"Containing some useful observations on the time thrust; the most advantageous manner of attacking an adversary, either out of measure, or in measure. Also, rules and observations in single combat; the properties of a serviceable sword; and the most eligible method of disarming an adversary in fencing with a foil; or, in serious affairs, with a sword."
This third and final part of McArthur's smallsword manual is focused primarily on practical advice for the assault - what we would today call sparring or competition - as well as some self-defence advice.
Beginning the assault
He starts with a description of the salute, which I'm not interested in, but here is something similar:
McArthur suggests to first bind out of measure in Carte, or in other words the weak of your blade on the weak of theirs.
"Assume a bold air, and steady position. Steadily fix your eyes to those of your adversary, so that he may not penetrate into your designs, and withal advert to keep your proper distance and measure." McArthur wants you to focus on the eyes of the opponent, which is the same as some other fencing masters, such as Blackwell. However, other fencing masters of the era (e.g. Hope and Wylde) suggest you focus on the hilt of the opponent's weapon.
"It is a most essential point in assaults, to know exactly the distance and measure; and for that purpose you must observe the height of your adversary, and length of his foil, and make the necessary allowances accordingly."
Do not practice with short foils, only with proper length foils of 38 inches end to end (assuming a 7 inch hilt, that is a 31 inch blade), that allow you to keep a regular distance.
Do not hold your guard too far forward, as if you keep your opponent too far away you will not be able to reach them with a thrust.
Make sure that when in Carte you cover your inside a little so that you do not need to worry about a straight thrust on this side, and when in Tierce cover your outside a little for the same reason.
Fighting defensively
If facing a tall fencer, McArthur warns that it is prudent to be on the defensive and allow your opponent to make the first attack, so that you know the extent of his/her reach. In fact, he suggests this is prudent advice when facing any opponent, short or tall. He suggests allowing the opponent to attack first, and parrying with various types of parries so that your opponent is 'embarrassed' and doesn't know what your preferred parry is. Use this to gauge the opponent's preferred methods of feints and attacks.
McArthur suggests a number of defensive parry-riposte strategies:
1.
We: Engage Carte
You: Advance to gain measure
I: Give an opening for you on my right, by pressing your blade a little to my left
You: Disengage under to thrust Carte over the arm
I: Parry strongly with Tierce and return a thrust in Seconde
2.
We: Engage Carte
You: Feint one, two, three
I: Parry of round Carte, thrust Carte
3.
We: Engage Carte
You: Feint one, two, three
I: Parry of semi circle
You: Counter disengage over
I: Parry Octave, and thrust Octave
4.
We: Engage Carte
You: Make frequent disengagements from one side to the other
I: Stand firm, do not answer the disengagements, do not seem hurried or embarrassed
You: Continues to make disengagements
I: Randomise your parries, i.e. sometimes use simple Carte or Tierce, sometimes round parries or circular parries, etc.
5.
We: Engage Tierce
You: Disengage to Carte
I: Round Tierce parry
You: Drops point to thrust Low Carte or Octave
I: Parry semicircle or Octave.
"Hence you should avoid making your parades too strong or too wide, in case of missing his blade, that you may the more easily recover, and go from the upper to the lower parades."
6.
We: Engage Tierce
You: Feint Octave.
I: Parry Octave.
You: Thrusts Carte
I: Parry simple Carte
"You will find it exceedingly useful, to go from the parade of octave to carte; as it baffles a variety of feints and thrusts, that may be attempted on this engagement."
7.
We: Engage Tierce
You: Advanced into measure and thrusts Carte over the arm or Tierce.
I: Parry Prime, and return thrust of Prime.
"Or, if you have not opening sufficient, disengage over his arm, and deliver your thrust in seconde."
8.
We: Engage Tierce
You: Lunges with an attack from out of measure
I: Thrust Octave.
"You may [also] deceive him in this manner, even though he should attack you in proper measure, by retreating a step backwards out of measure, while he counter disengages and thrusts; at the same time forming your round parade in octave and extension as aforesaid. This is a kind of time thrust on the extension, and may be performed with safety, when attacked out of measure on the engagement of tierce. On the same engagement, if your adversary makes his feints, or disengages wide, you may seize the time, and deliver him a straight thrust, always taking care to be well covered when you longe."
