To Thrust or make an Elong, observe (when you stand to your Guard, and your Adversary be within your Measure) that your Sword be as you please, either within or without your Adversaries Sword, and suppose within, then stretch out your Right-arm, and Step forward with your Right-foot as far as may be, keeping the Point strait forwards, and let the Motion of your Arm begin a thought before you move your Foot, so that the Thrust may be given home before your Adversary can hear your Foot touch the Ground; and when you are at your full stretch, keep your Left-hand stretched, and ever observe to keep a close Left-foot, which must be done by keeping your Left-heel and broad side of your Foot close to the Ground, without any drawing it after you, for keeping a close Foot is one of the chiefest things to be observed in this Science. When you give in your Thrust throw your Left-hand behind you, or so place it on your Left-side, that your Sword and both your Arms may make a strait Line from your Adversary. This must be when you design not to make use of your Left-hand for a Parade, but if you do, then in the very time of giving in your Thrust, throw your Left-arm forward as far as you can, without putting the rest of your Body into disorder, turning the Palm from you, by turning your Thumb down, and your little Fingers up, and so Parie your Adversaries Thrust, if you find he will Thrust, upon the same time you make your Thrust, always remembring when you Thrust within the Sword, to do it with your Nails in Quart or upwards, and Quart well your Hand and Shoulder; but when a Thrust is made without the Sword, then give it in with your Nails in Terce or downwards, and keep your Hilt much lower than your Point, and your Head as clear as may be from you Adversaries Sword.
Take notice in all Lessons in which you do not first secure or bind your Adversaries Sword, that you are to Thrust close by the Feeble of his Sword, with the Fort of yours. But there is a difference when you first secure your Adversaries Sword, for after your securing or binding, you quit his Sword, and give a strait home Thrust, without touching it, after it is bound.
In these Rules there is great advantage, as in the Quarting of your Hand, when you Thrust within, the Sword, preserves them from your Adversaries Counter-Temps Thrusts in the Face; so likewise does your Thrusting close by the Feeble of the Sword, and keeping your Hilt lower than the Point, when you Thrust without the Sword, as also the holding of your Head to the contrary side your Adversaries Sword is on, preserve you from Counter-Temps, ever observing as a general Rule; to keep your Head on the contrary side of your Adversaries Sword, on what side soever you Thrust, for this will frequently preserve your Face from being hit.
Lesson 4. Of Caveating or Disengaging.


