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Difference between revisions of "Henry de Sainct Didier"

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m (→‎Treatise: point of the sword -> sword point)
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* The first is low, placing the point at the braies.
 
* The first is low, placing the point at the braies.
* The second is middle, placing the point of the sword straight at the left eye.
+
* The second is middle, placing the sword point straight at the left eye.
* The third is high, placing the point of the sword at the face, coming from high to low.
+
* The third is high, placing the sword point at the face, coming from high to low.
  
 
| La seconde est sçavoir combien de gardes & situations il y a ausdites armes. Je dis qu’il n’y a que trois gardes, & trois assituations principalles.
 
| La seconde est sçavoir combien de gardes & situations il y a ausdites armes. Je dis qu’il n’y a que trois gardes, & trois assituations principalles.
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| The sixth and last point is one of the good ones that is required to know in all of the art, which is to decide which strikes could be thrown, both in attacking and in defending, because being able to decide easily will be able to find a remedy; otherwise it will be hard. And to do this we must look at the point of the sword, and never lose sight of it and in doing so, we will easily decide which strike we will find to defend and offend at the same time, as promised.
+
| The sixth and last point is one of the good ones that is required to know in all of the art, which is to decide which strikes could be thrown, both in attacking and in defending, because being able to decide easily will be provide a remedy; otherwise it will be hard. And to do this we must look at the sword point and never lose sight of it and in doing so, we will easily decide which strike we will find to defend and offend at the same time, as promised.
  
 
| Le sixiesme & et dernier poinct est un des bons qui soit requis de sçavoir en tout l’art, qui est juger du coup qui se peut tirer, tant en assaillant qu’en deffendant, car le jugeant facilement on y trouvera son remede, autrement non. Et pour ce faire faut regarder la pointe de l’espée, & ne la perdre jamais de veue, & en ce faisant, facilement on jugera du coup, le jugeant on trouvera moyen de soy deffendre & offencer, comme j’ay promis à un mesme temps.
 
| Le sixiesme & et dernier poinct est un des bons qui soit requis de sçavoir en tout l’art, qui est juger du coup qui se peut tirer, tant en assaillant qu’en deffendant, car le jugeant facilement on y trouvera son remede, autrement non. Et pour ce faire faut regarder la pointe de l’espée, & ne la perdre jamais de veue, & en ce faisant, facilement on jugera du coup, le jugeant on trouvera moyen de soy deffendre & offencer, comme j’ay promis à un mesme temps.
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| The reason to decide the said strikes is that the outside, which is the said point of the sword, directs and leads by the inside, which is the will and knows not the point of the sword, which is the outside, to be so skillful as the observation, and therefore the observation of deciding the strike and gaining time. The observation and the gained time could succeed and precede the said outside, which is the said strikes that the Lieutenant could throw at the defending Prevost, and there we can find the remedy.
+
| The reason to decide the said strikes is that the outside, which is the said sword point, directs and leads by the inside, which is the will and knows not the sword point, which is the outside, to be so skillful as the observation, and therefore the observation of deciding the strike and gaining time. The observation and the gained time could succeed and precede the said outside, which is the said strikes that the Lieutenant could throw at the defending Prevost, and there we can find the remedy.
  
 
| La raison pour juger d’un desdits coups est que l’exterieur, qui est ladite pointe de l’espée, se conduit & meine par l’interieur, qui est la volonté, & ne scauroit la pointe de l’espée, qui est l’exterieur, estre si habile que la veue, & par consequent la veue fait juger du coup, & gaigner le temps. La veue & le temps gaignées peuvent succeder & prealler<ref>précéder. « Préaller » subsiste en français sous la forme « préalable ».</ref> ledit exterieur, qui est l’un desdits coups que le Lieutenant peut tirer sur le Prevost deffendant, & par là on peut trouver son remede.
 
| La raison pour juger d’un desdits coups est que l’exterieur, qui est ladite pointe de l’espée, se conduit & meine par l’interieur, qui est la volonté, & ne scauroit la pointe de l’espée, qui est l’exterieur, estre si habile que la veue, & par consequent la veue fait juger du coup, & gaigner le temps. La veue & le temps gaignées peuvent succeder & prealler<ref>précéder. « Préaller » subsiste en français sous la forme « préalable ».</ref> ledit exterieur, qui est l’un desdits coups que le Lieutenant peut tirer sur le Prevost deffendant, & par là on peut trouver son remede.
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| And to respond and to conclude, to what was said above we need to know how many strikes the enemy can offend us, to know how to remedy and defend our body and honor, like a camp master who has a camp of a hundred or fifty thousand men because it is our specific interest. As for me, I say with the learned that what can be done with little is better than what can be done with a lot. Because of this I will remove two of the said five blows that Fabrice have because I say they are redundant, which is Fendente and Imbrocatta, and so remain no more than three, which are defined above and will be following this.
+
| And to answer and conclude to what was said above we need to know how many strikes the enemy can offend us, to know how to remedy and defend our body and honor, like a camp master who has a camp of a hundred or fifty thousand men because it is in our specific interest. As for me, I say with the learned that what can be done with less is better than what can be done with more. Because of this I will remove two of the said five blows that Fabrice have because I say they are redundant, which is Fendente and Imbrocatta, and so remain no more than three, which is defined above and will be next.
  
 
| Et pour respondre & conclure, à ce que dessus est dit nous avons autant de besoin de scavoir de combien de coups l’ennemy nous peut offenser, pour scavoir à iceux remedier & deffendre nostre corps & honneur, comme un Maistre de camps qui a un camp de cent ou cinquante mille hommes car c’est nostre interest particulier. Quant à moy je dis avec les doctes que ce qui ce peut faire avec peu est meilleur que ce qui ce fait avec beaucoup. À ceste cause j’osteray deux desdites cinq bottes que tient le dit Fabrice par ce que je les dy estre superflus, qui sont Fendant, & Imbronccade, & n’en demeurera plus que trois, qui sont cy dessus par moy definis, & seront cy apres.
 
