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Spada da Filo & Targa
Translated By Craig Pitt-Pladdy
& Samy Degli Orsetti

Note: This current translation is still very much a “work in progress” project and subject to review and change.

[Between square brackets you will also find translators comments and terms to assist you in the understanding of the text]

Capitolo Primo
Being well arranged with the sword & by chance with brocchero largo & having the left foot forward & the arm of the brocchero well extended towards the enemy & the sword in coda lunga alta, you will retire the right foot beside the left. Then you will slide forward with the left foot without throwing any blows yet. Because your enemy will be so cornered, he will be forced to do one of two things: Or attack [to cast], or fleeing backwards, but let us suppose he throws a stoccata with the left forward. And to that stoccata you can do more counters. For that, or you will pass with the right towards his left side extending in the same time a riverso to the sword arm, so, that the left follows the right backwards, for your defence immediately you will go back with the right foot arranging in coda lunga alta as according to the above said. Or throwing with the left foot towards his left side you will be able to give a falso beneath this,& cross with the right foot towards his left side you will injure his left leg a mandritto, so that the left foot follows the right backwards. Then going back with the right foot you will make a half turn of the fist, for that you will find yourself in the forenamed guardia.
You will be able also to slide with the right foot towards his left side sticking a punta in the flank in a way that the left foot comes behind the right. Then drawing the said right foot backwards you will take up with ease in the aforesaid guardia.
You will be able moreover to cross with the right forward quite towards his left side giving the falso with your sword beneath his stoccata accompanied your self by the brocchero. Then you will hit immediately his left leg with a riverso,& for your defence you will retire with the right foot adapting with the sword into guardia di faccia, and continuing you will arrange yourself in the guardia said many times above.
You will still be able to pass with the right foot forward quite towards his left side lunging [Affondando] in this time thrust a stoccata with the true-edge of your sword. Then turning a riverso for the face you will drag the right foot backwards. Then you will stick a punta into guardia di faccia for your screen,& arranging in the above named guardia,& and so the counters to the stoccata are finished.
Continuing I intend to compose counters that can be done to someone who threw a stoccata to injure with a mandritto providing in the case, that you will both be found with the left foot forward in coda lunga alta.
To avoid [ward] that punta you will be able to throw a mezzo mandritto on the sword hand making your head well sheltered but the brocchero, so the sword comes to rest in cingiara porta di ferro,& as he throws the mandritto to injure your head, immediately you will cross forward with the right foot,& then you will gather into guardia di testa sheltering from that, & giving across the legs a similar mandritto, then drawing back the right foot you will turn the sword hand for which turn you will find yourself arranged in coda lunga alta with the left foot advanced.
Or you will gather the left foot beside the right, & immidiately you will guide the right foot forward giving the true-edge of your sword in that punta, and when he turns a mandritto to injure your leg, forthwith you will put your sword beneath your brocchero towards his right side, there warding the said blow. That done, you will reach the right leg with a crossing riverso,& then you will pull back the right foot backward thrusting at the same time a punta going to finish in gurdia di faccia for your warding [screening], and you will arrange yourself as above said in coda lunga alta. You will still be able to put the left foot behind the right throwing him a mandritto on the sword hand, settling in porta di ferro larga,& as soon as he wishes to injure you with a mandritto to the head, you with the falso of the sword will hit it sliding quite forward with the right foot casting him at the same time a riverso to the leg, then you will return the same foot backward sticking a punta from beneath your brocchero, that goes into guardia di faccia for your shielding,& arranging yourself in the said guardia.
You will also be able to pass with the right foot towards his left side and than passing [or going] with the brocchero to blunt the given punta, wounding the leg with a mandritto, so that your left leg comes behind the right.
Then taking also backwards the right & turning the sword hand, you will find yourself in the said guardia.
Then you will pass with the right foot towards his right side giving the true-edge of your sword to his punta,& immediately you will turn him a riverso on the face, so that he will not be able to make a mandritto, then dragging backwards the right foot you will throw a stoccata in the face, moving away backwards with all your body,& as you will return to the aforesaid guardia.
Then moreover while he throws the a punta, injure the hand which thrusts with a falso from below to above finishing in guardia di faccia,& as soon as he throws the mandritto, you will instantly cross with the right foot towards his left side hitting the sword arm with a mandritto, so that the left foot follows the right backward for your defence,& turning the hand of the sword return in the said guardia.

