I.

IN the First Place, I would have the dayes of the week appointed for Assaulting, na­med, (which should be at least once a week, and no Teaching to be upon that day) and e­very Scholar to be advertised that he is to fore­fault so much, if without a reasonable excuse, he shall upon such dayes absent himself; of the relevancy of which, the Master is to be the on­ly Judge.

II.

Secondly, All Cursing, Swearing, and ob­scene or undiscreet Language, should be bani­shed the School as much as possible, and the better to prevent it.

III.

Thirdly, Not only upon those Assaulting dayes, but also the whole week throw, all per­sons, as well Scholars as others who are only Spectators, should be obliged to silence, at least to discourse within their Voices: For there can be nothing more unseemly, than to see a Fen­cing-school (which should be a kind of Nurse­ry for accomplishing of Youth) all in confusion and like to a Bir-law-Court, where there is no­thing to be heard but a Clutter and Noise of Tongues, whereas in a Fencing-school there [Page 18]should be properly no noise heard, save that [...] the Assaulters Feet, and Flurets, and of the Ma­ster's Advices and Reproofs, which he is to give to those who are Assaulting, or who do not [...] behave themselves in the School as they ought

IV.

Fourthly, No Scholar or other Person should presume to Assault, or offer to present a Flo­ret to any, without having first asked the Ma­sters consent.

V.

Fifthly. No Scholar nor Spectator without [...] a licence from the Master, should offer to di­rect or give advice to any of the Scholars, who are either taking a Lesson or Assaulting: I have heard severalls when their Commerads have been Assaulting, call to them after this manner, Why do you not now make a Feint? There was a good time for Commanding, but you did not take it; Why do you not now pursue him O, see what a brave opportunity for giving a Thrust he hath lost, because of his not Redou­bling! And a great many more such expres­sions as these, which are very unbecoming u­pon two accounts: First, because without per­mission they take upon them to play the Ma­ster; And secondly, because they reprove oft­times their Commerads for the same very fault they themselves are most guilty of, although perhaps not sensible of it, which when By-stan­ders [Page 19]perceive, they smile at them (and with just reason) as being both ignorant and imperti­nent; therefore it would be a great deal more commendable in them, to be more careful in rectifying their own faults, and less strict in cen­suring of others.

VI.

Sixthlie, No Scholars under six Moneths Teaching (unless the Master shall find them of an extraordinary capacity and adroitness) should be allowed to Assault in publick, but till that time they are by their private Assaults which they have the rest of the week, to pre­pare themselves for their publick Practice at the six Moneths end; And I am confident if this were exactly observed, the School-play would appear a great deal prettier, and be much truer, than it is at present in many of the Schools.

VII.

Seventhlie, No Scholars under a twelve Mo­neths standing, should be suffered to play in their cloaths or walking shoes, because the play­ing in that Garb, hindereth them from stretch­ing, and so their Bodies can neither be so ply­able, nor their motions so subtile and swift, as is absolutely necessary for every Man to have before he can be a good Sword man.

VIII.

Eightlie, None should be allowed to play a­bove [Page 20]three or four fair given or receive Thrusts at a time, because Mens Vigou [...] if they play briskly, as they should is spent i [...] that time, and all that they do afterwards [...] but slow and without life, which maketh a [...] play to appear but dull and unpleasant, and therefore they had better after three or four Thrusts give place to the rest; and suffer any other two to succeed; in which time they may recover their Wind and Vigour, and fall to [...] again if they please.

IX.

Ninthlie, In Schools all Thrusts at the Face Arms, Wrest, Thighs, or Legs should be discharged: For although a Man when he is to engage with sharps, may either for his own sa­fety, or to disable his adversary, Thrust at a­ny part of the body: Yet in Schools (that the neatness of play may the better appear) no Thrusts should be allowed or accounted as fair, which are not given in the Trunk of the Body that is, beneath the Neck, and above the head-band of the Breeches, as to the length; and within the two shoulders, as to the breadth of the Body: For all jerking (or popping out as they call it) at the Arms or Legs, hath not one­ly no grace with it, but also spoyleth all school play, which is what I am at present only dis­coursing of.

X.

