e to conform
themselves, or else there is no living or looking upon men's faces;
so that we have not to do, in this case, so much with particular
persons as with unsound and depraved opinions, like the dominations
and spirits of the air which the Scripture speaketh of. Hereunto
may be added that men have almost lost the true notion and
understanding of fortitude and valor. For fortitude distinguisheth
of the grounds of quarrels whether they be just; and not only so,
but whether they be worthy; and setteth a better price upon men's
lives than to bestow them idly. Nay, it is weakness and disesteem
of a man's self, to put a man's life upon such ledger performances.
A man's life is not to be trifled away; it is to be offered up and
sacrificed to honorable services, public merits, good causes, and
noble adventures. It is in expense of blood as it is in expense of
money. It is no liberality to make a profusion of money upon every
vain occasion; nor no more is it fortitude to make effusion of
blood, except the cause be of worth. And thus much for the cause of
this evil.

For the remedies. I hope some great and noble person will put his
hand to this plough, and I wish that my labors of this day may be
but forerunners to the work of a higher and better hand. But yet to
deliver my opinion as may be proper for this time and place, there
be four things that I have thought on, as the most effectual for the
repressing of this depraved custom of particular combats.

The first is, that there do appear and be declared a constant and
settled resolution in the State to abolish it. For this is a thing,
my lords, must go down at once or not at all; for then every
particular man will think himself acquitted in his reputation, when
he sees that the State takes it to heart, as an insult against the
King's power and authority, and thereupon hath absolutely resolved
to master it; like unto that which we set down in express words in
the edict of Charles IX. of France, touching duels, that the King
himself took upon him the honor of all that took themselves grieved
or interested for not having performed the combat. So must the State
do in this business; and in my conscience there is none that is but
of a reasonable sober disposition, be he never so valiant, except it
be some furious person that is like a firework, but will be glad of
it, when he shall see the law and rule of State disinterest him of a
vain and unnecessary hazard.

S