the Society so all things being thus conserted having resolved what number with the Precident or Treasurer in his absence shall be a Quorum at those ordinary meetings they may then adjourn themselves till the day appointed for the next All which the Clerk should carefully mark down and thus much for what they are to do at their yearly Assemblies or general meetings But if there be a Prize to be played for then the day for beginning it being come and the place where it is to be played for ready and in order I would have notwithstanding of the former Laws for Schools these following Rules to be observed because they more particularly relate to such a solemnity as this RVLES to be Observed in playing for a PRIZE RVLE 1. FIrst That no disorder may be committed by a Rabble or otherwise there should be Application made to the Magistrates or commanding Officer of the place for a Guard to keep out all common People As also to prevent any other inconveniencies which may fall out upon such an occasion RULE 2. Secondly To prevent a Croud none should be admitted to be Spectators but those who shall have received Tickets which must be delivered to the Door keeper as they enter RULE 3. Thirdly None should be allowed to play let them be never so desirous but such as have given up their names at the time appointed in the Act also the number of the persons who are to play should if posible be evens that so they may be the more easily Paited those who beat their Adversaries also marked with the less difficulty Therefore if there be an odd person they should all draw Lotts who is to forebear playing for that year and upon whomsover the Lot falleth he shall have the money he consigned for the Prize returned to him and shall therefore forebear playing for the Prize that year RULE 4. Fourthly None should be allowed to play but in such a Garb as this following Viz. A black Velvet Cap and white Weast-Coat Drawers and Stockins of what kind of Stuff every man shall think fit to be at the charges of whither Holland Taffity Sartin c. But in the time they are playing the lapps of the Weast-Coat must be alwise put within the head-band of the Drawers that so it may be the be 〈◊〉 peceived where the Thrusts which shall b◠given have been planted RULE 5. Fifthly The Flurets they all play with should be of equal length and the number three should be also the precise number of given or received Thrusts which each player is to play against every one of his Antagonist Players Neither should any be allowed to play against more than one in a day because after the first Assault a Mans Vigour is spent and being to play for a Prize it were most unreasonable to oblidge him to play against any other fresh person that day RULE 6. Sixthly No Thrusts should be allowed nor accounted as faire which are not given in the Trunk of the Body that is betwixt the neck and head-band of the Drawers as to the length and betwixt the two Shoulders as to the breadth RULE 7. Seventhly Nothing but faire Thrusts being to be allowed and reckoned all commanding and inclosing whatsoever should be discharged for if that were allowed the most part would aim generally more at it then at the giving of a Thrust which would take away the whole grace neatness and pleasure of the play but the use of the left hand is not to be discharged because it may so fall out that some Ignorant Ramblers may list themselves to play for the Prize out of no other designe but to see if they can baffle any of the Artists therefore the parrying with the left hand is upon that very account to be allowed But in case of a Contre-temps or exchanged Thrust as it is in the eleventh Law for Schools I would have the Thrust alwise desided in the Persons Favours who was the first launcher out of it RULE 8 Eightly Both to prevent Debates also that the Thrusts which are given may the better appear there should be a little peice of flat spunge fixed to the button of each Flurret which should be diped in a little water mixt with Vermelion and then it will be impossible for the least touch to be given but what will immediately appear to the Judges who should then interrupt that bout and declare that such a Person playing against such another hath received one Thrust from him which the Clerk is immediately to mark down and then they are to engage again for the second Thrust and when that is given also to desist until it be marked and then they are to play for the third last against other for that Prize and the lame order must be observed by all the rest RULE 9. Lastly Each Person being to play against every One before the Victory can be decided in any ones Favours it will take as many days save one as there are Persons to play for the Prize because it will take so much time each being according to the fifth Rule to make but one Assault in a day before it go throw them all and whoever after the last days Assaulting shall be found by the account that the Clerk and Judges have kept to have beat manyest for the Judges are to keep an exact account of who each day beateth other as well as the Clerk to be as it were a proof of his exactness and impartiality shall be declared to have gained the Prize to whom the President shall deliver it out of his own hand passing what Compliment upon him he shall think fit after which all may be dismissed Thus you see what exact methode I would have taken to prevent confusion when there is a Prize to be played for and I am confident if it were punctually observed there would be as few Debates and as little trouble at such a Solemnity as there is now in most Schools upon the ordinary publick Assaulting days Sch. Really Sir By the Rules you have laid down it appears to me that there is not the least difficultie in going about it but you talk of erecting a Societie of Sword-Men and your Discourse would also intimate as much as that there were one alreadie erected in this Kingdom Ma. There is so Sir and I thought there had been but few Gentlemen such as you who follow the Sword but what had known of it Sch. Indeed Sir I must confess my ignorance as to this for I never so much as heard of it before and upon this account I think it the more strange because I am daily conversing with those who are the greatest encouragers of this Art within the Kingdom However seeing it hath been done without my knowledge pray do me the favour to show what methode they took to Erect it For I am extreamly taken with the fancy Ma. Sir you now ask that of me which had I not a particular
