Martial Arts Musings Resource: Digrassi's His True Art of Defense - Rapier and Cloak pt2

[Foreword by Dwight]

This is continuation on the subject of Rapier and Cloak. The cloak is a deceitful weapon and strategy for anyone who fights. This section laments on the danger that the cloak presents in a fight and that if you attack, it is hard to defend. Since you do not know where the sword is hiding. The main point I picked up, was that if deception is used, you should figure out a way to draw out the weapon, thus your opponent will lose their advantage. 16th Century fencers are deceitful a-holes, so use these strategies to help thwart them! (Corresponding podcast)

 

 Rapier and Cloak Part 2

The best of the broad ward, at Rapier and Cloak

     In this ward, as well as in others, a man may both thrust and strike, yet diversely: For he may not discharge a right edgeblow beneath. And the reverse is manifestly dangerous: So that, when he is to deliver it, he ought to perform it in this order.
     First, he shall drive a thrust, fetching a compass with his hinder foot, that by that means it may reach the farther, then suddenly (without moving of himself) he shall discharge a right edgeblow, from the wrist, after the which presently, the reverse must follow, with increase of a pace of the right foot: and further, must follow on with the thrust already prepared and increase the like pace.

The Defense of the Broad Ward, at Rapier and Cloak

     To him that will safely ward himself from the hurt of the broad ward, it is requisite, that he stand at the low ward. And when the thrust underneath hand commeth, he shall thrust at the face, fetching a compass with his hinder foot towards the right side, with which kind of thrust, it doth lightly happen that the enemy is hit in the face: But if it fail, yet for all that, the enemy obtaineth not his purpose, in the discharge of the thrust of the broad ward: for by delivering the thrust underneath, and compassing of the hinder foot, the body is carried out of the straight line: so that , as soon as the thrust is delivered at the face, and the enemy not stroken therewith, but passeth beyond his head, the reverse is to be turned at the face, and the foot to be plucked back, settling in the broad ward.
     To ward the right and reversed blows, there is a thrust to be given at the thighs or some other place that may most hinder them, in the very same time that such blows are in their circle or compass. Although I do not believe that there is any man so foolish, that (in this ward) will deliver a reverse only.

Of the best of the low ward, at Rapier and Cloak

     This ward is so straight and perilous, that no man ought to allure himself to deliver an edgeblow any manner of way. For under any of them he may be easily stroken, and each of them may easily be warded with the cloak. Therefore, he must diligently take heed, that he thrust only, the which must never be discharges before the enemy's words be found, and then as far forwards as possible. So then finding it, he may thrust both within and without.
     Neither is there in this thrust any other advantage to be gotten, then to steal a half pace unawares of the enemy, which may be done very commodiously, considering the cloak occupieth the enemy's sight. And having drawn this half pace, and found the enemy's sword he must increase another half pace forwards, and strike him, costing and forcing the enemy's sword on that side where it may do no hurt. And this may be used both within and without: But he who it pleaseth, and who doubteth not be entangled in the cloak may (finding himself within) carry his left foot making a pace there with, and between his cloak and his sword, close the enemy's sword and deliver a thrust with the increase of a pace of the right foot: And finding the enemy's sword without, he may use the self same increase and thrust. But if he find not the enemy's sword, he may deliver a little edgeblow from the wrist of the hand, in such sort that the enemy have no leisure to enter in: And having found the sword, to discharge a right or straight thrust, or else not voiding the enemy's sword by the increase of a left pace, to drive a thrust from aloft downwards, lifting up the first somewhat high, and delivering it with the increase of a pace of the right foot.

Of the Defense of the Low Ward, at Rapier and Cloak

     To the end a man may ward himself from all thrusts reckoned in the hurts of the ward, he neither ought, neither happily may do any other thing then void his body from the straight line, where in the enemy purposeth to strike, making a left pace forwards, somewhat thwarting or crossing and striking the enemy safely.
     The which doth not to chance, when one defendeth himself either with the single cloak or single rapier: For whilest he a stayeth to defend himself, he cannot strike. And if the enemy do first move, and strike straight, in the which, his sword is not carried much outwards (and it is hardly done) I say, the enemy may by stealing of half paces, discharge a thrust perforce. And therefore he must take heed, that  (as the enemy moveth) he increase a slope pace (by that means voiding the hurt) then a thwart or crossing pace next, with the increase of a straight pace of the right foot, to strike the enemy with a thrust underneath.
     This may suffice, for the handling of these weapons as much as appertaineth to sure play. All that which remains is reversed to the treatise of deceit in which shall be seen many handling of the cloak no less profitable then pleasant.

[Closing by Dwight]

Thanks for reading! Share your thoughts. The next section of Digrassi's His True Art of Defense will focus on the Rapier and Buckler.