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And forasmuche as I determine to write ye
quallitie and mannor of fighte for life betwext
gentlemen, we saye that the challinger is constrained to
fighte wth him when he challengeth accordinge to the
disposition of his person, and not his owne commoditie, so
as yf the defender be a man at armes, and a skillfull horse:
man, and the challenger a soldier on foote, yet muste he per:
forme his combatt on horsback, and not contende wth him
on foote. And albeit he hath not bene accustomed to
fighte on horsback, and therfore altogether ignorannte,
yf the defender will needelye fighte on horsback for triall
of iustice, yet the challenger cannot refuze himm, because
in suche combatte he ought to frame him selfe to the will
of him whome he hath challenged, for he hath the pre:
rogative in chosinge the weapon. It is likewise when ye
defender professeth armes on foote, and the challenger
on horsbacke, he shalbe forced to fighte on foote, because ye
election is in the defendr to determine in what sort he will
fighte. Also yf the defender hath anye of his members may:
med, as one of his eies, his arme, legge or anye other parte
of his bodie: The challenger ought diuers dayes before the
combat in such sort vse one of his owne, like vnto the defenders
that at the daye of battell, he maye appeare wthout advan:
tage to fighte, as for example, yf the defender wanteth one
of his eies, then shall the challinger, likewise blinde one of
his by somme device, and fight wth the sighte of one onlye eie
open. Also yf the defender that hath but one arme be pvo:
ked by him that hath booth, the provoker shall binde one of
his in such sorte as no helpe can come therof to him in
battell. But yf the defendor doe finde him selfe fre in every
parte from impediments and hurtes, and the challinger de:
prived of the vse of somme member of his, yet the defendor
is not bounde to deprive him selfe the vse of his owne members
but to fight wth all his force, accordinge to his owe powre
and not like the state of the challenger, who knowinge him
selfe sounde and dyspozed, wolde provoke somme lame or
maymed person, assuringe him selfe therby of victorie
thoughe against right he taketh the matter in hannde