The sword-man's vade-mecum: or, A preservative against the surprize of a sudden attack with sharps. Being a reduction of the most essential, necessary and practical part of fencing, into a few special rules, with their reasons, which all sword-men should have in their memories when they are to engage, but more especially if it be with sharps. As also, some other remarks and observations not unfit to be known by fencing masters and others. By Sir William Hope, kt. Author of the Compleat fencing-master.

THE SWORD-MANS VADE MECUM, OR, A Preservative against the Surprize, of a Sudden Attaque with Sharps, &c.

BEING to Direct my Dis∣course to Persons so knowing and Skilful as You are to whom I have Addressed these Sheets; I think I need but say little (by way of Introduction) in Commendation of this ART, either to Display its Excellencies, or Recommend it to You; the very Tittle of my Dedication supposing you to need nei∣ther of these, to excite You to its Practice.

I shall therefore at present only say, that the Generous and Noble Art of Defence (passing by all its other Qualities) may in some Re∣spect be compared to the most Excellent and most Sublime of all Sciencies, I mean that of Divinitie; For as Divinity doth teach us, to defend our Souls from the cruel assaults and attempts of that old Serpent the Devil, the cunning and subtile alure∣ments

of the World, and these pleasant and short but destroving lusts of the flesh.

So doeth the Art of Fencing teach us to de∣fend our Bodies, from the Assaults and At∣taques of all Adversaries, whether Artists or not, who in respect of the cruel designe they have against our Bodies, may in some sense be accounted Devils, it also teacheth us not to be deceived by the fallacious Quirks and Tricks of Artists when we are engaged with them, which do represent the cunning and subtile Allurements of the World.

And lastly, it furnisheth us with directions to defend our selves from the Thrusts and Wounds of our Adversaries, which although they can be said to be pleasant to none but the Giver, yet are short and destroying to the Re∣ceiver, short and transitory, because they are swift and given in the twinkling of an eye, or a moment; and destroying, because they sel∣dom faile to dissipate and give a Passage to our Vital Spirits; by which we are sent a pac∣king to our long Home: And therefore they may be justly compared because of their dan∣ger and short continuance) to the pleasures of the World; and the Comparison com∣eth yet nearer, In so far as they reach not on∣ly the Body, but ofttimes also endanger the Soul.

Seing then there is such an Annallogie be∣twixt this Humane Art and that Divine Sci∣ence,

what kind of Persons must those be who ••ndervallow it?—But when I reflect a little, find it no great surprizal that Fencing should ••eet with so many Opposers and Contemners when even Divinity yea GOD Himself (to speak with Reverence) is by some treated En Ridicule, and I am apt to believe that the dispising and contempt of both, (although ••here be no equality in the Comparison) may flow from the same Original and Source.

For as it is impossible for any Man who con∣siders the Fabrick of the whole, nay; but the ••mallest and most inconsiderable part of the Universe, to doubt of a first or supreme Beeing, until from the consciousness of his Sins & Pro∣vocations, it become his Interest there should be none; so is it Impossible for any Man who reflects upon, and considers the excellencies of Fencing, to doubt or question the usefulness of it; until from a sence of his own Ignorance, and of the Advantadges he knows Artists will have over him; it doth become his Interest, that there should be no such thing as Art, or at least that what is called Art should be of no use: And this is certainly one of the chief Reasons, why the Art of the Sword is ••o much undervalued, by those who under∣stand it not.

But that I may the better represent such Persons to you: consider in what a Piti∣ful

and Deplorable condition they are, when (after having received a challenge, or being obliged to Fight in Rancounter) they seriously reflect upon the Art, and Androit∣ness of their Antagonists, and their own Mala∣droitness, & Ignorance, by which they are rendred incapable of either knowing what way to be∣gin their Pursuite, or defend themselves; cer∣tainly their thoughts at that time must either abaite and cool their Courage, or make them altogether desperate.

And indeed, to see the most part of them when they are engaged for their Lives, one would judge them to be by their Pursuits, ra∣ther out of their Witts, and Madd-men, then Sober and Rational Persons; and they are ne∣cessitate to force themselves unto that Furie and Passion, that so their frowardness may somewhat supply their Ignorance; for if they declined to Fight, it would loss them their Re∣putation and Honour; Therefore to save that they must Fight, and in Fighting it is odds but they loss their Life, which to preserve they use all the most unseemly and desperate Actions in the World; all which will not do against compleat Artists such as you are.

And if it be asked why Ignorants (for I ex∣pect they will not take it ill I give them this Disignation, seing it is not done out of any Contempt to their Persons, or reflection upon

their Judgements which may be very deserv∣••g in other things, but meerly because it is ••e custom amongst Swordmen, to let all who ••derstand not the Art of the Sword go un∣der that Name) are generally more Subject 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Passion and Forewardness in their Pursute ••an Artists.

It is Answered, That in some Extremes ••ere is a Coincidence, and that Art and Igno∣••nce may sometimes act alike, as in the in∣••ance of Fear and Courage, for as Desperation ••hich is the heigth of Fear, doth many times ••eing sharpned by Necessity) excite Courage, ••d beget Hope; so Temerity which is the ••ight of Courage, doth often (from expe∣rience of Danger) breed Caution, which is a ••cret Fear;

Now to make the application, Ignorance ••om a sense it hath of the Hazard and Dan∣••er it may receive from Art, begets Fear or ••spair, and being sharpned up by this Des∣••ir which is as it were a leaven to make it ••ment, it is forced and hoaved up (although ••trary to its Nature) to Courage and Fore∣wardness which I may properly enough call, Temeritatis vel Ignorantiae audacia, and which should be never esteemed nor made use of, ex∣••pt in a great Extreme or Necessity, because 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hath its arise from Ignorance, which is the ground and cause of its being so frequently put

in practice by those who have little or no Art and this I take to be the Reason of Ignorant having generally so hot and violent a Pursute

So by this you may perceive how Ignorant may prompt a Man to be Forward and Ven∣torious as well as Art: now as Ignorance (which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Diametrically opposite to Art, and which should in reason produce nothing but Fear and Con∣cern) doth excite Courage, so doth Art, whic•• in reason should be Prolifick of nothing bu•• Courage and Heroick Actions, breed some times Caution, which may be very well calle•• a discreet and reasonable Fear, or rather Per∣tiae & experientiae Cautela, and which is only e∣steemed and put in practice by Judicious an•• Understanding Artists, because it proceed from the experience which Art giveth then of the danger they would run in making a vi∣olent and inconsiderate Pursute, which is n•• carried on with Judgement, and perform∣ed by Art; and this is the Reason why Artist are generally not so foreward and irregular i•• their Pursutes as Ignorants, but more caution and slow, and consequently more certain an•• safe.

Is it not therefore (from what I have bee•• saying) far more commendable, to be dex∣terous and regular in our Offensive and Defensive motions, then irregular, and as it were out of a••

Hope, and in Depair, that if we overcome, we may be said to have done it by Art and Judgement, and not at randome, and by chance, more beseeming an irrational than a rational Creature.

If it be, what Art can teach us better, than this of Fencing? I confess I need not recom∣mend it to you, whose Inclinations have alrea∣dy led you that way, but perhaps it may not prove an unseasonable Advice to others who may peruse this & the foregoing Dedication.

I shall therefore say no more in Commen∣dation of this Noble and Gentlemany Art, but shall before I proceed, shew you the Method I intend to follow in Communicating and Discovering the Reasons upon which it is grounded, and the Source from whence all its Worth and Security doth flow; and for the more regular Procedure shall first give you the single Rules, one after another, which you are alwayes to have in your Memory; Then secondly each particular Rule by it self, with the Reasons subjoyned to it upon which it is grounded; And thirdly, some Remarkes and Observations, all which will be both Useful, and if I mistake it not, pleasant to the Reader.

First, The RƲLES.

BEfore I begin, I shall give you a Fundamen∣tal, which in respect of its Excellency, and

Universality, I may call the Golden Number, or Rule of Three, both because it is alwayes to be taken alongst with you, and to be made a part, (and that none of the least) of each Par∣ticular Rule I am to give you, and also be∣cause it consists of Three important Terms or Words, which are.

Calmness,—Vigour,—and Judgement

Now these three Words in general, being the only Foundation upon which all Tru•• Fencing is built, and each Word in particula•• being as it were a Column, or Pillar by which my Rules are to be supported, (for without them all would be but Uncertain and False I shall begin my First Rule, which as well as all the rest, is to be supported by those three in fallible, and never to be too exactly copie•• Pillars of the composite Order, because each of them in some measure partake of the Beau∣ty and Excellency of the other two, and to that end Earnestly and Seriously intreats and desires: That.

RULE I.

Whatever you do, let it alwayes (if possible) be done Calmely, and without Passion, and Precipitation, bu•• still with all Vigour, and Briskness imaginable your Judgement not failing to Direct, Order, an•• Govern you as to both.

RULE II.

With Calmness, Vigour, and Judgement, put your self into as Closs, Thinn, and Convenient a Guard, as the Agility of your Body will permit, your Heels being still kept as near other as possible.

RULE III.

With Calmness, Vigour, and Judgement, make use (for your Defence) of the most Excellent, and not to be parrallelled Contre-caveating Par∣rade, and that generally upon the outside of your Sword, your left hand alwayes asisting you if any wayes doubtful of the Parrade; and that you may with the more certainty defend your self, look alwayes to your Adversary's Sword-Hand.

RULE IIII.

With Calmness, Vigour, and Judgement, endeavour to Offend your Adversary, by binding or securing his Sword, and that for the most part also upon the outside, giving in a single plain Thrust upon the back of it, or if you please make a Feint upon the back of your Binding, your left Hand making alwayes a kind of Parrade, at the giving in of every Thrust, the better to save you from a Contre-temps; and by no means rest upon your Thrust, but instantly after the performing of it, whether you ••itt or not, recover to your Defensive Posture again: This is the true Play for a Mans Life: but if you be so far Master of your

Adversary, and so merciful to him that you design not his Life, but only to disable him: Then.

RULE V.

With Calmness, Vigour, and Judgement, Thrust at his Sword-hand, Wrest, or Arm, or at his nearest advanced Thigh, the wounding any of which once, or twice, will seldome fail to disable him.

RULE VI.

If your Adversary be Hasty, Passionate, and pur∣sue Furiously, and Irregulaty, then with Calmness, Vigour, and Judgement, Cross, Stop, and Op∣pose his Fury: but upon the contrary if Careless, Lash, Slow, or perhaps Timerous, then also Calmly, Vigorously, and with Judgement pursue him.

RULE VII.

With Calmness, Vigour, and Judgement, prevent your Receiving one Thrust for the giving ano∣ther, called (after that dangerous Word, and Artists Bug bear) a Contre-temps, and for that end the using your left Hand for a Defence upon your Pur∣sute, as I have before told you, will not be found amiss.

RULE VIII.

Now to put a Close to my Rules, let them all be done within distance as much as possible, and with little or no Elonge, or stretch of any part of the Body, save only that of the Wrest & Arm (called a Spring) and as I desired you to begin, so I expect you will con∣tinue

and end all your Actions, with that most Ex∣cellent Fundamental, and Golden Rule of Three, to wit.

Calmness,—Vigour,—and Judgement.

And then no doubt, you will procure by the forego∣ing Rules, advantage proportionable to the Art you have acquired to put them in practice.

But that my Reduction may yet better an∣swer my Design, (which was to be short and compendious) and be more easily kept in your Memory, I have brought it into a nar∣rower Compass, by, as it were Epitomizing it as followeth.

With Calmness Vigour, and Judgement

• Use
  • ...A Closs Guard.
  • ...The Contre-caveating-Parrade.
  • ...Binding.
• Pre∣vent
  • ...A Contretemps.
  • ...Being without Distance.
  • ...Resting upon a Thrust.

A Man must be certainly void both of Art and Memory, if upon all necessary Occasions he cannot furnish himself, with such an Ex∣cellent Preservative as this; but seing the very doubting of it, would be so absurd, and disco∣ver so much a Mans Ignorance and weakness, I shall say no more, but (desiring to leave it as

it were Ingraven in your Memory) procee•• to the second thing I proposed, which was.

Secondly.

Each particular Rule, with the Reason subjoined to it, upon which it is Grounded.

RULE I.

Whatever you do, let it alwayes (if possible,) b•• done Calmely, and without Passion, and Preci••••∣pitation: &c.

The Reasons upon which this Rule is grounded, are.

Because I find by Experience that Passion exposeth a Man, and incapacitates him, from making use of his Art with that Discretion which is required of him, to procure the un∣denyable Advantage he hath by it.

