The conclusion By way of ecomium upon the art of fencing; wherein the chief objections against it, are fairly proposed and answered.

There are two sorts of people, who are the chief objectors against the usefulness of fencing; the first are those, who have, I may say, a kind of natural aversion to it, and who are but very few in number, neither can there be any reason given for it; so that the predjudices they have entertained against it in a manner from their infancy, have to them all the force of a demonstration: These are a sort of men, who never troubling themselves to argue on any matter, go through stitch, as we say, in all their opinions, and never take them up, but with a secret resolution never to quit them, tho for others infinitely better, there is no informing nor enlightening of them, and when one has reason'd with them never so justly, all the answer you are to expect, is that of the country fellow to his priest, you may silence me, but you shall never convert me. Now; were it only for such persons, that I intended the arguments here set down to prove the usefulness of this art, I might very well have spared my pains; for as I said, such persons are obstinately resolved to be proof against the strongest arguments can be offered to them in its favours; so that there being no possiblity of perswading them, I must even leave them where I found them; and since I cannot convince them of their unreasonable predjudices against it, I will, I hope, at least be allowed to regret them.

But there are a second sort of enemies, or rather objectors against the usefulness of fencing, who are only enemies to it at the second hand, if I may so express it; that is, not out of any natural predjudice or aversion of their own, but from what they hear from the above mentioned, or such other inveterate enemies to it, and therfore are not so obstinate as they, but of a great deal more convinceable temper: So that it is chiefly upon such plausible, and tractable persons account, (who ought rather to be pitied as condemned, seing the aversion they have to the art, is not so much natural and voluntary, as with an insinuating kind of subtility and cunning, carried home, and enforced upon them). I say, it is chiefly upon such persons account, that I have undertaken to draw together in this conclusion, so of those objections which appear to be of greatest weight against the usefulness of the art; together with my answers to them.

And indeed it is somewhat unaccountable and surprising, that an art, by which men may reap benefit and advantage, but never predjudice, should have any enemies or objectors at all against it, especially any who pretend to the priviledge of carrying a sword by their side: But 'tis very probable, it may be with such persons, as it is with the condemners of divinity, and even of providence itself; for to make the allusion in the words of a very excellent author, and with all due regard and deference to so noble and sublime a subject: As it is impossible for any man of sense, who considers the fabrick of the whole, nay the smallest and most unconsiderable part of the universe, to doubt a first or supreme being, until from the conciousness of his sins and provocations, it become his interest that there should be none; so, I may say, it is impossible for any reasonable man, who seriously reflects upon, and considers the excellencies and advantages of fencing, to doubt or question the usefulness of it, until from a sense of his own ignorance in it, and the advantages he is sensible, artists will in all probability, in an occasion, have over him by it, it does become his interest, that there should be no such thing as art; or at least, that what is called the art of the sword, should be of no use: However, that I may be a sgood as my promise, and prosecute my design, as I first proposed, I say;

As the art of fencing is chiefly designed for the defence and preservation, not for the ruin and destruction of mankind, so certainly is it a great accomplishment, and does mightily heighten and increase people's esteem for it, where is is possessed by one of a sedate, calm and peaceable disposition; wheras on the other hand, it tends much to its predjudice and contempt, whe it is at the disposal and command of any hot, surly and ill-natur'd or quarrelsome person; for as such persons take only the benefit of it, for the better assisting and carrying them thorow in their more unmannerly and impertinent insults, which disturb the peace and tranquility of the society, whereis they live and company they converse with for which they ought to be discountenanced by all good men; so the other make only use of it for their just defence, in any occasion, wherein they may be unhappily engaged; so that such persons being necessitate sometimes to make use of their art in good earnest, is so far from yielding any satisfaction or pleasure to them, that they are rather obliged to show their skill and dexterity in it, with a kind of regret and reluctancy.

For I have many times observed, that neither the bravest nor most courageous men of honour, nor greatest sword-men, are the most given to quarrels, and that because neither of them like to suffer what they so much esteem, namely their valour, to be exposed either too frequently, or at too cheap a rate; but then it is generally as true, that when such persons do engage in anhonourable occasion, they do it indeed with a witness: They neither go into the fields, nor draw in the streets, to raise a noise and a hubbub, by discharging a few blows or thrusts, and then all is immediately husht and over, by reason of a patcht-up reconciliation; which noways deserved the name of a real satisfation; but upon the contrary, when such persons engage, they do it out of a true point of honour, and meerly to demand a just satisfaction, for a really recieved injury; and this, I confess, is seldom done, by the most expert sword-men, but at the expence of some blood, whereas according to the common method of picking petty quarrels, and resenting them (for indeed they do not deserve the name of injuries or real affronts) a man shall hear of several rencounters, and not so much as a drop of blood drawn on either side, which is however a thing, in my opinion, very rare to be expected from the common method of practice, and where there is given a just occasion for resentment, and the parties offending, obliged in point of honour, to give a just satisfaction; so that the matter standing thus with valorous and expert artists, fencing, or the true art of defence, gives indisputably to such persons, the two following advantages.

