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A certeine gent beinge pleasantlie dis:
pozed asked of a Philosopher, whether yf a Soldier
sholde challenge a man of lawe or a Philosopher to com:
bat, yf not answeringe therto he sholde be reputed dishonnored
or not. To wch question it was answered, according to the opi:
nion of Aristotle, that ye same was no dishonnor at all. ffor
as the proverbe saith Trattano gli fabri, le cose fabricate
wch importeth, that each man ought to deal in his profession.
Therfore it semeth a thinge vnmeete, that a man practized in
armes sholde challinge him that never ware armoure, nor
knowth wch waie to drawe his sworde, wch were as evell
seminge, as yf a Doctor sholde challenge a Souldier in dis:
putacion. ffor yf a man armed dooth challendge one disar:
med or a woman who accepteth the challendge, though the ar:
med souldier dooth vanquish the other yet shall he gaine
no honnor therby, but rather be marked & reproved for so do:
inge. And yf a Soldier making this Challenge will not be
satisfied, the Philosopher shall as defender chose the Iudge
& weapon, saienge I will come wth one booke in my hande
thow wth an other, and so we will debate our cause before the
Iudge, wherof the soldier shall receave small honnor as
Tullio writeth, for a man vnvsed to weare weapon is resem:
bled to a woman. My self beinge a doctor in lawe was
once Challenged by a gentleman who chardged me to have
taken awaye his lackie, to shome I answered that I founde
no case in my books whch bounde me to accept the combat of
so innocent a Challenger.

If two gentlemen doe geue one Armes
or badge Whether for that cause they
maye come to combatt.

Ca. 27.