Grassi: Ragione di adoprar l'arme

A freshly published, bibliophile-quality facsimile reprint of the original first edition from 1570.

Giacomo di Grassi was a 16th century Italian fencing master. Little is known about the life of this master, but he seems to have been born in Modena, Italy and acquired some fame as a fencing master in his youth. He operated a fencing school in Treviso and apparently traveled around Italy observing the teachings of other schools and masters.
Ultimately di Grassi seems to have developed his own method, which he laid out in great detail in his 1570 work "Ragione di adoprar sicuramente l'Arme" ("Discourse on Wielding Arms with Safety"). In 1594, a new edition of his book was printed in London under the title "His True Arte of Defence"; this edition was orchestrated by an admirer named Thomas Churchyard, who hired I. G. to translated it, and I. Iaggard to publish it. 

It contains instruction on the single rapier, also with dagger, cloak, buckler, or shield, as well as double rapiers, two-handed sword, polearms, and pike.