| Et pour respondre & conclure, à ce que dessus est dit nous avons autant de besoin de scavoir de combien de coups l’ennemy nous peut offenser, pour scavoir à iceux remedier & deffendre nostre corps & honneur, comme un Maistre de camps qui a un camp de cent ou cinquante mille hommes car c’est nostre interest particulier. Quant à moy je dis avec les doctes que ce qui ce peut faire avec peu est meilleur que ce qui ce fait avec beaucoup. À ceste cause j’osteray deux desdites cinq bottes que tient le dit Fabrice par ce que je les dy estre superflus, qui sont Fendant, & Imbronccade, & n’en demeurera plus que trois, qui sont cy dessus par moy definis, & seront cy apres.
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| ''The following is the declaration and reason why the said Author removes the said Fendente against the opinion of the said Fabrice and Jules and many others, who nevertheless always put them in the list of the said strikes.''
 
| ''The following is the declaration and reason why the said Author removes the said Fendente against the opinion of the said Fabrice and Jules and many others, who nevertheless always put them in the list of the said strikes.''
  
The reason why I first removed the said Fedante is because it cannot truly be done. Because any Fendente that is true must hold and must not leave the top and middle of the thing you want to slash. I know of no man, as long as he is practiced in all sciences or arts, that having a sword in hand, cutlass, or another weapons that can properly slash, with whatever strikes that he can do, will not participate either on one side or the other, which gives up the middle. And yet if such a strike is thrown in the right side, is not Fedente but is Right-Hand, and if kept on the left side, it is not Fendente but will be Backhand.
+
The reason why I first removed the said Fedante is because it cannot actually be done. Because any Fendente that is true must hold and must not leave the top and middle of the thing you want to slash. I know of no man, as long as I have practiced in all the sciences or arts, that having a sword in hand, cutlass, or another weapons that can properly slash with whatever strikes that he can do, will not participate either on one side or the other, which gives up the middle. And yet if such a strike is thrown in the right side, is not Fedente but is Right-Hand, and if kept on the left side, it is not Fendente but will be Backhand.
  
 
| ''S’ensuit la declaration & raison cy aprés pourquoy ledit Autheur oste ledit Fendant, contre l’opinion desdits Fabrice & Julle, & plusieurs autres, ce neantmoins de tout temps les ont mis & mettent au ranc desdits coups.''
 
| ''S’ensuit la declaration & raison cy aprés pourquoy ledit Autheur oste ledit Fendant, contre l’opinion desdits Fabrice & Julle, & plusieurs autres, ce neantmoins de tout temps les ont mis & mettent au ranc desdits coups.''
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| ''The guard to execute the said first step and the first and second drawings for the Lieutenant and Prevost.''
 
| ''The guard to execute the said first step and the first and second drawings for the Lieutenant and Prevost.''
  
And to do the said first step for the Lieutenant, he must have the feet together as shown above at the first portraiture marked number 1, and being there he must pull the right foot back on the footprint marked number 3 below, which is the first step. And at the same time, put the sword in hand, for the said first drawing carry the sword hilt higher than the right shoulder, placing the point of the sword straight at the left nipple, content 1, keeping the left hand right of the face, as shown above at the portraiture of the said Lieutenant marked number 3 behind the collar.
+
And to do the said first step for the Lieutenant, he must have the feet together as shown above at the first portraiture marked number 1, and being there he must pull the right foot back on the footprint marked number 3 below, which is the first step. And at the same time, put the sword in hand, for the said first drawing carry the sword hilt higher than the right shoulder, placing the sword point straight at the left nipple, content 1, keeping the left hand right of the face, as shown above at the portraiture of the said Lieutenant marked number 3 behind the collar.
  
 
''This is the end of the first drawing for the said Lieutenant.''
 
''This is the end of the first drawing for the said Lieutenant.''
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''This is the declaration for the first and second drawing for the said Prevost, which is to know how to put the sword in hand as taught by the said Lieutenant.''
 
''This is the declaration for the first and second drawing for the said Prevost, which is to know how to put the sword in hand as taught by the said Lieutenant.''
  
And to do this, the said Prevost has to remember how he placed his said first plan as shown above in number 2, which is with the feet together, and from there the said Prevost must make the said first drawing by pulling the right foot on footprint 2 back to the footprint marked number 3, which is also the first step, and at the same time put the sword in hand, carrying the sword hilt higher and a bit farther than the right shoulder, placing the sword point straight at the left eye to be on high guard, and keeping the left hand right of the left nipple to deflect the point of the sword of the said Lieutenant if by fortune he wants to advance further, as shown above in the portraiture marked number 4.
+
And to do this, the said Prevost has to remember how he placed his said first plan as shown above in number 2, which is with the feet together, and from there the said Prevost must make the said first drawing by pulling the right foot on footprint 2 back to the footprint marked number 3, which is also the first step, and at the same time put the sword in hand, carrying the sword hilt higher and a bit farther than the right shoulder, placing the sword point straight at the left eye to be on high guard, and keeping the left hand right of the left nipple to deflect the sword point of the said Lieutenant if by fortune he wants to advance further, as shown above in the portraiture marked number 4.
  
 
''This is the end of the first drawing of the said Prevost.''
 
''This is the end of the first drawing of the said Prevost.''
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''The last of the said final third drawing for the said Lieutenant.''
 
''The last of the said final third drawing for the said Lieutenant.''
  
And in order to complete the said third drawing for the Prevost, he must come to be on the same plan as the above marked number 5 as shown with the preceding Prevost, who keeps the right foot in the air, keeping the back of the hand holding the sword hilt up, and to complete this said third drawing, the said Prevost must pull the right foot back from the air as stated above and leave it on the fooprint  marked number 3 at the portraiture, turning the nails on the sword hand down, placing the point of the sword straight at the face or better yet the left eye, and keeping the left hand right on the shoulder, as shown above at the portraiture marked number 8.
+
And in order to complete the said third drawing for the Prevost, he must come to be on the same plan as the above marked number 5 as shown with the preceding Prevost, who keeps the right foot in the air, keeping the back of the hand holding the sword hilt up, and to complete this said third drawing, the said Prevost must pull the right foot back from the air as stated above and leave it on the fooprint  marked number 3 at the portraiture, turning the nails on the sword hand down, placing the sword point straight at the face or better yet the left eye, and keeping the left hand right on the shoulder, as shown above at the portraiture marked number 8.
  
