Of the fight of the Pike or Little Lance.
By Philippe de lyon
(this article was entered in the Middle Kindom A&S Fair in 2015)
I have been spending a lot of time doing research of the soldiers and sailors aboard the Mary Rose . Among the armaments found on the wreck were parts of pikes. They were found on the main deck. As the ship sand during a battle it is reasonable to conjecture they were there to defend the ship from boarders. Unfortunately, none of the Mary Rose pikes are intact and the iron head and side plates did not survive. As I did more research I became interested in how the weapon would have been used by the defenders during a skirmish. Several historical manuals discuss the use of the pike in a one on one fight. These masters include Marozzo, de Gracie, and Silver. The first task would be to figure out the specifics of the pikes by piecing together evidence from the Mary Rose, surviving artifacts from other sources, and from the fighting manuals of the time. I ultimately relied on Georg Silvers description of the Morris Pike. This is a 9 foot long shaft with a small sharp head. To see how the pike was used I decided to use the Manual of Achille Marozzo, “Opera Nova dell’Arte delle Arme”. This book was published in 1536 and predates the sinking of the Mary Rose. I have also looked to the works of deGracie, del Agochie, and George Silver to help in interpretation and to fill in gaps in the Marrozo manual. Marrozo (as well as deGracie and Silver) assumes that you are not wearing armor and facing a single opponent using a comparable weapon. With this simple little exercise we get a comprehensive look at one on one combat system.
The Pike
This project started with the pikes off of the Mary Rose. The Mary Rose was a Tudor warship that sank in 1548 during a battle. It was rediscovered in the 1960s. It has since been recovered, conserved and put on display by the Mary Rose Trust in its own museum in Portsmouth, England. On the main deck of the ship they found several pieces of wood that were sticking up out of the mud. This became known as the “pike garden”. They found XX wood hafts that belonged to pikes. No heads of the pikes survived. From the wooden remains they know that it had an iron head and iron straps about 8 inches long that ran down either side of the pike. No complete pike survived so we do not know how long the pikes were originally1.
During this time there was no standard length for a Pike. By the late 16the century the pikes used on the battlefield would reach between 14 and 18 feet in length and have metal straps 17-20 inches in length running down the sides of the pike2. Another type of pike was the Half Pike or the Morris Pike. It is described by George Silver as “To know the perfect length of your short staff, or half Pike, forest bill, partisan, or glaive, or such like weapons of vantage and perfect lengths, you shall stand upright, holding the staff upright close by your body, with your left hand, reaching with your right had you staff as high as you can, and then allow to that length a space to set both your hands, when you come to fight, wherein you may conveniently strike, thrust and ward, that that is just length to be made according to your stature. And this note, that these lengths will commonly fall out to be eight or nine foot long, and will fit, although not just, the statures of all men without an hindrance at all unto them in their fight…3” Records for Henry the VIII’s armoury notes that the there wrere long and short pikes4.
I decided to use the Morris pike for this project for 5 reasons. First of all the pike on the Mary Rose was intended to be used on ship to repel borders. With all of the netting that would have been in place to help with repelling enemies from boarding the ship and the cramped space on the deck I do not see how a 14-18 foot pike would be usable. Secondly the long pikes were being used on the battlefield in concentrated groups called a block. I did not see how they would have been effective in one on one combat or very small melee of a ships boarding action. Silver also believes that this is the superior weapon for one on one combat “The short staff or half pike or such like weapons of perfect length, to be used with both hands, have the advantage against all other weapons whatsoever, the forest bill excepted5”. The third reason is the length of the side pieces. With the longer pikes the side straps protecting the pike head from being cut off were 17-20 inches in length, were the straps on the Mary Rose Pikes were only 8 inches long, thus suggesting a shorter shaft. The Fourth reason I chose the Morris pike is because it was the longest wooden pole I could find or transport. The final point in its favor is its application to use in SCA combat with our 9 foot war spears.
The last thing we want to discuss is the pike head. In all of the examples of surviving artifacts that I was able to find, the pike head was steel, 4 inches in length and sharpened on the sides6. Although it was primarily a thrusting weapon it could cut.
