Contents
The fencing system is based on a number of wards (custodie) which are answered by defensive postures (obsessiones). The wards are numbered 1 to 7 on the first two pages and supplemented by various 'special' wards later in the text. The seven basic wards are:
- under the arm (sub brach)
- right shoulder (humero dextrali)
- left shoulder (humero sinistro)
- head (capiti)
- right side (latere dextro)
- breast (pectori)
- 'long-point' (langort)
The German terms appearing in the Latin text are the following:
- albersleiben (possibly the fool's guard position)
- durchtreten, durchtritt ('stepping through')
- halpschilt ('half shield', one of the obsessiones)
- krucke ('crutch', a defensive position)
- langort ('long-point', may be either a custodia or an obsessio)
- nucken ('nudge', a specific attack)
- schiltslac ('shield-blow')
- schutzen ('protect')
- stich ('stab')
- stichschlac ('stab-blow')
- vidilpoge ('fiddle-bow', a specific custodia)
Sporadic dialectal elements in these terms (notably nucken and halpschilt) suggest a location of composition consistent with the reported discovery in a Franconian monastery in the wider area of Würzburg.
Read more about this topic: Royal Armouries Ms. I.33
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