Opera Nova – Book Three


Cap. 161.
Which deals with the art of two handed sword.

Now see that in the name of the Lord God we will initiate the art of the Spada a Due Mani, of gioco largo, & also of stretto, & of the holds with the sword, we will make also many beautiful things, & we will make also against arme inhastate [pole-arms] of one on one, & in company , & every form, we’ll happen to use the said two handed sword, so that for much you will be careful, & you will take account of the after written order; first it is needed , that you go to find your enemy, to go with one of those to do the play that to you will wish, even to much that you will do after the said. So being arrived nearby your enemy, you will put yourself in guardia di testa to go for the said enemy; but watch well if that he is in porta di ferro alta it is necessary that you make a falso inpontato outside of his sword to his right side, passing with the your left leg, & right advanced, casting similtaneously in such passing a mandritto for the head with a tramazzone, in a way that your sword will settle in porta di ferro larga, & if then the enemy should cast for your head, you will send the leg towards his right side, & you will ward away the with the true edge your sword, throwing the ponta of the said sword in the turn in the face of the enemy, & at the same time you will pass the left leg towards his right side, & in such passing you will cast him a roverso fendente for the head, & your sword will settle in coda lunga, & alta, with the left foot advanced. But if your enemy in such lowering (descending) will cast for the head, you will cast the left leg, nearby the right, and you will cross in such casting strongly your arms, straightening also the point of the sword in the face of the enemy, & that way you will have parried the above said blow, & once parried that you will have, you will send your right foot, two palms backward, & you will cast a falso dritto from below to above for the hands of the enemy, & in casting the left leg it will go strong behind of the right, so that you will be with your sword in porta di ferro alta, & the left leg will follow the right behind, & there I want it that you wait for the enemy.

The way of taking in the second part.
Being settled with the sword in porta di ferro alta, from here its necesary that you need to watch for gioco largo from the half sword ahead, and from gioco stretto you will watch for the left hand because of the holds, & sights. But we will assume that of gioco largo being that he will give you a ponta in falso from outside to injure you [or uncover you], & to be able to give some mandritto, or another blow, then the said ponta you will go with the falso of your sword a little to the outside, and increase the left leg strongly advanced, & there you will cast a ponta incrociata for the face,& you will have stuck such ponta you will pass the right leg towards the left side of the enemy,& in the passing you will cast him a falso from below to above in the mandritta, & the left leg will follow the right back, stopping yourself only to cast a tramazzone, that settles in cinghiara porta di ferro with your left foot advanced, so then for your protection you will cast the left leg near to the right, & there you will parry the blow of the enemy in Guardia di Croce, & when you will have parried said blow you will send the right two palms back to the left (weak), and you will cast him with a falso from below to above right for the hands, & in such casting, the left leg will go back strongly to the right. That in this way you will have gone with the sword in porta di ferro largo.

Consisting here in the third parte.
You know that in the second parte you remained in porta di ferro larga, I want that you hit with the falso of your sword in that of the enemy strongly towards your right side, arranging in such striking the left foot near to the right, and parried the said falso, you will give them a mandritto tondo to the leg, passing in such casting the right foot strongly back, and that mandritto will return in guardia di faccia, casting in such tempo the right foot nearby the hand, and you will direct the point of the sword in the face of the enemy in a way that if he may cast you for the head, you will pretend to parry with your sword, and leave it to go void, & and at the same time you will leave them to go with a riverso fendente, passing in that riverso with your left leg towards his right side, in a way that your sword will be settled in coda longa, & alta, not stopping yourself, for your protection you will cast the left leg nearby the right, & you will go with your sword in guardia di croce, and in one time of guardia di croce you will throw the right foot two palms behind the left, and so you will cast a falso dritto from below to above for the hands of your enemy, and in the casting of the dritto falso the left foot will go behind the right, and in that way you will go with the sword in porta di ferro alta, for the right of the abovesaid.