But that he may not by being advised to Play Calmly, fall into the other Extreme of Playing too Carelesly, Lashly, and perhaps Ti∣merously, (it being difficult to determine which of these two Extremes, do most Eclipse a Mans Art, and consequently most expose him to his Adversaries mercy•• he is advised to counterfeit a kind of Passion, by playing Briskly, and Vigourously, it being as it were a Medium, or if I may so call it a Ballance or Counterpoise, which upon the one Hand prevents his sinking in the Gulf of Unreasonable, and

Unmanly Fear, which would loss him his Reputation, and Honour, dearer to a Man than his very Life, and upon the other his a∣scending the Ragged, Unequal, and Disperate Rock of inconsiderate Passion and Forward∣ness, for which there is oftentimes hardly any Retreat, or Des••ent, but by the Life of a Mans Adversary, if no his own with it, both which should be preserved as much as possible, in re∣spect, not only of the great in it is against God Almighty (which to all Christians should be a suf∣ficient Reason) but also in respect of the severe punishments the Laws both of God & Man, or∣••ain to be inflicted upon such as are guilty of either: And for effectuating of which, if I be not deceived this first Rule will not a little contri∣••ute, if it be practised cautiously & as I have or∣dered in the end of it, with Judgement, without which the best Rule I can give or invent to you, will not signifie a Straw, it being such a chief Ingredient, that without it all the Com∣positions both for Defence and Offence, in our Fencing Pharmacopie would signifie but little or nothing, as I shall more fully hereafter declare, when I speak to the Eight Rule.

RULE II.

With Calmness, Vigour, and Judgement, ••ut your self into as Gloss, Thinn, and convenient a Guard, &c.

The Reasons upon which this Rule is Grounded, are.

Because it is most certain, that the closer a Ma•• sink to the Ground, the more secure he is from all the Thrusts which may be given in beneath his Sword at the lower parts of his Body, which without all manner of doubt are both very dangerous, and most difficult to Defend, be∣cause the Parrades of them lie not so Natural∣ly to a Man's Hand (supposing him to stand to a High Guard) as the Parrades of the Thrust given in above, and that either without the Sword or within it.

And the Reason is, because in the Defensiv•• part of the smal Sword, all the Parrades that are made beneath the Hand are a great dea•• stronger and firmer, because they are, and ought to be done with a Jerk or Spring, whereas all the Parrades of the Thrusts below the Sword, such as that of Feint a la teste, Volt∣coupee, Flancanade, Ʋnder counter, &c. must be all (supposing him to stand to a High Guard) parried Slopwayes, & your Adversaries Sword born off, and a little up, as it were, by yours, which both hindereth the Spring and weaken∣eth the Parrade, by reason of the compelled Posture and Disposition of your Hand, both which Inconveniences are absolutely Guard∣ed against and shunned, by sinking closs to the

Ground, and keeping the Hilt of your Sword little higher than your Knee, and the point little higher than your Hilt, because this po∣••re prevents the playing of any of the above ••entioned low Thrusts upon you.

In the second place, I order a thinn Guard, ••cause it would be to no purpose to sink closs, ••d endeavour by it to cover one part of your ••ody, to wit that beneath your Sword, when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the same time you discover your left Side, a ••rt of your Body, which as much if not more ••eserves to be secured, because in it is contain∣〈◊〉〈◊〉, one of the most Noble, and (if wounded) ••ost Mortal parts of a Man's Body, I mean ••e Heart.

Besides reason will teach a Man, that he ••ould make himself as little a mark for his ••versary to thrust at as possible, and I know 〈◊〉〈◊〉 better Method to do that, than by sinking ••oss to the Ground, and keeping back your ••eft shoulder or side, the one which is sinking, ••aking your Body shorter, and the other, ••ich is keeping back your Left Side, mak∣ing your Body thinner, which two answer the ••o things required by common and Natu∣••ll Reason, viz. The making a Mans Body as short ••d narrow a Mark for his Adversary to Thrust at, as ••ssible. I confess this Posture of sinking so closs 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Ground, is a little Uneasie at first to be

acquired by those who have not been accu∣stomed to it, but a little Practice in this, as i•• all other things, will make it become in a sho•• time as Familiar and Easie, as any other Po∣sture; therefore let not its Uneasiness at fir•• discourage any person from atempting to lea•• it, for the advantage he will reap by it after∣wards, will sufficiently Recompence the Pai•• and Trouble he was at to make himself Ma∣ster of it.

In the third Place, I order a convenien•• Guard, such as the Agility of your Body wi•• permit, and by that I mean, that although have ordered sinking to the Ground, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Thinn Body; yet rather than that a Ma••∣should (by not having that Agility of the Body and Practice requisite to perform that Posture force and constrain himself into a Guard which would be uneasie to him, by reason o•• his endeavouring to obey exactly my Rule, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 am rather satisfied that he sink but so much and keep so thinn a Body as he findeth himsel•• most firm in, and from which he is most abl•• to defend himself, and Pursue his Adversary although it be not exactly according to th•• first Directions I gave him.

And the Reason for which I allow him thi•• Latitude, is because I find all constrained Po•• stures, weaken both a Man's Defence and Pur∣sute,

and I had rather have a Man Play from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Posture wherein he can use his Vigour, al∣••hough it be not altogether so secure and closs ••s I could wish it, than see him play Feeblely ••nd Feintly from a Posture, for which he ••ath not had Practice enough to make it Fa∣miliar and Easie, even although that Posture) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 respect of another Persons Agility, may be ••ound to be the more safe, and secure Posture of the two, because of its closness, but which cannot be so to him, by reason of the Con∣straint it putteth upon him.

But I give not this Allowance to make a Man negligent in acustoming himself to a closs and thinn Guard, not at all, it is only granted to him upon Necessity and for a time, until he hath had so much Practice as to make it Familiar, and Easie to his Body, which the sooner it be, so much the better, therefore by no means spare either Pains or Labour to ac∣quire it.

The Fourth thing I order is, That your Heels be still as near other as possible, but se∣••ing the Reason I have for this will come more properly in, when I speak to the Eight Rule, I shall forbear the setting it down till then, and at present proceed to my Third Rule which is.

RULE III.

With Calmness, Vigour, and Judgemen•• make use (for your Defence) of the most Excelle•• and not to be parallelled Contre-caveating Pa•• rade: &c.

The Reasons upon which this Rule is Grounded, are.

Because I find the Contre-caveating Parra•• to be so safe and general a Parrade, that a Ma•• who can rightly make use of it, needeth almo•• no other, for whereas to several of the Lesso•• you must use proper and particular Parrade•• such as are the Parrades which are in a ma••∣ner Peculiar to Feint a la Test, Volt-coupee, Fla•• canade: Ʋndercounter, &c: If you make use 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Contre caveating Parrade, you save th•• Trouble of choosing a particular Parrade, an•• also, the running the hazard of being surpr••∣sed by a Quick-handed Adversary, (who be∣fore you can well think upon what Parrade 〈◊〉〈◊〉 most proper to Defend the Lesson you imagin•• he is going to Play, would have the Thru•• home at you) but making use of this Parra•• exactly, you will certainly have your desig•• of Defending your self.

Besides in making use of other Parrades 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man may be deceived, by reason of his judgin•• that the thrust will be given within the Swor••

when it is really designed to be given without, or without the Sword when it is really to be given within, so that although a Man have 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quick enough Parrade, and a good Eye; yet you see he may be deceived with other Par∣••ades because of his wrong judging of the com∣••ng in of the Thrust, but making use of this Parrade as he should, he will never be deceived, ••or this Parrade Crosseth and Confoundeth the whole Art of the Sword, as Binding, Slipping, Plain thrusts, single and double Feints of all kinds, Quarting, Volting, &c. which cannot be said of ••ny other particular Parrade of the Sword, but of this most Excellent Contre caveating Parrade.

And the Reason is, because it is a Circular Parrade including a whole Circle, whereas the other Parrades make but a Part of a Circle, and ••n so much as they come short of the whole Circle, in so far are they Defective and Un∣certain, because the Thrust may come in at ••hat part of the Circle, which the Parrade ••whatever one it be) left Unclosed or Unfini∣••hed, and therefore the second Parrades in Quart and Terce with a Slooping Point, are more secure and certain, although not so quick ••nd firm, as the first Parrades in Quart and ••erce with the Point a little higher than the Hilt, & that because these make more of a Circle ••han thir do, but this Contre-caveating Parrade

is a great deal more Secure then either of them for it maketh not only one whole Circle, bu•• sometimes two or three, which is the reason 〈◊〉〈◊〉 its so infallibly ••eeling and Engaging the Ad∣versaries Sword, and consequently of its bein•• so Infallible a Parrade.

In the Second place, I order it to be use•• generaly upon the outside, and my Reaso•• for that is, because first it disordereth a Ma•• Adversaries Sword-hand much more to Parri•• Bind or Secure him upon the Outside of h•• Sword, all which this Parrade doth, then 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Parr••e, Bind or Secure, him upon the inside, an•• that because when you Parrie or Bind w••thi•• the Natural Posture of his hand Facilitats bot•• his redoubling of a thrust upon you, if he desig•• it, and his slipping you when you are goin•• to Bind him, which is just contrary when yo•• Offer to Parrie or Bind him with out, for the the disposition of his hand is so forced out of th•• easie, and natural Situation of i••, that it rende•• him, if not uncapable, yet at lest a great dea•• slower both in his redoubling, & sl••pping. An•• this is the Advantage you will reap by Parri••∣ing with the Co••tre caveating Parrade upon th•• out Side of your Adversaries Sword.

There is yet another considerable Advantag•• which a Man may have by using this Parrad•• and it is this, if it should be a Mans fortune 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be Engaged in the dark, all the Parrades in th••

World will never so find out, Engage, and Secure his Adversary's sword as this will, for if a Mans Sword came in the Dark, but within the Reach of yours, it will be impossible for you but you must feel it, because of the Reasons above mentioned, which will be a means to Secure you from the uncertain Attaeque of your Adversary, and also make you more certain of what you are to do your Self, even al∣though it be in the Dark, which is an Advan∣tage that no other Parrade will yeild you but ••t, and therefore in my humble opinion not to be neglected or undervalued.

The Third-thing that I ordered, was that your left hand should alwayes assist you, if you were any wayes doubtfull of the Parrade, and indeed this is so necessary a thing, especialy in the Offensive part, that what I intend mostly to say of it, I shall refer to my discourse upon the next Rule, (being on Offensive one) and at present shall only say, when the Contre caveating Parrade requireth the use of the left Hand to supply its wants, with what Confidence can the other Parrades claim the Name they have, seing they are so deficient (in respect of it) to give a Man that Satisfaction and Security, which but justly he should expect, for the La∣bour and Pains he hath been at, to Under∣stand, Learn, and put them in Practice.

But not to be tedious the last thing I order∣ed was, that to Defend your self with the more certainty, you should look always to your Ad∣versaries Sword-hand, and the Reason of this is, because if you should endeavour to draw any observation from his eyes, he may deceive you by looking in your Face, when he intends to thrust at your Belly, or looking at your Belly when he intends to thrust you in the Face, or if it should so fall out that your Adversary Squint, it is in that case impossible for you by looking to such a Persons Eyes, to Conjecture where, and at what Part of your Body, he in∣tends to thrust.

Neither will a Man though his Adversary have a straight look perceive it well, or be alto∣gether certain uponwhat part of his Body th•• thrust is comming in, by even looking to the Swords blade, first by Reason of its clearness which in a manner dazelleth a Mans Eyes with the motion it maketh; Secondly by Reason of the swiftness of its motion, which is a grea•• deal swifter then that of his hand, for his hand being the Center, and the Swords point the circum∣ference, and the Sword as it were a Line Draw•• from that Circumference to the hand or center, to•• which it is in a manner fixed, it will by a•• Mathematicall demonstration follow, that all th•• Parts of the Sword from the Hand to the Poin••

make proportionably a Swifter motion then the Hand doth, as they are distant from it, and do nearer approach to the Point or Circumference: A true Simile of which is a Wheel, the Neave or Center of which Representeth the Hand, the Spoaks the Sword, and the Rimm, or outmost Cir∣••umference the Swords Point; Now set the Wheel in Motion by turning it about, and you shall perceive pretty distinctly the Spoaks in their Motion at the Center as they are turning, but you shall not at all perceive them in their Mo∣••ion at the Rimm or outmost Circumference, by reason of the Swiftness of their Motion; it is just so with the Motion of a Sword at the Hilt and Point.

So that, to look to the middle of a Swords Blade, or within a Foot of its Hilt, is not so certain as to look to its Hilt, because the Mo∣tion of the Sword, at that Foots distance from the Hilt, or at the middle of it, is a great deal quicker, than the Motion at the Hilt, which as it was said before, is as it were the Center, and therefore the slowest Mover, and consequent∣••y the safest to look to; but to look to the Swords Point, which is the outmost Circum∣••erence, is yet worst of all, for it being double the Distance from the Center, or Hilt, that the middle of the Sword is, and every part of the Sword moving in proportion Swiftlier, as they

are farther distant from the Center, it will by Demonstration follow, that the Motion of the Sword at the Point, exceeds the Motion of it at the Middle, as much as the Motion at the Middle, exceeds the Motion at the Center, or Hilt.

Therefore, to look to the Point, or Circum∣ference of the Sword, that so a Man may be certain of its Motion, is Ridiculous, and Un∣certain, by reason of its being the Swifrest Mover; and to look to the Middle part of the Sword, although I confess it to be more certain than to look to the Point, yet it is also not at all to be Trusted to, by reason that its Motion is too quick, but to look (according to my Direction) to the Sword-hand, or Center, is a thing most certain, and only to be Trusted to, (and that because of its slow Motion) for the better perceiving the Motion of the Sword, and finding out where a Man intends to Thrust, as I think I have fully Demonstrate, and with out the Observation of which, a Man can ne∣ver with Confidence, and Assurance say, tha•• he either is, or can be, Master of the Parrade.

RULE IV.

