George Silver, "Paradoxes of Defence...", 1599

Note: Access to the George Silver resources is available to students and members of the Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts (AEMMA), along with complete access to Fiore dei Liberi and Capo Ferro resources. This is particularly important for those students who are recruits training at AEMMA. It is thought that access to Silver and Liberi provides all of the basis for recruit level of training, and to Capo Ferro for the Rapier training. Those individuals who have achieved scholler rank, can request access to the entire online library resource by contacting the AEMMA executive.

Notes on George Silver, Gentleman (ca. 1560-1620)

George Silver was a martial arts instructor and Gentleman (of a peerage class, but not necessarily a noble) in England during the late 16th and early 17th century. Extremely nationalistic he objected to what he characterized as a pernicious influence of the fashionable continental rapier systems being taught at the time on a number of ethical and technical levels, referring in particular to the Italian rapier fencing style.

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The complete title (using the original spelling - "/" indicates line breaks in the original title) as "PARADOXES OF DEFENCE, / WHEREIN IS PROVED THE TRUE / grounds of Fight to be the short auncient weapons, / and that the short Sword hath advantage over the long / Sword or long Rapier. And the weakenness and imper- / fection of the Rapier-fights displayed. Together with an / Admonition to the noble, ancient, victorious, valiant, / and most brave nation of Englishmen, to beware of false / teachers of Defence, and how they forsake their owne / natural fights : with a briefe commendation of / the noble science or exercising of / Armes."

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Contents in the Paradoxes of Defence

• Original book cover and coat of arms
• Dedication To the Right Honorable Robert, Earle of Essex...
• (1) An Admonition to the Noble, Ancient, Victorious, Valiant, and Most Brave Nation of Englishmen
• (2) Issues with claimed Swordmasters
• (2.1) Four Negative Characteristics of the Italian Fighting Style *2*
• (2.2) Of Six Reasons for Poor Swordmanship Skills *3*
• (2.3) Four Training Issues with Italian Training Schools
• (2.4) Of the Thruster or the Warder *4*
• (2.5) Of the Length and Unwieldiness of the Sword *5*
• (2.6) Of Running (foot work) and Standing Safe *6*
• (2.7) Of Striking and Thrusting Both Together *7*
   
• (3) The Acquisition of Skill
• (3.1) The Offensive or Defensive Advantage *8*
• (3.2) Of Spanish Fighting Style with the Rapier *9*
• (3.3) Of the Perfect Weapon *10*
• (3.4) Of the Blow (Cut), of the Thrust *11*
• The Perfect Fight *12*
• Of the Italian and Englishman on the subject of Blows and Thrusts *13*
• (3.5) Of the Difference
    between the True Fight & the False Fight *14*
• (3.6) Of Ancient Teachings *15*
   
• (4) The Principles of Fighting
• (4.1) The Grounds of True Fight with all manner of Weapons *16*
• (4.2) The Wards of all manner of Weapons *17*
• (4.3) Of Times appertaining unto True Fight and False Fight *18*
   
• (5) Of Weapons and Vantages
• (5.1) Of the Length of Weapons
• Of the Length of the Sword*19*
• Of the lengths of the Battle Axe, Halberd, or Black Bill *20*
• (5.2) Of the Vantages of Weapons in their Kinds, Places, & Times *21*
• (5.2.1) Of the Insufficiency and Disadvantages of the Rapiers *22*
• (5.2.2) Of the Vantages and Sufficiency of the Short Sword *23 *
• (5.2.3) The Sword and Buckler has the Vantage against the Sword and Dagger *24*
• (5.2.4) The Sword and Buckler has the Vantage against the Sword and Target *25*
• (5.2.5) The Short Staff *26*
• (5.2.6) Vantages of the Short Staff *27*
• (5.2.7) Again of the vantages of weapons *28*
• (5.2.8) Again for the Short Staff or Half Pike *29*
   
• (6) Questions and Answers between the Scholar and the Master *30*
   
• (7) Of Skilled Men and Valiant Men
• (7.1) Of the Single Rapier Fight between Valiant Men *31*
• (7.2) Of the Rapier and Poniard Fight between Valiant Men *32*
• (7.3) Of the Long Rapier and Poniard Fight between Valiant Men *33*
• (7.4) Of the Long Rapier, or Rapier and Poniard Fight between Unskilled Men *34*
   
• (8) Of Rapiers and Poniards
• (8.1) Of the Imperfection and Insufficiency of Rapiers in General *35*
• (8.2) Of the Imperfection and Insufficiency of Rapiers and Implement *36*
• (8.3) Italians and their usage of Rapier and Poniard *37*
• (8.4) The Short Sword Vantage against the Long Sword or Long Rapier *38*
   
• (9) Conclusions
   
• (10) A Brief Note on Three Italian Teachers of Offense

A few additional images from the Corble CD. Click on either one to view a larger image of the same.

Other References:

1. Credits: This is version 1.0 of the on-line version of this book. It was initially typed in from a facsimile of the Matthey edition by Steve Hick. has lightly proofread it, correcting any obvious errors. However, many subtle errors and missing paragraphs probably remain. Please report any errors you discover to Greg.
2. Index to DiGrassi, His True Arte of Defence. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Last accessed November 3, 2009.
3. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. George Silver. Last accessed November 3, 2009.
4. The Linacre School of Defence. Facsimiles of Paradoxes of Defence. London. George Bell and Sons, York Street. 1898. Last accessed November 3, 2009.
5. The Linacre School of Defence. Facsimiles of Brief Instructions upon my Paradoxes of Defence. London. George Bell and Sons, York Street. 1898. Last accessed November 3, 2009.