An ordinarie Fencer

IS a fellow, that beside shauing of Cudgels, hath a good insight into the world, for he hath long been bea∣ten to it. Flesh and bloud hee is like other men; but surely Nature meant him Stock-fish: his and a Dancing∣schoole are inseparable adiuncts; and are bound, though both stinke of sweat most abominably, neither shall com∣plaine of annoiance: three large ba∣uins set vp his trade, wich a bench; which (in the vacation of the after∣noone) hee vses for his day bed; for a sirkin to pisse in, hee shall be allowed that, by those make Allom: when hee comes on the Stage, at his Prize, hee makes a leg seuen seuerall waies, and Page  [unnumbered] scrambles for money, as if he had been borne at the Bathe in Somerset-shire: at his challenge hee shewes his mettall; for contrarie to all rules of Physicke, he dare bleed, though it be in the dog∣daies: hee teaches Diuelish play in's Schoole, but when he fights himselfe, he doth it in the feare of a good Chri∣stian. He compounds quarrels among his Schollers, and when hee hath brought the busines to a good vpshot, he makes the reckoning. His wounds are seldom aboue skin deep; for an in∣ward bruse, Lambe-stones and sweet∣breads are his only Sperma Ceti, which he eats at night, next his heart fasting: strange Schoole-masters they are, that euery day set a man as farre backward as he went forward; and throwing him into a strange posture, teach him to thresh satisfaction out of iniurie. One signe of a good nature is, that hee is still open breasted to his friends, for his foile, and his doubler, weare not aboue two buttons: and resolute he is, for he Page  [unnumbered]〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  [unnumbered]〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  [unnumbered]〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  [unnumbered]〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  [unnumbered] so much scornes to take blowes, that he neuer weares Cuffes: and he liues bet∣ter contented with a little, then other men; for if he haue two eyes in's head, he thinks Nature hath ouerdone him. The Lord Maiors triumph makes him a man, for that's his best time to flou∣rish. Lastly, these Fencers are such things, that care not if all the world were ignorant of more Letters then on∣ly to read their Patent.