The Man That Would

The rhyme presented here, known as “The Man that Would” after its opening line, is located at the end of the manuscript in its original form. This does not reflect chronological origin, as the 2-hand sword portion of the Harleian Manuscript is almost certainly itself a copy of two separate manuscripts written down at different times. It actually predates the larger body of the work, and represents a mnemonic device meant for students who have already finished the “course” laid out by their masters. It will serve the same purpose for us, despite the fact that its terminology is somewhat different.

Nearly all the techniques mentioned in the main body of the text make appearances here in the rhyme (with the exception of the hawk snatch). In addition, some significant clues as to the mechanics of certain techniques are only ever in the rhyme.

Here also we find the most compelling evidence for a link to chivalric ideals in the assumption that one’s opponent wears armor, and in the very clear messages about bravery. Indeed, the third quarter of the rhyme is an admonition to stay courageous in the face of doubt, followed by advice not to worry about minor wounds if the chance to deliver a decisive strike is provided. This philosophy seems to link more to the knightly class which had spent the last several centuries studying the art than to opportunistic frauds who professed to teach “secret techniques” in disreputable fencing schools reviled by other contemporary teachers of swordplay.

Middle English:

Man yt wol to þe tohond swerd lern bothe close & cler
He most haue a goede eye both fer & ner
& an in stop. & an owte stop & an hauke qrter.
a cantle. a doblet. an half for hys fer
Too rowndys. & half wt a goede chere.

This ys þe ferst cownter of þe toohond swerd sere
Bynde hë to gedere & sey god spede.
Two qrters & a rownde a stop þu hÿ bede
A rake wt a spryng þer þu hÿ a byde
Ffall in wt an hauke & stride nogte to wyde
Smyte a rënÿg qrter owte for hys syde
Ffal a pö hys harneys yf he wole a byde
Come in wt a rake in eûy a syde
An hole rownde & an halfe. Wath so ht be tyde.

.iiij qurters & a rownd. & auëtur stroke wyth
Ber vp hys harnes & gete þu þe gryth
Dobyl vp lygtly & do as y seye
Ffal in wt an hauke & ber a goede eye
A spryng & a rownde & stap in wyth
Spar nogth ä hauke yf he lye in þy kyth
Smyte a rënÿg qurter for owte of þy honde
A byde a pon a pëdent & lese not þy londe
Smyte in þe lyfte foete & cleue rygt dovne
Geder ovte of þy rygte hond & smyte ä hauke rovnde

Ffresly smyte þy strokis by dene
And hold wel þy lond þath hyt may be sene
Thy rakys. þy rowndis. þy qurters a bowte
Thy stoppis. þy foynys. lete hë fast rowte
Thy spryngys. þy quarters. þy rabetis also
Ber a goede eye & lete þy hond go
Ffy on a flase hert þt dar not a byde
Wen he seyþ rovndys. & rakys rënyng by hs syde
Ffle not hastly for a lytil pryde
Ffor lytil wote þy adüsary wath hÿ shal be tide

Lete strokys fast folowe aftr hys honde
And hauk rovnde & st wt a stop & stil þt þu stond (underlined text crossed out)
Greue not gretly þov þu be tochyd a lyte
Ffor ä aftr stroke ys betr yf þu dar hÿ smyte
A gode rovnde wt an hauke & smyte rygt dovne
Gedyr vp a doblet & spar not hys crovne
Wt a rownde & a rake a byde at a bay
Wt a rënÿg qurter sette hÿ oute of hys way

Thys buþe þe lettr þt stondÿ in hys sygte
To teche. or to play. or ellys for to fygte
These buþe þe strokys of þy hole grovnde
Ffor hurte. or for dynte. or ellys for dethys wonde

Modern English:

One who would of the two-hand sword learn both close and clear,
He must have a good eye, both far and near,
And an in-step, and an out-step, and a hawk,
Quarter, cantel, a double, and half for his fear,
Two rounds, and a half with a good cheer.

This is the first counter of the two-hand sword, sire,
Bind him together and say “Godspeed,”
Two quarters and a round a stop will him bid.
A rake with a spring here make him abide,
Fall in with a hawk and stride not too wide.
Smite a running quarter out for his side,
Fall upon his harness if he will abide.
Come in with a rake upon any side,
A whole round, and a half, what so it betide.

Four quarters and a round, with a turning strike,
Bear up his harness and he’ll give you peace.
Double up quickly and do as I say,
Fall in with a hawk and bear a good eye.
A spring, and a round, and a forward pace,
Spare not a hawk if he lies in your space.
Smite a running quarter far out of your hand:
Abide upon a pendant and lose not your land,
Smite in the left foot and cleave right down
Gather out of your right hand and smite a hawk round.

Freshly smite your strokes by skill,
So it may be seen that you hold your ground well,
Your rakes, your rounds, your quarters about
Your steps, your foins, let him fast rout,
Your springs, your quarters, your rabbits also,
Bear a good eye and let your hand go.
Shame on a false heart: it dares not abide,
When he sees rounds and rakes raining by his side,
Flee not hastily; be proud and bold,
For little knows your adversary what the future may hold.

Let strokes fast follow after his hand,
And cut round with a step, and still should you stand.
Grieve not greatly though you be touched light,
For a stroke after is better if you dare him smite
A good round with a hawk, and strike right down,
Gather up a doublet and spare not his crown
With a round and a rake, abide at bay,
With a running quarter, set him out of his way.

This is the letter that stands in his sight,
To teach, or to play, or else for to fight.
These be the strokes of your whole ground,
For hurt, or for dint, or else for death’s wound.

All information contained within this website is copyright, 2006, the Black Falcon School of Arms and the Mercenaries Medieval Combat Guild. Background image used with permission from Bronwen Hodgkinson.