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Page:MS V.b.104 125r.png
the Iudge & place chosen according to the stile of Chevalrie also when likelye presumptions be against the accused, & by witnes it coulde not be proved (as in one other chapter was before saide) yf anie gentleman be so vanquished cannot in that case alleadge either force or feare because it sholde be his greate reproche when voluntarilie he had taken vppon him to fight before a Sufficient Iudge, where it coulde not be presumed that anie partialitie coulde be founde. ffurther when either partie was sworne that wthout slaunder they sholde defende their righte the confession followinge it cannot be obiected that by force he had saide anye thinge, when before iudicyallie in examination of battle, they fought man to man in defence of their quarrell. yt was confessed when either partie by assente alleadged armes & that he who were overcome sholde be by devine iudgement vanquished. ffor Iustice willeth that who so defendeth vntrouth shalbe beaten doune and truth dooth allwaies put downe the sworde that is drawn against her & taketh awaye his force yt so fighteth wherefore in battle for triall of trouth falshoode is ever oppressed & he that fighteth wth iustice carieth a minde invinsible wth assured hope of victorie wch as the Philosopher saithe ought ever to followe. ffor it may be presumed that God wch fauoureth Iustice commeth from heaven will not defende the wicked. Iustice commeth from heaven & truth springeth from the earth & so the one embraseth the other, in the favoure of truth & disadvauntage of falshoode wch is approved by manie aucthorities as in one other booke in latin I have written. ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ .