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And so he maye lawfullie appointe his Champion of equall condy:
cion, for satisfaction of his honnor. But yf no such Champion
can be had, he shall challenge him on horsbacke, and performe the
combat in person Federico the Emperor made a constitucion yt
a horsman might not challenge a footman, and so the Contrarye
And it seemeth commonly that the horseman dooth not accepte
the ffootemans challendge. The lawe willeth that a footeman
of notable force & courage in armes shalbe reputed equall to a
commune soldier on horsbacke. Somme doe make difference bet:
wext a knight made by the Emperor, and him that tooke that
honnor from the hands of a duke or other inferior lorde But
in exercise of armes for fame or satisfaction of honnor no suche
difference is made, because it is the right of armes to satisfie
a mans owne honnor. lykewise the lawiers were wonte to
make difference betwext him that was borne in the vyllage
and him that was borne in a famous cittie, and that he sholde
be most worthie. But in combatt for honnor, this is not re:
guarded. Baldo saith, yf a gent by nature or birth, be happe:
lie borne brought vp & dwell in the Contrie or village, yet
ought he not to be reputed a villaine, but shall wthout repulce
fight wth anie other gentleman. But the lawe maketh
difference, betwext a knight alredie made, and him that the
Prince commaundeth by deputie to be made in anye campe
or feilde. Manie worthie knights have bene of opinion, that
a villaine become a souldior in seruis & exercise of armes
maye for cause of his honnor in the ffeilde, fight wth anie
gent by birth that serueth on foote, because during the
time of seruice, their exercises are equall as hereafter
shalbe perceived.