Gloss and Interpretation of the Record of the Long Sword

Author(s): Unknown
Ascribed to: Pseudo-Peter von Danzig
Date: Before 1452

"Pseudo-Peter von Danzig" is the name given to an anonymous late 14th or early 15th century fencing master. Some time before the creation of the Codex 44.A.8 in 1452, he authored a gloss of Johannes Liechtenauer's record which would go on to become the most widespread in the tradition.

While his identity remains unknown, it is possible that he was in fact Jud Lew or Sigmund Schining ein Ringeck, both of whose glosses show strong similarities to the work. On the other hand, the introduction to the Rome version of the text the oldest currently extant might be construed as attributing it to Liechtenauer himself.

Early on in its history, this text seems to have split into two primary branches. The first branch, found in the Rome (1452), Krakow (1510-20), and Augsburg (1564) versions, has slightly longer descriptions and is always accompanied by illustrations. The second branch, appearing first in the Augsburg (1450s) and used in all extant versions except the three listed above, has shorter descriptions but a number of additional devices (some of which seem to be drawn directly from Ringeck's gloss).

Contents

01. Common lesson of the Long Sword 02. Hewing After 03. Hew Near What You Will 04. Sorely Limp 05. Well Spring 06. Five Hews 07. Techniques of the Epitome 08. First Wrath Hew 09. Another Wrath Hew 10. Another Wrath Hew 11. Another Wrath Hew 12. Gloss of the War 13. Another Wrath Hew 14. Four Openings 15. Break the Four Openings 16. Crooked Hew 17. Crooked Hew 2 18. Crooked Hew 3 19. Thwart Hew 20. Thwart Hew 2 21. Thwart Hew 3 22. Thwart to the Four Openings 23. Failer 24. Inverter 25. Failer 2

26. Squint Hew 27. Squint Hew 2 28. reaking Long Point with the Squinter 29. Another Squint Hew 30. Parting Hew 31. The Four Liers 32. The Four Parryings 33. One Shall Not Parry 34. Drive Against the Parry 35. The Four Settings-On 36. Travelling After 37. Meanwhile 38. A Lesson of the Meanwhile 39. Travelling After 2 40. Over-Running 41. Set-Off Stabs and Hews 42. Change-Through 43. Pulling-On 44. Running-Through and Wrestling 45. Slicing-Off 46. The Four Slices 47. Turning of the Slices 48. The Two Lower Hangings 49. The Speaking Window 50. The Four Hangings and the Eight Windings

Here begins the gloss and the explanation of the Epitome of the Long Sword

This has been composed and created by Johannes Liechtenauer, the one High Master in the Art, may God be gracious to him, so that princes and lords and knights and soldiers shall know and learn that which pertains to the Art. Therefore he has allowed the Epitome to be written with secret and suspicious words, so that not every man shall undertake and understand them. And he has done that so the Epitome’s Art will little concern the reckless Fencing-Masters, so that from the same Masters his Art is not openly presented or shall become common. And the same secret and suspicious words of the Epitome that stand hereafter, the glosses teach and explain thus, so that everyone who otherwise can fence may well undertake and understand them.

Here mark what the red writing in the beginning of the hereafter described techniques is: that is the text of secret words of the Epitome of the Long Sword. And always the next black writing script is the gloss and the explanation of the secret and suspicious words of the Epitome.

This is the foreword:

1: This is a common lesson of the Long Sword in which very fine Art is held:

Gloss: Mark, that is the first art of the Long Sword, that you shall learn the hews correctly before all things, so that you will otherwise fence strongly, and undertake that thus: When you stand with the left foot before and hew from your right side, if you do not follow after the hew with a step forward of your right foot, thus the hew is false and incorrect. When your right side remains behind, thereby the hew becomes too short and may not have its correct path downwards to the other side before the left foot.

Or, if you stand with the right foot before and hew from the left side, and you do not follow after the hew with your left foot, then the hew is yet false. Therefore mark when you hew from the right side that you always follow after the hew. Do also likewise the same when you hew from the left side. So put your body therewith correctly in the balance, thus the hews become long and hewn correctly.

2: This is the text and the gloss of yet a lesson:

Gloss: This is when you come to him with the pre-fencing, then you shall not stand still and look after his hews, waiting for what he fences against you. Know that all fencers that look and wait on another’s hews and will do nothing other than parrying deserve such little joy, since they are destroyed and become thereby struck.

3: This is the text and the gloss of yet a lesson:

Gloss: Mark, that is when you come to him with the pre-fencing, what you will then fence, drive that with the entire strength of your body, and hew in therewith near to the head and to the body, and remain with the point in before the face or the breast so he cannot Change-through before your point. If he parries with strength and lets the point go out from you on the side, then give him a Tag-hit on the arm.

Or, if he drives high up with the arms with the parrying, then strike him with a free hew below to the body and step quickly therewith backward, so he is struck before.

4: This is the text and the gloss of yet another lesson:

Gloss: Mark, this is a lesson, and touches upon two persons, a right-hander and a left-hander, and is how you shall hew so that one does not win the Weak of your sword with the first hew, and undertake that thus: when you come to him with the pre-fencing, if you are then a right-hander, then hew the first hew with purpose not from the left side, then he is Weak and may therewith not hold against. When he hews strongly in to you, then hew from the right, so you may well hold strongly against, and work what you will on the sword.

Likewise, if you are left-handed, then hew also the first hew not from the right side, since it is quite perilous for a left-hander to practice Art from the right side, the same as it is also for a right-hander from the left side.

5: This is the text and the gloss of yet another lesson:

Gloss: Mark, this is that before all things you shall rightly undertake and understand these two things, which are the Before and the After, and thereafter the Weak and Strong of the sword, and then the word Meanwhile, wherefrom comes the entire foundation of all the Art of Fencing when you think on, undertake, and understand them rightly, and do not forget the word Meanwhile in all techniques that you drive. Then you are a very good Master of the Sword and may teach princes and lords well so that they may be best in combat and in earnest with correct Art of the Sword.

Here mark what is there called the Before:

This is that you shall always come Before, be it with the hew or with the stab, before he does, and when you come before with the hew or otherwise then he must parry that. Then work Meanwhile nimbly before yourself with the sword in the parrying, or otherwise with other techniques. Then he may come to no work.

Here mark what is there called the After:

The After are the breaks against all techniques and hews the opponent drives on you, and that undertake thus: When he comes Before with the hew, and you must parry him, then work Meanwhile with your parrying nimbly with the sword to the next opening. Then you break his Before with your After.

Here mark the Weak and the Strong of the sword:

Understand the Weak and the Strong thus: On the sword from the hilt to the middle of the blade is the Strong of the sword, and further above the middle to the point is the Weak, And how you shall work with the Strong of your sword after the Weak of his sword you will hereafter learn.

6: This is the text and gloss of Five Hews:

Gloss: Mark, there are Five hidden Hews of which many Masters of the Sword know nothing to say; these Hews you shall learn correctly from the right side. Whichever fencer you then hew with correct Art who can break these without injury becomes praised by other Masters, so that his Art shall become rewarded more than other fencers. And how one shall hew the hews with their techniques, that becomes hereafter clarified to you.

