A right exelent and pleasaunt dialogue, betwene Mercury and an English souldier contayning his supplication to Mars: bevvtified with sundry worthy histories, rare inuentions, and politike deuises. wrytten by B. Rich: gen. 1574. Rich, Barnabe, 1540?-1617. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A10718 of text S106077 in the English Short Title Catalog (STC 20998). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 239 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 100 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2018 A10718 STC 20998 ESTC S106077 99841802 99841802 6409 2240858371

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A10718) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 6409) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1332:08) A right exelent and pleasaunt dialogue, betwene Mercury and an English souldier contayning his supplication to Mars: bevvtified with sundry worthy histories, rare inuentions, and politike deuises. wrytten by B. Rich: gen. 1574. Rich, Barnabe, 1540?-1617. [192] p. J. Day] These bookes are to be sold [by H. Disle] at the corner shop, at the South west doore of Paules church, [London : [1574] Printer's and bookseller's names and publication date from STC. Identified as STC 20998a on UMI microfilm. Signatures: A⁴ A-L M⁴. Some print show-through, and some pages marked and stained; M4, final leaf, slightly torn. Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library. eng Soldiers -- Fiction -- Early works to 1800. eebo A right exelent and pleasaunt dialogue, betwene Mercury and an English souldier: contayning his supplication to Mars: bevvtified with sundry worthy hi Rich, Barnabe, 1574 199 41759 69 0 0 0 0 0 16.52 C The rate of 16.52 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2006-03 Assigned for keying and markup 2006-10 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2008-01 Sampled and proofread 2008-01 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

A RIGHT EXELENT and pleasaunt Dialogue , betwene MERCVRY AND AN ENGLISH Souldier : Contayning his Supplication TO MARS : BEWTIFIED with sundry worthy Histories , rare inuentions , and politike deuises . Wrytten by B. Rich. Gen. 1574.

printer's or publisher's device

THESE BOOKES ARE TO BE sold at the corner Shop , at the South west doore of Paules Church .

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE and my very good L. Ambrose , Earle of Warwike , Baron Lisle , of the most excelent order of the Garter knight , Generall of the Queenes Maiesties Ordinance , with in her highnes Realms and Dominions , Bernabe Rych , wisheth long lyfe , increase of honor , with all happy successe .

WHEN I HAD FINISHed this little treatise , ( right honorable ) I called to mynde , the order of Wryters , who vsually are accustomid to dedicate their labors to some noble personage , to whome they doe beare some zelous afection , or any other dewtiful good wil , which example I determined to follow , purposing to present this same to your honor , but when I called to my remembraunce my own ignorance in the knowledge of wryting , & the slender fence of that I had wrytten , it vtterly discouraged me , so that I was at a controuersie in my selfe , what I might do : in the ende , presuming more of your Honorable & curtious inclynation , then on my owne skil . I haue auentured to present your Honor with this little booke , which I haue entituled ▪ A Dialogue betwene Mercury and an English Souldier , contayning his Supplication to Mars ▪ wherin I haue descrybed ▪ certayne noble facts & other high exploytes , achiued by great & mighty Princes , and other valiaunt Captaines , also not forgetting to manifest the great abuse that is generally vsed , in the setting forth of Souldiers , in the tyme of seruice which I my selfe haue seene and marked , and although I do know my selfe to be the simplest of a great number , & the worst able to performe this that I haue taken in hand , yet I haue presumed to consecrate the same & the rest of my beneuolent mynde to your Honour , for to whome may the facts & exploytes of noble personages be rather offred , then to him whose valiaunt acts hath made him famous in his Country , but in specially to the straunger , who hath felt the force and puissaunce thereof , to whom may the orders , ●ests and courses of martyall affayres , be more aptly remembred ▪ then to him who can throughly deeme of such labours , and hath passed so many brunts in the same . Most humbly desiring your Honor to accept this same , as the base and barren style of a simple Souldiers deuice , rather then the lerned lynes proceding from such as hath bene trayned vp in Scoles , beseching God , long to preserue your Honour , with wished increase , and to prolong your dayes , with most happy delight .

Your Honours most humble , at commandment Barnabe Rych . VAL. MAX. The happy and quiet estate of blessed peace , doth onely consist in the bosome and custody of knowledge in warres .
To the gentle and frendly READER .

ALthough , gentle Reader , I haue done as the Iay , who decked her selfe with the fethers of other Byrds , to the ende , she might seeme to be the more glorious , yet I doubte not but if euery Byrd should pluck his fether from this my deuise , it would not be left altogither destitute , nor so vtterly naked , but ther would yet remayne something worthy to be perused , althogh I do know my abylitie to be such , as it is to far insufficient to satisfie thy learned delights , the which hath somewhat abashed mee to become a wryter , yet I doubt not , but wher my pen through ignorance hath in any place erred , if there thou wouldest vouchsafe , but to supply my wante of skil with my zelous pretence , and my well wylling mynd , it would serue for a mends , sufficient to counterpaise a greater faught , then I trust I haue commytted : my good will you see , and I doubt not but when thou hast perused the matter throughly , thou wilt perceiue my good pretence , & beare with my lacke of knowledge . As for those carping correcters & curious scanners , such as wil soner finde three faughts , then they be able to amende one , I may compare them to those , that in the day of battaill , dare not come to the fight themselues , but wil conuey themselues to a hyll , or some sure place to behold other mens doings , iudging who fighteth best , but it is an olde prouerbe , he that passeth through a Towne , and wyll throw a stone at euery cur that barketh , shal haue in the ende , but a wery arme , I esteme not therfore of them , nor of their iudgements , but onely submit my selfe to the friendly reportes of the wyse and learned , and of euery other well disposed Reader , nothing doubting , as I haue sayde , but such wyll beare with my inabylitie , and except of my good wyll , which is all that I craue , and thus farewell .

In commendation of the Author . NOT boldest blouds alone , wher guide is gone , Doth shew the brauest brag vppon their foe , Vnlesse that Art and rule , doth lead them on , As by a fine forecast , the charge must goe . For head withouten heed , still chops vppon il chance : & conduct is the ka●e , that doth the charge aduance● Reade Rich , a booke enricht with goodly store , Wher nought that worthy war can wish doth want , Eche stratagem so stately set , thou needst no more , Rich hath enricht his woork as naught is skant . Let Langius lye ▪ and Machauel go make his mone : Mars and Bellona bids thee reade but Rich alone . G. Argal.
John Bettes Gent. in the commendation of the Author . If Lawyers by the law to hye estate do clyme , Or Marchaunts by their marting oft , great gain do get in time , Or if the silly soule which still the plough doth ply : By toyle doth reape to serue his turne , in quiet ease to lye . Or if the brutish Beast for payne doth pleasure fynde , In resting of his weary lims , at tymes to him assignde : If all these reape reward according to their kinde , How much more oght he than to haue of thee a willing mind Who fyrst to taske did take this noble worke so rare , By painfull practise to vnfold to thee as to thy share : The whole effest of war , and wheron it proceedes , Wherin thy se●f may easly gesse how Auerice sows his seeds In pyling vp of pelf vaine glory to maintaine , Without regard of Mars his law or of his worthy trayne : And farther mayst thou finde abuses many wayes , In those which do professe the Art , & count them selues as stayes Who rather seeks in tyme of war to gayn , then they Their Countreis right wold once d●fend without some hope of pay Good Reader note this well , more then I can expresse How fain he wold in couert wise , these mischiefs s●ne redres But aye the time his skill , to weake to worke his will , His wold the ●ainest man on li●e , but could doth graunt him nill Well since he hath dischargde the dutie of a friend , Yeld thou a gentle eare to heare , his labour to the end : And seeke not curiously his worke for to disprayse But seme to mend that is amisse , in rude and rustick phrase Loe , this is al he craues , in guerden of his payne : Thy frendly fartheraunce & report , he seeks no other gain .
THE AVTHOR TO HIS BOOKE . WHy shouldest thou make such hast abroad to be , a meane wherby to purchace me defame : Yet mightest thou still abyde and stay with me , and I therby remayne deuoyd of blame : But if I once permit thee scope to trudge , I know not I , what euery man will iudge . The booke to the Author . What doubtes be these that thus doth dul thy braine or what conceiptes doth yet thy mynd pursue : I know no cause thou shouldst me thus restraine , but geue me scope to such as list to vow : Then they no doubt , will thank thee for thy payne , as I suppose thou seekest no greater gayne . The Author . I craue no more in deed , but the good will of such , as shall thy simple sence behold : But this I doubt my rude and slender skil , may geue them cause to iudge me ouer bold : So I in steed of thanks may purchace blame , so vayne a ●oy to set forth in my name . The Booke . And who so redy euer fault to fynde , as witlesse head , that least of all doth know : For none so bold they say , as bayerd blynd , nor none more riefe their doultish domes to show : Wher wyse men yet will deeme thy doings right , what carst thou then for Zoylus cankerd spight . The Author . Well yet my booke , I geue thee this in charge , the maners marke of such as thee peruse : If thou perceiuest their tonges do run at large , in fynding fault the Author to accuse , Tell thou them then , I ment not to offend , what they mislike , desire them they wold mend And thus farewell .
❧ A Pleasaunt . Dialogue