The Manual
I decided to look at Achille Marozzos work “Opera Nova dell’Artedell Arme”, published in 1536. It was written in the general time period of the Mary Rose, and it depicts a fighting style that was in use for the last hundred years7. Marozzo’s exercise for the pike is only one page and it shows an exercise between two people. This gives us an exercise that we can use for practice that will give us the basic attacks and defenses of the style. As you look at deGrassie (1572) and George Silver(1599) works you will see all of the elements and moves from Marozzo. They may be slightly changed, and more moves added, but Marozzo laid the foundation for this weapon.
It is important to mention that we are not saying that “This is how the pikes were used aboard the Mary Rose”. What we are saying is that this is a viable interpretation of how this weapon can be used and many have been used aboard the ship.
Marozzo’s exercise for The Fight of the Pike or Little Lnace one on one, is Capitula 182. It takes up one page of his work. It is comprised of 4 sections. The exercise starts out simple showing a basic attack and counter, then it builds on this in each succeeding section. The use of the weapon is fairly simple. Marozzo uses 4 guards, 2 thrusts, 1 cut during the exercise. The difference between the 4 sections is footwork.
Translation:
I was only able to find one translation of the Marrozo’s pike instructions on line. Unfortunately those are a literal translation using a combination of Google translate and a 16th century Italian to English dictionary called Queen Anns World of Words8. This translation is a great place to start. We double checked questionable sections against the original text. The only issue we had was with the translation of section 3. We asked Nira Morning to translate the section for us. She tried to translate the text from the original manual and very little luck. She then looked at the 1567 edition and was able to understand the passage better. The resulting translation was easier to work with and is still consistant with techniques from diGracie and Silver.
Reconstruction:
Using Marrozzo’s exercise for the pike and his description of how to perform the moves, we have come up with a reconstruction that we can use to practice his techniques. Were needed we have used Marozzo’s manual to answer any questions we might have as to how the technique was done. In some cases we have had to go to other manuals written during the 16th century to gain clarification. These other sources will be noted in the sections of the reconstruction. The following reconstruction must be viewed as our interpretation of the manual and not as an authoritative statement on “How it was done.”
Marozzo used 4 guards:
Right foot forward, Pike held at shoulder heights, right hand at rear of pike with the left hand in front, with the point aimed at opponent’s chest. This is a patient (waiting) guard. (Although Marozzo does not give it a name it is very much like the Coda Longa e Alta). It is an invitation for your opponent to attack.
Left foot forward, right hand behind the left, pike head is up. This is an active (aggressive) guard. Marrozzo does not use this as a waiting guard but as a preparation for an action or a provocation as leaves the left flank open.
Left foot forward, right hand behind the left, pike head is down on the ground a little to the left of your body. This guard is a defensive guard. Attacks may be defended by moving the shaft of the pike without moving the pikes head. This is a waiting guard where you can sit protected and then move to another guard or initiate an attack. This guard shows up repeatedly in all of Marozzo’s description of pole arms.
Left foot forward right had behind the left, pike head is down on the ground in line with the right foot. This is another provocation guard as it leaves the left hip open.
Marozzo uses three types of attacks with Pike:
His primary attack is a thrust that has you extending your arms pushing the pike with the right hand and it sliding though the left. This is normally accompanied with at step giving you maximum reach.
The second attack is a thrust with the right hand only. To perform this attack you will be stepping forward with the left foot, while sliding the pike backwards towards you and reaching forward with the right hand so that your right hand is holding the pike in the last third of the pike 2-3 feet below the head. The left hand is free to help defend or to go to grips (grab the opponents body or weapon). This is used to close in tight for an attack or when an opponent has passed the tip of your pike and you need to shorten the reach.
The last attack is a Squillo. Marozzo only description is “…con usno quillo drieto9” It is defined in a 1611 dictionary as a “Striking Bell”. Drieto is defined as behind or After10. Fintan (Jim Holt) who is my research partner for this exercise stated that in renaissance music SQuillo is used to mark when you should strike the bell. He posited that this would be a striking motion. As this move is done after you have thrusted the pike head into the flank of your opponent, he posited that it would be a short sharp striking motion moving from the right to the left ripping the head of the pike free of your opponent. As the heads were sharp and had an edge, we feel this is a cutting attack meant to inflict additional damage.