FIRST, it creates a respect to them from many, who did they judge them to be as mal-adroit as themselves, would perhaps, when in company, venture to pass a jest or banter upon them, who knowing their valour and adroitness, will judge it more safe for them to forbear it, knowing certainly that they will not easily be let pass, without being demanded satisfaction for it: Also in any little difference which may arise amongst the company, such persons who are known to be not only judicious, and men of honour, but likewise skilful and adroit at their weapons, will in all probability be the persons to whom such differences are referred; and for whose decision the whole company will, no doubt, have the greater regard, in resepct of their knowing nicely the punctillos of honour, which all good sword men are presumed and ought to understand, and that they certainly know they will not smooth over any affront, wherein a man's reputation or honour are really concerned, without advising them to demand such satisfaction, as by the rules of honour, the nature of the offence requires.

SECONDLY, the true art of defence, gives any man who is absolutely master of it, (even altho endued but with a very moderate natural forwardness or boldness) a certain kind of assurance, I had almost said courage, upon an occasion, which no unskilful person can have, and that in so far as the artist, not only certainly knows, all the opens by which his adversary cat attack him, but also the probably means, not only to prevent them, and to defend himself, but also offend his adversary; so that if he come to fail in either, he knows that he hath himself only to blame for it, not the unsufficiency of the art: Whereas an unskilful person, is in such a case discouraged, and rendered in a manner desperate, which obliges the most part of them, out of a meer necessity to take themselves to a most violent and irregular pursuit, (which I have elsewhere very justly called temeritas vel ignorantiae audacia, or the temerity and foolhardiness of ignorance), whereby they endeavour, if possible, to force the artist from his measures; and so they are concious to themselves, that upon such an occasion, they can perform nothing, with any kind of design, judgement or certainty, because of their being althogether ignorant of the rules of art, but which being all exactly understood by the artist, are an encouragement and support to him, by not only encreasing his courage as it were, but even giving hima kind of assurance, while in the heat of his engagement. So that in this case, it may be most justly asserted, that an expert artist supports and fortifies himself by his art, while an ignorant is necessitate to do it, if possible, by temerity and despair. And indeed it is pretty odd to see such a kind of co-incidence betwixt two so very opposites as art and ignorance, and that they should both tend to the producing of that boldness and forwardness, which is to be found in some mes, especially ignorants, who being quite destitute of art, cannot pretend to the least support and assurance they might in reason expect from it: But the great difference, as I have been observing, lyes in this; that the courageous forwardness and assurance possessed by the artist, proceeds from a reasonable and well-grounded confidence, which he reposes in his art, and which will rarely fail a man of judgement, if performed by that sedateness and presence of mind, with which it requires to be execute: Wheras the ignorants ventorious forwardness, or rather temerity, flows from his being most sensible of his great want of art and skill, and in place of being so well grounded in the former, is only the result of despair, which is the spur that sharpens him up to it; So that the temerity and affected assurance, which is, I may say, screwed and forc'd from it, can but very rarely, (and even then but by meer chance) produce those good consequences, which a true, sure or solid art can. This is the distinction I thought fit to make betwixt the ventorious hardiness or temerity of a forward ignorant, and the well grounded confidence and assurance of a brisk, skilful and judicious artist or sword-man.

I remember, that I have many times heard artists reproach'd and upbraided, with such expressions as these: To what purpose is all your art, and regular lessons, as well defensive as offensive, when it is frequently observed, that a vigorous and stout ignorant or naturalist, with a swinging irregular pursuit, will put any of you off from all your orderly postures of defence, so that you shall be in such a condition, as not to be in a capacity to make use of your art; not in a manner know to what hand to turn you; of so very little use and advantage is art many times, to those who pretend a great del of knowledge and dexterity in it, especially when vigorously attacked.

In answer to which, I must in the first place as such persons, who make this objection, whether or not they are really perswaded that a man's art diminishes his natural courage? I cnnot believe they will answer in the affirmative, there is so very little shadow of reason for it; becuase this were a strange virute in it indeed, that art according to some peoples' wild fancies and assertion, whould render a man, who is naturally brave and courageous upon his abstaining of it, an arrant coward; by (as it were a most unreasonable kind of transmigration) infusing a mean and timorous soul into a body formerly posessed by a brave one, whereby it is wholly divested of that heroick virtue wherewith nature had endued it from its infancy; No, no, this wre to make a too rash as well as false conclusion, and to encroach a little too much upon the just dictates of reason and sound sense.

