,

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T H E
U S E
OF THE
BROAD SWORD.l
IN WHICH IS SHOWN, The True Method of Fighting with that W .E A P 0 N; as it is now in Ufe among the H I G H LAN D E R S ; deduc'd from the Vfe of the Scymitar; with every Throw, Cut; Guard, and Difarm.

NOR If" I C H:

Printed by M. CHASE, in the C(Jcke,-Lali'~ MDCCXLVI~

TO

The Right Honourable

JOHN Lord HOBART;

Lord Lieutenant of the

County of Norfolk, &c.

l\lIy LOR D,

Vcntur'd upon this Addrefs without Leave, and even with-

, out.making my Defign known, . out of"' a pure Perfwafion, that nothing will give Offence to your LORDSHIP which, arifes [roln the Sincerity of a Heart warm in the Service of m}r Country ; how weak foever may be the Head that conducts thole Intentions. I've made this Effa}r towards 'Teaching the Ufe of the Sword) that I might render that \V capon fcrvicca ble in

A 2, the

D E DIe A T I 0 No

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the Hands of my Fellow-Citizens, which, rogerher.wirh them', I.have the'H'onour to wear under your

. L 0 R'D'S HlP'S Command in the

.. • .. .... t 4It.. •

Artillery Company. And what-

foever contributes towards making,that Company Ufeful as well as Ornamental, will be moll: agreeabl~ to your "LORDSHIP'S Defign in raifing it.

All my Aim is to be fer vice-

. able to Society, that I may be Acceptable to your LORDSHIP; and I am Ambitious of }7our LORDSIlIP'S Favour, that I may be approv'dof by all Mankind.

I am with great RefpeCl, My L o u D,

Your LOR n S H I r's Mort Devoted

and man Humble Servant,

T. P A G r~.

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I I N T ROD U C If ION.

IN the firft Ages before War was a Trade, or Fighting a Science, Fury furnifh'd Arms from the firfi "' ood, or the neareft Heap of Stones; and the CLUB and the SLING were the only Infirumenrs of Deflruction, till Mankind,

, ever fagacious in Miichicf, invented new Engines of Death; and as the Thirft of Power increas'd, the Art of \~lar irnpro v'd,

Oflenfive Weapons were invented, and of them the SWORD and JAVELIN were the firfi; (he SWORD tor clofe, and the JAVELIN for more diftant Engagements: Yet of thefe the Form was rude, and [heir Ufe without Method. They were the lnftrumen rs of Strength, not r he "Teapons of Art. The Sword was of enormous length and breadth, heavy and unwcildy, dcfign'd only for rjght down chopping by the Force of a flrong Arm; till "rime and fix pc.,

A j I icnce

'fi I N T R 6 Due T ION.

rience difcovering the Difadvantages, by IDe_ grees contracted its Length and ljghten'd its Weight into the more handy Form of the SCYMITAR; which was firft of all iavented by the Eaftern Naricns, and has continued to be their principal Weapon to this Day: This is contriv'd equally for Defence as well as Affault ; and as before two Combatants only hack'd and chop'd each other till the weakeft drop'd, fo now Art was cal I'd in to the Affiflance of Strength, and the Warrior made the Defence of his own Perfon his Care, at the {arne time he attempted the Detl rucrion of his Adverfary. And from this Period it was that Murder became an Art, and Fighting a Science: Now a Pofiurc of .Defence was contr iv 'd againft every Ai1ault:> and a Guard againfl: every Cut ~ Io that Death was no longer at the Difpofal at the Strong and Robuft, but attended upon the Sword of the Dexterous and Skillful.

In Proeefs of Time even the Scymitar in a long Engagement was found to be too tircforne to [he Arm from its great Weight at the Point, where it was much broader and thicker back'd than towards the Hi It, and could not therefore be us'd long together wi thout [iring the W rift.

The Europeans have impro vd this \}.;' capon, and in vented the, 11 I\ () AD 5\\"0 rt D, \v hich is a tlraight

INTRODUCTIO~·.

. ..

vu

fl:lpj~bt Blade 'Yell.mounted" and (t~at it might fly lIght at the POJnt) baf lanc'd with a Basket Hilt, which is at the fame time a Security to the Hand,

This bas all the Advantages that can be ex .. peCle4 Jrom a Cutting Weapon, and as any Part of the Enemy's BOdy may be wounded by it, fo may every Part of your own be defended by it at the fame time,

The Saracens, Turks, and Perfians, made ufe of but three different Throws with the Scyrnitar, and one of thofe"only on Horfeback; the other two on Foot. The firft was executed thus; The Affailant Riding full Speed, and paffing clofe by his Enemy" rais'd himfelf in his Stir:" rips, and with a home Blow fideways and back .. wards Iever'd his Enemy's Head from' the' Body" unlefs he was dexterous enough to ftoI1 the Blow with his Sword; which for that Pur ... pofe he was to bold perpendicular" a little ad..l vanc'd.before his Head .. The other two Throws on Foot were Ievel'd at the Head and Arm. The Head was guarded by holding the Scymitar Horizontal lyyadvanc'd before the Forehead:

The Arm, by holding the Point of the Scyrnitar 2gainft the Enemy's Right Temple, and [he Hilt againft his Left Breaft.

From there little Beginnings arofe all that, Variety

viii I N T ROD U C T ION .

..

" ariety : of Throws, Cuts and Guards which have been fince invented and improv'd, and. which now compofe the. SCIENCE 'of the BROAD SWORD, and are the Subject of the following Difcourfe,

No Modern Nation· has artiv~d :at fnch PerfeCtion in the Ufe of -~his Weapon as the Scots s and amongft Them the. ,Highlanders' are moft expert. From their Youth they areTrain'd to it, and with the Addition of the Roman Tar-

. get, . they \ exce11 in -t he Roman. Method of :F'ighting;" having .invented a. great· many Throws, Cuts and Guards, unknown to the Roman Gladiators. ':.

, . .

Nor have they irnprov'd the .Ufe only; but even the Fafhion and Temper of the \\.T eapon ; for which they have been Io defervedly famous" that their Swords have been purchafed by all Europe; and there is .no Nation but has feen Thoufands fall beneath the Edge of Andrew Earrarer'» Blades; nor was Steel ever wrought fo deftruCl:ively Perfect, except in the Invention of the Lancet. .

THE

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. . . '.f .- ...

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The: BROA,D' S'WO'RD,

Olfenfive and Defenfive, 'after the Manner of

The. I-I I G ii L.A N D.E -R S •.

• " j •

~~;'I HE Broad Sword 1s an O'ffehfive and Defenlive \\' eapon, us'd now ,by molt ,Foreign Nations> as well as by the Highlanders .of .Scot .. land; both in ji11/{lc ,Conzoot, ',' and alfo in tbe,'Field'of,genorat

Battle. '

Its Ufe, with all its Advantages and Difad .. vantages, with its Practice in Offending and Defending, i-s become a .Soienoe reduced to certain Rules: to the underftanding of which thefe following TECHNI-CAL TERMS muft be

explained, . .

. A 'GU ARD.

Is the manner of holding the Sword in fuch a' 'PojitionM as will defend fome Part of "the Body,

To R A I 5 E the G U A R D S.

Is to ptiJt the Sword in fuch a Pofition as wIll Guard one Part of the Body, and then to cbaneo it from that, to fuch other POjitiol1J; as will fucceffively Guard or Defend all the other parts of the Body.

2 1rbe

( 1'0 )

. ,

The 0 U T SID E.

ls the external part ofthe Right Side of the Head, Neck, Arm, Bodys Thigh 'and Leg ..

The INS IDE.,

Is the Internal parts of the Limbs on the Right Side, alfo' the Forepart of the Face and Body, with the whole Left Side ..

