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Joachim Meyer/Jordan Elliot Finch 2023 MAF

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Of Battling and Fighting in Armour on Foot, Shortly Described

Because fighting is of various kinds, thus one can also give no fixed rule, then anyone who has been offered a fight had this advantage: that he can devise what he knows is in his service, be it with rare weapons or along with cunning, nimble advantage. Therefore, the one who is offered the fight gives the weapon and he may choose as he wants.

For example, should two fight with each other and the one has a weapon on the left and the other on the right. Now the Right goes to offer the Left. So this lets the Left choose the weapon in this way. Namely, two sharp rapiers and two sharp daggers. After that, two right arm scissors[1] - namely on the right arm because he is left[-handed] - and a sharp spike pointed inside at the bend of each arm, such that when one bends the same arm a little, he stabs himself.

If they now come to the agreed place and permit the weapons, so each puts on his right arm rail[2] on his right arm to which arm they were assigned[3]. When they should now step into the fight then they can’t defend the right. As soon as one bends his arm, he will stab himself

therefore his left arm is open, in which he prepares to use the dagger to stab. However, the Left holds his right arm with the dagger for displacing and defends himself with the left hand. Thus, the Right would be more damaged from him than from the point/front[4].

From this example it is easy to note that the one who has the best advantage is the one who always chooses or gives the weapon.

This, therefore, have I said so that everyone who wants to offer someone else a fight should be mindful of such a trick, and doesn't rashly show himself, but rather offers themselves graciously as such a thing may also happen in a calm manner, for both of them to fight in armour or to fight naked or with drawn weapons. But what concerns the fencing or battling with a bare body and what is advantageous and how they are to be used has been taught up to now in Rapier and other weapons and sufficiently understood now. I want to speak of only the advantage in armoured fighting such as you need it. Note that, generally, three weapons are used in armour: a spear[5] and a sword[6] also a dagger[7], or a dagger and a sabre[8] belted around and a sword.

The first order of defence is to fight in armour. Namely, a spear and a sword; and a combat sword[9] or a dagger, or also a shield so when attacking/grappling[10] you used the shield and spear

and have worked with the spear. If someone misses the other between the legs and avoided, or have thrusted with the spear and followed after the guard - because thrusting with the spear was in great use in the olden days - afterwards when they thrusted with the spear, they grabbed the sword and further the dagger or combat sword.

But I want to take the other order for myself to explain, from which one will reasonably[11] learn how it is to fight on foot, and I also want to take three advantageous, artificial weapons for myself: firstly, a sword which above the pommel should have four tacks next to the fifth at the top. They shouldn’t be long, rather short, so that it can cause harm [12] in an emergency. Ittem[13] the cross should be like a mason’s hammer, the point and blade angular

and that should all be cast from solid iron and the point should be steeled.

It should also be made finely supple so that one may fully choose the length. Another idea would please[14].

Ittem[13] the sabre should be strong. A good edge but not too heavy.

The dagger should be triple, such that three blades are intertwined as if one stuck three larding needles in each other, and the arms/backs[15] close on each other and be bound with springs so that if you push with one, a point would come free [and remain inside]. Then one would need it when one comes between a joint, thus one separates it, which gives a wide gap so when he presses the same first dagger, then the other point is smaller and skinnier, so he stabs the previous hole, which then wants to go deeper than the first so that he notices that he has gone into the body. He releases[16] the spring and lets him have the sharp point strongly, which he can’t soon pull out. The dagger is used when you have thrown him.

Ittem[13] if it pleases, he can want to make the daggers fourfold, but it should be made so that the springs are not noticeable if you bring the weapon in the lists[17]. The opponent may not do the same. However, one should make himself used to it, then the one who gives the weapon can practise it at his pleasure and particularly look for an advantage in it which the other cannot soon see or

notice in the lists. And even if the springs in the dagger are already shown, they are still made advantageous to you, that he can’t soon soon grip you. You should first of all pay good attention to whether your opponent wants to nimbly rush over you with strength or drive you [away][18] with force. So you should do gladly that he doesn’t rush over you with a Thunderbolt[19], and let him forward above[20], and note when he hits you that you displace it between both your hands and see if you can pin[21].

