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 ȝouthede; 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.
SEPTIMUM CAPITULUM.
HERE SPERIS THE DOCTOURE OF GUDE CUSTUMES THAT EFFERIS TO KNYCHTHEDE.
nd, 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.