Vincentio Saviolo

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Vincentio Saviolo was an Italian fencing master who taught in London during the 1590s. He published His Practice in 1595. A PDF scan of his work is available for free from the The Raymond J. Lord Collection.

Contents 1 Actions Notated 2 First Sequence 2.1 First Play 2.2 Second Play 2.3 Third Play 2.4 Fourth Play 2.5 Fifth Play 2.6 Sixth Play 2.7 Seventh Play 2.8 Eighth Play 2.9 Ninth Play 2.10 Tenth Play 3 Second Sequence 3.1 First Play 3.2 Second Play 4 Third Sequence 4.1 First Play 4.2 Second Play 5 Fourth Sequence 5.1 First Play 5.2 Second Play 5.3 Third Play 5.4 Fourth Play 6 Fifth Sequence 6.1 First Play 6.2 Second Play 7 Sixth Sequence 7.1 First Play 7.2 Second Play 8 Seventh Sequence 8.1 First Play 8.2 Second Play 8.3 Third Play 8.4 Fourth Play 8.5 Fifth Play 8.6 Sixth Play 8.7 Seventh Play 8.8 Eighth Play 8.9 Ninth Play

[edit] Actions Notated

In the early part of his book, Saviolo describes swordplay as an extended series of actions between the Master and the Scholler. Each action is presented and then the next action in the series provides a counter. The Italian notation provided below describes each action as a separate play. For example, the first play is a simple attack by disengagement. The second play defeats the disengagement with a counterattack. The third play defeats the counterattack of the second play with a void and so on.

After seven such sequences, Saviolo changes his presentation to a more simple format of "If your enemie would do such and such, then you shall respond thus." He returns to the Master and Scholler format again when discussing how to teach a left handed fencer. Here we present only the first seven sequences. These sequences are only a small part of Saviolo's material, and the reader is encouraged to read the rest of the text for a fuller understanding of Saviolo's work.

Rather than use the standard Italian fencing notation in which the Master is always the one to receive the touch, we have adapted it to Saviolo's own method of presentation, in which the Master and Scholler trade off. Likewise, we have maintained Saviolo's term "Scholler" instead of our more standard "student".

We are currently working through Saviolo's text, so the following interpretations are liable to change. Please check back regularly for updates.

[edit] First Sequence

[edit] First Play

Both Master and Scholler start in low ward with the arms extended, engaged on the outside.

...then shall the maister begin to teach him, moving his right foot somewhat on the right side in circle wise, putting the point of his Rapier under his schollers Rapier, and so giving him a thrust in the belly.

Master	Scholler
Disengages to the inside low line (belly), with a circular step to the right.	Receives the touch.

[edit] Second Play

At the selfesame time the scholler must remove with like measure or counter-time with his right foote a little aside, and let the left foote follow the right, turning a little his bodye on the right side, thrusting with the point of his Rapier at the belly of his teacher, turning readily his hand that the fingers be inward toward the body, and the joint of the wrist shall be outward. In this sorte the saide scholler shall learne to strike and not be stricken, as I alwaies advise the noble-men and gentlemen whit whome I have to deale, that if they cannot hit or hurt their enemy, that they learn to defend them selves that they be not hurt. Then to make the scholler more ready, the teacher shall cause his scholler firste to part, wherefore he shall remove with his right foot on the right side a little in circle wise as the maister did before to the scholler.

Master	Scholler
Disengages to the inside low line (belly), with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the inside low line (belly), closing to the inside line.
Receives the touch.

[edit] Third Play

At the same time that the scholler removeth his foote, the teacher shall play a little with stirring of his body, and with his lefte hand shall beat away his schollers rapier from his right side, and shall remove his right foot behinde his left striking a crosse blow at the head.

Master	Scholler
Disengages to the inside low line (belly), with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the belly, closing to the inside line.
Parries to the right with the hand, while passing backwards with the right foot. Delivers a roverso cut to the head with a pass forward.	Receives the touch.

[edit] Fourth Play

When I remove with my foote and lifte up my hand, let the scholler passe with his lefte foote where his right was, and withall let him turne his hand, and not loose the opportunity of this blow, which must be a foyne in the manner of a thrust under his Rapier, and let him lifte up his hand with his ward that he be garded and lie not open, meeting with his left hand the rapier of his teacher, and let him not beat aside the blow with his Rapier for hee endangereth the point and bringes his life in hazard, because he loseth the point: But I wil goe forward.