On the other hand, be careful that you are not pinned[21], but if you are pinned[21] on your left, thusly step with your left back or put your pommel on your breast and reach[22] the point, and pin[21] him also, and drive him from you[18]. Ittem[13] if he fights wide around you, thusly travel after[23] him with the point to an opening. Note the openings are these, where you should initiate[24] or pin[21]: the visor, under the armpit, the knuckles in the hands. Ittem[13] between the legs, outwards toward the gloves, and where the armour has a joint. Note that you don’t grab[25] another opening, as you may have a nearer opening. Lastly, loosen your fingers, namely: where someone grabs you see that you can

free a finger, then break[26] [their grip] over yourself, Ittem[13] break on[27], shove[28] their genitals, break their leg or shove[28] their knee. First I want to go through the armour fencing examples wisely, then explain the advantage of the aforementioned weapons. In the approach, take your sword in the Oberhut with both of [your hands] next to your head, and grip your blade with your left hand in the middle, so that the point stands in the man’s face. Step thusly in, so that your left foot stands in front at all times. Don't be too hasty[29], and see if you can reach his frontmost foot, make as if you want to initiate[24]in his face, immediately let go of the haft with your right hand, and come to help with your left hand and hit him with the pommel to the head or to his left arm. If he parries your hit between both his hands, let it drive around your head, and hit him from your right to his knee bone or ankle. Ittem[13], go in the Oberhut as before, and pay attention to if he wants to pin[21] or initiate[24]. Thusly set off[30] in front your left hand. If he then hits you from above, offset the blow between both your hands and stab immediately outside over his arm, and pin[21] the throat[31]. As soon as you find

that your point sticks [in place, in the armour] thus hit [with] your both under your right shoulder and don’t let him get away. Rather, drive forth[18]. Ittem[13] go into the Oberhut, stab in his visor. If he defends, pin[21] him in his left shoulder[32] drive forth[18]. Pay attention as soon as he wants to free himself that you rush after into his weight with wrestling[33], throwing, or thrusting in the front on his visor. Note if you have pinned[21] someone don’t let him come away, then he can’t work[34]. In the other guard, hold your sword with the grip besides your right hip. Grasp the blade with the left hand in the middle, so that your point stands against the man, the left foot at all times forward. Approach. If he thrusts, displace from the hand. If he strikes, then receive the stroke between both your hands in the blades. Simultaneously[35] watch out when he strikes, and step with your right, thus displace as you learnt and drive with the pommel into his knee bend. He will then want to pull his foot, so pin[21] him under his right armpit or wherever you can, and drive[18] him from you

or drive with the pommel on his neck and step with the right behind his leg and throw him.

Ittem[13], displace his strike out of the guard and drive up with the hilt, and thrust at the throat or to the openings by the

joints. Likewise, set the thrust off, and you do the same, and as soon as you have pinned[21] him, strike your pommel under the armpit so you secure your advantage. The pinnings[21][36] are four: one in the face, [one] to the throat. Ittem[13] on the left armpit or under the right shoulder

and note when you pin[21] him on the left, come with your left foot forward and place it under the right shoulder, then step forward with the right foot. Furthermore, when you have pinned[21] you should always drive them[18] over yourself. If he is shorter than you, sink your hilt under yourself to the hips and drive them[18] over yourself. If he moves to the sides[37], thrust into the helmet. That’s where he’s most wounded. As soon as you pin[21], ensure that you are placed fully in the mail[38]. When you pin[21] right and drive[18] right, thus can he not fully work[34] to counter. Ittem[13], if you are pinned[21], thusly thrust up over his right arm inwards under his sword and push your pommel through underneath towards the ground. As soon as it comes free, thusly shoot your sword forwards under his right, and with your right foot behind his left, and grip with your left hand on his helmet and throw him. Ittem[13], stab him in the glove on the frontmost[39] hand, and lead him around or stab him under his left arm up over his sword. Push with the pommel over yourself and pin[21] him. Ittem[13], from the

wrestling[33], remember which side he has pinned[21] you. Grip his blade with your left hand, drive it from you[18], immediately[35] twitch off[40] and pull in to you and catch him with the right hand, his right hand, and pull in to yourself and grab his body and lift over yourself. He will lift. Strike the foot[41] and out and throw him from yourself. Ittem[13], if he thrusts at you, thrust with him simultaneously in at your left side, and in the thrust catch his blade with yours and drive with the pommel under through both arms and strike over yourself so he must release. Ittem[13], pay attention to which hand you can catch him with and jerk back to yourself, and with the other hand grip his elbow, and Him[42] the weight, and with all steps until not too hasty, so that you have a full stance. Ittem[13], if you have thrown someone and he falls, fall down with him to your right and with your right knee between both his legs and with the left hand around his neck, if you have surely secured him, then drawyour dagger. If he grabs at the dagger, stab him in the hand and pull back with another, until you have better spotted your advantage. Ittem[13], another: take his right arm between the leg and lie down on top of him horizontally/diagonally[43] and hold your legs

almost together and stretch yourself. Grasp his left arm with with your left hand and hold it fast and work with the dagger[44] that will follow hereafter.

