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The eighte Booke. ~ . ~

Off chaunces that happen in particular combatts, & of agrements taken betwixte the fighters. ~ . ~ . ~ .

Cap: Primu.

Twoe Gentlemen beinge at deffiaunce doe Accorde to breake tenne launces sharpe, and yt he that in his courses did worste performe his parte sholde Reamine as vanquished. It fortuneth that after certeine cowrses, the one by violence of the others encounter falleth from his horse, notwthstandinge wch fall he offreth to runne owte the reste of the number of launces agreed vppon, the aduersarie refuzeth to doe it sayenge that because he fell from his horse thorough his force the battle is finished and that he wthout further fighte ought to be victorious In this case it is to be demaunded of the Iudge whether his peticion be lawfull or not? The decretall determineth that a combat is not ended by a fall, for as in wrestlinge for certeine falls, yf one fall be geven the victorie is not graunted, so yf a man at armes doe fall from his horse, and sodeinlie recovereth his backe againe he shall not be reputed for vanquished, because in the performance of feates of armes for life & deathe the lawe condemneth none till either the one or the other be deade or yelded, by reason that notwthstandinge the fall wch might happen by mishap he maye possiblie so valiauntlie behave him self as he maye obteine the victorie. Therfore in all combatts for life & death