How to Defend with the Dagger
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Said elsewhere that the left side of the person is that part which the
dagger ought to defend, that is to say, from the knee upwards: the lower
parts together with the right side ought wholly to be warded with the
sword.

Considering the dagger, that which is to be done therewith, it is to be
noted, that for great advantage, it would be held before with the arm
stretched forth and the point respecting the enemy, which although it be
far from him, yet in that it has a point, it gives him occasion to bethink
himself.

Now whether a man ought to hold his Dagger with the edge or flat towards
the enemy, it may be left to judgment of him that handles it, so to use it,
as shalbe most for his advantage. I have seen some, who bear it with the
edge towards the enemy, alleging this to be their advantage, that as they
encounter the enemy's sword (which comes with the edge or point) in the
first or second part thereof, and therewithall do increase a pace forwards,
of force the hand turns and places the edge of the Dagger there where the
flat was first: So that they are to drive the enemy's sword far from them
without any great trouble, because each little motion in the first part of
the sword causes very great variety in the point, from which principally
proceeds the hurt. In which case, it shalbe very profitable to have a good
large Dagger.

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    :alt: low ward with dagger and rapier

There be other some, whom it pleases to carry their Dagger with the flat
towards the enemy, using for their defense, not only the Dagger, but also
the guards thereof with the which (they say) they take holdfast of the
enemy's sword : and to the end they may do it the more easily, they have
daggers of purpose, which beside their ordinary hilts, have also two long
sterts of Iron, four fingers length, and are distant from the dagger the
thickness of a bowstring, into which distance, when it chances the enemy's
sword to be driven, they suddenly strain and holdfast the sword, the which
may come to pass, but I hold it for a thing rather to be imagined then
practiced, the case so standing, that in the heat of fight, where disdain
bickers with fear, little does a man discern whether the sword be in that
straight or no. And when he is to premeditate and mark, endeavoring and
striving in his lively judgment, he must advise himself to perform it with
exquisite knowledge and perfect discerning of the enemy's motions, his
nearness and farness, and to resolve himself to strike by the shortest way
that may be : for there hence springs the victory.

Let every man therefore hold his dagger with the edge or flat towards the
enemy, as it shall most advantage him, or as he has been most accustomed.
True it is, that by holding the edge towards the enemy there is this
advantage to be gotten, that with the dagger he may strike with the edge,
which he may not do the other way. But let every man hold it as he will,
yet he ought to carry his arm stretched out before him, with the point in
the manner aforesaid, to the end he may find the enemy's sword a great deal
before it hits his person.

Besides this, he ought to observe for an infallible rule, that when the
point or edge comes on the left side, he must beat it from that side with
the dagger. And in like sort defending himself with the sword, to drive it
from the right side, for doing otherwise : that is, if he force the blows
given on the left side outwards on the right side (forasmuch as the enemy's
sword has by that means two motions, the one crossing, which is already
given, the other straight which the enemy gives it, continuing the one with
the other) it may be, that in the straight motion, it may hit the person,
before that (by the thwart or crossing motion) it be driven quite outwards.
Therefore all blows shalbe beaten outwards toward that side or part of the
body which is least to the end it may sooner avoid danger. And those blows
that come on the right side must be beaten towards the right side: and
those on the left side must in like manner be voided from the same side.
Now, as concerning the fashion of the Dagger, thus much is to be said:
that it would be strong, able to bear and encounter the blows of the sword: 
(indifferently long) that it may be quickly drawn out of the sheath
somewhat short : and those that are of the middle size would be chosen.