Capitolo Secondo
But should the enemy throw a stoccata & then the left foot comes beside the right, and while sliding with the right foot forward to give you a mandritto, or a fendente, you first for the first will not move to the stoccata, but as he comes with the mandritto, this you will hit [parry] going into guardia di testa with the right foot forward, & injuring his leg with a manritto continuing you will pass back with the left foot, and turning the hand in the usual many times celebrated guardia you will be arranged.

Capitolo Terzo
But if he sticks a punta to reach you with a riverso on the face, or on the leg, you keeping your eye on his hand, as he gives the said punta, you will pass forward with the right foot warding that with the falso avoiding, and while he wants to offend you with a riverso to the head, you will pass forward with the left foot warding that with the true edge of your sword in a way that the brocchero covers well the head. Then you will return back with the handle of the sword sticking him a stoccata in the face & going away with a leap leaped backward you will return in the above said guardia and when he throws the said riverso on the leg, you will step forward with the left foot turning the true-edge of the sword in front of the riverso in a way, that then the point of your sword is looks towards the ground, then you will stick a stoccata on the face you jumping backwards & at the end you will finish in the many times said guardia.

Capitolo Quarto
Having said that, that can be done in coda lunga alta, equally continuing I intend to say about offences & counters can be made in coda lunga stretta with the right foot forward, & must be clear that there isn’t a better, more secure guardia nor more suitable on to offend than this. Wanting to corner your enemy in this guardia, you will throw the left foot beside the right,& continuing you will pass forward with the right foot. Because having him so constricted, he will be forced to choose between two things: either strike or go back, and if he loose some space of the field it will be for him no small shame.
Let us suppose therefore that he thrust a punta with the left foot forward for to injure you,& to be in his free will to injure you with a mandritto, or any other blow, as he wants, you for your safety of that punta, retiring the right foot in backwards, you will with the sword in cingiara porta di ferro. And as soon as he wants to offend you with a mandritto, or another blow, you will immediately step the right foot forward hitting [parrying] that blow with the falso,& continuing you will reach his right leg with a riverso, and then for your defence you will stick a punta in the face from bellow your brocchero. Then retiring back in large pace the right foot, you will turn the sword hand in a way, that the punta of the enemy you will see well, and then another punta in the same way you will make a leap back with a lively jump back, & this made, in the above guardia coda lunga stretta with the right foot forward you will return.

Capitolo Quinto
Finding again both in the aforesaid guardia di coda lunga stretta with the right foot advanced, if the enemy sticks a punta with the left foot advanced to then give you a mandritto, you will ward this with the true-edge, but while you see the enemy’s mandritto coming, you will stick a punta so far as the guardia di faccia, there avoiding this. Then you will slide the right foot forward towards his right side giving him together a riverso in the right thigh. Then sticking him a stoccata in the face you will move away back with a leap you will arrange yourself in the aforesaid coda lunga stretta with the right foot forward. But supposing that after the punta the enemy does not throw a mandritto but a riverso on the head, you will slide with the right foot behind, and that with the true-edge of the sword you will avoid [ward] it, so that your head is well guarded by the brocchero. Then you will cross with the right foot towards his left side simultaneously giving him a mandritto to his left thigh, so that the left foot follows the right backwards & for your defence you will gather the right foot back turning the sword hand, so that you find yourself in coda lunga stretta with the left foot advanced. Then returning back two or three paces, you will cross forward with the right foot & you will arrange yourself in the above said guardia.
But if by chance he does not move towards your head. But he wishes to injure the leg, you crossing with the left foot forward this with the true-edge you will hit [parry], in a way, that the point looks towards the ground. That done you will throw him a stoccata on the flank taking yourself back with a jump, & should you not wish to jump it would be enough to go back three or four faces guardia so that you return.

