'Should my said brother decline the office of judge of the field, I am willing that the combat take place before the very high and potent prince the emperor; and should he in like manner decline it, our brother of Oldeberth[5], or any other indifferent person, may be the judge. 'But, as I am doubtful whether you will abide by the terms under your signet, I summon and require of you, by the bearer of this letter, that you send me other terms sealed with your seal, in like manner as I have done to these presents. 'With regard to the duke of Brabant, if you shall dare to say that his right is superior to mine in this present dispute,--I am ready to attack you body to body, on the day above-mentioned, and prove that I have the better right, with the favour of God, of our lady, and of St George. That these presents may appear fully authentic, and to shew that I am resolved to abide by their contents, I have signed my name to them, and have likewise affixed my seal. 'Written in my town of Soignies, the 16th day of March, in the year 1424.' FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 5: Oldeberth,--probably Oldenbourg.] CHAP. XXIX. THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY RETURNS TO FLANDERS, WHENCE HE SENDS HIS ANSWER TO THE DUKE OF GLOCESTER'S LETTER.--A COPY THEREOF. During the time of this correspondence between these two princes, the duke of Burgundy returned to Flanders, and ordered a considerable force to march thence to the aid of the duke of Brabant. He likewise sent an answer to the duke of Glocester's last letter, accepting the day he had fixed for their combat, the tenour of which was as follows. 'High and mighty prince Humphrey duke of Glocester, I, Philip, duke of Burgundy, earl of Flanders and of Artois, have this day received your letter, written and signed with your own hand, in answer to mine of the 3rd of this present month, in which I said that you had, after mature deliberation, refused the terms of pacification between you and our cousin of Brabant, that had been agreed on by my brother-in-law the regent and myself. 'To this you reply, that it is not true. My fair brother the regent and the whole council of France know full well to the contrary: I am not ignorant thereof,--and were I inclined to be so, it is out of my power. You persist in denying what the ambassadors sent to you by my brother the regent and myself with a copy of these articles, can most satisfactorily prove; and in the direct face of them you have invaded the country of Hainault, notwithstanding my fair cousin of Brabant had accepted of our terms; and you have called all these things which I had written to you falsehoods. Your conduct toward my cousin of Brabant was to me dishonourable and displeasing enough, without adding insults against my honour.