George Silver: Somewhat of an Explanation

Greetings,

The manuals written by George Silver are often pushed aside due to their apparent lack of content with regard to the use of the sword. However were a reader to examine the situation of Silver himself and the time in which he wrote his inflammatory manuals more understanding is possible. This article is an attempt to bring George Silver out into the limelight and bring some understanding as to the reasons for his treatises, and also to understand some of the uses of these manuals.

Back in the dim, dark days of my fencing history I took up Silver's "Paradoxes of Defence" and began to read. I was pointed toward this as a manual of the period. I read and found no use to me as a user of a rapier besides being told how useless it was and that I should use more native English weapons. Needless to say it put me off the treatise so I put it aside and went on to read something else.

A little later on I re-read "Paradoxes of Defence" from a clean slate and found it an interesting political statement. Further I read his "Brief Instructions Upon My Paradoxes of Defence" and found it to be a much more useful read with regard to the practical application of the sword against an opponnent, sure I found some political statements but the practical nature of the book was apparent. It is for this reason that I am writing this explanation, to bring Silver back into the light of practicality.

Before we can understand George Silver himself, it is important to put him into his context, as his surroundings affected his feelings and his writings. This means a brief look at some Elizabethan history. In the early Elizabethan period there was religious instability with arguments between Protestants and Catholics. This was affected by the outside influences of the Spanish and to some point the French. In the early part of her reign Elizabeth was not a secure bet for survival as Queen of England. The influences of the Spanish and Italians were felt everywhere from politics to fashion.

The Italian and Spanish fashions were very popular in England during the Elizabethan period. Indeed what we consider to be the classic Elizabethan fashion is actually partially Italian and partially Spanish. To be seen with some Italian influence was to be seen to be cosmopolitan. These Italian influences seemed to invade all parts of life. Traditionally it was seen that the English weapons were the sword and buckler, but as the influence of the Italians was felt more and more this combination was forsaken for the rapier and dagger. It was into this that George Silver grew up.

The best way to describe George Silver was as a xenophobic military man. To this particular point he had two strikes against the rapier before it was even used. Firstly it was foreign, and secondly it was of ...

The rest of this article can be found in Un-Blogged: A Fencer's Ramblings by Henry Walker, which is available in paperback from:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Blogged-Ramblings-Henry-Leigh-Walker/dp/098764470X
Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/un-blogged-henry-leigh-walker/book/9780987644701.html
Among other places...

It is also available in electronic format (pdf) from: https://buy.stripe.com/fZecP419c7CB9VKeUV

... or direct from the author.