7: This is the text and the gloss of techniques of the Epitome:

Gloss: Mark, here become named to you the right Chief Techniques of the Epitome of the Long Sword, how they are each called particularly by their names so that you can further remember and recall them. The first are the Five Hews and how they are particularly named:

The first is called the Wrath-hew.
The second the Crooked-hew.
The third the Thwart-hew.
The fourth the Squinting-hew.
The fifth the Parting-hew.

Now mark the techniques:

The first, they are the Four Guards.

The second, the Four Parryings.

Thirdly, the Travelling-after.
The fourth, Over-running.
The fifth, the Setting-off.
The sixth is the Changing-through.
The seventh is the Pulling.
The eighth, the Running-through.
The ninth, the Slicing-off.
The tenth is the Hand Pressing.
The eleventh are the Hangings.
The twelfth are the Windings.

And what you shall fence from the techniques, and how you shall give openings with the Hangings and Windings, you will thus one after another to the next find described hereafter.

8: The first of the Wrath-hew with its techniques:

Gloss: Mark, the Wrath-hew breaks all Upper-hews with the point, and is yet nothing other than a simple peasant strike, and that drive thus: When you come to him with the pre-fencing, if he then hews at your head from above on his right side, then hew also from your right side from above, without any parrying, with him wrathfully on his sword. If he is then Weak on the sword, then shoot in the long point straight before you and stab him to the face or the breast. So Set-on him.

9: This is the text and the gloss of yet another technique of the Wrath-hew:

Gloss: Mark, that is when you hew in on him with the Wrath-hew, then shoot the long point into the face or breast as before described states. If he becomes aware of the point and parries strongly and presses your sword to the side, then wrench with your sword on his sword’s blade up over it, above off from his sword, and hew him to the other side, still on his sword’s blade into the head. That is called taking off above.

Break that thusly: When he takes off above, then bind above on his sword strongly in to his head with the long edge.

When you wish to perform the Wrath-hew, you must cut with the right hand and with the left hand well up against it. Thereafter with the turned hand make the point go down below and pass through.

You must also not take away upward, raking with your sword further than his point. Simultaneously strike him again to the head.

A counter against the taking away. When he takes away high and strikes to your head from your right side then wind the short edge of your sword a little upon his and Simultaneously slash with the long edge to his head.

Another Simultaneous counter. If he takes away, then step aside, away from the strike and work to the next Opening with the hews.

When you have struck with a turned hand from the Wrath-hew and he raises up and parries you, then pass through as well with your turned hand to his right side upon his belly and wind the right elbow over his and your sword and hold fast. Thus you have locked him. Or jerk with your right side to your left side and rake strongly backwards, thus you take the sword away from him and your point goes to his face.

10: This is the text and the gloss on yet another of the Wrath-hew:

Gloss: Mark, that is when you hew in on him with the Wrath-hew, if he parries and remains Strong with the parrying on the sword, then remain also Strong against with your sword on his and drive high up with the arms and Wind your hilt on his sword in front before your head, and stab him above into the face. If he becomes aware of the stab and drives high up with the arms and parries with the hilt, then remain thus standing with your hilt before your head and set the point in below on the neck, or on the breast between both his arms.

If you have thus wound to his right side and he has parried the thrust, then also wind again a little to your left and place the point down to his chest. If he then parries the point, then pull your sword upon you and strike him to the head. If he parries, then take away high or take other work from there.

Another: When you have taken away high and he has thus parried you to another place? and thrust with you, then lift high with the arms and Wind the short edge upon the Weak of his blade and thrust into his face or Wind to his right side upon his blade in the Weak and thrust another to his face. Thus you make both Winds from each other and Press with the point.

11: This is the text and the gloss of a lesson of the Wrath-hew:

Gloss: Mark this is when he has bound with you with a hew or with a stab, or otherwise on your sword, then you shall not too quickly leave his sword from the Winding before you very precisely mark if he is soft or hard in the bind, when one sword on the other clashes, and when you have found that first, then work Meanwhile with the Winding after the soft and after the hard, always to the next-standing opening as you hereafter become taught and trained in the techniques.

12: This is the text and the gloss of the War:

Gloss: Mark the War, that is the Winding and the work that therefrom goes with the point to the four openings, and that drive thus: when you hew in with the Wrath-hew, then as quickly as he parries, drive well up with your arms and Wind the point of the sword above in to the upper opening of his left side. If he then sets the upper stab off, then remain thus standing in the Winding with the hilt before your head, and let the point sink down to the lower opening yet on his left side. If he then follows after your sword with the parrying, then search with the point for the lower opening on his right side. If he then follows after your sword further with the parrying, then drive up with your sword on your left side, and hang the point in above to the upper opening on his right side. Thus he becomes ashamed with the War above and low, if you drive correctly from one to the other.

13: This is the text and the gloss of yet another lesson from the Wrath-hew:

Gloss: Mark this is when you hew in to him with the Wrath-hew, then you shall be very well trained and entirely ready with the Winding on the sword, since each single Winding has three particular techniques; which are a hew, a stab, and a slice. And when you Wind on the sword, then you shall think precisely well, so that you do not incorrectly drive the technique that pertains in that Winding, thus that you do not hew when you should stab, and not slice when you should hew, and not stab when you should slice. And thus you shall always know to drive the technique that correctly pertains thereto in all hits and binding on the sword if you will trick the other Masters.

And how you shall drive the Windings, and how many there are, you will find described in the last technique of the Epitome, which says "Who well drives and correctly breaks..."

When you wish to make a Hew and a Thrust and a Slice, then execute it thusly. Skillfully hew the Wrath Strike from your right side, Simultaneously Wind the point to his left side and thrust to left side of his face. Simultaneously step with your left foot toward his right and slice with the long edge atop both of his arms.

14: This is the text and the gloss of the Four Openings:

Gloss: Mark, who will be a Master of the Sword, he shall know how one shall search the Four Openings with art, if he will otherwise fence correctly and wisely. The first opening is the right side, the other the left, of the upper-half above the girdle of the man. The other two openings are the right and left side of the lower-half below the girdle. Now, there are two drivings wherefrom one shall search the openings. Firstly, one shall search from the pre-fencing with Travelling-after and with shooting-in the long point. Secondly, one shall search with the Eight Windings when one has bound the other on the sword.

That you shall thus understand: when you come to him with the pre-fencing, you shall always aim at the Four Openings, to whichever you may best come on, boldly without any fear with a hew or with a stab, and regard not what he drives or fences against you. Therewith you force the man so that he must parry you, and when he has parried, then search quickly in the parrying with the Winding on his sword yet to the next opening, and thus aim always at the openings of the man and fence not to the sword, as in the technique which says, “Set on four ends, learn to remain thereon, will you end.

You should know which Opening your opponent opened against you. Skillfully seek the same Opening without fear with a shooting into Long Point and with Following After and with Windings upon the sword and otherwise with all brandishings and do not consider how he bears his threats against you, thus you strike him wisely.

15: This is the text and the gloss how one shall break the Four Openings:

Gloss: Mark, when one earnestly hews in at you, if you will then reckon on him, and win on the openings with art so that he must let you strike without thinking, then drive the Doubling against the Strong of his sword, and the Mutating when he is Weak on the sword. So I say to you truthfully that he may not protect himself from strikes before you, and cannot come to strikes himself.

