[Foreword by Dwight]
Clothes and garments have always been an important part of strategy when fighting or defending yourself from an opponent. This chapter emphasizes a common garment from the 16th century, the cloak. The cloak can hinder or help a swordsman, just as jacket can help or hinder a martial artist in this day and age. This chapter reminded me the various Jackie Chan movies over the years, where he would use his own clothes to protect himself from a knife, or take advantage of a bad guy by choking him with his adversary's necktie.
Rapier & Cloak
That I may continue in the weapons which are most usual and most commonly worn. After the dagger, I come to the cloak: the use whereof was first found out by chance and after reduced into art. Neither was this for any other cause, then for that nature doth not only delight to invent things, but also to preserve then being invented. And that she may the better do it, she taketh for her help all those things that are commodious for her. Wherefore, as men in diverse accidents have casually proved, that the cloak helpeth greatly (for as much as they are to wear it daily) they have devised how they may behave themselves in all that, in which the cloak may serve their turn. Which accidents, because they are infinite, and do not generally serve for our purpose, I will restrain myself and speak of those only which pertain to this Art, the which are such and so effectual, that they may greatly help to the obtaining of safe victory, if they happen to be placed in such a man as knoweth how to use and handle them. And for that in true art it doth little prevail, the use thereof bring in a manner altogether deceitful, I was resolved to put over all this to the treatise of deceit, as unto his proper place. Notwithstanding, to end it may not seem strange to any man, to read nothing of the cloak in all the handling of true Art, I am minded to lay down a certain few blows in the accustomed wards, referring the more abundant handling thereof unto the treatise of deceit.
MANNER HOW TO HANDLE THE CLOAK
As the cloak in this art, hath in it three things to be considered, to wit at length, largeness and flexibility: so it is to be weighted how far each of these will state to serve the turn. Of which threw, one doth properly belong unto it, and that is flexibility, which may neither be increased nor diminished: The other two, may receive alteration. But yet it is at any hand to be provided, that these two also be not diminished. For the cloak is no strong thing, which of it self may withstand the blows of the weapon, being directly opposed against them. And therefore he shall prove himself but a fool, who trusting to the cloth wrapped about his arms doth encounter any right edgeblows therewith for seeing the cloak is not flexible in that part (which is flexibility is his only strength) little, prevaileth either length or largeness, wrapped about a solid substance. But being opposite in that part thereof, where it hath length, largeness and flexibility (which is from the arm downwards) it is available: for all three being joined together will ward any edgeblow: which manner of warding should not be so sure, if the cloak had only length and flexibility: for having behind it little ayre which is the thing that doeth strength it, it may easily be beaten too, and cut, by any great blow. Therefore, if a man have so much leisure, he ought to wrap his cloak once or twice about his arm, taking it by the cape or collar, and folding his arm therein up to the elbow, and there with all to ward all edgeblows from the flank thereof downwards, as well on the right side, as on the left side, always remembering to carry his foot differing from his arm, for the avoiding of danger that may rise by bearing his log on the self same side, near his cloak knowing the cloak wardeth not when there is any hard substance behind it.
Thrusts also themselves, may be given without, if with the cloak, or with the hand in the cloak, the enemy's sword be beaten off, one handful within the point thereof. For the edge having but small power in that case, is not able in so little time, to cut the hand. The blows also as well of the point, as of the edge, from the flank upwards, ought to be warded with the sword: for the lift the arm so high being burdened with the weight of the cloak, which naturally draweth downwards, as it is a violent thing it is also peril out, least the arm be placed instead of the cloak and so rest wounded, or left the arm or cloak be placed before the eyes, which by that means remain blinded.
AN ADVERTISEMENT CONCERNING THE WARDING AND WRAPPING OF THE CLOAK
There are two ways (in these days) to wrap the cloak, the one is, when one having leisure taketh the cloak by the cape or collar, and so foldeth it once or twice about his arm: the other is, as often times it falleth out, when letting the cloak fall down from the shoulder, it is happily taken by one side and so is turned once or twice about the arm.
Now as concerning striking, a man ought in the handling of these weapons as he would strike, first to increase and carry the one foot near to the other, and then farther to increase a half, not a whole pace as in other weapons: for at there weapons, it is dangerously least (making a whole pace) he entangle his foot or feet in the cloak and fall down therewith. And this must be taken head of, in the first and must be taken head of, in the first and second folding, but principally in the second, because in it the cloak is longer and therefore doth more easily touch the earth and entangle his feet: In the first fold, although the cloak touch not the earth, because the arm doth orderly bare it, yet by reason of weariness, the arm falleth and causeth the fore said effect.
