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THE

GENTLEMAN'S TUTOR

FOR THE

Small Sword:

OR, THE

Compleat ENGLIS

Fencing MASTER.

CONTAINING

The trueft and plaineft R u t E s for learning that noble

A R T \ Ihewing how Neceflary it is for all G H N T L E-

M E N to underftand the Same. -

In 1 3 various Leflbns botween ^^

M A S T E R and S C H OL A R.

Adorn'd with feveral curious POSTURES. "

LONDON:

Printed for J. and 7*. W. and Sold by J. J A c K s o M,

at St. Jitmeis ; A. D o D D, without TemflfBur ; at

£.. N a T T, under the Royd*Exchiwge.

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T HE

PR EFAC E-

I Could very willingly have- favd

my felf the Trankle of a Preface,

bad 1 not lain under a Neceffity

of Apologising fur the Brevity of

this Undertaking, which I dcfire

t-be Reader to accept as follows.

-,. In the firft. place therefore, I do

affure you, the Perufer of this fmall

Treatift, that there is fcarcc any

thing nsedfal to the Knowledge of

tte Small-Svvord which is not here

laid down, find that in fo plain and

clear

The Preface.

dear a Method, as will give both

Satisfaction andDclight to all Lovers '

of this Art. An Art fo neceffary to

be known, and fo proper a Quali

fication for the conflicting a Man

a Gentleman, that I had almofl [aid,

he can be none that is not skill"d

therein.

A fecond Re/ifon I might alledge

for the Concifsnefs of this Work, is,

that I have made ufe but of few

Leffons, as judging that way moft

practicable, man) Lemons being ra

ther cloying than Inftruffitve $ be(ides

that we too often experience, that

Gentlemen are apt to forget one

while the) are learning another, by

which means they fcarce ever be

come perfeft in any.

And

The Preface.

And now, were it any ways Up-

fill to my Dcfign, I might run a

large Encomium in praife ofSword-

playing and flow you particularly

bow England of late Tears has

exceeded all other Countries herein,

even France it felf, which has long

loafled its Preference in this re-

fpeft j Iat this being the Work ra

ther ofa Panegyrift than a Sword's-

Man, I flail wave that point, and

conclude with telling you, that if

this Edition finds Acceptance in the

World, I intend to enlarge on this

and other parts of it, and oblige all

Lovers hereofwith a compleat Sj'ft

m a Second Edition,.

H,

.1.

c •

•' • •

[.-, \ ••

• T'

.

(

T H Ef

ENGLISH

: OR,

The Gompleat Tuterour

O F THE

SMALL SWORD.

Scholar. f^ I (2^, Having heard fo great

^^ a Character, that you arc a

kj compleat Mafter, I am come

to wait on you, to learn that Noble Ait

of Smntt-Sword.

Mafter. I ftiall take a great deal of Care

and Pains to improve you in that Art.

B The

..

2 Tfc Englifh Fentfng-Mafter.

The Firft thing that I muft fliew you is,

to put your Body in a good Pofture,

your Right-Foot one Yard from your

Left, your Right-Heel to your left Inftep,

your Left-Hand to your Lefr-Ear, fink

ing a little with both your Knees, but

you muft bend a little more with your

Left than your R'ght.

Secondly, To hold a good Guard to

defend your Body, your Right-Hand

rnuft be ftraight out with a little bend in

your Arm, the Point againrt your Adver-

iary's Right-Bread, with your Four Fin

gers bent under one part of the Handle,

and your Thumb over the upper parr,

with the Pummel clofe to your Wrift, as

you fhall lee in the Po£aire; trc*

The.

4, The Englifh fencing-Mafter.

My Second Leflbn,

Is Advancing and Retiring.

Advancing, is to Advance with your

Right Foot about feven Inches, and Hiding

your Left Foot after it, taking the fame

Ground with your Left as you do with

the Right : Retiring, is to give Ground

•with your Left, and {Tiding your Right

r •

Foot alter it.

Scholar. What is the meaning of Ad

vancing and Retiring? .

Maft. Advancing is, when you have a

Mind to take Groun.d of your Adverfary,

when Cfometime.) y°u are out of dj/rance

of aThruft: Retiring is, when you have a

Mind to give Ground to your Adverfary

when he approaches on, you..

The Englith fencing-Mafter. $

My Third Leflbn,

Is Carte find Tierce.

Carte and Tierce is the two chiefeft

Thrufts in Fencing, and all other Thrtifts

are but the fame : the former mutt be

given with your Nails upwards, and the

latter with your Nails downwards : when

Carte is given, you muft Hand faft with

your Left Foot, and ftep forward with

your Right almoft as far as you can,

without (training your felf, which is called

in Fencing a Louge $ your Left Ancle to

the Ground, your Knee very ftraight with

out bending, your Right Toe ftraight,

•with your Lefc Hand falling from your

Left Ear the fame height your Right-

Hand is, ' in a Line which Ballances your

Body : This Thruft muft be given the in-

fide of the Rjghc Arm, looking ftraight

in your Adverfary's Face, wkh your Wrift

upon the Thruft higher than the Point,

then.

6 The EnelifhO

then you are upon a Guard the tame time.

Tierce rnuft be given the out-fide of the

Arm, with your Feet and Body in the

fame order as you thruft Carte in, looking

over your Right Arm in your Adverfary s

Face, then your Body is in a good Pofture.

Scholar. Why muft Carte be given the

infide ofthe Arm, and Tierce the outfide ?

Maft. Thereafon thatthofeThrufts muft

be given fo is, that you bind your Adver-

fary's Sword when you make them, and

you are upon a good Guard the fame time :

If you did thruft Carte the out-fide, and

Tierce the in-fide, you would be upon no

Guard, but be in Danger of being thrufted

before you got off.

Scbol. May I not make a Longe without

bringing the Ancle down ?

