Gardant Fight/Ward

The guardant fight can be likened to the pendant or hanging ward, which holds the hands above the head, inclining the blade, tip pointing generally down. It also can be used to guard the lower quarters by dropping the hands below the breast to the bastard gardant ward. It is important to note that the Gardant is both a guard and a ward, where you're intended to stay in the Lying in some cases instead of just passing through it.

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......2. Guardant fight in general is of 2 sorts, the first is true guardant fight, which is either perfect or imperfect........

.........The perfect is to carry your hand & hilt above your head with your point down towards your left knee, with your sword blade somewhat near your body, not bearing out your point but rather declining it a little towards your said knee, that your enemy cross not your point & so hurt you, stand bolt upright in his fight, & if he offers to press in then bear your head & body a little backward...........

(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.3.2 S.Hick Modernization)

This description mirrors the pendant ward of other treatises, such as Zach Wylde's;

.......the Medium you may come to the Pendent, which I call the high Guard thus, Slip your right Hand almost to the left, and return your Staff round the back of your Head, then your Point will slope or hang dipping; but observe that you see your Opposer’s Head twelve Inch under the Butt end of your Staff, or you can in no measure be safe: I do not approve of this Guard, tho’ it was in much esteem formely, but ‘tis not valued; the Reason is, Because the Point of your Staff being dipt, your Defence is weak:......

(Z. Wylde English Master of Defense, Quarterstaff section)

Regarding the latter section, this is exactly why Silver admonishes to not stretch out the point bc you lose leverage with hands closer together, as well as being a difficult position to wind or manipulate in a bind.
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When Silver talks about holding blades later, talking about Stoccata, Imbrocata, etc he has the right/dominant foot forward except for the Passata which is the exception.

...........Stocata: which is to lie with your right leg forward, with your sword or rapier hilt back on the outside of your right thigh with your point forward to ward your enemy...........

(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.3.4 S.Hick Modernization)

When using the Gardant Ward with a longsword it's reasonable to extrapolate it is with the right foot forward, even if two handed footwork is slightly different than single handed.

Wylde writes the Pendant ward following the description of his medium guard, which has the right foot forward, and the left back meaning the pendant follows the same.

Practically in my experience, you can flip the ward, and point towards your right knee which is now back, and the left foot is fore. This is useful if you don't want or can't cross your arms, and if the enemy's blade is coming to your right or outside.
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Silver describes it pretty well on how to create it. He also continues on what not to do.

.....The imperfect is when you bear your hand & sword hilt perfect high above your head, as aforesaid, but leaning or stooping forward with your body & thereby your space will be wide on both sides to defend the blow struck at the left side of your head or too wide to defend a thrust from the right side of the body. Also it is imperfect, if you bear your hand & hilt as aforesaid, bearing your point too far out from your knee, so that your enemy may cross, or strike aside your point, & thereby endanger you.......

(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.3.2 S.Hick Modernization)

 For an interesting note, referencing J. Bright's curriculum, the action named the Roebuck seen in Ledall and other treatises has the blade above or near the head pointing horizontally towards the opponent, in Silver's words this an imperfect gardant but this doesn't discount this in it's specific use case.
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Using the ward, Silver has some advice;

......If your enemy lie aloft, either in the open or true guardant fight, & then strike at the left side of your head or body your best ward to defend yourself, is to bear it with true guardant ward, & if he strike & come in to the close, or to take the grip of you, you may then safely take the grip of him as it appears in the chapter on the grip........

This ward sets subsequent actions up well, such as a downright stroke after warding a blow, or pommel striking if coming to the close and grappling. Anyone who makes much use of the St George ward above the head will see the use case as the principles are exactly the same.

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The second variation of the Gardant Ward is the Bastard-Guardant Ward, holding the blade lower.

.......The second is the bastard guardant fight which is to carry your hand & hilt below your head, breast high or lower with your point downward toward your left foot, this bastard guardant ward is not to be used in a fight, except it be to cross your enemy's ward at his coming in to take the grip of him or such advantage, as in divers places of the sword fight is set forth........

(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.3.2 S.Hick Modernization)

The Bastard-Gardant Ward blocks strikes to your legs and lower on your torso, Silver says to only use this ward when going in for a grapple. It CAN be worthwhile to block a strike from this low, however forehand ward is perfectly adequate for most of the torso, and you can void your legs most of the time when they're targeted which is much more efficient and arguably safer.

Blocking the sword with this ward allows you some control of their blade to close in, and grapple, especially if you trap their blade in your crossguard.
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 This ward 

ARS ENSIS Lovagi Kör és Kardvívó Iskola Egyesület Free Scholler SZAKDOLGOZAT Medieval English Longsword Manuscripts: An Analysis (Can't link, apologies)

Jason Bright's English Longsword Curriculum (Can't link, hopefully will publish eventually)

Ledall Roll - https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Ledall_Roll_(Additional_MS_39564)

Harley - https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Man_yt_Wol_(MS_Harley_3542)

Silver - https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/George_Silver

Etymonline - https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=Rake

Wylde - English Master of Defense (Can't find linkable copy.)

Michigan Library - https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/middle-english-dictionary/dictionary/MED5742/track?counter=2&search_id=1843930