How to hold the sword to fight on foot

Choose a good blade and make sure it is mounted well.

Hold the grip with the nails on top, the edge a little at an angle, the point raised to
eye-height, having taken a hold nearer the pommel than the guard to thus give a
greater elasticity to the wrist; bodyweight must be carried on the left side, hold the
left hand behind the back, the right foot must be held more rigid than flexible, head
upright while gazing at the adversary.

How to hold the sword when on horseback.

The grip of the sabre must be held with the nails underneath, edge to the outside
and observe for the remainder everything else that is to be said.
Then one must try to engage the adversarys sabre in the position of tierce with the
point at temple-height.
Note that the method for gaining sabres on horseback depends on the position of
the two horsemen during their engagement either in tierce or quarte.
However the engagement is made strike him with a circling sabre cut, from right to
left, depending upon how the engagement is made in order to disrupt the enemy
before he begins his action and, if your sabre blow does not put the enemy out of
the fight, return immediately to the defensive and attack once again with a double
moulinet, from right to left, and continue to double moulinet, right to left, to cover
yourself and thus your horse.
With this method you will be able to overthrow several enemies.

First position for an attack on foot

One must always be in measure, right foot held without stiffness and apart from
the left foot by about one and a half paces., such that the bodyweight is over the
left side, body well held and open, head upright and a little back, right arm raised
and flexible, while holding the pommel at the height of the right breast, left arm
behind the back and blades only touching at the very ends.
When one must move forward raise the right foot so it glides over the ground, the
left foot must follow in the same direction, advancing the fore-arm while making a
feint to the head to disrupt the enemy to thus make your blow; one must then leap
to the rear while making a high flourish to recover to guard.

Parades
Whether on foot or on horse the sabre has six parries.

1st. Carry the bodyweight on the left side, right knee rather straighter than bent,
nails on top while gripping the sabre, thumb along the grip, the last two fingers
(ring and little) touching the pommel of the sabre, without stiffening the fingers and
while leaving a great deal of elasticity in the worst, such that the point of the sabre
is at eye-height, with head upright while staring at the enemy.
One must hold the same position when mounted, the horseman holding himself at
once very steady and without stiffness, sabre poised with regards to the face of the
enemy, head turned a little to the right, to thus observe his actions more easily and
to oppose him with ease.

2nd The parry of tierce is made, having the body in the same position, while holding
the sabre with the edge outwards at shoulder-height, nails down.
One must be in the same position on horseback, while holding the sabre edge
outwards at shoulder-height, and nails low but must make sure that the arm is a
little further out and flexible.

3rd The parry of quinte is made with a quarter-circle, edge of the sabre turned to
face the ground, nails turned back and the hand at temple-height.
4th The parry of tierce-perpendicular is made with the hand raised higher than the
head, nails down, your sabre covering the whole body, with the point at the height
of the flanks; sometimes one must let go with the little finger to make this easier.

5th The parry of prime is made with a flexible arm and raised higher than the top of
the head, while parrying with the strong of the sabre.

6th The head parry is made while holding the wrist a little higher than the preceding
parry, with the fingers turned back, the point of the sabre at the height of the left
nipple, and while parrying with the edge.

Reasons why to make each parry

1st The parries of quarte and tierce serve to parry the strong of the sabre and the
arm blow inside or outside.

2nd The parry of quinte, which is the lowest, serves to parry blows from underneath
and blows outside

3rd The parry of prime serves to parry blows to the stomach, wrist blows, neck
blows and all body blows in the high line.

4th The parry of tierce-perpendicular serves to parry arm blows in the high line

5th The head-parry defines its target

Feint to the head while stepping to strike a sabre blow inside the arm
The attack with a sabre blow inside the arm while stepping is made while quitting
the line to the left and while making a feint to the head to oblige the enemy to
parry, then you can make a sabre blow inside the arm.
The parry for this blow on foot is prime and the riposte is a circling sabre blow
while moving from the stomach to the face.
On horseback the parry is quinte with the nails turned back and the hand at eye-
height.
The riposte is a face-blow to the outside.
One can again parry arm blows to the inside with a parry of quinte on the strong of
the sabre; while turning the hand one strikes a back-edge blow to the face.
This is practiced on foot as on horse. One sees by the tip which actions one must
make, and thus what blows must be made.