The LIN R.'

Is a firaight Line juppofed" to' be drawn through the CC11ter ot your own Body and that of your Adverfary's ; 'and mllfi: be the ,CC11- ter (Jf Motion to your Body, and' in' the very Middle of every Guard, as we ll as of every

Throw. . .

A T H R,O W.

, Is the' firjking at fome Part of Jour Adver'

fary to- E:ut Him'. .

T6 C 0 V E R.

" Is to G'lara fome Part from a THROW.

To S T 0 ~.

I~r to' receie« your Ad verfary's Sword with a proper Guard upon the Edge of your own

Sword, '

To' A D V A NeE.

Is to prefs upon'your Advcrfary under the Cover of {orne Guard, Step by Step, wi th the right Foot always before; making but half Steps at a Time,

Retreating,

( II ) RETREATING.

Is retiring from him under the Cover of fome GDard by half Steps, the left Leg moving prft YJofkward.l, and toe rigbe drawing after Jt.

To RECQVER.

J s to reduce yourfelf to any Pofitioll or Guard from whence yoQ. have departed, .

To LUNGE.

. I~ to fiep forward with the right Foot keepI~g the lett fixt, the better to reach your 44-

verfary. . . -

.... To LIE upop the L U N G.E.

Is to continue in that Stradling Failure"

Tp S L I r.

J$ to withdraw yo~r Body or fome Limb out of the Reach of your Adverfary's Throw, illIlead of (lopping it,

To SP RING OFF.

Is a quick Retreat out of the Reach of ro~r A~v~rfary, by leaping backward,

SIN KIN G the BOD Y.

Is only bending the Hams till you can Fj~bt below your Adverfary's Guards> and frill be cover'd under your Own.

To JUDGE a DISTANCE.

Is to know when you arc within Reach of any Part of your Ad vcrf."try, :11f which you are

B 2 about

( l:t )

about to Thrdw; add :to T'hrow:fo as neither to 'reich' t-Ub' fa·r,,, ·Slot', -have: you~ SWord' fall

#L...lt·" " . " , , I, ," .

Illu l.·' , , " " , ~'

.. ,", To 'F'E IN T.

Is to Offer to throw without throwing home. . To "'1' I 1\1 E.

18 'to Stop, Throw, or Recooer» neither too

foon or too late. .

To BE A R •

. Is ,t.o pte~ with f?me '~~r~ngth ~g~inft your Adve'tf:ary~s Sword In the Fort, WIth the Fort

, of your Own. __, '

, 'The FOR T •.

, ,

Is that Part of the Sword Blade near the Hilt.

The - F O. I B L E.

Is that Part nearer to the Point of, the Sword.

An OPENING.

Is any Part not under the Cover of a Guard.

To T Il A V E R S E.

Is fiepping from the ftraight Line either to the Right or Left in a Circle, fiill preferving the Center of chat Circle, in the CC1zter vf the I..Ji1ZC.

ABO U T ..

Is the Time in which you play .loofe, or as your Judgment directs you, upon any or all t hc Guards, till a Cut is recciv 'd or given. ' The

;'1

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;) -, 'The Advantages of. the Broad Sword are

.~ fhown- in /Otir GuardJ, which fucce~~ly 'de-

:':;:~ tend every Pare of the' Bod y :igain~ sn At- . r'~;; tacks that can ~ ~ffibl Y , be' 'made; and much

\; fooner than a Stroke can be -given: and at the fame Time in which the Sword changes' its , Pofture of Defence, it throws in upon every " Op__ening, and gives a WOUh~.

Its Difadvantages arife onlyfrom the Diffi. culties of Parrying a Thruft in the four 'PaCt • . ! tions of Guards; and therefore two Pofirions ) are borrowed from the Small Sword, and ad-

ded to its Defenfive Guards and Offenfive ,) . Throws, which render the Weapon compleat .. ' ; Before the Ufe of the Sword can be T'aught,. i it is abfolurely neceflary to learn a firm and .~ erect Atti tude, in the Si tuation and Moti on of

every Limb,

Firit, You are boldly to Face your Enemy at the Diftance of at leaft two Feet, out of ) his Lunge, and Handing with your Body {quare" and

A------------------

B

,

"

C--------D

Your Feet at (about) two Feet diftance Irorn each other, upon the Line A B, full fronting

B 3 your

( 14 )

your Adverfary; w-ho Hands at the fame 1 'ime an~ in the fame Manner upon the Line C D.

Th~ ftanding, let the back Part of the Hilt ~f Io~r Sword be held upon the Palm of YOUI Left Hand, clofe to your Bpdy, with the Blade J"e~il)g on the Left Arm.

Raife the Left Hand with the Hilt of the Sword Breaft high; and with the fame Motion, and at the fame -l"ime, advance the Right Foot from off the Line A B~ unto the Line E F, at fight Angles wit4' the Line .4 B, fetting it

down at G. ) -

A __ ~ ~E~------ __ B

c.' .' tG

f.

•

. -

And at the very Infiant of moving the Leg~

raife alfo the Right Arm about a Foot higher than r he Hit t of the Sword extended qn the Lef~ Hand, and (ei'Ling the Gripe of the Sword with the l{ight Hand, quit the Hilt with the Left, and extending the Left Hand Horizoutall y a little backward, advance the Sword with its Edge

. 'to\\"ard!

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~ IS

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"~:' towards yo~r Adverfary till its Polntappear . over againft his Left Temple, and the ~il~ :\) over againft his Right Hip, and in that Pof'x ture wait to receive his Salute, When you

'_'.; are perfetl in this, you are to learn the. Pod fition of the Body, and the Steps that arc " moft ufeful in the Exercife of the Sword.

'~ The Pofition of the Bod y muft be very creel, '1 its Center of ,Gravity kept exaCtly over the .~ Left Leg, with the Rjg·ht Foot ~ Iittlead~ vanc'd, that the whole Weight of the ~ody l may rea Oyer the Left Foot, and the Right ,.; be a.t abfol ute Liberty for Motion. From th is ':, Poflure the Stet'S to be Iearn'd are as follow: ,; .' the .I1d'lJance~ the Retreat, and the 7raccrfo •

•

The A D V A NeE.

: When the ereCt Attitude above defcrib'd ,J is obtain'd both for Grace and Ufe , Ilep tor ... ) ward with the Right Foot about one third ~ of your Lunge, and at the ramo 'Timetranf· fer fo much of thcWeight of your Body from {your 'Left Leg on to your Right, as may ionable you to {Jip your L~{t Foot along the 1 • .Ground, (not Jifting it off) up towards your .~l{jght Heel .. and ftopping within h~lf a Foot . thereof i at \vhich M(lmQot fiep forward a-

gain with the Right Foot" and alternately 'repeating the fame Steps advance as far as is ncccflary, fiill preferving an ereCt firm and graceful

( 16 )

gNIeeful 'Attitu~~ t~rougb evety -~IOti.on m

tbe /1aioantic. . .' . _ -<': ': r ", .

. Tbe ~d.vantag~ of this Step is gaining'Space HI the length of'Glfound, and·~r.:fiing,to upon your Adverfaey, ·~s to oblige 'him 't1.J retreat from you. unto ·wolle Ground, or.forae difad ...

vantageous Situation. .

'The RET R E;A '1\

From the fameerc'a Att'i'tude .before defcrib'd,' "transfer '-t'be "We'ight: of -'J1lGur Body almdft wholly from the I"eft t:o the Right Leg'-'~o tbaLt you, may be ful~y enabled .eo ·fiep·backward with your Le-ft 'Foot, lifting

it clear it om the Ground, the better to avoid any unevencfles that cannot be Ieen behind, and ferring it firmly down about Iixtecn Inches backward, draw back .the, Right ,Foot within twelve Inches of -the Left, but not Iifttugit off the-Ground; and repeating ·thcfe Steps alfo alrernateiy, retreat as far back

as you find uteful, . .

