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|-  
 
|-  
 
| <p>[3] {{red|b=1|Now here begins the forward and lessons of the recital, thereafter the six courses.}}</p>
 
| <p>[3] {{red|b=1|Now here begins the forward and lessons of the recital, thereafter the six courses.}}</p>
{|class="zettel"
+
<p>{{red|Whoever wishes to acquire honor}}<br/>
|-
+
&emsp;{{red|Before princes and before lords}}<br/>
| <poem><small>[1]</small>
+
{{red|In fencing with the}} sword<br/>
 
+
&emsp;That is good and proper. <br/>
 
+
That follow my lessons, <br/>
 
+
&emsp;They triumph continually. <br/>
<small>[5]</small>
+
Hold the six courses in guard<br/>
 
+
&emsp;They are quite praiseworthily good<br/>
 
+
In them is encapsulated well<br/>
 
+
&emsp;Many good masters' wisdom<br/>
 
+
From Hungary, Bohemia, Italy, <br/>
<small>[10]</small>
+
&emsp;From France, England, and Alemannia, <br/>
 
+
From Russia, Prussia, Greece, <br/>
 
+
&emsp;Holland, Provence, and Swabia. <br/>
 
+
In them, you shall tread left<br/>
 
+
&emsp;Thereby remember the deception<br/>
<small>[15]</small>
+
In thrusting, lash strongly<br/>
 
+
&emsp;So you may well succeed<br/>
 
+
If you see the window standing open, <br/>
 
+
&emsp;Enter them from there<br/>
 
+
Strike or thrust swiftly<br/>
<small>[20]</small>
+
&emsp;So you may fail hard<ref>alt: the hard</ref><br/>
 
+
In the work, tread around. <br/>
 
+
&emsp;That makes-good<ref>mitmachen. alt: completes</ref> the first-pass<ref>ehegefährt note: this is attacking in the vor.</ref><br/>
 
+
If you now wish to undertake this, <br/>
 
+
&emsp;You must have a strong spirit<br/>
<small>[25]</small>
+
Proper understanding is also good<br/>
 
+
&emsp;Guard yourself from great wrath<br/>
 
+
To such, bring the parrying to them. <br/>
 
+
&emsp;Through that, you may well succeed. <br/>
 
+
In all your fencing, be swift. <br/>
<small>[30]</small></poem>
+
&emsp;This forward has an end.</p>
| <poem>{{red|Whoever wishes to acquire honor}}
 
:{{red|Before princes and before lords}}
 
{{red|In fencing with the}} sword
 
:That is good and proper.
 
That follow my lessons,
 
:They triumph continually.
 
Hold the six courses in guard
 
:They are quite praiseworthily good
 
In them is encapsulated well
 
:Many good masters' wisdom
 
From Hungary, Bohemia, Italy,
 
:From France, England, and Alemannia,
 
From Russia, Prussia, Greece,
 
:Holland, Provence, and Swabia.
 
In them, you shall tread left
 
:Thereby remember the deception
 
In thrusting, lash strongly
 
:So you may well succeed
 
If you see the window standing open,
 
:Enter them from there
 
Strike or thrust swiftly
 
:So you may fail hard<ref>alt: the hard</ref>
 
In the work, tread around.
 
:That makes-good<ref>mitmachen. alt: completes</ref> the first-pass<ref>ehegefährt note: this is attacking in the vor.</ref>
 
If you now wish to undertake this,
 
:You must have a strong spirit
 
Proper understanding is also good
 
:Guard yourself from great wrath
 
To such, bring the parrying to them.
 
:Through that, you may well succeed.
 
In all of your fencing, be swift.
 
