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that the Consulls appointed to the administracion of Iustice in
the common weale had continuallie borne before them a bundle
of small wandes or roddes tied together wth a Corde, manie times
straightlie bounde abowt them wherby to put them in minde that
yf anye Consull hapned to fall into collor or anger & therin desy:
red to punish, that then he sholde not performe his entent therin
vntill such time as this bundell were vntied in wch space his
anger might happelie decrease. Dante the Poet saieth, that
the sworde of God dooth not cutt in haste, because yf it be
founde by Iudges electe or the lookers on that this man was
guiltie of disobedience to the Prince, or yt he refuzed to
sweare, wherby his excuse of innocencye sholde seme feigned
that then he sholde be grevouslie punished, as a traitor &
lawfullie vanquished. And the other vnlawfullie hurte
to receive the honnor as obedient & victorious, seinge he did
euer keepe the feilde, wch is allwaies reputed a thinge very
honnorable, and in all combatts iuste & worthie commenda:
cion. ffor no man vppon any cause vniuste or other ought to
forsake the feilde, till the Iudge hath pronounced Iudgement
because the possession of the feilde hath alwaies bene great
reputacion and cheiflie to him that gained victorie.

Of a matche of seauen men at Armes
against the Like nomber.

Ca. 32.

In a matche of seaven knightes against seaven others
for triall of virtue & glorie, wth agrement wch
parte did best performe the enterprise that the same
sholde be adiudged to their honnor It hapened that five of
the one partie did worthelie behave them selues, & the
other two of that side were vnhorsed & fell to the ground
by force of two others on the contrarie part, whose other
five fellowes did verie evell, bothe in fowle ronninge &
losse of launces. The question is whether partie ought