Fencing Book By Talhoffer
Gotha Manucript
From the year 1443
Text Found in the Work
With Commentary
First Page of Text Page 5 (not indicated on page)
I. Choice of the Day and the hour of Combat.
Jesus Christ amen, 1443, amen
This Book from Master hans Talh…
Come to our aid oh God, Eternal Verb, body here, but soul there, Amen.
Firstly we must remark that the entire art of winning depends on the day which belongs to the combatant determined by the name he bears. You must know that almost all the great masters have ordinarily categorised names in two lists: the fist contains the names which are consecrated to the Our Lady, the Virgin Mary; the other to saint George. So that all names belonging to Our lady, in other words that are on her list, are called brothers of Our lady, and those which are found in the group consecrated to saint George, are called by them the brothers of saint George. Also, you should know that all the names which belong to the brothers of Our Lady obtain complete victory three days of each week and Sunday afternoon. Likewise, the brothers of saint George obtain complete victory three days of each week and Sunday morning (before noon).
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and the afternoon of Sunday are to the brothers of Our Lady.
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and before noon on Sunday belong to the brothers of saint George.
Now, one must know, when one provokes with the will to fight he must first make sure to start on his day, and make sure that the one who writes his letter of provocation is his brother, as well as the person who will deliver it, and that it is also their day. If he does this there is no doubt that the victory and advantage will be his. He should be careful not to mistaken the day, or miss it.
Item …we also have to remark that if someone provokes his brother in name on a day which belongs to both, it will be the person who provokes that will have the advantage. But if one of the