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Rule 6 — Guarding a Lady and Goods

Source Text

Take hold of the montante in the manner of Chapter Three, and have the woman or friend that you intend to keep safe attached to your belt from behind, advising them to not exert force on it, only so that they remain safely behind your back. Then play a tajo, putting in the right foot, and a reves putting in the left foot, which do not leave flying toward the rear, so as not to injure the one that is guarded; it will only come to the shoulders when it is armed. The tajo will not pass on the left side, however many there are, and if there are two, the tajo is with the wrist and will not pass on the right side. The reves, accordingly, will not pass on the right side, however many there are, and if there are two, it will not pass on the left side and is done with the wrist. With this step, one will battle as much as necessary. In case there is one, it is enough to only defend with a nails-up thrust with the right foot, and nails-down with left foot, if he is not a shieldman. With the same thrusts, one can defend against two, also not being shieldmen. If they will surround him, he makes use of Rule Seven ahead, sitting the person down.

Summary

To protect a woman or friend who is attached to your belt from behind:

  1. Hold the montante as described in Chapter Three, ensuring your companion stays safely behind you by attaching them to your belt. Advise them not to exert force, just to remain close.
  2. Execute a tajo by stepping forward with your right foot, and then a reves by stepping forward with your left foot. These cuts should not extend too far behind you to avoid injuring the person you're guarding. The tajo should only reach as far as your shoulders when it is ready to strike.
  3. The tajo should not pass beyond the left side, regardless of the number of opponents. If there are two opponents, execute the tajo with a controlled movement of the wrist, ensuring it stays within the right side. Similarly, the reves should not pass beyond the right side, and if there are two opponents, it should stay on the left side, also controlled by the wrist.
  4. If there is only one opponent, defend with a nails-up thrust using the right foot, or a nails-down thrust using the left foot, unless the opponent is a shieldman. These same thrusts can also be used to defend against two opponents who are not shieldmen.
  5. If you are surrounded, use Rule Seven, which involves sitting your companion down for safety while you deal with the opponents.