Weapons of the Fechtscule: Flag

The tradition of the Fahndrich and the carrying of the flag has a very important role in the life of a landsknecht. The flag is a symbol of the fahnlein and a rallying point for the troops. If the flag falls then the enter fahnlein can be thrown into confusion. For this reason being able to use the flag as a weapon and a signaling tool becomes very important. What follows is a (badly and work in progress) English translation of a manual on the use of the flag published by the Italian Francisco Ferdinand in 1638. For more information and for the untranslated version of what follows please visit Comune Di Firenze

THE FLAG
of Francisco Ferdinand Flagmen
Master of Arms of the most illustrious Delia Academy
in Padova
- 1638 -

Reader you introduces mine, flag: if he is not handled according to your spirit, give of it the guilt to the effect that has General Staff of my knowledge.

The condition of this century door seco such freedom.

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It appeal to of the custom. Sure Son that you will say me that I have not dusted many scenzie, and I will answer you that my books have been the experience and the exercise, and that I leave you speculating: what I have had in the thought of mo not parrà you of all the new one, is not lacks .

Every Master of Arms of it professa some news, little have dealt some and nissuno end has reduced this art here to the order that you see.

I do not wish that to appeal to to you, and of givarvi, if I will achieve this mine fine and you anco acquired those a lot that searched: I want that you excuse to me, and perhaps in short with a new treaty of all the parts of the fencing I will make you of greater taste, and then finally it is justice confessing that always never it is worthy of being commendato who for others saffadiga.

THE FLAG of Francisco Ferdinand Flagmen

For what I have been able to learn, from those little books that son come to me in the hands, from I disagree of large men, and from a long and not gross experience, more of more necessary member of parliament to person is not what to my judgment of than noble birth how much holding employed the giovinezza negl' exercises that serve, and of aid and of I ornament, to the virtues of the mind.

The Ancient and famous Republics which will always serve us of example and stimulus to begin us for the way that leads us to the civil happiness had in a lot pregio, and the skill and the agility that reputavano made happy those that, more faster forts and degl' others were in their solennità judges to you. It was looked at in the public squares to contendere, others to the fight, others launch the Pole, they attempted to the course, they were struck with the basket and talora neck to hurl small wheels or balls of wood, made extension of those gifts that had receipts from the nature and aggranditi coll' art. These exercises have been common still more from the first centuries from the Italica Nation, and although they are not never represents to you with that pump in which the abitatori of the Peloponneso, and the Frigia eccellerono, they are but always conserved in great part until to our age like is looked at every mainly dì in the Tuscany, and others more have been some find again to you that in the Antiquity they were not a use: the exercise of the Flag will be always between this commendato imperochè in it foot is made ready, if it renders the life collapsible, the hand acquires force, and discioglie the arm; if we regard its origin, and of who it were the primiero that explained it in the exercises, we find in the sacred letters that were great Moisé Captain, it was doppo in the first place from Sires, and followed istesso the example gl' Egizi with figuring within hour the Tauruses to us and the animals that had in venerazione and hour with various ieroglifici alluding to the Victoria, to I protest and tito it of the war, and to the force and virtue de they soldiers, and finally it is not Barbarian people therefore that under a particular Standard he does not see tidy and distinguished its military services.

If from the other song we address to consider of how much usefullness and of how much consequence it is in the handling of the war, although simil dealt it belongs more I toast to a captain whom to me, and for that I do not know clearly ancor', than from the Flag dependa in great part the fortune and the Gloria of the battles, and that that is not the truth the military discipline with this means you form the troops and the centurie, arranges to them ad to mean and to execute ' l commando, it thinks to them in decree, and it comes to employ to time and without confusion those you leave of the army that they know of need in order to be acquired the Victoria.

