Sword, and you would have it without (keeping your Nails in Quart) slope
your Point so low that you may bring it up under the out-side of his.
This must be done with the Wrist, and not any Motion of the Arm, because
when you Disengage, if the Arm move, your body would be too much
discovered; so that your Adversary would have an advantage to give in
his Thrust, which he could not do if only your Wrist moved, and this
must be done with a sudden Motion; and by this you may learn to slip
your Adversaries Sword at pleasure.
Lesson 5. _Feinting or Falsifying_
Of these, there are several kinds, and the first retreat on is _the
Ordinary single Feint_; When you are on your Guard, and within your
Adversaries Sword, disengage and make your Feint without, which you must
do with a beat of your Right-foot against the Ground, just as you
disengage, and your Sword on the out-side of your Adversaries, and
immediately after, if you perceive him answer your Feint, and offer to
Parie, disengage again, and give him the Thrust within the Sword.
Lesson 6. _The Double Feint._
There is a difference between this and the single Feint; for in the
single one you must make two Motions, _viz._ With the first you make
your Feint, and with the next you give in your Thrust, unless you make
your Feint on that side your Sword lyeth, which may be done without
disengaging, and is the simplest of all others in all single Feints, it
must be given in upon the side your Sword was before you made your
Feint; But in the double Feint you are to make three Motions, and the
Thrust (unless when you make your first Motion on that side your Sword
was presented) is given in on the other side, and not on the side the
Sword was just before you began to make your Feint; and to play this,
there are two ways, _viz._ When you are within Measure, you must play it
one way, and without Measure another way.
As to the first, your Sword being presented within your Adversaries
Sword, then disengage and make your first Motion without his Sword, to
stand a Thought on it to try whether he will answer you, by offering to
proceed to the Parade; if he do not answer, it is useless, but if he do,
then presently make your second Motion within his Sword, and your third
Motion without it, by giving the Thrust; both these Motions must be done
with admirable quickness; at every Motion give a beat with your Foot,
and disengage; turning your Nails in Quart.
If you are without distance, make a Motion to see if he will answer your
Feint, and if he do begin again, make your first Motion, as within
distance, approaching at the same time, and so your second and third.
There is a contrary to these, that is to be observed when your Adversary
makes use of them against you, Then you must make use either of the
Counter-caveating Parade, or keep your Sword Point immoveable towards
his Face that opposes you, your Arm as much stretched out as possible;
and when you do so you must recover your Body, by drawing your Right
foot close to your Left, stand as it were on Tip-toe, and if for all
this your Adversary give a home Thrust, then you must Counter-temps him
in the Face, and Parie his Thrust with your Left-hand; or if you
perceive him make variety of Feints, then upon every one of them make a
half Thrust, which will oblige him to betake himself to the Parade, and
so when you please you may take the pursuit, or when he makes variety of
Feints, give a plain home Thrust, as smart as may be, and endeavour to
defend your self from Counter-temps with your Left-hand, and to prevent
them, it is always in this Case best when you give a Thrust, to use your
Left-hand.
Lesson 7. _The Single Feint at the Head._
Being within distance you may present your Sword within or without your
Opponents Sword, making a Feint or Motion at his Face, if your Sword be
presented without, by a little stretching out your Right-Arm, your Nails
in Quart, and when you make the Motion, give a little beat with your
Right-foot, and if the Feint be answered, then immediately give in your
Thrust at his Arm-pit your Head under your Sword-arm, your Left-hand
held before you, with the Palm of it looking towards your Right-side,
and that part of your Arm, from the Points of your Fingers to your
Elbow, must stand in a manner strait upwards, which posture you must
ever observe when you give in this Thrust, because in doing it, it
defends you from the Thrust of your Adversary, if it be above, and
without your Sword; and you may at the same time make a Motion at his
Face.
