How am I then to defend my self?

Before I shew you how to defend your self, you must know how many Pa∣rades,* or wayes of defending there are.

How many Parades then are there?

There are generally but two Parades the Parade in Quart and the Parade Page  21in Terce. but they are again subdivided into other Parades, to wit, the Parade in Quart is subdivided into two, viz.* The Parade in Quart with the point a little higher then the Hilt, and the Parade in Quart, with the point Sloping towards our Adversaries right Thigh, & a thought without 〈◊〉. The Parade in Terce is likewise subdivided into two, viz. The Parade in Terce with the point 〈◊〉 little higher then the Hilt, and the Parade in •erce with the point Sloping towards the Left side •f your Adversaries Thigh.

You have no other Parades, then those you have named to me, have you?

Yes, I have yet another which although •t end alwayes in one of the four former Para∣des, yet there is a great difference betwixt the doing of them, and the doing of it, and I can give no other name to this Parade but the Conter-Caveating Parade, because, let your Ad∣versary make use of what lesson he pleaseth, or thrust upon what side He listeth, if you make use of this Parade as you should, you will infallibly meet with his Sword, & so cross all his designes the easilier, which making use of any of the four former, you might find somewhat more difficult to doe.

I would have you shew me why those Pa∣rades are called the Quart, and Terce Parades, be∣cause I know not for what Reason they are so called.

I shall, * the First Parade then is either called the Quart Parade, or the Parade within the Sword, because when you put by the thrust, you put it by upon the inside of your Sword, or upon that side the Nails of your Hand look to, and that Side is called Quart, or within the Sword: see the first Figure of the third Plate who is pareing the Thrust of the second Figure with the first Parade in Quart, and remember alwayes when I desire you to hold your hand, or Nails in Quart, that I mean you should hold your Nailes quit up∣wards, as in the second figure of the first plate marked F. The second Parade, is called the Terce Parade, or the Parade without the Sword, because you put by the thrust upon that side which is without your Sword, and as the other is called Quart, because it is within your Sword, or upon that side your Nails look too, so this is called Terce, be∣cause it is without your Sword, or upon that side the back of your hand looks too. See the second Figure of the 4th. Plate who is Pareing the thrust of the first figure with the first Parade in Terce. And remember also that when I desire you to hold your hand, or Nails in Terce, that I mean you should Page  23hold your Nails quite downwards as in the Third Figure of the first Plate marked G.

Sir I now by this Explanation under∣stand you very well.

Sir, any doubt you have, or any thing that I shew you which seemeth diffi∣cult to you, mind me of it, and according to my power I shall explain it to you.

I shall not faill to do it, but I pray you shew me how I must Parie after those five several wayes.

I shall shew you orderly one by one how you are to do them, * you must do the first Parade in Quart, with the point a little higher then the Hilt after this manner, when you are Standing to your Guard, and your Adversary offers to give you a Thrust home upon that side his Sword lyeth, which I suppose to be within your Sword, for this Thrust is done without Disengaging (which I shall explain to you hereafter) and is the plainest, and simplest Thrust which can be given with the small Sword, and yet a Man will sometimes be surprised with it; * I say when you perceive Him offer to give Home the Thrust, which is known by looking Steadfastly to the Hilt of his Sword, and not as Ignorants doe who look to their Adversaries eye, for I pray Page  24you how can a Man Judge, either upon what side of the Sword, or when the Thrust will be given, if he look to the Eve, when he is playing with one that Squints, cer∣tainly it is very uncertain; and therefore as a most certain Rule, and which will never fail you, Look alwayes to the Hilt of your Adversaries Sword, when you expect that he is going to Thrust. And when you see it moving towards you, (which will be in the Twinkling of an Eye, if he that giveth in the Thrust have a swift hand.) You must Immediately turn your wrest, with a little motion of the Arm, but so little that it may scarcely be perceived, to your Lest side, and so put his Sword by, (alwayes with the Fort of yours.) Upon your Left∣side, Still keeping the point of your Sword after your Parade towards his right Shoulder, which is represented by the first Figure of the Third Plate who is Pareing his Adversa∣ries Thrust given within his Sword,* with the first Parade in Quart. But I would have you, when you put by your Adversaries Sword, to do it with a little Beat, or Spring towards the Ground, which in my opinion is absolutely the best way of doing this Parade. When I say a Spring, I mean a little Beat, and immediately bring your Sword to it's Page  [unnumbered]Page  [unnumbered]

Page  [unnumbered]Page  25•ght Posture again: when you Parie after this way, you must not at all turn your wrest, but keep your hand when you Pa∣rie in the same posture, as when you pre∣sented your Sword, which most ordinarly will be neither altogether Quart, nor altoge∣ther Teree, but betwixt the two, because it is painful for a Man to hold his hand long in Quart, yet the nearer you hold your hand to Quart, the better is it; for there never was yet a Master who could in common practice observe all the exact directions to an Ace, which I give you, therfore there must be al∣ways some alowance given, but as I told you, the nearer you observe them, the better will it be for you, because the Directions I give you are most exact.

