Maitland Club > Works of Sir Thomas Urquhart

EK2ICYBAAAYPON. 221
spoile of the reputation of those forraginers, whom the Italians call Tramontani, he, by
the vvay, after his accustomed manner of abording other places, repaired to the city of
Mantua, where the Duke, according to the courtesie usually bestowed on him by other
princes, vouchsafed him a protection and savegard for his person : he, as formerly he
was wont to do, by beat of drum, sound of trumpet, and several printed papers, disclos-
ing his designe, battered on all the chief gates, posts, and pillars of the town, gave all
men to understand, that his purpose was to challenge, at the single rapier, any whoso-
ever of that city or country that durst be so bold as to fight with him, provided he would
deposite a bag of five hundred Spanish pistols over against another of the same value,
which himself should lay down, upon this condition, that the enjoyment of both should
be the conqueror's due. His challenge was not long unanswered, for it happened, at
the same time, that three of the most notable cutters in the world, and so highly cryed
up for valour, that all the bravos of the land were content to give way to their domi-
neering, how insolent soever they should prove, because of their former constantly
obtained victories in the field, were all three together at the court of Mantua, who,
hearing of such a harvest of five hundred pistols to be reaped, as they expected, very
soon, and with ease, had almost contested amongst themselves for the priority of the
first encounterer, but that one of my Lord Duke's courtiers moved them to cast lots
for who should be first, second, and third, in case none of the former two should prove
victorious. Without more adoe, he whose chance it was to answer the cartel with the
first defiance, presented himself within the barriers, or place appointed for the fight,
where, his adversary attending him, as soon as the trumpet sounded a charge, they
jointly fel to work ; and, because I am not now to amplifie the particulars of a combat,
although the dispute was very hot for a while, yet, whose fortune it was to be the first of
the three in the field, had the disaster to be the first of the three that was foyled ; for,
at last, with a thrust in the throat, he was killed dead upon the ground. This, never-
theless, not a whit dismayed the other two, for the nixt day he that was second in the
roll, gave his appearance after the same manner as the first had done, but with no
better success ; for he likewise was laid flat dead upon the place, by means of a thrust
he received in the heart. The last of the three, finding that he was as sure of being
engaged in the fight as if he had been the first in order, pluckt up his heart, knit his
spirits together, and, on the day after the death of the second, most couragiously en-
tering the lists, demeaned himself for a while with great activity and skill ; but at last,
his luck being the same with those that preceded him, by a thrust in the belly, he
within four and twenty hours after gave up the ghost. These, you may imagine,
were lamentable spectacles to the Duke and citie of Mantua, who, casting down their
faces for shame, knew not what course to take for reparation of their honour. The
conquering duellist, proud of a victory so highly tending to both his honour and profit,
for the space of a whole fortnight, or two weeks together, marched daily along the
streets of Mantua, without any opposition or controulment, like another Romulus, or