With Calmness, Vigour, and Judgement, endeavour to Offend your Adversary, by Binding, or Securing his Sword, and that for the most part, &c.

The Reasons upon which this Rule is Grounded, are.

Because it is found that Binding, or Securing ones Adversaries Sword, before a Man offer to give home any Thrust, (his left Hand mak∣ing alwayes a kind of Parrade at the giving in of every Thrust) is the only Safe and Secure Play, with either Blunts or Sharpes; to secure a Man from Contre-temps, and Thrusts from the Resposts, which I shall endeavour to prove.

Suppose you intend but to Play a plain Thrust upon your Adversary, then unless you first Secure his Sword, by beating it out of the way, you must certainly Thrust straight home, without so much as regarding his Swords being just opposite to, and presented a∣gainst you, and in that Case, what should hin∣der him to Thrust just as you are Thrusting, and to Contre-temps with you?

You will perhaps say, your Thrusting closs by the Feeble of his Sword, will bear off his Thrust, or the quarting of your Head and Shoulders well will save it; but do not deceive your self with this fancie; for in the first place I can assure you, that although when you play upon a Masters Breast, he may suffer you to Thrust alwayes closs to his Sword, yet in Practice it will not be in your power once in six Thrusts, to have the opportunity of thrust∣ing

closs to your Adversaries Sword, and so that will not hold. But secondly, suppose you should Thrust closs to your Adversaries Sword, and quart your Head and Shoulders well, what doeth hinder your Adversary, to sink the Point of his Sword, as you are Thrust∣ing, and wound you at the same time in the Belly? for it is certain your Sword cannot de∣fend two parts at once, and if you quart your Head and Shoulders well, and Thrust closs to your Adversaries Sword above, then you are discovered below, which giveth him the Oc∣casion, and Opportunity, if he can take it, to Contre-temps you, so this is as Uncertain and Unsecure as the other, and thus in most part of the other Lessons, as well as in a plain Thrust, doth a Man expose himself.

I can only except Flancanade and Batterie, but yet they are not so secure as Binding; for Bind∣ing putteth your Adversaries Sword quite out of the way, so that if you do it Strongly and Neatly, you may have your Thrust home, and your Body in its Defensive posture again, before his Sword come into the straight Line betwixt your Body and his, or be in such a Disposition as he can wound you with it, but no other Lesson doth this so well as Binding, and therefore none of them is so Good or Safe.

Its true the most part of the other Lessons do

by Cunning and Subtility, as it were Insensi∣bly Cheat and Dukoy your Adversaries Sword out of the straight Line, as all kind of Feints, &c. And indeed I must confess he betrayes his Ignorance but too much, who suffers himself to be so Duckoyed and Cheated, both out of his Art, and I may say sometimes his Life, with such kind of Tricks; but Binding doth with so much Vigour and Firmness beat your Adversa∣ries Sword, and force it out of the way, that unless he be a great Artist, it is impossible for him to Resist, or Oppose it: and therefore it is the only secure play to be made use of for a Man's Life, and the only means to secure a Man, as said is.

First, from a Contre-temps, because of his Ad∣versaries Sword being forced out of the way by it, which incapacitates him to Thrust, until a Man hath given his thrust, and recovered him∣self to his Defensive Posture again; but to make sure Work, and to prevent more certainly a Contre-temps, especially if your Adversary should be a good Sword-man, you see I order your left Hand to make a kind of Parrade or De∣fence, at the giving in of every Thrust, so that if this be done Neatly, and with Discretion, you are a great deal more secure from a Con∣tre-temps, than if you did omit it; And indeed I know no other way a Man can be certain of his Defence but this, and what I said in my

Reasons to the preceeding Rule of the Contre-caveating Parrade, I may say here of Binding, that if it stand in need of the use of the left Hand, to secure it from a Contre-temps, what Security can a Man expect, from playing any of the other Lessons.

But this Binding with the use of the left Hand, doth not only save you as I said from Contre-temps; But secondly, preserves you also from thrusts from the Respost, & to make it with the use of the left Hand joyned to it, yet more effectual against Contre temps, and Thrusts from the Respost; I have joyned a great and conside∣rable helper to it, by advising you not to rest at all upon your Thrust, but to recover your Body instantly to your Defensive Posture, after the giving in of every Thrust, although your Thrusts should not be designed home, but even half Thrust; the custom of resting upon ones Thrust is so Dangerous, and hath such bad Consequences, that I am perswaded, he can never be a good Sword man, nor play se∣curely who is guilty of it, which I think is a sufficient enough Reason, to make any Man of Judgement guard against it.

Now thir three, viz. Binding, The Ʋse of the left Hand and the quick recovering of the Body after every Thrust, are so Linked together, that they may become a certain Defence against Contre-temps, and Thrusts from the Respost, that any

one of them without the other two, would not infallibly prove effectual, but the three being wrought and joyned together, do make so strong a Barricade, and such a secure and ••nfallible Defence, that no Contre-temps in the World, nor any Thrusts from the Resposts, can make a breach upon it, or render it Ineffectual.

And to make this the more clear, consider that although by Binding you may force your Adversaries Sword out of the way; yet if he be an Artist, and have a quick Hand, he may before your Thrust be home, bring his Sword into the right Line again, and give you a Thrust as soon almost as you can give yours, although you was the first Mover: now the on∣ly way to prevent this, is to strengthen this de∣fence of Binding, & making it more secure by joyning the second thing ordered to it, which was the help of the left Hand, notwithstanding of which your Defence is yet uncertain, & im∣perfect, for although by using your left Hand, you may turn off the Thrust he was giving home at you, yet if you rest upon your thrust, he may alter and change the giving in of his thrust, and so cheat and deceive your left hand. Therefore to let your defence have all the cer∣tainty imaginable you must yet farther streng∣then it, and make it as it were impregnable, by joyning to the use of the left Hand, a quick Recovery of the Body, which Three

make the Defence upon your Pursute mo•• Certain and Infallible, if the Fault be not you•• own, or that you have not acquired Art e∣nough to put them exactly in Practice.

And as for my Advice to Bind generally u∣pon the outside of the Sword, what I said in my Reasons to the preceeding Rule, concern∣ing the making use of the Contre-caveating Par∣rade generally upon the Outside, may be al∣so said here of Binding generally upon the Out∣side, and therefore I refer you to what I said there, not doubting but that I have fully convinced you, that (according to my Rule) there is no True and Secure Play with Sharps, and for a Mans Life, but by Binding, or Lessons proceeding from it, the use of the left Hand, and a quick Recovery of the Body, perfecting with the Binding your Defence upon all your Pursutes: But if you design not your Adver∣saries Life, but only to disable him, Then.

RULE V.

With Calmness, Vigour, and Judgement, Thrust at his Sword-hand, Wrest, or Arm, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at his nearest advanced Thigh, &c.

The Reasons upon which this Rule is Grounded, are.

Because I find the more home a Man play∣eth his Thrusts, the more he exposeth himself

and is lyable to Thrusts from the Resposts, and albeit a Man in playing for Life and Death, is necessitat sometimes to play home part of his Thrusts fully to the Body; yet when he doth not design the Life of his Adversary, there is not that necessity for giving them so fully home, and so he needeth not so expose himself.

Now if he intends not to expose himself, and yet designs to disable his Adversary, What better Method can there be, then for him to Thrust at those parts of his Adversaries Body which lie nearest to him, and which he can reach without almost any kind of Hazard, or stretch! of his Body, such as are the Arm, Wrest, Sword-hand, and Thighs, and which if hit, do as soon disable a Man, as any wounded Mem∣ber of the Body, by reason of the many Veins, Arteries, Muscles, Sinews, which are contained in them.

This is also an excellent Rule to be observed by Little, and Short Men, against those who are Tall and Vigorous, and whose great De∣sign is alwayes to Contre-temps, when a Man playeth fully home any Thrust to their Body, by reason of the Advantage they have of their long Reach or Elonge. It is also excellent to play much from the Respost upon such kind of Persons; But I think I need say no more for

proving of this, the Rule it self being so clear that it needeth no Commentary.

RULE VI.

If your Adversary be Hasty, Passionate, and Pur∣sue Furiously, and Irregularly, then with Calmness, Vigour, and Judgement, &c.

The Reasons upon which this Rule is Grounded, are.

Because it is found by Experience, that no∣thing encourages a Man more (who is of a Foreward Humour) to continue his violent Pursute, than the yeilding altogether to him, and not offering any wayes to resist him; so that by Crossing, Stopping, and Opposing his Fury, I mean that a Man should alwayes so soon as ever he hath presented his Sword, counterfeit a Real, or make a true half Pur∣sute, which are alone, and which half Pursute will be found extremely necessary in putting a stop to the Violence, and Fury of his Adver∣sary.

For if you observe it, you will find for the most part, that all Foreward Humors if given Liberty to, do Extravague extremely, and become most Insolent, Impertinent, and Un∣supportable, but if they be in the least check∣ed, it stopeth their Carrier, and maketh them truely discover their Natural Constitution,

which is just upon the other Extreme of suffer∣ing all Reproaches, and being Hectored and Baffled at all Hands.

But as in most part of things there is some Exceptions, so is there in this also, because there may be some Men of a great deal of Na∣tural Courage, who being sensible of their own weakness and ignorance in the Art of the Sword, do find it absolutely necessary (when it is their misfortune to be engaged) to supply that want by brisking it out, and confound∣ing their Adversary if possible by their for∣wardness, although he be a very good Sword∣man, (but if he be such, neither their Briskness nor Forwardness will do the business;) and as I said, their Natural Force and Courage, fur∣nish them wherewithall to push it to the very outmost, but there are few People of this slamp to be found, and where an Artist meets with one of those, he will meet with twenty who are such as I before described.

But engage with whom you please, either with Ignorants of the first and second constitution and humour, or with Artists of either, a con∣stant and vigorous half pursute, (for you can turn it into a true one when you please) is the only method to make your Art effectu∣al, and their irregular passion and ignorant cou∣rage, to turn into smoak, and evanish in nothing.

I need but say little of the second part of the Rule, which is, if your Adversary should be Careless, Lash, Slow, or perhaps Timerous, that then with Calmness, Vigour, and Judgement, you should pursue him, because if he be Care∣less, he can be no great Artist, at least if he be, his Carelesness incapacitats him from putting his Art in practice, and consequently reaping any benefit by it, and if he be Lash, or Time∣rous, then although he have Art, yet it betoken∣eth Cowardiceness, which also rendereth his Art useless to him, and in both those Cases you will have little to do, but to Divert your self, and by using your Art with Judgement, Con∣vince and Demonstrate to him (by letting him feel some of your gentlest Thrusts) how far you are Master of him, and how much he is in your Mercy.

RULE VII.

With Calmness, Vigour, and Judgement, prevent your receiving one Thrust for the giving ano∣ther, called (after that dangerous Name, and Artists Buge bear) a Contre-temps, &c.

The Reasons upon which this Rule is Grounded, are.

Because certainly all the Art in the World signifies not a Farthing, if a Man cannot by it infalliby Defend himself from a Contre-temps, for what doth it avail or profit a Man, to pursue

his Adversary with all the Offensive Art ima∣ginable, and wound him, if at the same time he is wounded himself, and that he doth not Back, or Second that his Offensive Art, or pur∣fute, with his Defensive Art, that so he may ••hun a Contre-temps.

Can it be any satisfaction to him, that out of Eagerness to give his Adversary a wound, he hath suffered himself by his Carelesness, to receive one perhaps much more Dangerous? Certainly to any Artist or Man of Judgement it can be none, but rather a matter of Regrate and Sorrow, that he should have been at so much Pains and Trouble to acquire Art, and then to make so bad use of it, as the ill Con∣sequences of exchanged Thrusts do too often prove; therefore to prevent such Mischiefs, observe this Rule, and what I have said in my Reasons for the Fourth, where you will find full Satisfaction, and infallible Directions both to prevent Contre-temps, and Thrusts from the Respost.

But me thinks I hear some Foreward Igno∣rant saying, that this Advice may be very good for Artists to observe, who have been Taught both how to Offend their Adversary, and also to Defend themselves, upon their Pursute from a Contre-temps, if their Adversary design one, but for such Ignorants as they are,

who would neither be at the Expences to im¦ploy Masters to Instruct them in this Art, nor if they did imploy them, could take the pai•• to follow it out, understand it, and put it in practice, it signifieth nothing, and all the tim•• that is spent in either Writting, or Advising it by word of Mouth, is but so much lost time and Labour in vain.

In Answer to which, I shall in the first place grant, that as to what relates to them, it signifieth indeed nothing, in respect that they are Ignorant, and have not Art to make my Di∣rections effectual, for my Advices are an Ab∣stract of the best Rules in Fencing, which are to be most exactly observed, by the greates•• of Sword-men, so that to all who are either Ig∣norant, or who have only the bare Theory, with∣out Practice proportionable to it, thir forego∣ing Advices and Rules were never designed, a•• I before told in my Dedication.

Secondly, had I been to advise Ignorants, I would have desired them to do the quite con∣trary, which is to be most Foreward, and to pursue most Furiously, and Irregularly, and so endeavour to wound their Adversary, let it cost themselves what it would; and the Reason is clear, because it is most evident, that all the Advantage an Ignorant can expect to have of an Artist, must flow from his Furious

and Violent Pursute, and endeavouring to force his Adversary to Contre-temps with him every Thrust, (but this will have but a small Effect against a True Artist) for if he should offer not to Pursue, but endeavour Naturally to Defend himself, a Sword man is in that Case ••s much Master of him in his Play, as (to make a Comparison) a Professor of Divinity is Master of a young Student in his Theologie, or an Expert Mathematician Master of one who is but in his Institutions of Geometry.

