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Difference between revisions of "Pedro de Heredia"

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| '''Section 1 - How one must accommodate the body to get into a good posture.'''
 
| '''Section 1 - How one must accommodate the body to get into a good posture.'''
  
Now the accommodation of the body to be on guard will be holding the body straight with the right side a bit forward, turning the left side a bit backward, leaning the body on the left leg, of which the knee must be bent; the left arm is raised near the face like a semi-circle, the right leg extended or slightly bent, the two heels face-to-face to one another showing only the flank; you will cover with your right arm well extended below and a bit in front above the right thigh, the point of the sword looking in front of the enemy's right shoulder a bit higher than the fittings<ref>According to Lauvernay, "fourniment" is the powder case of arquebusiers and musketeers (sometimes extended to all the equipment carried). The word is only used once to indicate a place on the body, probably a bit below the shoulder.</ref>, and traversed somewhat within, properly going on all sides to the sword of the enemy. It is the third guard that I hold to be the most perfect, and in which all observations of good technique can be better preserved, since everything that derives from the other guards can easily (at least in part) be accommodated by this one. However having previously spoken of the four guards, I want to explain each of them in their place, to show that it is not necessary to rest in only one, because I hold them all good when performed well.
+
Now the accommodation of the body to be on guard will be holding the body straight with the right side a bit forward, turning the left side a bit backward, leaning the body on the left leg, of which the knee must be bent; the left arm is raised near the face like a semi-circle, the right leg extended or slightly bent, the two heels face-to-face to one another showing only the flank; you will cover with your right arm well extended below and a bit in front above the right thigh, the sword point looking in front of the enemy's right shoulder a bit higher than the fittings<ref>According to Lauvernay, "fourniment" is the powder case of arquebusiers and musketeers (sometimes extended to all the equipment carried). The word is only used once to indicate a place on the body, probably a bit below the shoulder.</ref>, and traversed somewhat within, properly going on all sides to the enemy's sword. It is the third guard that I hold to be the most perfect, and in which all observations of good technique can be better preserved, since everything that derives from the other guards can easily (at least in part) be accommodated by this one. However having previously spoken of the four guards, I want to explain each of them in their place, to show that it is not necessary to rest in only one, because I hold them all good when performed well.
  
 
Before putting the said guards in effect, a good master must teach his disciples the steps which are called passing, turning, traversing, and linear following before putting the sword in their hand, to make them more agile and swift in all movements, which having understood, he will give them sword in hand, teaching them the ensuing guards from which all the others derive as their principal element.
 
Before putting the said guards in effect, a good master must teach his disciples the steps which are called passing, turning, traversing, and linear following before putting the sword in their hand, to make them more agile and swift in all movements, which having understood, he will give them sword in hand, teaching them the ensuing guards from which all the others derive as their principal element.
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<p>The counterguard of the second will be the same.</p>
 
<p>The counterguard of the second will be the same.</p>
  
<p>The counterguard of the third will likewise be the same in passing outside the enemy's sword.</p>
+
<p>The counterguard of the third will likewise be the same in passing outward from the enemy's sword.</p>
  
 
<p>The counterguard of the fourth will be the third, your sword covering that of the enemy's with your strong on your opponent's weak.</p>
 
<p>The counterguard of the fourth will be the third, your sword covering that of the enemy's with your strong on your opponent's weak.</p>
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|-  
 
|-  
 
|  
 
|  
| <p>'''Section 6 - Knowing which is the correct<ref>Droit can mean "right" (as in not left or not wrong) or "correct" (as in not incorrect) or "true" (as in not false). All are likely acceptable.</ref> or false edge of the sword.'''</p>
+
| <p>'''Section 6 - Knowing which is the sword's correct<ref>Droit can mean "right" (as in not left or not wrong) or "correct" (as in not incorrect) or "true" (as in not false). All are likely acceptable.</ref> or false edge.'''</p>
  
