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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43365 ***
+
+Transcriber's Note: In this text [gh] represents the Middle English letter
+"yogh", similar to the numeral 3.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+The Buke
+
+Of the
+
+Order of Knighthood,
+
+Translated from the French,
+
+By
+
+Sir Gilbert Hay, Knight.
+
+From the Manuscript in the
+
+Library at Abbotsford.
+
+[Decoration]
+
+Edinburgh: M.DCCC.XLVII.
+
+
+
+TO THE
+
+PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS
+
+OF
+
+THE ABBOTSFORD CLUB,
+
+THIS SPECIMEN
+
+OF THE
+
+EARLY LITERATURE OF SCOTLAND,
+
+NOW FIRST PRINTED,
+
+IS DEDICATED AND PRESENTED
+
+BY THEIR OBEDIENT SERVANT,
+
+BERIAH BOTFIELD.
+
+NORTON HALL, JANUARY 1,
+1847.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+The Abbotsford Club.
+
+JANUARY, M.DCCC.XLVII.
+
+                      PRESIDENT,
+
+      RIGHT HON. JOHN HOPE, LORD JUSTICE-CLERK.
+
+      RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF ABERDEEN.
+      ADAM ANDERSON, ESQ.
+      DAVID BALFOUR, ESQ.
+   5  CHARLES BAXTER, ESQ.
+      ROBERT BELL, ESQ.
+      ROBERT BLACKWOOD, ESQ.
+      BINDON BLOOD, ESQ.
+      BERIAH BOTFIELD, ESQ.
+  10  JAMES BURN, ESQ.
+      HON. HENRY COCKBURN, LORD COCKBURN.
+      JOHN PAYNE COLLIER, ESQ.
+      THOMAS CONSTABLE, ESQ.
+      JAMES CROSSLEY, ESQ.
+  15  JAMES DENNISTOUN, ESQ.
+      JOHN DUNN, ESQ.
+      JOSEPH WALTER KING EYTON, ESQ.
+      HON. JOHN HAY FORBES, LORD MEDWYN.
+      JOHN BLACK GRACIE, ESQ.
+  20  HON. JAMES IVORY, LORD IVORY.
+      HON. FRANCIS JEFFREY, LORD JEFFREY.
+      JAMES KINNEAR, ESQ.
+      GEORGE RITCHIE KINLOCH, ESQ.
+      DAVID LAING, ESQ.
+  25  HENRY LIDDELL, ESQ.
+      JAMES LUCAS, ESQ.
+      JOHN WHITEFOORD MACKENZIE, ESQ.
+      ALEXANDER MACONOCHIE, ESQ.
+      JAMES MACKNIGHT, ESQ., _Treasurer_.
+  30  JAMES MAIDMENT, ESQ.
+      WILLIAM HENRY MILLER, ESQ.
+      THEODORE MARTIN, ESQ., _Secretary_.
+      REV. JAMES MORTON, B.D.
+      ROBERT NASMYTH, ESQ.
+  35  ROBERT PITCAIRN, ESQ.
+      RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF POWIS.
+      JOHN ROBERTSON, ESQ.
+      RIGHT HON. ANDREW RUTHERFURD, LORD ADVOCATE.
+      ERSKINE DOUGLAS SANDFORD, ESQ.
+  40  JOHN SMITH, ESQ. L.L.D.
+      WILLIAM B. D. D. TURNBULL, ESQ.
+      EDWARD VERNON UTTERSON, ESQ.
+      PATRICK WARNER, ESQ.
+      RIGHT HON. SIR GEORGE WARRENDER, BART.
+
+[Decoration]
+
+PREFACE.
+
+The Literature of Scotland, during the Fifteenth Century, is entitled to a
+much greater share of attention than it has hitherto received; more
+especially, as it is a period in which the contemporary Literature of
+England is comparatively so devoid of interest. Among the persons who then
+flourished, and to whom but a scanty share of justice has been awarded, we
+may reckon Sir GILBERT HAY, KNIGHT. Dunbar the Scotish Poet,[1] who adorned
+the reign of James the Fourth, in his "Lament for the Death of the Makars"
+or Poets, includes the name of Hay; so likewise does Sir David Lyndesay, in
+the reign of James the Fifth; but no other writer seems to have been aware
+that such an author had ever existed, until we reach the year 1722, when
+there appeared the Third Volume of "The Lives and Characters of the most
+Eminent Writers of the Scots Nation, &c. By GEORGE MACKENZIE, M. D."[2]
+
+This volume, the last which the author lived to publish,[3] commences with
+"The Life of SIR GILBERT HAY, Chamberlain to Charles VI. King of France."
+It extends to eight folio pages, and furnishes a suitable specimen of
+Mackenzie's mode of constructing biography. It commences with the following
+paragraphs:--
+
+    "The HAYES are said to have their first rise from a very noble and
+    heroick action, about the year of our Lord 980, in the reign of Kenneth
+    III., as we have shown in the Life of that Prince, in the second volume
+    of this Work, pag. 60. But whatever truth be in this, it is certain
+    that this is one of the most noble and ancient Families in Scotland,
+    and that ever since the reign of King Robert Bruce, they have been Lord
+    High Constables of Scotland: That Prince, for the faithful service and
+    loyalty of Robert Lord Hay, declar'd them heritable Constables of
+    Scotland, about the year 1310.
+
+    "From this noble and Ancient Family our author was descended, of whom I
+    have no other account to give, but that he was born in the North of
+    Scotland, brought up at the University of Aberdeen, where, after he had
+    finished the course of his studies in Philosophy, he commenced Master
+    of Arts, went over to France, where he studied the Laws, and was
+    Batchelor of the Canon Law, and for his great merit, obtained the
+    honour of Knighthood, and was made Chamberlain to Charles VI. King of
+    France; upon whose death he returned to Scotland, and was in great
+    favour and esteem with William Earl of Orkney, and Lord High Chancellor
+    of Scotland, at whose desire he translated, from the French into Scots,
+    Dr Bonnet's Book of Battles in the Year of our Lord 1456.
+
+    "As for our Author, 'tis probable that he died towards the latter end
+    of the 14th century; and from his performance it appears that he was
+    well seen in the Civil, Canon, and Military Laws; and had he not been a
+    person of singular merit and worth, he had not raised himself to the
+    dignities that he attain'd to."
+
+These paragraphs contain the whole biographical portion of the "Life,"
+contained in his eight folio pages,--the Author's practice being that of
+introducing some extraneous matter suggested by, but not connected with the
+subject of the biography. But in the passages quoted the Author's usual
+carelessness or ignorance is very apparent. His statements of matters of
+fact, indeed, are never to be relied upon, being seldom confirmed, and
+often contradicted by better authorities, and instead of a work of National
+importance, deserving the liberal patronage it received, it is altogether
+worthless. Thus Mackenzie might have known, that if Hay was "brought up,"
+and "commenced Master of Arts," at a University in Scotland, it could not
+have been at Aberdeen, which was not founded until the year 1494; and that
+if Hay was Chamberlain to a King of France, it could not have been Charles
+the Sixth, whose reign extended from the year 1380 to 1422. The concluding
+notice of the supposed time of Hay's death, "towards the latter end of the
+14th century," is obviously a clerical error for the 15th century. Instead,
+however, of favouring the reader with an abridged history of the Kings of
+France, or some other discursive topic, Dr Mackenzie has in this instance
+deviated from his ordinary practice, and given a careful and detailed
+analysis of a Manuscript volume in his own possession, containing three
+works translated from the French by Sir Gilbert Hay; and this may be
+instanced as one of the few actual contributions to the Literary History of
+Scotland, contained in his three folio volumes. It may here be quoted,
+omitting a somewhat confused and inaccurate account of the original author
+Honorè Bonnor or Bonnet, Prior of Sallon.
+
+    "The first Book (he says,) contains 10 Chapters, wherein the Author
+    gives the definition of War, according to the Doctors of Civil and
+    Canon Law, and shows that it had its first rise in Heaven betwixt God
+    and his rebellious Angels; then he treats of the bypast persecutions of
+    the Church by way of commentary upon S. John's Vision of the five
+    Angels in the Revelation, and speaking of the fourth Angel, he
+    acknowledges, That there was a woman that was chosen Pope and that she
+    was an English woman: And after Leon, says our translator, "was chosen
+    a woman Pape, not wittand that she was a woman, the quhilk was of
+    England born."
+
+    "The second Book contains 18 Chapters, wherein he treats of the
+    destruction of the Four great Empires of the World: The Babylonian
+    begun in the east, in the time of Abraham; the Carthaginian begun in
+    the time of the Judges; the Macedonian begun in the time of the
+    Maccabees; and that of the Roman begun in the time of Achan King of
+    Judea: But he more particularly insists upon the Roman Empire, and
+    shews when the city of Rome was first founded, when they begun their
+    Government by Kings, Senators, Consuls, and Emperors, and of their most
+    memorable or remarkable actions, of the actions of Alexander the Great,
+    and the destruction of the Carthaginian Empire; and concludes with an
+    account of the first rise of government or jurisdiction amongst men,
+    and who were the first Governors or Judges.
+
+    "The third Book contains 10 Chapters, wherein he treats of the
+    lawfulness of making of War, and if it be possible for mankind to live
+    without it; how men know when they are justly compell'd to make war;
+    what the marks of true valour and cowardice are; what punishment is due
+    to those that leave the army, without asking permission of their
+    commanders, or fight the enemy, without the orders of their commanders.
+
+    "The fourth Book contains 155 Chapters, wherein he treats of the lawful
+    Grounds of War, especially amongst Christians against the Turks, and
+    all Infidels; whether the Emperor can lawfully declare War against the
+    Pope and the Church, and whether the Pope may make War against him;
+    concerning the Duties of Knights, and for what reasons they ought to be
+    punished; concerning the Duties of Generals, and if, when they are
+    taken in battle, they ought to lose their lives or not; whether
+    strength or force be a moral, cardinal, or natural virtue; whether
+    Prisoners that are taken in War belong to those that take them, or to
+    the Princes to whom the armies in which they are taken belongs; whether
+    Vassals should serve in the army upon their own or their Prince's
+    expences; if a Baron be obliged to serve his King but only in his own
+    wars; whether two Barons having war against one another, their men are
+    obliged to assist either of them till they receive orders from their
+    King and respective Lords; whether we are bound to defend our
+    neighbours with arms and men when invaded by others, and what the
+    persons are that are obliged to defend one another, and particularly
+    how the vassal is obliged to defend his Lord, the son his father, by
+    the law of Justice; whether he is more bound to defend his father or
+    natural Prince; whether a Clergyman is bound most to assist his father
+    or his Bishop, when a war is declared betwixt them; whether men may
+    make a defensive war for their temporal goods lawfully conquish'd;
+    whether Priests and Clerks may defend their goods by force of arms;
+    whether arms lent and lost in the field of battle ought to be restored;
+    whether arms and horses hired and lost in battle ought to be restored;
+    whether a Knight being robbed in his King's service, he or his King
+    ought to pursue the robbers; whether a man that goes to the wars
+    uncharg'd ought to take wages; whether a Knight serving a King
+    uncharg'd, may lawfully ask wages of him; whether, when the King of
+    Spain sends assistance to the King of France, he ought to ask wages of
+    him; whether a man that goes to the wars out of vain glory, ought to
+    ask wages by the law of Arms; whether a Captain that is robbed obeying
+    his Lord's commands, his Lord ought to restore him his goods or not;
+    whether a man going to the wars for covetousness and robbery, ought to
+    demand wages; whether a Priest or Clergyman may lawfully go to the war
+    or not, concerning the time that men ought to be paid their wages that
+    go to the wars; whether a Warriour that obtains leave to divert and
+    recreat himself for some time, should receive wages for that time;
+    whether a Knight that has taken wages of a King for a year's service,
+    and after three months goes to the service of another Prince, ought to
+    receive wages for the time that he has served; whether a Soldier that
+    has been paid by a Prince for a year's service, may substitute another
+    in his place; whether a Captain may send any of his men away, after he
+    has mustered them in the fields before his Prince; whether a Soldier
+    falling sick in the wars may lawfully ask his wages for all the time
+    that he had been sick; how the goods or spoil that is gained by the
+    army ought to be parted amongst the Soldiers; whether a man may
+    lawfully keep what he takes from a robber that was designed to rob him
+    on the highway; of the lawfulness of the war that is made betwixt two
+    cities that hold of no Sovereign; whether a man may kill a prisoner
+    that delivers himself voluntarly; whether by the Law of Arms, a man may
+    take a ransom of gold or money from his prisoner; whether in a war
+    betwixt England and France, the French may lawfully seize upon the
+    goods of the English husbandmen, and detain their persons prisoners;
+    whether one King may overcome another King lawfully by craft and
+    subtilty; whether it be lawful to fight upon a holyday; whether, when
+    one man wrongs another, he may lawfully recover his own by war or
+    force, before he pursues him legally; whether a Knight that dies in
+    battle, in his Prince's service, is sure of his salvation; whether the
+    righteous or sinners are the most powerful in battle; why there are so
+    many wars in the world; whether one that is taken prisoner, and sworn
+    to keep prison, may lawfully break it, and make his escape, if he finds
+    occasion; whether one that is taken prisoner, and put in a close dark
+    room, and makes his escape, may be said to break prison? Whether a man
+    that's promised safe conduct from one place to another, but has
+    neglected to capitulate for his safe return, may be lawfully detained
+    prisoner? Whether a man that has safe conduct promised to him and his
+    attendants, can bring alongst with him a greater man than he himself
+    is? If a man be taken prisoner upon another's safe conduct, whether he
+    that had the safe conduct be obliged to relieve him upon his own
+    charges? If a man having liberty to go out of prison, on condition that
+    he should return upon such a day, re-enters again into the prison,
+    fails in the day, how he should be punished? Whether it be lawful for
+    one Prince to refuse another, with whom he is at peace, passage thorow
+    his country? Whether Churchmen should pay taxes, tributes, and
+    impositions to Secular Kings and Princes? If the Church should make war
+    against the Jews? If a man may defend his wife by force of arms? If a
+    brother may defend his brother by force of arms? When a Baron is a
+    vassal to two Lords of different countries, that have both of them war,
+    whom of them he ought to serve? When a Baron is a vassal to two Lords
+    that make war upon one another, whom of them he ought to obey? When a
+    man is a burgess in two cities that make war against one another, which
+    of them he ought to obey? Whether a man that is in bondage or in
+    slavery be obliged to go to the wars with his lord and master? Whether
+    a man may be compelled to go to the wars? If one man fairly wounds
+    another, and he wounds him again, whether he ought to be punished for
+    the same? If a bondman or slave kills another by his master's command,
+    whether he ought to be punished for the same? Whether a bondman or
+    slave may defend himself against his lord and master that designs to
+    kill him? Whether a Monk may defend himself against his Abbot who
+    designs to kill him? Whether the son may lawfully defend himself
+    against the father who designs to kill him? Whether a man may lawfully
+    defend himself against his judge? Whether a man, being banished the
+    realm, and returning again without permission, when people set upon him
+    to take him, if he ought to defend himself? Whether a Priest that is
+    assaulted carrying the Lord's Body (or the Sacrament) alongst with him,
+    ought to lay it down and defend himself? If a man that is innocent
+    ought to be punished by way of reprisal for the guilty? And how Princes
+    ought to behave themselves in the cases of reprisals? How reprisals
+    should be made against a city that owes allegiance to no Sovereign? If
+    all lords or masters may make reprisals? How and for what reason it may
+    be said that the King of France is no ways subject to the Emperor?
+    Whether the King of England be in any manner of way subject to the
+    Empire? Whether reprisals can be granted to a Burgess that's living at
+    Paris, and robbed in his return to Paris, for recovering the money or
+    goods that he has been deprived of in another Prince's dominions?
+    Whether an English student at the University of Paris may be detained
+    prisoner when a war is declared betwixt the two Nations? Whether a
+    servant should enjoy the privileges that his master has? Whether an
+    Englishman coming to Paris to visit his son, student at that
+    University, in time of war, may be detain'd prisoner? Whether an
+    Englishman coming to visit his brother at the University may be
+    detained prisoner? Whether a student may be imprisoned by way of
+    reprisal? Whether a mad man may be detained and ransomed in the wars?
+    Whether a mad man returning to his senses may be detained prisoner?
+    Whether by the law of arms an old man may be detained prisoner? Whether
+    by the law of arms a child may be taken and detained prisoner? Whether
+    by the law of arms a blind man may be detained prisoner? Whether an
+    Ambassador coming to visit a King may lead any of his enemies thorow
+    his country? Whether a Bishop may be taken and detained prisoner?
+    Whether any Churchman may be taken by way of reprisal? Whether pilgrims
+    may be made prisoners by the law of arms? What things in time of war
+    have safe conduct, without liberty asked at the Prince? Whether, in
+    time of war, the ass and the ox is free? Whether the husbandman's
+    servant enjoys, by the law of arms, the same privilege with himself?
+    Whether, in time of war, it be lawful to build castles and walled
+    towns? How they ought to be punished that breaks the safe conduct or
+    assurance of a Prince? Whether a great Lord, or any in a meaner
+    dignity, ought to trust in a safe conduct? Whether a Christian King may
+    lawfully give a safe conduct to a Saracen King or any other Infidel
+    Prince? Whether, if two Lords make peace, and the one breaks it, the
+    other ought to break it likewise? Whether it be better to fight
+    fasting, or before meat or after meat? Whether battle ought to be set
+    before ladies? And if Queen Jonat of Naples had right in her war
+    against Lewis King of Sicily?
+
+    "Then he proves that duelling is against all manner of laws; yet he
+    gives seventeen different cases, wherein by the laws of Lombardy 'tis
+    lawful. Then he treats of those who fight for their principles in
+    duels, and how far that is lawful: Then of the form and oath that is
+    taken by those that fight in lists or combats; Whether a man that is
+    superannuate may substitute another to fight for him in battle? If any
+    of the company breaks his sword, if another should be given unto him?
+    If the Lord or Judge cannot discern on the first day who has the
+    advantage in the field; if he be obliged to return on the second day,
+    and enter the lists as before, which of the parties ought to begin the
+    fight? If he that is overcome ought to pay the other the damages, tho'
+    the King should pardon them? If a man is overcome in duelling, if he
+    may be afterwards accused in law? Whether, if the company pleases, they
+    may fight in plain field, without barriers? How they should be punished
+    that owns their crime, and is openly overcome? Whether, when one Knight
+    chalenges another, he may be allowed to repent and recall his chalenge?
+
+    "Then our Author treats of arms and banners in general and
+    particularly, and proceeds to the answering of the following Questions:
+    If a man at his own pleasure may make choice of another man's coat of
+    arms? If a German finds a Frenchman in the field bearing the same coat
+    of arms with him, if he ought to appeal him to a combat? How they ought
+    to be punished that assume the arms of others?
+
+    "Then he treats of all the different colours us'd in Herauldry, and of
+    all the different rules and conditions that are to be observed in
+    fighting of duels: And concludes with the duties incumbent upon
+    Emperors, Kings, and Princes; which he ends with these words:
+
+        "EXPLICIT LIBER BELLORUM, SED POTIUS DOLORUM, UT RECITAT DOCTOR IN
+        PLURIBUS.
+
+    "Next to this follows our Author's translation of Dr Bonet's Book of
+    Chevalry or Knighthood, which contains eight Chapters: In the first
+    Chapter he tells us, how that a Batchelor, Squire of Honour, travelling
+    to the Coronation of a great Prince, with an intention to take upon him
+    the Order of Knighthood, he went astray in a wilderness, where he
+    happened to light upon a hermitage, in which lived an old and venerable
+    Knight, that had forsaken the world for the love of God; and how this
+    old Knight taught the Squire all the points of honour, and all that
+    belonged to the duty of a Knight, which is the subject matter of all
+    the following Chapters; where in the second Chapter, he, the old Knight
+    shows, how he ought to receive that high Order, and how he ought first
+    to be instructed in every thing that belongs to it. The third contains
+    all the duties of a Knight. The fourth contains their form of
+    examination, and how he ought to be examined before he receives the
+    Order. The fifth contains directions for him at the receiving of the
+    Order, and the form of giving it. In the sixth is explained the
+    signification of the Arms of Knighthood. In the seventh he shows the
+    many advantages that Knights have above others by this honourable
+    Order; and the last shows the great respect that ought to be shown to
+    all that Order,--ending with these words,
+
+        "EXPLICIT L'ORDRE DE CHEVALRIE.
+
+    "After this follows our Author's translation of Dr Bonet's Book of
+    Government of Princes, which is a translation of Aristotle's Politics,
+    and contains 40 Chapters, with a Prologue, shewing into how many
+    languages it had been translated, and how it was first found in the
+    Temple of the Sun, built by Esculapius. Then follows a translation of
+    King Alexander the Great's letter to Aristotle, after his conquest of
+    Persia, with Aristotle's answer, and two other letters of King
+    Alexander's and Aristotle's."
+
+The Manuscript, of which the preceding was an analysis, is not mentioned in
+any more recent work, and as it could not be traced in any public
+repository, it was considered to be irrecoverably lost. But in the
+"Catalogue of the Library at Abbotsford," printed in 1838, at page 232,
+there occurs the following title:--
+
+"_Here begynnys the buke call't the Buke of the Law of Armys, the quhilk
+was compilit be a notable man, Doctour in Decrees, callit Bennet, prioure
+of Sallan, &c._ MS. _fol._"
+
+This title attracted the notice of MR LAING, Secretary of the Bannatyne
+Club, who conjectured it might prove to be a copy of the work described by
+Mackenzie. To ascertain this point, he made an application for the use of
+the volume, through ISAAC BAYLEY, Esq.; which being courteously granted, it
+was no difficult matter to perceive that this was the identical Manuscript
+which Dr George Mackenzie had possessed. As the volume itself furnishes no
+indication on this head, we can only conjecture that it may have fallen
+into Sir Walter Scott's hands, either by purchase at a sale, or as a
+present from some of his friends. But we may conclude, that had Sir Walter
+been aware of the peculiar interest and curiosity of the volume, he would
+have pointed it out, and some use of it have been made during the latter
+period of his life.
+
+
+
+The Manuscript in question is a large folio of 132 leaves,[4] on lombard
+paper, written in a very distinct hand, about the end of the 15th century.
+It is in the original wooden boards, in perfect preservation, and contains,
+repeated in different parts of the volume, autograph signatures of "W.
+Sanclair of Roislin," "Oliver Sinclar of Rosling, knycht," and "W. Sanclair
+of Roislin, knecht."
+
+It consists of three distinct works:--
+
+    I. THE BUKE OF BATAILLES.
+   II. THE BUKE OF THE ORDER OF KNYGHTHEDE.
+  III. THE BUKE OF THE GOVERNANCE OF PRINCES.
+
+To have published the entire volume was considered to be altogether
+inexpedient, on account of its great extent. Yet not wishing it to remain
+in comparative obscurity, I readily acceded to Mr Laing's suggestion, in
+selecting the second of these Works, which forms a distinct treatise by
+itself, as my contribution to the objects of the ABBOTSFORD CLUB; at the
+same time subjoining in the Appendix such Specimens of the two other Works
+as should satisfy all reasonable curiosity. In this way, I hope that
+whatever is really valuable or interesting in the MS. has been put into an
+accessible shape, in order to exhibit and preserve from casual destruction
+ONE OF THE EARLIEST EXISTING SPECIMENS of Scotish prose composition.
+
+
+
+A brief account of the Originals may here be given, before endeavouring to
+throw some light on the life and character of the Translator.
+
+I. THE BUKE OF BATAILLES.
+
+This well known and popular work forms the first and largest portion of the
+Abbotsford Manuscript. No English version of it is known. In the Appendix
+will be found the Prologue, the Table of the Chapters in the different
+Books, and some other Extracts, which may be compared with the
+corresponding passages, here copied from one of the later editions of the
+original Work, which bears the following title:--
+
+"Larbre de Batailles.
+
+    "Sensuyt larbre des batailles qui traicte de plusieurs choses comme de
+    leglise. Et aussi des faictz de la guerre. Et aussi comment on si doyt
+    gouuerner. Imprime nouuellement a Lyon. (Design cut in wood.) ¶ On les
+    vend a Lyon au pres de nostre dame de confort cheulz Oliuier
+    Arnoullet." 4to. black letter, Sign. A. to M. six, in eights.
+
+    ¶ CY COMMENCE LE PROLOGUE DU LIURE INTITULE LARBRE DES BATAILLES FAICT
+    ET COMPOSE PAR VNG VENERABLE ET RELIGIEUSE PERSONNE MAISTRE HONNORE
+    BONHOR, PRIEUR DE SALON, ET DOCTEUR EN DECRET.
+
+A LA saincte couronne de France en laquelle auiourdhuy par lordonnance de
+Dieu regne Charles cinquesme de ce nom tres bien ayme et par tout le monde
+redoubte soit donne loz, gloire, et victoire sur toutes seigneuries
+terriennes. Tres hault Prince, ie suis nomme par mon droict nom HONNORE
+BONHOR Prieur de Salon, indigne docteur en decret, souuenteffoys ay eu en
+voulente de faire et compiller, selon mon debile entendement, ce petit
+liure a lhonneur de Dieu premierement de sa benoiste Mere, et de vostre
+haulte seigneurie Sire. Et les raisons qui mont esmeu et incite a ce faire
+sont assez bonnes, selon mon aduis.
+
+Premierement, lestat de Saincte Eglise est en telle tribulation et
+perplexite que si Dieu ny mect remede et vostre Seigneurie, laquelle est
+acoustumee de acheuer et mettre affin les chieres aduantures de la foy
+Crestienne, ie ny voy voye ne chemin comme y puisse estre mise bonne ne
+briefue accordance.
+
+La Deuziesme raison si est, que voyez toute Chrestiente si greuee de
+guerres, haynes, larrecins et discentions, que a grant peine peut on nommer
+vng petit pays soit une conte ou duche qui bien soyt en paix.
+
+La Tierce raison si est, que la terre de Prouuence dont ie suis ne et
+nourry est de present tellement atournee par le changement de noble
+seigneurie et pour les diversitez doppinions qui sont entre les nobles et
+le communes que a grant paine pourroit homme tant fust saige racompter les
+maulx que les gens du pays pour ce debat seuffrent.
+
+La Quarte raison est, que ie considere plusieurs choses dictes de grans
+clerez modernees que bien pensent entendre les Prophecies anciennes parlans
+des maulx presens et dient que vng de la haulte lignee de France doit estre
+celluy par qui les remdes seront donnez au siecle trauailant, et mis en
+grande pestitance pour lesquelles raisons me suis efforce de faire aulcune
+chose nouuelle affin que vostre ieunesse soit informee de plusieurs
+entendemens de la saincte escripture et aussi affin que vostre personne
+soit plus adonnee de faire secours a la saincte foy de Iesu Crist et faire
+que les Prophecies qui sentendent de vostre digne personne et escriptures
+soyent verifiez par voz bonne oeuures si vous supplie mon tres hault
+Seigneur que rien que ie die en ce liure ne vueillez mespriser car ce que
+iay mis en luy prent son fondement sus le droit canon et civil et sus
+naturelle philosophie, qui nest aultre chose que raison de nature et aura
+nom cestuy liure LARBRE DES BATAILLES pour fournir lequel liure me fault
+trouuer matiere condecente a ce faire, si mest venu en ymaginacion faire
+vng Arbre de Dueill, au dessus duquel pourrez veoir les regnes de Saincte
+Eglise en grandes et merueilleuses tribulations. Apres pourrez veoir la
+grande discention qui est auiourdhuy entre les Roys et Princes Crestiens.
+Pareillement pourrez veoir le grande discencion et murmure qui est entre
+les Nobles et les Communes. Et deuiseray mon Liure en quatre parties
+principalles ainsi comme a plain est cy apres declaire dont en la premiere
+partie sera faicte mention des tribulations de l'eglise jadis passees
+devant l'advenement de Jesu Christ nostre Sauveur. En la seconde partie
+sera traicte de la destruction des quatre grans royaulmes jadis. En la
+tierce partie sera traicte des batailles en general. En la quarte partie
+sera dit du battailles en special.
+
+
+
+¶ QUELLES CHOSES APPARTIENNENT ESTRE FAICTES A TOUS BONS ROYS ET PRINCES.
+
+CHAPITRE CLXXVI.
+
+On disons aulcune chose des Roys pource que apres Lempereux ilz sont les
+plus honnorez sur tous les aultres Princes. Et encores ce nom cy de Roy
+selon la Saincte Escripture sembleroit estre de plus grande excellence que
+le nom de Lempereur, car nostre Seigneur se nomme et appelle en plusieurs
+lieux et endroitz de la saincte Escripture Roy des Roys et Seigneur de
+Seigneurs.
+
+Item, le benoist filz de Dieu en aulcuns lieux de la Saincte Escripture est
+appele filz du Roy Dauid par humanite. Et ainsi par excellence de ce nom de
+Roy appellons nous de lignage royal. Et en oultre selon la doctrine et
+enseignement de Monseigneur, Sainct Paul Apostre qui preschoit au peuple en
+leur admonestant que pour lhonneur et reuerence de Dieu ilz fussent soubmys
+a toute creature humaine et en especial au Roy comme au plus noble et
+excellent de tous les aultres mesmement en approuuant la dignite de ce nom
+de Roy.
+
+
+
+Et pour dire aulcun bon notable auquel ieunes Roys puissent prendre
+plaisir. Roy qui veult estre bon guerroyer sur saige fier et couraigeux, et
+de se gens il soit seigneur, comme de quaille espreuier, et soit misericors
+et rigoureux quant est besoing, et que au besoing soit le premier se darmes
+veult estre eureux. Pour retourner a nostre propos, &c.
+
+
+
+MOULT daultres belles et notables choses appartenans a tous bons Roys et
+Princes pourroye encores dire et assez trouuer. Mais pour le present ie ne
+pense plus riens a escripre en ce liure, car ien suis tout lasse.
+Toutesfoys le temps viendra se Dieu me donne espace de viure que ie
+escripray aulcunes choses sur les contenances de toutes personnes soyent
+ecclesiasticques ou seculiers, hommes ou femmes ce qui leur est necessaire
+dauoir au plus pres que ie pourray de la Saincte Escripture et du droict
+escript selon les dignites de leur offices. Et ie prie humblement et
+deuotement a nostre Seigneur, que par sa saincte grace vous doint en telle
+maniere gouuerner vostre Royaulme et la Saincte Couronne quil vous a
+commise que apres la fin il vous maine et conduyse a la saincte gloire de
+Paradis qui iamais ne fauldra. Amen.
+
+¶ CY FINE LE LIURE INTITULE LARBRE DES BATAILLES.
+
+In the Preface to the edition printed by Anthony Verard, at Paris, on the
+8th of June 1493, there are several variations; and the sentence in which
+the name of the Author occurs runs thus--"Mon tres hault et redoubte
+Seigneur souvent j'ay eu voulente de faire ce present livre," omitting the
+name altogether. The last Chapter of the work is numbered cxxxxii in
+Verard's edition, and ends in the same manner as the other.
+
+
+
+Of the original Work there are numerous Manuscript copies, and also several
+early printed editions; but these, as an eminent French Antiquary remarks,
+are "toutes rares, toutes fautives et defecteuses." In Verard's edition,
+for instance, the name of Charles VI., to whom the Author dedicated the
+work, is changed to Charles VIII., in order to pay a compliment to the
+reigning Sovereign; and in these editions the Author's name is given as
+Honoré Bonner, instead of Bonnet. The terms of the Author's dedication,
+(says M. Paulin Paris,) carry us naturally to the first years of the
+arrival of Louis II. of Anjou to the Sovereignty of Provence, that is to
+say, from 1384 to 1390. Charles VI., the conqueror of Rosbec, was still
+young, and the schism of the Church had reached its point of the greatest
+violence.
+
+
+
+M. Paris's analysis of the work is very concise, and may be quoted in his
+own words:--"L'Arbre d'Honoré Bonnet présente quatre branches principales,
+1^o. L'Eglise en schisme. 2^o. Les Rois en guerre. 3^o. Les Grandes en
+dissension. 4^o. Les Peuples en révolte. Mais l'auteur paroît fort peu
+soucieux de suivre un ordre quelconque dans son travail. Après avoir dans
+les premiers chapitres appliqué la prophétie des cinq Anges de l'Apocalypse
+à l'Histoire Ecclésiastique du XIV^e siècle, il résume les fastes de
+l'antiquité, puis enfin expose la théorie du comportement des Armes, des
+droits et des devoirs de tous les vassaux, chevaliers et gens de
+guerre."[5]
+
+The author HONORÉ BONNET, was a Monk in the Abbey of Ile-Barbe of Lyons,
+and Prior of Salon in Provence. His name, which is often given as Bonnor,
+or Bonhor, or Bonnoz, has been ascertained, from an examination of nearly
+twenty ancient Manuscripts in the Royal Library at Paris, to have been
+BONNET. A Provençal translation, made in the year 1429 by order of Mossen
+Ramon de Culdes, is preserved in the same collection, No. 7450; and also a
+translation in the Catalan dialect, MS. No. 7807. There is some indication
+of Caxton having translated in part the work in the year 1490, but no copy
+is known to exist.[6] The original work was first printed at Lyons, by
+Barthelemy Buyer, 1477, folio; and another edition at Lyons in 1481. It was
+again printed at Paris, by Anthoine Verard, 1493, folio, of which there is,
+in the Royal Library at Paris, a magnificent copy printed upon Vellum, with
+illustrations,--the first representing Charles VIII. receiving the work
+from Verard the printer, who, as already noticed, had substituted the name
+of the reigning Monarch instead of Charles VI. of France, at whose request
+the work was originally written. Van Praet[7] describes this copy, and
+mentions two other copies on Vellum, but neither of them perfect. The
+discrepancies existing between the early manuscript and printed copies will
+readily explain the variations, which will be obvious upon comparing Sir
+Gilbert Hay's translation with the preceding extracts. It must also be
+confessed, that to a modern reader Bonnet's Book of Battles is sufficiently
+tedious and uninteresting; and it need excite no surprize that the Author,
+as he admits in his concluding chapter, having wearied himself with his
+task, broke off abruptly--"Mais pour le present je ne pense plus riens a
+escripre en ce Livre, _car j'en suis tout lasse_;" or, as Sir Gilbert Hay
+in his translation expresses it--"But in gude faith the Doctour sais, that
+he was _sa irkit of wryting_, that he mycht nocht as now, na mare tak on
+hand as to put in this buke of Bataillis," &c.
