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a man wantinge the vse of a hande, hath had his lacke supplied by
arte, thorough an instrumente tied to his right arme, wherin he
holdeth a sworde and may also fighte commodiouslie inough. And
to the lefte side to have a sheilde devised wth Catches of iron to
great advauntage wch things a man wantinge leggs or feete
cannot vse. Wherfore in conclusion I saye that whosoeuer loseth
his legge & foote receaveth more dishonnor & offence to his
person then he yt loseth a hande, because a man beinge maymed
only vppon one hande maye more commodiouslie serue, then he
that loseth his legge. ffor notwthstandinge the wante of a
hande a man may perfourme the office of a Capteine councel:
lor purveyor conductor guide spie or other office in armes wch
a man having his leggs broken or maimed cannot doe, although
by helpe of an artificiall legge a man maye percase be seene
to ride yet wthout helpe of others it is not possible to mounte
and dismounte as it behoveth a soldier to doe. Therfore I saye
that whosoever wthout the ayde of others cannot serue, is more
insufficiente then he that helpeth him selfe, and it hath bene
sene yt a soldier wantinge a hande hath serued well, taken
prisoners & scaled Castles wth the helpe of such instru:
ments as are before recited. Therfore in my iudgement
he semeth more sufficiente, yet I submitt my self to
suche as shall alleage a reason more skillfull to the con:
trarye.