My Third Guard, is the Terce Guard with the point higher then the Hilt,* and is to be keept thus: you must hold your Nails in Terce, and your hand some lower then in the Quart Guard, with a streight point, the point of your Sword must be presented towards your Adversaries left shoulder 〈◊〉 he be a tall man, but if little, then to his left eye, you must keep your arme a little bent, as in the Quart Guard, for the better pursuing: you are also to lean a little forward with your bodie, as in the foregoing Guard and to make use of your left hand for a Pa∣rade, but it must be held lower then you hold it in the fore-going Guard, the rest o• your bodie must be keept after the same manner, as in the Quart Guard, with 〈◊〉 streight point. See Plat. 10: fig: 1.

How is this Guard to be pursued?*

It is to be pursued either with striking Binding, Volting, or Passing, for your feint upon this Guard will signifie nothing, i• your Adversarie understand it, for, as i•Page  [unnumbered]Page  [unnumbered]

Page  111•one of the Guards a man is to answer feints, so far less in this; for the right Defence of this Guard is to secure your self without your •word, which you do by presenting your •oint to your Adversaries left shoulder, or •ye, so that your bodie is quite covered •itheut your sword, and seing you are by •o means to Answer his Feints, but to keep your self secured upon that side, you are •hen certain, that if he Thrust he must of necessitie Thrust within your sword, and •hen you are to Parie him with your left Hand, and give him the Thrust upon the Respost; or, you may, if you please, Parie with your Sword, or take time, for seing you are not to answer his Feints, you may the easilier judge of the comming •n of his Thrusts; and therefore may either make use of Sword, or hand, as you think fit. Now seing Feints, against this Guard, signifie nothing, therefore it must be pursued, according to your fancy, by Binding, or Beating, you may also if you please, try your Adversarie with Feints, and if he answer them, they may do well enough, but then it is a certain sign, that he understandeth not the Defence of this Guard, as he should, but if your Ad∣versarie should pursue you upon this Guard,Page  112the most proper way to defend your sel• upon it, is to make use of your left hand although it be left to your choice, either to make use of it, of your sword, or any other Contrary you think fit, this is all 〈◊〉 think needful to say of this Guard.

Which is your fourth Guard?