Master	Scholler
Disengages to the inside low line (belly), with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the belly, closing to the inside line.
Parries to the right with the hand, while passing backwards with the right foot. Delivers a roverso cut to the head with a pass forward.	Parries 1st with a circular step to the left, and blocks Master's wrist or hilt with the left hand while delivering an imbrocatta under the Master's blade.
Receives the touch.

[edit] Fifth Play

At the selfesame time that the scholler goes back, the maister shall play a little, and shifting his body shall breake the same imbroccata or foyne outward from the lefte side, removing with his left foote, which must be carried behinde the right, and withall shall give a mandritta at the head of his scholler...

Master	Scholler
Disengages to the inside low line (belly), with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the belly, closing to the inside line.
Parries to the right with the hand, while passing backwards with the right foot. Delivers a roverso cut to the head with a pass forward.	Parries 1st with a circular step to the left, and blocks Master's wrist or hilt with the left hand while delivering an imbrocatta under the Master's blade.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers mandritta to the head (or thrust to the belly), while shifting the left foot off line (inquartata).	Receives the touch.

[edit] Sixth Play

at which time the scholler must remove with his right foote, following with his lefte, and let him turne his Rapier hand as I have saide, and that the scholler observe the same time in going backe as the teacher shall, to the end that his point maye be toward the bellye of his maister, and let him lifte up his other hand with his ward on high, that he be not stricken on the face with the mandritta, or in the belly with the thrust or stoccata.

Master	Scholler
Disengages to the inside low line (belly), with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the belly, closing to the inside line.
Parries to the right with the hand, while passing backwards with the right foot. Delivers a roverso cut to the head with a pass forward.	Parries 1st with a circular step to the left, and blocks Master's wrist or hilt with the left hand while delivering an imbrocatta under the Master's blade.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers mandritta to the head (or thrust to the belly), while shifting the left foot off line (inquartata).	Blocks Master's wrist or hilt with the left hand and delivers a thrust (stoccata)to the inside low line (belly), with a circle step to the right.
Receives the touch.

[edit] Seventh Play

Wherefore at the selfesame time that the scholler shall deliver the foresaide stoccata to the teacher, the teacher shall yeelde and shrinke with his bodye, and beate the stoccata outwards on the lefte side, and shall bring his right foot a little aside in circle wise upon the right side, & shall give an imbroccata to the face of his scholler

Master	Scholler
Disengages to the inside low line (belly), with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the belly, closing to the inside line.
Parries to the right with the hand, while passing backwards with the right foot. Delivers a roverso cut to the head with a pass forward.	Parries 1st with a circular step to the left, and blocks Master's wrist or hilt with the left hand while delivering an imbrocatta under the Master's blade.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers mandritta to the head (or thrust to the belly), while shifting the left foot off line (inquartata).	Blocks Master's wrist or hilt with the left hand and delivers a thrust (stoccata) to the inside low line (belly), with a circle step to the right.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.	Receives the touch.

[edit] Eighth Play

...at which time the saide scholler shal go backe with his right foote a little aside with the same measure, and shall beate aside the imbroccata of his maister with his left hand outward from the left side, and withall shall deliver the like imbroccata of countertime to the teacher, but onlye to the face...

Master	Scholler
Disengages to the inside low line (belly), with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the belly, closing to the inside line.
Parries to the right with the hand, while passing backwards with the right foot. Delivers a roverso cut to the head with a pass forward.	Parries 1st with a circular step to the left, and blocks Master's wrist or hilt with the left hand while delivering an imbrocatta under the Master's blade.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers mandritta to the head (or thrust to the belly), while shifting the left foot off line (inquartata).	Blocks Master's wrist or hilt with the left hand and delivers a thrust (stoccata) to the inside low line (belly), with a circle step to the right.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.	Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.
Receives the touch.

[edit] Ninth Play

...and then the maister shall goe backe with his right foote toward the left side of his scholler, in breaking with his lefte hand the saide imbroccata outward from the lefte side, and shall strike a downe right blowe to his head, because that by beating aside his foyne with his hand, he shall finde him naked and without garde.

