ise there we have erred and fauted by
over gret haboundaunce of suche chargeable crimes and synnes of delites, of
suche oppression, covetice, inespecialle pride and envy, &c. Let us
withedraw us from hem withe goode corage, and to that ende that we be not
chastised ne punisshed by the stroke of vengeaunce and pestilence, nor of
none suche affliccions as we hafe ben dailie by youre predecessour's daies
by youre saide adversaries.

[Sidenote: Quod officium deffencionis adversariorum patriae est preferrandum
quemcunque singularem facultatem sive practicam.]

How lordis sonnes and noble men of birthe, for the defense of her londe,
shulde excersise hem in armes lernyng.

[Sidenote: Introduccio juvenum nobilium natu.]

[Sidenote: Ser Johan Fastolf.]

[Sidenote: Optativus modus.]

And also moreover for the grettir defens of youre roiaumes, and saufe garde
of youre contreis in tyme of necessite, also to the avauncement and encrece
of chevalrie and worship in armes, comaunde and doo founde, establisshe,
and ordeyne that the sonnes of princes, of lordis, and for the most part of
alle tho that ben comen and descendid of noble bloode, as of auncien
knightis, esquiers, and other auncient gentille men, that while they ben of
grene age ben drawen forthe, norisshed, and excersised in disciplines,
doctrine, and usage of scole of armes, as using justis, to can renne withe
speer, handle withe ax, sworde, dagger, and alle othir defensible wepyn, to
wrestling, to skeping, leping, and rennyng, to make hem hardie, deliver,
and wele brethed, so as when ye and youre roiaume in suche tyme of nede to
have theire service in entreprises of dedis of armes, they may of
experience be apt and more enabled to doo you service honourable in what
region they become, and not to be [unkonnyng,[172]] abashed, ne astonied,
{77} forto take entreprises, to answere or deliver a gentilman that desire
in worship to doo armes in liestis to the utteraunce, or to certein
pointis, or in a quarelle rightfulle to fight, and in cas of necessite
you[173] and youre roiaume forto warde, kepe, and defende frome youre
adversaries in tyme of werre. And this was the custom in the daies of youre
noble auncestries, bothe of kingis of Fraunce as of Englande. In example
wherof, king Edwarde .iij^{de}. that exersised his noble son Edwarde the
prince in righte grene age, and all his noble sonnes, in suche maiestries,
wherby they were more apt in haunting of armes. And, [as myne a