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''The end of the start of the said third drawing for the Lieutenant.''
 
''The end of the start of the said third drawing for the Lieutenant.''
  
The third drawing for the Prevost, is commenced and is done by having the feet together, as is shown above in the plan of the said Prevost, marked number 2, keeping the left foot in the footprint, where it is marked near number 1, and the right foot in the other footprint where it is marked 2, and to start and do the said third drawing, the Prevost must put the right foot which is on the footprint marked 2 a bit up in the air. And doing the first drawing that has been made by the said Prevost above in content 1. And to complete this said drawing, he must turn the nails on the hand of the sword upwards, content 2, placing the point of the sword straight at the eyes, holding the left hand behind, as is shown above at the portraiture and figure marked number 6 behind the bonnet.
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The third drawing for the said Prevost, is to be done by having the feet together, as is shown above in the plan of the said Prevost, marked number 2, keeping the left foot in the footprint, where it is marked near number 1, and the right foot in the other footprint where it is marked 2, and to start and do the said third drawing, the Prevost must put the right foot which is on the footprint marked 2 a bit up in the air. And doing the first drawing that has been made by the said Prevost above in content 1. And to complete this said drawing, he must turn the nails on the hand of the sword upwards, content 2, placing the point of the sword straight at the eyes, holding the left hand behind, as is shown above at the portraiture and figure marked number 6 behind the bonnet.
  
 
''Here is the end of the start of the said third drawing for the said Prevost.''
 
''Here is the end of the start of the said third drawing for the said Prevost.''
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| ''The last of the third drawing for the Lieutenant and the Prevost is left to declare its properties and significance below as portrayed and finished here.''
 
| ''The last of the third drawing for the Lieutenant and the Prevost is left to declare its properties and significance below as portrayed and finished here.''
  
In order to be good and graceful to finish the said third drawing for the Lieutenant, it is necessary that the plan portrayed above, where he keeps the right foot forward in the air after having made the said first and second drawing marked in number 5, is needed to be done by the said Lieutenant in order to complete this drawing, that is to leave the said right foot over the footprint marked number 3 in this portraiture, turning back the guard of the sword up and the hand up, as done by the Lieutenant marked number 3 since the artist made a mistake with this one. Yet this Lieutenant is to keep his left hand, making sure that he keeps it well under his sword arm as is shown at the portraiture number 7.
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In order to be good and graceful to finish the said third drawing for the Lieutenant, it is necessary that the plan portrayed above, where he keeps the right foot forward in the air after having made the said first and second drawing marked in number 5, is needed to be done by the said Lieutenant in order to complete this drawing, that is to leave the said right foot over the footprint marked number 3 in this portraiture, turning back the guard of the sword up and the hand up, as done by the Lieutenant marked number 3 since the artist made a mistake with this one. Yet the Lieutenant is to keep his left hand, making sure that he keeps it well under his sword arm as is shown at the portraiture number 7.
  
 
''The last of the said final third drawing for the said Lieutenant.''
 
''The last of the said final third drawing for the said Lieutenant.''
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''Written for the first guard and position for the said Prevosit, in order to begin the section on this sword alone.''
 
''Written for the first guard and position for the said Prevosit, in order to begin the section on this sword alone.''
  
And to do this, the said Prevost must have his feet together as is portrayed above marked in number 10. And this said Prevost having made one of the said three drawings, is to remain in the high guard, having pulled the right foot back, holding the hand with the the sword a bit higher than the right shoulder, placing and aiming the point of the sword straight at the chin, and holding the left hand right of his nipple, ready to do whatever is acceptable, and will be needing afterwards as is shown above at the portraiture and figure of the said Prevost marked number 12 behind the hat.
+
And to do this, the said Prevost must have his feet together as is portrayed above marked in number 10. And the said Prevost having made one of the said three drawings, is to remain in the high guard, having pulled the right foot back, holding the hand with the the sword a bit higher than the right shoulder, placing and aiming the point of the sword straight at the chin, and holding the left hand right of his nipple, ready to do whatever is acceptable, and will be needing afterwards as is shown above at the portraiture and figure of the said Prevost marked number 12 behind the hat.
  
