First introduced in 23v with the text 'the priest conducts his specific ward, namely longpoint...', therefore this ward is generally called priest's special longpoint (PSL). There seem to be two variations, assuming these illustrations do indeed show the same ward. One variation has the buckler out, the other with the buckler is in, exposing the right shoulder.
So, what is so special about PSL? In my opinion, there is nothing special about it. It is simply a specific variation of first ward and is the natural position you would be in if you make a powerful strike from the top right to the bottom left. I.33 shows it largely being used in a way similar to first-ward. However, the 7 plays of PSL include some important but subtle lessons.
From a practical standpoint, i.33 only shows it being used to attack with a Stichslach. However, I would also use it to make a sweeping, rising cut from the bottom left to the top right, and indeed we see this cut being used in other fencing systems as a sort of 'universal parry', capable of parrying an attack from the left or the right.
The plays of PSL
Play 1: PSL vs. half-shield
In usual i.33 fashion, the priest is sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right, making this a little hard to follow. However, basically (using our 6 stages):
1. The priest is in PSL.
2. The scholar has entered with half-shield.
3b. The priest has fallen under the sword and shield (and so will Stichslach or disengage). So far, this is exactly like first ward vs. half-shield.
4. The scholar binds the priest down to the right side.
5a. This is very interesting, and we haven't seen this before. From the overbind in stage 4, the scholar has cut upwards and managed to separate the priest's sword and buckler, and has driven a thrust in. I've never tried this so, at present, I cannot say if or how it works. However, presumably scholar's strike to bind down on the right created a gap between the priest's sword and buckler that the scholar managed to exploit with a cut upwards.
This play demonstrates that PSL is treated like first ward.
Play 2: PSL vs. half-shield (again)
This play is identical to the one above, except it has a different ending and a new message.
1. Priest is in PSL.
2. Scholar enters with half-shield.
3b. The priest has fallen under the sword and shield. The scholar has attempted to make a strike at the priest without first making a shield-knock. The priest performs the Stitchslach.
This play is basically the same as first-ward vs. half-shield, but i.33 now warns us that if we attack from half-shield without making a shield-knock first, then we are vulnerable.
Play 3: PSL vs. high longpoint
We briefly touched upon high longpoint here. In my current opinion, high longpoint is basically similar to reverse half-shield, but the buckler is held pointed forwards and sword hand and buckler hand are not held together. It isn't clear to me at the moment why anyone would use high longpoint instead of half-shield, however it is possible it was a common ward used at the time.
The advice of the priest seems to be to treat it the same as half-shield. Therefore:
1. The priest is in PSL.
2. The scholar enters in high longpoint.
3b. The Priest falls under the sword and shield and makes a Stichslach.
4. The scholar defends against this with a bind down to the right.
5. This is interesting. We have not seen this before, but I recognise what has happened because it happened to me the other day in sparring. The scholar is overbound to the right, and then the priest is overbound to the right. If the priest simply did a disengage and 'changing of the swords' as we've seen in other plays, he would have an overbind on the left, not the right. So what happened? The text repeats a verse that appears in multiple places in the book: Binder and bound are opposed and irate; the bound flees to the side, I try to follow. The person who is bound (the priest) has moved off to the side to escape the bind. As he has rotated his body to the right, the scholar has tried to follow. However, the result is simply that the scholar is now overbound on his left and priest now has an overbind on the right. This sounds complicated but it is straightforward, and you can demonstrate this with your fingers: point your index fingers at each other as if they were swords, then point both downwards as if one finger has an overbind over the other; now you will see that when you rotate both fingers towards your body, one finger has an overbind, and when you rotate them away from your body, the other finger now has the overbind. (I admit, this is stretching the source material a little, but it is the only explanation I can think of why the priest suddenly has an overbind on the right).
Play 4: Third ward vs. PSL
1. The priest is in third ward.
2. The scholar has entered with PSL. It is being used as a counter-ward. I.33 tells us that the priest should not allow the scholar to make the attack from PSL, which will be (as we have seen) a Stichslach.
3. It is not really clear what has happened here. Either the priest has attacked, and the Scholar has defended against the attack by going from PSL into a 'Schutzen' (likely a Krucke-like position, or possibly just a false-edge unterhau), or the Scholar has attacked and the priest has made an oberhau to bind the scholar down to the right. The play is likely illustrating both scenarios simultaneously.
Play 5: Fifth ward vs. PSL
Not a lot of text is given to accompany this play. Because the priest's buckler is pointing off to his left, I believe that this is what is happening:
1. The priest is in fifth ward.
2. The scholar is in PSL and is circling to his left (i.e. away from the priest's sword). This is notably different than the play of fifth ward vs. half-shield.
3. The priest has attempted to make a thrust or a strike to the scholar's left side, which the scholar has defended against with an underbind/krucke-like defence to his left.
I must admit, I am guessing at this point!
Play 6: Exchange of thrusts
Perhaps the most interesting thing that i.33 says about PSL, particularly the buckler-forward version, is that if the opponent makes a thrust at it from fifth or sixth ward, the person in PSL should also make a thrust with a step forward with the left foot, or a step back with the right foot, and that this thrust will beat the opponent's thrust. I haven't tested this as of yet.
Play 7: Fourth ward vs. PSL
1. The priest is in fourth ward.
2. The scholar enters with PSL. I.33 tells the scholar that it is dangerous for the scholar to lie low for so long and urges the scholar to 'make his Schutzen' and then follow up with the thrust as soon as possible. The Schutzen simply means he should first make a Krucke-like counter-ward and then thrust. This is illustrated below:
3b. The priest has recognised that PSL can be treated as first ward, therefore the priest has formed half-shield. The priest is now the besieger, not the besieged, and can attack PSL in the same way he would attack first-ward. This is an important lesson.
4. The scholar has underbound the priest's half-shield using a krucke-like position. The priest has overbound the scholar's krucke-like Schutzen.
5a. The scholar has performed a shield-knock and Nucken.
5b. This simply shows that from the bind in stage 4, either opponent can win, with the person who first makes the shield-knock being the one to win.
Conclusion
PSL is a strange ward. I.33 dedicates considerable space to it, yet it doesn't seem to be particularly important. It gets largely treated like first ward, although some important lessons are included in its plays, including:
You can separate the opponent's sword and buckler from below, not just from above (but this applies generally, not to PSL specifically).
If someone is besieging you in PSL, if you change to half-shield then you can now besiege them as if they were in first ward.
If you are besieging someone when you are in PSL, do not delay. First form a Schutzen then make your thrust.
Underbound and overbound can be swapped if both people rotate in the same direction, like a mirror.
A thrust from PSL with a step left will beat a thrust made from fifth or sixth ward.
When two are bound, one with an underbind, the other with an overbind, the first person to shield-knock will win.
Videos
The Secrets of I.33: Priest's Special Longpoint - YouTube - here are lots of far more experienced people than me demonstrating their own interpretations of PSL.
MS I.33 Priest's Special Longpoint vs Fourth - YouTube - this demonstrates two principles of PSL. PSL can either overbind the opponent's sword, or it can underbind the opponent's sword.
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