'I'he Advantage of this Step is by retiring either to draw your Aclverfary'from the advantageous Ground be-is in Poffeflion of,' or to gain a more-advantageous Ground that lies behind you j "or to avoid 'the Diffieulties into which you are ful len, by your Adverfary's prcfiing 'too clofoly upon you, and cngnging you wirh a f upcr ior Strength up

to

p

", ---

---

to half Sword, and very o ften .allthefe three ,A'dvantages are obtained at the ,1a~e time,

The T R A ,V E R S E. ~~ _'. I

This alfo begins from the fame' erectnefs and firmnefs of Poflure, and is twofold. 'viz, the Fore Travcrfc, and the Back Traverte; The Forc'I'ravcr fc i\ performed in a 'jarge Circle,

the Center of which is the Middle of the Line of 'Dctence, on \vhicn Line you and your ;. Advefaryfland , fuch Is ebe Line rvoj C, H.G. ~. in the oppofite Page', and 'the Circle f orm'd by the Traverfe will be) P. A. C E. G. r 1.. N.

'For the Right Foot being at ~ and the Left l1t P. the Traverfe is begun by (tepping about with the Left Foot 'from p. to A. and the Right Foot immediately afr er from Q.:. to B. and then the Line A. B C. K. I. will be the Li1ie of Vefc11CC; at the next Step, remove the Left Foot from A. to c,. and then the Right from B. to D. which will make tho Line c. D; C. M. L the Litze of Vefc1zce; and you will be fiiJl faceing C- the Center of that Circle, which you arc now 'Trave-fing, and the Middle of every Litle 01 2)c!el1Cej pro-

, ceed alfo in the fame Mannee With the Left Foot from c to Ji:, and the Right Foot (rom lJ. to Ii'. then will E F. C_ 0, N. be the. Litle of 'Defence; in th{~ fame M -nner proceed ~o .

, ,1. II j to t, K > to L. M; to N.O; and to P. <t.; ~~hjch Is the Place 1n m which you 1et out,

C and

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(

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- - ---:::::=-------,,=--=-----

,( 1$ )

and you will have bad fucceffive1v the Lines Or ~. G~ <t: P; I .. ,K. C .. ' B. A; L, M, C. D. C ; N. o. C F .. E ; f()r Li"CI of Vcfencc;- and now you are come about to the Line P~~ .. C. H ·G ; which was the Line '01 Vefe11cc when you began .to 7ra'lfcr(e •.

The 'n A C K T R A V E R S E.

Is the counter Part of the Fore- Traverfo, .doing every Step backwards as in.that is done ,{oi\Vnrds1;.,;:ts for' Examples Itanding In the I, inc of, V.efence p. Q.:. C' ~ H. G. with the Right ~oQt ~t ~ and.the ~cft at r. begin the Back ,Travcrfe with removing the Right, Foot from -ct. to o. and 'the Left from p •. to N. pot~ ip, the Line N. o, C. F. E. which will then be .the L~8' 01 Velence;, and then by r~~il:l£ the R'ight Feotfrom ~~ to M. .and the t.ef~ from N. to L. you have L. M. C. D. c. for tho Line 1)/ 'J)8/c1ZC(:;' and in the 'fa-me Manner

~oing backwards through It I') H G, F E, 1) c, 13 A, .yo,~ wil larrive at ~P, fl'O~ \v.herce·fo~ -began the Back 'Traverfe,

'The ,:A~vantagcs of thefe two 'Traverfes arc very .greae, as wil] be explained 'more al: -lar,gc .in ,tbc Aaion of Fighting; but their Advenrages ill 'gaini.ng Ground may.be known

.here : If -in 't~c Retreat y-iu .are fiqpt .. be·hirKi by a Wal.l, r)itch~ or' any other J.m,p~,.:, diment; you 'm~y b , beginning eit !1,r ~~r, '( vet fc which ever you find molt convenier.,

te.

( 19- )

to extricate your Ielf with eafe, and gain Ground either to the Right or I .. eft s and if you Traverfe half the Circle, it will bring your Adverfary into the very fame Difficulties from which you departed,

And when you are thus- perfected in a graceful Attrtude, firm and aron~ Pofition of Limbs, regular Steps and Movements, the Guards may be learn'd-

The G U A R 0 S~

A Guard, which is the Pofition of the SW()J'd, whereby a Blow is warded off from any Part of the Body ~ has four different Names, from the four different Parts of the Body, which are defended by each of them feperate ly, and are thus denominated,

. The I,1_/ide Guard, The Outfide Guards The Hanging Guard, and St. George's Guard.

The Infide Guard is when you Rand with each Foot on the Line of Defence, and hold the Point of your Sword over againfi: your Advorfary's Left Temple, and the Hilt in a, Line with his Itight Hip, and the Middle of y.our Sword cutting the Line of Defence at acute Angles, by which the internal Parts. of the Lilllbs on the Right Side, and the fore Part of the Face and Body, with the whole Left Side, will be defended from bejng Cut! . 'fhe

( ZO ).

, Th,e Outfide . Guard is rais'd when you {land wi.th· your; Body fquare, aflride ·th~ ~iner of Defence, with the Right and Left F90t at. rjght. Angles, with re, holding the Point of your Sword over againft_ vour Ad ... verfary's '-R'jght Temple, and linking the Hilt in a Line with .his .. Left Hip, by which the externa l Part of the 'Right Side of ,the Head, Neck, Arm, Body, Thigh and Leg, are fccured from being.Cut- In this Guard., the Pofition of the Right Hand differs from all other Guards, for it is to be bent at' the ,\Vrelt' with the Back of the Hand and the Knucke ls, (which arc always in a Line with the Edge of the Sword ) t urn'd upwards and outwards, which defends the. Sword .Arm from the Shoulder to the w.in, without ever moving the Sword,".

From this you go to the Hanging Guard, whjch is thus performed) with your Right Foot Ilep a little back ward and Iideways, fo as to 'make an acute Angle with the Line of Defence, and at the fome Mornen t railing the Elbow of the Sword Arm, and preferrt the Point of the Sword againft your Adver ... fary's Breafr, 'and covering your own Head, t if l v ou can fcc your Advcrfar y 's Face clear under your own Fort: This Guard covers the Head, Shoulders, Face and Brcafl; and wit h the Point ftl)PS your Adve-tary from rrefiing tuo clolcly upon you, and keeps him ;" . , : ' , ' at

( 21 )

~t length when he is endeavouring to come up to half Sword, and is the dernier Retort when you have retreated \ or are pufh d into a Corner from whence you arc too weak to advance.and have not room enough to Tra-

verfe, . .

The lail: Guard arifes from this, and is calJed St. George 5 Guard, which is perform'd by fianding fquare acrofs the Line, and holding .the Sword a little rais'd above your own Head, parallel to your Shoulders, with the Edge tu-n'd upwards toward your Adverfsry : and is only ufed occafiona lly to flop a right down Blow airn'd at the Head or Shoulders. 'Thefe arc all the abfolute .Guards" and mull: be Iearn'd till you can raite them diflinctly after ea ch other, with a flcady and erect Body, and a nimble and Ilrong Arm; during the whole ti me of which the Left Hand is uted as a Ballance to the Body, and by the Motion of which rhe Center of Gravity is kept over the ftanding Leg; as in the Infide Guard, by the fore Foot.'s being advanc'd, the Center of Gravity would be thrown too forward, if the Left Hand's being extended backward did not bring it over the Lett r~cg.