How One Should Use the Three Aforementioned Weapons

Note: in the first Approach go into the Oberhut and introduce yourself with whatever gestures you will as if you want to initiate[24] in his face. Don’t do it, rather strike or hew from above to below to his knee buckles. Whether you hit or not thus push nimbly with the hands over yourself and strike him with the pickaxe[45] to the head outside over his right arm, or strike him in the nearest joint[46] that you can. Pull nimbly around your head and let the right hand drive in front of the left hand and grasp then under your left in the blade and strike with a Mittelschlag from your right to his helmet, be it with the pickaxe[45] or a hew, or with the pommel[47]. If he grasps your grip, [do] again with your right hands and step back again so that you can recover again, and diligently watch out that he can’t give you a strike. Also, don’t let yourself be pinned[21], rather evade in a circle as much as you can bear.

[The following sections are still incomplete.]

The Other Device[48]

Note, approach him in the Oberhut. Take hold of your grip near the pommel and grip with the left hand in the blade by the cross and stab him powerfully[49] to his visor. Pull again to yourself and stab with strength from under to his genitals so that he can’t come near you. Pull your weapon back again and grip with the left hand in the first part of your blade. If he drives[18] on you, evade backwards, so that you make him step in and soon strike [you]. So don’t let him reach you, rather evade. If he has struck, pay attention that he may miss[50] you, so let the right hand off and come thereafter the left to help and and strike him in the helm or to the next gelüdt. However, if he has not struck then strike him to his knee or ankle. If he displaces it then drive up with your arms, strike him to the upper joint, and grip your both again. If you, however, can’t enter into[51] the strike, displace the upper between both your hands in the blade. Throw the pommel simultaneously[35] over your left shoulder and drive up[52] with the left hand and come with the right to help the left. Thus you come to strike before he recovers.

Note, when he approaches you in the Oberhut, if he stabs or strikes thus set off from your left hand, and in the setting-off grip his blade to yours and drive with the grip under through and step with the right behind his left and throw him.

Ittem[13] if he strikes under, sink your pommel under yourself against the ground and displace between both your hands. When he shows[53] again, drive up[52] with the pommel from under to the genitals, and simultaneously[35] wind the left hand over yourself against his incoming strike and set him off and drive up[52] with the hilt and stab him over his right arm to the face and pin[21] him.

Ittem go to the man in the Underhut and stab him from under to the face. If he simultaneously[35] strikes or stabs, set it off, and let go of the grip with your right hand and throw it behind you. Come with the right to help the left and strike from under up with the pickaxe[45] between his legs to the groin[54]. Pull as soon as you can with both hands over yourself around the head and strike to the upper openings.

Ittem approach him in the Underhut, pull and threaten the point. Simultaneously[35] let the grip run[55] and step around his left, grip with both hands in your blade and throw the pickaxe at him in the hip under his Burckenn[56] forged with strength in the chainmail[38].

Ittem[13] thrust at him out of the Underhut to his genitals. Pull again and let the grip run[55] out of the right hand and grip thereafter in the blade. If he strikes, thusly intercept[57] with the hilt from the right against his left. In the intercept[57] let your hilt run around the head and strike him to his frontmost knee bend. Take a nimble step behind yourself, thereafter you recover and grip your grip again.

From these devices[48] which have been written up to now, it is hopefully understood enough how one can bring the strikes to work, and is to be noted that one should guard as much as he can against pinning[21] and wrestling. He has then firstly extremely weakened him with Thunderbolts to the ankle, the knee bend, to the joints, on the arm bend and other openings. When he is midett and weakened with strikes then grapple[10] with pinning[21]. You will not initiate[24] him, rather, generally evade and delay him[58], unless however you see an advantage, which you must not allow to be fruitlessly wasted.

Ittem[13] step now to him with pinning[21] with initiating[24] out of the upper guard[59] and thrust with power in his visor, if he guards[60] above himself and wants to set off[30] then twitch off[40] to the side and thrust him under his left arm. Show that you stand firmly and don't overload[61] the weight. Note that as soon as your point haft on the mail[62], strike his hilt under your right shoulder, push him from you or pin him under the right armpit and strike the pommel under your left armpit and push from you and don't let him come away and draw the sabre with the right [hand] and work at his joints, or hew with lower [cuts].