:This forward has an end.</poem>
 
|}
 
 
|  
 
|  
 
{{section|Page:MS M.I.29 001r.jpg|3|lbl=-|p=1}} {{section|Page:MS M.I.29 001v.jpg|1|lbl=1v|p=1}}
 
{{section|Page:MS M.I.29 001r.jpg|3|lbl=-|p=1}} {{section|Page:MS M.I.29 001v.jpg|1|lbl=1v|p=1}}
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|-  
 
|-  
 
| <p>[4] {{red|b=1|The First Course Has Five Plays}}</p>
 
| <p>[4] {{red|b=1|The First Course Has Five Plays}}</p>
{|class="zettel"
+
<p>{{red|Flick}} the weak to the right<br/>
|-
+
&emsp;Wind through in the fencing<br/>
| <poem>&nbsp;
+
With that, make the Flicker<br/>
 
+
&emsp;To both sides twice. <br/>
<small>[35]</small>
+
Besiege<ref>alt: overwhelm; turn(away, aside), entwine, entangle, wrap</ref> his shield strongly<br/>
 
+
&emsp;Strike the bowed thrust<ref>alt: jab</ref> violently. <br/>
 
+
In all work, tread around<br/>
 
+
&emsp;With the right bowed thrust.</p>
 
 
<small>[40]</small></poem>
 
| <poem>{{red|Flick}} the weak to the right
 
:Wind through in the fencing
 
With that, make the Flicker
 
:To both sides twice.
 
Besiege<ref>alt: overwhelm; turn(away, aside), entwine, entangle, wrap</ref> his shield strongly
 
:Strike the bowed thrust<ref>alt: jab</ref> violently.
 
In all work, tread around
 
:With the right bowed thrust.</poem>
 
|}
 
 
| {{section|Page:MS M.I.29 001v.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS M.I.29 001v.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS E.1939.65.341 024v.jpg|4|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS E.1939.65.341 024v.jpg|4|lbl=-}}
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|-  
 
|-  
 
| <p>[5] {{red|b=1|The Second Course Has Six Plays}}</p>
 
| <p>[5] {{red|b=1|The Second Course Has Six Plays}}</p>
{|class="zettel"
+
<p>{{red|Crook}} in the strong<br/>
|-
+
&emsp;wind through with note<br/>
| <poem>&nbsp;
+
Wind running over<br/>
 
+
&emsp;Ready the point and pommel<br/>
 
+
Stab him into his face<br/>
 
+
&emsp;With that, fence the work of the cross<br/>
<small>[45]</small>
+
The deceptive pommel, that, you should think of<br/>
 
+
&emsp;Upon your<ref>G & R: the</ref> head, if you would like to harm him<br/>
 
+
In all work, tread around<ref>alt: make the first-pass too</ref><br/>
 
+
&emsp;This makes-good the first-pass.<ref>alt: make the first-pass too</ref></p>
 
 
<small>[50]</small></poem>
 
| <poem>{{red|Crook}} in the strong
 
:wind through with note
 
Wind running over
 
:Ready the point and pommel
 
Stab him into his face
 
:With that, fence the work of the cross
 
The deceptive pommel, that, you should think of
 
:Upon your<ref>G & R: the</ref> head, if you would like to harm him
 
In all work, tread around<ref>alt: make the first-pass too</ref>
 
:This makes-good the first-pass.<ref>alt: make the first-pass too</ref></poem>
 
|}
 
 
| {{section|Page:MS M.I.29 001v.jpg|3|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS M.I.29 001v.jpg|3|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS E.1939.65.341 024v.jpg|5|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS E.1939.65.341 024v.jpg|5|lbl=-}}
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|-  
 
|-  
 
| <p>[6] {{red|b=1|The Third Course Has Seven Plays}}</p>
 
| <p>[6] {{red|b=1|The Third Course Has Seven Plays}}</p>
{|class="zettel"
+
<p>{{red|Squint whatever}} comes {{red|from-the-day}}<br/>
|-
+
&emsp;Thwart-through, do not go crooked<br/>
| <poem>&nbsp;
+
Therein examine his struggle<br/>
 
+
&emsp;The half-squinter<ref>G & R: half-parter</ref> makes-good<ref>alt: make the half-squinter too</ref><br/>
 
+
Take off quite swiftly<br/>
 
+
&emsp;Threaten<ref>S: you</ref> the hew against him<br/>
<small>[55]</small>
+
Force out his shield strongly<ref>alt: Force-out the shield in the strong</ref><br/>
 
+
&emsp;Defeat him with running-over<br/>
 
+
In the strong of his edge<br/>
 
+
&emsp;In all work, tread around<br/>
 
+
This makes-good the first-pass.<ref>alt: make the first-pass too</ref></p>
<small>[60]</small></poem>
 
| <poem>{{red|Squint whatever}} comes {{red|from-the-day}}
 
:Thwart-through, do not go crooked
 
Therein examine his struggle
 
:The half-squinter<ref>G & R: half-parter</ref> makes-good<ref>alt: make the half-squinter too</ref>
 
