One of the late accounts of a appeal for Fechtschul is found in the “Vollständiges Diarium von der höchst-erfreulichen Crönung des allerdurchlauchtigsten, grossmächtigsten und unüberwindlichsten Fürsten und Herrn, Herrn Franciscus, erwehlten römischen Kaysers” by Jung, 1746. It is the description of the events surrounding the 1745 crowning of Francis I (Francis Stephen; 8 December 1708 – 18 August 1765) as the Holy Roman Emperor. In the diary we find an interesting entry for the 21st September 1745 in Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
Dienstags den 21 September wurde der Fechter Gesellschaft von St. Marco und Löwenberg, welche durch ein Memorial um die Freyheit ihre Ubungen vornehmen zu dürfen, angesuchet, der Bescheid erteilet, daß man ihnen wann sie dazu in einem Privat-Hause einen Platz ausfindig machen könnten, in ihrem Gesuch willfahren wolle. Dergleichen Vergünstigung wurde auch dem Entrepreneur der Italienischen Opera, Petro Mingotti, gegeben, welcher sich um die Erlaubnis ein musikalisches Theatre anzurichten gemeldet hatte.
“Tuesday September 21, the fencer society of St. Marcus and Löwenberg, which to through a memorial asked for the freedom for their exercises, was granted the decision to them, if they could find a place in a private house, one would want to accept their application. Such benefit was also given to the entrepreneur of the Italian Opera, Petro Mingotti, who appealed to be allowed to stage a musical theater.”
It is not known if the fencers had found a place in a private house, usually a big pub or inn, but it is most likely. In the big cities there were always private beer gardens and pubs with stages for public events like fencing schools or similar shows.
Hans Talhoffer 