 
''This is the last and final said third drawing for the said Prevost.''
 
''This is the last and final said third drawing for the said Prevost.''
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''Written for the first guard and position for the said Prevosit, in order to begin the section on the sword alone.''
 
''Written for the first guard and position for the said Prevosit, in order to begin the section on the sword alone.''
  
And to do this, the said Prevost must have his feet together as is portrayed above marked in number 10. And the said Prevost having made one of the said three drawings, is to remain in the high guard, having pulled the right foot back, keeping the sword hand a bit higher than the right shoulder, placing and aiming the point of the sword straight at the chin, and keeping the left hand right of his nipple, ready to do whatever is necessary, and will be willing afterwards as is shown above at the portraiture and figure of the said Prevost marked number 12 behind the hat.
+
And to do this, the said Prevost must have his feet together as is portrayed above marked in number 10. And the said Prevost having made one of the said three drawings, is to remain in the high guard, having pulled the right foot back, keeping the sword hand a bit higher than the right shoulder, placing and aiming the sword point straight at the chin, and keeping the left hand right of his nipple, ready to do whatever is necessary, and will be willing afterwards as is shown above at the portraiture and figure of the said Prevost marked number 12 behind the hat.
  
 
''The end of this first guard for the said Prevost.''
 
''The end of this first guard for the said Prevost.''
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| ''This guard is almost similar to the one before, barely being different, and yet it will serve as another one in order to make and execute said first strike of the sword alone for the Lieutenent and Prevost.''
 
| ''This guard is almost similar to the one before, barely being different, and yet it will serve as another one in order to make and execute said first strike of the sword alone for the Lieutenent and Prevost.''
  
In order to declare this guard for the Lieutenant, he must have his feet together to throw the right foot<ref>Dupuis states the original says left but is incompatible with the rest of the text and the engraving.</ref> back a little apart, carrying the sword hilt higher than the right shoulder, placing the point of the sword straight at the throat; the guard of the Lieutenant above marked in number 11 is the same, but the placement isn't because he places the point at the left nipple, whereas this one states it is at the throat, keeping the left hand under the arm of the sword, as is shown below at the portraiture marked on number 13.
+
In order to declare this guard for the Lieutenant, he must have his feet together to throw the right foot<ref>Dupuis states the original says left but is incompatible with the rest of the text and the engraving.</ref> back a little apart, carrying the sword hilt higher than the right shoulder, placing the sword point straight at the throat; the guard of the Lieutenant above marked in number 11 is the same, but the placement isn't because he places the point at the left nipple, whereas this one states it is at the throat, keeping the left hand under the arm of the sword, as is shown below at the portraiture marked on number 13.
  
 
''This is the purpose of this guard for the Lieutenant.''
 
''This is the purpose of this guard for the Lieutenant.''
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| ''The following is the first strike of the sword alone for the attacking Lieutenant against the defending Prevost.''
 
| ''The following is the first strike of the sword alone for the attacking Lieutenant against the defending Prevost.''
  
And to do this, this next said Lieutenant must have taken the step and one of the said drawings, staying on the left foot as the portraiture above marked number 13, and in order to do and execute this first strike of the sword alone, the said Lieutenant will advance the right foot, being on the said guard marked 13, and will throw a low right-hand at the left knee of the Prevost, raising the sword hilt almost as high as the left shoulder, lowering well the point of the sword down to do this said right-hand at the leg more perfectly, keeping the left hand as is shown above at the portraiture of the said Lieutenant marked number 15.
+
And to do this, this next said Lieutenant must have taken the step and one of the said drawings, staying on the left foot as the portraiture above marked number 13, and in order to do and execute this first strike of the sword alone, the said Lieutenant will advance the right foot, being on the said guard marked 13, and will throw a low right-hand at the left knee of the Prevost, raising the sword hilt almost as high as the left shoulder, lowering well the sword point down to do this said right-hand at the leg more perfectly, keeping the left hand as shown above at the portraiture of the said Lieutenant marked number 15.
  
 
''This is the end of the first strike of the sword alone for the attacking Lieutenant against the defending Prevost.''
 
''This is the end of the first strike of the sword alone for the attacking Lieutenant against the defending Prevost.''
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''After this will show how the Prevost must defend himself of the said second counter and continuation, thrown by the attacking Lieutenant.''
 
''After this will show how the Prevost must defend himself of the said second counter and continuation, thrown by the attacking Lieutenant.''
  
And to guard himself well, the said Prevost must see the point of the sword of the said Lieutenant, and when he steals away below the sword hilt of the said Prevost to throw the high right-hand at him, the said Prevost, not removing the step of the right foot as he is, will cross the said right-hand that is thrown at him by the said Lieutenant strong on the weak, and will present to him a thrust to the face of the said Lieutenant, keeping the left hand right of his shoulder, as is shown above at the portraiture and figure marked number 20.
+
And to guard himself effectively, the said Prevost must watch the sword point of the said Lieutenant, and when he steals away below the sword hilt of the said Prevost to throw the high right-hand at him, the said Prevost not removing the step of the right foot, will cross the said right-hand that is thrown at him by the said Lieutenant with the strong on weak and will present a thrust to the face of the said Lieutenant, keeping the left hand right on his shoulder, as shown above at the portraiture and figure marked number 20.
  
 
''This is the end of the second counter and continuation of the said first strike for the Prevost.''
 
