Postby John_Clements » Thu Oct 07, 2004 8:31 pm
Yeah, I have this booklet, it's not well known. Funny how it relies on the "Scymitar" and smallsword derived elements to supposedly present a modern military cut & thrust style of the Scots, but is not that different from many other similar works of the era and later.
Also it's remakeable in what it reveals of how much things changed in that period from earlier skills and knowledge of fencng. Note for example how he states nonsense of earlier swords things that became accepted fact in the 19th (& 20th) century: their "Form was rude, and their use without Method. They were the Instruments of Strength, not the Weapons or Art. The Sword was enormous length and breadth, heavy and unweildy, design'd only for right down chopping by the Force of a strong Arm." (p. A3). And follows it up with the comment how "two Combatants only hack'd and chop'd each other til the weakest drop'd' (p. vi).
Notice also how it uses the standard conventions of the period, with stops forte edge upon forte edge, and borrows from the smallsword. (p. 10 & 12).
Gotta run,
JC
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