 
''The end of this first guard for the said Prevost.''
 
''The end of this first guard for the said Prevost.''
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| ''The following is the first strike of this sword alone for the attacking Lieutenant against the defending Prevost.''
 
| ''The following is the first strike of this sword alone for the attacking Lieutenant against the defending Prevost.''
  
And in order to do this, this next said Lieutenant must have taken the step and one of the said drawings, staying on the left foot as the portraiture above marked number 13, and in order to do and execute this first strike of this sword alone, the said Lieutenant will advance the right foot, being on the said guard marked 13, and will throw a low right-hand at the left knee of the Prevost, raising the guard of the sword almost as high as the left shoulder, lowering well the point of the sword down to do this said right-hand at the leg more perfectly, holding the left hand as is shown below at the portraiture of the said Lieutenant marked number 15.
+
And to do this, this next said Lieutenant must have taken the step and one of the said drawings, staying on the left foot as the portraiture above marked number 13, and in order to do and execute this first strike of this sword alone, the said Lieutenant will advance the right foot, being on the said guard marked 13, and will throw a low right-hand at the left knee of the Prevost, raising the guard of the sword almost as high as the left shoulder, lowering well the point of the sword down to do this said right-hand at the leg more perfectly, holding the left hand as is shown below at the portraiture of the said Lieutenant marked number 15.
  
 
''Here is the end of the first strike of this sword alone for the attacking Lieutenant against the defending Prevost.''
 
''Here is the end of the first strike of this sword alone for the attacking Lieutenant against the defending Prevost.''
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''After this is to declare how the Prevost will have defended his knee and will have thrown a right-hand at the arms of the Lieutenant.''
 
''After this is to declare how the Prevost will have defended his knee and will have thrown a right-hand at the arms of the Lieutenant.''
  
And in order to do this, the said Prevost is on his left leg, having made one of the three drawings, guards, and placement, and stays on the said guard marked number 14 above, the said Prevost to properly execute, defend, and offend at the same time this said low right-hand, pulls his left foot back and throws a right-hand at the sword arm of the said Lieutenant, and unlike other ignorant demonstrators who crosses sword against sword when a strike comes from below, which is fine because by that he defends himself; but this strike is better because he defends himself and offends thereby doing two good things, I recommend that you take the better one, as this said Prevost also does in executing this said strike, holding the left hand as is shown at the portraiture marked number 16.  
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And to do this, the said Prevost is on his left leg, having made one of the three drawings, guards, and placement, and stays on the said guard marked number 14 above, the said Prevost to properly execute, defend, and offend at the same time this said low right-hand, pulls his left foot back and throws a right-hand at the sword arm of the said Lieutenant, and unlike other ignorant demonstrators who crosses sword against sword when a strike comes from below, which is fine because by that he defends himself; but this strike is better because he defends himself and offends thereby doing two good things, I recommend that you take the better one, as the said Prevost also does in executing this said strike, holding the left hand as is shown at the portraiture marked number 16.  
  
 
''Here is the defense of the said low right-hand at the knee defended by the Prevost against the said Lieutenant.''
 
''Here is the defense of the said low right-hand at the knee defended by the Prevost against the said Lieutenant.''
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|-  
 
|-  
 
| [[File:Sainct Didier 17-18.png|400x400px|center]]
 
