At the Bear Garden in the Hockley-in-the-Hole.
A Trial of Skill to be performed between two Profound Masters of the
Noble Science of Defense on Wednesday next, being the 13th inst.
July, 1709 at two of the clock precisely.
I, George Gray, born in the City of Norwich, who has fought in most
parts of the West Indies, viz., Jamaica, Baradoes, and several other
parts of the world, in all twenty-five times upon a stage and never
yet was worsted, and now come to London, do invite James Harris, to
meet and exercise at these following weapons, viz.:
Back Sword
Sword and Dagger
Sword and Buckler
Single Falchion and
Case of Falchions.
I, James Harris, Master of the Noble Science of Defense, who formerly
was in the Horse Guards, and hath fought a 110 prizes, and never left
a stage to any man, will not fail God willing, to meet this brave and
bold inviter, at the time and place appointed desiring sharp swords,
and from him no favor.
=Note.=--No persons to be upon the stage but the seconds. =Vivat
Regina.=
There is report of a similar entertainment by the hand of Steele in No.
436 of the _Spectator_, July 21, 1712. Steele does not plunge into the
blood and the filth; he passes through on tiptoe and so daintily that
the mire does not stick.
“Being a person of insatiable curiosity, I could not forbear going
on Wednesday last to a place of no small renown for the gallantry
of the lower order of Britons, namely, the Bear-garden, at
Hockley-in-the-Hole; where, (as a whitish-brown paper, put into my
hands in the street, informed me) there was to be a trial of skill
exhibited between two masters of the noble science of defense, at two
of the clock precisely. I was not a little charmed at the solemnity of
the challenge, which ran thus:
I, James Miller, sergeant (lately come from the frontiers of
Portugal), master of the noble science of defense, hearing in most
places where I have been of the fame of Timothy Buck, of London,
master of the said science, do invite him to meet me and exercise at
the several weapons following, viz.:
Back Sword
Sword and Dagger
Sword and Buckler
Single Falchion
Case of Falchions
Quarter Staff.
“If the generous ardor of James Miller to dispute the reputation of
Timothy Buck had something resembling the old heroes of romance,
Timothy Buck returned answer in the same paper with the light spirit,
adding a little indignation at being challenged, and seeming to
condescend to fight James Miller, not in regard of Miller himself, but
in that, as the fame went out, he had fought Parkes of Coventry. The
acceptance of the combat ran in these words:
I, Timothy Buck, of Clare-market, master of the noble science of
defense, hearing he did fight Mr. Parkes of Coventry, will not
fail, God willing, to meet this fair inviter at the time and place
appointed, desiring a clear stage and no favor. =Vivat Regina.=
“I shall not here look back on the spectacles of the Greeks and Romans
of this kind, but must believe that this custom took its rise from the
ages of knight-errantry; from those who loved one woman so well that
they hated all men and women else; from those who would fight you,
whether you were or were not of their mind; from those who demanded
the combat of their contemporaries both for admiring their mistress
or discommending her. I cannot therefore but lament that the terrible
part of the ancient fight is preserved, when the amorous side of it is
forgotten. We have retained the barbarity but not the gallantry of the
old combatants. I could wish, me thinks, these gentlemen had consulted
me in the promulgation of the conflict. I was obliged by a fair young
maid, whom I understood to be called Elizabeth Preston, daughter of the
keeper of the garden, with a glass of water; who I imagined might have
been, for form’s sake, the general representative for the lady fought
for, and from her beauty the proper Amaryllis on these occasions. It
would have run better in the challenge, ‘I, James Miller, sergeant,
who have traveled parts abroad, and came last from the frontiers of
Portugal, for the love of Elizabeth Preston, do assert that the said
Elizabeth is the fairest of women.’ Then the answer, ‘I, Timothy Buck,
who have stayed in Great Britain during all the war in foreign parts
for the sake of Susannah Page, do deny that Elizabeth Preston is so
fair as the said Susannah Page. Let Susannah Page look on, and I desire
no favor of James Miller.’
“This would give the battle quite another turn; and a proper station
for the ladies whose complexion was disputed by the sword, would
animate the disputants with a more gallant incentive than the
expectation of money from the spectators; though I would not have that
neglected, but thrown to that fair one whose lover was approved by the
donor.
“Yet considering the thing wants such amendments, it was carried with
great order. James Miller came on first, preceded by two disabled
drummers, to show, I suppose, that the prospect of maimed bodies did
not in the least deter him. There ascended with the daring Miller
a gentleman, whose name I could not learn, with a dogged air, as
unsatisfied that he was not principal. This son of anger lowered at the
whole assembly, and, weighing himself as he marched around from side
to side, with a stiff knee and shoulder, he gave intimations of the
purpose he smothered till he saw the issue of this encounter. Miller
had a blue ribbon tied around the sword arm; which ornament I conceive
to be the remain of that custom of wearing a mistress’s favor on such
occasions of old.
“Miller is a man of six foot eight inches in height, of a kind but
bold aspect, well fashioned, and ready of his limbs, and such a
readiness as spoke his ease in them was obtained from a habit of motion
in military exercise.
