The instructions for the scholar’s defensive and scholar’s offensive are not at all easy to interpret, as Mathewson uses an odd phrase- "the scholar doubles one, two, three"- without fully explaining it. He does say, "Doubling for the head is done in the same manner as throwing and slipping the leg," but the instructions are still ambiguous. Therefore the interpretation of this section is speculative.

All cuts are performed on the lunge unless otherwise specified. Note that Mathewson does not use the slip with every parry as Angelo does.

These instructions are for the scholar’s defensive. To perform the scholar’s offensive, simply change places.

The scholar throws a cut for the head and the master slips and parries on the hanging guard.

The master throws a cut for the outside of the arm and the scholar parries on the outside guard.

Both the scholar and the master recover to an inside guard and pause.

The scholar throws a cut for the head and the master slips and parries on the hanging guard.

The master throws a cut for the inside of the arm and the scholar parries on the inside guard.

Both swordsmen pause.

The scholar throws a cut for the head and the master slips and parries on the hanging guard.

The master throws a cut for the outside of the leg and the scholar slips and simultaneously throws a cut for the head, lunging as the cut is completed.

The master slips quickly, and parries on the hanging guard.

The master throws a cut for the head.

The scholar slips and parries on the hanging guard.

Both the scholar and the master recover to an inside guard and pause.

The scholar throws a cut for the head and the master slips and parries on the hanging guard.

The master throws a cut for the inside of the leg and the scholar slips and simultaneously throws a cut for the head, lunging as the cut is completed.

The master slips quickly, and parries on the hanging guard.

The master throws a cut for the head.

The scholar slips and parries on the hanging guard.

The master recovers on a hanging guard.

Both swordsmen take an inside guard and pause.

The scholar throws a cut for the head and the master slips and parries on the hanging guard.

The master throws a cut sideways for the inside of the body or face and the scholar slips and parries on the inside guard.

The scholar throws a cut for the head and the master slips and parries on the hanging guard.

The master throws a cut for the head.

The scholar slips and parries on the hanging guard.

The master recovers on a hanging guard.

Both swordsmen take an inside guard and pause.

It is possible to interpret Mathewson’s instructions to mean that the cuts to the leg should be parried with the sword. However, Plate 8 shows an illustration of the cut for the thigh or leg being avoided by the slip on a hanging guard. Also, as Mathewson says, "the leg being moved back in place of guarding with the sword is allowed by the best fencers to be preferable." Furthermore, he instructs the swordsman who performs the leg cut to slip back quickly on a hanging guard, which implies that there is a simultaneous counterattack to the head, from which he must defend himself. If this is the case, the leg cut section of this text is identical with Lesson One of Angelo’s Highland broadsword exercise.