''This is the end of the second counter and continuation of the said first strike for the Prevost.''
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| ''In these two portraitures that follows shows the guard and position for doing the second strike for the Lieutenant and the Prevost, in this following section of the sword alone.''
 
| ''In these two portraitures that follows shows the guard and position for doing the second strike for the Lieutenant and the Prevost, in this following section of the sword alone.''
  
To do this said guard for the Lieutenant well he must have his feet together, as shown above in the general position of the said Lieutenant marked number 9, which is for demonstrating how one must make all of the guards, which is required for all the said fencing. And to do this guard for the said Lieutenant, being thus placed as stated, needs to pull his right foot back a little apart under the right side and at the same time put the sword in hand, carrying the sword hilt a little higher than the right shoulder which is the high guard, placing the point of the sword straight at the eyes, keeping the left hand under the left thigh, as marked at the portraiture number 21.
+
To do this said guard for the Lieutenant effectively he must have his feet together as shown above in the general position of the said Lieutenant marked number 9, which is to demonstrate how one must make all of the guards which is required for the said fencing. And to do this guard for the said Lieutenant, being thus placed as stated, he needs to pull his right foot back a little apart under the right side and at the same time put the sword in hand, carrying the sword hilt a little higher than the right shoulder which is the high guard, placing the sword point straight at the eyes, keeping the left hand under the left thigh, as marked at the portraiture number 21.
  
 
''The end of the guard for the Lieutenant.''
 
''The end of the guard for the Lieutenant.''
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''The following is the writing for the guard and position for the said Prevost.
 
''The following is the writing for the guard and position for the said Prevost.
  
And to do this the Prevost likewise is to have the feet together, as is shown above at the portraiture marked number 10, in order to make the low guard well the said Prevost needs to pull the right foot back in drawing to carry the sword hilt under his left lap, placing the point of the sword straight at the braies of the said Lieutenant, keeping also the left hand right of the left nipple, as is shown above at the portraiture and figure marked number 22 behind the bonnet.
+
And to do this the Prevost likewise is to have the feet together, as shown above at the portraiture marked number 10, and in order to make the low guard effectively the said Prevost needs to pull the right foot back in drawing to carry the sword hilt under his left lap, placing the sword point straight at the braies of the said Lieutenant, and also keeping the left hand right of the left nipple, as shown above at the portraiture and figure marked number 22 behind the bonnet.
  
 
''The end of the said guard and position for the said Prevost.''
 
''The end of the said guard and position for the said Prevost.''
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''The following is the guard and position of the said third strike for the said defending Prevost.''
 
''The following is the guard and position of the said third strike for the said defending Prevost.''
  
And to do this, the said Prevost must also be on the left foot having done the said step, and having remained on the left foot in high guard, keeping the sword hilt and the back of the hand up, and let the sword be flat so that it can remain high there, otherwise such guard would be imperfect, and it must place the point of the sword straight at the left eye, which is the high guard and keeping the left hand right of the stomach, as shown above at the portraiture and figure marked number 30.
+
And to do this, the said Prevost must also be on the left foot having done the said step, and having remained on the left foot in high guard, keeping the sword hilt and the back of the hand up, and let the sword be flat so that it can remain high there, otherwise such guard would be imperfect, and he must place the sword point straight at the left eye, which is the high guard and keeping the left hand right of the stomach, as shown above at the portraiture and figure marked number 30.
  
 
''This is the end of the guard and position for the Prevost in order to execute and defend against the said third strike of the sword alone from the said Lieutenant''
 
''This is the end of the guard and position for the Prevost in order to execute and defend against the said third strike of the sword alone from the said Lieutenant''
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| ''Position and guard of the first strike in order to execute the rectangle for the Lieutenant and the Prevost.''
 
| ''Position and guard of the first strike in order to execute the rectangle for the Lieutenant and the Prevost.''
  
It must be noted that to execute the said rectangle for the Lieutenant, he must have the left foot on the corner of the said rectangle marked number 1, having made one of the said three drawings with his step, and be in a low middle guard, the cutting edge down, the point of the sword straight at the belly, and keeping the left hand right of the stomach, as shown above at the portraiture marked number 69.
+
It must be noted that to execute the said rectangle for the Lieutenant, he must have the left foot on the corner of the said rectangle marked number 1, having made one of the said three drawings with his step, and be in a low middle guard, the cutting edge down, the sword point straight at the belly, and keeping the left hand right of the stomach, as shown above at the portraiture marked number 69.
  
 
''This is the end of the guard and position for the said Lieutenant in order to begin and execute the rectangle against the defending Prevost.''
 
''This is the end of the guard and position for the said Lieutenant in order to begin and execute the rectangle against the defending Prevost.''
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''The following is the defense and completion of the said strike with two continuations in the fashion of a rectangle for the said defending Prevost against the attacking Lieutenant.''
 
''The following is the defense and completion of the said strike with two continuations in the fashion of a rectangle for the said defending Prevost against the attacking Lieutenant.''
  
And to do this, the said Prevost for the first continuation must be on the right foot, crossing and beating down the said high backhand or high thrust thrown by the said Lieutenant, strong on weak, keeping the nails on the sword hilt down, and throwing a high thrust at the left eye of the said Lieutenant as shown above at the other portraiture and figure marked number 74. And for the second counter and continuation which is to complete the said rectangle, the said Prevost must also be on the right foot and carefully watch the point of the sword of the said Lieutenant, in every discourse of the said rectangle, and cross the sword of the said Lieutenant who is making the second counter which is a high right-hand or high thrust coming from the strong on weak, keeping the nails on the sword hand up and presenting the said Lieutenant a thrust at his face while keeping the left hand at his nipple as shown above at the portraiture marked number 76.
+
And to do this, the said Prevost for the first continuation must be on the right foot, crossing and beating down the said high backhand or high thrust thrown by the said Lieutenant, strong on weak, keeping the nails on the sword hilt down, and throwing a high thrust at the left eye of the said Lieutenant as shown above at the other portraiture and figure marked number 74. And for the second counter and continuation which is to complete the said rectangle, the said Prevost must also be on the right foot and carefully watch the sword point of the said Lieutenant in every discourse of the said rectangle, and cross the sword of the said Lieutenant who is making the second counter which is a high right-hand or high thrust coming from the strong on weak, keeping the nails on the sword hand up and presenting a thrust to the said Lieutenant's face while keeping the left hand at his nipple as shown above at the portraiture marked number 76.
  