The fourth part that speaks of the tramazoncello
Therefore you being in porta di ferro alta and you enemy will be in that same guardia, you want that you cast a tramazoncello with your left leg passing toward the right side of the enemy, in a way that your sword will settle in cinghiara porta di ferro stretta, and from the said cinghiara you will cast him a ponta infalsata for the outside that will go for his left temple outside of his sword, for fear of the said ponta, he will disclose his parts beneath, and you this to disclosure you will give him a mandritto tondo for the leg you cast, & enter, in guardia d’intrare in largo passo, and so you being in the said guardia di intrare you will pass your right foot well advanced strong, and you will thrust them a ponta incrociando your arms together above the enemy’s sword on the internal side: that is on his left side, and the said ponta will go strongly to the face of the abovesaid, and so he for fear of the said ponta will hit it with his true-edge inside, so you will cast him a mezzo mandritto to his right leg that will not pass porta di ferrolarga, so if your enemy will cast you for the head, you will cast the right leg beside the left, & you will parry his blow with the true-edge of the sword: that is in Guardia di Faccia, and once you have parried the said blow, you will pass galently with your left foot towards his right side, and you will give him a roverso fendente that will settle in coda longa, & alta, so for your protection you will cast the left foot nearby the right, and you will go with the sword in Guardia di Croce, & once gone in said guardia di croce you will throw the right foot two palms behind the left, & you will cast a falso dritto for the hands of the enemy from below upwards, & in casting of such a falso the left leg will go behind the right, in a way that your sword will be in porta di ferro alta, & you will arrange youself gallant and tidy.

Following the forth part of the agent [the one who acts].
So note well that you being in porta di ferro alta, and your enemy were in porta di ferro stretta o atla, from here you will find it passing, & casting a tramazon that will beat strongly his sword, and with your left arm towards the right side of the enemy, not stopping the above said tramazon that you thrust him with a ponta in falso to the face above the spada of the enemy, outside his right side, in a way that for fear of the said thrust it he will parry hitting it outside, or upward, and you in such beat will cast a roverso ridoppio from below upward for his arms your left leg, passing to cast forward strongly: & understand that for reason of that ridoppio you will make them a hold with your left hand: if you don’t wish to make a hold on him you will move with you right leg towards his left side & you will give them a mandritto to the head in that manner that you wish, with a tramazzone together that it will settle in porta di ferro larga, so you will be in the said porta di ferro larga, & your enemy will respond to you with any blow you will parry with the falso of your sword from below upwards, hitting with a roverso sgualembrato for his right temple passing in the casting of such a roverso with the right leg towards right side of the enemy, & the sword will go in guardia di coda lunga, & distesa, & for your protection you will make the blow that is required it flee,& [crove], in a way that your sword will go in cinghiara porta di ferro stretta, & here it’s needed that the play embellishes: that is you will make a turn right, casting the left foot nearby the right, & then you will make a left turn. Going with the sword in Guardia di intrare, & the left leg will go in large pace towards your enemy’s right side, & there you will stop in the abovesaid guardia d’intrare in largo passo,& with your arms extended & tidy, & above everything your left hand, well extended upwards, & the ponta of the sword advanced for the right of the face of your enemy.

Sixth part, & in this you will be active with the falso.
Being in the said guardia d’intrare in largo passo, here you will hit your enemy with a falso manco, passing in the casting of the falso your right leg strongly advanced for the right, and this I make because he has reason to move himself in guardia, & moving himself in guardia, you will pass your left leg toward his right side of the enemy, & you will pretend to cast him a tramazzone to the head, & give him a riverso for the leg, that will go in coda lunga, & distesa, but for your protection you will move your left leg behind the right, and you will give him a punta incrociata sopra mano for the face of the enemy, & you will give him a half-turn of your hands, in a way that your sword will go in porta di ferro alta,& you will arrange your arms well tidy and gallant as much as it be possible.

Seventh part of the first assault
You will make that above in the preceeding parts you remained with the sword in porta di ferro alta, here it is necesary that you see in what guardia is your enemy, knowing that if he were in that guardia abovesaid, you will pass your left leg strongly toward his right side, and in such a passing you will thrust him a ponta incrociata from outside of his sword from the right side, with that ponta that will go strongly towards the left temple of the above said, in a way that for fear of the said point he should expand [widen or loosen] to be able to hit his falso towards the right side [parts], & and you so seeing such widening [overflowing], you will cast him a falso dritto from below upwards for the hand, passing in the casting of the said falso of your right leg strongly towards his left side, well tidy, not stopping the abovesaid falso, that you cast him a tramazzone, with the left leg, passing towards the right side of your enemy, in a way that his sword, after you cast that tramazzone will be settled in cinghiara porta di ferro stretta, and there for your protection you will cast him a falso manco retreating with your left leg strongly backward to the right & there you will collect a little your arms towards yourself but not too much: & you will arrange yourself with the sword again to porta di ferro alta, well tidy.