If then art does not abate courage (for I do not deny but it many times makes a man more cautious in an engagement than perhaps otherwise he would be; this being indeed peritiae & experientiae cauleta, or the circumspectness and wariness of art, which, however, has not the least tendency to cowardice , and is much rather to be approved of, as condemned) then certainly an artist hath this advantage by his art, that altho' he should be sometimes beat out of, or driven from his postures of defence, and put from making use of his artificial lessons of offence, yet he still knows when, and where opens are given to thrust at, and so can take the opportunity of them, which no man althgether ignorant of the art can do; so this, not to mention the benefit he hath in knowing how to thrust swiftly, and also to plant and adjust his thrusts well, is one considerable advantage he hath by his art altho' he had no more, but ever did wholly abandon the defensive part, and should answer the ignorant in his own coin, as to the offensive.

But secondly, it is a most gross mistake, to fancy that a truly expert and compleat artist, can thus be beat from either his posture of defence, of presures of pursuit, by any ignorant or rambler whatsoever; a novice or half-skilled person may indeed be driven into confusion, by reason that he is but just in a manner grounded in the art; but one truly expert and by practice consummate in the art, never can; because his defence and pursuit, are founded upon, and proceed from true and solid principles, and not from an ill-grounded root; so that forming a true cross upon his adversary's weapon, when upon his defence; and launcing alwise homse a thrust vigorously, upon an open, either offered by his adversary, or forced by himself when offending, he can never be said either to defend, or pursue irregularly, or in confusion, by reason, that the forming of a good cross upon the defensive, and the thrusting always at an open upon the offensive part, being the two chief principles uon which this art is founded, and he acting consequentially to these principles, can therefore never be said to act in confusion, let the posture of his guard be never so awkward or disorderly in appearance, or the position of his sword hand, perhaps in quarte, when it ought to be in tierce or seconde, upon his offence: And which are at bottom but trifles with respect to true fencing, when a man comes to an earnest engagement with sharps.

Thirdly, seeing it is clear, that according to reason, art can never diminish, but that it ought rather to produce and increase courage; then certainly an artist can never be at any loss or disadvantage, by being a professor of it; because, when he pleases he can make use of it, and since it impairs not, nor diminishes, his natural valour and boldness, he may also when he has a mind for it, unart himself, if I may say so, or lay it as it were aside for tht occasion, and answer the ignorants forwardness by his own natural courage, as if he had no art, (which, by the way, is no bad method for young sword men, when they shall be engaged in an occasion, before they are well confirmed in their art) whereby he is still in equal circumstances with his adversary, and in the same condition, if it can be supposed, that a compleat artist can so much divest himself of his skill, as if he had no art at all.

So that it is evident, that any man who has truly art, is so far from being at a disadvantage by it any manner of way, that he hath also this following undeniable advantage, which alone is sufficient, were there no other at all, not only to make all men of good sense and judgement, to value and esteem it, but also to silence entirely all its enemies whatsoever, who are not out of meer caprice resolved to continue obstinate; which is, that whereas his adversary, can only appear in the field in one capacity, to defend his life and honour, to wit, as a mal adroit and ignorant, and as one relying meerly upon a fortuitous chance, for his preservation or victory: the ARTIST can appear sword in hand, in a twofold capacity, that is, either as an artist, to defend himself by his address and skill, or if he please, as altogether as very arrant an ignorant, and inconsiderately forward a mal-adroit as his adversary.

From all which, I draw this undeniable conclusion, that true art and a skilful address, in the gentlemanly and most useful science of defence, must be for the most part of singular use and advantage, but that it is next to impossible, it can ever be predjudicial to any man, if he but act, I shall not say exactly, (for that I dare affirm, never any man did, not do I really believe can) but even indifferently, and in a good measure, according to its most rational, as well as exact, rules and directions.

All which I think sufficiently answers the above mentioned common tho' weak objection, which however, is rarely made by any who have but the least tincture of art; but only by such as are wholly ignorant of it; and who therefore, according to a natural, and I may say innate pride and vanity, but too common to our whole race, cannot endure to be thought ignorant of any useful exercise, for the understanding whereof, they hear other persons applauded; and amongst other gentlemanly exercises, hearing this of fencing commended by the most judicious, and the persons who are dextrous at it, had in esteem and respected for it; and knowing themselves, to be by their laziness and neglect, altogether ignorant of it, they therfore look upon themselves as obliged, out of a vain, self-conceited, and false point of honour, (if it can deserve that gentlemanly word) to vindicate their own ignorance, by railing at, and undervaluing the art; and all who possess it.