Here mark how you shall drive the Doubling to both sides:

Mark, when he hews above to you from his right shoulder, then hew also from your right with him, likewise above strongly to the head. If he parries and remains Strong on the sword, then drive up Meanwhile with your arms and thrust your sword’s pommel with the left hand under your right arm, and strike in with the long edge with crossed arms behind his sword’s blade on his head.

Mark, if he hews you with the long edge in to your head from above his left shoulder, and you do likewise, again if he then remains Strong on the sword, then quickly drive up with the arms and strike in behind his sword’s blade with the short edge on his head.

Thus you have learned to bring your sword to the War and pass through it.

Here mark how one shall drive the Mutating to both sides:

Mark, when you hew strongly on him from above your right shoulder to the head, if he parries and is Weak on the sword, then Wind on your left side with your short edge on his sword and drive well up with the arms, and drive in with your sword’s blade above over his sword and stab into the lower opening.

Another:

Mark, when you hew to his head from above your left side, if he parries and is Weak on the sword, then drive up with the arms and hang in the point above over his sword, and stab into the lower opening. Thus you may thereafter drive the two techniques from all hews as you find the Weak and Strong on the sword.

These are the fencings with the sword and embodies the work that is exalted.

16: This is the text and the gloss of the Crooked Hew with its techniques:

Mark, the Crooked hew is one of the Four parryings against the Four Guards and therewith breaks the guard that is called the Ox, and also the Upper-hew and the Lower-hew. Drive that thus; when you come to him with the pre-fencing, if he then stands against you and holds his sword before his head in guard of the Ox on his left side, then set the left foot before and hold your sword on your right shoulder in the guard, and spring with the right foot well on your right side against him and strike in with the long edge with crossed arms over his hands.

Another:

Mark, you may also drive the Crooked hew from the Barrier-Guard on both sides, and in that guard position yourself thus: when you come to him with the pre-fencing, then stand with the left foot before and hold your sword with the point near your right side on the earth so that the long edge is above, and give an opening with the left side. If he then hews to the opening, then spring from the hew with the right foot well on your right side against him, and strike him with crossed hands with the long edge with the point on his hands.

Item, thus position yourself with the Barrier-Guard on your left side: When you come to him with the pre-fencing, then stand with the right foot before and hold your sword near your left side on the earth with crossed hands so that the short edge is above, and give an opening with the right side. If he then hews to the opening, then spring from the hew against him with the left foot well on his right side and strike him with the short edge over the hands in the spring.

17: This is the text and the gloss of a good technique from the Crooked hew:

Gloss: Mark, you shall drive this technique against the Masters from the bind of the swords, and that drive thus: when you come to him with the pre-fencing, then lay your sword to your right side in the Barrier-Guard and stand with the left foot before, or hold it on your right shoulder. If he then hews above to the opening, then hew strongly with the long edge with crossed arms against his hew, and as quickly as the swords clash together, then Wind Meanwhile against your left side with the short edge on his sword, and stab him to the face. Or will you not stab him, then hew him Meanwhile from the sword with the short edge to the head, or to the body.

18: This is the text and the gloss of yet another from the Crooked-hew:

Gloss: Mark, this is when he will hew you from above his right side, then drive high up with the hands and do as if you will bind him on his sword with the Crooked hew, and drive with the point through under his sword, and stab him to the other side, to the face or the breast, and see that you are well protected above with the hilt before the head.

You also break the guard of the Ox with this technique, drive that thus: when you go to him with the pre-fencing, when he then stands against you and holds his sword with the hilt on his left side before his head, then throw your sword on your right shoulder and do as if you will bind him with the Crooked hew on his sword, and hew short and Change-through therewith below his sword and shoot in the long point to the other side, under his sword, in to the neck. Then he must parry, therewith you come to strikes and to other work with the sword.

19: This is the text and the gloss of yet another technique from the Crooked hew:

Gloss: Mark when you will drive the Crooked hew then you must always therewith give openings, and that undertake thus: when you hew him with the Crooked hew from your right side, or bind on his sword, you are the while open with the left side. Is he then clever and will hew you from the sword after the opening, and you will with nimbleness make him confused, then remain with your sword on his, and follow his sword thereon after, and Wind in the point to his face, and work in before you with the War, that is, with the Winding to the openings. Then he becomes confused before you, so that he truthfully does not know which end he shall protect before you against hews or stabs etc.

Item. A break against the Crooked-hew. Shoot your point under his sword to his breast. If he Presses your sword down to the ground with the Crooked-hew, then Wind against his right side and lift your arms well above your head and set your point high upon his chest. If he parries you, then remain thus, stand with the hilt before your head and work deftly with the point from one opening to the other. this is called the War with which you will confound him so much, he will not know where he should guard.

20: Here begins the text and the gloss of the Thwart Hew with its techniques:

Gloss: Mark, the Thwart hew breaks the guard From the Roof and all hews that come hewing down from above, and the Thwart drive thus: When you come with the pre-fencing, then stand with the left foot before and hold your sword on your right shoulder. If he then Stands against you and holds his sword with outstretched arms high over his head and threatens to hew in from above at you, then come before him with your hew and spring with the right foot well on your right side against him, and in the spring Wind your sword with the hilt before your head so that your thumb comes under, and strike him with the short edge against his left side to the head.

Item. When he preempts with a High-cut, then step with your right foot upon his left and strike toward him with the Thwart-hew upon the edge of his strong so is his cut parried. Simultaneously, thrust the pommel with your left hand back around to your right side, thus you have struck him upon the left ear. Or you may double it while you have crossed his strong or if he so strong that you cannot execute that, then thrust his sword aside with the hilt and strike around to his right side and seek the next opening.

Item. A break against a high Thwart-hew. Bind upon his sword with a High-cut from your right side. If he strikes around with the Thwart-hew, then Thwart-hew ahead of him under his sword upon his neck.

If he comes before with the hew down from above before you, then spring from the hew with the right foot well on your right side with the parry described before, so that you catch his hew on your hilt and strike him with the Thwart to the left side of his head.

Item. A break against an low Thwart-hew. When you have bound upon his sword with a High-cut and [he] strikes a Thwart-hew around, either high or low, then remain with the hilt before your head and wind your sword all the way around and stab his next opening with the point and travels to either side.

Item. When you are bound with a free High-cut and are struck a lower Thwart-hew to your right side, then remain standing thusly and position the short edge upon his neck with a Thwart-hew with the strong.

Here mark the break against the Thwart Hew:

Mark, when you stand against him in the guard From the Roof, then hew him boldly above to the head. If he then springs from the hew and he means to come Before with the Thwart Hew and strike you therewith to your left side to the head, then fall in with the long edge on his sword. If he then strikes with the Thwart around to your other side, then come Meanwhile before, also with the Thwart, in front under his sword on his neck. So he strikes himself with your sword.

Mark, when a fencer has bound you on his sword, if he then strikes around from the sword with the Thwart to your other side, then fall in on his hands or on the arm with the long edge, and press his arm with the sword with the slice with your all from you, and then strike him with the sword on his head from the slice on his arm.

(Six crossed out, illegible lines of verse written in red, which one has previously attempted to pay off.)

Here mark the break against the Upper-slice on the arm:

Mark, when you strike him with the Thwart to his right side, if he then follows you with the slice on the arm, then strike him with the Doubling with the short edge behind his sword’s blade in his mouth.