Timing
Marrozo does not give concise rules for when to attack. However one of the descendants in his school of thought did. Dal Agochie sets out 5 times to attach11. We will use these when reconstructing the exercise. The 5 times to attack are:
1. When you have parried your opponents blow.
2. When your opponents blow misses you.
3. When your opponent raises their sword to attack.
4. While opponent changes their guard while in measure.
5. When opponent raises the front foot.
The Exercise:
Dello abattimento de Picha Overo Lacioto da Solo a Solo
Of the Fight of the Pike or Little Lance one on one.
Capitula 182
Achille Marozzo, “Opera Nova dell’Arte delle Arme”, published in 1536
Salute: (from Morozo’s section on Partisan and several other sections on pole weapons12)
Feet together with the right hand on the pike about waist high. Turn right hand brining the point of the pike across your body and down. Put the left hand on the pike and continue the turn behind you bringing point up, across the body and down to the right. Continue moving point behind you and back up into the starting position with the pike. Step forward or back with the right foot depending on beginning stance.
First Part:
A: Right foot forward with pike head is up and aimed at opponents chest.
B: Left foot forward with Pike held up and point is aimed at opponents chest. Step forward with right foot and thrown thrust at A
A: Circular step with the right foot at a 45% angle to the right. Make an overhand thrust at opponent chest extending the right hand and letting it slide though the left. Retreate with right, left, right so the the left foot is forward and the point is down on the ground.
Second Part:
A: Left foot forward with pike pointed at the ground. Raise point to opponent’s chest. Pass forward with the right foot making a 45% step to the right. Make a thrust at B as in the first section.
B: Left foot forward Spear point down at the ground. As opponent thrusts Break to the left with the pike head down hands up without stepping and thrust at A’s chest
A: Slip point under B’s lance while making a passing step with the Left foot of to the left side. Pike is held in both hands with left leading.
B: Step with left foot to the left side and thrust at the open flank of A.
A: Step across with the right foot and block B’s pike with haft of your pike. Thrust at face as you pass backwards with the Left foot and right foot ending with left in front with the pike head on the ground and in front of the right foot.
Third Part:
A: Left foot forward with pike head down and to the right side.
B: Thrust at A’s left hip.
A: Raise hands up high turning strongly on the left foot bring the point back to block the opponent’s thrust. Right had is held by the head and pike butt is up.
B: Continue forward to try and bring to grips.
A: Step forward with right foot and raise point behind your head and step back. Strike B with the butt of the pike if B advances. Retreat passing backwards till you are out of range. End with left foot forward and pike head down and in front of the left foot.
B: backs up and retreats.
A: Advance forward and take up stance in proper distance. Left foot is forward and pike head is down and in front of the right foot.
B: Thrust at A’s left hip.
A: Raise Arms over head and bring pike head back, blocking with middle of your pike while turning strongly on the left foot.. Step forward with the right foot, passing the right hand in front of the left and close with the opponent so he cannot flee and you can come to grips.
B: Retreats as A advances and take defensive guard. With Left foot forward and point down.
A: Retreat out of range bringing pike back into position with the Left foot forward and pike head down and in front of the left foot.
Fourth Part:
A: Left leg forward with point of pike raised and aimed at B’s chest.
B: In defensive posture with left leg forward and point down. Raise point to aim at Opponents chest. Step forward with right foot and thrust at A’s hip.
A: As B steps forward, step forward and to the right with your left foot and then pass forward with right foot. Thrust at the flank of B. After you hit the opponent Rip point free to the left with sharp jerk (like ringing a bell)13 while stepping back with the right foot and going in to a defensive guard with the point down.
Bibliography:
Castle, Eagerton. Schools and Masters of Defense
Dall’Agocchie, Giovanni. Dell’Arte Discima Libritie. 1572. Translated by William Willson
This translation is available on William Willsons webpage at www.marozzo.org.
