The defender playing the man with the ball meets him at the perimeter. The other five defenders will sag offtheir men at varying distances, which are determined by the location of the offensive players. The defender can sag only to the point where he can effectively guard his man if he were to receive the ball.

[H]e is as tall a man of his hand, as any is betweene this and his head: he hath fought with a Warrener.

to blow up a contention

[…]the holdings of the state (the war chest plus other cash balances)[…]