ARMA Spotlight Features

 

The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence

Joseph Swetnam - Biographical Sketch

Advice and Ethics in Joseph Swetnam's Schoole of Defence

Study Guide for the Single Sword Play of Joseph Swetnam's Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence

Study Guide for the Staffe Play of Joseph Swetnam's Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence

ARMA International Gathering 2011

PBS Nova: Secrets of the Viking Sword

Video Review - National Geographic Channel's Medieval Fight Book

Sword Talk with John Clements - Podcast

ARMA on National Geographic's "Medieval Fight Book"

ARMA Inducted into the World Martial Arts Union

Volta, Key and Scale

Chivalry Today - Podcast 39: Chivalry in Renaissance Martial Arts

ARMA International Gathering 2009

ARMA Memorium Tribute to swordsmith Paul Champagne

Renaissance Martial Arts -
The Web Documentary

Opining on the State of the Art - A Conversation with ARMA Director John Clements

Top Myths of Renaissance Martial Arts

ARMA International Gathering 2007

The Passing of Hank Reinhardt

The Burrell Collection at Glasgow Museums

Ashokan Sword 2005 Conference Review

Adventures in Edge Bashing

The Sword Show - Flats & Edges

Interview with Master Bladesmith Kevin Cashen

How Were Swords Really Made?

Fiore Dei Liberi Study Guide PDF

Interview with swordsmith Peter Johnsson

Interview with swordsmith Paul Champagne

Five Questions II

Some Historical Swiss Swords Examined

Armor Research Society Conference; Chicago 2005

The Physical Reality of Forceful Edge Impacts

Hanko Döbringer's Fechtbuch from 1389

Martin Siber's Fechtlere of 1491

Hundsfleder's shorttened-sword c. 1491

Hugues Wittenwiller's Fight-book

ARMA Southern Knights 2004 Review

New Youth Q&A Article: All About Rapiers

Oakeshott's Typology - An Introduction

"Hey Mister, ...is that sword real?"

Arms Research Report - Swiss FAH

Late 16th Century German Fencing from the Codex Guelf 83

First ARMA International Gathering 2003

Sweden Event 2003

Sword Show 2003 Orlando

Sword Motions & Impacts

Codex Wallerstein Book

Tribute to Ewart Oakeshott

Wasters - the history of wooden swords

Italian Rapier Glossary

2002 Interview with Dr. Sydney Anglo

Newcastle's 'Lost" Fencing Book

Introduction to HEMA

Renaissance Martial Arts Literature

Replica Sword Definitions

Armored Thoughts interviews

5 Questions on HEMA Study

Wurm's Ringbuch Translation

Sword Show 2002 - Las Vegas

Interview with Hank Reinhardt 2001

Atlanta Med & Ren Expo 2001

Fillipo Vadi's Manual c.1480s

European
Historical Combat Guild
Inaugural Seminar 2001

Summer '01 Test-Cutting Gathering Report

Schola St. George Medieval Swordsmanship Symposium Pics

Sword 2000 Event Special Report

New Orleans Sword Show Special Report

Historical Fencing: The Year 2000 in Review

Euro-Trip 2000Report!

Swordplay Symposium Intl. Event Report!

Keith Ducklin, Royal Armouries-ARMA Seminar

The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe!  Plus interview with the author!

John Waller
- Head of Fight Interpretation,
Royal Armouries

1999 Sword Research Trip to the UK!

Unarmed Medieval & Renaissance Combat

Ewart Oakeshott: "Dean of Swords"

Interview with Hank Reinhardt

'98 Atlanta Excursion: Practicing with Hank Reinhardt & Antique Weapons!

Examining Antique Swords!

Medieval Swordsmanship Book - 2nd Edition Supplement

Profile: Hank Reinhardt - Senior Mentor

'97 European Sword Research Trip & Real Weapon Photos!

Del Tin Armi Antiche

Arms & Armor Craftsmen

The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence, 1617 - 2017
A 400th Anniversary Look at Joseph Swetnam's Fight Book

The year 2017 marks the quatercentennial of Joseph Swetnam's The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence. Swetnam's book holds the honor not only of being the earliest known printed fight book "of any English man's invention," but also the only known treatise authored by a member of the English Masters of Defense, a guild of professional fencers who flourished during the Tudor and Stuart eras. Writing his book over the course of twenty years, Swetnam's martial career spanned a period when English attitudes toward fencing styles and theories were becoming influenced by those of Italy and France. Swetnam's book, however, remained remarkably indigenous in both thought and execution. Four centuries later, its enduring value is the unadulterated glimpse it provides of the English martial arts at the turn of the seventeenth century, as well as Swetnam's own perspective on the social and moral context of interpersonal violence, particularly in regards to honor and the duel.

To commemorate the 400th anniversary, the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts presents here a modernized transcription and analysis of Joseph Swetnam and his work, in order to make his somewhat archaic language more accessible to a modern audience, and study guides to offer a framework from which to study and understand his system.

David Kite, December 2017

1. The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence - By Joseph Swetnam
    (Modernized transcription by David Kite)

2. Joseph Swetnam - Biographical Sketch - By David Kite

3. Advice and Ethics in Joseph Swetnam's Schoole of Defence - By Matt Bryant

4. Study Guide for the Single Sword Play of Joseph Swetnam's Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence - By Brian Kirk

5. Study Guide for the Staffe Play of Joseph Swetnam's Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence - By Stacy Clifford

 
 

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