Mi/?. No, it is not fo proper, tho' it is

thought fo by a great many Mafters, for

this reafon, he that makes the Thruft

with the Sole of the Foot downwards with

out leaning upon the Ancle, cannot by fix

Inches reach io far, and a Man does not

lie

The Engliflh fencing-Mafor. 7

lie fo firm on his Longe, but oftentimes

\vhcn a Thruft is made with the Sole

of the Foot clofe to the Ground, ic

flides from under them 5 but when you

make a Longe with the Ancle down, the

Edge of the Sole of the Shooe makes a

Ridge in the Ground that the Foot cannoc

flip.

Scbol Pray which is the Parry for Carte

and Tierce ?

Maft. The Parry for Carte and Tierce is

both from the Wnft : Carte muft be par

ried partly by the Edge of the Foile or

Sword ; Tierce muft be parried with the

Flat, dropping your point down, which

comes with a great weight on your Adver-

fary's Foile : you muft be fure to parry

with the middle of your Foile, partly on.

his Weak, and your Parry muft come nar

rowly from your Wrift, for your Arm

muft be ftill a Guard to your Body.

Scbol. Is there no other way of Parrying

Time than upon the Flat ?

8 The Englifh Fenting-Mafter.

?. Yes, fome Mafters teach to parry

upon the Edge, but in my Opinion, it is

not fo good 5 for if a Thruft come to be

forced, or with any Strength, the Parry

is fo narrow, that no Parade can be made j

when on the Flat, there comes Inch a

weight by dropping a little of the Point, and

narrow from the Wnfl, that the ftrongeft

Thruft that is made can't be forced, and

ftill on as good a Guard as the other.

Scboi Is there no other Guard taught

but yours ?

Maft. Yes, feveral, fome a Degree higher,

fome two Degrees or more : iome teachO

upon a Preem with the Edge upwards, but

none of thofe above a Degree higher do I

approve of : lam certain no Thru/I can be

made on the ftraight Guard without dif-

ordering ot it 5 by that means it is the beft

of all others 5 for no Thruft can be made

true except the Point prefents from the

Pummel, and he that disorders this Guard,

•diforders himlclf, and Jo may be tim'd

"with a Thruft, for Carte, Tierce, SegMne,

or

The Engliftl Tencing-Mtifter.

or Flanl-anade ; nor no other Thruft can be

made on this Guard, but- he is in danger

of being hie the fame time 5 for the Guard

parries ail Thrufts that are made. The

Objection that ibme Mailers make a-

gainft this Guard, that a Thruft in Flan-

kanadc may come in, which is the mod

dangerous Thruft that is taught by a.

Mafter 5 and allowing this Thruft to be

given, there are feven to be given upon the

high Guard, which is moft taught .in this

Kingdom, which feven are thefe rollowino- :*J ' O

Carte, Ticn'C, Sagoone, Carte -over the Arm,

Carte under the Sele, cutting over the Point

in Carte, cutting in Tierce 5 for this Thruft

in Flankanade, if it is not taken upon ojie part

cf the Foile., he that makes it is hot at the

fame time, and is as eafily parried as any

oiher Thruft that is made.

. i • :• ••.'•',!••

.- , ! • . . i • ; • :

C ' • ,My

^.: '. ).> ' '• .. K ':. »':i»j

.

o Tfo Englifh Tencing-Mafter.

My Fourth Leflbn,

Is Sngoone and Tlank&nade:

Sagpone mufl be given, with the Naifes-

downwards from Tierce fide, dropping the

Point, hitting your Adverfary in the Belly

near to his Ribs, your Head muft be cjuar-

ter'd under your right Arm, riimg your

Wrift, and looking under it in his Face r

when this Thruft is given, you mud de-

cart off, beat on his Foile, then advance

on him- eafily again >

Flankanade is a Thruft that cannot be

well given on any Guard but the Straight

without much Diforder: this Thruft is

given with the Nailes upwards upon the

aforefaid Guard : you muft engage your

Adveriary with the Strength of your Foile

on the Feeble of his, which- is about fix

Inches from the Point, then force your

Thruft home,, and you'll run the Point of

his the out-iide of your Arm, then bent

on his Foile as you Recover, SchoL

The Englifh "Fenchg-Mafter. 1 1

Schol. Is this Thruft given no other

way than this you have fliew'd me ?

Maft. Yes, fome Mafters teach it to

engage on the middle of the Foile, and to

bring the left Hand about to put the Point

afide, which much expofes the Body 5 al-

tho' that this Thruft takes, it is very

eafie for him that gets the Thruft to (lip his

Foile either under or over that Left-Hand,

and hit him before he recovers 5 then I ana

fure, it cannot be called good Fencing, to

hit and be hot the fame time 5 and lince

it is the firft thing that is taught by a

Mafter . to put all Scholars Bodies in a

good I?ofture of Defence, as well as they

can, in my Judgment, they ought not af

terwards to fliow any Thruft to diforder

their Bodies, or put them out of a good

Pofture.

Except a Scholar be well vers'd in Fencing,

and a great deal of Practice ; then there are

a. great many Pofttires taught by fomc

Mailers, as the French, Spanifr, 'and $V-

with a great many pritty Figures

C 2 that

1 2 The Englifh

that are very becoming in the School, but

thofe are not to be fhown to no Scholar,

until he has a great cleat of Command in

his pla?n Fencing, which muft be of fome

Years Practice, and no Thruft ought to be

made but the Body fliould be in a good

Pofuu'e, -and make every Thruft a Guard.

as near as can be..

Scbol. In my Opinion your Argument

is very good 5 but pray fhow me the Tany

for thofe two Thruits ?

Maft. There are feveral ways of Parry

ing thefe Thrufh : Sagoone is parried drop

ping the Point down the fame way as you

thru ft Sago&ne j but your Foile and your

Arm muft be more ftraight than when

you make the Thruft, your Body and

Feet in the fame Order as when you were

on your Guard.

