A third university of England
Sir George Buck (or Buc) was Master of the Revels under James I. In a treatise appended to the 1615 edition of Stow’s Annales, he argued that London held a ‘third university’ of professional and liberal arts beside Oxford and Cambridge, and among its faculties he placed the Science of Defence. His chapter is brief, but it is a witness of unusual weight: a contemporary who sets the Masters’ corporation in a learned frame, names its weapons, and describes the degrees of scholar, provost and master exactly as the register and the warrants record them.
The text is given here as printed in 1615, with its old spelling and its Latin tags intact, beside a reading in which the spelling has been modernised for accessibility and nothing of substance altered. Buck’s own marginal authorities, from Vegetius and Lipsius to Marozzo and George Silver, are gathered in the apparatus, along with the weapons he lists and the ladder of degrees he describes. Use the control bar to move between the modernised reading, the parallel view and the printed text.
Of the Art gladiatorie
THe art Gladiatorie which we call the Science of Defence (and the Italians Scrimia & arte di l’arme) was anciently much practised amongst the noble Romans, and even by some Emperors. They which professed this Art were called of the Romans Gladiatores and Lanista: It was practiced also by other Nations. In this city there be many professors thereof, and very skillful men in teaching the best and most offensive and defensive use of verie many Weapons, as of the long sword, the back sword, the Rapier and dagger, the single Rapier, the case of Rapiers, the sword and buckler or Target, the Pike, the Halberd, the long Staff, and other.
King Henry the 8. made the professors of the Art a company, or corporation by letters patents, which the Art is intituled the noble Science of defence. Of this art Gladiatorie, there be diverse Schools in London kept by the Masters of defence: thus they be the same by which the Romans called Lanistae, for the Lanista supiores (sic) gladiatores instituebant, as I find in the writings of A. Hirtius, and of Vegetius, and others.
The manner of proceedings of our Fencers in their Schools, is this: first they which desire to be taught, and their admission are called Schollers, and as they profit they take degrees, and proceed to be provosts of defence, and that must be won by public trial of their proficiency, and their skill at certain weapons, which they call prizes, and in the presence and view of many hundreds of people. At their next and last prize well and sufficiently performed, they do proceed maisters of the science of defence or maisters of Fence, as we commonly call them.
The thing ordained is won but such: as have thus orderly proceed by public act a trial, and have the approbation of principal Maisters of their company, may profess or teach this Art of defence publically in any part of England. Of this art as it was y had amongst the Romans see Lipsius in Saturna lib. 9. But for the modern use, & estate thereof see Achilles Marozzo in his book entitled Arte di arme and George Silver in his book in English of this matter, & Jacomo Modenese in his Scrimia, and Antonio Manciolino in arte dello Schermire con armi d’ognisorte &c.
The arms of this corporation be Gules (red), a sword Argent (silver) pendant.
The art gladiatory, which we call the Science of Defence (and the Italians scrimia and arte di l’arme), was anciently much practised among the noble Romans, and even by some Emperors. Those who professed this art were called by the Romans gladiatores and lanista; it was practised also by other nations. In this city there are many professors of it, and very skilful men in teaching the best and most offensive and defensive use of very many weapons: the long sword, the backsword, the rapier and dagger, the single rapier, the case of rapiers, the sword and buckler (or target), the pike, the halberd, the long staff, and others.
King Henry the Eighth made the professors of the art a company, or corporation, by letters patent, whereby the art is entitled the Noble Science of Defence. Of this art gladiatory there are diverse schools in London kept by the Masters of Defence; thus they are the same as those the Romans called lanistae, for the lanista instructed the lower gladiators (lanista … gladiatores instituebant), as I find in the writings of A. Hirtius, and of Vegetius, and others.
The manner of proceeding of our fencers in their schools is this. First, those who desire to be taught, and are admitted, are called scholars; and as they improve they take degrees, and proceed to be provosts of defence. That must be won by public trial of their proficiency and skill at certain weapons, which they call prizes, in the presence and view of many hundreds of people. At their next and last prize, well and sufficiently performed, they proceed masters of the Science of Defence, or masters of fence, as we commonly call them.
The rule ordained is only this: that such as have thus orderly proceeded, by a public act and trial, and have the approbation of the principal masters of their company, may profess or teach this art of defence publicly in any part of England. Of this art as it was had among the Romans, see Lipsius in the Saturnalia, book 9. But for its modern use and estate, see Achille Marozzo in his book entitled Arte di arme, and George Silver in his book in English on this matter, and Jacomo Modenese in his Scrimia, and Antonio Manciolino in Arte dello schermire con armi d’ogni sorte, etc.
The arms of this corporation are Gules (red), a sword Argent (silver) pendant.
The weapons Buck names
Buck lists the weapons the London masters then taught. The range is broad, from the long sword of the older tradition to the rapier and its companions, and it matches the weapons at which prizes were played in the register.
The path to master
Buck describes the same ascending degrees the guild’s own records use. Each step is won not by time served but by a ‘prize’: a public trial of skill at set weapons, played before hundreds of onlookers.
Buck’s authorities and the arms
Buck grounds his account in two directions at once: the ancient writers who describe the Roman art, and the modern masters of fence whose printed books set out its contemporary practice. He closes with the corporation’s arms.
For the ancient art
- Justus Lipsiuscited for the Roman art, Saturnalia, book 9
- Vegetiuslate-Roman military writer
- A. Hirtiusfor the lanista and the training of gladiators
For the modern use
- Achille MarozzoArte di arme
- George Silver‘his book in English of this matter’
- Jacomo ModeneseScrimia
- Antonio ManciolinoArte dello schermire con armi d’ogni sorte