The English Fencing Master or the Compleat Tuterour of the Smallsword

Scholar: Sir, having heard so great a character, that you are a compleat Master, I have come to wait on you, to learn that Noble Art of the Small-Sword.

Master: I shall take a great deal of care and pain to improve you.

The First thing that I must shew you is, to put your body in a good posture, your Right-Foot one Yard from your Left, your Right-Heel to your left Instep, your Left-Hand to your Left-Ear, sinking a little with both your Knees, but you must bend a little more with your Left than your Right.

Secondly, To hold a good Guard to defend your body, your Right-Hand must be straight out with a little bend in your Arm, the point against your Adversary's Right Breast, with your fingers bend under one part of the handle, and your Thumb over the upper part, with the Pummel close to your Wrist, as you shall see in the Posture, etc.

My Second Lesson,

Is Advancing and Retiring

Advancing, is to advance with your Right Foot about seven inches, and sliding your left foot after it, taking the same Ground with your Left as you do with the Rightr; Retiring, is to give ground with your Left, and sliding your Right Foot after it.

Scholar: What is the meaning of Advancing and Retiring?

Mast.: Advancing is, when you have a mind to take Ground of your Adversary, when (sometime) you are out of distance, or a Thrust: Retiring is, when you have a Mind to give Ground to your Adversary when he approaches you.

My Third Lesson,

Is Carte and Tierce

Carte and Tierce is the two Chiefest Thrusts, in Fencing, and all other Thrusts are but the same: the former must be given with your Nails upwards, and the latter with your Nails downwards; when Carte is given, you must stand fast with your Left Foot, and step forward with your Right almost as far as you can, without straining your self, which is called in Fencing, a Longe; Your Left Ancle to the ground, your Knee very straight without bending, your Right Toe straight with your Left Hand falling from your Left Ear the same height as your Right-Hand is, in a line which Ballances your Body; this Thrustr must be given the inside of the Right Arm, looking straight in your Adversary's Face, with your Wrist upon the Thrust higher than the Point, then you are upon a Guard the same time.

Tierce must be given the out-side of the Arm, with your Feet and Body in the same order as you thrust in Carte in, looking over your right Arm in your Adversary's Face, then your Body is in a good Posture.

Scholar: Why must Carte be given the inside of the Arm and Tierce the outside?

Mast.: The reason why those Thrusts must be given so is, that you bind your Adversary's Sword when you make them, and you areupon a good guard at the same time: if you did thrust Carte the out-side, and Tierce the in-side, you would be upon no Guard, but in Danger of being thrusted before you got off.

Schol.: May I not make a Longe without bringing the Ancle down?

Mast.:No, it is not proper, tho' it is thought so by a great many Masters, for this reason, he that makes the thrust with the sole of the Foot downwards without leaning on the Ancle, cannot be six Inches reach so far, and a Man does not lie so firm on his Longe, but oftentimes when a Thrust is made with the sole of the Foot close to the Ground, it slides from under them; 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 cannot slip.

Schol.: Pray which is the Parry for Carte and Tierce?

Mast.: The Parry for Carte and Tierce is both from the Wrist: Carte must be parried partly by the Edge of the Foile or Sword: Tierce must be parried with the Flat, dropping your Point down, which comes with a great weight on your Adversary's Foile; you must be sure to parry with the middle of your Foile, partly on his Weak, and your Parry must come narrowly from your Wrist, for your Arm must be still a Guard to your Body.

Schol.: Is there no other way of Parrying Tierce than upon the Flat?

Mast.: Yes, some Masters teach to parry upon the Edge, but in my Opinion, it is not so good; for if a Thrust come to be forced, or with any Strength, the Parry is so narrow, that no Parade can be made; when on the Flat, there comes such a weight by dropping a little of the Point,and narrow from the Wrist, that the strongest Thrust that is made can't be forced, and still on as good a Guard as the other.

Schol.: Is there no other Guard taught but yours?