There is another way of Parrying this

Thruft 5 that if, partly round Parry, which

I don't fo much approve of5 he that par

ries this way, brings his Adverfary partly

on his Guard, and the Point againll his

own

TkeEnglifh-Fettfing-Mafter. 13

own Bread, and makes no opening to re

turn a Thruft5 as for the former Parry, it

makes a great Diforder to your Adversary,

you may return two- Thrufts on him,

Carte over the Arm, and turning Carte

under the Shell.

The Parry for Flankana-dc, there are three

ways. The Firft is, as you parry Sagoone,

but not with' your Point fo low. The

Second is, from the Guard on the Flat of

the Foile, with a little turn from the Wrift,

but not downwards. The Third is, turn

ing your Hand in Preem, you may parry

and thruft him at the fame time, as you

fihall fee in the Pofture.

.

Scbol.

•

fbe Englifn Fencing-Mafter. 15

ScJjol Sir, ncAv you have fliewed me

how to Parry thofe Four Thrufts, pray

be pleafed to let me know, how I (hall

repeat them ag^wn ?

Mafl. When . Carte is thrufted, and you

parry it then' return Carte, or Flankanade.

When jtprce i|(|hrufted, return Tierce or

Sagoone. When you parry Sagoone, return

.Carte over the Arm, or turn your Wrift

- Carte under the Shell. When you parry

Flankanade, return Carte over the Arm:

Thefe are the Returns upon thofe Thrufts

without Faints.

My Fifth Leflbn, ,.- * j. ' • . • " .

Is Single and T)oMe Taints,

Which muft be given, thus.

: Whert you defign to make a Single

Faint, you muft difingage from Carte to

Tierce fide, or from. Tierce to Carte.

Sup-

Englilh Tcncing-Mnfter.

Suppofe you engaged in Carte to make

a Single Faint in Tierce to hie in Carte.^J

then cha-nge the Point or your .Foile in

Tierce .about two Inches-, then when he

anfwers that, he makes an opening in

when you perceive it, thruft Carte at him

as quick as you can, and you rt&y have a

Chance to hit him: likewife do the fame

in Twer?. .You muft be fure when you

make your Faints, you obferve, that as •

loon as he anfwers it, time the opening as

quick as you can, and To you may make

in the double Faints.

Scbol. Muft I ftamp xvith rny Foo:

when I make thofe Faints ?

Maft. No, that takes uptime- for if the

Hand fhrj-s for the Foo:, the Thruft is

much flower, 'which cannot be given too

quick 5 you muft always obferve to make

your Tlmift before your Foot is heard on

the Ground , for every Longc that is made,

the Right FooLcomes wkh a Stamp 5 your

.Thrufl muft be either in the Body, or

parried before the. Noife is heard,

--:. Schol.

. 17

Scbol. Is it proper to make more Faints

than Two ?

Miff. No more are convenient, except

your Adverfary retires on a good Guard,

and you approach on him, then you may

make Faints all the way while he gives

you Ground, but be fure make them very

narrow.

Scbol. Muft I not make Faints in &*-

goone and Flankanade, as well as in Carte

and Tierce ?

Maft. Yes, your fingle and double

Faints in Sagoone muft be thus : When you

make your fingle Faint in Sagoone, you

muft lie on Tierce fide, then drop your

Point as you defign'd to give Sagoone, a-

bout a Foot from your Adverfary's Foile,

with your Nails downwards, keeping your

Arm and your Wrift without yeilding

with your Foile, for Fear your Faint {Jiould

be tira'd with a Thruft : As foon as you

perceive that your Faint is anfwer'd, turn

your Wrift and Foile upwards, and fling

Carte over the Arm on him, which comes

D in

i8 The Englifb Tencing-Mafter.

in the fame fide as you lie on, or you

may give it without turning your Hand,

but return it in Tierce : As for the double

Faint, make your firft as you did your

fingle, and your fecond mud be without

fuming your Wrift upwards, but make

your Faint as you would hit him in

Tierce 5 when the double Faint is anfwer'd,

make your Thruft in Sagoone, with your

Body well covered : As foon as this Thruft

is given, if you hit, or is parried, vault

ofl^ and beat on his Foile as you go. As

for Faints in Flankanade, there are none

that are properly fo called 5 but there are

fome ways of difordering it to bring in

a Thruft • prefs on the Feeble of his Foile,

then hit him Flankanade, or flide your Foile

about Four Inches on his, to "make him

believe you defign to make home that

Thruft, and as foon as you perceive him

to anfwer the Parrade, make your Thruft

in Carte.

Scbol. Is Saroone given no other way ?»r-> 9 o . j

Waft. Yes 5 Sagoone cannot be given on

the ftraight Guard, except you Diforder

it, which may be done two wayes : JF/V/?,

If you lie on Carte fide, you muft difirt-

gage, and advance with both your Feet

about half a Foot, {looping with your

Body, and raife his Foile with your Arm j

Foile ftraight, and then you'll keep him

from forcing Tierce^ or giving Carte ove*

the Arm, then you may make your Thruft

in Sagoone, or a Faint in $4gooney and a

Carte over the Arm ; when you are ; in

Tierce fide advance a little, riling his Foile,

then make your ThrufL

My Sixth Leflbn,

IT the German Thruft.

This Thruft is given on no other

Guard but the ftraight, and by fome Ma-

fters 'tis called a Flankanade $ it is given

D 2 in

20 Tfe Englifh "Fencing-Majker.

in fome manner like it, only the former

is given with the Nails downwards, and

the latter with the Nails upwards : When

you give this Thruft, engage him with

the middle of your Foile on the Feeble

of his, about Six Inches from his Point

force your Thrufl with a ftraight Point

towards your Right-Breaft, with your

Wrift turned downwards 5 as foon as this

Thruft is made, if hit or parried, decart

off, and beat his Foile onTierce fide.

