1 14 CHARGE AGAINST DUELS. 



of state disinterest him of a vain and unnecessary 



hazard. 



Secondly, Care must be taken that this evil be no 

 more cockered, nor the humour of it fed ; wherein I 

 humbly pray your lordships that I may speak my 

 mind freely, and yet be understood aright. The 

 proceedings of the great and noble commissioners 

 martial I honour and reverence much, and of them 

 I speak not in any sort ; but I say the compounding of 

 quarrels, which is otherwise in use by private noble 

 men and gentlemen, it is so punctual, and hath such 

 reference and respect unto the received conceits, 

 what s before-hand, and what s behind-hand, and I 

 cannot tell what, as without all question it doth, in a 

 fashion, countenance and authorize this practice of 

 duels, as if it had in it somewhat of right. 



Thirdly, I must acknowledge that I learned out 

 of the king s last proclamation,the most prudent and 

 best applied remedy for this offence, if it shall please 

 his majesty to use it, that the wit of man can devise. 

 This offence, my lords, is grounded upon a false con 

 ceit of honour, and therefore it would be punished 

 in the same kind, &quot; in eo quis rectissime plectitur, in 

 &quot; quo peccat.&quot; The fountain of honour is the king 

 and his aspect, and the access to his person conti- 

 nueth honour in life, and to be banished from his 

 presence is one of the greatest eclipses of honour that 

 can be; if his majesty shall be pleased that when this 

 court shall censure any of these offences in persons 

 of eminent quality, to add this out of his own power 