DiGrassi, Giacomo. DiGrassi, His Ture Arte of Defence. Translated into English and published in London 1594.
This is a Translation of the original work by DiGrassi published in 1570. The translator is unknown and there are discrepancies between the translation and the original. I am treating the translation as a separate manual contemporary with Silver. A translation of the 1570 manual can be found at http://www.cs.unc.edu/~hudson/digrassi/. A transcription of the 1594 manual can be found at http://www.aemma.org/onlineResources/diGrassi/contents_body.htm.
Florio, John. Queen Anna’s New World of Words or Dictionaries of the Italian and English Tongues, collected and newly much augmented by John Florio, Reader of the Italian unto the Sovereign Majesty of Anna Crowned Queen of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland. published 1598 and 1611.
Hildred, Alexander. Weapons of Warre: The Armaments of the Mary Rose. 2011
There are sections of this book pertaining to the pikes found on board the Mary Rose in the appendix of this paper.
Marrozzo, Achille. Opersa Nova de Achille Marozzo Bolognese, Masiro Generale de Larte de larmi. published in 1536.
Marrozzo, Achille. Opersa Nova de Achille Marozzo Bolognese, Masiro Generale de Larte de larmi. 1568.
This is a later addition of the manual. The wording and woodcuts are a little different than the original printing.
Marrozzo, Achille. Opersa Nova de Achille Marozzo Bolognese, Masiro Generale de Larte de larmi. Capitula 182 3rd section. 1568. Translated by Nira Morning.
This is a translation of section 3 of the pike exercise. The translation has been attached in the appendix.
Silver, Geoge Brief Instructions upon my Paradoxes of Defence. Sloan MS. No. 376
This is an unpublished manuscript that is written by George Silver. It goes into more detail about the use of the weapons. It can be found on line at http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/brief.html.
Silver, George. Paradoxes of Defence. Published in London 1599
This is the published work by Silver that discusses why the English short sword is better than the Italian rapier. Silver does discuss other weapons and what their uses are. It can be found on line at http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/paradoxes.html.
Websites:
www.angelfire.com/planet/megalophias/marozzopolearms.html Pole arm Plays of Marozzo.
From Go Antiques, http://www.goantiques.com/swiss-luzern-pike-1386291
Antique dealership and has pictures of the 16th century pikes.
Appendix A: Translations
www.angelfire.com/planet/megalophias/marozzopolearms.html
Disclaimer: I do not speak Italian. I made this translation using Florio and an online dictionary. As such it is not at all reliable, but I hipe it will prove useful in any case.
From: Achille Marozzo’s “Opera Nova dell’Arte delle Arme”, published in 1536
.........Cap.
182.
Dello abattimento de picha overo lancioto da solo a solo.
Of the Fight of the Pike or Lance one on one.
.........Prima
parte.
.........Adonque
per dare principio alla prima parte del combattere de picha overo
lancioto da fante a piede, a homo per homo, in prima essendo contra a
uno che havesse una picha overo lanciotto contra de te, tu te
metterai con la tua gamba dritta inanci e la tua picha in su le
bracie con la mano mancha inanci e la dritta de drieto, con la ponta
tua della sopradetta a le inscontro per lo dritto del petto del tuo
nimico; e de qui tu serai paciente in aspettare il tuo nimico che te
tire de una lancionata in la persona e tu sempre mai, tu haverai le
ochio al fatto suo, perche in quel tempo che lui te tirere la detta
lancionata, tu passerai della tua gamba dritta uno gran passo forte
per traverso verso le tue parte dritte, alquanto inanci, e li
caciarai a lui de una lancionata sotto mano inte el petto o in lo
corpo, aritirandote per tuo reparo presto con la tua gamba drita
indrieto, tornando la mano mancha a luoco suo; e le voglio che tu sie
agente, cioe voglio che tu sie il primo a ferire.