Or if you strike him with the Thwart to his left side and he then follows you with the slice on your arm, then strike him with the Doubling behind his sword’s blade with the long edge in his mouth.

Mark, break him thus against the Doubling: when you slice him above on his arm, if he then strikes above with the Doubling to your head, then drive up and Wind your sword under his, against the strike, and drive in with the sword on his neck with the short edge.

21: This is the text and the gloss of yet a technique from the Thwart hew:

Gloss: Mark, this is when you will strike with the Thwart, then you shall strike him with the entire strength of your body and always bind on his sword with the Strong of your sword, with which you win the opening. That undertake thus: when you hew to him with the Thwart from your right side, if he then parries and binds therewith strongly on your sword, then drive the Doubling.

Item. If he is too strong with the Opposition that you cannot come to any devices

Or thrust his sword with your hilt off to the side from the Thwart and strike him therewith to the other side.

Or if he wishes to Pass-over you, then take the slice below his arms

Item. If he takes you by the neck from the right side, then drop your left hand from your sword and Press his sword from your neck with your right and step across with your left foot to his right side in front of his feet and enter with your left arm above both of his arms near the hilt and direct him to dance or stab him below between the legs to the maker.

Item. When you wish to execute the Thwart-hew to his left side, then do not hit and strike deftly to his right side. If he then strikes to your right, then Simultaneously slice his hands strongly on the left of his right hand. This goes to both sides.

Yet another:

When you strongly hew to him from your right side with the Thwart, if he then parries and is Weak on the sword, then drive in with the short edge of your sword to his right side on his neck and spring with the right foot behind his left foot and shove him over with the sword’s blade thus, or drive the Mutating in to the lower opening.

Thus break that: When one drives on your neck with the sword, then drive up with the pommel inside his sword, and let the blade hang low, and thrust his sword therewith from your neck and strike him with the snapping above to the head.

Or strike him with the right hand above over his sword below to the face while he has his sword on your neck with the Doubling.

22: This is the text and the gloss of the Thwart strike to the Four Openings:

Gloss: Mark, you have heard before how that the Ox and the Plow are named two Liers or two guards, so are they here called the Four Openings. The Ox, that is the upper two openings on the right and the left sides of the head, and so is the Plow the lower two openings, also the right and the left side of the lower half of the girdle of the man. You shall strike the same openings with the Thwart in the pre-fencing, and seek all four.

Mark, thus strike the Thwart strike to the Four Openings:

Mark, when you come to him with the pre-fencing, then stand with the left foot before and when you are near him, then spring well on his left side with the right foot against him, and forcefully strike with the Thwart against his left side to the lower opening. That is called striking to the Plow. If he parries, then strike him quickly to the upper opening on his right side. That is called to the Ox. And then drive the Thwart strikes quickly, always one to the Ox and the other to the Plow, crosswise from one side to the other, that is to the head and to the body.

Also you shall always think to spring out wide on the side against him with each Thwart strike, so may you hit well to his head, and see also that you are well guarded above with the hilt before your head.

Here mark a break against the lower Thwart strike:

Mark, when he strikes you with the Thwart from his right side to your left above to your head, then parry with the long edge and remain with the point before the breast. If he then strikes around from the sword with the Thwart to the lower opening on your right side, then strike also with the Thwart below through, between you and him also against his right side, and bind therewith on his sword, and remain in the bind and stab him Meanwhile to the lower opening.

23: This is the text and the gloss of the technique that is called the Failer:

Gloss: The Failer is a technique which many fencers plan and hit with as they wish, and strike those who like parrying and fence to the sword and not to the openings of the body.

Mark, when you come to him with the pre-fencing, then do as if you will strike him with a free Upper-hew to the head, but pull the hew and strike him with the Thwart to the lower opening of his left or his right side, to whichever you want, and see that you are well-guarded with the hilt over your head. You may also drive this thus with the Thwart-hew.

Item. Execute the Failer thusly. When you approach your opponent with the Onset, strike Low-cuts from both sides. If you then enter with a Low-cut from your right side, then shoot the point long into the chest, so he must parry. Then explode quickly with the left foot to his right side and act as if you wish to strike with a Thwart-hew there and pull the cut and strike around quickly to his left side.

Or if you approach him from the left side with a Low-cut, then shoot the point long and execute the threat to the next opening as it was written before.

24: This is the text and the gloss of the technique that is called the Inverter:

Gloss: Mark, the Inverter is called the half-hew or the turned-hew by fencers. Therewith one forces the man so that he may Run-through him and grasp him with wrestling.

Drive that thus:

When you go to him with the pre-fencing, then go before with the left foot and hew the half hew with inverted long edge from the right side, in and in, up and down, with your left foot. Afterwards you have come to him, and as quickly as you bind on his sword, then hang the point in Meanwhile above and stab in to his face. If he parries the stab and drives high up with the arms, then Run-through him.

Or if he remains low with the hands in the parrying, then grip his right elbow with the left hand and hold him therewith fast, and spring with the left foot before his right and thrust him thus over the foot.

Or will you not thrust him over the foot with the left hand by the elbow as before described states, then drive in with the left arm behind around his body and throw him before you over your left hip.

25: This is the text and the gloss of yet another Failer:

Gloss: Mark, this is called the twofold Failer, drive it thus: when you come to him with the pre-fencing, then stand with the left foot before and hold your sword on your right shoulder, and when he is even to you, then spring well against him with the right foot on his left side, and do as if you would hew him with a free Thwart-strike to the left side of his head, but pull the hew before it hits, and spring with the left foot on his right side, and strike there to his head. If he parries and you hit his sword, then spring over to the same side near him, and slice him with the short edge behind his sword with the Doubling in his mouth.

Or, fall in with the sword over both arms with the slice. Also you may thus well drive the Failer from the Upper-hew as from the Thwart strike when you are even or when you want.

26: Here begins the Squint-hew with its techniques:

Gloss: Mark, the Squinter breaks the guard that is called the Plow, and is a good, strange, and serious hew when it breaks with force one who is hewing in and stabbing in, and it goes to with inverted sword. There are many Masters of the sword around that of this hew know nothing to say.

Here mark how one shall do the Squinter-hew:

Mark, when you come to him with the pre-fencing, then stand with the left foot before and hold your sword on your right shoulder. If he then hews above in to the head, then turn your sword and hew long over his sword against his hew with the short edge with stretched arms in to his head. Is he then clever and Fails with the hew, and will Change-through below your sword, then let the point shoot in long before you with the hew, so he may not Change-through below.

Another:

When you stand against him and hold your sword on your right shoulder, if he then stands against you in the guard of the Plow and will thrust below to you, then hew him long in above with the Squinter, and shoot the point long in to the breast, so may he not reach you below with the stab.

Another item:

When you stand against him with your sword upon your right shoulder and he then stands against you in the guard of the Plow and threatens to thrust below, then wind the short edge of your cut high and long. Thus, he cannot reach you below with the thrust.

27: This is the text and the gloss of a lesson of the Squinter:

Gloss: Mark this lesson, when you come to him with the pre-fencing, so shall you Squint with the face and see if he fences short against you. You shall perceive that when he hews to you then he stretches the arms not long from him with the hew, so is his sword shortened.

