is that you pretend to go resolutely on his dagger; in parrying you lower the point, and present the sword to the stomach, hitting him with a tierce. After withdrawing the step, you will strike him another thrust subject to him wishing to follow you. |
[22r.2] Le second coup que tu pourras faire sera que tu feindras d’aller resolument sur son pougnart en parant tu abbaisseras la pointe, & luy presenteras lespee a l’estomac le frappant de tierce apres retirant le pas en arriere, tu luy donneras une autre estoquade moyennant qu’il te vueille poursuivre. | |
[12] For the tierce strike, pretend to strike him a thrust to the stomach to the end that he passes with the dagger, after putting his sword on his dagger, you will strike him, but this blow is made in uncovering his stomach because the arm angle is large enough. If by chance he parries with the sword, lower your point, putting it to his right side, as I have said [regarding] the blows of the single sword then you can immediately help with your dagger, above or below as the occasion will present itself. |
[22r.3] Pour la troizieme touche tu peu faire semblant de luy donner une estoquade a l’estomac a fin qu’il passe du pougnart, apres mettent son espee sur son pougnart, tu luy portera mais ce coup se fait en descouvrant l’estomac parce que le [22v.1] bras faict l’angle assez grand si par hazart il paroit de l’espee, abaisse ta pointe, la mettant a son costé droit, comme je dis es coups de lespee seule, te pouvant incontinant secourir de ton pougnart, ou dessus, ou dessoubs selon que l’occasion se presentera. | |
[13] You will be able for the quarte strike to pretend to strike your enemy on his dagger, and suddenly raising your sword [along] with the tip of your dagger, strike him with a quarte in the stomach, being defended and well covered [if] offended by your enemy's sword. |
[22v.2] Tu pourras pour la quatriesme touche feindre de porter a ton ennemy sur son pougnart, & soudainement levant ton espee avec la pointe de ton pougnart, tu le frapperas d’une quarte en l’estomac, estant deffendu & bien couvert d’estre offencé de lespee de ton ennemy. | |
[14] You can still strike another blow to his dagger, so that your enemy defends himself, and as he parries, you can strike him in two tempi. Or pretend to go to the edge of his dagger, which being reached, he cannot know where you want to strike, above or below, because being so close to his stomach, you will strike him where you want as the occasion will present the most convenient. |
[22v.3] Tu pourras encor tirer une autre botte jusque a son pougnart, afin que ton ennemy se deffende, & comme il parera, tu le peus frapper en deux temps, ou feindre d’aller jusque au fil de son pougnart, où estant parvenu, il ne pourra scavoir ou tu veux tirer, ou dessus, ou dessoubs, parce qu’estant si proche de son estomac, tu le frapperas ou tu vouldras selon que l’occasion se presentera la plus commode | |
[15] It suffices to have spoken about these four guards; I want to address several other sorts of guards. |
[23r.1] Il suffit d’avoir parlé de ces quatre bottes, je veux traitter d’autres gardes de plusieurs sortes. | |
[16] Chap. 7 Against a tierce If your enemy remains in a low tierce joined with the dagger, so that he cannot be struck, and you want to attack him, go to the outside of his right side with your dagger and cover his sword, so that he is forced to withdraw, and as he withdraws in the same tempo, it is necessary to strike with a quarte to the stomach. |
[23r.2] Chap. 2[!] SY ton ennemy demeure en tierce basse avec le pougnart ensemble, afin qu’il ne puisse estre frappé, & que tu le vueilles assaillir, tu iras du dehors de son costé droict avec ton pougnart, & couvrir son espee, afin qu’il soit contrainct de la retirer, & comme il la retirera, en mesme temps il le faut fraper d’une quarte en l’estomac. | |
[17] This guard also may be assailed by other means: in beating his sword from within, you will pretend to strike him above with the dagger, so that parrying he shows the stomach, and in the same tempo you may strike him. |
[23r.3] Encore par autre moyen ceste garde se peut assaillir, en battant son espee du dedans, tu feindras de luy donner dessus avec le pougnart, afin que parant il monstre l’estomac, & en mesme temps tu le peus frapper. | |
