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Martin Syber
Martin Syber | |
---|---|
Born | 15th century (?) |
Died | 15th century (?) |
Occupation | Fencing master |
Genres | Fencing manual |
Language | Early New High German |
Notable work(s) | New Zettel |
Manuscript(s) |
|
First printed english edition |
Hull, 2008 |
Concordance by | Michael Chidester |
Translations |
Martin Syber (Mertin Siber, Martein Syber) was a 15th century German fencing master. Hardly anything is known of Syber beyond his New Zettel ("New Recital"). His surname signifies that he came from a family of sieve makers, but gives us no indication of his birthplace. According to Syber's own account, he learned the art from a variety of masters from across Europe, including men from Bohemia, Brabant (or possibly Provence), England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Prussia, Russia, and Swabia. The inclusion of his Recital in Codex Speyer and the Glasgow Fechtbuch suggests a connection to the tradition of Johannes Liechtenauer, and his mention of an "earlier zettel" may be a reference to that of Liechtenauer; however, Syber does not appear on the roll of the Society of Liechtenauer recorded by Paulus Kal in ca. 1470,[1] so the extent of his relationship is unclear.
Syber's Recital comes in the form a cryptic poem, perhaps intended to convey the essence of the art to those who already knew it. Unfortunately, no gloss is currently known to exist for Syber's verse, so its meaning is difficult to decipher. Conversely, it is worth noting that the 16th century Freifechter Joachim Meÿer not only possessed a copy of Syber's verse (which he copied into his final manuscript),[2] but also employed much of the master's unique terminology in his own teachings. Meÿer may thus hold the key to interpreting Syber's techniques.
The Salzburg version of Syber's text is followed by an additional page of verse. This poem shares some common terminology with Syber's writings and has been attributed to Syber by some authors in the past,[3] but its omission from the other two versions of his text call this attribution into question. In addition, another version of the poem was included in one of Hans Talhoffer's manuscripts almost fifty years earlier,[4] which indicates that if Syber were indeed the author, his career must have been much earlier than currently believed.
Contents
Treatise
Salzburg Version (1491) |
Glasgow Version (1508) |
Rostock Version (1570) | ||
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[1] Item. The hereafter written new recital was created and set-down by master Martin Siber and is pulled from many master techniques and is paritioned and set-down in six courses |
[1r] Item dye hernach geschriebenn nüwe zettell hat gemacht vnd gesetz meinster mertin Siber vnd ist ein zuck auß mangerley meinster gefechtenn vnd ist geteiltt vnd gesetz In sechs geng |
[24v] Hernach geschribn ist ain newe zetl des langen schwerts vnd ein außzug aus der voringen zetl / vnd vil ander guetter stuck võ manches maisters handt / die hat zu samen gesetzt maister Martein Syber vnd ist getailt in segs geng / |
[39v] Das hernach geschribenn ist ein newe zetel des lannegnn schwerts und ein auszug aus der vorigenn zetelnn, und vil annder guten stuck, von manches meisters handt, die hat zusamen gesetzt meister Merten Siber, unnd ist getailt in sechs geng, | |
[2] And in the recital the ox and the plow and scalper-hew is not as in the first recital of the book. Rather another interpretation. |
Vnd in der zittell ist der ochß vnd der pflug vnd scheyttell haulb nicht also als in der ersten zettell des puchs Sunder eyñ ander vß legüng |
Vnd der ochß vnd der pflueg darin genant mit sambt ettlichen hewen hat ain ander art vnd auslegung da in der voringen zetl vnd gett auch anderst zu / |
Unnd der Ochs und Pflug darin genent, mit sämpt etlichen hewenn, hat ein annder artt, unnd auslegung dan in der vogemelten zetelenn unnd gehet auch anders zu. | |
