Sunday, August 8, 2021

Not dead; just bucklering!

Good evening, folks! It has been a bit since I've provided any updates on my Quinto Libro project, which is still ongoing but has taken a backseat to other research pursuits over the spring and summer. The good news, however, is that I will also happily fill pages about those research pursuits! Let me tell you a bit more about what I've been up to.

My pal Marozzo and I have still been spending a good deal of quality time together, because I took an interest in contrasting his sections about sword and buckler with the famous early sword-and-buckler manuscript formerly known as Royal Armouries Manuscript I.33. The resulting paper will likely be a larger ongoing project--why stop at Marozzo when you can review the entire Bolognese system, amirite? If there's interest, I may provide updates here as that research progresses as well.

This paper, incidentally, was submitted for the spring Laurels Challenge, which was a really great collection of projects this year. I also did some research on reconstructing the syllabub, because apple cider is delicious and because nobody stopped me. You are of course welcome to read about those experiments as well, which they are not particularly related to Bolognese sword fighting. Although I would probably stab someone for a good syllabub. 

Getting back on the cavalla (and riding till alba)

 Having run headlong into the end of Capitolo 187 ("Of the Qualities that are Sought in Singular Battles") during my previous tran...