The rapier to a gentleman meant freedom from the burden of demanding physical labor.   It was a show of wealth and power as well as a symbol of social status.   Gentleman wearing a rapier also showed others that he was ready and able to defend himself and his family.   The rapier was a most dangerous weapon, the effect of which had the equivalent of pulling a handgun out in public today.   It was designed to kill, and once a person was stabbed by a rapier, it usually meant that they would die.   The cost was another factor in the sociability of this weapon.   Rapiers were truly expensive costing anywhere from 100 to 400 pounds which is about the equivalent cost of a new Cadillac today.

Camillo Agrippa (1553) revealed the efficiency of the thrust, rather than the cut, as the basis of all fighting schools.  Unfortunately, his book was only available in Italian therefore his book was only useful to those who speak the language or have translators.  Giacomo Digrassi in 1570 wrote his True Arte of Defence  which was first translated into English in 1594.   Like Agrippa, Digrassi broke the swordplay into logical units -- A scientific approach.  Vincentio Saviolo in 1595 published His Practice in Two Bookes  essentially following Digrassi's previous works on swordplay.   George Silver published Paradoxes of Defense  characterizing a more conservative view of swordplay.   In this work, he showed the apparent 'dangers' and 'imperfections' of Italian swordplay and the 'deceptions' of Italian masters over their students, (A rather xenophobic and prejudiced view of the foreign 'invaders').   Silver advocated the use of the English backsword and the other ancient weapons that the English are stubbornly famous for and refuses to even acknowledge rapiers as a valid weapon.

A gentleman wanting to learn the 'Noble Arte of Defense' would have learned from masters coming from the continent.   Masters such as Bonetti, Jeronimo and Saviolo all set up schools mainly in the Outward and Bankside sections of London.   As in any decent martial art training, Italian 'fencing was taught using Italian terms for the various techniques.   Ranking in a school of defense was similar to the system in the trade guilds.   In order for a student to rise within the school, they would 'play the prize', a pastime as popular as boar and bear baiting.   'Playing the prize' meant showing your skills in front of a crowd to earn your certification and the student was expected to fight various masters with a variety of weapons.   Even multiple and inebriated opponents were fought.  These bouts were often profitable for the students,as spectators often threw money to their favorites.

Becoming a Master was an important step, and as such, playing the Master's prize was a spectacular affair.   Notices were posted as to when and where.   The person vying for mastership fought all day with few rest breaks.   The prize was typically played in very public places where everyone was allowed to watch and even participate.   A master who has attained this rank was a skillful individual indeed.

Companion weapons to the rapier were plentiful, and since shields used in war were too bulky to carry on the streets, other weapons were used in conjunction.   Parrying daggers typically 12 to 18 inches long and rather large hilted were used to parry thrusts and cuts, in addition to providing a secondary means of attack.   The cloak, which every gentleman wore, could be employed to sweep away thrusts and assist in blocking cuts.   A small shield, called the buckler, was easily used in the left hand to block attacks.   It was small enough to be carried on the belt without too much trouble.   As a last resort, the hand could be used to parry thrusts.   It would never be employed to block cuts however without fingers breaking.   Generally, if this method was employed a gloved hand was used, and in the Italies young men would frequently have a heavy leather glove with chain mail attached to assist in fighting.