Master	Scholler
Disengages to the inside low line (belly), with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the belly, closing to the inside line.
Parries to the right with the hand, while passing backwards with the right foot. Delivers a roverso cut to the head with a pass forward.	Parries 1st with a circular step to the left, and blocks Master's wrist or hilt with the left hand while delivering an imbrocatta under the Master's blade.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers mandritta to the head (or thrust to the belly), while shifting the left foot off line (inquartata).	Blocks Master's wrist or hilt with the left hand and delivers a thrust (stoccata) to the inside low line (belly), with a circle step to the right.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.	Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a descending cut to the head, with a step with the right foot towards the scholler's left side.	Receives the touch.

[edit] Tenth Play

...for at the same time that the maister shall give the saide mandritta, the scholler shall doo nothing else but turne the pointe of his foote toward the bodye of his maister, and let the middest of his left foote directly respect the heele of the right and let him turn his body upon the right side, but let it rest and staye upon the lefte, and in the same time let him turne the Rapier hand outward in the stoccata or thrust, as I have given you to understand before, that the point be toward the bellye of his maister, and let him lifte up his hand and take good heede that hee come not forward in delivering the saide stoccata, which is halfe an incartata, for how little forever hee should come forward, he would put himselfe in danger of his life

Master	Scholler
Disengages to the inside low line (belly), with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the belly, closing to the inside line.
Parries to the right with the hand, while passing backwards with the right foot. Delivers a roverso cut to the head with a pass forward.	Parries 1st with a circular step to the left, and blocks Master's wrist or hilt with the left hand while delivering an imbrocatta under the Master's blade.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers mandritta to the head (or thrust to the belly), while shifting the left foot off line (inquartata).	Blocks Master's wrist or hilt with the left hand and delivers a thrust (stoccata) to the inside low line (belly), with a circle step to the right.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.	Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a descending cut to the head, with a step with the right foot towards the scholler's left side.	Thrusts to the inside low line (belly) with the hand held high (prima?), with a half incartata.
Receives the touch.

[edit] Second Sequence

[edit] First Play

When the maister will make his scholler readye, hee shall practise him to be the first in going backe, by removing his right foote a little aside in circle wise, as before his maister did to him, and let him with great readines thrust his Rapier under his teachers, and give him a thrust or stoccata in the belly.

Master	Scholler
	Disengages to the inside low line (belly), with a circular step to the right.
Receives the touch.

[edit] Second Play

[The Master] shall shift his body a little, and shall beate the stoccata or thrust outward from the right side, and shal remove with his right foote, which must bee conveied behinde the lefte, and shall strike a riversa at his schollers head, as before

Master	Scholler
	Disengages to the inside low line (belly), with a circular step to the right.
Parries to the right with the hand, while passing backwards with the right foot. Delivers a roverso cut to the head with a pass forward.	Receives the touch.

[edit] Third Sequence

[edit] First Play

...hee shall teach him to give a mandritta...when the maister and scholler shall stand upon this ward, and that the point of the schollers weapon shall be against the face of the teacher, and the pointe of the teachers weapon nigh to the ward of the schollers Rapier, and that it be stretched out, the scholler shall remove with his right foot a little aside in circle wise, and with the inside of his left hand barrachet wise shall bet away his maisters Rapier, firste lifting his above it, and let the lefte foot followe the right: and let him turne skilfully his body, or else he shall be in danger to receive a stoccata either in the face or bellye. Therefore hee must take heede to save himselfe with good time and measure, and let him take heede that he steppe not forward toward his teacher, forso hee should bee in danger to be wounded: but let him go a little aside, as I have already saide.

Master	Scholler
Lowers his point.	Lifts sword above the Master's blade, beats Master's blade to the left with the hand, and delivers a mandritta, with a circle step of the right foot and a half incartata.
Receives the touch.

[edit] Second Play

If the maister stoode still, hee should bee in danger, but when the scholler shall give the mandritta, the maister must shifte a little with his bodye, and shall remoove with his right foote, which must be carried behinde his lefte, and shall strike a riverso to the head, as I saide before, when I began to speake of stoccata.

Master	Scholler
Lowers his point.	Lifts sword above the Master's blade, beats Master's blade to the left with the hand, and delivers a mandritta, with a circle step of the right foot and a half incartata.
Parries to the right with the hand, while passing backwards with the right foot. Delivers a roverso cut to the head with a pass forward.	Receives the touch.

