Chapter III: The Buke of the Gouernance of Princes (1)

This very popular work is a translation of the "Secretum Secretorum," falsely attributed to Aristotle. Its popularity was so great that not less than nine English translations and six French translations are known. It is probable that Sir Gilbert Hay made his version from one of the French translations current in the Fifteenth Century.

* * * * *

In now adverting to SIR GILBERT HAY, the Translator of the "ORDERE OF KNIGHTHOOD," and of other Works, from the French, it is matter of regret that we possess no very certain information respecting him. Some of the uncertainty which prevails in regard to his lineage arises from the circumstance that the name of Gilbert, in the family of Errol, with whom we may presume he was nearly related, was of very common occurrence. The Hays of Errol, the chief of the name in Scotland, appear in the public Records as Hereditary Constables of Scotland before the end of the Twelfth Century. Without further entering upon their Genealogy, as exhibited in Douglas and Wood's Peerage of Scotland, vol. i. page 544, &c., and in similar works, it may briefly be noticed that, in the course of the Fifteenth Century--

I. Sir Thomas Hay of Errol, Constable of Scotland, died in the year 1406. He married in 1372, Elizabeth third daughter of King Robert II., by his first wife Elizabeth Mure; and had two sons, Sir William, who succeeded, and Gilbert Hay, who is designed of Dronlaw; also three daughters, the youngest of whom, Alicia, married Sir William Hay of Locharret.[9]

II. Sir William Hay of Errol, who succeeded in 1406, died in 1436. By his wife Margaret, daughter of Sir Patrick Gray of Broxmouth, he had two sons, Gilbert, and William Hay of Urry, in the county of Kincardine.

III. Gilbert Hay, eldest son of Sir William, was one of the hostages sent to England in 1412, and again in 1424, for the ransom of King James the First, who had been held in captivity for eighteen years. On the last occasion he is styled "Gilbertus Primogenitus et Hæres Willielmi Constabularii Scotiæ," his annual revenue being estimated equal to 800 marks; and at that time "Gilbert of the Haye, askyth conduct for 3 servants." (Rymer's Foedera, vol. x. p. 327). In 1426 he had a safe conduct. He died in England soon after 1426, leaving, by his wife Alicia, daughter of Sir William Hay of Yester, two sons, William and Gilbert.

IV. Sir William Hay succeeded his grandfather in 1436, and was created Earl of Errol in the year 1452-3. He married Beatrix Douglas, daughter of James third Lord Dalkeith. His brother Gilbert, who succeeded his uncle William Hay of Urry, had a charter of the lands of Urry, in the county of Kincardine, 12th August 1467; and died before September 1487. The Earl of Errol, who died about 1460, was succeeded by his eldest son,

V. Nicholas, second Earl of Errol. He died without issue in 1470, and was succeeded by his brother,

VI. William, third Earl of Errol, who survived till 1506.

This brief view of the Hays of Errol, during the Fifteenth Century, may serve to guide our conjectures in regard to Sir Gilbert Hay. That he was born about the commencement of that century, we are warranted to assume. There is no evidence of any of the younger sons in the Errol family, at this period, having had the honour of Knighthood; and therefore it may be conjectured that he was the son of Sir William Hay of Locharret, one of whose daughters, Jane, was married to Sir Alexander Home of Dunglas, who accompanied the Scotish forces under the Earl of Douglas to France, and who lost his life with the Earl at the Battle of Verneuil, 17th August 1424. It is certain, at least, that Gilbert Hay received a liberal education, and he appears to have prosecuted his studies at the University of St Andrews, which was founded in the year 1411. This we ascertain from the "Acta Facult. Art. Univers. S. Andreæ," where the name "Gylbertus Hay," occurs among the _Determinants_, or Bachelors of Arts, in the year 1418. In the following year, "Gilbertus de Haya, Magister," is included in the higher degree among the _Licentiates_, or Masters of Arts. One of his fellow students was William Turnbull, who afterwards became successively Doctor of Laws, Archdean of St Andrews, Keeper of the Privy Seal, and Bishop of Glasgow; and who, about three years before his death, so honourably distinguished himself by founding the College of Glasgow, in the year 1452-3.

After taking his Master's degree at St Andrews, Gilbert Hay proceeded to France, but whether it may have been to complete his education, or that he was sent on any special mission, must be left to conjecture.[10] It might have been, that like so many of the younger sons in Scotish families of rank, at an early as well as in more recent times, he had gone abroad to push his fortunes; and thus, like Quentin Durward, when first addressing Louis XI., he might have said,--"I am ignorant whom I may have the honour to address, but I am indifferent who knows that I am a cadet of Scotland; and that I come to seek my fortune in France, or elsewhere, after the custom of my countrymen." It will be seen that he styles himself "Gilbert of the Haye, Knycht, Master in Arts, and Bachelor in Decreis,"--titles expressive of academical distinctions; and also "Chamberlain umquhile to the maist worthy King Charles of France." Dr Mackenzie, overlooking the obvious meaning of these words in the position of _umquhile_, instead of "late Chamberlain to the King," made him "Chamberlain to Charles VI., King of France." But that Monarch began his reign in 1380, and died in 1422, probably before Hay had set his foot in France. His son, Charles VII., ascended the throne in 1422, and survived till 1461. Sir Walter Scott, in "Quentin Durward," chapter v., has given a very graphic account of the Scotish Archer Guard, which was instituted by Charles VI., and consisted of a select number of the Scotish Nation, supplied from the superabundant population of their native country. It is no improbable conjecture, therefore, that Gilbert Hay may have been one of their number, and like the imaginary character in the work of fiction referred to, have thus been brought under the special notice of the French King, and in this manner obtained the patronage of Charles VII. Another event that may have contributed to his holding an official appointment in the Royal Household, was the alliance between Margaret, eldest daughter of James I. of Scotland, and the Dauphin of France. This took place in July 1436, when she was only twelve years of age; and she was attended by a number of persons of rank, some of whom remained in her service. Be this as it may, and without attempting to conjecture on what occasion Hay received the honour of Knighthood, we know, from a passage to be afterwards mentioned, that he resided in France during a period of twenty-four years; and he may have returned to his native country soon after the death of the youthful Princess. She died of a broken heart in August 1445, or sixteen years before her husband, whose character is so ably depicted by Scott, had succeeded to the throne under the title of Louis XI.