All the efforts do not go to hurt elsewhere that to insignorirsi of the Standard, if these forgiveness par more than topic resistance, is not remained one confused armed multitude without guide, and more from the disorder who give the overwhelmed iron, cosi we see that them banners are the true trophies with which immortale becomes i1 value of the Persons to not only guerriere holding suspended them to perpetual memory in the private houses but neither publics palaces and in the istessi times, talchè the subject of the art that son taken to demonstrate to me is for if worthy and perhaps to nissun other inferior.

Of she is who wants oppormisi, with saying that in the war the art made of mestiero the Standard but not already, why to these such ones I would answer with a question, and is. If the Flagman is necessary defending the Standard, who denied would give it indication of having a strange ability, and it are tender of knows them, if who best cannot be denied will be able to defend it of what it will perfectly know it to use? In order which cause and armed the auction if in order not to hurt? and in order to know to hurt and necessary to practice in the art, than otherwise to other servants who to intrigue and to envelop the hands, and ugly get lost, like uselessly sostiene;il that she does not happen to experimenting which coming reduced to similar extremities will have ready you do not leave yourself that they will be appropriates you to the case. and fact dared from the virtue, or salvarà the Standard from enemies, or the accompagnarà one with the vendetta; to those therefore that senz' other speeches know these virtues will be easy enterprise arriving some to the perfection that desire, observing the following figures in which make those particularitities evident that, difficultly, they can be declared with the words.

1. As the Flagman or other person must introduce themselves with the Standard

Wanting with that order that he convene himself to come to the perfect news of this art, it must be observing of its principles, because from they like from its origin all the perfection derivano.Confesso truly that the skill and the force and the gracefulness son thanks that vengon disponsate from nature, null less can in great part coll' exercise. and with the good discipline, and to increase and to acquire.It will be therefore the movement of the Flagman, or other person, that he wants for of port handling the Standard, free but very compound, serious, but but military. It will be taken with the right like more nobleman, and carrying it in the left the borders must raccorre, and to appeal them with the auction that appongiandosi in the arm, formarà the Flag the Breast that demonstrates the figure.In such a way senz' to have to cangiar hand and to make two times, the sword can be sfodrare speditamente, and to make use some to that use that give the occasion demands.

2. Of inalberare the Standard

For inalberare the Standard it is taken with the right and levandola up is unfolded, and supposing that it allows the wind it, and the ability to the place finding again itself in the postura that is looked at in the design will be able with devout the right, the hand of the auction and the garbo of the life united, to riverire the spectators before putting itself in clearance, perceiving, che in the military service passing in front of the Prince, to the General, or other personage great and action of odeggiandola reverenza of rivercio lowering it until to earth.

3. Of the primiero way to begin to handle the Standard

This is the first lesson with which it is begun I take a walk, and in order to achieve that honor that is coveted, had somewhat the body to be folded and to be arranged to the force. The arm will be extended, strong, and raised over the head, and muovendo the natural but generous step, formarà, to a time of man straight veiled pigliando with judgment the wind, that the standard stretches not envelopes; retort doppo turning the man of rivescio according to turn, and is gone in such a way continuing according to the thought. Hand still can cangiar, and then it is greater skill throwing it and taking it in the air, than naturally to change it.

4. Of pulling the stoccate ones with the Standard

All the lessons so are ordered that one concatenata coll' other. Here, we must learn as they pull stoccate coll' the Standard, and that not only servants to show the disposition and the skill of who clearance, but it can give case that make of trade to practice it in the war.The extended arm will be kept therefore, and given veiling in turn of man straight for disopra of the head, must endured to push ahead without to lose time the Flag, with stoccata pulling of quarter, si.voltarà doppo the arm, and the hand in second, and coll' to join the tired foot slongarà parimenti the botta, always having $R-with regard to the wind, to the motion and the giustezza of the step for isfuggire the sconci, than levano the merit to how much it is come to operate. It can be still made the same lessons with the left hand, that and as well as more lodevole how much suol to be this member by nature more exercised weak person and less.

