Regarding general advice for warding, Silver has some words;
......The second cause is, the lack of the knowledge in due observance of the four actions, the which we shall call bent, spent, lying spent, and drawing back. These actions every man fights upon, whether they are skillful or unskillful, he that observes them is safe, he that observes them not, is in continual danger of every thrust that shall be strongly made against him........
(G.Silver Paradoxes of Defense Cap.10.3 S.Hick Modernization.)
Starting first with the terminology to help understand the rest of Silver's intentions, the 4 actions which the easiest way to understand is to view them as moments of a swing or body action.
Bent, Spent, Lying Spent and drawing back are all subsequent moment in time, leading after each other.
Bent is the preparedness to do an action, strike, thrust, ward, etc. It's the holding the lying or guard with the pent up potential energy to cast the blade forward.
Spent is the end of an action, the end of a strike or thrust where the blade has "spent" it's energy, say into an enemies ward or is at it's lowest point in an arc from where it started, such as if it had missed.
Lying Spent is just after or instead of "Spent" where the blade essentially is unavailable to do any action offensive or defensive before being then sent into another action.
Drawing Back is the act of recovering or moving the blade to prepare another action, this is a sequence of moments where the blade most likely can't do an offensive or defensive action due to it's unpreparedness while it's moving to be prepared but can circumstantially have a use.
Being Bent is the most dangerous to the other fencer bc it's the readiness to strike or whallop, so being aware of what danger it presents is dire so strive to be in this state in most circumstances.
Spent and Lying Spent are the best moments for the other fencer to enact a counter attack bc the "spent" fencer has limited, if any ability to defend or attack.
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Silver continues with advice on whether an opponent strikes hard and committed or light uncommitted attacks.
.......3. If you find yourself too strong for your adversary in any manner of ward, whether the same be above or below, put by his staff with force, & then strike or thrust him from it.......
(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.10.3 S.Hick Modernization.)
If you can easily ward any strike by your opponent, or he is throwing light, not fully committed strikes, ward and then shove it away hard (making his blade Spent) and strike fast towards him with your blade.
....4. But if you find him too strong for you upon his blows from aloft, so that you can hardly bear them upon your ward, then when he strikes in aloft at your head, & by his main strength would beat down your staff, & so give you a hurt before you shall be able to come again into your ward.
Against such a one give a slip in the sort, suddenly draw back the higher part of your body a little & your foremost foot withal, & slip in the point of your staff under his staff, & thrust single at him, & fly out with all, so shall you be sure to hit him & go out free.....
(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.10.4 S.Hick Modernization.)
If your opponent throws hard, committed attacks or you have difficulty warding the blows, slip and void your body and fore-foot back, either as, or just after he starts his strike, letting his blade pass by while changing sides, dipping the sword point to do so, and thrusting single handed with just the back hand at his torso.
The act of passing his committed strike by, makes it Lying spent allowing an opportunity attack.
I usually aim for the navel which usually gets me a hit above or below it. In a real fight, aiming for the liver, especially with the quarterstaff is a good move.
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The Grounds and Governors rule Silver's and English fencings' out look on fighting, the foremost of both of those being; Judgment:
.....2. Let all your lying be such as shall best like yourself, ever considering out what fight your enemy charges you, but be sure to keep your distance, so that neither head, arms, hands, body, nor legs be within his reach, but that he must first of necessity put in his foot or feet, at which time you have the choice of 3 actions by which you may endanger him & go free yourself. The first is to strike or thrust at him, the instant when he has gained you the place by his coming in. The second is to ward, & after to strike him or thrust from it, remembering your governors The third is to slip a little back & to strike or thrust after him.
But ever remember that in the first motion of your adversary towards you, that you slide a little back so shall you be prepared in due time to perform any of the 3 actions aforesaid by disappointing him of his true place whereby you shall safely defend yourself & endanger him......
(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.2.2 S.Hick Modernization.)
This follows the Ground and Governor of Judgement, seeing what your opponent can do and being prepared for it.
Silver also advises to keep distance so the enemy has to step to attack, and when he does you can do one of three things;Strike, thrust or otherwise hit him in the case he has an opening, is using a false time, "gained you the place" or really just gives any opportunity of bad form or opening for you to hit him safely.
Ward his blow and then when he is Spent or Drawing Back capitalize on the time and strike back from the ward to his opening.
