Lib. II.

PARS PRIOR:

The first part of the second Booke,

shewing how a Right-handed man is to play with a Left-handed man at single Rapier.

Chapter I

Containeth the use of the four general guards against the left-handed.
The right-handed man doth thrust the left-handed man with the Prime only at the outside of his Rapier over his left arm.1
The Secunde is used by the right-handed against the left-handed without, over his left arm in a long thrust, and in a Passade and in a Passade under his left arm; and is likewise used within, in a long thrust, and in a Passade.2
The Tertz is only thrusted at the left-handed, at the outside of his Rapier, over his left arm.3
The Quarte is thrusted at the left-handed man without, over his left arm, likewise within in a long thrust and in a Volte, and then it may be called a reverse, as having changed her property and nature.4

Chapter II

The use of the four guards against the left-handed man is particularized, how thou art to thrust with the Prime or Secunde at the outside over his left arm.
If thine adversary be open within stringere him at the inside of his Rapier, as soon as he caveres towards his right side under thy Rapier, for to thrust at thee within with a Secunde, then just at coming of his blow thrust with a Tertz, or a Quarte at the outside of his Rapier, over his left arm; if he then parereth thy thrust with a Quarte towards his left side, then turn thy Tertz or Quarte into a Secunde or Prime, and thrust him without over his left arm at his left breast.1
How to passere a left-handed man with a Secunde, at the outside of his Rapier under his left arm
If thy left-handed adversary be open within, then stringere him at the inside of his Rapier, as soon as he will thrust at thee within with a Secunde, then at the approaching of his thrust make at him at the outside of his Rapier over his left arm, with a Tertz or Quarte, if he then will put by thy thrust upwards with a Secunde, then let the point of thy Rapier sink down into a Secunde under his left arm and pass behind him.2
How thou art to use the Secunde within at a left-handed adversary.
Stringere thine adversary at the outside of his Rapier, when he cavereth towards his right side under thy Rapier, and will thrust thee without over thy right arm, then thrust just at the coming of his thrust with a Secunde at the inside of his Rapier close to the Secunde or weakest part of his weapon, between his left arm and left breast.3
How the Tertz or Quarte is to be used without, over the left-handed man's arm.
Stringere thine adversary within, as soon as he doth thrust at thee within with a Secunde, then thrust with the Tertz or Quarte close to his Secunde or weakest part of the Rapier at the outside of his weapon over his left arm at his left breast, and when thou dost thrust then go low with thy Hilt.4
How to thrust the Quarte within at thy left-handed adversary.
Let thy left-handed adversary stringere thee at the inside of thy Rapier, and upon a sudden thrust at him within with a Secunde close to the Secunde or weakest part of his Rapier, near his point, if he doth strive to parere thy Secunde with a Quarte towards his right side, then change thy Secunde into a Quarte and Voltere him at the inside of his weapon at his right breast: But if he doth parere too far towards his right side, that thou canst not hit his breast, then let thy Quarte sink in under his left arm and Voltere him with thy Quarte at his left side.5

Chapter III

How thou art to put by those thrusts which thy left-handed adversary makes at thee without, over thy right arm.
Stringere thine adversary at the outside of his Rapier, if then he doth make a thrust at the outside of thy Rapier over thy right arm, then parere it towards thy right side with a Quarte, and at an instant make a long thrust with a Secunde close to his Rapier, between his left arm and his left breast.1
Or parere his thrust with a Quarte towards thy right side, and instantly thrust with a Secunde at the outside of his left arm at his left side, and when thy thrust is arrived, then clap thy left hand upon the outside of his Rapier, over thy right arm, not catching hold of his Rapier, and putting it by with thy left hand towards thy left side, turn his Rapier out of his hand and disarm him.2
But if he doth thrust at thee without, over the Secunde or weakest part of thy Rapier, so that thou art not able to Parere his thrust, then cavere towards thy right side under his weapon, and battiering him first at the outside of his weapon, thrust Quarte contra-tempo at the outside of his Rapier over his left arm.3
Or else when he doth thrust over thy right arm again, and close to the Secunde or the weakest part of thy Rapier, being not able to parere his thrust, cavere towards thy right side, under his thrust, and cavering turn thy point in a Secunde over his weapon towards thy left side, and let it sink down at the inside of his Rapier, and Passere him at the inside of his weapon at his left thigh.4
Review the seventh and eight Chapters of the first part of the first book.5

