BEinge come to the end of the true Arte, and having declared all that which seemed convenient and profitable for the attaynement of true judgement in the handling of the weapon & of the entire knowledg of al advatages, by the which as well al disadvantages are knowen: It shall be good that I intreat of Deceite or Falsing, aswel to performe my promise, as also to satisfie those who are greatly delighted to skirmish, not with pretence to hurt or over come, but rather for their exercise & pastime:
In which it is a brave and gallant thing and worthy of commendations to be skilfull in the apte managing of the bodie, feete and hands, in moving nimblie sometimes with the hand, some-times with the elbow, and sometimes with the shoulder, in retiring, in increasing; in lifting the bodie high, in bearing it low in one instant: in breif, delivering swiftlie blows aswell of the edge as of the point, both right and reversed, nothing regarding either time, advantage or measure, bestowing them at randone everie waie.
But diverse men being blinded in their owne conceites, do in these actions certainly beleeve that they are either more nimble, either more warie & discreet then theire adversarie is: Of which their folish opinion they are all beastlie proud and arrogant:
And because it hath manie times happened them, either with a false thrus t, or edge blowe, to hurte or abuse the enemie, they become loftie, and presume thereon as though their blowes were not to be warded. But yet for the most part it falleth out, that by a plain simple swad having onely a good stomack and stout courage, they are chopt in with a thrust, and so miserablie slaine.
For avoiding of this abuse, the best remedie is, that they exercise themselves in delivering these falses onlie in sport, and (as I have before said) for their practise & pastime: Resolving themselves for a truth, that when they are to deal with anie enemie, & when it is upon danger of their lives, they must then suppose the enemie to be equall to themselves aswel in knowledge as in strength, & accustome themselves to strik in as litle time as is possible, and that alwaies beeing wel warded. And as for these Falses or Slips, they must use them for their exercise & pastimes sake onelie, and not presume upon them, except it bee against such persons, who are either much more slow, either know not the true principels of this Art. For Disceit or Falsing is no other thing, then a blow or thrust devered, not to the intent to hurt or hitt home, but to cause the enemie to discover himselfe in some parte, by meanes whereof a man maie safely hurt him in the same part. And looke how manie blowes or thrusts there maie be given, so manie falses or deceits may be used, and a great manie more, which shal be declared in their proper place: The defence likewise whereof shall in few words be last of all laid open unto you.