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.