The rewards of the victors consisted of money collected from the spectators ; and when they happened to be slaves, theyre ceived the pileus, or cap, denoting that from that moment they became free ; or the rudis, or wand, which signified their services, as gladiators, were thenceforth dispensed with, whether slaves or free men. It was customary for the persons thus situated either to become Lanistx, or to suspend their arms in the Temple of Hercules.
There are few nations which have not imitated this strange custom, in a greater or less degree, at different periods of their history ; and less than a century past there were gladiators in London, who fought and bled, but never killed each other.— Malcolm's Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of this great Metropolis con tains numerous particulars relating to those modern swords-men, whose exer tions were rivalled by several females in the art of boxing and cutting. One of their challenges, from the publication al luded to,will be a proper conclusion to this article. "In Islington Road, on Monday, being the 17th of July, 1727, will be per formed a trial of skill by the following combatants : We, Robert Barker and Mary Welsh, from Ireland, having often contaminated our swords in the abdominous corporations of such antogonists as have had the insolence to dispute our skill, do find ourselves once more necessitated to challenge, defy-, and invite Mr. Stokes,
and his bold Amazonian virago, to meet us on the stage ; where we hope to give a satisfaction to the honourable lord of our nation, who has laid a wager of twenty guineas on our heads. They that give the most cuts to have the whole money, and the benefit of the house. And if swords, daggers, quarter-staff, fury, rage, and resolution will prevail, our friends shall not meet with a disappointment"— " We, James and Elizabeth Stokes, of the city of London, having already gained an universal approbation by our agility of body, dextrous hands, and courage ous hearts, need not preambulate on this occasion, but rather choose to exercise the sword to their sorrow, and corroborate the general opinion of the town, than to follow the custom of our repartee antago nists. This will be the last time of Mrs. Stokes performing on the stage. There will be a door on purpose for the recep tion of the gentlemen, where coaches may drive up to it, and the company come in without being crowded. Attendance will be given at three, and the combatants mount at six. They all fight in the same dresses as before."