A man may strike in this ward, the right foot being behind, and before, and in both ways, he may bear his sword either within or without. If therefore he find himself to stand with the right foot behind and without, he shall assay at any hand, before he determine to strike, to find the enemy’s sword with his own, and as soon as he finds it shall clap to his Target, and strike perforce with a low thrust, increasing with the right foot. But finding himself to stand within, no more with his sword, then he does with his Target, he shall prove whether he can find the enemy’s sword, and having found it, shall strain it fast between his own sword and Target, and then shall deliver a thrust with the increase of a pace of the right foot, the which thrust of force speeds: This being performed, he shall settle himself in this, or in either of these ways in the low ward with the right foot before. And as he so stands in this ward, he may after the same sort strike either within or without.
Therefore finding himself within, he shall provide to meet with the enemy’s sword, and with the increase of a left pace, shall clap to his Target, for the most safety, and then drive on a forcible thrust. with the increasing of the right foot. And finding himself to bear his sword within in the said ward, and with his right foot behind, he shall endeavor to find the enemy’s sword with his Target, and having found it, shall close it in between his own sword and Target, and with the increase of a left pace, shall perforce hurt the enemy, with the increase of a pace of the right foot.
Now, all these thrusts, no doubt shall speed every time that the enemy either makes no traverse motion with his body, either as he strikes, comes directly forwards, or else being fearful, goes directly backwards, for it is not possible that one man go so fast directly backwards, as an other may forwards. Yet it is therefore diligently to be observed in this ward, never to determine to strike, either in the handling of these, or of any other kind of weapons, if (with one of them) he shall not first find the enemy’s sword. The which redoings to great profit of every man, but especially of those, who have strong arms, for that they are better able to beat back the enemy’s weapon.