CHAP. XXVIII.
COPY OF THE SECOND LETTER SENT BY THE DUKE OF GLOCESTER TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.
'HIGH and mighty prince, Philip duke of Burgundy, earl of Flanders, of Artois, and of Burgundy,—I Humphrey duke of Glocester, son, brother and uncle to the kings of England, count of Hainault, of Holland, of Zealand, lord of Frizeland, and high chamberlain to the king of England, have received your letter in form of a placart, addressed to me, and written on the 3rd day of this month; which letter, that it may appear to be from yourself, you have signed with your own hand, and sealed with your signet. The contents of the greater part thereof concern me as little as those of mine did you, addressed and written in my good town of Mons in Hainault, under my signet, the 12th day of January last past, excepting what you say of my refusing to agree to terms of pacification between me and my cousin the duke of Brabant, which is not true; for my very dear and well-beloved brother the regent of France and the whole of the french council, as well as yourself, know how I have acted therein. Should you wish to be ignorant thereof, it is not in your power.
'You say, that I have in my letter wrongfully and falsely offended your honour, by charges therein made, and that you were sufficiently hurt at my attempts against my said cousin the duke of Brabant, without my having attacked your honour and fame. You therefore summon and require of me to recant what I have thus written in my letter, or else you are ready to defend your honour in a personal combat with me. I make known to you, that I hold for true the whole of the contents of my said letter, and shall remain in the firm belief thereof, which has indeed been confirmed by what your people have done and perpetrated in my country of Hainault conformably to the tenour of your summons; nor shall you nor any one force me to recal my words, but with the aid of God, of our lady, and of my lord St George, I will, by personal combat, oblige you to own their truth, before either of the judges you have named, for they are both of them to me indifferent.
'I am equally desirous with yourself that the matter should be brought to a short and speedy issue; but solely because my fair brother is nearest at hand am satisfied to perform the combat before him, and accept of him as judge of the field. Since you leave the appointment of the day of combat to me, I shall fix on the feast of St George next ensuing for that purpose, or any other day more convenient for my brother, when, with God's favour, I shall be ready prepared to meet you without fail.
'Should my said brother decline the office of judge of the field, I am willing that the combat take place before the very high and potent prince the emperor; and should he in like manner decline it, our brother of Oldeberth[5], or any other indifferent person, may be the judge.
'But, as I am doubtful whether you will abide by the terms under your signet, I summon and require of you, by the bearer of this letter, that you send me other terms sealed with your seal, in like manner as I have done to these presents.
'With regard to the duke of Brabant, if you shall dare to say that his right is superior to mine in this present dispute,—I am ready to attack you body to body, on the day above-mentioned, and prove that I have the better right, with the favour of God, of our lady, and of St George. That these presents may appear fully authentic, and to shew that I am resolved to abide by their contents, I have signed my name to them, and have likewise affixed my seal.
'Written in my town of Soignies, the 16th day of March, in the year 1424.'