The Principles of the Art

According to Hope's New Method

Attempting to put all the material in Hope's books on line is taking rather a lot of time and space, so I will restrict myself to discussing the principles behind the art. These principles are essentially compatible with Silver's, which I will not discuss here as they are already well known and are covered elsewhere, for example, Terry Brown's book English Martial Arts gives a very good description in modern terms.

With Calmness, Vigour and Judgement,
Use;

1. Chiefly the guard in seconde with a sloping point, your body for the most part moving circularly and sometimes fix'd.
2. A good crossing parade, with a firm dry beat, assisted by the left hand.
3. A brisk half-pursuit, until you make a true and full one, commonly preceeded with a dry beat or binding.
4 .Plain and easy offensive lessons, briskly performed; and alwise opposing the left hand, to prevent a contretemps, an exchanged thrust; or one from the riposte.
5. A moderate and judicious breaking of measure, circularly and otherwise, until the violence and fury of your adversary's pursuit be over; when you find that he will force a pursuit upon you.

Prevent;

1. Being decoy'd or deceived by feints, as much as possible.
2 .Being catcht upon time, when advancing to thrust.
3. Being without distance when thrusting.
4. Resting upon a thrust after it is delivered.
5. A contretemps, exchanged thrust, or one from the risposte, by making sesonably use of the left hand, as either you your self, or your adversary shall thrust.

On Calmness:

Hope refers to Sir Roger L'Estrange's abstract of Seneca, chap.5, where discoursing of  Anger, he says, That the Hunts-man is not angry with the wild Boar, when he either pursues or receives him: A good Sword-man watches his Opportunity, and keeps himself upon his Guard, wheras Passion lays a man open: Nay, it is one of the prime lessons in a Fencing-School, to learn not to be angry.

But that I may end this with a Comparison, Fencing without Judgement, is just like a Watch without a Spring, a Neat piece of Work with a great many fine Wheels, but without any Motion, the want of which maketh her useless: And so is the Art of Fencing a curious Art, wherein there are a great may fine Lessons, and excellent Rules, but for lack of Judgement (which is its Spring) all lieth dead, and is Useless; but once apply the Spring, and set it in Motion and a going, and then it becometh a most Quick and Lively Exercise, and (as a Watch) an ornament fit for all Gentlemen to carry about with them, and as a compleat Watch with a Spring sheweth a Man the Hour of the Day, so that he may know how to dispose of his time and actions; so doth Fencing directed by Judgement, discover to a Man the Hazards and Inconvenienceies he is exposed to, and the means to shun and prevent them, by his disposing of the several Branches of his art so and so, as she shall direct him.