+
+
+
+II. THE BUKE OF THE ORDER OF KNYGHTHOOD.
+
+Although subjoined to "The Buke of Batailles," there is no evidence to show
+that it was written by the same Author. The original Work, entitled "LE
+LIVRE DE L'ORDRE DE CHEVALERIE," is anonymous. A copy of it is contained in
+a magnificent volume, written upon vellum, and illuminated for Henry VII.
+of England, which forms part of the Royal collection of Manuscripts in the
+British Museum (MSS. Bibl. Reg. 14 E. II. Art. 5). The Work also exists in
+a printed form, although now of great rarity. "L'Ordre de Chevalerie,
+auquel est contenue la maniere comment en doit, faire les Chevaliers, et de
+l'honneur qui à eux appartient, et de la dignité d'iceulx; compose par ung
+Chevalier, lequel en sa veillesse fut Hermite." Lyon, Vincent de Portunaris
+de Trine, 1510, in folio, black letter. It is, however, a proof of the
+great popularity of the Work, that a copy of it having fallen into the
+hands of our venerable Typographer, WILLIAM CAXTON, (who probably never
+heard of Sir Gilbert Hay's previous version,) he added this to his other
+translations from the French, and having printed his own translation, he
+addressed the volume to King Richard the Third. It has no date, but must
+have been printed about the year 1484; and his edition is acknowledged to
+be one of the rarest specimens of his press. Lewis in his Life of Caxton,
+1737; Oldys in his British Librarian, 1738; Ames and Herbert in their
+Typographical Antiquities, 1749 and 1785; and Dibdin, in his enlarged
+edition of that work, 1810, and also in his Bibliotheca Spenceriana, 1815,
+have each given a more or less detailed account of Caxton's translation.
+
+In the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh, among the collection of MSS. which
+belonged to Sir James Balfour of Denmyln, Lord Lyon in the reign of Charles
+the First, there is a volume, to which he has prefixed this title,
+"Collectanea Domini Davidis Lyndesay de Monthe Militis Leonis Armorum
+Regis." This volume is described by Dr Leyden[8] in the Preface to his
+republication of "The Complaynt of Scotland," but he has confounded two
+persons of the same name, and who held the same office, at an interval of
+half a century. The volume, which contains nothing to identify it with Sir
+David Lyndesay the Poet, is here noticed, from containing a copy of "The
+Order of Knighthood," without the name of the translator. This is evidently
+a transcript from Caxton's printed volume, omitting the concluding Address
+to Richard the Third, in which Caxton introduces his own name as the
+translator; while the transcriber has used his own discretion in adapting
+the language to the Scotish orthography and dialect.
+
+Dr Leyden passes over this portion of the MS. in a very summary manner, and
+strangely says, that it, along with "The Buke of Cote-Armouris," which
+immediately follows, in Lyndesay's MS., was transcribed from Dame Juliana
+Berners's Treatise on Hunting, Hawking, &c., which is usually known as the
+"Booke of St Albans."
+
+The following extracts from the copy of Caxton's volume, in the British
+Museum, will be sufficient to convey to the reader some idea of the work
+itself; and to form a comparison of the English and Scotish versions. The
+first leaf is here given in black letter, line for line, in imitation of
+the original:--
+
+  ¶ HERE BEGYNNETH THE TABLE OF
+  THIS PRESENT BOOKE INTYTLED THE
+  BOOK OF THE ORDRE OF CHYUALRY
+  OR KNYGHTHODE.
+
+  UNTO THE PRAYSYNGE AND DYUYNE
+  GLORYE OF GOD/ WHICHE IS LORD AND
+  SOUERAYNE KYNGE ABOUE AND OUER
+  ALLE THYNGES CELESTYAL/ AND WORDLY/ WE
+  BEGYNNE THIS BOOK OF THE ORDRE OF CHYUALRY
+  FOR TO SHEWE THAT TO THE SYGNEFYAUNCE OF
+  GOD/ THE PRYNCE ALMYGHTY WHICHE SEYGNO=
+  RYETH ABOUE THE SEUEN PLANETTES/ THAT MA=
+  KE THE COURS CELESTYAL/ AND HAUE POWER &
+  SEYGNORYE IN GOUERNYNGE & ORDEYNYNGE
+  THE BODYES TERRESTRE AND ERTHELY/ THAT IN
+  LYKE WYSE OWEN THE KYNGES PRYNCES AND
+  GRETE LORDES TO HAUE PUYSSAUNCE AND SEYG=
+  NORY UPON THE KNYGHTES/ AND THE KNY=
+  TES BY SYMYLYTUDE OUGHTEN TO HAUE PO=
+  WER AND DOMINACION OUER THE MOYEN PEPLE
+  AND THIS BOOKE CONTEYNETH VIIJ CHAPITRES
+
+  ¶ THE FYRST CHAPYTRE SAYTH/ HOW A KNYGHT
+  BEYNG AN HEREMYTE DEUYSED TO THE SQUYER
+  THE RULE AND ORDRE OF CHYUALRYE
+
+  ¶ THE SECOND IS OF THE BEGYNNYNGE OF CHYUALRY
+
+  ¶ THE THYRD IS OF THOFFYCE OF CHYUALRY
+
+  ¶ THE FOURTHE OF THEXAMYNACION/ THAT OUGHT
+  TO BE MADE TO THE ESQUYER WHAN HE WYLLE ENTRE
+  IN TO THE ORDRE OF CHYUALRY
+
+  ¶ THE FYFTHE IS IN WHAT MANER THE SQUYER
+  OUGHT TO RECEYUE CHYUALRY
+
+  ¶ THE SYXTHE IS OF THE SYGNEFYAUNCE OF THE
+  ARMES LONGYNGE TO A KNYGHT AL BY ORDRE
+
+  ¶ THE SEUENTH OF THE CUSTOMMES THAT APPERTEYNE
+  TO A KNYGHT
+
+  ¶ THE EYGHT IS OF THE HONOUR THAT OUGHTE
+  TO BE DONE TO A KNYGHT
+
+
+
+  ¶ THUS ENDETH THE TABLE OF THE BOOK OF
+  CHYUALRY
+
+    ¶ Here after foloweth the mater and tenour of this said Booke.
+
+    And the Fyrst chapyter saith hou the good Heremyte deuysed to the
+    Esquyer the Rule and ordre of Chyualrye.
+
+    A Contrey ther was in which it happed that a wyse knyght whiche longe
+    had mayntened the Ordre of Chyualrye/ And that by the force & noblesse
+    of his hyghe courage and wysedom and in auenturyng his body had
+    mayntened warres justes & tornayes & in many batailles had had many
+    noble victoryes & gloryous & by cause he sawe & thought in his corage
+    y^t he my[gh]t not long lyue as he which by long tyme had ben by cours
+    of nature nyghe unto his ende/ chaas to hym an heremytage/ For nature
+    faylled in hym by age/ And hadde no power ne vertu to vse armes as he
+    was woned to do/ Soo that thenne his herytages/ & all his rychesses he
+    lefte to his children/ and made his habytacion or dwellynge place in a
+    greete wode habondaunt of watres and of grete trees/ and hygh berying
+    fruytes of dyuerse manyers/ And fledde the world/ by cause that the
+    feblenesse of his body in the whiche he was by old age fallen/
+
+    And that he dishonoured not that/ whiche that in honourable thynges and
+    aventurous hadde ben longe tyme honoured/
+
+    The same knyght thynkynge on the dethe/ remembryth the departynge fro
+    this world in to that other/ and also thought of the ryght redoubtable
+    sentence of oure lord in the whiche hym behoued to come to the day of
+    Jugement/ In one of the partyes of the same wode was a fayr medowe/ in
+    whiche was a tree wel laden and charged of fruyte in his tyme/ of which
+    the knyght lyued in the forest/ And vnder the same tree was a fontayne
+    moche fayre and clere/ that arowsed and moysted all the medowe/ And in
+    the same place was the knyght acustomed to come euery daye for to preye
+    and adoure God Almyghty/ To whome he rendryd thankynge of the honoure
+    that he had done to him in this world alle the dayes of his lyf/ In
+    that time it happed at the entryng of a strong wynter/ that a kynge
+    moche noble/ wyse and ful of good custommes/ sente for many nobles/ by
+    cause that he wold hold a grete courte/ And by the grete renommee that
+    was of thys courte/ It happed that a squyer moeued hym for to goo
+    thyder/ in entencion that there he shold be made knyght/
+
+    ¶ Thus as he wente all allone rydynge vppon his palfroy/ It happed/
+    that for the trauaylle that he had susteyned of rydynge/ he slepte vpon
+    his horse/
+
+    ¶ In the meane whyle that he rode soo slepynge/ his palfroye yssued
+    oute of the ryght waye/ and entryd in to the forest/ where as was the
+    knygte Heremyte/ And soo longe he wente/ that he came to the fontayne
+    at the same tyme that the knyght whiche dwellyd in the wode to doo his
+    penaunce was there comen for to praye vnto God/ and for to despyse the
+    vanytees of this worlde/ lyke as he was acustomed euery day/ whan he
+    sawe the squyer come/ he lefte his oroyson/ and satte in the medowe in
+    the shadow of a tree/ And beganne to rede in a lytyl book that he had
+    in his lappe/ And whan the palfroy was come to the fontayne/ he beganne
+    to drynke/ And the squyer that slept anone felte that his hors meued
+    not/ and lyghtly awoke/ And thenne to hym came the knyght whiche was
+    moche old/ and had a grete berde/ longe heer/ and a feble gowne worne
+    and broken for ouer longe werynge/ And by the penaunce that he dayly
+    made was moche discolourd and lene/ And by the teres that he had wepte/
+    were his eyen moche wasted/ and hadde a regard or countenaunce of moche
+    hooly lyf/ Eche of them merueylled of other/ For the knyghte whiche
+    hadde ben moche longe in his heremytege/ had sene no man sythe that he
+    had lefte the worlde/ And the sqyuer merueylled hym strongly/ how he
+    was comen in to that place/ Thenne descended the squyer fro his
+    palfroy/ and salewed the knyght/ And the knyght receyued hym most
+    wysely/ And after sette them vpon the grasse that one by that other/
+    And er ony of them spak/ eche of them byheld eche others chere/ The
+    knyght that knewe that the squyer wold not speke fyrst/ by cause that
+    he wold doo to hym reuerence spak fyrst and said/ Fayr frend what is
+    your corage or entent/ and whyther goo ye/ wherfor be ye comen hyther/
+    Syre sayde he/ the renommee is sprad by ferre contreyes/ that a kynge
+    moche wyse and noble/ hath commaunded a courte general/ And wylle be
+    maade hym selfe newe knyght/ And after adoube and make other newe
+    knyghtes/ estraunge barons and pryue/ And therfore I goo to this courte
+    for to be adoubed knyght/ But whanne I was a slepe for the trauaylle
+    that I haue had of the grete journeyes that I haue made/ my palfroy
+    wente oute of the ryghte way/ and hath brought me vnto this place/
+    Whanne the knyght herd speke of the knyghthode & chyualrye/ And
+    remembryd hym of thordre of the same/ And of that whiche apperteyneth
+    to a knyght/ he caste out a grete syghe/ and entryd in a grete
+    thou[gh]t remembrynge of the honoure/ in which chyualrye hadde ben so
+    longe mayntened/
+
+    ¶ In the meane whyle that the knyghte thus thought/ the Esquyer
+    demaunded of hym/ wherof he was so pensyf/
+
+    ¶ And the knyght answerd to hym/
+
+    ¶ Fayre sone my thoughte is of the ordre of Knyghthode or Chyualrye/
+    And of the gretenesse in which a knyght is holden/ in mayntenynge the
+    gretenesse of the honour of chyualry/ Thenne the esquyer prayed to the
+    knyght/ that he wold saye to hym thordre and the manere/ wherfore me
+    ought the better to honoure and kepe in highe worshippe hit/ as it
+    ought to be after the ordenaunce of god/
+
+    ¶ How sone sayd the knyght knowest thou not what is the rule and ordre
+    of knyghthode/ and I meruaylle how thow darest demaunde chyualrye or
+    knyghthode/ vnto the tyme that thou knowe the ordre/
+
+    ¶ For noo knyght can loue the ordre/ ne that whiche apperteyneth to his
+    ordre/ but yf he can knowe the defaultes that he dothe ageynst the
+    ordre of chyualry/
+
+    Ne no knyght ought to make ony knyghtes/ but yf he hym self knowe
+    thordre.
+
+    For a disordynate knyghte is he/ that maketh a knyghte/ and can not
+    shewe the ordre to hym/ ne the customme of chyualry.
+
+    ¶ In the meane whyle that the knyght sayd these wordes to the esquyer/
+    that demaunded chyualrye/ withoute that he knewe/ what thynge was
+    chyualrye/ The esquyer answered and sayde to the knyght/ Syre yf hit be
+    your playsyre/ I byseche yow/ that ye wylle saye and telle to me the
+    ordre of chyualrye/
+
+    For wel me semeth and thynketh that I should lerne hit for the grete
+    desyre/ that I haue therto/ And after my power I shalle ensiewe hit/ yf
+    hit please yow to enseynge shewe and teche hit me/
+
+    ¶ Frend sayde the knyght/ the Rule and ordre of chyualrye is wreton in
+    this lytyl booke that I hold here in myn handes in which I rede and am
+    besy somtyme/ to the ende/ that hit make me remembre or thynke on the
+    grace and bounte/ that god hath gyven and done to me in this world/ by
+    cause that I honoured and mayntened with al my power thordre of
+    chiualrye/ For alle in lyke wyse as chyualrye gyueth to a knyghte all
+    that to hym apperteyneth/ In lyke wyse a kny[gh]t ought to gyve alle
+    his forces to honoure chyualrye/
+
+    ¶ Thenne the knyght delyuered to the esquyer the lytyl booke.
+
+    ¶ And whanne he hadde redde therin/ he vnderstode that the knyght only
+    amonge a thousand persones is chosen worthy to haue more noble offyce
+    than alle the thousand/ And he had also vnderstanden by that lytyl
+    booke/ the Rule and ordre of chyualry/ And thenne he remembryd hym a
+    lytyl/ And after sayd/ A syre blessyd be ye/ that haue brought me in
+    place and in time/ that I haue knowlege of Chyualrye/ the whiche I haue
+    longe tyme desyred/ withoute that I knewe the noblesse of the ordre/ ne
+    the honoure in whiche oure lord god hath sette alle them that ben in
+    thordre of Chyualrye/
+
+    ¶ The knight sayd/ Fayre sone I am an old man & feble/ and may not
+    forthon moche longe lyue/ And therfor this lytyl booke that is made for
+    the deuocion/ loyalte/ and the ordinance that a knyght ought to haue in
+    holdynge his ordre/ ye shall bere with yow to the courte where as ye go
+    vnto/ and to shewe to alle them that will be made knyghts/ And whan ye
+    shalle be newe doubed knyght/ and ye shall retorne in to your countrey/
+    Come ageyne to this place/ And lette me haue knowlege who they be that
+    haue ben maade newe knyghtes/ and shalle haue ben obeyssant to the
+    doctryne of chyualry/ Thenne the knyght gaf to thesquire his blessynge/
+    and he took leve of hym/ and tooke the booke moche deuoutely/ And after
+    mounted vpon his palfroy/ and went forth hastely to the courte/ And
+    whan he was comen/ he presented the booke moche wysely and ordynatly to
+    the noble kyng/ & furthermore he offryd that euery noble man that wold
+    be in thordre of Chyualry myght haue a copye of the sayd book/ to thend
+    that he myght see & lerne thordre of knyghthode and Chyualrye/
+
+
+
+    ¶ Here endeth the book of thordre of Chyualry/ whiche book is
+    translated out of Frensshe into Englysshe at a requeste of a gentyl and
+    noble esquire by me/ William Caxton dwellynge in Westmynstre besyde
+    london in the most best wyse that god hath suffred me/ and accordynge
+    to the copye that the sayd squyer delyuerd to me/ whiche book is not
+    requisyte to euery comyn man to haue/ but to noble gentylmen that by
+    their virtu entende to come & entre in to the noble ordre of chyualry/
+    the whiche in these late dayes hath ben vsed accordyng to this booke
+    here to fore wreton but forgeten/ and thexcersitees of chyualry/ not
+    used/ honoured/ ne exercysed/ as hit hath ben in auncyent tyme/ at
+    whiche tyme the noble actes of the knyghtes of Englond that vsed
+    Chyualry were renomed thurgh the vnyuersal world/ As for to speke to
+    fore thyncarnacion of Jesu Chryste/ where were there euer ony lyke to
+    brenius and belynus that from the grete Brytagne now called Englond
+    vnto Rome & ferre beyonde conquered many Royaumes and londes/ whos
+    noble actes remayn in thold hystoryes of the Romayns/ And syth the
+    Incarnacion of oure lord/ byhold that noble king of Brytayne king
+    Arthur/ with all the noble kny[gh]tes of the ro[=u]d table/ whos noble
+    actes and noble chyualry of his knyghtes occupye soo many large
+    volumes/ that is a world/ or as thing incredyble to byleue/ O ye
+    knyghtes of Englond where is the custome and vsage of noble chyualry
+    that was vsed in tho dayes/ what do ye now/ but go to the baynes &
+    playe atte dyse/ And some not wel aduysed/ vse not honest and good rule
+    ageyn alle ordre of knyghthode/ leue this/ leue it and redde the noble
+    volumes of saynt graal of lancelot/ of galaad/ of Trystram/ of perse
+    forest/ of percyual/ of gawayn/ & many mo/ Ther shalle ye see manhode/
+    curtosy/ & gentylnesse/ And loke in latter dayes of the noble actes
+    syth the c[=o]quest/ as in kyng Rychard dayes cuer du Lyon/ Edward the
+    fyrste/ and the thyrd/ and his noble sones/ Syre Robert Knolles/ Syr
+    Johan Cha[=u]dos/ and Syre gualtier Manuy/ rede froissart/ And also
+    behold that vyctoryous and noble kynge harry the fyfthe/ and the
+    captayns vnder hym his noble bretheren/ Therle of Salysbury Montagu/
+    and many other whoos names shyne gloryously by their vertuous noblesse
+    & actes that they did in thonour of thordre of chyualry/ Allas what do
+    ye/ but sleep & take ease/ and are al dysordred fro chyualry/ I wold
+    demaunde a question yf I shold not displease/ how many knyghtes ben
+    there now in Englond/ that haue thuse and thexcercyse of a knyght/ that
+    is to wete/ that he knoweth his hors/ & his hors hym/ that is to saye/
+    he beyng eredy at a poynt to haue al thyng that longeth to a knight/ an
+    hors that is accordyng and broken after his hand/ his armures and
+    harnoys mete and syttyng/ & so forth/ _et cetera_/ I suppose and a due
+    serche shold be made/ there shold he many founden that lacke/ the more
+    pyte is/ I wold it pleasyd our souerayn Lord that twyes or threys in a
+    year/ or at the least ones he wold do crye Justes of pees/ to thend
+    that euery knyght shold haue hors and harneys/ and also the vse and
+    craft of a knyght/ and also to tornoye one ageynst one/ or ij against
+    ij/ And the best to haue a prys/ a dyamond or jewel/ suche as shold
+    please the prynce/ This shold cause gentylmen to resorte to thauncyent
+    customes of chyualry to grete fame and ren[=o]mee/ And also to be alwey
+    redy to serue theyr prynce whan he shalle calle them/ or haue nede/
+    Thenne late euery man that is come of noble blood/ and entendeth to
+    come to the noble ordre of chyualry/ read this lytyl book/ and doo
+    therafter/ in kepyng the lore and commaundements therin comprysed/ And
+    thenne I doubte not he shall atteyne to thordre of chyualry/ _et
+    cetera_.
+
+    And thus this lytyl book I presente to my redoubted naturel and most
+    dradde souerayne lord kyng Rychard kyng of Englond and of Fraunce/ to
+    thend/ that he commaunde this book to be had and redde vnto other yong
+    lordes knyghtes and gentylmen within this royame/ that the noble ordre
+    of chyualry be herafter better vsed & honoured than hit hath ben in
+    late dayes passed/ And herin he shalle do a noble & vertuous dede/ and
+    I shalle pray almy[gh]ty god for his long lyf & prosperous welfare/ &
+    that he may haue vyctory of all his enemyes/ & after this short &
+    transitory lyf to haue euerlastyng lyf in heuen/ where as is Joye and
+    blysse/ world without ende/ Amen/
+
+
+
+III. THE BUKE OF THE GOUERNANCE OF PRINCES.
+
+This very popular work is a translation of the "Secretum Secretorum,"
+falsely attributed to Aristotle. Its popularity was so great that not less
+than nine English translations and six French translations are known. It is
+probable that Sir Gilbert Hay made his version from one of the French
+translations current in the Fifteenth Century.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+In now adverting to SIR GILBERT HAY, the Translator of the "ORDERE OF
+KNIGHTHOOD," and of other Works, from the French, it is matter of regret
+that we possess no very certain information respecting him. Some of the
+uncertainty which prevails in regard to his lineage arises from the
+circumstance that the name of Gilbert, in the family of Errol, with whom we
+may presume he was nearly related, was of very common occurrence. The Hays
+of Errol, the chief of the name in Scotland, appear in the public Records
+as Hereditary Constables of Scotland before the end of the Twelfth Century.
+Without further entering upon their Genealogy, as exhibited in Douglas and
+Wood's Peerage of Scotland, vol. i. page 544, &c., and in similar works, it
+may briefly be noticed that, in the course of the Fifteenth Century--
+
+I. Sir Thomas Hay of Errol, Constable of Scotland, died in the year 1406.
+He married in 1372, Elizabeth third daughter of King Robert II., by his
+first wife Elizabeth Mure; and had two sons, Sir William, who succeeded,
+and Gilbert Hay, who is designed of Dronlaw; also three daughters, the
+youngest of whom, Alicia, married Sir William Hay of Locharret.[9]
+
+II. Sir William Hay of Errol, who succeeded in 1406, died in 1436. By his
+wife Margaret, daughter of Sir Patrick Gray of Broxmouth, he had two sons,
+Gilbert, and William Hay of Urry, in the county of Kincardine.
+
+III. Gilbert Hay, eldest son of Sir William, was one of the hostages sent
+to England in 1412, and again in 1424, for the ransom of King James the
+First, who had been held in captivity for eighteen years. On the last
+occasion he is styled "Gilbertus Primogenitus et Hæres Willielmi
+Constabularii Scotiæ," his annual revenue being estimated equal to 800
+marks; and at that time "Gilbert of the Haye, askyth conduct for 3
+servants." (Rymer's Foedera, vol. x. p. 327). In 1426 he had a safe
+conduct. He died in England soon after 1426, leaving, by his wife Alicia,
+daughter of Sir William Hay of Yester, two sons, William and Gilbert.
+
+IV. Sir William Hay succeeded his grandfather in 1436, and was created Earl
+of Errol in the year 1452-3. He married Beatrix Douglas, daughter of James
+third Lord Dalkeith. His brother Gilbert, who succeeded his uncle William
+Hay of Urry, had a charter of the lands of Urry, in the county of
+Kincardine, 12th August 1467; and died before September 1487. The Earl of
+Errol, who died about 1460, was succeeded by his eldest son,
+
+V. Nicholas, second Earl of Errol. He died without issue in 1470, and was
+succeeded by his brother,
+
+VI. William, third Earl of Errol, who survived till 1506.
+
+This brief view of the Hays of Errol, during the Fifteenth Century, may
+serve to guide our conjectures in regard to Sir Gilbert Hay. That he was
+born about the commencement of that century, we are warranted to assume.
+There is no evidence of any of the younger sons in the Errol family, at
+this period, having had the honour of Knighthood; and therefore it may be
+conjectured that he was the son of Sir William Hay of Locharret, one of
+whose daughters, Jane, was married to Sir Alexander Home of Dunglas, who
+accompanied the Scotish forces under the Earl of Douglas to France, and who
+lost his life with the Earl at the Battle of Verneuil, 17th August 1424. It
+is certain, at least, that Gilbert Hay received a liberal education, and he
+appears to have prosecuted his studies at the University of St Andrews,
+which was founded in the year 1411. This we ascertain from the "Acta
+Facult. Art. Univers. S. Andreæ," where the name "Gylbertus Hay," occurs
+among the _Determinants_, or Bachelors of Arts, in the year 1418. In the
+following year, "Gilbertus de Haya, Magister," is included in the higher
+degree among the _Licentiates_, or Masters of Arts. One of his fellow
+students was William Turnbull, who afterwards became successively Doctor of
+Laws, Archdean of St Andrews, Keeper of the Privy Seal, and Bishop of
+Glasgow; and who, about three years before his death, so honourably
+distinguished himself by founding the College of Glasgow, in the year
+1452-3.
+
+After taking his Master's degree at St Andrews, Gilbert Hay proceeded to
+France, but whether it may have been to complete his education, or that he
+was sent on any special mission, must be left to conjecture.[10] It might
+have been, that like so many of the younger sons in Scotish families of
+rank, at an early as well as in more recent times, he had gone abroad to
+push his fortunes; and thus, like Quentin Durward, when first addressing
+Louis XI., he might have said,--"I am ignorant whom I may have the honour
+to address, but I am indifferent who knows that I am a cadet of Scotland;
+and that I come to seek my fortune in France, or elsewhere, after the
+custom of my countrymen." It will be seen that he styles himself "Gilbert
+of the Haye, Knycht, Master in Arts, and Bachelor in Decreis,"--titles
+expressive of academical distinctions; and also "Chamberlain umquhile to
+the maist worthy King Charles of France." Dr Mackenzie, overlooking the
+obvious meaning of these words in the position of _umquhile_, instead of
+"late Chamberlain to the King," made him "Chamberlain to Charles VI., King
+of France." But that Monarch began his reign in 1380, and died in 1422,
+probably before Hay had set his foot in France. His son, Charles VII.,
+ascended the throne in 1422, and survived till 1461. Sir Walter Scott, in
+"Quentin Durward," chapter v., has given a very graphic account of the
+Scotish Archer Guard, which was instituted by Charles VI., and consisted of
+a select number of the Scotish Nation, supplied from the superabundant
+population of their native country. It is no improbable conjecture,
+therefore, that Gilbert Hay may have been one of their number, and like the
+imaginary character in the work of fiction referred to, have thus been
+brought under the special notice of the French King, and in this manner
+obtained the patronage of Charles VII. Another event that may have
+contributed to his holding an official appointment in the Royal Household,
+was the alliance between Margaret, eldest daughter of James I. of Scotland,
+and the Dauphin of France. This took place in July 1436, when she was only
+twelve years of age; and she was attended by a number of persons of rank,
+some of whom remained in her service. Be this as it may, and without
+attempting to conjecture on what occasion Hay received the honour of
+Knighthood, we know, from a passage to be afterwards mentioned, that he
+resided in France during a period of twenty-four years; and he may have
+returned to his native country soon after the death of the youthful
+Princess. She died of a broken heart in August 1445, or sixteen years
+before her husband, whose character is so ably depicted by Scott, had
+succeeded to the throne under the title of Louis XI.
+
+After Sir Gilbert Hay's return to Scotland, we find him residing at Roslin
+Castle with Sir William Saintclair, third Earl of Orkney, (a title which he
+resigned, in 1456, for the Earldom of Caithness)--a nobleman of great
+influence and wealth, who had accompanied the Princess Margaret to France
+in 1436. He was twice married, his first wife being Lady Margaret Douglas,
+daughter of Archibald fourth Earl of Douglas; and he lived in such a kingly
+state, that we are told, his Lady "had serving her 75 gentlewomen, whereof
+53 were daughters to noblemen, all cloathed in velvets and silks, with
+their chains of gold, and other pertinents; together with 200 rideing
+gentlemen, who accompanied her in all her journeys. She had carried before
+her when she went to Edinburgh, if it was darke, 80 lighted torches. Her
+lodging was att the foot of the Blackfryer Wynde: so that, in a word, none
+matched her in all the country, save the Queen's Majesty."[11] We are
+further told of this "Prince," William Earl of Orkney, that--"In his house
+he was royally served in gold and silver vessels, in most princely manner;
+for the Lord Dirletone was his Master Household, the Lord Borthwick was his
+Cup-bearer, and the Lord Fleming his Carver, under whom, in time of their
+absence, was the Laird of Drumlanrig, surnamed Stewart, the Laird of
+Drumelzier, surnamed Tweedie, and the Laird of Calder, surnamed Sandilands.
+He had his halls and chambers richly hung with embroidered hangings," &c.
+In 1446, he founded the Collegiate Church of Roslin, that beautiful
+specimen of architecture, the ruins of which still excite so much
+admiration under the popular designation of Roslin Chapel. It was at the
+request of this nobleman that he undertook the translations which are
+contained in the present volume, and which bear the date of 1456. Sir
+Gilbert Hay, like some of the persons here named, was probably connected
+with this nobleman, as in the genealogy of that family, the fifth of the
+nine daughters of Henry second Earl of Orkney, is said to have married a
+Hay Earl of Errol.
+
+There is still preserved a curious document entitled "The Inventar of the
+Goods of Alexander de Sutherland of Dumbethe," whose daughter Marjory was
+the Countess of Caithness and Orkney.[12] It includes his Testament, and
+bears to have been made at Roslin, the castle of his son-in-law, on the
+15th November 1456, "in the presence of ane hie and mighti Lord William
+Earl of Caithnes and Orkney, Lord Saintclair, &c., SIR GILBERT THE HAYE,
+Sir Henry Atkinson, Mr Thomas Thurberndson (or Thornebrande), Public Notar,
+&c., with dyvers uthirs." At the end of his numerous legacies and bequests,
+there is added, "Item, I gif and leive my sylar [silver] colar to _Sir
+Gilbert the Haye_, and he to say for my soul ten Psalters."[13]
+
+The long residence of Sir Gilbert Hay in France rendered him familiar not
+only with the language, but with the current literature of the country.
+This may have suggested to him, upon his return to Scotland, the propriety
+of employing himself in translating some of the more remarkable productions
+of French literature, for the benefit or amusement of his friends. A
+fortunate discovery of an old Manuscript volume at Taymouth Castle, and the
+liberality of the Noble Proprietor in communicating it, brought to light
+another and a more important undertaking which Sir Gilbert Hay had
+accomplished, by rendering the Metrical Romance of ALEXANDER THE GREAT into
+Scotish Verse, at the request of Thomas first Lord Erskine, (properly
+second Earl of Mar, of the name of Erskine,) who succeeded his father in
+1453, and died in 1494. The Work extends to upwards of 20,000 lines; but
+the imperfect state of the Manuscript, which exhibits an evidently
+inaccurate copy of the translation, added to its great extent, may possibly
+keep it from ever being printed entire. But some obscure lines, introduced
+by one of the transcribers, at the close of the volume, contains the
+information already alluded to, of its having been translated at the
+request "of the Lord Erskine, by SIR GILBERT THE HAY," and of his having
+spent twenty-four years in the service of the King of France.[14]
+
+How long Sir Gilbert Hay may have survived can only be conjectured. The
+Taymouth MS. is transcribed from another copy which had apparently been
+written in the year 1493; and the mode in which the Translator is alluded
+to, indicates that he had been dead for several years. This serves to
+corroborate the mention of his name among the deceased Scotish Poets who
+are celebrated by Dunbar in his "Lament for the Death of the Makaris."[15]
+
+  NORTON HALL, _January 1847_.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+The Buke
+
+of
+
+The Order of Knyghthood,
+
+Translated
+
+by Gilbert of the Haye knycht.
+
+[Decoration]
+
+PROLOGUS.
+
+At the honour and the reuerence of God Almichty his glore and louyng of his
+prouidence, the quhilk is souerane lord and syre de toutes choses, of all
+thingis in heuyn and in erde, we begyn here THE BUKE OF THE ORDRE OF
+KNYCHTHEDE: ffor to schaw, how be the semblaunce of the hye almychty prince
+of hevin, quhilk has dominacioun and seignoury apon the vij planetis of the
+hevyn,--the quhilkis seuin planetis makis all the courss of the hevyn, and
+gouernis the influences celestiales, and has powere apon the ordinancis of
+all erdely corporale thingis; and to schaw, that as kingis and princis has
+dominacioun and seignoury here apon all knychtis, sa suld knychtis haue
+dominacioun and seignourye subordinate of the princis and lordis behalue,
+be semblaunce of syk like figure, apon the small peple, to gouerne, reugle,
+and defend thame in all thair necessiteis: The quhilk Buke is deuidit in
+sere parties, as sall efterwart appere be the declaracioun of the chapitres
+efter folowand.