Feint an arm blow inside to strike an arm blow outside the arm
This is done with a feint to the head while quitting the line to the left, first stepping
with the left foot, to strike an arm blow outside.
This blow is parried with a parry of tierce-perpendicular.
The riposte is a face blow, which is parried with a head parry, arm extended, hand
raised higher than the top of the head, while holding the sabre perpendicular, to
make the sabre of the enemy slide off.
The riposte for this blow is a circling blow to the flank, with a demi-moulinet while
passing the sabre close to the body to cover it better while raising it so as to not hit
ones horse.
This action is made on foot as on horse.
Arm blow made to the inside of the arm
For this blow make a feint to the head to disrupt the enemy and make him raise his
arm, then make your blow inside and along his arm.
This blow is parried with quinte and the riposte is with a head blow outside.
I parry this head blow and my riposte is a coup de Jarnac, which is a blow with the
tip which plunges using the forearm quickly while standing up in the stirrups and
carrying the body forward; having given this blow one must return to first position
and with a demi-moulinet you will prevent the enemy from making another feint
and striking you with a sabre blow.

Feint to the head to make an underarm blow

This is done with a feint to the head to disrupt the adversary while quitting the line
to the left to strike an underarm blow while turning the wrist fully and to give a
slashing blow.
This blow is parried with quinte, for which the riposte is a blow to the face inside
and outside the arm.

Feint with an underarm blow to strike a face blow outside

This feint is made with an attack inside the arm, slicing while raising a little the
adversarys sabre; I make my feint of an underarm blow to oblige him to make a
parry of quinte and I strike him with a face blow outside.
The parry for this blow is a head parry for which the riposte is a neck blow or to the
chest; this blow is especially useful on horseback.

Engagement of the sabre over the arm for a feint to the head to strike a
circling blow to the flank
The engagement of the sabre over the arm is made with a feint to the head with
force on the adversarys sabre to strike a flank blow while fully turning back the
wrist with a demi-circle and recovering from the flank to the face.
This blow is parried in quinte, form which the riposte is a blow to the top of the
head.

Observations on blows to the top of the head

Observe that a blow to the top of the head is never given downright but on an angle
because a downright blow may somewhat concuss him who is hit but it will never
penetrate him.

Feint a circling sabre blow

This feint is made with an engagement of sabres over the arm with a feint to the
head while quitting the line to the left and with a feint of a circling sabre blow I
oblige my adversary to make a parry of quinte.
My riposte is a blow across the face.
This blow is parried with a head parry and this is riposted by two moulinet blows
and a back-edge blow.
See the last image.
To strike a coup de Jarnac with a feint to the head
By coup de Jarnac I mean, when engaged over the arm, that I turn my adversarys
sabre with a vigorous expulsion, with my own point well raised with regards to his
head, and then I push down his forearm with a skilled blow putting the point of my
sabre into his flank, while stood in my stirrups, body forward thought it must also
be a little bent to the side.
The parry for this blow is prime from which the riposte is a back-edge blow from
stomach to chest.
The coup de Jarnac can also be parried with quinte, from which the riposte is a
blow to the throat inside.
The parry for this blow is tierce-perpendicular, with the arm extended, the hand
higher than the top of the head and the point of the sabre matching the flank.
The riposte is made with two back-edge blows.

Feint a flank blow while quitting to the left to strike a face blow outside
This blow is made from an engagement of quarte over the arm while advancing one
step and quitting the line to the left while making a feint to the head to disrupt the
adversary; immediately make a second feint at him with a flank blow to oblige him
to make a parry of quinte; one must seize with speed this moment to make your
slashing blow at him on the eye.
The parry to this blow is the parry of tierce-perpendicular with the hand at the
height of the top of the head, the edge of the sabre outside so as to cover the whole
body.
The riposte for this blow is a circling blow, followed by a back-edge blow on the
right.

