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[Ttl] Foundational Description of the Free, Knightly, and Noble Art of Fencing, with all customary weapons, decorated with many beautiful and useful figures, and presented

by Joachim Meyer, Free Fencer in Strasbourg

in the year 1570.

By privilege of his Roman Imperial Majesty:

not to be reprinted in any fashion for ten years.

[1] “God knows the time”

[2] To the illustrious, high-born prince and lord, Lord Johan Casimir, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, my gracious Prince and Lord.

[3] Illustrious, high-born Prince, my completely voluntary service, to my utmost ability, is offered as a vassal to Your Princely Grace. Gracious Prince and Lord, whereas the knightly and noble art of fencing has devolved in current times due to many and various reasons, yet there is no doubt that the greatest and most eminent cause, among others, is namely the recent emergence of the harmful gun, which has taken the upper hand to such an extent that the most virile and courageous heroes are robbed and deprived of their lives by the same, sometimes even by the least and most timid, and at times both friends and enemies are unintentionally injured and aggrieved.

[4] Therefore, it is no surprise that this practice of free knights has not merely declined, but has even become somewhat contemptible and not lacking in prejudice toward the age-old, praiseworthy custom. Elsewhere, this aforementioned cause is claimed to be sufficient and occurs among knowledgeable fighting men, principally because, in the case of guns, nothing functions correctly without other equipment, weapons, and arms, as occasionally the entire battle must be stopped due to such fragile weapons and handguns (because the guns cannot be used due to some reason), as knowledgeable fighting men attest.

[5] Therefore, it is the case that, in addition to the gun, other equipment, weapons, and arms useful in war are necessary, in current times as well as for our ancestors. And also, as is known to many, this includes not only good equipment, weapons, and arms (like harness, breastplates, swords, halberds, pikes and the like) but even more so daily practice, which can be correctly and skillfully used to the benefit of oneself and to the harm and disadvantage of the enemy. Therefore, it will be completely and absolutely necessary to learn this, as daily experience [shows] that for many, even when they are provided with the best, their equipment, weapons, and arms become more of a hindrance than a protection of their bodies and lives if they do not know how to use them nor how to thoughtfully defend themselves.

[6] And because this knightly art (and indeed all arts) is difficult to grasp and learn correctly and productively as an adult, therefore persons who embody intelligence and understanding among all peoples, and at every time in history, have devoted themselves so that their young people may also, in addition to other free and good virtues associated with honesty and virility, be instructed in this knightly art—how one should skillfully use all types of equipment and weapons, both on horseback and afoot according to need—as the old, credible history books of all peoples clearly and lucidly report and reveal, especially the Roman histories. From this, it should naturally follow that many brave heroes of knightly mien and true defenders of the Fatherland arose and were trained by those peoples, and thus the usefulness of applied efforts—while they are still young and before they have completely reached their age of adulthood—prevails. Such is especially apparent in the case of Scipio Africanus, namely that when he was still young and 18 years old, he rescued his father—the governor and supreme field marshal—from enemies and kept him alive with particular skill that he gained from this knightly practice, in a battle that took place against Hannibal at the Ticino River.

[7] However, no proof is needed that it was customary for our ancestors and the old Germans to raise their children in knightly practice, in addition to other good arts, because this is intrinsically obvious as proven by their work. This is because, after the Romans opined that they had conquered the entire world and, as a people living in safety, that pleasure was to be considered more important than good arts, policies, and knightly practices, it was this view that led to the entire empire being attacked from everywhere and destroyed by enemies. It was then that the knightly Germans were called and promoted before all other peoples, to rescue [the empire], embrace it, and re-establish it.

[8] This would have not occurred at all were the admirable Germans not practiced and experienced in all types of knightly play and the business of war, in addition to good policies, as is clear in the mighty deeds of many unconquerable German heroes such as Pepin, Charlemagne, Louis the Pious, and Henry Ⅰ. These heroes were always adorned with well-practiced knighthood to such an extent that the previously-mentioned and praiseworthy Emperor Henry Ⅰ, after he triumphed and emerged victorious from a dangerous battle due to his knightly Germans, did not merely marvel at their well organized and practiced knightly ways but also considered, from his true imperial nature, how to essentially maintain the same, not only at this level (as [the Germans], in their diligence, came before their Emperor to promote the same more laudably), but also how it would be extended and anchored in their descendants.

