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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 in:
counter 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 gre:
vous 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 man:
lye member, & most necessarie for the vse of man & cheif
lye 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 suffy:
ciente 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