Scottish Dirk & Targe - Experimental Bout

Описание: This combination can be found in the legend of Ranald of the Shield:
Ranald, son of Allan of Achatriachaden, later to be known as Raonull na Sgeith or "Ranald of the Shield," was a renowned bard as well as a warrior. He was a skilled fighter with sword and target, but had never been trained to use the broadsword alone. If the evidence of Gaelic oral tradition can be relied on in this matter, this seems to have been the custom in at least some areas of the Highlands. Perhaps the use of the single broadsword was the prerogative of prizefighters and expert swordsmen, while the typical clan warrior was only trained to fight as he would on the battlefield, with both sword and target. Whatever the case may be, Ranald could certainly use the sword and targe, but he did not feel confident with the single broadsword.
An English dragoon who had been taken prisoner, mocking the Highlanders for relying on the target, proposed a challenge. He would fight a single combat against the best sword and target man in Montrose's army, armed with the broadsword alone. He must have been confident enough in his skill, as the wager was to be for his liberty or his life.
"Man, do you think any Highlander would take such an advantage in fighting you?" was Ranald's reply. "I have not been taught to use the sword without a target, but I will fight you dirk and target against your sword, which puts the advantage on your side."
"Get me a promise to that effect from the General, and our wager of battle is complete," said the dragoon. At this point Aillein Dubh na Fiadh, who was considered the best swordsman in the army after the famous Alastair MhicCholla Ghasda, came up and tried to take Ranald's place.
"`S fhear an claidheamh, gu mor na biodag 's an targaid. Gabh mo chomhairle, oir chan eil fios a dh-eires dhuit." (The sword is much better than the dirk and target. Take my advice, or there is no knowing what may happen to you.)
"There is no knowing what may happen to me," said Ranald, "But the very devil will happen to him."
He was as good as his word. The English dragoon was given a broadsword, Ranald took up his target and dirk, and at the end of the fight the dragoon was dead. Ranald of the Shield thus earned his name.
(A treatise on the language, poetry and music of the Highland Clans, by Donald Campbell, 1862)