In the Elizabethan era, there were many such schools around London run by men who were members of The Company of Masters – a guild which provided a framework of training and recognition of skills developed in the art of self-defence.

There were strict rules about how these schools were operated. Like theatres, the Schools of Defence were prohibited within the City walls as the authorities probably feared that high-spirited young men, who were armed to the teeth, might spill on to the City streets and cause mischief! No school was allowed to open near another school without permission – although this rule had lapsed somewhat as there were complaints in the early 17th century about the number of Italians who had set up “schools” around London and who did not seem to be subject to any regulation.

It is thought that the schools of defence had two purposes. Some were to apprentice and train those boys and men from the “yeoman” class who wanted to pursue a career in the military or to become Masters of Defence themselves. Others were regarded as “finishing schools” for young noblemen - places where they would go and learn all the arts of combat. Particularly useful if the family intended to seek military service for their young men. The schools were not just open to anyone. Those suspected or known to be drunks, traitors or criminals were refused entry. Only supervised sword-fighting was allowed. Anyone who engaged in dueling, inside or outside of the school was dismissed. Anyone who harmed another student or Master, in any way, was also dismissed.

“Graduation” from these schools, or promotion through the ranks of skill, took the form of staged public bouts, against several opponents and using many different weapons. The fights were brutal but were supposed to be a test of skill and discipline. Badly injuring an opponent would probably have resulted in a student failing the test. In the main, these bouts must have been successful, as no-one has ever uncovered instances of students being killed during these public displays.

There were four levels of attainment – Scholar, Free Scholar, Provost and Master. To reach the level of Master took many years.

The Schools of Defence reached their pinnacle in the Elizabethan era. Guns had made their mark on the battlefield by the end of the 16th century and skill with the sword was beginning its slow decline. The Schools began to disappear in the 17th century and, by the 18th century, combat with the sword had evolved into the sport of fencing.

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