In the Outfidc Gu ird, the Lcfe I-land is held before and cJ",1c to the J30dv below the ~avcf, to bring +hc Center of Gravity pcrpcndicular over the Middle of the Line, at :' I C 3 the

(. '2~ )

t,lie Ends ot which rhe 'Feet are plac'd at tlght Angles with the Line of Defance i 'The fa~ is done in the Hanging, andSt.George's

Guard. '

When you ate perfect in the Attitude and Pofition of the Limbs, and can dexteroufly !~ife the Guards, {tanding on the Line of Defence, the fame Guards muft be practifed in the Advance, Retreat, and the Travcrte, -And to each Step of each Motion muft be pitch'd a Guard, as in the Advance, to every Step you mull: change from an Infide Guard to an Outfide, or from an Outtide to an Infide., 'and as you go Step by Step change Guard for - Guard, nor arc any other Guards made ufe

of in the Advance, than, the Outfide and the Infide; but in the Retreat every Guard is made ufe of in its Turn, but muft be 'chang'd Step by Step as in the Advance, ex .... cept you choofe to retreat under a Hanging

'Guard, which is really the beft; if you lie only on the Defenfivc, and then Inftead of changing at every Step, point your Sword ,direttly at your Adverfary's Breafl,

I'll the Traverfc, alfo the Outfide and In-!ide, with the Hanging Guard, arc made ufe of. The lnfidc can 'only be ufed to the Step 'of the Right Foot, but in coming about with the Left Foot you muft (fop under an Outfide or a Hanging Guard, as you fcc convenient e

In

( 2'3 )

In the back Traverfe, thG very r~ft.rfe of every Mot jon and Guard, is to be obferved, as In Trsverfing ba.ck with the Left Foot the Infide only is to be pitch'd, and in the Step with the Right Foot the Outfide or Hanging is to be ufed , and tbefe Steps attended by thefe Guards are to be pratlis'd and compleated before you can begin to, take the firft Leflon, which is This.

L E 5 SON the Firft.

What is called a Le1fon in the Scienee of the Sword, is the Manner of attacking your Enemy, or defending your felt, under fome one or more of thofe Guards which are al .. ' ready explain'd, .and putting in practife the Rules already, given; as for Example, t~is firft Leffon teaches you to ufe th~ plain Guards, without the Advantages of Slips" Falfifies, Battering, &c.( all which will be explained hereafter) in the Manoer following; With a It:'cady Countenance looking full in your Adverfaty's Eyes; meet him boldly,a'nd throw fharp ly at his Infide, and immediately ftop an Outfide, which you have .no fooner received but throw again to his Infide with the utmofl Vigour and Rapidity, and \vith the fame Swittnets ftopping an Out-fide. This is to be pratth'd at firft but Ilowly, till you arc perfect in each Part of the two Throwss ana then by Degrees in(:rGlf~. the _ ') wiftncfs

of

,

( 2,4 )

-of 'ev~ry Motion~; uu you can play A Bout 1ip~~ the plain Guards perfectly , and then the fame Leflon' is to be practis'd over again in the AdvQoce,' the .Rcrreat, and rhe '~l'ra· verfe. till 'you are perfeCt in Offending your Advcr'fary, and- Defending your felf 'tvi,th the Outfide and lnfide Guards, which ,\vili bring ycuto the,

The Second L E S SON.

Which begins where" the Jan ends, .~nd adds to thetwo former Guards, the Hanging, 'and the St -. George's Guard; and ,havin,g made ufe of the Ourfidc and Infide as in the former Lefton, 'go dircetl\~ from the "Outfide to the Hanging Guard, and lying a. lit tle while under that Cover, wait to fee where your Advcrfary will 'Throw, '\vhich if he does not do Immediately, 'Throw frnait ly at his In{ide.~ fitlp his Ourfide, recover to a Hanging again, and Itopping with a St. George, Thr ow

v: go: nufl'~ at, his Head ,

All trns is j 0 be, practited fi0wly at firft, 'tilJ you arc cxtrearnly perfect in every Cbarge. and t hen play over the whole Lei:" ion with Life und Spit it ; arid then as in the former Leflon, the \vh(,lc is to be play'd over agam ~'lP()I! the Advu.icc, the Retreat, and the Traverfe. fopcr ar ~l)' and rcfpcCtivcty.

'Thefe 14\..fL)l)s, \ .... hen perfect, is what is

ca! 1\1 pl;Ii r) Pl a y ing~ .

Preparatory

( 1.5 )

Preparatory to the third Leflon is to be Jearn'd,

'] 'be S LIP.

Which bas been before explaln'd, and is praceis'd in the following Manner upon each of the Guards.

Firfi on the Infide; When your Adverfary Th rows an Infide, inflead of Stopping it with an Infidc Guard, draw your Right Foot backward towards the Lefr, in the fame Manner as in the Retreat, and at the fame Moment withdraw your whole Body backward and Sideways to the right of the Line, letting your Adverfary 's Point pafs by your Sword a little out of his Reach, and fieping into your former Pofition, 'Throw home at his Outfide, which can't but be open by his over throwing himfelf, which He will do the more by miffing your Body, and not being receiv'd by your Sword, which he expected, to flop the effort of his Strength. This is the Blip upon the Infide. The fame praceis'd upon the Outfide is as follows j Dra w the Right Leg with the Whole Body backwards and fidcways a little out of the Line, towards the Left Hand, contracting your Arm a little, your Sword Ilil! in the Line, and under an Outfide Guard; let your Adverfary"s Point flip pan you, and at the fame Moment reducing your [-tight Foot to its

D former

( ~6 )

former' Pofition, 'Throw Imar tl y at the Outfide of his Head, which will lie Io forward by his over throwing hirnfelf, that He can neither recover nor frap with a Guard. 'The Slip is alia caU'd :Brcaki1zl{ Mea{tr,re.

The next Guard in which the Slip is us'd , and in which it is more p~opel' than any of the rcfi, is the Hanging Guard, iniomuch that every Throw that can be made at it is better Ilip'd than fiop'd , which is done by Ilepping with_ the Right Foot quite out of, and at right Angles with the Line, and the whole Body beyond it towards the Right , fo that your Adver iary's Point !1ipp;ng p_"lit you, leaves his Head, Neck" Shou lders and Brcafl, cxpotcd to the full F'orcc of your. InGde, 'Throw •. The fame Slip without any Variation is practis'd upon St. George's Guard, as in the I-Ianging.. Being perfect in thcic S li ps, you begin

'rhe 'l"1hird L E S SON

'Tb us, l\lcct your Aovcrfary full wi th a "1 'h r 0 \ V u t tl is I H !1 d 0 , and 11 a t fi o P pin J~ h is ()utfi rc, flip it as above directed, and .I'b row 11uartly at his 11:fiJe :lg~in) which if l Ic fiops recover an ()J,tiiJc, a nd under that wai t fOt" h i ~ t 11 r o \ vi n g. Pit ' ~ 11 t 0 ~l n I nil de 1 a 11 cl g i v c an () /' C i; j ill!., ill phi s T h r II \ xt tot 11 c In! ide) t h r 0 \ V \'1 ,,1_'):·ou1l\.' ar t hc ()~lT ti Ii)) nud rcr r ... ur Ui111cr

... J ."

n

"

( 27 )

a Hanging Guard, 'This is to be praetis' d as the former, in the Advance, the Retreat, and the Traverfe,

L E S SON the Fourth.

Advance under a Hanging Guard; T'hrow an Infide , Stop an Outfide s Slip an Infide , Throw at the Head; Recover to a Hanging i Retreat under an Outfidc ; change to an In w fide; Slip and 'Throw the Infide, and Outfidc, alternately, with three Throws and three Slips on each Guard advancing one Step af .. tcr each Slip, This alfo muft be practis'd upon the Retreat, and the Traverrc, which tvhcn ) ou arc perfect in, you muil: begin to }'alfify or make Feil1t].