9.
We: Engage Tierce
I: Retreat backwards
You: Lunges with an attack from out of measure
I: Thrust Octave.
10.
We: Engage Tierce
I: Retreat backwards
You: Advances and disengage to Carte
I: Instantly counter-disengage and time thrust Carte over the arm
11.
We: Engage Tierce
You: Force or beat my blade
I: Disengage over the blade and thrust Carte
You: Parry simple Carte
I: Cut over the point and thrust
McArthur advises students not to be too hasty in making their return thrusts, and that these should be made while the opponent recovers, and with a straight arm.
When engaged in Tierce, McArthur notes that the parries of round Tierce, Octave and round Octave will parry nearly all feints your opponent can make, and you can mix it up a bit with Seconde and semi-circle.
"If a good fencer seems to prefer one parade before another, he may be easily deceived, and frequently touched by a person not so near so skilful as himself. Therefore, it is ssuredly the best way for a learner to put in practice all the parades, changing them every moment, as the occasion requires. He should fly from the high to the low parades, and vice versa, so that in the end he will find it no difficult matter to parry every feint and thrust."
Time thrust
If your opponent continues to make disengagements, seize the opportunity and make a time thrust. You need to cover yourself well when you do this.
"To perform it with any degree of nicety, does not depend on the eye alone, but mostly upon a kind of feeling or susceptibility that the hand must necessarily have; which practice, and your own judgement alone will assist you in, or cause you to imbibe; for there can be proper rules laid down for attaining this feeling, so necessary in fencing, especially in executing the time thrust." I.e. you need to practice it!
Time thrust exercises were covered in part 2 in detail, but McArthur recommends a few key situations when to time thrust:
When engaged Carte, if your opponent disengages to Tierce, you counter-disengage and time thrust Carte (with good opposition).
If your opponent feints overly wide, time thrust them.
When engaged in Carte, if your opponent advances into measure with a disengage, time thrust them with a Carte over the arm as they step in.
When engaged in Carte, hold your point a little higher than usual, and if your opponent cuts over the point to Tierce, disengage under to Carte and time thrust them in Carte.
When engaged in Carte, if he disengaged over into Tierce, parry with the semi-circle. He will disengage over; time thrust with an Octave into his flank.
Time thrusts can also be done when engaged in Tierce in a similar manner.
On the offense
"When intending to attack him, you must execute your feints nimbly; advancing, in order to gain your measure, and deliver him the intended thrust."
"If on the engagement of carte, you are inclined to attack your adversary, disengage dexterously outside and inside, by forming your extension, as if intending to thrust. If it does not give you openings, you may expect to discover the parades he will use. If he uses his simple parades, you will easily deceive him, by marking feints one, two, three. But if your adversary is skilful, and uses his round parades variously; you must endeavour to embarrass him by appels, extensions, glizades, beatings of the blade, counter disengagements, etc." This is clear: make your feints, if s/he parries with simple parries then you should be able to defeat him/her with a 'one, two' or 'one, two, three' feint. If the opponent uses more complex parries, you will need to be more sneaky, using foot stomps, beats, glissades etc.
Attacking from Carte
"The six [following] examples, if well executed, I flatter myself, will suffice, equally as well as six hundred. I have, from experience, found the movements contained in these examples to be the most eligible manner of attacking an adversary on this engagement, and the surest method of rendering your intended thrusts effectual."
1.
We: Engage Carte
I: Being within measure, perform an appel and glizade.
You: Resist glizade by forcing on the blade (wrist low, point high)
I: Make a nimble cut over the point
You: Attempt to parry with simple tierce
I: Disengage and thrust Carte
2.
We: Engage Carte
I: If I am out of measure, make a quick and regular advance in order to gain it; at the same time extending my arm, and forming a glizade along my adversary’s blade
You: Resists glizade by leaning on the blade
I: Disengage carte over the arm, forming complete extension
You: Attempt to parry with simple tierce
I: Disengage and thrust Carte
"but if he uses the round parade in carte, then counter disengage and deliver your thrust"
3.
We: Engage Tierce
I: If out of measure, advance in like manner with a glizade; make an appel, and quickly disengage under the wrist, and deliver a quick thrust in low carte.
