"Prior to the era of the musketeers. Even prior to the time of Shakespeare. The sword was the side piece and status symbol of the gentleman, throughout Europe. During the 15th and 16th centuries, a famous school of fence was established in Bologna, Italy.The father of this tradition was a Professor of mathematics at the University and was given license to establish a school of fencing. This school lasted for two centuries, culminating in the work of Giovanni dall'Agocchie who influenced the later master Ridolfo Capoferro. In Victorian times, this style of combat was resurrected by Sir Alfred Hutton. This book is a study manual for the Bolognese style of combat."--