Eighth part, & you will use the falso manco.
Remaining in the said porta di ferro alta, here you will find [as in reach] your enemy a falso manco from below upward that will hit the forte of his sword, in such striking of the falso you with you will arrange the left foot nearby to the right, & you will increase the right leg forward, & you will cast him two mandritti one for the head, & the other for the leg, tondi (leavel blows), that will cast & will enter in guardia d’intrare non in large pace, that is you will cast the right leg nearby the left with your arms well extended for the right of the enemy, in a way that if the said enemy should cast at you to the above parts, or should not cast, you will increase, your left leg towards his right side, & you will give him a riverso fendente for the head, that will settle in coda & alta, & for your protection you will cast the left leg beside the right, & in the casting you will go with your sword in guardia di croce, thrusting strongly the ponta in the face of the enemy, non stopping yourself sending the right feet two palms back of the left, & in the tavelling you will cast a falso from below to above, lifted from the leg [or “with lifted leg”], in a way that in the casting of such falso the left leg will go strongly backward of the right, & for that your sword will go in porta di ferro alta, & you will arrange yourself there as the other times I have said.

Continuing the 9th part, which states in what guardia you have to find your enemy.
It is necessari that you remain in porta di ferro alta, like I said above, and it’s to consider, & see in that guardia is placed your enemy, because if you want to make this wounding, that you will find here in this writing, it is necessary that you find him also in the said porta like you, and finding him in this presaid guardia you will give him a ponta incrociata for the face of the outside of his sword of his right side, increasing in that giving of the said ponta of your left leg strongly towards the right side of the enemy, not stopping yourself so that you pass the right leg forward, & you will uncross your arms, in a way that you are to be above the sword of your enemy, and together in one tempo you will saw him [that is cut with a saw –this i will term slash or slice from now on] a dritto traversato for the throat, or in the face, and together with a tramazzone, retreating the right leg a grand pace strongly behind of the left hand [Literally as is written]: in a way that in the casting of the tramazzone your sword will settile in cinghiara porta di ferro stretto, and you being in the said cinghiara porta di ferro stretta, and the enemy will cast you another high blow, or low, you will pass your right leg strongly forward, and in such passing you will hit with the falso of your sword to the blow that your enemy cast outside towards his left side, and you will slash a dritto sgualembrato to the face that will not pass porta di ferro larga, accompanied with a tramazzone, and if from there your enemy will rispond to you with a right, or roverso, you will cast the right left nearby the left, & there you will parry in guardia di faccia, and once you have done the said parry, you will pass your left leg strongly towards the right side of the enemy, & you will give him a roverso fendente to the head, in a way that your sword will settle in coda lunga, & alta: & for your protection you will cast the left leg beside the right, & you will go with your sword in guardia di croce, thrusting strongly the ponta of your sword in the face of the enemy, and gone will be in the said guardia di croce, you will throw the right leg two spans backward of the left [leg] and you wll cast a falso from below upwards with lifted leg [or perhaps lifted from the leg] for the hands of the abovesaid, in a way with entering the said falso, the left leg will go strongly backward of the right, and there you will arrange you self in porta di ferro alta well tidy.

Tenth & last part, that deals with _____________, and finish of the first assault.
Knowing that you remain in porta di ferro alta, here it is necessary to embellish the play, that is you will go in porta di ferro in guardia di consentire with the right leg retreating towards the left, and there you will do a volta dritto casting the left leg nearby the right, and left turn that will go in guardia de intrare in largo passo: that is your left leg you will throw it to the side, that is on your left side tidy with your arm well extended towards your enemy and the left hand well be strongly high above your head, and the ponta of your sword will be on the right of the hand of your enemy, so watch that being between consenting [consentire], and turning in guardia de intrare in largo passo, from here finding your enemy in porta di ferro alta o vero stretta you will throw a ponta sopra mano incrociata, that is your arms together that they go to the face of the enemy inside towards his right side sensing that his true edge will be accompanied with the falso filo of your sword, so he for fear of the said ponta incrociata will hit your sword with his true-edge outside directed towards to your right side, and you seeing such a hitting, you will unleash a mezzo madritto for his right leg, that is throwing to enter with such mandritto your left leg to traverse towards your left side not yourself stopping the said sword, that you cross him with a roverso sgualembrato to his right side, and in casting such a riverso your right leg with follow the left back. And for your protection you will make, you retreat and _____ [cruove] in a way that you sword will go into in cinghiara a porta di ferro alta, therefore from here you will go back the play the play throwing the left leg behind the right you will brandish the sword in guardia di testa, & from guardia di testa you will cast a mandritto that will go in guard of shoulder [guardia di spalla] fleeing and entering such mandritto the right leg behind the left and there you make a right turn casting the left leg beside the right, and then make a left turn throwing the said left leg ahead in a grand pace, and there you will let out your sword with the ponta in ground in guard of feet [guardia di piede], and the left hand above on the pomo [pommel], & in the same time you will put the right foot nearby the point of the left; that is the kneebone [Garetto], and there you will arrange yourself with your right right hand on right thigh, in that way you will be back from the play behind.