Lesson 8. _Of the double Feint at the Head._
Being within distance, make your first Motion or Feint, as before, at
the Face, your second Motion low without your Adversaries Sword, towards
his belly; and with the third, give a Thrust without, and above his
Sword, your Nails in Quart, marking every motion with your Head, Hands
and Feet; and when you make your second Motion, hold your Hand as in the
single Feint, and when you give in your Thrust above Sword, you must
Quart your Head well, because you must give it in with your Nails in
Quart; and by this means your Body will be kept secure within your
Sword, when in Terce it would ly open, especially to Counter-temps.
There is a Parying the contrary, either with the Counter-caveating
Parade, or by answering every Motion, by what means you will fall to
Parie your Adversaries with the first Parade in Terce.
Lesson 9. _Containing the manner of the Feint at the Head on the True
Parade._
The contrary to the second Parade is this, and to do it you must make
your Motion at your Adversaries Face, and if you imagine he intends to
Parie you with the second Counter-caveating Parade, make round his
Sword, as it were going a circle about it, and so give a Thrust at his
Arm-pit, and with your Left-hand avoid Counter-temps, and being within
distance, approach with your first Motion, and in so doing you Caveat
his Sword and shun his Parade, or if your Adversary follows your Sword,
you may make two or three circles till you find a fit time to let in
your Thrust.
Lesson 10. _Of the Low Feint._
When you intend to proceed in this, you must have your Sword without
your Adversaries and when it is so, make directly the Second Motion of
the double Feint at the Head, and give in the Thrust above, and when you
are without distance, make your approach with the Feint, or first
Motion; and make in your Thrust with the second. And this may be Paryed,
by answering every Motion, or using the Counter-caveating Parade.
The contrary to it, is, when your Adversary is making his low Feint, to
take time, and give in the Thrust above his Sword, your Nails in Quart.
Lesson 11. _Of Battery._
This is a kind of a Beat from whence it derives its name, and therefore
when you play it you must present your Sword either without or within
your Adversaries, if within, and he within your Measure, then keep your
Sword half a Foot from his, and when you intend to play, Strike a small
stroak on the Edg, and Feeble of your Sword on the Edg, and Feeble of
his, and at the same Moment give a Beat with your Foot, which will
surprize your Adversary, if not well skilled; if it does not, nor that
he answers you by offering to Parie, give a strait home Thrust at his
Right-Pap, as you give in a plain Thrust within the Sword, moving the
Sword only with your Wrist, and thereby keeping your Body close. If your
Adversary offers to answer your stroak, and go to the Parade, then your
best way is to slip him, and give in a Thrust without, and above the
Sword, or when you perceive him going to Parade, then suddenly slip and
make a double Feint on the other side, and Thrust on that side you gave
the Beat.
In the contrary of this Parie, with the Counter-caveating Parade, or
meet his stroak, and make a half Thrust, which will force him to the
Parade; and so you may pursue.
Lesson 12. _Of Volt Coupe._
In this observe to present your Sword within your Adversaries, he being
within your Measure; then make a Feint at the Face your Nails in Quart,
and upon this give a Beat with your Foot, and carry your Hand well
Quarted, and if by offering to Parie, he answers this, and that high,
then Thrust at the Belly, your Nails in Terce, and keep your Left-hand
as a Guard from Counter-temps; if by Parying low, you are disappointed
of this advantage, then after you have made your Feint, instead of a
Thrust in the Belly, slip his Parade, and give the Thrust without, and
above the Sword; and when you are within distance approach with the
first Motion: If your Sword be presented without your Adversaries, you
must first then disengage.
The contrary to this is either to Parie his Sword with the second Parade
in Quart, or to take time and give your Thrust the way he was to give it
in upon you, at the instant he makes his Motion at your Face, or you may
pass without his Thrust.
