Then follow the terms of the challenge:
et apres les trois cops de lance, trois pointes despee, trois pointes de dague, et trois cops de hache a pie.
Every precaution would seem to be taken against the survival of either combatant. The letter closes with due formality:
Escript a Londres le xo jour de Janvier lan de grace mille ccc iiiix(x) et neuf selon le compte de leglise d’Angleterre.
Par le conte Mareschall’ et de Notyngham Sr de Moubray et de Segrave mareschall’ d’Angleterre.
This document, I believe, has not hitherto been known.
And now, when we turn to the ‘Modus,’ we find in the chapter treating “De Casibus et Judiciis difficilibus” a startling statement that, if difficulties arose,—
tunc comes senescallus, comes constabularius, comes marescallus, vel duo eorum, eligent viginti quinque personas de omnibus paribus regni, etc., etc.