Why think you this last way of doing this Parade, better then the former?

Because it is done with a Spring, and the former is not, so that using this last way as you should, you may often in the Pareing, Beat your Adversaries Sword out of his hand, which is no small Advantage; also this last way secureth your Adversaries Sword better then the Former doth, if you had a mind to give him a Thrust upon the Respost, or back of your Parade, but as I told you before, you must by any Page  22〈1 page duplicate〉Page  23〈1 page duplicate〉Page  24〈1 page duplicate〉Page  [unnumbered]〈1 page duplicate〉Page  [unnumbered]〈1 page duplicate〉Page  25〈1 page duplicate〉Page  26means remember to bring up your Sword to its right posture again, otherwise your Body would ly too open without your Sword for your Adversary to Thrust at. And therefore I say again, by any means forget not the bringing up of your Sword, in∣stantly after your Beat, and then I doubt not in the least, but you will rather approve of this last way of pareing then of the former.

Its very like I may, but in both thir Parades what advantage have I by keeping my Swords point towards my Adversaries right shoul∣der and not farther aside.

The Advantage you have by it is this, * that when you keep your Swords point towards your Adversaries right shoulder, after you have Paried him, you are readier to go to the Parade again if he should offer to Disengage, and Thrust upon the other Side, whereas if you keept your Swords point farther aside, you would have a greater way to make with it, if he should Immediately after his Thrust Disengage, and Thrust upon the other side, or without your Sword, and therefore you would be in Hazard of receiving the Thrust before you could meet with his Sword to put it by, also the keeping of your point, as Streight as possible upon your Adversary when you Page  27Parie in some manner aweth him, and hindereth him to thrust so Furiously (for fear of his receiving a Contre-temps) as other∣wise he might doe.

But why am I to make such a little Moti∣on with my Arm when I Parie. For one would think that the greater Motion one maketh with their Arm the farther they would put by their Adversaries Sword.

You are right, * in that you would put by your Adversaries Sword the farther, as you make the motion of your Arm the greater, but you perceive not the great dis∣advantage you have in so doing; For do you not see? That if you should make so great a Motion with your Arm, when you are Pareing, you would be infar greater haz∣ard of being hit, if your Adversary should make a Feint within your Sword, because then your Body would be quite discovered upon that side, upon which he is to give in his Thrust, which would have been in a manner secured, had you made as little a motion with your Arm as I before desir∣ed you, besides that the making of so great a Motion with your Arm, disordereth your Body, which should be keept in as good a posture for defence as possible.

I am now convinced by the Reasons you give, Page  28of the Advantage a Man hath by making a little motion with the Arm when he is Par•ing, as also by keeping of his Swords point, as Streight to his adversary as he can, after that he hath Paried him.

* I am glad of it, but now Secondly, you must doe the second Parade in Quart. with the point sloping towards your Ad∣versaries right Thigh, and a thought with∣out it, as followeth; when you perceive that he is Thrusting within your Sword, turn the Nails of your hand in Quart, with a Stretched Arm, and your hand as high as your Face, see Plate 5. Figure first. And at the very same time you do this, Slop your point as low as your Adversaries Thigh, and so put by his Thrust with the Fort of your Sword upon the weak of his. As I told you before in Page twenty four; for if a Man Parie right, he must alwayes do it, with the Fort of his Sword, * and not with the Feible.

Why, may not a Man sometimes Parie with the Feible of his Sword?

Yes, but then he runneth the risk of having the Thrust forced in upon him, which if his Adversaries Arm, or wrest, be stronger then his, may easily be done, and which is almost impossible to be done, if he hath the Parade right, and Parie with the Page  29Fort of his Sword, as he should.

I see now indeed that there can no Man be sure of the Parade, if he offer to Parie with the Feible of his Sword.

It is very true, and you must like∣wise when you make use of this Parade, Quart. your Head well, and look as it were by the outside of your Sword.

What Advantage have I by Quarting of my Head?*

The Advantage you have by Quart∣ing of your Head, is, that it will hinder your Adversary to hitt you so easily in the Face by way of Contre-temps, as otherwise he might doe.

I see so indeed, but how am I to do the first Parade in Terce, or without the Sword, with the point a little higher then the Hilt.

You are to doe the first Parade in Terce, or without the Sword, * with the point a little higher then the Hilt, after this Manner, when you perceive your Adversary giving in the Thrust without your Sword, im∣mediately turn your wrest: (With a little motion also of the Arm, as in the first Pa∣rade in Quart,) to that side until your Nails be in Terce, and so Parie his Thrust, see Plate 4th. figure second, you must remember in this Parade, to keep the point of your Page  30Sword, after you have Paried him towards his left Shoulder, * as in the first Parade in Quart you keep it towards his right, and that for the Reasons shewn you in page. 26. I would also have you to doe this Parade with a kind of a Spring, as I told you in the first Parade in Quart, and that same very way, as you have it set down to you there, which as I told you before is in my opinion the best way of doing this Parade, therefore I pray you to mind it.

