This is my current translation of the preface section of the fencing book of Andre Paurenfeindt, working from Michael Chidester’s transcription of the section in the Ergrundung Ritterlicher Kunst der Fechterey (1516).
Please note that this translation is released under copyright, and that while I am more than happy for people to use it for their own training and study, you must contact me to request permission to use it in any publication or for any commercial use.
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Translation
Foundations of the Knightly Art of Fencing by Andre Paurñfeindt, Freyfechter of Vienna in Austria, according to a clear knowledge and more recent understanding.
To the most honourable and mighty Prince and Lord, Lord Matheus of the Holy Roman See, Cardinal of St. Angelo, Bishop of Gurk, coadjutor of the Diocese of Salzburg, etc.[1] Andre Paurñfeyndt, Freyfechter and loyal bodyguard of his mightiness the Cardinal, offers his humble service.
Most honourable, in God our Father, the most mighty Prince and gracious Lord, I have seen a great departure from (and lack of attention due to) daily practice by the soft youths. I have written a little about the knightly art of fencing and give a short, foundational interpretation of the Zedel for these reasons: to avoid gaming, gluttony, bad company, etc. I want to address this to you, and dedicate such an explanation to you, and thus I recommend myself to your mightiness in all humility, etc.
Recently, I have thought of three chapters that contain briefly the lessons and teachings of fencing – not for the old fencers, but for the young scholars so that daily they gain joy in their practice. I have briefly described twelve rules from which you may develop advantage, subtlety, and swiftness. So you will learn from a master of the sword or from a proper Freyfechter, and not from the Winckelfechteren like when a blind man leads another and they both fall into the ditch.
If leaves and grass grew
like envy and hate,
then sheep and cattle would have
a good winter this year.
Footnotes
[1] Matthäus Lang von Wellenburg. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matth%C3%A4us_Lang_von_Wellenburg
Version History
This is currently version 1 of the work, translated into English in 2020 and released on this website in 2020.
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