5. As the Standard with the hand is handled rivercia

This lesson is difficult but but beautiful, and truly bizzarra. S' appeals the auction with the hand rivercia, it is made as it appears in contrapposta the figure, the arm must somewhat be collected in order to help the wrist affatigato from the weight, and forming more narrow the step, to the movement of the hand mounting from a flank to the other will make us to andeggiare without confusion the tortuosi volumes of the Standard, tramezzandovi two or three sottogambe. or turning them for behind kidneys, and changing hand in compliance with what mainly aggrada.

6. To pass the Standard under the legs

Having the Standard in motion, and wanting to make the present lesson, flake in air and ricoglie with the hand rivercia that turned with the arm and incurvato the body it is made to pass under the left leg with turning it for the right, and then tutt' to a time it is explained of rivercio behind kidneys and it is taken with the tired hand making oneself to ripassare under the skillful leg for the left and this can with both be replied for how much involves it and the skill, and the lena.

7. To hurl the Standard

I know very well that the several things always delight, and for such cause they are ingegnato to me and of raccorre and inventing the lessons that are looked at. In order to mean the present figure, it is pulled straight in turn of man veiling, doppo throws in air the Flag, ricoglie coll' other hand and it is gone making istesso the clearance, always accompanying with, arm the foot, and coll' artifice the wind. You passages of under leg still can frapporre some and other mutanze, that they serve of I ornament to the lessons to showing the spirit of who the practical one.

8. As the milinello must be made

The molinello it is of much vaghezza and in order to make it with every facility makes dì trade to have the Standard in the man straight; compisce for over head one? entire turn, and then flake in air, and piglia around to mezo com' the standard the figure. Is turned the molinello towards the foot, that it remains behind, and made more wheels, become the hand weak person, pigliacoll? other soccer of the flag and makes the same lesson, with throwing it parimenti in said air $R-come.sopra and.

9. As the standard is handled behind kidneys

It demonstrates to the present figure a beautifulst invention of this art, and because from ciascheduno it can be understanding, shortly the dichiararò. Must be found again the standard in the man straight, and made one? entire waved over over the head, turned divercio and with a turn door behind the shoulders in the side I lack myself, where with the aid of the man left are formed you vary ondeggimenti to consent, and this can be made putting itself in takes a walk, or pure being without to walk, and pear tree as well as the more necessary possession the eye to the measure of the step, and of the wind, how much is more danger l? error where the hands ambe are occupied, and not it can coll? eye to give rule to the motion of the Flag, than in order to reveal the maestria one we propose ourselves not to want to rimirare. It will be free to ciascheduno being able to make with left medisima the lesson melting the arm and carrying it en preference, with observing the order that of over has been prescribed.

10. Dell? to wave the flag behind the shoulders

In this figure one keeps the extended arm, and much eminent one, and turning it doppo kidneys, it is made to play dall? one and l? other side l? Standard, muovendo the step to proportion because not s? it envelops, and the all doppo some ondeggiamenti it can anco be replied with the left, over which in order not to become troublesome I will omit d? allongarmi in the speech.

11. Of the way with that the Standard under the legs is passed

Doppo to have made more passages, and than man straight and of rivercio, raised second? l need the Flag, and fixed to the waves, than forimano in several situated, finally must be folded the life in the way that has been figured, and having gone around over the head s' it lowers the arm, and it is made to pass l? Standard. Under the leg skillful, and taken it with the man left the lesson is followed that has been made.

12. To make to pass the Standard around to the neck

It is proposed to making to pass around to the neck the Flag. This invention searches the arm to the extended usual, and high, and dates some veiled are taken? l time acciò comes to put down itself in the straight shoulder, and pushed with giving them little of wind in the left s' it abandons l? auction and turning the life ripiglia in means, as it points out the disegnao, s? it enters some molinelli, and doppo the used ondeggiamenti it can be replied l? istesso with the man it lacks.

