ABSTRACT
This matter somewhat quickened and more tikeled the waveryng mynd ofkyng Richard, and brought hym into a great fury. But when the water of fumitory was well disgested in his stomacke, he determined to here bothe the parties indifferently, and called to hym the duke of Lancastre and his counsaill, and also the dukes of Herfforde and Norffolk,2 & caused the accusor to report openly the wordes to him declared, whiche rehersed theim again as he had before related to the kyng. When Duke Henry heard the tale otherwise reported then he ether thought or saied, somewhat unquieted for the noveltie of the thyng, or troubled with anger for the untruth of the matter, stode stil & paused a good while lokyng stedfastly upon the king. And after that takyng a good corage to hym, makyng low obeisance, besought his highnes to conceive no mistrust in hym til he had seen & herd more. Then turnyng hymself to his accuser, declared worde by worde what he had said shewyng the cause & occasion why he so spake, deniyng fiersly al the other new invencions alleged & proponed to his charge: affirmyng that if the kyng would permit & suffre hym he would prove his acusor untrue, unjust & a false forger of lies & sedicious tales by the stroke of a spere & dent of a swerd. The duke of Norffolke affirmed constantly his saiyng to be true & refused not the combate. The kyng demaunded of them if thei would agre betwene themselfes,3 whiche thei both denied and threw doune their gages, by my truth quoth the kyng, if you of ourselfes will not agre I will not study how to agre you: and then he graunted them the battaill & assigned the place to be at the citee of Coventree in the moneth of August next ensuyng,4 where he caused a sumpteous theatre and listes royal gorgeously to be prepared ....
