"At Mr. Figg's great room to-morrow, the 20th of this instant May, by the command of several noblemen and others, will be shewn in full proof the judgment of the sword in all its noble branches, offensive and defensive.
"We Mathew Masterson, Serjeant from Gibraltar, and Rowland Bennet from the city of
Dublin in the kingdom of Ireland, masters of the said science, both having lately tasted our error by unwarily receiving wounds from Mr. Figg, and resolving if possible to return the keen rebuke by our chastising swords, make this challenge the hostility of our confederate arms, inviting them to the brightest of their performances, Mr. Figg taking Mr. Gill to his assistance, and fighting us at the time and place above for the benefit of the whole house, which Mr. Masterson and the said Gill are solely to have to themselves; the victor of them two defraying all charges, and taking the surplus to himself as free plunder. It is that makes a soldier a Cæsar or a Marius, without the help of Lilly, who was most unmercifully whipped last Wednesday in quarto by a Yorkshire Jockey with Roman epithets, in order to extort rules for declining a good house in favour of the present tense singular; but the grammatical tit being too high-mettled to be verb-ridden, left his Elorian corrector in an infinitive ill-mood, confounded in particles in search of the great negative—nothing.
"Mathew Masterson, Rowland Bennet."
"We, James Figg from Thame in Oxfordshire, and William Gill (his scholar), more surprised than terrified at the peremptory summons, assure the above gentlemen we did not apprehend they would have been guilty of repeating those
crimes for which they so lately received the benefit of their Clergy; but, as Mr. Bennet then obtained mercy by pleading weakness, occasioned by the fatigue of a long journey, it is hoped he will not make use of the same plea again, but more bravely oppose the same arm, if recovered strength and improvement have given him leave. Otherwise, both him and his mighty ally may find Cæsars cut into Lazarus's, and Rome's capitol converted into Chelsea college for the residence of their titular Majesties, whilst the stock and branch of superior force flourishes on Britannia's stage like the tall cedars of Lebanon; and mourn their fate by shedding leaves to adorn their untimely Monuments—if any be erected.
"James Figg, William Gill."
"Note—On this extraordinary occasion Captain Vinegar has orders to assemble his whole posse of leather-bottle men, shin-kickers, and fist-clinckers; so that the whole may be expected a complete evening's entertainment. The doors will be opened at 3, and the masters mount at 6."
In December 1731, Figg and Sparks contended with the broad-sword at the French or Little Theatre in the Haymarket, before the Duke of Lorrain, Count Kinski, and many persons of distinction. One of the papers of the day observes, "The beauty and judgment of the sword was delineated in a very extraordinary manner by those