THE BEST OF THE HIGHWARD AS RAPIER AND CLOAK
In these manner of weapons, as in others, I will frame three wards: the first by the fore said reasons, shall be the high ward, which in the kind of weapons more then in any other deserve the name of a ward. For the Rapier (something bending) wardeth as far as the cloak hand, and the cloak hand down to the middle leg: so that in this ward a man is warded from the top of the head down to the feet.
Therefore standing at this ward, whether it be with the right foot before or behind, he may deliver a thrust with the increase of a half pace forwards, staying himself in the low ward.
The right edgeblow ought to be delivered from the wrist without any motion of the feet, resting in the low ward: but in delivering of the reverse, it is necessarily to fetch a whole pace, and in the manner straight. If the enemy ward it with his sword, then the encounter of the enemy's sword, must be stayed suddenly with the cloak hand in the first part thereof, and a thrust be delivered underneath, with the increase of a straight pace.
THE DEFENSE OF THE THRUST, RIGHT AND REVERSED BLOWS OF THE HIGH WARD OF RAPIER AND CLOAK
For the better avoiding of the hurts which proceed from the high ward: it is necessary to stand at the low ward, in the which the thrust is to be warded. Manner of ways, to wit: either with the single sword within and without, either with the single cloak within and without. If with the single sword within, it is requisite to fetch a compass with the foot back wards on the right side. In like case to turn the body the same way, to the instant, to carry it out of the straight line (in which the blow commeth)
and to drive a reversed thrust at the face, the which thrust in such order delivered is the longest that is, and such a one, as thereby the hurt is not only voided, but also at the self same time, the enemy is
stroken in the face, if it chance, that the sword be encountered without than it is not only profitable but also necessary, to stop forwards and with the cloak to encounter the enemy's sword in the first part there of. And recovering his own sword, to discharge a thrust underneath with the increase of the right foot. And although it be laid down for a rule, not to use a whole pace in handling of the cloak, this ought to be understood in striking in the which (whilest one endureth to strike with his sword)
it may be forgetting the cloak, his arm may fall, by means whereof he may stumble against it: But in warding, it doth not so happen. For nature being careful to defend herself (at every little danger) lifteth up both her arms, yea, although the be oppressed with weight and burden.
Wherefore it is not to be feared, that in warding this thrust, the hand will be drawn down by the weight of the cloak.
The same wards and defenses may be used with the single cloak, in the which, one must likewise strike, with the increase of the right foot. This manner of warding i s not very sure, and therefore it requireth great activity and deep judgement, considering he ought to bare his cloak and arm stretched out before him and to mark when the enemy's sword's point shall pass within a cloak hand on handful or a little more: and not to suffer it to pass further, but to beat it off, and increasing to discharge a thrust underneath, with the increase of a pace with the right foot. But as I have said, this manner of warding hath little certainty and great peril in it and yet if striketh well, if it be done
in short time.
The right edgeblow may in the like manner be warded with the single sword or cloak: but when it commeth aloft, it shall not be commodious to encounter it with a single cloak, for by that means the eyes blind themselves. How much this importeth, let others judge. But, when the said right blow we commeth in a manner low, so that it may well be warded, keeping the enemy in the fight, then the cloak is to be opposed, with the increase of the left pace, and presently there upon a thrust to be discharged, with the increase of a right pace.
When one opposeth the single sword against the right blow, he must drive a thrust at the face and fetch a compass with his hinder foot, cutting the face with the said thrust and stay himself in the broadward. The self same must be done when he defendeth himself with both together, to wit, with the sword and cloak.
Against the reversed blow, the self same manner is used in warding to wit, either with the one, or with the other, either with both joined together.
With the cloak, by the increase of a pace, and by encountering the enemy's sword as far forwards as is possible, that thereby it may be done the more commodiously, delivering a thrust there with all underneath with the increase of a pace of the right foot.
With the single rapier, the same defense may suffice, which is laid down in the treatise of the single rapier, and that is, to discharge a thrust at the enemy thigh, the which with standeth the fall of the
reversed blow.
Now, if one would defend himself with both there weapons joined together, he must increase a pace with the right foot and staying the enemy's sword with his cloak, recover his own sword nimbly and then deliver a thrust with the increase of the a pace of the right foot.
