Swords and hand weapons  Book III, Chapter 18, Section 2b
 



Swords
 21. He beareth two swords ... The sword is a weapon fited for execution and vengeance. The putting of the sword into its sheath or scabert is an emblem of rest, peace and reconciliation of Adversaries, ... When on the other side the drawing of it out of the sheath is a token of warre and destruction and all kinds of calamities, especially a threatning of death against whom it is drawne.

Related text(s)   Sword parts

Waved sword
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22. He beareth a waved sword.


Flaming sword
 23. He beareth a Flameing sword.


Fauchion or cutlass
 24. He beareth a Fauchion. Some term this a curtelasse, or curtelaxe, a Hanger, a Foresters Hanger, or Cleever. But the onely name is a Turks Semiter, or only a Semiter.
In the sinister cheife of this quarter is the forme of an other dart head resembling a dragons sting, which being shot into the flesh is left there till it be cut out. [Omitted from proof plate]


Scottish hanger
 25. He beareth a Scottish Hanger, or Danish Fauchion.
In the dexter cheife of this quarter, is the hilt of a sword, or crosse hilt, as some terme it: which the Artist (to shew his skill) may chase with what kind of work to adorne it, he may or can, with this proviso, he goes not out of the crosse forme. [Omitted from proof plate]


Shivered sword
 26. He beareth a shivered sword between a Scotch sword, and a Foile, or Rapier, baled. This is the armes of all Fenceing maisters; more Artist like called Maisters of defence.


Scotch sword
 First the Scotch sword so termed, because streight, if bent in the blade, then a Scotch hanger, as numb.25. or Fauchion and the Like.


Rapier
 The rapier or Foile, with the ball fixed on the point of it is to keep it from the danger of hurting; when the players at single rapier so exercise them selfe in handling their armes. It is a sport at ball play: but nothing but death at sharpes.


Scottish hangers
 27. He beareth two Scotish hangers.


Rapiers
 28. He beareth three Rapiers in triangle, tyed or banded.


Rapier hilt
 29. He beareth in this quarter, in the chiefe the hilt of a Rapier.


Turn pike
 In the Base is an Instrument called a Turn Pike, it is set before the gates of fortified towns, and citties, to keep off the enimy. See an other numb.30. and cha. 16 num.131. This is the old way of making it.


Portcullis
 30. He beareth a Porcullas, or Portecullis, with rings and chaines: It is an engine set ouer a gate of a castle or fort, or citty ports: and being loosed, or let to fall, it immediately hindreth the entring of an enimy though the gates were blowne, or forced open.


Turn pike chained
 In the base of this quarter is an other warlike engine called a Turne Pike chained. It was a devise used about the passages and roads to fortified cittyes and Towne, to stop the sudden and furious approach of an enimy, or to hinder horse that they shall not come neere, hauing the wayes crosse chained and great peeces of timber set with spikes. This being to Barcado wayes; the former numb.29. to be before gates, or fixed vpon them. Se also chap.16. numb.131.


Hand sling
 31. He beareth a sling or hand sling, charged with a stone, or bullet. This is one sort of the auncient way of slinging stones, with a sling made of leather thongs or small cords, by means whereof and strength of arme, and dexterity of the hand, in letting it slip at due tyme, a large stone may be cast to a great distance, to do execution vpon an enimy. But of this se more cha.19. numb.12.


Swafe or swing stone
 32. He beareth a Swafe, or swing stone. In former tyme this was used as an engine to cast or fling stones vpon the enimyes: which stones were put into the hollow part, and so by a violent motion of mens Armes, with the length of the staffe, the stone flew a great distance off, and from the place throwed. These kinds may fitly be termed swafe slings, or wood slings, or Arme slings, because used by both Armes and hands: the foresaid, but with only one.


Swafe
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Issueing out of base is another way of the Ancient making them.


Modern hemock or thatching knave
 33. He beareth in this quarter three kinds or fashions of Hemock, or of some called an Hemstock. Of all which according to their antiquity take this short description.
a. is the moderne Hemock, now in use, and is of some taken to be no other then a borrow'd devise for a Thatchers Instrument called a Thatching Knave, or Kneafe.


Artificial hemock
 b. is the midle sort, an Artificiall Hemock being composed of two peeces framed one into the other, where art is used to supply that which the former was naturally, that is, of one peece, the end double, and thrust throwe one the other.


Crossed hemocks
 c. is the crossed Hemock, and is the auncient way of bearing it, and the most naturall, being all of one peece, with the two ends crosseing each other, as if the boughs had so grown together.


Baston or bastonado
 34. He beareth a Baston, or a Bastonado, or a captaines staff, a Trunchion.


Back swafe and anulet
 35. He beareth a Back Swafe fretted with an Annulett in the head betweene a round Galthrop and an other of 3 points.
Some terme this a Sling too, but the best name is, a double Swafe, or back swafe, to distinguish it from the swafe, or single swafe, mentioned numb.32. seing this hath (in a maner) double the worke about it, more than that.


Round calthrop
 The round Galthorpe, is a Ball set full of spikes or Iron pricks, or pins, of these there are seuerall sorts; yet for distinction (to the terme Galthrop) haue an additionall name, according to their forme and shape. All which you may find figured in numb.35. 36. 37. with their blazon.


Calthrop
 In the base sinister of this quarter, is the Galthrop of three points. This is for the same use, but to me seemes useless haueing but three and in which I cannot concerne how any end stand vp, except they be set in the ground with one vp.


Double swafe and anulet
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36. He beareth a double swafe fretted with an Annulett.


Galthorp
 In the dexter cheife is the Instrument or engine used in warre called a Galthropp. It is the only Galthrop without any other addition, and is four pointed, so made that cast it where you will, and how you will, yet one of the sharp Iron points wilbe vp, for to gaule any foot set vpon it. It is used in tyme of warre and fighting to be cast in the field, either in the front, or on the side wing of a batallion, to defend them from horse, or in case of pursuite to gall the horse feete that passe that way. It is also termed a Galtrap, or Cheval-trape.


Galthorp
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In the sinister base of this square, is the square (or foure square) Galthrop: it is also so ordered, that being cast on the ground one of the points wilbe sure to stand vpright.


Swafe
 37. He beareth a swafe with an annulett of pearles.


Darted galthrop
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On the sinister side is the engine called the dart (or darted) Galthrop; because it hath a dart, or barbed head set betweene every point so that let it be cast how it will, yet a prick wilbe vpwards to disturbe an enimy in his way.


Chain shot
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In the base is a thing called a Langrell or Loose shot, of some termed a chaine shot: It goes in with a shakle, to be shortned when it is put into the peece of Ordinance, which will fly out at length when it is discharged; It hath an halfe bullett of Lead, or Iron at either end. This is good shott neere hand, to use out of Ordinance, to cut of men in feild fights; or masts yards, Ropes and sailes in sea fights; and also will doe execution amongst men on Board aloft: but it is not used betwixt wind and water for it will not pierce a good ships sides.


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