And I dare appeal to all such enemies of it, if they will but deal candidly, and be ingenuous, if what I have said be not the chief, if not the only reason, for their pretended dislike to this art; and if in their judgement and conscience, they are not really convinced of its use and excellency, notwithstanding of their dissembling so far, as to deny it with their words: For let some morose people pretend to never such an unaffected indifference for the practical knowledge of this art; yet I am fully perswaded, ther never was any man, who being altogether ignorant of it, was necessitate to appear in good earnest with sword in hand, but would with all his sould, have wished himself to be amongst the number, of the most skilful and expert in fencing.

I know it is also commonly objected, that however dextrous a man may be, yet he can never pretend to an absolute certainly, or infallibility by his art, and therefore seing it is possible that his art may fail him, all things being subject to a kind of chance, it is as good for a man to take his venture, and rather than consume a great deal of time in acquiring and uncertain art, even resolve to hazard all at one home-push, or as the late Mr. Lock in his Education of Youth, Sect. 187., was pleased to word it, put all upon one thrust, and not stand parieing, whereby it hath been often seen, that bold and forward ignorants have not only preserved their own lives, but have also masterd and overcome their adversaries, altho' reputed very dextrous sword-men.

To which I answer, that altho' what is said, seems at first view to carry somewhat of reson with it, especially when affirmed and backed by the authority of so great a man as the late Mr. Lock; yet I am hopeful when it is considered a little more narrowly and distinctly it shall not ahve such influence & weight with any considering person, as to make him in the least forbear, far less wholly neglect the improving himself in the most gentlemanly and useful of arts, especially after the serious perusal of the following answer.

I have all the deference imaginable for Mr. Lock's writings, and esteem them as I do those of other learned men; but however I may be obliged by his strong and convincing reasons, to go along with, and yield very much to him as a philosopher, yet I msut beg pardon to dissent from him as a sword-man: For his advising to put all upon one thrust and not stand parieing, shews his skill in fencing to be as bad and little to be regarded, as his knowledge in philosophy, by reason of his great learning, is to be valued and admired: And I think it but a very weak argument to insinuate, that because we poor mortals, are in a manner subject in all our actions to an inevitable destiny, that therefore we ought not to use the most rational means for our preservation, for as Mr. Dryden says;

If fate be not, then what can we forsee? Or how can we avoid it, if it be? If by free will, in our own paths we move, How are we bounded by decrees above?

Which he answers very well by the following two lines:

Whether we drive, or whether we are driven, If ill, 'tis ours; if good, th' effect of Heaven.

I say it is but bad arguing from the uncertain events of our best performances, that therfore we ought not to improve ourselves in those arts, whereby we may prevent a great many accidents which would otherwise certainly befall us: It is much the same, as if I should affirm, that because of my learning to walk, I am not infallibly certain, never to dislocate any of my joints when I am walking abroad; therfore I ought not to stir out of doors at all, but to keep close at home; where I am no more infallibly certain neither, but that the very same misfortune may befall me even in walking about my room, or stepping in to my bed; Therefore I conclude, that as it would be folly in any man never to walk of stir abroad, because he is not infallibly certain, but that he may dislocate his ankle, or break a leg, nay, even be knock'd on the head, by an accidental blow of a stone or tile blown from a house-top, whereof we have had several instances; so would it be no less ridiculous, for any man to neglect the improvement of himself in the art of defence, because he is not infallibly certain, of that it is not impossible, but that his adversary, whether artist or ignorant, may when engaged against him, either wound or kill him.

For what man is there, of what imployment soever, that dares pretend to an absolute certainty in it? Don't we daily see godly divines draw erroneous doctrines from good and orthodox texts? Great lawyers false prackticks from good institutions, Skilful physicians dangerous administrations from safe and excellent aphorisms? And even learned philosophers and mathematicians to build false hypotheses upon pretended mathematical demonstrations? The only sciencefrom whence unerring truth can certainly flow; Nay, the most skilful gamesters come some time off with loss; and the greates warriors, and most renown'd and cautious generals are sometimes beat and entirely routed, of which we have had fresh and happy instances for these nations in the late campaigns: Since then all these professions are thus by turns fallible, must it be only sword-men who ought to be infallible in the practice of their art? No! There is not the least reason for it, and indeed it were a kind of folly to expect it.

