Parade of Quart opposing with the Hand.
When a Thrust is made with the Fort to your Feeble, which is the best way; you must, by raising and turning the Hand a little in Quart, raise the Point, which brings it nearer to you, and hinders the Adversary from gaining your Feeble, which being raised up is too far from him, and makes it easy for you to seize his Feeble. (Refer to the 3d. Plate.)
If the Thrust be made on the Fort or Middle of your Sword, you need only turn the Hand a little in Quart.
If after the Adversary has pushed Quart, he pushes Seconde; you must parry with the Fort, bringing it nearer to you, and for the greater Safety, or to avoid other Thrusts, or the taking Time on your return, you must oppose with the left Hand, which hinders him from hitting you as he meets your
Thrust, and from parrying it, for want of having his Sword at Liberty. (Refer to the 7th Plate.)
The same Opposition may be made on a Lunge in Quart, and to be more safe in returning Thrust or Thrusts, you must close the Measure in parrying, which confounds the Enemy, who finds himself too near to have the Use of his Sword: Your Sword, in parrying, must carry it's Point lower and more inward than in the other Parades.
If the Adversary makes a Thrust, with shortning or drawing back his Arm, or leaving his Body open; you must defend with the Left Hand, and lunge strait on him, unless you had rather parry with the Sword, making use of the Opposition of the Hand, and closing the Measure, as I just now observed.
You may also parry in disengaging,[[2]] drawing back the Body to the Left, in order to give the Hand Time and Facility to make the Parade.
There are several other Parades, of which I shall treat in their proper Places, confining myself now to the most essential.