IN Maye , when all Creatures commonlye reioyce , being prycked foorth by my owne desire to leaue the house , and walke the pleasaunt Pastures , which was to my great contentacion , by reason of the swéete and delectable Verdeur which Tellus , Imphes doth yelde in that blessed season : thus as I●romed vp and downe , I fortuned to find a fayre Meade , which was gorgeouslye aryed all in gréeue , bedecked with Flowers of diuerse and sundrye collours , on the farther sidewherof , I might beholde a gallant Gro●e , out of the which there came such Heauenlye Hermony , as at the first it caused mée to thinke Orphei againe had béene returned frequenting his accustomed order , but as I drewe nearer , I knewe it to bée the tunes of sundrye Birdes , which as it séemed reioysed them selues in that pleasaunt plot , with their swéete and delectable laye : Thus as I was come vp vnder the side of the Woodde , I found a faire Trée , whose spreding bowes shadowed the place , where I layd me down of purpose to heare more of those pleasant notes : but as Cyllemus mery pipe , brought Ergus to a nodding nappe , so I think those Hermonical soundes yelded mée the lyke : For I was no soner layde , but Morpheus immediatly assayled mée with a straunge & troublesome dreame , for to my thinking I heard the sodaine sound of Trumpettes , Droms , & Phifes , & musing with my selfe , what it might meane , I might sée diuerse bands both of Horsemen & footemen being armed , which in very comely order , with auncientes braue displayd , came marching toward mée , and when they were come to the place where I aboad , putting themselues in troupe one by the assent of all the rest , vttred these wordes folowing : Although of this our sodaine repaire vnto thée , thou haddest no intelligence , yet som part of the cause wée are assured thou knowest verye well , which should make me to bée so much the shorter in that which I haue to say : them know this , we haue by our general assents apointed thée as our trusty friend , wylling thée with al speede to prepare thée in maner of a messenger to the mighty court of Mars : where in our behalfe thou shalt make presentacion into how many extremities wée the vnfortunate Souldiours of England are euen now lately falne into : otherwyse then hath béene séene or heard on , and with a contrary alteracion of time past so cleane chaunged , as there is difference betwéene white and blacke , hath not the name of a souldior here before béen had in such reuerence and accounted of such value , as they haue béene honoured of euery estate , is not the profession of so worthy seruice now becom so odious , & the name so reprochful , as they be disdained , and that of each degrée : who hath béen heretofore more carefully prouided for , more worthily maintaind , or more iustly preferred : who is now so slenderlye estemed of , so lightly accounted of , & so litle cared for , where they haue béen loued , they be now despised , where before al other they haue béen had in estimation , they be now as abiects to al other , had in no reputacion , but what should I stande to vse longer circumstance . To finde a present redresse in these causes we haue as I tolde thée before , appointed thée our messenger to make these matters knowne to mighty Mars him self , who is our onely refuge , our whole hope of comfort and chiefest helpe at néede , not doubting but by these meanes to finde such happy redresse as wée shall haue iust cause to extoll our mighty Mars , as also to yeld the continuall thankes for thy diligence vsed at our requestes .

Thus when I had heard the sum of their pretence , I aunswered as followeth : If I were as sufficient to discharge my selfe of that credite , whiche you would committe vnto mée , as I fele my selfe wylling and readye to the vttermost of my power to pleasure the simplyest of this noble company , as the hope that you haue in mée should not bée frustrate , so I shoulde not bée dryuen to séeke excuses , as nowe I am forced , requesting your pardons herein : Fyrst , because I knowe there bée many whose experience wyll much better serue to satisfye your requestes , than I knowe my owne to bée of , and there bée some that I knowe would accuse mée of ignoraunce or presumption , if it were knowne that I should attempt in any such matter , but in especiallye when I consider my owne insufficiencye , it vtterlye discourageth mée : But I rather thinke your Message shoulde bée executed by some famous Oratour , or some excellent Rethorisian which shoulde not bée vnfurnished with pleasaunt tearmes , or such a one as could tell a learned tale as occasion dyd serue , and not by such as I knowe my selfe to bée , who is able to saye no more than what you haue already taught mée : Wherefore I trust you wyl except these as reasonable & lawful excuses , and not as any surmised shifts , whereby to auoyde that seruice whiche I knowe my selfe to bée vnworthy of .

When I had made this answere after a lytle conference had amongst them selues , thy replied in this manner .

As wée thinke thée sufficient ynough to performe any thing that wée haue yet desired , so wée are not come hyther estéeming thée best able of any other to satisfye our request : but wée presuming to haue found thée as wylling to haue vsed thy dilligence , at our desires , as wée were ready to desire thée , gaue vs the more occasion to presse thus much vpon thée , and where thou sayest there bée some that woulde accuse thée of ignoraunce or presumption , if thou shouldest yelde to our requestes , wée assure thée there be as many others that might Iustly accuse thée of folly yf for the reprochfull tauntes of Momishe mates , thou shouldest omit any thing that tendeth vppon good or commendable occasion , but what nicite hath nowe ouertaken thée , that thou wouldest perswade vs to sende some Oratoure or such lyke , and that we must nowe vse such eloquence to preferre our causes : thou must consider we woulde neither send the to Pallas nor yet to Apollo , nor yet to any other captious wight that will haue greater regarde to the termes , then he hath to the tale , for who is so scrupilouse that will looke for eloquence to come from souldiers or to thinke that they muste paynt out their matters with any curiouse philed phrace , vnlesse it be some curiouse philed foole , which knoweth not what appertayneth to a souldier , but to driue thée oute of these doubtes wée haue framed a supplication to Mars , wher in wee haue included the whole sircumstaunce of oure pretence the which in oure behalfes thou shalt present , receyuing thy answere without vsing many words : thus minding to vse no farther perswations of incouragement if this that we haue sayd be not sufficient we leaue the rest to thy owne discretion .

Yes surely sayd I , it is ynough and youre wordes hath so throughly perswaded me that euen now I remayne at youre pleasures redy prest to aunswere the sum of your pretence , as far as my abilitie will any wayes serue me , yet crauing the pardons of such as be beter experimented considering it rather procéedeth from a desier to do wel , then of any presumtuose minde . Then they deliuering me the supplication which they had framed , one of them sayde as foloweth .

Well then we minde no lenger to deteine the but woulde rather wishe the to make as great spéede as conueniently thou mayest : we haue no more to saye but we desier the sacred Gods to farther thy pretence and thus till oure next méeting we leaue thée .

Then putting them selues agayne in order , too my farewell , certayne voll of shot discharged in hope of my good spéede .

Thus they marched awaye againe in such gallant sort , that who had séen them might well haue déemed ( though their estimacions were impaired , ) yet their noble and valliant harts was no whitte diminished : But sodainly as they were vanished from my syght , I began to bethinke mée of my vndertake , attempt , which when I had well considered , I cursed my owne follye that would so rashlye condiscende to take in hande , I knewe not what : for neyther wyst I where Marses Court shoulde bée , neyther knew I by what deuise I might get thyther , the remembraunce whereof brought mée almost to a kinde of desperaration , how I might prosecute , or by what meanes I might performe my promise : but when I had called to minde the goodnesse of the Gods , who commonly bée assistaunt to all distressed wightes : I began somwhat to comfort my selfe in hope , likewyse to finde some fauour vsyng this peticion as followeth , If the humble supplications of wretched wights , may any thing preuayle before you , the celestiall Gods vouchsafe most humblye than I beséeche you , that my pytyfull plaintes might so moue you to helpe mée in this distresse , that through your mighty powers , and prouidence deuine : I might yet in the ende bring my attempt to some happy effect .

But as I continued in this contemplacion I might beholde one standing by mée clothed all in white , holding in his hande a rodde , which séemed all of massye Golde , by which signe I dyd knowe it to bée Mercury , who in this wyse sayde vnto mée .

The Gods hath listened to thy prayers , and in some part yelded to thy request : aryse therefore and with spéede prepare thy selfe to followe mée , with that me thought on both my shoulders there were sodainly growne a payre of winges of maruailous bignesse , and as I perceiued my guyde softly to soare awaye , I assayde with my selfe howe I coulde followe , whiche mée thought I could doe euen at pleasure , and as well as though I had beene practised in flying many a daye before , and after wée had thus flyed a whyle togeather , I looked about , and I might vnderneath mée beholde Cityes , Townes , Castelles , Wooddes , diuerse Hylles , and Valleys , wherein I tooke great pleasure and delight and muche reioysed with my selfe to sée these newe and vnaquainted thinges but with in shorte space we were so mounted that I had cleane loste the sight : of altogether which was belowe and then I might perceiue a merueilouse , huge and sumtiouse Castell , standing on a plesaunt plotte directly ouer againste vs , toward the which my guide began to bend his course and I following hym till we were come in manner to it , where vpon a very fayre gréene we stayde oure selues , Marcial exercises . and as I stoode gasing aboute I might perceiue greate rowts of people that ishewed out and in at the gates and almoste on euery parte of this castel they were vsing many exersises some were running at the tilte , others at the turny others were pushing with the pike , som were throwing of the dartes , some were exercising the Caliuer in manner of skirmishe , and many were on horsebacke , the one hauing the other in chace ,

These sightes made mée greatly to muse , but my guide I thinke of purpose to cut mée from my farther imagination , sayde : Loe , The discription of Mars his Court. here quod he the Court of Mars , where thou mayst beholde those blessed wightes , who spent theyr passed dayes in defence of theyr Countrey and right , onely to attaine prayse and noble fame , and not for filthye lucours sake , or hope of any Golde gaine : Where nowe their iust desertes is quitte with like delight , what though their bodies intombed bée in clay thou séest their spirite doe here remaine in euerlasting blisse , for here no yeres may make them olde , no bare-head skul , no wrinkled browe may here be found , no visage here may ought anoy them , nor yet Morpheus once assayle them , no Borias blastes may hurt them with cold , nor the fiery flames of Aetna hyll oppresse them with heate , no Cerberus is Porter in this place , nor the grieslye grones of Promotheus at no time here are hard , they neuer sée the gréedy gripe to tyer on Ticius heart , to bée short they neuer féele of any woe : but styll continue their daies in most happy and blessed estate , euerye one vsing his owne delights , euen as it hath pleased the Gods to appoint . Why then sayd I thou Godes sonne sith it hath pleased thée to reueale these matters vnto mée , vouchsafe lykewise ( I beséech thée ) to satisfye mée in this that I sée vpon the Towers and Tur●ets , which as they bée innumerable , so they are beset with an infinite number of Auncients : In the which as I do gesse , the Armes of diuerse Countreys be displaid : But on the one part of the Castle , I maye beholde diuerse Auncientes , bearing the Armes of Englande , they bée lykewise invironed with a great number of others , al bearing Saint Georges Crosse , yet in them the Armes of noble men and Gentlemen , & amongst them many which my selfe dyd partlye knowe , nowe it séemeth vnto mée , those Auncientes should pertayne to such as were valliaunt Princes , couragious Captaines , and expert Souldiours , and that their Armes and coullors bée there displayed , in signe of their immortal fame , and that as well of the inferiour Gentleman , as of the most mightye Prince .

Thou hast rightly deamed sayd the God , and lyke as thou séest their Armes and coullours aduaunced in the toppes of the Towers , so their noble actes and valliant Conquestes bée liuelye described on euery wall within that Princelye Pallace , to their perpetuall remembrance : But now with spéede prepare thy selfe to finyshe thy pretence ? beholde the place where thou mayst performe the rest of thy desyres , go thy wayes therefore , and at thy returne thou shalt not fayle to finde mée here aspecting thy good hope .

