The Master of Arms

Liancour's 1686 illustrated treatise on single-sword combat

By: [Translated] M. P. Lynch

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

“A gentleman had seized the enemy’s guard while holding his own point to the man’s stomach. The enemy brought in his left hand and, grabbing the foible of the gentleman’s sword with a heavy glove, he broke the blade off and plunged the point into the one who had seized his guard, killing him.” And you thought smallswording was dainty! Not even close - this was a matter of settling scores through blood, and Master-of-Arms André Wernesson Liancour had dedicated his life to perfecting his art. While he did make use of the foil for instructional purposes, his teaching was entirely geared toward killing the man who was intent upon killing you. “In giving lessons,” states Liancour, “we must show the same resolve that an enemy would, for this exercise is not a game, as it regards defending one’s life, and we are looking to cultivate the mindset which will be needed on such perilous occasions.” This work does not deal with those “games of the Salle” which would later become that vestigial remnant of swordplay known as fencing. As can be seen from the splendid illustrations provided by Adam Perelle, the closest thing one had to armor in such a contest was a heavy riding glove, and indeed Liancour provides practical guidance on how to use such gloves for the hand parry and hand opposition - as well as seizing the enemy’s weapon and dispatching him with your own sword held midway along the blade. That is not to say that the weapon of the day had no cutting ability, for the author clearly describes how Spanish swordsmen were still making use of cuts to the face and head. He also notes their special fondness for eye attacks: “If you lunge at them from fourth, they will draw their right foot back beside the left without parrying and hollow their bodies strongly, getting out of range of the attack. They will only extend the right arm and advance their sword to attack the eye directly. For them this forms the finest achievement, and they say that thrusts to the body take no skill compared to eye attacks.” The fencing style of the Germans, Dutch, and Italians of the late 17th century is also addressed in this excellent work which will no doubt be of great interest to those intent on reclaiming the long-forgotten martial heritage of the European masters. So take up your smallsword, transition rapier, épée de cour, or colichemarde and find a like-minded opponent, then set to in the authentic manner outlined in 1686 by a true Master-of-Arms.

Anachronism; A book on swordplay read by AI.

A surprisingly intriguing offering. I hadn't read the Liancour treatise, but had only seen it referred to by Hutton. If you don't have a very firm grasp on fencing terminology, specifically French fencing, this will be extremely hard to follow. If you are in the target audience however, there is a lot of wisdom and historical insight here.

Liancour speaks repeatedly of what is now called the "appell"; is a loud stomping of the foot used to provoke a reaction during a standoff moment in a bout. I have seen it employed and always wondered where that idea came from.

I was dubious when I saw the book was read by AI, however, I have heard far worse performances from subjects purported to be human!