Cap. 162.
Document of the second assault.

Therefore if you have watched well in the said part of the said first assault, which they have been started from gioco largo. But they are prefect to start a scholare who wants to learn the said gioco largo, but should someone wish to learn of stretto and of largo, paying you, you will present him these strette & prese of the sword that you will find here in this book, of those strette and holds they will be in the last assualt, and know that presenting the strette & prese of the sword within gioco largo, are very useful to the scholari, because nearly always in natural playing, the scholari the one with the other, they come to holds. So that for example, we put that two players that play together and one has learned of largo and stretto, and that one who has not learned if not of largo, he will flee [It could also mean “search”] for all the schola & the other that he will have learned of largo & of stretta he will give to the abovesaid for all, so that I insist that you say to your scolari that they must learn of both the said play together for their utility, if they can afford to pay, because you knowing that of gioco largo in sword vs sword of two hands I remove [or charge] them seven bolognese lire & of giocho stretto, aslo sword vs sword and against armi inastate [pole arms], I take the same amount, they are in total fourteen bolognese lire, but for the present i will not say anymore; because I have started the first part of the second assault also for spada da due mane, and i will put together in this second assault, the gioco stretto with the largo, because in such principle if there was someone who desires to learn both together you will teach him this said second assault of good virtue: I will compose it to you here below this, as you can will see it written in order.


Cap. 163.
From the second assault, of that deals with gioco largo and stretta together.

Be aware that first I will say of the first part of the second assault, that it will be in ten parts between gioco stretto and largo, but ahead of that in such start it is neccessary that you go to play to find the enemy, in that way and form that to you wish, so finally you will be nearby the enemy, you being arrived nearby of the above said, you will put yourself in guardia de testa, and so you will commence the first game of the said second assualt: that is you will make a falso dritto, and a manco together, and then pass the right foot forward, cast him a mandritto tondo for the leg, that you will cast, and enter in guardia de intrare not in largo passo, but so if your enemy will cast for the head, or for the leg, shield yourself with your true-edge of the sword, and then pass the left foot towards his right side, and you will show a roverso di meza spada, and cast him a mandritto redoppio de meza spada with the right foot passing towards his left side, and done you will cast him a roverso of meza spada with your right leg retreating behind the left leg: & then protect yourself with a mandritto tondo retreating that casts and enters in guardia de intrare in largo passo.

Second part, in this you will be skilled with the mandritto to the leg.
Therefore, being remained in the first part of the said second assualt in guardia de intrare in largo passo, from here I want that you will find [reach] your enemy, with a mandritto tondo to the leg, passing with your right foot ahead that casts and enters. But in that entering you will pass to traverse with your left leg in large pace not stopping yourself at all [ever] that you thrust him a ponta, which is born from below upward for the right temple, and make that your sword be above of that of the enemy with your hand rather crossed and with your arms extended, and your right leg in that time passing forward in a way that so, for fear of the said ponta, and the abovesaid [enemy] will raise the arms, so I want that you in such raising draw a mandritto tondo at his left temple re-traversing with the said right foot [“Retrasendo”: It may aslo be from the Spanish term “Traendo” or “Taking back”. Thus may read “retreating with the advanced right foot”. However Florio’s Dictionary has the word “Traggere” which is said to have the identical meaning of “Tiràre” which and mean “to cast”, “to throw” and “to drag” or “to withdraw”. However looking at the Latin root “traho” it then indicates more the “drawing back” of something] forward, and with your left leg, to the right backward crossing, & if so your enemy will respond to you with another blow you will protect yourself pulling a tramazon with your left leg retreating back to traverse: that is of the right side of the enemy, and in that retreating, your right leg will retreat back to the left nearly crossed, and your sword will be settled in cinghiara porta de ferro stretta not stopping yourself that you pass your right leg fowards and give him in such passing a tramazoncello that settles in porta di ferro stretta. But if so your enemy will respond to you with another blow, you will protect yourself retreating with your right leg back in large pace, and your sword should go in guardia de intrare, in fact you will unleash a roverso that will goes in coda longa, e distesa, that you will turn in guardia de croce not moving the left foot forward of the right one, but the right will settle behind the left, & for your protection you will throw the your left leg behind the right, and in such thowing you will uncross your arms, & so you will arrange yourself in porta di ferro alta with your arms & legs well tidy