After Sir Gilbert Hay's return to Scotland, we find him residing at Roslin Castle with Sir William Saintclair, third Earl of Orkney, (a title which he resigned, in 1456, for the Earldom of Caithness)--a nobleman of great influence and wealth, who had accompanied the Princess Margaret to France in 1436. He was twice married, his first wife being Lady Margaret Douglas, daughter of Archibald fourth Earl of Douglas; and he lived in such a kingly state, that we are told, his Lady "had serving her 75 gentlewomen, whereof 53 were daughters to noblemen, all cloathed in velvets and silks, with their chains of gold, and other pertinents; together with 200 rideing gentlemen, who accompanied her in all her journeys. She had carried before her when she went to Edinburgh, if it was darke, 80 lighted torches. Her lodging was att the foot of the Blackfryer Wynde: so that, in a word, none matched her in all the country, save the Queen's Majesty."[11] We are further told of this "Prince," William Earl of Orkney, that--"In his house he was royally served in gold and silver vessels, in most princely manner; for the Lord Dirletone was his Master Household, the Lord Borthwick was his Cup-bearer, and the Lord Fleming his Carver, under whom, in time of their absence, was the Laird of Drumlanrig, surnamed Stewart, the Laird of Drumelzier, surnamed Tweedie, and the Laird of Calder, surnamed Sandilands. He had his halls and chambers richly hung with embroidered hangings," &c. In 1446, he founded the Collegiate Church of Roslin, that beautiful specimen of architecture, the ruins of which still excite so much admiration under the popular designation of Roslin Chapel. It was at the request of this nobleman that he undertook the translations which are contained in the present volume, and which bear the date of 1456. Sir Gilbert Hay, like some of the persons here named, was probably connected with this nobleman, as in the genealogy of that family, the fifth of the nine daughters of Henry second Earl of Orkney, is said to have married a Hay Earl of Errol.

There is still preserved a curious document entitled "The Inventar of the Goods of Alexander de Sutherland of Dumbethe," whose daughter Marjory was the Countess of Caithness and Orkney.[12] It includes his Testament, and bears to have been made at Roslin, the castle of his son-in-law, on the 15th November 1456, "in the presence of ane hie and mighti Lord William Earl of Caithnes and Orkney, Lord Saintclair, &c., SIR GILBERT THE HAYE, Sir Henry Atkinson, Mr Thomas Thurberndson (or Thornebrande), Public Notar, &c., with dyvers uthirs." At the end of his numerous legacies and bequests, there is added, "Item, I gif and leive my sylar [silver] colar to _Sir Gilbert the Haye_, and he to say for my soul ten Psalters."[13]

The long residence of Sir Gilbert Hay in France rendered him familiar not only with the language, but with the current literature of the country. This may have suggested to him, upon his return to Scotland, the propriety of employing himself in translating some of the more remarkable productions of French literature, for the benefit or amusement of his friends. A fortunate discovery of an old Manuscript volume at Taymouth Castle, and the liberality of the Noble Proprietor in communicating it, brought to light another and a more important undertaking which Sir Gilbert Hay had accomplished, by rendering the Metrical Romance of ALEXANDER THE GREAT into Scotish Verse, at the request of Thomas first Lord Erskine, (properly second Earl of Mar, of the name of Erskine,) who succeeded his father in 1453, and died in 1494. The Work extends to upwards of 20,000 lines; but the imperfect state of the Manuscript, which exhibits an evidently inaccurate copy of the translation, added to its great extent, may possibly keep it from ever being printed entire. But some obscure lines, introduced by one of the transcribers, at the close of the volume, contains the information already alluded to, of its having been translated at the request "of the Lord Erskine, by SIR GILBERT THE HAY," and of his having spent twenty-four years in the service of the King of France.[14]

How long Sir Gilbert Hay may have survived can only be conjectured. The Taymouth MS. is transcribed from another copy which had apparently been written in the year 1493; and the mode in which the Translator is alluded to, indicates that he had been dead for several years. This serves to corroborate the mention of his name among the deceased Scotish Poets who are celebrated by Dunbar in his "Lament for the Death of the Makaris."[15]

NORTON HALL, _January 1847_.

* * * * *

The Buke

of

The Order of Knyghthood,

Translated

by Gilbert of the Haye knycht.

[Decoration]

PROLOGUS.

At the honour and the reuerence of God Almichty his glore and louyng of his prouidence, the quhilk is souerane lord and syre de toutes choses, of all thingis in heuyn and in erde, we begyn here THE BUKE OF THE ORDRE OF KNYCHTHEDE: ffor to schaw, how be the semblaunce of the hye almychty prince of hevin, quhilk has dominacioun and seignoury apon the vij planetis of the hevyn,--the quhilkis seuin planetis makis all the courss of the hevyn, and gouernis the influences celestiales, and has powere apon the ordinancis of all erdely corporale thingis; and to schaw, that as kingis and princis has dominacioun and seignoury here apon all knychtis, sa suld knychtis haue dominacioun and seignourye subordinate of the princis and lordis behalue, be semblaunce of syk like figure, apon the small peple, to gouerne, reugle, and defend thame in all thair necessiteis: The quhilk Buke is deuidit in sere parties, as sall efterwart appere be the declaracioun of the chapitres efter folowand.

