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As for example who so doth most lightlie or nimblie beseme him
selfe in armour, and that wth moste iudgement striketh and
wardeth, or that moste aduisedlie awaiteth his ennemie
or that wth moste conninge handled his weopon, both on offence
& defence, or that striketh most feircelye, or that in best order
answereth the violence of his aduersarie, or that wth beste
time & measure moueth his foote & handes, wch are necessa:
rye things in offence & defence, or that geveth blowes to beste
purpose & is readiest to defende him selfe, & ceaseth not at
fitt times to offende shalbe iudged to moste honnor, like:
wise he meriteth honnor that winneth moste grounde of
the ennemie or that beste defendeth the grounde he hath
wonne, or he that never turneth his face, or he that is stric:
ken wth the sworde pointe & is not amazed, or beinge
stricken on the heade doth not stagger, or that never loseth
his footinge by violence of the ennemies blowes, wch weare
as great dishonnor to him that fighteth on foote, as yf beinge
a horseman to fall from the horse, and therfore who so wth
his kne or heade towcheth the grounde, incurreth disgrace
But he that wthout hurte of his owne person draweth
bloode of thennemie deserueth most honnor of all. he
that is hurte in the hand is lesse dishonnored that then he
that is hurte on the foote, notwthstandinge the hande be
placed highter, or because the hande beinge employed to the
offence of thennemie and defence of the bodie is more
subiecte to hurte then is the foote wch is warded by the handes
Besides that the foote is not hurte so easelie or wth so small
hazarde to the offender, moreover the feete be those mem:
bers wch gouerne the fighte by goinge forwarde in measure
& time, or retiringe as cause requireth he that is hurte be:
fore deserueth lesse dishonnor, then he that is wonded behind
And therfore Uigetio de re militari geveth councell that who:
soever will enter into combatt to gaine honnor therby sholde
be skillfull in the science of defence. Also Solomon saith that
in battle wisedome is no lesse required then force, & the honnor of
a Soldier is the stroaks he geveth as is beforesaide. And
forasmuch as he who weareth the Emprease, vseth to make
condicions wheruppon he entendeth to fighte we will here:
after intreate of them.