I wyst not then howe to requite the curtesey of the God , nor yet what reuerence I might vse at my departure , in the ende with a homelye manner of geuing thankes , I tooke my leaue directing my course towardes this glorious Court , and as I softlye passed gasing here and there , I might perceyue a great company of Gentlemen all brauely mounted on horseback , who for their disports were running at the King : amongst whome there were some that I my selfe had very wel known and perfectlye againe had called to my remembraunce as I sawe them ryde : The first of them was Captaine Dercy , brother to the right honourable Lord Dercy , whose souldiour I sometime was at New Hauen , where the Gods aspecting his vertuous disposition bereft vs of this noble Gentleman , although to our griefe and sorrowe yet to his continuall comfort and consolation , where hée now hath resydence amongst the most renowned wightes .

There were in his company Captaine Sanders , and the valliaunt yong Souch , whome I lykewise had knowne at Newhauen , with many others .

But when I was come neare to the gates of this Princely pallas , it made mée much to muse to sée the strangenesse of the sight , for beside that it was huge , and of a maruailous Cirquet , so the order of fortification was so excéeding aboue the common forme of any humane skyll , as I wyll not presume to take vpon me to discipher .

The description of the wales . The walles were all of brasse , impalde with massy Gold : in euery port and lope were Canons coucht that glistered like the Sunne . The Porter that kept the gate loked with a most stearne and griesly countenance : his name they say was Courage , by whome I passed into a base Court , the bewty whereof was suche as it shewed it selfe to bée a place to farre vnfitte for any mortal wight . There were about the walles in most liuely maner discribed many worthy Cumbats , & diuerse valiant conquests atchiued by sundry marciall wightes , as Giants , serpents , Dragons , Lions , Buls , Boores , & many other horrible monsters , subdued by Hercules , Theseus , Iason , Persey , and others .

From thence I passed into an vpper court which was of such excellency , as it easelye might be déemed to bée a place celestiall . There was lykewise described many famous Histories : first I saw the seege of Thebes , where Amphion sanke down into hel , & of many a knight which lost their liues before the auncient towne of Troy , & how by treason , the brasen horse was set on flaming fire . then might I sée the ouerthrow which Hanibal gaue to the Romaines in Cannas field , where Consull Emmelius laye bathing al in blood , & of many a notable policy put in practise betwéen the said Hanibal , & Scipio , & how before Carthage they were in armes to try who should haue the Empire of the world : then saw I Xerxes , whose army though for the multitude they dranke riuers dry , yet was cleane subdued , & quite ouerthrown , & how by the valiance , & prouesse of the noble Milciades , iij. C. thousand men were put to flight : yet saw I Darius with all his huge hoast , subdued by Alexander the great , I might likewise behold diuers noble conquestes which were atchieued by sondrye English Princes & other valiant captains & souldiers of England , to long here to be reherst , but al next to the entry into the Hall , there was curiously described the victorious actes of the most renowned Prince , King Henrye the eyght , howe he discomfited the whole power of France at the time of the séege of Turwin , when as he retayned the Emperour Maximilian with all his retinue : who came to the campe wearing , a red Crosse as one of the Kinges souldiers and after howe the towne was taken and left all rased : then sawe I Turnay surrendred to the King , and of many a noble exploit done before the strong and forcable towne of Bullein and howe it was likewise taken by this noble Prince .

These with a nomber of other histories were there so liuelye displayed all in Imagery of pure goulde so curiously inamiled as they rather seemed to be euen nowe a doing then the monumentes of thinges , that were done and paste . And as I was determined to haue gone into the hall , I hearde a greate noyse of trumpets , sownding in manner as they vse to doe at triumphes : and as I looked towarde the gate , I might behoulde a goodly personage that was entering , who for hys Iesture countenaunce , and euery other grace , séemed to bée euen the God of battaile him selfe , hée brought with him foure Champions , all armed , sauing on their heades they had eueryone a Garland in signe of victorye , and as I earnestly stoode and beheld them , I called thrée of them perfectly to my remembrance , for that I sometime had knowne them : The one was Captain Vahan , sometime Controuler of Newhauen , the other Captaine Cromwel , and the thirde Captaine Rondall : the fourth I dyd not knowe , which caused mée to go to one that stoode by , of whome I curteouslye desired to knowe who this fourth shoulde bée , who in this wyse sayde vnto mée .

Why , what art thou quod he , or how long hast thou béene here a Courtier , that doest not yet know the noble Captaine Audley , whose prouesse and valiaunce , as it hath made him famous to euery inferiour person , so hée is lykewise honoured of each renowned wight .

Why then quod I , vouchsafe lykewise I praye thée , to shewe mée the meaning of the rest from whence doe they come , or what is the cause that thus bée brought in manner of victors , or as though they had atchieued some haughty attempt .

By thy wordes quod hée , it séemeth thou art yet vnaquaynted with the manners of this house , otherwise these matters would not séeme such nouelles vnto thée , when it is generallye vsed by as many as doth frequent this place for their owne disportes , to put in practise sundrye experimentes , and diuerse Marciall exercises , where hée that best deserueth shall receyue suche honour as is dewe to his desertes , as nowe these foure Gentlemen which at this present hath shewed them selues at all assayes , more worthy then the rest , and bée now brought in by Warlyke Pollicye , who is hye Stewarde of this house in this triumphant manner , by whome they shall receyue that honour which to them of right by custome doeth pertaine : when hée had thus satisfied my demaund , and that I dyd know him to bée Warlike Pollicy , which before I suspected to bée Mars .

I requested his aduise what meanes I might vse to come to the presence of the God of battaile , shewing him that I had a sute to prefer , and that I was in déede a straunger and wanted friendly aduise .

Well quod hée , if that bée thy want , the best aduise that I can geue is this , that if thy cause require any haste , it were good thou madest spéede to the place where thou mightest haue quicke dispatch , Mars 〈…〉 nowe in Venus court . which is not here , for Mars is now in Venus court whither thou wert best to repaire , the sooner to know an ende of thy desire .

When I vnderstoode this I was so at my wittes ende , as almost I knewe not what to doe , but when I had geuen him thankes for his courtesey , I had thought to haue gone againe to my guide , who had promised to tarrye for me to request farther aduise , but first I went into the hall , where there was such a thundring noyse of trumpettes , Droms , and Phifes , as was maruailous to heare .

In the middest of this Hall there stoode a Wagon , the which was called the Chariot of deadlye debate , there was painted about it many tragicall discourses , and sundry Ciuyll dissencions : I might sée the great controuersy betwéene Iulius Caeser & Pompey , which coulde not bée appeased with the lyues of thrée hundred thousand men , lykewyse betwéene the houses of Conde and Guise , and also betwéene the houses of Lancaster and Yorke , with many other which here I omitte .

There was sitting in this Chariot , thrée personages most terrible to beholde : the first was Warre , who sate all armed holding in the one hand asword , & in the other consuming fire : hée was accompanied with Famine on the one side , a most horrible creature , whose yrksome lookes were able to daunt the greatest courage of the most haughty minded wight : on the other syde sate Murther , ●he frutes ●f warre . whose handes and raiment were al imbrued and begoared with blood .

This Charriot was euer drawne by foure ylfauoured and vnséemely monsters whose names were Mallice , Strife , Contencion , and Discorde , the Wagoner was most pestelent slaue , called Enuye , who with a Goade dyd styll pricke them forewarde : But as I passed vp a litle farther , I might beholde that most vglye and detestable creature Ruine , whose dreadefull sight dyd muche afraye my mased minde : This monster Ruine is euermore a follower and a hanger on of Warre , Ruine 〈◊〉 folower 〈◊〉 warre . for into what place so euer Warre maketh entrye or hath any abiding , Ruine presently followeth , and there lykewise wyll make his residence .

Thys yrksome sight dyd so much abhorre mée , and so throughly discourage mée , that where before I had a kinde of Martiall desyre to serue as a Souldiour , as occasion dyd permitte , I nowe protested to my selfe not onely to leaue the exercise of so vyle a profession , but also to deseuer my selfe from the fellowship of any suche as were followers of so filthy and hatefull a seruice , minding no farther to folow my sute , whiche before so carefullye I sought to accomplishe , but got my selfe foorth to my guide of purpose to desyre him to bring mée to the place , where at the first hée dyd finde mée , and so to leaue mée .

But because it so chaunsed , we fell into a discourse of many matters : I haue put it in order of a Dialogue , for that it might bée the better vnderstoode .

FINIS .
❧ The Speakers . Mercury . the Eng. Souldier .

BY thy sodayne returne , it séemeth thou hast had quicke dispatche , but howe thou hast sped I praye thée let mée knowe that thou art come againe in so short a space .

Soul.

As my returne séemeth to thy Godhead to bée quicke and spéedye , so the horrible sight which I haue séene sithens my departure , séemeth to me as fearefull , and displeasaunt , and for that I vnderstand that Mars is nowe in Venus Court , I can bée well contented euen there to leaue them , and thus to ceasse my sute , considering the fruictes of their seruice which dyd first procure mée to take the matter in hande .

Mer.

Why how chaunseth it , that thou art so sodainely altred , I perceiue thou art falne into some dislyking , but what is the the cause I can not yet perceyue , nor from whence these sodaine fyttes shoulde procéede .

Soul.

Euen of this when I nowe haue plainely séene what fruites by warre are gayned , both by him and his accomplices . First the Chariote of deadelye ▪ debate , drawne by mallice , strife , contencion and discorde , driuen by enuie , fraught with sword , fire , famine and murther , making open scope and waye for ruine , is Pluto himselfe asocyated with a more lothsome companye ? no sure the Furies of Hell are not to bée compared to these monsters aboue all other most to be detested .

Mer.

But what is this to the Souldiour , thou hast yet shewed no reason why he should bée despised .

Soul.

Euen as Warre with his companions are carefully to bée eschewed , and that of all Estates , so the Souldier , who is as it were a minister of these mischiefes , is lykewise to bée abhorred , and that of euery honest minde . Warr● greeuou● plague 〈◊〉 swyftly 〈◊〉 be shun●

Me.

War in déede amongst mortal men is gréeuous , swiftly to bée shunned , but it is many tymes vsed as the scourge of the Gods to punishe the Malefactions of the impius , and therefore not to bée auoyded , example of Troy and Troyeans brought to destruction onelye for the filthye facte of Paris , but touching the Souldiour , because hée is an instrument of Warre , and therefore should bée reiected , might as well bée sayde , because fire whose nature is to consume whatsoeuer it toucheth , and therefore should bée vtterlye extinguisht , and cleane put out , yet no man doubteth but if it were so as in Summer , it woulde bée wanting about dyuerse necessaryes , so in Winter a great number might starue for colde .