<p>The correct edge of the sword is that which offends and the false edge is that which parries.</p>
+
<p>The sword's correct edge is that which offends and the false edge is that which parries.</p>
 
|   
 
|   
  
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| <p>'''Section 7 - Four ways of passing.</p>'''
 
| <p>'''Section 7 - Four ways of passing.</p>'''
  
<p>The first passing is made outside of the enemy's sword. The second will be on the left side, the third will be narrowing the step going in a straight line. The fourth will pass one foot in front of the other; take heed that with this last passing, the left foot must move first.</p>
+
<p>The first passing is made outward from the enemy's sword. The second will be on the left side, the third will be narrowing the step going in a straight line. The fourth will pass one foot in front of the other; take heed that with this last passing, the left foot must move first.</p>
 
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|  
  
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<p>I in no way approve of the stamping of the feet being an improper and uncomfortable thing.</p>
 
<p>I in no way approve of the stamping of the feet being an improper and uncomfortable thing.</p>
  
<p>As also I entirely blame those who shoot their estocade, stretch their bodies and hold their heads back, thinking that this makes a better cut, in which they are mistaken. On the contrary, they more often than not abandon themselves to the discretion of their enemy, for they are not assured of delivering their cut, which having just been parried, they find themselves so rushed and so committed that they cannot recover time without receiving. Also, it removes the protection of the left hand; therefore I cannot approve of these big steps, and I say that it is better to hold the body straight with strength by extending his cuts to be always prompt in the delivery.</p>
+
<p>As also I entirely blame those who shoot their over-thrust, stretch their bodies and hold their heads back, thinking that this makes a better cut, in which they are mistaken. On the contrary, they more often than not abandon themselves to the discretion of their enemy, for they are not assured of delivering their cut, which having just been parried, they find themselves so rushed and so committed that they cannot recover time without receiving. Also, it removes the protection of the left hand; therefore I cannot approve of these big steps, and I say that it is better to hold the body straight with strength by extending his cuts to be always prompt in the delivery.</p>
 
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<p>'''Pass''' means to always move without changing intention except when the opportunity arises.</p>
 
<p>'''Pass''' means to always move without changing intention except when the opportunity arises.</p>
  
<p>'''Turn'''<ref>Volter is an Italian loanword of "Voltare".</ref> properly speaking means going or turning towards the part that one wants to offend whether it is inside or outside.</p>
+
<p>'''Turn'''<ref>Volter is an Italian loanword of "Voltare".</ref> properly speaking means going or turning towards the part that one wants to offend whether it is inward or outward.</p>
  
 
<p>'''Walk''' means going step by step both forwards and backwards.</p>
 
<p>'''Walk''' means going step by step both forwards and backwards.</p>
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<p>'''Snatch''' the foot means to bring the foot back to thereby break the measure with discretion.</p>
 
<p>'''Snatch''' the foot means to bring the foot back to thereby break the measure with discretion.</p>
  
<p>'''Estocade'''<ref>The author also uses estocade to simply mean thrust. I will leave it untranslated and let the readers decide.</ref> means a touch given with the point carried by the hand turned with the nails upwards.</p>
+
<p>'''Over-thrust'''<ref>Estocade is the French loanword for the Italian stoccata.</ref> means a touch given with the point carried by the hand twisted with the nails upwards.</p>
  
<p>'''Brocade''' also means a touch of the point taken with the hand twisted with the nails downwards.</p>
+
<p>'''Under-thrust'''<ref>Brocade is the French loanword for the Italian imbroccata.</ref> also means a touch with the point taken with the hand twisted with the nails downwards.</p>
  
<p>A '''blow''' means a touch both in brocade and estocade.</p>
+
<p>A '''stab''' means a touch both in under-thrust and over-thrust.</p>
  
 
<p>'''Disengage''' means when one feints high and goes low, or feints low and goes high.
 
<p>'''Disengage''' means when one feints high and goes low, or feints low and goes high.
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<p>'''Call''' means pulling a step or uncovering a part of the body, to provoke the enemy to attack, in order to execute what one desires.
 
