_Of Joining or seizing the_ Sword.
You may join after having parryed any Thrust or Pass whatever, as also
after having pushed, passed, or volted in whatever Figure, or on
whatever Side it may be, especially when the Enemy abandons himself, or
you abandon yourself: If the Enemy abandons himself by a Lunge or Pass;
in case of the first, you must close the Measure in parrying, seizing at
the same time the Guard of his Sword with your Left-hand and carrying
the Right-foot back present him the Point; and in case of a Pass, you
must parry with your Feet firm, and seize his Guard, drawing back the
Right-foot and presenting your Point in like Manner.
[Illustration: 11th Plate The Seizing and presenting the Sword.]
[Illustration: Parrying and Disarming.]
If you have pushed being too near, that your Right-foot slipped, or
that the Enemy in parrying closed Measure; if he parryed with his Feeble
you must redouble in _Seconde_ and join, and if with his Fort, you must
oppose his Sword with your's 'till with your Left-hand you have seized
the Guard, advancing the Left-foot; this Motion being done, you pass
your Sword over the Enemy's from within to without; and loosing the
Right-foot present him your Point.
Upon the Parade of _Tierce_ with the Fort, being near you must join,
seizing the Guard, advancing the Left Leg, and drawing back the Right,
and present the Point; or you may, before you join, cut under in
_Seconde_; the first is surer at the Sword, and the other more beautiful
in an Assault where a Thrust is more esteemed, than joining.
If on a Pass or Lunge the Enemy shou'd attempt to join or seize your
Sword, you must, in order to prevent him, change it from the Right-hand
to the Left, four Inches from the Guard, as I have already observed,
seizing his with the Right-hand, and presenting him the Point, holding
it at such a Length as to hit him whilst he is unable to come near you.
In Joining, if you cannot seize the Guard, you must the Blade, helping
with your Elbow, turning the Hand to break the Blade, or take away the
sword, which may be done if you are cunning and nervous, especially if
the Enemy's Wrist is in _Quarte_, in which there is no Danger of hurting
yourself, because the Sword cannot slip thro', and consequently, can't
cut your Fingers, as has happened to some by their Imprudence; by this
Means, you have time not only to secure yourself, but also to hit your
Enemy. Some People seize the Arm, but that is of no use, because the
Enemy may change Hands and hit you.
You may throw a Man down after having pushed, either upon the Pass of
_Quarte_ or _Tierce_; if in _Quarte_, it is done after advancing the
Left-foot, crossing the Enemy's Sword with your Fort, and carrying your
Right-leg without his, at the same time pushing the Sword up from the
Inside to the Out, and carrying the Right Arm to his Neck, and the Left
to the Small of his Back: These three Actions must be done at the same
time. There has been so much said on this Head, with the Joining
without, that I shall say no more of it.
The Joining in Passes within, without, and under, is the same as in
their Lunges.
In whatever Manner you join you must present the Sword at a Distance, in
order to hinder the Enemy from seizing it, or putting it off with his
Left Hand to throw himself in upon you: If the Enemy shou'd make a
Difficulty of yeilding up his Sword, you must, in order to frustrate his
Hopes of closing you, and to make him follow you, draw back the
Left-foot behind the Right, and the Right behind the Left, at such a
Distance as to be strong, at the same time moving the Point of your
Sword circularly; by this Means, you are in a Condition either of giving
or taking his Life, which you would not be if he could close you, by
which you would be oblig'd to kill him, or render the Advantage doubtful
by struggling.