A Souldiour maye rightly bée compared to a sword , wherewith a man maye for want of gouernment anoy his companions , indaunger such as bée about him , hurt his friendes , yea , or maine , mischiefe or kyll him selfe , where at the first they were ordained as necessary instruments , wherewith to defend the enemye , which else would séeke thy lyfe , and to reuenge thy wronges , and iniuryes , which be offered by thy Foe , nowe if they bée otherwise abused contrary to the meaning of the first institucion , the faulte is not to bée imputed to the sworde , but to the follye of such as for want of gouernment can not vse them , neyther may swordes yet bée spared , but to bée accounted as instruments most necessarye .

But what shoulde I stande to vse examples , how many Cityes , Townes , Prouinces , yea , & sometime whole kingdomes hath béene rewynated and vtterly confused where souldiours hath béene wanting , but here omitting all other : I will yet refer thée to pervse in Chronicles , the time that Brithricus raygned King of England , in whose tyme the Danes first entered his Lande , robbed and spoyled many of his Successours , and in the ende brought the people to bée seruile and bond , vsing theyr wiues and goodes at their pleasure , & thus continued the space of two hundred fiftye and odde yeres , to be briefe , I thinke there is no man so simple which doeth not conceyue how necessary and néedeful the noble Souldiour is .

Soul.

The more is the pitye , that Kinges and Princes can not foresée vnto how many misfortunes they commit them selues , their people and countrey , when they first take in hande to prepare them to the field , which if they dyd , I thinke they would rather desire to gouerne their owne with quietnesse , than to séeke by force of armes to bée conquerours of others : But O vnhappy Prince , that is so vngracious to imbrace so cursed a crewe as warre bringeth with him : but O thrise vnfortunate countrey and people , that harboureth such a company of vnluckye Gesse .

Wars hath beene from the beginning , and shall continue vntyll the worlds ende . Well yet thou séest warres hath béene euen from the beginning , and so shall continue to the ende , especiallye when there be so many prouocations to styrre them , and so many vyces imbrast almost of euery Prince to mooue them , as Ambicion , Pride , Vaineglory , Blooddinesse of mind , Couetousnesse , and such other , these bée the chiefe occasions of any forraine warre , ciuyll warre is likewise procured , when the Prince is rygorous , cruel , a tyraunt , ouercharging their subiectes with Taxes , Subsidyes , vnreasonable customes , or other gréeuous exactions , and as these vices bée general in Princes , so there are as many mo as common to subiects , wherby many times commocions are raysed , as contempt , rebellion , disobedience , mutiny . &c. And yet warres are not wrongfully attempted but many times proued vpon ryght and reasonable cause .

Thou séest the noble Souldiour may in no wyse bée spared , Souldiers maye not bee spared if it bee but to defend the inuasions of others . but euen as thou hast sayde vnhappy Prince , and vnfortunate Countreye that once retayneth wars , so mayst thou likewise crie , O most wretched Princes , and O most miserable Countreye whiche is vnprouided of sufficient and expert Souldiers , if it be but to defende the rigours of such as would inuade .

Soul.

In déede we haue a saying , that Weapon many times maketh peace , and so paraduenture where the Countrey is well replenished with Souldiours , and other necessaries appertayning to warre , maye bée an occasion that the enemye wyll bée the more cyrcumspect to styrre any stryfe , thus I perceyue the Souldiour is verye necessarye , but yet in my mynde more néedfull then profitable .

Mer.

It might séeme as great vanitie to go about by any circumstance to proue howe néedefull & profitable the souldyer is as if a man by great curiosity would go about to proue the sun were bright whose glittering gleames are knowne to euery man & dayly séene through the whol world but whither the souldier be as profitable as he is néedful , I will referre it to thy owne discretion , First when the departing from his quiete house , To howe many inconueniences a souldyer committeth him selfe in his contries defence . his louing wife and deare children , maye neuer staye him , when the sighte of hys enemies maye nothing daunt hym , the hasarde of losing life or lime can neuer feare him , when troublesome toyle & continuall trauaile can once withhoulde him when excessiue watche and warde maye neuer wery him , when hongar and thirst maye any white discourage him , when cruell could , homely lodging , maye at any tyme restraine him , when all these with a number of other extremities maye once withdrawe him from the seruing of his Prince and defence of his contrey .

Howe many commodities are gained by the souldyer . Besides this in what security eyther of lyfe or liuing were those that be honest and of good disposition were it not for law , to what effecte were lawe , were it not for Iustice , of what assuraunce were eyther Lawe or Iustice : were not the Prince to maintayne them , of what maintenance or power were that Prince that were bereft of souldyers , for is it not many times séene , that neither Iustice , policy nor wisdome , maye longer continue obedience in subiectes towardes their Prince , but must be subdued by force of martiall power : to be short in what assured state were that Prince or country , which is vnreplenished with noble souldyers to defend them from the tyranny or others .

Soul.

Thus I perceiue the souldyer is worthy to be maintayned yf it be but to withstand the malignitye of others , according to the saying of Cicero , who sayth , Fortis et magnauimus est habendus non qui facet , sed qui propulsat iniuriam , but when thy Godhead séemeth to preferre the souldiers as the principal piller where on doth consiste the Cheifest defence of King and countrie I remember Cicero likewise vsed an other sentence which sayeth , Cedat arma coge concedat aurea lingue , wherby it seemeth the souldyer muste geue place to the wise and politique counsailer .

Mer.

To aunswere this obiection sufficiently woulde aske to long discourse and no man doubteth but the souldyer in all attemptes is or shoulde be gouerned by counsaile vnlesse occasion doeth sometyme fall oute when hee muste put in practise hys owne experience , Who can giue better counsayle in Marcial causes then the experimented Souldiour but who is able in anye occasion touching marciall causes , to giue better counsayle than the experimented Souldiour , as Alexander magnus sayth , a Souldioure is worth hys kéeping in the tyme of peace who hath honestely serued hys Prince in the tyme of warre although for age hée can not trauayle , his counsayle yet maye not bee spared .

But to shewe thee in part what counsaylers they be which Cicero meaneth , and how the souldyer doeth giue him place , I will shewe the.

Cato perceyuing the Romaynes to degenerate and waxe sluggish , ouer they had bene in times past , and in stede of feats of armes exersised other vayn toyes & other ydell deuises , fearing that by this nicitye , the Carthagians might take occasion to contende with them for the empire , brought it in question that for their better securitye it shoulde bee moste conuenient that Carthage shoulde bee vtterlye destroyed , although that Scipio were of the contrary opinion , affirming that it shoulde séeme verye vnlawfull for the Romaines to committe so heynous a fact , but hée rather thought it to be most expedient that the Romaines hauing suche an enimie whome they might feare , might bee the more occasion to continue peace and amitye amongst themselues , and the greater prouocasion whereby to incite theyr youthe to prowesse and actiuitye , in conclusion , Cato preuayled , and Scypio after a long assaulte , did take it , and vtterly destroyed it .

Thus by the counsayle of the wise Cato Rome was deliuered of a daungerous neyghboure , but the glorye and renowne remayned onelye to the Noble and valyaunt Captayne Scypio , in manye such lyke causes , Souldiours gyueth place to the counsaile of the wise , but is nothing thereby diminished , but the rather increased and augmented .

But because thou mayst the better perceyue in what estimacion the noble Souldiour hath béene a●counted of and howe their counsailes hath béene allowed with wyse and noble Princes , How olde Souldiers hath beene accounted of with noble princes . I wyl shewe thée an example the which in auncient historyes is yet to bée séene , in these wordes following .

Dionisius when he went to Conquere other Regions , there were many of his folowers which being ouercome with age and extreame trauaile , woulde neyther tarrye without a King , neyther followe their Captayne , wherefore comming to their Prince with Teares , they desired him to take pittye of them , to whome hée sayde : My brethren and fellow souldiers laye your cares a side , you haue followed mée a great while , you haue often and long fought for mée , and with mée , I wyl nowe call others into their fortunes : It is now time for you to take your rest , and this shall remaine a reward for euer , for your labours and trauailes , settle your selues here and possesse you this fat Land , whiche by your valiaunce I haue Conquered , I doe nowe release you from all Warrelike laboures : I wyll haue you to carrye the name of oulde Souldiours , and to bée called here as your office shall bée to gouerne the common Weale , to reproue the yll , to prayse the good , and from all other laboures you shall be frée to what people or countrey so euer you come too , the King shall finde you meate Drincke and Cloathe , you shall bée most honourable with all menne , Princes shall offer you presents , and shall geue you theyr owne Garments , what so euer you saye shall bée allowed for trueth : You shall hate Lyers , and you shall iudge Traytours , and those that haue yll Women you shall punishe with infamy : the whole Lande shall be frée for you to haue safe trauayling , and safe dwelling , if any man shall offend or gréeue you with worde or déede , hée shall dye by the sworde .

I doe farther appoint that my verye friende Spertembam shall bée Kynge of the Indies amongst you , who shall appoint you necessaries and yerely stipendes who shall maintayne your priuiledges , and hée shall holde you most honourable about him , and you and your heyres shall counsayle him , in whome if succession shall want : let the election of the Indian Kinges bée amongst you , and your Children .

It is to bee supposed Herroldes of Armes toke the original of this . Thus Dionisius comforting and perswading his Heroas , departed with his army out of India , whose office is to bée assistaunt to Kinges , to bée a comfort to the common weale , to aduaunce vertue , and to punishe vice , being no other of them selues but olde Souldiers , the which after many and greate mischiefes endured , and after many wonderfull Warres ended with most glorious Triumphes , there strength drawne from them , & tyred with age , are released from the toyling labors of warres , and called to the court for counsaylers .

Octauius Augustus was of the same mynde , and so lykewise was Marcus Anthonius , and Marcus Crassus : Thus the Romaines when there Warres were ended , dydde styll determine of their olde Souldiours .

But why staye wée so long about so small auayle , if thou mindest to prosecute as thou hast begonne : beholde Venus Court is not so farre hence , but that wée may walke thyther euen at our pleasures debating on these causes by the way as wée goe .

Sou.

Yes surely if the Gods permit , I wyl now doe my Message , and the rather when thy Godhead hath so throughlye perswaded mée , and so earnestly defended the souldiers cause , Souldier● in Englā●● had in small account . we want such atturneis in England to pleade in their behalfes where I thinke of all other Countreys they are had in least estimation .

