Title:  The Art of Fencing The Use of the Small Sword

Author:  Monsieur L’Abbat

Release Date:  April 24, 2004 [EBook #12135]

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

*** Start of this project gutenberg EBOOK the art of fencing ***

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The ART of

Fencing,

or, the use of the

Small SWORD.

Translated from the FRENCH of the late celebrated

Monsieur L’ABBAT;

Master of that art at the Academy of Toulouse.

* * * * *

By Andrew Mahon, Professor of the small sword in Dublin.

DUBLIN: 

Printed by James Hort, at the Sign of Mercury in Skinner-Row, 1734.

DEDICATION.

[Transcribers note:  First page of dedication missing.]

sue for.  I shall omit saying any Thing, My Lord, of the shining Qualities, which seem Hereditary in Your Lordship’s Family, as well as of the Dignity and Importance of the Charge with which His Majesty has been pleased to entrust Your Lordship’s Most Noble Father.  Neither will I presume to trouble Your Lordship with those Encomiums, which are most deservedly due to the Vertues, whereby Your Lordship has gained the Admiration and Esteem of the Polite and Ingenious Persons of this Nation.  Be pleased then, My Lord, to permit me to have the Honour of subscribing myself,

My Lord,

Your Lordship’s

Most devoted, and

Most humble

Servant,

Andrew Mahon.

PREFACE.

I thought it very suitable to my Business, when I met with so good an Author as Monsieur L’Abbat, on the Art of Fencing, to publish his Rules, which in general, will I believe be very useful, not only as they may contribute to the Satisfaction of such Gentlemen as are already Proficients in the Art, and to the better Discipline of those who intend to become so, but also in regard that the Nicety and Exactness of his Rules, for the most Part, and their great Consistency with Reason, may, and will in all Probability, lay a regular and good Foundation for future Masters, who tho’ accustom’d to any particular Method formerly practised, may rather chuse to proceed upon the Authority of an excellent Master, than upon a vain and mistaken Confidence of their own Perfection, or upon an obstinate Refusal to submit to Rules founded on, and demonstrated by Reason.