The Foyne, also translated as Thrust is any push with the sharp point of the sword to your opponent.
This was one of the simplest articles to write, but the actual structure and mechanics can take time to learn. Altogether thrusts are very effective tools;
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The Firste Chace
........A ſſull stroke a for foyne wt a quartr lythly delyvyde and yft hyt be tweys playde hyt wyll bryng you a gayn to yor grounde.........
(Ledall.1st Chase, Original)
......The First Chase.....
........A Full-stroke, a Fore-thrust, with a Quarter lightly delivered, and if it be twice played it will bring you to your ground........
(Ledall.1st Chase, S.Thurston Modernization)
Most modernizations translate it as "thrust" but I'll use them interchangeably
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Foin n.(1)(a)
.......A thrust or lunge with a pointed weapon, a stab; (b) a type of spear......
(Michigan University Library Medieval English Compendium)
(Michigan University Library Medieval English Compendium)
foin
foined; foining; foins archaic
: to thrust with a pointed weapon :Verb
Middle English, from foin fork for spearing fish, from Anglo-French fuin
(Merriam Webster Dictionary)
With historical English spelling being non-standardized for ages, the spelling of Foin, Foyn or what have you has the term spread across the sources and seeming to be a medieval term as Silver seems to drop it, and use a variation of "Thrust" instead, same with Swetnam. Wilde uses "Thrust and "Dart" both.
Interestingly, M.U.L.'s Medieval English Dictionary has a reference seeming saying a variation of thrust as well from 1470 Year of our Lord.(a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)298/16 :
: to thrust with a pointed weapon :Verb
Middle English, from foin fork for spearing fish, from Anglo-French fuin
(Merriam Webster Dictionary)
With historical English spelling being non-standardized for ages, the spelling of Foin, Foyn or what have you has the term spread across the sources and seeming to be a medieval term as Silver seems to drop it, and use a variation of "Thrust" instead, same with Swetnam. Wilde uses "Thrust and "Dart" both.
Interestingly, M.U.L.'s Medieval English Dictionary has a reference seeming saying a variation of thrust as well from 1470 Year of our Lord.(a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)298/16 :
.......Beawmaynes..with a foyne threste hym thorow the syde..........
(Michigan Library Medieval English Compendium)
The first major variations of the foin is the Fore-Foin and Back-Foin and this is where a lot of speculation comes in regarding interpretation.
Regarding both Fore and Back, some modern interpretations see them as footwork or body movement directions, going forwards and backwards when executing the technique.
I don't quite like this interpretation because Ledall tells you often when to move your legs, or infers it earlier, than expects you to follow the standard like with his encounters' common Proffer, Rake, Quarter, in that order.
(Michigan Library Medieval English Compendium)
The first major variations of the foin is the Fore-Foin and Back-Foin and this is where a lot of speculation comes in regarding interpretation.
Regarding both Fore and Back, some modern interpretations see them as footwork or body movement directions, going forwards and backwards when executing the technique.
I don't quite like this interpretation because Ledall tells you often when to move your legs, or infers it earlier, than expects you to follow the standard like with his encounters' common Proffer, Rake, Quarter, in that order.
........A Proffer at his face standing still, then set in the
right leg with a Rake and a Quarter. Voiding back the same leg with another Quarter then
void back your left leg and stand at your stop.......
(Ledall.1st Encounter, S.Thurston Modernization)
My interpretation regards the variations as the relation of the blade to the center line of yourself, ie the true edge or false edge respectively facing the center line.
Starting with just it's use in a chase;
.....The First Chase
A Full-stroke, a Fore-thrust, with a Quarter lightly delivered, and if it be twice played it will bring you to your ground......
(Ledall.1st Chase, S.Thurston Modernization)
The set up of this play has the blade come straight down, setting up the thrust to have the edge facing the ground or center line.
Silver uses Fore-hand when talking about the Fore-hand Ward where you block with the fore/true edge, the most structured way to ward, so using internal consistent logic from the two sources written not that far from each other* it makes sense the fore-thrust could relate to blade direction.
My interpretation regards the variations as the relation of the blade to the center line of yourself, ie the true edge or false edge respectively facing the center line.
Starting with just it's use in a chase;
.....The First Chase
A Full-stroke, a Fore-thrust, with a Quarter lightly delivered, and if it be twice played it will bring you to your ground......
(Ledall.1st Chase, S.Thurston Modernization)
The set up of this play has the blade come straight down, setting up the thrust to have the edge facing the ground or center line.
Silver uses Fore-hand when talking about the Fore-hand Ward where you block with the fore/true edge, the most structured way to ward, so using internal consistent logic from the two sources written not that far from each other* it makes sense the fore-thrust could relate to blade direction.
*(1535or1550AD and 1599AD respectively)
Ledall then continues, and uses the Back-Thrust, following a Double Round in the second chase.
My current interpretation of the Round has the blade circle around from right to left above the head, possibly to impact the opponent's blade and create an opening for a thrust.
Following my own consistent logic, the back-thrust is set up by the double round after impacting the other blade to be on your left side, able to stab with the back-edge to the opponent's centerline while their blade is off-line.
This is my interpretation right here, and may involve circular reasoning but I'm trying to be practical with this essay.
Thus the practical interpretation and use of the Fore-Thrust and Back-Thrust can be formulated to work with the chases and encounters. Fore-thrust with the fore/true-edge and the Back-Thrust with the back/false-edge.
_______________________________
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:
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=Quarter
https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=Contrary
Michigan Library - https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/middle-english-dictionary/dictionary/MED5742/track?counter=2&search_id=1843930
Ledall then continues, and uses the Back-Thrust, following a Double Round in the second chase.
My current interpretation of the Round has the blade circle around from right to left above the head, possibly to impact the opponent's blade and create an opening for a thrust.
Following my own consistent logic, the back-thrust is set up by the double round after impacting the other blade to be on your left side, able to stab with the back-edge to the opponent's centerline while their blade is off-line.
This is my interpretation right here, and may involve circular reasoning but I'm trying to be practical with this essay.
Thus the practical interpretation and use of the Fore-Thrust and Back-Thrust can be formulated to work with the chases and encounters. Fore-thrust with the fore/true-edge and the Back-Thrust with the back/false-edge.
_______________________________
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:
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=Quarter
https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=Contrary
Michigan Library - https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/middle-english-dictionary/dictionary/MED5742/track?counter=2&search_id=1843930
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