Mer.

I thinke in déede a Souldiours credite in England is but of a small valewe , yet not so small , The orde● of apoin●ment vsd● with lesse regard . but their order of appointment in the tyme of seruice , and that as well of Captaines as of other priuate Souldiers , is vsed with as litle regarde ,

Sou.

I doe not vnderstand the meaning of these wordes , but I perceyue they tend to some dislyking , whiche although peraduenture some small abuse may bée committed in the choyse of our Souldiers , yet for Captaines I thinke there bée none admitted but suche as iustlye maye not bée accused of any insufficencye .

Mer.

Then omitting to speake of souldiers tyll some other occasion , I wyll some thing saye of twoo sortes of Captaines , whiche in tyme of seruice are as busye as the best to attaine charge , and as it is greate pittye that the one sorte should bée parmitted , so it were very good if the abuses of the other might bée reformed , and the greatest cause that stirreth both these sortes to seruice , as maye be supposed , procedeth of one mocion , which is the gripell desyre they haue of Princes paye .

The first sort which I meane bée such as wyll presume to take vppon them conduction being altogeather vnable and cleane voyde of experience , Vnfit captaines . no not so much as to place twoo hundred men in right order of araye .

The other bée such , which although they be seruicable inough , yet in the time of seruice wil make a common profit by powling and pilling his Souldiers , yea , & somtime wyll not sticke to deceyue the Prince by a slye deuise or twaine : Such Captaines in times past there hath béene appointed , and suche Captaines bée most readye to make meanes to bée appointed , and it is nowe growne to a generall order in Englande , that in the time of seruice , hée that can best carrye fauour with this or that noble man , hée is sufficient inough to take charge , there pertaines no more to a Captaine , but if hée may get my Lordes good wyll by meanes whereof there hath béene some appointed which if they came to the place where good seruice shoulde bée , some were to farre vnfitte to performe the duetye of a Captaine or else such whose greatest care is howe hée maye deceyue both Prince and souldier of the paye .

Soul.

Although it hath pleased thy Godhead to enter into this familyer discourse , yet before I wyll presume to procéede any further , I craue most humbly pardon , least peraduenture in vsing many wordes some happe to bée amisse , for that euerye honest minde of dutye is bound as much as in him lyeth to defende any infamye or reproche , wherewith his Countrey is charged , so it might fortune that I in respect of God wyl to defende those accusations whiche here thou hast pronounced against our Englishe Captaynes , might fall into suche rashe reasoning as myght not well beséeme mée , and so forgette that reuerence whiche to thy Godhead by right doeth appertaine .

Mer.

As I am well pleased at this instant to argewe and debate these causes with thée , so it shall nothing dislyke mée , for any thing that thou shalt saye , but woulde rather wishe thée to speake fréelye , whatsoeuer thou thinkest maye best serue for thy purpose .

Soul.

Then I doubte not but to make such reasonable answere in our Captains behalfes , as may very well be permitted for good and sufficient excuses , and nowe to speake of those first kinde of Captaines which here thou condempnest to be presumptious , because they wyll attempt to take a charge : notwithstanding , theyr smal experience thinking the greatest mocion , that should styrre them to it , procéeded of desire , of gaine , nowe it might bée very wel supposed , that if any Gentleman haue sought that place of credite : it rather procéeded of valiaunce , or of a noble courage , then of any couetous desire , or yet of any presumtious minde , for noble hearts vndoubtedly can but desyre noble atempts and I am assured wée haue no small number of Gentlemen , whose experience peraduenture , though it bée not so muche as some others , which hath séene the order of seruice , yet I dare bouldlye affirme theyr noble and valiant hearts are no whit inferior , no not to those whose experience doth best serue , and whose seruice hath béene of longest continuaunce , & the noble captaine Cabrias ( as storyes maketh mencion ) was wont to saye that an armye of fearefull Deare , hauing a Lion to their Captaine , were more to bée feared , than an army of Lions hauing a deare to their captain . By this he ascribeth valiance to be the principal point that to a captaine appertaineth : and Salust sayth , that wytte and wyll ioyned togeather , maketh a man valiant , and who would thinke that any such should be vnwylling , that in the time of seruice wyll make so many friendes to get a captaines roome .

Mer.

But nowe if any such haue sought that noble Ronne , which are in déede neyther wyse nor valiaunt , and that are mencioned vnto it , by wyll without witte , although these maye bée hardlye excused of hope of gaine yet of presumpcion , hée may not bée excused or at the least hée maye bée worthily condemned of ouermuch folly .

Sou.

This is most certaine it can not otherwise be , but I thinke wée haue no such in England .

Mer.

As I wyl not séeme to accuse , so I doe not minde to excuse , but bée it in England or else where , he that wyl take vpon him the roome of a Captaine , without hauing experience , doth playe Phaetons part , or may bée compared to some rashe felow , who at aduentures wyll take vppon him Marriners art , and yet was neuer at the Sea , fearing nothing but bearing all his sayles ataunt while the wether is fayre , and at length comes some sodaine storme or vngracious gust that turnes Ship and all on their heads , sometime paraduenture for want of making sayle when time dyd serue , some contrary winde or vngracious tyde maye hoyse to some Rocke or Sande , whiche the ignoraunt man knoweth not howe to auoyde .

So many times a skillesse Captaine may ouerthrowe himselfe and his company by making to much haste , sometime suffer his friendes to perishe for being to slacke , for be he neuer so valiaunt in his owne person , or neuer so wise in other causes , yet if he haue not experience to knowe the time and place wher hardinesse maye preuayle , and howe hée should bestow his stroakes in time and place conuenient , through pollicy it is prouided that strength may bée subdued , Pollicye of more effect then force or strength . and many mo fieldes haue béen lost for want of pollicy , than for want of strength , and many Townes wonne by slightes , where force coulde not preuaile , and euen as if Cato himselfe would take vpon him conduction of a Ship without good and sufficient experience , as I trust it were no blasphemy , to say that Cato were but a folishe Pilate , so hée that wyll take a charge without knowledge to gouerne it , No wisedome for a man to take vpon him that he can not ski● I trust wyl not bée offended though he be learned : an vndiscréete Captaine , for wisedom wylleth no man to make attempt of that whiche he is not able to compasse , but in especiallye in so daungerous a cause , where through the defaute of one ignorant Captaine a whole army may somtime be ouer throwne , whereon may depende the state of a Kingdom , and the ruine of a countrey .

Neyther is ●e to bée estéemed coragious or yet valiaunt , that wyll so wylfully take vpon him to rule , and so ignorauntly séeke to gouerne , but rather to be accounted wilfull and foolishe hardy .

But nowe something better to perswade thée , what a captaine should be , I wil shew thée diuerse opinions : first Cato sayth , that captaine is starke naught which cannot rule him selfe , than hée is much worse , that not knowing howe to rule him selfe , wyll yet take vppon to gouerne others : Isocrates sayth , the greatest vertue in a souldiour , is obedience toward his captaine , but if such Captaines might bée permitted , Isocrates was deceyued : for an vnskilfull Captaine , may haue a skylfull Souldiour , and then the greatest vertue in a captaine were obedience towards his souldier : Cirus King of Persia was wont to say , that no man ought to take vpon him to gouerne vnlesse he bée better than those that he taketh vpon him to rule . Alexander , when he tooke vpon him the Conquest of the world , admitted none to haue charge that were vnder thrée score yeres of age , onely because he would haue none to bée leaders that shoulde bée ignoraunte or vnskylfull : for Socrates sayeth , the bouldnesse of the ignoraunt ingendreth many euils : And Agesilaus sayth , the lacke of experience causeth the lacke of courage .

Thus thou mayest perceyue that such as were wyse , would not permit any skillesse or ignoraunt Captaine .

Soul.

But yet in my mind it were great pitye , that Gentlemen should thus bée discouragde , for euerye man must haue a beginning , and euery man must haue a tyme to learne before he may come to bée a souldiour , and how should a man come soner to practise , then by séeing of seruice , & such as be Gentleman paraduenture wyl disdaine to serue vnlesse as a captayne , which place if it should bée denied them , might be a hinderance to their wel disposed mindes , geuing themselues from the noble profession to folow some other idle deuises , which else might proue to be noble and worthy souldiers .

Me.

Agesilaus the king of the Lacedemonians being but a Childe , when solemne Games were plaide for the exercise of children , in which hée that had the ordering & rule therof , had apointed him but to a meane part & roome , albeit he were the heire aparent to the Crowne , sayd in this wise , good inough , for I wyll shewe that it is not the roome that dignifieth the person , but it is the person that dignifieth & renowneth the roome .

So it is not the roome of a captaine that dignifieth the vnworthy person who is not able to execute it , but it is the valiaunce of him that is appointed to the place that dignifieth and renowneth the roome .

But if there be any that bée so precise that would thinke they shoulde so muche imbase their credite , if they should serue vnlesse as a Captaine at the first dashe , I muse they can not as well conceyue what a mockery it should bée when they come in the place of seruice , when they shall be found to bée but vsurpers of the name , and scant able to execute the roome of a simple souldier .

The opinion of a Spaniard Italian & Frencheman . The Spaniard who for the noblenesse of his minde is far surmounting aboue all other , yet if he be the sonne & heyre of a Duke hée wyll not take vppon him to conducte others , before he hath first serued and thereby learned experience howe to order his charge aright , the Italian is lykewise of the same minde .

The Frencheman vseth this prouerbe , that he wyll not take vpon him the roome of a Captaine , before hée bée able to commaunde his souldier , and not his souldier to commaund him .

Thus thou mayst perceyue that amongst such as bee dayly practised in seruice , it is thought great follye in him that wyll take vpon him the roome of a Captain , and not able to execute it .

Soul.

Peraduenture if Warres were as generall amongst vs , as it is amongst them , as the Gods forbid it shoulde , wée would learne no obseruations , neyther of Spaniard , Italian , nor Frencheman , they should be no spectacles for vs , for vse they say makes perfectnesse , and amongst them warres are so generally frequented , that it were great shame if they shoulde be ignorant in any obseruation , order , or discipline .

Mer.

It is as great shame that the orders of armes and discipline of warre shoulde be vnknowne to any Gent. though he neuer came where seruice was , the disiplin of war to be lerned without goinge to the filde . yet hée should not bée ignoraunt in the lawes and orders of Armes , which are to bée learned without going to the field , as may appeare by Alfonsus King of Aragon : who being demaunded whither hée were more bound to his Bookes then to his Weapons and armes , answered , out of my bookes I haue learned boath armes , and the order of armes : and dyd not Lucullus by the studye of his Bookes , become one of the noblest Captaines of all the Romaines .