Therefore the only Method an Ignorant should take to Baffle an Artist, is to be Fore∣ward and Irregular in his Motions, to see if by his Temerity and Rambling, he can Con∣found and Force the Artist, because he is so ••ot and Smartly put to it, to be satisfied to give a Contre-temps, that so he may make him∣self as much as is in his power, in an equal con∣dition with the Ignorant, who is almost certain ••o receive a Thrust, as well as the Artist, and perhaps more Dangerous, because of the Ar∣••'s knowing better to Plant and Adjust his Thrusts than he can do; for although an Ig∣norant's Forewardness and Fury, may help him to force the giving of a Contre-temps by an Ar∣tist; yet it can nowayes teach him to Adjust his Thrust, or acquire any Advantage that way, which undeniably, and without any manner of Debate, all Artist have of Ignorants,

by their knowing better how to Adjust and Plant their Thrusts, and will still have so long as the other do really deserve the Name of Ignorants.

But for all I have said, I still think to hear him insist and maintain, that even to Artists this Advice of shuning Contre-temps will but signifie little, because whoever will be but at the Trouble to visit the Fencing-schools, shall scarcely see one Assault of ten, made either by Artists against Artists, or Artists against Ignorants, but what is so Composed and made up of Contre-temps, that one would think the greatest Art they learn, and aime at, is to strive who shall Contre-temps oftnest, so that a Man is ne∣cessitat to think one of two, either that the Art is of it self unsufficient, to give that security a∣gainst Contre-temps a Man would desire, or that the Masters play the Cheat, and teach not so much of the security of the Art as they know, so that if the Fault be in the Masters, they ought not to be Encouraged, or Imployed and if it be in the Art, then it is not worth the Learnning, because an Ignorant can Contre∣temps an Artist, as well as the Artist, when it on∣ly pleaseth him, can Contre-temps, or Exchange Thrusts with the Ignorant, which maketh the Ignorant's Forewardness as Advantagious, Pro∣fitable, and Useful to him, as all the Fallacious Tricks and Directions, which an Artist hath

been at the Pains and Expences to Understand and Learn from his Master, can be to him, and therefore that this Advice of mine to shun Con∣tre-temps, is but a bare Speculation, and a thing Impracticable, and consequently of as little use to an Artist, as to an Ignorant.

One who is not an Artist, but such an one as the Objecter (I mean an Ignorant) will be apt to think that what is here objected is al∣most unanswerable, while in effect it is just no∣thing; And to give you some Satisfaction I shall take the pains to Answer it, which I hope to all understanding Men will prove a Motive to make them respect Fencing, and then en∣deavour, first to Understand and Practise, and when once that length, then to rely upon the Certainty and Infallibility of the pre∣ceeding Rules, which upon the contrary, if not exactly put in Practice according to my Directions, will prove both very Fallible and Uncertain, for what I speak must be by them acted; other wayes all will prove false, and therefore if their expectation be not Answered, the Fault is their own, and none of mine.

But as to the Answer of the Objection, I say that it is neither the defect of the Art, which occasioneth so many Contre-temps in the Fenc∣ing-schools, because I dare be bold to say, that whoever practiseth exactly the foregoing Di∣rections,

shall infalliby prevent and shun all Contre-temps, so that if thir Rules be sufficient, and are a part of Fencing, then the Art is suffici∣ent to secure a Man from Contre-temps, and therefore it is not any deficiency in the Art, which is the cause of so many Contre-temps in the Fencing-schools.

Neither is it the Masters Ignorance, who know not to Teach this secure Play, because to my certain knowledge, the most part of them, and those who are best imployed, build their Art upon the same very Foundations & Rules which I have given you (although I con∣fess they are Guilty of some Abuses and O∣missions in their Schools, which I would wil∣lingly have Rectified, for which see my se∣cond Observation) so that it cannot be their Ig∣norance in not knowing to Teach this secure kind of Play, which is the cause of so many Contre-temps.

Nor is it likewise the Masters playing the Cheat, in not Teaching; or keeping secret, and not Revealing and Discovering to their Scho∣lars, when they give them their Lessons, the Hazard and Danger of Contre-temps, which are exchanged in Schools; No, the Fault lieth not in any of these, but in the Scholar, who although his Master shew him the way how to prevent Contre-temps, and the Danger that is

in them; yet will not be at the pains to ob∣serve his Directions, but will follow his own Method, because he thinketh himself, if he hath been but three Months at the School, as Dexterous and Understanding as his Master, and that he standeth in need no more of his Advice, but may be his own Governour and Director.

This is the true Reason why we see so many Contre-temps in Schools, and consequently have so many bad Sword-men in the Kingdom, but to a true Artist who hath exactly followed his Masters Advice, and hath acquired sufficient Practice; I maintain that the foregoing Ad∣vice, will be most Seasonable, Acceptable, & Useful, let Ignorants talk what they will.

And as for their being certain to Contre-temps with an Artist, when they please to put them∣selves in that Hazard, I positively deny it, for upon the contrary I mantain that a true Artist may, (provided he practise exactly the fore∣going Rules) infallibly save and keep himself from being Contre-temped, let the Ignorant Force and Push as he pleaseth, and if the Artist do it not, it is not the Fault, or any Defect or Un∣sufficiency in the Art it self, but only his weak∣ness, and failing to make use of the Security that his Art is able to furnish him with; and as upon the one Hand an Artist can infallibly

save himself from a Contretemps by an Ignorant, I deny not but one Artist may Contre-temps ano∣ther, (because it is for them chiefly that this Direction or Rule for shunning of Contretemps was designed) so upon the other, he can infalli-Contre-temps with the Ignorant as often as he pleaseth, and it shall not be in the Ignorants power to hinder or prevent him.

For you must understand that to give a true and real Contre-temps, doth really require Judgement and a swift and just Hand, as I shall immediately shew you, and here I desire you to make a Distinction, betwixt an Ignorants Contre-temping an Artist, and his Forcing the Artist by the Violence and Fury of his Pursute, for his own Ease and Satisfaction to Contre-temps him, for this Last I do not deny, but voluntarly acknowledges, that an Artist may be so pressed, that when he findeth he can do no better, he is satisfied, (rather than to let the Ignorant have any Advantage of him) to put himself in the same Hazard with him, by of∣fering to Contre-temps him, and when People sometimes see an Artist Reduced to this strait, they are so far mistaken, as to think that the Ignorant contre-temps him, whereas it is really the Artist that contre-tempeth the Ignorant, that he may be said to have lost no Advantage by his Art, nor the Ignorant to have gotten any by his Ignorance and Furious Forewardness.

But as upon the one Hand, I acknowledge that an Artist may be so pressed with an Igno∣rant, that he is necessitate to Venture and Ha∣zard a Contre-temps with him, so upon the o∣ther, I positively deny, that it is in the power of any Ignorant to Contre-temps a Person who is really an Artist, and my Reason is, because as I said before, to give a real Contre-temps, doth really require Judgement and a swift and just Hand; and that no Ignorant can be supposed to have, and that it requireth those Three to make it evident thus.

If an Ignroant give a real Contre-temps, it must be given just as the Artist is Thrusting at him, and neither before nor after, for if it be either before or after, then it is no Contre temps; now suppose it be before the Artist Thrust, then the Artist will not give one Thrust for a∣nother, and therefore it is no Contre-temps, but the Fault of the Artist, who did not Defend the Pursute of the Ignorant, and so it is a fair Thrust, and cannot be called a Contre temps; and if it be after the Artist hath Thrust, that the Ignorant giveth him a Thrust; then nei∣ther can it be called a Contre-temps, but rather a Thrust from the Respost; and so it was the Artists Fault in not Defending himself better upon his own Pursute, and not the Ignorants Judgement that made him give it.

Now as it cannot be called a Contre-temps, which is either given before, or after an Artist doth Thrust, so that only can be called a Con∣tre-temps, which is given at the same very nick of time the Artist is Trusting, for then both will undoubtedly receive a Thrust at the same time; (unless one of them prevent it by the help of the left Hand) and this is that which can only be called a real Contre-temps, and that an Ignorant can give this, I deny for three Rea∣sons; The first is, that he must have the Judgement to Time his Thrust, just as the Ar∣tist is Thrusting; and the second, and third, that he must both have a quick Hand to be as soon home as the Artist; and a just Hand to Plant his Thrust right, none of which an Ig∣norant can be said to have; for not having the Art of the Sword, he cannot have the Judge∣ment of it, and without Practice (which none will say he can pretend to) he can neither have a Just, nor Swift Hand: And therefore that it is not in the power of an Ignorant, to give an Artist a real Contre temps will hold good, as I think I have sufficiently made appear. And also that to give a real Contre-temps, is required Judgement, and a Swift and Just Hand.

And upon the contrary, that an Artist can infallibly Contre-temps with an Ignorant, as often as he pleaseth, and it shall not be in the Igno∣rants

power to prevent it, is very clear, for the 〈…〉〈…〉 Judgement, a quick Haud, and the practice to Adjust a Thrust, being the Three things which render an Ignorant incapable to Contre-temps an Artist, it will follow, that an Artist having these three Advantages, they give to him that, which the want of them divest the Ignorant of; so that the Ignorant being rendered uncapable to Contre-temps by the want of them, by the Rule of Contraries, the Artist by having them, is made capable to Contre-temps the Ignorant, when and how often he pleaseth.

So by this time, I doubt not but you are sensible of the weakness of the Objection, and how unreasonable and frivolous it is, and also understand what Advantages a Man's Art giv∣eth him upon the one Hand, and what Incon∣veniencies and Hazards his Ignorance upon the other doth expose him to; and if so, then I need not inquire which of the two you had ra∣ther be, whether a Judicious Artist, or a Furi∣ous and Foreward Ignorant; seing your very Fa∣vouring the one, would accuse you of Folly; and your Despising the other, discover your Sloth and Carelesness.

RULE VIII.

Now to put a close to my Rules, let them be all done within Distance as much as possible, &c.

The Reasons upon which this Rule is Grounded, are.

Because the closer a Man play to his Adver∣sary (if he be Master of the Defensive part) he playeth so much the securer for himself, and is in a better Capacity to Hurt or Offend his Adversary, then when he is without Distance, and is necessitate before the giving in of every Thrust to approach, for this both disordereth his own Body, by exposing it more to the Con∣tre-temps of his Adversary, and also maketh his Pursute not so effectual, in respect that it is not so quick and smart, as when it is done within Distance; For playing within Di∣stance, all your Thrusts may be given in the twinckling of an Eye, and a great deal more certain as to the Planting, being only done with the Spring of your Arm, and without al∣most any Elonge of the Body, which are the se∣cond and third things advised in this last Rule

Now it is most certain, that all Thrusts given only with a Spring or Jerk of the Arm, are a great deal more Strong, Quick, and Firme, then when they are performed with an Elonge, because the Elonging or Stretching the rest of your Body, weakneth and taketh away both the Force of the Spring, and Quick∣ness of the Thrust: Therefore to Play only with a Spring of the Arm, and with as little a

Stretch or Elonge as possible, is the only best way to play both smartly, and securely: be∣sides if a Man accustome himself to great Stretches, he runneth into two Inconvenien∣cies, the one is the exposing his Body by it to the Contre-temps, and Thrusts from the Res∣post of his Adversary, which if he did not stretch, would not be so much exposed; The other is the Danger he putteth himself in, if his Feet should slip, and he fall, which is al∣so prevented if he play within Distance, only with a Spring of the Arm, and with little or no Stretch: And therefore if it were but only upon this one Account, I think a Man should shun Stretching as much as possible. A Man hath likewise this Advantage by playing closs to his Adversary, that it preventeth the Variety of Lessons which would make him the more uncertain of the Parrade.

But that you may the better do it, I gave you an Advice in my second Rule, which will be of great use to prevent your Stretch∣ing, and it was, That you should still keep your Heels as near other as possible, which I omit∣ted to speak to in that place, thinking it to come more a Propos here; now if you but consider it, you will find that this keeping of your Heels near other, when you are even without Distance, but more especially when you are within, doth make your Thrust come

the farther home, and reach your Adversary with a far less Stretch of the Body, then if your Heels were keep a good way asunder, so that playing within Distance, as I order you, if your Heels be closs, the stepping foreward a Foot, with your advanced Foot, will bring your Thrust as far home, as your full Stretch would have done, if your hindmost Heel had been far distant from your advanced; so that keep∣ing your hindermost Heel, closs almost to your advanced Heel and being within Di∣stance, you will almost without any Stretch of the Body, only by stepping foreward a little with your advanced Foot, and using the Spring of your Arm, sheath your Sword to the very middle in your Adversarie's Body, if he do not oppose you.