ScM Which is the Tarry for this

Thruft ?

Maft. This Thruft muft be parried as

you parry Sagoomy then you may return!

Carte over the Arm.

My

The EngIifh fmmg-Maffitr. 2 r

My Seventh Leflbn,

Is Cutting over the Point in Carte

and Tierce.

Both thefe Thrufts are given Tierce

ficle, chough one is mentioned to be given

in Carte 5 thofe Thrufts are given on the

high Guard : The Cutting over the Point

in Carte, is when you are on Carte fide,

railing your Foile towards your Face aric&

over his Point ; thruft Carte over the Arm,

which is called Cutting over the Point in

Carte :. Cutting over the Point in Tierce,

is when he comes to /bind or prefs you in

Cartey then cut over his Point in Tierce.

Scbol. How muft I parry thofe Thrufts ?.

Maft. As you. do -Carte and Tierce,

Scbol. Cannot thofe Two Thrufts .be

given on the ftraight Guard ?

Maft. No; Cutting over the Point in

Carte cannot be given, becaufe there is' no-

way-

!*

I

2 2 The Engl

way for a Thruft to come in 5 but if the

ftraight Guard comes to preis on you in.

Carte, then a Thruft may be taken 5 for

by reason of his difordering you, he di£-

orders himielf, and then you have an Op

portunity to give it.

- -

My Eighth Leflbn,

If Preffing in Carte, and Tbruft

in Carte..

When you defign to give this Thruft,

then preis on the Weak of his Foile 5

as you do thus, advance half a Foot, and

make home your Thruft, and as you re

cover beat on his Foil-e in Carte.

Scbol. I fuppofe, Sir, when I prefs on

him I muft not ftay long on his Foile

before I make my Thruft, for fear of being

tim'd in Tierce.

The Englifh Feneing-Mafter. 23

Maft. You muft not ftay a Thought on

Binding, Prefling, or any other Dif-

order that you make your felf in, except

you defign to trick him. Amongft all

compleat Mafters, timing of a Thruft is

the fineft part in fencing, and how to time :

Timing is, when a Faint is made at you

in Carte, Tierce, §agoom, or the Diforders

of Fiankanade, prefling or binding to hie

him at the fame time5 for there is no

way ufed to diforder any good Guard but

at the fame time he diforders him-fe.lf 5 and

if you fence with a compleat Swords-Man,

you muft take care to make as few Faints

as you can, becaufe he will anfwer none,

but 'will thruft on every one that you.

make.

Schol. Is there no Advantage to be ta

ken when another Man times ?

Maft. Yes 5 and though ( as I faid be

fore) it is the fineft part in Fencing, yet

you may hit the beft Fencing-Mailer in

the World, if he times a Faint, prefling or

binding in Cartc} Tierce, Sagoone, or Flan-

fonade,

'

.24 Tbt EngHTh Tf

kanade, if in cafe he will not baulk his

Thruft, but give it home, designing to

hit you, and no Man can hit another,

except he does that. You may likewife

do this to any Man that repeats the

Thruft.

Schol. This muft needs be a great Se

cret 5 pray, Sir, has this Thruft any Name ?

Maft. Yes, this Thruft is called in French

Tente contre Tente 5 that is, Time againft

Time. When I firft knew this great Art,

•it was taught me two ways, which the

great Duke of Badefield in France firft in

vented, beyond any Mafter's Knowledge

that was then in France, and with that

Thruft he kill'd the beft Swords-Man in

that Kingdom, Spain, Holland, and Italy 5

but by long Practice and Study I have

found out Ten ways more to give this

Thruft.

Scbol Pray, Sir, be pleafed to fhew me

any one of them ?

Mafl. One way is enough to diftin-

guifli all the reft. When you come to

fence

Englifh Rencing-Mafler. 25

' Fence Avith an expert Swords-Man, pre/s

him in Carte oi Tierce, which opens him,

;and diforders,"yo;nr felf, but that muft be

•your defign, toi-tity if he >wtl tinic you : If

he does it in fTI&effjR foon as you per-

ijceive the Thruft coming give a turn with

your Right~Arm and WriH^ turning a^ you

give Flimkdhade, the P6int of your Foile in

your Adverfary's 'Belly, turning your Left-

Shoulder more backward than when you

are in your Guard,, as you fliall fee in

the Pofture. v "

Likewife you may, do this if he thrufts

Varte, or any other Thruft that he makes

in Timing, or if yon thrun; Sagoone- half

way at him, not,delrgning to hit, but to

parry you 5 if he fhoiild -return Carte ovet

the Arm, you may take this Thruft the

fame way, -and by this Pofture you may

I ifind out, that if) any faints of yours arc

tim'd, or if your Thrufts be repeated, that

you may Tcute contn Tente them.

•

-

,

•

• '

. .

•

•

. .

I

i.

The Englifh fencing-^Majler.

\ ('

,'rStfol. 'Can I :have ho Advantage of'thjs

Thruft except he times me ?

Maft. No 5 for if a Thruft comes with

a fingle or double Faint, you muft thruft

'to the Parrade, bec'aufe you will not kncfw

"wJi ether• it comes in Cartey Tierce, or 'airy

otlier Thruft. ; .

Scbol.' How fliail I know a, Fame from'jj.'r&L ; /!>"•- ::''> .'--.';•-•'- v 'jf..:*)c

1 Thruft ?

All the Knowledge' that cap "be

given to know one from the other is this :

When a Faint is made,. nothing. mov.es; but

the Foile arid the Wrift^ but when ..a

Thrurt comes, you' m^y .perceive" die

feody come along with it $ and this is the

Obfervation that you muft-m'akii, ifor 4^'t-L' '-A •' /: -'"'j .vXillllliyi t'J.-i\

1 hrutts that are made come rrom^the

Wrift and the Hips, but the Faints' come

only from the Wrift 5 and when you

perceive one from another, you muft

anfwer no Faints but very narrow, or

time them if you can.