Slip or void away from his strike, usually best when it's overcommitted or a powerful swing and let it pass by making it Lying Spent then strike his exposed arm or body.
......5. If he lies aloft with his staff, then you lie with your back hand low, with your point upwards towards his staff, making your space narrow because you may cross his staff to ward his blow before it comes into full force, & then strongly & suddenly misdirect his point & so thrust at him single, the which you may do before he can remove his feet, by reason of the swiftness of your hand or fly out therewith, do this for both sides of the head if cause requires it, so shall you save both your head, body, and all parts, for your upper parts are guarded, & your lower parts far out of his reach.......
(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.10.5 S.Hick Modernization.)
......8. If your adversary strikes aloft at any side of your head or body, ward it with your point up & making your space so narrow that you may cross his staff before it comes in full force bearing or beating down his blow strongly, back again towards that side that he strikes in at you, & out of that ward, then instantly, either strike from that ward turning back your staff, & strike him on that side of the that is next to your staff. Or lift up your staff again, & so strike him on the head or body, or thrust at his body double or single, as you may find your best advantage ever in holding your staff, let there be such convenient space between your hands, wherein you shall find yourself most apt to ward, strike or thrust to your best liking.........
(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.10.8 S.Hick Modernization.)
His advice for when an opponent threatens to do a high strike, from open fight or his lying, is to hold fore-hand guard with the tip of your sword pointing at the opponent's, the back hand low and forehand higher. When Silver talks about narrow space, he intends you to keep your sword able to meet the opponent's sword with as little movement as possible, obviously without putting your hands in danger.
When the enemy blade comes down, ward it with the true/fore edge and shove it to the side before throwing your point into a stab with the back hand and retreating out of measure. Again I recommend aiming for belly belly button.
.....6. If he lies low with his point down, then lie you with your point down also, with your foremost hand low & your hind most hand high, so that you may cross his staff, & do all things as said in the other........
(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.10.6 S.Hick Modernization.)
If your opponent holds their sword in a low lying, also called fools guard, mirror them and do the same thing. This will set up you to ward them with a bastard gardant ward if they thrust or do a low cut, and then set the blade aside and thrust with the back hand again.
......7. If he lies upon the thrust then you lie with your space narrow lying up or down with your point in such sort as you may cross his staff, & thereby you shall be able to put or beat by his thrust before it is in full force, & then strike or thrust, ever remembering your governors. If upon this any will object that if this is true, then it is in vain to strike, to thrust, because he that does it is still in danger, this doubt is answered in the short single sword fight, in the 12th ground thereof.........
(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.10.7 S.Hick Modernization.)
......12. But if he thrust at you continually then ever have a special care to consider, whether he lies aloft or below, & do continually thrust at you there from, then look that you ever lie so that you make your space so narrow upon him, that you be sure to cross his staff with yours, & put it before it be in full force, and from that ward, thrust at him single or double as you find it best, & if he remember not to fly back at that instant when he thrusts it will be too late for him to avoid any thrust that you shall make at him.........
(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.10.12 S.Hick Modernization.)
What this says is if your opponent thrusts often, or is a guard/lying that encourages a thrust, hold your sword pointing at the opponent's blade, with the point slightly up to intercept the thrust either by a bind or a batter and then strike with the opportunity.
The latter part of the 7th ground I've left in for transparency/honesty, where he then talks about grappling in the earlier said 12th ground of single sword which isn't applicable to this exact discussion.
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The content and layout of this essay is subject to change as interpretations evolve or evidence is presented. Please be patient, and thanks for reading!
Sources:
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
Michigan Library - https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/middle-english-dictionary/dictionary/MED5742/track?counter=2&search_id=1843930
Interpretation help from;
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)
.....2. Let all your lying be such as shall best like yourself, ever considering out what fight your enemy charges you, but be sure to keep your distance, so that neither head, arms, hands, body, nor legs be within his reach, but that he must first of necessity put in his foot or feet, at which time you have the choice of 3 actions by which you may endanger him & go free yourself. The first is to strike or thrust at him, the instant when he has gained you the place by his coming in. The second is to ward, & after to strike him or thrust from it, remembering your governors The third is to slip a little back & to strike or thrust after him.
But ever remember that in the first motion of your adversary towards you, that you slide a little back so shall you be prepared in due time to perform any of the 3 actions aforesaid by disappointing him of his true place whereby you shall safely defend yourself & endanger him......
