r--Peruse this letter, in God's name. Be not disquieted.
I reverence your hoary hair. Although in your son I find too
much folly and lewdness, yet in you I expect gravity and
wisdom.

"It hath pleased your son, late at Bristol, to deliver a
challenge to a man of mine, on the behalf of a gentleman (as
he said) as good as myself; who he was, he named not,
neither do I know; but if he be as good as myself, it must
either be for virtue, for birth, for ability, or for calling
and dignity. For virtue I think he meant not, for it is a
thing which exceeds his judgment: if for birth, he must be
the heir male of an earl, the heir in blood of ten earls;
for, in testimony thereof, I bear their several coats.
Besides, he must be of the blood royal, for by my
grandmother Devereux I am lineally and legitimately
descended out of the body of Edward IV. If for ability he
must have a thousand pounds a year in possession, a thousand
pounds more in expectation, and must have some thousands in
substance besides. If for calling and dignity, he must be
knight or lord of several seignories in several kingdoms, a
lieutenant of his county, and a counsellor of a province.

"Now to lay all circumstances aside, be it known to your
son, or to any man else, that if there be any one who
beareth the name of gentleman, and whose words are of
reputation in his county, that doth say, or dare say, that I
have done unjustly, spoken an untruth, stained my credit and
reputation in this matter, or in any matter else, wherein
your son is exasperated, I say he lieth in his throat, and
my sword shall maintain my word upon him, in any place or
province, wheresoever he dare, and where I stand not sworn
to observe the peace. But if they be such as are within my
governance, and over whom I have authority, I will for their
re-formation chastise them with justice, and for their
malaport misdemeanour bind them to their good behaviour. Of
this sort, I account your son, and his like; against whom I
will shortly issue my warrant, if this my warning doth not
reform them. And so I thought fit to advertise you hereof,
and leave you to God.

"I am, &c.

"WM. HERBERT."

~216~~"The art of fencing formerly distinguished the gentleman, who then
wore a sword as a part of his dress.