Third part, and here you will go in guardia de intrare with the falso manco.
So that, being stettled in porta di ferro alta, you will find your enemy with a falso mancho that will go settle in guardia de intrare throwing in the entering of the said falso your left leg in large pace: that is in traversing toward your enemy’s right side: but watch well that being in the abovesaid guardia de intrare in largo passo, and your enemy will be in porta di ferro alta, I want that you pass a grand pace of your right strongly forward and, in this passing, you will cast a ponta incrosiata: that is the falso of your sword that will go against and above the true edge of your enemy’s sword, towards the left side of your enemy: so, for fear of the said ponta incrosata, the abovesaid [enemy] will raise the arms to ward with his true-edge, in such raising you will pass a grand pace strongly towards his right side, from below his sword with your head and you will put there the edge of your sword onto his right arm from below, and in this putting of the edge, if its required a redoppio mandritto and you will throw your left arm onto his right arm, and if you will make him a hold, and once done the said hold, you will give him the pommel of the sword in the face, or if you like give him a slice [taglio] behind the head, but quickly for your protection you will throw the left leg behind the right, & in such throwing you will give him a fendente on the head in a way that your sword will settle in porta di ferro larga, and then you will arrange yourself nicely tidy and sleek with your arms and legs for the right of your enemy.

You will make in this fourth part the double throw.
You know that in the third part you will remain in porta di ferro larga, therefore from here I want that you make the double throw [botta doppia] that is finding your enemy in porta di ferro, o alta, o stretta from here finding him in the said porta di ferro I want that you hit him a strong falso on his sword, arranging in such to hit your left leg to the right backward not stopping yourself that you cast him a mandritto tondo for the leg, or for the head, passing with the right leg strongly forward in casting of that mandritto, and that mandritto tondo will settle in guard of the elbow [guardia de gomito] and your arms will be crossed, and from there you will not stop yourself that you will cast him a roverso sgualembrato passing your left leg strongly towards his right side, and that roverso will enter and will return in guardia de croce, extending the ponta of your sword in the face of your enemy, & if so he will respond to you for the head, you will protect yourself with a falso retreating your left leg strongly behind the right, & your sword will go in guardia de becha possa not stopping yourself in the said said, possa that youdraw a firm falso manco with the said right foot behind, and the said falso mancho will go in porta di ferro alta, & there you will arrange you self well tidy and gallent as much as is possible.

In this fifth part you will embellish the play.
Remaining with the sword sword in porta di ferro alta, I wany you here to embellish the play, that is you will make a right turn, casting the right foot nearby the left, and then you will make a left turn and you will throw the left foot toward the right side of the enemy: that is in large pace in guardia de intrare, and once you have made the said left turn, you will unleash a roverso sgualembrato that will settle in coda longa e distesa, and the right leg in such casting of such a roverso will follow the left backward, so should your enemy respond by some blows, you will protect yourself with retreat and _____ [Cruove], also returning your sword then in the said coda longa, e distesa, because if you will find your enemy in porta di ferro you will give him another blow of gioco stretto, that is you will give him first a falso dritto from below upwards, for the hands of the enemy, not moving either of your legs, in this case if he will not move for the said falso, I want you to pass a grand pace of your right leg forward and you will pretend to fo back again to the said falso dritto, & you will do a ponta falso impuntata that will go strongly to find the left side of the abovesaid, but watch well that when you will do such a punta it is necesary that you do it outside his right side that is above his sword at the falso. But for reason that you will have given very strongly the punta of your sword his left side, you will give them a slice in the face, but understand that if he would like to hit it outside he will not be able because he himself *?* so you will throw it in his neck, but if because of his wit or because of his skill, he will hit it outside of his right side so you will give the a roverso to his right leg and that roverso will not pass coda longa e stretta, and so you for your protection will cast the right leg beside the left, and there you will ward them in guardia di intrare non in largo passo, and you will have warded quickly the said blow, you will cast him a roverso impuntato that will not pass guardia de croce with you left leg passing strongly towards to his right side, you once done that said roverso impuntato, for your protection you will throw your left leg a grand pace behind the right & of you will unleash him in such throwing a fendente dritto, that will settle in porta di ferro larga, and there you will arrange yourself very well gallant, and tidy.

