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Difference between revisions of "Henry de Sainct Didier"

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| ''Guard and position for commencing to make the third drawing for the demonstrating Lieutenant at the defending Prevost.''
 
| ''Guard and position for commencing to make the third drawing for the demonstrating Lieutenant at the defending Prevost.''
  
This third drawing for the Lieutenant is to be done with the feet together, as is stated above and shown at the said general plan, holding the left foot on the footprint where it is marked below number 1, and the right foot at the footprint where it is marked 2, and in order to start well this said third drawing, the said Lieutenant must remove the right foot from the said footprint which is marked 2, and carry it forward in the air, making the first drawing, which can be seen above at its place in content 1, and while keeping the feet in the air, turn the guard of the sword, the top of the hand low, and the nails high, placing the point of the sword right at the belly, holding the left hand behind, as is shown aove at the portraiture marked number 5 behind the hat.
+
This third drawing for the Lieutenant is to be done with the feet together, as is stated above and shown at the said general plan, holding the left foot on the footprint where it is marked below number 1, and the right foot at the footprint where it is marked 2, and in order to start well this said third drawing, the said Lieutenant must remove the right foot from the said footprint which is marked 2, and carry it forward in the air, making the first drawing, which can be seen above at its place in content 1, and while keeping the foott in the air, turn the guard of the sword, the top of the hand low, and the nails high, placing the point of the sword right at the belly, holding the left hand behind, as is shown above at the portraiture marked number 5 behind the hat.
  
 
''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 make the said third drawing, the Prevost must put the right foot which is on the footprint marked 2 a bit above 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.
+
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.
  
 
''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 pause the said right foot over the footprint marked number 3 in this portraiture, turning back the guard of the sword above the hand held high, as done by the Lieutenant marked number 3 since the artist made a mistake on 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.
+
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.
  
 
''The last of the said final third drawing for the said Lieutenant.''
 
''The last of the said final third drawing for the said Lieutenant.''
  
And in order to finish the said third drawing for the Prevost, it is also necessary that he comes be on the same plan as the above marked number 5, as shown with the preceding Prevost, who keeps the right foot in the air, holding the guard of the sword above the hand held high, and in order to complete this said third drawing, it is necessary that the said Prevost holds the right foot back in the air as is said above, and to pause it on the fooprint where it is marked at the portraiture on number 3, turning the nails on the hand which is holding the sword downwards, placing the point of the sword straight at the face or the left eye, which is better, and holding the left hand right on the shoulder, as is shown above at the portraiture marked number 8.
+
And in order to finish the said third drawing for the Prevost, he must come to be on the same plan as the above marked number 5, as shown with the preceding Prevost, who keeps the right foot in the air, holding the guard of the sword up and the hand up, and in order to complete this said third drawing, the said Prevost must pull the right foot back from the air as is said above, and to leave it on the fooprint where it is marked at the portraiture on number 3, turning the nails on the hand which is holding the sword downwards, placing the point of the sword straight at the face or better yet the left eye, and holding the left hand right on the shoulder, as is shown above at the portraiture marked number 8.
  
 
''Here is the last and final said third drawing for the said Prevost.''
 
''Here is the last and final said third drawing for the said Prevost.''
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| ''General position for both the attacking Lieutenant as well as for the defending Prevost, in order to execute the art, order, and practice contained in this sword alone.
 
| ''General position for both the attacking Lieutenant as well as for the defending Prevost, in order to execute the art, order, and practice contained in this sword alone.
  
In order to show and declare this general position for the Lieutenant, he needs place his feet together for all strikes, where to roughly, hold the left foot in the footprint which is marked number 1, and the right foot in the other footprint which is also marked on number 2, holding the right hand at the guard of the sword, and the left hand at the scabbard, showing to the Prevost how he must do so, as is shown above at the portraiture, marked number 9.
+
In order to show and declare this general position for the Lieutenant, he needs to place his feet together for all strikes, to roughly hold the left foot in the footprint which is marked number 1, and the right foot in the other footprint which is marked also on number 2, keeping the right hand at the guard of the sword, and the left hand on the scabbard, showing to the Prevost how he must do so, as is shown above at the portraiture, marked number 9.
  