+
+HERE FOLOWIS THE DECLARACIOUN OF THE RUBRIKIS EFTIR THE PARTIES OF THE
+BUKE.
+
+The Fyrst chapitre is, How a bachelere Squyere of honoure passit till a
+grete semblee of Lordis, at a Kingis crounyng, in entencioun to tak the
+Ordere of Knychthede, and how he forvayit, and willit in a wilderness
+quhare thare was ane alde Knycht duelland in ane hermytage, that had tane
+him fra the warld, to lyue in contemplacioun of Almychty God, to mend his
+lyf, and mak gude end, etc.; And how the worthy anciene Knycht techit the
+Squyere the poyntis of honour and propereteis pertenand to the said Ordre,
+etc.
+
+Quhat the secund chapitre contenis, sequitur.--
+
+The Secound chapitre is, How the Bachelere quhilk suld ressaue that hye
+Ordre, how he suld first lere the pointis and the propereteis of the Ordre,
+before that he tak it, in the begynnyng.
+
+Quhat the thrid chapitre contenis.--
+
+The Thrid chapitre contenis, All the said properteis of the noble Ordre and
+office of Knychthede, as the Knycht deuisis.
+
+Quhat the ferde chapitre contenis.--
+
+The Ferde chapitre contenis, The forme of the examinacioun how the
+Bachelere Squyere suld be examynit, be the faderis of the Ordre, before or
+he ressauit the said Ordre.
+
+Quhat the fyft chapitre contenis.--
+
+The Fyft chapitre contenis, How the Bacheler Squyer suld ressaue the noble
+Ordre, and the forme and manere tharof, and of the process of the making of
+Knychtis be ordre.
+
+Quhat the sext chapitre contenis.--
+
+The Sext chapitre contenis, The poyntis of the takenyngis of the blasoun of
+the signis and seremons custumable to be maid in geving of the said Ordre,
+and all be ordre.
+
+Quhat the sevynt chapitre contenis.--
+
+The Sevynt chapitre contenis, The gude thewis, vertues, and custumes that
+pertenis to the Knychtis that honourably wald manetene the foresaid Ordre
+of Knychthede.
+
+Quhat the auchtand chapitre contenis.--
+
+The Auchtand chapitre contenis, How the said Ordre suld be haldyn at
+honour, and quhat honoure suld be done to thame that beris the said Ordre,
+and has optenyt it with honoure.
+
+[Decoration]
+
+HERE BEGYNNYS THE FIRST CHAPITRE OF THE BUKE.
+
+The Autoure of this Buke rehersis, How it befell in a contree quhare a
+worthy, wyse, anciene Knycht, that lang tyme had bene in the exercisioun of
+honourable weris, the quhilk, be the noblesse and the force of his noble
+and hie curage, throu grete wisedome and hye gouernaunce, had auenturit his
+persone to pursue and manetene justis, tournaymentis, and weris, and throu
+his gude fortune and prowess, had optenyt grete honour and glore, and
+victorius loving: And efter all this, as course of nature gevis till all
+mankynde, and othir creaturis that in this erde lyf beris, he, considerand
+that this lyf mycht nocht langsumly endure, bot it behovit nedely tak ane
+end; for to make gude end, and conclusioun to godwart, and to lyve out of
+the sicht of tribulacioun and vexacioun of the warld, and to be at his
+deuocioun in contemplacioun of his Creatour: For he sawe that God had gevin
+him largely of his grace, sufficiandly of warldly honoure and glore; and
+that nature in him was sa faillid throu febilness, that he had nouthir
+force, na vertu, na powere to welde armes as he was wount; and had deuisit
+and departit his landis, gudis, and heritagis till his barnis, and ordanyt
+for all his thingis fynablye, and chesit to mak his habitacioun in a thik
+wod of a wilderness, in a faire haulch, inclosit within wateris, and grete
+treis bath of fruytis and of diuers naturis, and of herbes, sa that he was
+content to flee the sycht and the repaire of the warld: Sa that nane that
+had sene him sa worthily, honestly, and honourably, had euir hidertillis
+manetenyt sa worthy and hye Ordere in all worschip, but lak or dishonestee
+of his cors, suld se him in his failit elde, for fault of powere of
+naturall strenth, in syk febilness that he mycht nocht oure him self to
+gouerne his persone in syk worschip of honestee as he was wount, that filth
+of elde schamyt him nocht, quhill he had [gh]eldit to God and nature his
+naturale dewiteis: And als, that the vexacioun of the warld gert him nocht
+abstrak his inclinacioun of contemplacioun and deuocioun fra the contynuale
+remembraunce that he was determynit in his hert to have of the glorious
+passioun of Crist, the quhilk he traistit, suld be a targe betuix him and
+the inymy of mankynde, in the day of the dredefull jugement, to sauf him
+fra the terrible paynis of hell. And as he was walkand a day in ane herbare
+allane, in his deuocioun, in a thik busk of the wod, quhare there was a
+grete tree in the myddis, chargit full of fair fruytis in the sesoun, the
+quhilkis he gaderit and held to refresch him with be tymes: And in that
+herbare, vnder the saide fruyte tree, thare was a faire well of water of
+noble nature, quhilk in diuers stryndis past throu the herber till othir
+gardynnis and preaux, till watere thame in somere for more gudely growth;
+in the quhilk herbare the noble Knycht was custumyt to mak his dayly
+repaire; and thare in his contemplacioun, he maid his secrete orisoun,
+zeldand gracis and lovingis to Almychty God, the makare of the mekle honour
+and worschip that he had grantit him in this warld, euermare day of his
+lyf, to contynew in sik deuocioun and contemplacioun perpetualy.
+
+And sa befell that in the samyn tyme, befell a grete stormy wyntere, in the
+quhilk a worthy King had sett and ordanyt a grete assemblee of Lordis and
+Knychtis and worthy men, for hie, grete, and honourable actis to be done,
+in the quhilkis mony [gh]ong bachelere squieris proposit thame to be maid
+knychtis of that worthy Kingis hand: And sa befell that ane of the lordis
+sonis of that contree, quhilk had sett his entent and purpose to tak the
+Ordre of Knychthede at the said assemblee; and as it hapnyt him to pas
+throu that contree quhare the noble anciene Knycht had maid his
+habitacioun; And forthy that the said Squier quhilk was ferre trauailit,
+for irknes of trauale and waking to cum to the semblee, he slepit apon his
+palfray, and wauerit fra his folk out of the hye way, sa that he become
+properly in the samyn forest and wilderness quhare the Knycht was
+induelland; and to the samyn fontayn, in the herbere thare, quhare the
+Knycht was at his contemplacioun, in the samyn tyme come [the palfray]
+thare to drink at the well. And als sone as that the Knycht sawe in syk a
+kynde, sik ane honourable man, he left his contemplacioun, and tuke out a
+Buke of his bosum and began to rede. And sone quhen the pallefray put doun
+his hede in the well for to drynk, the Squiere began to wakyn of his slepe,
+and wist nocht quhare he was becummyn, and than rais vp the worthy anciene
+Knycht, and comit till him to spere of his effere; the quhilk quhen the
+[gh]ong Squiere saw sa hare and alde, with a lang berde, and langar syde
+hyngand hare, quhite as the snawe, with a syde goun, alde and bare of
+wolle, and euill farand, with mony holis ryvin and rent, for grete age of
+wering, and for the grete waking and deuocioun and penitence that he had
+tane till him in that desert, and the greting that he maid for his trespass
+of [gh]outhede, he was worthin rycht lene, pale and wan, with hevy chere,
+and holl eyne, sa that be semblance his behalding was lyke to be as of a
+haly man and of godly lyf. Sa that grete maruaill had thai ilkane of othir,
+ffor sen the Knycht hed left the warld, to duell thare in that desert, he
+had nocht sene na man in all that tyme. And the [gh]ong Squyere had mare
+grete maruaill, how he was hapnyt thare, and of the grete maruailouss maner
+of the worthy man; quhilk be his feris and port semyt till have bene a man
+of grete valoure: And with that he lichtit doun of his pallefray, and
+salust the noble Knycht, quhilk [gh]eldit him agayne his reuerence and
+ressauit him graciously, and gert him sytt doun in the herbere, and reyne
+his horse, and rest him; and lang tyme beheld him in the visage, to se gif
+he wold aucht say. Bot the Squyere, quhylk maruailit mekle of the efferis
+of the Knycht, for the grete worthynes that him thocht apperit in his
+visage, and maneris, he deferrit till him to moue first speche, as to do
+him reuerence for honour and age. And thus the worthy Knycht spak first,
+sayand, Faire frende, quhat is the cause of [gh]oure cummyng here in this
+wildernes? And fra quhyn ar [gh]e cummyn, and quhare wald [gh]e be? And
+than ansuerd the [gh]ong Bachelere, sayand, Certes Sir, thare is a grete
+renoun gangand in ferre contreis of a grete assemblee, and rycht
+honourable, that suld be maid in this land be ane of the maist worthy
+Kingis that is in the warld: quhare grete multitude of honourable and
+worthy men suld assemble, for honourable actis to be done, and thare suld
+the said King mak mony new knychtis, be cause that he him self has
+entencioun to be maid knycht thare, in the samyn tyme; and thus for honour
+of the worthy Prince and of his new knychthede, I and otheris drawis
+togedir to se thai honourable actis, and, God willand, to be maid knycht of
+his hand thare. And be caus that I tuke grete journeis be the way cummand,
+my pallefray, throu his soft passing, gave me curage to slepe, as man
+fordouerit, and sa bade behynd my company, and wanderit sa in this
+wilderness, vnwittand quhare, quhill my hors, in this haulch, heldit to
+drynk. Than ar [gh]e, said the worthy Knycht rycht welcum here.
+
+Bot quhen the noble worthy man herd him speke of the hye and noble Ordere
+of Knychthede, and of the propereteis that till it appertenis, he gave a
+sare sob, with a grete siche, that vness mycht he speke lang tyme eftir;
+rememberand of the grete honoure that he had bene in, manetenand the saide
+Ordre of sa lang tyme. And quhen the Squyere saw him fall in syk a thocht,
+be manere of ane extasy, he sperit at him, Quhat movit him to muse sa mekle
+on his wordis? And than the worthy anciene Knycht ansuerd him, sayand, That
+his thocht was on the hye and worthy Ordre of Knychthede that he had spoken
+of, and on the grete charge that a knycht vndergais quhen he vndertakis
+that noble and worschipfull Ordre of Knychthede. And than said the said
+Squiere, That gif he coud oucht teche him of the poyntis that mycht pertene
+to the said Ordere, for the honour and reuerence of God, that he wald teche
+him. And with that the said Knycht blenkit vp, sayand, O faire sone, how
+art thou sa bald to sett thee to tak that forenamyt Ordere bot first thou
+knew the poyntis belangand the gouernaunce and manetenaunce of it, and the
+maner how it suld be kepit, gouernyt, and manetenyt in honoure and
+worschip, as efferis, eftir the ordinaunce of God: ffor thare suld nane be
+sa hardy to tak that hye honourable Ordre bot he war first worthy be the
+sicht of a prince thare till. And syne that coud the poyntis and the
+articlis that to the said Ordre appertenis, and to knaw bath the meritis
+and the prowess of the Ordre; and rycht sa the defaultis that a knycht may
+mak till his Ordre; nathare suld na knycht mak ane othir bot first he
+himself coud thai poyntis, techingis, and documentis, to teche thame to the
+vassall or bachelere, that he thocht to mak a knycht of: ffor he is
+misordanyt and vnworthy knycht that makis knychtis nocht knawand the
+propereteis of the said Ordre, to teche to thame that he gevis the Ordre
+till the custumys and documentis that till it appertenis. And then said the
+Sqyuare, Faire fader, sen it is sa that as I traist [gh]e knaw the
+propereteis and custumes of the said Ordre, that [gh]e wald, of [gh]our
+gudelynes, teche me and informe of the documentis and propereteis belangand
+to the said Ordre of Knichthede; ffor I haue gude hope in God, that for the
+traist that I haue thairto, I sulde lere besily and wele all the
+perfectioun of the said Ordre.
+
+And than ansuerd the Knycht, sayand, Faire sone, sen it is sa that thou has
+sa gude will to lere the reuglis and the documentis belangand the said
+Ordre, I sall len thé a lytill Buke quharein all the reuglis and the
+ordynaunce of all the poyntis and documentis that pertenis to the said
+Ordre ar writin; in the quhilk Buke, I rede wele oft, and takis
+consolatioun, of the mekle honoure, worschippis, and worthynes that to the
+said Ordre appertenis, and of the grete grace that God hes gevin me in this
+erde to be sa happy till haue gouernyt sa, but lak, the said Ordre, that
+all my grace and gude auenture throw it I hadand rycht sa I honourit it,
+and did all my powere to manetene it, and kepe it in worschip, but repruf;
+for rycht as Knycht, be his Ordre, takis bath of God and man honoure,
+worschip, and warldly prouffit, rycht sa he is behaldyn till gouerne, kepe,
+and manetene his Ordre in all honoure, worschip, and reuerence vndefoulit.
+And than delyuerit the Knycht the Buke to the Bachelere; in the quhilk
+quhen he had red a lytill space, he hevit vp his handis to the hevyn, and
+lovit Almychti God that had gevin him the grace to cum that way, in the
+tyme that he was sa wele fortunyt to haue knaulage of the poyntis,
+techingis, and properteis of the said Ordre, and reuglis that till it
+appertenit, the quhilk I have lang tyme mekle desyrit to knawe. And than
+said the Knycht, Faire sone, thou sall tak this Buke with thé to the Court,
+for sen I am bath alde and wayke, and may nocht trauaill to schaw the
+reuglis, and documentis, and propereteis of the said Ordre to thame that
+desyris thame, that ar with the King, thou sall geve the copy of this said
+Buke till all men that desyris it; and thou sall hecht me, quhen thou art
+doubbit Knycht, thou sall cum this way agayne this, and tell me quhat
+Knychtis salbe maid thare, and all the manere of thair making, and how the
+King and the new Knychtis takis in thank this Buke of the reuglis and
+documentis of the said Ordre; and quha askis the copy of it.
+
+And thus tuke the Bachelere his leve at the Knycht, and the Knycht his
+benedictioun, and sa lap on his horse, and passit on, quhill he met with
+his men[gh]é; and sa to the Kingis palace; and did his devoyr in
+gouernement of his persone rycht worthily, and gave the copy till all maner
+of noble man that wald desyre till have it: the quhilk Buke the King lovit
+mekle, and prisit, and all the lordis, and held it rycht dere.
+
+[Decoration]
+
+SECUNDUM CAPITULUM.
+
+HERE FOLOWIS THE SECUND CHAPITRE, THAT SPEKIS OF THE POYNTIS OF THE ORDRE
+THAT A BACHELERE SQUIERE SULD LERE, OR HE TAK THE FORENAMYT ORDRE.
+
+In the tyme that cheritee, leautee, justice, and veritee was failit in the
+warld, than began crueltee, vnlautee, injure and falsetee: and than was
+errour and distrublaunce in the warld; in the quhilk warld God had maid man
+to duelle to trowe in him, serue him, honoure him, loue him, and dout him:
+Bot first quhen despising of justice come in the warld, and than was syk
+mysreugle and misgouernaunce in the warld amang the peple for fault of
+justice, that for to gere the reugle of gude gouernaunce cum agayn with
+force and drede of awe, the peple gert chess a Man amang a thousand, the
+quhilk was maist wise, maist stark and sturdy, and best of gouernaunce,
+maist godlyke, and full of grete leautee, and of maist nobless, maist
+curageus, and best techit in vertues; and ay of ilke thowsand of the peple
+thare was syk a man chosyn to be chiftane of the laue, and to gouerne
+thame, and be thaire ledare: And syne thai inquerit and soucht quhat beste
+was maist worthy, maist stark and sturdy, and maist swift rynnand, and
+maist hable to mannis service, and behove, and thareto was chosyn the
+Horse; for the maist worthy and convenable and best rynnand, and maist
+hable for mannis service; and that hors was ordanyt to that chose Man to
+ryde upon; and eftir the Hors the Knycht, ane of his namys, that in Franche
+is callit Cheualier, that is to say, Hors man, and be the tothir
+significacioun, that is callit Miles; that cummys of this foresaid caus,
+that he was in thai tymes a man chosyn be the prince and the peple of ilke
+thousand men, the worthiest to be thair Chiftane and Gouernoure in were,
+and thaire Protectour in tyme of pes. And thus quhen he was in thai tymes
+chosyn amang a thousand, ane of maist vertu, and worthiest to be a
+gouernour of the laue; and syne the maist worthy and noble beste of the
+warld chosin to bere him, that he suld nocht ga on fut: syne eftir ordaynyt
+thai that the maist noble and worthy armoure suld be deuisit and maid to
+thai Knychtis to kepe thair persouns in hele fra strakis of thair inymyeis,
+and fra the dede; and thare was he enarmyt and sett upon the hors and maid
+Chiftane and Gouernour of a thowsand persouns vnder him; and thus was
+Knychthede first ordanyt and maid. And thar fore all Knychtis suld think
+apon thair worthy and noble begynnyng, and the propereteis and causis thar
+of; and sett him sa that he haue als noble a curage in him self as suld
+effere to the Noble Ordre, that he ressauis in virtueis, and in gude
+thewis, and worthynes of condiciouns, sa that his worthy condiciouns and
+vertewis accorde to the begynnyng that is sa noble; ffor and he do the
+contrair, he is inymy till his Ordre, and syk men suld nocht be ressauit to
+the Ordre that ar inymyes tharetill. Na suld nane be maid Knychtis that had
+contrarius condiciouns to that worthy and noble Ordre: he suld haue lufe
+and drede in him till God, and till his Prince, agains haterent and
+despising; and rycht as he suld lufe and drede God, and his Lord and
+Prince, sa suld he ger him self be dred and lufit of his folk, bathe be
+nobless of curage, and gude thewis, and gude custumes, thinkand apon the
+hye honoure and worschip that is gevin till him, that is sa hye and sa
+noble ane office, and of sik worschip, that the condiciouns, and the
+nobless of the Ordre, suld be accordand togeder: Sa that throu the grete
+honour of his electioun, first, that be the prince and the people, is
+chosin amang a thousand for the maist worthy, and syne the maist noble and
+worthy armouris put on him, and syne the maist noble and worthy beste that
+was in the world gevin and ordanyt him to ryde on, and otheris to gang on
+sut besyde him; than aucht he wele to lufe and drede God, and his Prince
+that sendis him that hye honour and worschip; and syne he aw wele to mak
+syk cause throu nobless of curage and gude custumes, that he be lufit and
+dred of the peple; sa that be lufe he conquest charitee, and be drede he
+conquest lautee and justice: And thus all Knycht suld haue in him thir
+foure thingis, that is to say, charitee and gude thewis, lautee and
+justice, and suld excede otheris in nobless of vertues as he does in
+nobless of honouris. And alssua, in samekle as man is mare worthy, mare
+curageus, and vertuous, and mare wit and vnderstanding has na womman, and
+of mair stark nature, in samekle is he better na womman, or ellis nature
+war contrary till it self; that bountee and beautee of curage suld folowe
+bountee, and beautee, and nobless of cors; and thus sen a man is mare hable
+till haue mare noble curage, and to be better na womman, in samekle is he
+mare enclynit to be tempit to vice na is the womman, ffor he is mare hardy
+vndertakare, bathe in gude and euill, opynly; and in samekle has he mare
+meryt till abstene him fra vicis na has the womman, that is of wayke
+nature: and tharfore ilke man suld be war that wald enter in the foresaid
+Ordre; and wit wele first quhat he dois, ffor he takis thare a grete
+honoure, maryte with a grete seruitute; that is to say, a grete thrillage
+that he mon ressaue with the Ordre, to be thrall to the condiciouns,
+propereteis, and custumes that appertenis to the said Ordre, and to the
+frendis of the said Ordre: ffor quhy, that in samekle that a man has mare
+noble creacioun and begynning, and mare has of honour, in samekle is he
+mare thrall, and bounde to be gude and agreable to God, and till him that
+dois him that honoure. And gif he be of wikkit and euill lyf of tyranny and
+crimynous lyfing, he is contrarius and inymy of the Ordre, and rebellour to
+the commandementis of honour. For the Ordre of Knychthede, be the caus that
+it is maid and ordanyt for, is sa noble of it self, that the Princis war
+nocht anerly content, and the peple to ches the maist noble man of ligny,
+and to geue him the maist noble armouris, and syne sett him on the maist
+noble and curageus beste for mannis vse. Bot sen thai ordanyt him to be a
+lorde: Bot quhat vnderstandis thou redare be a lorde? A man is nocht a lord
+supposs he haue neuer sa mekle of warldly gudis: bot he is a lord that has
+seignoury and jurisdictioun vpon other men, to gouerne thame, and hald law
+and justice apon thame quhen thai trespass. In the quhilk lordschip thare
+is sa mekle nobless, and in seruitude thare is sa mekle subjectioun,
+bondage, and thrillage, that grete difference is betuene, and than suld
+thare be alsmekle difference in the personis, as thare is difference betuix
+the twa estatis: For and a man tak the Ordere of Knychthede, and he be
+villaine of his condiciouns, and wykkit of lyf, he dois grete injure to all
+his subjectes that he has vnder him in gouernaunce, that ar gude folk and
+symple, and mekle seruis punycioun for cruell and wickit lyf that tyrane
+lordis ar of, to the peple, makis tham mare worthy to be bondis bound, na
+to be lordis of the peple of God, off the quhilkis thai mon [gh]elde a
+strayte compt a day, quhilk efferis to the Prince to punys, be the counsale
+of thame that gude and worthy Knychtis ar, ffor vnworthy war, that thai war
+callit Knychtis, and here the name and the honoure of that hye Ordre that
+wyrkis in the contrair, destroyand and vndoand the peple of God, that thai
+ar chosin be electioun, and oblist to defend, and for that caus has thair
+lordschippis to gouerne the peple of God: ffor nocht anerly the chesing and
+electioun to the Ordre, na the noble hors, na armouris, na gouernaunce, na
+lordschip, thame thocht nocht anerly, was sufficiand to the worthynes of
+that noble and worschipfull Ordre till hald it at honour; bot thai ordanyt
+him a Squier, and a varlet Page to be euer contynualy at his bidding and
+seruice in all placis thare he war, to tak kepe till him,--the Squiar to
+gang with him at his bidding, the Page to kepe his Hors. And ordanyt the
+peple to labour the ground, to graith lyfing for the Knychtis and Nobles
+that war thair gouernouris and protectouris, and to thair hors and
+seruandis; the quhilkis was excusit to nocht laboure, bot to rest thame
+euer betuix dedis of armes and actis honourable, at hunting and hauking,
+and othir disportis, and to gouerne and kepe passibles the labouraris, and
+sauf thame fra fors and wrang, sa that clerkis mycht pesably study in
+sciencis, men of kirk vake in Goddis seruice, merchandis in thair
+marchandice, and othir craftis wirkand at lordis deuiss. And thus quhen
+clerkis studyis in sciencis, how men suld be techit to knawe, lufe, and
+serue God, and doubt, and to geue gude ensample of doctrine to the lawit
+peple to rycht sa do, for the honour and reuerence of Almychtie God in
+deuocioun and gude lyf. Rycht sa apon the tothir part, quhen Knychtis ar
+maid be Princis, thai suld sett thame with gude virtues and gude ensamplis
+and nobless of curage, and othir wayis gif nede war be force of armes to
+manetene, gouerne and defend the small peple in all justice and equitee, in
+lufe and drede both of God and of the Prince as is before recomptit, be the
+quhilkis thai suld throu lufe haue contynuale charitee amang tham, and be
+the drede thai suld stand awe to do oucht ilkane till othir wrang, or
+wikkitness; and here atour as the clerkis techis thair scoleris to the
+sculis of sciencis of clergy, sa suld a gude Knycht teche his barnis the
+nobless of the poyntis and propereteis of chyualrie; and that suld be done
+in thair [gh]outhede: And first and formast a Knycht suld lere his sone to
+be doctryned in vertues, and syne suld he be doctrinyt and techit to ryding
+in his [gh]outhede, or ellis he sall neuer be gude rydare; and ay as he
+cummys till elde, that he lere to gouerne hors and armouris; and that he be
+seruand to sum lord, and vse him in armes lang or he tak the Ordre, ffor
+vnworthy war he suld be a lord or a maister that knew neuer quhat it is to
+be a seruand, ffor he may neuer wele tak na knawe the suetenes that it is
+to be the lord, bot gif he had sum knaulage of the sourness that it is, and
+payne to a gude hert, to be ane vnderlout or a seruand. And tharfore war he
+neuer sa grete a lordis sone appertenand to be lord, he war the better that
+in [gh]outhede sum lord that he seruit to kerue before him, to serue in
+chaumer, till arme a lord, till ouresee his hors, that thai war wele
+gouernyt and grathit, to haunt armouris, to ryn a spere, to excercise
+wapnis, and othir habiliteis of honour quhilk appertenis to nobless, and
+namely, thai suld be techit and doctrinyt be a Knycht thay [gh]ong lordis
+sonis that thocht to be knychtis, ffor rycht as it war nocht semand till a
+[gh]ong man that wald lere to be a man of craft, suld lere at ane othir
+that war nocht of the craft, sa is it vnsemand that lordis sonis that wald
+be in the maist noble Ordre of Knychthede suld sett thame to lere the
+documents and propereteis of the Ordre of Knychthede, bot at thame that war
+expert in the knaulage of virtues and gude thewis honourable that to the
+said Ordre apperteins; the quhilkis ar vnknawable till ignoraunt and
+vnworthy personis; ffor the grete nobless of the said Ordre may nocht ferd
+at keping of hors na justis na tournaymentis, na [gh]it to haunt na duell
+with lordis, na knychtis in company, to pas in weris na in bataillis. Bot
+it war rycht expedient that thare war deuisit, and ordanyt be the Prince,
+scolis of doctrinyng and teching of the noble poyntis and properteis that
+efferis to that hye and worthy Ordre till [gh]ong lordis barnis that war
+lykly to cum to perfectioun. And that the knawlage thar of ware writtin in
+bukis be wys men of knaulage, that knewe and had experience tharof, sa that
+ignorant [gh]ong lordis barnis mycht first lere the science be study and
+speculacioun, and syne efter thai mycht, quhen thai come eldar, lere the
+practik of the Ordre, be conuersacioun, as to pas to diuers justis and
+tournaymentis, to diuers realmes, in diuers voyagis and battaillis, sa
+mycht thai haue the pratyk with the science; ffor vile thing is, to bere
+office or ordre, and nocht to knawe the gouernaunce tharof throu wilfull
+ignorance; ffor war nocht the sculis of clergy, mony errouris and
+ignorauncis war in the warld mare na thare is. Bot sen thare is na sculis
+of cheualrye, quhat maruaill is thouch thare be mony Knychtis vnwytty; ffor
+war all Knychtis and clerkis but errour, than wald thai be till all the
+laue of the warld a gude myroure, and than suld ilkane drede to do wrangis
+and injuris till othir: And sen thir tua thingis gouernis and manetenis all
+this warld--the tane the Spiritualitee, the tother the Temporalitee; and
+thare is sa mony sculis in sere contreis of sciencis of clergy, and nocht
+ane that men wate of the nobil Ordre of Cheualrye, than ar the gouernouris
+and manetenouris of the said Ordre, to blame in thair awin proffit and
+honour, quhare sa grete nede is, to be sa negligent.
+
+Quharfor the Autour of this Buke prayis and requeris, and mekely makis
+supplicacioun to the Magestee Ryall, and till all the company of the
+Nobless and Chyualrye of the Realme, that thai assemble thame togidder, and
+mak reformacioun of this grete fault that is maid to the Noble Ordre, and
+the grete wrang that is done till it, in the fault of doctrine and teching
+of the poyntis and propereteis of Noblesse, etc.
+
+[Decoration]
+
+TERTIUM CAPITULUM.
+
+HOW SEN THE DOCTOURE HAS DECLARIT IN SUM PART THE POYNTIS OF THE ORDRE WITH
+THE PROPERETEIS AND CONDICIOUNS,--NOW LYKIS IT HIM TO SPEKE OF THE OFFICE
+THAT FOLLOWIS THE SAID ORDRE:--
+
+That is to say, to quhat purpos it was ordanyt--to quhat fyne--and quhat
+entencioun: And how gif Knychtis vss nocht thair office, thai ar contrarius
+to thair Ordre, and to the begynning of thair awin making: ffor the quhilk
+caus he is nocht veray Knycht in dede, supposs he bere the name; ffor sik
+Knychtis ar mare villayns na is outhir smyth, wrycht, or masoun, that dois
+thair craft, as thai ar techit, and tharefor to schaw the poyntis of the
+Ordre is grete meryt to thame that wate it nocht: the quhilkis he declaris
+here efterwart; and first and formast, Knychthede was ordanyit to manetene
+and defend Haly Kirk, and the Faith, for the quhilk God, the Fader of
+Hevyn, send his Sone in this warld, to tak in him oure humanitee, fleschly
+inumbrit, and incarnate in the glorious Virgyne Mary, his suete moder, be
+the joyfull message brocht till hir be the angel Gabriel; and fyne for our
+sakis, and to synde vs of the origynale syn, and to geve vs eternale lyf,
+tuke dede and passioun here, with grete dispising vilaynous, to geue vs
+ensample and informacioun how we suld reule oure lyfing here: Quhilk
+ordanyt all writtis for oure teching and doctrine; and all his werkis and
+dedis here, he did for oure ensample and enformyng, to multiply his faith.
+And thus, rycht as he has chosin to growe and manetene his fayth, the
+worthi and wys clerkis to hald scolis, and ilkane to teche othir be the
+haly wryttis of prophecies and of lawis aganis the inymyes of the Faith:
+Rycht sa the hye glorious God chesit Knychtis to be his campiouns, sa that
+the unworthy mystrowaris and rebellouris agaynis his faith mycht be throu
+thame chastisit, be force of armes to vencuss and ourecum his inymyes, the
+quhilkis every day forss thame at thair powar to put doun the fayth of Haly
+Kirk, and thir Knychtis that thus occupyis thame in the defense of his
+rychtis ar callit his Knychtis of Honour in this warld, and in the tothir,
+that defendis the Haly Kirk and the Cristyn Faith, quhilk is oure saule
+hele and salvacioun. And tharefore Knychtis that has faith and baptesme in
+him, and usis nocht the vertues and properteis of the faith, ar contrarius
+till otheris that kepis the faith, evyn as a man that God hes gevin till
+resoun, and discrecioun, and he dois evyn the contrary. Thus he that has
+faith, and kepis it nocht, is contrarius till himself, for he wald be sauf,
+and gais nocht the hye gate till his salvacioun: ffor quhy, his will
+discordis with his witt, and ledis it the way of mystreuth, that is agayne
+his salvacioun, and ledis him to the way of eternale dampnacioun; and syk
+men takis the office and ordre, mare to be prisit and honourit in this
+warld, na for any prouffit that thai think to do to God, na to thair Prince
+that gave thame the office. Bot the maist noble officeris and ordres in
+this erd ar office and ordre of Clerkis and of Knychtis, and the best lufe
+in this erde is ay betuix thame; and tharfore rycht as Clergy was nocht
+ordanyt to be agayn the Ordre of Knychthede, bot to honoure it, and thame
+that worthily beris it, sa suld Knychtis nocht be aganis the haly ordre and
+office of Clergy, to manetene worschip and defend it, aganis the
+rebellouris and euill willaris of the Kirk, that are callit Sonis of
+Iniquitee, as thai ar oblist in taking of the said Ordre of Knychthede:
+ffor a man is nocht anerly oblist to lufe his ordre, bot he is oblist with
+that to lufe thame that be othir ordres vnder his awin lord; for to lufe
+his ordre, and nocht to lufe the caus that his ordre is ordanyt for; ffor
+syk lufe is nocht ordere lyke, ffor God has ordanyt nane ordre vnder him to
+be contrair till ane othir; and as to that thare is ordres of religious
+that few of thame lufis ane othir, and [gh]it lufis well thair awin ordre;
+bot that is nocht the rycht ordre of lufe and charitee, that suld be in
+religious: And rycht sa a Knycht suld nocht samekle lufe his awin ordre,
+that he myslufe othere ordres, ffor that war aganis God, and gude faith;
+ffor the Ordre of Knychthede is sa hye, that quhen a King makis a knycht,
+he sulde mak him lord and governour of grete landis and contreis, efter his
+worthines, and all Knychtis suld think that there is a Lord and syre aboue
+all knychtis, ffor the honour of quham thai ar all made Knychtis for to do
+his will, and serue him fyrst, and syne thair temporale lordis.
