I was not a little charm'd with the Solemnity of the Challenge, which ran thus: I James Miller, Serjeant, (lately come from the Frontiers of Portugal) Mafter of the noble Science of Defence, hearing in moft Places where I have been of the great Fame of Timothy Buck of London, Mafter of the faid Science, do invite him to meet me, and exercife at the feveral Weapons following viz. Back-Sword, Sword and Dagger, Single Falchion, If the generous Ardour in James Miller to difpute the Reputation of Timothy Buck, had fomething resembling the old Heroes of Romance, Timothy Buck return'd Anfwer in the fame Paper with the like Spirit, adding a little Indignation at being challenged, and feeming to condefcend to fight James Miller, not in regard to Miller himself, but in that, as the Fame went about, he had fought Parkes of Coventry. The Acceptance of the Combat ran in these Words: I Timothy Buck of Clare-Market, Mafter of the Noble Science of Defence, hearing he did fight Mr. Parkes of Coventry, will not fail (God willing) to meet this fair Inviter at the Time and Place appointed, defiring a clear Stage and no Favour. Vivat Regina. I fhall not here look back on the Spectacles of the Greeks and Romans of this kind, but muft believe this Cuftom took its Rife from the Ages of Knight-Errantry; from those who lov'd one Woman fo well, that they hated all Men and Women elfe; from thofe 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 Miftrefs or difcommending 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 loft the Gallantry of the old Combatants. I could with, methinks, thefe Gentlemen had confulted me in the Promulgation of the Conflict. I was obliged by a No. 436. fair young Maid whom I understood to be called Eliza beth Preston, Daughter of the Keeper of the Garden, with a Glafs of Water; whom I imagined might have been, for Form's Sake, the general Representative of the Lady fought for, and from her Beauty the proper Amarillis on thefe Occafions. It would have ran better in the Challenge, I James Miller, Serjeant, who have travelled Parts abroad, and came laft from the Frontiers of Portugal, for the Love of Elizabeth Prefton, do affert, That the faid Elizabeth is the Fairest of Women. Then the Answer; I Timothy Buck, who have ftay'd in Great Britain during all the War in Foreign Parts, for the Sake of Sufannah Page, do deny that Elizabeth Prefton is fa fair as the faid Sufannah Page. Let Sufannah Page look on, and I defire of James Miller no Favour. THIS would give the Battle quite another Turn; and a proper Station for the Ladies, whofe Complection was difputed by the Sword, would animate the Difputants with a more gallant Incentive than the Expectation of Money from the Spectators; tho' I would not have that neglected, but thrown to that Fair One, whofe Lover was approved by the Donor. YET, confidering the Thing wants fuch Amendments, it was carried with great Order. James Miller came on first; preceded by two difabled Drummers, to fhew, I fuppofe, that the Prospect of maimed Bodies did not in the leaft deter him. There afcended with the daring Miller a Gentleman, whofe Name, I could not learn, with a dogged Air, as unfatisfied that he was not Principal: This Son of Anger lowered at the whole Affembly, and weighing himself as he marched around from Side to Side, with a stiff Knee and Shoulder, he gave Intimations of the Purpose he fmothered till he faw the Issue. of this Encounter. Miller had a blue Ribbon tied round the Sword Arm; which Ornament I conceive to be the Remain of that Cuftom of wearing a Miftrefs's Favour: on fuch Occafions of old. MILLER is a Man of fix Foct eight Inches Height,. of a kind but bold Afpect well-fashioned, and ready of his Limbs and tuch Readiness as fpoke his Eafe in them, was obtained from a Habit of Motion in. Military Exercife. THE THE Expectation of the Spectators was now almoft. at its Height, and the Crowd preffing in, several active Perfons 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 Difpute between Defert and Property brought many to the Ground, and raised others in proportion to the highest Seats by Turns, for the Space of ten Minutes, till Timothy Buck came on, and the whole Affembly giving up their Difputes, turned their Eyes upon the Champions. Then it was that every Man's Affection. turned to one or the other irrefiftibly. A judicious Gentleman near me faid, 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 a perfect Compofure,. that engaged the Judgment. Buck came on in a plain. Coat, and kept all his Air till the Inftant of Engaging; at which time he undress'd to his Shirt, his Arm adorned with a Bandage of red Ribbon. No one can describe the fudden Concern in the whole Affembly; the most tumultuous Crowd in Nature was as ftill and as much engaged, as if all