The context of this device is that your opponent has gain the initiative and is attacking your left side from below while you are in Tag. This could happen in the onset, but is equally likely to occur in the middle of an engagement.

Initial Parry: A Krumphauw?

The initial parry is a long edge strike to his forte while you step to your right, away from the attack. The only downwards blow I know of that explicitly targets the forte is a Krumphauw (Crooked Cut), so that’s probably what he is asking for.

Note: I can’t be 100% sure of this, as Meyer has an annoying habit of using descriptive prose to describe his cuts rather than the names he defined in the glossary chapters.

Counter-attack with Schielhauw

A commonly used follow-up for the Krumphauw is a short-edge cut to the head. While you could do this as a rising cut, Meyer seems to prefer using a descending short-edge cut in the manner of a Schielhauw (Squinting Cut). This is done by bringing the sword up and then flicking back down at the left ear while stepping further to the opponent’s left.

Long to the Left

Meyer assumes that your first attack will be parried. So be ready to step to the opponent’s right with a long edge cut to the right ear. As you do this he tells us to keep our quillons up, which means we’re basically going into an Ochs-like posture.

[Alternate]

Rather than the long edge cut, you could use a short edge, crossed-arm strike. We saw this as a follow-up earlier in the book. I find that this is more useful than the long edge cut the text calls for when my opponent is crowding me or if I want to get into grappling range.

Slicing the Arm

Assuming that you used the long edge cut, your opponent may then want to raise his sword for his own attack. If he tries, Meyer tells us to lay a slice on his arms and keep it there until we see a good opportunity to hit an opening. Then cut away as usual.

Footwork

For the first cut, step to the right with the right foot.

For the second cut, step to the right with the left foot such that it goes behind the right.

For the third cut, step back to the left with the left foot.

It is somewhat like an expansion and contraction drill, but side-to-side instead of forwards and back.

Cutting Diagram

Video Interpretations: http://fechtkunst.wikispaces.com/Meyer+1570+Longsword+Tag+Device+2