Tenthlie, For the better preventing of Con­tretemps [Page 21]in School play; when Thrusts are exchanged, I would have alwayes the Thrust to be decided in the persons favours who was the first Lancher out of the Thrust, suppose his Adversary should also give him another, but without ever going to the Parrade, or of­fering to defend himself with his Fluret (for I would have all Defence with the left Hand in School play to be banished, except against Ig­norants) and this is but just, because it can hardly be supposed that a Man will thus fool­lishly venture his Life at sharps, and seeing his design was meerly to hit, and not to show his Art, by first endeavouring to parrie the Thrust, (which is the main end of Assaulting) it is but reasonable that as a punishment for not first of­fering to defend his person, he should be char­ged with the receival of a Thrust, notwithstand­ing of his giving another at the same time to his Adversary; but if after endeavouring a Parrade, and having failed in it, he shall receive a Thrust, and then give the exchanged Thrust in the time of the others recovering his Body, then both shall be charged with a Thrust, be­cause although the one was the first Lancher out of the Thrust, yet the other after endea­vouring a Parrade and failing in it, returned him another before he recovered himself, or got off: Now his not getting quickly enough [Page 22]off, shows he committed a gross fault, contra­ry to the Rules of Art, for which also as a pu­nishment to him he is to be charged with the Thrust, and so they are to be considered as still in equal terms until another fair Thrust shall be given: I know that one Contretemps, or one exchanged Thrust at sharps, is of greater con­sequence and more dangerous than a thousand with Blunts, but the best and only way to pre­vent them at sharps, is to be very careful, and to avoid them as much as is possible with Blunts, to which I am confident this Law if punctually observed, will not a litt [...]e contribute.

XI.

Eleventhlie, As I said before all Defence with the left ha [...]d in School play should be dis­charged, (except against Ignorants and great Ramblers) For it not only taketh away a great deal of the variety of play, but it is also noways Graceful to see two making nothing but Jerks and half Thrusts at one another, and lying u­pon a Catch with their left Hand, as if the Sword hand forsooth were no otherwayes useful, nor not to be made use of but in Offending or Thrusting: I say therefore once again for all, that although at sharps the use of the left Hand, and thrusting at the Face, Arms, or Thighs, are of great use and oftimes very surprizing, yet because they hinder the variety, and take away a great deal of the gracelulness of school play, [Page 23]I am clearly of the opinion they should be dis­charged in all publick Assaults, and only al­lowed in private, that so the Scholars may know how to perform them, when there shall be a necessity for it. But there is as I said, an ex­ception to be made here: For it were most un­reasonable when a Man is to Assault against an Ignorant, or great Rambler, to discharge him the benefit of using his left hand, because such persons when they Assault they do it out of no other design, but either to baffle the Artist if they can, or to show that their Ignorance is as useful to them, as the others Art is to him: Therefore I say, in this case an Artist should take all the advantage he can, because his Re­putation and Credit in a manner dependeth u­pon it, and therefore the use of the left Hand being so beneficial against such irregular Thrusts, as in reason may be expected from those who have the confidence to make Igno­rance compeat with Art, it should certainly without Controversie be allowed; But except in this case, I am altogether against the use of it in School play, and that for the above writ­ten Reasons.

XII.

Twelfthlie, Although in most part of Schools one Command be reputed equal to a Thrust, yet because a frequent endeavouring to Command doth also prevent the variety of [Page 24]play, I would have that custom altered, and no less than two Commands to be reckoned e­qual with a Thrust; I confess at sharps it is one of the best things a Man can design (although it be both difficult and dangerous to perform) for by that means he not only saves his own ho­nour, but his Adversaries life, which all generous Men should endeavour as much as is possible, but although I allow Commanding to be used in School play; for it were unreasonable to ba­nish it altogethe; yet I am still of the opinion that two Commands should only be accounted as one Thrust; also no strugling is to be allow­ed to the Commanded after his Fluret is once catched hold of, nor tripping to the Comman­der after he is Master of it, any thing which may appear like strife or contention in Schools being by any means to be avoided, and that also for the Reasons before mentioned.

XIII.

