of them ought by wordes to declare their intentions & likewise to answer to thende it maye be knowne whether offers made be receaved or not ffor who so maketh no answere dooth not sufficientlie agree to anie compacte wherfore that gent that was overthrowne and offred him self as a Prisoner yet not pawsinge for answere in killinge his ennemie ought to be victorious.
Of the Honnor Wch is gotten in thexercise of armes, When one disarmeth an other of certein peices, & whether of them doth beste perfourme his parts.
Ca. 7.
Iff a gent dooth call an other to combatt on horsback by agremente that whosoever of them performeth the same beste shall have his ennemie as prisoner for certeine time, wth further gaine betwext them agreed. And comminge in this manner to fight after certeine incounters one of them wth his launce disarmeth the other of his Pauldron or gauntlet, And he that is thus disarmed, disarmeth thennemie of his sheilde. In this case it maye be saide, that he hath gained greatest praise, that hath taken awaye the sheilde, because the sheilde is the cheifest parte of armour. Wheruppon the lawe Ciuile saithe that whatsoever Soldier dooth sell or plaie his sheilde or his sworde deserueth more punishmente then he that selleth or plaieth his horse his Powldron or vambrace. Whatsoever soldier that in fight loseth his cheifest armes, deserueth cheife reproche. Therfore he that loseth his sworde in fighte is more to be blamed then he that loseth his sheilde. he gaineth moste honnor that depriveth his ennemie of his moste principall armes, & the sworde is the Principall & most worthie weapon that can be because knightes be therwthall created & therof take the honnor & dignitie of knighthoode. The Sworde is a martiall instrumente both offensiue & defensive. The Sworde is also a devine Sceptor as Dante the most noble Poet affirmeth saienge La spada non si toglia in fretta et non e uera bataglia doue non interuene la spada. Therfore who so gaineth the sworde of his ennemie dooth get the