Sdol. Muft I look in his Face or ofi

his Wrift when I fence ?

E z

28 The Englifh

Maft. You miift look on his Face,, and

then you will perceive every thing that

he does, which is more manly than, to

be always fixing upon his Wrift, which

is no certain Rule, the Looks of Tome Men

being almoft as terrible to fbme People

as if they felt the Sword in their Body.

Scbol. Suppofe I fence with, one that

Squints, what Obfervation mujl 1. make

of his Eyes?

Mafl. You mutt make none at all 5 for

there is no Rule in this Cafe to be given.-5

and though one Man looks another in the

Eace, yet he feldom or very rarely hits

him there 5 fo that a Thruft may be given

in any part of the Body, without the

Eye's being fix'd on that part where 'tis•1 /-«. IGr f_ '-•£»'• .i" • -'

The Englifh Fencing-Mafler. 29

My Ninth Leffbn,

: , Is Fine P/T/JT.

You muffi prefs on Carte, as you did in

the Lift Leflbn, make a Faint in Carte, anct

thruft Tierce'.

Schol. Muft I advance when I prefs, as

I did in my laft Leflbn ?

Maft. No, you muft. not advance j

for you are longer Engaging on this Lef

fbn than you were on the laft, becaufe

you are taking more time in making youc

Faint to hit him in Tierce $ and if you

fliould approach on him, as you prefs,

perhaps he would time you in. Tierce...

--•

: Ti/Englith Fencing-Mailtr. .

My Tenth Leflbn,

Is Darting tbeSWOKD.

This Thruft muft be given when you

lie on Carte fide : If your Adverfary holds

a ftraight Guard, give a little Dan with

your Ann and Foile, raifing his Foile up 5

you muft advance a little with both your

Feet, ftooping very well 3 as foon as you

do this, make your Thruft home, turning

your Wrift under his Shell, then difingage,

and beat on his Foile as you recover.

Scbol Which is the Parry for this

Thruft ?

Maft.. The bcft Parry for this Thruft

is, as you parry Sagoone, you may do it

the round Parrade.

Scbol. When is it moft proper to ufe

this round Parry ?

"Maft. This Parry muft fometimes be

made ufe of when you fence loofe 5 if

you prefs on your Adverfarys Foile in

Carte,

*fbe Engliih

Carte, and he thrufts Tierce, round parry

him, and hie him Flankanade or Carte :

Likewife if the Thruft comes in Carte,

parry ic round, and return Tierce or Sa-

?oone ; or if you come to parry Carte and

Tierce a'gainft the Wall, ( which is a pro- •

per Term in Fencing) if .either of them

be forged' on you, the round Parry is good

acrainft it 5 or if you chance to draw your

Sword in the Night, the beft Defence you

can make is' to ufe that Parry 5 for ic

meets with all Faints and Thrufts that are

made. I would advife you not to make

ufe of it too often in your Fencing in the

Day-time, but on the two Thrufts above-

mentioned 5 for the Parry comes with fuch

a Circle, that if you come to fence with a

quick Wrift, it will be difficult to parry

him, efpecially if you come to half Sword.

If you fhould be forc'd to draw your

Sword in a narrow PaiTage, never make

nfe of it 5 for there is not room for that

Parrade, your Point will hit againft the

y and have no Certainty of it.

ScboL

Scbol. What is the meaning of Thruft-

ing Carte and TVerce againft the Wall ?

•Mi/?. Ic is to teach one the Offenfive,

and the other the Defenfive pare 5 to make

the offenfive Thruft clean at lengrh, and

to guide his Point, and to teach the Body

to be in a good Pofture, is a Method

which all Mafters ought to take with their

Scholars, to quicken the Wrift, and make

them lie firm on their Lwge $ and this

will be the means to make a Scholar fence

fine and eafie.

He that makes the Defenfive part, is

to fhow him how to parry Carte and

Tierce when he comes to fence, or make

an Aflault,

My

The Englifh Fencisg-Mafor*

My Eleventh Leflbn,. '. . , 'i .;. ..'«;.'' , ,. . '' --L .

. Is Bindinv dr Preffinr. ;> ^O J* £»

Sdol Sir, pray fliew me how it muft

be done ?"• • ' !

Mi/?. When you come to fence again/I

the ftraight Guard, then this Leflon is

moft proper to be play'd : If you engage

on Carte fide or Tierce, bind your Adver-

fary with the Edge of your- Sword about

Twelve Inches of yours on Six of his,

which will oblige him to make an openincr

for your Thmft, but before you do not

prefs him very low, for fear he fliotild

take the time, except you defign to Tente

contre Tente, or conter-time him, either. in

Carte or Tierce. You muft not flay when

you prefs, but give yourThruftas quick.

as you can. Before never to draw your

Lefc-Foot after you when you make any

it may prove of an ill confe-• • • • - r

i* qiience 5

34

quence ^ for if your Thruft fhould be

parried after drawing your Left-Foot after

you, i't is impoHible you fhould recover

before ypur-Adverfary rcpofts yon, if he

understands any thing of Fencing j but

advance when you bind half a Foot,, then

your Thruft will come much quicker.

Schol. What you fay (lands to a great

deal of Reafon, and I will obfcrve your

Directions 5 but, Sir, you tell me that

Tente contre Tente, or conter-time, may be

taken on this Lefion 5 therefore pray in

form me how I muft do Contcr-rime ?

Mdft* Cojiter-tjme is to parry and thrud

at the fame time. Suppofe you prcfs

your Adveriary in Carte, which expo/es

your Body in Tierce, if that Thrull be

made at you, parry ftrong, and thruft ac

the fame time.