But this is not all the Advantage you reap by keeping your Heels near; for it not only carrieth home your Thrust father; but also is a great means to help you to recover your Body quickly after every Thrust, which was one of the Particulars I advised in the fourth Rule. Now it is clear, that so long as a Man playeth at his full Stretch, he can never so quickly recover his Body, as he can do when he is at a half Stretch, nor so soon at a half Stretch, as he can do when he maketh little or no Stretch; and seing the keeping of his hinder Heel near to his advanced, preventeth

his Stretching, and the less that he Stretcheth, the quicklier he will recover his Body, then it doth certainly follow, that the keeping his Heels near other, is a great means to facilitate the quick recovery of his Body after every Thrust, which was that I designed to prove.

So there remains only, that I should speak to the third thing proposed in my first Rule, which I delayed till now, designing to close the Reasons for my Rules with a short Dis∣course upon it, which is also the last Advice in this my last Rule, to wit, That Judgement accompany all your Actions, both in their Beginning, Procedure, and Close; and indeed without it all I have said would signifie but little, for to make a short Detail, What would it signifie to you? your having Calmness, and Vigour, if you had not Judgement to direct you, how to make use of the Advantage you have by them; And what would the keeping of a Closs and Thinn Guard signifie to you, if you had not your Judgement in defending yourself upon it, or pursuing your Adversary from it; What would it signifie also to you, that you have Directions to prevent Contre-temps, if you have not Judgement to know when to Practise them, and in short what doth the whole Art of the Sword signifie without Judgement, certainly for very little or no use at all.

Now as upon the one Hand an Artist is liable to a great many Inconveniencies by the want of it, so upon the other his having it, pur∣teth him in a Capacity, and sets him at Liber∣ty, notwithstanding my Directions I have given him, (although I confess they are the securest I can think upon, or imagine) to choose what Parrades, and what Lessons he shall think most fitt and agreeable to the Consti∣tution, Play, and Humour of his Adversary, although those Lessons which he might pitch upon in respect of some Mens play, would be found to be most loose and uncertain; but in respect of the Person he is to play them upon, Judicious and Good, because by his Judge∣ment he hath found that such Lessons will have as good effect against such a Person, as the most secure against one of another Humour, for if it were other wayes, and had not his Liberty of choose, he would then be tyed up, and confined to my Directions; or I may say, to my particular Judgement, which is the rendering his own useless, and is just contrary to what I so much recommended; but there must be great care taken, that a Man abuse not this Liberty, and Allowance which is given him, and that he be certain his Judge∣ment be not false, but Grounded upon Art and Reason before he Adventure, and take upon him to make any considerable Change or Al∣teration

in Directions, which in the strickest Sense must be confessed to be the most secure, against all Play and Humours whatsoever.

But that I may end this with a Comparison, Fencing without Judgement, is just like a Watch without a Spring, a Neat peice of Work with a great many fine Wheels, but without any Motion, the want of which maketh her use∣less: And so is the Art of Fencing a curious Art, wherein there are a great many fine Les∣sons, and excellent Rules, but for lack of Judge∣ment (which is its Spring) all lieth Dead, and is Useless; but once apply the Spring, and set it in Motion and a going, and then it becometh a most Quick and Lively Exercise, and (as a Watch) an Ornament fit for all Gentlemen to carry about with them, and as a compleat Watch with a Spring sheweth a Man the Hour of the Day, that so he may know how to dis∣pose of his time and actions; so doth Fencing directed by Judgement, discover to a Man the Hazards and Inconveniencies he is exposed to, and the means to shun and prevent them, by his disposing of the several Branches of his Art so and so, as she shall direct him.

And farther, as the Spring of a Watch doth cause its Hand to point to that Hour, which is most needful to be known; so doth Judge∣ment direct a Man's Hand, to point with his

Sword, and Thrust at such parts of his Adver∣sarres Body, which do most expose and dis∣cover themselves to him, and which are there∣fore the most fit to be Attacqued; so that without her, there can be no true Artist, and where she presides, all will go well, and as one would wish that is, make the preceeding Rules answer my Design, which was, infallibly to direct a Man, to defend himself against the Attacques of all Persons with Sharpes, which I doubt not but I have sufficiently done, if they be exactly observed; and I am confident, if they fail, it can be imputed to no defect in the Directions, but to the weakness and want of Art in the Person, who is to put them in pra∣ctice, and therefore the blame must lye at their Door, and not at mine; for it is Acting, and not Talking, that in this Case must do the Business.

Having now finished my Rules, with the Reasons upon which they are Grounded, I shall in the last place proceed to the third thing I at first proposed, which was, to give you some Observations, which will be neither Unnecessary, nor Unpleasant.

Thirdly, Some REMARKES and OB∣SERVATIONS, &c.

IN the First place I observe, let Ignorants talk what they please, and undervalue both Art and Artists as much as is in their power; yet still it is an undeniable Truth, that Artists have three considerable Advantages of them, which is, first, The knowing to Parrie, and actually Parreing a plain Thrust, better than they can do; For I shall Engage for what any Man pleaseth, That, set up an Ignorant to me at the Wall, who was never taught any thing of the Art of the Sword; I shall with the Art I have, give him half a Dozen plain Thrusts distinctly one after another, and it shall not be in his power to Parrie, or Defend himself from one single Thrust of all the six, and upon the other Hand, let him Thrust at me twenty plain Thrusts at the Wall, he shall not Touch me with one of them; And if this be true (which may be easily put to a Trial, whether it be so or not) then certainly the Artist as I said, hath this first Advantage of an Ignorant,

that he can Parrie and Defend himself better then the Ignorant can do for his Heart.

But perhaps when some Persons are read∣ing this, who have seen me when I have been in the Fencing-schools, receive either plain Thrusts at the Wall, from those who were Thrusting upon me, or in Assault when I was playing as the would judge my best, they will be apt to challenge me, and ask how I come to Assert things, the contrary of which they have seen with their own Eyes; As first, That I have been so far from Parreing twenty plain Thrusts upon end, that they have seen me hitt once in three or four; And secondly, That in Assaulting, notwithstanding the many exact Rules I pretend to give, to save a Man from Contre-temps; yet they have seen me several times Contre-temped, and it is pro∣bable, that if I could not Defend my self with my own Rules from Contre-temps, another will hardly do it: Therefore my Rules will not prove so very infallible as I imagine them to be, and that I should not have been so po∣sitive in the Commendation of them, seing that I my self know them to have failed me, in that which I do most commend them for, viz. Their security against Contre-temps.

I know thir will be the Thoughts and Ob∣jections of some, who will peruse thir Sheet more out of a Curiosity to get something to

Object against me, then a desire to reap any Profit or Advantage by them, and therefore I thought fit to set them down in this place, that so I might Answer them.

As to the first, I do not believe that any Man will say, he ever saw me receive a plain Thrust at the Wall from any Ignorant, which is what I affirmed, I would Defend my self from; for if I were not able with the Art I have certainly to Defend my self at the Wall, from the plain Thrusts of all Ignorants, I should then throw down my Fleuret, and underva∣lue Fencing so much, that I should never more enquire after it, or any wayes, encourage the Professors of it, but should do all that lay in my power to discover its insufficiency, that Gentle∣men might not be for the Future Imposed u∣pon and Cheated, both out of their Money & Time by it. But although I deny my being hitt at the Wall by the plain Thrusts of Ignorants; yet I confess I have been often hitt by Artists, and I do not almost remember that ever I was bitt with plain Thrusts, since I understood any thing of this Art, but what was given me either by those who were actually Scholars at the Time, and therefore were no Ignorants; or those who had been once Scholars, and there∣fore also no wayes deserved the Name of Ig∣norants, and for my being hitt with a plain

Thrust by such, I do no deny it, neither doth it any wayes reflect upon me, because for one Sword-man to be hitt with a plain Thrust by ano∣ther, is no Disparagement at all, but a very considerable one it is, if an Artist cannot in∣fallibly Defend himself against the plain Thrusts of any Ignorant, and that I am not able to do that, I positively deny, and refers the Proba∣tion of it to a Trial, when ever it shall be re∣quired by Persons who are worth the giving Satisfaction to in such a Matter; therefore when such Persons accuse me of being hitt with plain Thrusts, they would do well to be so inge∣nuous as to confess, that those Thrusts were really given me by Artists, which I shall willingly confess, and not by Ignorants, which I positively deny, for if that were, they would indeed have good Reason to laugh both at me, and my Directions.

But as to the second, which is, My receiving Contre temps in Assaults, notwithstanding of what I could do to prevent them, which not only dis∣covers the insufficiency of my Rules to prevent Contre-temps, but also my disingenuity in Com∣mending, and Accounting Rules to be Infal∣lible, which I by my own proper Experience have found oftner then once, to be both Fal∣lible and Uncertain.

This Objection I confess cometh somewhat

closer to me than the former did, and I believe I have started it so fairely, that none who con∣siders either this or the former, but will con∣fess, I have said as much both against my self, and to make this Art of no Repute, as any Ignorant whatsoever could do, and I the rather like to make all the Objections possible against it, that People may be convinced I deal above Board, and that there lyeth no Cheat in the Matter; and that also by Answering all Ob∣jections, I may in a manner (by reasoning so fairely with them) force them to confess and acknowledge, that the Art of the Sword is not only a Pleasant, but also an Useful and Ne∣cessary Art, worthy of the Study of all, but more especially of the Gentry.

But in Answer to the Objection, although I confess I have received many Contre-temps, and notwithstanding of all the Art I have, do still Fear them when I am Assaulting, and although I might also alledge what I did in the Answer, to the preceeding Objection, that all the Contre-temps ever I received were from Artists, (for I positively deny that any Ignorant can give an Artist a reall Contre-temps, which I sufficient∣ly made appear in my Reasons for the Seventh Rule, to which I refer you) and the most part of the Thrusts, that were Exchanged one for another, were also for the most Part from Artists

and not from Ignorants, and consequently no disparagement to me; yet passing by that, and granting these exchanged Thrusts were given by Ignorants, I shall give you two Rea∣sons, the one shewing why any Artist, be he never so Expert, may come to receive one Thrust for another from an Ignorant, and the other shewing that he may receive either a real Contre-temps, or one Thrust for another from an Artist, and yet that it can be no reflection upon my Rules, which, as I said, will prove still in∣fallible if exactly observed.

And the Reason of the first (which is, any Artists receiving one Thrust for another from an Ignorant) is that when People Assault, it is commonly with Blunts, and when an Ig∣norant who undervalueth the Art of the Sword, and trusteth all to his own Forewardness i•• desired by an Artist to shew his Natural Play, he very well considering that he can receive no prejudice by his being hitt with a blu••t Fleuret, Rusheth and Rambleth still forewards (let him receive never so many Thrusts) until he either hitteth the Artist with one of his Rambling Thrusts, or other wayes cometh so closs, that the Artist must inclose with him, and he thinketh, if he hath given the Artist but one Thrust (although he himself should re∣ceive three or four in the time they are play∣ing) that he hath carried the Day, and quite

run down the Art of Fencing, whereas if they were either to play with Real Sharps, or with Fleurets having a quarter of an Inch of a point beyond the button, I make not the least doubt, but their rambling would be a little slo∣wer, and they would take better notice to what they did, it being Natural even for the most Foreward and Boldest of Men, to endeavour to save themselves by putting a little stop to their Pursute, when they perceive a Sharp point opposite to, and ready to wound, them, and without which stop or pause, they are sensible they might run the Risk, if not of losing their Life; yet at least of being hurt, and so smarting for their rash Fotewardness: so this is the Reason why Artists may receive one Thrust for another from Ignorants, to wit, Their Assaulting commonly with B••unts; Therefore to prevent this inconveniency, if I were to play with an Ignorant for a Wager, I would play alwayes with pointed Fleurets, and then in GOD's Name let him Ramble his Belly full; For in that case I would know a way to come at him, which might perhaps cause him re∣pent his Forewardness.

But the Reason of the second, (which is that an Artist may either receive a Real Centre temps or one Thrust for another, (commonly cal∣led Exchanged Thrusts) from another Artist) is

that although they play never so warrily, yet if they fail in the least, to make use of the exact contraries to Contre-temps and Thrusts from the Respost, which I have given them, they expose themselves to both, and I must confess, the Directions are so Nice and Difficult to be performed, that there are even but few Sword∣men, who are able to put them exactly in practice; so that it is not the defect of the Rules, but the Fault of the Artist, in not ob∣serving them strictly in practice, that is, the cause of his being either Hitt, Contre-temped, or Resposted: This Reason I also give for my re∣ceiving any of the Three in Assault from Ar∣tists, or the first and last from Ignorants; and I much doubt, if it be possible for ordinary Ar∣tists to observe them altogether exactly, how∣ever, the nearer they come to the exact Ob∣servance of them, they are certainly so much the securer; And if it be asked why I give Rules so difficult, that neither, I my self, nor o∣ther Sword-men when they are even at their greatest perfection can without a great deal of difficulty exactly observe? It is Answered, That in this, I Resemble the Divines, who al∣though they give most excellent Rules for Holy Living and Dying, which cannot but be confessed by all Christians, to be most Ratio∣nal and Orthodox; yet find great Difficulty themselves to Live up to that pitch of Mortifi∣cation

and Holiness, which they require exact∣ly of others under the pain of Eternal Damna∣tion; and yet none will be so bold as to say, because those Rules are not but with great Dif∣ficulty exactly observed, that therefore they are not sufficient, and infallibly certain, to bring Salvation to all who exactly observe, and square their Lives and Actions conform to them: The Parallel I confess betwixt thirtwo Subjects is altogether unequal; yet the Com∣parison will hold good, that although an Ar∣tist may receive a Thrust, or be Contre-temped or Resposted, because of his failing to observe exactly my Directions; yet that the Directions may be, and are in themselves absolutely suf∣ficient and infallible, for the preservation of one who exactly observes them, from all kind of Thrusts whatsoever, I doubt not but what I have said, will be thought to be, by all rational Men, a sufficient Answer, both to the Objecti∣ons, and for proving the sufficiency of my Rules, therefore I shall proceed where I left; And shew, that.

