Norton Hall,January 1847.
Norton Hall,January 1847.
Norton Hall,January 1847.
The Buke
of
The Order of Knyghthood,
Translated
by Gilbert of the Haye knycht.
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.
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 ȝeldit 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 ȝong 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 ȝong 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 ȝouthede, 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 ȝong 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 ȝeldit 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 ȝoure cummyng here in this wildernes? And fra quhyn ar ȝe cummyn, and quhare wald ȝe be? And than ansuerd the ȝong 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 ȝe, 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 ȝe knaw the propereteis and custumes of the said Ordre, that ȝe wald, of ȝour 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 menȝé; 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.
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 ȝelde 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 ȝouthede: 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 ȝouthede, 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 ȝouthede 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 ȝong lordis sonis that thocht to be knychtis, ffor rycht as it war nocht semand till a ȝong 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 ȝit 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 ȝong 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 ȝong 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.
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 ȝit 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 ȝit 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 ȝouthede 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 ȝelde 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 ȝong 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.