 
''The end of the said rectangle for the said Prevost.''
 
''The end of the said rectangle for the said Prevost.''
  
''After having written the above for all of the art, order, and practice of the said sword alone and defining all the requirements; both in attacking as well as for defending, I have intended after this to write and show four very effective and subtle grabs that one can do, both in attacking as well as in defending as will be seen after at their portraitures.''
+
''After having written the above for all of the art, order, and practice of the said sword alone and defining all the requirements; both in attacking as well as for defending, after this I intend to write and show four very effective and subtle grabs that one can do, both in attacking as well as in defending as will be seen later at their portraitures.''
  
 
| ''Sensuit le parachevement dudit quatriangle, qui est sur un maindroit ou estoc d’hault, tiré par ledit Lieutenent, contre le Prevost.''
 
| ''Sensuit le parachevement dudit quatriangle, qui est sur un maindroit ou estoc d’hault, tiré par ledit Lieutenent, contre le Prevost.''
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''Next we will show and declare how the Prevost will need to do the first grab against his Lieutenant.''
 
''Next we will show and declare how the Prevost will need to do the first grab against his Lieutenant.''
  
And to do this, the said Prevost being on the left foot when the said Lieutenant throws a high right-hand or high thrust, the said Prevost pulls his left foot back and crosses his sword, strong on weak, with the sword of the said Lieutenant, turning his nails on the sword hand up. And at the same time without a moment to waste, advances his left foot strongly forward, and with his left hand grabs the sword hilt and pretends to twist it to take it from him, as will be seen later keeping the point of the sword straight at the forehead as shown above at the portraiture and figure marked number 82.
+
And to do this, the said Prevost being on the left foot when the said Lieutenant throws a high right-hand or high thrust, the said Prevost pulls his left foot back and crosses his sword, strong on weak, with the sword of the said Lieutenant, turning his nails on the sword hand up. And at the same time without a moment to waste, advances his left foot forward strongly, and with his left hand grabs the sword hilt and pretends to twist it to take it from him, as will be seen later keeping the sword point straight at the forehead as shown above at the portraiture and figure marked number 82.
  
 
''This is the end of the first grab, nearly executed for the said defending Prevost against the said Lieutenant.''
 
''This is the end of the first grab, nearly executed for the said defending Prevost against the said Lieutenant.''
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| ''The first grab and strike shown by the Lieutenant and executed by the Prevost as shown here.''
 
| ''The first grab and strike shown by the Lieutenant and executed by the Prevost as shown here.''
  
And for the Lieutenant to show what he must do this to the Prevost and execute the first grab well, the Lieutenant must be on the left foot and advance his right foot while throwing a high right-hand or high thrust against the defending Prevost. And being surprised that the Prevost took his sword away, the said Lieutenant is forced to pull back his right foot and stay on his left foot, keeping his hand in front of his nipple, ready to defend against the point of the sword of the Prevost, and keeping his left hand against his left leg as shown at the portraiture marked number 83 behind the collar.
+
And for the Lieutenant to show what he must do to the Prevost and execute the first grab effectively, the Lieutenant must be on the left foot and have advanced his right foot while throwing a high right-hand or high thrust against the defending Prevost. And being surprised that the Prevost took away his sword, the said Lieutenant is forced to pull back his right foot and stay on his left foot, keeping his hand in front of his nipple, ready to defend against the sword point of the Prevost, and keeping his left hand against his left leg as shown at the portraiture marked number 83 behind the collar.
  
''This is everything that the said Lieutenant must do to show to the Prevost what he must do to execute all of the said first grab of the sword alone.''
+
''This is everything that the said Lieutenant must do to show the Prevost what he must do to execute all of the said first grab of the sword alone.''
  
 
''The following is the first grab and its execution for this said Prevost against the said Lieutenant.''
 
''The following is the first grab and its execution for this said Prevost against the said Lieutenant.''
  
And to do this the said Prevost must have made the first step, guard, and placement as said; which is to say to be on the left foot while the said Lieutenant throws either a high right-hand or high thrust and advances his right foot to execute the said first grab for this said Prevost, then pulling his left back back and crossing the sword of the said Lieutenant, strong on weak, raising a bit the point of the sword up and at the same time without a moment to waste the said Prevost advancing the left foot and with the left hand grabbing the sword hilt of the said Lieutenant, twisting the top down and taking the sword from him, and carrying it below the arms, presenting the point of the sword straight at the mouth of the said Lieutenant, as shown above at the said portraiture marked number 84.
+
And to do this the said Prevost must have made the first step, guard, and placement as said; which is to say to be on the left foot while the said Lieutenant throws either a high right-hand or high thrust and advances his right foot to execute the said first grab for this said Prevost, then pulling his left back back and crossing the sword of the said Lieutenant, strong on weak, raising a bit the sword point up and at the same time without a moment to waste the said Prevost is advancing the left foot and with the left hand grabbing the sword hilt of the said Lieutenant, twisting the top down and taking the sword from him, carrying it under the arms, presenting the sword point straight at the mouth of the said Lieutenant, as shown above at the said portraiture marked number 84.
  
 
''This is the end of the said first grab, demonstrated by the said Lieutenant and executed by the said Prevost.''
 
''This is the end of the said first grab, demonstrated by the said Lieutenant and executed by the said Prevost.''
Line 1,955: Line 1,955:
 
''After having written the guard and position of the said Lieutenant above, stay to read the guard and position for the said defending Prevost.''
 
''After having written the guard and position of the said Lieutenant above, stay to read the guard and position for the said defending Prevost.''
  