13. As it must be hurled the standard in I take a walk, and cangiar hand

I fear I am not tedioso in replying the same things, and becoming dark in omitting them. L? Standard is always in motion, when principian the lessons, and the main motions are the man straight, and the riverci with which over the head they are formed and compiscono the veiled ones. Adunque they are forced to repeat them in the proposal figure, because to they we must connect what it is l? attempt ours to declare. Gone around of rivercio buttarà up the Flag, and taken to glue tired hand will make the istesso, and equally scagliarà from the skillful part, that and from one and dall? other more times replied, cominciarà new clearance, being able itself of the innovation pigliar that entertainment and that delight that feel gl' amatori of the virtues, always supposing that? l time, the step, and? l wind habbino the due proportion, without which it loses every fadiga? l merit and s' does not acquire other that blame.

14. Of the handling dell? standard under the legs

Are made the sopradette rotate and having l? standard in the man lacks, s? it lowers, and with a turn of man straight door under the helped leg and as it is looked at in the figure they are formed l? waves, and doppo quarry for the way, than s? it has been put, or of under the left leg, cangia hand, and with egual maestria it is returned to place in work how much we have declared.

15. Of the stoccate ones in cross dell? Standard

Is kept the inarborata flag, and gone around of rivercio to the way used over the head s? accompagnarà with the foot one stoccata towards the part lacks, and turning it towards the skillful part tirarà the stoccata one with the same maestria; the cross with others is ended two botte, the piè it must always it are followed from that it is behind, and although all it is of for if same much clearly, nulladimeno difficultly it could be put in practical without master.

16. Of gittar up the flag behind the shoulders

This lesson is difficult and demands anch? it usual them waved like preludes, makes itself doppo with a rivercio to pass in particular behind the shoulders and raising it although supported to kidneys it is pulled up with the force of the hand and dell? index, and is made to pass over the shoulder lacks, here piglia with the left hand and is renewed the clearance, which ended is still returned to the man straight being able itself without to change hand to ricogliersi l? auction.

17. Of passing l? Standard under the legs beginning from the straight one

In order to make the lesson that extension, ended the turn of rivercio, turns a mandritto with incurvare the body and lowering l? standard, and door for of under to ambe the legs beginning itself from the straight one, are made all in a single time, and what it is made with a hand it can always make with l? other.

18. De? moments of the man skillful

We have come to the way like forming must mounting. Not v? is guard of blow from fencing that venghi not adapted all? art dell? Standard, and wanting to make what it is my thought to teach in the present figure, ritrovarà the flag in is taken a walk of man straight over the head, and ended the giratta one to begin mounting before from the left, and then from the skillful side, and doubling them to its pleasure, can cangiar hand, and makes l? istessa lesson, like nell? others understood we have them more and more times demonstrated.

19. Of throwing and riccorre l? Standard with l? istessa hand

In the handling of the flag par that the skill and l? agility preuguaglino the force, but to the times deveno to go of the par and being in I add degree, and that she is the truth manifested some to me is comprised in our figure, because doppo vary passages and veiled of the flag very must stop of feet and allor? of man straight turning one rotata over the head and slogand? average stoccata, is pulled with every force and of kidneys and the hand, l? Standard in air that turns, once and half, and falls as it is impresso in the figure, is taken with l? istessa hand, and is returned to the ordinary clearance, that it always uses to be? l principle d? one new action.

20. Dell? standard secretly

Made l? last veiled in order to enter in our lesson, gitta l? standard in air and ricoglie with the hand rivercia, the arm will be extended, and the tip dell? auction must be time towards earth, and making use fixed some to me of the time, and of the wind it will be able to make ondeggiamenti, veiled, sottogambe, flag turns behind the kidneys, and all which will have been able to learn from the fidelity, and value of its master.

21. Dl to collect l? standard

All the things that bring us delight, if the sign become troublesome, the aim and the perfection pass of that we begin to operate, but having therefore accorre l? standard will be kept little with the man straight in the shoulder and dandogli of wind piglierà for thread close to the border with the tired hand, and therefore holding it in the postura of the wood its will be able itself with praise to be finished fatighe.

