Of barons, and wherof thay Serwyth in the roialme. Capitulum Liijm.
[folio 61b]tHe barons anecheth and multiplyeth the roialme; By ham Is the contre I-wyrshupped, the Empyre I-ordeynet in his degrees. And therfor thou sholdyste Put ham in certayn̄ dignytees and Powere. Ful wel thou mayste ham ordeyne in forwe yf thou wylt, for foure differences bene chose that is to witte; afoor, behynde, on the ryght syde, and one the lyfte syde. And foure parties bene in the worlde; eeste, weste, north, and South. And therfore thou mayste ordeyne that in euery fourthe Partie of thy realme bene oone gouernoure. And yf thou seyste that they bene manyer; do thou that they bene ten, fore tene is a perfite nombyr, and hit contenyth [couetyth MS.] in hym-Sylfe foure nombres, that is to witte, one and two, and thre and foure; the whyche yf they bene assemblet, makyth tene. Therfor me sholde ordeyne that euery gouernoure had tene Vicaries in his hoste, and euery vicarie ten lederis in his whele, and euery ledere ten doiens, and euery doiens ten men: al thes assembled makid̛ an hundrid thowsand fyghten men. And whan thou haste mestere to the Service of ten thousand men, thou cal a gouernoure, and hym shal Serve ten vicaries, [folio 63bL] and̛ wyth euery vicarie shall cvm ten leders, and wyth euery ledere shal cvm ten doiens, and wyth euery doiens ten men, and that shal make the nombyr of ten thousande fyghtyn men. And so thou mayste vndyrstonde of manyer, othyr fewere. By this ordynaunce and this accompte, thou maiste be y-lyghted of costagis, and thou shalt haue thy Purpos, and thou shalte lyght the trauaillis of thy baronage; and take hede that al thy captaynes bene chose men. Ful necessary hit is to barons that thay haue wyse notaries and discrete, trewe and welle Prowid in chiualrie, that can discrewe tho whyche ben worthy armes to