In 1599, during the period when the Portuguese crown was united to the
crowns of Castile and Aragon, a Portuguese master-at-arms called Domingo
Luis Godinho wrote a manuscript in Spanish entitled Arte de Esgrima (The
Art of Fencing). Although Godinho's life is largely a mystery and his
text was never published, today his manuscript of utmost relevance in
the study of Renaissance Iberian fencing, since it is the only complete
treatise discovered so far describing the "Common" or "Vulgar" style of
Iberian fencing, first documented in the 15th century, but by Godinho's
day, displaced by the new system of La Verdadera Destreza. The work
includes instructions for the single sword, a long-bladed, cut & thrust
weapon taught alone and with the use of the shield, buckler, dagger, and
cape, as well as paired with a second sword. Godinho's instructions also
includes the longest known text on the use of the montante, or
two-handed sword, a devastating weapon that was used by soldiers and
body-guards, in duels and battlefields, in crowded streets and aboard
galleys. Translator Tim Rivera provides a detailed introduction that
explains Godinho's relationship to earlier masters of the "Common
School" of swordsmanship, and a short primer on the various weapons,
guards, parries, footwork and terminology of the tradition.
