Did Shakespeare Hire Sword Masters? (New on YouTube)

Did Shakespeare Hire Sword Masters? (New on YouTube)

In Shakespeare’s England, swords were a common element of basic dress, both for protection of the wearer who might at any time find himself challenged to a duel or need to defend himself against an attack, but also because a sword was part of the costume or daily...
Staging the Fight: Hamlet, Laertes, and the Rapier

Staging the Fight: Hamlet, Laertes, and the Rapier

In 1610, when Shakespeare was 46 years old, Ridalfo Capoferro wrote the definitive work on rapier fencing, which not only enjoyed popularity for over 150 years but remains a reference text for professional fencers today. In that work, he outlined specific techniques...