Such weak arguments as these, cannot be of force to influence, even the most shallow persons we can think of, so as to cause them to neglect their most useful exercises, far less prevail with men of any understanding and judgement, to undervalue the true art of defence, which is of so great benefit and use for the preservation of both life and honour; for laying wholly aside such whimsical arguments, we ought (as true christians) to use the lawful means, let the event prove what it will: And I must also take the freedom to inform those who are of Mr. Lock's perswasion in this point, that if they should have to deal with a true and compleat artist, he would not give them the opportuinity of putting all upon one thrust: for the artist would so attack them with a brisk half pursuit, and still cross their swords; if they were to make use of this new method, or accompany his pursuit with such a continual beating and binding of their swords, if they inclined to make use of the common, that they would hardly have the opportunity of disengaging their swords, nay scarcely of recovering or raising their points, so closely would their skilful adversary keep them engaged, and under a continual kind of twist or circular motion: Or otherwise he would answer them smartly from the riposte, his parade being assisted by the left hand for his more certain defence: Than which, thee is not, as I have many times said, and cannot repeat it too often, a better method in the whole art, to put a stop to, and master an irregular and furious pursuit. Thus ought, and certainly would a true artist engage upon an occasion; and if he do, what, pray, comes of his adversary's attempting to put all upon one thrust? (Unless it were to run himself head-long upon the artist's sword's point) when himself is allowed so very little time to thrust, especially if altogether an ignorant, that he can scarcely know what position his own sword is in.

But I take the true reason of the mistake to have proceeded from hence, that there are but very few truly great artists, the most part of people who have that character bestowed upon them, not in the least deserving it: So matters standing thus, and such half-skilled persons, being frequently baffled by naturalists of a brisk and forward temper, Mr. Lock's meaning has been misunderstood, as if thereby he had concluded, that such forward persons would have the same success against the greatest and most skilful artists, as they sometimes have against such half sword-men whose number is indeed but too great: For these are his very words in the fore-cited place; And certainly a man of courage, who cannot fence at all, and therefore will put all upon one thrust, and not stand parieing, has the odds against a moderate fencer; which two last words I desire may be taken notice of and remarked, in chich I most heartily concur with him; for indeed I am almost of opinion, that a man had better have no art at all, that have but so very little a smack of fencing, as not to be capable to put it into practice; or to use Mr. Lock's own words, be only a moderate fencer; whereby I understand a certain kind of pretenders, who have more theory or rather prattle, than true practice, and which upon an occasion, will many times porve of less use to them, than a brisk and hardy natural pursuit, such as I immediately recommend to young sword-men, Page. 257. But then there is a vast distinction to be made betwixt such a moderate, or rather bungling artist, and a person truly master of the art of defence. The most forward naturalist that is, would but pass his time ver sorely, if engaged against such a sword-man.

Let then all gentlemen endeavour not to become moderate fencers, (as Mr. Lock very justly terms such half skilled persons), but really expert and dextrous sword-men; and my life for it, their art of defence shall prove of singular benefit and use to them at sharps, especially if the occasion be honourable: For it is but just, that a man's art should fail him, when he offers to draw his sword, either in a mean quarrel, or for a bad or unjust cause.

Therefore to vindicate the late Mr. Lock (who deserved a great deal of applause, as for thet excellent little piece of the education of youth, so still more for his incomparable essay on human understanding) I am fully perswaded, that had he understood as much of fencing, as he did of philosophy, he would never have given so dangerous an advice: For alwise to pursue and thrust, without being in the least ready, or offering to go to the parade, if a man's adversary should offer to thrust out upon him, or to take him from the riposte, after he hath thrust, is what ought not to be so much as named by any who pretend to the least art; except in the extraordinary circumstances I have named Page 113, 114, and 180, where it aought also to be accompanied with the help of the left hand, the better to produce a contre-temps or an exchanged thrust: But this being an old recieved maxim amongst ignorants, to always pursue most furiously, especially when engaged against one who has the reputation of an artist; and this method succeeding sometimes against half-skilled persons, Mr. Lock did take it upon trust, and so set it down as a general rule, for which he ought to be excused: The giving just and true directions for this art, being (as he was a divine and a philosopher, but not a good sword-man) altogether out of his sphere.

I have insisted the longer upon this, lest so vulgar an error as advising alwaies to thrust, without in the least being ready, or attempting to parie when needful, maintain'd by many persons, (who altho' very judicious in other matter, yet being no sword-men, ought not to be look'd upon as competent judges in this point,) and also backed with the authority and advice of so great and learned a person as the late Mr. Lock, micht have perhaps too strong an influence upon many young gentlemen, who have not as yet come so great a length in the art, as to be capable of themselves to discover the uncertainty and weakness of it; but I am very hopeful, what I have said will undeceive them, and that they will be so kind to themselves, as to rely rather upon my judgement as Mr. Lock's, in this determination, until they be masters of so much art, as to be competent judges of it themselves; and the rather, because it isonly a point in fencing, not a decision in philosophy, wo who in such a case, I should be very ready to yield.

