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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 EM 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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.32 IB

T HE

P R E FAC EI 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 Upfill to my Dcfign, I might run a
large Encomium in praife ofSwordplaying 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 refpeft j Iat this being the Work ra
ther ofa Panegyrift than a Sword'sMan, 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 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.

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 Adveriary'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 Poaire; 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.) yu 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 RightHand is, ' in a Line which Ballances your
Body : This Thruft muft be given the infide of the Rjghc Arm, looking ftraight
in your Adverfary's Face, wkh your Wrift
upon the Thruft higher than the Point,
then.

The Enelifh
O

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 Adverfary'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.

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 Adverfary'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 teach
O
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 difordering 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 againft this Guard, that a Thruft in Flankanadc 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-O :
*J
'
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 ; :

'

,My

^
.: '. ).> ' ' .. K ':. ':ij

o Tfo Englifh Tencing-Mafter.

My Fourth Leflbn,
Is Sngoone and Tlank&nade:
Sagpone mufl be given, with the Naifesdownwards from Tierce fide, dropping the
Point, hitting your Adverfary in the Belly
near to his Ribs, your Head muft be cjuarter'd under your right Arm, riimg your
Wrift, and looking under it in his Face r
when this Thruft is given, you mud decart 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 M afters 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 altho' 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 $Vwith 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.

.- * j. ' . My Fifth Leflbn,

". ,
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.
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.
^J

. 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, about 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

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.
given
no. other wayj ?
r->Is Saroone
9
o

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 difirtgage, 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 Mafters '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 EngI ifh 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' noway-

!*

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 diorders 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 Diforder 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.lf5 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 diftinguifli 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 perijceive 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 LeftShoulder 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.

'
. .

. .

The Englifh fencing-^Majler.

'

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

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 abovementioned 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 Thrufting 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 Adverfary 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
- r of an ill confei*
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
? D when I make ufe of the Contcrtime
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 ylu
, - . ,-IOG'I - ;',

-i -

' '"r '

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

''.r;.-H<-i,J rTov rTrv ttTTT
'! to UK) ri grind iii// rbiri-'.-

-.- My Twelfth Leflbu,^^

...:': / -:>:' <... bio /; girl qbns-Iaas ./isvai'i
J

\3

'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?

F2

A/<//?. There are feyera! ways of Diarming 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.iire..

'

'

'.

The Englifl; fenting-MejltF. 3$

ScboL Cannot I difarm a Man without
parrying his Thruft firft 2
Mafter. Yes, you may, but it is dancrerous 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,efpedaily 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 tounder,-

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,
iIs 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 defign 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 himfcl'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 Chollerick, 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 Confternation, 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
with
C" 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

. 4.7ment 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 ocher does not, whether he that does underftand 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 queftion not but that if this Arc were as
much -encouraged in England, as it is in

France^

The Englifh feneing-Mafter.

France, we fhould foon fee as good an Aca
demy in London, as any in Paris, with a Reforc 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 whenthofe 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, difingage 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 expofed 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 underftands 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. Swordwell 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 * 'iothat 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 Righthanded 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*

54I fhall omit giving you any more

Leflbns, for thofe I have fliewed you are
fufficient to make you a compleat Sword sMan, 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,

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 SwordsMan, 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-:..

on no.

JO

,ii

..

t
:."
I

. iicifi .

2 \ M \ :