Thirteenthlie, If in an Assault there shall hap­pen a Fluret to be broke, the person in whose Hand the Fluret is, shall pay it, according to the value set upon it by the Master: It is true there have been Debates concerning this, some alledging that if a Fluret be broke upon any person, it is but reasonable he should pay it, be­cause he did not defend himself better from the Thrust, but to give my opinion in this matter, it is to be considered, That in an Assault a Flu­ret [Page 25]may be broke two wayes, either by a Thrust or a Blow; First, if it be by a Thrust, then it is most just that he who gave the Thrust should pay it, because the other hath already received Affront enough by getting the Thrust, and his person being already punished, it were hard to punish his purse also. Secondly, If it be with a stroke or blow, it must either be by giving one upon your Adversaries Fluret, and with it break your own, it is but just you should pay it, because you was the cause of it, but if with your stroak you break your Adversaries, then he must pay it, because by his Art he should have prevented such a smart blow, and for not doing of it is just­ly punished with the payment of his Fluret: So for these Reasons I would have it declared that the person in whose hand a Fluret is broke (whatever may be the cause of it) should al­wayes pay it, and this decision I think most e­qual to take away all debates whatsoever, which may arise upon this head.

XIV.

Fourteenthlie, It would not be amiss, that as there is one day at least of the week appointed for publick Assaulting, so there should once also a year be a Prize put forth by the Scholars, to be played for by all persons who intend to show their Art, [Page 26]and this would not only cause Scholars be more diligent and desireous to improve themselves, but also excite a curiosity in a great many peo­ple to be instructed in the Art, who now never so much as think of it: For nothing hath a greater influence upon Mens actions than Ex­ample, and if people can be but once drawn to the Schools out of a curiosity to view and ob­serve the Scholars Assaults, it is ten to one but the same curiosity lead them next to try what they can do themselves, and by this means the Schools would not only be crouded with specta­tors, but the Kingdom also furnished with A­droit and Couragious Swordmen, to effectuat which, is the main, if not whole design of our imployment.

Lastly, It should be with one consent resol­ved upon, that whoever shall contraveen any of the preceeding Laws, is to forfeit Toties Quo­ties, so much as shall be agreed upon by the Ma­ster and Scholars, which shall go to the use of the Masters Boy, for his greater encouragement to take care of the Scholars Cloaths, and to keep all things belonging to the School neat, and in order, which Resolve should be affixed to the preceeding Laws, and subscribed first by the Master, and then by all the Scholars and others who commonly Assault upon those pub­lick dayes.

Thus Sir have I shown you how a school should be ordered to make it convenient, and [Page 27]what Laws should be observed in it, to make the Assaulting the more decent and regular, by this nowayes restricting Masters, who are free to add what they shall think convenient, and take away what they shall judge superfluous: For I do not pretend to be an infallible Law. giver to all Masters, but that which remains and is the most difficult of all (although I ex­pect also with your Aplause to go throw with it) is the giving you such Rules for Assaulting, as that against whatever person you engage, you may still reap benefit by your Art, by which means you will not only have the scruples you proposed to me removed, but also be satisfied that I have dealt ingenuously, & frankly disco­vered to you the whole mystery of School play.

Sir, By the reasonableness of what hath been already said, I may judge of the truth of what is to follow: But it seemeth to me very strange that when such exact Rules for decency in schools may be observed, there are few of our Masters do so much as ever think upon them, although the observance of them would cer­tainly so much tend to make themselves respected, their Art admired, and consequently their schools more fre­quented.

This Sir, I confess I have marvelled at my self as much as any, and at first could not imagine what should be the reason of this their so unpardonable a neglect, but after a more serious Reflection, I found that there are [Page 28]a great many who take upon them the Name of Master, and pretend to Teach this Art, who have but little of the Judgement of it, and what­ever their Practice may be, yet their commu­nicative Art is a meer Rote, which by a conti­nual seven years repetition of Lessons (the or­dinary Term of Apprentiship) they have so inrooted in them, that put them off their com­mon jog-trot of Teaching, they are imme­diatly put to a Nonplus, and if you ask them a reason for the most part of what they do, they will tell you that it does not become you to ask Questions; and that you are only to do what they desire you; and if you press them further, then is this universal Reason given for all, I was Taught by such a person who was reputed a brave Master and excellent Sword. Man, and thus and thus he taught me: Again offer but to discourse with them concerning a­ny of the intricat Points belonging to the Art, and you shall immediatly find them either shift the discourse, or tell you that these Questions you are asking are (Arcana Gladii) profound secrets, which must not be discoursed of, nor revealed to any, but such as intend to make pro­fession of the Art, although perhaps if put to it, they can give no better satisfaction to the point in question than this sie dixit Praeceptor, a mean and ignorant kind of Answer, unbecoming any who pretend to the Name of Master.

