It's always a treat to see more smallsword on RUclips! I read Wylde's book a year or so ago (as a once-through, not much more) and wasn't too sure what that crosswise was about. This clears it up. Also, I do believe he claims to have invented several other parries and attacks beyond just half-moon. The staff section comes to mind. It's been a while, though.
A rather fascinating look at British smallsword for me to see. I wonder how Wylde compares to Lonnergan and Godfrey in technique for smallsword, backsword, and maybe spadroon.
Paul,You describe the crosswise parry as being conducted with the false edge. However, Wylde himself says: I have made it plainly appear, that Small - Sword and Broad - Sword, hath such a dependance one upon another, in sundry Respects ought to be linckt together, for the Cross Parreat Small - Sword, is the same and equivolent to the in and outside Guard at Broad- Sword: The Falloon Parring is the same as the Pendent or Hanging Guard, there’s no difference in the least, as to the Ways of Parring and Guarding. And he describes the inside and outside guards at broadsword thusly: Outside: Stand upon a true half Body, and extend your Sword - Hilt out at the Arms end stiff, without bowing the Elbow - joint, your Point leaning or sloping towards your left Shoulder, or your Opposer’s right Eye, lying as hollow as you can with your Body; then you may see your Opposer the inside your Sword . . . Inside: . . . then you must prepare an inside or left Guard, which is to be made on this manner, Cross the outside Guard, that is, a little twist or turn your Wrist towards your left Shoulder, your Arm kept strait from you; then your Point will be sloping towards your Opposer’s left Eye, and you may see his Body the outside your Sword, while you keep the Guard. All of this taken into account, it sounds to me like the crosswise parry should be done with the true edge. How do you come to the conclusion that it is done with the false?
G’day Ben! Yes he does *say* that, but he actually describes the parry as: “wave or move your Weapons point Cross-wise, the Compass of four Inch… this motion is perform’d by the Wrist, about the Center of your Weapon, your Arm kept in its certain Place; this I call the common Cross way of Parring”, whereas with a normal, say, Inside parry with the Broadsword is “turn your Wrist towards your left Shoulder, your Arm kept strait from you; then your Point will be sloping towards your Opposer’s left Eye” (which is normal and recognisable) - the Broadsword parry by turning the forte of the sword to the side being struck, having the point on the opposite side, as you would expect, but the smallsword parry is made by moving the point, keeping the arm in it’s place; that has to be turning the wrist to present the false edge, otherwise you break your wrist in uncomfortable and dangerous ways! But the false edge parries in this manner are also described for use with the sword in Pallas Armata as “quart on the outside” or “seconde on the inside” - so while Wylde only gives us the conventional true edge parries for broadsword in his book, I suspect he was familiar with both, and that’s what he meant with his “it’s all the same” comment. Hope says "its all the same" too, and yet clearly does things that are necessary with a smallsword, and really bad with a broad...
Cheers Paul! I find it infuriating when these guys contradict themselves. Also, your video mentions page numbers on some of the things you talk about. What copy of Wylde are you referencing with those page numbers? Because my PDF version doesn't seem to match up with that. I also have the tiny little blue book somewhere but always seem to be misplacing it. Another question. What is you interpretation of the meaning of Coupee?
@@benholman8444 I have a photocopy of the original text, so I use that. Um, Coopee - it doesn't seem to bear much in common with a "Coupé" from the descriptions in Wylde... given that a "Sacoon" is a thrust in 2nd on the Outside, the "Coopee" seems to be the equivalent on the Inside line. My best guess is its a French style thrust in Carte (or beyond) with a high hilt and low point, but I wouldn't swear that's right!! How its a "Reverse" I couldn't say...
@@benholman8444 Hi. After studying Wylde pretty closely I'm sure that coopee is engaging in carte and moving the point under the shell of the opponent's sword into a sixte position. Basically moving from carte to carte-in-terse. It is keeping the hand in carte and reversing the side of the opponent's sword you're engaged on.
Wylde doesn't describe any cuts with the smallsword or rapier - he uses his system for both weapons. They could, perhaps make a drawing or pushing cut, but not a cleaving cut.
I am immensely happy I figured out the stance and it is similar to yours. I struggle with the language of these manual.
It's always a treat to see more smallsword on RUclips! I read Wylde's book a year or so ago (as a once-through, not much more) and wasn't too sure what that crosswise was about. This clears it up. Also, I do believe he claims to have invented several other parries and attacks beyond just half-moon. The staff section comes to mind. It's been a while, though.