Continues with the sixth part to go in guardia de consentire.
And to remind you that in the fifth part of the said second assault, you will stay in porta di ferro larga, therefore you will arrange the sword in guardia di consentire, throwing your right leg behind the left, and then you will go *?* in guardia di testa floating [galegiando] the play until you find your enemy in porta di ferro alta, and finding him in the said porta di ferro alta, you will arrange yourself again in the same guardia as him, in a way that quickly you will thrust a ponta incrociata for the oustside of his right side, touching the falso of his sword with your true edge but watch well that when you cast such a punta it is necessary that you pass strongly your left left forward towards the right side of the enemy, and making that the right leg follows the left backward, but be aware that he for fear of the said ponta he will uncover all his left parts, so you, seeing the said opening [uncovering], you will send your left hand from below to the inside between both swords, and envelope [or roll] him with your said left arm inside to his upper sword & you will turn the said left hand, so much that you will take [pillage or steal] the handle of his sword, and then you can then give him what you want, expecting that in the pushing that you do with your said ponta suppose he retreated, so you, while he is retreating, you will send the said right foot towards his left side, & you will unleash him two mandritti tondi, the first mandritto will go for the face arranging the left leg behind the right and a little incrociata & the other mandritto will go for the leg increasing also the said right leg forward, and make for your protection that the last mandritto you cast, & you enter in guardia di intrare, sending your right leg behind in large pace, not stopping yourself that you return forward the said right foot, and casting a roverso trivillato, that you cast, & you enter, and you return back your right leg to its place, that is in large pace, & in guardia di intrare as before, and you will arrange yourself well tidy, your arms well extended towards the enemy.

Seventh Part: In this part you will embellish the play with the roverso.
So, being in the seventh part of the said second assault in guardia d’intrare in largo passo, therefore you will embellish the play, that is you cast a riverso in guardia di testa, casting your left leg beside the right, and in the same time taking back the sword in guardia di croce, and from there do a left turn that goes in guardia d’intrare with your right leg retreating, & here you will make a falso manco that goes in guardia alta, with your right leg retreating, and immediately [you] go in guardia di testa, and make a falso dritto that goes in guardia d’intrare, and from there quickly find your enemy with amandritto tondo for the leg, but do that the mandritto you cast for your protection, and enter, passing with your left leg, in large pace towards the right side of the enemy, and immediately give a ponta to him, that is born from bellow upwards, with your right leg passing strongly forward and the ponta will be above the sword of the enemy, and immediately unleash him a mandritto tondo that does not guardia di faccia of meza spada, with you left leg nearby the right a little crossed, and there go with your left hand, if he is waiting for you , to the middle of the sword, in a way of spada-in-armi, and send his sword to the ground, passing in the taking, and expanding [Fondare] your left leg forward, and expanded [fondato] you will have his sword you will slice him a riverso for the face, or for the neck retreating in such slicing for your protection the left strongly behind the right, and there you will take your sword with the left hand, and if you should be able to return in guardia di faccia, not waiting, immidiately unleash him another mandritto tondo, that goes to settle to the leg, in a way that you will settle in cinghiara porta di ferro stretta, and here find him with the same ponta, and a mandritto if you like; I warn you that at this point [ponta] he will not be able to prevent that you do the said mandritto, and if you will do not want to make the said ponta with the mandritto you will find him with a tramazzoncello that will settle in porta de ferro stretta, passing in that casting of your right leg forward, and not of ponta, and if your enemy will cast you a blow still you will parry yourself with thrusting, and enter with your left leg, passing at the same time of such trusting, and you will give him a kick in the stomach with the right foot, and immediately cast him a riverso of meza spada, that goes in guardia distesa with the said right leg, retreating, and the quickly you will defend retreating your left leg, and right, and, and cast a mandritto tondo, you cast, and enters, not stopping yourself that you cast him a roverso trivellato, that returns in the said guardia d’intrare in large pace.

