¶That younge souldiours should be taught to foyne and thruste, not to cutte and stryke downe right. Chapiter .xij.
FUrthermore, they did learne to pricke, not to cutte. For suche as vsed to strike downe blowes, the Romaynes woulde easely ouercome, and besides laughe at them, when they had done. A downe stroke come it neuer so violēt∣ly, seldome kylleth: by reason of armoure and bones, that defende the vitall partes. Contrariwyse, a sricke out twoo inches depe, dispatcheth a man: for running inwarde so, it must needes pearce the liuely partes. Besides, when a man reacheth vp to strike a downe stroke, hee lieth open, both of his arme and his syde: but castinge a pricke, a man is euer warded, and the enemy hurte before the pricke bespied. And certaine it is that the Romaines vsed chiefly to fighte after this maner. Deuising for this cause a wycker 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and a wooden waster twyse againe so heauy as was customable, that whē the souldiour should take in hande the wonted and lighter weapōs in dede, hee might vnburdened, as it were, fight both more easely, and also more cherefully.