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A Hack at the Man that Wol |
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Written by Wolfgang Adolphus Jäger (Dominic J.B. Hunter)
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Saturday, 04 August 2007 |
This is an attempt at a translation of the 15th century two-hand sword manual known as "The Man that Wol" [1]. I have attempted simply to render the text into modern english: obscure terms and words have been translated, but in these cases I have noted any ambiguities in the translation (notes in curved brackets) and given the originals (in square brackets). Since I'm not a Middle English scholar, word translations have come from the Oxford English Dictionary, though in some cases I have included material from Hutton's [2] marginal notes. The verse section has been translated with no regard for retaining its rhyming structure, though this does remain largely intact and what does not can be reconstructed from original words given.
My aim in doing this transcription is to render the manual in a form in which it is easy to read, in the hope that this will make its interpretation easier. Also to invite comment and correction from those who know more of this subject than I, and to stimulate discussion.
Shortly after writing the above, I received comments and suggestions from Steve Hick and Will McLean, including a more comprehensive glossary for the manual and some corrections - sadly, it's taken me nearly 18 months to get round to incorporating their suggestions into this document. I've refrained from wholesale copying of their work; apart from issues of copyright and courtesy, I haven't the time to devote to doing their work justice. If you want to know what their version is, contact them direct - after this amount of time they may have much more worked out...
Within the text, their corrections are given as [ ..., GdC ]; glossary additions are similarly credited.
And after more reading and head-scratching, I still don't know what it means....
[1] British Museum, Harleian MS. 3542, ff 82-85. Note that my only source for this manuscript when translating it was the transcript given in Hutton's "The Sword and the Centuries", therefore any errors in Hutton's transcript will be reproduced here. I have also received a direct transcript of the manuscript from Steve Hick against which the translation has been checked.
[2] "The Sword and the Centuries, or Old Sword ways and Old Sword Days", Alfred Hutton. Dover (ISBN, etc. to follow)
The use of the Two Hand Sword
The first playing and beginning of the substance of the two hand sword.
The first ground beginneth with a cut [hauke] bearing inward the foot with a double round with three feet outward and as many homeward, making end of the play with a quarter cross smiting [smitten, GdC] with a snatched cut [hauke snach] setting down by the foot.
The second lesson is two cuts [haukys] with two half cuts [halfe haukys] cleaving the elbows with the same two double rounds aforsaid, with three feet outward, and as many homeward.
The third lesson is a spring upward, with a quarter cut, [hauke quarter] down by the cheek, (check?) [cheke] with two double rounds standing born on the head, with a doubleround born in with the foot, with three outwards.
The fourth lesson, is with a double cut with two double rounds bearing inward a step up on both feet.
The fifth lesson is with a cut managed (guided, or perhaps menaced?) [menyd] over the head, but bear it up with a step. Break of the stance (guard) [erthe] with running (raiding?) [renyng] rounds on the head with two half cuts born with two cock steps (short, nimble steps?) [koc stappis] of the feet.
The sixth lesson bear out the stance (guard?) [erthe] with three cock steps [koc stapps] and so come home out of danger again.
The seventh lesson is, smite a cut cross, cross over the elbows with a back step and so smite it on the feet.
(T)he eighth lesson is with, a cut cross smiting with a backstep born with both feet and a contrary cut homeward born with two steps.
These being stroke and rally (as in recovery, or perhaps riposte?) [revle] [rule, GdC] of the two hand sword to make his hand and his feet accord.
The play of the two hand sword between two defenses (? means of defense, protection.) [bokelers] is, first take a sign (feint?) [sygne] of the ground (stance, guard) [g{o}nde] there you play between two [bokelers], make first a a feint (sign) [sygne] to him (high?) [he] with a large cut down to the ground, with three rolling strokes (moulinets?) [rollyng strokis] with a cut to the other side.