ScboL Muft I parry with the Flat or

the Edge when I make ufe of the Contcr-? D

time

Maft. You muft parry on the Edge

when you make ufe of this, for it cannot

be

'I •

The Englifh Fencing-Md/itf. ^'

be done on'.the Flat; it is on this.Tliruft

that I efteem the Parrade on the Edge, 'arid

for no other.o i ; -«-i t • T. rr • 1 -J

Sraifi \Vhen this Leiion is plan? on. me,

'what Defence mnft I make againft it ?

M*/?. The beft of your play will be

to flip him, which brings you to your

Guard, or you may caveat him, ;or keep

{till difTnaagi^^rg^hen. he can Hever

blnd y°lu , - . ,-IOG'I - ;',

^liol ?/(•' : .) >b'j'/yr srh no rj/j:F

''.r;.-H<-i,J rTov rTrv ttTTT

-i - ' '"r ' '•!• to UK) ri grind iii// rbiri-'.-

•-.- My Twelfth Leflbu,^^

...:'•: / -:>:' <... bio /;£ girl qbns-Iaas ./isvai'iJ \3 *• O

'D'ifarmin? '/^Cat^te. • ,;t' \

J)V 31 3-jPTi3J3G HjUffi Ij.'.fl 3«

/W. . I- am .very well pleafed with that

Leffon of Diiarming.; for I ha.d much (ra

ther know how to difarm a. Man than to

kill him 5 therefore pray Chew me how it

may be done?

F 2

. . .•

A/<//?. There are feyera! ways of Di£-

arming on the Sword, but none fo good

'nor fo fafe as the Difarming of Carte and

Tierce, v hich I am going, to fliew you,

When you dcfign to difarm. in Carte,

the beft way will be firft to parry him,

and at the fame time to advance about a

Foot,' bring your Left-Hand betwixt your

Foile and his Hilt not above half an Inch

from his Shell, or clofe to it will be as

well 5 as foon as you do this r'aife your

Foile half a Foot from, his, give a fmart

Beat on the Weak of his Foile with a good

Pull with your Left-Hand altogether,,

which will bring it out of his Hand be he

never fo ftrong, unlefs he fhould alter his

Finger, and gralp his Sword as' he would

a Stick, and. 'fben'- ic. cannot be1 done 5 but

he had much better- let it go.

If you fbould meet with any that hold

their Sword fo, or that ftruggle with you,

'all that you Have1 tq '.do is, to turn your

Point towards hrm, and hit him "FLmkanai.lt: y

but as foon as you bring; the Sword out

of

The Englifh Ftncing-M&fter-. 3 7

"bf his Hbncl' btfng your felf in Guard

again, with your Left-Hand ex-ended,

darting the Sword, that fo you may-be

ready, if in cafe he. fhould feize yours,

•'.jo ftick hjrft with his, which you have in

' your Lefi-Harid, as you flialL fee in th-e.

; Poft.ii re..

'•

'

'.

.

The Englifl; fenting-MejltF. 3$

ScboL Cannot I difarm a Man without

parrying his Thruft firft 2

Mafter. Yes, you may, but it is dan-

crerous to undertake chofe ways unlefs you

play with thofe who do not underftand

any thing of the Art. '

Scbol Sir, pray be pleafed to fhew me

thefe ways, and thofe which you recom

mend to me as the bed I will be fure to

practife ?

Maft. If you play with thofe that are

ignorant, and engage in Carte or Tierce,

advance with your Right-Foot clofe up,efpe-

daily if his Point be higher than his Hilt,

running your Sword clofe up to his, raifing.

his Sword at the fame time, then come

up with your Left-Foot and feize him,

whei/lier it be in Carte or Tierce: You

mud be fure when you come to difarm a.

Man any way, that you feize his Sword,

and not his Arm or Wrift, otherwife it will

be very eafie for him to change his Sword

from his Right to his Left-Hand, and fb

flick you 3 but I would advife you not to-

under,-

40 The Englifh

undertake this way of Difarming to a

Man that underftands Fencing $ for if he

perceives your Defign he will difingage,

and fo hit you, except you are both to

gether in a clofe Room, where neither of

you have room to Hand on your Guards,

then this Inclofure is proper, either againft

a Swords-Man, or one who is Ignorant :

But I would advife you to make ufc of

the Difarms with the Parrade before any

of the other.

Scbol. Sir, The Grounds you have here

given are fo plain and intelligible, that I

fhall always choofe the Difarm with the

Parrade before any other, except it be

when I play with fuch Men as you have

defcribed.

.

.

My'

.

The Englifti Tenclng-Mafler. 41

! •

My Thirteenth Leffon,i-

Is Difarming in Tierce.

•

When you "difarm . in TVftre, parry him

• ;firft, advance likewife, come up with your

Left Foot, feize him with your Left Hand

about half a Foot from his Hilt, with your

Thumb on the Flat of his, then there will

rbe no Danger of drawing it through your

Hand 5 ftep a little from him with your

Right Foot atid Sword-Hand, turning your

Point towards him, which rnuft be out of

his reach, then there will be no Danger of

his feizing you, as you mall fee in the

Pofture 5 not bringing your Point to your

Adverfary's Face, as many teach 5 for

then it lies in his Power to take hoid or

it 5 and if he\ proves ftronger than you, h;

will take the Advantage of tripping or

. flicking you.

The Englifh fencing-fAajler. 43

Schol. When I Fence, how (hall I know

when I am in Diftance of a Thruft ?

Maft. When you thruft with one taller

than your felf, and has longer Arms, and

ftands wider than you dp, when you de-

fign to make a Thruft to hit him, the

beft way will be to come tp Half Sword,

then you are within diftarice 5 when you

are for making the defenfive part, engage

but five Inches, and keep him at that

diftance, then you'll be better able to parry

him:' but if ypu Fence with one about

your own height, engage him a Foot off

your Foile on the fame of his.

