Prizes of the London Masters of Defense
My research paper on The London Masters of Defense
My list of LMOD Prizes
A sample of text from
Sloan MSS. 2530, courtesy of William Wilson.
| Weapon |
Master's |
Prizes |
Provost |
Prizes |
Scholar |
Prizes |
| Form |
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
| Long Sword |
19 |
25% |
25 |
28% |
30 |
37% |
| Back Sword |
17 |
22% |
18 |
20% |
12 |
15% |
| Rapier and Dagger |
8 |
11% |
0 |
00% |
0 |
00% |
| Sword and Buckler |
7 |
09% |
18 |
20% |
21 |
26% |
| Sword and Dagger |
6 |
08% |
5 |
06% |
0 |
00% |
| Staff |
5 |
07% |
10 |
11% |
8 |
10% |
| Dagger |
3 |
04% |
0 |
00% |
0 |
00% |
| Two Handed Sword |
2 |
03% |
3 |
03% |
7 |
08% |
| Bastard Sword |
3 |
04% |
0 |
00% |
0 |
00% |
| Agreement |
4 |
05% |
7 |
08% |
3 |
03% |
| Order of the King |
1 |
01% |
1 |
01% |
0 |
00% |
| Unknown |
0 |
00% |
1 |
01% |
1 |
01% |
| Total |
76 |
99% |
88 |
98% |
82 |
100% |
A quick analysis of the above numbers:
1. Yes, I am aware that the King's Order is not really a weapons form
2. Long sword is obviously the most popular of all of the forms used, followed
by back sword and sword and buckler. Note that Rapier and Dagger is used only
in Master's prizes, and even then only 11% of them.
3. The Master's prizes definitely saw more variety, all 8 of the weapons listed
were used in three or more prizes. Provosts used 6 of 8, and Scholars used 5.
4. The extra forms used in the higher level prizes must have been seen as
more difficult and/or flashy, to be so limited.
Weapons used in Challenges
| Weapon |
Number |
| Long Sword |
4 |
| Back Sword |
5 |
| Sword & Buckler |
2 |
| Sword & Dagger |
1 |
| Two Sword |
1 |
| Two Handed Sword |
1 |
| Rapier |
1 |
| Rapier & Target |
1 |
| Rapier & Cloak |
1 |
| Rapier and Dagger |
3 |
| Dagger |
1 |
| Staff |
3 |
| Axe |
2 |
| Pike |
2 |
| Unknown |
5 |
A quick analysis of the challenges
1. The variety of weapons used in challenges (14) almost double the number
used in prizes (8). Forms used here, but not in prizes: Rapier, Rapier &
Target, Rapier & Cloak, Two Sword, Axe, Pike
2. The numbers here are kind of low, so statistical analysis is rough. It
would appear however, that Rapier & Dagger is the most prevalent of the
Rapier forms.
3. These tables don't show it, but the dates on the challenges show Rapiers
being used much earlier in England than other sources give credit for. A
challenge played before Edward VI (1547-1553) shows Rapier & Dagger, but the
first dated use of Rapier in a Prize is 1578, which would be 25-31 years after.
Any observations? Agree? Disagree?
dylan's home page
Last modified on 29 May 1998 (updated for change to iceweasel.org)