HERE FOLOWIS THE DECLARACIOUN OF THE RUBRIKIS EFTIR THE PARTIES OF THE BUKE.

The Fyrst chapitre is, How a bachelere Squyere of honoure passit till a grete semblee of Lordis, at a Kingis crounyng, in entencioun to tak the Ordere of Knychthede, and how he forvayit, and willit in a wilderness quhare thare was ane alde Knycht duelland in ane hermytage, that had tane him fra the warld, to lyue in contemplacioun of Almychty God, to mend his lyf, and mak gude end, etc.; And how the worthy anciene Knycht techit the Squyere the poyntis of honour and propereteis pertenand to the said Ordre, etc.

Quhat the secund chapitre contenis, sequitur.--

The Secound chapitre is, How the Bachelere quhilk suld ressaue that hye Ordre, how he suld first lere the pointis and the propereteis of the Ordre, before that he tak it, in the begynnyng.

Quhat the thrid chapitre contenis.--

The Thrid chapitre contenis, All the said properteis of the noble Ordre and office of Knychthede, as the Knycht deuisis.

Quhat the ferde chapitre contenis.--

The Ferde chapitre contenis, The forme of the examinacioun how the Bachelere Squyere suld be examynit, be the faderis of the Ordre, before or he ressauit the said Ordre.

Quhat the fyft chapitre contenis.--

The Fyft chapitre contenis, How the Bacheler Squyer suld ressaue the noble Ordre, and the forme and manere tharof, and of the process of the making of Knychtis be ordre.

Quhat the sext chapitre contenis.--

The Sext chapitre contenis, The poyntis of the takenyngis of the blasoun of the signis and seremons custumable to be maid in geving of the said Ordre, and all be ordre.

Quhat the sevynt chapitre contenis.--

The Sevynt chapitre contenis, The gude thewis, vertues, and custumes that pertenis to the Knychtis that honourably wald manetene the foresaid Ordre of Knychthede.

Quhat the auchtand chapitre contenis.--

The Auchtand chapitre contenis, How the said Ordre suld be haldyn at honour, and quhat honoure suld be done to thame that beris the said Ordre, and has optenyt it with honoure.

[Decoration]

HERE BEGYNNYS THE FIRST CHAPITRE OF THE BUKE.

The Autoure of this Buke rehersis, How it befell in a contree quhare a worthy, wyse, anciene Knycht, that lang tyme had bene in the exercisioun of honourable weris, the quhilk, be the noblesse and the force of his noble and hie curage, throu grete wisedome and hye gouernaunce, had auenturit his persone to pursue and manetene justis, tournaymentis, and weris, and throu his gude fortune and prowess, had optenyt grete honour and glore, and victorius loving: And efter all this, as course of nature gevis till all mankynde, and othir creaturis that in this erde lyf beris, he, considerand that this lyf mycht nocht langsumly endure, bot it behovit nedely tak ane end; for to make gude end, and conclusioun to godwart, and to lyve out of the sicht of tribulacioun and vexacioun of the warld, and to be at his deuocioun in contemplacioun of his Creatour: For he sawe that God had gevin him largely of his grace, sufficiandly of warldly honoure and glore; and that nature in him was sa faillid throu febilness, that he had nouthir force, na vertu, na powere to welde armes as he was wount; and had deuisit and departit his landis, gudis, and heritagis till his barnis, and ordanyt for all his thingis fynablye, and chesit to mak his habitacioun in a thik wod of a wilderness, in a faire haulch, inclosit within wateris, and grete treis bath of fruytis and of diuers naturis, and of herbes, sa that he was content to flee the sycht and the repaire of the warld: Sa that nane that had sene him sa worthily, honestly, and honourably, had euir hidertillis manetenyt sa worthy and hye Ordere in all worschip, but lak or dishonestee of his cors, suld se him in his failit elde, for fault of powere of naturall strenth, in syk febilness that he mycht nocht oure him self to gouerne his persone in syk worschip of honestee as he was wount, that filth of elde schamyt him nocht, quhill he had [gh]eldit to God and nature his naturale dewiteis: And als, that the vexacioun of the warld gert him nocht abstrak his inclinacioun of contemplacioun and deuocioun fra the contynuale remembraunce that he was determynit in his hert to have of the glorious passioun of Crist, the quhilk he traistit, suld be a targe betuix him and the inymy of mankynde, in the day of the dredefull jugement, to sauf him fra the terrible paynis of hell. And as he was walkand a day in ane herbare allane, in his deuocioun, in a thik busk of the wod, quhare there was a grete tree in the myddis, chargit full of fair fruytis in the sesoun, the quhilkis he gaderit and held to refresch him with be tymes: And in that herbare, vnder the saide fruyte tree, thare was a faire well of water of noble nature, quhilk in diuers stryndis past throu the herber till othir gardynnis and preaux, till watere thame in somere for more gudely growth; in the quhilk herbare the noble Knycht was custumyt to mak his dayly repaire; and thare in his contemplacioun, he maid his secrete orisoun, zeldand gracis and lovingis to Almychty God, the makare of the mekle honour and worschip that he had grantit him in this warld, euermare day of his lyf, to contynew in sik deuocioun and contemplacioun perpetualy.