In fine, fencing, or the true art of the sword, is both DIVERTING and USEFUL; DIVERTING, is so far as, by school-play a young gentleman may pass away some idle hours, he perhaps knows not well how to dispose of otherwise, (for I am far from advising any Gentleman to make it his whole and only business) whereby he will render his body more agile and nimble, and also by a moderate exercise, discuss and expel many of those gross and superfluous humours, which if nourished and increased by too sedentry a life, or too much ease, might prove predjudicial to his health: And USEFUL; in respect of the assurance and safety it furnishes every man with, who is perfectly master of it. For altho' ther be no absolute certainty, or infallibility in almost any thing this side of time, save in a mathematical scheme or demonstration; yet the true art of defence furnishing a man with a rational method of securing and defending himself, against the attacks of his adversary with any kind of weapon, whether edged or pointed, whereby his adversary may discharge either blow or thrust against him; it cannot be denied, but with respect to THIS, the art of fencing is truly advantageous and useful.

Altho after all, and to be ingenious, it cannot be denied, but that the best of sword men have their good and bad days, as every one must acknowledge, who has been accustomed to such kind of exercises; and happy is it for a man, when a lucky and fortunate day, concurrs with a just and honourable occasion; so that in my opinion, I cannot make a better simile, than to compare an adroit and knowing sword-man, to a very good and skilful gamester, who even against a very great bungler, may have now and then a bad run as we say, but still it is acknowledg'd that upon the main, the skilful gamester hath great odds against the bungler, and will at last certainly carry off the ready: Even so in fencing, a good sword-man may by misfortune, or by failing in his art come to be worsted by an ignorant or mal-adroit; (for as I said, sword men are no more infallible than other men) but still this is no reflection upon the art, and good sword men will upon the main, have a singular and evident advantage, over all unskilful persons whatsoever: It is alwise to be supposed singly and one after another, and that the artist be sober and free from the effects of wine or other strong liquor, whereby he may be frustrate of any benefit he might reap from his art, for to drunken or very passionate people this art can be but of little or no use, whatever some persons who are addicted to these vices, may fancy or assert to the contrary.

THEREFORE, the uncertainty above-mentioned, notwithstanding of their greatest art, ought to humble sword-men, and prevent their being too confident, or relying too much upon their skill, seeing it is thereby most palpable and evident, that there is a just and invisible, as well as inevitable dextiny, or rather providence, which attends and over rules every man's actions. Let all then who have acquired art, notwithstanding of their greatest knowledge and desterity in it, carry themselves humbly and modestly, and without being the least puff'd up by it; and when they shall be necessitate to make use of it in good earnest, for the preservation of their lives or honour; let them boldly, and as I advised in page 186, (for the less people apprehend or dread their adversaries, the better) make use of the ordinary means and talents, art hath bestowed upon them, for their just defence, resigning themselves in the mean time, with all submission and humility, to the unerring conduct of that OVERRULING POWER, which being TRUTH itself, hath declared, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battel to the strong, but that time and chance happeneth to all.

The End

A Scheme of LAWS (according to the Author's own Sentiment)

to be observed in all Fencing-Schools, wherein the master desires a Decency and Order to be kept by his Scholars, especially upon the Ordinary Days for Publick Assaulting, or when there is a Prize to be Play'd for; and which ought to be Printed in large Characters, and placed in the most conspicuous Part of the School, that none who are to be concerned, may pretend Ignorance.

I shall not here say any thing of the Fencing-School, or Room where a Prize is to be Played for, becuase, commonly People provide themselves of the most convenient Rooms can be had for these Purposes, in the places where they are to be Established; and there is this one General Direction, that I would have observed in making Choice of One, That as a Fencing-School ought to be a large and well-lighten Room, so it ought to have a little With-drawing Room to enter from it, for the more Conveniency of the Scholars shifting themselves; or for any other Persons who are to Play for the Prize, retiring themselves to, until they put themselves in Order for it; which would not be very decent to be done before the whole Company, who are only ot be Spectators. This being premised for the Conveniency of the Scholars, or other Players; I say, that in my humble Opinion, thaty ought to observe the following, or some other such like Laws; both upon their Weekly Assaulting Days, or when they are to play for a Prize.

FIRST.

LAWS to be observed upon the Weekly Assaulting Days.

I.

The days of the week appointed for assaulting ought to be tuesdays and fridays, for the reasons mentioned page 231.

II.

ALL cursing and swearing, and obscene language, should be discharged as much as possible; Because, a Fencing-School being a place to which persons of the finest quality do frequently resort, for their exerise and divertisement, all such ungentlemanly, as well as immoral habits ought to be discountenanced; and that decorum and civilityobserved and paid by the scholars to one another, as it becomes Gentlemen, not only as they are true Christians, but even as they pretent to be men of true generosity and honour.