Or, if you lie before him in the guard of the Fool, if he will then fall Crooked thereon with the sword, so is his sword but shortened.

Or, if he lies against you in the guard of the Ox or the Plow, so is his sword but shortened. Also know that all Winds with the sword before the man are short and shorten the sword, and whatever fencer the Winding drives thus, then freely Change through from hews and from stabs, and shoot in the long point therewith into the next opening. Therewith you force him so that he must parry, and so you come to your correct work.

Item. Another precept.

When you go forth with the Onset, you should discretely discern if he fences shortened against you. So that you shall know when he cuts, he does not extend his arms out long from himself in his strike. Thus his sword is shortened and any fencer that is so shortened, change through freely out of your strikes and thrusts with the long point thereby positioned upon the sword so that he must allow you bind upon it and become struck.

28: This is the text and the gloss of how one breaks the Long Point with the Squinter:

Gloss: Mark, when you come to him with the pre-fencing, if he then stands against you and holds the Long Point against your face or breast, then hold your sword on the right shoulder and squint with the face to the point, and do as if you will hew him there, and hew strongly with the Squinter with the short edge on his sword, and shoot in the long point therewith to the throat with a step to of the right foot.

29: This is the text and the gloss of yet a technique from the Squint Hew:

Gloss: Mark, this is another break when he stands against you in the Long Point. Squint to his head with your face, and do as if you will thereon strike him, and strike him with the Squint-hew with the point on his hands.

You may also execute this when he strikes a free High-cut from above. So Squint to his head as if you wish to strike it and hew with the short edge against his cut and strike down upon his sword’s edge with the point to the hands.

This is how you shall doubly execute the Failer to both sides and understand it thusly: When you approach him with the Onset, place your left foot forward and hold your sword upon your right shoulder and when you see that he is even to you, then spring fully against him with your right foot to your right side and act as if you wish to strike a free High-cut to his left side and to his head. If he then proceeds with the parrying, draw up the strike again and quickly spring fully around your opponent with the left foot to his right side and in the leap act again as if you wish to strike his right side and withdraw and spring around again with the right foot to his left side and strike with one freely to the same side. If he then all the while wishes to grab after the opening, then fall upon his arm with the slice using the long edge and Press away from yourself. This you should know to execute from both sides and you may also execute this out of the cross strike.

30: Here begins the text and the gloss of the Parting-Hew:

Gloss: Mark the Parter breaks the guard that is called Fool, and is very dangerous with its turn to the face and the breast.

That drive thus: When you come to him with the pre-fencing, if he then lies against you in the guard Fool, then set the left foot before and hold your sword on your right shoulder in the guard, and spring to him, and hew with the long edge strongly down from above to the head. If he then parries the hew so that his point and hilt both stand over him, that is called the Crown. Then remain high with the arms and with the left hand lift your sword’s pommel over you and sink the point in over his hilt to his breast. If he then drives up with the sword and thrusts your point with his hilt upwards, then Wind your sword through under his Crown with the slice in his arms and press. Thus is the Crown again broken, and with the pressing slice fast in the arms, and then pull yourself off with the slice.

Item. Note when he parries the Parter or another cut with the Crown and subsequently runs in, then take the slice below his hands into his arms and firmly Press upward. thus the Crown is fully broken and wind your sword into the high slice and withdraw.

Item. Note when you strike high with the Parter and hang to the face, if he then firmly shoves the point upward with the hilt, then firmly invert your sword upward with the hilt before of your head and place the point below upon his chest.

Item when you wish to execute the Parting-hew, you must allow the point to extend through below his hands; go to the right side of his face and reach in outstretched.

31: This is the text and gloss on the Four Liers:

Gloss: Mark the Four Liers, that is, the Four Guards from which you shall fence.

The first guard is called the Ox, position yourself thus with it: stand with the left foot before and hold your sword near your right side with the hilt before the head so that your thumb is under the sword, and hang in the point against his face.

Mark, on the left side position yourself thus in the Ox: stand with the right foot before and hold your sword near your left side with the hilt before your head so that your thumb is below, and hang the point in against his face. That is the Ox on both sides.

This is the second guard:

Mark the other guard is called the Plow, there position yourself thus with it: stand with the left foot before and hold your sword with crossed hands with the pommel below you near your right side on the hip, so that the short edge is above and the point stands in against his face.

Item to the left side the second guard is called the Plow. Compose yourself thusly for it: advance your left foot forward and hold your sword with crossed hands with the pommel downward next to your right side to the hip such that the short edge is above and the point is against his face.

Mark, on the left side position yourself thus in the Plow: stand with the right foot before and hold your sword near your left side with the pommel below you on the hip, so that the long edge is above and the point stands in against the face. That is the Plow on both sides.

This is the third guard:

Mark, position yourself thus in the guard called Fool: stand with the right foot before and hold your sword with stretched arms before you with the point on the earth so that the short edge is turned above.

This is the fourth guard:

Mark, the guard is called From the Roof, therein position yourself thus: stand with the left foot before and hold your sword on your right shoulder or with up-stretched arms high over the head, and stand thus in the guard.

32: This is the text and the gloss of the Four Parryings:

Gloss: Mark, you have heard before that there are Four Guards. So you shall now also know the Four Parryings that break the same Four Guards. Also hear that the Parryings are nothing more than breaking with four hews.

Mark, the first hew is the Crooked-hew that breaks the guard that is called the Ox.

Mark, the second hew, that is the Thwart hew that breaks the guard From the Roof.

Mark, the third hew, that is the Squinter that breaks the guard that is called the Plow.

Mark, the fourth hew, that is the Parter that breaks the guard that is called the Fool.

And how you shall break the four guards with the hews you shall find before in the descriptions of the same hews.

33: This is the text and the gloss that one shall not parry:

Gloss: Mark, that is that you shall not parry as the common fencers do. When they parry they hold their points high or to the side, and that is to understand that they do not know to seek the Four Openings with the point with their parrying, therefore they often become struck. When you will parry, then parry with your hew or with your stab and seek Meanwhile the nearest opening with the point, so may no Master strike at you without being injured.

34: This is the text and the gloss on what you shall drive against him when one has parried you:

Gloss: Mark that is when one has parried you and will not withdraw from your sword and means to not let you come to techniques, then wrench with your sword up over on his sword’s blade, as if you would take off from his sword above, and remain on his sword and hew him, striking in with the long edge on the blade again into the head.

Item another When he has parried you, then rake upward upon his sword’s edge toward his point with your sword as if you wish to take away high. Then remain upon the sword and strike again directly upon the edge to the head.

Item. If he has parried a High-cut and draws near, then drive the pommel above his opposing hand and rake downward from there and in the raking strike with your sword to your head.

Another Item. Note as you strike a Low-cut from your right side, if he then falls upon you with his sword such that you cannot escape from there, then deftly drive the pommel above his sword and rake your edge upon his from below and strike him with the long edge with the snapping. If he falls again against you on the left side of the sword, then strike him with the short edge.

35: This is the text and the gloss of the Four Settings-on:

Gloss: Mark, there are Four Settings-on that you hear you shall drive in earnest when you will quickly strike or injure him.

