Carey, Add.MS.5540 (‘Notes on Fencing’ c.1680-1696)

The names of yo^r Pushes as they are to be learned gradually

1.     The first thing to be learned is to longe in Cart

2.     The second is to long in Tearse

3.     Is to longe in Secoone

4.     To Gazee

5.     To Gazee & single falsify with the foot & spring back

6.     To Gazee & single falsify with the foot

7.     To double falsify with the foot

8.     To double falsify without the foot

9.     To give ground Parry & Reverse

10.   Battevile a Push of two parts

11.   Faintehore single & double

12.   Traverse & Cart

13.   Flankanado

14.   Vouclosaunt

15.   Seizures or disarming

A Rule for Pushing

Yo^r Posture is with yo^r left Elbow mounted a good distance between yo^r left knee bent and yo^r right straight a small bend in yo^r sword arm yo^r right heel opposite to yo^r left instop yo^r point as high as yo^r Adversarys Brest when you longing yo^r Right foot to the place of yo^r left when yo^r Adversary pushes in Cart Reverse him in Cart & when yo^r Adversary pushes in Teers if low reverse him in Teerse if he pushes high in Teerse reverse him in Secoon when he pushes in Secoon reverse him in Teers

A Rule for Pushing

Longe or Stride / To keep yo^r Toe within yo^r knee with yo^r left mounted a Single Body a small Bent in the Sword Arm yo^r point brest high to yo^r Adversary yo^r left foot firm leaning on the sole of yo^r Shoe & yo^r left knee Strait when on yo^r Guard your (122v) right heel opposite to yo^r left Instep

when you spring back carry yo^r right Foot to y^e place of yo^r left then yo^r Advers: Cannot touch you but you can him

Cart // A Push of the inside of yo^r Adversarys body carrying yo^r arm strait without turning above yo^r Advers: Sword yo^r marke the Armpit

Tearse // A Push of the outside of yo^r Adver: Body turning yo^r Wrest still above his Sword keeping yo^r Cheek close to yo^r Sword Arm & looking under whereby you bind his Sword yo^r mark the same

Sacoon A Push with yo^r Wrest turned underneath your Adver: Sword looking under yo^r Sword thereby you prevent his injuring you yo^r mark above the Wast

Gazee is to advance to yo^r Adver: the shorter yo^r Gazee the better still keeping on yo^r Guard to the same distance between yo^r Leggs & at every Gazee change yo^r point & from this posture you may when you think you are nigh enough make what push you please

Parry & give ground Reverse When your Adver: pushes in Cart parry him and reverse him in Cart when he pushes in Terse if low parry him & reverse him in Terse if high parry him & reverse him in Secoon when he pushes in Sacoon parry him & reverse him in Terse

Battavele A Push of two parts to be made in Terse the first part an advance yo^r Adver: parrys you then you longe and turn in yo^r point on him & seize his shell & he is at yo^r mercy

Feintehore A Push of two parts the first an advance as in Battavile then push yo^r Adver: in Sacoone or falsify in Secoon & push him in Terse

Traverse & Cart is to Step wth yo^r right foot on One Side & carry yo^r left behind it wth yo^r Sword push yo^r Adver: in Cart to falsify either wth or wthout the foot when the Push is intended in Terse falsify in Cart & then push in Terse the like & Contra

(123r)

Double falsify either wth or wthout the Foot when the push is intended in Terse falsify in Cart & then push in Terse the like & Contra yo^r Sword must be in Terse side & yo^r first falsify in Cart the next in Terse then push home in Cart

Flankonada is to be made on a Flankonada Guard w^ch is a low Guard wth yo^r point dropt when you Gazee on this Guard you must not come over his Sword & under you cannot come therefore on w^ch side yo^r point is there yo^r Sword is when yo^r point is in Cart side you make yo^r Gazee in Terse the like & Contra when you make yo^r push him where you can in the Body this is made in Secoon & doth naturally light on the Groyn

Vouclosant is made in Cart w^th yo^r wrest turned bending yo^r sword downward & falling w^th yo^r left hand on the Ground

The best way of pushing in Cart is to step aside w^th the Right Leg the left still firm & push w^th the flat [illegible ‘side’?] up the best way in Terse is w^th the Edge of the Foil up yielding the point to y^e Body

[illegible…]ouks Push a Large advance yo^r motion in Sacoon looking under yo^r Sword Arme yo^r cheek close then make yo^r Push in Terse then falsify in Terse & push in Secoon or run up to right in Secoon w^th the advance as before this is a Push of two parts

The best way of Seizing or disarming is in Terse on yo^r Adversarys push in Terse running up yo^r Shell to his & seizing it wth yo^r left foot clapt behind his it may be done in Cart but is dangerous & then you must not run up yo^r foot as in Terse

