De Breens manual or Mars His Field

[fred scholpp]

Does anyone know where I could find the book [u]Mars His Field[/u] which shows Targeteer drill?

Dutch or English either version.

[steve hick]

Does anyone know where I could find the book Mars His Field which shows Targeteer drill?

Dutch or English either version.

It is one of the Early English Book series, I got mine as a blow back from a microfilm, let me check around.
Steve

[steve hick]

Does anyone know where I could find the book Mars His Field which shows Targeteer drill?

Dutch or English either version.

It is one of the Early English Book series, I got mine as a blow back from a microfilm, let me check around.
Steve

Jared Kirby has it
http://www.jaredkirby.com/Int17thcent.htm

[fred scholpp]

I do believe I'm closing in on it. William and Mary college library(just up the road from me) has it on micro-film!

[Jon Pellett]

Hello Fred

If you get a hold of it would you mind posting the text of that plate? *Especially* if you find the Dutch version.

Thanks

[terry brown]

Hello Fred

If you get a hold of it would you mind posting the text of that plate? *Especially* if you find the Dutch version.

Thanks

>
>
Back in the eighties I copied some drawings from this manual. It was that long ago that I cannot guarantee that I copied all of the images but I have the following titles and captions for the sword and target and the sword and buckler unfortunately I can not scan the images because my scanner is kaput. I would also point out that I haven't checked these notes for errors so forgive me if any are discovered. At least these notes will provide food for thought pending locating the manual:

1) Let your target hang at your backe and stand upright

First in the exercise and use of the Target is showne how the soldier
shall assume his due posture, his target hanging at his backe, attending further command from his captain.

2) Prepare Yor target for yor sword

How with the greatest conveniency he may present the
target from his back before the body, that is retyring
his left legge and shaking his left shoulder, he causeth
the target to slip forward.

3)

How he shall make ready his target for his sword, that is he shall hold his target fast above with his right hand, that he may the more easily
put his hand between the braces and so be ready to draw his sword.

4) Draw yor sword

How he must hold his target a little distant
from his body, that he may without any impediment
draw out his sword.

5) Present yor sword

How in the presenting of his drawn sword he shall hold
the same no higher than his face appeareth.

6) Put yor sword betweene yor target and brest

How in the holding again his Target against his
body and left shoulder, he must put his sword
betweene his target and his forenamed shoulder attending in this posture further command.

7) Close your Calquet/casquet [close your visor]

-----------------
-----------------

18 ) Draw yor sword

How he should most conveniently draw his Sword, that is he must hold his Buckler a little from his body that it may be no hindrance to the drawing of the same.


19) Present yor sword

How in the presenting of his drawn sword he shall hold
the same no higher than his face appeareth.

20) Put yor sword between yor buckler and left shoulder

How resting his buckler against his body and left shoulder
he must bring his sword betweene, towards the left shoulder,
attending in this posture further command.

21) Gard your selfe

How to gard him selfe before the
enemy, he must rest his target against his left thigh
and shoulder firme, the hilt of the sworde against the verge
of his Target inward, and the left brimme of his morion against the inside of his target to gard hi sight and view the enemy.

A second garding posture

Here is represented how the soldier may gard himselfe with
his Target against the point of the enemies pike
bearingf his sword as in the preceding figure.

23) Releeve your selfe

How standing upright it will be most expedient
for him to set forward his left foot and shoulder that he may rest the target against his body and that in a free and not enforced posture.

24) Put up your sword

How in sheathing his sword sword with the right hand he must beare the Buckler backward on his body that he may do it without any impediment.

25) Draw yor arme out of the braces of the buckler

How when he shall draw his arme from out of the Braces
of his Buckler he shall hold the Buckler
firme with his right hand.

26) Put yor buckler behind your back

How when he removes again the Buckler to his backe, it must be done
with his left arme as appeareth in the figure.

27)

How the soldier standing upright with the Buckler at his
backe shall attend further command

The Perfect manner of handling the Sword and Target. Set forth in lively figures with the words of command and Briefe instructions corrsponding to every posture.

There are 21 images for pike drill.

[Jon Pellett]

Thanks Terry! It's quite different from what I remember, but very interesting. I've always wondered how you get the shield off your back and on to your left arm - it seems kind of like taking off a backpack from the description there.

[terry brown]

Thanks Terry! It's quite different from what I remember, but very interesting. I've always wondered how you get the shield off your back and on to your left arm - it seems kind of like taking off a backpack from the description there.

Hi Jon,

The backpack analogy puts me in mind of the saying that there is nothing new under the Sun:)

It also puts me in mind of a description of Anglo-Saxon warriors slinging their shields over their shoulders in order to use their axes.
Cheers,
Terry