| [[File:Sainct Didier 17-18.png|400x400px|center]]
|  
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| ''The following is the first counter and continuation of the first strike, which is for the attacking Lieutenant and for the defending Prevost.''
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And to do this, the Lieutenant being again on the right foot, having thrown the said low right-hand at the knee, while the Prevost threw a right-hand at the sword arm at the same time, as is shown above at the said Lieutenant on number 15 and the Prevost on 16. The said Lieutenant being again on the right foot, seeing himself about to be struck by a right-hand on the sword arm, immediately lifts and carries his sword high and throws a back-hand<ref>per Dupuis's transcription, it's literally "backhand" as opposed to the technique before named "renver" for whatever reason Didier thought to use a different word this time. I've included a hyphen to differentiate but I think it's supposed to be the same.</ref> on the side of the right shoulder of the Prevost, keeping the said Lieutenant's fingernails of the right hand to face the left side, and his left hand is keeping right of his face, as is shown above at the portraiture, marked behind the collar in number 17.
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''The end of the first counter of the first strike of this sword alone for the said Lieutenant.''
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 +
''After this will be declared the defense of the first counter and continuation for the Prevost against the said Lieutenant.''
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 +
And to evade and to guard himself against this first continuation, which is a high back-hand, having thrown a right-hand at the arms of the said Lieutenant, as is shown above at the portraiture of the said Lieutenant marked number 15 and at the Prevost who executed the right-hand, marked number 16, the said Prevost being on the right foot to guard and to defend this said first counter, will cross the sword of the said Lieutenant with the strong on the weak, presenting him a thrust at the face of the said Lieutenant, holding the said Prevost's left hand near his left nipple, as is shown above at the portraiture marked number 18.
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 +
''The end of the first counter and continuation for the said Prevost, being well defended by this against the said Lieutenant.''
 +
 
 
| ''Sensuit la premiere opposite & suitte, du premier coup, qui est pour le Lieutenent assaillant, & pour le Prevost deffendant.''
 
| ''Sensuit la premiere opposite & suitte, du premier coup, qui est pour le Lieutenent assaillant, & pour le Prevost deffendant.''
  
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| ''Following is the declaration, guard, and positioning of the fourth cut, which is a high backhand next on the order of the said sword alone for the Lieutenant and Prevost, and everything that must be done.''
 
| ''Following is the declaration, guard, and positioning of the fourth cut, which is a high backhand next on the order of the said sword alone for the Lieutenant and Prevost, and everything that must be done.''
  
And to do this, it is necessary that the Lieutenant here have the feet together to first make one of the said two drawings as said, and here is where the said Lieutenant places his right foot, which demonstrates the difference from where the left foot is placed, and this said Lieutenant holds the guard of the sword on the right lap, in low guard placing the point of the sword straight at the lap of the Prevost, holding the left hand opposite of his chin, as shown above at the portraiture and figure of the said Lieutenant, marked in number 37.
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And to do this, it is necessary that the Lieutenant here have the feet together to first make one of the said two drawings as said, and here is where the said Lieutenant places his right foot, which demonstrates the difference from where the left foot is placed, and the said Lieutenant holds the guard of the sword on the right lap, in low guard placing the point of the sword straight at the lap of the Prevost, holding the left hand opposite of his chin, as shown above at the portraiture and figure of the said Lieutenant, marked in number 37.
  
 
''Here is the end of the position and guard for the attacking Lieutenant, which is to begin to throw the fourth strike.''
 
''Here is the end of the position and guard for the attacking Lieutenant, which is to begin to throw the fourth strike.''
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| Friendly reader,
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Whoever among you buy these books from and won't find in them the name and initials of the Author written by his hand, such books will not be sold by their will, for this reason, he asks you to have them brought to his house, and he will give you back the money that they cost you, telling him who have sold them to you, and if he will give you as much what he will bring, which will cost you nothing, and besides you will show the said author and will declare the contents of him, which will cost you nothing to have recourse in justice against those who such books will have sold and will please him.
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|  Amy lecteur.
 
|  Amy lecteur.
  