Therefore, he established the true school of knighthood, namely the praiseworthy German Tournament at Magdeburg, and thus left [this inheritance] to their descendants to maintain the same. Although the above-mentioned tournament field has been removed, perhaps due to serious reasons, to the courts of many of our laudable German princes, tournaments are still held today that are not without some renown. This is all for the goal that young adolescents, high and praiseworthy princes, counts, lords, and knightly nobles would be practiced in all knightly endeavors, on horse and afoot, and (as the saying goes) “spurred and whetted to a point”, so that in times of need they would be able to support the common Fatherland even more conducively—and also save their own bodies and lives so much better and, in contrast, impressively destroy the enemy (as the practiced always overcome the untrained).

[9] Gracious Prince and Lord, because my mind and thoughts are so disposed that I might demonstrate my obligatory service to the common Fatherland, even with the minimal talent which the Almighty graciously granted to me, since I (without any fame to speak of) not only learned the noble knightly art of fencing from skillful and famous masters, but also have now practiced [this art] for many years and have instructed some young princes, counts, lords, and those of noble descent in it. And it has been requested multiple times, graciously and sympathetically, by you [and other] princes, counts, gracious lords, and noble [men], that I would draft the above-mentioned praiseworthy art of fencing in a certain order and then publish it for public consumption as a printed text, so that the same [art] is revealed for the use of many people of our nation. Therefore, as I ought not set myself to resist such gracious and sympathetic entreaties very long, and have thus, in the name and through the fatherly grace of the Almighty, compiled all that which I have learned and experienced (with work and effort) in this aforementioned praiseworthy art over many years and included it in this treatise in the most comprehensible organization that is possible.

It is my comforting hope that it should thus be good and quite serviceable to many persons of high and low standing, who have love, joy, and desire for the art of fencing, while taking under consideration the fact that, to my knowledge (without intending to diminish anyone), the same has never been published in the German language.

[10] Gracious Prince and Lord, I have undertaken to dedicate this work to Your Princely Grace as your servant, for which I have many types of significant reasons. Primarily, however, is this one:

Firstly, it can be seen in the same way as with Your Princely Grace, that our German nation should commendably have a reliable, cautious respect for the same (as to an especially courageous prince), as Your Princely Grace has shown and proven yourself to be—virile, princely and generous—even during your younger years in the arduous French wars of that time, about which I would make extensive reference to reports from reputable people.

Secondly, that I place no doubt upon the fact that, in addition to the appropriate subjects and other good [liberal] arts to which Your Princely Grace was raised in a princely manner (and with the greatest of diligence by your beloved Lord Father, the Serene, Nobly-Borne Prince and Lord, Lord Frederick, Count Palatinate on the Rhein of the Holy Roman Empire, Arch Seneschal and Prince Elector, Duke of Bavaria, etc.), you, my Gracious Lord, were also instructed in this praiseworthy art of fencing and have not a little experience in it. And therefore, you will be able to graciously and best judge this, my negligible but nevertheless loyal and diligent work, from your elevated and intrinsic Princely understanding.

Due to this, and other more significant reasons, I neither should nor would want to rightly seek another patron for my work than Your Princely Grace. Therefore, Gracious Prince and Lord, I present to Your Princely Grace this, my work and foundational description and explanation of the quite inspiring knightly art of fencing, compiled with all diligence and through long experience. I, your vassal, request with the greatest of diligence that Your Princely Grace would accept this and would take it up from me with all graces, and also be and remain the high Patron of the same (as Your Princely Grace remains my own), and my Gracious Prince and Lord. I humbly beseech the Almighty from my heart, that he will omnipotently grant Your Princely Grace, including the entire Electoral house of the laudable Palatinate, long-lasting peaceful government, and to all, temporal and eternal health.

By Your Princely Grace, graciously commanded to be your vassal. Dated Strasbourg, 24 February, Year 1570.

[11] Your Princely Grace’s

Vassal and obedient

Joachim Meyer,
Free Fencer and citizen of Strasbourg.