Here begynneth the booke whiche is called the body of polycye And it speketh of vertues and of good maners, and the sayd boke is deuyded in thre partyes. The fyrst party is adressed to prynces. The seconde to knyghtes and nobles: and the thyrde to the vnyuersal people. The fyrst chapytre speketh of the dyscrypcyon of the body of polycye.

¶ yet ensamples of the same.

YEt to the purpose that good amonysshynge is mo¦che worthe in the feate of batayle / I maye drawe out that is wryten of thre worshypfull knyghtes of the whiche one of theym was of ••acyde••one / whiche is a parte of ••rece / that by his wordes & his dedes shewed his worshypful courage / it happened▪ on a ty me y^• he was w^t a grete to wte of mē of armes of his owne coū∣tre y^• wente to a warre & he with them / & for bycause y^• he was halte & somewhat same / his felawes rebuked hym & sayd that they had meruayle what he wolde do at the batayle. Then he answered thē agayne full courteysely sayenge y^• he wente thy∣der for to smyte / and not for to fle / and y^• the strengthe of his ar mes was so bounden with the constaunce of his courage / by y^• whiche he hooped the batayle sholde be the more strengthed by his persone / or elles he wolde dye in the payne / and hooped too haue as grete vyctorye as ony that was there. ¶ And also he sayd that it sholde be a grete shamè vnto them that presumed

so moche vpon themselfe & had all theyr lymmes hole & soūde that suche one as he sholde here a way the worshyp before them that were myghty & sounde in theyr persones▪ And this good knyght sayd thus for bycause y^• they sholde put them in theyr deuoyre by the meanes of that stryfe to fyght the better whan they came to the batayle / And so it happened that they dyde / for y^• stryfe ranne so ferre amonge themselfe / that they put theym in the Iugement of theyr cheuetayne / that who so euer dyd best in the batayle sholde haue a certayne thynge of worshyp gyuē hym / that men myght knowe by that his notable ••nd manly dedes. And for bycause of this debate euery man put hymselfe gretely in his deuoyre for enuye that the one had to the other / by the whiche they gate the vyctorye of a grete and a straunge batayle▪ ¶ Another Romayne knyght that was a cheuetayne of men of armes whiche had sente the Romaynes with a com∣pany of knyghtes to y^• socoure of one of theyr prynces whiche helde the warre in the londe of Perce▪ So it happened that he inette with an hoost of theyr owne people that retourned home agayne saynge vnto hym y^• the men of Perce shotte arowes so thycke that it toke a waye the lyght of the sonne▪ This good ca pytayne whan he sawe y^• the people was thus aferde / answe∣red them with a manly chere / sayenge y^• they had brought hȳ good tydynges for then he sayd they sholde fyght moche y^• bet •••••• / for bycause of the shadowe / ••nd by his hardy & manly wor ••es & the good amony••yons y^• he shewed them caused them to retourne agayne w^t hym & faught rygorously & wan y^• felde w^t grete worshyp. ¶ The. iii. knyght was of ••rece •• & was sente forth to y^• socours of a Cyte w^t a felawshyp of men of armes / & whē he was come in to y^• fortresse / y^• cytez••••s whiche durst not yssue out of theyr walles for fere of theyr enemyes they she〈…〉〈…〉 hym the grete hyghte of theyr walles / & the grete depen••sse of theyr dyches / ••hiche they reioyced theym gretely in. ••hen he

answered them in this wyse / yf so be that ye haue made them for women it is good▪ But & ye haue made them for men ••it is a grete shame & a lewde thynge / y^• ye tryst more to be enclosed within your walles / & your dyches / than in the myght & strē•• the of your owne persones▪ And thus by his good amonyssh∣ynges / and wyse reasons gaue them suche comforte that they were bolde for to assayle theyr enmyes whiche before tyme they durste in no wyse do. And by the good amonyeyon of this wor thy knyght they dyscomfyted theyr enemyes & caused them to breke the syege.