Capitolo Sesto
But if your enemy throws a mandritto to hurt your head you will take bake the right foot hitting his sword arm with a mandritto, so as to settle in cingiara porta di ferro, & that the brocchero protects well the head. Then you will retire back the left foot & turn the sword hand, because you will find yourself placed as usual in the aforementioned guardia coda lunga stretta with the right foot forward.

Capitolo Settimo
And should the enemy throw a stoccata, or a mandritto or a riverso as he wants, to these blows to ward yourself you will make a crossing falso through your sword arm in a way, that the head is well defended by the brocchero not trespassing guardia di faccia. Then you will rearrange yourself in the aforementioned guardia. And if by chance he throws a mandritto at your right leg, you immediately guide your left foot towards his right side throwing a falso with your sword from bellow the brocchero there avoiding that. The immediately you will give a riverso on his right leg, followed by a good stoccata to the face, which as soon as you do it, you had better move backwards with a delicate leap. Then returning forward with the right, in the same way you will arrange in the previous said guardia.

Capitolo Ottavo
Finding myself from what that can be virtuously and masterfully done in aforesaid two guardia, coda lunga alta & coda lunga stretta with the right foot forward I see that the only remaining two alternative guardia in the aforesaid fighting, in which is necessary to explain to the reader, because there are to many ways aswell in these, that one can offend, & defend that is: guardia cinghara porta di ferro, & porta di ferro stretta taking the first I say, that, finding both hand with the aforesaid spada-da-filo & brocchero largo, or traga in cingiara porta di ferro, anyone can start the fight first, but who could manage the victory must not be the one [the first] who starts but in the guard staying with subtle cleverness [or wisdom]. And when the enemy sticks a punta with the right foot forward in order to give a mandritto to the head, you will oppose that punta with the falso of the sword without moving the foot. And while he throws the mandritto on the head, you will immediately go forward with the right foot, you will go with the sword into guardia di testa avoiding this, & of that injuring him on the leg. Then for your safety you will make the brocchero a good guardian of the head. Continuing you will retreat back the right foot sticking a punta in guardia di faccia, & and then arranging yourself in the aforesaid guardia, that we have put in the war-field [field of conflict], that is cingiara porta di ferro.
But should he stick a punta to injure you the leg with mandritto with a falso you will avoid [ward] it. But if that blow he wishes to make on the leg, you fleeing back with the left leg will hit his sword arm as done in a way to be a response mandritto, & this done, for your safety you will retire back two or three paces in the said guardia, of which we were discussing. And when he sticks a punta with the right foot advanced to hurt your head with a mandritto, or fendente, these you will make useless with a falso, but as you will see that the said blows continue, you will take back the left foot you will reach him on the sword arm with a mezzo mandritto. Then together in the same way dragging the left, you will arrange yourself in the aforesaid guardia. And if he gives you such a punta even with the right foot forward to offend you with a mandritto on the leg. You will annul that punta in the same way with a falso. But in the turning of the mandritto you will immediately slide forward with the right foot towards also his right side situating the falso of the your sword beneath the aforesaid mandritto, so that it is accompanying the brocchero touches it from bellow, & you will give him a riverso on the thigh. Then for you defence you will flee with the right foot back sticking him a stoccata in the face, & moving out of the way back with a leap. This, in the guardia you will arrange. But should by chance later after he has thrusted a punta with the right advanced at you, he wishes to give you a riverso on the face, you will first damage that punta with the falso, which does not trespass guardia di faccia. And as he turns the riverso for the head you will put the left with a large pace back, making the brocchero a good defender of the head. Then you will give him a mandritto traversale on the sword arm, then you will retire the right foot back and place yourself in the said guardia. And should later the given punta wanted to injure you with a riverso on the leg, as usual this with a falso you will hit,& retiring back then the left foot you will reach his sword arm with a mezza mandritto, and then you will throw the right foot getting back in the guardia as it has been said.