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| FRIENDLY READER,
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The author is cognizant that fencing and the law are two virtues most required to acquire the friendship of Kings, Princes, and Lords, even of Ladies. For this reason the said Author preferred to choose and follow the art and practice of this than of the said law: not that he abandoned them at all: but in this were practiced for the space of thirty years, and after many long days, God bestowed him the grace which he dedicated and in fact presented this treatise to one of the greatest Christian Monarchs under heaven. And by his command took with his Highness the said fencing, and with my Lord the Duke of Guise and others of his court, of which the Author has praised and praises God, who has made him well and fortunate and with favor of His said Majesty. Because of this, he once again took courage and daring, after being privileged by the said Sir to have it printed, and put in light for the relief and satisfaction of his nobility and for public good. There may be some who may slander against the said Author for the reasoning of the said treatise and other little discourse, and advices made on the exercises and tennis. The said Author has not dealt with what was said, for those who are skillful and have experimented and who understand the real terms, which are required in the said two exercises; but good for those who do not understand them, that is to say fencing and tennis.
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For this reason the Author requests that the Readers only to take it in good part and to excuse him. And do not look at the language nor to the letter nor the skin<ref>lit. bark or shell, outer layer. Idiom similar to "Don't judge a book by its cover.</ref> of it, because at times it can find itself, for such things will contradict it and will want to slander what he does not know and does not know how to do, and having wanted and spoken to the said Author who may discuss with you for an explanation, and effectively show the contents of the said treatise, of which the said contradictors (if any are found) may be content, if the wise and their thoughts are determined and facts will not do it, thus they will address the Author who will be able to make them content with the reason for his sayings.
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This treaty finished printing on June 4, 1573.
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|  AMY LECTEUR.
 
|  AMY LECTEUR.
  

Revision as of 07:36, 17 January 2021

Henry de Sainct Didier
Born 1530s (?)
Pertuis, Provence
Died after 1584
Paris, France (?)
Occupation Fencing master
Patron Charles IX of France
Influences
Influenced Salvator Fabris (?)
Genres Fencing manual
Language Middle French
Notable work(s) Les secrets du premier livre sur l'espée seule (1573)
Translations Traducción castellano
Signature Henry de Sainct Didier sig.png

Henry de Sainct Didier, Esq. was a 16th century French fencing master. He was born to a noble family in Pertuis in the Provence region of France, son of Luc de Sainct Didier. Sainct Didier made his career in the French army, ultimately serving 25 years and seeing action in Piedmont, Italy from 1554 - 1555. He wrote of himself that he "lived his whole life learning to fight with the single sword" and eventually "reached a point of perfection" in his art. Apparently he became a fencing master of some renown, for in ca. 1573 he secured a royal privilege for a period of ten years for treatises on a number of weapons, including the dagger, single side sword, double side swords, sword and buckler, sword and cloak, sword and dagger, sword and shield (both rotella and targe), and greatsword. Unfortunately, only his treatise on the single side sword, titled Les secrets du premier livre sur l'espée seule ("Secrets of the Premier Book on the Single Sword") and printed on 4 June 1573, is known to survive; it seems likely that the others were never published at all.

Treatise

Additional Resources

  • Hyatt, Robert Preston and Wilson, Devon. "The Single Sword of Henry de Sainct Didier." Masters of Medieval and Renaissance Martial Arts. Ed. Jeffrey Hull. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-58160-668-3
  • Sainct Didier, Henry de. The Single Sword of Henry de Sainct-Didier (Traicté Contenant Les Secrets Du Premier Livre Sur L'Espée Seule). Trans. Robert Preston Hyatt and Devon Wilson. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press, 2009. ISBN 978-1581607048
  • Slee, Chris. Secrets of the Sword Alone. LongEdge Press, 2014. ISBN 978-0646926353