[18] You can even beat the sword from the outside, laying on it with the false edge, and strike him with a quarte to the stomach from the right, striking him over the sword. |
[23r.4] Tu peus encor battre l’espee du dehors, la chargeant d’un faux, & luy donner une [23v.1] quarte en l’estomac du costé droict, luy tirant par dessus l’espee. | |
[19] Chap. 8. In tierce against a premiere Being in tierce and your enemy in premiere, I want you to carry your tierce to his right side, without hitting him, so that he has the means to parry, then you lift your sword over the point of his dagger, and going in premiere, hit him over the dagger. |
[23v.2] Chap. 8 Estant en tierce, & ton ennemy en premiere je veux que tu luy portes ta tierce a son costé droict, sans le frapper, afin qu’il aye moyen de parer, alors tu leveras ton espee dessus la poincte de son pougnart, & allant en premiere tu le frapperas sur le pougnart. | |
[20] I can even teach you to cover his sword from within so that he removes it, and suddenly carry him a thrust to the stomach with a quarte. Furthermore, one can assault this premiere by another way, namely making a feint from the outside of his dagger so that he parries, and then you will strike him between the sword and the dagger, a thrust along the edge of the sword, turning the body like to that quarte of which I have written above. |
[23v.3] Je puis encor vous enseigner de couvrir son espee du dedans, afin qu’il la retire & soudain porte luy une estoquade en l’estomac d’une quarte. Outre cela on peut par autre maniere assaillir ceste premiere ceste a scavoir, en faisant une feinte du dehors de son pougnart, afin qu’il pare, & alors tu luy donneras entre l’espee & le pougnart, une estoquade au fil de l’espee tornant le corps comme a la quarte escripte cy dessus. | |
[21] Chap. 9. Feints There are many kinds of feints with the dagger, and in particular the principals to feint from below to strike above; from above to below; to feint to the outside and striking between the two weapons to the inside, and striking resolutely with the sword to your enemy so that he makes a riposte, and then you can parry with the dagger, striking him in the same tempo; strike him with a thrust, so that he parries, and during this you will strike him a maindroit to the head, or with a revers, or other blows as the tempo helps you find out. |
[24r.1] Chap. 9 IL se faict plusieurs sortes de feintes, avec le pougnart, & en particulier, les principalles se feignent du desoub, & se font du dessus, du dessus au dessoub, feindre du dehors & donner entre deux armes, entre du dedans, & porter resolument avec l’espee a ton ennemy afin qu’il face risposte, & alors tu peu parer avec le pougnart, le frappant a mesme temps, tire luy une estoquade, afin qu’il pare, & ce pendant tu luy donneras un droict en la teste, ou de revers, ou dautres coups selon que le temps t’en facilitera l’invention. | |
[22] Chap. 10. Evading the feints Having clearly seen the feints which can be made with the dagger, I want to give the method to avoid them. First, consider in which guard and in what posture your enemy puts themselves: if it is in premiere, point to the ground in awaiting his blow, if he strikes, parry with your sword from within, and pass with the left foot, with your dagger on his sword, by this way you will reduce him until you will strike him at will, and with this guard you will be able to still use it against the seconde. To defend yourself from the tierce of your enemy: against this tierce you place yourself in premiere, parry first, by lowering the point of his sword into the ground, because by sliding your sword against his, he will push it from the left side. Then you cover with your dagger, and you will remain the victor, and you will still be able to use the same against a quarte. |