Capitolo Nono
In this we will discuss of the blows that can be done when both when both of you are with the above named weapons in porta di ferro stretta. You wanting then to corner the enemy, & being with the right foot forward beside that you will gather the left. Then you will step with the same right quite forward. And supposing that the enemy thrusts you a punta consequently to give you a mandritto, or riverso, or fendente on the head, that punta to intercept with a falso, and as he crosses with the right foot to give you the aforesaid blows, retiring with the right foot back. You will give him a mandritto to cross the brocchero of the sword [exactly as is written in the text]. Then taking similarly back the left, you will arrange yourself in your said guardia porta di ferro stretta. But should he thrust a punta with the left foot forward to injure you the advanced leg with a mandritto, that punta first (as is said) with the falso you will render it neutralised. And whilst he passes with the right in order to give a mandritto, you will flee back with the right foot, you will give a similar blow for his within his arm, and for your safety you will cast similarly also the left reducing [or condensing] yourself in the learned guardia. And so then they thrust a punta with the left foot forward, he would like to cross with the right foot and injure your head with the mandritto, or fendente, you retreating back the right foot and lowering with the sword in cinghara porta di ferro, so will have first fled the punta. But as he steps to injure you with a mandritto, or fendente, you will step the right foot forward making a traversal: falso from below to above on the enemy’s sword,& immediately you will give him a riverso on the leg,& then you will flee for your shelter with the right foot back sticking him a punta in the face from below your brocchero. Then getting back to the left, in the same way you will arrange yourself in the aforementioned guardia. And if after the given punta with the left forward, he wanted even to pass with the right in order to injure you with a mandritto to the leg, first that punta you will ward punta useless with a falso you will ward, as he crosses to reach you with a mandritto, you will step immediately forward with the left foot towards your right side giving the falso of your sword from bellow your buckler:& there warding the aforesaid blow, and then you will give him a riverso on the leg, then you will throw him a stoccata in the face & you will go back with a jump placing in the aforesaid guardia. But should he thrust a punta with left forward to injure you with a riverso on the head, to that punta you will turn the falso for warding without moving the feet.
And while he will to give you a riverso, immediately you will step with the left foot forward, and you will make a half-turn of the sword fist warding you of that making the buckler a good guarder of the head,& immediately you will thrust the said buckler to the enemy’s sword casting him a stoccata to the face, or the chest, as you wish,& then you will go away with a jump backward placing in said guardia. And if he thrusted a punta with the left foot forward to give you a riverso on the leg, you will traverse with the left foot towards his right parts, throwing him a falso in that, which doesn’t go beyond the guardia di faccia. And as he gives the aforesaid riverso on the leg, immediately you will pass with the right foot turning a mezzo riverso from below to above, in a way, that the point guards toward the ground,& so you will have warded. Then of a traversale mandritto you will hit his sword-arm making that the buckler a good preserver of the head. Then retreating back the right foot you will go with the sword in guardia di faccia,& following you will draw back with the left foot arranging yourself in the said guardia.

