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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: unhelmed him fairly enough, but my over-girth and breast-strap
burst, and my saddle slipped. I was not unhorsed, I say, and I
lay claim that I unhelmed him."
"Sir," said the Marshal calmly, and speaking in French, "surely
thou knowest that the loss of helmet does not decide an
encounter. I need not remind thee, my Lord, that it was so
awarded by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, when in the jousting
match between Reynand de Roye and John de Holland, the Sieur
Reynand left every point of his helm loosened, so that the helm
was beaten off at each stroke. If he then was justified in doing
so of his own choice, and wilfully suffering to be unhelmed, how
Men of Iron |