Drive them thus; when you come to him in the pre-fencing with the sword, then lie with your sword in the guard of the Ox or the Plow. If he will then hew above or stab below, then mark while he lifts up his sword and will strike, or pulls it to himself below and will stab, then come Before and shoot the long point into the nearest opening before he brings ahead his hew or stab, and see if you may Set-on him.

Likewise do that also when he hews to you with Lower-hews; then shoot the point in before he comes up with the hew from below, and drive that to both sides.

Item. Or if he then cuts one high from his left side, then proceed with the parrying and shoot your point long into the nearest opening of his right side.

Item. Or if hews toward you from below, up from his right side, etc.

Item. Or if he cuts from below from his right side, then shoot your point long into the nearest opening of his left side.

Item. Or if he cuts from below from his left side, then shoot your point long into the lower opening of his right side and always wait so that it presents itself.

If he then becomes aware of the Setting-on, then remain with your sword on his and work in nimbly to the next opening.

So that he may not come to any technique, he withdraws from the sword, execute the Traveling-after that is made clear to you hereafter.

Item. You shall also know that as soon as you come together with the Onset and as soon as he lifts his sword and wishes to lash out, you should also lower your point and thrust toward the nearest opening, but if he will not approach with the sword, you should then approach with your sword the same way and as soon as or just after you finish your strike, Simultaneously lower your point. If you can execute the Set-on properly, then he may struggle or move roughly, but he must allow you to intercede.

36: This is the text and the gloss of the Travelling-after:

Gloss: Mark, the Travelling-afters are many and multiple, and pertain to driving from hews and stabs with great prudence against the fencers that fence with free and long hews and otherwise, and do not hold well to the correct Art of the Sword.

Drive the Travelling-after thus: When you come to him with the pre-fencing, then stand with the left foot before in the guard From the Roof, and see well how he will fence against you. If he then hews long above in to you, then see that he does not reach you, and mark while his sword goes under you against the earth with the hew. Then spring to with the right foot and hew him above into the head before he comes up again with the sword, so is he struck.

This technique described hereafter is called the Outside Taking:

Mark, when he hews and you Travel-after him with the hew to the opening, if he then drives up quickly with the sword and comes below you on your sword, then remain strong thereon. If he then heaves fast upwards with the sword, then spring with the left foot behind his right and strike him with the Thwart or otherwise to his head on his right side, and work quickly again around to his left side with the Doubling or otherwise with other techniques thereafter as you find if he is soft or hard on the sword.

Item. Another technique When he strikes before you and you strike him in the After, then bind directly upon his sword against his left side. If he then quickly attempts to leave the parrying with the Thwart-hew to your right side, then Simultaneously preempt him with the Thwart-hew below his sword against his left side upon his neck or spring with the left foot to his right side and cut past his strike to the right side or execute the Slice over his arm to the head.

Here mark a good Travelling-after on the sword from Lower-hewing:

Mark, when you fence against him from Lower-hewing, or from the slashing, or lie against him in the guard that is called Fool, if he then falls with his sword on yours before you therewith come up, then remain thus with your sword below on his and heave upwards. If he then Winds with the point into your face or breast on the sword, then let him not off from the sword, and follow him thereafter, and work in with the point to the next opening.

Or if he strikes around from the sword, then follow him or Travel-after with the point as before.

Mark, you shall travel after him from all hews and from all guards as quickly as you can when he hews from you or opens himself with the sword. And see that afterward you do not open yourself to hews with the Travelling-after, and mark that to both sides.

37: Here mark the text and the gloss of the Feeling and of the word that is called Meanwhile:

Gloss: Mark, the Feeling and the word Meanwhile are the greatest and the best art with the sword, and who is a Master of the Sword, or wants to be, and cannot understand the Feeling and the word Meanwhile, then is he not a Master, but he is a Buffalo of the Sword. Therefore you shall before all things learn well these two things so that you understand them rightly.

38: Here mark the lesson of the Feeling and of the word that is called Meanwhile:

Gloss: Mark, when you come to him with the pre-fencing, and one another bind on the sword, then you shall Feel with the hand simultaneously as the swords clash together if he has bound soft or hard on you, and as quickly as you have found out, then think of the word Meanwhile, that is, that simultaneously as you find the same, you shall nimbly work on the sword so he is struck before he becomes aware of it.

Here you shall mark that the Feeling and the word Meanwhile are one thing, and one without the other may not be, and that undertake thus: when you bind on his sword, then you must Feel with the hand with the word Meanwhile if he is but soft or hard on the sword, and when you have felt, then you must but Meanwhile work after the soft and after the hard on the sword. Thus are they both naught than one thing. And the word Meanwhile is previously in all techniques, and that undertake thus: Meanwhile Doubles, Meanwhile Mutates, Meanwhile Changes through, Meanwhile Runs through, Meanwhile takes the slice, Meanwhile wrestles with, Meanwhile takes the sword, Meanwhile does what your heart desires, Meanwhile; that is a sharp word wherewith all Masters of the Sword who know not to name this word become sliced. That is the key of the Art.

39: Here mark the text and the gloss of yet a Travelling-after:

Gloss: Mark, that is that you shall drive the Travelling-after to both sides and you shall not forget the slice there. Undertake that thus: when he hews before you, be it from the right or from the left side, then hew in boldly After to the opening. If he then drives up and binds below you on the sword, then mark as quickly as the swords clash on each other, then slice him Meanwhile after his neck or fall in with the long edge on his arms and slice fast.

40: Here mark the text and the gloss of the Over-running:

Gloss: Mark that is when you come to him with the pre-fencing, if he then hews below to your lower opening, do not parry that, but hew in above strongly to his head. Or if he hews to you with Lower-hewing, then mark before he comes up with the Lower-hew, and shoot the long point above into the face or the breast, and Set-on him above so he may not reach you below, since all upper Setting-on breaks and defeats the lower. If he then drives up and binds below on your sword, then remain with the long edge strongly on his sword, and work nimbly to the next opening, or let him work and come Meanwhile so that you hit him.

Note when you have bound strongly upon his sword, if he then strikes around to the other side from the parrying, then bind strongly over him with the long edge upon the Weak of his sword to his head and work as before to the Opening. Execute this to both sides.

41: Here mark, this is the text and the gloss on how one shall Set-off stabs and hews:

Gloss: Mark the Setting-off drive thus: when you come to him with the pre-fencing, if he then stands against you as if he will stab, then set your left foot before and stand against him in the guard of the Plow on your right side and give an opening with the left side. If he then stabs to that same opening, then Wind against his stab with your short edge on his sword and your sword on your left side, and therewith Set-off, and therewith step to him with the right foot and stab him Meanwhile to the face or the chest.

Another technique:

Mark, when you stand on your right side in the Plow, if he then hews into your left side above to your head, then drive up with the sword and Wind therewith on your left side against his hew with the hilt before your head, and step therewith to him with the right foot, and stab him to the face or breast. Drive this technique from the Plow on both sides.

Item. You may also execute the Set-off from High-cuts and from Low-cuts. When you position your sword high and wish to perform a High-cut, wind into the Ox on your right side; then Set-off, cut or thrust, to your left side again in the Ox Simultaneously stab him always to the face or Double or do as you wish. This proceeds from both sides.

Item. If you then position yourself in the Changing-hew, then twist your sword into the Plow and Set-off, cut or thrust, skillfully work Simultaneously to the nearest Opening with all threats. This proceeds from both sides.

