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Two men at Armes do runne the course of ye feilde for life, thone is hurte on the arme & the other on the legge. Wch of them hath gained moste honnor.

Ca. 26.

Twoe noble gent comminge to course of the feilde on horsbacke, the one thorough a violente incounter hurteth the other on the bridle hande so sore, as the whole arme was benommed, and the vambraces & gauntletts so bente & battered as wth great difficultie he coulde be disarmed. The other at the same incounter received a grevous blowe vppon the knee wherwth his legge & foote became so hurte as neither on horsback nor otherwise he coulde defend him self or offende his ennemie. It was demaunded whether of them by iuste deserte had deserued moste honnor, & to whom the greatest reproch & harme is to be imputed. At the first blushe it semeth that he that hath his hande hurte receiveth the greatest offence, because the hande is a manlye member, & most necessarie for the vse of man & cheiflye for soldiers who by virtue & force therof doe not only defende but also offende. The lawe therfore saith that a soldier wthout a hande is insufficient for the warrs, & ought to be cassed of his interteignemente because he is not suffyciente The holie scripture saith that a man ought to live by the exercise of his handes. ffor next the losse of the eie there is no misfortune comparable to the maime of the hande, because whosoeuer loseth his handes is forced wth shame to begge his breade. Therfore the hande beinge a member more worthie then the foote, & placed in higher parte of the bodie, the losse therof is the greater reproche On the contrarie parte it was alleadged that a man havinge his legge & foote maymed, is more vnhable to ride then he that loseth his hande, ffor it hath bene sene that