their Lives depended on the first Blow.. The Combatants met in the middle of the Stage, and fhaking Hands as removing all Malice, they retired with. much Grace to the Extremities of it; from whence they. immediately faced about, and approached each other,. Miller with an Heart full of Refolution, Buck with a watchful untroubled Countenance; Buck regarding principally his own Defence; Miller chiefly thoughtful of annoying his Opponent. It is not eafy to defcribe the many Escapes and imperceptible Defences 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 Effufion of Blood covered his Eyes in a Moment, and the Huzzas of the Crowd undoubtedly quickened the Anguifh. The Affembly was divided into Parties, upon their different ways of Fighting; while a poor Nymph in one of the Galleries apparently, fuffered. for Miller, and burst into a Flood of Tears. As foon as his Wound was wrapped up, he came on again with a little Rage, which itill. difabled him further. But what brave Man can be. wounded wounded into more Patience and Caution? The next was a warm eager Onfet which ended in a decifive Stroke on the left Leg of Miller. The Lady in the Gallery, during this fecond Strife, covered her Face; and for my part, I could not keep my Thoughts from being moftly employed on the Confideration of her unhappy Circumstance that Moment, hearing the Clash of Swords, and apprehending Life or Victory concerned her Lover in every Blow, but not daring to fatisfy her felf on whom they fell. The Wound was expofed to the View of all who could delight in it, and fewed up on the Stage. The furly Second of Miller declared at this Time, that he would that Day Fortnight fight Mr. Buck at the fame Weapons, declaring himself the Master of the renowned Gorman; but Buck denied him the Honour of that courageous Difciple, and afferting that he himself had taught that Champion, accepted the Challenge. THERE is fomething in Nature very unaccountable on fuch Occafions, when we fee the People take a certain painful Gratification in beholding these Encounters. Is it Cruelty that adminifters this Sort of Delight? Or is it a Pleasure which is taken in the Exercife of Pity? It was methought pretty remarkable, that the Bufinefs of the Day being a Trial of Skill, the Popularity did not run fo high as one would have expected on the Side of Buck. Is it that People's Paffions have their Rife in Self-Love, and thought themselves (in fpite of all the Courage they had) liable to the Fate of Miller, but could not fo eafily think themselves qualified like Buck? TULLY fpeaks of this Custom with lefs Horror than one would expect, though he confeffes it was much abused in his Time, and feems directly to approve of it under its firit Regulations, when Criminals only fought before the People. Crudele Gladiatorum fpectaculum & inhumanum nonnullis videri folet ; & haud fcio annon ita fit ut nunc fit ; cùm verò fontes ferro depugnabant, auribus fortaffe multa, oculis quidem nulla, poterat effe fortior contra dolorem & mortem difciplina. • The Shows of Gladiators may be thought barbarous and inhuman, and I know not but it is fo as it is now practifed; but in thofe Times when only Criminals were Combatants, the Ear perhaps might • receive • receive many better Inftructions, but it is impoffible that any thing which affects our Eyes, should fortify us fo well against Pain and Death. Τ No. 437. Tuesday, July 22. Tune impunè hæc facias? Tune hic homines adolefcentulos, Ter. Andr. A&t. 5. Sc. 4. Shall you efcape with Impunity; you, who lay Snares for young Men, of a liberal Education, but unacquainted with the World, and, by force of Importunity and Promises, draw them in to marry Harlots? T HE other Day paffed by me in her Chariot a Lady with that pale and wan Complection, which we fometimes fee in young People, who are fallen into Sorrow, and private Anxiety of Mind, which antedate Age and Sickness. It is not three Years ago, fince the was gay, airy, and a little towards Libertine in her Carriage; but methought, I eafily forgave her that little Infolence, which the fo feverely pays for in her present Condition. Flavilla, of whom I am fpeaking, is married to a fullen Fool with Wealth: Her Beauty and Merit are loft upon the Dolt, who is infenfible of Perfection in any thing. Their Hours together are either painful or infipid: The Minutes fhe has to her felf in his Absence are not fufficient to give Vent at her Eyes to the Grief and Torment of his laft Conversation. This poor Creature was facrificed with a Temper, (which under the Cultivation of a Man of Sense, would have made the moft agreeable Companion) into the Arms of this lothfome Yoke-fellow by Sempronia. Sempronia is a good Lady, who fupports her felf in an affluent Condition, by contracting Friendship with rich young Widows, and |