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his ennemye. So as Aristotle saithe the debitor wissheth ever
his creditor owt of the worlde, also Andrea de Iserina affirmeth
that a personall bonde is a kinde of sruitude, wherfore where a man
hath once entred in bonde to answere his ennemie in personall combatt
wherin he maye perhapps incurre the perills of deathe, captivy:
tie or imprisonmente beinge by his ennemie oppressed, for this reason
they are of vnequall condicion. And seinge combat requireth equali:
tie (as I saide before) yt might happen yt the Challinger beinge only
bounde to the firste may vanquish the seconde defender, and after
be vanquished by the firste, so as the laste defender dooth become pry:
soner to a man vile & infamous. Therfore to aduoide so great an
inconvenience, the first combat shalbe firste performed, the event
wherof shall declare whether the seconde defender ought to fight
or not, for beinge vanquished at the furste, he may be lawfully
refuzed by the seconde. And this is the right resolution of this
doubte. Also who so hath waged battle ought not to enter into a:
nye Iuste, turnament or any other exercyse of armes, wherin
maye happen anye preiudyce to his person, for beinge thorough
anye impedyment hindred at the daye of battle for any cause hap:
peninge thorough his owne defaulte, by doinge that wherto no ne:
cessitie die force him, maye at the daye appointed be iustlie accu:
sed of contumacie, neither shall he be admitted to excuse him
self for this impedymente, but the honnor shalbe wthout respecte
geven to his ennemie, who manfullie at the daye appointed appea:
red in armes readie & preste as to his duetie apperteyned
Therfore euerye man determined to enter into combat ought
to aduoyde all other enterprises and exercyses wherby anye
mishap or disgrace might happen that shall hinder thappoint:
mente because (besides that he shall therby loose the daye) It
may also be coniectured that for cowardice he hath pruposelie
entred into such exercises, to excuse him selfe in not appearing
to fight to his great dishonnor and iuste shame.