This is the first time I've written about fifth ward. It should be read in conjunction with part 19 Sixth ward vs. half-shield, as in my opinion the play on fifth ward is really about sixth ward.
These two plays are incredibly important, as they show us how to deal with thrusts and thrust-centric wards, which many modern HEMA practitioners use a lot.
Of fifth ward vs. half-shield, i.33 says that only two attacks may be made:
A strike from the right to separate the sword and buckler of the person in half-shield - the strike essentially passes from fifth ward through fourth ward, and is identical to the play of second ward vs. half-shield. Other strikes are also possible, however none are shown in i.33.
A thrust. Note the thrust travels through sixth ward and could pass the left or right side of the person in half-shield's sword, however i.33 only shows the thrust passing on the right side - i.e. they are making a stichslach. This should tell us something about what the person in half-shield is doing.
Stage 1 Before the fight
My opponent is moving into, or lingering in, fifth ward or sixth ward.
Stage 2 The coming in
I enter in half-shield. I want to block the strike from my left, and encourage an attack to my right, therefore I will circle to my left and hold my half-shield a little off-centre to my left.
Stage 3a I attack
This is not shown in i.33, but you can use your imagination at this point. I can thrust, I can strike over their shield with a schietelhau, I can mittelhau, etc.
Stage 3b They attack
They thrust with a stichslach, which 'bends' around the right side of my sword. They could thrust high, over my buckler, or they could thrust low, under my buckler. Either way, the thrust is made to my right side, as that is the direct line of attack for them.
Stage 4 I defend
Importantly, I want them to thrust to my right side, and I have 'programmed' them to attack to this side by orienting my half-shield to the left. This makes it easier for me to defend as I can predict how they will attack.
Two options are given for defence. Option 1 is preferred if my opponent has thrust above my buckler, and the other if they have thrust below. Both options assume the opponent has thrust to my right.
Option 1: I.33 tells us to 'do a schutzen'. However, the schutzen is not illustrated, and it is not clear what the schutzen is. However, I believe that in this case 'schutzen' is being used in the literal sense of the term and isn't meant to represent another counter-ward - it simply means 'make a defence with the sword'. If my opponent has attempted a thrust to my right side (a stichslach), then I can defend against this by binding down to the right.
Option 2: I.33 shows us that we can perform Krucke (or something like it, anyway). This is presumably useful if the opponent is thrusting low. To do this, from half-shield I basically drop the point of my sword forward and to my left so my tip is now facing downwards. I now move my sword (or sword and buckler) sideways to the right, pushing their thrust off to my right. It is not a million miles away from the type of parries used in smallsword fencing. This is illustrated in i.33:
Stage 5a I control and win
Depending on which option I used in stage 4, I have two more options:
Option 1: Assuming I used an overbind to my right to displace the thrust, I follow up with a shield-knock and Nucken. We've seen this many times before.
Option 2: Assuming I used Krucke to displace the thrust to the right, I now rotate both my sword and buckler clockwise and make a stichslach of my own. Note the illustration from i.33 is quite poor, in my opinion, but does show me controlling their weapons with my buckler:
This is another illustration of the stichslach that is more accurate:
Videos
I.33 - Halpshilt vs Sesta custodia (Pectori) - YouTube - this is an excellent video from Federico Malagutti which shows option 1. Note it is from sixth ward, but fifth ward has to pass through sixth ward in order to make a thrust.
I.33 Basics: 3 Ways to parry Thrusts - YouTube - another one from Federico, this time showing option 1, option 2, and a third option. Note, after option 2, a shield-knock and Nucken is being made, not a stichslach, which demonstrates that the options provided in i.33 are not the only options available.
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