As thus a Man has tane to bere in his Armes a low of gules in a champ of siluer, ane othir of that ilke toune has tane the samyn efter that he has it wynteris and [gh]eris. Than speris the questioun, Quhethir the first may gaynstand this armes and plen[gh]e to the Prince, and ger this be reformyt and forborne. And first he sais, Nay; ffor quhy ony man may tak lefully, as before said is, ane othir mannis name, and call his barne in the samyn toun, ffor it befallis oft tymes that syndry men ar callit be a name in the samyn toun; and may do it but lak. And quhy then may thai nocht alswele tak twa ane armes, or thre, or alsmony as lykis. Bot the countre party sais agayne, That it is a commoun vse and custume in mannis lawe, and approuit be othir lawis, that quha sa euer may first tak wilde foule, or fysch, or wylde beste in the wilderness, it is his be the lawe. And than, sen this noble man has first tane sik a beste, or sik a foule, or sik a fisch, to bere in his schelde and on his cote of armes, and on his banere, pannoun of armes, or in blasone apon his heraulde or perseuandis brest, or othir wayis to paynt in hall or chaumer at his lyking; Quhy suld ony othir tak it efterwart to bere that war in toune or in the samyn contree, quhare it war borne? And als it war mare thair scathe na thir prouffit, ffor it wald quhilom mere men that had grete dedis ado, quhen thai wend to cum to thair awin maister in werefare, thai mycht fail[gh]e, and othir wayis in syndry wyse mycht erre in thair dedis that mycht hynder bathe the partis that nedit nocht, na is na poynt of gude gouernaunce, na gude policy in dedis of armes: And as langand this questioun the Doctour makis sic a conclusioun, That gif a gentill man or lord had tane ane armes at his plesance, and borne it lang tyme opynly kend in dede of armes, and in weris, or othir wayis in tyme of pes, that it war kyd and knawin till him and his lignage; Thare aw nane othir in that contree to tak the samyn to bere, na the Prince na the lord of that contree, suld nocht lat tham bere it on na wise, ffor than war the principale cause of Armes-taking all forletyn; ffor the principale cause of Armes-taking is for to knawe the personagis of noble men in bataill, or in armes, or in tournamentis, or to knawe a lord in felde be ane othir, with his men, and his frendis and wele willaris suld draw till him and knawe him be his takin, and sa suld the diuersitee of armes mak the knaulage of the diuersitee of personnagis; and gif it be hapnyt ony lorde or othir man to be slayn in felde, and sa manglit that his visage mycht nocht be knawin, be his cote of armes he suld be knawin and brocht to Cristin beriss: And alssua, that be the defference of armes euer furth quhill the warld lestis, men suld knaw be the takynnyng of thair armes, thair sepulturis quhare thai ar beryit; and quha was in thai tymes maist honourable and worthy men, as oft tyme men seis apon thair sepulturis