Sciatis quod cum nuper per literas nostras patentes de gratia nostra speciali concesserimus dilecto consanguineo nostro Thome Comiti Notyngh’ Officium Marescalli Anglie, una cum nomine et honore Comitis Marescalli, habendum sibi et heredibus suis masculis, etc.... Nos.... volentes proinde pro statu et honore ipsius Comitis uberius providere, de gratia nostra speciali, in presenti Parliamento nostro concessimus pro Nobis et heredibus nostris eidem Comiti dictum officium ac nomen, titulum, et honorem Comitis Marescalli Anglie habendum sibi et heredibus suis masculis, etc. (Then follow additional concessions.) The transition, in the marshal’s style, is interesting enough. First we have “the Marshal,” or rather “the Master Marshal”; then “the Marshal of England,” as a more high-sounding style; next a confusion due to the fact that the Marshals also held an earldom through the 13th century, and so became, in common parlance (though not in strictness), “Earls Marshall”; lastly, even so early, we have seen,[644] as 1344, there occurs the cumbrous and unmeaning phrase “officium comitis marescalli et mariscalciæ Angliæ.” Proving, though it does, the rapid accretion of error and confusion in the Middle Ages, the double style obtained recognition in the Patent of 1386.[645] It is singular that, even at the present day, the “Peerages” style the duke of Norfolk “Earl Marshal and hereditary marshal of England,” although he is simply “Earl Marshal” under the creation of 1672.[646] An apology is hardly needed for introducing here a characteristic challenge, addressed by the young Earl Marshal in the chivalrous spirit of the time, “a noble et honnore S^r le conte de Soissons sire de Coucy.” This quaint epistle begins thus: Honure S^r Pour ce que vous estez homme donneur approue de vaillance et de chevalerie et de grant renomee comme bien est cogneu es plusieurs lieux honnorables, et je suis joesne, etc.... Je envoie devers vous Notynghant mon heraut, etc. Then follow the terms of the challenge: et apres les trois cops de lance, trois pointes despee, trois pointes de dague, et trois cops de hache a pie. Every precaution would seem to be taken against the survival of either combatant. The letter closes with due formality: Escript a Londres le x^o jour de Janvier lan de grace mille ccc iiii^{x(x)} et neuf selon le compte de leglise d’Angleterre. * * * * * Par le conte Mareschall’ et de Notyngham S^r de Moubray et de Segrave mareschall’ d’Angleterre. This document, I believe, has not hitherto been known. * * * * * And now, when we turn to the ‘Modus,’ we find in the chapter treating “De Casibus et Judiciis difficilibus” a startling statement that, if difficulties arose,--