God himself ordanyt Knychthede, and honourit it, and honouris it, and alssua all the peple honouris Knychthede; and as is recountit be the Lawis, Knychthede is honourit abufe all Ordre that euer was next Presthede, as maist honourable ordre and office that is or wes, and aboue all statis, sauffand the Haly Ordre and Office that sacrifyis the body of God, the haly Sacrament of the Altare, with the otheris Sacramentis of the Haly Kirk. And the said Ordre of Knychthede is rycht necessair to the gouernaunce of the warld, as is before said, in syndry placis; and tharefore, before all temporale ordre, Knychthede suld be honourit be mony resouns, with all maner of peple; ffor and Emperouris Kingis and Princis had nocht annext to thame the Ordre of Knychthede, with the vertues and propereteis, and nobiliteis, langand to the said Ordre, thaj war nocht worthy to be Emperouris, Kingis, na Princis: ffor suppose the Office be gretare, the Ordre is y-lyke ane in Kingis and in Knychtis, as Presthede is y-lyke of degree, bathe in Pape, Cardynale, and Patriarche, alsmekle is it in a symple preste: and sa is it in Kingis and Princis knychthede, in regarde of symple Knychtis, suppose the Office be mare grete; tharefore aucht thai till honoure the Office and Ordre of Knychthede, bathe Emperouris, Kingis, Princis, and Barouns; ffor quhan thai do nocht honoure to the said Ordre, thai do dishonour to thameself; ffor the Knychtis gerris the grete Lordis, Princis, and Barouns be honourit aboue the small peple, and than suld thai again do honour to the said Ordre, and honour thame abufe the peple.