MOst great is the care and considerations which the paces or footstepps requier in this exercise, because from them in a ma∣ner more thē from anie other thing sprin∣geth all offence and defence. And the bodie like∣wise ought with all diligence to be kept firme and stable, turned towards the enemie, rather with the right shoulder, then with the brest. And that bee∣cause a man ought to make himself as smal a mark to thenemie as is posible, And if he be occasioned to bēd his body any way, he must bend it rather backwards then forwards, to thende that it be far of from danger, considering the bodie can neuer Page [unnumbered] greatly moue it selfanie other waie more then that and that same waie the head maie not moue being a member of so great importance.
Therefore when a man striketh, either his feet or his arme are thrust forwards, as at that instant it shall make best for his aduauntage. For when it hapneth that he may strongly offend his enemie without the increase of a pace, he must vse his arm onely to perfourme the same, bearing his bodie alwaies as much as he maie and is required, firme and immoueable.
For this reason I commend not their maner of fight, who continually as they fight, make thēselus to shew sometimes litle, sometimes great, some∣times wresting themselues on this side, somtimes on that side, much like the mouing of snailes. For as all these are motions, so can they not be accom∣plished in one time, for if when they beare their bodies low, they would strike aloft, of force they must first raise them selues, and in that time they may be stroken. So in like maner when their bo∣dies are writhed this way or that waie.
Therefore let euerie man stand in that order, which I haue first declared, straining himself to the vttermost of his power, when he would ether strik or defend, to performe the same not in two times or in two motions, but rather in half a time or mo∣tion, if it were possible.
As concerninge the motion of the feete, from which grow great occasions aswell of offence as defence, I saie and haue seene by diuers examples that Page [unnumbered] as by the knowledg of their orderlie and discreet motion, aswel in the Listes as in common fraies, ther hath bin obtained honorable victorie, so their busie and vnrulie motion haue bine occasion of shamefull hurts and spoils. And because I can not laie downe a certein measure of motion, conside∣ring the difference betwene man and man, some being of great and some oflitle stature: for to some it is comodious to make his pace the length of an arme, and to other some half the length or more. Therefore I aduertise euerie man in al his wards to frame a reasonable pace, in such sort that if hee would step forward to strik, he lengthen or increas one foot, and if he would defend himself, he with∣draw as much, without peril offalling.
And because the feet in this exercise doe moue in diuers maners, it shall be good that I shew the name of euerie motion, to thend that vsinge those names through al this work, they maie the better be vnderstood.
It is to be knowen that the feete moue either streightly, either circulerly: If streitly, then either forwardes or backwards: but when they moue di∣rectly forwards, they frame either a halfe or a whol pace. By whole pace is vnderstood, when the foot is carried from behind forwards, kepinge stedfast the forefoot. And this pace is sometimes made streight, sometimes crooked. By streight is meant when it is done in the streit line, but this doths el∣dome happen. By croked or slope pace is vnder∣stood, when the hinderfoot is brought also fore∣wardes, Page [unnumbered] but yet a thwarte or crossing: and as it groweth forwardes, it carieth the bodie with it, out of the straight line, where the blowe is giuen.
The like is ment by the pace that is made direct∣ly backwardes: but this backe pace is framed more often streight then croked. Now the midle of these backe and fore paces, I will terme the halfe pace: and that is, when the hinder-foote being brought nere the foore foote, doth euen there rest: or when from thence the same foote goeth forwardes. And likewise when the fore-foote is gathered into the hinder-foote, and there doth rest, and then retireth it selfe from hēce backwards. These half paces are much vsed, both streit & croked, forwards & back∣wardes. And in like sorte, halfe paces forwardes & backewardes, streight and crooked.
Circuler paces, are no otherwise vsed than halfe paces, and they are made thus: When one hath fra∣med his pace, he must fetch a cōpasse with his hin∣der foote or fore foote, on the right or lefte side: so that circuler paces are made either when the hinder-footstanding fast behinde, doth afterwards moue it selfe on the lefte or right side, or when the fore-foote being setled before doth moue likewise on the right or left side: with all these sort of paces a man may moue euerie waie both forwardes and backewardes.