Mast.: Yes, several, some Degree higher, some two Degrees or more; some teach upon a Preem with the Edge upwards, but none of those above a Degree higher than I approve of; I am certain no Thrust can be made on the straight Guard without disordering of it; by that means is the best of all others; for no Thrust can be made true except the Point presents from the Pummel, and he that disorders this Guard, disorders himself, and so may be tim'd with a Thrust, for Carte, Tierce, Segoone, or Flankanade; no other Thrust can be made on this Guard, but he is in danger of being hit at the same time; for the Guard parries all the Thrusts that are made. The Objection that some Masters make against this Guard, that a Thrust in Flankanade may come in, which is the most dangerous. Thrust that is taught by a master; and allowing this Thrust to be given , there are seven to be given upon the high Guard, which ius most taught in this Kingdom, which seven are these following: Carte, Tierce, Sagoone, Carte over the Arm, Carte under the Sele(shell?), cutting over the point in Carte, cutting in Tierce; for this Thrust is Flankanade, it is not taken upon one part of the Foile, he that makes it is hot at the same time, and as easily parried as any Thrust that is made.

My Fourth Lesson

Is Sagoon and Flankanade

Sagoon must be given with the Nailes downwards from Tierce side, dropping the point, hitting your Adversary in the Belly near to his Ribs, your Head must be quarter'd under your right Arm, rising your Wrist, and looking under it in the Face; when this Thrust is given you must decart off, beat on his Foile, then advance on him easily again.

Flankanade is a Thrust that cannot be well given on any Guard but the straight without much Disorder; this Thrust is given with the Nailes upwards upon the aforesaid Guard; you must engage your Adversary with the strength of your Foile on the Feeble of his, which is about six Inches from the Point, then force your Thrust home, and you'll run the Point of his the out-side of your Arm, then beat his Foile as you recover.

Schol.: Is this Thrust given no other way than you have shew'd me?

Mast.: Yes, some Masters teach it to engage on the middle of the Foile, and to bring the left Hand about to put the Point aside, which much exposes the Body; altho' that this Thrust takes, it is very easie for him that gets the Thrust to slip his Foile either under or over that Left-Hand, and hit him before he recovers; then I am sure, it cannot be called good Fencing, to hit and be hot at the same time; and since it is the first thing that is taught by a Master to put all Swcholars Bodies in a good posture of Defence, as well as they can, in my Judgement , they ought not afterwards to show any Thrust to disordertheir Bodies, or put them out of a good Posture.

Except a Scholar be well vers'd in Fencing,and a great deal of Practise; then there area great many Postures taught by some Masters , as the French, Spanish, and Portugueze, with a great many pritty Figures that are very becoming in the School, but those are not to be shown to the Scholar, until he has a great deal of Command in his plain Fencing, which must be of some Years Practise, and no Thrust ought to be made but the Body should be in a good Posture, and make every thrust a Guard as ear as can be.

Schol.: In my Opinion your Argument is very good; but pray show me the Parry for those two Thrusts?

Mast.: There are several ways of parrying theses Thrusts: Sagoone is parried dropping the Point down the same way as you thrust Sagoone; but your Foile and your Arm must be straighter than when you make the thrust, your Body and Feet in the same Order as when you were on your Guard.

There is another way of Parrying this Thrust; that is, partly round the wrist, which I don't so much approve of; he that parries this way, brings his Adversary partly on his Guard, and the point against his own Breast, and makes no opening to return a Thrust; as for the former Parry, it makes a great disorderto your Adversary, you may return two Thrustrs on him, Carte over the Arm, and turning Carte under the Shell.

The Parry for Flankanade, there are three ways. The First is, as you parry in Sagoone, but not with your point so low. The Second is, from the Guard on the Flat of the Foile, with a little turn from the Wrist, but not downwards. The Third is, turning your Hand in preem, you may parry and thrust him at the same time, as you shall see in the Posture.

Schol.: Sir, now you have shewn me how to parry those four Thrusts, pray be pleased to let me know, how shall I repeat them again?

Mast.: When Carte is thrusted, and you parry it, then return carte, or Flankanade. When Tierce is thrusted, return Tierce or Sagoone. When you parry Sagoone, return Carte over the Arm, or turn your Wrist Carte under the Shell. When you parry Flankanade, return Carte over the Arm: these are the returns upon those Thrusts without Faints.

My Fifth Lesson

Is Single and Double Faints, Which must be given thus.