The said Prevost, after having made his step, guard, and placement, remains on the left foot in middle guard, keeping the hilt even higher than the right shoulder and the fingertips that is holding the sword down, placing the point of the sword straight at the left eye of the said Lieutenant, and the keeping left hand upon the left thigh, and all the other who would want to be in this guard will maintain this gesture as the said Prevost has shown above at the portraiture marked number 90.
+
The said Prevost, after having made his step, guard, and placement, remains on the left foot in middle guard, keeping the hilt even higher than the right shoulder and the fingertips that is holding the sword down, placing the sword point straight at the left eye of the said Lieutenant, and the keeping left hand upon the left thigh, and all the other who would want to be in this guard will maintain this gesture as the said Prevost has shown above at the portraiture marked number 90.
  
 
''The end of the guard and position for the said Prevost.''
 
''The end of the guard and position for the said Prevost.''
Line 1,979: Line 1,979:
 
| ''The second grab for the demonstrating Lieutenant against the defending Prevost.''
 
| ''The second grab for the demonstrating Lieutenant against the defending Prevost.''
  
And to do this, the Lieutenant will be in low guard on the left foot, as said, placing the point of the sword straight at the braies or the belt of the Prevost as stated and marked above at their portraitures number 89 and 90. And to execute this second grab for the said Lieutenant who is the attacking demonstrator, being in the low guard as stated, he will advance the right foot, pretending to throw a high right-hand or thrust coming from him. The Prevost seeing the strike charged at him, will block it, crossing and beating down the sword of the said Lieutenant and so the said Lieutenant will advance the left foot and will throw a back-hand at his head. The Prevost will want to beat down again at his sword, so the said Lieutenant will advance the left foot at an instant and will take the sword hilt with his left hand and will present a thrust at his stomach as shown at the portraiture marked number 91 behind the collar.
+
And to do this, the Lieutenant will be in low guard on the left foot, as said, placing the sword point straight at the braies or the belt of the Prevost as stated and marked above at their portraitures number 89 and 90. And to execute this second grab for the said Lieutenant who is the attacking demonstrator, being in the low guard as stated, he will advance the right foot, pretending to throw a high right-hand or thrust coming from him. The Prevost seeing the strike charged at him, will block it, crossing and beating down the sword of the said Lieutenant and so the said Lieutenant will advance the left foot and will throw a back-hand at his head. The Prevost will want to beat down again at his sword, so the said Lieutenant will advance the left foot at an instant and will take the sword hilt with his left hand and will present a thrust at his stomach as shown at the portraiture marked number 91 behind the collar.
  
 
''This is the end of the second grab and demonstration for the said Lieutenant against the Prevost.''
 
''This is the end of the second grab and demonstration for the said Lieutenant against the Prevost.''
Line 2,065: Line 2,065:
 
''Next is to show the guard and position for the said Prevost.''
 
''Next is to show the guard and position for the said Prevost.''
  
The guard of the said Prevost is that he must have made the same drawing as stated above, and remaining on the left foot at first, and seeing that the said Lieutenant keeps himself in middle guard, the said Prevost is to keep himself in high guard, placing the point of the sword straight at the left eye of the said Lieutenant, keeping the nails on the sword hand down, and he must really keep the sword flat so that a dice can stay on it without falling on one side or the other, so that the two quillons of the sword will be as high as the other, and so the said sword must be in high guard and middle, otherwise we hold it false, incongruent, and not so good; otherwise the said quillons of the said sword would be falsely invented as shown above at the said portraiture marked number 98 behind the head.  
+
The guard of the said Prevost that he must be in is the same drawing as stated above, and remaining on the left foot initially, and seeing that the said Lieutenant keeps himself in middle guard, the said Prevost is to keep himself in high guard, placing the sword point straight at the left eye of the said Lieutenant, keeping the nails on the sword hand down, and he must really keep the sword flat so that a dice can stay on it without falling on one side or the other, so that the two quillons of the sword will be as high as the other, and so the said sword must be in high guard and middle, otherwise we hold it false, incongruent, and not so good; otherwise the said quillons of the said sword would be falsely invented as shown above at the said portraiture marked number 98 behind the head.  
  
 
''This is the end of the guard and position for the said Prevost to throw the first strike for the third grab.''
 
''This is the end of the guard and position for the said Prevost to throw the first strike for the third grab.''
Line 2,167: Line 2,167:
 
| ''The position and the guard of the fourth and last grab for the attacking Lieutenant against the defending Prevost.''
 
| ''The position and the guard of the fourth and last grab for the attacking Lieutenant against the defending Prevost.''
  
And in order to effectively perform the aforementioned guard and fourth grab for the Lieutenant, he must have made the step, drawing, and guard above at one of the said drawings. And the said Lieutenant needs to be on the left foot in high guard, keeping the back of the sword hand up and nails down, placing the point of the sword straight at the mouth of the Prevost, keeping the left hand upon the left lap, as shown above at the portraiture marked number 105.
+
And in order to effectively perform the aforementioned guard and fourth grab for the Lieutenant, he must have made the step, drawing, and guard above at one of the said drawings. And the said Lieutenant needs to be on the left foot in high guard, keeping the back of the sword hand up and nails down, placing the sword point straight at the mouth of the Prevost, keeping the left hand upon the left lap, as shown above at the portraiture marked number 105.
  
 
''The end of the guard to make a strike, to execute the fourth grab for the Lieutenant.''
 
''The end of the guard to make a strike, to execute the fourth grab for the Lieutenant.''
Line 2,199: Line 2,199:
 
''The way to defend the Prevost at the aforementioned high right-hand or high thrust thrown by the Lieutenant so that afterwards he then execute the said fourth grab.''
 
''The way to defend the Prevost at the aforementioned high right-hand or high thrust thrown by the Lieutenant so that afterwards he then execute the said fourth grab.''
  