[1] |
[3] Now here begins the forward and lessons of the recital, thereafter the six courses. Whoever wishes to acquire honor |
Nu hebt sich an dy vor rede vnd lere der zettell dar noch die sechß genng ~ Wer ere will erwerbenn |
Hie hebt sich die vorred an der selben newen zetl / Wer ere wil erwerben |
[40r] Hie hebt sich an die vorrede de selbenn neuenn zetelnn, Wer ehr will erwerben, |
|
[4] The First Course Has Five Plays |
Der erst gangck Snell dy swech züm rechten |
Der Erst ganck hat funff Stück Schnel die schwech zwm rechten / |
Der erst ganng hat funf stuck. Schnel die schwech zum rechten, |
|
[5] The Second Course Has Six Plays Crook into the strong |
Der ander ganck Krümb in dy sterck |
Der ander gang hat sechs stuck Krumb in die sterck / |
[40v] Der ander gang hat Sechs Stuck. Krump in die sterck, |
|
[6] The Third Course Has Seven Plays Squint whatever comes from-the-day |
[2r] Der tritt ganck Schil wz von tag kümpt |
[25r] Der trit gang hat Syben Stück Schil was vom tag kumbt / |
Der drit ganzg hat Sieben stuchk. Schil was vom tak kumbt, |
|
[7] The Fourth Course Has Five Plays Thrust through the Ox |
Der virdt ganck Den ochßenn durch stos |
Der viert gang hat fünff Stück Den ochsen durch stoß / |
Der vierd ganng hat fünf stuck Den Ochsen durchstos, |
[70] |
[8] The Fifth Course Has Five Plays Thrust through the long point |
Der funfft ganck Durch stich den langenn ortt |
Der fünff gangk hat fu~nff stuck Durch schreich den langen orth / |
Der fünft gang hat fünf stuck. Durchstreich denn lanngenn ort, |
[80] |
[9] The Sixth Course has Four Plays From-the-Day Drive-through long |
Der sechst ganck Vom tag lang durch var |
Das sechs ganck hatt vier stuck Vom tag lang dürch far / |
Der Sechst gang hat vier stuck. Vom tag lang durch far, |
[10] Here the new recital has an end. Martin Sibers recital with six courses, as exactly as he set-down, from many masters technique. Whoever can understand it well is well to be praised as a good master of the long sword before other masters. |
Finis etc |
Finis huig materie |
Hie hat die new zetel ein enndt. Mertenn Sibers zeteln mit denn 6 gengen, Als ers zusamenn gesetzt hat, vonn mancherley meisters, gefecht, wer die wol kann, und verstehet, ist wol zu breysenn für ein gutenn meister des lannngenn schwerts vor vil andern meisternn. |
For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.
Work | Author(s) | Source | License |
---|---|---|---|
Translation | Christian Trosclair | Wiktenauer | |
Salzburg Version | Dierk Hagedorn | Hammaborg Historischer Schwertkampf | |
Glasgow Version | Dierk Hagedorn | Hammaborg Historischer Schwertkampf | |
Rostock Version | Jens P. Kleinau | The Fencing and Life of Hans Talhoffer |
Additional Resources
- Hull, Jeffrey. "The Longsword Fight Lore of Mertin Siber." Masters of Medieval and Renaissance Martial Arts. Ed. Jeffrey Hull. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-58160-668-3
References
- ↑ Kal, Paulus. Untitled [manuscript]. Cgm 1507. Munich, Germany: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, 1470.
- ↑ Meÿer, Joachim. Fechtbuch zu Ross und zu Fuss [manuscript]. MS Varia 82. Rostock, Germany: Universitätsbibliothek Rostock, 1570.
- ↑ Hull, Jeffrey. "Mertin Siber’s Longsword Fight-Lore of 1491 AD: a thesis on the Fechtlehre from Handschrift M I 29 (Codex Speyer) at the University of Salzburg in Austria". The Association for Renaissance Martial Arts, 2005. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ↑ Talhoffer, Hans. Untitled [manuscript]. MS Thott 290.2º. Copenhagen, Denmark: Det Kongelige Bibliotek, 1459.
- ↑ mitmachen. alt: completes
- ↑ ehegefährt note: this is attacking in the vor.
- ↑ alt: overwhelm; turn(away, aside)
- ↑ alt: jab
- ↑ carried, transferred, brought across or over. alt: deceiving
- ↑ alt: your
- ↑ the rostock points to: "Hew the point into his chest"