ad THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1553- 



and the answere of the defendant, are in maner of 



petition delivered to the Emperour, intreating justice 

 at his hands. The Emperour himselfe heareth every 

 great controversie, and upon the hearing of it, giveth 

 judgement, and that with great equitie, which I take to 

 be a thing worthy of speciall commendation, in the 

 Majestie of a Prince. But although he doe this with 

 a good purpose of mind, yet the corrupt Magistrates 

 do wonderfully pervert the same : but if the Emperour 

 take them in any fault, he doeth punish them most 

 severely. Now at the last, when ech partie hath defended 

 his cause with his best reasons, the Judge demandeth of 

 the accuser, whether he hath any more to say for him- 

 selfe : he answereth, that he will trie the matter in fight 

 by his Champion, or else intreateth, that in fight betwixt 

 themselves the matter may be ended : which being 

 graunted, they both fight it out : or if both of them, or 

 either of them seeme unfit for that kinde of triall, then 

 they have publike Champions to be hired, which live 

 by ending of quarrels. These Champions are armed with 

 yron axes, and speares, and fight on foote, and he whose 

 Champion is overcome, is by and by taken, and im- 

 prisoned, and terribly handled, untill he agree with his 

 adversarie. But if either of them be of any good calling, 

 and degree, and doe challenge one another to fight, the 

 Judge granteth it : in which case they may not use 

 publike Champions. And he that is of any good birth, 

 doth contemne the other, if he be basely borne, and 

 wil not fight with him. If a poore man happen to grow 

 in debt, his Creditor takes him, & maketh him pay the 

 debt, in working either to himselfe, or to some other 

 man, whose wages he taketh up. And there are some 

 among them, that use willingly to make themselves, their 

 [I. 253.] 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 meate and drinke : 

 so little accompt doe they make of libertie. 



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