[edit] Fourth Sequence

[edit] First Play

when the master and scholler stand upon this ward, and that the point of the schollers weapon is towarde the face of the teacher, and the point of the masters without the bodie of the scholler toward the right side, both of them being upon this ward, the scholler must bee readie and nimble to remoove with his left foote, that the point or ende thereof bee against the middest of his masters right foot, turning his Rapier hand, and that his point be in imbrocata-wise above his teachers Rapier, and that his left hand bee toward the ward of his teacher: and let all this be done at once, by which meanes the scholler shall come to have his masters weapon at commandment, and if it were in fight, his enemies.

Master	Scholler
Moves his point off line, to the left.	Passes forward with the left foot and with his left hand controls the Master's hand or hilt, after entering under cover of his blade, switches from stoccata guard to imbroccata guard over the Master's blade, and delivers the thrust.
Receives the touch.

[edit] Second Play

When the scholler removeth with his left foot, the master must steppe backe, but yet in such sorte, that the lefte foote be behinde the right, and that he remove to the right side, and shall strike a mandritta at the head of the scholler

Master	Scholler
Moves his point off line, to the left.	Passes forward with the left foot and with his left hand controls the Master's hand or hilt, after entering under cover of his blade, switches from stoccata guard to imbroccata guard over the Master's blade, and delivers the thrust.
Retreats (or passes backwards with both feet) slightly to the right, cut mandritta to the head.	Receives the touch.

[edit] Third Play

whilest the master shifteth with his foot and striketh the mandritta, at the selfe same time must the scholler bee with his right foot where the teachers was, being followed with his lefte, and shall delyver a stoccata or thrust in his masters belly, turning his bodie together with his hand on the lefte side, and lifting his hand on high, to the end the master may in striking hit his Rapier, and withall shall strike at the teacher

Master	Scholler
Moves his point off line, to the left.	Passes forward with the left foot and with his left hand controls the Master's hand or hilt, after entering under cover of his blade, switches from stoccata guard to imbroccata guard over the Master's blade, and delivers the thrust.
Retreats (or passes backwards with both feet) slightly to the right, cut mandritta to the head.	Passes forward with the right foot, then executes a half incartata, delivering a thrust to the inside low line (belly) and raising the hand to block the Master's mandritta.
Receives the touch.

[edit] Fourth Play

at which time the teacher must remoove with his right foote a little aside, followed with his lefte, and shifting a little with his bodie, shall beate outwarde the thrust or stoccata of his scholler, and shall deliver an imbroccata to his scholler, as I have tolde you before in the beginning

Master	Scholler
Moves his point off line, to the left.	Passes forward with the left foot and with his left hand controls the Master's hand or hilt, after entering under cover of his blade, switches from stoccata guard to imbroccata guard over the Master's blade, and delivers the thrust.
Retreats (or passes backwards with both feet) slightly to the right, cut mandritta to the head.	Passes forward with the right foot, then executes a half incartata, delivering a thrust to the inside low line (belly) and raising the hand to block the Master's mandritta.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata), with a circle step of the right foot and a half incartata.	Receives the touch.

[edit] Fifth Sequence

[edit] First Play

The Scholler starts in the previously described low ward, the Master with his blade extended towards the face of the Scholler, engaged on the outside.

With all my heart, and therefore I must tell you of an imbroccata in manner of a stoccata, which is verie good and excellent, as well for practise of plaie, as for fight, but they must be most readie both with hand and foot that use it: therefore when the scholler shall find his masters Rapier in this ward, that it bee helde upright or toward his face, then the scholler shall winne ground a little with his right foote, beeing mooved somewhat aside, and withall let him remove with his left foot, that it be toward the right foot of the teacher, and that your right foot be against the middest of his left, as I have said before, and in removing let him turne his Rapier hand, that the pointe bee conveighed under his masters weapon, which being done, promptly and readily his point will be towards the belly of his master, which must bee followed with the left hand, & let the scholler lift up his hand to the ward that his fist be somewhat high, and let him take heed that he loose not his point, because the teacher may give him a stoccata or thrust in the belly or face, for that he hath lost his time.