22. Of putting hand to the sword

The sword is one? arm that various s? it employs; gl? effemminati if vagliono for I ornament some of theirs perfumed tightness, and to the strong men it is ministra d? ira, than defende the duty; but reserving me to speak more long in short over this subject, seguitarò for hour that tato that they are proposed to me. Wanting itself therefore to come to sfodrare the sword, if the flag is in the man straight, it can be hurled in air and to take it with the left, or without quest? action we can carry it naturally nell? other hand, and raising it for having the freer flank will draw fuor the sword as it is looked at clearly in the figure, and putting themselves to a restarà step very regulated is not introduced experimented in this noble exercise, and wanting to change hand, will be put the sword under the arm, and taken l? standard, will remain armed the left, and will be able to be made those passages and those eioni that have been learned nell? art.

23. Of walking glue sword and flag

The first warning that we must have for declaration of the figure is that the sword and the flag must saldamente be appealled, and with firmness; it is free playing according to the genius, and will be able to be changed the hand to a time istesso throwing in air l? Standard and ahead that it falls, pigliando the sword, and that will be able to be made more times because beautifulst lesson is one, and truly worthy to be observed.

24. Of handling l? standard with the straight one being armed the man left

This is firmest rule, than l? standard does not have to never be idle, and but if the man left the sword resists well, it remains however free the right, and when it is in some way prevented like I have said other times, tant? it is more praise, and making the back lesson the left arm it will be kept raised siccome is in the design, and forming the usual breasts coll? to wave of the flag, sciorrà doppo the arm, s? it will enter nell? other lesson, mutarà hand, pigliando the wind; and? l time that must to you.

25. Of placing in the fodero the sword

The present figure is for if same manifest; in order to replace the sword it must next accorre l? standard, and supporting it very strongly with the left because it does not touch earth, makes doppo the lesson that we have proposed ourselves, and while the Flag with leaving explained it in the same hand will be able to be raised.

26. Of hunting hand for defense

Are born the dangers when less they are believed, l? daring makes us to fight, but the Victoria is own of the virtue in order to defend itself dagl? accidents a lot in war that in peace, raccorrà primieramente l? standard, and over the arm I lack daverà the sword, and turning l? auction towards the enemy will be offered in good guard in order to resist to every offense.

27. Of the guard with the sword and flag

And? much natural defending itself that ce they allow the laws it, still against that for vendetta they offend to us. Coming place l? Flagman or other person in this necessity, must accorre and repair l? Standard of such fate that does not prevent the sight and that more I toast them servant than shelter, than of gravezza. The arm somewhat incurvato and? l situated of the hand in third, it will hold the body in profile for being more place setting, and making minor the target, the body posarà in the skillful tired leg and being the piè next free, and to read will be able to tighten the enemy; it must form the step that is not a lot strained, and go to the gain of the land, and of the sword removing them the time and the measure with preventing it, the answer will be faster of the call, the cuts pararanno of all blanket, or with iscanzi of life hurting of tip, and if? l enemy it waited for, then must tighten to put it it in obedience and to trick it, teaching them that who is not worthy to enjoy the life is enemy insidiatore of the life.

28. Of raccorre the flag

Ended the lesson is collected the flag carrying it in the tired hand, with holding the borders it envelops to you and with the arm supporting l? auction. The design made from good intagliatore if fusse accompagnao from anyone preferred of such exercises, my works would have more credit, and I would do good often with I lack briga.

CONCLUSION

They have arrived to the aim that is not arranged, I confess my weakness, I will serve nulladimeno of meaning study to other more than to find again that one ch? I have not known, and as I speak with that style about which he is not able l? talent, is difficil what? l it appeal to in this svogliato century, who will regard my trovarà mind that that covets, and I while console myself, than l? man test is always discreet. credit, and I would do good often with I lack briga.

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