[24r.2] Chap. 10 Ayant faict veoir clairement les feintes qui se peuvent faire avec le pougnart je te veux donner l’invention de les eviter. Premierement considere bien quelle garde & en quelle posture se met ton ennemy, s’il est en [24v.1] premiere la pointe en terre en attendant son coup, s’il tire, pare de ton espee du dedans, & passe du pied gauche appuiant ton pougnart sur son espee, par ce moyen tu le reduiras a tel point que tu le frapperas a ta volonté, & de ceste garde tu te pourras encore servir contre la seconde, pour toy deffendre de la tierce de ton ennemy, de ceste tierce tu t’accommoderas en premiere, pare premierement, en abaissant la pointe de son espee en terre, car en glissant ton espee contre la sienne, il la poussera du costé gauche, puis tu couvriras avec ton pougnart, & tu demeureras vainqueur, & de mesme contre une quarte tu ten pouras encor servir. | |
[23] Chap. 11. Of the guard of the left foot Having spoken hitherto quite fittingly of the guards of the right foot, being much assured in this posture, I want to henceforth teach the guards of the left foot, which are specific to the brave men. Here is why staying on the left foot, and being assailed with a point under the hand, parry from the outside with your sword, you will strike your opponent with this seconde cited above. If your enemy carries a thrust to you under the hand, parry with the dagger in passing with the right foot in front of his right side, giving him the riposte. |
[24v.2] DE LA GARDE DU PIED GAUCHE Chap. 11. AYANT parlé jusques icy assez pertinemment des gardes du pied droict estant beaucoup as- [25r.1] assuré en ceste posture, je veux desormais enseigner les gardes du pied gauche, qui sont propres aux hommes courageux, Voilà pourquoy te trouvant sur le pied gauche, & estant assailly d’une pointe soub main, pare du dehors avec ton espee, tu frapperas ton adversaire de ceste seconde devant ditte, si ton ennemy te porte une estoquade soub main, pare du pongnart en passant du pied droit en avant de son costé droit luy donnant la riposte. | |
[24] Your enemy wanting to strike you with a cut; while he raises his blow go resolutely to strike him in the stomach, by turning the hand in quarte. |
[25r.2] Ton ennemy te voulant frapper de taille, ce pendant qu’il leve son coup, tu l’yras resolument frapper en lestomac, en tornant la main en quarte. | |
[25] Similarly, if you want to attack from the left foot, you must advance the left foot until you come to your enemy's sword with your dagger, and when your opponent moves in the same tempo as you enter, and beat him in the stomach with a thrust, being still on your left foot, and you feint to strike him a blow to the face in order that he parries, and when he parries with his sword, you go against him by passing with the left foot, covering his sword with your dagger, you will find the convenience of hitting him where he will be uncovered. |
[25r.3] Pareillement si tu veux assaillir du pied gauche, il faut avancer le pied gauche, jusque a ce que tu arrives avec ton pougnart a l’espee de ton ennemy, & quand ton adversaire la meut en mesmes temps tu entreras, & le frapperas en lestomac d’une estoquade, estant encor sur ton pied gauche, & tu feindras de luy tirer [25v.1] une estocade au visage afin qu’il pare, & quant il parera de son espee, tu yras a l’encontre en passant du pied gauche couvrant son espee avec ton pougnart, tu chercheras la commodité de le frapper ou il sera descouvert. | |
[26] For fencing with the sword and the cape or mantle Fencing with the sword and the cape or mantle is very prompt and necessary to the man in all places since it is a custom to all and by all to wear a sword and mantle. For the first instruction of this fencing, it is expedient to know when it comes to such a fight as how one can hit his enemy. |
[25v.2] POUR L'ESCRIME DE LESPEE, & de la cappe ou manteau. L'Escrime de l’espee, & de la cappe ou manteau est fort prompte & necessaire a l’homme en tous lieux d’autant que cest une habitude à tous, & par tout de porter espee & manteau. Pour premiere instruction de ceste escrime, il est expedient de cognoistre quant on vient a un tel combat, & comme on peut frapper son ennemy. | |
[27] Firstly if your enemy is approaching and strikes you with the point or the edge, you will parry in this way. |
[25v.3] Premierement si ton ennemy s’approche & qu’il te tire de pointe ou de taille, tu pareras en ceste maniere. | |
[28] If he strikes you with a maindroit or a thrust over or under the hand, carry yours from within and parry with the edge of the sword by pressing [with] the left arm, and passing the left foot together, and you will master your enemy's weapon. |