Master	Scholler
	Moves the right foot forward and to the left, then engages the Master's blade in 2nd (imbroccata guard) while passing forwards with the left foot and extending the left hand, and also lifts his hand to 1st, delivering a thrust to the belly.
Receives the touch.

[edit] Second Play

[The Master] may do the self same, which I told you before, when I spake of the imbroccata delivered above the Rapier, and certainly this is a verie good play when it is performed with good measure, and great agilitie and readines.

Master	Scholler
	Moves the right foot forward and to the left, then engages the Master's blade in 2nd (imbroccata guard) while passing forwards with the left foot and extending the left hand, and also lifts his hand to 1st, delivering a thrust to the belly.
Retreats (or passes backwards with both feet) slightly to the right, cuts mandritta to the head.	Receives the touch.

[edit] Sixth Sequence

[edit] First Play

But besides this, I will now shew you the manriversa in this ward. Therefore when the scholler shall find his teacher with his point somewhat at length, that is not towards his face, but towardes his belly, then must the scholler with his left hand beat aside his masters rapier, not at the point, but in the strength and middest of the weapon, and withall must remoove with his lefte foot, both which must be done at once: and let the same foot be against the right foot of the master, as he did before in the foine or imbroccata, delivered above and under the rapier...And as the scholler removes and beates aside the weapon, let his left hand be sodainly uppon the ward of his teacher, and in giving the sayde riversa or crosse blowe, let the scholler skilfully turne his Rapier hand, that the knuckle or joynt may be toward the head of the teacher, for otherwise he may give him a slicing or cutting blow, which we call Stramazone: therefore let him perform those things skilfully and at once, and especially let him beware that he doo not beate aside his teachers weapon toward the point, because he shoulde be in danger to receive a thrust or stoccata either in the face or belly.

Master	Scholler
Starts with blade extended towards Scholler's belly.	Beats the Master's blade to the right with the hand against the middle of the Master's blade, while passing forward with the left foot. Grabs the Master's hilt with the left hand and delivers a riversa to the head, turning the hand into 2nd.
Receives the touch.

Note: The scholler can also deliver his blow to the Master's legs, but he needs to beat with the left hand behind his rapier hand, so that he has a clear path for the cut to the leg. He still needs to grab the Master's hilt as soon as possible: Besides, the scholler, so that he find his teacher in the same ward, that his Rapier bee somewhat at length, & not directly upon the face, may strike the said riversa or crosse blowe at his legs: but beating aside the Rapier with his hande must bee done readily, and hee must remove with his hande in such sorte, that his Rapier when the lefte hand beates it by, may be betweene his owne hand and his teachers weapon: and with this readinesse must he strike this riverso, but withall, his lefte hand must bee uppon the warde of his teacher.

[edit] Second Play

and the teacher at the same time must doo the like, remooving with his right foote, as I have sayd before...[and] he may give him a slicing or cutting blow, which we call Stramazone

Master	Scholler
Starts with blade extended towards Scholler's belly.	Beats the Master's blade to the right with the hand against the middle of the Master's blade, while passing forward with the left foot. Grabs the Master's hilt with the left hand and delivers a riversa to the head, turning the hand into 2nd.
Passes backwards with the right foot, counter cuts with a riverso stramazone.	Receives the touch.

[edit] Seventh Sequence

[edit] First Play

Both Master and scholler start in low ward, with the arms retracted, such that the blades are not engaged.

then the maister shall make a stoccata to his scholler, going aside somewhat with his right legge, and following with the other in manner of a circular motion towarde the lefte side of his scholler: and so hee maye have the advantage if hee take it, within distance

Master	Scholler
Thrusts to inside line, with a circular step to the right.	Receives the touch.

[edit] Second Play

and the scholler shall remove his right legge in counter-time, after the same order that his maister dooth, answering him with a stoccata to the belly: but hee must take heede not to remove too much aside, or retire too farre backewarde, for so the one shall never hitte, and the other shall never learne...As the Scholler parteth in the counter time, hee must in the same instant breake the stoccata with his lefte hande, and aunswere againe with an other

Master	Scholler
Thrusts to inside line, with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the inside low line (belly), closing to the inside line.
Receives the touch.