42: This is the text with the gloss on how one shall Change-through:

Gloss: Mark the Changing-throughs are many and multiple; you shall drive them against the fencers that like to parry and that hew to the sword and not to the openings of the body. You shall well learn to drive that with prudence so that one cannot Set-on you or come in with something while you are Changing-through.

Drive the Changing-through thus: When you come to him with the pre-fencing, then hew in above strongly. If he then hews against your sword and not to your body, then let the point go with the hew through his sword, below between you, before he binds on your sword, and stab into the other side to his breast. If he becomes aware of the stab and drives quickly after the stab with the sword with parrying, then Change-through yet again, and always do that when he drives after the sword with parrying.

Or, when you come to him with the pre-fencing, then set the left foot before and hold the Long Point against his face. If he then hews to your sword down from above or up from below, and will strike that away or bind strongly thereon, then let the point sink underneath and stab him to the other side. Drive that against all hews wherewith one hews to your sword.

That even mark How you shall Change-through so that one will not Set-on you while you are doing so, and that undertake thus: when he parries and lets his point go out near your side, then bravely Change-though and stab him to the other side.

Or if he remains with the point before your face, or otherwise against the opening, then do not Change-through, but remain on the sword and work therewith to the next opening so he may not Travel-after you with Setting-on.

43: Here mark the text and the gloss of the Pulling on the sword:

Gloss: Mark that Pulling pertains to driving against the Masters who bind strongly on the sword, and in the bind of the swords remain standing still, and will wait to see if one will hew off, or will draw off from the sword before them so that they can then use Travelling-after to the opening.

If you will trick or deceive those same Masters, then drive the Pulling against him thus: hew in from the right side above strongly to the head. If he then drives with the sword strongly forward with the hew and will parry, or hews to your sword, then pull your sword on you, before he binds on you, and stab into the other side. And do that against all hitting and binding on of the swords.

Mark another Pulling: When he has bound on your sword, if he then stands against you in the bind and waits to see if you yourself will draw off from the sword, then do as if you will Pull, but remain on his sword, and Pull your sword on you as far as half the blade, and stab in quickly again into the face or the breast. If you do not hit him correctly with the stab, then work with the Doubling or otherwise with other techniques which are best.

44: Here mark the text and the gloss of the Running-through and of the wrestling on the sword:

Gloss: Mark the Running-through and the wrestling are of two kinds with the sword. The Running-throughs are the body wrestling, and are then thereafter the arm wrestlings. And they pertain to driving against the fencers that like to run in.

The Running-through, drive the first of that thus:

Mark, when he runs into you and drives high up with the arms and will overwhelm you above with strength, then drive also up with the arms, and hold your sword by the pommel over your head with your left hand and let the blade hang down behind over your back, and Run with your head through your arm against his right side, and spring with your right foot behind his right, and with the spring then drive in with your right arm against his left side in front, well around his body, and grasp him thus on your right hip and throw him before you backwards on his head.

Yet another body wrestling:

Mark, when he runs into you with up-stretched arms, and you do so against him, then Run-through him with the head to his right side, and let your sword hang behind over your back, as before stated describes, and step with the right foot in front before his right, and drive in with the right arm below his right arm through behind around his body, and grasp him on your right hip and throw him behind you. Drive these two wrestlings to both sides.

Yet another body wrestling:

When he Runs-in with upright arms and you face him, then Run-through him with the head to his right side and let your sword hang behind over your back as was written before and advance with the right foot in front of his right and pass through behind with your right arm under his right arm around his body and clasp him to your right hip and throw him behind you. The two wrestlings execute to both sides.

Yet another body wrestling:

Mark, when he runs into your right side and is high with the arms, and you are also, then hold your sword in the right hand with the pommel reversed, and thrust his arms and his sword from you with the hilt, and spring with the left foot in front before both his feet, and drive in with the left arm well behind around his body and grasp him on your left hip, and throw him before you.

Yet another body wrestling:

Mark, when he runs into you and is high with the arms, and you are also, then hold your sword in the right hand and thrust his arms from you therewith, and spring with the left foot behind his right, and drive in with the left arm through below before his breast on his left side, and grasp him on your left hip and throw him behind you. Drive these two wrestlings also to both sides.

Note when he Runs-in at the sword and holds his arm down so you cannot Run-through him, then execute the wrestling written hereafter. Etc.

Here mark now the arm wrestling with the sword:

Mark, when one runs into you with the sword and holds his hands low, then invert your left hand and therewith grip his right inwardly between both his hands, and press him therewith on your left side, and strike in with the sword with the right over his head.

Or if you will not strike, then spring with the right foot behind his left and drive in with the right arm in front or behind his neck and throw him thus over your right knee.

Yet an arm wrestling:

Mark, when he runs into you with the sword and is low with the hands, then let your left hand drive from the sword, and drive in with the right with the pommel out over his right hand and press therewith down, and grip him with the left hand by his right elbow, and spring with the left foot before his right and thrust him over thus.

Yet an arm wrestling:

Mark, when he runs into you with the sword, then let your sword fall and invert your right hand and grip his right outwardly therewith, and with the left grasp him by the right elbow, and spring with the left foot before his right, and thrust his right arm over your left with the right hand, and heave him over you therewith. Thus may you break his arm or throw him over the left leg before you if you want.

Here mark a sword taking:

Mark, when one runs into you with the sword, then invert your left hand and drive therewith over his right arm and grip his sword by the handle therewith between both his hands, and press therewith on your left side, so you take his sword.

Yet another sword taking:

Mark, when he parries or otherwise binds on your sword, then grip both swords in the middle with the left hand on the blades, and hold them both fast together, and with the right hand drive with the pommel below through in front over both his hands, and press therewith upwards on your right side. Then you remain with both swords.

45: Here mark the text and the gloss of Slicing-off:

Gloss: Mark, that is what you shall drive when one binds on your sword strongly above, or thereon falls, and that undertake thus: When you fence-to with the Lower-hewing or with the slashing, or lie against him in the guard Fool, if he then falls with his sword on yours before you therewith come up, then remain below on his sword and heave upwards with the short edge fast. If he then presses your sword downwards fast, then slash off from his sword with your sword behind yourself from below on his blade, and hew in to the other side on his sword’s blade quickly again above into his mouth.

Yet another:

When you fence-to him with Lower-hewing, or lie in the guard Fool, if he then falls with the sword on yours nearby the hilt before you therewith come up, so that his point goes out to your right side, then drive up nimbly with the pommel over his sword and strike with the long edge to his head. Or if he binds on your sword so that his point goes out to your left side, then drive with the pommel over his sword and strike in with the short edge to his head. That is called the Snapping.

46: Here mark the text and the gloss of the Four Slices:

Gloss: Mark the Four Slices; know that the first are the two above which pertain to driving against the fencers that like to strike around with the Thwart or otherwise to the other side from the parrying or from the bind of the sword.

Break that thus: when he binds you on your sword to your left side and strikes therewith quickly again around with the left foot on your right side, then fall in with the long edge above over both arms and press with the slice from you. You shall always drive that to both sides when he strikes around from the parrying, or hews from the sword.

