The Broughton Rules

History of Boxing, from page 81 and 82 of The Sporting Magazine or, Monthly Calendar- October 1792
In fine, the public and the amateurs in general, ſiding with Broughton, Taylor and his confederates finding themſelves deſerted, ſoon entered into a coalition with him, and were engaged by Broughton, under articles; to fight on no other ſtage : and in this engagement they found their account. Mr. Broughton being now conſtituted ſole manager, began to think about the neceſſary laws and regulations for his ſtage : and, accordingly, with the advice and approbation of ſeveral gentlemen, ſeven principal rules were drawn up; as theſe are not extant in any of the hiſtories of boxing, we have carefully collected them for the gratification of our readers.--They are as follows:
Rules to be obſerved in all Battles on the Stage, as agreed to by ſeveral Gentlemen at Mr. Broughton's, Auguſt 16, 1743.
I. That a ſquare of a yard be chalked in the middle of the ſtage; and on every freſh ſet-to after a fall, or being parted from. the rails, each ſecond is to bring his man to the fide of the ſquare, and place him oppoſite to the other, and till they are fairly fet-to at the line, it ſhall not be lawful for the one to ſtrike the other.
II. That in order to prevent any diſputes the time a man lies after a fall, if the ſecond does not bring his man to the ſide of the ſquare within the ſpace of half a minute, he ſhall be deemed a beaten man.
III. That in every main battle no perſon whatever ſhall be upon the ſtage, except the principals and their ſeconds; the ſame rule to be obſerved in bye-battles, except that in the latter, Mr. Broughton is allowed to be on the ſtage to keep decorum, and affiſt gentlemen to get to their places; provided always he does not intefere in the battle ; and whoever pretends to infringe theſe rules to be turned immediately out of the houſe. Every body is to quit the ſtage as ſoon as the champions are ſtripped, before they ſet-to.
IV. That no champion be deemed beaten, unleſs he fails coming up to the line within the limited time; or that his own ſecond declares him beaten. No ſecond is to be allowed to aſk his man's adverſary any queſtions, or adviſe him to give out.
V. That in bye-battles the winning man to have two-thirds of the money given, which ſhall be publicly divided- upon the ſtage, notwithſtanding any pri vate agreement to the contrary.
VI. That to prevent diſputes in every main battle, the principals ſhall, on their coming on the ſtage, chooſe from among the gentlemen preſent, two umpires, who ſhall abſolutely decide all diſputes that may ariſe about the battle; and if the two umpires cannot agree, the ſaid umpires to chooſe a third, who is to deter mine it.
VII. That no perſon is to hit his adverſary when he is down, or ſeize him by the hair, the breeches, or any part below the waiſt : a man on his knees to be reckoned down.

 

Has anyone found Broughton's rules written out earlier than this?

 

Those were similar, but later.

 

Bump