When you design to make a single Faint, you must disengage from Carte to Tierce side or from Tierce to Carte.

Suppose you engaged in Carte to make a Single Faint in Tierce to hit in Carte, then change the Point of your Foile in Tierce about two Inches, then when he answers that, he makes an opening in Carte , when you percieve it, thrust in Carte at him as quick as you can, and you may have a Chance to hit him; likewise do the same in Tierce. You must be sure when you make your Faints, you observe, that as soon as he answers it, time the opening as quick as you can, and so you make in the double Faints.

Schol.: Must I stamp with my Foot when I make those Faints?

Mast.: No, that takes up time; for if the Hand stays for the Foot, the Thrust is much slower, which cannot be given too quick; you must always observe to make your Thrust before your Foot is heard on the Ground; for every Longe that is made, the Right Foot comes with a Stamp; your Thrust must be either in the Body, or parried befor the noise is heard.

Schol.: Is it proper to make more Faints than two?

Mast.: No more are convenient, except your Adversary 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 sure to make them very narrow.

Schol.: Must I not make feints in Sagoon and Flankanade, as well as in Carte and Tierce?

Mast.: Yes, your single and double Faints in Sagoon must be thus: When you make your single Faint in Sagoon, you must be on Tierce side, then drop your Point as if you designed to give Sagoon, about a Foot from your Adversary's Foile, with your Nailes downwards, keeping your Arm and Wrist without yeilding with your Foile, for fear your Faint might be tim'd with a thrust; as soon as you perceive your Faint is answer'd, turn you Wrist and Foile upwards, and fling Carte over the Arm on him, which comes in the same side as you lie on,or you may give it without turning your Hand, but return in Tierce: As for the double Faint, make your first as you did your single, and your second must be without turning your Wrist upwards, but make your Faint as you would hit him in Tierce; when the double Faint is answer'd, make your Thrust in Sagoon, with your Body well covered; as soon as this Thrust is given, if you hit, or is parried, vault off, and beat on his Foile as you go. As for Faints in Flankanade, there are none that are properly so-called; but there are some ways or disordering it to bring in a Thrust; press on the Feeble of his Foible, then hit him Flankanade, or slide your Foile about Four Inches on his, to make him believe you design to make home that Thrust, and as soon as you perceive him answer the Parrade, make your Thrust in Quarte.

Schol.: Is Sagoon given no other way?

Mast.: Yes, Sagoon cannot be give on the straight Guard, except you disorder it, which may be done two wayes: First, If you lie on Carte side, you must disingage, and advance with both your Feet about half a Foot, stooping with your Body, and raise his Foile with your Arm; Foile straight, and then you may make your Thrust in Sagoon, or a Faint in Sagoon, and a Carte over the Arm; when you are in Tierce side advance a little, rising his Foile, then make your Thrust.

My Sixth Lesson

Is the German Thrust

This thrust is given in no other Guard but the straight, and by some Masters it is called a Flankanade. It is given in some manner like it, only the former is given with the Nailes downwards, and the latter with the Nailes upwards: when you give this Thrust, engage him with the middle of your Foile on the Feeble of his, about Six Inches from his Point, force your Thrust with a straight Point towards your Right-breast, with your Wrist turned downwards; as soon as this Thrust is made, if hit or parried, decart off, and beat his Foile on the Tierce side.

Schol.: Which is the Parry for this Thrust?

Mast.: this Thrust must be parried as you parry Sagoon, then you may recover over the Arm.

My Seventh Lesson

Is Cutting over the Point in Carte and Tierce

Both these Thrusts are given Tierce side, though one is mentioned as being given in Carte; those Thrusts are given on the High Gard: the Cutting over the Point in Carte is when you are on Carte side, raising your Foile towards your Face and over his Point; thrust 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 press you in Carte, then cut over his Point in Tierce.

Schol.: How must I parry those Thrusts?

Mast.: As you do Carte and Tierce.

Schol.: Cannot these thrusts be given on the straight Guard?

Mast.:No; Cutting over the Point in Carte cannot be given , because there is no way for a Thrust to come in; but if the straight Guard comes to press on you in Carte, then a Thrust may be taken; for by reason of his disordering you, he dsorders himself, and then you have an opportunity to give it.