'1"10 make a Feint, as was obferved before, is offering towards an Attempt to Cut wirhout Throwing home, and may be practis'd with Succefs iron) every Guard, but is mo it ufeful on the Infidc and Outfide s and is thus practis'd , When you He under an Iniide Guard, change with a quick Motion towards an Outride, with all the Appearance of rcto lutcly Throwing Home, bnt flop fhor t the Moment you have pall your Advcrtary's Swor d, and returning back with the utruoti .(;,wiftncfs., t hro w Horne to :111 Intide w hcrc he hi1~ given you an Opening, by his attempting fo Hop an Outlidc, l.vhcrc he (~'xpcl:led yOUl"

D ~ rrhrovl~

( 2'8 )

Thro,\v. The Rcverfe of this is the Feint to th.e Outfide. When you lie under a Hanging Guard there are three Feints in ufe, becaufe from thence you have three 'Throws either to the ()utfide, the Infide, or right down at the Top of the Head; jf you 1;eint to the Infide;rcturn your Sword round the Point of your Adverfary '5, and make a Cut at the Crown of the Head.

01' if you make a Feint at the Crown of the Head from the Hanging Guard, as if Y..Ju were going tu make a Cut in the very middle betwixt the Outfide and the Infide, you mufl ftop fhort at the half 'Throw, and returning quick throw Home either to the out tide or infidc of the Head which you fee

open.

I. E S SON the Fifth.

',Advance to your Adverfary unde .. the Cover of an Outfide, Feint to an Iniide ; Recover to an Outfide; which will oblige your Adverfary to open his Play, for he muf] either nand fiill without Motion, or make f orne offer at fome of the three Openings you have f!;iven him; j f he throws an Infide at you, flip him and throw home an Outfidc: =1 nd recovering the fame, Feint to an Out .. fide, and throw berne an Infide.

It yf ur Adverfary fhould throw home an Ir.Iidc, Hop it, and throwing horne an Ouifide, flip

( 29 )

nip an Infide ; Feint to an Outfide, and wirh a double Feint come half way to the Hanging Guard, and from thence throw (wiftly at the Crown of the Head. PraEli[e this (as all other Leflons) at firfl: very flow, repeating every Part often over, till you can go through the whole with Life and Spirit,

Before you come to the more loofe and general Le!fon~, it will be neceflary to know the Lunge, the Bearing the :Battering, and their Ufe~

The L U N G E.

The Lunge (explained before) is annex'd . to every Throw except the Outfide , in which it: . is feldom us'd to Advantage. In all other Throws it is not only ufeful but neceffary when you play at length, but at half Sword it is never to be attempted, becaufe it throws your whole Head and Body under your Adverfary's Fort.

When you meet y'our Adverfary, infiead of covering yourfelf under any Guard, throw briskly at his faireft Opening, whecher it be Outfide or Iniide, and at the (arne Moment of your Throw ftep forward with your Right Foot, fo that you may reach him home in your Throw, and yet be out of the Reach of his Sword) upon your recovering from the Lunge, which muft be with the utmofl fwiftnefs from the Moment of giving the Cut; this is to be praCl:is'd with every Throw in loofe Playing w hilfl yoq play at length, that is with YOUi"

D 3 Body

C'lO)

Body wholly out of .the Reach of your Adverfary's Sword, yet near enough always to command the W reft of his Sword Arm, and confequently fo as to cut any Part of the fame Arm with the leaft Step forwards ..

After you are perfea in the Lunge, and can nfe it readily to every Throw, begin to meet your Adverfary's Fort with your Fort with a brisk Lunge at the fame Time, bo: h lying under an 0utfide Guard, and with a fiiff Arm pre-fling firongly againft it, flip your Fort to his Foible holding his Sword out of the Line; which is ca ll 'd

B EAR. I N G.

Thjs gives you his Head, Neck, Shoulder and Arm~) quite open, and at the fame Time weakens his Arm, [0 as to prevent his flopping your 'rhro\v; which ever you ufe either Outfide or Infide , and which muft be thrown as quick as poffible from your Bearing. The Reverfe of this ;s B~'arjng upon an Infide,

Bearing upon the Hanging Guard is never farel y to be pr3.~ifed, and always to be avoided, unh:[1j at halt Sword, and even there a Cut mnft be either given or received, before any Ad" l.~t~.:;c can be made of it, and the only AJvant~;ge r i1at can be propos'd is bearing upon ) our 1'\ d vcrf:1ry 'I) Sword a li tt le out of the Line and open~ng hi~ Outfide, though at the flme time yon open your own Head and j nlide much

111 ore "

. ·

1

I

i

\ •

~

,

~.

>

( 31 )

more, and if your Enemy be alert, he may eafily flip from your Bearing, and Cut: you in .. fallibly. '

Bearing is never to 'be u[ed but in fteady Playing, and not in the Advance, the Retreat, or the Traver!e. '

From J3eari72g you proceed to J3tltteri11g~ which is forcibly ftriking upon the Foible of your Adver[ary's Sword, either once, twice, or thrice, [0 as to beat him 01t1' of thc Liinc ; which will confequent Iy lay him open to that Side on which you Batter. ;1 he "latter may be us'd to any Guard, but with different Suecefs, tor the Infide being by much the Itrongeft Guard that is held, the Batter fcarcc ever break

: the Line upon it, except when your Advcrfa ..

,', ry's Arm is extreamly weakened by long Play, , and in the Hangi,llg Guard by its Pofition the : Batter is apt to flip of it. The St. George"'s , Guard is not hurt by the Batter, became J t is

uied only to 11QP a Blow, and never to lie under. The Outfide therefore is the only Guard in which it can be ufed to an,Y Advrint2ge, tho' not al Vv°ays w ith the fame Succefs , however, jf it be thouohr ufefuI. its Practice is (0 fi.rikc

o ·

:Hrongl y upon your Advcrfary's ~i\vor~l once, ~1 nd

ii- you find his Sword beaten ever if) l i.t le ~"ut of (he Line, repeat the Batter one, t\VO U.R ~ or one, t\VO, three, w hich may very ljJ{cf~ ";'_'ve }1 is Sword qui tc out of (he Line , r thc ()Il' {Hie being the weaker] Guard) and g1\,(! yn~ .. i _ '.!1

UppUfl ull J t y

I \

, J

-j

{

.

( 32 )

Opp~rtuni~~ ef thr~wjng at, the, Opening, .. but beware at h~s feelj~g' yo.~r £ira ~atter, that he does not flip yourfecond, and cut you more Iecurely than if he had l1ipt your :T~row .

. When you are p~rfea in everyone of thefe fi ve Leffons, and can read i1 y ufe every Gl1ard~_ Throw, Feint" and Slip, the next and moft rna ... terral Partof Play, and upon which the .Succefs of each depends, is 'l i f/1C';1Zg, a 1; errn not

yet explain'd, and, is as follows, .

TIM E I N G •

. .

• ' • .., i

. Is the e~~a and, critical Throwing in YO.Ul' Sword upon every little Opening; that appe~rs between the changing of you~ Advertary's Guards" Pofture of Body or Pofition of Limbs. For no Change can poffibly be made, either in the' Sword, B?dy o~' Limbs, ~ithout giving a tranfienr Opening, eafy to be hit by a {harp ~ye and quick Hand; befides that Opening that is always left, and muft be fo when the Change is compleared , as for 'Example.

