The Grand Salute of the Highland Broadsword

The Highland Officer says "The salute has long been established in the schools as a piece of politeness, and an indication that the parties are friendly, and profess not the least rancour towards each other. It is most essentially necessary for the scholar frequently to practice the salute; it gives him a graceful and easy carriage, and enables him to manage his sword, and change to the different guards with facility, ease, and safety."

This salute is very complicated, and the Highland Officer’s instructions are not easy to understand. Its purpose seems to be to practice the guards and cuts while demonstrating grace and etiquette in the salle.

• The swords are laid across each other on the ground, with the inside of the hilt facing the right.

• Fix your eyes on your adversary’s eyes, with your hands hanging at your side, your heels together, and your toes turned out, two paces away from your sword.

• Step forward with your left foot, followed by your right, bringing you close enough to reach your sword.

• Keeping your left leg straight, sink down by bending your right knee as you make the step with the right foot described above. As you do this, join the back of your hand with your adversary’s, and as you sink down to reach for the sword, separate your hands slowly so as to form a figure eight, timing it so that you finish by bringing your right hand down to the sword hilt.

• Sink down on both knees as you would do when on guard, and raise the sword, with your left hand beside your head as it would be when on guard.

• Perform a figure eight cut with the sword, using the wrist only.

• Draw the right foot back to the left heel, while lowering the left hand to take the sword by the hilt

• The sword should rest on the left arm with the point upward and the inside of the hilt inclined to the right.

• Step forward with your right foot and shake hands with your adversary while "regarding him steadfastly."

• Recover, taking the sword into your right hand again.

• Draw back the left foot while making a figure eight cut, and come to an inside guard.

• Raise the right foot a little while changing to an outside guard to the outside of your adversary’s blade, letting your foot fall as you join blades.

• Perform another figure eight cut.

• Change to a medium guard, with your blade to the inside of your adversary’s.

• Change to a hanging guard, with your blade to the outside of your adversary’s. ("falling back as before.")

• Draw the right foot back obliquely, parallel with the left, while performing a figure eight cut, and come to a St George’s guard.
• Pass the left foot behind the right, coming to an inside guard.

The salute taught by Thomas Mathewson is different from that described by the Highland Officer, but it is nearly as elaborate and difficult to interpret.

Mathewson says that the salute should be taught "when the scholar is perfect master of all his lessons," before he begins loose play.

Begin on slope swords, at a regular distance from your adversary, facing forward.

Make cuts one and two (the downwards figure eight) four times, then lunge to your right with your sword arm fully extended and your left arm straightened behind you, so that your palm faces forward.

Return to slope swords.

Make cuts one and two (the downwards figure eight) four times, then lunge to your left with your right foot, with your sword arm fully extended and pointed to the left, and your left arm straightened behind you, so that your back is towards your opponent.

Return to slope swords.

Make cuts one and two (the downwards figure eight) four times, then step back with your right foot behind your left, so that your left flank is towards your adversary.

Take your sword by the fort with your left hand, step forward with your right foot, and shake hands with your adversary.

Step back with your right foot behind your left, take the sword in your right hand, step forward again with your right foot, and fence.