The I33 or Walpurgis Manual is the earliest known fencing manual dating from around 1300. Unlike most subsequent manuals the Walpurgis manual was constructed around a set of quite detailed illustrations which are sequenced in short sections, rather like a cartoon, in order to provide a visual example of sequences of action. While the attached text, originally in Latin and German, is useful in helping us understand the illustrations and the fighting strategies employed in this style of sword and buckler fencing, it is possible to explore the style largely using the illustrations. A number of authors have written interpretations of the Walpurgis manual and these have changed significantly over time. As an introduction to the Walpurgis manual, and the fighting style it described it is useful to go back to the original source and play with the illustrations and text. While they are not essential, if you have a sword and/or buckler bring them along. We will stroll through the manual exploring its possibilities in a relaxed and open ended way.

Currently heraldic submissions are free for this calendar year in Lochac. This provides an ideal opportunity for people who have yet to register a personal device, and who would like to do so, to produce a submission. I will briefly go through the basics of designing a device and pointing out some of the things to encourage and some of those to avoid. We will have a quick look at some aspects of the SCA’s Rules of Submission and the processes that a device submission goes through before it is finally approved. If time allows we can have a look at individual’s current thoughts about their device.

There are a number of surviving period cross hilted-swords that retain a thick leather wrapping around the ricasso (the part of the blade immediately in front of the quillons). While the origin interpretation of these leather wrappings was that they are to stop rain entering the scabbard, this explanation seems inherently unlikely and a more convincing explanation for this leather attachment has come from a number of German historical fencers. They have argued that the “rain-guard” is actually a means of deflecting sword blows from the thumb of the right hand which otherwise is vulnerable to attacks. My experience with a rain-guard on a two-handed long-sword is consistent with this suggestion. As Cut and Thrust fencers often find themselves suffering unpleasant blows to the thumb when fighting vigorously using cross-hilted swords we will explore ways of making these simply attachments and I will demonstrate my current technique for constructing a “rain-guard”.