(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.2.2 S.Hick Modernization.)
This follows the Ground and Governor of Judgement, seeing what your opponent can do and being prepared for it.
Silver also advises to keep distance so the enemy has to step to attack, and when he does you can do one of three things;Strike, thrust or otherwise hit him in the case he has an opening, is using a false time, "gained you the place" or really just gives any opportunity of bad form or opening for you to hit him safely.
Ward his blow and then when he is Spent or Drawing Back capitalize on the time and strike back from the ward to his opening.
Slip or void away from his strike, usually best when it's overcommitted or a powerful swing and let it pass by making it Lying Spent then strike his exposed arm or body.
......5. If he lies aloft with his staff, then you lie with your back hand low, with your point upwards towards his staff, making your space narrow because you may cross his staff to ward his blow before it comes into full force, & then strongly & suddenly misdirect his point & so thrust at him single, the which you may do before he can remove his feet, by reason of the swiftness of your hand or fly out therewith, do this for both sides of the head if cause requires it, so shall you save both your head, body, and all parts, for your upper parts are guarded, & your lower parts far out of his reach.......
(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.10.5 S.Hick Modernization.)
......8. If your adversary strikes aloft at any side of your head or body, ward it with your point up & making your space so narrow that you may cross his staff before it comes in full force bearing or beating down his blow strongly, back again towards that side that he strikes in at you, & out of that ward, then instantly, either strike from that ward turning back your staff, & strike him on that side of the that is next to your staff. Or lift up your staff again, & so strike him on the head or body, or thrust at his body double or single, as you may find your best advantage ever in holding your staff, let there be such convenient space between your hands, wherein you shall find yourself most apt to ward, strike or thrust to your best liking.........
(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.10.8 S.Hick Modernization.)
His advice for when an opponent threatens to do a high strike, from open fight or his lying, is to hold fore-hand guard with the tip of your sword pointing at the opponent's, the back hand low and forehand higher. When Silver talks about narrow space, he intends you to keep your sword able to meet the opponent's sword with as little movement as possible, obviously without putting your hands in danger.
When the enemy blade comes down, ward it with the true/fore edge and shove it to the side before throwing your point into a stab with the back hand and retreating out of measure. Again I recommend aiming for belly belly button.
.....6. If he lies low with his point down, then lie you with your point down also, with your foremost hand low & your hind most hand high, so that you may cross his staff, & do all things as said in the other........
(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.10.6 S.Hick Modernization.)
If your opponent holds their sword in a low lying, also called fools guard, mirror them and do the same thing. This will set up you to ward them with a bastard gardant ward if they thrust or do a low cut, and then set the blade aside and thrust with the back hand again.
......7. If he lies upon the thrust then you lie with your space narrow lying up or down with your point in such sort as you may cross his staff, & thereby you shall be able to put or beat by his thrust before it is in full force, & then strike or thrust, ever remembering your governors. If upon this any will object that if this is true, then it is in vain to strike, to thrust, because he that does it is still in danger, this doubt is answered in the short single sword fight, in the 12th ground thereof.........
(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.10.7 S.Hick Modernization.)
......12. But if he thrust at you continually then ever have a special care to consider, whether he lies aloft or below, & do continually thrust at you there from, then look that you ever lie so that you make your space so narrow upon him, that you be sure to cross his staff with yours, & put it before it be in full force, and from that ward, thrust at him single or double as you find it best, & if he remember not to fly back at that instant when he thrusts it will be too late for him to avoid any thrust that you shall make at him.........
(G.Silver Basic Instructions Cap.10.12 S.Hick Modernization.)
What this says is if your opponent thrusts often, or is a guard/lying that encourages a thrust, hold your sword pointing at the opponent's blade, with the point slightly up to intercept the thrust either by a bind or a batter and then strike with the opportunity.
The latter part of the 7th ground I've left in for transparency/honesty, where he then talks about grappling in the earlier said 12th ground of single sword which isn't applicable to this exact discussion.
_________________________________
The content and layout of this essay is subject to change as interpretations evolve or evidence is presented. Please be patient, and thanks for reading!
Sources:
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
Michigan Library - https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/middle-english-dictionary/dictionary/MED5742/track?counter=2&search_id=1843930
Interpretation help from;
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)
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