When you fiand full gUtlrded under an Infide, you have a clear Opening left on the Outfide; and 10' under whaifoever Guard you lie, its Oppofite j!," always open: Now befides this, whenever you change, as Irom an Infide to an Outfi.ic, there is a trardient and ~emporary Opening of the Wrifi:, Arm, Brealt, Face and Hcud , in the very middle

. between

( 33 )

your Guards; that is, in the middle of your Change from the Intide to the Outfide, and when your Sword i& properly in neither; now fucccffivoly throwing in upon this Opening whilfl your Adverfary's Sword is changing from the Infide, and yet" not got fully to the Outfide., is cal led ~ i'Jl.1til1g an Infide. Thus throwing into the Opening which is made by chan~ing from an Outfide to an Infide, is called 7i10ciJ;g an Outfide., and Throwing in to that Opening which is made in changing from the Outfidc to the Hanging, \Vhic~ lays opea the Ribs, ~-Jip, Thigb, and under part of tho Arm tho' but for a Moment, is call'd 'limeing the Hanging Guard.

In changing from the Hanging to the St.

George's Guard, atl the Parts of the Body below the Throat and the infide of the Sword Arm arc expos'd, and taking the Advantage of that Opening is calf 'd '1 imeing to a St. George. This is the Practice of Timeing upon the plain Guards, a;td mull be put in ex. ecution in advancing, retreating, and traverfing, every Step of which gives the Openings more evident than when you arc Stationary; befidcs other Openings arifing from the changes of the Center of Gravity, which is ccnrinua llv altering by the Motion of every Step.

TIMEfN·G alfo is of the greaten ufe in the Dcfenfivc Part of the Science, and is the quick and judicious Charge of you~· Sword

E Irom,

..

( 34 )

from On€ Guard to another, in order to cover an open Part which is atrack'd ; and doin~ it fa as to ftop your Adverfary 's Sword full in the Line is ca It'd 1 i1neillg a Geiard , for if you let bis Sword pafs the Line before you StC1P it you can's.avoid be,iog Cut, and ~11Uft give feveral l1C\V and dcfcncclefs Openrngs,

By thefe few Part.iculars the Ufefulnefs of Timeing may partly be pcr ceiv'd, but its Ne .. ccffity and Excellence can never be thoroug hly known till you come to play loofc; and then fo many Openings will plainly be Iccn upon every Change and .Mot ion , that you wi l l Ioofc with regret Iuch fair Opportunities 'of Cuttin~ before yo~ become a compleat Maftcr of'liJJzcit1p;, which is not only nccetlar y in 'Throws and Guards, but even in Stepping, Advanc ing , Rctrcat ing, T'ra vcr flng, and IJ un~ing; fOf4 if each Step of there be not cxnct ly cT i?l.?cd with the Change of your Swor d either frt' m one Guard to another, or from a 1) ~ ic n Ii v c (~ u a r d t () an () f1 en five T h row, 0 r back Ir o m 'a_ 'fhl'{)\V to a Guard :1g{1in, ) ou w ii l by (;VCI'Y Step giv~ frcfh Opcni np,s .. and nl~ly be cur t wicc bct..rc and after yuur own (_ .. h ;.l[ I g C ; n n d the A. J vall tag cs and 1) 1 fa d va 11- t~lr, <: ~ (It rrl rncip~ "viii bq ill'~ wn at hll ~ c w h e n )'()U cntnc 1',) t h c l\lOie J .. cUC)IlS, but before t i.c y H!<e bl.'l,'un it w.i: be nccl'f1Gl'Y t.{1 tt':Jcht 't he t \" 0 ~\ 1 ( ~ l: ~. d \ 1.1 <",' II ttl n g t b c I. L' E> t1 rId t t H.! I) i i: l i \ n II g 1I pun all () II t 11 d c. i\

( 15 )

A Throw at the Leg is us'd only in ftngle Combat, and is, if you go home" a dif .. il.ling T'hrow, It's Practice is, in rhc firfi: Method, to receive an Infidc, and Inftcad of throwing an Outfide, ftep a little forwarder, 1inking your Body at the fame time you transfer your Weight from the Left to the Righi. IJcg, bring the Point underneath your Adverfary's Sword, and throwing fwiftly at the Calf of his Leg., Ipring back as from a Lunge, under' the Cover of a _ St.· George's Guard. 'I;his 'Throw, tho' cxtrcamly fafe in it(clf, is never to be us'd to a Mafrer of 7.i17Jcillg., for if he iJ.ips his Ri~ht Leg backwards and Iidcways (lro{s his Loft r.tcg~ and '1 i me VOU either 'to an Infide or an Ou tlido, which he choofcs, wi II cut you either in the Iicad or Arm. Ttic Iecond way of going down to the r .. cg is by much the fafett of the t\VO, and is done by lInking the Body very low at half Sword un ... dcr a St. George's Guard, make a Feint to the Leg, recover to a St. George, give all Opening at the Head" and at tb.c fame time Feint to the Leg again, but !toping fully with a St~ George go fwift ly down to the out Iid c of the Leg, and f prin~ off us before.

'I'ho Vi(t:tr1/J upon the Outfidc (though there arc others] is by much the hldt., edele, and n10U in ufc ; and is the on J y one pr~l ct i .. cable in the ufc of the Scy nli tee"; and is) fOll tho t rca Ion, com mon 1 Y ca ll'd the Tu: kilL 1 )iflrr.n~; rind is thus l)l'rf:)rt]l'..L

( 36 )

Receive an Infido full, at the fame Time fieppjog forward with the Right Foot to the half Lunge, change to the Outfidc s and in the Change, bear your Adverfarv's Sword out of the Line; and in the fame Inftant fiep nimbly about with your I,cft Foot up to your Adverfary's Hce l, and feizing the Shell of his Hilt w it h your I .. cft Hand, quit your Bearing, and with yout' Point fixt to his Brcaft force the Sword from his Hand; which he muft quit or flab himfclf upon your. Point ..

'Thcfe are the lingle Leffons and the very Grounds of the Science of the Broad Sword, and a loofc Leflon is no more than t.hefe Gr ou nds variouflv repeated, and thole Prine,p)cs diflerently cornhin 'd ; fo as to make an cHfy 'I'ranfirion from anyone Part of a regular Leaon 10 that of another as your J udgcment fhall heft direct you, to offend your E .. ncmy, or as necefficy 1?1t1 y oblige you, to de- 1 c, n d y () U r f elf. And t h us it is c. it her in fi n g le Combat or in publick Blttlc, that each of t hcfe Principles In'IY be indiftcrent l y us'd as your Advertary p,c{lc~ upon you or you upon h irn

'I'hc Gladia t or upon the Stage is very exntt ill t hctc Lcfl.ms, and gpncra~~y plays an I::-\acl round of them with little or no Varia ... t 11 ) n ; nut t: h c 1-:1 i g h In n d 9 r sin the yo ,I c I d rn a k c 111~' of hut few of thctc Principles ~ but h~v~ ! P 1?; ~1:l ~ ) t 11 crt! ! (~ r u m C II t 0 f d c len c c ~ 11 r n s h i s

, "I ~\'1orq

~.. ~

( 37 )

Sword chiefly to the Oflenfive Part, the outIidc and infidc 'Throws are the Principle Offcnfive Uf es of ~is Weapon;' whiJft he receives every Cut from his Adverfa-y upon his ]~argct which is a Shield fixt upon his. Left Arm.