The second Advantage Artists have over Ig∣norants, is, in Planting or Adjusting a Thrust, which no Man will controvert, seing it is not to be imagined, that an Ignorant who perhaps did never thrust six Thrusts in his Life-time, can be so certain to hitt the part of the Body he

aimeth at, as an Artist will be, who hath bee•• taught how to Plant, and is now and then pra∣ctising himself with it.

And the Third is the having of Judgement, for I suppose all Artists to have that, other∣wayes they are really no Artists but Ignorants in Masquerad, that is to say, they pretend to Art, because they have been some time at the Fencing school, and so under that Cloak of be∣ing once a Scholar, they conceal their Igno∣raec••; but if they be real Artists they must have the Judgement of the Sword, and that no Igno∣rant can have, because it is unseparably joyn∣ed to the Art it self, and is only acquired by practising of it, and that no Ignorant can pre∣tend to, who never was at the Pains and Trouble, so much as to enquire after it, let alone to be at the Toile to gain it by practice, which is the only true way to come at it.

Now the Advantage an Artist hath over a•• Ignorant, by having this Judgement, is that by it he can know when such and such a Part o•• his Adversaries Body is open to him, and wha•• Lesso••s are most proper to offend such parts as are exposed, and even although his Adversary should not be Open but upon a Closs Guard, i•• surn sheth him with means to make him dis∣cover himself and give an Open: As also i•• Teatheth him in some measure to understand

and know, when, and at what part of his own Body, his Adversary designes to Attacque him: all this and a great deal more it doth to an Artist, but an Ignorant not having it, he is frustrate of all these preceeding Advantages, and therefore certainly at a great deal of loss for the want of it, so that it cannot be denied, but this of having Judgement is the Third con∣siderable Advantage, that all true Artists have over Ignorants. I could give you several other Instances in which Artists have considerable Advantages, but I think what I have said suf∣ficient as to this Particular.

Secondly, I observe that in the Fencing schools (and that not only of this Kingdom, but Eng∣land and France also) there are several Abuses, and things committed which I would have rectified, both for the Benefit of the Scholars, and Reputation of the Masters; although I know it will be thought somewhat strange, that after having said so much in Commendation of Fencing it self, I should at last reflect upon its Professors and Teachers.

But to that I Answer, That although the Art be Grounded upon undeniable Truths and infallible Reasons; yet that is no Argu∣ment, but many who profess it may be subject to Errours, for I am far from attributing Infal∣libility to them: And I confess I am sorry, I

should be necessitate to differ from many o•• them, in circumstances so considerably tend∣ing to the accomplishment and perfecting of Sword men, but my Opinion being backed with so many, and strong Reasons (the Truth and Weight whereof I earnestly recommend to the serious Reflection of the Reader,) I cannot but maintain and defend it; until by as strong and convincing Reasons as I have given for it, I am perswaded of the contrary.

Seing therefore my Proposals are ground∣ed upon Reason, and not upon other Mens practices, I expect they will convince me by it, for that practice which is against Reason, is but deceitful and false, and as it is to the Eternal Fame of the great DUKE of Newcastle, that he was the first who Rectified the Abuses of Riding in the Academies, by finding out a new and infallible Method for dressing Horses, which was not thought of before, and which at first had no doubt many Opposers, until from the reasonableness and great Success it had, they were necessitate to acknowledge its Excellency and Certainty: So I hope I shall have the Honour to be one of the first who hath publickly proposed the Rectifying of A∣buses commonly committed in Fencing schools.

The first whereof is, The giving Scholars at their very first Entering to the School, heavy Fleurets

to take their Lessons with; And the Reason they give is, Because (say they) the using a weighty Fleuret strengthneth their Arms and Wrests, and maketh them when they come afterwards to Assault with light Fleurets, to handle them a great deal more Easily and Nimbly, then they would have done, had they been still, accustomed to play with light ones.

All this I grant, for it cannot be denied, but that which I condemn, is, their giving these heavy Fleurets to Schollars at their very first entring to them, when they understand not so much as how to give in a Plain Thrust, or to move their Fleuret regularly any way, for it is certain that they never being accustomed to move their Wrests, the first time that they use that Motion it will be a trouble to them, and make their Sinewes Ake, although they had nothing in their Hands at all, let alone a stiff heavy Fleuret, just as a Man when he is first Learning to Elonge or stretch, the Sinewes of his Thighs will Ake for a Day or two after, al∣though he force not himself to a full stretch: And as it would be thought a little strange for a Master to force a young Schollar the very first or Second Day after his first entring to the School to his full Stretch, or before he hath by custome made Elonging familiar and easy to him; so I say, at the beginning a Schollar should make use of a very light Fleuret untill

by a little Practice and Use, his Wrest be acquainted with the turns of the Parrades and Motions of the Lessons, and then, and not till then (which will be about three Weeks, or a Month at most after his first entring) should be given him a weighty Fleuret to strengthen his Wrest and Nerves, and with that he should alwayes take his Lessons, and Parrie his Ad∣versaries plain Thrusts at the wall, the using of which, will undoubtedly make him handle a light Fleuret or Sword, as he shall have occasi∣on for them, a great deal more firmly & nim∣bly, then if he had alwayes used a light Fleuret.

For (to make a Comparison) as it is the Common Custom for Dancing Masters abroad, to wear plates of Leed betwixt the plies of the Soles of their Ordinary walking Shoes, that so they may seel themselves as it were Lighter, and Cleevrer, when they put on their Light Dancing Shoes; so will the constant using of weighty Fleurets, make Men when they are to assault with Light ones, or to make use of their Sword, to think them a great deal Light∣er then really they are, and the very Fancy of that will cause them make both, their Parrades, and Thrusts quicker then otherwayes they would; But, as I said, their Wrests should be alwayes made Supple, and first accustomed with very Light Fleurets, untill they be three

Weeks or a Month at School, and then it is a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 time to give them heavy Fleurets to take ••heir Lessons withal and not sooner, unless their Masters designe to weaken and ruine their Wrests and Nerves. And this Leads me to

The Second thing I observe, is not so much Practised in our Scots and English Schools as I ••ould wish (for I acknowledge the French ••re free of it) which is the constant Parreing, and Thrusting of Plain Thrusts upon one another at the wall, this is the only thing which maketh a Man to have a Swift Hand upon his Pursute, and a firme and sure Parrade upon his Defence, and there is no other Reason for the French their having so Swift a Hand in giving in their Plain Thrusts, but their constant accustoming themselves to Thrust upon their commarads at the Wall, or sometimes at a Mark in the Wall, when they want the opportunity of having one to Thrust upon; therefore seing the having a Swift Hand is of such advantage, and the most certain way to acquire it, is, to fre∣quent the Thrusting and Parreing of Plain Thrusts at the Wall, and that (as I have Orderd), with heavy Fleurets I think it will be thought but Reasonable that I advise the Rectifying of this, as well as the preceeding abuse.

The Third thing I observe, is, that they burden their Scholars with too many Lessons,

especially Offensive ones, whereas if they would teach them fewer Offensive Lessons (for they will come to them Naturally) and keep them clos∣er to the Defensive Part, People would see fewer Contre-temps, and better Sword-men in the Schools, then for the most Part they do.

The fourth, is, the suffering Scholars general∣ly to take their Lessons in their Cloaths, a thing which hindereth a Mans Body to be so soon broken, and made Pliable as otherwayes it would, because a Man cannot stretch so freely in his Coat as he can do in a West-coat, or Vest, & also it spoileth his Cloths, & if he Fenceth much, the sweat maketh him uneasy the whole Day thereafter, whereas Playing in a West-coat a Man is both Nimbler, and more at ease the rest of the Day, his Coat being dry when he goeth from the School, which perhaps other∣wayes would be all torn and neastie with the smell of Sweet and dust, which would be both uneasie to him, and unpleasant to those he is going to converse with

Therefore in my humble opinion no Scho∣lat should be suffered to take his Lessons in his Cloaths untill he be well Grounded, and then in opposition to what I have been saying, I am of the opinion that he should for the most part both take his Lessons, and Assault in his Cloaths and walking Shoes, for this will confirm him in his Play, and make him upon all Encoun∣ters

ready, without being surprized, to oppose the Pursutes and Attaques of his Adversary, with as great ease, as if he were stript and in his Fencing shoes, now this being of great Im∣portance to Compleat and Confirme a Sword∣man in his Play, it should by all means be lookt to and taken notice of, that Schollars before they be well Grounded both in Lessons and practice, do not Play in their Cloaths, and that afterwards when they are Grounded they should, to strengthen and confirm them in it

The Fifth is the suffering Schollars so soon in Assault before they be at least of two or three Months standing, and this is also one of the Reasons, why People see so many Contre-temps exchanged in the Schools, because when they begin to Assault so soon, they have neither Art nor Judgement to shun or prevent them: and were it for no more but this, I think the Masters should rectifie it, that they would find it for their own particular Profit and Advantage; for when once their Schollars are accustomed to Assault, they think it almost below them to take any more Lessons, but think they have attained enough of the Art, and so Quite the School, and there is an end of them, and by being at the School, they get the Name of Sword-men which is enough to them, but GOD knows, if they really deserve it, where∣as

as if they were kept longer from Assaulting they would both continue longer their Scho••∣lars, and at the end prove better Sword-men.

The Sixth and last thing I shall take notic•• of in Fencing Schools, is the neglect of teaching the Blow as well as the Thrust, and this both the English and French Masters are guilty of, a well as our Scots; And I am apt to think it may proceed from a mistake, in thinking that th•• teaching of the Blow would be prejudicial t•• the quick performance of the Thrust, but who•• ever may be prepossest with this false Opini•• on, I shall endeavour to convince them of th•• contrary by what followeth, and of the nece••∣sity there is for a Mans being taught, and un∣derstanding both Blow and Thrust, to be reput∣ed a Compleat Sword-man.

Now the chief reasons, or objections they give against teaching of the Blow, or Broad-sword at the same time with the Small, are three; The first is, that it doth not teach a Man to stretch himself so much as the small Sword doth, and therefore will not supple and break his Body so well, and consequently not give him that agility of Wrest and Limbs, which the Sm•• Sword doth.

In answer to which I say first, that it is a great mistake, to think that the Blow doth no•• teach a Man to stretch, as well as the Thrust.

••t in Learning the Thrust, there is nothing that ••aketh a Man to stretch, and to acquire nim∣••leness and agility in his Limbs, but Advancing, ••eteiring, Elonging, and sometimes Jumping ••ack after the giving in of a Thrust, now all this Man doth when he is taught the Blow, or ••iad-sword, and therefore there is no difference ••etwixt the learning of the Broad-sword, and ••mall, for the acquiring of agility and nim∣••leness.

I know some will say, that the chief difference ••onsists in the Elonging, because in learning the ••al-sword, a Man is taught to stretch himself a great ••eal more, then when he is learning the broad; or ••k-sword; but this is likewise a mistake, because ••ose who teach the true Art of the Broad-sword, ansetheir Schollars when they take their Lessons, ••ake their full Elonges or Stretches, and like∣••ise recover, and jump backoff those Stretches, ••s frequently, as if they were taught the Smal, & ••hose Masters who teach not the Broad; or Back∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 after this manner, discover only their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ignorance, but no imperfection in the Art: and although I am fully perswaded, that the Small-sword hath the Advantage of the Broad, as to the quickness and subtility of its Motions; yet I ••m convinced it hath no Advantage over it, ••s to the rendring a Man more Agile and Nim-ble; And therefore that the teaching of

the Blow at the same time with the Thrust, ca•• be no wayes prejudicial to the quick perform∣ance of the Thrust afterwards, as a man shall have occasion for it.

Secondly, I say the teaching of the Blow a the same time with the Thrust, is not only as have made appear, no wayes prejudicial to a Mans stretching his Body and Limbs, but also doth not hinder him to acquire that agility and nimbleness of the Wrest, which is required to have a swift Hand in the giving in of an•• Thrust, for let any Man but consider the turn of the Wrest in making any of the Parrades, o•• playing any of the Lessons belonging to th•• Small-sword, and the turns of it in performing the Blows and Flourishes of the Broad, and he will find the turns in the Broad to be a great dea•• more Circular and difficult, and consequent∣ly fitter for the Suppling and Breaking of a Mans Wrest, that so it may become Nimble and Agile, then any Parrade or Lesson of the Smal•• and there is no great Wonder it should be so, seing it hath its Rise and foundation from the Art of the Broad, for I believe there are but few who are Ignorant of the antiquity of the Art o•• the Broad-sword, and how that it was long made use of before ever the Small was found out, or heard of, and I am so far from think∣ing the Art of the Small-sword a particular

Art by it self, that I am fully convinced, it is only the Art of the Broad more refined, and made more perfect, in so far as at first the Blow was only made use of without any Thrust, and the Art of the Smal-sword perfecteth it, by teaching how the Thrust may be joyned to the Blow without any the least confusion, or hinderance, of the Blow, as occasion shall of∣fer. Now how the teaching of both at one & the same time hath run into desuetude, I con∣fess I cannot comprehend, but certainly it is a ••eglect and omission, which all who desire to be compleat Sword-men, should endeavour to have rectified.