“The expectation of the spectators was now almost at its height; and
the crowd pressing in, several active persons thought they were placed
rather according to their fortune than their merit, and took it in
their heads to prefer themselves from the open area or pit to the
galleries. This dispute between desert and property brought many to
the ground, and raised others in proportion to seats by turns, for the
space of ten minutes till Timothy Buck came on, and the whole assembly
giving up their disputes, turned their eyes upon the champions. Then
it was that every man’s affections turned from one or the other
irresistibly. A judicious gentleman near me said, ‘I could methinks
be Miller’s second, but I had rather have Buck for mine.’ Miller had
an audacious look that took the eye; Buck had a perfect composure
that engaged the judgment. Buck came on in a plain coat, and kept all
his air till the instant of engaging, at which time he undressed to
his shirt, his arm adorned with a bandage of red ribbon. No one can
describe the sudden concern in the whole assembly; the most tumultuous
crowd in nature was as still and as much engaged as if all their lives
depended upon the first blow. The combatants met in the middle of the
stage, and shaking hands, as removing all malice, with much grace to
the extremities of it; from whence they immediately faced about, and
approached each other, Miller with a heart full of resolution, Buck
with a watchful, untroubled countenance: Buck regarding principally his
own defense, Miller chiefly thoughtful of annoying his opponent. It
is not easy to describe the many escapes and imperceptible defenses
between two men of quick eyes and ready limbs. But Miller’s heat
laid him open to the rebuke of the calm Buck, by a large cut on the
forehead. Much effusion of blood covered his eyes in a moment, and the
huzzas of the crowd undoubtedly quickened the anguish. The assembly was
divided into parties upon their different ways of fighting; while a
poor nymph in one of the galleries apparently suffered for Miller, and
burst into a flood of tears. As soon as his wound was wrapped up, he
came on again with a little rage, which disabled him further. But what
brave man can be wounded into more caution and patience? The next was a
warm, eager onset, which ended in a decisive stroke on the left leg of
Miller. The Lady in the gallery during this second strife, covered her
face, and for my part, I could not keep my thoughts from being mostly
employed on the consideration of her most unhappy circumstance that
moment, hearing the clash of swords, and apprehending life or victory
concerned her lover in every blow, but not daring to satisfy herself
on whom they fell. The wound was exposed to the view of all who could
delight in it, and sewed up on the stage. The surly second of Miller
declared at this time that he would that day fortnight fight Mr. Buck
at the same weapons, declaring himself the master of the renowned
Gorman; but Buck denied him the honor of that courageous disciple,
and, asserting that he himself had taught that champion, accepted the
challenge.
“There is something in human nature very unaccountable on such
occasions, when we see the people take a painful gratification in
beholding these encounters. Is it cruelty that administers this sort of
delight? Or is it a pleasure that is taken in the exercise of pity? It
was, methought, pretty remarkable that the business of the day being a
trial of skill, the popularity did not run so high as one would have
expected on the side of Buck. Is it that the people’s passions have
their rise in self love, and thought themselves (in spite of all the
courage they had) liable to the fate of Miller, but could not so easily
think themselves qualified like Buck?
“Tully speaks of this custom with less horror than one would expect,
though he confesses it was much abused in his time, and seems directly
to approve of it under its first regulations, when criminals only
fought before the people. _Crudele gladiatorum spectaculum et inhumanum
nonnullis videri solet; et haud scio annon ita sit ut nunc fit; cum
vero sontes ferro depugnabant, auribus fortasse multa, oculis quidem
nulla, poterat esse fortior contra dolorem et mortem disciplina._ The
shows of gladiators may be thought barbarous and inhuman, and I know
not but it is so as it is now practiced; but in those times when only
criminals were combatants, the ear might perhaps receive many better
instructions, but it is impossible that anything which affects our eyes
should fortify us so well against pain and death.”
* * * * *
But brave, bellicose, blood-thirsty as was the Briton in the days of
Addison, he was very fearful of unseen things. He feared a witch as we
fear a microbe. He was full of morbid possibilities, his nerves were
strangely susceptible. As a man in our day will fight the daily fight
fearlessly, will declare his intellectual independence, will be bold
in the expression of his opinions, yet quail and cringe at the name of
the unseen Mrs. Grundy, so those who yelled at bull fights, glorified
in the bloodshed of the ring side or went forth in the street to do
battle for a political cause, feared with a most lively fear dark
demoniac powers who worked by occult means and subtle fascinations of
evil.
In the paper that next follows, there is an exquisite touch when Sir
Roger catches sight of a cat and the broomstick behind the old woman’s
door. That to him seems to be proof positive of dark and nefarious
doings--proof as positive as, not so long ago, it was considered
proof positive by an excited crowd in a small town, when an old woman
with a German name was found to have in her house a blue print of a
railroad bridge. That it might have a perfectly legitimate origin was,
to illogical minds, unthinkable. No. There was a blue print, and blue
prints were sometimes used by spies. Germany had spies, and the old
woman had a German name. So she went to jail. What further proof was
needed? And who dare object to summary proceedings, lest he also be
judged tainted?