In the Field of Battle and in promifcuous Combat his firfi Principle is to attack and not to be atrackr, and his Attack begins at all" Times with a fuB 'Throw at theoutfide of the Sword Arm; which if he mifles, inftead of changing to an Infid e, he makes a pufh at the Navel with the Point of his Sword, but not going home, is ready to flip his Advcrfary) who will infallibly throw at that 'vide ()pcning he has given to his Head and upper Part of his Body; and if he fucceeds in the Slip, with a full I ... unge he throws an Out .. fule to his Advcr1ary's Neck, which for the moll Part fevers the Head from the Body:

But if his Advcrfary makes no Attempt tq throw at the Opening, he returns to his PUOl in reality and fiabs him a little above the Navel; which wi l] obHgc his Ad verfary to Jower his Sword and give him t hat Opening at his Head and Neck which he in vain ut~ tempted before, and which he "vi 11 now be furo to hit and for the mofl pa,rt Iplit tho

Scull. "

The Highlander has nothing regular ill field At~ac~s and genera(ly cho P L{i~ht

, . " ~ 1 d,O(,lrt

( 38 )

down to an Outfide , Or' with a f~inging and low Infide they endeavour to let out the Bowels, 'vhilft every Part of his own Body is' cover'd under a Target- In lingle Combat he aims at nothing more than difabHng his Antagonifl: which he cornrnonly docs by chop' .. ping him creis the Wrcfi: within Side the Sword Arm, which he docs in the Io llowiuz Manner; HE runs up boldly to half Sword, receives an Outfi.Ie , and changing w ith his Adverfary, drops his Blade below the H"i It upon the infide.; draws the Edge of his S\VOl d crofs his Adverfary's \Vrcfi and Ipr in ging backward faws it at the fame 'Time.

This is all that's neceflarv till you com c to play the loofe Lcflons, which is the next thing to be taught.

To pia" 100ft is to make ufc of all 'or any of the Guards, Throws, Travertcs, Advan ... ces Retreats or other Ofienfive and Dcfcnfive Poflures or Pofitions above Taught and defcribed i "r any or all the aforctaid Leflons as your J u dgmcnt fha ll bcfl direct you, both to offend your Advcrfury and defend your ....

[cit .

It is in {hart a Critical Application of the former Rules to the Lrifadvuntagc of your E;nerny .. A ~pccimcn of \vhicll take as tll!lO\VS.

L 0 0 S E P r. A YIN G~ Specimen the Firfl,

J' ... dvance brisk ly up to your Ad vcr Iary un{~~.' r

( 31 )

del' the Cover of an Outfide, and Throwing an Inlidc but not home , receive an Out/ide, juft fufficient to open your Adverfary's Play i if he throws an Infide at the Opening you have. given him, flip it, and Throwing home an Outfide, reco .. er the fame: Feint to an Outfide, and having thrown an lnfide horne, receive an Infide w ith a full Stop> and throwing home an Outfide j' Bear lb;ongly an Infide, flop an Outfide, and going half Way d9.~O to the Leg ftop an Outfido again, and from thence going a~ quick as Lightning down to the Leg, fpring off.

Specimen t4e Second.

Advance towards your Adverfary changing ar every Step {o as to come to an Intide when you Encounter, from which Feinting .to an Out fide, 'Throw fmartly an Infide , which, if li~htJy T'irn'd, will be a furc and dif..'tbHng Cut on the Wrofl , from which batter an OutflJc, and 'Throwing home an Infidc flop 2Q ()utllJc; then doubling an Infide, recover the flmc, and from thence cbanging to an Out .. fide, Itcp forward and flop an Infide, and from the Stop go Iwift ly to the IACg, and Spring off.

Specimen the 'Third,

Meet your Advcrfary covcr'd under an Oui Ii lc ; Chunac to an Infidc i and when yOU1~

.. ,

}\dvertlty t b ro w-, nip him and 'I'hrow ho mc :In

t 40 )

an Outfide, Bear an Outfide and Time so Infide, Pitch toa Hanging and Itop with a

, St. George, from' which 'Throw f\viftly all Tnfide.and recovering the fame bear an Infide, ,ftop an Out fide and 'Throwing home all Outfide at the Head Itop an Infide, and 'I hrowing an' Infide at the Thigh, fpring off.

: .Specimen the Fourth.

, A~vance under an Outfide, and juft before the Encounter lay youTfelf open ,to an lnfide wide, 'ana Stamping Ilrongfy with the Foot Ha Ha As. Ioon as your Adver1q· ry moves Time an Infide, and Throw your Outfidc wide open., again flamping Ha--Ha ---'_ Stop with an Outfide., and throwing an Infide at the 'Thigh recover an Infide , 'then flip and Throwing an Outfide, fiep with your Right Leg crofs tile Left and flop an Infide, and bringing about the Left Leg as in the 'Fraverfe, Throw an Outfide , recover ~hc fame, Feint to an Infidc, and Throwing an Outfidc at the Ribs, Ipring off.

'Thefe are the general Rules, and there the 'Arts which rhave been improv'd for many Years by confiderablc and fucceffive Additions, till the Grounds of the Sword are become Mathematically dcmonilrable , and arite from the following Principles) which have above been rcduc'd to Practice,

Pr inciple

( 4i ) Principle the Firft.

A Bod y is raid to be in Equilibtio when the Center of Gravity is -in its Center of Magnitude; or when both are Perpendicular over its Bafe, that Bodl is in its firm eft Situation, for then any Part of it can be mov'd round that Center without falling: And in this Pofition it is that the Swordfman ufes all his Limbs with the greateft Freedom and Aaivity, and yet with the greateft Strength and Firmnefs, whilft be Erefervcs this Equilibrium, and whilft his Right Hand is varyjng the Center of Gravityevery Moment by continually Throwing from Side to Side and guarding every Part fue ... ceffively; the Left is its Counter Ballance, and by moving Diametricall y Oppofite, preferve the Center of Gravjty in the Center of Magni tude" and both ftill perpendicular over the ftandin~ Foot.

Principle the Second.

Two Lines Parallel to the Line of Defence and Tangents to the Surface of the Combatants Body's are the Bounds of every Thro~ and ev!! .. ry Guard, nor can the Sword be mov d anydJf.

"'"'ranee beyond thofe two Lines but it muft Ieave the Body unguarded; and a Guard heldbeycnd either or thofe Lines expofes the Body In general without defending any Ipartkular Pa!t •.

F Principle

. ,

C 4~ )

Principle-the , Third.

T~~. utmoft Forceand Strcng~1;l of. a ~an is. exerted. in firaight Lines and at . rJg~t Angles, thus every Threw ismade perpendicu" lar to the Part airn'd at, wh ich the Swordfrnen

have called Car"ri;'~g a ·t1''1/'& Ed/{c.

PI inciple. the Fourth.

Aaion and Reaction arc, the fame', and always equal [0 each Other; and upon this Principle every Guard was contriv'd, and every Stop

executed, :as f .. r Fxample:.. ,

. The Infide Guard ftops an Infide 'Throw in the (arne Direction in which the 'Throw i ~ made, and with a Refifiance exatlly equal to the Force; for if it was lefs the Sword would be beat back: upon the Defendant, and if it was great(!r the AiTailant~s, Sword muH recoil; ei , th er of. w hich wo ul d .be . equall y. diiad vantagt_ ous to the Defendant, who. from the very i nflant of flopping his !-lntagonift's Sword is [uppoled to change, recover or throw Horne ..

When the Rules, LeHons and Jnfiruclions :11 .. ready tanghr, are perfeCtly learned; there are m:lny ether artful Throws which Iate ly Cut the Advrrfar y, Tet not commonly known Or taught by every Maltcr , but have been the peculiar I nvent ions of two tht.~ moll: eminent Men in the Science'; and kept inviolab ly Iecrct by the very few to who 01 they ha vc been irnpn rt c.. ; and art: commonly ca' 'cdFinciics, bcca ulc [hey arc of

Hll

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·~11 the m~f1: ar~fuI,: and certain Ways of woundlng and dlfablIng, [orne of which are 2S follow.

