The Four Governors

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THE FOUR GOVERNORS 

George Silver in his works discussed why trained men were often hurt or killed by men of little or no training. His exact words were: “many valiant men think themselves by their practices to be skillful in their weapons, are yet many times in their fights sore hurt, and many times slain by men of small skill or none at all.” Silver identified above all other causes the lack of the Four Governors was to blame for this condition. Silver expressed that without the Four Governors it is impossible to fight safely.

When reviewing the Four Governors you will see that they are points of very sound advice and should be taken to heart by any Practitioner who is serious about their study of arms. The Four Governors serve as a guideline and foundation for success in combat.

Let us introduce you to the Governors as described in Silver’s work “BRIEF INSTRUCTIONS UPON MY PARADOXES OF DEFENCE”. “The first governor is judgment which is to know when your adversary can reach you, and when not, and when you can do the like to him, and to know by the goodness or badness of his lying, what he can do, and when and how he can perform it.”

Judgment can be said to be the Practitioner’s ability to analyze their enemy and the overall factors of the engagement. Judgment is insight and the ability to recognize factors crucial to gaining victory. Silver makes it very clear that Judgment will allow us to understand the distance of attack and defense. Judgment will also give us an understanding of what the enemy is capable of. 

“The second governor is measure. Measure is the better to know how to make your space true to defend yourself, or to offend your enemy.” 

Measure is one of the most crucial lessons a Practitioner can learn. Without proper measure which includes a firm understanding of range and timing, all other training would surely fail. 

“The third and forth governors are a twofold mind when you press in on your enemy, for as you have a mind to go forward, so must you have at that instant a mind to fly backward upon any action that shall be offered or done by your adversary.” 

The third and forth Governors relate the importance of being ready to seize the opportunity to attack as well as to being able to recognize the moment to retreat.

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