ute, and one acceptable to God: one in
which the justice of the quarrel decided, more than the strength or
skill of the combatants. We have proved that there could have been no
grounds for Henry's supposing that he was sending a challenge to a
youth enervated by sickness; and the difference of age alleged now, at
length, in disparagement of Henry's valour, would have been scouted by
all the good knights of Christendom, had it been pleaded as an apology
for the Dauphin declining the challenge. Surely it indicates a
conviction that the points in which the character of a man, famed for
bravery and justice, is assailable, are few and unimportant, when such
frivolous attacks as this are made on his fair fame.

HENRY'S CHALLENGE TO THE DAUPHIN may be thus translated:-- (p. 154)

Henry, by the grace of God, King of France and England, Lord of
Ireland, to the high and mighty Prince, the Dauphin of Vienne,
our cousin, eldest son of the most mighty Prince, our cousin and
adversary of France. Whereas, from reverence to God, and to avoid
the shedding of human blood, we have many times and in many ways
followed and sought for peace, and have not been able to possess
it, yet our desire to secure it increases more and more; and well
considering that our wars are followed by the death of men, the
destruction of countries, the wailings of women and children, and
so many evils generally as every good Christian must lament and
pity, especially ourselves, whom this affair most affects, as it
does, to take all pains and diligence to find every means within
our knowledge to avoid the above-mentioned evils and distresses,
and to acquire the grace of God and the praise of the world. And,
since we have thought and advised, it has seemed to us,
considering it has pleased God to visit our cousin with
infirmity, that the remedy rests upon us and you. And to the end
that every one might know that we withdraw not ourselves from it,
nor from our part in it, we offer you to put our whole quarrel,
with God's grace, between our person and yours. And if it should
seem to you that you cannot agree to this, because of the
interest which you conceive our cousin, your father, has in it,
we declare to you in this our intention, that if you will
entertain it, and engage in it, we are well pleased that our said
cousin, for our re