Layton, Rules (1835)
RULES AND ORDERS.
Art.1: That the company being met at the appointed time, at the house specified in the Circular hand bill, some person ought to be employed to take down the names of those who wish to wrestle for the above mentioned prizes.
Art.2: That the wrestlers, to the number stated in the circular bill, they shall be cut off into tickets and doubled up single.
Art.3 That the persons entering the ring with the tickets, they must stop for a few minutes till all the spectators are stationed, and one or more of the wrestlers have an opportunity to observe that the tickets are drawn fairly.
Art. 4: That as soon as the two persons are drawn, that are to play the first fall, they shall be immediately called aloud for around the ring, until they both answer to their names; and either or both of them shall, if required, satisfy each other that he have only on pair of stockings on his legs and nothing else to prevent blows from kicking; and at the same time their shoes shall be fairly examined, by one or more of the spectators, to see hat they are equally fair, as no nailed shoes are allowed to be played with, on any account whatever. The combatants shall each provide himself with a good jacket, and the ring shall be ordered to be immediately cleared, and while the first couple are playing their fall, another couple shall be drawn in readiness, to begin playing when that is over.
Art. S: That the two men on setting too, shall each of them take fair hold, and go to work till one be indisputably brought to the ground by his adversary (any fall on the knee and over including on a hand, if from a fair position, is counted). But if so happen that they shall play the best of half an hour, sixteen minutes and upwards, so as they both fall disputably, that fall shall be played over again, or decided by tossing. But, on the other band, after playing the above-mentioned time, and one catch his adversary a good
visible clear Loose Leg (or other recognized technique), and fall disputably with his adversary, the man that first catch, shall be the conqueror; because as I before observed, it not being sound and safe play he hazard it, and by that means rid the fall; but if this takes place in less than sixteen minutes, after the first Commencement, the fall in dispute to be played over again, in either of both cases.
At 6: The second and third rounds being over (elimination bouts) according to the Articles, then comes die contest for the separate prizes (the second play, the Standards): which if twenty-four men play; only he that is left out, as you may term it, for second best, stands the best chance of winning the prize.