Off the order of Iustes & publique Turniamentes. ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ .
Ca. 9.
It is written that in the noble Cittie of Naples it hapned that a worthie knight and Citizen there named Piero Earle of Mountderise in publique Iuste encounteringe wth his ennemie receaved so stronge & violent a blowe, that he became disarmed of shielde gorgett & Curatts, his sheilde & helmett falling to the grounde and he lefte on horsbacke in his dublet wthout anye hurte at all. At wch incounter the saide Piero by breakinge the girthes of his aduersaries horse ouerthrew him to the grounde The question in this case was demaunded whether of them deserued moste honnor or rather who sholde receave greatest reproche, wherto by a certeine grave knight it was answered, that he was most faultie, that fell from his horse, thoughe he had geven a violent blow & disarmed his ennemie, yet the greater dishonnor was his because, (exceptinge death) to fall from horse is the chefest reproche that maye be, yea though the horse be in fault therof. Therfore a lesse dishonnor it is when a man falleth not the horse, then where the man falleth alone. Albeit a gent in the beginninge of a Turney or other exercise of armes behaueth him selfe better then others, yet yf in thende he happen to be overthrowne he maye not receave anye honnor, but wthout prise shalbe reproued and denied of victorie. In like manner yf two soldiers doe fighte on foote, yf anie of them by the violence of thennemie doe touche grounde wth his hande he shalbe dishonored. In a Course at the tilte or turneye he deserueth more honnor that runneth or striketh at the heade, then he that breaketh or striketh lower. ffor the higher a man ronneth the more praise he deserueth, and who so ronneth to lowe, is not only not praised but also reproued, he that runneth faire, & aptlie governeth his Launce meriteth more commendacion thoughe he breake not, then he that disorderlie and wthout good grace dooth happen to break Amonge men at armes, he is estemed moste, that breaketh hiest, and most amazeth his ennemie, and that hath the beast seate on horseback, & that most conninglie governeth his horse, & that weareth his armor wth good grace, yf at one incounter the