 
''The end of the position and plan for the said Lieutenant.''
 
''The end of the position and plan for the said Lieutenant.''
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''The following is the plan and position that the said defending Prevost must do, being instructed by the said Lieutenant.''
 
''The following is the plan and position that the said defending Prevost must do, being instructed by the said Lieutenant.''
  
And similarly to do this, the said Prevost is to place his feet together, keeping the left foot in the footprint that is marked number 1, and the right foot in the other footprint marked number 2, keeping also his sword on his left side, and his right hand open, showing by this that he is ready to take the sword, and to do what the said Lieutenant would say, the said Prevost also is keeping his left hand on his side, showing that he is nimble, and not far to put the sword in hand, and to do the said Lieutenant marked in number 9, and the said Prevost must do, and follow everything that is written here, and as is also written at the portraiture and figure marked at number 10.
+
And similarly to do this, the said Prevost is to place his feet together, keeping the left foot in the footprint that is marked number 1, and the right foot in the other footprint marked number 2, keeping also his sword on his left side and his right hand open, showing that he is ready to take the sword, and to do what the said Lieutenant would say, the said Prevost also is keeping his left hand on his side, showing that he is nimble, and not far to put the sword in hand, and to do the said Lieutenant marked in number 9, and the said Prevost must do, and follow everything that is written here, and as is also written at the portraiture and figure marked at number 10.
  
 
''The end of the position and plan for the said Prevost.''
 
''The end of the position and plan for the said Prevost.''
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| ''Postion and guard of the first strike of this sword alone, for the Lieutenant, which is a low right-hand at the leg of the Prevost, thrown by the Lieutenant, and defended by the Prevost, as will be seen after the first strike.''
 
| ''Postion and guard of the first strike of this sword alone, for the Lieutenant, which is a low right-hand at the leg of the Prevost, thrown by the Lieutenant, and defended by the Prevost, as will be seen after the first strike.''
  
And to do this the Lieutenant is to have the feet together, as is shown above in the portraiture of the said Lieutenant marked number 9, will pull the right foot backwards a little apart, and in drawing his sword, will take the sword guard higher than his shoulder, placing the point straight at the left nipple of the Prevost, holding the left hand below the arm, as is shown above at the portraiture marked number 11 behind the bonnet.
+
And to do this the Lieutenant is to have the feet together, as is shown above in the portraiture of the said Lieutenant marked number 9, will pull the right foot back a little apart, and in drawing his sword, will take the sword guard higher than his shoulder, placing the point straight at the left nipple of the Prevost, holding the left hand below the arm, as is shown above at the portraiture marked number 11 behind the bonnet.
  
 
''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.''
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|-  
 
|-  
 
| [[File:Sainct Didier 13-14.png|400x400px|center]]
 
| [[File:Sainct Didier 13-14.png|400x400px|center]]
| ''This guard is almost similar to the one before, barely being different, and yet it will serve as just one in order to make and execute said first strike of this sword alone for the Lieutenent and Prevost.''
+
| ''This guard is almost similar to the one before, barely being different, and yet it will serve as another one in order to make and execute said first strike of this sword alone for the Lieutenent and Prevost.''
  
In order to declare this guard for the Lieutenant, it is necessary that he has his feet together to throw the right foot<ref>Dupuis states the original says left but is incompatible with the rest of the text and the engraving.</ref> back a little apart, carrying the guard of the sword higher than the right shoulder, placing the point of the sword straight at the throat; the guard of the Lieutenant above marked in number 11 is the same, but the placement isn't because he places the point at the left nipple, whereas this one states it is at the throat, keeping the left hand under the arm of the sword, as is shown below at the portraiture marked on number 13.
+
In order to declare this guard for the Lieutenant, he must have his feet together to throw the right foot<ref>Dupuis states the original says left but is incompatible with the rest of the text and the engraving.</ref> back a little apart, carrying the guard of the sword higher than the right shoulder, placing the point of the sword straight at the throat; the guard of the Lieutenant above marked in number 11 is the same, but the placement isn't because he places the point at the left nipple, whereas this one states it is at the throat, keeping the left hand under the arm of the sword, as is shown below at the portraiture marked on number 13.
  