<p>'''Call''' means pulling a step or uncovering a part of the body, to provoke the enemy to attack, in order to execute what one desires.
  
<p>'''Firm foot''' means to give a long estocade or brocade without passing.</p>
+
<p>'''Firm foot''' means to give a long over-thrust or under-thrust without passing.</p>
  
<p>'''Riposte''' is the estocade that the enemy shoots at he who shot first, whether a thrust or a hew.</p>
+
<p>'''Riposte''' is the over-thrust that the enemy shoots at he who shot first, whether a thrust or a hew.</p>
  
 
<p>'''Straight line''' is to pursue the enemy without turning or crossing anywhere.</p>
 
<p>'''Straight line''' is to pursue the enemy without turning or crossing anywhere.</p>
  
<p>'''Void''' the body means to turn it to give way to the estocade that the enemy shoots.</p>
+
<p>'''Void''' the body means to turn it to give way to the over-thrust that the enemy shoots.</p>
  
<p>'''Round right hands''' and '''round reversals''' mean hitting with a reversal and with a hew without moving the hand from where it is except by turning it.</p>
+
<p>'''Round right hands''' and '''round reversals''' mean hitting with a reversal and with a hew without moving the hand from where it is except by twisting it.</p>
  
 
<p>'''Hew''' the sword is to beat the enemy's sword with one's own.</p>
 
<p>'''Hew''' the sword is to beat the enemy's sword with one's own.</p>
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<p>'''Puncture''' the sword is to force the enemy to change guard.</p>
 
<p>'''Puncture''' the sword is to force the enemy to change guard.</p>
  
<p>Sometimes if one is said to '''shoot a blow''' to the face or a cut to the head, that may be a feint, therefore, one must use discretion.
+
<p>Sometimes if one is said to '''shoot a stab''' to the face or a cut to the head, that may be a feint, therefore, one must use discretion.
  
<p>'''Beating of the foot''' means feinting to push a resolute estocade with firm foot so that the enemy must parry and after he does to redouble to another where you will see him open.</p>
+
<p>'''Beating of the foot''' means feinting to push a resolute over-thrust with firm foot so that the enemy must parry and after he does to redouble to another where you will see him open.</p>
  
 
<p>'''Flourish''' means to vary your point under the enemy's sword, both outward and inward, so that the enemy cannot know your intention, nor cover your sword.</p>
 
<p>'''Flourish''' means to vary your point under the enemy's sword, both outward and inward, so that the enemy cannot know your intention, nor cover your sword.</p>
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<p>'''Article 1</p>
 
<p>'''Article 1</p>
  
<p>First finding yourself in the fourth guard and the enemy being in third or second, you will cover inward with the strong of your sword on the middle of his weak; and having gained, you will push an estocade straight from the correct edge to his right shoulder without abandoning his blade. And to perform this cut well, note that it is appropriate for the arm to be extended and the body extended before the foot steps to push, so that you are not surprised and the enemy cannot disengage on the raising of the foot.</p>
+
<p>First finding yourself in the fourth guard and the enemy being in third or second, you will cover inward with the strong of your sword on the middle of his weak; and having gained, you will push an over-thrust straight from the correct edge to his right shoulder without abandoning his blade. And to perform this cut well, note that it is appropriate for the arm to be extended and the body extended before the foot steps to push, so that you are not surprised and the enemy cannot disengage on the raising of the foot.</p>
  
 
<p>'''Article 2</p>
 
<p>'''Article 2</p>
  
<p>You will also be in fourth guard, to subjugate the enemy's sword covering it as above; and if he changes his point and shoots outward a brocade, you will parry with your strong on his weak with the hand twisted into a brocade, and you will at the same time push a brocade with the correct edge to the right side, fully extending the body and arms, without abandoning the enemy's sword, quickly pulling back into third guard.</p>
+
<p>You will also be in fourth guard, to subjugate the enemy's sword covering it as above; and if he changes his point and shoots outward a under-thrust, you will parry with your strong on his weak with the hand twisted into an under-thrust, and you will at the same time push an under-thrust with the correct edge to the right side, fully extending the body and arms, without abandoning the enemy's sword, quickly pulling back into third guard.</p>
  