So there bée many bookes the which if Gentlemen would sometime vouchsafe to peruse , would throughly instruct them in such obseruacions as were vsed by the most renowned Captaines and Souldiers , to the great furtheraunce of suche as minde to serue , & to what exercise may a Gentleman better indeuour himselfe vnto them , to learne to serue : for as Vigesius sayeth , the way to winne honour is rather to practise in tyme conuenient the art of Warre , then to winne treasure , and lacke experience , least he should saye , why haue I not learned to serue and defend : and Gelo King of Silice , at a certaine banquet , when according to the vse of the Countreye , the Lute was caryed from one to another , in order for that amongst the Gréekes it was counted a thing of great commendation to him that coulde vse it well , but when it came to the Kinges course to playe , hee commaunded that his Horse should be brought into the banquetting house , and forthwith hée easely and lightly leapt vpon him , signifying that although the Lute were a desent Pastime to be vsed by Gentlemen , for recreation , yet hée shewed that Chiualrye was more to be commended and before all other exercises principally to be preferred .

Soul.

And maye a man then learne to bée a perfecte Souldiour that shall séeke no other experiment , but as he shall bée directed by his Booke ? I haue heard this reason many times before , but I coulde neuer yet bée perswaded to beléeue it , and yet there bée some which by that experience only wyll take vpon them as they say them selues , to vse any derection in the fielde , and in as good order as hée that hath serued twenty yeres a souldiour .

Mer.

But I woulde wyshe that suche a souldier might rather bée beléeued by his owne reporte then to suffer him to make tryall of his cunning before his enemy in the fielde , and although it be most certaine that the practise of many bookes maye bée greatlye beneficiall to the knowledge of martiall affayres , so there is no kinde of sickenesse , neyther any manner of disease that is incident to man , but in bookes there are such certaine and approued medicines as the best Doctors will alowe of , yet hée were a desperate pacient , that in an extremitie of sickenesse , woulde followe the aduise of him that hath but reade onelye , and neuer had other practise . The Mariner at the Sea , when by force of weather hée is driuen to some vnknowne coaste , then to knowe the place hée is in , and from thence to shape his course , hath no other helpe , then the Cosmographiere hath prescribed vnto him , which rules although they be most certaine to worke by , yet a wise man woulde be loath to be caried to Sea by him that hath no other skill than his cosmographie onelye , yet notwithstanding as it shoulde be great furtherance to him that woulde practise Phisicke to pervse other mens opinions , which hath write touching the nature of Herbes and Plantes , and as it shoulde bée muche avayleable and for hys redyer vnderstandyng that woulde be a Nauigator , to ouersée such rules as are prescribed by the Cosmographier concerning the art , so he that woulde be a souldier and one of Mars his troupe , shal finde it most commodious , as wel to helpe his memorie as also to kindle his courage , to reade of martiall feates , apparteyning to the purchasing of honorable victories , fame , and renowne .

And lyke as I would not wishe him that hath but read of Phisicke , to take vpon him to minister to the diseased , so I woulde not aduise him that hath but booke experience , of hym selfe , to vse any order or appoyntment although his counsayle in some causes may very wel be folowed .

And as I knowe that by certayne rules of Arithmaticke a man maye sodaynelye frame any maner of battayle of any proportion , the number of men once beyng knowen , or to knowe what cirquet of grounde wyll serue to inbattayle so many men , with such like , so it is possible for him that is desyrous in a very short space , to pervse in bookes the manner of any warres , which hath ben these many hundred yeres , & by what meanes many noble victories hath ben obteyned , and what pollicies hath bene vsed by suche as were famous Captaynes , some to assawght , some to defend , &c. But yet he that shoulde sée but one field fought , shall gayne more experience then the other by readyng of all those bookes .

Soul.

but now concernyng those seconde sort of Captaynes , whiche thou sayest , be such as by sleyghtes doth deceiue the prince , and pyll his Souldiers in the tyme of seruice , I thinke there be none that be so vnkynde to his prince , that wyl practise suche deceypt , nor so vnnaturall to his countrey men , to séeke the hynderaunce of his poore souldiers , whom they ought as carefully to prouide for , as they woulde doo for them selues .

Mer.

They should doo so in déede : but it hath sometyme otherwyse fallen out , and poore souldiers hath ben by deuises , cut from theyr wages which the Prince hath allowed them , and to deceiue the Prince it is a small matter accompted of amongst s●me , and by a generall shyft they vse , whiche is to want of his number of men whiche the Prince geueth allowaunce , for suche Captaynes , by report there hath bene , and it were not amisse , if the practise were not so common .

Soul.

I thinke there be none whose conscience is so large , that can for pities sake , séeke to deceiue his souldier , and as for deceiuyng of the Prince , if it be by no other meanes then hath bene yet expressed : I thinke may easily be aunswered , for I haue knowen them myselfe that haue wanted of their number of souldiers , but yet not of purpose to deceiue the Prince , neyther yet to enryche them selues by sauing of theyr pay , for if they haue wanted ten or twelue of theyr number whiche they haue ben allowed for , they haue yet had twentie or thirtie Gentlemen , to whom they haue geuen doubell paye , the better to maintayne them selues in the Princes seruice , and the rather to incourage both them and others to serue , for it is generally séene , that a Gentleman wyll soonest prooue a souldier of any other , and shewe hym selfe most valiaunt in the fielde : and when Xerxes king of Persia , was in manner put to the worse , but of .300 . Lacedemonians where he hym selfe had with a very great multitude , he confessed hym selfe deceiued , in that he tooke with hym many men , but fewe souldiers , for he perceiued that it forced not so muche howe many there be , as howe well assayed , picked , and tryed they be , and it may be , that these Captaynes be of Xerxes mynd , they had rather bring the smaller number of chosen souldiers , then the greater companie of ordinarie men , as they be appoynted .

Mars ,

although this excuse séemeth to be reasonable , yet for some causes it is not tollerable , but yet as thou sayest sufficient yenough to pourge them from any pretended deceipt towards theyr Prince .

Aug.

And who woulde suppose that any Captayne woulde séeke to deceiue his souldier , on whose report hangeth the greatest part of his credite , for what greater infamie may come to a Captayne , then to be defamed by his own souldiers , and such as hath serued hym .

But it hath ben the custome in England , as I haue heard , that in the tyme of seruice in what Shiere soeuer souldiers were leuyed , theyr Captayne , was lykewise appoynted in the same Shiere , some Gentlemen of great worship , and of fayre reuenewes who had ben able , if cause had so constrained , to haue serued the Prince , and rather would haue spent a thousand pound amongst his souldiers , then to haue sought to defraude them by any manner of meanes , this gaue some incouragement to men , when they dyd knowe theyr Captayne to be of countenaunce amongst them , The reputacion of the Captaine causeth obedience in souldiers . it dyd lykewyse bréede due obedience in souldiers , when they were in the warres , theyr Captayne beyng suche a one as had gouernement amongest them , to minister iustice when they were at home in the tyme of peace , to be briefe , it caused euery one to endeuour hym selfe to vse his best seruice , and to please his Captayne , to the ende that when the warres were fynished , it lay yet in the Captaynes possibilitie at theyr returne , to requite them eyther with good or ill accordyng as they had deserued .

The Captayne lykewyse when he consydered who they were that serued vnder hym , and that he remembred them to be his neyghbours , and suche as were dwellers about hym , yea peraduenture manye of them his owne tenauntes , he for his owne credites sake , and to auoyde defamation , would so order him selfe towardes them , as they shoulde haue no cause to exclayme , this by report , hath ben the order tyl nowe of late , and in my simple iudgement it were very necessarie if that manner of appoyntment were styll obserued .

Mer.

but nowe thou must consyder the alteration of the tyme , for in those dayes Gentlemen were as desyrous to become souldiers , as they are nowe studious to become Lawyers : but it is nowe come to an other passe ▪ for in the tyme of seruice there are very fewe , Note . whose experience may serue them to take charge , but suche as are partly constrayned to it by néede , then where the Captayne is néedie , and the souldier more néedy , there must néedes fal out some absurditie in seruice , and by these meanes the orders of seruice in the warres are altogether corrupted , and a great way from the auncient manners altered , whereby hath growen these sinister opinions , which maketh men to hate warlyke seruice , and to flye the conuersation of such as doth professe it .

And as for the greatest parte of suche as be indued with worldly possessions , hath a further desyre to folowe other vayne and idell deuises , then they haue to serue and defende theyr countrey . If they fynde the Prince a horse to the field , they thynk them selues to haue bene at great cost , and it is done so grudginly amongest a number of them , that they cared not if he myght passe musters , yf he were not able to go a myle out of towne , suche is their impudencie as they haue no reason to deserue of thynges apperteynyng to theyr owne securitie .

Dyd not Philip king of Macedonia , take occasion to conquere the Gréekes , when he perceiued them to neglect the feates of armes , geuyng themselues to other pleasaunt pastymes , and to be occupyed about triflyng matters , forgetting the iust regarde of theyr owne defence and safegarde of theyr countrey , howe many examples myght here be alleaged to shew how daungerous it were for a Prince & his Realme , to be driuen to trust to the seruice of straungers for lacke of sufficient skylfull men of their owne , for theyr defence .

Soul.

But howe greatly are we bounde to prayse the goodnesse of the sacred Gods , through whose deuine powers we now enioy a most worthy Princes , who although duryng the tyme of her Maiesties raigne , by her politique gouernment , shee hath styl continued her countrey and subiectes , in a most peaceable and quiet estate , yet what a zelous desyre shée lykewyse hath to haue her people instructed in the knowledge of warre , and to haue thinges in a readinesse apparteyning to the same , may very well be perceiued by her noble procéedings from tyme to tyme , to the great comfort of all true Englishe hearts .