+
+Item, the Emperour aw to be Knycht, in significance that he is Lord and
+syre of all Knychtis in temporalities: And becaus that the Emperour may
+nocht mak na gouerne all Knychtis, thare was ordanyt Kingis, to be
+subordinate persons, next efter Emperouris, to gouerne realmes and contreis
+the quhilkis suld alssua be knychtis, sa that thai may mak knychtis, ffor
+na man may mak knychtis bot he be Knycht before, sauffand the Pape: alssua
+all kingis suld have vnder thame Dukkis and Princis, Erllis and Vicountes,
+and Vauvassouris and Barouns; and vnder the Barouns Knychtis of a schelde,
+the quhilkis suld gouerne thame be the ordynance of the Barouns that ar in
+the hyare degree of Knychthede, before namyt: And that gerris he [him]
+multiply knychtis in takenyng that na King, bot he may na can gouerne all
+the generalitee of Knychtis in erd, ffor thare is nouthir Emperoure, na
+King, that can, na may in his regne gouerne all his subditis but help of
+his Knychtis: bot the King of Glore can wele allane but othir power, na of
+his awin vertu and majestie, can and may gouerne and reugle all this erde,
+and all the hevin, at his awin plesaunce, the quhilk is ane anerly God
+allane in Trinitee and Vnitee; and tharfor wald he nocht that ony Knycht
+allane mycht mak a knycht that suld gouerne all the knychtis of this warld
+bot he allane; and tharfore ordanyt he in this warld mony of Knychtis to
+be, that his Magestee may the better be knawin, and that Kingis and Princis
+suld mak officeris vnder thame of Knychtis. And forthy dois a King or a
+Prince grete wrang to the Ordre of Knychthede quhen he makis othir
+sereffis, baillies, or prouostis of othir lawlyar men na knychtis; ffor
+than ar Kingis and Princis caus of the abusioun of the Ordre of Knychthede,
+quhilk was ordanyt for sik caus: ffor that Ordre was ordanyt to be
+substitute till Princis and Kingis, apon the gouernement of the peple, as
+maist worthy and maist honourable for sik gouernaunce of small peple; and
+aboue thame Dukis, Erllis, and Barouns; and aboue thai Kingis and Princis;
+and aboue Princis and Kingis allenerlye Emperouris and Papis. And thus suld
+the warld be gouvernyt be commoun reugle of gouernance, sauffand Kingis
+that ar priuilegit or prescribit in thaire power imperiale: and thus
+Knychthede is the hyest temporale Ordre that is in the warld; but nocht the
+hiest office: ffor Kingis and Emperouris is nocht Ordre, bot it is office;
+be the quhilk office thai precell aboue all othir officis of temporalitee,
+as Dukis, Countes, Marquis, Vauvasour, Baroun, and Knychtis; and supposs,
+of all officis of honourabilitee, the Knychtis office be the lawast office
+of dignitee vnder Imperiale or Ryale magestee, neuertheles the Ordre is
+hyest and maist honourable; ffor quhy, that all Emperouris and Kingis aw to
+bere that Ordre, or ellis thair dignitee is nocht perfyte, ffor ellis may
+thai mak na Knychtis. And be honourabilitee of the Ordre of Knychthede
+grete honour is ordanyt be the lawis to do to Knychtis, and be nobless of
+honour that is put till him, he suld haue nobless of vertues, and
+worthyness in his curage; be the quhilk nobless of curage he suld be less
+inclynit till all wikkitness, and all vicis of barat, and trechery, and
+othir villain condiciouns, na ony othir persone.
+
+The office alssua of Knychthede aw to defend his naturale Lord, and
+manetene him; ffor a King is bot a man allane but his men; and but tham
+thare may na King gouerne, na deffend his peple, na [gh]it nane othir Lord,
+ffor thai ar bot synglere persons; and thus, gif ony man be aganis the
+Magestee or othir Lordis of the temporalitee, the Knychtis suld help him to
+defend and manetene his rychtis. Bot commonly ane euill wikkit Knycht takis
+party contrair with a Kingis subditis agayne himself, ffor he wald haue his
+Lord put doun, that he mycht haue sum part of the lordschip; bot than
+wirkis he agayne his awin ordre, and office that he is ordaynit for; that
+is ane, the faith of Jhesu Crist; ane othir, his natural Lord; the third,
+the peple in thair richtis: ffor the Knychtis ar adettit to manetene and
+defend justice; ffor rycht as a juge has powar be his office to juge and
+geue a sentence, rycht sa has he poware to kepe his jugementis fra fors and
+fra wrang and violence, in excercisioun and in execucioun of his jugement
+and sentence. And becaus that till jugement of caus pertenis wele wisdome
+and discrecioun of Clergy to knaw the lawis, it is a noble thing quhen
+Knychthede and Clergy is assemblit togedir, sa that Knychtis war clerkis
+and wele letterit men, sa that thai war the mare sufficiand to be jugis be
+the knaulage of science of lawis, ffor than war thare na man mare worthy na
+hable till to be a juge, na a Knycht clerk: ffor bot science of Clergy to
+knaw the lawis, thare is na man worthy to bere office of justice. Knychtis
+suld be wele ryddin, and in [gh]outhede lere to be wele ryddin, on
+destrellis and courseris, till haunte justis and tournaymentis, to hald
+Table Round, to hunt and hauk at hert and hynde, daa and raa, bere and
+baare, loup and lyoun, and all sik honourable plesauncis, and sa mayntenand
+the office and the Ordre of Knychthede worthily: And as all thir
+propereteis before said pertenis till a Knycht, as to the habilnes of his
+corps, rycht sa is thare othir propereteis pertenand to the saule; as
+justice, force, prudence, and temperaunce, charitee and veritee, lautee and
+humilitee, faith, esperaunce, subtilitee, agilitee, and with all othir
+vertues touchand to wisdome, appertenis till him, as to the saule; and
+forthy, when a Knycht has all strenthis and habiliteis that appertenis to
+the corps, and has nocht thame that appertenis to the saule, he is nocht
+verray Knicht, bot is contrarius to the Ordre, and inymy of Knichthede:
+ffor than it war lyke that Knychthede war contrarius to the saule behufe;
+the quhilk is fals, ffor the principale caus of the Ordre is to the
+manetenaunce of the Cristyn faith, and of all vertues, and inymy to vicis.
+
+Item, Office of Knychtis is to manetene and gouerne landis and policy, and
+to defend thame; ffor the raddour and the drede that the peple has of the
+Knychtis, thai byde apon thair craftis and labouragis, and grathis lyfing
+for the Lordis, for dout to be vndone, destroyit, and desertit; and thus ar
+the Kingis dred for the Knychtis. And thare, sais the Doctour, that a fals
+Knycht, that will nocht help to defend his King and his Lord naturale, is
+lyke faith bot gude charitable workis, or Knychthede tume and idill bot
+office, or heretike aganis the faith. And thus a fals Knycht that is
+vntrewe, that dois nocht the bidding of his Prince, and is contrarius till
+his biddingis and opyniouns, dois grete wrang to the Knychtis that fechtis
+to the dede for justice, and for the faith, and for his Prince, and his
+naturale Lord, and is worthy to be punyst vtterly: ffor thare is na Ordre
+na office that is maid bot it may be vnmaid, or ellis Goddis mycht war bot
+small; and than, sen the Ordre of Knychthede was ordanyt be God Almychty,
+and gouernyt and manetenyt be thame that beris the said Ordre, gif thai
+that suld gouerne the said Ordre, and manetene it, misgouernys it, and dois
+the contraire, the Ordre is lytill behaldyn to thame, ffor thai vndo the
+Ordre. And thus the wikkit King vndois nocht anerly the Ordere of
+Knychthede in himself, bot alssua he vndois it in his Knychtis quhen he
+gerris thame do aganis the Ordre, outhir be euill ensample that he gevis
+thame, doand thingis that ar aganis the said Ordre, or be flatery that thai
+mak to thair wikkit maister, and fals suggestioun to ger thame be lufit of
+him, knawand that he is euill sett and will redily trow euill talis. And
+all thus gif it be euill done, to gerr a Knycht be misgouernyt, and
+mysfarne throu euill gouernaunce. It is mekle were done to misgouerne mony
+Knychtis, as thir wikkit princis dois, that all the charge of the
+misgouernaunce of all the Knychtis of his realme is be his default and
+negligence, or that thai be sa wikkit in thame self, that thai geve him
+vnworthy counsale, to do apon his subjectis extorsiouns, be wikkitness of
+tyrannye, or of barate or trechery, tresone to thair naturale lordis, or
+vnleautee till his subditis, be force of thair wikkit curage; and than is
+syk a Prince mekle to prise and to love, that knawis syk trychouris, and
+trompouris and vnworthy traytouris, that beris waste name of Knychthede,
+that wald counsale him, and tyce him to forffet and vndo the worthy and
+noble Ordre of Knychthede, that he has sa honourably tane, and worthily
+hydertillis has manetenyt; mekle honour and worschip is in his curage of
+the Prince that sa dois, and mekle suld be lufit with thame that beris the
+Ordre worthily, quhen he takis sik vengeaunce of the inymyes of the Ordre,
+that throu thair wikkit counsale wald corrumpe his noble curage.
+
+Item, the Order of Knychthede standis in the corage, and nocht in the
+corssage, ffor ellis war the Ordre litill worth; ffor quhy? A lytill
+persone may quhilum throu habilitee of corps oure cum a mekle, and tak him,
+and enprisone him. Bot a thousand men, suppos thai be neuer sa stark, may
+nocht oure cum na vencus a gude Knychtis curage. And thus is the Ordre of
+Knychthede mare worthily in the curage na in the corssage, ffor ellis war
+nocht that the Knychthede accordit better to the body na to the saule. And
+be that, the vnworthy cowartis Knychtis that fleis in bataillis fra thair
+lordis ar nocht worthy to be callit Knychtis, na to bere the honour that to
+worthy knychtis efferis, ffor thai drede mare the distroublaunce and maless
+of thair corssage, na the honoure and worschip of thair curage that
+appertenis to the Ordre of Knychthede of rycht. And thus nobless of curage
+is better pertenand to Knychtis na is force of corssage, or ellis suerenes
+and cowardise in mannis persone suld be of the propereteis of the Ordre.
+And hardynes and largess suld be contrarius till it, and that war mekle
+vnresone; bot be all gude way of ordere, quhen a gude Knycht is oure sett
+with oure grete powar, and lesse has of help and of falouschip to supple
+him, in sa mekle suld he haue mare hye curage and mare force of spirit, to
+oure cum all his aduersaris; and gif he be oure thrawin, till manetene the
+poyntis and propercteis of the worthy Ordre of Knychthede, than has he
+optenyt the honour and the loss of the worschipfull reward and meryt of
+justice, that deis for the defenss of the rycht, and manetenaunce of the
+worschipfull and meritable poyntis of the Ordre, as he that deis for lufe
+and leautee, and honoure of the noble Ordre that he was ordanyt to. For the
+wise man sais, That Knychthede and hardynesse may neuer langsumly dwell
+togider bot wisedome and wise discrecion; ffor quhare na wisdome na
+discrecione restis, how suld thare be knaulage of honoure. Na, how suld
+that persone discerne betuix honorable and dishonorable act or vndertaking
+of worschip, quhare wisdome is away, ffor wisdome will never mare mak fault
+till his honoure. And forthy, is it signifyit till all Knychtis of honour,
+that a Knycht may neuer be hardy, na haue the vertues that to Knychthede
+suld pertene, bot he haue wisedome in him; na thare is na man that may sa
+mekle honour do till his Ordre of Knychthede, as to stand to the vtterest
+with stark curage for the rycht fermely, and neuer consent to leve his
+lord; na his rychtwise actioun to dee tharfore; and treuly that mon be
+reuglit with witt and resoun, and nocht be foly na ignoraunce; ffor quhen
+foly and ignoraunce is with the Ordere of Knychthede, wit and resone,
+knaulage and discrecioun, ar flemyt thairfra; ffor wisedome, resoun, and
+discrecioun ar the ledaris and gouernouris of Cheualrye bathe in Knycht,
+King, and Emperoure, and but wisedome the Order is peruertit; ffor
+inpossible thing it is, that foly and ignoraunce gouerne that worthy Ordre.
+And than mon it on nede force be gouernyt be wisedome, and thus is it, that
+sen the Ordre is reuglit be witt and wisedome, than suld all gude Knychtis
+pres them to be wyse, and sett tharon all thair hert and mynde; the quhilk
+makis Knycht sa curageus, that he doubtis nocht the dede, in regarde of
+honoure and his rychtwise cause, that he may lufe and honour his Ordre, to
+sauf bathe saule and honour, in the contrair of foly and ignoraunce.
+
+Item, Office of Knychthede is to mantene and defend wedowis, maidenis,
+faderles and moderles barnis, and pore miserable persouns and piteable, and
+to help the wayke agayne the stark, and the pure agayne the riche; ffor
+ofttymes sik folk ar be mare stark na thai pelit and derobbit, and thaire
+gudis tane, and put to destructioun and pouertie, for fault of powere and
+defence. And becaus all sik dedis is wikkitnes, crueltee, and tyranny,
+tharfore is the Ordre of Knychthede ordanyt, as in that poynt amang the
+lave, to gaynstand. And gif a Knycht himself be the manetenar or doare of
+thir thingis, he is vnworthy to bere the Ordre for his wikkitnes. And rycht
+as God has gevin to the Knycht pithe, hardynes, and hye curage, rycht sa
+has he gevin him pitee in hert, to haue merci of the pure that gretis on
+him; askand help and consort for traist that thai haue in thame of help.
+And thus suld a Knycht haue gude sicht to the miserable persouns, gude eris
+to here thame, and gude mynde to think on thame, that pitously cryis apon
+him for help and confourt. And he that has nocht thir vertues, is nocht
+verray Knicht, na suld nocht be comptit as ane of the Ordere of Knychthede.
+Alsua, and the office of Knichthede, that sa mekle is lufit and presit and
+honourit, war till derub and destroy the pore folk and all sik peaceable
+persouns, and till desaue wedowis, that has na defence bot God and the
+Office of Knychthede, and till mysgouerne in thair gudis and heritagis, and
+dissaue the faderles and moderles barnis, and all thing that war falsate,
+barate, wikkitnes and trechery, war poyntis of the said office, and the
+office war alsmekle honourit for euill dedis, and wickit lyfing, as it is
+now for gude dedis, thare suld ma press to tak the said Ordre and office na
+thare dois now; ffor be cause that the Ordre is founded apon lautee,
+curtaisy, liberalitee, lufe, and pitee, many of thame that beris the said
+Ordre irkis tharof in the warld that now is.
+
+For the office of Knychthede suld have stark place in gouernaunce, and he
+suld be wele horsit, and haue power of men to kepe the contree and the
+Kingis wayis, all pilgrymes, trauailouris, merchandis, labouraris, and suld
+haue the jurisdictioun of justice in citeis and townis; and quhen nede war,
+to assemble the folk for the prouffit of the commountee; and quhen perilis
+war apperand in the landis, to byrn mysal housis, and destroye perilous
+passagis, ger hag woddis, and byg and mak reparacioun of euill biggit
+placis, castellis, and wallit townis and fortressis, and kepe and defend
+all gudely persouns; chastyse and punyse all misdoaris and wikkit cruell
+persouns; ffor and the contrary of thir gude poyntis war approprit to the
+Ordre, than all gude gouernance wald faile, and na man wald be seur; ffor
+the office is foundit ay on gude and prouffitable werkis that ar spede full
+to the commoun prouffit, and to gaynstand all thame that settis thame for
+the distrublaunce of the pore peple, and hyndering of the commoun prouffit,
+and to put down euill and wikkit men, and to fauour, nurise, and manetene
+gude peple: ffor rycht as the hewing ax is ordanyt to cutt doun treis that
+hynderis labouragis of landis, and cartis and chariotis and merchandices to
+passe through the forestis, sa is the suerd of Knychthede ordanyt to kutt
+away and destroye the wickkit vnworthy wedis and ronnis of thornis of euill
+men that lettis labouraris, merchandis, and traualouris to trauale throu
+the warld, quhilk is as a forest and wildernes quhen it is not wele redde;
+off the quhilk euill men suld be wedit out be Knychtis, keparis of the
+lawe, that gude men mycht lyve in lee; and he that is a Knycht, and dois
+nocht this, bot dois evyn the contrary, suld be tane be the Prince, or be
+othir worthy, faithfull, and honourable Knychtis, and put till dede; ffor
+quhen a Knycht is a revare, or a thef, or a traytour or a murtherar, or a
+Lollard, scismatike or heretike, or in syk termys opinly knawin and
+approuit, than is he vnworthy for to lyve, bot to be punyst in example of
+otheris that defoulis that maist noble and worthy Ordre, and abusit it
+aganis the poyntis and the propereteis of the Ordre; ffor it war better to
+syk a Knycht to [gh]elde him selfe to justice to be punyst, with mortall
+punycion, na to lyve in sik misordinate lyf for to vndo himself, and
+otheris mony, quhilk lesse euill war that he war vndone allane, and lesse
+charge till his saule: ffor gif a knycht or a lord haue all thir forenamyt
+vicis in him or any part of thame, and wald punyse otheris, and will nocht
+punyse himself, that is nocht the rycht way of justice; ffor gude justice
+begynnis at it selfe, and syne at othir men, ffor grete lak is to reproue
+and correct otheris in that, that he is foulare smyttit him self; quhilk
+gif he will nocht do, othir Knychtis suld do for honoure of thair Ordre,
+till hald it euir in honoure and worschip, as wele efferis it to be. And
+all Knychtis that fauouris syk cruell dedis, and gerris nocht punyse thame,
+thai ar foule in the dede as the doaris of thame; ffor syk men ar nocht
+verray Knychtis, bot feigned beris the Ordre, and dois nocht the office;
+ffor rycht as a Knycht had a hurt in ane of his handis, that hurt is mare
+nere and dere, to the laue of his othir membris, na it is to me or ane
+othir man, and erar efferis till him to sett remede tharein. And rycht sa,
+gif a Knycht mysgouernis him in syk kynde that he be othir thef, or
+traytour, revar, or murderar, it appertenis mare till othir knychtis to
+sett thare in remede, na it dois till otheris that ar na knychtis; ffor all
+knychtis ar, and suld be as a cors. And thare ffore, knychtis has mare wite
+of the mysgouernaunce of othir knychtis na ony othir man has, and mare
+dishonoure alssua na men that ar na knychtis; ffor it is thair default, sen
+the correctioun efferis to the Order and to the Office; ffor quhy, he is
+inymy to the Ordre that sa gouernys: And than suld it wele effere to the
+Order to punyse thair inymyes. Quharefore, thou that art a Knycht, and will
+correk otheris defaultis, correk thine awin faultis fyrst: ffor a traytour,
+thef, or revare Knycht, he is alssua thef, traytour, and revare till his
+Order that revis at the worschip and the honoure that appertenis till it,
+mare na to reve othir mennis gudis; ffor he that stelis or revis honour fra
+ony persone, bringis him hame schame and dishonoure and euill renoune;
+quhilkis honoure passis all richess. Quhat difference is thare, to gude
+vnderstanding, till a traytour that betraisis his awin Lord naturale, or
+his castell, or his wyf, or his douchter, or his eldest sone, or slais his
+counsale and murderis thame, or sik dedis dois, in regard of him that euer
+was lele and trewe in all thir thingis, and deis for his Lord in bataill
+place. And alssua quhen a Knycht defendis ane othir that is false and
+traytoure till his Prince or his naturale Lord, and will nocht thole him
+cum to justice, nor na punycione to be done apon him, he is were na he that
+did the dede: and the Ordre of Knychthede is dishonourit in his persone,
+that manetenis, and will nocht bring to justice a false traytour; and
+vnworthy war that he had justice in keping.
+
+Ane othir poynt of the Office of the Knychthede is, to accuse traytouris
+aganis his prince, or otheris that it efferis, and till appelle thame of
+bataill, and feicht wyth thame: And office of traytour is, to deny his
+tresone, and hyde it, and cover it, quhill he may, and eschewe all prufis
+tharof; and thus ar the twa curagis wele contrarius togidder, that neuer
+curage of traytour mycht ourcum ane noble curage of a trew Knycht; bot gif
+it be throw pride or surquidy, that is callit oure presumptuouse in
+himself: the quhilk God tholes quhilom be punyst in bataill place. Bot the
+curage of a lele Knycht, that for a lele cause debatis, may nocht be oure
+cummyn, bot gif it be for sum syn agaynis the Ordre of Knychthede: ffor gif
+a Knycht wald reve fra the small peple the gude that God has gevin thame,
+and geve it till otheris that he aw nocht to, that war agayne the Office of
+Knychthede, to tak fra laware na himself outhir moble gudis or
+possessiouns, and hald it as heretage till him, nocht gevand, na restorand
+agayn; he may be lyknyt to the wolf that the lord gave the schepe to kepe
+to, as till a familyar faa; or he may be lyknyt till a fule lorde that left
+his faire wyf in keping till a [gh]ong traytour knycht; or he that left his
+stark castell and his gudis till a bitter cuvatous knycht, vntrew knycht;
+and thus is he mekle to wyte that gevis his castell, or his wyf, or his
+schepe, in syk gouernaunce; or how ane othir suld traist his gouernaunce in
+him that gouernis nocht wele himself? ffor thir ar thingis that men suld
+nocht put in misgouernaunce of fule men, his faire wyf, his castell, and
+his moble gudis; ffor commonly syk men that begylis thair lordis may neuer
+be reformyt na redressit till lautee, na till honour of Knychthede.
+
+Item, Ane othir poynt of the Office of Knychthede is, to hald his armouris
+cleine and faire, and wele at poynt, and to se wele to the gouernaunce of
+his horse, and nocht to play thame at playes of dice, and of tabilles, and
+othir licht playis, quhilkis ar nocht contenyt in the poyntis of the Ordre:
+ffor it is forbedyn in the lawis to mak ony ath contrary to the Ordre of
+Knychthede, na to the Office; and he that puttis doune the principale
+thingis quhare with the Ordre and Office is haldyn at honoure and worschip,
+throw lycht playes or uthir wayis, he honouris nocht wele his Ordre; ffor
+Knycht in weris, but horse and harnais, is lytill presit; and sen it is sa,
+that God and man acordit in the poyntis of the Ordre of Knychthede that na
+false aythis suld be tharein, na in thame that gouernis the said Ordre,
+suld than nane be.
+
+Item, Lordis na Knychtis suld nocht brek the ath of mariage throw
+misordynate lechery, ffor that is a poynt that discordis with the poyntis
+of the Ordre; ffor thare is thre gree of chastitee, the quhilkis all
+honourable persouns ar behaldin till, that is, ane in mariage, ane in
+wedowhede, and ane in maidynhede that is callit virginitee; of quhilk the
+Haly Writt biddis thame that may nocht lyve chaste, mary thame, and syne
+kepe thair maryage; ffor gif thai do nocht, and thai brek mariage, that
+brekis thair aithe to godwart, the quhilk is agayn the Ordre and Office of
+Knychthede; ffor chastitee is vertu, and misordanyt lechery is vice: And
+thus sen all vertu folowis the Ordre, and all vice discordis with it, it
+syttis wele that princis, lordis, and knychtis kepe honour in that poynt,
+and namely, nocht to forffet to thair mariage.
+
+Item, Justice and Knychthede acordis togeder, and justice and mariage,
+bresing and othir disordinate lechery discordis with justice; and thus
+Knychthede and disordanyt lechery discordis, as apperis be the lawis of
+Haly Kirk, quhilkis efferis prelatis to correct: And thus gif a prince, or
+a lord, or a knycht brekis mariage, he is mare to blame na ony of lawer
+degree; ffor the hyar degree the gretter fault, and mare to be punyst in
+all excessis of vertu.
+
+Item, Ane othir poynt of Knychthede is, that a Knycht suld be meke and full
+of clemence, and nocht prydy, na presumptuouse, na orguillouse; ffor oft
+tymes of pryde and orguille and presumpcione cummys injure and discensione;
+ffor orguille is contrary to justice, and inymy to concord; and tharfore,
+thare suld na Knycht be hautayn, na feir, na prydefull, na presumptuouse,
+bot euer with mekenes, and clemence, and humilitee, be symple as a may
+amang peple, and in his inymyes presence be as lyone rampand; ffor quhat
+ever he be, that be full of pryde and presumptuousnes, amang vertuous men
+is repute nocht, for thai ar contrarius to pes and concorde, and pes and
+concorde ar contrarius to justice. And sa is pride aganis the poyntis of
+the Ordre. And humilitee is the rute of the stedefastnes of Knychthede;
+ffor schortly to say, Knychthede acordis till all vertu and justice, and
+all thingis that ar contrariouse to virtu and justice ar contrariouse to
+the Ordere and Office of Knychthede: ffor Knychthede suld defend all
+injuris and wrangis, all pilleries, wrang, weris, and tribulaciouns, and
+suld hald the peple in all justice, equitee, veritee, and lautee, pes and
+debonairetee, and outsched the wikkit fra the gude peple pesable; quhilkis,
+gif thai do nocht, bot dois the contrarye in thair governaunce, thai ar
+contrarius to thair Ordere, and worthy to be punyst. Bot thare is nane that
+all knawis, na all may punyse, bot the Emperoure, the quhilk ordanyt
+Knychthede spirituale, to kepe justice, ordinare, be reugle vertuouse, in
+pes and concorde, and justice rigorouse, that is, the Ordre of Knychthede,
+quhilk suld on force compell euill men, and of wikkit lyf, to desist and
+cesse fra thair wikkitnesse, and punyse thame tharfore: And thus is thare
+Knychtis of pes and concorde amorouse, and be reugle of justice, to mak gud
+reugle and gracious concorde and gouernaunce in the peple; and alssua
+Knychtis of the justice rigorouse, ordanyt to compelle be fors of armes all
+tyrannis, traytouris, and all othir mysdoaris, and cruell tormentouris of
+the haly labouraris, kirk men, merchandis, and traualouris, to cesse and
+desist fra thair wikkitnesse. The quhilkis Knychtis suld be full of
+vertues, and gude lyf, to geue otheris ensample.
+
+[Decoration]
+
+QUARTUM CAPITULUM.
+
+HERE SPEKIS THE DOCTOURE OF THE EXAMINACIOUN OF THE SQUYER, WHILK SULD
+ENTER IN THE ORDER NEWLY OF KNYCHTHEDE.
+
+Sayand, That he suld be first examynyt be ane alde Knycht that knewe and
+lufit wele the said Order atoure all thing, next to God: ffor thare is mony
+Princis that rekkis nocht quhat maner of condicioune na of lyf his Knichtis
+be, sa that he haue grete nomber of Knychtis in his company. Bot it suld
+nocht be sa: ffor Knychthede takis na hede to multitude bot to noblesse of
+cheualrye, and of curage, and of gude thewis, that we haue before spokyn
+of; and tharefore, gif he that is examynour lufys better multitude, na
+noblesse of curage and of vertu, he is nocht worthy to be examynoure of
+Squyeris, bot suld be reprovit and punyst be the Prince of Knychthede, of
+his defoulyng of the Order of Knychthede: and first and foremast it suld be
+sperit, Gif he trowis, lufis, and doubtis God? but quhilk poynt is na man
+worthy till nane order of Noblesse. Item, Gif he dredis the defaultis to
+do, that dishonouris the Order? and thus Squier, but lufe and but drede to
+do mys, is unworthy to the Ordre. And gif he takis it agayne thir
+propereteis and condiciouns, he wenis he takis honour till him, bot he
+takis dishonour; ffor a Squyer but noblesse is nocht worthy to sa hye
+honour, as to the worthy honour of Knychthede; na [gh]it in the weris of
+his prince or otheris, but horse, armouris, and sik men, ar nocht habil to
+wyn honour in armes, ffor men may nocht mare cruelly destroye the noble
+Order of Knychthede, na till haue ane vnworthy examynoure of the Squier
+that suld enter in the said Ordre; ffor gif he admytt to the Ordre a man of
+vnworthy curage, that is destructione of the Ordre; and suld a Squier
+examyne himself first, and think on the mony noble propereteis and
+condiciouns of the Ordre, to think in him self gif he war worthy, or he put
+him to the examnacioune. Rycht as Scholaris examynit to be Prestis or greid
+in scholis, suld nocht sett thame thar fore, bot thai fand thame worthy
+tharfore, ffor dout thai war repellit, or ellis defoulit thair greis; rycht
+sa suld Bachelere Squieris in the examinacioune of the Order of Knychthede,
+ffor he suld nocht alssua ask the Ordre that he wald eftir deffoule be his
+euill thewis. And alssua Lordis that ar sa informyt, that thai will mak sik
+men Knychtis, thai do aganis the poyntis of the Ordre, and chargis thair
+consciences; ffor men knawis nocht noblesse of curage in fair wordis, bot
+in worthy werkis: Na nocht in faire clething, ffor oft tymes vnder a faire
+habyte may be a full false hert, full of barate, trechery, and traysoune;
+na he takis him nocht be his faire harnais, na his faire horse, na othir
+faire habilliamentis; ffor oft tymes vnder syk faire habilliament ar nocht
+the best men of armes, and worthiast in vertues. Quharfore, gif thou will
+wale worthyast and maist noble man of curage, thou seke him be thir
+takenis, that is, for to say, justice, and temperance, force and prudence,
+ffayth, esperaunce that is gude hope, and cheritee, and leautee; and be
+thir takenis, thou sall knawe the nobless of curage; be the quhilkis
+vertues, the noble hert defendis it fra the inymyes of Knychthede; quhilkis
+ar falsehede, trechery, traysone, thift and murder, and syk lyke thingis.
+
+Item, Our [gh]ong men suld nocht be maid Knychtis, bot gif thai had gude
+tutouris and curatouris, for dout of misgouernaunce of the Ordre for fault
+of knaulage; ffor quhen a childe is made Knycht, he thinkis nocht on the
+poyntis of the Ordre that he sueris to kepe. And gif the Squiere that is
+ressauit be the examynouris to be Knycht and admyttit, be a rekles man and
+a wikkit, and of vile condiciouns, he dois grete wrang to the Ordre that he
+beris, and till himself too; ffor and he be vencust in barrier, or he be
+cowart or full of wikkit vicis, as fleand fra battaillis, revand or
+steland, he sall neuer haue honour na prouffit of his Ordre: ffor rycht as
+it honouris the honourable, it dishonouris the dishonourable. Bot of all
+thing, a Knycht suld kepe him in all vertu to hald the mydwart, for ay the
+mydwart is vertu, sa is the extremitee vice; and thus a Knycht suld be of
+resonable gude age, that he knaw the propereteis and poyntis that he aw
+till haue, that he nouthir excede, na be our lache in his dede.
+
+Item, It suld be sperit at him, Quhat is the cause that he takis the Ordre
+for? quhethir for fairnes of corssage; or for hardinesse of curage; or for
+richesse, that he may be proudly cled; or for pryde, that he may take mare
+state na his falowis that now is; or for that he is wele horsit and
+enarmyt; or for to be a myrour in his lignie, that nane is sa worthy as he
+to be Knycht.
+
+Item, Men may mak Knychtis of pure mennis sonis, and thai haue gude, evin
+in frendschip of lordschip; and with that, that thai haue the vertues
+foresaid. Bot and a Knycht or a Lord mak ane vnworthy creature Knycht, he
+puttis his honour in dangere, that disprisis and dishonouris the Noble
+Ordre of Knychthede, and makis his awin honour mare law na it was; for the
+fylth and the wrechit vnhonestee, that he has lychtlyit the said Ordre. For
+be rycht resone of worthynesse and noblesse of the Ordre, thare may nocht,
+na suld nocht na villaine curage cum be gude, evin to the said Ordre; ffor
+that war be gude resone vndoyng of the said Noble Ordre, that is ordanyt
+bot for noblesse and gentillesse of curage and gude vertues, as foresaid
+is, and gude thewis: For hye parage and ancien honour ar the first poyntis
+of the rute of Knychthede, that is cummyn fra alde ancestry, and syne
+worthy persouns with worschipfull condiciouns and propereteis, personale of
+the Knycht him self, makis mariage betuix worschipfull vertues in hye
+parage and Knychthede, quhilk aw nocht to lycht bot in noblesse; and
+tharfore, and a Lord marry nocht hye parage and Knychthede togeder, he is
+contrarius to Noblesse and to Knychthede, and to Knychthede bathe. Bot a
+Lord may put of his powere forssably agayn the noble lordis and Knychtis
+willis, a man in the Ordre that is nocht worthy: Bot he may nocht vndo that
+he has done, ffor suppose that he haue power to mak a Knycht, he has na
+power to vnmak him, sa mekle is the vertue of Knychthede; ffor na man but
+grete cause, and Juge with princis powar, may tak honour away quhare it is
+anys gevin. Than be resone, it aucht nocht to be that Prince nor Knycht mak
+na Knycht of ane unworthy persone, na of villaine lignage. ffor wald men
+understand that alsmekle is nature honourit, as for corporale nature, in
+tree and beste as in man; bot as for nature spirituale, man is mare
+honourde. Bot be the noblesse of the spiritualitee of the saule resounable,
+that accordis with angelis of hevin, thare is grete difference; and sen
+noblesse of curage suld be in all Knycht, it may stand that a man of a new
+sprongyn lygnye, that be honourable and worthy in all gentrise, mycht be
+convenable and worthy to the Ordre, sa that the vertues condiciouns and
+propereteis of noblesse of curage acord ther till. Bot this opynione is
+vntrewe and vnworthy, ffor and that mycht be, it war mare lyke that the
+Ordour of Knychthede suld better or alswele accorde to the propereteis
+corporalis, and personalis, as spiritualis: the quhilk is false, ffor
+Knycht gaynis nocht bot for hye parage and noblesse, with the seven vertues
+before namyt be the Doctour, as Force, Prudence, Justice, and Temperance,
+with Faith, Gude Hope, and Charitee, with leautee that efferis to
+Knychthede.