I shall endeavour to do so, seing you re∣commend it so earnestly to me, but how am I to d• the second Parade in Terce, with a sloping point?

The second Parade in Terce, or with∣out the Sword, with the point sloping towards your Adversaries Thigh, * and a thought within it, is done as followeth; when you perceive your Adversarie giving in his thrust without and below your Sword, as it were at your arm pit, see plate fifth, figure 2. Immediatly let the point of your sword fall as low as his thigh, & turn your Nails quite round to your right side untill they look from you, and keep your hand as high as your head, and put his thrust by upon your right side, & in the time of your Parade let your head lye close almost under your arm. see plate 6. figure 1.

What advantage have I by holding my head so?

As in the second Parade in Quart, the Quarting of your head preserveth you from being hirt in the face, so the holding of your head close under your arm, when you make use of this second Parade in Terce preserveth your face from your Adversaries Scattering, or Contre temps thrusts: * you may also make use of this Parade in Terce with a sloping point, if your Adversarie should offer to thrust without and above your Sword, by puting by his thrust upon your left side, but then your point most not slop towards your Adversaries thigh, but by his right side; also in Pareing this way, you must Quart your Head well, whereas in the foregoing way, you are to hold it closs almost under your Arm. This is all, I have to say of the Quart and Terce Parades, either with the point a little higher then the Hilt, or with a sloping point, but I must tell you, that this last way of Pareing with the second Pa∣rade in Terce, with a sloping point, is seldom made use of except your Adversarie hath so gained the Feeble of your sword, that you could not Parie him with the first Parade in Terce.

I understand thir four wayes of Pareing Page  32which you have been shewing me very well, bu• their is yet another, which you call the Contr• caveating Parade, the way of doing it, you hav• not as yet shewn me.

* I am just going to shew you it, it i• the last Parade I named to you in page 〈◊〉 and is absolutly the best, and safest a ma• can make use of, the way of doing it is thu• when you perceive your Adversaries thru• coming home within your Sword, then In∣stantly slop the point of your sword an• bring it up again on the other side of you• Adversaries, which will be without hi• sword, and parie his thrust without you• sword, that was to be given within your Sword and in parieing neither turn your Nails i•Quart nor Terce, but keep them in the sam∣posture as when you presented your Sword this parade must also be done with a spring In like manner if you think that he is to giv• in his thrust without your sword, you must In stantly slop your point and bring it up a∣gain, upon the inside of his Sword, and so paric his thrust that was to be given without your sword, within your Sword, this Sloping of your point, and bringing of it up agai• upon the other side of your Adversarie Sword, must be done in the twinkling of a• Eye, otherwise your Adversaries Thru•Page  33will be home upon you, and so your Parade will signifie nothing: Therefore to pre∣vent the coming in of any Thrust, make use of this Parade, or of any other Parade you intend to use, with as quick a Motion as possibly you can, which if you doe, and judge exactly of the coming in of your Ad∣versaries Thrust, you will be but very sel∣dom hitt.

I see I must so indeed, but I pray you let me know what advantage this Parade hath of the other four.*

The advantage a man hath in mak∣ing use of this Contre-caveating Parade is very great, by what it is when he maketh use of any of the four former, because when a man maketh use of any of the other four Parades, he may be hitt with a Feint by Reason of his judging that the Thrust will be given without the Sword, when it is designed to be given with∣in the sword, or within the sword, when it is to be given without the sword; & so although he hath a quick enough Parade, and a good Eye, yet you see he may be hit by reason of his wrong Judging of the coming in of the Thrust, which would have been prevented had he made use of this Contre-caveating Parade, for •his Parade crosseth and confoundeth all Feints, yea not only Feints, but in a man∣ner Page  34all Lessons that can be played with the Small Sword, so that certainly it is by farr the best and safest Parade, and therefore I would advise you, that when once you can make use of it, never, (unless it be very seldom) to make use of another, and you will find it to be as I told you, the ab∣solutly safest Parade, and the Parade which should be most exactly understood, and frequently practised, by those who intend to be Masters of this Art.

Sir you have convinced me of the advan∣tage a Man hath in making use of this Contre-cavea∣ting Parade, and therefore I shall endeavour never to make use of any other, seing it is so general a Parade.

Your resolution Sir is good, and I am confident if you keep it, you will con∣fess that all that I have said, in commenda∣tion of this Parade, is but little in respect of what it deserveth.

I shall to the outmost of my power endea∣vour to •••p it, but have you no more to say of the Parades?

No, and what I have said concern∣ing the T•fensive part, or Parade, I am sure is so plain, and easie to be understood that the meanest capacity may be able to put it in practice, if the Directions which Page  35have given be seriously considered, and observed: we will now proceed to the Of∣fensive part, in which I shall endeavour to be as distinct, and easie in my Directions to you, as I have been in the Defensive.