Lesson 13. _Of Binding your Adversaries Sword._
This is the securest Play, and chiefest Mistery in the Art of Fencing,
wherefore to do it after you have presented your Sword, either within or
without your Adversaries, on a sudden over-lap six or seven Inches of
his with eight or ten of yours; and this is sufficient to secure it;
but this must be always done with the Edg of the Sword, whether you
present it within or without, and immediately after you have bound it,
give a Thrust strait home. In this case, always observing to keep a
close Left-foot, also to give a Beat with your Foot, and to bind with a
Spring, _viz._ Press your Sword almost to the Ground, but stay not with
it, but immediately bring it up again and then give the Thrust; and this
prevents Counter-temps, and the best Parade against it is, the Counter
caveating Parade, and if your Adversary flips your Sword, you must
endeavour to bind him within or without the Sword again. You may also
put upon him the double or single Feint, or having bound your Sword
without, you may give in your Thrust, as in playing the single Feint at
the Head.
Lesson 14. _Of the Flancanade._
To do this, when you have presented within your Adversaries Sword,
over-lap it with 12 Inches of yours, within eight of his, and give in
the Thrust on his Right-flank, on the other side of the Sword, and
beneath it your Nails side-ways, throwing forward your Left-hand and
turning the Palm from you to keep off Counter-temps in the Belly, and in
Thrusting let your Hilt be lower than the Point, which secures his
Sword; and note when you lap over to do it with the flat, and not with
the Edg as when you bind.
And thus much may serve for an introduction to the learner in the
Science of Defence, and therefore for other Lessons, not here set down,
I refer him to a Master.
_Of HAWKING._
_Of Hawks there are two sorts._
The Long-Winged Hawks.
_Faulcon_ and _Tiercle-gentle_,
_Gerfaulcon_ and _Jerkin_.
_Saker_ and _Sakaret_.
_Lanner_ and _Lanneret_.
_Barbary Falcon._
_Merlin_ and _Jack_.
_Hobby_ and _Jack_.
The Short Winged Hawks.
_Eagle_ and _Iron_.
_Goshawk_ and _Tiercle_.
_Sparrow-Hawk_ and _Musket_.
There are others too of inferiour sort, as,
_Ring-Tail._
_Raven_ and _Buzzard_.
_Forked Kite._
_Hen-driver_, &c.
And as the Age of these _Hawks_ is, so we name them, as
The first Year a _Soarage_.
The second Year an _Intermewer_.
The third Year a _White Hawk_.
The fourth Year a _Hawk of the first Coat_.
Thus much for their Names, now we come to speak of the Flights of these
_Hawks_; which are these,
The _Faulcon-Gentle_, for _Partridge_ or _Mallard_.
_Gerfaulcon_, will fly at the _Herne_.
_Saker_, at the _Crane_ or _Bittern_.
_Lanner_, at the _Partridge_, _Pheasant_ or _Choofe_
_Barbary Faulcon_, at the _Partridge_ only.
_Merlin_ and _Hobby_, at the _Lark_, or any small Bird.
_Goshawk_ and _Tiercle_, at the _Partridge_, or _Hare_.
_Sparrow-Hawk_, at the _Partridge_ or _Black-Bird_.
And the
_Musket_, at the _Bush_.
Your _Hawk_ watch, and keep from Sleep, continually carrying him upon
your Fist, familiarly stroak him with a Wing of some Dead Fowl, or the
like, and play with him; Accustom to gaze, and look in his Face with a
Loving, Smiling, Gentle Countenance; and that will make him acquainted,
and familiar with Men.