You: Parry this thrust with semicircle
I: Recover quickly, fixing point well to his/her body, and forming the parry of semicircle, octave, or the round carte, depending on how he/she thrusts in return
"but if he is slow in making a return, you may safely, on recovering, deliver him a thrust of the wrist"
4.
We: Engage Carte
I: If within measure, make an appel and glizade, drop to low carte, and form extension;
You: Parry it with semicircle
I: Counter disengage, and deliver a thrust in octave
You: Follow the blade with the circle parade
I: Double, and then thrust octave
"These two examples may be performed advantageously against an adversary that is very tall in stature"
5.
We: Engage Carte
I: Performed a glizade, and feint in low carte
You: Form semicircle, then octave
I: Instead of fully counter disengaging to octave, half disengage (that is, to the height of his/her arm); lose a moment of time
You: Forms the parry of octave
I: Thrust straight carte inside
"This example is very deceiving, when your adversary frequently uses the simple parades of semicircle and octave alternatively."
6.
We: Engage Carte
I: Perform a glizade, and disengage to carte over the arm raising hand and extending the arm
You: Round parade
I: Counter disengage, or double
You: Simple parade of tierce
I: Dropping my point, thrust to the belly or flank, taking care to cover myself by making good opposition
"This last example is also very deceiving, when your adversary forms his high parades as above; and is an advantageous against an adversary of tall stature."
Attacking from Tierce
"The most advantageous manner which I have experienced, in attacking any adversary on this engagement, I shall lay down in the few following examples".
1.
Engage in tierce, but being out of measure.
Quickly advance and form a glissade along your adversary’s blade.
If the glissade doesn’t create a sufficient opening:
Make an appel (a small hop or step).
Repeat the glissade.
Disengage to carte inside (thrust to the inside line).
If your opponent parries with a simple carte (a low parry):
Disengage again.
Thrust carte over the arm (to the high line).
If your opponent parries with a round parade in tierce (a circular parry):
Counter disengage (opposite of their movement).
Thrust carte inside.
If your opponent takes a simple parade in carte against your counter disengagement:
Deceive them by thrusting carte over the arm.
2.
Engage Tierce:
Mark a feint seconde.
Deliver a thrust over your adversary’s arm.
Alternatively, make a glissade along his blade while forming your extension.
Quickly deliver a thrust in octave (to the high outside line).
Or deliver the thrust in seconde by reversing the wrist.
If your opponent opposes it timidly with the parade in octave or semicircle (parrying movements):
Carefully manage and restrain your body.
Deliver a thrust in the first opening you can find:
Counter disengage (opposite of their movement).
Or make feints (deceptive movements).
3.
Engage Tierce, within measure.
Make an appel (a small hop or step) and glissade (a sliding movement along the opponent’s blade).
Disengage to carte (thrust to the inside line), raising your arm as if intending to thrust to your adversary’s breast.
If your opponent takes the simple parade of carte (a low parry) or the round parade in tierce (a circular parry):
Quickly drop your point under their wrist.
Deliver a thrust in low carte (to the lower line) or octave (to the high outside line).
You can occasionally vary the execution of this thrust:
Counter disengage (opposite of their movement).
Or double (perform two quick movements) when your opponent uses their round parade.
Suddenly drop your point and thrust low carte or octave.
To be aware of this deception if attempted by your adversary:
The moment you lose sight of the blade in the upper parades:
Follow it by forming the lower ones (adjust your parrying position).
4.
On the same engagement, if you find your adversary inclinable to form his simple parades of octave and semicircle (parrying movements), deceive him in the following manner:
Mark a feint in seconde.
He will naturally offer to parry with simple octave or seconde (low parries).
Then mark another feint, as if you intended to thrust in low carte (to the inside line).
Instead of disengaging completely, only half disengage (to the height of his wrist).
Suddenly reverse your movement.
Thrust seconde (to the high outside line) or octave (to the high inside line).
Do this while he is forming his parade of semicircle or any other simple parade to secure his inside.
Self-defence
McArthur provides advice for being attacked in the dark or in a real sword fight.