[25v.4] S’il te tire un droict ou bien une estoquade [26r.1] dessus, où dessoub main porte la tienne du dedans, & pare du fil de l’espee en appuiant le bras gauche, & passant du pied gauche ensemble, & tu demeureras maistre de l’arme de ton ennemy. | |
[29] But if he strikes you a revers, you will parry with a seconde, accompanying your sword with the mantle you will immediately strike him a thrust in the stomach. |
[26r.2] Mais s’il te tire un revers tu pareras de seconde en accompaignant le manteau de ton espee & incontinant tu luy donneras une estoquade en l’estomac. | |
[30] If you want to assault with the sword and the mantle, carry a thrust to him under the hand, and thus you can force your enemy to parry by necessity, and as he will parry from inside you will lower the point, and will strike him a cut. With this blow you will remove his sword as this blow has force; you will even strike him with the point, with a revers or a blow to the head. Another shorter way: you will go to strike a maindroit on the head of your enemy so that he parries, and while he parries, you will pass with the left foot, giving him a jarretière.[14] |
[26r.3] Sy avec l’espee & le manteau tu veus assaillir, porte luy une estoquade sous main, & par ainsi tu pourras par necessité contraindre ton ennemy a parer, & comme il parera du dedans tu abbaisseras la pointe, & luy donneras un estramasson, & de ce coup tu luy osteras son espee, tant ce coup a de force, tu le frapperas mesme de pointe, de revers ou d’un coup sur la teste. Autre maniere plus bresve, tu iras tirer un droit sur la teste de ton ennemy afin qu’il pare, & ce pendant qu’il parera, tu passeras du pied gauche, luy donnant une jarretiere. | |
[31] But in doing this, cover yourself with your mantle for greater assurance, and while you parry you will be able to throw your mantle on his face, as by this act you will make him tarry and you will take the convenience of hitting him where it is easiest. |
[26v.1] mais en faisant cecy couvre toy de ton manteau pour plus grande assurance, & de rechef tandis que tu pares, tu luy pourras jetter ton manteau sur le visage, car en faisant cette acte tu le feras demeurer, & tu prendras la comodité de le frapper ou il te sera plus facile. | |
[32] Discourse on the combat with the dagger, of man-to-man. To make a fight with the dagger alone, Man to Man, I will show you here an easy, brief, and useful method. He who wants to choose the weapons, although the duel is between unequal force, and that the strongest comes to seize, with the weakest. |
[26v.2] DISCOURS SUR LE COMBAT DU POUGNART, d'Homme-â-Homme. Pour faire un combat avec le pougnart seul, Homme-à-Homme, je te monstreray icy une maniere facile, bresve, & utille: Celuy qui veut eslire les armes, encor que le duel soit entre inegaux de force, & que le plus fort vienne aux prinses, avec le plus foible. | |
[33] Firstly, you will put your right foot in front of the left, keeping an eye on the point of your enemy's dagger. You will strike him a thrust to the hand from within so that he parries, especially as in parrying you have the tempo to take away his dagger with your left hand by passing with the left foot; then you will hit him where the opportunity presents itself. |
[26v.3] Premierement tu mettras ton pied droit devant le gauche, tenant loeil sur la pointe du pougnart de tou ennemy, de maniere que tu luy [27r.1] donneras une estoquade en la main du dedans afin qu’il pare, d’autant qu’en parant tu auras le tem ps de luy oster son pougnart avec ta main gauche, en passant du pied gauche, puis tu le frapperas ou l’occasion se presentera. | |
[34] To teach you another method, I want you to hold your dagger in premiere, and that you attack your enemy, and as he wants to parry the blow, you will pass under his dagger, giving him a thrust in the stomach. But if you want to wait, you will take care as [to how] your enemy holds his dagger: if he holds it low, coming to hit you with resolution; meet his dagger arm with your right hand at the same tempo which he strikes, holding the flat of the dagger back on the right side, and so you will disarm him. |
