So someone has just fallen under your sword and you counter-bind. What happens next?The manual gives you two options:

Here the scholar rebinds and steps, he is to [do the] schiltslac.

Or enclose the arms of the priest with the left hand.

Translation by Joey Nitti

Counter-Bind then Shield-Strike

As you step forward and drive his sword down to your right, you’ll open the centerline. Take advantage of this by striking his sword hand and buckler with your sword. This constrained, you are then free to strike him with your sword at any convenient opening.

Grappling

As you step forward and both blades are forced down, strike your opponent in the face with the rim of your bucker. Then whether it hits or misses, wrap your left arm around both of his and pull them tight against your left side. In this action you will turn your body away from this, which is acceptable because you have both his arms and a free weapon.

Responses to the Counter-bind

The text offers several responses to the fencer who is being counter-bound.

The priest has three options, namely, mutating the sword so that it is above, or to do the durchtreten, or with the left right hand grasp the scholar’s arms, i.e. sword and shield.

Mutating and Nucken (Nodding)

If he over-binding your sword, you can simply do the same to him. Assuming that he is pushing you to your left, release the pressure and let your sword fall further back and to your left. As soon as the point clears, use a Stramazzone (turn of the wrist) to wheel it around and cut back down on his sword.

Do this quickly, as he may already be starting a rising cut at you following the counter-bind.

It should be noted that the priest is mutating the sword, and will be above, when before he was below.

Finally, he conducts the sword separately at the adversary’s head, which is called nucken, Which produces a separation of sword and shield of the scholar.

After you have established your over-bind, flip the tip up and thrust into the chest or face. This is what I think it means by nucken (nodding), which Joey Nitti defines as “flicking the sword up towards the head from a left overbind”.

Durchtreten or Stepping Through

Basically you just step into your opponent, striking him with an elbow or pommel as you assume the place he was previously standing in.

This works because your opponent has removed both swords from the center-line, leaving it open to your advance.

Note: Some people read Durchtreten as stepping past your opponent. That’s fine, but I think the shortest distance between me and a spot behind my opponent is through him.

Grappling

As your sword is being driven down, pass forward with your right foot. In this passing step, you’ll turn your right shoulder towards your opponent. Wrap your right arm around both of his. As you do this, point your sword forward rather than down, otherwise you’ll have to drop it to complete the grapple. (Imagine that you are stacking both swords on top of each other.) Again, you’ll end up facing away from your opponent.

If he hasn’t already dropped his own sword, strip it from him using your buckler hand.