“At the delivery of the swords, which was performed by Sir John Heidon, it pleased the Lord Bruce to choose my own; and then, past expectation, he told him that he found himself so far behind hand as a little of my blood would not serve his turn, and therefore he was now resolved to have me alone, because he knew (for I will use his own words) ‘that so worthy a gentleman and my friend could not endure and stand by and see him do that which he must to satisfy himself and his honour.’ Thereunto Sir John Heidon replied, ‘that such intentions were bloody and butcherly, far unfitting so noble a personage, who should desire to bleed for reputation not for life;’ withal adding, ‘he thought himself injured, being come thus far, now to be prohibited from executing those honourable offices he came for.’ The Lord Bruce, for answer, only reiterated his former resolution, the which, not for matter but for manner, so moved me, as though, to my remembrance, I had not of a long while eaten more liberally than at dinner, and therefore unfit for such an action (seeing the surgeons hold a wound upon a full stomach much more dangerous than otherwise), I requested my second to certify him I would presently decide the difference, and should, therefore, meet him on horseback, only waited on by our surgeons, they being unarmed. “Together we rode (but one before the other some twelve score) about two English miles, and then passion, having so weak an enemy to assail as my direction, easily became victor, and using his power, made me obedient to his commands. I being very mad with anger, the Lord Bruce should thirst after my life with a kind of assuredness, seeing I had come so far and needlessly to give him leave to regain his lost reputation, I bade him alight, which with all willingness he quickly granted, and there in a meadow, ankle-deep in the water, at least, bidding farewell to our doublets, in our shirts we began to charge each other, having afore commanded our surgeons to withdraw themselves a pretty distance from us, conjuring them besides, as they respected our favour or their own safeties, not to stir, but to suffer us to execute our pleasure, we being fully resolved (God forgive us) to despatch each other by what means we could.