Book Review: Medieval Sword & Shield: The Combat System of Royal Armouries MS I.33 by Paul Wagner and Stephen Hand

Today, we will be reviewing Paul Wagner’s and Stephen Hand’s book titled Medieval Sword & Shield: The Combat System of Royal Armouries MS I.33. This book, published in 2003, covers their interpretation of the I.33 techniques.
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I will primarily focus on the book’s value as an interpretation source for new fencers getting started with I.33. I will focus on three major areas: structure, presentation of techniques, and value. I will not comment on the interpretation itself. The validity of the interpretation is up to the reader to decide as they journey down their own research on I.33.

Structure

Wagner and Hand start their book with basic gear for training as well as fundamentals of swordsmanship, such as distance and footwork. They then move into fundamental concepts of I.33, such as the wards and the counters to the wards. The book then discusses the actions that can be performed from each ward, starting with the first one and ending with the more advanced wards. The book also includes a conclusion and a summary of the following steps to continue on your journey to understanding I.33.
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I believe this structure works for teaching I.33 and gives a ward-first perspective into the techniques. The organization inherently emphasizes footwork first, which is incredibly important in swordsmanship, regardless of the weapon. Unfortunately, when the techniques are grouped by ward, it can be a challenge for newer fencers to relate what they are reading in the interpretation to the manuscript itself. However, this is mitigated by the fact that Wagner and Hand include a large number of images, which can help fencers relate what they are learning to the manuscript.

​Presentation of Techniques

Unfortunately, while the images in the manuscript help the reader relate to the manuscript, they also mask some of the techniques and body mechanics. This is because Wagner and Hand chose to wear baggy tunics, as depicted in I.33. The authors do address their rationale for this choice. They believe it is critical to interpret the techniques in the clothing of the time because clothing, especially footwear, can impact technique. I fully support Wagner and Hand's sentiment, but the tunics mask their body movements, which can lead to challenges in replicating their techniques.
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One advantage these images do have is the way in which they were taken. The pictures were taken in a clear field with a simple background which makes it clear what to focus on when analyzing the images in the book. The quantity of the pictures and how they are laid out in the book alongside the text also makes it very easy to follow the rationale and flow of their interpretation.

Value

​This book can be found for around $50.00 used when writing this blog. It does not appear that this book is still in print, which means the price will continue to increase. The book has a soft cover but a thick binding, which helps preserve the book. The book is a quality soft-cover book, and the weight of the pages adds both durability and ease when trying to study from the book and then practice the techniques.

​Who I Recommend It To

​Unfortunately, this is a difficult book to recommend to new fencers due to the difficulty in finding affordable copies. There are other books currently in print that can be used to start learning I.33. However, this book is one of the earliest HEMA I.33 interpretations and is a great book to have in your collection if you’re interested in the evolution of I.33 interpretations. It is clear that Wagner and Hand put a large amount of effort into their interpretation and the book they produced is clear and concise when presenting their interpretation of I.33.