[27r.2] Pour t’enseigner une autre maniere, je veux que tu tiennes ton pougnart en premiere, & que tu assailles ton ennemy, & comme il voudra parer le coup, tu passera soub son pougnart, luy donnant une estocade en l’estomac, mais si tu veux attendre, tu prendras garde comme ton ennemy tient son pougnart, s’il le tenoit bas, venant pour te frapper avec resolution a mesme temps qu’il tire, r’encontre son bras du pougnart avec ta main droitte, tenant le plat du pougnart derrier, du costé droit, & ainsy tu le desarmeras. | |
[35] Another example: if you put yourself in seconde and that your enemy awaits you in premiere, and that on that guard he strikes you, you will pull back his dagger with your left hand, and pass with the right foot, covering his arm, you take away the weapons. But in this you must take care and do not mock this way of fencing of which I have here written, especially since it comes from experience, that he is very fortunate that knows the means to defend himself. FINISH |
[27r.3] Aultre (exemple) Sy tu te metz en seconde & que ton ennemy t’attende en premiere, & que sur ceste garde il te tire, tu rabattras avec ta main gauche son pougnart, & passeras du [70r] pied droit, luy couvrant le bras, tu luy osteras les armes: Mais en cecy il se faut donner garde & ne te moquer de ceste façon d’escrime que jay icy escripte, d’autant qu’il vient des heures, que celuy est bien heureux qui scait les moyens de se deffendre. FIN. |
Illustrations |
Draft Translation |
Transcription |
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Extract of privilege Permission is granted to Blaise ANDRE, printer of His Highness, to print or transfer the right to print the Discourse on the Theory and the Practice, and Excellence of Weapons, by the Sieur DESBORDES, with very express prohibition to all Printers and Booksellers, of printing, selling for cash or credit any other copies other than those that would have been printed or made to be printed by the said André, and that the penalties contained more fully to said Privilege. Given at Nancy on the twenty fourth day of October, 1610. Signed HENRY And below C. de Girmond |
[#] EXTRAICT DU PRIVILEGE IL est permis a BLAISE ANDRE, imprimeur de SON ALTESSE, d’Imprimer ou faire Imprimer le Discours de la Theorie de la Pratique, & Exellence des Armes, du Sieur DES-BORDES, avec deffence tres-expresse a tous Imprimeurs, & Libraires, d’Imprimer, vendre, n’y debiter aucuns exemplaires autres que ceux qu’aura Imprimé ou faict Imprimer ledit André, & se sur les peines plus amplement contenues audit Privilege. Donné a Nancy le vingt quatriesme jour d’Octobre, Mil six centz & dix.
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For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.
| Work | Author(s) | Source | License |
|---|---|---|---|
| Images | Bibliothèque Renaissance à Nancy |  |
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| Translation | Rob Runacres | The Renaissance Sword Club |  |
| Transcription | Olivier Dupuis and John Tse | Index:Discours de la théorie de la pratique et de l’excellence des armes (André des Bordes) | |
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.
- 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.
References
- ↑ In other words, offer his knowledge and skills.
- ↑ As in the pictures
- ↑ Agrippa, Camillo, Treatise on the Science of Arms (Rome, 1553)
- ↑ In other words, on the inside of that knee which is to the outside. I am indebted to Olivier Dupuis for correcting my original translation, which was ‘near the outside of the knee’, similar to a ‘Bolognese’ guard of coda lunga e stretta.
- ↑ Manciolino of Bologna
- ↑ A vertical, downwards cut, equivalent to the Italian fendente
- ↑ A rising cut with the false edge, possibly similar to the false edge cut described by Dall’Aggochie
- ↑ A circular cut to the opponent’s right side, equivalent to the Italian moulineto
- ↑ A ‘garter’ or cut to the leg. Note the term’s spelling varies in this work.
- ↑ A thrust
- ↑ Probably a criticism of Agrippa’s recommendation to turn the head away when lunging.
- ↑ As in strike
- ↑ Olivier Dupuis suggests that Des-Bordes is in fact suggesting the fencer lowers the whole sword as the enemy attempts to thrust underneath, thereby striking with the quillions. This author considers that the lowering of the point may indicate a parry with the false edge, but that would not lend itself to a following thrust under the enemy’s sword.
- ↑ Cut to the leg