The second lesson is a chase, (rush, charge?) [chase] or a cut with a quarter born in with a cock step (short, nimble step) [kocstep] and a cut born in with a rushing thrust, [chase foyn] made up with a light spring.
The third lesson is, a chase, (charge?) with two cuts cleaving the elbows.
The fourth lesson, is a chase smiting [smety] with two half rounds, with two cock steps, a quarter with a step and cut with a charging thrust, [chase foyn] with the stroke aventure (cut made with/by a turn - au en ture, or poss. cut at a chance opening?) [stroke a venture] smiting on three feet, and made up with a rake (cut with the end of the sword?) down, and bear up with a double cut, and so serve the stroke aventure [stroke auentur] up on both feet.
The fifth lesson, is a chase with a cut and with a back step standing on the foot, and playing on its other side a quarter and the same chase, and a cut with a step, and a cut with a charging thrust [chase foyn] smiting contrary, [contry smyten], and so smite in with both feet made up with two half cuts, with two back steps, and with the running (raiding, rapid hostile movement) [renyng].
The sixth lesson is two quarter cuts round with a broken (presumably in the sense of interupted) [brokyn] half cut laying down to the feet with a contrary hand is the first laying down.
The seventh lesson and the first taking up is three rakes (cuts with the sword-tip?0 [rakys] upwards and three downward, and go inward a large step, [grete steppe] with a double quarter well smitten, bearing out with the foot a broken half cut setting down the sword by the foot.
The eighth lesson and the second laying down of thy sword, two cuts with a quarter and three with the foot with a broken cut, laying down to the foot with a contrary hand.
The nineth lesson and the second taking up of thy sword is three cuts on each side standing on the guard (alternatively earth) [erthe] still with a step born (?) [stop bor] managed (guided, or menaced) [menyd] of the guard, [erthe] with a quarter cut born with a step, and with a double quarter hand and foot born over the head, a cut guided [menyd] setting thy sword by thy foot.
The tenth lesson and the third laying down of thy sword is a quarter and in with the foot and a cut broken (breaking?) [brokyng] at the cheek and then a double cut about the head broken, and then in with a spring of the feet, with a stroke auenture, with a quarter and with a snatch, laying to the guard (earth?) [erthe] with a contrary hand.
The eleventh lesson and the third taking up is with a spring with it on hand right up on to the visage with a half round broken in to a step with a reverence [reuence] to the cross of thy hilt with a long quarter (?) [cartar] stroke smiting flat down by the back, with a double broken spring back the feet a drawing, and in with a long double rake, in with the feet walking and on each foot two rakes, and at the passage's (passage, walk, gait) [alurys] end smite in four rakes double born in to a step, and so the other rakes in to the passage [alure] end, and double it on in to a step, again turning in with a long double rake with a step, and with it other hand spring up thy sword to thy right shoulder and smite thy stroke aventure with a cut setting down thy sword by thy foot.
To encounter with the Two Hand Sword
And as for the first encounter [contenance] of the two-hand sword, you shall walk in with three feet to your adversary, with a bold spirit and a merry heart with a single quarter, and a single quarter wasted (as in delivered not for effect, but to set up another blow?) [wastyd] with a quarter (?) [cartr] stroke, and thus smite your counter (opponent?) [conter] both off and on and let your hand and your foot accord together in good offense
The second encounter [conter] is with a double quarter with your feet going, and a double quarter wasted in to a step and in with your feet and smite a large cut [hauke] up in to the sky, with a double snatch.
The third lesson of the encounter [covnter] is, a rake on each foot until you come to your adversary, with a double quarter with whole [hole] defense born with another double quarter with whole defense break {breke] in and a sign (feint) [sygne] a touch [toche] with a large spring and smite with first {fers] stroke guided [menyd] with whole defense and so smite this (his?) [ys] counter [cowntr] both off and on, and bear your strokes of each of your counters [cowntris].