Now I say when a mans chief design is only to attain to the superficial practice of the sword (although I confess this is pardonable enough in Gentlemen who are not to make any pro­fession of it, but to use it meerly for their Di­vertisment or Defence) yet for masters to have no more, is an unpardonable weakness, and let their Practice be never so good, yet not be­ing able to give a sufficient reason for every thing they do, they ought to be look'd upon as good Practitioners, but bad Instructers, and when a man thus contemns Judgement and Rea­son, he makes use of the Husk and throws away the Kernel, and no wonder then if he also ne­glect all Decency and Regularity in his School, his design being only Gain, and more to sup­ply his pocket, then improve his scholars un­derstanding and judgement, or gain himself Esteem and Repute where he liveth.

But by this I am not so foolish as to main­tain, That Masters should communicate their Art for nothing; yet this I think, that a master should have an equal prospect, to improve his scholars as well in the Theorique as Pra­ctique part of his Art, as to advance his own Fortune by what they bestow upon him: Be­sides the Art of Fencing hath such an unexhau­stable Treasure of Varieties, that he must needs have a very shallow Brain, and be strangely wedded to his Masters opinions, who cannot [Page 30]make some Observations and Improvements very much to the advantage, and founded also upon solid grounds and most convincing Rea­sons: For Invention and Variety are two of the Hinges upon which the World moveth, and which with their Charms do bewitch and de­lude the most part of Men, and seing Fencing is so well furnished with them, I know no rea­son why it should not be allowed as well as any other Art, to lay its Baits & discover its [...]nchant­ments, especially when but few can go beyond it as to either; but I know none are more to be blamed for this than those Masters, (I should rather say Pretenders to that Title) I am dis­coursing of.

For far be it from me to tax all Masters with this Ignorance and meanness of Spirit, seing I certainly know there are some to be found in these Islands, who are most understanding and judicious, and who take delight to communi­cate what they know to their Schollars; par­ticularly we have in this Kingdom one Mr. Machrie, at present Judge and Arbitrator in all publick Tryalls of Skill, who is so far from being guilty of this Ommission, that he ra­ther I may say, runneth if possible upon the other extream for which he is very much to be commended, and for his way of Teaching it is so methodical, and so conform to the Rules of Art, and solid dictats of Reason, that there [Page 31]can be nothing more exact, which evidently appears by the regularity of such persons play who have been any time his Scholars: So that without being thought to Complement him, I may say that both for his Theory and Pra­ctice, he may compeat with most Masters, having more than once given proof of the Latter at Sharps, and the truth of the For­mer will be evident to any who will but take notice to his method of Teaching; he hath also amongst his other Qualifications, this advan­tage which many Masters want, for he is not on­ly a great Master of the Small, but also under­standeth the Art of the Broad or Back-Sword to perfection: so that I have seen several English & Irish who pretended to be publick Gladiators so baffled by him, when out of civility he presen­ted them in his School with a Cudgel, that any Artist would have judged them to have been but the Scholars, and him the Master, as he indeed was but too much, considering the advantage his just and smart play had over theirs: And really Sir, relating to this subject I am discoursing of, I can scarce give you a more friendly Advice, than to desire you to be ac­quainted with him, & if you will give your self but the trouble to communicate to him what I have, and shall say to you upon this subject, I doubt not in the least but he will approve of it, and be one of the first who shall cause observe in his School these Rules I have laid down for [Page 32]Assaulting, and also add more of his own to them, as he shall think fit and convenient.