Scbol. Which is the propereft Thruft to

be ufed for a little Man againft a tall Man;

or a tall Man againft a low Man 2

Maft. The beft Thrufts that a little Man

can make at a tall Man are, Sagoone, Carte

under the Shell, and darting the Sword,

which is my Tenth Leflbn ; and all the reft

of the low Thrufts for Tierce and Carte,

and all the reft of the high Thrufts, are

out -of the Line of his thrufting5 and alt

G 2 the

^

44 Tlx Englifh fencing-Matter.

the Thrufts that are improper for a low

Man, are proper for a tall.

Schol. If I Fence with one that never

learned, I. fuppofe any Thruft may be

given, either high or low, to hit him.

Map. Yes, any Thruft that is made will

hit one that has no Knowledge fn the Art :

but it is as dangerous, to Fence with fo igno

rant £ Man,' as with one that under/lands

it, except you take this Rule. When you

Fence with one that has no Judgment,

and Fences without Rule or Method, but

in Paffion, you muft take Care when

you thruft at 'him, that he does not hit

you at the fame time, which is contre Tente 5

for he that ^does not underftand Fencing

may hit one that Fences very well, if he does

not take this particular Meafure. When

you Fence with fiich a Man, you mufl be

lieve that he does not. know what Parry is,

aritf perhaps if you thruft .twe'nty Thrufts at

him, he will not endeavour to, defend him-

fcl'f, but thruft the fame time, and fo hit

y.Qu? '

. 45

Schol. Which is the way to deal with

jfuch a Man ?.

Maft. When you come to Fence with a

Man that knows nothing of the matter,

and runs upon you with a great deal

of Pa/fion, rather give Ground for a

little way, and defend his Thrufts, and re

peat them every time, then you'll never

mifs hitting of him .5 but if he is not Chol-

lerick, but (lands on as good a Pofture as

his Ignorance guides him, then you may

hit him, and bind him in Carte and Tierce^

which are the propereft Thrufts to be made

at fuch- a Man, without Danger of Contre

Tente. It is the Opinion of many Gentle

men, that never learned to Fence, that if

a Man has but Courage, he need not learn

any other Art : I muft confefs that Courage

in a Man is a good Property, but Skill with

Courage is better. I will allow,, if a Man

be a great Coward, and has learned two

or three Months, and mould be forced to

draw his Sword againft a Couragious Man

chat nevet knew any thing of Fencing,

that

The Englifh Fffain£-Mafler.

that little Learning would be no great Ad

vantage to him 5 for feeing his Adverfary

attacquing him with all Vigor and Bravery,

would put the Coward into fuch a Con-

fternation, that his little Judgment would

be all laid afide.

But as there are degrees of Cowards, fome

greater than others, To the greateft Heroe in

the World, that knows nothing of Fencing,

has a great deal of odds againft him that

will either Fence or Fight with a Man of

Skill, tho* he may be a Coward.

Schol. Sir, What difference do you make

of Cowards, are they not all the fame ?

Maft. No 5 there is a great deal of dif

ference in Cowards, as well as in ftout

Men 5 and it is my Opinion, that if a

grand Coward were ever fo compleat a

Swords-Man, and came to engage withC" C>

any Man that was brave, his Spirits and

his Learning would fall as low as the

Soles of his Feet, and he had much rather

run away, than ftand to fliew either his

Skill or Courage ; for then all his Judg

ment

. 4.7-

ment is loft; and with fuch the Fight. n«

between a Coward and a couragious IvL;'

is equal.

But for the hecTroring Cowards, they

will ftand a Battle if they are IJendble thejr

have an Advantage 5. which is to flhew you,

that one Coward will fight when another

dare not 5 the difference of one from the

other I have very often feen 5 but I would

advife no Gentleman to truft altogether to>

his Bravery 5 for every Man is not a Cow

ard, and Judgment will encourage fome

Cowards to fight, as well as the braveft

Men living 5 befides, Knowledge cannot

be a Burthen to any Man that is brave.

I will appeal to any rational Manr

that if two Men of equal Courage fiiould

come into a Field to fight, and one un~

derftands Fencing very well, and the o-

cher does not, whether he that does un-

derftand the Art has not the far greater

Advantage.

Schol. There is a great deal of Reafon?

any Man to believe, thac he who has'•

4.8 fbe Englifh fencing-Mafter.

•no Judgment in Fencing, and engages with

a Man of as much Courage as himfelf,

and is an Artift, has Fifty to one on his

fide. I fliaH be always of that Opinion,

and it is^ not to be fuppofed that any Man

of Sence can argue the contrary.

Ma/l. No Man of Reafon will • yet I

mufl confefs, that if the Artift comes drunk

into the Field, and his Adverfary /bber,

their Judgments are equal 5 for then he

cannot perform any thing of his Art, all

•his Senfes are drowned, and his Preience

of Mind is loft 5 and it often happens,

chat he who is Ignorant gets the better of

the Swords-Man when he takes him at fuch

a Difadvantage, and fo he believes he could

have done if he had been fober.

I {hall now ..proceed to let you know

how neceflary it is for all Gentlemen to

learn the Noble Art of SMALL-SWORD.

•Pir/?, That it is ,one of the greatefl

Qualifications that a Gentleman can have.

Secondly, All Genrlemen that wear a

-Swoid ought to undcrftand how to make

life

•

life of it according to Art, that th-ey-may

be able to Defend themfelves when they

are forced to draw.

Thirdly, That no Exercife or Recreation

is more wholiome-5 for it works all the

Parts of a Man's Body, ftrengthens all

the Limbs, and opens the Cheft.$ and if

taught by a good Mailer, it gives a very

good Air to the Body..

I would advife all Gentlemen that learn,

or defign to learn, to argue the Cafe with

their Mafters, that fo they may have a

Reafon for every thing that is fhown

them, which will /be' a great Advantage

to all Gentlemen that are curious5 for

they may be as well taught in this King

dom, as in aiay \ pare of the World, the'

die P/ench have the Name.