.........First
part:
.........So
to begin to the first part of the combat of the pike or lance for the
foot soldier, man to man, firstly being opposed to someone that had a
pike or lance, you will put your right leg forward and your pike over
the arms with the left hand forward and the right behind, with your
point to encounter him straight toward [per lo dritto] the chest of
your enemy; and from here you will be patient waiting for your enemy
to throw a thrust at your body, and you will always keep your eye on
his what he does, because in that tempo that he will throw the said
thrust at you, you will make a large step with your right leg well
across toward your right side, somewhat forward, and you will drive a
thrust at him over hand into the chest or body, quickly withdrawing
your right leg back for your protection, returning the left hand to
its place; and there I want you to be agent, that is I want you to be
first to strike.
.........Seconda
parte.
.........Hora,
essendo con la tua gamba mancha inanci scontro al tuo nimico, tu sai
che nella prima parte io te dissi che io voleva che tu fossi agiente,
cioe el primo a ferire: e pere per questo tu passerai con la tua
gamba dritta inanci verso le parte manche del nimico e se li tirerai
de una lancionata sopra mano per la facia, la quale fermere a posta
ferma, perche lui te tire; ma sappi che tirandote lui la risposta, tu
camufferai il tuo lancioto per de sotto al suo, passando, in tal
tempo de camuffare, della tua gamba mancha verso le tue parte manche
per traverso, pigliando in tal passare el tuo lanciotto con la tua
mano mancha; non fermando che tu li traghi de una lanciata per lo
fiancho dritto, con la detta tua mano mancha, passando della gamba
dritta e mancha forte inanci verso sue dritte parte; e se alle hora
il tuo nimico te tirasse a quelle parte manche che seranno
descoperte, tu la urterai con la detta tua picha, overo lanciotto in
fuora verso le tue parte manche, passando nel detto urtare con la tua
gamba dritta inanci verso le tue parte dritte; buttando la tua mano
dritta dinanci dalla mancha, in un medesimo tempo tu li tirerai,
passando con la tua gamba mancha inanci, de una lanciata per la
facia, non te fermando per tuo reparo che tu camuffi la tua mano
dritta de drieto dalla mancha al pedale e se tirerai una lancionata,
fugiendo della tua gamba mancha indrieto, per modo che tu serai con
la tua gamba dritta inanci; e perche io voglio che adesso tu sie
paciente, tu butterai la detta tua gamba dritta de drieto dalla
mancha e se piglierai con la tua mano mancha il lanciotto al luoco
suo, cioe dinanci dalla dritta e li darai el galon mancho discoperto
al tuo inimico, tenendo la ponta del lanciotto a terra fermo e le
aspettarai che lui te tire al detto tuo galon
mancho.
.........Second
part:
.........Now,
having encountered your enemy with your left leg forward, you know
that in the first part I told you that I wanted you to be agent, that
is the first to strike: and in order to do so you will step forward
with your right foot toward the enemy's left side and there you will
throw a thrust over hand at the face, the which he will keep [or stay
or stop] steady in place [or on purpose], because he is striking at
you; but know that [while he is] throwing his riposte at you [?], you
will slip [sneak] your lance under his, stepping, in that same tempo
of slipping, with your left leg across toward your left side, taking
up your lance with your left hand in that same stepping; without
stopping throw here a thrust at the right flank, with your said left
hand, stepping well forward with your right and left legs toward his
right side; and if now your enemy threw at this left side that will
be uncovered, you will press it outward with your said pike or lance
toward your left side, stepping forward in the said pressing with
your right leg toward your right side; hurling your right hand
forward from your left, in the same tempo you will throw here a
thrust at the face, stepping forward with your left leg, for your
protection without stopping you slip your right hand behind the left
to the butt and you will throw a thrust, fleeing backward with your
left leg, in such a way that you will end up with your right leg
forward; and because now I want you to be patient, you will hurl your
said right leg behind your left and you will take your lance with
your left hand in its place, that is in front of the right and there
you will offer your left hip uncovered to your enemy, holding the
point of your lance to the ground and there waiting for him to strike
at your said left hip.
.........Tertia
parte.
