Dresden Gloss Fragment

Dresden Gloss Fragment
Author(s)	Unknown
Date	15th century
Genre	Fencing manual
Language	Early New High German
Principal Manuscript(s)	MS Dresd.C.487 (1504-19)
First Printed English Edition	Tobler, 2001
Translations	Alternate English translation Traduzione italiana Traducción castellano svensk översättning

The Dresden Gloss Fragment is an anonymous 15th century German commentary on a few lines of Johannes Liechtenauer's Recital (Zettel) on the long sword. The only known copy is in the manuscript Dresd.C.487, where it occupies three folia and is followed by six blank folia, perhaps indicating that it was left incomplete by the author or scribe. Its teachings are compatible with those of other 15th century glossators, but it includes a few ideas not seen anywhere else (such as the wrathful cut being intended for use against strikes straight down from above and the crooked cut being intended for use against all other strikes).

Treatise

Long Sword

Complete Translation by Christian Trosclair	Transcription  by Dierk Hagedorn
27 Whoever over-hews you  The Wrath-hew point threatens them. 28 If he becomes aware of it,  Take if off above without fear. Understand it like this: When one strikes at you from-the-roof, strike the wrath-hew with the long edge, as he is indicating to you, into his strike, upon his sword with the long edge of you sword and with this, from that moment on, wind your point into his face with command, that is with strength.	[57r] Wer dir aber hawet / Zornhaw° ort im drawet Wirt er es gewar nÿms oben ab an far Das Verstand Also Wann aine~ von dach vff dich schlöcht So schlach [57v] den zornhaw° mittder lange~ schnide~ alß er dir gewÿst ist In sinen schlag an sin Schwert mitt der lange~ schnid~ dines schwerts Vnd wind im din ort an von stund an mitt zu° sinem angesicht mitt vermugen daß ist mitt störck
And if he becomes aware of it (that is, of the point) and parries it with a free displacement, then take it off above as the taking off has become indicated to you. When someone parries you freely you shall take off or deliver the strike somehow else as closely as possible on his sword. As I have indicated this to you that it more likely to happen for you than the taking-off: However he parries you, and if he will also parry this strike, then from that moment make one more or a inverted winding with a thrust or strike upon that.	Vnnd wirt er dann des gewar / daß ist des orts / vñ verseczt in mitt frÿer versäczung So nÿm es oben ab alß dir dz abnem~en gewÿst is ist worden wenn dir aine~ frÿ verseczt wie du ab solt ne nÿemen Oder holl den schlag sunst vff dz nechst an sine~ schwert alß ich dir daß gewÿsst hab / daz daß gat dir ee zu° dann daß abnem~en Wie er dir verseczt vñ ob der selbig schlag och verseczt würde [58r] so mach ainen selber von stund an dar vff / ode~ ain ewichs winden mitt aine~ stoß oder schlag
Also know, if someone strikes at you, that you can just drive the wrath-point wholly alone therein and you have also parried (when you drive it correctly as you are taught it) and is hellish to parry. When you wish to harm someone, then drive in upon them. He makes whatever he will. He strikes or thrust upon you, then he must parry it so you come to the previously depicted plays.	Auch wiß öb ainer vff dich schlecht daß du den zornot allain och wol darin magst trÿben / Vnnd du bist och verseczt wenn du den recht trÿbst alß du des vnderricht bist Vnnd ist böß zu° verseczen Wann du aine~ v~bel zu° wöllst So tr trÿb in vff aine~ er mach waß er wöl er schlach ode~ stech vff dich So mu°ß er den versecze~ So kumpstu zu° den vorgemelten stucken ~
Item. When you fence with someone, whatever they strike at you that does not come right straight from high down onto you, parry that with the crook. When the recital says: Whoever parries crooked well, disrupts many hews with stepping. This is if someone strikes at you, then drive crooked thereon and then hew so that you come before any work and wind your point or strike into him so he must parry you, so that you again come to more strokes that you then may execute the failer or thrust or inverted wind or otherwise stroke or fall-across when someone parries you too low or too wide forwards with the parrying.	Item wann du mitt aine~ fichtest waß aine~ zu° dir schlöcht daß nitt recht gerichts von oben ab vff [58v] dich kompt daß versecz mitt der krinn Wann die Zedel spricht Wer kru~mp wol verseczt mitt sti strÿtten vil hew° verseczt leczt Das ist so ainer zu° dir schlecht So far im krump daruff vnd so hau~st du daß ee komen / aller arbaÿt arbaÿt / vnnd wind im dine~ ort zu° oder aine~ schlag So muß er dir verseczen So kümpst du aber zu° mer straichen die du denn vff in magst trÿben Veller / oder stoß oder / ewich winde~ oder sunst streÿch / oder überfallen Wann dir aine~ zu° nider verseczet oder zu° wit fört mitt der versaczung ~ ~  ~~
Item. You shall also drive handsome offsettings of hews or thrusts as you are taught it such that you do not drive after it too coarsely and that your point always stands towards his face in a thrust and if it is that he strikes to the other side from your offsetting, then do not drive-after him. And wind as if you will likewise offset on the other side and remain and thrust so that you are parried and so he must rid your thrust so that you again come to your work.	Item och solt du hüpschlichen absecze~ [59r] trÿben vff hew° oder stich alß du deß vnder richt bist Dz du nitt zu° grob dar nach farst Vnnd dz dein ort allmal gege~ sine~ angesicht stee zu° aine~ stoß Vñ ist daß er von dine~ absecze~ schlecht vff die anderen sÿtten So far im nitt nach vñ wind sam v du vff die andern sÿtten wöllest och abseczen Vnnd blÿb vnnd stos stoß so bist du verseczt vnnd so mu°ß er dine~ stoß retten So kumpst du aber zu° dine~ arbaÿt
Item. Note if someone knows something of the recital and parries your play crooked, if he also then winds-in the thrust, have respect for that and passionlessly offset his thrust or strike and press-in your thrust or strike along-with in the same way you always work that he must parry you as surely as you him. And when you practice this yourself so that you are perfect with it when you parry someone, then you may confound and break whatever he has taken upon you because he must break off before that and parry you.	Item morck öb aine~ och etwas der zedel kan vñ dir dine stuck krump verseczt So windt [59v] er din den stoß och zu° So hab achtu~g daruff vnd secz im sinen stich ode~ schlag seüberlich ab vñ darin scheub im dine~ stoß mitt zu° ode~ aine~ schlag Also daß du allweg arbaitst daß er dir alß schier mu°ß verseczen alß du im Vnd weñ du dich deß übst daß du deß fertig bist weñ du aine~ verseczst / daß du nichtst arbaitst es eÿnen stoß ode~ schlag So magstu den Irre vñ pricht im daß er fürsich vff dich genom~en hat wann er mu°ß ÿe daz din vor brechen vñ verseczen etc~

Copyright and License Summary

For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.

Work	Author(s)	Source	License
Translation	Christian Trosclair	Wiktenauer
Dresden Transcription	Dierk Hagedorn	Index:Johan Liechtnawers Fechtbuch geschriebenn (MS Dresd.C.487)

Additional Resources

• Cheney, Stephen (2020). Ringeck · Danzig · Lew Longsword. Self-published. ISBN 979-8649845441.
• Tobler, Christian Henry (2001). Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship. Union City, CA: Chivalry Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-891448-07-2.
• Wierschin, Martin (1965). Meister Johann Liechtenauers Kunst des Fechtens. München: Beck.