the judge demandeth of the accuser whether he hath any more to say
for himself. He answereth that he will try the matter in fight by
his champion, or else entreateth that in fight betwixt themselves
the matter may be ended, which being granted, they both fight it
out; or if both of them, or either of them, seem unfit for that kind
of trial, then they have public champions to be hired which live by
ending of quarrels. These champions are armed with iron axes and
spears, and fight on foot; and he whose champion is overcome is by-
and-by taken and imprisoned and terribly handled, until he agree
with his adversary. But if either of them be of any good calling
and degree, and do challenge one another to fight, the judge
granteth it; in which case they may not use public champions. And
he that is of any good birth doth contemn the other if he be basely
born, and will not fight with him. If a poor man happen to grow in
debt, his creditor takes him, and maketh him pay the debt in working
either to himself or to some other man whose wages he taketh up.
And there are some among them that used willingly to make
themselves, their wives, and children bondslaves unto rich men--to
have a little money at the first into their hands, and so for ever
after content themselves with meat and drink, so little account do
they make of liberty.


OF PUNISHMENTS UPON THIEVES.


If any man be taken upon committing of theft, he is imprisoned, and
often beaten, but not hanged for the first offence, as the manner is
with us; and this they call the law of mercy. He that offendeth the
second time hath his nose cut off, and is burnt in the forehead with