.........Tu
sai che in la seconda parte io te feci tornare della tua gamba dritta
de drieto dalla mancha, con la ponta del tuo lanciotto fermo a terra,
acciocche tu fussi paciente, massime se el tuo nimico te tirasse a
quello galon mancho che io te dissi in la detta seconda parte del
precedente, come io credo veramente che lui tirere ; ma preponiamo
che lui tire al sopradetto galon mancho: tu alciarai le bracie tue
alle aera, tutte due de sopra dalla testa ale indrieto, urtando del
lanciotto tuo in la botta sua de drieto alla tua schina, piegandote
in su la detta schena, e testa indrieto e e l corpo ale inanci, per
modo che a questo modo tu parerai la lancionata che lui havere tratto
e presto, in tal tempo che tu farai el ditto parato, tu butterai la
tua gamba dritta inanci, forte pirlando in su la mancha, con la mano
dritta tua dinanci da la mancha, presto buttandola a megio al tuo
detto lancioto & a questo modo el tuo nimico non potre fugire che
tu non li daghi a lui percossa o vorrai andare con lui alle strette;
ma nota che se tu non volessi andare con lui alle dette strette tu te
tirerai dui o tri passi indrieto, con la tua gamba dritta e mancha
fugiendo, voltando el tuo lanciotto con la tua mano mancha sopra da
la testa e in tal voltare tu lo pigliarai con la man dritta al pedale
al luoco suo & de qui tu poi essere agente e paciente, secondo
che le acadere.
.........Third
part.
.........You
know that in the second part I made you return your right leg behind
your left, with the point of your lance on the ground, to the end
that you would be patient, especially if your enemy struck at this
left hip that I spoke of in the said second part previous, as I
believe truly he will strike; but let's suppose that he strikes at
the aforesaid left hip: you will raise your arms into the air, both
over your head to the rear, pressing your lance into his stroke back
to your back [schena], bending the said back upward, and head
backward and body forward, in such a way that in this way you will
parry the thrust that he will have thrown and quickly, in the same
tempo that you will make the said parry, you will hurl your right leg
forward, turning strongly upon [in su] the left, with your right hand
in front of the left, quickly hurling to the middle of your said
lance and in this way your enemy will not be able to flee so that you
will not hit him [daghi] there or you will go with him to the close
[?]; but note that if you did not want to go with him to the said
close you will pull two or three steps back, fleeing with your right
leg and left, turning your lance over your head with your left hand
and in the same turning you will take the butt with your right hand
in its place, and then from here you are agent or patient, depending
on what happens.
.........Quarta
& ultima parte.
.........Adonque,
essendo assettato con la tua gamba mancha inanci scontro al tuo
inimico, de qui voglio che tu sie paciente, cioe tu li leverai el tuo
lanciotto con la ponta da terra, driciandola al dritto del petto del
nimico, stagando con le ochio apresso, perche tragandote lui botta
alcuna tu passarai della tua gamba mancha & dritta inanci per
traverso verso le sue parte manche e in questo passare de gamba
mancha e dritta tu li darai de una lancionata per li fianchi sopra
mano, con uno squillo drieto; e per tuo reparo tu butterai la detta
gamba dritta de drieto uno gran passo dalla mancha e se te assettarai
pure con la tua gamba e mano mancha inanci ben polito, perche
tirandote lui resposta alcuna drieto, tu sai ben che gli e sempre el
suo parato & impere per questo respetto io fare fine al detto
gioco overo combattere del lanciotto overo picha.
.........Fourth
and last part:
.........Then,
being settled with your left leg forward encountering your enemy,
from here I want you to be patient, that is you will lift the point
of your lance from the ground, directing it to the right of the
enemy's chest, keeping a close eye, because he throwing any stroke at
you you will step forward with your left leg and right across toward
his left side and in this stepping of the left leg and right you
there will give a thrust to the flanks over hand, with a backward
squillo; and for your protection you will hurl the said right leg
backward a great step from the left and if you will set yourself
still with the left hand and leg forward very neatly, because he
throwing some riposta back, you know well that there is always its
parry and therefore in this regard I make an end to the said play or
combat of the lance or pike.