The Second objection is, that grant the teaching of the Blow at the same time with the Thrust, doth not hinder a Mans Stretching, or his acquiring the same agility of Body and nimbleness of Wrest, which he would do if he were only taught the Small; yet say some, there is such a vast difference betwixt the perform∣ance of a Blow, and the giving in of a Thrust, that if a Man were taught to do them both at one time, the one would quite confound the other, and make a Man when he is taking his Lesson with the Small, to give a Blow when he should give a Thrust, and when he is tak∣ing his Lesson with the broad, to give in a Thrust when he should make a Blow, which would

render both the Arts altogether useless to him; and therefore a Man had better perfect him∣self fully in the one, before he attempt the o∣ther, then desire to be taught them both at one, and the same time

Here is (one would think) a very strong and reasonable objection, but yet it shall be very clearly and shortly answered, and first, I say betwixt the Parrades and Guards of the Broad∣sword, and Parrades and Guards of the Small, at least the most part of them, there is but little Difference: for the Parrades in Quart and Terce of the Medium-guard, do resemble the first Parrades in Quart and Terce of the Smal-sword, & the Parrads of the Hanging-guard, do likewise re∣semble the second Parrades in Terce of the Smal∣sword with a slooping point: thus much for the Parrades, and as for the Guards, the posture of the Medium-guard is little Different from that of the Quart-guard in the Small, the out∣side-guard little different from the Terce, and the Hanging-guard little different from the Terce-guard in the Smal-sword with a slooping point; so that the difference that are betwixt the Parrades and guards of the Small sword, and Parrades and Guards of the Broad are so inconsiderable, that I am confident no Man who understandeth both, will say, that the teaching the Parrades and Guards of the one can be any ways Pre∣judicial

to the teaching the Parrads and Guards of the other at the same time.

But Secondly if there be any considerable difference, it lieth in the offensive part; in that, there is as they say, a vast difference be∣twixt the delivering of a Blow, and the giving in of a Thrust, and this is that which they main∣tain will so much Confound a Man that it will make him Strike when he should Thrust, & Thrust when he should Strike.

For my part, I confess I cannot but admire how People of Judgement can talk at this rate, for can there be a greater Difference betwixt the performance of any Stroak, and the giving in of a Thrust, then there is betwixt the per∣formance of one Lesson in the Smal-sword, and the Playing another in the same Art no certain∣ly, for there is as great, yea more Difference betwixt a Plain Thrust, and Feinta la test, or be∣twixt Feint a la test, and Binding, or betwixt Binding & Passing, or betwixt Passing and Quart∣ing and Volting, then there can be pretended to be betwixt the giving in of a Thrust, and the making of any Blow whatsomever, so that if upon the one Hand it be Pleaded that the Difference betwixt Blow and Thrust, is the Reason why they should not be taught together, because the one would con∣found the other, I plead upon the other Hand

and for the same Reason, that nothing should be taught of the Small sword at the same time but a Plain Thrust, because the Difference be∣twixt it and the other Lessons is as considerable, if not more; and therefore as apt to confound a Man, because when he should Play one Lesson, he will make use of another as far out of purpose and season, as the making of a Blow would be when he should give a Thrust, but all this is so ridiculous, that I shall say no more of it; for a Man who will maintain this, must al∣so maintain, that a Man cannot learn any two different Exercises at once, as for Ex: the Ex∣ercises of the Pick and Musket, or to Play up∣on the Guittar and Lute, or to Dance a Courant and Minue without confounding the one with the other, because they have all Different Motions, which is a most extravagant opinion, and the contrary of which we see dayly practised not only by Men, but even by Beasts; for I believe there are but few Gentlemen who have been abroad, and have not seen Horses when they have been either Breaking for the Manage, or to confirm them in it, get most different Lessons for that effect in one Morning, as one to supple their Shoulders, another to put them upon their Haunches, one for Passager, another for the Terra a Terra, one for Corvetting, another for Crouppading, and in fine, one for Caprioling, and another for Balotad∣ing,

and all this (as I said) in one Morning, now the motions of the Horses limbs are dif∣ferent in all those Lessons and Aires, and see∣ing the difference of the motions doth not con∣found an irrational Horse, nor hinder him to perform what ever Lesson or Aire his Rider requireth of him; I conclude, That the dif∣ference betwixt Blow and Thrust, will far less con∣found or hinder a Rational Man to make use of either, as it shall please him, or his Master to demand them of him. But that I may the better both vindicate my Opinion as to this, and perswade you, that it is not meerly a spe∣culative fancy, but a most practicable, and use∣full improvement of the Art of the Sword; I do recommend to all who shall not be convin∣ced of it by the reasonable Arguments I have proposed, that they would Repair to William Machries School, where they will see both Blow & Thrust, taught at the same time with a great deal of ease and expedition, and without the least confusion.

The third and last objection, is this, that supposing the Teaching of the Blow at the same time with the Thrust, be no ways prejudicial to the quick performance of the Thrust, and that all I said in favours of the Blow should hold good & true, yet it is altogether unnecessary to teach the Blow, because a Man that is absolut∣ly Master of the Thrust, can supply all the wants

of the Blow by it, and seing the Thrust hath so great Advantage over the Blow, as to the danger and deadliness of its wounds, which no Sword-man will deny, and that it can al∣ways be made use of in place of a Blow, there∣fore the Teaching of the Blow is not necessary, but ought to be foreborn.

You see by this objection they endeavour wholly to condemn and exclude the Blow, not as being any wayes prejudicial to the quick performance of the Thrust, but as being, in it self altogether useless, and not to be regarded, in respect of the Advantage the Small sword hath of it, by the Dangerous Wounds it maketh, which prove, for the most part Mortall, where∣as commonly the Wounds of the Broad-sword are not so Dangerous, which in my Opinion insinuats as much, as that a Man with a Smal∣sword should not stand to hazard his Receiv∣ing of a Blow for the giving of a Thrust.

I confess I am as much convinced of the Advantage the Thrust hath of the Blow as to it's Wound, as any Man can be, as you may see in my Sc••ts Fencing-master; but that which I condemn is that an Artest should trust to the difference of Wounds, and so venture a Contre-temps, and not rather endeavour first to defend himself by his Art from the Blow, and then give in his Thrust for a Man may chance to misplant his Thrust

after he hath received a very severe Stroak, perhaps near to loss of his Hand, and then I am confident, he will think it had been better Judgement, and he would have shewn more of his Art, if he had defended first the Stroak, and then have given in his Thrust: but passing over this,

I assure you there is no Smal-sword-man, be he never so expert, but will find himself at a considerable Disadvantage in offering to de∣fend a Stroak, unless he particularly under∣stand some thing of the defence of the Blow, or Broad sword, and for my own part I found so great a Disadvantage in not being acquaint∣ed with the Parrades and Blows of the Broad-sword, when I had occasion to Play with the Fleuret against the Cudgell, (for I was once al∣most of this opinion my self) that I was never at case untill I found out a particular posture for the Small-sword against the Broad; which I did, and it is also set down in my Scots Fencing-Master, but my curiosity not resting there I resolved to learn a little of the Broad-sword also, which I did in a very short time, and since I find it a great deal more easy to me to defend my self either with Broad against a Broad, or with a Small against a Broad, then I did at that time, and the reason is, because I now know both the Parrades and Lessons peculiar to the Broad, which before I was ignorant of,

and which put me to the trouble, as I said, of finding out a particular posture with the Smal-sword for it, which did indeed at that time an∣swer my design, but doth so now much more, because I understand the Art of the Broad-sword better now then I did then.

I tell you this, not out of any Vanity to commend my self, but that you may under∣stand what Advantage there is in being taught both Blow and Thrust, and let any man who doubteth it, and hath only been taught to Thrust, and to Defend a Thrust, make but a trial, and I am confident he will find the same difficulty I did, and be soon of the same opinion I was when I wrot my other Book, to which I Refer him, and of which I am still;

That every Man who desires to be a Compleat Sword-man should Learn both Blow and Thrust, and unless a Man do it I do not see how be can pretend to the Name of a Compleat Sword-man, for if a Man Ʋnderstand only the Thrust and not the Blow, then he may deserve the Name of a Compleat Small-sword-man, but not of a Compleat Sword-man, because he is Ig∣norant of the Blow.

In likemaner if a Man understand only the Blow and not the Thrust, he may deserve the Name of a Compleat Broad-sword-man, but not of a Compleat Sword-man, because he Understandeth not also the Thrust, so that in my Opinion to deserve the

name of a Compleat Sword-man, a Man must understand both Blow and Thrust, otherwise that Title doth no wayes belong to him, neither can he with any confidence pretend to it.

But besides what I have said, there is no Sword-man will deny, but that it sometimes so falleth out when Men are Playing together, that it would be more convenient to make a Blow then to give in a Thrust, and upon the other Hand, at other times more convenient to give in a Thrust then to make a Blow, so that if a Man know not how to deliver a Blow as well as a Thrust, he is upon these occasions at a visible loss and disadvantage, whereas if he knew how to perform both, he would al∣wayes know how to behave himself according to these several circumstances without the least confusion.

But why need I in this Place endeavour to prove the necessity of that, the contrary where∣of is condemned by the constant practice of most Nations in the World, for do we not see the generality of the People both Gentle and Simple, when they go to the Warrs, provide themselves for the most part with sheering-Swords, and why would they do that, if it were not out of an opinion, that they think they may have occasion to Strike as well as to Thrust, and that they think the Thrust alone would not be so effectual, as when it can be

joined to the blow, and that they are, being thus provided, in a better capacity to make use of either at pleasure, and accordingly as occasion shall offer; From all which I con∣clude, That there is an absolute necessity for a Man who intends to be a compleat Sword-man, to be taught and understand both Blow and Thrust, and I think it a thing so indispensably necessary, that the learning of it by all persons who understand it not, whether Masters or o∣thers, at all times, and at any Age whatsoever, can no ways reflect upon their Judgement in the Art they profess, nor be any wayes derogatory from the reputation they have already had of being good small-Sword-Men, and the like I say in behalf of the Thrust, to those who pro∣fess only the Broad, so that I think neither of them should think it below them to be instru∣cted of other, in what they are ignorant of, and of what is so useful and necessary for the compleat perfecting of the Art of the Sword, and consequently of Sword-men.

Seing therefore (as I think I have sufficiently made appear) there is an absolute necessity for understanding both blow and thrust to be reputed a compleat Sword-Man, I must recom∣mend the use of the Sheering-sword, and I would advise all without exception, who wear now only Rapiers, to wear light and narrow Sheering-swords,

at least Rapiers with good-edges, which will both answer the design of the small-sword as to thrusting, and of the Broad as to the blow or striking, and so put a Man in a capacity of using either as he shall think fit, when it shall be his misfortune to be engaged, and which will be as light and convenient to carry, as any ordinary walking-sword.

Its like the Fencing-Masters in this Kingdom may think I have gone too great a length upon this subject, in so far as I take upon me to play the Doctor, and offer as it were in a Ma∣gisterial way, to teach them their Duty, and also in that I seem to tax some of them of igno∣rance, in not understanding the blow as well as the thrust, because I recommend the learning of the blow to Masters, if they be ignorant of it as well as to others.

But that they may not mistake me, I desire they would consider that this preceeding dis∣course (anent the abuses in Schools) doth not particularly aim at them, but at all Fencing-Masters in general, both at Home and Abroad, who are guilty of them; and that they are really guilty of them, I appeal to all who have frequented their Schools; therefore I expect our Masters will not take what I have said as a particular reflection upon them, although I cannot deny but they suffer the same abuses to

be committed in their Schools; and therefore must excuse me, if I censure them with the o∣ther Masters, untill I find them rectified.

And let them not think it will pass as a suf∣ficient reason for them to continue these preceeding abuses in their Schools, by saying it is the custome abroad, and that they suffer nothing to be done in their Schools, but what is done in the Schools of other Kingdoms, and that because it is not the custome for any Small-sword Master abroad to teach the Blow at the same time with the Thrust, that therefore they will not do it, because they intend not to be the first Beginners and Promoters o•• any thing which is extraordinary and out fashi∣on, (which to my particular knowledge 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the chief Defence and Language of some) this I say is but very weak reasoning, for at that rate there should never have been any A•• or Science found out, or improven, if People had been alwayes restricted to the old Roo•• and Footsteps of their Predecessors, so I expect they will either give me as strong Reasons a∣gainst the Rectifying of these abuses, (especial∣ly the teaching the Blow at the same time with the Thrust) as I have given for them, other∣wayes they most pardon me to differ from them, by recommending my own opinion which is grounded upon reason, and con∣demning and Rejecting theirs at least until

they produce stronger Arguments and Reasons for it, then hitherto I have heard.