Mark that the two Lower-slices pertain to driving against the fencers that like to run in with outstretched arms, that drive thus: when he binds on your sword and drives high up with the arms and runs into you on your left side, then invert your sword so that your thumb comes below, and fall in with the long edge under the pommel in his arm and press upward with the slice.

Or if he runs with out-stretched arms to your right side, then invert your sword so that your thumb comes below and fall in with the short edge under his pommel in the arms and press upwards with the slice. Those are the Four Slices.

47: Here mark the text and the gloss of the turning of the slices:

Gloss: Mark, that is how you shall drive the two Upper-slices from the two Lower-slices. That undertake thus: When he runs into you on your left side with up-stretched arms, then invert your sword and fall with the long edge under his pommel in the arm and press fast upwards and step therewith on his right side, and Wind the pommel below through, and come not with the sword from his arms, and turn the sword from the Lower-slice into the Upper-slice with the long edge over his arms.

Or, if he runs in with up-stretched arms to your right side, then turn your sword against his arms under the pommel with the short edge and press fast upwards, and step therewith on his left side and let the pommel go through below and turn your sword with the long edge over his arm and press from you with the slice.

48: Here mark the text and the gloss of the two lower hangings:

Gloss: Mark, the two hangings from the earth, that is the Plow on both sides, and when you will fence therefrom, or are fencing, then you shall therein also have the Feeling if he is soft or hard in hewing, and in stabbing, and in all binding of the swords.

Also you shall therefrom drive the four Windings, and from each Winding feature a hew, a stab, and a slice, and otherwise also drive all driving as from the two upper hangings.

Item. Also note the Hanging thusly: When you approach your opponent with the Onset, position yourself in the Plow or in the Changing-hew on whichever side you want. So hang your sword’s pommel toward the ground and explode in out of the Hanging from below to the face. If he then shoves the point high with parrying, then remain as such on his sword and pass through with the pommel and hang the point high to his face and and in the two hews you shall execute all threats with cuts, thrusts or slices.

49: Here mark the text and the gloss of the Speaking-Window:

Gloss: Mark, you have heard before how you shall position yourself before the man with the sword in the Four Guards and you shall fence therefrom. So shall you now also know the Speaking-Window, which is also a guard that you may well stand in, and the guard that is called the Long Point is the noblest and the best ward with the sword. Who correctly fences therefrom can force the man that he must let you strike as you desire, and may himself not come to strikes and stabs before the point.

Make the Speaking-window thusly: When you just approach your opponent with the Onset, advance your left foot and hold your point toward him long from the arms against the face or breast. Before you bind the sword upon him, stand calmly and perceive what he wishes to fence against you. If he then falls upon you long and high to the opening, so pass through and wind your sword into the Ox against his cut and thrust to his face or if he cuts to the sword and not to the body, Change-through and thrust to the other side. If he Runs-in and is high with his arms, execute the lower Slice or Run-through with Wrestling. If his arms are down, then await the Wrestling. You may hence bring all techniques in the Longpoint.

Position yourself thus in the Speaking-Window:

When you go to him with the pre-fencing with whatever hew you then come on him, whether it be an Lower or an Upper-hew, then let the long point always shoot in to the face or the breast with the hew. Therewith you force him so that he must parry you, or bind on the sword, and when he thus has bound on, then remain strongly with the long edge on the sword and stand freely and see his business; what he further against you will fence. If he pulls off backwards from the sword, then follow after him with the point to the opening.

Or, if he strikes around from the sword to the other side, then bind after his hew strongly above into his head.

Or, if he will not draw off from the sword or strike around, then work with the Doubling or otherwise with other techniques thereafter as you find him soft or hard on the sword.

Item. So you shall [know] the Speaking-windows, they are two Guards from the Longpoint. One upon the sword and the other in front of your opponent, First when you bind upon his sword or the swords clash together and is nevertheless itself nothing more than one Guard.

I say to you truthfully, the Longpoint is the noblest ward of the sword. Because from there you Press your opponent such that he must allow himself to be hit and subsequently may not come to any blows. Therefore you shall execute it with all cuts to the breast or to the face of your opponent and furthermore execute cuts and thrusts from there.

This is another stance And is also called the Speaking-Window. Mark, when you openly come to him with the pre-fencing, then set the left foot before and hold the long point with the arms against his face or his breast before you bind him on the sword, and stand freely and see what he will fence against you. If he then hews long above in to the head, then drive up and Wind against his hew with the sword in the Ox, and stab into his face.

Or if he hews to your sword and not to your body, then Change through and stab in to the other side.

If he runs in and is high with the arms, then drive the Lower-slice or Run though him with wrestling.

If he is low with the arms, then drive the arm wrestling.

You may also drive all of the techniques from the Long Point.

50: Here mark the text and the gloss of the explanation on the Four Hangings and the Eight Windings with the sword that the Epitome holds:

Gloss: Mark, this is a lesson and an admonition of Hanging and of Winding with the sword. Therein you shall well meditate on and take account of, so that you boldly drive with nimbleness and break against the others fencers’ techniques correctly, and drive boldly against him therefrom. When the hangings are the Ox above on both sides, these are the two upper hangings, and the Plow below on both sides, these are the lower two hangings. From the Four Hangings you shall bring Eight Windings, four from the Ox, and four from the Plow, and the same Eight Windings you shall further thus consider and correctly balance, so that from every particular Winding you shall drive the Three Wounders; that is a hew, a stab, and a slice.

Here mark how you shall drive the four Windings from the right side and from the left side from the two upper hangings, that is, from the Ox:

These are the first two Windings from the Ox alone on the right side, drive them thus: When you come to him with the pre-fencing, then stand with the left foot before and hold your sword on your right side before your head in the Ox. If he then hews from above on his right side, then Wind on your left side against his hew with the short edge on his sword, yet still in the Ox, and stab above into the face. This is one Winding.

Mark, if he parries the stab with strength and forces your sword on the side, then remain on the sword and Wind again on your right side over in the Ox and stab above into the face. These are the two Windings on the sword from the upper hangings from the right side.

Here mark, these are the two other Windings from the Ox on the left side. Drive them thus:

When you come to him with the pre-fencing, then stand on your left side in the Ox, and if he hews then above in from his left side, then Wind against his hew on your right side with the long edge on his sword and stab above in to the face. That is one Winding.

Mark, if he parries the stab and presses your sword to the side, then remain on the sword and Wind on your left side yet in the Ox with the long edge on his sword, and stab in above to the face. These are the four Windings from the upper two hangers on the left and on the right side.

Now you shall know…

That the Plow on both sides are the two lower hangings. When you lie therein, or will fence therefrom, then you shall therefrom also drive four Windings from the left and from the right side with all your fencing as from the upper hanging, so the Windings become eight. And mark as you Wind, then think of the hew and of the stab and of the slice in each Winding particularly. Thus comes from driving the Eight Windings all you find described before in the glosses.

Here mark even more…

That you may not rightly drive the Eight Windings except with stepping from both sides, and that you prove not more than the two drivings well before, which are when he binds on your sword, he is but soft or hard in his driving. When you have found that first, then Wind and work to the Four Openings as described before states. Also know that all fencers that Wind on the sword and cannot Feel on the sword, they become struck by the Winding. Therefore be diligent so that you well mark the Feeling and the word Meanwhile, when from these two things go all the Art of Fencing.