Ittem[13] do as if you want to strike the visor with the pommel. As soon as you notice that he defends outwards between both his hands, thus twitch off[40] nimbly and [pin][63] him under the right armpit, and note if you grab one in this way with pinning under the right armpit and also with your sampff under your left armpit as learned before, thrust the face with such skill/a trick[64]. Thus he may not draw his sabre - that is also the advantage with the sabre.

  1. ↑ orig. ararmschirleinn
  2. ↑ orig. Armschiene - seemingly a part of the armour
  3. ↑ orig. geordinirtt
  4. ↑ orig. findt
  5. ↑ orig. spis
  6. ↑ orig. schwertt
  7. ↑ orig. dolchen
  8. ↑ orig. sebell
  9. ↑ orig. kempff degen; it can mean either “combat sword” or “combat dagger” (Source 1, Source 2). See here for a painting with kempffdegen in its caption
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 orig. Anngreiffen; "attacking" or "grappling"; cf. angreifen
  11. ↑ orig. zimlich
  12. ↑ alt. "endure"
  13. ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 13.12 13.13 13.14 13.15 13.16 13.17 13.18 13.19 13.20 Ittem has many potential meanings: "further", "likewise", "the same as", and also simply as a means of 'bullet-pointing' numerous items. I've found that "likewise" works as an apt translation most of the time, but for clarity I will leave it untranslated. See this article.
  14. ↑ orig. noch eines Idenn woll gefalen
  15. ↑ orig. Reren; unclear
  16. ↑ orig. lest
  17. ↑ orig. Schranckenn
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 18.7 18.8 18.9 orig. dringen/thringen; refers to pressing one's point into an opponent['s armour/mail], cf. modern sense of "pushing through a crowd". See this glossary for more information
  19. ↑ orig. donerschlag; a strike with the hilt of the longsword while holding the blade
  20. ↑ orig. vnnd las Inn vorver ¬thobenn; messy ink makes it difficult to transcribe; possible alt. "and read above beforehand"
  21. ↑ 21.00 21.01 21.02 21.03 21.04 21.05 21.06 21.07 21.08 21.09 21.10 21.11 21.12 21.13 21.14 21.15 21.16 21.17 21.18 21.19 21.20 21.21 21.22 21.23 orig. ansezen; most likely means "pinned", "planted" (in the sense of placing your weapon or hand against an opponent, in a grappling sense); alt. "attacking" (cf. modern ansetzen). See this glossary for more information
  22. ↑ orig. erlang
  23. ↑ see nachreissen
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 orig. stehenn; often coupled with ansezen in this section; alt. "stand against"
  25. ↑ orig. greifest
  26. ↑ orig. brich
  27. ↑ orig. anbrichen
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 orig. stos
  29. ↑ orig. goch
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 see absetzen
  31. ↑ orig. drissel; cf. thrissel
  32. ↑ orig. Achsell, refers to shoulder/armpit
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 see Ringen
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 see arbeiten
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 orig. inndes
  36. ↑ alt. "attacks"
  37. ↑ orig. last Er dür die seitten
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 orig. Ring; alt. lists
  39. ↑ orig. vergesezsten
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 see abzucken
  41. ↑ orig. fies
  42. ↑ unclear transcription; possibly nim, ergo "take the weight"
  43. ↑ orig. zwerchs
  44. ↑ orig. degen
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 orig. bickell; most likely referring to the artificial, "mason's hammer", pickaxe shape of the crossguard in armoured fencing
  46. ↑ orig. Gelenck
  47. ↑ orig. klos
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 orig. Stuck
  49. ↑ orig. knefftiglich, interpreted as krefftiglich
  50. ↑ orig. verfelen
  51. ↑ orig. entgehenn
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 orig. faren/auffaren; cf. fahren
  53. ↑ orig. aufzeichen; cf. aufzeigen
  54. ↑ orig. gerecht; possible mistranscription/misspelling of gemecht, lit. "groin" or "genitals"
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 orig. las dein bindt fahren; lit. "let the grip [of the sword] drive"; alt. "release the grip and drive"
  56. ↑ Possibly "hauberk"(?)
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 orig. ausnemen; alt. "take out [the blade with a parry]"; "deflect"(?)
  58. ↑ orig. verzoblen; cf. verzögern
  59. ↑ lit. oben hutt'; contrast Oberhutt
  60. ↑ orig. heutt;' possible verb form of hutt
  61. ↑ orig. überwegest
  62. ↑ orig. als baldt dein ortt hefft Ann Rüngen; requires checking
  63. ↑ orig. sez; no accompanying adposition but I assume he means ansezen
  64. ↑ listen
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