Page:MS V.b.104 021r.png

gentlemen as wth dyscretion & reason come to battell, are therin the more couragious. Likewise they that wthout iustice attempt suche an exploite, become vile and cowardlie, doubtinge ever leste God myslikinge, or offended wth their enterprise doth hinder them therin, ffor that againste iustice, they suspect themselues to fighte, and to are easelie vanquished. Onessandro saith that an Emperor ought come to battell, beinge provoked, and not unwillinglie, but allwaies reguardinge truth and iustice, and at laste seinge him selfe wronged before God and men, he shall profess that he is not voluntarilie, but wth the inequitie of his enemies brought to battell, not to the hinderannce of anye, but onlye to the defence of his owne righte. Liuius saith in his firste booke ab urbe condita that battells ought to be performed wth religion and protestacion, and not to vsurpe an other mans goodes, but reasonablie to take it in hande. ffor in suche cases, as combat is taken in hande for favouros iustice victorie insueth. The Decretall doth testyfie that mysfortune and adversitie followeth sinfull attempts. Propertius syth that who so hathe iuste cause to fighte, his force increasethe and to those yt attempte wrongfull battell happeneth the contrarye havinge thus proved in what sorte a man ought come to battell wth iustice, non provoked wth Ire, envie, or perverse will. I saye suche precepts muste be obserued in iustification, as Liuius in his booke ab vrbe condita writeth. That a certeine frenche gentleman of great force voluntarilie provoking Marcus Valerius a gentleman of Rome was by him overcome by reason of an infortunate vision, wch was a raven that descended from heaven in the favour of Valerius. Likewise Metio Tusculano having volyntarilie provoked Tito Mallio to battell was by him oppressed and slaine. And Titus Liuius writeth that one other frenchman likewise provoking the saide Mallio was by him vanquished also. Liuius in his booke De bello punico saithe further that Jubellio a Tarentine, provokinge Claudio Asellio in flienge, was by Jubellio overthrowne. So he writeth of Badeo Campano provokinge Crispino who did not only vanquish Badeo, but also spoyled him of his armes. And Iusimano reporteth the like of Alexander the great, and the kinge Poro his challenger. Oftenest times those yt willingly and wthout necessitie of cause to defende their honnor doe make challenge, in the ende remaine vanquished because