The fourth encounter is two half rounds. With a turn [tnye] thrust, [foyne] bearing in the thrust with a quarter, and a cut at the sky with a snatch with your whole defense born before you (? afore thee) [a for the], and this counter must be smote with transposing of your stance (guard?) [erthe] of both feet for sureness of defense.
The fifth encounter is a half round of the second foot, and then smite two double cuts [haukys] and both sides whole, and broken enter high [hyn] [in, GdC] with the first foot, with a double quarter, and so smite a quarter (counter?) [cartr] stroke but turn him with a stroke aventure with whole defense, and thus smite this counter both off and on. and let your eye, your foot and your hand accord in your defense. The cause of stroke aventure is called. for a man turns his back to his enemy.
The sixth encounter is bearing in with three thrusts [foynys] on both feet, and look you the hand and foot and smite a large quarter, and bear in a step with your back naked born, and smite a large cut with fierce (first?) [fers] heart and draw him sore up to the sky.
The seventh encounter is guided [menyd] with three guided thrusts and transpose [trapose] has (have?) [ha] [han = hand, manuscript has a line over the a in ha, meaning an n follows, GdC] both going and coming, and smite your thrusts within your single quarter, and at the last quarter smite a large spring with a lusty step and then a charging (or poss. chance) [chace] thrust.
The Play with the 2 Hand Sword in Verse
The Man that will to the two hand sword learn both close and clear
He must have a good eye both far and near
And in a step, and out a step, and a cut quarter, a cunning device (?)
[cantel], a double (?) [doblet], and half for his health (? or poss. fire, fear) [fere]
Two rounds, and a half with good cheer. This is the first encounter of the two hand sword sore [sere].
Bind he together and say godspeed. Two quarters and a round a step you him bid [bede].
A rake with a spring here you him abide. Fall in with a cut and stride not (nought) [nogte] too wide.
Smite a running quarter out for his side
Fall upon his harness if he will abide
Come in with a rake in euy (either?) [every, GdC] aside
A whole round and a half. What [wath] so it betide,
Four quarters and a round, and aventure stroke with
Bear up his harness and get you the gryth (grip? - closest OED is gryt = great)
Double up lightly and do as I say
Fall in with a cut and bear a good eye
A spring and a round and step in with
Spare not [Spar nogth] a cut if he lie in your kith
Smite a running quarter for out of your hand
Abide upon a pedent (pendent? = a hanging guard?) and lose not your land
Smite in the left foot and cleave right down
Gather [Geder] out of your right hand and smite a cut round
Freshly smite your strokes by skill [dene]
And hold well your land that it may be seen
Your rakes, your rounds, your quarters about
Your steps, your thrusts, let he fast rout
Your springs, your quarters, your recoveries {rabetis] also
Bear a good eye and let your hand go
Fie on a false heart, it dare not abide
When he sees rounds and rakes running by his side
Fly not hastily for a little pride
For little wot (in the sense of realise, know) [wote] your adversary what [wath] him shall betide
Let strokes fast follow after his hand
And cut round with a step and still it you stand
Grieve not greatly though you be touched light [a little, GdC]
For all after stroke is better if you dare him smite
A good round with a cut and smite right down
Gather {Gedyr] up a double (?) [doblet] and spare not his crown
With a round and a rake abide at bay
With a furious [renyg] quarter set him out of his way
This make good (? amend, correct) [beeth] [it is, GdC] the letter it standing in his sight
To teach, or to play, or else for to fight
These make good ([beeth] the strokes of your whole ground (guard, stance) [grovnde]
For hurt, or for dint or else for death wound.
Glossary
Where not otherwise indicated, the meanings suggested are those which seemed most appropriate from the OED. GdC indicates the meaning has been taken from a glossary for this manuscript published on rec.org.sca by Galleron de Crecy (Will McLean) or from later correspondence (mainly the longer discussions on 'Hauke' and 'Quarter'). Hutton indicates the meaning taken from the marginal notes to the transcription used as source material (see footnotes above).