 
<p>'''Article 3</p>
 
<p>'''Article 3</p>
  
<p>Finding the enemy camped in third guard, you will advance in second with the arm and body; and turning the hand in brocade, you will cover his sword with your strong on the middle of his weak; and if he changes his point and throws a blow inward, you will parry again with your strong to his weak, and you will push with the correct edge an estocade with firm foot to the right shoulder. Note that the arm and the body are still lodged before the foot step in order to push off.</p>
+
<p>Finding the enemy camped in third guard, you will advance in second with the arm and body; and twisting the hand in under-thrust, you will cover his sword with your strong on the middle of his weak; and if he changes his point and shoots a stab inward, you will parry again with your strong to his weak, and you will push with the correct edge an over-thrust with firm foot to the right shoulder. Note that the arm and the body are still lodged before the foot step in order to push off.</p>
  
 
<p>'''Article 4</p>
 
<p>'''Article 4</p>
  
<p>Being in third guard, you can also similarly hold your point below the middle of the strong of the enemy's sword a bit outward; then gathering it towards you at the height of the enemy's face, you will cover from the middle of your strong to the middle of his weak inward, pushing at the same time an estocade to the right shoulder without abandoning his blade so as not to receive at the same time, quickly putting you back in fourth guard.</p>
+
<p>Being in third guard, you can also similarly hold your point below the middle of the strong of the enemy's sword a bit outward; then gathering it towards you at the height of the enemy's face, you will cover from the middle of your strong to the middle of his weak inward, pushing at the same time an over-thrust to the right shoulder without abandoning his blade so as not to receive at the same time, quickly putting you back in fourth guard.</p>
  
 
<p>'''Article 5</p>
 
<p>'''Article 5</p>
  
<p></p>
+
<p>You can still with the same guard, hold your sword point inward below the enemy's hilt; and in case he comes to cover your sword, you will change it at the same time placing your strong on the middle of his weak, twisting the hand in an under-thrust, and thus you will shoot from second a straight line stab outward at the right shoulder extending first the arm and body, then returning to the same guard.</p>
  
 
<p>'''Article 6</p>
 
<p>'''Article 6</p>
  
<p></p>
+
<p>Finding the enemy in first guard, you will put yourself in second, pointing your sword point at opponent's the right eye; who coming to cover your weak with his strong, you will lower your point at the same time under his guard giving him an over-thrust under the armpit, carrying your sword guard well raised to protect the head against slashes that the enemy could shoot if you were caught off guard.</p>
 +
 
 +
<p>This same cut can be done after your enemy has already covered your sword, provided that you take it at the time that it is strong enough to subdue it.</p>
  
 
<p>'''Article 7</p>
 
<p>'''Article 7</p>
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<p>'''Article 1'''</p>
 
<p>'''Article 1'''</p>
  
<p>If the enemy is in second, and you in third, at the same time as he extends his arm in estocade, you will parry, covering his sword with your strong on his weak; then twisting your hand in brocade, you will shoot a reversal on his sword, pulling your false edge back towards you, and thus you can shoot the sword out of his hands.</p>
+
<p>If the enemy is in second, and you in third, at the same time as he extends his arm in over-thrust, you will parry, covering his sword with your strong on his weak; then twisting your hand in under-thrust, you will shoot a reversal on his sword, pulling your false edge back towards you, and thus you can shoot the sword out of his hands.</p>
  
 
<p>'''Article 2'''</p>
 
<p>'''Article 2'''</p>
  
<p>The enemy having gained your sword within and wanting to give you an estocade from fourth, you will parry with the strong of your sword close to his point; then turning your hand in brocade, you will draw a reversal to you on his weak, and thus you will throw the sword from his hands.</p>
+
<p>The enemy having gained your sword within and wanting to give you an over-thrust from fourth, you will parry with the strong of your sword close to his point; then twisting your hand in under-thrust, you will draw a reversal to you on his weak, and thus you will throw the sword from his hands.</p>
  