Having made him familiar, the next thing is to _Bring him to the Lure_,
(which the _Faulconer_ makes of Feathers and Leather, much like a Fowl,
which he casts into the Air, and calls the _Hawk_ to) which is after
this manner. Set your _Hawk_ on the Perch, unhood him and shew him some
Meat within your Fist, call him by _Chirping_, _Whistling_, or the like,
till he comes, then Feed him with it; if he comes not, let him Fast, and
be sharp set: Short-winged _Hawks_ are properly said to be called, not
_Lured_. Make him bold, and acquainted with Men, Dogs, and Horses, and
let him be eager and sharp-set, before you shew him the _Lure_, knowing
his _Luring_ Hours; and let both sides of the _Lure_, be garnished with
warm and bloody Meat; let him likewise know your Voice well; so that
being well acquainted with Voice, and _Lure_, the Hearing of the one, or
sight of the other, makes him Obedient; which you must reward by
Feeding, or punish by Fasting. But before _Luring_ (or any Flight) it
is requisite to Bathe your _Hawk_ in some quiet and still shallow Brook,
or for want of that in a Large Bason, shallow Tub, or the like, lest
being at liberty, you lose your _Hawk_, (whose Nature requires such
Bathing) and make him range. Now to make him know his _Lure_, is thus:
Give your _Hawk_ to another, and having loosned in readiness his
Hood-strings, and fastened a _Pullet_ to the _Lure_, go a little
distance, cast it half the length of the string about your Head, still
_Luring_ with your Voice, unhood your _Hawk_, and throw it a little way
from him; if he stoop and seize, let his plum the _Pullet_, and feed on
it upon the _Lure_: Then take him and Meat on your Fist, Hood him and
give him the Tiring of the Wing, or Foot of the said _Pullet_.
Having Manned and _Lured_ your _Hawk_ before you bring him to his
Flight, one thing is to be observed and done, called in the _Faulconers
Dialect_, _Enseaming_, which is to cleanse him from Fat, Grease, and
Glut, know by his round Thighs, and full Meutings; and thus you may do
it: In the Morning when you feed him, give him a bit or two of Hot-meat,
and at Night very little or nothing. Then feed him Morning and Evening
with a _Rook_, wash't twice till the Pinions be tender; then give a
Casting of Feathers as his Nature will bear; and once in two or three
dayes give him a Hens-neck well joynted and washt: Then a quick Train
_Pigeon_ every Morning; and after by these and his own Exercise, he has
broken and dissolved the Grease, give him three or four _Pellets_ of the
Root of _Sallandine_, as big as a Garden Pease, steept in the Sirup of
_Roses_; and you have done this part of your Duty.
To Enter your _Hawks_, for _Partridge_ or Fowl, Lay an old Field
_Partridge_ in a Hole, covered with something, and fasten to it a small
_Creance_ (_i.e._ a Fine small long Line of strong and even-wound
Packthread fastned to the _Hawks_ Leash when first Lured,) and
uncoupling your ranging Spaniels, pluck off the Covering of the Train
_Partridge_ and let it go, and the _Hawk_ after it; and as soon as he
has slain it, reward him well with it. And thus to make him fly at Fowl,
feed him well with the Train of the Fowl you would have; doing
afterwards as above.
The Fault of _Hawks_ differ according to their Nature and Make.
Long-Winged _Hawks_ faults are thus helped. If he used to take stand,
flying at the River, or in Champaign Fields, shun flying near Trees or
Covert, or otherwise, let several Persons have Trains, and as he offers
to stand, let him that's next cast out his Train, and he killing it
reward him. And indeed you ought never to be without some live Bird or
Fowl in your Bag, as _Pigeon_, _Duck_, _Mallard_, &c. If he be Froward
and Coy; when he Kills, reward him not as usually, but slide some other
Meat under him and let him take his pleasure on it; giving him some
Feathers to make him scour and cast. If he be _Wild_, _look not inward_;
but mind Check, (_i.e._ other Game, as Crows, &c. that fly cross him)
then lure him back, and stooping to it, reward him presently.
The faults of Short-winged _Hawks_ thus are helped. Sometimes the
_Goshawk_ and _Sparrow-Hawks_, will neither kill, nor fly the Game to
Mark, but will turn Tail to it: Then encourage your Dogs to Hunt, cast a
Train _Partridge_ before your _Hawk_, make him seize it, and feed well
upon it.
If a Hawk take a Tree, and will not fly at all, feed him then upon quick
Birds, and make him foot them, and in the plain Champaign Fields unhood
him, and rising up and down awhile let one cast out a Field _Partridge_
before him, let him fly at it, and footing it, feed on it. If they be
too fond of a Man, that after a stroke or two will not fly, be seldom
familiar with him, and reward him not as he comes so improperly:
Otherwise reward him well.