And sa befell that in the samyn tyme, befell a grete stormy wyntere, in the quhilk a worthy King had sett and ordanyt a grete assemblee of Lordis and Knychtis and worthy men, for hie, grete, and honourable actis to be done, in the quhilkis mony [gh]ong bachelere squieris proposit thame to be maid knychtis of that worthy Kingis hand: And sa befell that ane of the lordis sonis of that contree, quhilk had sett his entent and purpose to tak the Ordre of Knychthede at the said assemblee; and as it hapnyt him to pas throu that contree quhare the noble anciene Knycht had maid his habitacioun; And forthy that the said Squier quhilk was ferre trauailit, for irknes of trauale and waking to cum to the semblee, he slepit apon his palfray, and wauerit fra his folk out of the hye way, sa that he become properly in the samyn forest and wilderness quhare the Knycht was induelland; and to the samyn fontayn, in the herbere thare, quhare the Knycht was at his contemplacioun, in the samyn tyme come [the palfray] thare to drink at the well. And als sone as that the Knycht sawe in syk a kynde, sik ane honourable man, he left his contemplacioun, and tuke out a Buke of his bosum and began to rede. And sone quhen the pallefray put doun his hede in the well for to drynk, the Squiere began to wakyn of his slepe, and wist nocht quhare he was becummyn, and than rais vp the worthy anciene Knycht, and comit till him to spere of his effere; the quhilk quhen the [gh]ong Squiere saw sa hare and alde, with a lang berde, and langar syde hyngand hare, quhite as the snawe, with a syde goun, alde and bare of wolle, and euill farand, with mony holis ryvin and rent, for grete age of wering, and for the grete waking and deuocioun and penitence that he had tane till him in that desert, and the greting that he maid for his trespass of [gh]outhede, he was worthin rycht lene, pale and wan, with hevy chere, and holl eyne, sa that be semblance his behalding was lyke to be as of a haly man and of godly lyf. Sa that grete maruaill had thai ilkane of othir, ffor sen the Knycht hed left the warld, to duell thare in that desert, he had nocht sene na man in all that tyme. And the [gh]ong Squyere had mare grete maruaill, how he was hapnyt thare, and of the grete maruailouss maner of the worthy man; quhilk be his feris and port semyt till have bene a man of grete valoure: And with that he lichtit doun of his pallefray, and salust the noble Knycht, quhilk [gh]eldit him agayne his reuerence and ressauit him graciously, and gert him sytt doun in the herbere, and reyne his horse, and rest him; and lang tyme beheld him in the visage, to se gif he wold aucht say. Bot the Squyere, quhylk maruailit mekle of the efferis of the Knycht, for the grete worthynes that him thocht apperit in his visage, and maneris, he deferrit till him to moue first speche, as to do him reuerence for honour and age. And thus the worthy Knycht spak first, sayand, Faire frende, quhat is the cause of [gh]oure cummyng here in this wildernes? And fra quhyn ar [gh]e cummyn, and quhare wald [gh]e be? And than ansuerd the [gh]ong Bachelere, sayand, Certes Sir, thare is a grete renoun gangand in ferre contreis of a grete assemblee, and rycht honourable, that suld be maid in this land be ane of the maist worthy Kingis that is in the warld: quhare grete multitude of honourable and worthy men suld assemble, for honourable actis to be done, and thare suld the said King mak mony new knychtis, be cause that he him self has entencioun to be maid knycht thare, in the samyn tyme; and thus for honour of the worthy Prince and of his new knychthede, I and otheris drawis togedir to se thai honourable actis, and, God willand, to be maid knycht of his hand thare. And be caus that I tuke grete journeis be the way cummand, my pallefray, throu his soft passing, gave me curage to slepe, as man fordouerit, and sa bade behynd my company, and wanderit sa in this wilderness, vnwittand quhare, quhill my hors, in this haulch, heldit to drynk. Than ar [gh]e, said the worthy Knycht rycht welcum here.

Bot quhen the noble worthy man herd him speke of the hye and noble Ordere of Knychthede, and of the propereteis that till it appertenis, he gave a sare sob, with a grete siche, that vness mycht he speke lang tyme eftir; rememberand of the grete honoure that he had bene in, manetenand the saide Ordre of sa lang tyme. And quhen the Squyere saw him fall in syk a thocht, be manere of ane extasy, he sperit at him, Quhat movit him to muse sa mekle on his wordis? And than the worthy anciene Knycht ansuerd him, sayand, That his thocht was on the hye and worthy Ordre of Knychthede that he had spoken of, and on the grete charge that a knycht vndergais quhen he vndertakis that noble and worschipfull Ordre of Knychthede. And than said the said Squiere, That gif he coud oucht teche him of the poyntis that mycht pertene to the said Ordere, for the honour and reuerence of God, that he wald teche him. And with that the said Knycht blenkit vp, sayand, O faire sone, how art thou sa bald to sett thee to tak that forenamyt Ordere bot first thou knew the poyntis belangand the gouernaunce and manetenaunce of it, and the maner how it suld be kepit, gouernyt, and manetenyt in honoure and worschip, as efferis, eftir the ordinaunce of God: ffor thare suld nane be sa hardy to tak that hye honourable Ordre bot he war first worthy be the sicht of a prince thare till. And syne that coud the poyntis and the articlis that to the said Ordre appertenis, and to knaw bath the meritis and the prowess of the Ordre; and rycht sa the defaultis that a knycht may mak till his Ordre; nathare suld na knycht mak ane othir bot first he himself coud thai poyntis, techingis, and documentis, to teche thame to the vassall or bachelere, that he thocht to mak a knycht of: ffor he is misordanyt and vnworthy knycht that makis knychtis nocht knawand the propereteis of the said Ordre, to teche to thame that he gevis the Ordre till the custumys and documentis that till it appertenis. And then said the Sqyuare, Faire fader, sen it is sa that as I traist [gh]e knaw the propereteis and custumes of the said Ordre, that [gh]e wald, of [gh]our gudelynes, teche me and informe of the documentis and propereteis belangand to the said Ordre of Knichthede; ffor I haue gude hope in God, that for the traist that I haue thairto, I sulde lere besily and wele all the perfectioun of the said Ordre.