Mars , Plutarch sayeth , as a wise Marryner prepareth in caulme to looke for a storme , so ought the minde when it is most at quiet to doubt of some tribulation : and Alexander Seuerus , a quiet wit and a clear vnderstanding , taketh héede of thinges that are past , prudently waying thynges that be present , and thynges that are to come : and Xeno sayeth , to sée , is but a smal thing , but to forsée is a token of good wit , & howe many examples there be whiche wylleth the wyse in the tyme of peace to prouide for warre , were ouer superfluous here to be rehearsed : but forsamuch as we haue vsed this long discourse of Captaynes , and that as Valerius Maximus saieth , the pleasaunt and quiet state of blessed peace , doth rest in the bosome & custodie of the knowledge of warres , I doo not therefore thynke it a misse to recite vnto thée many good instructions apparteyning to the same , and because as Xeno sayeth , No man ought to be chosen for his yeres or riches , but for his vertues sake , I wyll first begyn to shewe thée to howe manye vertues noble Captaines haue ben disposed , To how many vertues noble Captayne : haue ben disposed . and because mercye and pitie be two principall vertues wherewith Captaynes shoulde be indued , for whiche cause the Lacedemonians vsed before they should go to the warre to make solemne sacrifice to the Muses , to the ende they myght by them attayne aswell howe to vse victory gently , as of Mars to become victors manfully , I wyll begyn with Agesilaus , that worthy Kyng and Captayne , who was wonte very often to warne his souldiers , that they shoulde not torment theyr prisoners , but to vse them as men .

For children taken in the warre , he prouided that they should be brought together into some place where they myght be in safetie : the same prouision & care he lykewyse had for such as were aged or impotent persons , least bicause they were not able to folow , they might be torne or deuoured by wylde beastes , and this humanitie gatte him the hearts and wonderfull beneuolence euen of his enemies .

King Demytrius was of such excedinge clemency , that when he had reconquered the Athenians , which sediciously had shronke from him , and perceiuing that they wer ny famished for want of Corne , he calling them together in an open assembly , graunted them freely a great quantitie of Corne , and as he fortuned in his speking to pronounce a certayne word amisse , one of the assembly interrupting him in his speaking and shewed him how to pronounce that woorde aryght , trewly quoth he , for this correction , I graunt you other .50000 . busshells .

Tigranes king of Armenia being taken by Pompei throwing downe his Crowne & kneling at his féete , was taken vp by that noble Captaine being moued with his submission , was restored againe to his former dignitie , saying , it better pleased him to make a King , then to destroy a King.

Augustus when he conquered Alexandria , being moued with pitie , in the sight of the Citizens which hoped of nothing more then death , sayd , for the bewty of your citie , for the memory of Alexander , for the loue I beare to Pryus your Philosopher , and for the pitie I beare to you all , I spare to you your lyues and Citie .

Metellus beseiging the great Citie Centobryca , when the bulwarkes wer broken , the walles redy to fall , and victory euen at hand , that the women of the town brought forth their children in their armes , crauing mercy at Metellus handes . Who although the victory & conquest wer euen at a point , yet was himself conquered by their pitifull requestes , and thus remoued his siege .

Alexander being out in warfare , the winter time sitting by the fyre , and perceiuing a souldier almost dead for cold , made him sit in his owne place saying , if thou haddest bene borne in Persia it had ben treason for thée to sit in the Kings seat : but to him that is borne in Macedonia it is lawfull .

An other time when he was in the wars in Persia , meting an old man by the way in ragged and rent clothes , alighted from his horse , and caused the poore man to mounte vp in his roome .

An other vertue wherewith a captayne shoulde be indued , is continencie , for th 〈…〉 whiche that noble Captayne Scipio wa● greatly to be praysed , who being in Spaine ▪ a virgin of excellent beautie , and also o● noble parentage , which rauished all men● eyes , being brought vnto him , he deliuered her to Luceius , to whom she was espoused , and lykewise gaue vnto him for a dowrie , the golde that her parentes had brought to redéeme her , by the whiche magnificence , the whole nation of Spaine was ouercome , & submitted them selues to the Romayne Empier .

The same Scipio triumphing lyke a valiant victor after the winning of Carthage and that Numantia a noble young virgin , that for her passing beautie and great admiration of person , was presented vnto him as a rare gift , Scipio a long tyme amased at her sight , yet thinking with him self· howe vnfitly it woulde fal out , for a noble conquerour , to be conquered by a woman ▪ he him self brought her home to her father , to Campania , saying : Were it not that I am a conquerour , I had not ben able to haue brought home thy daughter . Alexander Magnus , with so great continencie regarded a virgin taken in warre of excellent beautie , and for as much as she was espoused vnto a Prince of the next nation , he woulde not once beholde her face , sendyng her foorthwith vnto her spouse , by the whiche benefite he allured and won the hearts of al the nation : the lyke humanitie , he also vsed towarde the wyfe of kyng Darius , whose beautie at that tyme of al other dyd excell .

The examples of iustice hath likewise ben muche beneficial to noble Captaynes , and hath sometime made more with them to subdue their enemies , them force of arms , as when Camillus had besieged the Phalisciens , the schoolemaister vnder pretence to walke abroade , brought the Phalisciens children without the walles , and deliuered them to Camillus , and sayd , the citie must néedes graunt to all thy request , to attayne agayne those so deare hostages : Camillus who abhorred to sée his falshood , hauing regarde to his owne fame and renowme , caused his handes to be bound behind him , deliuering him to the children with rods , to driue him home to the towne , by whiche benefit he attained his desire , and the Phalisciens for his iustice , willinglye yéelded themselues .

King Pirrhus phisition came vnto Fabricius , captayne of the Romanes , & promised to poison Pirrhus , so that he wold geue him a reward worthy of so great an enterprise , Fabricius thinking he had no néed to purchase his victorie so wickedly , detected the Phisition to the king , which faythful act compelled Pirrhus , to séeke the Romaines friendship .

The Emperour Augustus Caesar , building places of defence in the coastes of France , commaunded that the wood should be payde for , wherwith he made his leases , and that the rent should be truely payd , for the fruites of al those places whiche he had inclosed with his trench , by meane wherof he gat such a name of iustice , that he made more easier , the conquest of the same prouince .

Couetousnesse hath ben euer abhorred of noble Captaines , as may appeare by many examples , for when Cineus the Ambassadour of the Epirotiens ▪ brought vnto Fabricius a great summe of golde for to present , he would none of it , saying , that hee would rather rule them that had golde , then haue it him selfe .

Iulius Ceaser hauing all the substaunce & treasure of Pompey brought before him , tooke nothing from his souldiers but Pompeis Letters .

Alexander when hée had conquered Darius hauing a great Chist of treasure , to the value of 200000. li. besides other Iewels of inestimable value , wold take nothing but a litel booke named the Iliades of Homer .

After the L. Mummius had taken Corinth and had not only adorned Italy , but also all the prouince with rich tables and costly Images , he of so great spoyles toke so litle to his own vse , that the Senate was fayne for very néede to geue dowry to his daughter of the common treasures .

After that Lu. Scipio had accomplished his worthy enterprises & noble feats , in Spain , he deceased in great pouertie , and lefte not behynde him so much money as should suffice for the dowry of his daughters , to whom for very néeds the Senate was faine to geue a dowry of the common treasure .

Nicostratus a Captayne , being required by Archidamus that ▪ if hée would not deliuer Cromnus he would not only geue him a huge masse of money , but also the fayrest Lady that was to be found amongst the Lacedemonians to wife : who aunswered that Archidamus was nothing lyke to Hercules , for he went about the world to destroy those that were euil , but contrary , the other those that wer good .

When Decius Brutus made war into Spayne , and had subdued al Lucitania except one Citie called Cinania , and demaunding of the citizens what money they wold geue to be at peace , who aunswered our Auncitours lefte vs swordes to defend , and not money to redéeme , from so couetouse a Captayne as thou shewest thy self to bée .

Many tymes when Captaynes hath ben rigoriously bent , yet perceiuing the parties to be wise , haue chaunged their fury into linitie , which hath redounded to their great commendation , as when Cirus hauing taken Cresus commaunding forthwith to be burnt , who going to the fyer cried out with a very lamentable voyce saying : O Solon Solon , King Cirus wondering at these wordes , and what they should meane , bad one of his seruauntes aske him the cause that with so greate sorow , hée cried and named Solon , them Cresus drawing a great sigh answered in this wise : Solon sometime amongst the Athenians was a veri wise man , vnto whom I once when he was with me , did shew vnto him all my power and treasures , which done , I asked him whether he thought that euer any aduersitie or misfortune , might hap vnto me , being fensed with such power and riches , against all chaunces of fortune , or force of enemies . But to thys aunswered Solon , rebuking me for my secure and carelesse mynd , and sayd , no man in this world , ( O King Cresus , ) is so happy and fortunate in this life , that he can be called throughly in euery parte blessed , before he dye , neither is there any man I aunswer thée , be he neuer so mightie , but some aduersitie may chaunce vnto him , and ouerthrow him , or hée be aware , but at that time trusting retchlesly ( alas ) vppon my happy luck , and suckcesse of things , despised his words , neyther could I feare this so exceding a fal as now I fynde : wherefore bicause first I vnderstode the sentence of Solon , now before my death I named him , and I do wish all men in prosperitie , not to be vnmindful of misfortunes and calamities , that may chaunce , lest they become ouer haughtie of their present felicitie , & greedy to attempte thinges heddily , that by occasion may bée their vtter confusion .

These thinges when Cirus the King had hard , he was not a litle touched with pittie and clemency towardes him and sayd , hée would not hereafter shew him self to hard vppon Cresus , which was sometime a right mightie King , for he remembred that hée him self was also a man , and that it might chaunce him to haue neede of other mens ayde and mercy , after that he com●●aunded Cresus to be brought vnto him , whom he entertained lyke a noble Prince , and vsed his aduise and counsaile , in all his affaires , and procedinges .

Porus a King being vanquished by Alexander in the field , Alexander asked of hym how shal I intreat thée Porus , who aunswered Kingly againe , Alexander demaunded if he required any thing else , altogither qd . Porus is comprised in this word , Kingly . Alexander meruailing both at the wisdom and at the noble stomake of the man , enlarged hid dominions ouer that they were before .

When a certayne Iudian which was noised to bée so cunning an Archer , that he could shout thorow a Ryng ▪ and was taken prisoner and brought to Alexander ▪ who willing him to make a proofe of his cunning before him , which thing he refused to do , the King ther with being very angry , commaunded he should be put to death : as hée was led away , he sayd to such as led him , that he had not vsed his feat of showting many dayes , and therfore feared least he shuld haue failed , when Alexander was informed hereof , that be 〈…〉 sed not for spight , but rather for fear of disworship wondering at this mans mynd so desirous of glory , which rather desired to dye , then to haue lost his fame and renown , he let him go , not with out a great rewarde .

