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to the Romaines, And beinge of valiaunt minde readie to
performe his honnor, wthout deliberation or stoic to desire
his ffathers assent beinge Consull, accepted the Challenge
and vanquished thennemie. ffor wch doinge his father
wthoug respect did cause him to be behedded, only for tran:
sgressinge the decre of the consull his ffather, whoe
commaunded that no man sholde accept the combat wth:
out licence, first obteined we see therfore that Tito
Manlio was more ielous of his honnor then of his lief
& was more readie to hazarde his person then wth dishon:
nor to save his lief. This death of Manlio as all noble
mindes doe thinke is eternall life, who in respecte of his
owne honnor despized all deathes. And this I write for
such as absente them selues and lose their honnors.
Notwthstandinge yf the defendr thinketh the Challingr
vnworthie to be answered and dishonnorable sayenge I
will not come to combat, but yf thow have ought to saye
come before the Iudge and I will answere the reason
As a Florentine historiographer writeth of a certeine
Almaine who provoketh Mario the Romaine wch
Mario answered. If thow be desirous to die, thow maiste
by hanginge thy selfe eschewe the Combatt. The like
Plutarcho writeth of Ottanio who beinge provoked
by Marco Antonio saide, thow haste a hundred waies
to death I praye the forbeare this. But to conclude
I saye it is at the choise of the defender to accept the
quarrell, or wth culloured answeres to refuze it as
Ottanio and Mario did.

If a knighte dooth challenge
a Philosopher Whether he be bounde
to answere.

Ca. 26.