And than ansuerd the Knycht, sayand, Faire sone, sen it is sa that thou has sa gude will to lere the reuglis and the documentis belangand the said Ordre, I sall len thé a lytill Buke quharein all the reuglis and the ordynaunce of all the poyntis and documentis that pertenis to the said Ordre ar writin; in the quhilk Buke, I rede wele oft, and takis consolatioun, of the mekle honoure, worschippis, and worthynes that to the said Ordre appertenis, and of the grete grace that God hes gevin me in this erde to be sa happy till haue gouernyt sa, but lak, the said Ordre, that all my grace and gude auenture throw it I hadand rycht sa I honourit it, and did all my powere to manetene it, and kepe it in worschip, but repruf; for rycht as Knycht, be his Ordre, takis bath of God and man honoure, worschip, and warldly prouffit, rycht sa he is behaldyn till gouerne, kepe, and manetene his Ordre in all honoure, worschip, and reuerence vndefoulit. And than delyuerit the Knycht the Buke to the Bachelere; in the quhilk quhen he had red a lytill space, he hevit vp his handis to the hevyn, and lovit Almychti God that had gevin him the grace to cum that way, in the tyme that he was sa wele fortunyt to haue knaulage of the poyntis, techingis, and properteis of the said Ordre, and reuglis that till it appertenit, the quhilk I have lang tyme mekle desyrit to knawe. And than said the Knycht, Faire sone, thou sall tak this Buke with thé to the Court, for sen I am bath alde and wayke, and may nocht trauaill to schaw the reuglis, and documentis, and propereteis of the said Ordre to thame that desyris thame, that ar with the King, thou sall geve the copy of this said Buke till all men that desyris it; and thou sall hecht me, quhen thou art doubbit Knycht, thou sall cum this way agayne this, and tell me quhat Knychtis salbe maid thare, and all the manere of thair making, and how the King and the new Knychtis takis in thank this Buke of the reuglis and documentis of the said Ordre; and quha askis the copy of it.

And thus tuke the Bachelere his leve at the Knycht, and the Knycht his benedictioun, and sa lap on his horse, and passit on, quhill he met with his men[gh]é; and sa to the Kingis palace; and did his devoyr in gouernement of his persone rycht worthily, and gave the copy till all maner of noble man that wald desyre till have it: the quhilk Buke the King lovit mekle, and prisit, and all the lordis, and held it rycht dere.

[Decoration]

SECUNDUM CAPITULUM.

HERE FOLOWIS THE SECUND CHAPITRE, THAT SPEKIS OF THE POYNTIS OF THE ORDRE THAT A BACHELERE SQUIERE SULD LERE, OR HE TAK THE FORENAMYT ORDRE.

