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of them ought by wordes to declare their intentions & likewise to answer
to thende it maye be knowne whether offers made be receaved or not
ffor who so maketh no answere dooth not sufficientlie agree to anie
compacte wherfore that gent that was overthrowne and offred
him self as a Prisoner yet not pawsinge for answere in killinge
his ennemie ought to be victorious.

Of the Honnor Wch is gotten in thexercise of
armes, When one disarmeth an other of certein
peices, & whether of them doth beste perfourme
his parts.

Ca. 7.

Iff a gent dooth call an other to combatt on horsback by
agremente that whosoever of them performeth the same beste
shall have his ennemie as prisoner for certeine time, wth further
gaine betwext them agreed. And comminge in this manner to fight
after certeine incounters one of them wth his launce disarmeth the
other of his Pauldron or gauntlet, And he that is thus disar:
med, disarmeth thennemie of his sheilde. In this case it maye
be saide, that he hath gained greatest praise, that hath taken
awaye the sheilde, because the sheilde is the cheifest parte of
armour. Wheruppon the lawe Ciuile saithe that whatsoever
Soldier dooth sell or plaie his sheilde or his sworde deserueth
more punishmente then he that selleth or plaieth his horse his
Powldron or vambrace. Whatsoever soldier that in fight loseth
his cheifest armes, deserueth cheife reproche. Therfore he
that loseth his sworde in fighte is more to be blamed then he
that loseth his sheilde. he gaineth moste honnor that depri:
veth his ennemie of his moste principall armes, & the sworde
is the Principall & most worthie weapon that can be
because knightes be therwthall created & therof take the
honnor & dignitie of knighthoode. The Sworde is a martiall
instrumente both offensiue & defensive. The Sworde is
also a devine Sceptor as Dante the most noble Poet af:
firmeth saienge La spada non si toglia in fretta et non e
uera bataglia doue non interuene la spada. Therfore
who so gaineth the sworde of his ennemie dooth get the