It was, however, during the first half of the eighteenth century that bull-fighting on a popular basis, as understood and practised at the present day, took its start. Then there stepped upon the enclosed arena the first professional _Toréro_ amidst thrilling plaudits from tier above tier of encircling humanity. Never before had the bull been taken on by a single man on foot armed only with his good sword and scarlet flag--with these to pit his strength and skill against the weight and ferocity of a _toro bravo_--alone and unaided to despatch him. Such a man was Francisco Romero, erewhiles a shoemaker at Ronda--A.D. 1726--first professional _lidiador_. On his death at an advanced age, he left five sons, all craftsmen of repute, who, in honour of their sire, formed a bull-fighting guild still known as the Rondénean School--distinguished from the later Sevillian cult by its more serious and dignified attack as compared with the prettiness and "swagger" of the Sevillano. In that generation Francisco's son, Pedro Romero, appeared in rivalry with PEPE-ILLO, the new-risen star in the Sevillian firmament. It was, by the way, the master-mind of the latter which completed and perfected the reorganisation on popular lines of the national _fiesta_ after Bourbon influence had alienated the aristocracy from their ancient diversion. The rivalry between these competing exponents of the two styles commenced in 1771, the pair representing each a supreme mastery of their respective schools, and only terminated with the death of Pepe-Illo in the Plaza of Madrid, May 11, 1801. The Sevillian style has since attained pre-eminence, appealing more to the masses by its nonchalance and apparent disregard of danger. When the best features of both schools are combined--as has been exemplified in more than one brilliant exponent of the art--then the letters of his name are writ large on the _cartels_. One other famous name of that epoch demands notice--that of Costillares, who introduced the flying stroke distinguished as the _suerte de volapié_. Hitherto all _lidiadors_ had received the onset of the bull standing--the _suerte de recibir_. In the _volapié_ the charging bull is met half-way, an exploit demanding unswerving accuracy, strength of arm, and exact judgment of distance, since the spot permissible for the sword to enter, the target on the bull's neck, is no bigger than an orange. The normal difficulty of sheathing the blade at that exact point on a charging bull is great enough; but is vastly increased in the _volapié_, or flying stroke, and the effect produced on the spectators emotional in the last degree. Costillares also formalised the costumes of the different classes of bull-fighters. He flourished in 1760, and died of a broken heart owing to his right arm being injured, which incapacitated him from further triumphs. About that period Martinho introduced the perilous pole-jump, and José Candido stood out prominent for skill and extraordinary resource.