Digrassi's His True Art of Defense - Rapier and Buckler Part 3.

Foreword by Dwight

Protect yourself from 16th century fencers a-holes! Part 1 focused of the sword and buckler's stance and use against the gun. Part 2 of this section focused on handling the buckler. Now Part 3, focuses on the offense and defense of the Sword and Buckler. One particular area I enjoyed in this section was trapping the opponent's attack between the sword and buckler.

(Corresponding podcast)

Part 3: Sword and Buckler

Of the Hurt of the Broad Ward, at Sword and Buckler

If a man would step forward, and strike as the standeth in the broadward, it is not lawful for him to use any other than the thrust, considering the right and reversed blows may not be delivered without great peril and danger. For in the site or placing of this ward, the sword is far off from the body. And as he moveth to fetch a right or reversed edgeblow, his sword of force will be much farther: So that it may not be done without great danger. Therefore he shalt use the thrust only: in forcing and delivery whereof, he shall proceed first to carry his hinder foot a half pace forwards, and then to drive it on with the increase of another half pace of the right foot, staying himself in the broad ward.

The defense of the broad ward as Sword and Buckler

Against the thrust of the broad ward, the Buckler is to be opposed, standing at the low ward. And when the enemy commeth resolutely to thrust, then without warding it at all, he shall drive a thrust at the face, carrying the hinder foot in a compass towards the right side as well to lengthen the thrust, as also to carry himself out of the straight line, in the which the enemy commeth resolved to strike, who, by this manner of thrust is easily hurt.

The hurt of the low ward at Sword and Buckler

As this low ward is framed two manner of ways that is to say, with the right foot before and behind: So likewise a man may strike therein after two sorts, standing with the right foot behind (leaving aside, the blows of the edge, being to small purpose) he shall deliver a thrust with the increase of a pace of the right foot, between the enemy's sword and buckler, or else, if it be more commodious without the sword and buckler, settling in the low ward, with the right foot before, in which ward, a man may strike two manner of ways, within and without. Finding himself without having first met the enemy's sword with his own, he shall increase a left pace, not to the intent to avoid himself from the enemy's sword, but shall with his buckler also, stay the enemy's sword and for as much as he did not at the first deliver the said thrust, he shall then continue and force it on directly with the increase of a pace of the right foot. Finding himself within, the same thrust is to be used but more strongly.

For, with the increase of a pace, leaving his buckler or the enemy's sword, he shutteth it in between his own sword and the buckler: and keeping it in that straight, (whereby he is sure the enemy can deliver no edgeblow because it may not move neither upwards nor downwards, neither forwards, but is then without the body) he shall continue on, and resolutely deliver this manner of thrust, with the increase of a pace of the right foot.

The defense of the low ward at Sword and Buckler

For the defense of all these thrusts, it is necessary that he stand at the low ward and standing there at whilest the thrust commeth with is delivered with the right foot behind, he shall do no other, than in the self same time, deliver a thrust at the thigh or breast, turning the hilt of his sword against the enemy's sword and compassing his hinder foot, with all bearing his body out of the straight line, in which the enemy striketh. And this manner of warding doth not only defend, but also safely hurt.

For the defense of the other two thrusts, the one within, and the other without, a man must take great heed, and it is very necessary that as the enemy increase pretending to strike safely, he carry a slope pace with the left foot and deliver a thrust above hand, upon the which the enemy of himself shall run and invest himself. And it is to be considered, that in these thrusts, he that defendeth hath great advantage: For the enemy commeth resolutely to strike, not thinking that it may in any other sort be warded then by giving back, but he that wardeth by increasing, defending and drawing near unto the enemy, is so placed, that he may easily hurt him.