And although this indeed be my Opinion, that Ignorant Masters who understand not the Blow, should learn it; yet it doth not conclude that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 reckon those who profess the Art of the ••word in this Kingdom to be in that Categorie, no, I am farr from having so bad an Opini∣on of them, and I am apt to think the only thing they should be condemned for, and for which I do indeed condemn them, is not that they understand not the Blow as well as the Thrust, and therefore are not capable to reach it (for if they denied that, they would discover too much weakness) but that they un∣derstanding both, should teach only the one, viz. The Thrust, and wholly neglect the other, by throwing it our of Doors, this I confess is a neglect of such importance, and of such bad consequence, that I neither can, nor will fore∣••ear the giving my earnest advice, that it, as well as the five preceeding particulars, be ••ectified, and then I am confident our Schollars ••hall acquire Art inferior to none in Europe, and our Masters, by them that repute and Esteem, which both their abilities, and they, recti∣••ying of such Abuses, and Omissions, do really ••eserve.

And I likeways would not have them so

Foolish as to think, that (by what I have bee•• saying in Reference to the teaching both Blow and Thrust) I design to recommend any Par∣ticular Master before another, no, I am not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mean as to have any such Particular by-end my designe is so farr from that, that it is al∣together general, and meerly for the A••∣vantage of the Art, and to Compleat Sword∣men; for if Masters cannot by the Art, Care, and Pains they take, recommend themselves t•• Schollars, they shall never have any from me, because I think all Masters should be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 puted, and had in Esteem, only for the•• distinct and accurate method of teaching, and for the pains they take to cause their Scholla•• understand, and comprehend what they a•• Learning, and not for any recommendatio•• they can get from any Particular Person what somever, and therefore if they expect any particular recommendation from me, they a•• hugely deceived, for I wish them all alike well that is to have Flourishing Schools, and E••∣pert Schollars, to testifie that they are Master indeed, and not Bunglers, of which there a•• but too many.

The next thing I observe, is, that if all I ha•• said be duely and exactly put in practice, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will infallibly make a Man a true Artist, an•• if he be truely an Artist, his having Art wi••

increase his boldness and courage, and put him in a capacity, not only to preserve his Life and Honour, but also to force as it were a respect and esteem to himself, from those, who although they undervalue his Art, yet darr not be so bold (least he should make them smart for it) as publickly to own it, but are rather satisfied by their silence to ac∣knowledge his dexterity, and that he is to be commended for the pains, and labour, he hath taken to acquire so gentile and useful an Art.

But suppose they should openly reflect upon him, and undervalue his Art, by threat∣ning him with that unanswerable defence, as they think of their Ignorance, and infallible Defeater of all Art (I mean by ingaging him to fight with Pistol, or other such like Fire∣weapons) and indeed to hear some People talk, one would think that by their gaming this one point, of engaging a Sword-man to sight with Fire-armes, they make no doubt, but all will go well with them, and that the day is certainly their own, it being a kind of Proverb amongst them.

Is such a Person a Sword-man, if it be answered, Yes, then reply they after a mocking manner; What doth it sig∣nisie? If I were to engage with him, I could soon make his Art of little use to him; I would take a Pist••l•• him, and then I pray you where is all his

Art of Defence, I believe he will hardly parie a Pistol Ball with it.

Such discourse as this is but too common amongst Ignorants, and they think when they talk at this rate, they have found the Philosopher stone, which in place of turning every thing into Gold, can turn all their Ignorance into the profoundest Art and Skill, and all skilful Persons, Art, and Judge∣ment into the greatest Ignorance; so that in their opinion, Artists can reap no advantage by what they understand, and themselves can reap all, because they understand nothing.

But alas poor Ignorants! Their Folly in this is as discernable, as their Ignorance in the for∣mer; and they can pretend to have no more Advantage over a Sword-man, by engaging him to make use of a Pistol, then the Sword∣man can pretend to have over them, which I shall endeavour to prove by what followeth.

Although then I confess, that there is pro∣perly no Defensive part in using of Pistols, ei∣ther a Foot or upon Horse-back, but what all Men are alike Master of, I mean to receive the shot, and take their hazard of being hit or mist; for no Man will be so foolish, as to pretend to parie the shot of a Pistol; yet there, are some methods, which I think not fit at present to mention, that may be used to shun a shot, the which who can neatly make use of

them, will certainly have an advantage of those who understand them not, but set them∣selves up like an immovable stock or post, to be shot at.

But supposing all Men alike dextrous as to this point, that is to know no means of a∣••oiding, but meerly to take their hazard of being hit or not; yet I say, in the Offensive part, there may be a vast Advantage acquired; for whosoever will according to the advice in my Scots Fencing-master, accustom himself to shot at a Mark, both a Foot and on Horse-back, will, when he is necessitate to use it in earnest, have almost as considerable advantage over his Adversary in knowing to adjust his shot, (supposing his Adversary to be ignorant and not to have practised to adjust his) as he would have had a Foot in adjusting his Thrust, his Adversary being likewise ignorant of the Art of the Sword; so that if this Person of whom I am discoursing, and who boasteth so much of the Advantage he will have by using Pistols, hath but as little of the practise of shooting, as he hath of Thrusting, he can then in Reason pre∣tend to no more Advantage by using the Pi∣••ol, then the Artist can, except what meer Chance and Fortune giveth him, which is far from any ground of certainty.

Therefore, I say, he only will probably have

the Advantage with Pistol, who hath frequen∣ted most the shooting at a Mark, and if nei∣ther of them have done that, then none of them can pretend to any visible Advantage over the other; but what, as I said, is meerly casual and by chance. But I confess, if the Ignorant be better skill'd in shooting then the Ar∣tist, in that case he hath an Advantage; and I can see no Reason why the Artist should more answer the Challenge with Pistols, seing he is a better Marks-Man then the Artist, then he would answer the Artist with Swords, because the Artist was the most Adroit at thrusting; So that the only way to end this Debate, is, that they either fight with Weapons altoge∣ther unknown to both, or otherwise do as one of those two Men, who after they had quar∣relled, lest the one should have had any Ad∣vantage by Art in the Weapons which might have been made use of, did propose a Barrel of Gun-powder should be brought to each, in the middle of which, they were to place themselves, and then with fired Matches to try who could most Manfully, or I may ra∣ther say Madly, blow up other. And I know no other way but this to decide the Quarrel: For if a Man refuse to fight me with a Sword, because he thinketh I am a better Sword-man than he, I must certainly be a great Fool, if I fight him with a Pistol, because he proposeth

it as a particular Advantage to himself:

I know it will be Answered to this, That it is the custome for those who receive the Chal∣lenge, to choose the Weapons, and so that will end the Debate, because who ever giveth the Challenge, is in Honour obliged to Answer the other with whatever Weapons he shall propose.

I confess it is so, and I think it most rea∣sonable when a Man is forced to fight, that he should have the choice of what Weapon he will venture his Life with; But what I was saying, concerns only such, for some, who af∣ter they have given a Challenge, and their Antagonist received it, and appointed Swords to be their Weapons, they afterwards getting notice that he is a Sword-man, cunningly de∣cline the fighting him with that Weapon, and propose Pistols, because of the inequality there would be in making use of Swords. Now I say, when a Sword-man rancounters with such a Person as this, who first giveth him a Challenge, & then afterwards declines to fight him with the Weapons he proposed, I see, I say, no reason why he should more an∣swer him with Pistols, seing he proposed it for a particular Advantage, then the other did him with Swords, because he judged it would prove to his disadvantage; for if the Refusal

reflect upon any of the two, it must be cer∣tainly upon him who gave the Challenge; Because, although he was so stout as to Appeal, yet had not the Courage to Answer the other with the Weapons he proposed; Therefore I conclude, That a man had far better forbear a Challenge, then decline the Weapons after they are chosen.

But, There is in my humble Opinion, no better way to take away all such Debates, then to live soberly and peaceably, according to the Doctrine and Precepts of that Religion which we profess, and then we shall make use of all those Arts, more for divertisement to ourselves, then prejudice to our Neighbours.

Now after what I have said, let any consider∣ing Person judge, if an ignorant, by ingaging a Sword-man to fight with a Pistol, hath got so great an Advantage, as to be any wayes a ground of railing at, mocking, or turning into Ridicule the Art of the Sword, no certainly, he hath got none, but what the Artist may like∣wise pretend to as well as he; and therefore I would advise such Persons rather to betake themselves to the practice of Fencing, and Shot∣eing, that so their Advantage may be ground∣ed and depend upon their Art, and not upon such Fancies and Notions, which, if real, are casual; but for the most part, prove Chimeri∣cal,

and have only their existence in their ••gnorant Brains; but are below the being regard∣ed, or taken notice of by any Gentleman or Judicious Person, who should ground his thoughts upon Reason, and not in the Air; that if they be examined they may prove so∣••id and durable as Reason, and not volatile and changeable, as the Aerial Foundation upon which they are built, and so discover the Weakness and Ignorance of their first Promo∣ter and Author; But not to insist longer upon this,

I observe in the fourth and last place, that although all I have said in commendation of Fencing, were but Stories and Lies, and the vain imaginations of a Hypocondriack—brain, yet all Gentlemen should practise it, & have an esteem for it, if it were for no other reason but this, that it is a most pleasant divertisement, and an innocent, Healthful, and Manly Recrea∣tion and Exercise for the Body, and although a Man could reap no Advantage by it for the Defence of his Body; yet that its very keep∣ing a Mans joynts and members nimble and cleaver, and in a ready trime, as it were, for any other Divertisement or Exercise, as Ten∣••ice, Dancing, Riding, &c. should make it Esteemed and Practised by all who are above the rank of Clowns.

For to use the words of a Wise-man,

The understanding of this Noble and Ʋseful Art, is a Quality and Perfection, hardly attainable by those who hold the Plough, and glory in the Goad; who drive Oxen, and are occupied in their Labours, and whose talk is of their Bullocks, who give their mind to make Furrows; and are diligent to give the Kine fodder. No, it agreeth not with the Nature of such; neither is it for the Smith who sitteth by the Anvil, and considereth the Iron work, the vapour of the Fire, wasteth his Flesh, and he figheth with the heat of the Furnace; the noise of the Hammer and Anvil is ever in his Ears, and his Eyes look still upon the Patern of the thing he maketh.

Such vulgar and undisciplined Minds as those, are not ordinarly capable to conceive the Intricacies, and Excellencies, of this most Gentile and Gentle-manny Art.

And although it cannot be denied, but some mean kind of People profess, practise and take delight in it; yet those are Men who are more refined in their Judgements and Inclinations, then the generality of the Vulgar are, and who by the same gentile Inclination they have to follow the Sword, discover that there is in them something more then ordinary, and that they aime at somewhat, above what ei∣ther their Birth or Education could really make them pretend to; so that I make no

••oubt, but if such Persons had either really ••een, or had had the Education peculiar to Gen∣tle-men, they would have been in a fitter ••pacity both to have improven themselves, ••nd better instructed others in that Art, for ••hich they have such a respect and liking.

And if this which I say hold true, then no ••oubt but the understanding of this Art, be∣••ngeth in a more particular manner to Gen∣tlemen, or those who are called Les Hommes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 espee, then to any other; and therefore it is ••ny advice, and I earnestly recommend it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 such, not to ungentleman themselves by the ••eglect and contempt of an Art, which as I ••ave made appear, is so peculiar to, and I ••ay say inseparable from the Name and ••haracter they bear.

An Art so Noble, Ʋseful, and Gentile, To speak its praises, would a Volume fill; For when that I, its Merits would display, My Mouth is stopt, my Muse is at a stay. It so exceeds all that I can conceive, I'm forc'd to silence, yet to speak must crave; But seing all I can express and shew, Would far come short, of what's its real due, I shall be short, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of it say, It is a Badge, Accomplishment, and Ray, Which doth adorn all who to understand

Its real Ʋse and Worth, do take in hand. An Art so useful, that no Gentleman, Of Valour, Honour, be without it can, For it to all who carry Sword by side, Should be a Pilot, and a constant Guide; Ʋnless they do renounce the Name they bear, And that which them from others Character: For my part, I confess I it esteem, And for my trusty Safe-guard do it deem, And alwayes will, knowing it ne're deceives, Any who to it trust and respect gives; But believe me who despise it wholly, Ignorance betray, as well as Folly, And will repent them (when it is too late) They trusted none to it, so much, to Fate.

I confess I am neither Poet nor Versificator, yet those Lines offering to my Fancy, and relat∣ing to the Subject, I thought fit to set them down; if they are good its by chance, if not, pass them over; I wrote them for my divertisement, and its like had it not been to divert me, I had not taken the pains to write so much either of Fencing, or in Com∣mendation of it as I have done; However what I have Writ, I recommend to your per∣usal, which I think can hardly be refused, se∣ing it cost me a great deal of more pains in Writting, then it will do you in Reading; and if you despise my offer, I assure you, I shall

take it so ill, and be so much concerned, that I shall never sleep a whit the worse for it.

But that I may draw to a close, if any who shall peruse this Discourse, do not understand the Terms of Art herein mentioned, such as Contre-caveating-Parrades, Contre-temps, Flanca∣••ude, Voult-coupee, &c. They may have Re∣course to my Book of Fencing, Entituled, The Scots Fencing-Master, where they will find all these Termes and Lessons explained to the full.

And that I may end as I began, I earnestly entreat and desire, that with Calmness, and a Vigorous Judgement, you would seriously reflect upon, and consider what I have said, before you pass your Verdict and Opinion, and then 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doubt not, but it shall jump very near with ••y own, which is what I expected and wish∣••d for.

ADIEU.

FINIS.