+
+Item, The examynour suld spere of the Squieris condiciounis, and maneris,
+and gude vertues, and thewis, amang the peple; and quhat documentis and
+techingis thai ar of; ffor the fault of gude documentis and techingis
+gerris vnworthy men be reboytit and repellit fra the examinacione of the
+inquisitouris, that thai cum nocht to that Noble Ordre: ffor worthy
+examynouris will admytt nane, bot worthy: ffor grete foly war to put in the
+Ordre thame that efterwart suld be repellit for their misgouernaunce; And
+forthy suld the Knycht, that is the inquissitour, seke wele the poyntis of
+noblesse and of valour, and of the vertuouse propereteis and gude thewis of
+the Squyer that suld be Knycht; and quhy, and for quhat cause, he will tak
+the Ordre; and quhethir it be for meritable cause till implye him for the
+Haly Kirk, the Cristyn faith, and for the commone prouffit, for the peace,
+and for all peceable persouns; or he takis the Ordre for pryde or couatise,
+or for to be honourit, or for vane glore, or to wyn richesse thareby,
+quhilk, gif he may persaue that his entencione cummys of ane vnworthy
+cause, admytt him neuer: ffor rycht as Homycide, Symony, Usure, and
+Scismatyke condicioune, repellis Clerkis fra benefice and honoure, and all
+dignitee; in lyke cas suld thir faultis before namyt repelle a Squyere fra
+the noble Ordre of Knychthede, that suld haue nane affinitee bot till
+noblesse of corage, as said is; ffor and men wald wele knaw and consider
+the grete chargis and dewiteis that folowis the said Ordre, with saule
+perile, and worschip oft in were, thay sald stand grete aw to tak that
+noble Ordre, mare na to be outhir monk, or frere, or othir religiouse of
+the hardest Ordre that is; ffor traistis wele, that grete honour beris ay
+grete charge, and gretter disese it is, to fall fra grete honoure agayne
+that anys a man has bene at, na euir it was joy, to be thareat: _Quia non
+est tanti gaudii excelsa tenere, quanti est meroris de excelso cadere_. And
+tharfore Knycht suld mare dout honour na dede, and schamefulnes suld mare
+chastise a worthy Knycht, and geve him a hardar passione; and it suld
+happin him, na suld outhir hunger or thrist, or hete or calde, or ony
+disese that he mycht haue; and namely, grete princis and lordis sonis suld
+think grete schame to wyn ane euill name for lak of thair condiciouns in
+thair [gh]outhede, gif thai thocht euer to cum to the worthy and
+worschipful Ordre of noblesse that Knychthede is callit; ffor thai may wele
+traist that the name that thai wyn in thair [gh]ong age remaynis with thame
+for euermare: And than is it grete auenture, and euer thai be worthy to
+ressaue that Ordre, quhen the examynouris knawis thair condiciounis; and
+tharfore, all syk perilis suld be schawin to the Squier or he sett him to
+cum to the examynyng. Cheualry may nocht be vp haldyn but grete costis, and
+als expensis on horse, harnais, mete, and men, and othir necessair thingis
+that till it appertenis; and tharfore, thare suld na man, supposs he war
+worthy, desyre to tak the Ordre bot he war a lorde, or that he had lord to
+mynister him all his necessiteis, and hald his honour abufe in tyme of
+weris; ffor ellis, in default of horse, harnais, and othir necessiteis,
+euill sett Knychtis, quhen thai wantt, assemblis syk euill men as thame
+selff, and gerris mony ruggaris and revaris, and othir wikkit men, destroy
+the commouns, and distrouble the realme, and makis mekle wrang to be done
+in thaire default.
+
+Item, Men countrefait in thair persone, na oure grete growin men, na men
+oure fat, or that has euill disposicione, or euill sekenes in thair body;
+ffor it war lak to the makare to mak men Knychtis that war nocht hable till
+armes, and to do vailliaunce in tyme of weris; ffor the nobilnesse of the
+Ordre is sa worschipfull, that it sufferis na man that has mahaigne, na
+demembrit, na othir wayis manket in corssage, visage, na membris--be he
+neuer sa riche--to be admyttit to the said maist noble Ordre, the quhilk
+excludis vttraly all ignobilitee and vilitee.
+
+Item, The inquisitoure examynour suld mak inquest at the Squyar gif euer he
+did ony grete excessiue syn, as tresoune, or scisme, sorcery, or
+wichecraft, or grete murderis, or syk lyke thingis; the quhilk, suppose he
+prise thame lytill, may lett him to ressaue the noble Ordre, in company to
+be falowe to the worthy Cheualrye: na [gh]it na vane glorius Squyare suld
+be na Knycht, ffor vane glore tynis the meritis of all gude vertues. Na he
+suld nocht be a gabusoure, na a flaitour Squyare, that suld enter in the
+said Ordre; na [gh]it hautane, na fiere in pride, na orguillouse Squyere
+suld nocht enter in Knychthede; and namely outrageus in word, and
+sclanderouse bakbytare, suld nocht enter in the Ordre; na commone leare, na
+commone viciouse hurdomare hasartour, commoune tauernouris full of sleuthe,
+barganouris, commouns glotouns, kid and knawin for syk, dronkynsum,
+manesuorne, and all outrageus commoun vicius men, ar nocht to be ressauit
+to the Ordre of Knychthede, bot suld be repellit be the examynouris of the
+Ordre: And thus sald nane be ressauit to the Ordre bot nobles of parage,
+vertuouse, honest, and of worthy curage; and in all this suld Squyer be
+inquerit, or he be Knycht.
+
+[Decoration]
+
+QUINTUM CAPITULUM.
+
+HERE DECLARIS THE DOCTOUR IN QUHAT FASSONE AND MANER SULD A SQUYER THAT
+WALD BE KNYCHT, RESSAUE THE ORDRE OF KNYCHTHEDE.
+
+And as to that, the Squyer quhen he is examynyt and admyttit, he suld
+schriue him clene of all synnys and defautis that he may think on, that
+euer he maid aganis God, and his Magestee; and tak his Sacrament, sayand
+"In the name of thee, and in entencione to serue thee, and honour thee, My
+Souerane Lord God, and thy dere moder Mary, and all thy haly Sanctis of
+Paradise, I tak this day this worthy Ordre." And this suld be done be
+prince or lord in a grete feste, as Zule, Pasche, or Witsonday, or All
+Halowmesse, ffor the mare honourable assemble is maid thay dayes na in
+otheris: And than suld the Squyere fast the Fest evin, and wake all that
+nycht in prayeris of grace asking, and otheris als suld pray for him, to
+geve him grace, worthily to ressaue and kepe, and worthily gouerne the said
+Ordre, at the plesaunce of God, and the haly Court of Hevin: And on the day
+before, he suld pas to the Kirk, in his best array as efferis and custum of
+the countree is, thair to be in prayeris, and to here a preching, or a
+proposicione langand the said mater; na he suld nouthir here na speke
+viciouse speche, na trompouris, na janglouris, for that is lak to the
+Ordre: And on the morne eftir, quhen he is arayed in habyte of Knychtis
+wede, thare mon be grathit a solempne Messe with note, and in the tyme of
+the Offeratore, he sal cum before the altare and offer: And syne sall he
+mak ane athe to the Ordre till honoure it eftir his powere, in the honour
+of Almychtj God, Prince of all Chevalrye; and thare in present place, suld
+thare be maid a faire sermone, declarand the poyntis of the Christyn faith,
+acordand thame togeder with the poyntis of the Ordre of Knychthede. To the
+quhilkis poyntis of acordans the Squyre suld take gude tent, and knaw thame
+all, and hald thame prentit in his hert percure, with all the Vij.
+sacramentis, the X. Commandmentis, the Xij. articles of the treuth, and to
+kepe him fra the Vij. dedely [synnis]. To all the quhilkis poyntis of the
+faith, to kepe and honoure and fulfill at his powere, incontynent that he
+haue tane the said Ordre at the honoure and reuerence of God, and thareto
+suld mak his speciale prayeris for all, the tyme of the Messe: And fra
+thyne furth for all his lyf dais. And quhen the preching is done, than sall
+cum furth the Prince or Lord that suld mak him Knycht; the quhilk aw of
+dett to be Knycht or he mak ony Knychtis: rycht as nane may mak Preste bot
+he be Preste, sa may nane mak Knycht bot first he be maid Knycht, saiffand
+the Pape: ffor how may he geve that he has nocht? ffor herbes and bestis
+may geve thair nature ilkane till othir, to mak thair nature perpetuall;
+bot sa may nocht Knychtis be maid, bot first the makare be possessit of his
+gift, and of his Ordre: ffor gif ony lord wald geve the Ordre and nocht
+haue it, or vnworthily geve it othir wayis na the Ordre requeiris, he dois
+grete dishonour to the Ordre. And thai that takis the said Ordre of thame
+that has na powere vnworthily, thai haue na grace in the Ordre to do wele,
+na prouffit to thame na otheris; and thus is the Squyere begylit, and
+dissauit of his Ordre, and all Cheualrye sclanderit. And than suld the
+Squier hald vp his handis to the hevyn, and his eyne to the hicht, and his
+hert to God, syttand on his kneis, and thare suld the Prince haue the Suerd
+redy of Honour, gylt with gold, and belt it about his sydis, in takenyng of
+Chastitee, Justice, and Cheritee, and thare the Knycht suld outhir geve him
+a strake with his hand, or with a drawin suerd, in the nek, to think on the
+poyntis and defend his dewiteis. And syne suld he outhir kys him in the
+mouth, or ellis kys the croce of the suerd, and geve it him, and ger him
+kis it agayne, and sa put it in the scalbourd, and bid him think on his
+athe, ande charge that he has vndertane, and the honour that he suld
+manetene. And efter that all the seruice of God be done, the new maid
+Knycht suld ryde on ane coursere out throw the citee, or toune, and schaw
+him to the peple, sa that thai may knaw him for a Knycht, defendour of Haly
+Kirk and commone prouffit, and halder of lawe and justice, and mayntenour
+of the peple, that quhasa has ado thai suld draw till him for help; and
+that he suld haue mare raddour and drede to do mys, or oucht that suld be
+agayne the lawe euer mare in tyme to cum, and to saif the honour and the
+worschip of his noble Ordre; ffor raddour, drede, and schamefulnes is hye
+grace till all persouns that has honour to kepe. And in that day suld thare
+be grete festyng, justyng, and tournaymentis, with other actis, as lissis
+and behurdis, geue grete giftis, and mak grete solempnitee in the honoure
+of God and the grete feste, and that Herauldis and Kingis of Armes and
+Menstralis war rewardit. And than suld the Prince rewarde the new Knycht
+with landis, lordschippis, or othir worthy giftis and gouernementis, till
+eke his estate and help to manetene the honoure of the Ordre. And thus suld
+giftis be gevin bathe till him, and be him till otheris; ffor the Ordre
+requeris giftis to be gevin in daly placis; for honoure and worschip of
+lordis of estate may nocht be kepit, bot quhare giftis ar gevin, and noble
+actis of honour excersit: ffor quhare honoure is nocht kepit, ordere gais
+bakwart.
+
+[Decoration]
+
+SEXTUM CAPITULUM.
+
+HERE SPEKIS THE DOCTOURE OF THE SIGNIFICATIOUNE OF THE ARMES OF THE ORDER
+OF KNYCHTHEDE.
+
+Now declaris the Doctour, that as the Preste quhilk in the Mess sayand has
+syndry habitis and habilliamentis, quhilkis ilkane has a syndry
+significacione, as is acordand to thair office and order, and that office
+of Preste and office of Knycht has sa grete affinitee and alliaunce
+togeder; ffor quhy? that rycht as office of Preste has certane thingis that
+pertenis to the Ordre; and ilkane has a certane significacione, sa has the
+Ordre of Knychthede: ffor ilk thing pertenand till his Order has a certane
+significacioune, be the quhilkis is signifyit the noblesse of the Order of
+Knychthede.
+
+And first and formast, Thare is to the Knycht gevin a Suerd with a crossit
+hilt, that signifyis that rycht as our Lord Jhesu Crist vencust in the
+Croce the inymy of mannis lygnage, to the quhilk he was dempt throu the syn
+of Adam, oure first fader, that rycht sa suld a Knycht vencuse the fais of
+the Croce throu the suerd; ffor the suerd is ordanyt to do justice with;
+and tharefore is it maid with twa egeis, in takenyng that he suld manetene
+and defend bathe Temporalitee and Spiritualitee with the double scherand
+suerd.
+
+Item, To the Knycht is gevin a Spere quhilk is evin, and betakenis
+rychtwisenesse and veritee; ffor as the spere is evin, and rycht sa suld he
+be bathe evynlyk and rychtwise, and manetene and defend lautee and equitee,
+in contrary of falshede and trecherye; and the scharp hard stelin poynt of
+the spere hede betakenis, that suppose falsehede be neuer sa wele armyt,
+[gh]it will lautee pas throu him, and vencuse him. And be the pennone on
+the spere end, it schawis that veritee hydis him nocht, bot schawis him to
+falsehede, sayand ay, quhen it movis, Lo me here Veritee, that has na drede
+of falsehede, na trecherye; and Veritee is the foundement of esperaunce
+that is gude hope, and of all othir thingis that ar signifyit be the spere.
+
+Item, Chapellat of stele alssua is gevin to the Knycht, in takenyng of
+drede of schame and repruf; ffor a Knycht suld be schamefull as a maydin
+dredand repruf: ffor Knycht or woman, but drede of schame, may nocht kepe
+honour langsumly, na be obedient to thair ordre: ffor rycht, as drede and
+schamefulnes, gerris a persone cast doune the hede, and luke to the erde,
+sa dois the stelin hat the Knycht cast doune his eyne; and rycht as the
+stelyn hat kepis the knychtis hede, quhilk is the hyast membre, and maist
+principale of his persone, sa kepis drede of schame the Knychtis honour,
+that is the hyast poynt of his ordre, and maist principale poynt of all.
+The quhilk drede of schame suld haue in it fyve wittis to kepe, that throu
+nane of thai suld dishonour cum, and that the noblesse of his curage suld
+defend thai fyve wittis, that neuer throu thame euill na wikkitnesse cum.
+
+Item, Haubergeone is gevin to the Knycht, in takenyng of castell, to kepe
+him fra his inymyes, that is, euill vicis; ffor rycht as a castell is
+wallit all about with stanis togedir junyt, to kepe Knycht fra his fais,
+rycht sa is the haubert to kepe him rycht sa fra his fais that ar vicis and
+defaultis, till his maist noble Ordre of Knychthede, the quhilk is maid of
+mony syndry pecis as of maillis.
+
+Item, Leg-harnais is gevin the Knycht, that his leggis and fete were seker
+to passe in the wayes and stretis, and kepe thame, that na robbouris, na
+thevis, na murderaris, vmbesett the wayes to reve na strouble lele
+merchandis, na labouraris, men of kirk, na pilgrimys, that passis in the
+contree for the commone prouffit of the Realme: And in sik keping he suld
+be garnyst in his armouris and his wapnis, that he mycht do scathe and tak
+nane.
+
+Item, Thare is gevin him Maisse, that is to say Pollax, in takenyng that he
+is officere ryale; and that gif ony man disobeyis till his wand, that he
+lay that maisse on thame to hald the Kingis rychtis on fut.
+
+Alssua, Spuris ar gevin him, in signifiaunce that rycht as spuris spedis
+the horse to ryn fast, and besy in tyme of nede, quhen his inymyes cummys
+nere, rycht sa suld Knycht in tyme of nede be besy quhen the King or his
+Contree is ouresett with lourdanis and revaris or traytouris or other
+wikkit misdoaris, sa that he slepe nocht his time, bot be besy and diligent
+in the commone prouffit. Of the suerd we haue spoken of before, in quhat
+takenyng and significacioune it is gevin.
+
+Item, The quhip is gevyn to the Knycht in his hand, quhen he is on horse,
+to that significacione, that he suld stand aw and be obedient till his
+Lord; ffor disobeisaunce vndois the Knycht and brekis his Ordre, that all
+his ofspring will forthink: as for the inobedience of Adam, all his
+ofspring was punyst.
+
+Item, Gorgelin is gevin him, in takenyng that thare suld nouthir enter na
+isse throu his gorge thing that suld be villanie, na lak thing to the
+honour of the Ordre; as to be at bidding of his lord, but disobeysaunce,
+and but murmur do his lordis commandementis; and nouther do, na consent, to
+tresone or guille, barate, na trechery, vnleautee, na othir vice, that may
+cum throu word na thocht be the gorge outwart; na excesse of glutony,
+drunkynnesse, na othir mystemperaunce throu the gorge inwart. And thus the
+gorgelyn suld kepe the Knychtis gorge.
+
+Item, Masse is gevin him, that betakenis strenth and force of curage, the
+quhilk masse is lyknyt till a false sterap, quhilk strykis on all sydis,
+apon all kynde of harnais; sa dois force of curage, it strykis on all
+sydis, and defendis the honour of Knichthede agayne all vicis, and enforcis
+vertues.
+
+Item, Thare is gevin to the Knycht his lytill schort Suerd, that sum callis
+Misericorde, in signifyand that quhen he has implyde his spere, his lang
+suerde, his polax, his false sterap, and his falow be sa nere him that he
+may nocht help himself with nane of thay, than it is gude at schort
+strakis; and it is callit outher Schort Suerd or Misericord; ffor cause
+that a Knycht suld nocht all traist in his armoure na wapnis, bot in his
+awin vertu, and in him that maid him, and in his mercj; and traist that
+throu his help, quhen all wapnis are faillit, that he sall saue his honour
+and bring him fra the perile of dede and dishonour.
+
+Item, Schelde or targe is gevin to the Knycht in signifiaunce that as
+office of schelde is to be the targe betuix the Knycht and the strakis, sa
+suld the Knycht be betuix the Prince or his Lorde and the strakis; as the
+schelde ressauis the strakis before the Knycht, sa suld the Knycht before
+his lorde, kepe strakis fra him. And as schelde is couplit to the Knychtis
+brest, thare his hert is, sa suld the Knycht be till his lord bound in
+lautee as till his awin hert, and is a myd moyen betuix him and his peple.
+
+Gloues of plate ar gevyn to the Knycht in takenyng, that as thai kepe his
+handis fra strakis and woundis and manglyng, throu the quhilkis the body
+mycht be tynt, sa suld he kepe his handis, that he give na faith, na athe,
+na mak nane condicioune na obligacioune agayn his Lord, ffor than war he
+vndone; and as Knycht liftis his wapnis mare seurely and traistly, that his
+handis ar enarmyt, sa suld he list mare seurely to God Almichtj, that he be
+enarmyt, that his handis wirk na misgouernaunce in taking of wrangwise
+gudis; na strykyng of vnlefull personis; na making of vnlefull condiciouns,
+and vnlefull touchingis; na put his handis in vnlefull placis.
+
+The Sadill that he rydis in, betakenis sekernes, that he be nocht lychtly
+put by his purpose, sa kepis the sadill him, that he be nocht lichtly put
+fra his hors; ffor quhen he war doune strykyn than war his honour lawe. And
+rycht as he is ferme and seker in his sete, sa suld he be ferme and seker
+in his curage, in justice, lautee, noblesse, veritee, and charitee; ffor
+throw seuretee of a gude hardy knycht mony gude dedis ar done, throu gude
+hardy men of armes, and mony cowartis ar declarit, quhen hardy men ar
+approuit, vantouris and vayn glorious men, that dar nocht be sene quhare
+the hardy and worthy knychtis apperis in worthynes in bataill place, and
+thare fortune enforsis hardynesse. And as the sadill, with the grathe that
+langis it, haldis him ferme, that he movis nocht for na strake of spere of
+inymy, sa suld forse of curage kepe him, that he move neuer again gude
+faith na resone, and bow nocht with vice agayn vertu. And as the hors beris
+grete charge of the armyt Knycht, and sadill and harnais, sa beris the
+Knycht, be vertu of his Ordre, grete charge, the quhilk he suld nocht
+lychtly be movit fra. And as he is sett apon a hie sadill, aboue a hye
+coursour, sa suld his curage be hye to defend the rycht, and manetene the
+poyntis of his maist hye and noble temporale Ordre.
+
+And tharfore is Courser gevin him or Destrere, to betakyn noblesse and
+hicht of curage, that Knycht suld haue aboue all othir peple, sen he has
+bathe maist hye and noble order, and syne maist noble habilliament of
+armoure, and syne maist hye and noble hors; sa sulde he haue maist hye and
+noble curage, with force to passe all otheris in vailliaunce of armes and
+honoure, and to be sene aboue all his men, and mare fere of, sa that men
+that had nede of his help suld se him of fere, to draw till him for help.
+
+Item, his Coursere or destryere has Bridill gevin till him, with irne bytt
+in the mouth, and reynis in the Knychtis hand, sa that the Knycht may
+refreyne the hors, that he pas nocht away with him. And that iryn bitt in
+mouth betakenis, that he suld refren[gh]e his mouth fra bathe euill
+viciouse speche and euill thouchtis. And be the reynis is betakenit, that
+he suld hald his handis undefoulit, or fylit with oure vilaynouse dedis, or
+that he be oure large to geve till othir that he haue nede him self, and
+that he be nocht sa lycht of striking with his handis that thare be na
+discrecione in his dedis, and that be thai reynis he suld be led with pure
+folk that war nede bestad of help, quhare thane nedis war to trauaile to
+help thame; and that he war nocht oure narow na nedy that he had lak
+tharethrou, nocht to spare his gude and spend his honour; and that he be of
+handis hardy to defend him fra his fa; and doubte na thing, ffor oure grete
+doubte makkis Knychtis to haue lathe curage.
+
+Item, The Horse-Hede is bundyn with ane hede-stell of the bridill, in that
+kynde that he suld do na thing, but be ordynaunce of the Knycht, that
+efferis till course of armes: and bot be resone; and the hede of the horse
+gais before, and is bundyn to do resoune, sa suld the resone ga before all
+dede of armes, and other actis honourable that he dois. And as his
+hede-stele byndis his hede to resone, sa dois resone the Knycht, and kepis
+his worschip. Alsua, the Knychtis hors is enournyt with harnais before and
+behynd, on his body, sa efferis it to Knychtis to be honourably enournyt
+with honourable clething, and alsa with vertues honourable. And because
+that sum horse ar enarmyt with sik harneis as efferis to defend thair corps
+fra harmes, sa suld Knycht be enarmyt with richessis of temporale gudis, or
+ellis he may nocht gudely do his worschip, nouthir in pes na in were, and
+oft tymes gerris mony reueryes and wrang wynnyngis be: for Clerkis sais,
+_Quod propter inopiam multi deliquerunt, etc._
+
+Item, Jakkis war ordanit to Knychtis, thai tymes of [gh]eris that war of
+grete solempnitee, of sylk aboue all thair harnais, that signifyit grete
+trauailis that effeiris till him to do; ffor rycht as the jakkis ar aboue
+the hauberkis, and ordanyt nerest bathe wynd and rayn, and othir stormys,
+sa suld a Knycht for the peple susteyne all stormes and trauailis for
+thame, sa that all mysterfull and peceable persones that had myster, suld,
+throu him, haue reconfourt and refuge at nede, for the honoure of noble
+that ordanyt that Noble Order, for that cause to be a protectour and ane
+aduocate of all poore, miserable, and peceable persones: The quhilkis be
+the noblesse and the creacione of the Ordre, he is ordanyt to defend,
+manetene, and hald in thair richtis, quhen thai haue mister, and thai be
+requerit: Quhilkis Knychtis suld erar expone thame outhir to be dede, or
+presonare, or woundit sare, or he left thame but help that ar vnder thaire
+cure and saufgarde: Be the quhilkis poyntis of the Ordre, men may se that
+Knychtis, be vertu of thair Ordre, has a grete charge, quhat of justice
+halding, quhat of thair landis gouernyng, and of thair peple maynteyning,
+and of thai peceable persones defending, as ar kyrk men, and maidnis fra
+forse and ravisyng, wedowis, and faderles and moderles barnis fra
+supprising, labouraris, merchandis, and traualouris fra distroubling, and
+all peceable persones fra fors and wrangwise vexacione.
+
+Eftir this, Takyn of Armes to bere is gevin the Knycht in his schelde, or
+in his cote of armes, or othir wayis, sa that he be knawin and kend in
+bataill be otheris; sa that gif he dois wele he suld have honoure and
+worschip, and gif he dois evill he suld haue dishonoure and disworchip, and
+sik as efferis till ane inymy of the Ordre of Knychthede: for gif he be
+vailliaunt and hardy in bataill; or he be feigned, slak, and cowart, and
+flee fra his lorde in bataill.
+
+Item, Baneris ar gevyn, bot that is bot to Kingis, and Princis, Erllis,
+Dukkis, Marquis, Vavassouris, Barones, and Knychtis Banneroll; And thus
+quhen a Baroun Banneroll has mony Knychtis vnder him, thai aw to diffend
+thaire lordis landis, and his lyf, and his honoure: ffor the honoure of
+Knychthede standis in that, that he be lufit, lovit, prisit, honourit, and
+doubtit, with the prince, lordis, and peple of the realme; ffor the honoure
+of lordis and princis standis in the pluralitee of mony worschipfull and
+honourable Knychtis: And as Knychtis of honoure ar honourde with princis,
+lordis, and peple, for hardynesse, noble curage, vertu, and worthynesse,
+that thai haue wonyn with thair princis, lordis, and maisteris honoure in
+thair [gh]outhede; rycht sa ar vnworthi cowartis, full of tresone and
+falsehede, barate and trechery, and othir viciouse lyf, suld be haldyn as
+dishonourit, and vnworthy to be amang thame that ar honourable in the said
+Order, and mare to be blamyt na othir lawlyar folk, suppose thai had done
+mys.
+
+[Decoration]
+
+SEPTIMUM CAPITULUM.
+
+HERE SPERIS THE DOCTOURE OF GUDE CUSTUMES THAT EFFERIS TO KNYCHTHEDE.
+
+And, first, he sais that Noblesse of curage has chosyn Knychtis of honour
+to be aboue the small peple, and the small peple to be at thair seruice and
+gouernement. Than suld Noblesse and gude custumes be intill all noble
+knychtis, be vertu of thair Ordre; ffor noblesse of Knychthede cummys neuer
+to man of gude evin rychtwisely na honourably, bot it be throu noblesse of
+curage; ffor but noblesse of curage it may neuer cum to that hie degree of
+honoure, and but electioun of vertu, and gude custumes and thewis; and thus
+on nede force it behufis the Knycht, or he cum to that hye worschip and
+estate, worthily but vsurpacione, that he be knawin full of gude vertues,
+gude custumes, and gude thewis in gouernance. And fyrst and formast, all
+Knycht or he tak Ordre suld knaw all the Seven Vertues, and thair branchis;
+that is to say, the four Vertues Cardinale, and the thre Vertues
+Theological. The thre Theological is Faith, Gude Hope, and Cheretee, as we
+have before touchit. The Four Cardinale Vertues ar Justice, Temperance,
+Fors, and Prudence.
+
+And first and formast, a Knycht bot he be of gude Faith, all is for nocht
+that he dois; ffor he may neuer haue othir vertewe na gude custumes; ffor
+but faith all is bot syn that euer man dois: ffor be faith men has all gude
+knawlage and vnderstanding of God and his haly Sanctis; and but faith man
+is wer na nocht; ffor be oure faith we haue sight spirituale of hevin and
+hell, and all Goddis workis, visibilis and invisibilis. And be Faith men
+has Esperaunce, Cheritee, and Leautee, and ar servitouris to Veritee, and
+fault of Faith myssaris all thir thingis. Knychtis be gude ancien custumes
+was wont to ga in the Haly Land, to defend and manetene the Cristyn Faith,
+fechtand agains the inymyes of the Croce, and was marterit: but full few
+now dois that. Alsua, be vertu of fayth and gude custumes, Knychtis
+defendis the Clerkis and Kirkmen fra wikkit tyrane men, the quhilk aganis
+the faith, and for default of faith schapis thame to derob and ourethraw
+bathe clerkis and kirkmen, for thair tyranny and wikkitnes.
+
+Item, Esperaunce is a noble vertu, be the quhilk Knychtis traistis to haue
+the victory in battail and in feicht. Clerkis be Esperaunce traistis to
+haue the joy of hevyn, and be thair teching gerris vs trow rycht sa: but
+the quhilk Esperaunce, that is Gude Hope, we war all forlorne. Thairfore
+Esperaunce sittis well as in a Knycht, ffor be esperaunce he has mare
+traist in God, na in his horse, harnais, and menze; throu esperaunce the
+curage of knychtis is reinforssit, and the curage of cowartis ouresett.
+Gude Hope gerris the knycht oursett grete trauailis, and hard fortunes, in
+hope of better ay. Alssua Esperaunce gevis knychtis curage to kepe and
+defend citeis, castellis, and wallit townis on small evyn, and thole bathe
+hungir, thrist and waking, and mony grete strakis, oft tyme. And war nocht
+Esperaunce of gude hope Knychtis had neuer honour, ffor it is the
+principale instrument that gouernis Knychthede in honoure.
+
+Item, Knycht but Cheritee may neuer be but crueltee and euill will,
+quhilkis concordis neuer with the honour of Knychthede; and thus mon
+Cheritee be chief in a Knycht; ffor throu Cheritee man lufis his God atoure
+all thing, and, as himself his nychtbour: but the quhilk poynt is na man
+may be perfyte Cristyn man.
+
+Item, A Knycht suld haue in him grete pitee of all pure folk maleesy
+persones, and of pure prysonaris quhen he has the maistry of thame, and
+till haue mercy of thame for resonable finaunce; and throu cheritee men has
+pitee, but the quhilk charitee na Knycht mycht sustene the grete charge of
+Knychthede; ffor as horse but fete may nocht bere grete chargis, sa may
+nocht Knychthede, but cheritee: the quhilk cheritee makis hevy birding
+lycht to bere, and grete charge soft, bathe for the vphald of honour of
+Knychthede, and meryt of the saule behufe.
+
+Item, Justice is till all Knychtis nedefull, ffor Knycht but justice is but
+honoure; for Justice and Knychthede is sa wele acordaunt that Knycht but
+justice is a body but saule, for but justice may na Knychthede be; ffor
+Knycht injurius is inymy of justice, and castis him self out of the Ordre,
+the quhilk reuys him and dispisis him in that cas.
+
+Item, Prudence is a vertue als, that Knychthede may nocht be but; ffor
+Prudence is a knawlage that man has of all thing, bathe gude and euill,
+throu the quhilk he is maid inymy to euill, and frende till all gudenes;
+and alsa be Prudence man has knawlage of the thing that is for to cum, and
+that be the notice of the present tyme, as he seis the warld gais: Item,
+Prudence can with cautelis and subtiliteis, a man can, as be the apperaunce
+of the thingis that he seis, eschewe perilis that ar to cum, and mend ane
+euill fortune apperand be vertynasse, bathe corporalis and spiritualis. And
+thus knaw thai all tymes that is, and wes, and sal be, and puttis
+gouernaunce till all as efferis. The commone proufit, and the prince, ar
+mekle behaldin to the worthy Knychtis, for the mony perilis that thai
+expose thaim in for it: and thus is Prudence ane of the maist nedefull
+poyntis that may be for Knychtis; worschipfull custume is in Knycht in tyme
+of necessitee to request of party to arme him, and defend the commone
+prouffit. Bot mekle mare is it honourable custume to Knychtis till vse
+resoun in all his dedis, and gude will and wele sett, that is the glore of
+Knychthede; ffor oft tymes bataillis ar mare wonnyn be grace, na be force,
+and be wit and subtilitee na be multitude of armyt company, as sais
+Macabeus to the Peple of Israel, quhen he sawe his inymyes cum on him sex
+tymes ma na he; "Ha! Ha! Dere Brethir, reconfort [gh]ow, and makis gude
+chere, and traistis wele that God sall help vs in this houre, ffor traist
+nocht that grete multitude makis grete victory, bot mekle erare, grete
+confusione; ffor sa grete multitude mycht nocht be gouernyt togeder, ffor
+thay may nocht wit in the tane end, quhat the tothir dois; and a lytill
+misreugle or affray makis all to flee, etc.:" And gert his peple put thame
+in gude estate, and prayde to God to help thame. And thus was the bataill
+wonnyn throu his wit and counsaile, and confourt quhilk come of grete
+prudence and grace. And thus suld all gude Princis and Lordis that wald
+haue thaire barnis worthy and wyse men, and hable to the Ordre foresaid:
+thai suld ger doctryne thame, instruct thame, and teche thame first in thir
+virtues before namyt, and specially till vse resone and justice, and gude
+vnderstanding of wit, and that prudence teche thame to be a frende till all
+gudelynes, and inymy till all wikkitnes, ffor be thai vertues, the vertew
+of prudence junys him with Knychthede, and dois it mekle honoure.
