Page:MS V.b.104 122v.png

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 occasyon 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 forasmuche 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 disobedience 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