went about to make exceptions, that his cause by some means might haue
séemed the sounder. But the duke of Lancaster hearing him so staie at
the matter, sware, that |728| except according to the conditions of
the combat, and the law of armes, he would admit all things in the
indentures comprised, that were not made without his owne consent, he
should as guiltie of the treason foorthwith be had foorth to execution.
The duke with those words woone great commendation, and auoided no
small suspicion that had béene conceiued of him as parciall in the
esquiers cause. The esquier hearing this, said, that he durst fight
with the knight, not onelie in those points, but in all other in the
world whatsoeuer the same might be: for he trusted more to his strength
of bodie, and fauour of his freends, than to the cause which he had
taken vpon him to defend. He was in déed a mightie man of stature,
where the knight among those that were of a meane stature was one of
the least. Freends to the esquier, in whom he had great affiance to be
borne out through their assistance, were the lords Latimer and Basset,
with others.
[Sidenote: The esquire is ouerthrowne.]
Before they entered battell, they tooke an oth, as well the knight as
the esquier, that the cause in which they were to fight, was true, and
that they delt with no witchcraft, nor art magike, whereby they might
obteine the victorie of their aduersarie, nor had about them any herbe
or stone, or other kind of experiment with which magicians vse to
triumph ouer their enimies. This oth receiued of either of them, and
therewith hauing made their praiers deuoutlie, they began the battell,
first with speares, after with swords, and lastlie with daggers. They
fought long, till finallie the knight had bereft the esquier of all his
weapons, and at length the esquier was manfullie ouerthrowne by the
knight. But as the knight would haue fallen vpon the esquier, through
sweat that ran downe by his helmet his sight was hindered, so that
thinking to fall vpon the esquier, he fell downe sideling himselfe,
not comming néere to the esquier, who perceiuing what had happened,
although he was almost ouercome with long fighting, made to the knight,
and threw himselfe vpon him, so that manie thought the knight should
haue beene ouercome: other doubted not but that the knight would
recouer his feet againe, and get the victorie of his aduersarie.
The king in the meane time caused it to be proclamed that they should
staie, and that the knight should be raised vp from the ground, and so
meant to take vp the matter betwixt them. To be short, such were sent
as should take vp the esquier; but comming to the knight, he besought
them, that it might please the king to permit them to lie still, for he
thanked God he was well, and mistrusted not to obteine the victorie,
if the esquier might be laid vpon him, in manner as he was earst.
Finallie, when it would not be so granted, he was contented to be
raised vp, and was no sooner set on his féet, but he cheerfullie went
to the king, without anie mans helpe, where the esquier could neither
stand nor go without the helpe of two men to hold him vp, and therefore
was set in his chaire to take his ease, to see if he might recouer his
strength.
[Sidenote: The esquier fainteth.