Introduction

Note: George Silver spends a fair amount of time frothing at the mouth about the folly of the newfangled Italian rapier play, as opposed to the English sword. He provides some interesting discussion on the proper use of sword and buckler, two-handed sword, dagger, various pole-arms, and pike.

Paradoxes of Defence
Wherein is proved the true grounds of fight to be the short ancient weapons and that the short sword has advantage over the long sword or the long rapier. And the weakness and imperfection of the rapier fight-fights displayed. Together with an admonition to the noble, ancient, victorious, valiant, and most brave nation of Englishmen, to beware of false teachers of defence, and how they forsake their own natural fights. With a brief commendation of the noble science or exercising of arms.

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Contents

• Original book cover and paradox logo
• Dedication To the Right Honorable Robert, Earle of Essex...
• (1) An Admonition to the Noble, Ancient, Victorious, Valiant, and Most Brave Nation of Englishmen
• (2) Issues with claimed Swordmasters
• (2.1) Four Negative Characteristics of the Italian Fighting Style *2*
• (2.2) Of Six Reasons for Poor Swordmanship Skills *3*
• (2.3) Four Training Issues with Italian Training Schools
• (2.4) Of the Thruster or the Warder *4*
• (2.5) Of the Length and Unwieldiness of the Sword *5*
• (2.6) Of Running (foot work) and Standing Safe *6*
• (2.7) Of Striking and Thrusting Both Together *7*
   

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• (3) The Acquisition of Skill
• (3.1) The Offensive or Defensive Advantage *8*
• (3.2) Of Spanish Fighting Style with the Rapier *9*
• (3.3) Of the Perfect Weapon *10*
• (3.4) Of the Blow (Cut), of the Thrust *11*
• The Perfect Fight *12*
• Of the Italian and Englishman on the subject of Blows and Thrusts *13*
• (3.5) Of the Difference between the True Fight & the False Fight *14*
• (3.6) Of Ancient Teachings *15*
• (4) The Principles of Fighting
• (4.1) The Grounds of True Fight with all manner of Weapons *16*
• (4.2) The Wards of all manner of Weapons *17*
• (4.3) Of Times appertaining unto True Fight and False Fight *18*
• (5) Of Weapons and Vantages
• (5.1) Of the Length of Weapons
• Of the Length of the Sword*19*
• Of the lengths of the Battle Axe, Halberd, or Black Bill *20*
• (5.2) Of the Vantages of Weapons in their Kinds, Places, & Times *21*
• (5.2.1) Of the Insufficiency and Disadvantages of the Rapiers *22*
• (5.2.2) Of the Vantages and Sufficiency of the Short Sword *23 *
• (5.2.3) The Sword and Buckler has the Vantage against the Sword and Dagger *24*
• (5.2.4) The Sword and Buckler has the Vantage against the Sword and Target *25*
• (5.2.5) The Short Staff *26*
• (5.2.6) Vantages of the Short Staff *27*
• (5.2.7) Again of the vantages of weapons *28*
• (5.2.8) Again for the Short Staff or Half Pike *29*
• (6) Questions and Answers between the Scholar and the Master *30*
• (7) Of Skilled Men and Valiant Men
• (7.1) Of the Single Rapier Fight between Valiant Men *31*
• (7.2) Of the Rapier and Poniard Fight between Valiant Men *32*
• (7.3) Of the Long Rapier and Poniard Fight between Valiant Men *33*
• (7.4) Of the Long Rapier, or Rapier and Poniard Fight between Unskilled Men *34*
• (8) Of Rapiers and Poniards
• (8.1) Of the Imperfection and Insufficiency of Rapiers in General *35*
• (8.2) Of the Imperfection and Insufficiency of Rapiers and Implement *36*
• (8.3) Italians and their usage of Rapier and Poniard *37*
• (8.4) The Short Sword Vantage against the Long Sword or Long Rapier *38*
• (9) Conclusions
• (10) A Brief Note on Three Italian Teachers of Offense

Credits: This is version 1.0 of the on-line version of this book. It was initially typed in from a facsimile of the Matthey edition by Steve Hick. has lightly proofread it, correcting any obvious errors. However, many subtle errors and missing paragraphs probably remain. Please report any errors you discover to Greg. The online book has been "re-worked and re-webbed" by on behalf of the Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts, November 1998.