Capitolo Decimo
Having provided all that can be done in the mentioned four guards with the spada da filo and the large buckler, or targa in the hand, ommitting many other blows that do not require much mastery, avoiding to be too lengthy, of which I nevertheless have decided to do a separate chapter, starting from coda lunga alta that was the first guardia and closing with the porta di ferro, that is the forth and last, so i say that from coda lunga alta with the left foot forward you can thrust a punta pretending to intend to give him a mandritto to the head, but you will cast a riverso for the leg.
You can also thrust a punta with the right foot forward acting as if you are about to give him a mandritto to the head, but you will cast a riverso for the leg.
You can also thrust a punta also with the right foot forward, and guiding the left foot towards his right side you will give his leg a mandritto, so, that the head is well warded by the buckler,& that the right foot follows behind the left.
Or you will cast a stoccata without moving the feet, and then you will retreat the left foot beside the right, that done you will cross with the right forward while casting a mandritto, or fendente, or riverso, as you wish.
Also you will be able to cast a mezzo mandritto to the enemy’s hand,& get back to turn a riverso to the leg without moving the feet. Or you can cast a falso from below to above for the sword hand without moving any paces or thrust a stoccata overhand with the right foot forward, which settles in prorta di ferro larga, & then you will be able to make a falso & mandritto,& continuing falso and riverso, in addition to this you could also make a falso going even into guardia di faccia,& passing then the left foot forward you will make a half-turn or the fist thrusting him a punta in the face, or the chest,& that blow is solely against a mancino [a left handed person andor blow it seems], so, whatever blow he has thrown you would always be warded.
But should he cast for the leg with a mancino, you had better keep this ruled order, that is to pass with the left forward,& turning the point of the sword to the ground, there you warding his blow, & giving him a stoccata in the face. And when the said mancino should turn you a mandritto, you will hit the coming hand with a riverso,& should he cast a riverso, in the same way you will injure the said hand with a mandritto,such rules you had better follow against the left-hander, moving always against his sword. Going on fighting with someone who is non left-handed, you have to avoid, if he should wish to give you a mandritto for the head, you will return the left foot back giving him a mandritto to the sword hand. And if he throws a mandritto on the leg, you will gather the left foot behind, hitting his sword hand with a mezzo mandritto, the enemy will find himself in the aforesaid guardia coda lunga alta with the left foot forward, you can thrust a stoccata without moving the feet. Then reduce the left foot beside the left, so, that the sword goes extended back,& immediately you will cross with the right foot thrusting him another punta sopramano. That done you will retreat the right foot beside the left, and the sword below arm, and immediately passing the left foot forward thrusting him a riverso punta in the face, and then crossing with the right foot towards his left side injuring him the head or the forward leg with a mandritto,& and if you can do better a riverso can do it.
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Spada Solo
Cap XII Del Gioco di Spada Solo
If you went to fight against your enemy with the single sharp sword, you will arrange yourself with the right foot in front and with the sword in porta di ferro stretta, and without throwing any blows you will corner him in that way; that is you will withdraw your left foot behind the right one and then you will gather [squeeze] the right one forward.
The enemy, so constricted, will only be able to thrust or move backwards, but if he pushes a punta, you will strike it with a falso giving him a mezzo riverso to the thigh. In order to protect yourself you will; from bellow to above throw him a falso upon his sword-hand, that doesn’t trespass guardia di faccia, and at the end you will cut into porta di ferro stretta.
But if he puts a punta for the face in order to hurt you with a mandritto, or a riverso, you will injure him using the falso, and if he throws a mandritto at the head, with your sword in guardia di testa you will be able to ward it and you will hurt his head or leg as you wish. If by chance, he wanted to do the riverso or a mandritto on your leg, you will gather your right foot behind, giving him a mezzo mandritto to the sword-hand.
But if you wanted to make the riverso useless, you will flee-back with the said foot hurting his sword-arm with a mezzo riverso and you will put yourself at ease in the guardia di porta stretta. And if he pushes you a punta to give you a riverso on the head or on the leg – let us suppose its on the head: you can annul it with the sword’s falso without moving the foot and to contest the coming riverso you will pass with the left foot forward doing a half turn of the fist so you will defend yourself from it. Then immediately traverse with the right [foot] towards his left side, you will give a mandritto on the head or leg as you wish. This done, the left leg has to follow the right one. And if that riverso was thrown at the leg, you (passing forward with your left foot) turn the point towards the ground – downwards push him a stoccata on the flank and move away from him with a jump backwards where you will place in guardia di porta stretta.
But if you see a mandritto coming on your upper parts, or a riverso or a fendente or a punta tirata [stretched thrust], you will he able to ward all the of these blows with the falso, providing that you won’t trespass guardia di faccia
And then you immediately traverse with the front foot doing a turn of the fist.
This done you will push a punta in his face, or in the chest, as you wish after warding yourself with the falso, you will still be able to throw him a mandritto on the face that slides [or runs] down on the arm and the chest, pushing yourself quite forward with your right foot if you want to do this blow. And this in one of the unique defences you can do in this game.

Copywrite 2004 Craig Pitt-Pladdy

This material is strictly reasons of study - this you may not quote or publish without the author's permission.