+
+Item, Force is a grete vertu in all noble actis, and specialy agayn the
+Seven Dedely Synnis, quhilkis, quhen thai haue the maistry, ledis man to
+the paynis of hell; off the quhilk sevin synnis, Glutony is ane of the
+werst; fforthy, that quhen a glutoun has chargit him our mekle with metis
+and drinkis than bringis it in Suerenesse, that he mon slepe or rest; and
+in his rest than desyris he Luxure; and quhen he seis that all this charge
+may nocht be uphaldyn but grete gudis and richess, than cummys Couatise,
+that settis nocht by how that gude be wonnyn bot he haue it; off the quhilk
+conquest cummys Ire, and Inuye, and redy Murther and slauchter, quhilkis
+cummys seldyn, bot that Pryde be in thair falouschip. And thus throu
+glutony is gaderit and assemblyt all the foule company of the Seven Dedely
+Synnis: And thus Knychtis that haldis thir wayis, gais nocht in the hall of
+noblesse; Glutony makis the corps feble, and schortis the lyf, agaynis the
+quhilk vicis, and namely of glutonye, the worthy curage of a noble Knycht
+stryvis full stoutly, and wynnis the victory on him that is inymy to the
+noble Ordre of Knychthede. And thus be Force he feichtis agayn his inymyes
+throu hye noblelesse of curage with help of abstynence and of temperance:
+And agayne Luxure feichtis Chastitie forsably, and beautee of corps, mekle
+etyng and drinking, quynte clething, and joly polist corps; falsate,
+tresoune, injure and misprising of God, and of his Sanctis and of his mekle
+gloire, and no doubt the paynis of hell, na sik like thingis is agayne the
+Ordre of Knychthede, and all gude thewis. Perfyte Chastitee forsably
+feichtis aganis Lechery throu the remembraunce of God and his
+commandementis. And to wele vnderstand the the hye graces and gudelynes and
+glore of the hyast God, quhilkis he has ordanyt for thame that lufis and
+honouris him, and seruis him treuly; and alssua to think on the sorow and
+disese that ordanyt is for thame that dois the contrair, that mysprisis his
+commandementis, and mystrowis him; for to lufe him, serue him, and honour
+him, that is sa worthie to be lufit, man has forss and grace, with Chastite
+forsable, with stark curage vnvencusable, werrays and ourecummys the vice
+of mysordinate Lecherye, be force of curage and noblesse, quhilk will nocht
+put him in subjectione of evill thouchtis; na be oure cummyn with sik
+wrechitness; na his hye honour lawit na defoulit, that sa mekle charge has
+sustenyt in grete honourable actis in weris that he suld thole his worthi
+curage of Knychthede be ourecummyn with vicis. For suppose he be curageous
+and hardy, and of corps strenthy to ourecum his corporale inymyes; and
+nocht noblesse in him of forss of curage to vencuse and ourethrawe his
+inymyes spirituale, that is vicis; he has nocht all the verray noble
+poyntis, propereteis, na condiciouns of Knychthede that he suld ficht with;
+ffor noble curage of Knycht suld alswele feicht again the Deuill that is
+inymy of the saule as agayne man inymy to the corps.
+
+Item, Auarice is a vice that gerris oft tymes the curage of mony noble
+Knycht descend full lawe; ffor quhy, the gredynesse of gude blyndis thair
+hye curage for glytwisnesse of gold and of richesse, that it ourecummys the
+force that suld vencuss his inymy with, and makis him subject till sa lawly
+wretchitnesse and vnhonest thing, that is bot for defaut of forss; that
+suld be his pillare of worschip till hald him ferme; the quhilk pillare
+faillis him at nede quhen noblesse of hye corage is slokit throu Cuvatise,
+nocht defendand thame aganis it, as the worthynesse of the Ordre requeris:
+bot tholis him to be ourecummyn and vencust throu cowardise spirituale, and
+lachesse of curage souplit throu Auarice; and changit thair curage again
+the noblesse of the Ordre: And tharefore it is a grete maugre in a realme
+quhare lordis and knychtis ar gredy to gudis, and couatouse; ffor it is
+rute of all wikkitnesse; ffor of it cummys wrangwise extorsiouns, and euill
+wonnyn gudis, wrangwise conquestis of landis, and syne ar thay fast
+haldand, that na gude will part with, bot the nede peny; and be this way
+thai becum bondis and subjectis to thair gudis, and varyis fra the rycht
+way of liberalitee that manetenis noblesse of Cheualrye, and is inymy to
+the noble Ordre, to be wrechit of the gudis that God has send thame to
+preue thame, and assay thair vertu with; and nocht to be hid, na hurdit.
+And as for remede of this, thare is a vertew callit Fortitude, that is
+stifnes in hert aganis vice, that will nocht falde no mare na rank stele,
+quhilk is sa ferme in itself, that it will nouthir bow to frende na faa, to
+help thame at nede, bot he be requerit and askit, and that is for the hie
+stifnes that is in him, of the vertu of fortitude of curage; that sa grete
+honour it is worthi to have for his worthynes, that he is euer redy to be
+at bidding of worthy dedis and honourable, quhen he is requerit. And the
+hyenes of his noble corage he thrawis him fra all appetite mysordinate of
+all vicis; as quhen a Knycht is tempt with Couatise or Auarice, that his
+hert is sett and enclynit to that wrechit gredynesse that is moder of all
+wikkitnesse, and of traysounis, falsate, barate, trechery, manesuering;
+than suld he sauf his honour to have recourse to Fortitude, and thare sall
+he fynd na fault of help, counsale, and confourt, to supplee him at nede;
+for he is nouthir lache na [gh]it cowart, na false hertit na negligent; bot
+with him sall be foundyn strenth and fors, hye curage in gudelynes, quhilk
+efferis wele to be fere to the noble Ordre of Knychthede; ffor throu that,
+a Knycht may be lorde of his curage, and be maister of himself, and ourecum
+all vicis. And thus suld ilke noble Knycht think on the noble King
+Alexander of Macedoyne, and of his liberalitee, the quhilk had sa noble a
+curage, that he dispisit auarice and couatise; in largesses of giftis, he
+had euer the hand opyn till all men, alswele frende as fa; throu the quhilk
+renoune of fredome the souldiouris of his inymyes that war auariciouse and
+couatouse, come fra thame till hym, and gert his company grow, and euermare
+and mare he conquest, and euermare and mare delt till his men; and thus,
+throu his renoune of liberalitee and dispising of the vice of auarice, with
+othir vertues of noblesse of fortitude, he come to the honour of
+Conqueroure of all the Warld. Quhairfore, all nobil Knychtis suld euer
+think on vertues of noblesse and of largesse, and despise auarice and
+couatise; that he be nocht subject till vnworthy persounis, na wyrk nane
+vnworthy dedis; na think to mak nane vnworthy conquestis throu auarice, the
+quhilk efferis nocht to noble and worthy Ordre of Knychthede--_Accydo est
+male_.
+
+Suerenes is a vice quhilk makis a man to hate all gudelynes and to lufe all
+viciousnes. Be the quhilk vice, thare is ma folk condampnyt na be ony othir
+vice in this warlde be takenis and signis may be persauit; and be the
+contrair, that is wilfulnes in gudelynes to do gude werkis, men may knawe
+the takenis of a man that sal be savit fra dampnacioune better, and mare
+clerely, na be ony vertuouse condicione that man may haue; and thus, quha
+will ourecum and vencuse Suerenesse, he mon nedely begyn at gude, and
+fortitude of curage, throu the quhilk he ourecummis the inclinacioune of
+Suerenes that mannis flesch is inclynit to, be the syn of Adam, our held
+fader, quhilk of the erde takis inclinacioune mare to sleuth na to
+diligence, and mare till euill na to gude; ffor sleuth and leithfulnesse
+drawis efter it dule and displesaunce of othir mennis gude auentures, and
+is blythe of thar mysfortunys: and quhare thai haue euill, thai wald it war
+wer, and thus has he ay disese; ffor he has disese and dule of thair gude,
+and syne he has disese and dule of that, that thai haue nocht sa mekle
+euill as he wald; the quhilk puttis thame in ire and in passione dolorouse
+contynualy, bathe in body and saule; and tharefore, thou Knycht that wald
+vencuse that vice of sleuth, pray to God to graunt thé force in curage of
+diligence aganis that vice of sleuth, that thou may ourethrawe him, and
+halde him at vnder; and think how that our Lord God, quhen he gevis till
+othir men ony grace or gudelynes for thair gude meritis, he takis nocht fra
+thé to give thame, na he gevis thame nocht all the gudis that he has to
+geve; bot that he has yneuch bathe to geve thé and otheris, that makis him
+gude cause; of the quhilk he gevis vs ane example in the Ewangel, sayand,
+_Amice, non facio tibi injuriam_, That is to say, Quhen the vignerones
+labouraris had wroucht all the day, fra the morne early till nycht, and
+otheris began at the Evyn-sang tyme, and wroucht rycht sa to the nycht; and
+the Lord of the wynis gave thame y-lyke feis for thair day werk; and thai
+that had wrocht fra the morne airly murmurit the Lord, sayand, He was
+vnrychtwise, that gave thame alsmekle that began at Evyn-sang tyme as to
+thame that began at morne airly: and he ansuered, That he did thame na
+wrang, quhen he departit his awin gude at his awin will, and payde tham all
+that he hecht thame; quharefore thai had na cause to murmur him, na to haue
+nane envy at thair nychtbouris, as said is.
+
+Orgueille, that is callit Pryde, thinkis na man pere till him, and is a
+grete vice; ffor he wald na man war sa gude na sa worthy as he, and had
+leuer be him allane, na in ony company that him thocht na pere till him.
+And Humilitee and Fortitude are twa vertues that lufis evynlynes, and sa ar
+thai aganis Pride; and, tharefore, gif a proud, hichty, hautane Knycht may
+nocht stanche his awin pride, call till Mekenes and Fortitude; ffor
+mekenesse withoutyn stedefastnes may nocht gaynstand pryde; ffor quhen thai
+twa ar togidder, than may thai wele gaynstand pryde; na pryde may neuer be
+vencust, but mekenesse and stedefastnes of fortitude; ffor kyndely thing
+is, that quhen a [gh]ong King is sett on his hye horse, he is proud and
+hautane, but syne cummys fortitude of humilitee, with grete stedefast
+mynde, thinkand how he suld haue pryde in his hert, quhen he rememberis of
+all the poyntis of his Ordre, and quhy he is maid Knycht. Bot quhat is the
+pryde of a proud haultane man worth, quhen he can nocht remembre of the
+poyntis that God may sone lawe him with? ffor thare is na man sa proud and
+full of orgueill, bot and he had bene disconfyte and ourecumyn in bataill
+place and vencust, bot he suld be full meke; and that fallis ofttymes amang
+Knychtis of honoure: for quhy? the fors of ane othir mannis corps has
+strykyn doune the pryde of his curage: And thus sen fors corporale in a
+strange persone has lawit his pryde, it war lyke that fors of humilitee
+spirituale, that is fer mare vertuouse, suld in his awin persone ourecum
+pryde; sen the tane is spirituale noblesse, and the tothir corporale.
+
+Item, Envy is a vice that is not agreable to God, na justice, na charitee,
+na to largesse, the quhilk pertenis to the Ordre of Knychthede, and thus
+quhen ony Knycht has his hert failit, and his curage lawlyit, that he may
+no mare folow the actis of noblesse, na dedis of were, for faulte of
+strenth of curage that is failit in him, na has nocht in him, Justice,
+Charitee, na Largesse, syk men dois injure to thair Ordre of Knychthede,
+that gerris mony Knychtis be envius of othir mennis gude fortune, and thai
+ar suere and lythir to trauaile thame to wyn honoure in armes, the quhilk
+bringis the richessis; for euer efter honour thare cummys rychesse, and
+thai that ar thus enviouse takis fra othir men the gude that is nocht, na
+may nocht be thairis, ffor thai wald pres thame to reve thame thair
+honoure, quhilk, quhen thai had gert thame tyne, throu murmuracioune and
+enviouse langage of bakbyting, that honour that thai tak fra thame, may
+nocht cum to thameself; and be syk Enuy he dois mony thingis that ar
+discordant till his Ordre.
+
+Item, Ire is a stroublance of curage, and of gude mynde, and gude will, and
+disturnis a mannis curage to vengeaunce; and thus, quha sa lykis to sett
+remede in this vice of Ire, he mon haue recourse to forse of corage; that
+is, the lord and maister of mannis mynde and his passions, and syne seke to
+Pacience and to Charitee, the quhilkis ar cheif of counsale to Knychthede,
+and with temperaunce, mese his mynd and bryng his hert to sobirnes; and
+thir Vertues ay bringis allegeaunce of the grete paynis and trauailis that
+Ire has movit in mannis hert: and in samekle as the ire is the mare, in
+samekle suld force of curage of noblesse of Knychthede be the starkare to
+ourecum the vnresonable passions of ire, the quhilkis cummis ay of euill,
+and dois bot euill, ffor the ire of man makis nocht man to haue mare rycht
+anent Godwart; bot man suld be armyt with gude will, sobernesse, humilitee,
+and pacience, charitee and abstinence, and syne cummys justice, and bringis
+wisedome with him, and annoblis the Ordre of Knychthede fere mare na it was
+before, and thus we haue that aganis all vicis of the Seven Dedely Synnis:
+The vertu of Force, with help of thir othir counsalouris that we haue here
+before namyt, is souerane remede aganis thame.
+
+And now is it spedefull that we se quhat is the vertu of Temperaunce, and
+quhat it is nedefull and behovefull till: And as to that, the Doctour sais,
+That Temperaunce is a vertu quhilk haldis him euer in the mydwarde betuene
+twa vicis, that is to say, betuene oure lytill and oure mekle, and thus
+techis temperance a man to kepe the mydwarde, ffor vertu is ay in the
+mydwarde: ffor man that has na mesure in himself, quhen he dois outhir till
+the hye or to the law, thare wantis discrecione of temperaunce and mesure,
+(the quhilk is nedefull to be in Knychthede), ffor quhen Knycht knawis
+nocht his quantiteis of his mesure in all his dedis, his honoure is in
+were: ffor he suld be temperit in largesse, that he be nouthir fule large
+na oure wrechit; in hardinesse, that he be nocht fule hardy na oure cowart;
+in etyng and drinking that he be nocht glutone, na gormand, na slut, na
+slutheroune, na zit dronkynsum; na that he hunger nocht himself for
+wrechitnes; in his speche that he haue nocht our mony wordis, na that he be
+nocht oure bestely, na our blate, that he haue na langage, na collacione in
+tyme quhen it efferis; alsua in his clething that he excede nocht, na that
+he be nocht oure wrechit: And thus in all thing to hald mesure is
+temperaunce: And schortly to say, it is the reugle of all wisedome, and but
+it na Knycht may well gouerne his Ordre, na neuer sall men fynd temperance
+bot with wisdome and with vertu.
+
+Item, Gude custume and vsage is till Knychtis to here every day the Messe,
+quhare euer he be, gif it may gudely be gottyn, and gif ony preching or
+teching of clerkis, or wyse men be proponyt, he suld be redy euer to here
+the Word of God, and euer be redy till honoure, anourne, and pray to God,
+and to lufe him, serue him, honoure him, and obeye him in all place, atour
+all thing; and in all his dedis, haue euer his hert on him, and euer think
+on the Passioun of Crist, and on his awin dede, that he mon anyss dee, and
+think on the schortnes and the wrechitnes of this warld, and of the paynis
+of Hell, and of the grete joyis and glore celestiall of Hevyn; And euer ask
+him of his grace that hye glore of Paradise, and traistis wele that he that
+takis mare plesaunce in haukis and houndis, deliciouss metis, joly
+clethingis, fair women, gude wynis and spicis, lycht wordis with negligence
+of Goddis seruice, and lycht lying and despising of Goddis pure peple, and
+of the lawis of God and man, syk Knychtis ar nocht worthy Knychtis, bot
+erar dispisaris of the Ordre, and inymyes to Knychthede; ffor sum trowis in
+wichecraftis, as in meting of bestis, or in fleyng of foulis with thame or
+agayne thaim, or on rycht hand, or on left hand, sayand, the rycht syde
+gais aganis him, and the left syde gais with him: And sayand, That all sik
+folyis efferis nocht to wisedome, resone, na discrecioune, na to gude
+faith. Bot it as foly of fulis that grevis God, and castis men of Goddis
+grace, and gerris thair inymyes oft tymes be maisteris of thame, quhen thai
+will nocht tak documentis of gude teching, na gude thewis to reugle thair
+dedis, and mare has traist in thair fretis and folyis, na in the faith of
+God Almychty. And tharfor, thai that vsis thir folyis, and levis the
+Vertues before said of Fayth, Gude Hope, and Charitee, Humilitee, Largesse
+and Lawtee, and nobilnesse of Forse of curage, to gaynstand all thir
+vnworthy fantasyes, he is nocht worthy to bere that hye, worthy, and noble
+Ordre of Knychthede that dois thus; ffor sum Knycht has syk custumes to
+trow, quhen euer he seis a nakit womman in the mornyng, he sall nocht do
+his prouffit na honoure that day, na quhen he seis a womman kemmand hir
+hede nakit in the mornyng, he sall nocht have honour in armes that day; and
+this is a false vnworthy treuth, ffor a juge that kepis the lawis that he
+is ordanyt to kepe, dois wele his office. Sa dois a Knycht quhen he vsis
+resone and discrecione, and kepis fayth and lawtee with all the laue of
+Vertues of noblesse, than is he worthy Knycht, and kepis wele his Ordre:
+Bot a Knycht that wyrkis eftir [gh]one fretis, that we have here sum part
+namyt, and otheris, and levis the ordre of gude vertues and gude thewis, he
+is dois evin as a juge that leuis gude and suthfast witnessis led in a
+cause before him, and jugis agayn gude fayth, be the chirmyng of foulis, or
+be the berking of doggis, and syk lyke thing; and thus Knycht suld be ferme
+in the faithe, nocht variand, na suld nocht traist in sik fretis, na
+wichcraft; and leue the verray faith of God, ffor all syk thingis are bot
+janglyng of fendis, that fleis in the ayre, that temptis Cristyn folk, to
+ger them vary fra the rycht faith to drawe thame to thair condampnacione.
+
+Item, Till Knychthede efferis; principaly to be amorouse of the commone
+prouffit, and of the commouns; ffor quhy? be the commouns, and for the
+commone prouffit Knychthede was foundyn, stablyst, and ordanyt, than suld
+Knychtis be curius of thair prouffit, be resone; ffor gude resone gevis,
+that all Princis, Lordis, and Knychtis specialy, sulde be mare curius of
+the commoun prouffit, na of thair awin propre gudis; ffor quhy? it is mare
+nedefull and mare spedefull, and grettar and mare necessair, ffor the
+commoun prouffit riches bathe Prince and Peple, and gude propre gudis, bot
+a persone proprely, and mare gude, is to be bathe riche, Prince and Peple,
+na he allane, and nocht his peple.
+
+Item, To Knycht efferis to speke sobirly and wisely, and curtasly; and to
+be alssua nobly cled in diuerss clethingis, and honourable, fair horse,
+fair harnais, in the hanting of weris, and gouernaunce that he has: till
+hald alsua gude house, eftir his power and estate, till haue honest
+housing; and treuly Curtasy and Knychthede suld neuer part company; ffor
+foule and vilaynouse speche fylis the mouth of a noble Knycht, and sa dois
+it of all persone of estate; hamelynes and gude specialitee of acquyntance
+with gude folk, worthy and honest, is wele accordant to Knychthede.
+
+Item, Lautee, Veritee, Justice, Humilitee, Charitee, Largesse, Hardynesse,
+Prowesse, with Forse in curage and noblesse, Pitee, Honestee, Drede,
+Schame, with othir syk like Vertues, and otheris that we haue before namyt,
+appertenis wele to be in company with the noble Ordre; and rycht as we say,
+That in God is all vertu, all noblesse, and all gudelyness, sa suld all
+Knychtis, Lordis, and Princis, folow at all thair gudely powere the
+futsteppis of thair ledare, lord, and techour, Jhesu Crist, quhilk all his
+werkis that he wrocht was all to geve us gude instructioun to gouerne vs in
+syklike maner. And all the writtis that euer was writtin for our documentis
+and teching, for the teching of the keping of horse and harnais and
+wapinis, is nocht anerly the instructione of Knychthede till his barnis and
+otheris that he suld teche vnder him: bot the gude custumes, gude
+instructiones in vertues, and gude ensamples of gude godlyke gouernaunce,
+efter all the form and maner before said, suld be the gouernaunce of
+Knychtis, first in thameself, and syne teche till otheris; ffor he that
+better techis his horse na his barnis, he gais nocht the rycht gate to
+teche the Ordre.
+
+[Decoration]
+
+OCTAUUM CAPITULUM.
+
+HERE DECLARIS THE DOCTOUR THE HONOURIS THAT SULD BE DONE TO THE NOBLE ORDRE
+OF KNYCHTHEDE.
+
+God himself ordanyt Knychthede, and honourit it, and honouris it, and
+alssua all the peple honouris Knychthede; and as is recountit be the Lawis,
+Knychthede is honourit abufe all Ordre that euer was next Presthede, as
+maist honourable ordre and office that is or wes, and aboue all statis,
+sauffand the Haly Ordre and Office that sacrifyis the body of God, the haly
+Sacrament of the Altare, with the otheris Sacramentis of the Haly Kirk. And
+the said Ordre of Knychthede is rycht necessair to the gouernaunce of the
+warld, as is before said, in syndry placis; and tharefore, before all
+temporale ordre, Knychthede suld be honourit be mony resouns, with all
+maner of peple; ffor and Emperouris Kingis and Princis had nocht annext to
+thame the Ordre of Knychthede, with the vertues and propereteis, and
+nobiliteis, langand to the said Ordre, thaj war nocht worthy to be
+Emperouris, Kingis, na Princis: ffor suppose the Office be gretare, the
+Ordre is y-lyke ane in Kingis and in Knychtis, as Presthede is y-lyke of
+degree, bathe in Pape, Cardynale, and Patriarche, alsmekle is it in a
+symple preste: and sa is it in Kingis and Princis knychthede, in regarde of
+symple Knychtis, suppose the Office be mare grete; tharefore aucht thai
+till honoure the Office and Ordre of Knychthede, bathe Emperouris, Kingis,
+Princis, and Barouns; ffor quhan thai do nocht honoure to the said Ordre,
+thai do dishonour to thameself; ffor the Knychtis gerris the grete Lordis,
+Princis, and Barouns be honourit aboue the small peple, and than suld thai
+again do honour to the said Ordre, and honour thame abufe the peple.
+
+Item, All Knychtis ar free be thair Ordre, ffor Knychthede and fredome
+acordis togeder rycht wele to the ryale magestee and lordschip; and,
+tharefore, sen Knychthede is ordanyt for the manetenyng, defending, and vp
+halding of Emperouris and Kingis, Princis, Barouns, and all Commouns and
+small peple, than is it grete resone that thai all suld defend, manetene,
+and vphalde the honour of Knychthede, and all Knychtis. And to the honour
+of Knychthede it appertenis, that he be in honoure haldyn, and that he be
+lufit for his gudelynes; and that he be doubtit for his prowesse and
+hardynesse; and that he be lovit for his noble dedis of worthynes; and that
+he be hamely for his lawlynes, and hichty in tyme: And because he is of the
+self ordre that Kingis ar of, he suld be haldin of counsale to Kingis and
+of grete Princis; and because that he is of the natur of all mankynde, and
+enclynit to vicis, he is the mare worthy and honourable that he has force
+of noble curage to abstene him tharefra: And, tharefore, suld a Knycht
+dispise all vicis, and lufe all vertues; ffor the quhilkis, all Knychtis ar
+honourit, and nocht for othir cause; and all Prince, King, Lord, or Barone,
+that honouris Knychthede, outhir in court or in counsale, in house or in
+semblee, he honouris himself: And alsua, quha honouris thame in gouernement
+of bataill, honouris himself; and alssua, all Lord, that of a wise Knycht
+makis him a seruand, delyueris his honour in the handis of noblesse of gude
+curage; and quhat Lord or Prince that encreseis the honoure of a wise
+Knycht in his seruice, or multiplyis it, encressis and multiplyis his awin
+honour; and quhat euer Lord that manetenys Knycht that is in office,
+ordanyt till him, and enforsis him in his office, he enforsis him self and
+his lordschip; and Lord, that is bathe Prince and Knycht, has grete
+affinitee, and lufe and frendschip to Knychthede, and grete company suld
+haue thar with: And gif he requeris of foly and euill maner of trety, ony
+Knychtis wyf till enclyne hir to wikkitnes, he excedis the honoure of
+Knychthede; na [gh]it alsa a Knychtis wyf that has barnis vnlaufull of
+villaine generacione, dois lytill honour to the Ordre of Knychthede, that
+scho is honourit throu; bot scho destroyis ande puttis to nocht the noble
+lignie and confraternitee of Knychthede. And quhat Knycht that has his
+barnis in matrymonye with ony villaine womman, he dois lytill honour to the
+noble Ordre of Knychthede, na to the band of gentrise: And sen it is sa
+that noblese and gentillesse ar of tendernesse and frendschip to
+Knychthede, and to the honour of Knychthede, and of his Lady be the
+honourit band of mariage; and the contrair is destructione of Knychthede.
+Thus gif noblis and gentill men that ar na Knychtis, and has bot honour and
+worschip of thair awin birth and natiuitee, ar oblist naturaly to honour of
+Noblesse and Knychthede be the vertu of gentrise that thai ar natyf till,
+than mekle mare ar Knychtis behaldyn to the honoure and worschip of
+Knychthede, quhilkis be thair ordre thai ar bundyn to; ffor in that that
+thai do honoure to thair Ordre, thai do honoure to thame self: For all
+Knycht is oblist at all powere to honour his persone; first to be wele cled
+in his persone, syne to be wele horssit, and syne wele enarmyt and harnest
+in his habilliament, and alsua aw nobily to be seruit of noble persons:
+that is to say, persouns vertuouse, sen all noblenesse presupponis vertu.
+But [gh]it mekle mare but comparisone is he behaldyn till honoure him self
+with noblesse of curage; ffor the quhilk noblesse of curage he beris that
+hye and noble Ordre of Knychthede, the quhilk alssua is defoulit and
+dishonourit quhen a Knycht levis vertu of curage, and takis him false
+cogitaciouns of traysouns, ref and rape, murder and thift, and puttis out
+of his curage, and slokis all the said vertues of noblesse, as Justice,
+Temperance, Fors, and Prudence with Faith, Gude Hope, and Charitee,
+Liberalitee and Lautee, with otheris before namyt, appertenand to the maist
+noble Ordre: And thus, Knycht that dishonouris ane Knycht his fader in
+Knychthede, is nocht worthy to be honourit, ffor gif he war honourit sen he
+dishonouris his awin Ordre, mekle wrang war than done to the noble Ordre,
+to do honour till him that dishonouris him self and his Ordre; ffor quha
+may better honoure or dishonoure the Ordre na thai that are of the Ordre,
+and berand the Ordre: and thus sen Knycht has in his hert a noble duelling
+place for the vertues and noblesse of curage, that suld gouerne and
+manetene Knychthede, kepe well that castell place and duelling, that it be
+nocht oure sett na segit with vicis, than mekle honour and reuerence is
+worthi to be done till him for his mekle worschip and noblesse; and the
+mare that Knychthede be assemblyt with hie Princehede or hye Lordschip, the
+mare is the Knycht behaldyn till honoure his Nobile Ordre, and mare oblist
+to manetene his Knychthede with worschip: At the reuerence, honour, lufe,
+loving, seruice, and doubting of Almychty God, oure gloriouse Saluioure,
+and of his dere and gloriouse Moder and Virgyne oure suete Lady Marye, and
+all the Haly Court of Hevin. IN NOMINE PATRIS, ET FILIJ, ET SPIRITUS
+SANCTI, AMEN.
+
+Explicit Lordre de Chevalrie.
+
+HERE ENDIS THE BUKE OF THE ORDRE OF KNYCHTHEDE.
+
+Appendix.
+
+[Decoration]
+
+No. I.
+
+EXTRACTS
+
+FROM
+
+The Buke of the Law of Armys.
+
+[Fol. 1.]
+
+_Gracia Domini nostri Jhesu Christi, et caritas Dei, et communicacio Sancti
+Spiritus sit semper cum omnibus nobis in Christo Jhesu Domino nostro.
+Amen._
+
+Here begynnys the Buke callit THE BUKE OF THE LAW OF ARMYS, the quhilk was
+compilit be a notable man, Doctour in Decreis, callit BONNET, PRIOURE OF
+SALLON; the quhilk, quhen it was maid, callit it The Fleur of Bataillis, or
+the Tree; into the quhilk Buke thare salbe foure partis efter as the
+Rubryis schawis. The First part salbe, Of the Tribulacioun of the Kirk
+before the Natiuitee of Christe. The Secund party salbe, Of the
+Tribulaciouns and Destructioun of the Four Principale Realmes grettest of
+the Warld, &c. The Thrid salbe, Of Bataillis in generale. The Ferde, Of
+Bataillis in specialitee.
+
+HERE BEGYNNYS THE RUBRYIS OF THE FIRST PARTY, ETC., BE THE QUHILKIS MEN MAY
+BETTER KNAW THE PROCESSE OF THE SAID BUKE, AND OF EUERY CHAPTERE SPECIALY.
+
+  In the First Chapiter he speris, Quhat thing is Bataill?                i
+  The Second Chapiter is, Quhare was first foundyn Bataill?              ii
+  The Third is, Of the tribulacions of the Kirk by passit,              iij
+  The Ferde is, Of the first Angel,                                    iiij
+  The Fyft is, Of the tother Angel,                                       v
+  The Exposicioun apon the tothir party of the Visioun of Sanct Johne,   vj
+  The thrid Angel,                                                      vij
+  The ferde Angel,                                                     viij
+  The fyft Angel,                                                        ix
+  And [gh]it spekis he mare furtherly of the Visioun,                     x
+
+_Expliciunt Rubrice Prime Partis, etc._
+
+_Sequitur Prologus in breuibus._
+
+Here folowis the Proloug of the said Buke, in termis, as the forenamyt
+DOCTOURE BONNET, Prioure of Sallon, maid his first Intitulacioun and
+Prohemium: And syne efter sall folowe the principale parties of the Buke
+forenamyt, Translatit be me GILBERT OF THE HAYE KNYCHT, Maister in Arte,
+and Bachilere in Decreis, Chaumerlayn vmquhile to the maist worthy King
+Charles of Fraunce, at the request of ane hye and mychty Prince and worthy
+Lord, WILLIAME ERLE OF ORKNAY AND OF CATHNES, Lord Synclere, and Chancelare
+of Scotland, in his Castell of Rosselyn, the [gh]ere of our Lord a thowsand
+four hundreth fyfty and sex.
+
+[Fol. 2.]
+
+PROLOGUS.
+
+To the haly Croune of Fraunce, in the quhilk this day regnys CHARLES THE
+SEXT of that name, the quhilk is lufit and redoubtit oure all the warld be
+the ordynaunce of God; till him be gevin honoure, lose, and glore, abune
+all erdely Lordschippis: Maist hye Prince I am callit, be my richt name,
+BONNET PRIOUR OF SALLON, Doctoure in Decreis. The quhilk I haue had mony
+smale thouchtis and gude will to mak sum Buke; First, in the honoure of
+God, and of his suete Moder, and of [gh]our hye Lordschip. And the resouns
+quhy I haue vndertane to mak this Buke ar gude yneuch, as semys me. And
+First and formast, for quhy? That the state of Haly Kirk is in sik
+tribulacioun that bot gif God oure Lorde set sum gude remede, the quhilk
+was wont till mak gude cheuisaunce and gude end, in that mater be the
+Brether of the faith, auentureris of the Christin Faith, I can se be na way
+that it may wele be, bot gif thare be sum gudely way of acordaunce fundyn
+and sone. The Secund cause is and resoun, For I se all Cristyndome sa
+grevit, and stroublit of weris, discensiouns, thiftis, and reueryis,
+haterentis, and envyes, that men kennys almaist na realme in Cristyndome
+bot it is in were. Thrid resone is, for quhy? That the land of Provence, of
+quhilk I am borne and vp brocht, is sa turnyt now for the renewing of new
+Lordschip, and for diuerse opyniouns that ar amang Lordis and the
+Communiteis, that with grete payne may ony wyse man here it be rehersit,
+the mekle sorowe that the Commouns sustenis for sik debatis. The Ferde
+resoun, for quhy? That mony notable Clerkis, the quhilkis wenys thai
+vnderstand wele the glosyng of ancien Prophecies, sais, that it sulde be
+ane of the hie lignie of Fraunce, the quhilk suld sett remede in all this
+thingis, and put this trauailland warld in pes and rest, that now is put in
+grete pestilence. And for this cause my curage has gevin me to mak sum
+newing of thing till enfourme [gh]our [gh]outhede of mony syndry knaulagis
+of Haly wrytt, sa that [gh]our curage suld be movit the mare to help to
+sett remede in the Haly Cristyn faith, the quhilk is in poynt of perising,
+and geve it socour; and to geve [gh]ow corage for to do in sik manere, that
+the Prophecyes, the quhilkis are presumyt to be vnderstandin in [gh]our
+persone maist worthy, be verifyit in [gh]our maist noble and worthy
+Princehede, throu [gh]our notable and haly werkis: And forthy, I mak
+[gh]our Hienes hertly request and supplicacioune, that nathing that I sall
+put in this Buke, [gh]e disprise, na lichtly, ffor all that I here say
+takis foundement of Haly Writt, and of the Decreis and Lawis Cannon and
+Ciuile, and Philosophy Naturale, that is Natural Resoun. The quhilk Buke
+sal be callit THE FLOURE OF BATAILLIS, OR THE TREE: And syne mon I pas to
+my werk; and tharefore is thare cummyn to me sik ane ymaginacioun, that I
+will ger mak a Tree, the quhilk sall bere bot fruyte of sorowe; as men may
+se, that all the persecuciouns of the Kirk and Contreis beris bot fruyte of
+dule and diseise; departit in Four Partis, as is before said, on the
+quhilkis Four Partis the diuisioun of oure Buke sal be foundit, etc.
+
+EXPLICIT PROHEMIUM.
+
+PRIMUM CAPITULUM.
+
+[Fol. 2, b.]