In the tyme that cheritee, leautee, justice, and veritee was failit in the warld, than began crueltee, vnlautee, injure and falsetee: and than was errour and distrublaunce in the warld; in the quhilk warld God had maid man to duelle to trowe in him, serue him, honoure him, loue him, and dout him: Bot first quhen despising of justice come in the warld, and than was syk mysreugle and misgouernaunce in the warld amang the peple for fault of justice, that for to gere the reugle of gude gouernaunce cum agayn with force and drede of awe, the peple gert chess a Man amang a thousand, the quhilk was maist wise, maist stark and sturdy, and best of gouernaunce, maist godlyke, and full of grete leautee, and of maist nobless, maist curageus, and best techit in vertues; and ay of ilke thowsand of the peple thare was syk a man chosyn to be chiftane of the laue, and to gouerne thame, and be thaire ledare: And syne thai inquerit and soucht quhat beste was maist worthy, maist stark and sturdy, and maist swift rynnand, and maist hable to mannis service, and behove, and thareto was chosyn the Horse; for the maist worthy and convenable and best rynnand, and maist hable for mannis service; and that hors was ordanyt to that chose Man to ryde upon; and eftir the Hors the Knycht, ane of his namys, that in Franche is callit Cheualier, that is to say, Hors man, and be the tothir significacioun, that is callit Miles; that cummys of this foresaid caus, that he was in thai tymes a man chosyn be the prince and the peple of ilke thousand men, the worthiest to be thair Chiftane and Gouernoure in were, and thaire Protectour in tyme of pes. And thus quhen he was in thai tymes chosyn amang a thousand, ane of maist vertu, and worthiest to be a gouernour of the laue; and syne the maist worthy and noble beste of the warld chosin to bere him, that he suld nocht ga on fut: syne eftir ordaynyt thai that the maist noble and worthy armoure suld be deuisit and maid to thai Knychtis to kepe thair persouns in hele fra strakis of thair inymyeis, and fra the dede; and thare was he enarmyt and sett upon the hors and maid Chiftane and Gouernour of a thowsand persouns vnder him; and thus was Knychthede first ordanyt and maid. And thar fore all Knychtis suld think apon thair worthy and noble begynnyng, and the propereteis and causis thar of; and sett him sa that he haue als noble a curage in him self as suld effere to the Noble Ordre, that he ressauis in virtueis, and in gude thewis, and worthynes of condiciouns, sa that his worthy condiciouns and vertewis accorde to the begynnyng that is sa noble; ffor and he do the contrair, he is inymy till his Ordre, and syk men suld nocht be ressauit to the Ordre that ar inymyes tharetill. Na suld nane be maid Knychtis that had contrarius condiciouns to that worthy and noble Ordre: he suld haue lufe and drede in him till God, and till his Prince, agains haterent and despising; and rycht as he suld lufe and drede God, and his Lord and Prince, sa suld he ger him self be dred and lufit of his folk, bathe be nobless of curage, and gude thewis, and gude custumes, thinkand apon the hye honoure and worschip that is gevin till him, that is sa hye and sa noble ane office, and of sik worschip, that the condiciouns, and the nobless of the Ordre, suld be accordand togeder: Sa that throu the grete honour of his electioun, first, that be the prince and the people, is chosin amang a thousand for the maist worthy, and syne the maist noble and worthy armouris put on him, and syne the maist noble and worthy beste that was in the world gevin and ordanyt him to ryde on, and otheris to gang on sut besyde him; than aucht he wele to lufe and drede God, and his Prince that sendis him that hye honour and worschip; and syne he aw wele to mak syk cause throu nobless of curage and gude custumes, that he be lufit and dred of the peple; sa that be lufe he conquest charitee, and be drede he conquest lautee and justice: And thus all Knycht suld haue in him thir foure thingis, that is to say, charitee and gude thewis, lautee and justice, and suld excede otheris in nobless of vertues as he does in nobless of honouris. And alssua, in samekle as man is mare worthy, mare curageus, and vertuous, and mare wit and vnderstanding has na womman, and of mair stark nature, in samekle is he better na womman, or ellis nature war contrary till it self; that bountee and beautee of curage suld folowe bountee, and beautee, and nobless of cors; and thus sen a man is mare hable till haue mare noble curage, and to be better na womman, in samekle is he mare enclynit to be tempit to vice na is the womman, ffor he is mare hardy vndertakare, bathe in gude and euill, opynly; and in samekle has he mare meryt till abstene him fra vicis na has the womman, that is of wayke nature: and tharfore ilke man suld be war that wald enter in the foresaid Ordre; and wit wele first quhat he dois, ffor he takis thare a grete honoure, maryte with a grete seruitute; that is to say, a grete thrillage that he mon ressaue with the Ordre, to be thrall to the condiciouns, propereteis, and custumes that appertenis to the said Ordre, and to the frendis of the said Ordre: ffor quhy, that in samekle that a man has mare noble creacioun and begynning, and mare has of honour, in samekle is he mare thrall, and bounde to be gude and agreable to God, and till him that dois him that honoure. And gif he be of wikkit and euill lyf of tyranny and crimynous lyfing, he is contrarius and inymy of the Ordre, and rebellour to the commandementis of honour. For the Ordre of Knychthede, be the caus that it is maid and ordanyt for, is sa noble of it self, that the Princis war nocht anerly content, and the peple to ches the maist noble man of ligny, and to geue him the maist noble armouris, and syne sett him on the maist noble and curageus beste for mannis vse. Bot sen thai ordanyt him to be a lorde: Bot quhat vnderstandis thou redare be a lorde? A man is nocht a lord supposs he haue neuer sa mekle of warldly gudis: bot he is a lord that has seignoury and jurisdictioun vpon other men, to gouerne thame, and hald law and justice apon thame quhen thai trespass. In the quhilk lordschip thare is sa mekle nobless, and in seruitude thare is sa mekle subjectioun, bondage, and thrillage, that grete difference is betuene, and than suld thare be alsmekle