Alure: Passage, walk, going, gait. (GdC)
Bede: Command, bid.
Beeth: Make good, amend, mend, heal, correct, reform [it is, GcC]
Bokeler: Means of defense, protection. Buckle - to join closely, close quarters, engage, grapple
Cantel: Misreading of Cautel? - crafty device, cunning, cautious. Cantel = corner piece, section cut out of something. Post 1600 = crown of head.
Cartar/Cartr: see Quarter.
Chase/Chace: Rush, pursuit, related to hunting. Hutton has charge, attack made to drive back the enemy.
Cock step: OED has cock stride - short distance or space. Hutton has nimble steps. Probably short nimble steps like a rooster - probably a step where the feet do not cross (GdC)
Doblet: Double. Alternative is Doublet (clothing) but unlikely from context.
Erthe: Stance, guard. Seems to be derived from the Ort of contemporary German swordplay, with similar meaning (GdC)
Fere: Company, companionship, able, health. Alternatively, obscure form of fire or fear.
Foin: Thrust.
Geder/Gedyr: Gather.
Gryth: Unknown. OED has Gryt = great, but this does not seem to fit the context. [Quarter (in battle), defense, protection, sanctuary. OED. Thus "get thou the gryth" could mean either "Get him at your mercy" or "Get yourself to a safe position". GdC]
Ha: Have [Hand, GcC]
Hauke: Cut. See Hau in German swordplay. Appears in numerous combination forms, eg. Hauke snatch: a cut where the sword is suddenly pulled back by the user (GdC). Hutton has Blow. [Hawk, OED. This seems to be an animal simile used as a technical term, like the ochs (ox) position of German swordplay. Hawks attack from above and below, and the haukes in the manual where direction is explicit are either downward or upward. Vada has a "Posta di Faucon" where the sword is held above the head, tip back, poised to strike downward. Hauke appears in numerous combination forms... GdC].
Menyd: Managed, guided, from fr. mener? (GdC). Alternatively, OED has Menys = menace.
Nogte, Nogth: Nought, not (naught?).
Pedent: Pendant, as in a hanging guard?.
Quarter: [Berners' 1523-25 trans. of Froissart uses quarter to translate membres (limbs) in a context that makes it clear that he is talking about limbs as distinguished from the torso. The contestants in a deed of arms agree to strike only "within the four quarters", that is, the chest and head is a target, but the arms and legs aren't. A quarter stroke then, may mean a blow to a limb, and "an hauke quarter down by ye cheke" in the Harleian MS implies a cut to the arm or the shoulder rather than the leg. Several other cites from the MED use quarter to describe the arm and shoulder (deleted). Alternatively, quarter can also mean to divide a body or carcass into parts, usually, but not always, four (OED). Since the first cut in butchering a carcass is usually parallel to the spine, and sine the Harleian MS describes "an hauke quarter down by ye cheke", "quarter" might describe a vertical cut, perhaps equivalent to the Italian fendente. GdC]
Rake: A cut with the end of the sword. A stramazon (GdC) Hutton has rake as a blow given at the fullest reach. OED has Rake = pass.
Rolling Stroke: A moulinet, perhaps distinguished from a round by being in a vertical plane (GdC). Hutton has moulinet.
Rownd: A circular movement of the sword, a moulinet (GdC). OED has swinging stroke or cut, Hutton has circular cut.
Renyng: Runing - moving rapidly with hostile intent, raiding (GdC). Hutton has furious.
Sygne: Feint (GdC)
Stroke Auentur: A stroke by or with a turn. (au en ture). "ye cause of stroke aueture is callyd, for a ma tnyth hys bak to hys enmy." Hutton has stroke made at a chance opening (stroke a venture).
Wath: What.
Wastyd: Thrown away, spent. A blow delivered not for effect, but to prepare for another blow (GdC). Hutton has well laid on.
Wote: Wot, wit (in the sense of realise, know). |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 04 August 2007 )
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