Observation
Engagements with the sabre must be made with all possible finesse whether as a
movement from right to left or left to right; because if you make a large movement
with the arm the adversary can seize upon this movement to make his sabre blow.
Secondly, whether on foot or horse, one must always engage ones sabre from right
to left before stepping and take care to disengage and step at the same time;
because by this means you will always assure the sabre of your adversary with a
strong compression of the wrist with a flexible arm, thus to avoid making another
engagement.

Engagement of Quarte inside the arm to feint to the thigh

Engagement inside the arm to feint to the thigh is made while quitting the line to
the left to oblige the enemy to make a parry of quinte to strike an arm blow outside
while slashing.
Parry this arm blow with a parry of tierce-perpendicular form which the riposte is a
back-edge blow to the chest.
On horse the blow is struck in the same way and with the same feint but riposte
with a circling blow.

Feint a circling flank blow to strike a face blow

I begin attacking my enemy with a head blow and I make a feint with a flank blow
to oblige my adversary to make a parry of quinte to strike him a face blow, inside or
outside.
The parry for this blow is a head parry and the riposte is a back-edge blow across
the body, which is parried in prime.
On horseback the horseman has an advantage upon a feint of a flank blow;
because the moment I want to strike the head blow with a very steady demi-
moulinet the enemy meets my sabre with force and strikes me speedily with a face
blow and returns immediately to guard; he attacks once again with a double
moulinet and strike circling sabre blows to the right and left.

Engagement of quarte inside the arm to strike a thigh blow

Make a feint to the head to disrupt your adversary such that the hand is raised to
brow-height, with the point at thigh-height to strike a blow to the thigh.
Always take care to observe your enemy well to avoid a head blow but if he makes a
move to strike this blow strike him with a coup de Jarnac and he will be put out of
the fight.
The parry for a thigh blow is a parry of quinte for which the riposte is an arm blow
outside.
I parry this arm blow to the outside with a parry of tierce-perpendicular and I
riposte with a flank blow.
All of this is done in the same manner on horseback, while making the actions with
suppleness and speed, neither exposing you or your horse.

Feint a blow to the thigh to strike a wrist blow outside

This feint of a blow to the thigh is made by lowering the point of the sabre as if
striking a blow to the thigh to oblige the adversary to make a parry of quinte; then
one must quit the line to the outside and strike a wrist blow outside.
The wrist blow is parried with prime or quinte on horseback.
The riposte is a back-edge blow.
Upon my attack I strike two back-edge blows to the nose and return with a double-
moulinet while launching circling sabre blows, to the right and left.

Attack of quarte inside the arm to strike a wrist blow, inside or outside the
arm.
The wrist blow is struck while making a feint to the head to disrupt the adversary.
Pass your sabre under his while slashing to strike the wrist blow inside or outside.
This blow is parried with prime and is riposted by a back-edge blow.
The wrist blow is also parried with quinte, from which the riposte is a shoulder
blow.
Again it is parried with the strong of the sabre while shortening the arm at the
elbow.
The riposte is a circling blow to the face, made from the fore-arm, hand well raised
and with speed.
When one suspects this, when the pupil makes these attacks, it is necessary that
the master attacks in turn, thus for offence and defence.

Attack of quarte inside the arm to strike a stomach blow

Make a feint to the head to disrupt the adversary, while raising his sabre from
weak to strong with yours, for you to make your play, while quitting the line to the
left, to strike a stomach blow.
The horseman must do the same.
The stomach blow is parried with prime and the riposte is a back-edge blow to the
body.
The stomach blow is also parried with quinte, from which the riposte is a face blow
outside.
The face blow outside is parried with a head parry and the riposte is a flank blow.
My adversary feints at me with a flank blow; upon this feint I return my sabre,
weak on high, and I launch a blow to the back of the arm.
Or, upon the same feint, I strike his face or arm with the same blow.
Feint a stomach blow to strike a throat blow
This feint is made from an engagement of quarte inside the arm while lowering the
point of the sabre as close to the stomach as possible, to oblige my adversary to
make a parry of quinte or of prime, to then strike at him a face blow outside; which
is parried with a perpendicular head parry.
The riposte is a throat blow.
If the adversary does not do either of the two parries I strike at him with a chop of
the sabre from strong to weak, with the nails turned back, to seek to disarm him
and to strike him with a face blow outside or inside, and I return with a double
moulinet while throwing two circling blows inside and outside. These circling blows
are very difficult to parry, one can however aim to do so with quinte or prime and
riposte with the same blows.