difference in the personis, as thare is difference betuix the twa estatis: For and a man tak the Ordere of Knychthede, and he be villaine of his condiciouns, and wykkit of lyf, he dois grete injure to all his subjectes that he has vnder him in gouernaunce, that ar gude folk and symple, and mekle seruis punycioun for cruell and wickit lyf that tyrane lordis ar of, to the peple, makis tham mare worthy to be bondis bound, na to be lordis of the peple of God, off the quhilkis thai mon [gh]elde a strayte compt a day, quhilk efferis to the Prince to punys, be the counsale of thame that gude and worthy Knychtis ar, ffor vnworthy war, that thai war callit Knychtis, and here the name and the honoure of that hye Ordre that wyrkis in the contrair, destroyand and vndoand the peple of God, that thai ar chosin be electioun, and oblist to defend, and for that caus has thair lordschippis to gouerne the peple of God: ffor nocht anerly the chesing and electioun to the Ordre, na the noble hors, na armouris, na gouernaunce, na lordschip, thame thocht nocht anerly, was sufficiand to the worthynes of that noble and worschipfull Ordre till hald it at honour; bot thai ordanyt him a Squier, and a varlet Page to be euer contynualy at his bidding and seruice in all placis thare he war, to tak kepe till him,--the Squiar to gang with him at his bidding, the Page to kepe his Hors. And ordanyt the peple to labour the ground, to graith lyfing for the Knychtis and Nobles that war thair gouernouris and protectouris, and to thair hors and seruandis; the quhilkis was excusit to nocht laboure, bot to rest thame euer betuix dedis of armes and actis honourable, at hunting and hauking, and othir disportis, and to gouerne and kepe passibles the labouraris, and sauf thame fra fors and wrang, sa that clerkis mycht pesably study in sciencis, men of kirk vake in Goddis seruice, merchandis in thair marchandice, and othir craftis wirkand at lordis deuiss. And thus quhen clerkis studyis in sciencis, how men suld be techit to knawe, lufe, and serue God, and doubt, and to geue gude ensample of doctrine to the lawit peple to rycht sa do, for the honour and reuerence of Almychtie God in deuocioun and gude lyf. Rycht sa apon the tothir part, quhen Knychtis ar maid be Princis, thai suld sett thame with gude virtues and gude ensamplis and nobless of curage, and othir wayis gif nede war be force of armes to manetene, gouerne and defend the small peple in all justice and equitee, in lufe and drede both of God and of the Prince as is before recomptit, be the quhilkis thai suld throu lufe haue contynuale charitee amang tham, and be the drede thai suld stand awe to do oucht ilkane till othir wrang, or wikkitness; and here atour as the clerkis techis thair scoleris to the sculis of sciencis of clergy, sa suld a gude Knycht teche his barnis the nobless of the poyntis and propereteis of chyualrie; and that suld be done in thair [gh]outhede: And first and formast a Knycht suld lere his sone to be doctryned in vertues, and syne suld he be doctrinyt and techit to ryding in his [gh]outhede, or ellis he sall neuer be gude rydare; and ay as he cummys till elde, that he lere to gouerne hors and armouris; and that he be seruand to sum lord, and vse him in armes lang or he tak the Ordre, ffor vnworthy war he suld be a lord or a maister that knew neuer quhat it is to be a seruand, ffor he may neuer wele tak na knawe the suetenes that it is to be the lord, bot gif he had sum knaulage of the sourness that it is, and payne to a gude hert, to be ane vnderlout or a seruand. And tharfore war he neuer sa grete a lordis sone appertenand to be lord, he war the better that in [gh]outhede sum lord that he seruit to kerue before him, to serue in chaumer, till arme a lord, till ouresee his hors, that thai war wele gouernyt and grathit, to haunt armouris, to ryn a spere, to excercise wapnis, and othir habiliteis of honour quhilk appertenis to nobless, and namely, thai suld be techit and doctrinyt be a Knycht thay [gh]ong lordis sonis that thocht to be knychtis, ffor rycht as it war nocht semand till a [gh]ong man that wald lere to be a man of craft, suld lere at ane othir that war nocht of the craft, sa is it vnsemand that lordis sonis that wald be in the maist noble Ordre of Knychthede suld sett thame to lere the documents and propereteis of the Ordre of Knychthede, bot at thame that war expert in the knaulage of virtues and gude thewis honourable that to the said Ordre apperteins; the quhilkis ar vnknawable till ignoraunt and vnworthy personis; ffor the grete nobless of the said Ordre may nocht ferd at keping of hors na justis na tournaymentis, na [gh]it to haunt na duell with lordis, na knychtis in company, to pas in weris na in bataillis. Bot it war rycht expedient that thare war deuisit, and ordanyt be the Prince, scolis of doctrinyng and teching of the noble poyntis and properteis that efferis to that hye and worthy Ordre till [gh]ong lordis barnis that war lykly to cum to perfectioun. And that the knawlage thar of ware writtin in bukis be wys men of knaulage, that knewe and had experience tharof, sa that ignorant [gh]ong lordis barnis mycht first lere the science be study and speculacioun, and syne efter thai mycht, quhen thai come eldar, lere the practik of the Ordre, be conuersacioun, as to pas to diuers justis and tournaymentis, to diuers realmes, in diuers voyagis and battaillis, sa mycht thai haue the pratyk with the science; ffor vile thing is, to bere office or ordre, and nocht to knawe the gouernaunce tharof throu wilfull ignorance; ffor war nocht the sculis of clergy, mony errouris and ignorauncis war in the warld mare na thare is. Bot sen thare is na sculis of cheualrye, quhat maruaill is thouch thare be mony Knychtis vnwytty; ffor war all Knychtis and clerkis but errour, than wald thai be till all the laue of the warld a gude myroure, and than suld ilkane drede to do wrangis and injuris till othir: And sen thir tua thingis gouernis and manetenis all this warld--the tane the Spiritualitee, the tother the Temporalitee; and thare is sa mony sculis in sere contreis of sciencis of clergy, and nocht ane that men wate of the nobil Ordre of Cheualrye, than ar the gouernouris and manetenouris of the said Ordre, to blame in thair awin proffit and honour, quhare sa grete nede is, to be sa negligent.