As for _Mewing_ of _Hawks_, the best time for Long-winged _Hawks_ is
about the middle of _April_, and _March_ for the Short-winged _Hawks_.
There are two kinds of _Mewings_. 1. _At the stock or stone_; so called
from its being low upon the Ground, free from Noise, Vermin or ill Air.
2. _At large_; so called from being in a high Room, with open Windows
towards the _North_ or _North-East_. The former is accounted the best
_Mewing_. The Faulconer, before he _Mews_ his _Hawks_, see if they have
_Lice_, to Pepper and Scower them too. The best time to draw the Field
_Hawk_ from the _Mew_, is in _June_, and he will be ready to fly in
_August_; the _Hawks_ for the River in _August_, will be ready in
_September_.
_Cures for Hawks Diseases._
The Faulconer ought diligently to observe the Complexions of his _Hawks
Castings_ and _Mewtings_, to judge of their Maladies, an assured sign of
knowing whether they are sick or distempered in this. Take your _Hawk_,
turning up her Train, if you see her Tuel or Fundament swelleth, or
looketh red; Or, if her Eyes or Ears be of a fiery Complexion, it is an
infallible sign of her being not well and in good health; and then
Scouring is necessary first; which is done by _Aloes Cicatrine_, about
the quantity of a Pea wrapt up in her Meat; and this avoids Grease, and
kills Worms too.
_For the Cataract_: Take one Scruple of washt _Aloes_ finely beaten, and
two Scruples of _Sugar-candy_, mix these together, and with a Quill blow
it three or four times a day into your _Hawks_ Eye.
_Pantus_ or _Asthma_: Pour the Oyl of sweet _Almonds_ into a Chickens
Gut, well washt, and give it the _Hawk_: Or, scower him with
_Sallandine_-Pellets, and Oyl of _Roses_, and then wash his meat in the
Decoction of _Coltsfoot_.
_Filanders_ or _Worms_: To prevent them, seeing your _Hawk_ low and
poor, give her once a month a Clove of _Garlick_. To cure or kill them;
take half a dozen Cloves of _Garlick_, boil them very tender in Milk,
dry the Milk out of them; put them into a Spoonful of the best Oyl of
_Olives_, and having steept them all Night, give them both to your
_Hawk_, when she has cast, in the morning: feed him not till two hours
after, and then with warm meat, and keep him warm all that day.
_Lice_: Mail your _Hawk_ in some Woollen Cloth, put between his Head and
Hood a little Wool, and take a Pipe of Tobacco, put the little end in at
the Tream, blow the smoak, and the _Lice_ that escape killing, will
creep into the Cloth: _Probatum_.
_Formica_: Take a little of the Gall of a Bull, and beating it with
_Aloes_, anoint the Beak of the _Hawk_, Morning and Evening,
_Frounce_: Take the Powder of _Allume_, reduced to a Salve with strong
Wine Vinegar, and wash her mouth with it; then take Juice of _Lolium_
and _Raddish_, mixt with Salt, and anoint the Sore.
_Apoplex_: Gather the Herb _Asterion_, wash your Hawks meat with the
Juice thereof when you feed him.
_Wounds_: Take the Juice of _English Tobacco_, or _Mouse-ears_, after
you have sticht it up with a little Lint, bathe the place.
_Of BOWLING._
The first and greatest Cunning to be observed in _Bowling_, is the right
chusing your Bowl, which must be suitable to the Grounds you design to
run on, thus: For _close Alleys_, your best choice is the _Flat Bowl_:
2. For _open Grounds_ of Advantage, the Round-byassed-bowl. 3. For
_Green Swarths_, that are plain and level, the Bowl that is _Round as a
Ball_.
The next thing requires your Care is, the chusing out your Ground, and
preventing the Windings, Hangings, and many turning Advantages of the
same, whether it be in open wide places, as Bares & Bowling-greens, or
in close Bowling-alleys.
