Hope of Scotland
Picasso he ain’t….
William Hope’s Scots Fencing Master, or Compleat small-swordman, in which is fully described the whole Guards, Parades, and Lessons belonging to the Small-Sword &c., Edinburgh: John Reid, 1687 is not exactly an example of indigenous Highland swordsmanship. Rather, it is a practical adaptation of Continental practices embraced by an ardent amateur swordsman.
For those of you interested in the text, I can recommend Mark Rector’s book Highland Swordsmanship.
For those interested in a closer look at the weapon to be used… how about this:
Thanks for putting up something about my favourite master.
IIRC Hope wasn’t particularly pleased with those pictures. Having to make do with less than ideal illustrations for one’s book or article is a problem that still troubles us now. Hope was, of course, a lowlander and the text in Mr. Rector’s book is from another of his works, the “New, Short and Easy Method of Fencing,” which describes a significantly different style of fencing.