References

  1. Pristin : ancien, antérieur
  2. Insertion du « a ».
  3. Dupuis describes this as a wooden board placed in the back wall of the tennis court which, if hit by a volley, is scored immediately. In modern tennis, this board is replaced by a grid.
  4. « L'es », habituellement orthographiée « ais », désigne une planche de bois placée dans le mur du fond de la salle de jeu de paume qui, si elle est touchée par un coup de volée, donne le point immédiatement. Dans le jeu de paume moderne, cette planche est remplacée par une grille. Il est possible que cet « ais » ait donné le terme anglais d'« ace » que les étymologies modernes confondent avec l'« as » du jeu de carte. Voir la définition d' « ais » de l'Encyclopédie de Diderot et d'Alembert.
  5. L’esteuf : ancien nom pour la balle.
  6. précéder. « Préaller » subsiste en français sous la forme « préalable ».
  7. Il s’agit très probablement du maître d’arme italien Fabris Salvator de Padoue (1544-1617). Voir la note sur Fabris Salvator de Vigeant p. 162 et aussi les références à ses publications (Vigeant p. 55-56)
  8. Version alimentaire de l’adage « blanc bonnet et bonnet blanc ».
  9. Transcription la plus sûre du texte : « gran d erre »
  10. Serviteur du grand prêtre venu arrêter Jésus au Mont des Olivier et dont l’oreille coupée a été immédiatement guérie. Selon la lecture du passage, il est parfois pris pour celui qui soufflète Jésus.
  11. Un des anciens nom de l’abeille.
  12. Sens incertain ; peut-être s'agit-il d'une mauvaise graphie de « filial ».
  13. drillant : étincellant, brillant (dictionnaire de Nicot).
  14. Correction du texte d’origine donnant « peid ».
  15. Cette correction sur les images d'Henri de Saint-Didier indique que celles-ci ont été réalisées avant la version finale du texte.
  16. Le « o » de troisiesme est curieusement placé en exposant.
  17. Suppression du doublement de l'esperluette.
  18. Dupuis states the original says left but is incompatible with the rest of the text and the engraving.
  19. Proposition de correction de l’édition originale qui donne « gauche », en incohérence avec la gravure et le texte plus bas qui confirme que la posture du Lieutenent est identique à celle de la section précédente où c’était bien le pied droit qui était reculé.
  20. Deuxième remarque de l'auteur sur les gravures montrant que le texte a été retouché après réception des gravures. À comparer avec une remarque similaire faite dans le i.33.
  21. per Dupuis's transcription, it's literally "backhand" as opposed to the technique before named "renver" for whatever reason Didier thought to use a different word this time. I've included a hyphen to differentiate but I think it's supposed to be the same.
  22. Correction du texte d’origine donnant « Leiutenent ».
  23. Correction de l'édition originale qui omet lors d'un changement de page le début du mot « haute »
  24. La position de la main illustrée a les doigts au-dessus, en opposition avec le texte.
  25. Proposition de correction pour « bessoin »
  26. Proposition de correction pour « avan-main »
  27. Proposition de correction pour « couté »
  28. Proposition de correction pour « Vola ».
  29. Proposition de correction pour « ongle »
  30. Sens inconnu.
  31. La tuition est un synonyme de « garde », « défense », très souvent employé à cette époque pour appuyer le mot « défense ».
  32. Proposition de correction pour « Provost »
  33. Proposition de correction de « du–sixiesme »
  34. Proposition de correction pour « persent ».
  35. Proposition de correction pour « le ongles ».
  36. Le triangle représenté ici n'est pas correct, celui cotté 65 paraît rendre mieux compte du déplacement proposé.
  37. Proposition de correction pour « Lieutent ». La marque indiquant une contraction a probablement été omise.
  38. On pourrait compléter : « ...et le mettre en 4 ». L'illustration 73 est incorrecte puisque le pied gauche est resté sur la semelle 1 et n'est pas placé sur la semelle 3 (à gauche) comme demandé ; la position des pieds de l'illustration 75 correspond à ce qui aurait dû être représenté.
  39. Proposition de correction pour « dh’aut »
  40. Sic.
  41. Le prévôt représenté ici ne correspond pas au texte puisqu'il se tient sur le pied droit.
  42. Le prévôt de la figure 80 n’est pas sur le pied gauche comme écrit et mais reste cohérent avec la figure 78.
  43. Il faut évidemment lire ici « Prevost ».
  44. Proposition de correction pour « suprint »
  45. Sic.
  46. Suppression du doublement de l'esperluette dans « sa cuisse gauche, & & tous ».
  47. Sic. Au XVIe siècle, le genre des mots était encore indécis.
  48. L’auteur annonce ici une prochaine édition augmentée de son oeuvre qui n’a a priori jamais eu lieu.
  49. Proposition de correction pour « ou ».
  50. Proposition de correction pour « mostré »
  51. Du latin médiéval « inquinatum » signifiant « pour combien »
  52. lit. bark or shell, outer layer. Idiom similar to "Don't judge a book by its cover.
  53. Dilection : attachement, amour pur.
  54. Un vidimus est la copie certifiée d'un acte antérieur.
  55. Il doit s'agit de Pierre ou Jean Brûlart (tout deux avait une charge au Parlement) qui signe pour le roi.