My Eighth Lesson

Is Pressing in Carte, and Thrust in Carte

When you design to give this Thrust, then press on the Weak of his Foile; as you do thus, advance half a Foot, make the Thrust home, and as you recover beat his Foile in Carte.

Schol.: I suppose, Sir, when I press on him I must not stay long on his Foile before I make my Thrust, for fear of being tim'd in Tierce.

Mast.: You must not stay a Thought on Binding, Pressing, or any other Disorder that you make yourself in, except you design to trick him. Amongst all compleat Masters, timing of a Thrust is the finest part in fencing, and how to time: Timing is, when a Faint is made at you in Carte, Tierce, Segoon, or the Disorders of Flankanade, pressing or binding to thrust at him at the same time; for there is no way used to disorder a good Guard except he disorders himself; and if you fence with a compleat Swords-Man, you must take care to make as few Faints as you can, because he will answer none, but will thrust on every one that you make.

Schol.: Is there no Advantage to be taken when another Man times?

Mast.: Yes, and though (as I said before) it is the finest part in Fencing, yet you may hit the best Fencing Master in the World, if he times a Faint, pressing or binding in Carte, Tierce, Sagoon or Flankanade, if in case he will not baulk his Thrust, but give it home, designing to hit you, and no Man can hit another, except he does that. You may likewise to that to any Man that repeats the Thrust.

Schol.: This must need a great secret; pray Sir, has this thrust any Name?

Mast.: Yes, this Thrust is called in French Tente contre tente(Note of transcr. He probably meant ``Temps contre Temps'') ; that is Time against Time . When I first knew this great Art, it was taught me in two ways, which the Duke of Budefield in France first invented, beyond any Master's knowledge that was then in France, and with that Thrust he's killed the best Swords-Man in that Kingdom, Spain, Holland, and Italy; but by long Practise and Study I have found out Ten ways more to give that Thrust.

Schol.: Pray Sir, be pleased to shew me any one of them.

Mast.: One was is enough to distinguish all the rest. When you come to fence with an expert Swords-Man, press him in Carte or Tierce, which opens him, and disorders you self, but that must be your design, to try if he will time you: if he does it in Tierce, as soon as you perceive the Thrust coming give a turn with your Right-Arm and Wrist, turning as you give Flankanande, the point of your Foile in your Adversary's Belly, turning your Left-Shoulder more backwards than when you are in Guard, as you shall see in the Posture.

Likewise, you may do so if he thrusts Carte, or any other Thrusts that he makes in Timimg, or if you thrust Sagoon at him, not designing to hit but to parry you, if he sould return in Carte over the Arm, you may take this Thrust the same way, and by this Posture you may find out that if any Faints of yours are tim'd, or if your Thrusts be repeated , that you may Tente contre Tente(note of transc.: Temps contre Temps) them .

Schol.: Can I have no Advantage of this Thrust, than he times me?

Mast.: No. For if a Thrust comes with a single or double Faint, you must thrust to the Parade, because you will not know whether it comes in Carte, Tierce, or any other Thrust.

Schol.: How shall I know a Faint from a Thrust?

Mast.: All the Knowledge that can be given to know one from the other is this: When a Faint is made, nothing moves but the Foile and the Wrist; but when a Thrust comes, you may perceive the Body come along with it; and this is the Observation that y ou must make; for all thrusts that are made come from the Wrist and the Hips, but the Fainst come only from the Wrist; and when you perceive one from another, you must answer no Faints but very narrow, or time them if you can.

Schol.: Must I look in his Face or on his Wrist when I fence?

Mast.: You must look in his Face,and then you will perceive every thing that he does, which is more manly than to be always fixing upon his wrist, which is no certain rule, the Looks of some Men being almost as terrible to some People as if they felt the Sword in their Body.

Schol.:Suppose I fence with one that Squints, what observation must I make of his Eyes?

Mast.: You must make none at all; for there is no Rule in this Case to be given, and though one Man looks another in the Face, yet he seldom or very rarely hits him there; for that a Thrust may be given on any part of the Body, without the Eyes being fix'd on that part where `tis design'd.