This is a transcription, from the 1567 edition, of the 3rd section of the exercise. Translated from the original by Nira Morning. Copyright by Nira Morning 2015. Used by permission.
Tu
sai, che nella seconda parte, io ti feci tornare della tua gamba
dritta allo indrieto dalla manca con la ponta del tuo lanciotto fermo
a terra acciocché tu fussi patiente massime se’l tuo nemico te
tirasse a quella banda manca che io te dissi nella detta seconda
parte del precedente come io credo veramente che lui tirarà, ma
proponiamo che lui tiri al sopraddetto fianco manco, tu alzarai le
tue braccia in aria tutte schena, piegandoti su la detta schena ò
testa indrieto, e’l corpo innanzi, di modo che a questo modo tu
riparerai la lanciata che lui haverà tirato, & in questo tempo
che tu farai il detto riparo tu buttarai la tua gamba dritta forte
innanzi girando su la manca con la tua man dritta dinanzi dalla manca
buttandola presto a mezzo al detto tuo lanciotto, & a questo modo
il tuo nemico non potrà fuggire che tu nonli dia a lui percossa, o
vorrai andare con lui’, alle strette, ma nota che se tu non volesse
andare con lui alle dette strette, tu ti tirerai due, o tre passi
indrieto, con la tua gamba dritta, e manca fuggendo voltando il tuo
lanciotto con la man manca sopra della testa, e nel voltare tu’l
pigliarai con la ma dritta al pedale al luogo suo, & qui tu poi
essere agente e patiente secondo che l’accaderà.
"You know how, in the second part, I showed you how to turn your right leg to the right side of the left hand with the point of your lance steady to the ground, with the purpose that you should be patient to draw your enemy to this left side, as I told you in this second part - which I truly believe he will be drawn. And with the intent that he is drawn to the left side, you will raise your weapon in the air, and to the back, bending the rear upward at the right side of the head, with your body foremost, and in this manner you will replace the lance that you previously withdrew. In the same tempo that you do this, thrust your right leg forward in a strong girata (twist) in front of the left hand, with your right hand in front of the left, thrusting quickly to the middle with your lance. In this way your enemy will be unable to flee, and you will not permit him to give a blow, nor will you follow him into a pinch. But note that if you do not want to follow him into that pinch, you will draw into you two or three passes on the right with your right leg, turning your left side away with your left hand on the lance above your head, and in the turning you will catch him with the right hand to the foot of his position, and here you will do this action after being patient for it to happen. "
1 Before the Mast, Life and Death aboard the Mary Rose. Page 736
2 Two late 16th century pikes are depicted on the website Renaissance Warfare.com. both pikes are 16’ long and have a 4 inch iron head which is sharpened.
3 From George Silvers “Paradoxes of Defense” published in London in 1599.
4 Hildred, Alexander. Weapons of Warre: The Armaments of the Mary Rose. 2011. Page 218
5 From George Silvers “Paradoxes of Defense” published in London in 1599.
6 Surviving examples are shown on Renaissance Warfare . Com
7 From Schools and Masters of defence by Eagerton Castle.
8 Florio, John. Queen Anna’s New World of Words or Dictionaries of the Italian and English Tongues. published 1598 and 1611.
9 Achille Marozzo. Opera Nova dell’Arte delle Arme” published in 1536. A copy of the original text accompanies the translation in Appendix B.
10 Both definitions come from Queen Anna’s new world or words dictionarie, by John florio in 1611. The first addition of this dictionary was published in 1598.
11 Dall’Agocchie, Giovanni. Dell’Arte Discima Libritie. 1572. Translated by William Willson
12 The salute is from Marozzo’s exercises for the Partisan and Bill. It was not part of the pike exercise. We have added it in as described in the section on use of the Partisan.
13 The manual says to make a thrust to the flank with a “Squillo” afterwards. Florio defines squillo as striking a bell. We translated this to a short quick strike like you are striking a bell. Taking in context we believe that this is a ripping cut that will free the spear point after a thrust. This will cause additional damage to your opponent.
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