And to do this, this said Prevost must be on the left foot in middle guard as shown above at the portraiture marked number 106. And for the defense of ths high right-hand or high thrust thrown by the said Lieutenant, this said Prevost needs to pull the left foot back and cross his sword with that of the said Lieutenant, be it a high right-hand or a high thrust, strong on weak, just like we did above at any one of the said counters and continuations; and present a thrust at the face of the said Lieutenant, keeping the back of the sword hand down and the nails up, and the left hand right of his nipple, placing the point of the sword straight at the mouth of the said Lieutenant as shown and done above at the portraiture of the said Prevost marked number 108 behind the collar.
+
And to do this, this said Prevost must be on the left foot in middle guard as shown above at the portraiture marked number 106. And for the defense of this high right-hand or high thrust thrown by the said Lieutenant, this said Prevost needs to pull the left foot back and cross his sword with that of the said Lieutenant, be it a high right-hand or a high thrust, strong on weak, just like we did above at any one of the other said counters and continuations; and present a thrust to the face of the said Lieutenant, keeping the back of the sword hand down and the nails up, and the left hand right of his nipple, placing the sword point straight at the mouth of the said Lieutenant as shown and done above at the portraiture of the said Prevost marked number 108 behind the collar.
  
 
''This is how the said Prevost effectively guards the aforementioned strike thrown by the said Lieutenant.''
 
''This is how the said Prevost effectively guards the aforementioned strike thrown by the said Lieutenant.''
Line 2,255: Line 2,255:
 
''The following is the execution of the said fourth and last grab of the said sword alone for the Prevost against the said Lieutenant his said demonstrator.''
 
''The following is the execution of the said fourth and last grab of the said sword alone for the Prevost against the said Lieutenant his said demonstrator.''
  
And to do this, this said Prevost must be on the left foot and when he will see that the Lieutenant or another attacker will throw a high right-hand or a high thrust, having advanced the right foot, the said Prevost will pull his left foot back, and at the same time steal away his sword below the sword hilt of the said Lieutenant, and without a moment to waste, let the point of the sword fall on the said Lieutenant and forcefully the said Prevost will take the point of the sword of the said Lieutenant with the left hand and passing and lowering it, so it will force the said Lieutenant to let go of his sword as shown above at the portraiture of the said Prevost marked number 112.
+
And to do this, this said Prevost must be on the left foot and when he sees that the Lieutenant or another attacker will throw a high right-hand or a high thrust, having advanced the right foot, the said Prevost will pull his left foot back, and at the same time steal away his sword below the sword hilt of the said Lieutenant, and without a moment to waste, let the sword point fall on the said Lieutenant, and the said Prevost will forcefully take the sword point of the said Lieutenant with the left hand and pass and lower it, so it will force the said Lieutenant to let go of his sword as shown above at the portraiture of the said Prevost marked number 112.
  
 
''This is the end of the said fourth and last grab of the said sword alone, both by the said attacking Lieutenant as well as for the defending Prevost.''
 
''This is the end of the said fourth and last grab of the said sword alone, both by the said attacking Lieutenant as well as for the defending Prevost.''
Line 2,331: Line 2,331:
 
| ''The guard and position for the said Lieutenant and the Prevost for the Lieutenant to show to the Prevost what he must do henceforth and not like what he did at the previous strike.''  
 
| ''The guard and position for the said Lieutenant and the Prevost for the Lieutenant to show to the Prevost what he must do henceforth and not like what he did at the previous strike.''  
  
And to do this, the said Lieutenant must also have made one of the three drawings of his choice, and the said Lieutenant having remained on the left foot in middle guard, placing the point of the sword straight at the left nipple, keeping the back of the sword hand up, and the left hand below the sword arm, as shown above at the portraiture marked number 117.
+
And to do this, the said Lieutenant must also have made one of the three drawings of his choice, and the said Lieutenant having remained on the left foot in middle guard, placing the sword point straight at the left nipple, keeping the back of the sword hand up, and the left hand below the sword arm, as shown above at the portraiture marked number 117.
  
 
''The end of the guard of the said Lieutenant to execute the said subtlety, following the ignorance that the said Lieutenant saw of the said Prevost marked number 115 and 116.''
 
''The end of the guard of the said Lieutenant to execute the said subtlety, following the ignorance that the said Lieutenant saw of the said Prevost marked number 115 and 116.''

Revision as of 04:29, 14 February 2021

Henry de Sainct Didier
Born 1530s (?)
Pertuis, Provence
Died after 1584
Paris, France (?)
Occupation Fencing master
Patron Charles IX of France
Influences
Influenced Salvator Fabris (?)
Genres Fencing manual
Language Middle French
Notable work(s) Les secrets du premier livre sur l'espée seule (1573)
Translations Traducción castellano
Signature Henry de Sainct Didier sig.png

Henry de Sainct Didier, Esq. was a 16th century French fencing master. He was born to a noble family in Pertuis in the Provence region of France, son of Luc de Sainct Didier. Sainct Didier made his career in the French army, ultimately serving 25 years and seeing action in Piedmont, Italy from 1554 - 1555. He wrote of himself that he "lived his whole life learning to fight with the single sword" and eventually "reached a point of perfection" in his art. Apparently he became a fencing master of some renown, for in ca. 1573 he secured a royal privilege for a period of ten years for treatises on a number of weapons, including the dagger, single side sword, double side swords, sword and buckler, sword and cloak, sword and dagger, sword and shield (both rotella and targe), and greatsword. Unfortunately, only his treatise on the single side sword, titled Les secrets du premier livre sur l'espée seule ("Secrets of the Premier Book on the Single Sword") and printed on 4 June 1573, is known to survive; it seems likely that the others were never published at all.