Eighths part of the second assault.
So therefore being in the seventh part of the preceeding in guardia d’intrare in largo passo, it is necessary that you settle your sword in coda longa e larga , and from here you will find your enemy with the falso of the mandritto, with the tramazzon of Becha Possa, and with the ridoppio, and sword, and with the mandritto tondo entering together. But if your enemy will respond to you by protecting with retreat, and retreat again casting a riverso trivellato that you cast, and enter in large pace, and from here you will embellish the play, that is with falsification [Florio’s Dictionary: Falsify or Counterfeit – ie. feint], because the enemy has reason to find you with another part, and you quickly returning in guardia di testa, but if your enemy will cast at you, protect yourself with a mezzo tempo, and soon find him with a riverso, that goes in guardia di testa, that settles & goes up in guard of the shoulder [guardia di spalla]: & quickly for your protection you will cast a mandritto, that will goes in guardia di faccia; but soon you will find your enemy with a tramazonello dritto, that settles in porta di ferro stretta. But if your enemy will cast you a blow still, you will defend- retreating with the right leg in the air above the left, & quick throw it in its place, & cast him a tramazoncello di roverso, that settles in coda longa & stretta, but quick: & if he will cast at you protect youself with thrusting a ponta sopra mano, that you enter in the enemy’s face, retreating in such thrusting the right leg to the back, & quickly you cross the said right leg, and finds the enemy with a roverso trivellato, that casts, and enters with the ponta inpontata, that settles in porta di ferro larga, and so, should the abovesaid cast you a blow still, you will protect yourself with the hilt [perhaps handle], and cast, & unleash a mandritto for the leg, or if you want slice for the face, but if the enemy will re-find [you] with the ponta il mandritto of the sword, as in this you will see, the way that I want that you take: that is when he will thrust the said ponta, or of right foot, or of the left out side your right side you will disguise your sword below his, and you will put him to the side inside, and in such putting you will give him a ponta in falso in the face above his sword of the left side, sending a little your right leg to traverse towards your right side, and if you will do it this way he will be unable to cast, and his mandritto, quicker you give it to him in the face to the abovesaid, and soon for your protection you retreat, and retreat again, and return in the said porta di ferro stretta, with the arms well extended for the right of the enemy.

We deal here with the ninth part.
So being in porta di ferro stretta, from here you will cast the right leg beside the left, & and you will raise your sword in guadia d’intrare non in largo passo, but make it that the your left hand being strong above, & the sword extended strongly forward towards your enemy so, from here you will pass your left leg towards the right side of the enemy and you will make in such passing the showing of a riverso, & cast them a mandritto tondo to the leg, passing to cast in such mandritto you right leg towards the left side of the enemy, and make the said mandritto for you defence you will cast & you start returning right leg back in large pace, not stopping you the said sword that you cast a faslo manco from bellow upward to the hands of the abovesaid, & soon done the said falso, you will embellish and float* the play, that is first you will make a right turn casting the left leg back nearby the right, and you will make a turn left sending the right leg traversing in large pace toward the right side to the enemy, and here you will find the said with a riverso of guardia distesa, that will ascend in guardia di croce, going with the right leg to the left behind, & then you will make seen a tramazzon for the head, & find him with a mandritto tondo for the leg, passing back with the right leg, and do that for your protection that mandritto you cast, and enter, and of then return the said leg back in large pace, and soon from there of the said guardia di intrare, you will cast a falso manco that will stop in cinghiara prota di ferro alta, if your enemy will cast you a blow still, you will protect yourself hitting with the falso of your sword from bellow to above, & casting him a falso dritto, sending your right leg towards your enemy’s left side, & your sword goes in guardia d’intrare non in largo passo, & soon protect yourself retreating with your right leg, & left and go in guardia di testa, & there find him with two mandritti tondi, and the first will not pass guardia di faccia, with your right leg sending you towards the left side of the above said. & the left you will cross it behind the right, & if your enemy for fear goes at length from you, so finding him with another mandritto, making seen to give him one in the head, but cast them for the leg in a way to follow, & make that your sword settles in cinghiara porta di ferro with your left leg, passing to traverse for the right side of the enemy, not stopping youself that you give him a tramazoncello that settles in porta di ferro larga, & soon protect yourself, you cast him, with a falso from below to above, that goes in guardia alta, with your right leg retreating, and cast a mandritto that you settle in porta di ferro stretta, & soon pass with the right leg towards his left side & you will make seen a casting at him with a mandritto for the face, & so he for that reason will raise his sword for respect of the said mezzo mandritto, and you so, seeing this find him with the riverso trivellato: that is, pass with the left foot to traverse for his right side, and so cast the said riverso trivilato with your right leg passing strongly forward, & cast, & enter with the ponta impontata, like you know for your protection, in a way that your sword will have gone in guardia di intrare in large pace, and from there you will leave it to fall in porta di ferro alta, not moving, of those feet, of those legs, save that the hand, you will send back, because everytime that your swords casts, and starts in large pace, it is needed that you cast the right leg nearby the left; and for this respect, wanting to go with your sword in porta di ferro and neccesary to travel therefore the left leg to be behind the right; so that i made you aware here in this place for all the others, and don’t you forget this ponto above.