"First then, when you are assaulted in the dark, and have time to draw your sword in defence, throw yourself on wide guard, having your point well directed to your adversary’s breast. By assuming a fierce and wide guard, he will think you are quite close upon him; then endeavour to feel his weapon, that you may engage it in carte or in tierce. Having felt his blade, never quit it, but keep constantly following any feints or disengagements he may attempt, by forming your round parades of carte and tierce, semicircle, and octave, alternatively using them, according to the side engaged upon."
If you feel the blade in carte:
Gently press upon it to be ready for disengagement.
Follow with the round parry of carte.
If the blade isn’t felt, presume it’s dropped under your arm, instantly form the simple or round parry of octave. These round parries will thwart your opponent’s attempts. Execute them seamlessly, dropping the point and bending the wrist for the round parry of octave.
Similar rules apply for Tierce. Press gently on your opponent’s blade in tierce. When you feel the motion of their disengagement:
Quickly form the round parry of tierce and parry of semicircle (or circle if needed).
Always bring their blade back to the original position.
Execute these parries with a well-thrown-back body and a poised left leg. If possible, retreat on even ground, being cautious of rugged terrain.
"If the scene of action should be confined, and your adversary presses vigorously upon you, with your back forced up to a wall, or any corner, I would recommend you make use of your simple parades if seconde and prime alternately; and when you have parried any of those thrusts forcibly with either of these parades, plunge one in return towards his flank or belly, with the extension of the arm, making the opposition correspond with your parade". This is similar to Hope's hanging parry in his New Method of smallsword fencing. Video below:
McArthur goes on to explain that the smallsword in the hands a of a skilled practitioner can beat an adversary armed with a cutting weapon such as a broadsword by thrusting when the opponent is raising their hand to make a cut. He also suggests the smallsword beats the pistol, if the pistol is drawn within measure.
Superiority and Errors: Even if your fencing skills surpass your adversary’s, their erroneous habits—like thrusting with a crooked arm, forcefully breaking your guards, or randomly attacking—can lead to their victory. Overconfidence can be fatal.
Adversary’s Tactics: To counter an adversary with furious, crooked-arm thrusts, retreat and adopt the round parries of carte and simple octave. If they persist, swiftly counter-attack after catching them off-guard.
Left-Handed Adversaries: When facing a left-handed opponent, engage them on their outside (carte). This grants you an advantage, especially in disarming attempts.
Effective Techniques: Focus on executing well-practiced round parries of carte and tierce. Combine them with lower parries, fluidly switching to parry feints and thrusts. When attacking, use glissades, footwork, and simple feints judiciously.
Disarming
Some ways to disarm the opponent:
Beat on the Feeble:
Identify when your opponent's arm is stiff and slightly extended.
Seize the opportunity to give their blade a strong and abrupt beat on the feeble (the weaker part of the blade) in tierce.
Reverse your wrist abruptly with the nails downwards.
This technique often disarms or disconcerts the opponent, making your subsequent thrusts more effective.
Crossing the Sword:
After parrying your opponent's thrust, without releasing their blade, lean abruptly onto it, binding it with yours.
Reverse your wrist downwards, as if in seconde position.
Give the opponent's blade an abrupt twirl, aiming to throw their hand and blade out of the line of direction.
This should either disarm them or create an opening for your thrust.
Circular Movement:
After parrying your opponent's thrust in tierce, or the round parry in tierce, maintain contact with their blade.
Execute a strong and abrupt circular movement with your wrist in seconde position, without releasing their blade.
This can disarm the opponent or provide an opportunity for a follow-up thrust.
Low Feints:
If your opponent tends to use a semicircle guard, initiate a few low feints.
Feint a low carte, then counter disengage to octave.
Deceive your opponent by only half disengaging, and as they form their octave guard, quickly gain your measure.
Extend your arm and deliver a straight thrust to their wrist or hand.
This can disable the opponent by hitting their wrist or running between their thumb and first finger.
"The ancient mode of disarming, by advancing and seizing your adversary’s arm in various positions, together with plongeons, voltes, etc are now entirely disused; as they were found impractical sword-in-hand, without putting the person who might attempt them in imminent danger of losing his life. Therefore I have passed them over in silence, and have only made a few observations on the most eligible method of disarming your adversary in serious affairs." Fair enough, but these are used in earlier systems and I suspect they fell out of disuse due to etiquette more than practicality.
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