And first and formast, a Knycht bot he be of gude Faith, all is for nocht that he dois; ffor he may neuer haue othir vertewe na gude custumes; ffor but faith all is bot syn that euer man dois: ffor be faith men has all gude knawlage and vnderstanding of God and his haly Sanctis; and but faith man is wer na nocht; ffor be oure faith we haue sight spirituale of hevin and hell, and all Goddis workis, visibilis and invisibilis. And be Faith men has Esperaunce, Cheritee, and Leautee, and ar servitouris to Veritee, and fault of Faith myssaris all thir thingis. Knychtis be gude ancien custumes was wont to ga in the Haly Land, to defend and manetene the Cristyn Faith, fechtand agains the inymyes of the Croce, and was marterit: but full few now dois that. Alsua, be vertu of fayth and gude custumes, Knychtis defendis the Clerkis and Kirkmen fra wikkit tyrane men, the quhilk aganis the faith, and for default of faith schapis thame to derob and ourethraw bathe clerkis and kirkmen, for thair tyranny and wikkitnes. Item, Esperaunce is a noble vertu, be the quhilk Knychtis traistis to haue the victory in battail and in feicht. Clerkis be Esperaunce traistis to haue the joy of hevyn, and be thair teching gerris vs trow rycht sa: but the quhilk Esperaunce, that is Gude Hope, we war all forlorne. Thairfore Esperaunce sittis well as in a Knycht, ffor be esperaunce he has mare traist in God, na in his horse, harnais, and menze; throu esperaunce the curage of knychtis is reinforssit, and the curage of cowartis ouresett. Gude Hope gerris the knycht oursett grete trauailis, and hard fortunes, in hope of better ay. Alssua Esperaunce gevis knychtis curage to kepe and defend citeis, castellis, and wallit townis on small evyn, and thole bathe hungir, thrist and waking, and mony grete strakis, oft tyme. And war nocht Esperaunce of gude hope Knychtis had neuer honour, ffor it is the principale instrument that gouernis Knychthede in honoure. Item, Knycht but Cheritee may neuer be but crueltee and euill will, quhilkis concordis neuer with the honour of Knychthede; and thus mon Cheritee be chief in a Knycht; ffor throu Cheritee man lufis his God atoure all thing, and, as himself his nychtbour: but the quhilk poynt is na man may be perfyte Cristyn man. Item, A Knycht suld haue in him grete pitee of all pure folk maleesy persones, and of pure prysonaris quhen he has the maistry of thame, and till haue mercy of thame for resonable finaunce; and throu cheritee men has pitee, but the quhilk charitee na Knycht mycht sustene the grete charge of Knychthede; ffor as horse but fete may nocht bere grete chargis, sa may nocht Knychthede, but cheritee: the quhilk cheritee makis hevy birding lycht to bere, and grete charge soft, bathe for the vphald of honour of Knychthede, and meryt of the saule behufe.