. " The Arnbufcade. '

, This has its Name from bringing your Ad,,~er" fary under the certain Cut of your Edge, and difabling him at a Time when he not only thinks himfelf not in Danger, but imagines he has a fair Opportunity of cutting you down. The Me thod is this.

In the midft of Ioofe play, when you have try'd your Adverfary's Skill, and feen where his principal Art lies; carefully avoiding to open your own Play., and lying cautioufly upon the Defenlive , of a fudden, Advance briskly up to half Sword under Cover of an Otitfide Guard; and with your Fort upon his Foible looking fieadily at his Eyes, bear him ftrongly and widely out of the Line, this brings him into the certain Dilemma of being Cut ei the r in the Throat or the Infide of the Wre11: which he pleales , for by bearing off him (0 wide t rom the Line you give him fo far and wide an opening on the Infide, which expo[es'your '\v hole Perfon fo evidently to his Throw that he wil l certainly attempt it, \Vhen therefore you find him' beginning to difengage, by moving only your Wrcfi djfeng~ge with him, and \vithout 1,toppjng his In(id~ or even attempting it, meet the Infide of his Wrefi with the Edge of your Sword, as fmarrly as the (pring of your Wr~ft

11' 'J~ wil I

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"'i_ll live-"YQ~-' leave,.· and ~faw.ing· at the fame Tlm.e. .Blit If- he negleEls·to dtfengage and at:", t.empt 'an in fide "(~ow, you' muft turn your Wre& upwards and inwards at the- fame Time that he is born out of the Line, and you at half Sword, and his Throat will be ,quite expos'd and op~n within the reach of your Sword, therefore with the fame Spring of your Wreft as before, lodge .your Edge in his Throat, .and

Retreating law it.· "

T4e fecond is a leading Ambufcade, and i~ a Catch contriv'd to cut the Head:' When. your Adverfary begins to Bear yeo, refifl not his force but ,yield to it a li.ttle as if )"our Arm grew weary, and whilft he follows your bearing, yield to him agctin, till by degrees you draw him out of the Line, which expofes his Head, then Feint to the Leg and-Throw 'at the Head.

The next is called Gormon's Throw, and is ~hat Cut by which·he diiabled .moft Men he

fought at the very fir{t Encounter; .

. He plac'd himfelf in an Attitude v~ry different from any hitherto mention 'd, and very different. fro~ any 'p.r~Ciis'd. before his Time,'

. T~~ Center of Gravity refting over his left Foot. with his left Knee a little bent, h~s' right Foot advanc'd about Six. or Eight l~~ cbes, and hi~ Body leaning to the r~gbt Side. he J;~is'~ the Jeft Arm with his Hand as high asthe Top ot l.'J~s Head ; ap9 e"teQ~e~ Qlmoq

j' . fir~ig~t

( ., )

tlrejg~t, and dr-op'd the~: Right ·-H4~d with the HIJt as low· as he could reach towards th& Knee, and his Sword # po_nting' towards the Ground and outwards, he waltecJ· to receive his A~verf~ry; who feeing him to expos'd, advanc'd, and with a full Thro\v, expeCting to cut him, but found bimfelf receivd upon the Point and Edge of the Sword' b.'I Gormon's timeing his Throw, and with a Spting of his Right Arm railing his Sword and cutting him under the Hilt from the Elbo\v to the Wrelt.

The H I G H LAN D E R S Method of ufing the Sword.

We come now to the Metbod us'd by the modern Highlanders, in Fighting with the Sword wbic;h is founded upon the Rules' and Leflons already giveni froJ1l whjch it djffers only by I11skinlt ufe of a Ta'F.et upon the Left Arm, as was before obferv d i by the Additionofwhich, the Guards made by the Sword are often omitted, except the Outfide..and ~ho Blow is reeeired upon the Targer, and feveral Throws that arc dangerous in the fin_Ie Sword are here us'd with Safety j as every Throw on the Infide, below the Middle of tbe Body i all which at the fJn~Je Sword . wi)1 Jay cntirc~y Open to be cut whiJft here yo~ lie cover'd under a Target, the ~l~ Q.f :Wh~f~ i~ [n th9 .(o!~owing M~nner~

( .46 )

. ~r:Dl'd with a SWQrd and a Target being upon. the I~eft Arm) advance to your .Encmy with a fquare Body, and always. under an Outfide Guard, with your 'Target advanc'd a little before your Swo.rd~ and in a Direction levell with your Adverfary's Breafl, ready to receive any'] 'hrow that he fha ll think fit to give; but wait not for it, jt being fafer to attack than be attacked, let your firlt Throw be an Infide betwixt your Adverfary's ,Target and Sword; which if he receives up .. on the Target, recover an Outfide, and pitch

, immediately to a: Hanging, but dwell not a .Moment upon it., but from that (which here is defign'd only to give a SWing to your Arm) t hrow home an Infide at his I..eft Ri bs underneath his Left Elbow; which 'will be 0- pen'd by your pitching to a Hanging, and by his raifing a Target to cover his Head which will other wife be expos'd to be cut.

With the Target the cuts at the Leg are differently made than without it, for under Cover of that it is fafe to go down to either Outfide or lnfide, without receiving a Throw firft.

When two or three Throws have been made wit ho ut Succefs, with your Body frill fquare (that is your Legs cro1ling the I.line of Defence at right Angles) and full facing your Advcrfary, drop both your Target and

Sword

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Sword as low as your" Wafte, your Sword £till within your Target, and in that Pofture Iay your felf open and wait for your Adverfary's Throw_";which ,' .. when he makes, receive it not ~pon rhe Target, , but upon the Fort of your Sword; and at the fame Mo .... ment by,' pufhing your Target agalnfl his Hilt, drive his Sword fideways and downwards out of the Line, by which his Head wi ll be, expos'd defeneelefs s at which you may fafely "rhrow, becau1e his Sword will be held down by your Target, and his Left Arm and .. Target will' be held down by his own Blade.

Another infallible Method both of Defence and Offence is, ,adva'~cing briskly' to your Ad vcrtary under an Inftde Guard, receive his Outlide upon your Fort, and at the fame Moment infh:ad of throwing an Infide, Itep briskly about with your Left Foct as in the Trn vorfe (half a Circle at leaft) which will br ing you under his l~ort; and with your 'Tai J~~ct., which will be then under his Hilt, throw up his Sword and Arm, that you may. ha vc a free Paffage tor your own Sword, wh ich you have Iower/d and fhortncd in your coming about , and with a fudden Pufh {lqntil1g upwards, thruft in the Point between t h ~ IZ i bs 0 nth c It i g h t Si de, w hie h co mmorily !1I1ifhcs the J\.ftlir-

,'fhcfc

, -

(~)

.. There: . are ~th". ,Principle. defiruttive' Methods of Wounding in Modern Ute; and when executed with a quick and a ftrong Arm, and direGted with a fhar.p and ftcady Eye, 1eldom fail of Sueeds, except where an alert Adverfary Is more fteady at Defence than your Hand at Throwing' In the laft two Cafes. indeed, no Defence is praCticable, jf you futfer your felf to be Jock'd in the firft~or to be clos'd upon in the laO:; but how eary is the Defence in either, when in the firft, only by fiepping into the back Traverfe, .yon at oace free your Sword, and by returnIng to your Poflure may wound your Adverfary, and be cover'd under your Target; and in the Iaft Cafe, .by retreating as he comes about with his Left. you put your felf out of the Reach of his Target, and much more out of that of his Sword, whiUl he lies wholly expos'd on his Left Side to your Iniide Throw, how artfully Ioever, or how ttrongly Ioever it be made; but the fame W ea pon Which makes the Attack, is capable of preventing the Wound.

FIN I ,·f.