+
+Sen it is sa that apon this mater, the quhilk may be lyknyt till a Tree,
+that may bere na fruyte but fruyte of doloure and diseiss, we see twa
+partis principale, amang the quhilkis is grete discorde, discensioun, and
+were; first, apon the Haly Kirk and the Fredome of it, as apon the Pape,
+and the Sege of Rome, with the fredomys: And apon the tothir part, we see,
+how amang Kingis and Princis, and Temporale Lordis, thare is rysin sa grete
+discensiouns, discordis, and weris, that the Brethir of the Fayth, as
+Nobles, men that wont was to be werreyouris to defend the Kirk rycht, ar
+now rysyn agayne the Commouns and Comiteis agayn thame, that grete dule is
+to se: Quharefore this Buke may wele be comparit till a Tree quhilk beris
+na fruyte, but fruyte of dule, etc.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+HERE EFTERE FOLOWES THE DECLARACIOUN OF THE RUBRYIS OF THE SECUND BUKE,
+ETC.
+
+[Fol. 11.]
+
+  In the first, Of the persecucioun and destructioun of the Foure
+    grete Realmes.                                                    1[16]
+  Item, How and in quhat tyme the Citie of Rome was first foundit.        2
+  Item, In quhat tyme gouernyt the Senatouris.                            3
+  Item, Of the gouernement of the King Tules.                             4
+  Item, Of the King Fernicle Archy.                                       5
+  Item, Efter of the King Tarquyn.                                        6
+  Item, Of the dede of King Alexander.                                    7
+  Item, Here he spekis of grete Archile, Consul of Rome.                  8
+  Item, Here spekis he of grete Sir Sempny, Consul of Rome.               9
+  Item, Of the grete worthynes of Schir Sypre, Consul of Rome.           10
+  Item, How grete Cartage was destroyit.                                 11
+  Item, How the Almaynis wan a bataill apon the Romayns.                 12
+  Item, Of Scilla, the grete inymy of the Romayns.                       13
+  Item, How the Provincis maid Julius Cesar thaire lord, for his
+    worthynes.                                                           14
+  Item, How that Fortune is rycht variable.                              15
+  Item, Here he spekis of Sir Arthoma, Consul of Rome.                   16
+  Item, Spekis he of a questioun, be the quhilk thar come first
+    Jurisdictioun amang men.                                             17
+  Item, Here he tellis quha was first Juge amang men.                    18
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Fol. 21, b.]
+
+HERE FOLOWIS THE CHAPTERIS OF THE THRID PARTY OF THIS PRESENT BUKE, AS
+FOLOWIS HERE BE DECLARACIOUN.
+
+  In the first, Quhethir it be lefull and lawufull thing till entre in
+    cloisit feldis to defend richtwise cause.                             1
+  Item, Of the samyn mater [gh]it spekis he mare furtherly.               2
+  Quhethir it be thing possible that this Warld be in pes.                3
+  How that Force is ane of the principale foundementis of Bataill.        4
+  How it may be kend in a Man gif he be forsy or nocht.                   5
+  Quhethir is mare vertu till a man to assail[gh]e, or to byde in felde.  6
+  Be how mony thingis may men knaw the prowess of a Knycht.               7
+  A man suld erar chese to dee in felde, na flee fra the bataill.         8
+  Quhat punycioun suld he haue that passis fra the Ost but leue.          9
+  Quhat punycioun suld he haue that fechtis wyth his Lordis inymy
+    but leve, or of the Constable.                                       10
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Fol. 26.]
+
+HERE BEGYNNIS THE TABLE OF THE FERDE PART OF THIS BUKE.
+
+  In Primis Off quhat rycht, or quhat evin cummys Bataill.            1[17]
+  Be quhat rycht or resoun may Men moue were agaynis the
+    Sarra[gh]enis or othir mistrowaris.                                   2
+  Gif the Emperoure suld moue were agayne thame, quha suld obey till
+    his mandement.                                                        3
+  Quhethir othir Princis na the Emperoure may moue were apon the
+    Sarra[gh]enis.                                                        4
+  Quhethir the Emperoure may ordane were agayne the Pape, or agayne
+    the Haly Kirk.                                                        5
+  Quhethir the Pape may mak were on him.                                  6
+  Quhat thingis may ger moue Bataill necesse.                             7
+  Quhat thingis pertenis till a gude Knycht to do.                        8
+  Quhat thingis pertenis to the Duke of the battaill.                     9
+  How, and for quhat caus, a Knycht suld be punyst.                      10
+  Quhethir Strenth be a Vertu morale.                                    11
+  Quhethir, gif the Duke of the bataill be tane, men suld haue merci
+    of him, and saue his lyf.                                            12
+  Gif Forse be a Vertu Cardinale or nocht.                               13
+  Quhethir Presonaris that are tane in bataill be the takaris or the
+    lordis that payis the wagis.                                         14
+  Quhethir the Vassaillis suld pas in were on thair awin cost, or on
+    the princis costis.                                                  15
+  Gif a Barouns men suld [help] thair Lord agayne their King, [and]
+    serue in his weris or nocht.                                         16
+  Gif twa Barouns has were ilk ane agayne othir, quhethir suld thair
+    men help ilkane his awin Lorde, or thair King, and he charge thame.  17
+  Quhethir I aw to defend my nychtbour in armys, and men wald sett
+    to sla him.                                                          18
+  Quhat Personis ar behaldin to defend othir.                            19
+  How the Bonde is behaldin to defend his Lorde.                         20
+  How the Sone is behaldin to defend the Fader, but the leue of the
+    justice.                                                             21
+  Quhethir erar is the Sone behaldin defend his Fader, or his natural
+    Lord maister.                                                        22
+  Quhethir a Clerk suld erar help his Fader or his Bischop, and he
+    haue were.                                                           23
+  Quhethir to conquest gudis rychtwisely Men may lefully mak
+    defensable were.                                                     24
+  Quhethir for vnrychtwise conquest Men may mak were diffensable.        25
+  Quhethir Prestis and clerkis may defend thair gudis be armes.          26
+  Gif Armoure lent and tynt in felde suld be restorit.                   27
+  Gif Armoure or horse hyrit and tynt suld be restorit.                  28
+  Gif a Knycht be [ar]rest douand his Princis charge, quhethir has
+    the Knycht or the Prince actioun to the party.                       29
+  Gif a Man gais to the weris vnchargit, sall he tak wagis.              30
+  Gif a Knycht seruis a King vnchargit in his weris, quhether may he
+    laufully ask him his wagis.                                          31
+  Gif the King of Span[gh]e sendis secours to the King of France in
+    his weris, as he has done othir tymes till him in sik lyke cas,
+    quhethir suld the Spannollis ask wagis at the King of France.        32
+  Gif a Man gais to were for vayn glore, quhethir he may, be law of
+    armes, ask wagis or nocht.                                           33
+  Gif a Capitane doand his Lordis bidding tyne his gudis, gif his
+    Lord aw to restore him agayne.                                       34
+  Gif a Man gais to the were for couatise to pele and rub gudis,
+    quhethir he may ask wage or noucht.                                  35
+  Gif a Clerk may leuefully pas to the weris or nocht.                   36
+  In quhat termes the wage aw to be payit to Men.                        37
+  Gif a Wageour gais to play and disport him, with leue, for a tyme,
+    gif he suld be payit of that tyme.                                   38
+  Gif a Knycht has tane wagis of a King for a [gh]ere, and he wald
+    within thre monthis pas his way till ane othir Prince, quhethir
+    gif he suld be payit for the tyme that he had seruit.                39
+  Gif a Sowdioure be payit of a Prince for a [gh]ere, gif he may put
+    ane othir in his stede or nocht.                                     40
+  Quhethir gif a Capitane may send of his folk away, that he has anys
+    moustrit in felde.                                                   41
+  Gif a Man of armes hapnis seke in the weris, quhethir he may ask
+    his wagis for all the tyme that he is seke or nocht.                 42
+  How Gudis suld be departit in the weris, that ar wonnyn in tyme
+    of the weris.                                                        43
+  Gif a Man may rychtwisely hald that he has tane fra a revare, that
+    set to reue him be the way.                                          44
+  Gif twa Citeis makis were ilkane on othir, quhethir thai may
+    lefully mak were thai clamand to hald of na souerayne.               45
+  Quhethir a Man may sla his prisonare efter that he be tane and
+    [gh]eldit, at his awin will.                                         46
+  Gif a Man may ask ransoun of gold and siluer at his prisonare be
+    law or armes.                                                        47
+  Quhethir for the weris that is betuix the Kingis of Ingland and
+    of France, the Franchmen may leuefully tak the pure mennis gudis,
+    and mak achet of, and mak presonaris thair persouns.                 48
+  Quhethir a King may lefully, be cautele and subtiltee, ourset or
+    disconfyte ane othir King.                                           49
+  Quhethir Bataill may lefully be on Haly day.                           50
+  Quhethir gif a Man wrangis ane othir, he may lefully recouer apon
+    him be were his thing, gif he may reclame him in jugement.           51
+  Gif a Knycht deis in bataill in his Princis querele, quhethir his
+    saule be sauf, or nocht.                                             52
+  Quhethir Rychtwise men or sinnaris ar starkar in bataill.              53
+  Quhy is there sa mekle Were in this warld.                             54
+  Gif a Prisouner be suorne to hald prisoun, and his takar put him
+    atour his ath in stark prisoun or festnyng, gif it be lefull to
+    him to escape, and brek presoun.                                     55
+  Gif a Man be presonare till ane othir, and he put him in a stark
+    close toure, in sekir festeynyg, quhethir he be haldin to brek
+    prison, and eschape.                                                 56
+  Gif a Man has sauf condyt to com seurely, nocht spekand of his
+    way-passing, quhethir he may be haldyn prisonar in his passing.      57
+  Gyf a Man that has sauf conduct may bring on his sauf conduct
+    gretare man na himself is.                                           58
+  Gif a Man be tane prisoner apon ane otheris sauf condyt, quhethir he
+    that aw the sauf condyt suld outred him of prisoun on his awin cost. 59
+  Gif a Man suld enter agayn in prisoun, and he war rycht dredand for
+    to be put to dede.                                                   60
+  Gif a Prince may lefully refuse ane othir Prince to pas his voyage
+    throu his contre but scath.                                          61
+  Quhethir Kirkmen suld pay tailles, tributis, and inposiciouns to
+    Seclere kingis or princis.                                           62
+  Gif the Kirk may mak were agayne the Jowis.                            63
+  Gif a Man may ficht for his wyf in armes.                              64
+  How the ta Brothir may defend the tothir in armys.                     65
+  Gif a Baron be vassall to twa Lordis that makis weris in syndry
+    contreis, to quhilk of tham sall he mak seruice till.                66
+  And gif a Baron be vassall to twa lordis the quhilkis makis were
+    ilkane apon othir, quham to sall he mak seruice.                     67
+  Quhethir Bondis suld be constreynit to the weris.                      68
+  Quhilk Folk may nocht be stren[gh]eit to mak weris, supposs
+    thai be chargit.                                                     69
+  Gif a Man be hurt sarely be ane othir, and he hurt him agayne,
+    gif he sal be punyst.                                                70
+  Gif a Man bonde makis slauchter be the bidding of his Lord,
+    suld he be punyst.                                                   71
+  Quhethir a Bonde may defend him again his Lord, and he war sett
+    to sla him.                                                          72
+  Gif a Monk may defend him fra his Abbot, and he wald sett to sla him.  73
+  Gif the sone may lefully defend him agayn his fader, and he wald
+    sla him.                                                             74
+  Gif a Man may lefully defend him agayn his awin juge, or nocht.        75
+  Gyf a Man be banyst a realm, and happin to cum in agayne be ony cas,
+    gif men wald set on him, to tak him, quhethir he aucht to
+    defend him.                                                          76
+  Gif a Preste be assailit wyth his inymyes berand Goddis sacrit body
+    on him, quhethir he aw to lay doun Goddis body, and defend him,
+    or nocht.                                                            77
+  Gif a Man may for mark be prisoner that maid neuer caus bot
+    for otheris.                                                         78
+  How, and in quhat maner, mark suld be tholit or gevin be the Prince.   79
+  How suld mark be gevin aganis a Citee that allegis to na soverayne.    80
+  Gif all Lordis may graunt markis.                                      81
+  How, or be quhat resoun, may it be steynd that the King of France
+    be nocht subject to the Empire.                                      82
+  Quhethir gif the King of Ingland be subject ony way to the Empire.     83
+  Gif a Burgess haldand change and house at Parise be tane and robbit
+    be the way cummand to Parise-wart, quhethir he is to be gevin
+    power of merk to for the gude recouering.                            84
+  Quhethir a Scolare at the study in Parise of Ingland borne, aw
+    to be prisonare.                                                     85
+  Quhethir a Seruand suld joyse the priuilege that his maister has
+    lang joisit.                                                         86
+  Gyf ane Inglissman cummys to Parise to visyte his sone at the scule,
+    beand seke, quhethir he aw to be prisoner, or nocht.                 87
+  Gyf ane Inglissman cummys to Parise to visyte his brother seke at
+    the scule, quhethir he aw to be prisonare, or nocht.                 88
+  Quhethir a Studyand may lefully be haldin in prisoun for ony mark.     89
+  Quhethir a Wode man may be haldyn presoner and ransound in the weris.  90
+  Quhethir a Wode man, efter that he be cummyn again to his wit,
+    may be haldyn presoner.                                              91
+  Quhethir a passand alde Ancien man, be law of armes, may be haldin
+    prisonere.                                                           92
+  Quhethir a Childe may lefully be tane and haldin presonere be the
+    law of armes.                                                        93
+  Quhethir a Blynd man, be law of armes, may be tane and haldin
+    presonere.                                                           94
+  Quhethir Ambassadouris or Legatis cummand to the King may lede his
+    inymyes throu his realme with thame, or nocht.                       95
+  Quhethir a Bischop may be tane presonere be a Franch man, the
+    Bischop beand of Ingland.                                            96
+  Quhethir a Kirk man may be tane for mark.                              97
+  Quhethir gif Pilleryns may be maid presoneris be ony maner of weris
+    of armes.                                                            98
+  Quhat thingis in tyme of were has sauf condyt be priuilege unaskit
+    at the Princis.                                                      99
+  Quhethir, in tyme of were, the ass and the ox suld bathe joise
+    a maner of priuilege.                                               100
+  Quhethir gif the varlet aw to joyce the priuilege of the husbandman.  101
+  Quhethir, in tyme of weris, folk may ledder castellis and wallit
+    townis lefully.                                                     102
+  How suld be punyst folk that brekis the Princis sauf condyt,
+    or his assurancis.                                                  103
+  Quhethir a grete Lord suld traist in a sauf condyt, or ony othir
+    lawar person.                                                       104
+  Quhethir gif a Cristin King, Prince, or Emperour, may gif a sauf
+    condyt till ane othir King, Prince, or Emperoure Sarra[gh]ene.      105
+  Gif twa Lordis has made trewis togidder suorne, quhethir gif the
+    tane brek trewis gif the tothir suld rycht sa brek.                 106
+  Quhether better be to fecht fastand before mete, or efter mete
+    quhen men has dronkin.                                              107
+  Quhethir bataill may be set before Ladyes.                            108
+  Quhethir the Quene Jonat of Naplis mycht lefully assail[gh]ie
+    the King Lowis de Cicile.                                           109
+  Here previs the Autour playnly how gage of bataill is reprovit
+    be all maner of lawis.                                              110
+  Here he puttis the case, in the quhilk it is lefull to geve gage
+    of bataill.                                                         111
+  And [gh]it he puttis ane othir case in the quhilk law of armes will
+    thole gage of bataill.                                              112
+  And [gh]it ane othir case efter the lawis of Lumbardy.                113
+  And [gh]it ane othir case efter the law of Lumbardy.                  114
+  And [gh]it ane othir ease efter the law of Lumbardy.                  115
+  And [gh]it ane othir case efter the law of Lumbardy.                  116
+  And [gh]it ane othir efter the law of Lumbardy.                       117
+  And [gh]it ane othir efter the lawis of Lumbardy.                     118
+  And [gh]it ane othir case efter the lawis of Lumbardy.                119
+  And [gh]it ane othir case efter the law of Lumbardy.                  120
+  And [gh]it ane othir case efter the law of Lumbardy.                  121
+  And [gh]it ane othir case efter the law of Lumbardy.                  122
+  And [gh]it ane othir case efter the law of Lumbardy.                  123
+  And [gh]it ane othir case efter the said Lawis.                       124
+  And [gh]it ane othir case efter the law of Lumbardy.                  125
+  And [gh]it ane othir case efter the law of Lumbardy.                  126
+  And [gh]it ane othir case efter the said Lawis.                       127
+  How oft tymes the bataill in listis is nocht done be the principale
+    persouns bot be otheris.                                            128
+  The form and maner of thair Aithis that suld fecht in barrieris of
+    close listis in felde.                                              129
+  Gif a man passit age, may put quham him list to campioun to ficht
+    in barreris for him.                                                130
+  Gif ane of the campiouns brekis his suerd, quhether ane othir suld
+    be gevin him agayne.                                                131
+  Gif the Lord may nocht knaw the first day quha has the lyklyar,
+    gif thai suld cum again on the morn, and enter in felde as before:
+    Quhilk of the twa campiouns suld first stryke.                      132
+  Gif the vencust man suld pay the costis, thouch the Kyng remytt
+    his actioun.                                                        133
+  Gif a man has bene vencust of ony crime in barreris, gif he may
+    be accusit in jugement tharof.                                      134
+  Quhethir gif the campiouns may fecht in playne felde, but barreris,
+    gif thai lykis.                                                     135
+  How he suld be punyst that has grantit his crime, and vencust in
+    barreris opinly.                                                    136
+  Gif a Knycht appelis ane othir, quhether gif thai may leue of, and
+    forthink the appele.                                                137
+  Here, he spekis of Armes and baneris in generale.                     138
+  Here he spekis of Armes and baneris in specialitee.                   139
+  Gif a Man may [tak] otheris armes at his lyking.                      140
+  Gif ane Allemain fyndis a Frenchman berand the samyn armes that
+    he beris in felde, quhethir gif he may appele him of battaill.      141
+  How suld be punyst folk that beris othir mennis armes but leue,
+    to do tham ony lak.                                                 142
+  Here spekis he of colouris in armes, quhilkis are the maist noble;
+    and of thair diuisiouns.                                            143
+  And first, he spekis of the colour that is rede.                      144
+  And syne he spekis of asure that is the blewe coloure.                145
+  And syne he spekis of the quhite colouris.                            146
+  And syne he spekis of the colour that is blak.                        147
+  And syne he spekis of the condicioun and nature of the ordinance
+    of the closing of the Barreris.                                     148
+  And [gh]it spekis he of the condicioun of the close felde, ordanyt
+    for fechting in barreris, as said is.                               149
+  And [gh]it ane othir thrid reule of the condicioun and nature of
+    close barreris.                                                     150
+  And [gh]it spekis he of the ferde condicioun and nature of the close
+    felde, that is callit barreris.                                     151
+  And [gh]it the fyft doctryne gevis he of the form and maner and
+    condicioun of the close felde.                                      152
+  And [gh]it the sext doctrine spekis he of the form, maner, and
+    condicioun of the close barreris.                                   153
+  Here he speris quhat condicioun suld be in a gude Emperoure be
+    the nature of his hie office.                                       154
+  Quhat thingis appertenis to be in a gude Prince, King, or othir.      155
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+CAPITULUM CXXXVIII, &c.
+
+HERE SPEKIS THE DOCTOURE OF ARMES THAT AR IN BLASONS, AND OF BANERIS AND
+PENOUNS.[18]
+
+[Fol. 77. b.]
+
+Now efter that he has determynit of Bataillis bathe in generale and in
+speciale, than will he declare the Armes that all Princis and Nobles and
+othir Gentillis aw to were, and of thair colouris, and discripciouns: And
+fyrst, Quhethir a man that is nocht of thair lygnie may bere leuefully
+thair Armes at his plesaunce? the quhilk mater is nocht lycht to declare,
+bot of grete difficultee for mony caussis. And first, men suld vnderstand
+that sum Armes was gevin of power of autoritee of Emperouris, Kingis, and
+Princis, to Lordis, and otheris Barouns, or to thair predecessouris, the
+quhilkis ar of alde tyme, and of alde ancestrye, that nane suld bere, bot
+thai war cummyn of that lignie, that is to say, in the realme of the
+Emperoure, King, or Prince that gafe the said armes; ffor and the King of
+France had gevyn a lyon of gold to bere till a Lord of his contree, quhat
+wrang dois that Lord till ane othir Lord of Spaigne or of Almane, that the
+Emperoure or the King of Spayne had gevin it till. Bot thare is othir maner
+of Armes, the quhilkis ilke man that beris thame, tuke at thair awin
+plesance to mak difference and knaulage amang Lordis, Gentilis, and noble
+men of armes, to knaw ilk ane be othir. And all namys and surnamys of men
+was foundyn ffor the samyn cause. Or ellis all suld haue bene in confusioun
+that nane suld haue had knaulage of ane othir. And this name may ilke man
+tak, and geue his barne at his awin plesance, or the godfader, or godmoder,
+or frendes may geue namys to thair frendis; and rycht sa in the samyn wyse
+is it of armes, that in the begynnyng quhen the weris began, till haue sum
+defference amang nobles, sik armes was, sum assignit be Princis and Lordis;
+sum was tane at the plesance of partye; sum be thair frendis consent and
+consale, sa that men of honour and of estate suld be knawin be thair armes,
+the quhilkis ar callit thair takenys in armoury. And thus in were tyme, new
+men of armes that has nane armes of propertee, may in this wise tak armes
+at thair lyking syk as thame lest. Bot nocht to tak nane otheris Armes.
+
+HERE SPERIS THE DOCTOUR GIF A MAN MAY TAK ANE OTHERIS ARMES AT HIS LYKING.
+
+As thus a Man has tane to bere in his Armes a low of gules in a champ of
+siluer, ane othir of that ilke toune has tane the samyn efter that he has
+it wynteris and [gh]eris. Than speris the questioun, Quhethir the first may
+gaynstand this armes and plen[gh]e to the Prince, and ger this be reformyt
+and forborne. And first he sais, Nay; ffor quhy ony man may tak lefully, as
+before said is, ane othir mannis name, and call his barne in the samyn
+toun, ffor it befallis oft tymes that syndry men ar callit be a name in the
+samyn toun; and may do it but lak. And quhy then may thai nocht alswele tak
+twa ane armes, or thre, or alsmony as lykis. Bot the countre party sais
+agayne, That it is a commoun vse and custume in mannis lawe, and approuit
+be othir lawis, that quha sa euer may first tak wilde foule, or fysch, or
+wylde beste in the wilderness, it is his be the lawe. And than, sen this
+noble man has first tane sik a beste, or sik a foule, or sik a fisch, to
+bere in his schelde and on his cote of armes, and on his banere, pannoun of
+armes, or in blasone apon his heraulde or perseuandis brest, or othir wayis
+to paynt in hall or chaumer at his lyking; Quhy suld ony othir tak it
+efterwart to bere that war in toune or in the samyn contree, quhare it war
+borne? And als it war mare thair scathe na thir prouffit, ffor it wald
+quhilom mere men that had grete dedis ado, quhen thai wend to cum to thair
+awin maister in werefare, thai mycht fail[gh]e, and othir wayis in syndry
+wyse mycht erre in thair dedis that mycht hynder bathe the partis that
+nedit nocht, na is na poynt of gude gouernaunce, na gude policy in dedis of
+armes: And as langand this questioun the Doctour makis sic a conclusioun,
+That gif a gentill man or lord had tane ane armes at his plesance, and
+borne it lang tyme opynly kend in dede of armes, and in weris, or othir
+wayis in tyme of pes, that it war kyd and knawin till him and his lignage;
+Thare aw nane othir in that contree to tak the samyn to bere, na the Prince
+na the lord of that contree, suld nocht lat tham bere it on na wise, ffor
+than war the principale cause of Armes-taking all forletyn; ffor the
+principale cause of Armes-taking is for to knawe the personagis of noble
+men in bataill, or in armes, or in tournamentis, or to knawe a lord in
+felde be ane othir, with his men, and his frendis and wele willaris suld
+draw till him and knawe him be his takin, and sa suld the diuersitee of
+armes mak the knaulage of the diuersitee of personnagis; and gif it be
+hapnyt ony lorde or othir man to be slayn in felde, and sa manglit that his
+visage mycht nocht be knawin, be his cote of armes he suld be knawin and
+brocht to Cristin beriss: And alssua, that be the defference of armes euer
+furth quhill the warld lestis, men suld knaw be the takynnyng of thair
+armes, thair sepulturis quhare thai ar beryit; and quha was in thai tymes
+maist honourable and worthy men, as oft tyme men seis apon thair sepulturis
+be thair frendis maid efter thaire decesse, and sum be thame self or thai
+be dede; be the quhilkis, quhen all the lygnie is failit, and the surname,
+[gh]it will the valliance of thame be knawin be thair armes, the quhilkis
+in armes are callit Takenis: ffor and syndry lordis or gentilis tuke all
+ane armes, or takenis, it was bot a confussioun. And a mare grete resoun
+ffor be all gude custumes of noblesse, lordis, and gentilis, makis thair
+selis efter thair armes, and gif ane suld bere ane otheris armes in his
+sele, men suld nocht wit quhais it war. Item, all Kingis suld kepe that na
+man do till othir dishonour, schame, na villany, na injure, na new
+novelliteis. And it is to presume, gif ony man wald newly tak ane alde
+armes of ane otheris that it war for dispyte or injure to despise him to
+prouoke noise and debatis for alde fede or enuy, the quhilk the Prince suld
+stanch. And as to the argument, it is na thing lyke till a man to be callit
+lyke till ane othir or syndry in a town; For quhy? For sik cause men has
+gert geve ilke man his surname that makis the difference. Bot and mony men
+bare ane armes, how suld ony man, Haralde, or othir, knaw men, na geve the
+honoure of gude dede till him that had honourabily deseruit it, or to geve
+lak and dishonour till cowardis or flearis fra bataillis: And tharefore, in
+all sik debatis, the Prince suld ger sett remede. And gif ony complaynt
+war, se, be Harraldis and men of knawlage, quha had rycht, quha wrang, and
+do justice.
+
+HERE SPERIS THE DOCTOURE GIF A FRANCH KNYCHT SAW A DUCHEMAN OF ALMANE
+BERAND HIS ARMES BUT DIFFERENCE, AND HE APPELLIT HIM OF WERE TO FECHT WITH
+HIM, OR FORBERE THE ARMES; QUHETHIR AW HE TO BE ADMYTTIT, BE PRINCE, OR
+NOCHT TO FEICHT IN BARRIERIS WITH HIM.
+
+As gif a Knycht of Almane wald cum to see noblesse in France, as
+tournamentis or othir wasselage, and that he fand a Knycht in France at the
+tournayment, that bare the samyn armes that he beris: And thus he maid
+questioun bustously, sayand, He traistit he wrangit him and his lignie to
+bere thai armes, sperand, be quhat title of rycht he bare thame? The Knycht
+of France ansuerd, sayand, That he traistit that he mycht bere lefully the
+takyn of armes that his fader, and forefader, and all his ancestris had of
+sa lang tyme borne, that thare was na memorye in the contrarye. The Duche
+Knycht replyis agayn, sayand, Gude Sir, suppose your fader and ancestris
+haue borne thame sik a tyme, my kyn and ancestris ar of eldare begynnyng na
+[gh]ouris, and als ar mare noble of lignie; quharefore, sen [gh]e and
+[gh]ouris has tane thame efter us, and [gh]e ar nocht of sa grete noblesse
+of alde ancestry, me think [gh]e suld deferr till us, and nocht we to
+[gh]ow: Quharefore, I say [gh]e bere thame euill and wrangwisly, and that I
+sall preue with my persone. And with that the Franchman sais, That he dois
+him na wrang that beris the armes that his ancestres has of sa lang tyme
+borne, and that he denyis his wrang, and that sall he defende. Than is this
+the question, Quhethir the King aw to geve leve to thir twa Knychtis to
+feicht, or nocht? And as to the first visage, it semys thai suld be tholit,
+be the resouns that the Duche Knycht allegis. Bot the Doctouris accordis
+nocht to that opynion, ffor as we have before said, thai ar nocht of a
+realme, na of a Prince haldand, quharfor the Naciouns makis the defference
+sufficiand, sa that it war nocht done for despyte, na othir barate; ffor
+gif a trauailand Knycht of France had tane sik armes, and he war a wikkit
+man, of lyf a tyran, and unhonourable, that mycht defame the armes in ferre
+contreis, the Duche Knycht mycht haue sum coloure and resoun tharefor, gif
+the Franch Knycht past in Burgone, or Barry, or Lorane, and brynt and
+slewe, and reft and forsit women, and had renoun to be a wikkit man of lyf,
+and men wist nocht his surname, na of quhat contree he war, and the tothir
+Knychtis armes war kend our all thai countreis, and sum men mycht traist
+that it war he; and in this cas, the Duche Knycht had resoun to ask him to
+be depriuit of his armes at the King of France, and the King to grant it
+him, gif the said Duche Knycht and his lignie war approuit men of honour,
+and thareapon grant him leue of bataill in listis, as said is, gif him
+lykis for the cause, efter the custumes may be tholit.
+
+HERE SPERIS THE DOCTOURE HOW THAI SULD BE PUNYST THAT BERIS OTHERIS ARMES
+WRANGWISELY, IN ENTENCIOUN TO DO MYS VNDER SCOUG OF THAME COUERTLY.
+
+As gif a Souldiour of symple state tuke the armes of a Knycht Noble of
+France that war of gude renoune, bathe in honour of armes, and othir wayes
+of alde ancienetee, and that Knycht of Ducheland had tane thai armes newly,
+in entent to be mare presit and honourit, and to be hyar auansit, and tak
+mare wagis, in faith I traist that the King, at the persuyt and request of
+partye, the King aw to punyse him be law of Armes. As in the lyke maner,
+gif a maister armoureur of Parise, that had renoun to be the best of that
+craft, that war in France, and in his werkis had a takyn that his werkis
+were knawin by, and ane othir of Troyes in Champaigne tuke that ilke takyn,
+sa that for the renoun of the Parisien, his werkis suld be the better
+sauld; and rycht sa of coultellin, or ony othir craft, or of notairis, gif
+ane dois falset vnder the sailign of ane othir, I say, all sik men suld be
+well and cruelly punyst be justice; and gif the contrary war tholit, it war
+grete damage to the realme.
+
+HERE SPERIS THE DOCTOUR QUHAT ARMES AR MAIST NOBLE BE THE COLOURIS, AND
+QUHAT COLOURIS AR MAIST NOBLE IN ARMES.
+
+Bot be cause the Princis and Lordis beris Armes of mare noblesse na
+otheris; and that the Doctouris has spokyn in othir tymes, and othir
+placis, of Princis armes, and of thair baneris, quharefore I will nocht
+here mak questioun, na dout the quhilk armes are the maist noblez and the
+maist rychez; ffor quhy, that alwayis comparisoun is odious.[19] Bot it
+plesis me to speke sum thing of Colouris of Armes, and of thair
+descripciouns. And as the Doctour sais, that sum of thame is mare noble na
+otheris, for the representatioun that thai mak be thair propre nature, and
+be this cause, we say, that colour of Gold is the maist noble colour that
+is in this warld here; and the resoun quhy is, ffor be the nature of gold,
+it is clere and schynand, rich, vertuouse, and confortand; ffor oure
+Maisteris, Doctouris, and Medicinaris, and Philosophouris, gevis the gold
+in syndry wise in medicyne to folk that ar debilitez in thair nature, that
+thai can get nane othir remede for souerane remede; and is lyknyt be his
+condicioun and nature to the Sonne, the quhilk is the maist noble planet
+that euer God maid, and beris lycht till all the warld, and encrescement
+and confourt till all naturale creaturis. And the lawis sais, that of all
+things that God maid, the claritee and licht is the maist noble; and,
+tharefore, the Haly Wrytt sais, that the sanctis in hevyn schynis as the
+sonne; and alssua oure Souerane Lord, quhen he transfigurit him before his
+Apostlis, his visage apperit to thame as the Sonne in someris day brycht:
+And because the Gold is comperit to the Sonne, as the propre effect of the
+Sonne, the quhilk is king and lord of all planetis, and alssua is figurit
+be Haly Wrytt be the visage of our Lord; and be that cause the ancien
+Princis, in ald lawis of armes, ordanyt that na noble man suld bere gold in
+his armes, bot Princis, Kingis, and Emperouris, for the nobless of him: And
+thus conclude we, that the maist noble coloure is Gold. And suppose sum
+ignorant men wald say, gold is metalle, and na coloure, that makis nocht;
+ffor largely to tak colouris, be all oure Maisteris and Philosophouris, all
+metallis, all low and lychtnes, that lemys and gevis sycht to the eyne, is
+of the nature of colouris.
+
+
+
+The Secound coloure that is in Armoury, is callit be thir maisteris Purpre;
+the quhilk he callis here Rede colour; the quhilk representis the lowe of
+Fyre, the quhilk is the maist clere, and lycht efter the Sonne, and the
+maist noble of all the elementis; the quhilk colour suld nane in armes
+were, bot anerly Kingis or Princis, be the alde custumes of Princis and
+Faderis of Armes, of alde tymes.
+
+
+
+The Thrid colour is Asure; the quhilk, be his figure and coloure,
+representis the Ayer, the quhilk is next the fyre, the maist noble element;
+ffor it is in itself lignie and sutile, and penetratys, ressauand the lycht
+throu it, and hable till rassaue all influences of the planetis and of the
+hevynly constellaciouns of nature, throw the quhilkis all this Erde is
+gouernyt, and all Nature: and sum callis the coloure A[gh]ure, hafand the
+colour of the firmament, sayand, that Asure is a hevynly colour, it makis
+not: ffor thare is bot lytill betuene, nocht than the lift is nocht
+colourit.