Sir, it seems this Master and you must be very intimate, that you give me so favourable a cha­racter of him: For I find the generality of Fencing Masters now a dayes do quite the contrary, for instea [...] of commending their Brother Professors, they do all they can to reproach, callumniat, and lessen their esteem [...] all the mean and base methods imaginable, whereat I perceive you are quite of another temper; for you [...] prove only those who are guilty of Errors, & Ommissions but you have an esteem for, and gives a favourabl [...] character of such who by their carriage and conduct deserve to be well lookt upon and encouraged.

Sir, although I cannot deny, but the Master of whom I am discoursing is of my ac­quaintance, yet I assure you there is nothing of Flatery in what I have said, for I am confiden [...] every judicious Artist who knows the method he taketh to communicate his Art, will confe [...] he fully deserves the Applause I have give him, and upon any other account, take my word for it, I am no more concerned in him than i [...] any other Professor, but I think every Ma [...] should have his due, and I think his is rathe [...] more, as less than what I have given him; fo [...] [...] love to deal fairly and judge impartially, and wish all Masters were of the like temper: Fo [...] as you have very well observed, it is a sham [...] [Page 33]and reflection upon persons of the same profes­sion, to see them at such Odds & Variance one with another, that they are scarcely in speak­ing terms, and doing all they can to draw-away & seduce others Schools by making them beleive that they have a meer Dolt and Igno­rant of a Master to deal with, and that them­selves are the only Persons should be applyed to, to make them Sword men; this way of dealing is neither generous nor honest, and so long as there are such jarrings amongst Profes­sors, it is no wonder if the Art decay, and run into de [...]uitude and contempt.

Therefore if I might take upon me to advise such persons, I would recommend to them Con­cord and Unity, and that they would be so far from contention & animositys, that they should rather have monthly Conferences concerning the Art, and Methods of reaching it, and if they observed this they, would not, only in a short time become cordial and unanimous, but also rectifie any superfluetys or omissions which might be in their teaching, and so make the Method of communicating the Art to be one and the same throw the three Kingdoms; for there is but one way of teaching which can be accounted the truest, and when a man finds e­very Master affirming that perfection to his Method and yet such a sensible difference a­mongst each, it gravells him a little fixedly to [Page 34]determine which of them he should apply to to be his instructer, and being with their De­bates thus pusled and left in the mist, he at last resolves to imploy none of them, but to make the best use he can of what courage Nature hath bestowed upon him, and thus instead of gaining Credit or repute to themselves or in­creassing the Esteem for Art, they both get themselves Laught at, and the Art neglected and undervalued; but I am hopeful that for the future they will be sensible of their Errors in this as well as other particulars, and endea­vour to rectifie them, I am sure it would prove both for their Interest and Advantage if they did, and so I leave them, having made too long a Digression considering the short time I have to discourse with you.

Sir, it is my misfortune that you cannot insist longer upon this matter, for by what you have said I am clearly convinced, you could say a great deal more upon the Head.

Sir, I beleive I could, and to satisfie your curiosity, and show that I am noways nice or scrupolus, to discourse with you freely of any thing I know in this matter, I am satisfied that when we have a fit opportunity we meet again, and whatever you propose to me, I shall endeavour to give you all the satisfaction in it I can, but at present let me prosecute my de­sign to give you some infalible Rules for As­saulting, [Page 35]which when practised, may make you sensible that the labour and pains you have taken in following this Art, is not so much in vain and to no purpose, as you do imagine.

With all my Heart Sir, and I most heartily thank you for the proposall you have made, which I as­sure you I shall not let flip the very first Occasion shall offer, there being nothing I take more delight in, than to hear things rationally discoursed off, especially by one who can do it so well as I perceive you can.

This Complement Sir, is I am very sen­sible far beyond what I deserve, but least I should loose time, or perhaps fail in giving a Reparty sutable to it, I shall forbear attemp­ting one at present, and proceed to what I look upon as an undispensible duty lying upon me to perform to any Scholar, but more particu­larly Sir to you who have taken so much pains, and are so desirous to be informed; therefore that I may omit nothing which may appear necessary to our discourse, or tend to your fur­ther improvement and satisfaction, I am re­solved to lay you down Rules to be observed by all Scholars, in these following Circum­stances: viz.