My Ninth Lesson

Is Fine Pass

You must press on Carte, as you did in the last Lesson, make a Faint in carte, and thrust in Tierce.

Schol.: Must I advance when I press, as I did in my last Lesson?

Mast.: No, you must not advance; for you are no longer Engaging on this Lesson than you were in the last, because you are taking more time I making your Faint to him in Tierce; and if you should approach on him, and if you press, perhaps he would time you in Tierce.

My Tenth Lesson

Is Darting the SWORD

This Thrust must be given when you lie on Carte side; if your Adversary holds a straight Guard, give a little Dart with your Arm and Foile, raising his Foile up; you must advance a little with both feet , stooping very well;as soon as you do this, make your thrust home, turning your Wrist under his Shell, then, disengage, and bear on his Foile as you recover.

Schol.: which is the Parry for this Thrust?

Mast.: The best Parry for this Thrust is, as you parry Sagoon, you may do it the round Parrade.

Schol.: When is it most proper to use this round Parry?

Mast.: This Parry must sometimes be made use of when you fence loose; if you press on your Adversary's Foile in Carte, and he thrusts Tierce, round parry him, and hit him flankanade or Carte; likewise, if the Thrust comes in Carte parry it round, and return Tierce or Sagoon; or if you come to parry Carte or Tierce against the Wall (which is a [word erased on original] per Term in Fencing) if either of both be forced on you, the round Parry is good against it; if you choose to draw your Sword in the night, the best Defence you can make is that Parry; or it meets with all the thrusts and Faints that are made. I would advise you not to make too much use of it in your fencing in the Day-time, but omit the two other Thrusts above-mentioned; for the Parry comes with such a Circle, that if you come to fence with a quick wrist, it will be difficult to parry him, especially if you come to half Sword.If you should be forced to draw your Sword in a narrow Passage, never make use of itfor there is no room for that Parrade, your point will hit against the Wall, and have no certainty of it.

Schol.: What is the meaning of thrusting Carte and Tierce against the Wall?

Mast.: It is to teach one the Offensive, and the other the Defensive part; to make the offensive Thrust clean at length, and to guide home his Point, and to teach the Body to be in a good Posture, is a Method which all Masters ought to take with their Scholars, to quicken the Wrist, and make them lie firm on their Longe; and this will be the means to make a Scholar fence fine and easie.

He that makes the Defensive part, is to show him how to parry Carte and Tierce when he comes to fence, or make an assault.

My Eleventh Lesson

Is Binding or Pressing

Schol.: Sir, pray shew me how it must be done?

Mast.: When you come to fence against the straight Guard, then this Lesson is most proper to be play'd; If you engage on Carte side or Tierce, bind your Adversary's Sword about twelve Inches or yours and six of his, which will oblige him to make an opening for your Thrust, but be sure you do not press him very low, for fear he should take the time, except you design to Tente contre Tente(contretemps), or conter-time him, either in Carte or Tierce. You must not stay when you press , but give your Thrust as quick asyou can. Be sure never to draw your Left-Foot after you make any Thrusts, it may prove of an ill consequence; for if your Thrust should be parried after drawing your Left-Foot after you , it is impossible you should recover before your Adversary reposts you, if he understands anything of Fencing; but advance when you bind half a Foot, then you Thrust will come much quicker.

Schol.: What you say stands to a great deal of Reason, and I will observe your Directions;but, Sir, you tell me that Tente contre tente, or conter-time, may be taken on this Lesson; therefore pray inform me how I must do Conter-time?

Mast.: Conter-Time is to parry and Thrust at the same time. Suppose you press your Adversary in Carte, which exposes your Body in Tierce, if that Thrust be made at you, parry strong, and thrust at the same time.

Schol.: Must I parry with the Flat or the Edge, when I make use of the Conter-Time?

Mast.: You must parry on the Edge when you make use of this, for it cannot be done on the Flat; it is on this Thrust that I esteem the Parrade on the Edge , and for no other.

Schol.: When this Lesson is play'd on me, what Defence must I make against it?

Mast.: The best of you play will be to slip him, which brings you to your Guard, or you may caveat him, or keep still disengaging and he can never bind you.

