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Of a certeine knighte that brought to the
feilde, a ball of artificiall fire wch
caste Uppon the grounde kept backe
the ennemies horse.

Ca. 34.

A gent called to combatt for life vppon breach of
faithe, or defiaunce of honnor or somme other iuste occasy:
on presenteth him selfe wth launce & sworde to mainteine
the quarrell vppon the defender. And comminge into the lists
findeth the defender there havinge certeine balls of steele full
of small holes, & wthin them burninge fire, wch balls he threwe
vppon the grounde stayenge him selfe behinde them. By subtlety
of wch artificiall fire the horse of the challinger grewe afraide
& notwthstandinge manie spurrings, refuzed to approch the
defender, but rather thorough increasinge feare, did more & more
against his masters will retire. The craftie knight seinge
theffecte of thease balls havinge store of them, from time
to time, duringe all the daye threwe downe anewe, & so till
thende of the daye saued him selfe. The question is wch
of them ought to be victorious. It might be saide that foras:
muche as it was agreed that wth launce & sworde only the
trouth sholde be tried, that therfore the artificiall device
of the defender, cannot be preiudiciall to the reputacion of
the Challinger, comminge like a valiaunt knight wth weopon
meete for a soldier, & that the defendr hath declared diso:
bedience in not presentinge him self wth armes according to
promise, wherin he hath omitted duetie & shewed points
of cowardice by seminge to flie the fighte & exercise of true
armes, wheras the other boldlie & redelie appeared orderly
wherfore he ought to receave the honnor & victorie as
thoughe he had bene victorious. And the defender faylinge
of the perfourmance of his promise ought doubtles to lose
the honnor for not havinge answered accordinge to covennte
but as it were retiringe behinde a wall of fire in the presence