 
<p>'''Article 3'''</p>
 
<p>'''Article 3'''</p>
  
<p>The enemy also wanting to shoot brocade inward at you, you will shoot him at the same time a slash from second long to the point of his sword in order to throw it out of his hand.</p>
+
<p>The enemy also wanting to shoot under-thrust inward at you, you will shoot him at the same time a slash from second long to the his sword point in order to throw it out of his hand.</p>
  
<p>And if observing the aforementioned rules for throwing the sword out of the enemy's hand, and he wants to leave your sword, at the same time as his point binds, you will shoot a brocade to his chest, retiring into third.</p>
+
<p>And if observing the aforementioned rules for throwing the sword out of the enemy's hand, and he wants to leave your sword, at the same time as his point binds, you will shoot a under-thrust to his chest, retiring into third.</p>
  
 
<p>'''Section 2 Remedy against the discard.'''</p>
 
<p>'''Section 2 Remedy against the discard.'''</p>
  
<p>If the enemy having gained the weak of your sword inward on his strong, wants to throw you with his hand, at the same time that he does the turn from the reversal, you will change your point outward, pushing from fourth a blow to his right shoulder; or else you will twist the hand in brocade, letting the sword hilt slide in your hand; or else at the same time that he wants to turn his reversal, you will twist your hand in brocade, shooting a slash to his head.</p>
+
<p>If the enemy having gained the weak of your sword inward on his strong, wants to throw you with his hand, at the same time that he does the turn from the reversal, you will change your point outward, pushing from fourth a stab to his right shoulder; or else you will twist the hand in under-thrust, letting the sword hilt slide in your hand; or else at the same time that he wants to turn his reversal, you will twist your hand in under-thrust, shooting a slash to his head.</p>
 
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{{master subsection begin
 
{{master subsection begin
  | title = Chapter 12 - Slashes<ref>Cortelade is a cut from outside to inside (right to left for a right hander). The Spanish word "cortar" simply means "to cut".</ref>, reversals<ref>Rever is a cut from inside to outside (left to right for a right hander).</ref>, and their remedies.
+
  | title = Chapter 12 - Slashes<ref>The Spanish word "cortar" simply means "to cut".</ref>, reversals, and their remedies.
 
  | width = 90em
 
  | width = 90em
 
}}
 
}}

Revision as of 03:11, 18 May 2022

Pedro de Heredia
Spouse(s) unknown
Occupation
  • Governor
  • Captain
Nationality Spanish
Movement Esgrima común
Genres Fencing manual
Language Middle French
Notable work(s) Book of Lessons
Principal
manuscript(s)

Pedro de Heredia was a 17th century Spanish governor of a region in Belgium and a cavalry captain from 1615-1645.

Contents

Treatises

Additional Resources

References

  1. According to Lauvernay, "fourniment" is the powder case of arquebusiers and musketeers (sometimes extended to all the equipment carried). The word is only used once to indicate a place on the body, probably a bit below the shoulder.
  2. Droit can mean "right" (as in not left or not wrong) or "correct" (as in not incorrect) or "true" (as in not false). All are likely acceptable.
  3. Volter is an Italian loanword of "Voltare".
  4. Estocade is the French loanword for the Italian stoccata.
  5. Brocade is the French loanword for the Italian imbroccata.
  6. Credits to Alan Bloniarz for providing context to the word "garatusa".
  7. Écarté is the French word for the Italian technique "inquartata".
  8. Gannance is a loanword derived from the Spanish word "ganancia", which means "gain". It is used to describe a situation where your blade is used to restrict the opponent's blade movement. Credit to Tim Riviera for the explanation.
  9. The Spanish word "cortar" simply means "to cut".
  10. Chassement means "chasing". In this case, it is the back foot chasing the front. In modern fencing, this is known as advancing.
  11. Crèvement means "to burst or to puncture." In the treatise, it is used to describe breaking guards.