Take off quite swiftly
 
:Threaten<ref>S: you</ref> the hew against him
 
Force out his shield strongly<ref>alt: Force-out the shield in the strong</ref>
 
:Defeat him with running-over
 
In the strong of his edge
 
:In all work, tread around
 
This makes-good the first-pass.<ref>alt: make the first-pass too</ref></poem>
 
|}
 
 
| {{section|Page:MS M.I.29 002r.jpg|1|lbl=2r}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS M.I.29 002r.jpg|1|lbl=2r}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS E.1939.65.341 025r.jpg|1|lbl=25r}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS E.1939.65.341 025r.jpg|1|lbl=25r}}
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|-  
 
|-  
 
| <p>[7] {{red|b=1|The Fourth Course Has Five Plays}}</p>
 
| <p>[7] {{red|b=1|The Fourth Course Has Five Plays}}</p>
{|class="zettel"
+
<p> Thrust through {{red|the Ox}}<br/>
|-
+
&emsp;With two great steps<br/>
| <poem>&nbsp;
+
Wind and counter wind<br/>
 
+
&emsp;Violently<ref>R: Then make...</ref> make the scalper-hew<br/>
 
+
Wind, then strike the hitter immediately<br/>
<small>[65]</small></poem>
+
&emsp;In the belly and upon the neck<br/>
| <poem>Thrust through {{red|the Ox}}
+
In all work, tread around<br/>
:With two great steps
+
&emsp;This makes-good the first-pass.<ref>alt: make the first-pass too</ref></p>
Wind and counter wind
 
:Violently<ref>R: Then make...</ref> make the scalper-hew
 
Wind, then strike the hitter immediately
 
:In the belly and upon the neck
 
In all work, tread around
 
:This makes-good the first-pass.<ref>alt: make the first-pass too</ref></poem>
 
|}
 
 
| {{section|Page:MS M.I.29 002r.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS M.I.29 002r.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS E.1939.65.341 025r.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS E.1939.65.341 025r.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
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|-  
 
|-  
 
| <p>[8] {{red|b=1|The Fifth Course Has Five Plays}}</p>
 
| <p>[8] {{red|b=1|The Fifth Course Has Five Plays}}</p>
{|class="zettel"
+
<p>Thrust<ref>G & R: Strike</ref> {{red|through}} the long point<br/>
|-
+
&emsp;Disengage, counter thrust, then kill<br/>
| <poem><small>[70]</small>
+
Allow the blind-hews to bounce<br/>
 
+
&emsp;So you may roll<ref>G & R: fail or fall</ref> against well. <br/>
 
+
Hang against<ref>G: down</ref>, immediately<ref> alt: as soon as. (just in time)</ref><br/>
 
+
&emsp;Tread behind, rebound<br/>
 
+
Upon the head, into the belly<br/>
<small>[75]</small></poem>
+
&emsp;So you make a right fool out of him<br/>
| <poem>Thrust<ref>G & R: Strike</ref> {{red|through}} the long point
+
In all work, step around<br/>
:Disengage, counter thrust, then kill
+
&emsp;This makes-good the first-pass.<ref>alt: make the first-pass too</ref></p>
Allow the blind-hews to bounce
 
:So you may roll<ref>G & R: fail or fall</ref> against well.
 
Hang against<ref>G: down</ref>, immediately<ref> alt: as soon as. (just in time)</ref>
 
:Tread behind, rebound
 
Upon the head, into the belly
 
:So you make a right fool out of him
 
In all work, step around
 
:This makes-good the first-pass.<ref>alt: make the first-pass too</ref></poem>
 
|}
 
 
|  
 
|  
 
{{section|Page:MS M.I.29 002r.jpg|3|lbl=-|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:MS M.I.29 002v.jpg|1|lbl=2v|p=1}}
 
