accepte the Challenge, but vnlawfullye refuze to defende his owne honnor by order of Chivalrye, he incurreth eternall shame, and desrueth rightfullye to be pictured and set vp for his cowardice of all ment to be beholded. Also it is lawfull for the Challinger, by what other waies of reproche and disshonnor he can devyse to pursue the saide gentleman that in this sorte shall refuze to take in hande the defence of his owne honnor, as hereafter more at lardge it shall be seene.
What thinges be required in Combat. ca. 3.
To proceede ffurther in this matter, yt were not convenient to omitt the five thinges wch in battell betwext man and man, before they come to fighte are required, as we finde it taught by the Emperor and Mr Baldus of Perugia Doctor in Lawe, discoursinge of suche cases wth the cardinall of Bologna affirmeth the same ffirste yf he that is challenged shalbe suspected and defamed wth the faulte or offence wherwth by the challenger he is openly chardged. Secondlye that the infamie cannot be proued or manifested by witnes of creditt or worthie beleife. Thirdlye that the Challenger be of equall or better condicion then he who is challenged, because it were vnlawfull, that a man of small reputacion might call his better to battell, and therby to make him selfe his equall And seinge it is not lawfull for the inferiour to fight wth one more honnorable then him selfe, therfore equalitie in such case is to be obsrued. ffourthlie That the cause wheruppon he is called to combat be personall, and not anye different cyvile of goodes, but shalbe somme offence