My Twelfth Lesson

Is Disarming in Carte

Schol.: I am very pleased with that Lesson of Disarming; for I had much rather know how to disarm a Man than to kill him; therefore pray shew me how it may be done?

Mast.: There are several ways of disarming on the Sword, but none so good nor so safe as the Disarming of Carte and Tierce, which I am going to shew you.

When you design to disarm in Carte, the best way will be first to parry him, and at the same time to advance about a Foot, bring your left Hand betwixt you Foile and his Hilt, not above half an Inch from his Shell or close to it will be as well; as soon as you do this raise your Foile half a Foot from his, give a smart 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 so strong, unless he should alter his fingers, and grasp his Sword as he would a Stick, and then it cannot be done; but he had much better let go. If you should meet with any that hold their Sword so, or that struggles with you, all that you have to do is to turn your point towards him, and hit him flankanade, but as soon as you bring the Sword out of his handbring your self in Guard again, with your Left-Hand extended, darting the Sword, that so you may be ready, if in case he should seize yours, to stick him with his, which you have in your Left-hand, as you shall see in the Posture.

Schol.: Cannot I disarm a Man without parrying his Thrust first?

Mast.: Yes, you may, but it is dangerous to undertake those ways unless you play with those who do not understand any thing of the Art.

Schol.:Sir, pray be pleased to shew me these ways and those which you recommend to me as the best I will be sure to practise?

Mast.: If you play with those that are ignorant, and engage in Carte or Tierce, advance your Right-Foot close-up, especially if his Point be higher than his Hilt, running your Sword close up to his, raising his Sword at the same time,, then come up with your Left-Foot and seize him, whether be it in Carte or Tierce: you must be sure when you come to disarm a Man any way, that you seize his Sword, and not his Arm or wrist, otherwise it will be very easie for him to change his Sword from his Right to his Left-Hand , and so stick you; but I would advise not to undertake this way of Disarming to a Man that understands Fencing; for if he perceives your design he will disengage, and so hit you, except you are both together in a close Room, where neither of you have room to stand on your Guards, then this Inclosure is proper, either against a Swords-Man, or one who is ignorant; But I would advise you to make use of the Disarm with the Parrade before any other.

Schol.: Sir, the Grounds you have here given are so plain and intelligible, that I shall always choose the Disarm with the Parrade before any other, except it be when I play with such men as you have described.

My Thirteenth Lesson,

Is Disarming in Tierce

When you disarm in Tierce, parry him first, advance likewise, come up with your Left Foot, seize him with your Left-Hand about half a Foot from his Hilt, with your Thumb on the Flat of his, then there will be no Danger of his seizing you, as you shall see in the posture; not bringing your point to your Adversary's Face, as many teach; for then it lies in his power to take hold of it; and if he proves stronger than you, he will take the Advantage of tripping or Sticking you.

Schol.: When I fence, how shall I know when I am in Distance of a Thrust?

Mast.: When you thrust with one taller than your self, and has longer Arms, and stands wider than you do, when you design to make a Thrust to hit him, the best way will be to come to Half Sword, and then you are within distance; when you engage but five Inches, and keep him at that distance, then you'll be better able to parry him; but if you fence with one of your own height, engage him a Foot off your Foile on the same of his.

Schol.: Which is the properest Thrust to be tried for a little Man against a tall Man, or a tall Man against a low Man?

Mast.: The best Thrusts that a little Man can make at a tall Man are Sagoon, Carte under the Shell, and, Darting the Sword which is my thenth Lesson; and all the rest of the low Thrusts for Tierce and Carte, and all the rest of the high Thrusts , are out of the line of his thrusting; and all the Thrusts that are improper for a low man, are proper for a tall.

Schol.: If I fence with one that never learne, I suppose any Thrust might be given, either high or low, to hit him.

Mast.: Yes, any Thrust that is made will hit one that has no knowledge in the Art; but it is as dangerous to fence with so ignorant a Man, as with one that understands it, except you take this Rule. When you Fence with one that has no Judgement, and fences without Rule or Mnethod, but in Passion, you must take Care when you Thrust at him, that he does not hit you at the same time, which is Contre Tente; for he that does not understand fencing, may hit one that fences very well, if he does not take this particular Measure. When you fence with such a Man, you must be sure that he does not know what Parry is, and perhaps if you thrust twenty Thrusts at him, he will not endeavour to defend himself, but thrust the same time and so hit you.

Schol.: What is the way to deal with such a Man?

Mast.: When you come to fence with a Man that knows nothing of the matter, and runs upon you with a great deal of Passion, rather give Ground for a little way, and defend his Thrusts, and repeat them every time, then you'll never miss hitting of him; but if he is not Cholerick, but stands on as good a Posture as his Ignorance guides him, then you may hit him, and bind him in Carte and Tierce, which are the properest Thrusts to be made to such a Man, without Danger of a Contre-Tente. It is the Opinion of many Gentlemen, that never learned to Fence, that if a Man has but courage, he need not learn any other Art; I must confess 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 should be forced to draw his Sword asgainst a Courageaous Man that never knew any thing of Fencing, that little learning would be no great Advantage to him; for seeing his Adversary attack him with all Vigor and Bravery, would put the Coward into such a Consternation, that his little Judgement would be laid aside.

But there are degrees of Cowards, some greater than others, so the greatest Heroe in the World, that knows nothing of Fencing, has a great deal of odds against him that will either Fence or Fight with a Man of skill, tho' they may be a Coward.

Schol.: Sir, what difference do you make of Cowards, are they not all the same?

Mast.: No. there is a great deal of Difference in Cowards, as well as in stout Men; and it is my Opinion, that if a grand Coward were ever to complex a Swords-Man, and came to engage with any Man that was Brave, his Spirit and his learnings would fall as low as the soles of his Feet, and he had much rather run away, than stand to shew either his Skill or Courage; for then all his Judgement is lost, and with such the fighting between a Coward abd a couragious Man is equal.

But for the hectoring Cowards, they will stand a battle if they are sensible they have an Advantage; which is to shew you, that one Coward will fight , when another dare not; the difference of one from another I have often seen; but I would advise no gentleman to trust altogether to his Bravery; for every Man is not a Coward, and Judgement will encourage some Cowards to fight, as well as the bravest Man living; besides, Knowledge cannot be a burrthen to any Man that is Brave.

I will appeal to any rational Man, that if two Men of equal Courage should come into a Field to fight, and one understands Fencing very well, and the other does not, whether he that does understand the Art has not the greatest Advantage.

Schol.: There is a great deal of Reason for any Man to believe, that he who has no Judgement in fencing, and engages with a Man of as much Courage as himself, and is an Artist, has Fifty to one on his side. I shall always be of that Opinion, and it is not to be supposed that any Man of Sence can argue the contrary.

Mast.: No Man of reason will; yet I must confess, that if the Artist comes drunk on the Field, and his Adversary sober, their judgement are equal; for then he cannot perforem an thing of his Art, all his Senses are drowned, and his Presence of Mind is lost; and as it often happens, that he who is ignorant gets the better of the Swords-Man when he takes him at such a Disadvantage, and so he believes he could have done had he been sober.

I shall now proceed to let you know how necessary it is for all Gentlemen to learn the Noble Art of the SMALL-SWORD.

• Firstly, that it is one of the greatest Qualifications that a Gentleman can have.
• Secondly, all Gentlemen that wear a Sword ought to understand how to make use of it according to Art, that they may be able to defend themselves when they are forced to draw.
• Thirdly, That no Exercise or Recreation is more wholsome; for it works all the parts of a Man's Body, strengthens all the Limbs, and opens the Chest; and if taught by a good Master, it gives a very good Air to the Body.

I would advise all Gentlemen that learn, or design to learn, to argue the Case with their Masters, that so they may have a Reason for every thing that is shown them, which will be a great Advantage to all Gentlemen that are curious; for they may be as well taught in this Kingdom than part of the World, tho' the French have the Name.

I am certain that we have as good masters in England, of English, Scots, French, Irish and Germans, as any in the Christendom; but I cannot say we have so many; yet I question not but that if this Art were as much encouraged in England, as it is in France, we should soon see as good an Academy in London, as any in Paris, with a refort of gentlemen from all Nations; but that which lessens the Art in England by our own Gentry, as well as Foreigners, is , that a great many pretend to tech this Art who know nothing of the matter, and when those Sparks are discovered by any Gentlemen of our own Country, or by Foreigners, they conclude all other Masters to be like them, unless they are intimately acquianted with some of the best of them.

