Giacomo di Grassi his True arte of defence plainlie teaching by infallable demonstrations, apt figures and perfect rules the manner and forme how a man without other teacher or master may safelie handle all sortes of weapons aswell offensiue as defensiue: vvith a treatise of disceit or falsinge: and with a waie or meane by priuate industrie to obtaine strength, iudgement and actiuitie. First written in Italian by the foresaid author, and Englished by I.G. gentleman.

The manner how to holde the square Target.

BEing desirous to beare great respect aswel to all the qualities of this Target (which are, the forme, the bignesse, and heauines) as vnto that wherwith it may either helpe or hurt, I saie (if a man woulde that the fourme thereof do bring him profit without hurt) it is to be holden with the high poynt therof vpwards respecting the head: the parte opposit, the low partes of the bodie: the right parte therof, the right side, and the left, the left side: from this manner of bearing spring these aduantages. First, a man may more easi∣ly see his enimie, and view what he doth by the point of the corner, which is on the one side, and that is by the high point, by which, if he woulde beholde his enimie, from the head to the feete, it is requisite that he carrie his Target, so lowe, that he discouer not too much of his bodie which is aboue it: to the warding whereof he cannot come againe, but discommodi∣ously, and in long time.

Besides, the said commoditie of beholding the eni∣mie,

there is also another that is of warding: For the Target being borne after this manner (framing a tri∣angle) the sharpe corner thereof respecteth the fore∣head, and the sides thereof so spread themselues, that through the least motion, any bigg man whosoeuer, may stand safe behind them. And if blowes come at the head, be they thrustes or edgeblows, al of them light vpon one of the saide sides, behinde which stan∣deth the head safe without hindering of the eyesight. The other two sides of the Target, right, & left, with verie small motion, warde the right and left side of the bodie, in such sort, that a man may also draw back his arme: For the left side of the Target wardeth the el∣bowe, which it doth not do, when the high side there∣of is carried equall. To conclude therefore, that in holding the Target, his bignes may the better warde, for the causes aboue said being superfluous to be re∣peated againe, I counsell, it to be holden with the arme stretched forth from the bodie, not accompting the heauines to be hurtfull, because a man continueth not long in so holding it: and if the too long holding be painfull, he may drawe back his arme, and rest him selfe. The better to do this and to be able to see the enimie, I saie, he shall hold it, his arme stertched out, with the high point outwards, respecting the forehed.