THE FENCING-MASTER's ADVICE TO HIS SCHOLAR OR A FEW DIRECTIONS For the more Regular ASSAULTING in SCHOOLS Published by way of Dialogue for the Benefit of all who shall be so far advanced in the ART as to be fit for Assaulting By the Author of The Scots Fencing-Master and Sword-Mans Vade-mecum EDINBVRGH Printed by John Reid at his Printing-house in Bells-wynd Anno Domini 1692. To the Honourable SOCIETY OF SWORD-MEN IN SCOTLAND Erected at Edinburgh the 26th of February 1692. Gentlemen and Fellow-Sword-Men HAving the Honour to be One of Your Society and being so Fortunate as to be elected at Your first Meeting precident for that Year I think I cannot give a greater Testimony of my Gratitude for that Favour and of the respect I bear to the Society then by presenting you with this Token which although I must confess but a very small One yet if narrowly canvased will be found to contain in it more of the Judgement of the Sword than probably considering its bulk could have been expected It therefore begs your Protection with all humility submits to Your impartial Censure For who can be fitter Judges of the Subject of this Discourse than persons who have so generously engaged themselves to Mantain Encourage and Defend the Usefulness of the ART whereof it treateth It is true it treateth chiefly but of the Second Branch or Part of this Art for I think the Art of the Small-sword or Rapier may be very justly devided into three Parts or Kinds of Practice which are The Practice of the Lessons upon a Master's Breast The Practice of School-play or of the same Lessons against a Commerad with Blunts And the Practice of the Abstract or most secure part of the very same Lessons at Sharps for a Man's Honour or Life Now of the First Last of these I have writ already of the first in my Scots Fencing-Master of the Last in the Sword-Mans Vade-mecum So that to perfite all I can say upon this Art there only remains that I discourse upon this Second Branch which is of so much the more use as it is the only means to make a Man perfect in the Third For a Scholar may play his Lessons very exactly upon a Master who can neitheir perform them in Assault nor at Sharps but it is somewhat rare to find a person dexterous and exact in School play who cannot perform something at Sharps I do not mean by his natural Courage and Forewardness but by an artificial Conduct and Practice of his Lessons And altho there may in Our Honourable Society be some who know as much nay perhaps more of what belongeth to this than I can discover to them and also that it cannot be supposed that any will be admitted into it who do not in some measure understand how School Play should be performed yet I may safely say we are not all of the same Strength and Adroitness and however useless this Peice may prove to some yet there are others who stand mightily in need of it as well in Our Society as in other Schools throw the Kingdom And this in my Opinion can be no more a Reflection upon us than it is upon any other Corporation that all belonging to it are not alike dexterous and expert in the Trade they profess I expect therefore Gentlemen that You wo'nt be dissatisfied at my recommending this Discourse to Your perusal seing it was meerly for the Encouragement of the Art and Improvement of the Youth of this Kingdom whereof You are a part that I was at first induced to enter upon this Subject And seing I may without Vanity say I have been none of the meanest Instruments in perswading many Gentlemen to apply themselves to it the good effects of which I see in the Erection of this Our Society I rest satisfied as having fully accomplished my Design and contemning the Censures of Any who may Reflect upon me as medling too much with what they judge does so little lye in my way I think my self aboundantly recompenced by the Encouragement I see You give the Art for any small Trouble or Expences I have been at for the benefit of my Countrey-men upon this Subject of which if I be not mistaken I have said all that is necessar either for the Divertisement or Defence of a Mans Person Continue then Worthy Gentlemen Your Noble Design of Encouraging by this Your Society the Art of the Sword and as You have cast a generous Coppy to the rest of Brittain whereby they may know what Method to take for the Improvement of their Youth in so useful an Art so let Your Practice discover and demonstrate to the World That as Scotland cometh short of few Kingdoms for producing of Spirits capable of any Art or Science so she will be behind none in advancing the Noble Art of Defence and training up of Swordmen both to defend It and their Countrey when a fit occasion shall offer In doing which You will not only reap the Advantage and Benefit Your selves but also be an Honour to Your Nation which that it may for ever flourish and be Famous for Sword-men shall still be the desire and hearty wish of GENTLEMEN Your most sincere Well-wisher and humble Servant W. H. To all who are fit for Assaulting GENTLEMEN YOV may perhaps imagine that after having writ so much already upon this Subject what I am at present to add to it is likly to prove either Superfluous or at best but a Repetition but I must tell you that strictly considered it is neither For in this I am to give you a discription of neither Guard Parrade nor Lesson having done that so exactly in my Scots Fencing-Master that were I to do it again I could not perform it better than by taking an exact Coppy of it it being so perfeitly conform to the common Method of Teaching used at present throw the most part of Europe But as all Arts are capable of Improvement so in Fencing there are Circumstances used now in performing some of the Lessons which a few Years hence may be rectified and upon very just and solid grounds to a great deal of Advantage So that altho my Book be most exact now yet it may come to differ a little in those Circumstances which may afterwards be thought more agreeable to Reason and the Natural Situation of the Body However I am fully perswaded that whatever Alterations may happen they will contain more of Form than any essential Difference So that as long as Fencing it in repute that Book will still be useful and therefore to those who are grounding in the Art I cannot recommend a better For it traces the Art so gradually from the simplest to the most difficult Lesson that I may justly term it The Rudiments of the Sword for Beginners and a sufficient Instructer and Reviver of the Art to those who are either advancing to or arrived at the greatest Perfection this Art is capable of Nor am I