I am certain we have as good Mailers ,

in England, of EtigliJJyt Scotch, French, Irift),

and Germans, as any in Chrjftendorn $ but

I cann-bt; fay we have fo many 5 yet I que-

ftion not but that if this Arc were as

much -encouraged in England, as it is in

H France^

The Englifh feneing-Mafter.

France, we fhould foon fee as good an Aca

demy in London, as any in Paris, with a Re-

forc of Gentlemen of all Nations 5 but that

which leflens this Art in England by our own

Gentry, as well as Foreigners, is, that a

great many pretend to teach this Art who

know nothing of the matter, and when-

thofe Sparks are difcovered by any Gen

tlemen of our own Country, or by Fo

reigners, they conclude all other Mafters

to be like them, unlefs they are intimately

acquainted with fome of the bed of them.

And this is the reafon that makes us

lofe that Efteem which we deferve, and

io 'tis carried to the Matters in France $

but if it were here, as it is in Tarts, that

no Man fhould profefs Teaching, except

he were an approved Matter, and had a

Patent for Teaching, we ftiould not have

(by fome Hundreds} fo many Pretenders

that carry the Title of Matters.

SdoL When a Man comes into the Field

to fight, is there no Advantage or Difad-.

vantage to be taken in the Ground ?

The English Fencing-Mafter.

Maft. Yes, there is5 when you Chal

lenge, or are Challenged, if you draw with

the Difadvantage of the Weather, as Rain,

Snow, Wind or Sun in your Face, all thefe

are a Difadvantage to you, or if the Ground

you ftand on be worfe, you muft follow

this Direction to change Ground with

him: As foon as you perceive all thefe

againft you, engage him in Carte, difin-

gage in Tierce, ftepping your Right-Foot

a-crofs at the lame time, bringing the Heel

overagainft your Left-Toe 5 then change

again in Carte, bringing your Left-Foot

up, which brings you in a Pofture, and

upon your Guard 5 thus keep changing

both Hand and Foot till you get all the

Advantage of the Weather, or the Ground,

then make the beft on't: In taking this

Ground, if your Adverfary does not move

Hand and Foot the fame way with you,

every time you change he is much ex-

pofed to your Thruft, and you may have

the Fortune to hit him.

H ^ But

Englifh l?8

But befure, whenever you fight, chat

you are free from Paffion 5 for if a Man

be the beft Swords-Man in the Kingdom,

and fights when in Paffion, he diibrders him-^J

felf to that degree, that he cannot make ufe

of all his Judgment. If a Man comes to

Fence with Sharps or Blunts, let him have

Prcience of Mind, and be always thinking

how to hit him 3 and no Man that under-

ftands Fencing can have a greatci Advan

tage of his AdverfaFV, tho' he fences never^s ^

fo well, than when he is guilty of that

foolifh thing call'd Paffion.

ScM What Length muft a Sword be

to Fight with ?

Maft. Thirty Six Inches in the Blade is

long enough to fight with, and no longer

is proper 5 for if a Sword be too longt

after a Thruft is made and parried, 'tis

harder- to recover to a Parrade with fuch,

than with one of a middle fize.

Schot. What Sort of Sword is beft to

light with ?

TbeEngYifhFtnting-Mafter. 5:3:

Mift. You mud always chufe a. Sword-

well mounted, very (tiff, wi:h a flat Han

dle, both rough and long enough betwixt

the Pummel and the Shell, then you xvill '

have a better Gripe, ami it will not be fo-'

foon flurted out of your Hand.

The bed Blades for Fencing are the

Spanifl* Tucks, but they are too heavy

for Duelling^ except they are very fhort,

which will not be proper to be ufed •* 'io-

that I advife you to chufe a Ger.mam'Eti'h ^

IDF they are both good and light. <

Scbol. How muft I thruft with a. Lcfc-'

handed Man ?

Maft. It is very troublefome for a Right-

handed Man to fence with one 'tliat 1'..

Left, except they are taught how -y h- 1

your Carte is his Time, and Ticr&e "hj ;

Carte, which alters the Property ot ' yoirv"-

Wrift, and makes the Left-Hand have- thr i

Advantage, becaufe he is always taught ' cci;

fence with his Right, fo. bis Carte is you.'

Tierce, and his Tierce yout Carte, and to'

all the reft of the Thrufts are given contrary*

54-

I fhall omit giving you any more

Leflbns, for thofe I have fliewed you are

fufficient to make you a compleat Sword s-

Man, if you will but practice them very

neat 5 for no Man can Fence well without

he Fences Gentile, and with a great deal

of Air and Life in his Body 3 that is, every

Thruft rnuft come free from him with a great

deal -of eafe, without buftling or pa/Tion,

and rhefe arc the Signs of a great Com

mand in Fencing, I could add a great

many more Lenons, but I think what I

have taught you here, are more than you'll

make ule of.

Nor had I mewed you fo many,

but I know that one Man fancies one

LeiTon more than he does another: and

here I have taught the chiefeft on the

Sword, fo you may take your Choice , for

there are none of them but are very good,

and if you'll practice them according to

Direction, then I doubt not but you'll

be a compleat Sword's-Man, and as foon

as I know you are Mafter of thde Leflons,

I

The Englifh Fencing-fitfifter;-

I fhall very, foon after make a Second

Edition concerning the whole Art of the

Sword.

ScboL Sir, I {hall take a great Jdeal of

Pains with what you have fhewed me, and

will practice them till 1 am Mafter of 'em,

then I hope I fliall be a compleat Swords-

Man, for which I return you many Thanks.

Maft. It will be for your Advantage,

and my Credit that you were fo5 and if

you make ufe of Blunts, I hope you

will have no occafion to ufe any other.

In a little time you fliall hear further from

me, and

F r N i s.

:....,. .I1-:..

i

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on no.

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