Company of Masters
Encyclopedia
The Company of Maisters of the Science of Defence was an organisation formed in England
during the reign of Henry VIII to regulate the teaching of the Arte of Defense or fencing, using a range of weapons, including the rapier
, quarterstaff
, and, most notably, the broadsword
.
This school of fencing persisted throughout the 16th century but declined after the end of the Tudor period
.
to protect the livelihoods of its members. It also regulated the conduct of members to one another, both instructor and student.
Like the guild
s it resembled, the company certified its members with varying ranks, depending on their level of skill and degree of permission to teach. Beginning students took the title Scholar and were required to hold the rank for no less than seven years before progressing to a higher rank. With proper determination and accumulation of skill, an individual moved to the second rank, Free Scholar. This rank marked noted advancement and skill, and like the previous position, had to be held for at least seven years before further progression. The next rank, Provost, provided the individual with apprenticeship to an instructor with whom they worked closely so as to improve their teaching skills and further their martial abilities. The Provost was not by any means a free teacher, remaining under the guidance and financial constraint, in the form of dues, of his superior. A truly gifted individual may have been raised to the title of Maister working as an independent instructor. The Company of Maisters of the Science of Defence was governed by four senior Maisters.
's anti-monopoly laws.
A late treatise on the Science of Defence is that by Joseph Swetnam
, published in 1617.
There were some attempts in the early 20th century to reform the guild, first in 1903, under the title "The London Académie d’Armes", and again in 1931 as "The British Federation of Fencing Masters".
All this was interrupted by the Second World War.
In 1949 an Ancient Guild of Fencing Masters was again refounded as The British Academy of Fencing
. The inspiration for this venture came from the late Charles de Beaumont and it was implemented by Professor Roger Crosnier, Professor Leon Paul and Mr. J.D. Aylward. The Academy’s first President was Professor Leon Bertrand. The British Academy of Fencing
(B.A.F.) is a founder member of the Academie d’Armes Internationale – the international federation of fencing academies.
Today, several HEMA
groups use modified versions of the Company of Maisters ranking system. These include the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts
(ARMA), True Edge Academy of Swordsmanship, Terry Brown
and the 1595 club in London.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
during the reign of Henry VIII to regulate the teaching of the Arte of Defense or fencing, using a range of weapons, including the rapier
Rapier
A rapier is a slender, sharply pointed sword, ideally used for thrusting attacks, used mainly in Early Modern Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.-Description:...
, quarterstaff
Quarterstaff
A quarterstaff , also short staff or simply staff is a traditional European pole weapon and a technique of stick fighting, especially as in use in England during the Early Modern period....
, and, most notably, the broadsword
Broadsword
Broadsword may refer to:*Broadsword , a military sword used by heavy cavalry during the 17th to early 19th centuriesIn more modern times, it has also been used to refer to:...
.
This school of fencing persisted throughout the 16th century but declined after the end of the Tudor period
Tudor period
The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
.
Tudor England
It served to prevent unlicenced instructors from operating, both as a form of quality assurance and as a monopolyMonopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
to protect the livelihoods of its members. It also regulated the conduct of members to one another, both instructor and student.
Like the guild
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
s it resembled, the company certified its members with varying ranks, depending on their level of skill and degree of permission to teach. Beginning students took the title Scholar and were required to hold the rank for no less than seven years before progressing to a higher rank. With proper determination and accumulation of skill, an individual moved to the second rank, Free Scholar. This rank marked noted advancement and skill, and like the previous position, had to be held for at least seven years before further progression. The next rank, Provost, provided the individual with apprenticeship to an instructor with whom they worked closely so as to improve their teaching skills and further their martial abilities. The Provost was not by any means a free teacher, remaining under the guidance and financial constraint, in the form of dues, of his superior. A truly gifted individual may have been raised to the title of Maister working as an independent instructor. The Company of Maisters of the Science of Defence was governed by four senior Maisters.
Decline and modern revival
It never achieved guild status and eventually lost any influence with the passing of James IJames I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
's anti-monopoly laws.
A late treatise on the Science of Defence is that by Joseph Swetnam
Joseph Swetnam
Joseph Swetnam was a Renaissance author and Jacobean fencing master, author of the first complete English fencing treatise.- The Pamphlet Wars :...
, published in 1617.
There were some attempts in the early 20th century to reform the guild, first in 1903, under the title "The London Académie d’Armes", and again in 1931 as "The British Federation of Fencing Masters".
All this was interrupted by the Second World War.
In 1949 an Ancient Guild of Fencing Masters was again refounded as The British Academy of Fencing
British Academy of Fencing
The British Academy of Fencing is a professional body for coaching and coach education for the sport of fencing in the United Kingdom. The Academy claims to trace its roots to the reign of Henry VII and has existed in its current format since 1949....
. The inspiration for this venture came from the late Charles de Beaumont and it was implemented by Professor Roger Crosnier, Professor Leon Paul and Mr. J.D. Aylward. The Academy’s first President was Professor Leon Bertrand. The British Academy of Fencing
British Academy of Fencing
The British Academy of Fencing is a professional body for coaching and coach education for the sport of fencing in the United Kingdom. The Academy claims to trace its roots to the reign of Henry VII and has existed in its current format since 1949....
(B.A.F.) is a founder member of the Academie d’Armes Internationale – the international federation of fencing academies.
Today, several HEMA
Historical European martial arts
Historical European martial arts is a neologism describing martial arts of European origin, used particularly to refer to arts formerly practised, but having since died out or evolved into very different forms...
groups use modified versions of the Company of Maisters ranking system. These include the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts
Association for Renaissance Martial Arts
Association for Renaissance Martial Arts is an international educational non-profit organization dedicated to the study and practice of historical European martial arts of the 15th to 17th centuries...
(ARMA), True Edge Academy of Swordsmanship, Terry Brown
Terry Brown
Terry Brown may refer to:*Terry Brown , English-Canadian record producer*Terry Brown , former chairman of West Ham United football club*Terry Brown , manager of AFC Wimbledon...
and the 1595 club in London.
Literature
- Berry, Herbert. The Noble Science: A Study and Transcription of Sloane Ms. 2530, Papers of the Maisters of Defence of London, Temp Henry VIII to 1590. London and Toronto: Associated University Presses, 1991. ISBN 0-87413-441-2.
See also
- George SilverGeorge SilverGeorge Silver was a gentleman of England during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, who is known for his writings on fencing. He is thought to have been the eldest of four brothers , and eleventh in descent from Sir Bartholomew Silver, who was knighted by Edward II...
- Prize PlayingPrize PlayingA Prize Playing was a test of martial skill popular in Renaissance England with the London-based Corporation of Masters of the Noble Science of Defence....
- QuarterstaffQuarterstaffA quarterstaff , also short staff or simply staff is a traditional European pole weapon and a technique of stick fighting, especially as in use in England during the Early Modern period....
- Historical fencing in Scotland