[edit] Third Play

also the Maister to make his scholler quicke and readye, shall use to aunswere him in the same time that his scholler delivereth his stoccata, going aside with his right legge, and following with the other toward the left hand of his scholler, breaking the saide stoccata with his lefte hand, and shall aime the imbrocata at his face

Master	Scholler
Thrusts to inside line, with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the inside low line (belly), closing to the inside line.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.	Receives the touch.

[edit] Fourth Play

and the scholler must parte also with his right foote toward the lefte side of his maister circularlye, beating the thrust with his lefte hand outward toward the left side, and then he shall in like sort make an imbrocata to the face of his maister

Master	Scholler
Thrusts to inside line, with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the inside low line (belly), closing to the inside line.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.	Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.
Receives the touch.

[edit] Fifth Play

and the maister parting againe with his right foote aside toward the left hand, breaking the saide imbrocata with his lefte hande, shall thrust a stoccata, as I saide before, to the belly of his scholler

Master	Scholler
Thrusts to inside line, with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the inside low line (belly), closing to the inside line.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.	Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.
Parries to the right with the hand and delivers an thrust (imbroccata) to the belly, while moving the right foot to the left. (or right: left hand of the scholler)	Receives the touch.

[edit] Sixth Play

and the scholler in the same instant shall parte with a counter-time with his right foote aside towards the lefte hand of his maister, breaking it with his left hand downward, and shall make a stoccata againe to his master

Master	Scholler
Thrusts to inside line, with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the inside low line (belly), closing to the inside line.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.	Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.
Parries to the right with the hand and delivers an thrust (imbroccata) to the belly, while moving the right foot to the left. (or right: left hand of the scholler)	Parries downwards with the hand, and delivers a thrust (stoccata), while moving the right foot towards the left side of the Master.
Receives the touch.

[edit] Seventh Play

and the maister therewithall shall retire a little with his body, breaking the saide stoccata outward toward his right side, parting with his right foote backward to the left hand, and shall answer with a punta riversa, to the head of his scholler

Master	Scholler
Thrusts to inside line, with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the inside low line (belly), closing to the inside line.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.	Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.
Parries to the right with the hand and delivers an thrust (imbroccata) to the belly, while moving the right foot to the left. (or right: left hand of the scholler)	Parries downwards with the hand, and delivers a thrust (stoccata), while moving the right foot towards the left side of the Master.
Parries to the right with the hand, while passing backwards with the right foot, then delivers a thrust (punta riversa) to the head while passing forward with the right foot.	Receives the touch.

[edit] Eighth Play

herewhithall he shall parte sodenlye, stepping forward with his left legge before his right, turning his point quickly to the belly of his maister, bearing up the dagger hand, that he be not hitte in the face with a riverso, and so he shalbe well garded

Master	Scholler
Thrusts to inside line, with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the inside low line (belly), closing to the inside line.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.	Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.
Parries to the right with the hand and delivers an thrust (imbroccata) to the belly, while moving the right foot to the left. (or right: left hand of the scholler)	Parries downwards with the hand, and delivers a thrust (stoccata), while moving the right foot towards the left side of the Master.
Parries to the right with the hand, while passing backwards with the right foot, then delivers a thrust (punta riversa) to the head while passing forward with the right foot.	Engages in 2nd and delivers a thrust to the belly while passing forward with the left foot, raising the left hand for protection.
Receives the touch.

[edit] Ninth Play

then the maister shall parte with his right leg, offering him a straight stoccata to the head, as in the first ward

Master	Scholler
Thrusts to inside line, with a circular step to the right.	Avoids the attack with a circular step to the right while counterattacking with a thrust to the inside low line (belly), closing to the inside line.
Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.	Parries to the left with the hand and delivers a thrust (imbroccata) to the face, with a circle step to the right.
Parries to the right with the hand and delivers an thrust (imbroccata) to the belly, while moving the right foot to the left. (or right: left hand of the scholler)	Parries downwards with the hand, and delivers a thrust (stoccata), while moving the right foot towards the left side of the Master.
Parries to the right with the hand, while passing backwards with the right foot, then delivers a thrust (punta riversa) to the head while passing forward with the right foot.	Engages in 2nd and delivers a thrust to the belly while passing forward with the left foot, raising the left hand for protection.
Delivers a thrust (stoccata) to the head with a circle step to the right.	Receives the touch.