Quharfor the Autour of this Buke prayis and requeris, and mekely makis supplicacioun to the Magestee Ryall, and till all the company of the Nobless and Chyualrye of the Realme, that thai assemble thame togidder, and mak reformacioun of this grete fault that is maid to the Noble Ordre, and the grete wrang that is done till it, in the fault of doctrine and teching of the poyntis and propereteis of Noblesse, etc.

[Decoration]

TERTIUM CAPITULUM.

HOW SEN THE DOCTOURE HAS DECLARIT IN SUM PART THE POYNTIS OF THE ORDRE WITH THE PROPERETEIS AND CONDICIOUNS,--NOW LYKIS IT HIM TO SPEKE OF THE OFFICE THAT FOLLOWIS THE SAID ORDRE:--

That is to say, to quhat purpos it was ordanyt--to quhat fyne--and quhat entencioun: And how gif Knychtis vss nocht thair office, thai ar contrarius to thair Ordre, and to the begynning of thair awin making: ffor the quhilk caus he is nocht veray Knycht in dede, supposs he bere the name; ffor sik Knychtis ar mare villayns na is outhir smyth, wrycht, or masoun, that dois thair craft, as thai ar techit, and tharefor to schaw the poyntis of the Ordre is grete meryt to thame that wate it nocht: the quhilkis he declaris here efterwart; and first and formast, Knychthede was ordanyit to manetene and defend Haly Kirk, and the Faith, for the quhilk God, the Fader of Hevyn, send his Sone in this warld, to tak in him oure humanitee, fleschly inumbrit, and incarnate in the glorious Virgyne Mary, his suete moder, be the joyfull message brocht till hir be the angel Gabriel; and fyne for our sakis, and to synde vs of the origynale syn, and to geve vs eternale lyf, tuke dede and passioun here, with grete dispising vilaynous, to geue vs ensample and informacioun how we suld reule oure lyfing here: Quhilk ordanyt all writtis for oure teching and doctrine; and all his werkis and dedis here, he did for oure ensample and enformyng, to multiply his faith. And thus, rycht as he has chosin to growe and manetene his fayth, the worthi and wys clerkis to hald scolis, and ilkane to teche othir be the haly wryttis of prophecies and of lawis aganis the inymyes of the Faith: Rycht sa the hye glorious God chesit Knychtis to be his campiouns, sa that the unworthy mystrowaris and rebellouris agaynis his faith mycht be throu thame chastisit, be force of armes to vencuss and ourecum his inymyes, the quhilkis every day forss thame at thair powar to put doun the fayth of Haly Kirk, and thir Knychtis that thus occupyis thame in the defense of his rychtis ar callit his Knychtis of Honour in this warld, and in the tothir, that defendis the Haly Kirk and the Cristyn Faith, quhilk is oure saule hele and salvacioun. And tharefore Knychtis that has faith and baptesme in him, and usis nocht the vertues and properteis of the faith, ar contrarius till otheris that kepis the faith, evyn as a man that God hes gevin till resoun, and discrecioun, and he dois evyn the contrary. Thus he that has faith, and kepis it nocht, is contrarius till himself, for he wald be sauf, and gais nocht the hye gate till his salvacioun: ffor quhy, his will discordis with his witt, and ledis it the way of mystreuth, that is agayne his salvacioun, and ledis him to the way of eternale dampnacioun; and syk men takis the office and ordre, mare to be prisit and honourit in this warld, na for any prouffit that thai think to do to God, na to thair Prince that gave thame the office. Bot the maist noble officeris and ordres in this erd ar office and ordre of Clerkis and of Knychtis, and the best lufe in this erde is ay betuix thame; and tharfore rycht as Clergy was nocht ordanyt to be agayn the Ordre of Knychthede, bot to honoure it, and thame that worthily beris it, sa suld Knychtis nocht be aganis the haly ordre and office of Clergy, to manetene worschip and defend it, aganis the rebellouris and euill willaris of the Kirk, that are callit Sonis of Iniquitee, as thai ar oblist in taking of the said Ordre of Knychthede: ffor a man is nocht anerly oblist to lufe his ordre, bot he is oblist with that to lufe thame that be othir ordres vnder his awin lord; for to lufe his ordre, and nocht to lufe the caus that his ordre is ordanyt for; ffor syk lufe is nocht ordere lyke, ffor God has ordanyt nane ordre vnder him to be contrair till ane othir; and as to that thare is ordres of religious that few of thame lufis ane othir, and [gh]it lufis well thair awin ordre; bot that is nocht the rycht ordre of lufe and charitee, that suld be in religious: And rycht sa a Knycht suld nocht samekle lufe his awin ordre, that he myslufe othere ordres, ffor that war aganis God, and gude faith; ffor the Ordre of Knychthede is sa hye, that quhen a King makis a knycht, he sulde mak him lord and governour of grete landis and contreis, efter his worthines, and all Knychtis suld think that there is a Lord and syre aboue all knychtis, ffor the honour of quham thai ar all made Knychtis for to do his will, and serue him fyrst, and syne thair temporale lordis.

Item, the Emperour aw to be Knycht, in significance that he is Lord and syre of all Knychtis in temporalities: And becaus that the Emperour may nocht mak na gouerne all Knychtis, thare was ordanyt Kingis, to be subordinate persons, next efter Emperouris, to gouerne realmes and contreis the quhilkis suld alssua be knychtis, sa that thai may mak knychtis, ffor na man may mak knychtis bot he be Knycht before, sauffand the Pape: alssua all kingis suld have vnder thame Dukkis and Princis, Erllis and Vicountes, and Vauvassouris and Barouns; and vnder the Barouns Knychtis of a schelde, the quhilkis suld gouerne thame be the ordynance of the Barouns that ar in the hyare degree of Knychthede, before namyt: And that gerris he [him] multiply knychtis in takenyng that na King, bot he may na can gouerne all the generalitee of Knychtis in erd, ffor thare is nouthir Emperoure, na King, that can, na may in his regne gouerne all his subditis but help of his Knychtis: bot the King of Glore can wele allane but othir power, na of his awin vertu and majestie, can and may gouerne and reugle all this erde, and all the hevin, at his awin plesaunce, the quhilk is ane anerly God allane in Trinitee and Vnitee; and tharfor wald he nocht that ony Knycht allane mycht mak a knycht that suld gouerne all the knychtis of this warld bot he allane; and tharfore ordanyt he in this warld mony of Knychtis to be, that his Magestee may the better be knawin, and that Kingis and Princis suld mak officeris vnder thame of Knychtis. And forthy dois a King or a Prince grete wrang to the Ordre of Knychthede quhen he makis othir sereffis, baillies, or prouostis of othir lawlyar men na knychtis; ffor than ar Kingis and Princis caus of the abusioun of the Ordre of Knychthede, quhilk was ordanyt for sik caus: ffor that Ordre was ordanyt to be substitute till Princis and Kingis, apon the gouernement of the peple, as maist worthy and maist honourable for sik gouernaunce of small peple; and aboue thame Dukis, Erllis, and Barouns; and aboue thai Kingis and Princis; and aboue Princis and Kingis allenerlye Emperouris and Papis. And thus suld the warld be gouvernyt be commoun reugle of gouernance, sauffand Kingis that ar priuilegit or prescribit in thaire power imperiale: and thus Knychthede is the hyest temporale Ordre that is in the warld; but nocht the hiest office: ffor Kingis and Emperouris is nocht Ordre, bot it is office; be the quhilk office thai precell aboue all othir officis of temporalitee, as Dukis, Countes, Marquis, Vauvasour, Baroun, and Knychtis; and supposs, of all officis of honourabilitee, the Knychtis office be the lawast office of dignitee vnder Imperiale or Ryale magestee, neuertheles the Ordre is hyest and maist honourable; ffor quhy, that all Emperouris and Kingis aw to bere that Ordre, or ellis thair dignitee is nocht perfyte, ffor ellis may thai mak na Knychtis. And be honourabilitee of the Ordre of Knychthede grete honour is ordanyt be the lawis to do to Knychtis, and be nobless of honour that is put till him, he suld haue nobless of vertues, and worthyness in his curage; be the quhilk nobless of curage he suld be less inclynit till all wikkitness, and all vicis of barat, and trechery, and othir villain condiciouns, na ony othir persone.