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 hauke snache). 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 þt 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 wt a stop & stil þt þu stond
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 deþys 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-stop, and an out-stop, and a hauke, quarter
A cantel, a double, and half for his fear,
Two rowndes, and a half with a good cheer.
This is the first encounter of the two-hand sword, sire:
Bind him together and say "Godspeed."
Two quarters and a rownde a step will him bid.
With a rake and a spryng there make him abide,
Fall in with a hauke 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 everywhich side,
A whole rownde and a half, what so it betide.
Four quarters and a rownde, with a stroke aventure,
Grapple his armor and you'll be secure.
Double up quickly and do as I say:
Fall in with a hauke and bear a good eye.
A spring, and a rownde, and a forward pace,
Spare not a hauke 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 hauke around.
Briskly smite your strokes with skill,
So it may be seen that you hold your ground well,
Your rakes, your rowndes, your quarters about
Your steps, your foynes, let him fast rout,
Your spryngs, your quarters, your rabets also,
Bear a good eye and let your hand go.
Shame on a false heart that dares not abide,
When he sees rowndes and rakes running 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 hauke surely with a step, and still should you stand.
Grieve not greatly if you are touched light,
For a stroke after is better if you dare him smite
A good rownde with a hauke, and strike right down,
Gather up a doublet and spare not his crown
With a rownde 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 were 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.