Treatise

Additional Resources

  • Hyatt, Robert Preston and Wilson, Devon. "The Single Sword of Henry de Sainct Didier." Masters of Medieval and Renaissance Martial Arts. Ed. Jeffrey Hull. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-58160-668-3
  • Sainct Didier, Henry de. The Single Sword of Henry de Sainct-Didier (Traicté Contenant Les Secrets Du Premier Livre Sur L'Espée Seule). Trans. Robert Preston Hyatt and Devon Wilson. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press, 2009. ISBN 978-1581607048
  • Slee, Chris. Secrets of the Sword Alone. LongEdge Press, 2014. ISBN 978-0646926353

References

  1. Pristin : ancien, antérieur
  2. Insertion du « a ».
  3. Dupuis describes this as a wooden board placed in the back wall of the tennis court which, if hit by a volley, is scored immediately. In modern tennis, this board is replaced by a grid.
  4. « L'es », habituellement orthographiée « ais », désigne une planche de bois placée dans le mur du fond de la salle de jeu de paume qui, si elle est touchée par un coup de volée, donne le point immédiatement. Dans le jeu de paume moderne, cette planche est remplacée par une grille. Il est possible que cet « ais » ait donné le terme anglais d'« ace » que les étymologies modernes confondent avec l'« as » du jeu de carte. Voir la définition d' « ais » de l'Encyclopédie de Diderot et d'Alembert.
  5. L’esteuf : ancien nom pour la balle.
  6. précéder. « Préaller » subsiste en français sous la forme « préalable ».
  7. Il s’agit très probablement du maître d’arme italien Fabris Salvator de Padoue (1544-1617). Voir la note sur Fabris Salvator de Vigeant p. 162 et aussi les références à ses publications (Vigeant p. 55-56)
  8. Version alimentaire de l’adage « blanc bonnet et bonnet blanc ».
  9. Transcription la plus sûre du texte : « gran d erre »
  10. Serviteur du grand prêtre venu arrêter Jésus au Mont des Olivier et dont l’oreille coupée a été immédiatement guérie. Selon la lecture du passage, il est parfois pris pour celui qui soufflète Jésus.
  11. Un des anciens nom de l’abeille.
  12. Sens incertain ; peut-être s'agit-il d'une mauvaise graphie de « filial ».
  13. drillant : étincellant, brillant (dictionnaire de Nicot).
  14. Correction du texte d’origine donnant « peid ».
  15. Cette correction sur les images d'Henri de Saint-Didier indique que celles-ci ont été réalisées avant la version finale du texte.
  16. Le « o » de troisiesme est curieusement placé en exposant.
  17. Suppression du doublement de l'esperluette.
  18. Dupuis states the original says left but is incompatible with the rest of the text and the engraving.
  19. Proposition de correction de l’édition originale qui donne « gauche », en incohérence avec la gravure et le texte plus bas qui confirme que la posture du Lieutenent est identique à celle de la section précédente où c’était bien le pied droit qui était reculé.
  20. Deuxième remarque de l'auteur sur les gravures montrant que le texte a été retouché après réception des gravures. À comparer avec une remarque similaire faite dans le i.33.
  21. per Dupuis's transcription, it's literally "backhand" as opposed to the technique before named "renver" for whatever reason Didier thought to use a different word this time. I've included a hyphen to differentiate but I think it's supposed to be the same.
  22. Correction du texte d’origine donnant « Leiutenent ».
  23. In modern fencing, dérobement is a fencing term for disengage.
  24. Correction de l'édition originale qui omet lors d'un changement de page le début du mot « haute »
  25. The position of the hand illustrates the fingers down, in opposition to the text.
  26. La position de la main illustrée a les doigts au-dessus, en opposition avec le texte.
  27. Proposition de correction pour « bessoin »
  28. Proposition de correction pour « avan-main »
  29. Proposition de correction pour « couté »
  30. Proposition de correction pour « Vola ».
  31. Proposition de correction pour « ongle »
  32. Sens inconnu.
  33. The technique.
  34. La tuition est un synonyme de « garde », « défense », très souvent employé à cette époque pour appuyer le mot « défense ».
  35. Proposition de correction pour « Provost »
  36. Proposition de correction de « du–sixiesme »
  37. Proposition de correction pour « persent ».
  38. The triangle represented here is not correct. The one marked 65 seems to better reflect the proposed movement.
  39. Proposition de correction pour « le ongles ».
  40. Le triangle représenté ici n'est pas correct, celui cotté 65 paraît rendre mieux compte du déplacement proposé.
  41. Dupuis thinks 75 represents this correct and that 73 is incorrect.
  42. Proposition de correction pour « Lieutent ». La marque indiquant une contraction a probablement été omise.
  43. On pourrait compléter : « ...et le mettre en 4 ». L'illustration 73 est incorrecte puisque le pied gauche est resté sur la semelle 1 et n'est pas placé sur la semelle 3 (à gauche) comme demandé ; la position des pieds de l'illustration 75 correspond à ce qui aurait dû être représenté.
  44. The Prevost shown at the portraiture does not correspond to the text since he is on the right foot
  45. Proposition de correction pour « dh’aut »
  46. Sic.
  47. Le prévôt représenté ici ne correspond pas au texte puisqu'il se tient sur le pied droit.
  48. The Prevost of 80 isn't on the left foot as written but is coherent with 78.
  49. Le prévôt de la figure 80 n’est pas sur le pied gauche comme écrit et mais reste cohérent avec la figure 78.
  50. It is meant to read as Prevost here.
  51. Il faut évidemment lire ici « Prevost ».
  52. Proposition de correction pour « suprint »
  53. Sic.
  54. Suppression du doublement de l'esperluette dans « sa cuisse gauche, & & tous ».
  55. Sic. Au XVIe siècle, le genre des mots était encore indécis.
  56. The author is announcing here another edition to augment his book which has never has been written.
  57. L’auteur annonce ici une prochaine édition augmentée de son oeuvre qui n’a a priori jamais eu lieu.
  58. Proposition de correction pour « ou ».
  59. Proposition de correction pour « mostré »
  60. Du latin médiéval « inquinatum » signifiant « pour combien »
  61. lit. bark or shell, outer layer. Idiom similar to "Don't judge a book by its cover.
  62. Dilection : attachement, amour pur.
  63. Un vidimus est la copie certifiée d'un acte antérieur.
  64. Il doit s'agit de Pierre ou Jean Brûlart (tout deux avait une charge au Parlement) qui signe pour le roi.