Ode to a Pell
by Culwyn
Nearly everyone, fighter or otherwise, within the Society is familiar withthe "pell" a training post used to develop sword skills both in technique, speed and power. The pell as a training device goes back to the days of the Roman legions, through the middle ages, and up into the modern day, where not only the SCA, but many Asian stylists, use some sort of equivalent.
While I lived in the Barony of Wurm Wald I was in charge of training would-be fighters, and would drone on and on about the importance of pell work. So much so, that Mitch Lowenstein, one of my students, teased me that I should sit down and write an "Ode to a Pell." So, imagine my surprise when Pete Kautz, an SCA fighter and Escrima instructor from Ithaca, NY, informed me that such a poem already exists! More importantly, it was written in period.
This Poem of the Pell is a 15th Century work that actually highlights several interesting points. Firstly, it advocates the use of a "double weight" wooden practice sword and shield, so that the real thing will seem light in combat. Interestingly, in his "Practice," Di Grassi, a 16th century weapons instructor, advocates precisely the same thing. There is also surviving evidence that Roman legionaries likewise trained with double weighted weapons at the pell.
Finally, for those fighters who find themselves negligent in pell practice, or who dismiss it altogether, I would offer lines It also emphasizes the importance of this12-14, as a rebuttal. Where it says that no man shall prevail in battle who does not spend time upon the pell. Who are we moderns to challenge the wisdom of "warrouris olde and wyse?"
Poem of the Pell -- Early 15th Century
(Cotton Library: Titus A, xxiii fol 6 and 7)
Of fight the disciplyne andexercise,
Was this. To have a pale or pile upright (pell)
Of mannys light, thus writeth old and wise, (man's height)
Therewith a bacheler, or a yong knyght,
Shal first be taught to stonde and lerne to fight
And fanne of double wight tak him his shelde,
Of double wight a mace of tree to welde.
This fanne and mace whiche either doubil wigt
Of shelde, and swayed in conflicte, or bataile,
Shal exercise as well swordmen, as knyghtes,
And noe man, as they sayn, is seyn prevaile,
In field, or in castell, though he assayle,
That with the pile, nethe first grete exercise, hath not
Thus writeth warrouris olde and wyse.
Have eche his pile or pale upfixed fast
And as it were uppon his mortal foe:
With mightyness and weapon most be cast
To fight stonge, that he ne skape him fro.
On hym with shield, and sword avised so,
That thou be cloos, and Preste thy foe to smyte, (ready)
Lest of thyne own dethe thou be to wite.
Empeche his head, his face, have at his gorge
Beare at the brest, or sperne him on the side,
With myghte knyghtly poost ene as Seynt George
Lepe o thy foe; look if he dare abide;
Will he not flee? wounde him; make wounds wide
Hew of his honde, his legge, his theys, his armys,
It is the Turk, though he be sleyn, noon harm is.
And fanne = and then, welde = wood, warrouris = warriors, poost = might/power, Empehce = attack, gorge = throat