Tenth & ultimate part of the second assalto
So watch that in this last part of the said second assault, I to you will put them masterfully, that every time that you will in guardia di intrare in largo passo, and he should be in porta di ferro alta, you can go to find him with these woundings, which you will see here below, therefore: when you will refind yourself in the said guardia d’intrare in largo passo , and if it should be in porta di ferro alta, you can find him with a falso manco impontato, passing the right foot strongly advanced, & as the enemy will raise to come to false edge with false edge, so you will give forward with your left leg towards his left side, & you will cross in a way that the ponta of your sword goes towards the right side of his face, and he for fear cover the said right side, but uncover the left, so that you will cast him two mandritti with your right leg, passing strongly towards his left side. Being also yourself in the said guardia di entrare, and if the enemy were in the said porta di ferro alta, you can find him with a ponta, which comes from below upwards, & it goes in the right of his face, if we meant that: you pass always the right foot, unless I say something other, so that his falso goes againt yours, so you will make him a mandritto tondo intrante, and make that when you will give such mandritto, that you pass ahead with your left leg, because it is more able to make the hold, and so the roverso of the mezza spada, but if he will retreat in the casting of the mandritto, follow him for the leg with another mandritto, passing forward your right leg. Being yourself in the said guardia d’intrare and the enemy will be in porta di ferro alta, so show the making of a falso mancho impontato, but as he will raise to turn coming to false edge with false edge, so fallacia [Lit. “Falsify”. However it is more likely to mean “Disengagement” in this context] with your sword with your ponta, & give it above to his left side the true edge with the true edge, and so for fear he will cover his said left side, and you immiediately will send your left leg strongly below your enemy, and cast him a ridoppio mandritto for his arms, & knock with elzetto picciolo [perhaps referring to the “little hilt”] strongly inside his sword, and cast him a roverso de squilo, sending your right leg strongly behind the left, in a way that you will nearly turn them the shoulder. Being in the said guardia d’intrare and the enemy will be in prota di ferro alta, and make that you will unleash him a mandritto in cinghiara porta di ferro, and you will make him the becca possa in the face of the enemy to his right side, as he raises it, cast your right leg beside your left, and with the left pass forward, & cast a ridoppio roverso to his right side, and there you can make a hold if to you wish to: also if you should be in the said guardia d’intrare and your enemy will be in the said guardia di porta di ferro alta, so you will pass strongly ahead, and cast a falso manco, that percusses strongly the sword of your enemy, & immidiately cast a roverso trivellato that you cast and you enter in the said guardia di intrare. Being also in that same together said guadia d’intrare, and your enemy will be in the above said porta di ferro alta, you will give him strongly forward yout right leg, and cast falso mancho, that goes in guardia di faccia, and hitting strongly to the enemy’s sword, and from here you will cast for the face with your left leg crossed to the right backward, and so cast him two mandritti, and make that the last you turn in the said guadia d’intrare in largo passo. Therefore, being also in the said guardia d’intrare, in the abovesaid will be in porta di ferro alta, as i have told you, so find him with a falso filo mancho [Lit: a left false edge] that goes in guardia alta, and immidiately cast them a roverso that you send in guardia distesa, with your right foot, and left passing, and so you can make this same blow with your right leg, crossing to the left, increasing, and there you can cast him the same roverso di guardia distesa, here in the in the name of the Lord God we will finish the second assault, with returning the play back.


Copywrite 2004 Craig Pitt-Pladdy