+
+
+
+Ane othir coloure is the Quhyte coloure, the quhilk next the Asure is the
+maist noble coloure that was countit in Armoury in ancien cronikis, because
+that it is maist nere the nature of lycht and claritee; and for the
+clereness of it, it is signyfyit to the vertu of puritee, of clenesse, and
+innocence, and sympilness: And as to that the Haly Scripture sais, that the
+clethingis of Jhesu Crist apperit ay to thame of quhite colour as snaw; and
+this coloure of quhite representis the Water, the quhilk efter the Aire is
+the maist noble element.
+
+
+
+Ane othir colour is in Armoury that callit is Blak; the quhilk representis
+the Erde, and be it is signyfyit dolour, ffor it is ferrest fra lichtness
+and claritee that betakenis blythnes, and cummys nerest to myrknesse; and
+tharefore, quhen ony peple or folk will mak dule for ony of thair frendis
+dede, or in ony bataill tynt, or othir grete misauenture, men makis thair
+dule in that clething; ffor it is the lawest of degree of all the four
+elementis, and is signifyit be it humilitee. And for that cause, in
+takenyng of humilitee, the religiouse men ar cled in blak wede, commonly to
+schawe mekenes in hert, and put away all lust of vanitee, and vane glore
+warldly.
+
+PRIMA REGULA BELLI CLAUSTRALIS.
+
+HERE SCHAWIS THE DOCTOUR CERTANE THINGIS AND DOCUMENTIS TOUCHAND CLOSE
+BATAILL, THAT WE CALL BATAILL IN LISTIS.
+
+And first, be cause that close bataill is rycht perilouse and mysty to be
+jugit be ignorant men, that ar nocht instruct in the lawis, myn advys is,
+that thare suld na Prince, na Lord, hald felde of bataille in Listis, bot
+gif he had gude wise counsale of wele vnderstandand men of lawe; that is
+for to say, of Doctouris in Canoun and Ciuile, to geve him gude counsale:
+ffor commounly the casis ar sa subtile to juge, that Seclere men for
+couatise and auarice of warldis wyn, gevis oft tyme counsale to Princis
+that soundis mare to the desyre of wynnyng of warldis gude, na it dois to
+resone or to rychtwise querele; and als thai wate quhat casis ar in the
+lawis condampnyt vtterly, and reprouit, and quhat casis ar tholit and
+permysit at the plesance of Princis; and wate alssua, quhat casis ar
+priuilegit in the law quhilk nocht; and the lawis sais, That Aduocatis ar
+procuratouris of mannis lignage. And ane othir resoun quhy I haue sett this
+reugle is, ffor commonly the Clerkis ar mare sad of counsale, and mare
+caulde of complexion, and mare temperit in thair curage, and ferrar can se
+in the ground of a mater na Secleris; ffor Seclaris ar hate of blude, and
+in ire, and oft tymes thai geve thair counsale and jugement again resoun,
+with the wrang outhir for fede or frendschip, luferent, or haterent, or for
+mede, or for ire, or breth, or othir singulare appetite, for honour or
+richess, or lordschip or reddoure or otheris. And erar ar inclynyt to mak
+were, na trety and concorde; and to ger bataill in barrieris be, na to
+sloke it, and appese it; ffor ire lettis the mannis mynde to juge and
+determe veritee.
+
+SECUNDA REGULA BELLI CLAUSTRALIS.
+
+HERE DECLARIS THE DOCTOUR ANE OTHIR REUGLE AND DOCTRYNE APON THE
+GOUERNAUNCE OF CLOSE BATAILL.
+
+That nocht gaynstandand that be malice or hete, woodnes, ramage, or pride
+orguillouse, or be inclinacioun, auaricius appellacioun of bataill be maid,
+and the party ressauis the gage of bataill, the Prince suld be wise in his
+audience geving, and of gude tholemudenes, to suetely here the cause that
+the Appelloure chalangis the appelland of; and wele copy and vnderstand all
+the mater before, or he geve his consent, and gif the cause movis of dett
+or of fede, or of ony othir singular cause he suld call counsale, and
+inquere how and quhare, and in quhat place, and for quhat cause, and of
+quhat tyme, and all the circumstancis, and gif the Prince may be ony way
+get knawlage of other pruf or witnes, or othir pruf be instrument or
+obligacioun, or to draw out of the party be inquisicioun or confessioun,
+and othir maner of prufis. And gif the Prince may persaue be ony way that
+ony knaulage may be gottyn be ony way of the warld, the Prince suld nocht
+thole passe bataill. Or suppose na witnes war, bot anerly that the party
+allegit witnes, [gh]it suld he assigne day till produce thai prufis before
+the justice ordinare; ffor quhen pruf is offerit, or allegit, all wage of
+bataill is slokit, be all lawis of canon and of ciuile.
+
+
+
+To the Thrid reugle and doctrine of battaill in Listis is this: That the
+Prince in na case suld juge bataill to be, bot quhare thare is na prufis
+allegit na producit, and that is law commoun and reasonnable custum; bot he
+sall suere, be his faith, that his cause can nocht be prufit in na way bot
+be his persoun.
+
+
+
+he Ferde doctrine teching and reugle of bataill in barrieris is: That a
+Prince suld haue gude counsale to ger propone before him the maner of the
+appellacioun, and the cause and occasiouns that the Appellour allegis in
+his appellacioun, and gif him thinkis resonnable the cause of the
+appellacioun, he suld admytt thame to the bataill; and gif thai war nocht
+resonnable, sloke it out, and geue na consent tharetill, na tholaunce; ffor
+gif fulis, throu thair foly, be sa daft that thai wage bataill for lytill,
+evyn as to say, Quhethir growis better wynnis in Burgoyne or in Gascoyne?
+or, Quhethir is thare fairar ladyes in Florence or in Barsalongne? or, In
+quhat countree is thare best men of armes, in France or in Lombardy? And
+the ta-part cast gage of bataill on the tothir, apon thir grete weris of
+lawe; or to say, his hors runnys fastar na his; or, That his hors is better
+na his, or syk lyke thing; or, That he lusis his lady better na he dois;
+or, That he dancis or syngis better na he dois, or for syk maner of
+tromperys; a Prince suld nocht juge na thole bataill to be, bot he suld,
+before the peple, in presence of his counsall, punyse syk trompouris, that
+otheris tuke ensample thareby in tyme to cum, to gage bataill for sik fule
+causis.
+
+
+
+The Fyft doctrine is: That for na wordis of hete, and sudane ire of chaude
+cole or of chaude mellencoly, na injuriouse langage, thare suld na Prince
+thole na consent gage of bataill in listis to pas; for wordis may be said
+for hete, or for brethe, or for gude wyne, or othir wayis in lichtnes, that
+sone efter he may repent: bot and the wordis be injurious and
+dishonourable, crimynouss or defamatouris, and he perseuere in his
+outrageous langage, and lykis nocht till amend; bot stand in his purpos
+efter that the ire salbe past, ellis the Prince suld nocht juge bataill to
+be: ffor gif he dois, he jugis again the Lawis writtin opynly.
+
+
+
+The Sext doctrine is: That because thare is sum men sa hichty hautayn and
+orguillous and full of surquedry, that thai haue na traist, na fyaunce in
+God na his Sanctis, bot in thair awin propre pyth and vertu of corps and
+strenth of membris; na has na will; na thocht on God to mend thair
+mysdedis; na to tak counsale at gude men of lyf and deuocion; na to mak
+gude ordynaunce for thame self, suppose the Prince suld the bataill to be
+tholit to be done to the vtterest: And tharfore the King suld assigne
+certane day of bataill and houre to the Appelloure, and he suld ger schaw
+him the grete perile in the quhilk he puttis him in baith of body and of
+saule, and monyse him, and exhort him on Goddis behalf, that all before
+that euer he schape him for horse, harnais, na othir prouision for the
+bataill, that first he schape him to se for a gude Confessour, that be a
+gude wise clerke, wele letterit and wele instruct in the faith, and of gude
+counsale and conscience, that he may discharge his conscience to, and
+schrive him wele, and put his saule first in gude estate, and his gudein
+ordinance, as he wald mak his testament to ga to dede, and as wyse man aw
+to do: Quhilk gif he dois nocht, the King suld say him, "That sen he
+traistit nocht in Goddis help, he suld nocht traist that he war a gude
+Cristyn man, and that he suld haue the lesse fauour of him;" and than suld
+he ordane him a term within quhilk he suld put him in gude estate of the
+saule to Godwart, and syne spere, how thai had done at thair Confessoure,
+and sa suld he do to the tothir: And this is a takyn that a Prince is wyse,
+and lufis wele God, that begynnis at him to dispone all his gouernance and
+dedis.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Fol. 81. b.]
+
+HERE SPERIS THE DOCTOURE QUHAT THINGIS EFFERIS TILL ALL GUDE PRINCE TO DO
+
+As now sen he hes sum part declarit quhat properteis suld be in ane
+Emperoure, now will he declare quhat properteis a gude King suld haue in
+him: that is the maist hye dignitie efter the Emperoure. And [gh]it will
+oure maisteris saye that the name of King is mare na the name of Emperoure
+be excellence; ffor oure Lord Jhesu Crist in this erde here callit him
+nocht Emperoure, bot tholit to be callit King of Kingis and Lord of Lordis,
+as our Haly Writt beris witness. And alssua he was callit a Kingis Sone:
+ffor he is callit in Haly Writt the Sone of David King; and that sais
+Clerkis that he is of Kingis be the grettar excellence of lynage. And
+[gh]it alssua Sanct Peter menyt to his teching, that the name of King was
+mare excellent na the name of Emperoure, quhen he said till his disciples,
+That thai suld be subgettis till all creature humayne for the honoure of
+God [gh]our King, and specially till all Kingis for the honoure of him, as
+to the hiest degree and maist excellent. And this approues the Pape
+Gelasius, &c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Fol. 83. b.]
+
+And trewly I say, and he kepe wele thir termes, he is a worthy Prince, and
+worthy to be a King, and till haue superioritee and soueranitee, and
+victory of his fais. And tharefor the Doctour settis here certane poyntis
+of doctrine touchand a [gh]ong Prince, in Ryme, quhilkis spekis thus: A
+King that will be ane worthy werryoure, he sulde be wiss, faire, and
+curageous: And that he be Lord of his subjectis, asto the Quaile the
+Sperehauk; and that he be misericorde and rigorouss in justice, as case
+requeris; and that gif he will be wele fortunyt in armes, be ay first.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Fol. 84. b.]
+
+Item, a Prince or a King suld nocht oure lichtly trow all talis na sudayn
+tydingis; ffor mony learis oft tymes flechis lordis with false talis, and
+settis thame in wrang and euill purpose. And that is oure grete perile in
+princis and grete lordis, to geue sudane credence till ony mannis tale,
+quhill he war wele informyt of the suthfastnes: And he suld be wele and
+ryply avisit, or that he write to the Pape ony materis, or till ony strange
+Princis, for ony lycht mennis counsailis, or ony small wrechit mannis. And
+quhen he wrytis, his writtis suld be wele and statelyke deuisit, and dytit
+be wise Clerkis, and men of counsale, and expert in the lawis and purpose
+lyke, and syne be notable gude wrytaris as efferis; bathe to the ryaltee of
+him that sendis the writtis, and of him that thai wryttis ar send to; and
+suld wele auise for quham he wrytis, that thai be worthy persouns, and
+alssua for quhat thing he wrytis; that it be nocht a wrechit thing that he
+wrytis for; and als that his peticioun be bathe rychtwise and honourable;
+ffor quhen Princis prayis for vnworthy persouns, God is offendit and
+displesit thareat. And syne the Pape or Princis that he wryttis till, will
+hald him for ane vnwise Prince that the lettres send for sik a persone, and
+will nocht sa gladly grant him his asking in tyme to cum. And thus sall the
+renoun of a Prince pas oure all the Cristyndome, and geue him lofe and
+honour that excedis all warldis richess, throu the quhilk he sal be prisit
+and redoubtit bathe with fais and frendis, and haldin for wise Prince; and
+syne sall he be lufit of God, and wyn throu that the joy of Paradise.
+
+And [gh]it mare, suld a King be temperit and messurit in his conuersacioun,
+and repair amang folk, in placis public, our oft tymes; ffor ony thing that
+Commouns seis oure oft thai prise all the lesse. And quhen it is seldyn
+sene it gevis folk in mare grete desyre to se it agayne ay mare and mare;
+and for this cause the grete Souldane of Babilone cummys bot thrise in the
+[gh]ere in publik audience furthwart, and than quhen he cummys furthwart,
+on thre festuale dayes, he cummys rydand with sik a state and solempnitee
+that all the peple desyris and presses the mare to se him, na he rade euery
+day, or euery wolk or moneth; bot gif it be quhen that he rydis in
+werefare, and than all his peple and cheualrye may se him.
+
+
+
+And suppose I mycht [gh]it compile and gader togedir mony Vertues and
+properteis that suld be in a Prince, and als mony thingis of Mysgouernaunce
+that he suld eschew: Bot in gude faith the Doctour sais, that he was sa
+irkit of wryting, that he mycht nocht as now na mare tak on hand as to put
+in this Buke of Bataillis; bot and God geve him lyve dayes, he sais, in his
+conclusioun of his Buke, he sall compile a Trety of propereteis of Gude
+Condiciouns bathe of Temparale men and of men of Kirk, that sall be gude
+and prouffitable for all men, that on lukis bathe langand the gouernaunce
+of thair office and digniteis, as may be compylit be the foundement of Haly
+Writt, and efter the Lawis writtyn. Bot here he prayis to God mekely that
+he send grace and gude gouernaunce to the Prince that he has compilit this
+wrytt for, and maid this Buke till, that is to say King Philip[20] of
+Fraunce, and geue him grace sa to reule his realme, and his ryall magestee
+and estate, that God be payit of him, and bring him till his euerlestand
+joye of Paradise at his ending, and all his frendis and wele willaris. IN
+NOMINE PATRIS, ET FILII, ET SPIRITUS SANCTI. AMEN.
+
+
+
+_Explicit Liber Bellorum, sed potius Dolorum, ut rescitat Doctor in
+pluribus, etc._
+
+[Decoration]
+
+No. II.
+
+HERE BEFORE ENDIS THE BUKE OF BATAILLES, AND HERE EFTER BEGYNNYS
+
+THE BUKE OF THE ORDERE OF KNYCHTHEDE.
+
+[THIS PORTION OF THE MANUSCRIPT, FROM FOL. 85, TO FOL. 103, IS CONTAINED IN
+THE PRESENT VOLUME.]
+
+[Decoration]
+
+No. III.
+
+[Fol. 103. b.]
+
+HERE ENDIS THE BUKE OF THE ORDRE OF KNYCHTHEDE; AND BEGYNNIS THE BUKE
+CALLIT
+
+THE BUKE OF THE GOUERNAUNCE OF PRINCIS, ETC.
+
+HERE BEGYNNYS THE TABLE OF THE BUKE OF THE GOUERNAUNCE OF PRINCIS.
+
+And first of the Prolog of the first fyndyng, and interpretacioun of the
+said Buke out of diuerse langagis, etc.
+
+Item, Of the first Pistle fend fra Alexander till Arestotil to ask him
+counsale of the Gouernaunce of Perse new conquest; and of the form of the
+Epistle, and of his Ansuere.
+
+Item, Of ane othir of thé Ansueris of Aristotle till Alexander; and the
+forme of the Epistle send fra Aristotle of his opynion.
+
+  The First chapiter is, How thare is four maneris of Kingis.             1
+  How auarice and fule largess suld be eschewit in a King.                2
+  How Princis and Kingis suld sett them for gude renoun here.             3
+  How thai suld eschew all outrageous carnall lustis and appetitis.       4
+  Quhat kynde of sapience efferis to Kingis, Princis, and grete Lordis.   5
+  Quhatkyn habyt anournement and clething thai suld haue.                 6
+  How Kingis and Princis suld punyse mysdoaris, and honour gude men.      7
+  How thai suld haue in thame justice and equitee with merci.             8
+  Quhatkyn plesance, deduytis, and recreaciouns Princis suld tak.         9
+  How punycioun suld be maid efter the case and state of persons.        10
+  How Princis may be lyknyt to the dew of the hevyn.                     11
+  How Kingis and Princis are of the samyn nature with symple men.        12
+  How thai suld delyte thame in bukis of stories of Vertues and Vicis,
+  and of othir honourable dedis of alde Ancestry, and of wisedome.       13
+  How thai sulde kepe gude faith and lautee till all Mankynde euer.      14
+  How Princis suld found scolis and studyes of sciences in thair
+    contreis.                                                            15
+  How thai suld nocht gouerne thame be women, na trow thair counsale.    16
+  How thai suld nocht traist anerly in a medicine, but ma.               17
+  How Princes suld gouerne thame be a wyse Clerk, expert in astronomy.   18
+  Off the science of astronomy, and of the divisioun of it.              19
+  How Princis suld atoure all thing tak kepe to thair hele.              20
+  How and in quhat maner thai suld gouerne thair hele keping.            21
+  Here declaris the Philosophour certane documentis of medicyne.         22
+  Here declaris the Philosophour certane secrete documentis of medicyne. 23
+  Here declaris he the four rathis of the [gh]ere, and first of Ver.     24
+  And first of the kynde of the sesoun of Somer.                         25
+  And syne of the third sesoun that is callit Hervist.                   26
+  And syne of the nature of the Wynter.                                  27
+  Quhat thingis fattis or lenys men maist.                               28
+  Here declaris the Philosophour ane othir poynt of medicyne.            29
+  Quhat kyndis of metis ar best for man.                                 30
+  Off syndry kyndis of wateris, and thair naturis.                       31
+  Off syndry kyndis of wynis, and thair naturis.                         32
+  Off bathis and stuphis [stoves], and thair gouernaunce and proffittis. 33
+  Quhat justice efferis till a Prince or a King.                         34
+  How a Prince or a King suld ken himself.                               35
+  How Kingis and Princis suld gouerne be grete counsale.                 36
+  How the Man is maid of the four elementis.                             37
+  How Princis suld haue discrete Secretaris.                             38
+  How thai suld have discrete and traist messageris.                     39
+  How the Prince and the Peple are comperit till a gardyn.               40
+
+EXPLICIT TABULA DE REGIMINE PRINCIPUM.
+
+HERE BEGYNNIS THE BUKE CALLIT THE BUKE OF THE GOUERNANCE OF PRINCIS, THAT
+IS CALLIT THE SECRETE OF SECRETIS, MAID BE ARISTOTYLL TILL ALEXANDER THE
+GRAND: AND FIRST THE PROLOUG AS IT IS CONTENYT IN THE FRANCH BUKE.
+
+PROLOGUS.
+
+Here declaris the Autour of this Buke that a clerk, callit Fair Patrix,
+wyse in all langagis fand in Grece, kepit within a temple, callit the
+Temple of the Sonne, (the quhilk the noble philosophour Esculapius had gert
+mak,) this Buke of the Secretis of Aristotle in language of Grew; the
+quhilk he translatit out of Grew in the langage of Caldee, the quhilk was
+quhilom the langage of grete Babyloyne, and now is the langage of grete
+Inde; and syne, at request of the King of Araby, he translatit it off the
+langage of Caldee in his langage of Arrabyk. And syne, efter that mony a
+[gh]ere, ane othir grete clerk, callit Philippus, translatit it out of
+Arabyk in lang Latyne, and send it till ane reuerend Fader in Crist, and
+wyse prelate, noble and honourable Sir Guy de Valance, Bischop of Tryploun:
+And as beris witness be thair alde ancien stories, the worthy and noble
+Philosophouris in thay tymes, that als lang as Alexander le Grant had with
+him Aristotil the wyse clerk, he passit throuch and vencust all realmes,
+and all his inymyes, throu the mekle prudence and wisedome of that noble
+Philosophour and throu his counsale. And quhen he mycht no mare trauaile
+with him, he send him ay betuene Lettres and Epistlis, how he suld gouerne
+him in all his dedis and grete materis. And at the last, quhen he saw he
+mycht nocht for elde langsumely be nature left, he compilit this Buke to be
+a reugle of Gouernaunce till him euer mare quhill he lyvit, and send it
+till him with grete regrate and lamentacioun, that he mycht no mare be with
+him, sa mekle he lufit him, for cause he was his Maister and his techour
+euer fra his begynnyng of barnehede till that tyme, and with him in his
+conquestis. And syne was this ilke Buke translatit out of Latine in the
+langage of Romaine, nocht all hallely bot alsmekle as thame thocht nedefull
+and spedefull to the Gouernance of Princis. And tharfore the noble
+Philosophour said in his counsale geving till Alexander, that it was nocht
+spedefull that this Buke war till all men publist, bot anerly to the
+secrete counsale of Princis, and of grete Lordis, and nocht to Commouns;
+and to rede it oft tymes before thame, to tak, as myrour schawis the
+faultis and the suthfastnes, ensample, and doctrine of gude lyfing, and
+formable as efferis to thair honour and prouffit, and of thair subjectis.
+For it is nocht spedefull that popularis wit the secrete of Princis, na
+Lordis gouernance, na the reuglis of thair Ordre; and thairfor is the Buke
+callit THE SECRETE OF SECRETIS OF ARISTOTIL, ordanyt for document and
+teching of Gouernance of Princis.
+
+
+
+    HERE DECLARIS HE HOW ARISTOTLE RESSAUIT A PISTLE SENT FRA ALEXANDER
+    till him in his grete age, to ask counsale, quhen he had conquest
+    Perse, Quhethir he suld destroy and sla all the folk of that land, and
+    peple it with others? because that thay war perilouse to gouerne, and
+    subtile, and full of mychti maliciouse engyne of conquest, for the
+    quhilk he dred thair subtile malice.
+
+FORMA EPISTOLE ALEXANDRI REGIS MAGNI AD ARISTOTILEM.
+
+Till ane maist noble and worthy Lord of Justice, I signify to thy prudence,
+that I haue foundyn in the land of Perse a kynde of folk rycht haboundand
+in richess, and of lytill vnderstanding, settand thair study to mak
+conquestis of realmes, and desyrand till haue lordschip atour othir men;
+ffor the quhilk cause, that we can nocht fynd to be seker of thame, we haue
+tane to purpose to put thame all to dede; bot bydand to haue thy counsale
+thareto, be wrytt in lettres; the quhilk counsale we will kepe and fulfill
+at the vtterast.
+
+HERE FOLLOWIS THE ANSUERE OF ARISTOTIL TILL ALEXANDER IN EPISTIL.
+
+Alexander, gif thou may change the nature of the erde, the water, and the
+aire of that regioun, and the disposicioun of the citeis of the landis of
+Perse, than counsale I that thou do thy will hardily; and gif thou may
+nocht do as foresaid is, sla thame nocht, bot gouerne thame in all
+gudelynes, with clemence, benignitee, and sueteness, put honour to thaim,
+and graciously demayne thame in graciouse justice and equitee; the quhilk
+gif thou dois, I traist, that with the grace of God, that thai sal be gude
+subjectis to thé, and sall gouerne thame at thy plesaunce and commandement:
+ffor than for the lufe that thai sall haue to thé for thy nobless, thou
+sall haue the dominacioun apon thame with peis and tranquilitie.
+
+
+
+The quhilkis lettres the Prince ressauit with benignitee, and fulfillit his
+counsale vtterly; throu the quhilkis thingis the peple of Perse gafe sik a
+luferent till Alexander, that thai lufit him better, and was mare obeysand
+till him, na ony othir pepele of ony of his othir conquestis.
+
+
+
+    HERE FOLLOWIS A PISTLE SEND FRA ARISTOTIL TILL ALEXANDER excusand him
+    for sore elde and waykenes he mycht na mare byde with him na hald the
+    court; and tharfore he send him a Regement in wrytt, how and in quhat
+    maner he suld gouerne him ay furth; the quhilk begynnis in this maner
+    as efter folowis:--
+
+ALEXANDER, faire Sone, gloriouss Emperour, the Souerane preciouss God
+Almychty mot confirme thé, and send thé knaulege to fauour the wayis of
+vertu, and of veritee, and that he wald refreyne in thé all bestiale
+appetitis, and that he wald illumyn thyne engyne, and conferme thy spirit
+of thy gouernaunce till his honour and service, honourably to be ressauit
+as efferis. And I have vnderstandin, how thou desyris that I war with thé;
+and that thou sais thou art amaruailit that I may abstene fra thy presence;
+thinkand that I am not sa besy and diligent of thy gouernaunce as I was
+wont to be: And be this cause I haue vndertane to make litil Reugles callit
+Cannonet, that is to say, A lytil buke, the quhilk salbe as a balaunce in
+the quhilk thou sall payss all thy werkis in; and to be a supplee to thé in
+my absence, rycht as I war present: &c.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+XL.--CAPITULUM.
+
+[Fol. 129.]
+
+HERE DECLARIS THE NOBLE PHILOSOPHOUR HOW THAT THE SUBJECTIS OF PRINCIS THAT
+AR THE VPHALD OF THE WARLDE, AR COMPERIT TILL A FAIRE GARDYN, OR TILL A
+LORDIS TRESOURE, AND THAT THAI SULD BE KEPIT AS TRESOURE.
+
+Alexander, faire Sone, [gh]it will I that thow witt, that thy subjectis
+suld be kepit as thy tresouris, ffor thai ar thy tresoure. For thai may be
+comperit till a Lord that has a faire and gude gardyn quhare thare is grete
+quantitee of fruyte treis, herbis, and othir gresis, richess, and nedefull
+till mannis behufe, the quhilkis [gh]erely and contynualy beris grete
+plentee of fruytis for mannis sustenaunce quhen thai ar well grathit,
+scroubbit, and demaynit, and wele gudit, kepit, sustenit, and gouernyt at
+rycht, and suld be wele sene to, and socourit at thair nedis. And kepit
+wele in gude reugle of justice and saufit fra injuris and oppressins, and
+that thare be bot thou allane gardener upon thame, and nocht mony maister
+gardenaris; ffor quhare mony maister gardeneris ar the gardyn is nocht
+commounly all prouffitably gouernyt, the quhilk suld be of gude gouernaunce
+that stent him nocht to spill thy treis, na gader thy fruytis, that is to
+say, thy subjectis gudis wrangwisely; and sa may thy realme left, and be
+wele defendit and conseruit, sa that thou kepe thé nocht to haue mony
+dispensaris in thy gardyn, that is thy realme. Ffor quhy, for couatise and
+gredynes of thy fruytis, thar may enter corrupcioun in thy gardyn, and syne
+apon thyself, quhen ilk ane pressis oure otheris to be masteris of thi
+gudis, and of thy counsaile, and thi gouernaunce. Bot thare is mony that
+will hecht and say thai sall do wele, and quhen thai mount in gouernaunce
+thai do all othir wayis. And sum corrumpis be giftis and hechtis Princis
+Counsailouris, and peruertis all gude gouernaunce throu thair gredyness of
+gudis, gevand giftis to Lordis of the Counsale for to maneteine thame lang
+in thaire officis and in thaire malicis. And traist wele, ALEXANDER, that
+thy Peple and thy Barouns, thy Bacheleris and thy Commons ar the stuf and
+the multiplicacioun and furnyssing of thy realme, and be thame mon thou be
+crownyt, and thy croun vphaldyn and mayntenyt, and be thai nocht throu thé
+manetenyt and sustenyt in thair rychtis and richess, thai will nocht lufe
+thé, na honoure thé, na tho court, na help to sustene thyne estate; ffor
+bot gyf thou mak thaim cause to be fyablez and traist to thé, and thy
+worschip and prouffit, and to hald lufe and lautee betuix thé and thy
+peple, thou fall neuer be seker na seure a day in thy realme. And will thou
+vmbethink thé wele of all that I haue said, and gouerne thé efter my deuise
+and counsale beforesaid, thou sal be haldyn as wyse and worthy King, and
+doubtit and lufit of thy peple, and of all otheris: And thou sall cum aboue
+of all thyne vndertakingis and desyris: Quhilkis gif thou faillis to do,
+thou sall se that thare sall cum greuouse mischeif and mysfortune, bathe
+upon thé and thy realme, and thy gouernaunce, and it sall nocht be in thy
+powar to sett remede, na thou can nocht, na may nocht estymy the paynis
+that suld be injunct to thé tharfore. Bot here I pray hertfully to the hye
+and mychty God, makare of Hevyn and Erde, to geue thé grace, as he is
+gudely Gouernoure of Hevin and Erde, and of all the Warlde to gouerne thé
+sa in vertu and in veritee, in justice and leautee, that God and man be
+payit of the end: And rycht sa mote it be of oure worthy King, and
+graciouse Prince, and all his welewillaris, I pray to God Almichti, IN
+NOMINE PATRIS ET FILII, ET SPIRITUS SANCTI. Amen.
+
+EXPLICIT LE GOUERNEMENT DES PRINCES.
+
+[Decoration]
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+NOTES.
+
+[1] Dunbar's Poems, by Laing, vol. i. pp. 42, 214, Edin. 1834, 2 vols. post
+8vo.
+
+[2] This work extends to 3 volumes in folio. Vol. I. was published at
+Edinburgh in 1708; Vol. II. in 1711; Vol. III. in 1722. This volume
+contains a List of nearly 600 Subscribers. On the title of a MS. which
+belonged to Robert Myln, the Genealogist, he makes a reference to a Life of
+Dr Thomas Reid, among "the schedules of Dr Mackenzie's 4th Volume of
+Lives." Whether such "schedules" still exist, is uncertain.
+
+[3] Dr George Mackenzie, was born on the 10th December 1669. He was the son
+of the Hon. Colin Mackenzie, second son of George, second Earl of Seaforth,
+and of Jean, daughter of Dr Robert Laurie, Bishop of Brechin. He died at
+Fortrose, on the 28th November 1725.--(Caledonian Mercury, Dec. 16, 1725.)
+
+[4] The last three leaves contain a transcript of two articles unconnected
+with the rest of the volume, viz.--"The Ordour of the processioun and
+bering of the Sacrament in Antuarpe the first day of Junij the [gh]eir of
+God I^m V^c lxij." And a Letter or Testimonial from Thomas Bishop of Orknoy
+in 1446, addressed to the King of Norwege, respecting the Genealogy of
+William of Sanctclare, Erle of Orchadie, &c. (the ancestor of the St Clairs
+of Roslin,) "Translatit out of Latin into Scottis, be me, Deine Thomas
+Gwld, Monk of Newbothill," in the year 1554.
+
+[5] Les Manuscrits François de la Bibliothéque du Roi: par A. Paulin Paris,
+vol. v. p. 103.
+
+[6] See Lewis's Life of Caxton, p. 81.
+
+[7] Catalogue des Livres imprimés sur Vélin, de la Bibliothéque du Roi,
+tome iii. p. 81.
+
+[8] Edinburgh, 1801, p. 65.
+
+[9] In Maidment's Analecta Scotica, vol. ii. p. 1, is a curious Indenture
+betwixt Sir William the Hay, Knight, Lorde of the Nauchtane, and Alan of
+Kynnarde Lord of that ilke, and Dame Mary of Murray his wife, for the
+marriage of their children, dated 7th December 1420.
+
+[10] At a latter period, among the Determinants at St Andrews, in 1449, we
+find "Gilbertus Hay, cujus bursa, viij^s. vj^d;" and again "M. Gilbertus
+Hay," as having taken his degree as a Licentiate in 1451. But this
+obviously could not have been Sir Gilbert Hay. In the "Compot. Magist.
+Roberti Pantre receptoris facultatis arcium anni [M.CCCC.]LII. datum iiii^o
+die Decembris," at the end of a long list of contributions is this
+entry--"Item, per Magistrum Gilbertum Hay, xxv^s. Debitor Thomas Hay
+licentiatus, frater ejusdem Gilberti." The name of Thomas Hay stands first
+in the list of Licentiates in 1452-3.
+
+[11] Genealogie of the Sainteclaires of Rosslyn, by Father Richard Augustin
+Hay, p. 26. Edin. 1835, 4to.
+
+[12] Lord Hailes's Additional Case of the Countess of Sutherland, pp. 110,
+128.
+
+[13] Genealogie of the Sainteclaires of Rosslyn, p. 91-98.
+
+[14] "Extracts from The Buike of King Alexander the Conquerour, a
+Manuscript in the Library at Taymouth Castle." (1831). 4to. Privately
+printed by the Secretary of the Bannatyne Club.
+
+[15] See _supra_, page 1.
+
+[16] The Number of the Chapters, in both the Second and Third Parts or
+Books, are omitted in the Original Manuscript.
+
+[17] In the MS. the Numbers of the Chapters in this Fourth Part, are
+marked, Primum Capitulum, II. Ca^m., III. Ca^m. &c.
+
+[18] Although each chapter at the beginning is marked with a rubric, the
+number of the chapter is not given in the Original Manuscript. The
+following selection will be found to differ somewhat in the divisions, but
+it represents the whole portion of the Manuscript which corresponds with
+the titles of chapters 138 to 153, in the preceding Table; along with the
+conclusion of the Work.
+
+[19] In the original, "Car toutes comparaisons sont haynneuses."
+
+[20] [It will be observed, that in the Prologue or dedication, at page 64,
+this "Buke" was addressed by the Author to Charles the Sixth, King of
+France.]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Buke of the Order of Knyghthood, by Ramon Llull
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43365 ***