The Armes of this
Ymage
Capitulo xxxii
`Now shalle I sey the of
the armes of this ymage, which must ben of syluer.
The armes of a man ben the moost helpely membres,
and moost redy alwey to defend the hede. And oftymes
these armes wyl bleden, somtymea on the right
side, and somtyme on the lyft
side, to esen and comforten the hede and al the
other membres, so that al the body may be the more
hoole & clene of al corrupcion.
`That one of this armes ben dukes, erles, and
barons, and other worthy lordes of the reame whiche
that ben neruous, that is to
seyn, well frett with senewes of strong and myghty
frendes, and al ful of veynes of clene blode, that
is theyr worthy lignage. They ben wel ioynted, and
myghtely boned with orped men
of armes, so that they be strong at the fulle.
`That other arme ben they that be pryue with lordes,
and beren pryncipall offices vpon men of armes, as
chyuetayns and marchals, and suche other, after the
vsage of the countre, whiche I can nought nempne,
that haue gouernaunce of sowdyours
and of men of armes, abouen whiche hath the
gouernaunce he that is conestable, whiche that oweth
to ben a bolde man and hardy, a sad
man and a substancial, of grete constance and
prowesse, of manful herte and of noble courage,
wherfore he hath his name cogun
estable82, knowen for a sad man and a stable
persone. For gretely it nedeth that he be be strong
and myghty, to whome alle the hoost muste leue and haue theyr triste, where that euer they be,
wherfor is he nought handeles,
for he hath full power to helpen and comforten all
as ofte as it nedeth.
`Of these two armes I seye nought whiche holdeth the
ryght side, but wel I wote that bothe oweth to be
ryght and neyther the lift, as it is figured in Iudicum
of Gedeon83, that bothe handes vsed for the right
hande. For why eueryche of
these handes shalle putte
them self in prees for to helpe and defende the
hede and the body as ofte as it nedeth, ne neither
of them shalle be the lift hand to mayntenaunce of
wrong.