III.

ALL persons, as well those who are only spectators, as scholars, whould be obliged to silence; at least, to discourse within their voices; Because, thereby the assaulters will be less disturbed, and the Master's advice and reproofs, when they commit any escapes, better adhered to and observed.

IV.

NO scholar or other person, should offer to assault, or present a fleuret to any, without having the master's consent; Because, it would not only be indiscretion to do it without first having acquainted the Master of it; but it would be a ready means to occasion a continual Hurry and Confusion in the school, while the scholars are either assaulting, or the master a giving of a lesson.

V.

No scholar nor spectator, without a licence from the master, whould offer to direct or give advice, to any who are either taking a lesson or assaulting; Because; first, it is unmannerly, without permission or being desired, to take upon them to play the master. Secondly, censurers frequently reprove their comrades, for the very same escapes, they themselves are most guilty of; wich is the reason that they are many times laught at by the company for their impertinent officiousness, which they might have prevented, had they been a little more silent and reserved.

VI.

NO scholar under two months teaching in this New Method of Fencing, or three at least in the ordinary one, should be allowed to assault in publick; Because; until they be a little confirmed in their art by their private assaults, they can do nothing in their publick, but misbehave or ramble; whereby the art is undervalued by such spectators as do not know the reasons for their thus failing, and who are also perhaps glad of such a pretence, to ridicule it.

VII.

NO Scholar under three months teaching in this New Method, or five or six in the ordinary one, should be suffered to take their lessons, or assault in their ordinary wearing clothes or shoes; Because, until a man be pretty well confimed in his lessons, and his body and limbs accustomed thereby to good stretches, his play would be but very slow and unfirm, should he so soon quite with his Fencing Shoes and Vest.

VIII.

NONE should be allowed to play, above five or six fair given or recieved thrusts; Because, if people play as briskly as they ought, their vigour will be spent in that time; and what they do afterwards, is but slow and without life, and so unpleasant to the spectators; therefore they had better ggive place to others, in which time they may take their wind, and fall to it again if they please.

IX.

ALTHO at sharps thrusting at the face be very disabling, yet it is not to be allowed in school assaults; Because, of the predjudice and hurt people may receive by it in their eyes; but popping out (as we term it) and the wrists, arms, thighs, legs or feet ought to be allowed, altho not reckoned as thrusts; Because, thereby a man accustoms himself to be dextrous at it at sharps, where it is most useful for disabling; and if he do not practice it in school assaults, he shall never haave the opportunity to become dextrous at it at all; besides, that the popping out upon these parts can do a Man's adversary no predjudice with a fleuret, as it would do at his face or eyes, which is the reson that I would have it discharged at these parts.

X.

THE Use of the left hand ought to be allowed in school assaults as well against artists as ignorants, that thereby a man may become dextrous, at both opposing and parieing his adversary's sword with it; which it is impossible he can ever be, unless by frequently making use of it, both when taking a lesson and assaulting: And indeed it is too good and useful an assistance for a man's defence, to be wholly laid aside or neglected.

XI.

The better to prevent contretemps in assaulting, altho a man give his adversary a contretemps, or even an exchanged thrust, before the recovery of his adversary's body from his thrust; yet if he himself did not offer to go to the parade, but did designedly receive the thrust, that he might the more easily give the contretemps or exchanged thrust to his adversary; the thrust his adversary gave him should be charged upon him; that thereby he may be discouraged from the practice of such a false and murdering kind of play, which is the loss of many brave men at sharps, where commonly in such a case, both go to the pot together. Nota; No people are more guilty of this than the French, by reason of their imperfect quarte and tierce parades, and upon than account, their too frequently catching at time; whereby in duels or rencounters, both parties are for the most part either kill'd or wounded.

XII.

Two commands are to be reckoned equal to a thrust; Because; altho they are not so dangerous, yet seeing it is a bad habit, that a man accustoms himself to suffer his sword at every bout, as we say, to be commanded; it is but just, that for every two he should be charged with a thrust, that so he may the better guard against them, as also the more to encourage his adversary to command him, because of its great use and safety at sharps.

XIII.

Upon commanding no struggling is to be allowed to the person commanded, after his fleuret is once cacht hold of, nor tripping to the person commanding, after he is master of it; Because, however allowable such active and nimble defences may be upon a pinch at sharps, yet in a school assault, all such kind of strugling betwixt scholars is rude and undecent.

XIV.

