Page:MS V.b.104 036v.png

in suche sorte yt by Iustice it maye seme vniuste, and truth by
wordes maye happelie seme vntruthe as it is alredie decla:
red, that men ought to proceede wth great equitie & iustice
we finde yt a certeine gentleman published that whosoever
did speake to contrarie his wordes he wolde call him to
combatt, wherunto one answered, lo here the contrarie, and
beinge in doubt wch of them was provoker, yt was deter:
mined by other gentlemen, yt he who made the publication
ought to be the challenger. Lykewise who so setteth vp anye
writinge against those yt will speake the contrarie
shalbe also challinged, because he therby summoneth the
battle firste, not beinge iniured, and therfore he is a
willfull provoker. ffor wch reason manie times thease
voluntarie challengers become losers.

If a Lorde of a Signorie be re:
quired to graunte th Combatt
whether he maye iustlie do it.

Ca. 11.

Iff a Lorde or Prince be sued vnto, to gr:
aunte place for combatt, yt is demannded yf
by iustice in armes he ought to doe it or not?
wherto is answered no. Because he ought
not to permitt manslaughter amongest his owne tennants
but rather shall wth suche reasonable meanes as he maye
make peace or truse betwene the parties, or cause amendes
to be made to to him yt is iniured, Yet a kinge or Prince
seinge a man wth great infamie provoked (wherof he
cannot clere him selfe) but only by force of armes. Then
by order of Chevalrie the combat ought to proceeded, for
purgacion of the honnor of him, that is iniuried by infamie
and speciallie yf the same concerneth treason murder &
suche lyke grevous offence, or for honnor in somme other
respecte, wch he estemeth aboue all other thinges. Like
wise