and Germany, tutored the nobility in fighting. In Germany, there were long-
lived Fechtschulen (fighting schools), a collection of guilds run by common
citizens and soldiers. There were fighting guilds such as the Marxbrüder
(Brotherhood of St. Mark), Luxbrueder (Company of St. Luke), and Fed-
erfechter, which specialized in many weapons, including two-handed
swords and later rapiers. The English too had schools of defence that sur-
vived well into the Renaissance. They continued for some time, however, to
teach the older medieval swords and weaponry. Also, there were clandes-
tine teachers of arms and even traveling professional fighters who, for
money, would act as stand-ins during trial by combat. In 1286, Edward II
ordered fencing schools teaching Eskirmer au Buckler(Buckler Fighting)
banned from the city of London—ostensibly to “control villainy” and
“prevent criminal mischief” said to be associated with such activities. In
1310, one Master Roger, Le Skirmisour (The Fighter), was even charged
with and found guilty of running a fencing school in London.
Masters of Defence 319Defense and disarming moves as taught by the enormously influential Italian Master of Defence, Fiore dei Liberi.
This illustration appeared in his Flos Duellatorium(Flower of Battle), first published in 1410. (Courtesy of John
Clements)