Stomach blow parried with prime

The attack is made with a feint to the head, from weak to strong of the sabre, while
raising a little the strong of the adversarys sabre with a blow of quarte, with the
wrist inside, to set aside his sabre and strike him with a stomach blow while
slashing.
The parade for this blow is that of prime for which the riposte is a face blow, by
means of an extended arm blow with the back-edge.

Engagement of the sabre over the arm, upon an attack with a feint to the
head upon a sabre blow over the arm from the adversary
Upon this attack I quit the line and I strike a neck blow, followed by, with the same
movement using a turn of the wrist, I strike a face blow.
The parry to this blow is prime and the riposte is a blow to the eye.

Engagement of quarte inside the arm to strike a neck blow

Make a feint to the head, while raising the adversarys sabre a little, to strike a
neck blow.
The neck blow is parried with prime or quinte.
The riposte from prime is a blow of the sabre circling from stomach to face.
The riposte of quinte is a face blow. One parries the riposte of prime with a head
parry, from which the riposte is made with a back-edge blow.
Parry the riposte of a face blow with a head parry, which is riposted with a back-
edge blow.
Upon my attack the adversary strikes me with two back-edge blows to the face, and
the third is a circling blow to the stomach, while raising the point.
To avoid these blows they must be blocked with a simple moulinet.

Feint of a neck blow to strike a face blow

This feint is made with an engagement of quarte inside the arm, while lowering the
point of the sabre, with the nails outside, as if to strike a neck blow. You will be
obliged by the adversary to make a parry of quinte and you will strike a face blow
inside or outside.
The face blow is parried with a head parry from which the riposte is a flank blow
which is parried with a parry of tierce reversed into demi-circle, and you return
with a simple moulinet while striking some circling blows upwards.
Expulsions of the sabre
Expulsions of the sabre are made weak to strong on the adversarys sabre, fairly
rudely, however without putting too much stiffness into the arm, and you strike
two face blows to the left and right, and the third sabre blow is made with a demi-
moulinet, to strike a blow to the top of the head.
This top of the head blow is parried with a parry of prime and is riposted with a
circling blow, or by a coup de Jarnac.
The circling blow is parried by the parry of quinte and is returned with a moulinet.

Chops with the sabre to disarm an adversary

Chops with the sabre are made by turning the sabre with force, nails fully turned
under and crossing that of the adversary, to strike two face blows inside and
outside.
These face blows inside or outside are parried with prime form which the riposte is
a stomach blow, inside or outside.
Stomach blows is parried with quinte or prime; and you riposte with any circling
blow.

Observations
It is not necessary to repeat too often that the master makes the attacks as well as
the pupil so that through practice it will be well known how to parry attacks then
riposte; because one must not attach exclusively to one practice as one will never
be secure if one does not know the theory.
This is why it is indispensible that the master teaches him to make every feint in a
very subtle and very skilled way; he must also recommend to him to pay great
attention to the movements of his adversary, otherwise it will always and often
cause him to be in want.
 First position for attack

Feint to the head while stepping to strike a blow inside the arm
Dashes indicate the gradation of the step
Parry against an arm blow and riposted with a face blow inside or outside
Dashes show the position of the arm of he who ripostes

Feint an arm blow inside to strike an arm blow outside

 Arm blow falling inside the arm

Feint a head blow to strike an underarm blow

 Feint a blow to the underarm to strike to the face outside

Engagement of the sabre over the arm with a feint to the head to strike a flank blow
Dashes indicate the feint
 Coup de Jarnac after a feint to the head

Feint of a flank blow while quitting the line to the left to strike a face blow outside
 Feint of a flank blow to strike a face blow

Feint of a stomach blow to strike a throat blow. Point indicated

 Stomach blow parried with prime

Riposte of an attack with a feint to the head upon a sabre blow over the arm
by the adversary
Feint with a neck blow to strike a face blow outside. Dashes indicate the feint

Expulsion of the sabre to strike a face blow

Chopping at the sabre to disarm the adversary