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Off the order of Iustes & publique
Turniamentes

Ca. 9.

It is written that in the noble Cittie of Naples it hap:
ned that a worthie knight and Citizen there named Piero Earle
of Mountderise in publique Iuste encounteringe wth his ennemie
receaved so stronge & violent a blowe, that he became disarmed
of shielde gorgett & Curatts, his sheilde & helmett falling to
the grounde and he lefte on horsbacke in his dublet wthout anye
hurte at all. At wch incounter the saide Piero by breakinge the
girthes of his aduersaries horse ouerthrew him to the grounde
The question in this case was demaunded whether of them de:
serued moste honnor or rather who sholde receave greatest re:
proche, wherto by a certeine grave knight it was answered, that
he was most faultie, that fell from his horse, thoughe he had ge:
ven a violent blow & disarmed his ennemie, yet the greater
dishonnor was his because, (exceptinge death) to fall from horse
is the chefest reproche that maye be, yea though the horse be in
fault therof. Therfore a lesse dishonnor it is when a man falleth
not the horse, then where the man falleth alone. Albeit a gent
in the beginninge of a Turney or other exercise of armes beha:
ueth him selfe better then others, yet yf in thende he happen to
be overthrowne he maye not receave anye honnor, but wthout
prise shalbe reproued and denied of victorie. In like manner yf
two soldiers doe fighte on foote, yf anie of them by the violence
of thennemie doe touche grounde wth his hande he shalbe dishono:
red. In a Course at the tilte or turneye he deserueth more honnor
that runneth or striketh at the heade, then he that breaketh or
striketh lower. ffor the higher a man ronneth the more praise
he deserueth, and who so ronneth to lowe, is not only not praised
but also reproued, he that cunneth faire, & aptlie governeth his
launce meriteth more commendacion thoughe he breake not, then
he that disorderlie and wthout good grace dooth happen to break
Amonge men at armes, he is estemed moste, that breaketh hiest,
and most amazeth his ennemie, and that hath the beast seate
on horseback, & that most conninglie governeth his horse, &
that weareth his armor wth good grace, yf at one incounter the