Lastly, Have your Judgment about you to observe and distinguish the
Risings, Fallings and Advantages of the Places where you Bowl: Have your
Wits about you to avoid being rookt of your Money: And have your
Understanding about you, to know your best Time and Opportunity for this
Recreation; and finally a studious Care of your Words and Passions, and
then Bowl away, and you may deserve, _Well have you bowled indeed_.
But methinks I cannot conclude here, without admiring how aptly a
Bowling-green is by the Divine _Quarles_ characterized, in the following
Verses, thus,
_Brave Pastime,_ Readers, _to consume that day,
Which without Pastime flies too swift away!
See how they labour, as if Day and Night
Were both too short to serve their loose Delight?
See how their curved Bodies wreath, and skrue
Such Antick Shapes as_ Proteus _never knew:
One rapps an Oath, another deals a Curse,
He never better bowl'd, this never worse;
One rubs his itchless Elbow, shrugs and laughs,
The t'other bends his Beetle-brows, and chafes;
Sometimes they whoop, sometimes the_ Stygian _cryes,
Send their black_ Santo's _to the blushing Skies:
Thus mingling Humours in a mad Confusion
They make bad premisses and worse Conclusion._
Thus much for Bowling.
_Of TENNIS._
This Recreation is of the Same Date for its Antiquity of Invention with
Bowling, and for the Violence of its Exercise to be preferred before it.
This Sport indeed is of so universal an Acceptance, that Majesty it self
is pleased to design it its Recommendation, by tracking its laborious
steps; and Princes and Lords admire it too for the most proper
Recreation, to suit with Innocence, and true Nobility. Here the Body is
briskly exercised more than ordinary, and inured in Agility and
Nimbleness; this renders the Limbs flexible and mettlesom, and adapts
them for the most Vigorous Enterprize.
_Tennis_ and _Baloon_ are sports which are play'd almost with the same
Instruments; and therefore may be under one and the same Head: The first
is a Pastime, used in close or open Courts, by striking a little Round
Ball to and fro, either with the Palms of the hands (and then is called
_Pila palmaria_ in Latin) or else a _Racket_, made for the purpose,
round with Net or Cat-gut, with a Handle: The other a strong and moving
Sport in the open Fields with a great Ball of a double leather filled
with Wind, and so driven to and fro with the strength of a Mans Arm,
armed in a Brace of Wood. And thus much shall suffice to speak of the
_Baloon_ and _Tennis_; only let me desire you, let not this or any other
Pastime disturb your Minds; divert you from the diligent and careful
Prosecution of your lawful Business; or invite you to throw away your
Time and Money too lavishly and idley; nor engage you in any Passion;
that so you may not offend God, dislike your Neighbour, nor incomode
your Self and Family in your Well-being and Felicity; and then you may
recreate your self without Fear: And in this Recreation observe the
ensuing Morality of
The =Tennis-Court=.
_When as the Hand at_ Tennis _Plays,
And Men to Gaming fall_,
Love _is the_ Court, Hope _is the_ House,
_And_ Favour _serves the_ Ball,
_This_ Ball _it self is due Desert,
The Line that measure shows
Is_ Reason _whereon_ Judgment _looks
Where Players win and lose._
_The_ Tutties _are Deceitful Shifts,
The_ Stoppers, Jealousy,
_Which hath Sir_ Argus _hundred Eyes,
Wherewith to watch and pry._
_The Fault whereon_ Fifteen is lost,
_Is Want of_ Wit _and_ Sense,
_And he that brings the_ Racket _in
Is_ Double Diligence.
_But now the_ Racket _is_ Free-will,
_Which makes the_ Ball _rebound,
And Noble_ Beauty _is the_ Choice,
_And of each Game the Ground._
_Then_ Racket _strikes the_ Ball _away,
And there is_ Over-sight,
_A_ Bandy _ho! the People cry,
And so the_ Ball _takes flight._