" Upon hearing these words Fitze flew in a
furious rage and told Slanning with a great oath that he lied,
and withal gave fuel to his rage and reines of spight in the
unjustness of his anger--offering to stab him. But Maister Slanning,
who was known to be a man of no less courage, and more courtesie,
with a great knife that he had, warded the hazard of such
threatenings.
The quarrel was stopped by the intervention of friends, and Slanning,
thinking the matter was at an end, shortly afterwards rode home in
company with only one servant.
Long had they not ridden but commanding the man to walk down his
horses in the way, himself the while taking the greene fields for his
more contented walking; he might behold Sir John Fitze, with four
more, galloping amane after him, which sight could not but be a great
amazement to Maister Slanning.
The quarrel was renewed, and Slanning, who was, by the way, a brave man,
perceived that Fitze was determined to kill him; but he had no chance
against live swords, and when he got to Fitzford gateway he received a
blow from behind which staggered him, and Fitze, seizing the
opportunity, ran his sword through his body, and poor Slanning fell to
the floor a murdered man.
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