My Third Lesson is of giving in a Thrust, or making of an Elonge.

How am I to give in a Thrust?

You are to do it thus, when you are standing to your Guard,* and your Adver∣sary within your Measure, your Sword being presented either within or without your Ad∣versaries Sword as you please, but I sup∣pose Page  40it be within, then stretch forth your Right Arm, and step foreward with your Right Foot, as farr as you can, keeping the point of it streight forewards, and let the Motion of your Arm begin a thought before you move your Foot. see Plate 3. fi∣gure 2. For a thrust that is right given, may be compared to the shot of a Gun or Pistoll, for as he that is wounded with the shot of a Pistoll receiveth his wound, before he hear the report of the Pistol, so he that is wounded with a Sword receiveth his wound before he hear his Adversaries Right Foot touch the ground when he is giving in his Thrust, and the Reason of it is, because the Motion of his hand is begun, before that he move his right Foot, but the difference is so little, that it can scarcely be perceived, but by a very quick Eye, or Ear: when you are at your full stretch, keep your left hough stretched, and by any means keep a closs and couched left Foot, which is done by keeping your left heel and broad side of your foot closs to the Ground, without the least drawing it after you, the keeping of a closs left foot, is one of the Chiefest things to be most exact∣ly observed in all the Art of Fencing, when you give in your Thrust, throw your left hand behind your back as in Plate 3 figure 2. Page  [unnumbered]Page  [unnumbered]

Page  41•r stretch it out upon your left Side, so that your two Arms, Body and Sword, make one streight Line from your Adversary, as in Plate 4. Figure 1. you must do this with your left Hand; when you intend not to make use of it for a Parade, but if you in∣•end to make use of it for a Parade, then you must in the very time of giving your •hrust, throw your left Arm forwards, as •ar as you can, without disordering the rest •f your Body, turning the Palm of it from •ou, by turning down your Thumb, and •p your little Finger, as in Plate 6. Figure 〈◊〉, and so Parrie his Thru•t, if you judged •e was to thrust upon the same time you •rust; and you must remember alwayes •hen you give in a Thrust within the Sword,〈◊〉 give it with your Nails in Quart, and Quart your Head and Shoulders well; but when •ou Thrust without the Sword, then give it •ith your Nails in Terce, and keep your •ilt a good deal lower then your Point, and •our head from your Adversaries Sword, •d remember as a Generall Rule, that 〈◊〉 all Lessons in which you do not first •ure, or bind your Adversaries Sword, •n are to Thrust closs by the Weake of his word, with the Fort of yours, but the •atter is farr different in Lessons where you Page  42first secure your Adversaries Sword, so• after your securing, or binding, you quite his Sword, and giveth the Thrust streight home, without so much as touching it, after you have bound it, which shall be taught in it's proper place.

But what advantage have I by observing all those Rules, in giving in a Thrust, as when I thrust without the Sword, the holding of my Hilt lower then my Point, and the holding of my Head from my Adversaries Sword; as also the thrusting closs by the Feible of my Adversaries Sword; I pray you let me see, what Advantage I have by ob∣serving all those Directions.

As the Quarting of your head when you Thrust within the Sword,* preserveth you from your Adversaries Contre-temps Thrusts in the face. So also doth your Thrusting closs by the Fieble of his Sword, and the holding of your Hilt lower then the Point, when you Thrust without the sword, as also the holding of your head alwayes to the contrary side your Adversaries Sword is on, preserve you from Contre-temps. And observe this as a General Rule alwayes to keep your head to the contrary side your Adversaries Sword is on, upon whatever side you Thrust, for this will oftentimes preserve your face from being hitt, when otherwise it would, for a Page  43Man that in giving a Thrust receiveth ano∣ther at the same time, cannot be accounted 〈◊〉Master of this Art, for this Art is called the Art of Defence, and therefore the great use of it is to Defend ones self, and save their Adversary, (which a Man that is Master of •t, may easily doe.) and not to hurt their Adversary, and have themselves likewise wounded, for any Man that never had a Sword in his Hand can doe that: After that you have let in your Thrust, recover your Body instantly to the posture it was in when you stood to your Guard, and in the recovering, whither or not you think your Adversary intends to Thrust upon the Respost, go to his Sword or to the Parade, accord∣ingly as you judge he will give in his Thrust, if you think within the Sword, then Parie in Quart, if without the Sword, then Parie in Terce, or you may make use of the Contre-Caveating Parade which if you make use of it right will never fail you, let your Adversa∣ry Thrust as he pleaseth; this recovering of the Body is one of the chiefest things in the Small Sword, for many a Man for not re∣covering of his Body quickly enough, after the giving in of a Thrust, hath received one, which had he recovered his Body quickly he would have shuned; Therefore I pray Page  44you by any means, mind to recover you• Body as quickly as possible after every thr• and when you do recover, go to his Swor• and either Beat it or Bind it, as shall be taught you in it's propper place.

I shall, and I also was convinced of t• Excellency of this Contre eaveating Parade before, but cannot a Man give in a Thrust unless he ob∣serve exactly all the Directions which you have here given?

Yes that he may, and not observe one of them, but then his Thrust will not be given according to the Rules of this Art, and so it cannot be expected, but his Body will be exposed to a great deal of more hazard, then if he had exactlie observed the foregoing directions.

Sir you are very farr in the right, but go on to your next Lesson?