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| '''Chap. 6. As it is necessary to know how to handle all kinds of weapons'''
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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
 
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| 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.
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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
 
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| 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
 
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| acknowledge that all the others have but skimmed over this discourse, and that I have hit the target.
 
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| '''Chap. 7. As one must defend with the thrust, and the manner of giving with great agility'''
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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<ref>Probably a criticism of Agrippa’s recommendation to turn the head away when lunging.</ref>, 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.
 
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| '''Chap. 8. As must give<ref>As in strike</ref> and parry'''
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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.
 
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| '''Chap. 9. Of striking'''
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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
 
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| as [to how] he can strike, starting with the premiere guard. To follow the proposed order, here is one example.
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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.<ref>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.</ref>
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| '''Chap. 10. As one must strike seconde against seconde'''
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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
 
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| 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.
 
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| '''Chap. 11. The tierce against the tierce'''
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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.
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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
 
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| 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.
 
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Revision as of 21:41, 15 January 2022

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 swordsmanship 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.

Treatise

Additional Resources

Transcription by Olivier Dupuis

Translation by Rob Runacres

References

  1. In other words, offer his knowledge and skills.
  2. As in the pictures
  3. Agrippa, Camillo, Treatise on the Science of Arms (Rome, 1553)
  4. Manciolino of Bologna
  5. A vertical, downwards cut, equivalent to the Italian fendente
  6. A rising cut with the false edge, possibly similar to the false edge cut described by Dall’Aggochie
  7. A circular cut to the opponent’s right side, equivalent to the Italian moulineto
  8. A ‘garter’ or cut to the leg. Note the term’s spelling varies in this work.
  9. A thrust
  10. Probably a criticism of Agrippa’s recommendation to turn the head away when lunging.
  11. As in strike
  12. 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.