I like this crosswise parry. I may have to do some reading up on Wylde tonight.
A rather fascinating look at British smallsword for me to see. I wonder how Wylde compares to Lonnergan and Godfrey in technique for smallsword, backsword, and maybe spadroon.
Lonnergan is essentially orthodox French smallsword, so Wylde is pretty different.
And Godfrey is more like a small collection of advice for advanced fencers than it is a manual with a distinct system.
Fantastic!
Paul,You describe the crosswise parry as being conducted with the false edge. However, Wylde himself says:
I have made it plainly appear, that Small - Sword
and Broad - Sword, hath such a dependance one upon
another, in sundry Respects ought to be linckt together, for the Cross Parreat Small - Sword, is the
same and equivolent to the in and outside Guard at Broad-
Sword: The Falloon Parring is the same as the Pendent
or Hanging Guard, there’s no difference in the least,
as to the Ways of Parring and Guarding.
And he describes the inside and outside guards at broadsword thusly:
Outside:
Stand upon a true half Body,
and extend your Sword - Hilt out at the Arms end
stiff, without bowing the Elbow - joint, your Point
leaning or sloping towards your left Shoulder, or
your Opposer’s
right Eye, lying as hollow as you can
with your Body; then you may see your Opposer
the inside your Sword . . .
Inside:
. . . then you must
prepare an inside or left Guard, which is to be made
on this manner, Cross the outside Guard, that is, a
little twist or turn your Wrist towards your left
Shoulder, your Arm kept
strait from you; then
your Point will be sloping towards your Opposer’s left Eye, and you may see his Body the outside your
Sword, while you keep the Guard.
All of this taken into account, it sounds to me like the crosswise parry should be done with the true edge. How do you come to the conclusion that it is done with the false?
G’day Ben! Yes he does *say* that, but he actually describes the parry as: “wave or move your Weapons point Cross-wise, the Compass of four Inch… this motion is perform’d by the Wrist, about the Center of your Weapon, your Arm kept in its certain Place; this I call the common Cross way of Parring”, whereas with a normal, say, Inside parry with the Broadsword is “turn your Wrist towards your left Shoulder, your Arm kept strait from you; then your Point will be sloping towards your Opposer’s left Eye” (which is normal and recognisable) - the Broadsword parry by turning the forte of the sword to the side being struck, having the point on the opposite side, as you would expect, but the smallsword parry is made by moving the point, keeping the arm in it’s place; that has to be turning the wrist to present the false edge, otherwise you break your wrist in uncomfortable and dangerous ways! But the false edge parries in this manner are also described for use with the sword in Pallas Armata as “quart on the outside” or “seconde on the inside” - so while Wylde only gives us the conventional true edge parries for broadsword in his book, I suspect he was familiar with both, and that’s what he meant with his “it’s all the same” comment. Hope says "its all the same" too, and yet clearly does things that are necessary with a smallsword, and really bad with a broad...
Cheers Paul! I find it infuriating when these guys contradict themselves.
Also, your video mentions page numbers on some of the things you talk about. What copy of Wylde are you referencing with those page numbers? Because my PDF version doesn't seem to match up with that. I also have the tiny little blue book somewhere but always seem to be misplacing it.
Another question. What is you interpretation of the meaning of Coupee?
@@benholman8444 I have a photocopy of the original text, so I use that. Um, Coopee - it doesn't seem to bear much in common with a "Coupé" from the descriptions in Wylde... given that a "Sacoon" is a thrust in 2nd on the Outside, the "Coopee" seems to be the equivalent on the Inside line. My best guess is its a French style thrust in Carte (or beyond) with a high hilt and low point, but I wouldn't swear that's right!! How its a "Reverse" I couldn't say...
@@benholman8444 Hi. After studying Wylde pretty closely I'm sure that coopee is engaging in carte and moving the point under the shell of the opponent's sword into a sixte position. Basically moving from carte to carte-in-terse.
It is keeping the hand in carte and reversing the side of the opponent's sword you're engaged on.
@@korg20000bcso a flanconade?
Where did you get your smallswords?
Does this type of smalllsowrd have any ability to cut?
Wylde doesn't describe any cuts with the smallsword or rapier - he uses his system for both weapons.
They could, perhaps make a drawing or pushing cut, but not a cleaving cut.