F. ¶Of a kynges messagers.
MYghty emperour ye messagers alway she∣weth the wysoome of hym y• sendeth thē. They ben ye eyes ye eeres / & the mouthe of theyr lord It behoueth for thy messagers or ābassadours to chuse suche as bē moost suffycyēt / of clere vnderstādyng / wyse / honourable / & trusty / which loueth thy honour / & hateth thy dysho¦nour. (For in thy court yu mayst finde thē bothe). And yf yu fynde suche discouer & shewe thy courage to thē. And yf yu fynde none suche or better / fynde one y• wyll trustely bere thy lettres / & brynge the an answere of them. And yf yu fynde y• thy messager be coueytous to do his owne prouffyte & to gete gyftes / truste not in hym / but ētyerly forsake hym. And also make no mā thy messager y• wyll be drōke / for by suche one it shall be sayd & knowē y• ye lorde is not wyse. And ferthermo¦re make not thy messager of thy gretest offycer / & lete hym not be ferre from the / for it may well be the vn∣doyng of the & y• realme. And yf yu sende messagers by whome ony treason come to the / I tel the not y• mea¦sure of payne y• they ought to suffre but do therin as