find a great advantage for it will accustom you to the true play with Sharps which is all done in a brush and like Thunder and Lightning is quick and smart for the time but soon over making a desicion of the quarrel by the victory given to one or other of the Partys RULE 5. Fifthly I would advice you not to use alwise one Method of play for by so doing a man if he be any ways attentive will after three or four times Assaulting with you discover so much by it as will make him very near conjecture what Lessons you are to run upon and so make it the more easie for him to oppose you therefore use one day point or disengaged play another day Binding a third Commanding or Passing I do not mean that you should use those days nothing else but one kind of Lesson but that upon the day you intend to use point play your play may run mostly upon that although you intermix it also with other kind of Lessons so when you intend to play from Binding you may use some passing commandings or other Lessons although your play for that day run most upon binding the other Lessons being but used be the by as it were to make it take the more effect And thus observing no set form you will make it a great dale more difficult for your Adversary to conjecture and find out what you would be at or by what Method you resolve to attaque him then if you should make a constant repetition of the same Lessons But this Rule is chiefly to be observed when you play frequently against one person RULE 6. Sixthly As I have adviced you when you play oft against one Person to alter your Method of play the better to prevent his knowing what Lessons you are to pursue him with so is it no less necessar for you if you intend to be a great Proficient in this Art to change the Persons you are to Assault against therefore I desire that you may accustome your self to play with all kinds of People for nothing gives a man more the Judgement of this Art and Improves him better then continual Practice with variety of Humours this makes him to know all Methods of play to be acquainted with all constitutions of Ignorants and Ramblers to acquire a general and universal defence and consequently to be prepared against all Encounters whereas if he Assault constantly against one or two persons they come to understand others play so well that the one knows almost what Contrarys to make use of before the other hath well begune his Pursute and therefore it is impossible such Persons can ever make that improvement which they certainly would were there Practice more universal and not so restricted to the particular humors of perhaps but two or three Scholars And here I cannot omit to show the folly of such nice young Gentlemen who will neither take a Lesson but in Private nor Assault if any be in the Room save the Person against whom they are to Play as if forsooth it were a reflection upon them to be seen receive their Lesson or a disparadgement to them to be thought to stand in need of Assaulting to improve themselves and yet these same nice Sparks who cannot endure to be thought ignorant of any thing will have confidence enough and make no scruple to go to a publick Ball and bungle a Courrant Minuet or Scots measure before a great many fine Ladys perhaps of the best quality of the Kingdom which I think cannot but reflect a great dale more upon their Impudence then either their publick taking of a Lesson or Assaulting can do upon their Ignorance especially when it is done before Persons who have so much Reason as to consider that no man is born an Artist and that he must in all other things as well as Fencing either suffer Instruction or remain in Ignorance besides if such Persons knew that it is impossible for them with such private Practice ever to make any considerable advance in this Art I am fully perswaded they would apply themselves more to publick For Fencing is an Art which depends mainly upon Practice and who ever thinks to acquire it any other way is I assure him mightily mistaken and the more a man practise and with the more different humors so much the better for him so that let the greatest Artist in the World forbear but the Practice of it for a twelve month although I confess he can never loss the Judgement he hath acquired yet he will certainly when he cometh to practice again find his Body and Limbs stiffer and his Hand and motions both for Defence and Offence neither so exact nor by far so swift as if he had been in a continual Practice I mean at least once a Week or Fortnight therefore I would gladly advise such persons both for their own advantage and publick encouragement of the Art to lay aside such shallow and and nice Fancys and with a firm resolution apply themselves to the more sollid Practice of it and let them take my word for it they will at last find the benefit of this my Advice and confess it is not so much to be contemned as perhaps they at present in the opinion they are of imagin RULE 7. Seventhly Although Binding be certainly the only truest play a man can make use of yet I would not have you quit too soon your point play for it because it is point play which must make your Body and Wrest and give you variety of play and therefore your publick Assaults being at first as much to improve your Art as offend your Adversary I advise you for the first three or four months of it to play more upon the variety of Lessons then upon binding and use it but now and then until you find your self considerably Master of the other Lessons and when you can play any of them with ease and at Pleasure then take your self to Binding and the Contercaveating parrade and make your self also Master of them which I assure you will be no small task for in performing of them there is not only required Judgement and a considerable Force and Strength but also the most extraordinary swiftness and greatest agility immaginable RULE 8. Eightly When ever you meet with a person whose play runneth mostly upon Binding do not unless you think your Binding will master his so much endeavour to cross him by Counter-binding as by slipping him and keeping a disengaged point For this is a contrary which will very oft take against such kind of play although I confess it can never be so secure as Counter binding and therefore all contraries must in all Encounters but particularly at Sharps give place to it but it is School-play I am now discoursing of and therefore point or disengaged play in such a case may with the more confidence be ventured upon RULE 9. Ninthly As against Binding in School-play you may safely keep a