Resources
Here are brief descriptions of the most interesting historical texts concerning
the Quarterstaff art. Links to the full text versions are off site so
please let us know if the links are broken.
Medieval texts
While we have no medieval English martial arts texts that mention the
staff, there are a few references here and there.
Below are a 6 of the traditional ballads of Robin Hood where staff play is mentioned.
Robin
Hood and Little John
Robin Hood
and the Butcher
Robin
Hood and the Friar and the Potter
Robin
Hood and the Monk
Robin
Hood and the Potter
Robin Hood
and Tanner
Thanks to the Teams
Consortium and the Robin
Hood Project at University of Rochester for these links, as well as
Allen W. Wright and his Robin
Hood pages.
Elizabethan texts
Here we have the oldest texts dedicated to martial arts which include
significant space to the quarterstaff (short staff). These texts form
the basis for the traditional English Quarterstaff taught at the Bellingham
Quarterstaff Association. The BQA's glossaryis
primarily a reference for these two texts.
George Silver
Paradoxes
of Defence [1599]
Brief
Instructions upon my Paradoxes of Defence [1599]
Joseph Swetnam
Schoole of the
Noble and Worthy Science of Defence [1617]
Thanks to the Academy of
European Medieval Martial Arts for the Silver links, and the HACA
for the Swetnam link.
18th century texts
Wylde
The Gentleman's
Al-a-mode Accomplish [1711]
Thanks to the Exiles for this link.
Victorian texts
McCarthy [1883]
Quarter-staff:
A Practical Manual
R.G. Allanson-Winn [1898]
Broadsword
and Singlestick - with Chapters on Quarter-staff, Bayonet, Cudgel, Shillalah,
Walking Stick, Umbrella and other Weapons of Self Defence
Thanks to the Journal
of Manly Arts for these links.
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