A Fifteenth Century Illustrated Manual of Swordfighting and Close Quarter Combat

Greenhill, 2000, ISBN 1-85367-418-4, 14.95 pounds ($25), 318 pages

This is a modern reprint of a 1467 personal fighting manual that had been reprinted in 1887. There's very little text, but 270 period illustrations showing stances and hand-weapon positions for attack and defense.

In one sense, it's maddenly frustrating because in some instances the "steps" of thrust and counterthrust are spaced so far apart, you can't quite visualize the interim steps. In others, the sequence is quite clear and you can imagine the cut and block, thrust and parry, and grapple and throw. Perhaps it is best to consider these "flash cards" as the introduction suggests.

Weapons illustrated are one-and two-handed swords, polearms, maces, daggers, and shields. Unarmed and mounted combat are covered, as is certain forms of "judicial combat"-- such as between a man and woman.

All in all, Greenhill deserves credit for taking the initiative to printing an incredibly obscure reference text for medieval buffs.

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