Chapter IV

How to put by those thrust which thy left-handed adversary makes at thee at the inside of thy weapon.
If thine adversary doth make a thrust at thee within, near the hilt over the Prime and strongest part of thy Rapier, then put by his thrust with a Secunde towards thy left side downwards, and in one tempo or motion of thy wrist, change thy Secunde into a Quarte, not stirring from his Rapier, and thrust with a Quarte at the outside of his Rapier over his right arm.1
Or else when his thrust approacheth, then battiering him first at the outside of his Rapier, thrust with a Quarte at the outside of his weapon over his left arm, at his left breast.2
But if he thrusteth at thee within close to the Secunde or weakest part of thy Rapier, then cavere towards thy left side, under his thrust, and first putting him by towards thy right side with a Quarte, Passere him at his left breast, within.3
Or if he doth thrust at thee within again close to the weakest part of thy Rapier with a Secunde aiming at thy right breast, then let thy point sink down into a hanging Quarte, at the outside of his weapon, and thrust him at his left thigh.4
Review the seventh and eight Chapters of the first part of the first book.

Chapter V

How thou art to demean thyself against several guards which thine adversary might use.
Against the Secunde.
If thine adversary doth hold his weapon in a high Secunde, with a stretched arm, and is open without, then stringere him without, as soon as he doth thrust at thee within with a Secunde, then let thy point sink down in a Quarte close to his Rapier without, and lifting up thy hilt behind, thrust him with a Quarte under his Rapier, at his left side.1
Or if he doth hold his Rapier in a high Secunde with a stretched arm and is open without; then stringere him likewise without, if he then doth thrust at thee without, over thy right arm with a Secunde, then at the coming of his thrust, cavere towards thy right side under his Rapier, and thrust Quarte contra-tempo at the outside of his weapon over his left arm.2
But if he holding his Rapier in a high Secunde be open within, stringere him within as soon as he doth make a thrust at thee within, then let thy point sink down into a Secunde at the inside of his Rapier, and passere him at his left thigh.3
Or when thou stringerest him within, and he doth make at thee with a Secunde, at the inside of thy Rapier, at thy right breast, step then with thy right leg towards thy right side, and thrust him with a Quarte at the outside under his Rapier at his navel, and thy hilt lift up something behind.4
Against the middle Secunde.
If thine adversary doth hold his Rapier in the middle Secunde with a bended arm, so that the point of his Rapier looks quite towards his right side out, then stringere him at the outside of his Rapier, and stringering go about towards thy left side; thus thou dost constrain him to thrust at thee; as soon as his thrust approacheth at the outside over thy right arm, then put by his thrust towards thy right side with a Quarte, and instantly changing thy Quarte into a Secunde, thrust at him at the inside of his Rapier at his left breast.5
Or if he doth lie in a middle Secunde, as before, then stringere him likewise at the outside of his Rapier, upon a sudden make a Finda at his face upwards with a Tertz, not stirring thy whole arm, but only thy wrist; as soon as he lifteth up his arm for to defend his face with is Rapier, then let thy point sink down into a Secunde under his left arm, and pass behind him: But if he parereth thy finda with a Quarte towards thy left side, then cavere in one motion towards thy left side under his Rapier, and thrust him with a Secunde at the inside of his Rapier, at his right breast.6
Against the Tertz.
If thine adversary holdeth his Rapier in a high Tertz with a bended arm, so that the point of his Rapier standeth upright, and he be open within, then make a finda at him within, as soon as he doth catch after thy finda with his Rapier towards his right side out, then lift the point of thy Rapier towards thy right side over his Rapier, and trust with a Quarte at the outside of his Rapier over his left arm at his left breast.7
Or when he doth catch after thy finda towards his right side, then let thy point sink in under his left arm, and thrust him with a Quarte at his left side.8
If he doth not catch after thy finda, then thrust home at the inside at his weapon with a Secunde at his left breast.9
And if thou wilt stringere him within thou must observe well that (if he lifteth the point of his Rapier towards his right side, at the inside over thy Rapier) thou thrustest Quarte, the self same time his thrust approacheth, at the outside of his Rapier at his left breast.10
If thine adversary holdeth his Rapier in a Tertz with a stretched arm, so that the point of his Rapier be linearly answerable to his left shoulder, then stringere him without, and when thou dost stringere him go about towards thy left side as it were in a circle, not stirring from his Rapier the meanwhile thou goest about, then he will be forced to thrust at thee, at the outside of thy Rapier over thy right arm, then just when he is turning his point under thy Rapier for to thrust thee without over thy right arm at thy right breast, bow thy body, and thrusting him with a Secunde under his left arm pass behind him.11
But if thy left-handed adversary when thou Stringerest him without, will perforce put by thy point with his Quarte towards his left side, then yield to him by degrees, and letting thy point sink down suddenly in a Secunde, passere him at the outside of his Rapier at his left thigh.12
Or when thou dost stringere him without, upon a sudden battiere him at the outside of his weapon, and thrust him with a Quarte at the outside of his Rapier, at his left breast.13
If thy left-handed adversary doth hold his Rapier in a low Tertz, with a stretched arm downwards, so that the hilt of his Rapier doth equalize his knee in height, then stringere him at the outside of his Rapier with a hanging Secunde, as soon as he doth thrust at the outside of thy Rapier, over thy right arm nigh thy hilt, then put his thrust by with a Quarte towards thy right side, and thrust him with a Secunde at the inside of his weapon, at his left shoulder.14
But if he doth thrust over the weakest part of thy Rapier, then changing thy Secunde into a Quarte thrust contra-tempo at the outside of his Rapier, over his left arm at his left breast.15
Or if he doth hold his Rapier in a low Tertz as before, then let the point of thy Rapier sink down into a hanging Secunde, and direct thy point towards his hilt, as soon as he doth thrust at thee on either side, then thrust Quarte at the outside of his Rapier over his left arm and at his left breast.16
If thine adversary doth hold his right hand behind his hilt for to put by thy thrusts, what thou art then to do.
Make a thrust at thy left-handed adversary within with a Secunde, as soon as he doth catch with his right hand towards his right side after thy Rapier, then lifting the point of thy Rapier towards thy right side over his right hand, thrust him with a Secunde at the inside of his Rapier at his left shoulder.17
Or when he will put by thy thrust with his right hand towards his right side out, then let him miss thy Rapier with his hand, and cavering towards his right side under his right hand, thrust him with a Secunde at the inside of his Rapier at his left shoulder.18
Thrust at thy left-handed adversary with a Quarte at the outside of his Rapier, over his left arm, as soon as he with his right hand towards his right side over his left arm doth catch after thy Rapier, then let the point of thy Rapier sink in under his right hand and thrust him with a Quarte at the outside of his Rapier, over his left arm, at his left breast.19
Or if thou dost thrust something low, and he doth endeavor to put by thy thrust with his right hand under his left arm, toward his left side out, then lift thy point towards thy left side over his right hand, and thrust him with a Secunde at the inside of his Rapier at his left shoulder.20