When a fleuret is brokn in an assault, the person in whose hand it is, ought alwise to pay it; Because, if it be by a thrust upon his adversary, his adversary has loss enough, by being at the disadvantage of receiving a thrust, altho he pay not the fleuret also; and if it be broken by a blow, whether it is by his own beat or his adversary's, he ought to have taken care to prevent either; upon all which accounts, I think it most reasonable, that the person in whose hand the fleuret was broke, should alwise pay it: Which decision will be found to remove a great deal of debate, that arises many times upon this point.

XV.

LASTLY, all these laws should be observe, under such a penalty as the master shall judge fit to impose, for the breach of each: And that mulct ought also to be exactly collected; Otherwise, the having such laws in the school will turn to no effect; and the scholars will have no more regard for them, than if there were no such laws at all to be observed by them.

SECONDLY

LAWS to be observed upon a Bet, or when a Prize is to be play'd for.

All the preceeding Laws for Assaulting, in so far as they are not contradictory to these following, are to be observed as well in Playing for a Prize, as upon the weekly Assaulting Days; but where they differ, then observe the following, I say when a prize is to be played for.

I.

THERE should be printed advertisements, to acquaint people both of the kind of prize that is to be played for, as also of the day that is appointed for it; together with the place and persons manes, to whom those who intend to play should give up their names, and their contribution for it, unless it be a prize given gratis.

II.

The day whereupon the prize is to be played for approaching, there ought to be a sufficient guard provided by the overseers or judges, form the magistrates of the town, or Commanding Officer of the place, that so any kind of rabble or confusion may thereby be better prevented. For which reason also,

III.

NONE should be admitted to be spectators, but such as shall have tickets given to them, which they are to deliver to the door keeper as they enter.

IV.

NONE should be allowed to play for the prize, but such as have duly given up their names at the time and places appointed.

V.

FOR the greater order and regularity in playing for a prize, the number of players ought to be even, that so they be the more easily paired, and those who beat their adversaries, also marked with the less difficulty; Therefore if there be an odd player, they should all draw lots who is to forbear playing the prize, and the person upon whom the lot falleth, should have the money he contributed for the prize returned to him, and shall forbear playing for that time.

VI.

NONE should be allowed to play but in such a garb or habite as this one following (and which is a most decent one for assaulting in) viz. a black velvet cap, and white waitcoat, drawers and stockings; the waistcoat and drawers of what kind of stuff every man will be at the charges of, whether Holland, Taffaty, Sattin &c. But in the time that they are playing, the skirts of their waistcoats ought alwise to be put beneath the head-band of their drawers, that so it may be the better perceived where the thrusts are given: For which end also,

VII.

THE fleurets they play with, shoudlbe of equal length, and their buttons dipt in a little vermillion and water, that so the thrusts after they are given may be the more easily discovered, and booked without any debate, and which ought alwise to be done by the judges after every thrust; neither should any be allowed to paly against any more than one in a day; because after the first assault a man's vigour is spent, and being to play for a prize, it were most unreasonable, to oblige him to play against any other fresh person for that day: As for the number of thrusts to be played for, see the Eighth Law for Weekly Assaulting.

I

VIII.

NO thrusts should be allowed nor accounted as fair, which are not given in the trunk of the body; that is, betwixt the neck and head-band of the drawers as to its length, and betwixt the two shoulders as to its breadth.

IX.

ALL enclosing and commanding ought to be discharged in playing for either a bet or a prize; Because, however, useful they may be at sharps, yet upon this occasion, the frequent use of them, sould take away the whole grace, neatness and pleasure of the play: But the use of the left hand is to be allowed, because it may fall out, that some foreward ignorants, or ramblers, may lift themselves to play for the prize, out of no other design, but to bring a slur upon the art, by endeavouring if possible, to baffle any of the artists, upon which very account, were there no other, the parieing with the left hand is to be allowed. And in case of contretemps or exchanged thrusts, the Eleventh Law for Weekly Assaulting is to be observed.

X.

EACH person being to play against every one, it will take as many days for playing the prize, and before the victory can be decided in any one's favours, as there are persons listed, save one; because each being to make but one Assault in a day, according to the seventh law, it will take so much time before it go thorow them all; And whoever after the last days assaulting shall be found by the account in the book, to have the best manifest, shall be declared by the Judges to have gain'd the prize, to whom it is to be delivered by them, passing what compliment upon him they shall think fit.

I HAVE only given this Scheme of Laws to be observed in Fencing Schools as a Model, whereby masters may more easily regulat themselves in their Weekly Assaulting Days or when a Prize is to be played for; and not as an Unalterable Form, wherein no rectifications can or ought to be made. Therefore, notwithstanding of what I have here offered, it is left to every master to rescind or add, as he shall judge it most proper and convenient; altho I must say, that I have endeavoured to set down none, but what I thought most material, and in a manner absolutely needful.

Prev. Back. Next.