And this is the Reason that makes us lose that Esteem which we deserve, and so `tis caried to the Masters in France; but if it were here, as it is in Paris, that no man should profess Teaching, except that he were an approved Master, we should not have (by some Hundreds)so many pretenders that carry the Title of Masters.

Schol.: When a Man comes into the Field to fight, is there no Advantage or Disadvantage to be taken on the ground?

Mast.: Yes, there is; when you Challenge, or are Challenged, if you draw with the Disadvantage of Weather, as Rain, Snow, Wind or Sun in your Face, all these are a Disadvantage to you, or if the ground you stand on be worse, you must follow this Direction to change Ground with him: as soon as you perceive all these against you, engage him in Carte, disengage in Tierce, stepping your Right-Foot a-cross at the same time, bringing the Heel overacross your Left-Toe; then change again in Carte, bringing your Left-Foot up, which brings you in a Posture, and upon your Guard; thus keep changing both Hand and Foot until you get all the Advantages of the Weather, or the Ground, then make the best on't: In taking this Ground, if your Adversary doesn't move Hand and Foot the same way with you, everytime you move he is much exposed to your Thrust, and you may have the Fortune to hit him.

But before, whenever you fight, that you are free from Passion; for if a Man be the best Swords-Man in the Kingdom, and fights when in Passion, he disorders himself to that degree, that he cannot make use of all his Judgement. If a Man comes to fence with Sharps or Blunts, let him have Preference of Mind, and be always thinking how to hit him; and no Man that understands Fencing can have a greater Advantage of his Adversary, tho' he fences never so well, than when he is guilty of that foolish thing called Passion.

Schol.: What length must a Sword be to fight with?

Mast.: Thirty Six Inches in the Blade is long enough to fight with, and no longer is proper; for if a Sword be too long, after a Thrust is made and parried,'tis harder to recover to a Parrade with such, than one of middle size.

Schol.: What sort of Sword is best to Eight with?

Mast.: You must always chuse a Sword well mounted , very stiff, with a flat Handle, both rough and long enough betwixt the Pummel and the shell, then you will have a better Gripe, and it will not be so soon flurted out of your Hand.

The best Blades for fencing are the spanish Tucks, but they are too heavy for Duelling, except they are very short, which will not be proper to be used; so that I advise you to chuse a German Blade; for they are both good and light.

Schol.: How must I Thrust with a Left-handed Man?

Mast.: It is most troublesome for a Right-Handed Man to Fence with one that Left, except they are taught how; for your Carte is his Tierce, and Tierce his Carte, which alters the property of your Wrist, and makes the Left-Hand have the Advantage, because he is always taught to fence with his Right, so his Carte is your Tierce, and so all the rest of the thrusts are given contrary.

I shall omit giving you any more Lessons, for those that I have shewed you are sufficient to make you a compleat Sword's-Man, if you will practise them very neat; for no Man can fence well without he fences Gentile, and with a great deal of ease, without bustling or passion, and these are the signs of a great Command in fencing. I could add a great many more lessons, but I think what I taught you here, are more than you will make use of.

Nor have I shewn you so many, but I know that one Man fancies one Lesson more than he does another,; and here I have taught the chiefest on the Sword, so you may take your Choice; for there are none of them but are very good, and if you'll practise them according to Direction,then I doubt not but you'll be a compleat Sword's-Man, and as soon as I know you are Master of these Lessons, I shall very soon after make a Second edition concerning the whole Art of the Sword.

Schol.: Sir, I shall take a great deal of Pains with what you have shewed me, and will practise them until I am master of'em, then I hope I shall be a compleat Sword's-Man, for which I return to you Many thanks.

Mast.: It will be for your Advantage, and my credit that you were so; and if you make use of Blunts, I hope you will have no occasion to use any other. In a little time you shall hear further from me, and so Farewell.

FINIS

Transcription: Elise Darchis, Oxford, England, 2007.