Chapter VI

How thou shalt elude thy left-handed adversary his Passada.
If thine adversary be open without stringere him without, as soon as he cavering towards his left side under thy Rapier doth thrust at the outside of thy Rapier over thy right arm, then lift up thine arm of purpose that he may attempt a Passade, when he lets his point sink down in a Secunde under thy right arm, for to Passere thee then let thy point sink down into a Quarte at the outside of his Rapier, and thrust him with a Quarte at his left thigh.1
Give thine adversary opportunity again to Passere thee by lifting up thy right arm, as soon as he lets his point sink in, at the outside under thy right arm, then stepping back with thy right leg behind thy left leg, let the hilt of thy Rapier sink down close to the outside of his Rapier and stringere him, and at the same instant clap thy left hand upon the outside of his Rapier (not catching hold of it) and thrust with the Quarte over his left arm, at his left breast.2
Give him opportunity again to passere thee by the lifting up of thine arm, as soon as he lets his point sink down in a Secunde under thy right arm, then turning thy body about upon thy right leg Voltere him with a Quarte over his left arm.3

Chapter VII

How to escape the left-handed man's Volte.
Thrust at thine adversary with a Secunde at the inside of his Rapier as soon as he will Voltere a Quarte over thy right arm contra-tempo, hanging thy Secunde into a Quarte thrust him at his left side.1
Stringere thy left-handed adversary without, if he then of his own accord not invited by thee, doth Voltere with a Quarte over thy right arm, then stepping a little back with thy right leg behind thy left leg, let thy hilt sink down at the inside of his Rapier, and instantly stepping forwards again with thy right leg thrust him in at his back with a Tertz upwards, but hold thy hilt low behind.2
Stringere thy left-handed adversary within, if he then will make a Volte at thee with a Quarte at the inside of thy Rapier of his own accord, then let the point of thy Rapier sink down into a Secunde at the inside of his Rapier, and Passere him with a Secunde at the inside of his weapon at his left thigh.3
Having thus done with thrusts I proceed to blows.
Here endeth the first part of the second book, treating how a Right-handed man is to play at single Rapier against a Left-handed.

LIB.