{{section|Page:MS M.I.29 002r.jpg|3|lbl=-|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:MS M.I.29 002v.jpg|1|lbl=2v|p=1}}
Line 289: Line 203:
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
| <p>[9] {{red|b=1|The Sixth Course has Four Plays}}</p>
 
| <p>[9] {{red|b=1|The Sixth Course has Four Plays}}</p>
{|class="zettel"
+
<p>{{red|From-the-Day}} Drive-through long <br/>
|-
+
&emsp;Protect yourself with entwining<ref>alt: twisting</ref>.<br/>
| <poem><small>[80]</small>
+
Thwart-through him immediately<br/>
 
+
&emsp;Rebound the blind-hew<br/>
 
+
Hew the<ref>G: your</ref> point into his chest<br/>
 
+
&emsp;According to all of your desire. <br/>
 
+
In all work, step around<br/>
<small>[85]</small></poem>
+
&emsp;This makes-good the first-pass.</p>
| <poem>{{red|From-the-Day}} Drive-through long  
 
:Protect yourself with entwining<ref>alt: twisting</ref>.
 
Thwart-through him immediately
 
:Rebound the blind-hew
 
Hew the<ref>G: your</ref> point into his chest
 
:According to all of your desire.
 
In all work, step around
 
:This makes-good the first-pass.</poem>
 
|}
 
 
| {{section|Page:MS M.I.29 002v.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS M.I.29 002v.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS E.1939.65.341 025r.jpg|4|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS E.1939.65.341 025r.jpg|4|lbl=-}}
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|-  
 
|-  
 
| <p>[10] {{red|b=1|Here the new recital has an end.}}</p>
 
| <p>[10] {{red|b=1|Here the new recital has an end.}}</p>
 
+
<p>Martin Sibers recital with six courses, as exactly as he set-down, from many masters applications. Whoever can understand it well is well to be praised as a good master of the long sword before other masters.</p>
''Martin Sibers recital with six courses, as exactly as he set-down, from many masters applications. Whoever can understand it well is well to be praised as a good master of the long sword before other masters.''
 
 
| {{section|Page:MS M.I.29 002v.jpg|3|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS M.I.29 002v.jpg|3|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS E.1939.65.341 025r.jpg|5|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS E.1939.65.341 025r.jpg|5|lbl=-}}

Revision as of 01:04, 10 September 2019

Martin Syber
Born 15th century (?)
Died 15th century (?)
Occupation Fencing master
Influences Johannes Liechtenauer (?)
Genres Fencing manual
Language Early New High German
Notable work(s) New Zettel
Manuscript(s)
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" is likely a reference to that of Liechtenauer; however, Syber does not appear on the roll of the Fellowship 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 describing six Gänge, set sequences of strikes and parries. 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 had access to Syber's verse (which is included in 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.

Treatise

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

  1. The Fellowship of Liechtenauer is recorded in three versions of Paulus Kal's treatise: MS 1825 (1460s), Cgm 1570 (ca. 1470), and MS KK5126 (1480s).
  2. Meÿer, Joachim. Fechtbuch zu Ross und zu Fuss [manuscript]. MS Varia 82. Rostock, Germany: Universitätsbibliothek Rostock, 1570.
  3. 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.
  4. Talhoffer, Hans. Untitled [manuscript]. MS Thott 290.2º. Copenhagen, Denmark: Det Kongelige Bibliotek, 1459.
  5. alt: departure
  6. The Salzburg differs: Item. The hereafter written new recital Master Martin Syber had prepared and set-down and is a selection of many masterful applications and is partitioned and set down in six courses
  7. G & R omit
  8. G: previous
  9. R: previously illustrated
  10. zugehen is a synonym for zufechten here
  11. S: omitted
  12. alt: the hard
  13. mitmachen. alt: completes
  14. ehegefährt note: this is attacking in the vor.
  15. alt: overwhelm; turn(away, aside), entwine, entangle, wrap
  16. alt: jab
  17. G & R: the
  18. alt: make the first-pass too
  19. alt: make the first-pass too
  20. G & R: half-parter
  21. alt: make the half-squinter too
  22. S: you
  23. alt: Force-out the shield in the strong
  24. alt: make the first-pass too
  25. R: Then make...
  26. alt: make the first-pass too
  27. G & R: Strike
  28. G & R: fail or fall
  29. G: down
  30. alt: as soon as. (just in time)
  31. alt: make the first-pass too
  32. alt: twisting
  33. G: your