 
''Here is the purpose of this guard for the Lieutenant.''
 
''Here is the purpose of this guard for the Lieutenant.''
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The said Prevost being such that the feet were together and having pulled the right foot back while having remained on the left foot, having made one of the said three drawings, and having carried the guard of the sword a little higher than the right shoulder by holding the top of the sword hand up and the nails down as he should, unlike the said Lieutenant, as expected since the painter made an error with all of the said future Lieutenants because they should be holding the nails of the sword hand down and keeping them high, but the said Prevost does this better, and also holding the left hand above the left lap, as is shown below at the portraiture marked number 14.
 
The said Prevost being such that the feet were together and having pulled the right foot back while having remained on the left foot, having made one of the said three drawings, and having carried the guard of the sword a little higher than the right shoulder by holding the top of the sword hand up and the nails down as he should, unlike the said Lieutenant, as expected since the painter made an error with all of the said future Lieutenants because they should be holding the nails of the sword hand down and keeping them high, but the said Prevost does this better, and also holding the left hand above the left lap, as is shown below at the portraiture marked number 14.
  
''Here is the end of the second position, which serves as just one for said defending Prevost.''
+
''Here is the end of the second position, which serves as another one for said defending Prevost.''
  
 
| ''Cette garde est presque semblable à la sudite, il n’y a guere de difference, & pourtant ne serviront que d’une, pour faire, & executer ledit premier coup de ceste espée seule, pour le Lieutenent & Prevost.''
 
| ''Cette garde est presque semblable à la sudite, il n’y a guere de difference, & pourtant ne serviront que d’une, pour faire, & executer ledit premier coup de ceste espée seule, pour le Lieutenent & 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 is on 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 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.
  
 
''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.  
+
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.  
  
 
''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.''

Revision as of 22:19, 16 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. Correction du texte d’origine donnant « Leiutenent ».
  22. Correction de l'édition originale qui omet lors d'un changement de page le début du mot « haute »
  23. La position de la main illustrée a les doigts au-dessus, en opposition avec le texte.
  24. Proposition de correction pour « bessoin »
  25. Proposition de correction pour « avan-main »
  26. Proposition de correction pour « couté »
  27. Proposition de correction pour « Vola ».
  28. Proposition de correction pour « ongle »
  29. Sens inconnu.
  30. La tuition est un synonyme de « garde », « défense », très souvent employé à cette époque pour appuyer le mot « défense ».
  31. Proposition de correction pour « Provost »
  32. Proposition de correction de « du–sixiesme »
  33. Proposition de correction pour « persent ».
  34. Proposition de correction pour « le ongles ».
  35. Le triangle représenté ici n'est pas correct, celui cotté 65 paraît rendre mieux compte du déplacement proposé.
  36. Proposition de correction pour « Lieutent ». La marque indiquant une contraction a probablement été omise.
  37. 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.
  38. Proposition de correction pour « dh’aut »
  39. Sic.
  40. Le prévôt représenté ici ne correspond pas au texte puisqu'il se tient sur le pied droit.
  41. Le prévôt de la figure 80 n’est pas sur le pied gauche comme écrit et mais reste cohérent avec la figure 78.
  42. Il faut évidemment lire ici « Prevost ».
  43. Proposition de correction pour « suprint »
  44. Sic.
  45. Suppression du doublement de l'esperluette dans « sa cuisse gauche, & & tous ».
  46. Sic. Au XVIe siècle, le genre des mots était encore indécis.
  47. L’auteur annonce ici une prochaine édition augmentée de son oeuvre qui n’a a priori jamais eu lieu.
  48. Proposition de correction pour « ou ».
  49. Proposition de correction pour « mostré »
  50. Du latin médiéval « inquinatum » signifiant « pour combien »
  51. Dilection : attachement, amour pur.
  52. Un vidimus est la copie certifiée d'un acte antérieur.
  53. Il doit s'agit de Pierre ou Jean Brûlart (tout deux avait une charge au Parlement) qui signe pour le roi.