There is another seizure to be made on a Flankonado Guard wch must be done thus when your (123v) point is on the outside of yo^r Adv: Body run up yo^r Shell to his w^th a Swift motion on a pfect Cross that binds it to his Thigh, w^ch prevents him from changing or doing you any harm

The names of your Thrusts as they are to be learned gradually

1.     The first thing to be learned is to Lunge in Quart

2.     The second is to Lunge in Tierce

3.     Is to Lunge in Seconde

4.     To Gazee

5.     To Gazee and feint with the foot & spring back

6.     To Gazee and single feint with the foot

7.     To double feint with the foot

8.     To double feint without the foot

9.     To retreat, Parry and Riposte

10.   Battavile A thrust in double-time

11.   Feintehore single and double

12.   Traverse and Quart

13.   Flancconado

14.   Vous closant

15.   Seizures or disarming

A method of Thrusting

Your posture is with your left elbow raised, a good distance between, your left knee bent and your right knee straight. A small bend in your sword arm, your right heel opposite your left instep, point as high as your adversary’s chest. When you are lunging [with] your right foot to the place of your left. When your adversary thrusts in Quart, riposte him in Quart, and when your adversary thrusts in Tierce, if low, riposte him in Tierce. If he thrusts high in Tierce, riposte him in Seconde. When he thrusts in Seconde, riposte him in Tierce.

A method for Thrusting

Lunge, or stride: To keep your toe within your knee with your left foot, mounted, a single, a little bent in the sword arm, your point chest high pointing toward your adversary. Your left foot firm, leaning on the sole of your shoe, and your left knee straight. When on your guard, your (122v) right heel opposite your left instep. When you spring back, carry your right foot to the place of your left, then your adversary cannot touch you, but you can him.

Quart: A thrust on the inside of your adversary’s body, carrying your arm straight without turning above your adversary’s sword,  your target: the armpit

Tierce: A thrust on the outside of your adversary’s body, turning your wrist still above his sword.  Keeping your cheek close to your sword arm & looking underneath, whereby you bind his Sword. Your target is the same.

Seconde: A thrust with your wrist turned underneath your adversary’s sword, looking underneath your sword, whereby you prevent his injuring you. Your target is above the waist.

Gazee: is the advance toward your adversary. The shorter your Gazee, the better. Still keeping on your guard, to the same distance between your legs, at every Gazee, change your point. And from this posture, you may, when you think you are close enough, to do whatever thrust you want.

Parry and give ground, reverse: When your adversary thrusts in Quart, parry him and riposte him in Quart. When he thrusts in Tierce, if low parry him & riposte him in Tierce. If high, parry him & riposte him in Seconde. When he thrusts in Seconde, parry him & riposte him in Tierce.

Battavile: A thrust of two parts, to be made in Tierce. The first part is an advance: your opponent parries you, then you lunge and turn in your point upon him, and turn in your point upon his and seize his hilt, and he is at your mercy.

Feintehore: A thrust of two parts; the first an advance as in Battavile then thrust your adversary in Seconde or feint in Seconde & push him in Tierce.

Traverse & Quart: is to step with your right foot on to one side, and carry your left behind it with your sword. Thrust your adversary in Quart to feint either with or without the foot. When the thrust is intended in Tierce, feint in Quart & then thrust in Tierce the like & Contra

(123r)

Double feint, either with or without the foot: When the thrust is intended in Quart, your sword must be in Tierce side, and your first feint in Quart then the next in Tierce, then thrust home in Quart.

Flankonada: is made on a Flankonada guard, which is a low guard with your point dropped. When you Gazee on this guard, you must not come over or under his sword therefore upon whichever side the point of your sword is. When your point is in Quart side, you make your Gazee in Tierce likewise, and Contra. When you make your thrust, thrust him into the body in Seconde, and this does naturally land in the groin.

Vousclosant: is made in Quart with your wrist turned, bending your sword downward, and dropping your left hand onto the ground.

The best way of thrusting in Quart is to step aside with the right leg, the left arm firm, and thrust with the flat [illegible ‘side’?] up. The best way in Tierce is with the edge of the foil up, yielding the point to your body.

[illegible…]ouks Thrust: A large advance, your motion in Seconde looking underneath your sword arm, close to your cheek. Then make your thrust in Tierce, then feint in Tierce and thrust in Seconde, or run up to right in Seconde, with the advance as before – This is a thrust of 2 parts.

The best way of seizing and disarming is in Tierce: On your adversary’s, thrust in Tierce running up your hilt to his, and seizing it, with your left foot clapped behind his. It may be done in Quart, but it is dangerous, and then you must not run up your foot, as in Tierce.

There is another seizure, which must be done on a Flankonada guard, which must be done thus: when your (123v) point is on the outside of your adversary’s body. Run up to your hilt to his with a swift motion on a perfect Cross, that binds it to his thigh, which prevents him from changing or doing you any harm.