What tyme Philip Kyng of Macedonia , had an Army lying at Cheronia , Diogenus comming thyther , anon was taken by the Souldyers and brought to the King , who angerly cryed out , a spye a spye , to whom Diogenus forthwyth aunswered , in deede Philip I am a spye , and am come hither to espye thy madnesse , which not being contented with the Realme of Macedonia , by the incroching of other mens Realmes , puttest thy self in daunger to lose both thine own kingdom , and also thy life : the King wondering at the mans franke speach , and bould language , commaunded he should be let go without any hurt to bée vsed toward him .

Although ther be many other examples , which could not bée preiudiciall for Captaines to note , & to haue in remembraunce , yet here I let them passe , remembring thée but with this one example of Fabius Maximus , he hauing certayne of his Souldiers taken by Haniball , sent to the Senators for money to redéeme them , his sute being denyed , commaunded his sonne to go straight to Rome , to sell all the landes and liuing which he then possest without the City , and to bring him money , wherwith hee redéemed his Souldiers , and brought them franke & frée to Rome saying , he had rather want patrimony in his countrey , then loue to his countrey men . And now hauing something shewed how a Captayne of him self should be adicted , which as L. Paulus sayth , should be to be aged , and aunsient in maners .

Now it foloweth how a Captaine ought to trayne and practise his Souldiers , and although I know experimented Captains , How Captaines should instruct their Souldiers . nede no such instructions , yet for thée , or other , that be young Souldiers , it can not be hurtfull .

A Captayn ought first to teach his Souldiers , how to kepe the order of aray , and to instruct them , that they may know how to march , to learne them to vnderstand the sounds of Drums , and Trompets , wherby they are commaunded what they ought to do , and bicause it chaunceth of ordinary , that when men be redye to ioyne in fight , they come to gither with great shoutes and rumor , by reason wherof the commaundementes of the Captaynes , may not many tymes be hard , nor vnderstand : it is therfore requisit to make them to obey to signes , as by casting his armes a broad , when he wold haue them to march wider , by bringing his armes to gither , when he would haue them to march close , by holding vp his hand , when he would haue them to stand still , by turning him selfe towardes them , if he would haue them turne , and thus to instruct them how the fight is begunne , how they should retier , and being ouerthrowne , who should sucséede in their places , and thus to make them practised which more auayleth then strength and multitude , as maye appeare by Marius , who being at his liberty to chose one of the best Armies hee would , eyther that which had bin with Metellus , or that which had ben Rutilius , he chose the leaste which was Rutilius Army , bicause it was thought to be the better trayned .

Epaminondas Captayne of the Thebians with 4000. trained men , ouercame the Host of the Lacedemonians , in which was 24. M. footemen , and 16. hundred horsemen . 14. M. Greekes , which number came to help Cirus against Artaxerxes ouercame in battaile .1 . C.M. Barberouse Aliens .

Therfore I say that Captaynes should vse great diligence in the trayning of their men , considering that an Army is not to be chosen for the multitude , or bicause in the same be hardy men , but bicause they be wel trained , and in their orders wel apointed : thus hauing practised his men redy for to fight , it should be well done then , if time or place might serue , to bring them to some lighte , skirmish with their enemyes for their better encouragement , and to make than know the better what to doo : but yet as neare as they may , to chose such a place as their smal experience may not be hurtful vnto them .

But héere omitting to speake of skyrmishes , because they be diuersly vsed , and vppon sundry occasions procured .

I will shewe thée now , what obseruations were vsed by such as were noble Captaynes , before they would attempt to procéede in battayle , and by what inuentions they haue escaped , when they haue bin daungerously beset , and how by many deuises they haue attayned diuers noble vyctories . &c.

And first to speake of their opinions , concerning to ioyne in battayle , it was a generall vse , amongst such as were the best aproued Souldiers , neuer to bring their men to fight , except they had aduantage , or else brought to it by constraint .

The aduantage groweth as wel by the situacion of the place , as by order , or hauing of more and better men .

The necessitie groweth when they shal perceiue by deferring of battaill , it must nedes fall out to theyr great discommoditie , as when famishment wer redy to assayle them , or when the enemy looketh for some new supply , or such lyke , in these causes it wer to attempt Fortune wher she may fauour , rather then by deferring , to sée theyr certayne rewine .

Vygesius counsayll is , neuer to bringe an Army to fight , except they hope to haue the victory , for what greater signe is there to lose , then not to beleue to be able to win , wherfore to encourage Souldiers to fight , theyr hath ben sundry practises .

Examples of incouragement . L. Sylla , in the wars against Archelaus Mithridates léefetenaunt at Pirea , perceiuing his Souldiers had lyttle courage to fight , he so weried them with continual labour , that they wer glad to desyer to fight , that the wars might be finished .

Cyrus king of Persia , mynding to concitate the myndes of his people , to wery & anger them , with payneful labour , held them all one day at worke and vtterly tyred them , in hewing vp a certayne Wood , on the morow after he made for them a very plentitious feast , demaunding in the feast tyme which day lyked them best , and when they all alowed the pastime of the day present , and yet ( quoth he ) this pleasure must be obtayned by the other dayes payne , for except you first ouercome the Medes , ye can neuer lyue in fréedome and at pleasure , wherby they toke great courage to fyght .

Q. Fabius , who knew very wel the Romaines to be of so lyberall and honest nature , that by dispightful and contumelious dealings , they would be sone moued , vexed and gréeued , loking also for no ryght nor equall dealings of the Percians , who were his enemies , sent vnto Carthage Imbassadours to intreat of peace , which was consented vnto , vppon certayne condicions , which when they wer brought and perceiued to be vnreasonable , and full of pryde , the Romaines army was strayght styrred and incouraged to fight .

When Agesilaus had pight his fielde , not far from Orchomeno , a Citie that was in league with him , and perceiued that many of the Army had their treasure & chéefe ryches in the Campe , he commaunded the Townes men to receue nothing into the Towne belonging to his Army , to the entent his Souldiers might fight the more fiercely , knowing they should fight both for their liues and goods .

Fabius Maximus fearing that his Host would not continue the fight manfully , by reason they might quickly fly to their Shippes , commaunded they should be set on fire before he would begin the battayle .

When Agesilaus had taken certayne of the Persians , whose aport was very terrible as long as their clothes were on , he striped them starke naked , shewing their effeminate bodyes to his Souldiers , to the ende they might despise them .

Gelo. the Tyran of Siracuse , entring war agaynst the Percians , after that he had taken many of them , brought forth the weakest , and most vncomely persons naked , in the sight of all his Army , to perswade them that they wer but wretches , and men worthie to be despised .

Some haue constrayned their men to fight through necessitie , taking away from them all maner of hope , of sauing themselues , vnlesse they did ouercome .

Shame hath sometime constrained Souldiers to fight agayne afresh , that haue byn redy to haue geuen ouer .

As when M. Furius Camillus beholding his Armye to stagger , and stande at a stay , caught violently the Standerd bearer , and drewe him with his handes vpon his enemyes , when verye shame made the rest to followe .

Likewise L. Silla when the Legions reculed & gaue place vnto Mithridates Host , led by Archelaus with his Sword drawne , ranne forth into the foreward , and called to his Souldiers and sayde , if any man inquyre of you , wher you left your Captaine , aunswer fighting in Boetia , for shame wherof , they folowed him .

But yet the greatest incouragemente that may bée vsed , is by perswasion , for that effecte of speakyng to hym that hath knowledge to perswade or diswade , preuayleth more then any other thyng , to kyndel the myndes and humayne passyons of a man , it taketh away feare , it increaseth obstinatenesse to fight , it discouereth deceipts , promiseth rewards , sheweth the perils , & the way to auoyd them , it reprehendeth , praieth , thretneth , it incourageth the myndes and fylleth full eyther of hope or else dispayre , as might apere by Epaminondas , who being redye to enter battayle with the Lacedemonians , to the ende , that the strengths of his Souldiers might be holpen with some feruent affection , he pronounced in his Exortation , that the Lacedemonians had determined , if they gat the victory to slay all their men , to make theyr wyues and children bonde for euer , and to beat downe the Citie of Thebes flat to the ground , with which wordes , the Thebians were so moued and agreued , that at the first brunt , they ouercame the Lacedemonians .

Note It is lykewise much requisit for Captaynes to know the disposition of the Captayne of the enemies , whether he be rash , or politike , whether he be fearful or hardy , whether he be more puisant with footemen or with Horsemen , whether he wyll assayle thée in the Euening or in the Morning , and so to prouide for themselues .

When Hanibal dyd perceiue that Fuluius the Romaine Captaine was negligent , and that he attempted many thinges vnaduisedly , in the dawning of the day the myst being somewhat thicke , and the Ayer much obscured , he made a few of his souldiers to shew themselues to those that kept watch in the Romaines Tents , while Fuluius adressed him thetherward with hys Host . Hanibal on the otherside inuaded his Campe , and so brake out in the back of the Romaines , and slew theyr Captaine , with viii . M. of their valiant men of Armes .

Alewred King of Brytaine when the Danes wer entred his Realme , of purpose to vnderstand their orders , put himselfe in the habit of a Mynstrel , & by these meanes , he came into their Campe , wherby he toke occasion to geue them a great ouerthrow .

When Iphicrates of Athens , had knowledge that his enemies dyd eate at one certayne tyme of the daye , he commaunded that his men should take theyr repast somwhat more tymely , then ranging forth in battayl at the same instant that his enemies should haue falne to their victuals , he so delayed them , that he neyther would geue them battayle , nor yet suffer them to depart , when it drew towardes night , hée reculed back againe , but yet keping his men still in their Harnise : but his enemyes being weried not only with long standing , but also with long fasting , made hast to refresh them selues , and to take their repast . Iphicrates agayne , brought forth his Army , and set vpon his enemyes , whom he found all vnredy , and out of order .

It behoueth a Captayne in some causes as much as in him lieth , Pollicy in Captains for some causes to forbeare to fight . to abstayn from fight , that is , when eyther famishment or other naturall necessities , hath brought the enemy into some vtter desperation , which caused the Lacedemonians being certified by their spyes , that the Messenians wer set on such a rage as they came to battayle with their wiues and children , which caused the Lacedemonians to defer the fight .

Likewise when Caeser in the ciuil war , had inclosed the Host of Affranius and Petriens , within a Trench that they were pyned with thirst : insomuch that they became desperate , destroying all that would withstand them , or profered with them to fight , which Caeser perceiuing ; kept in his men , supposing it not méete time then to begin .

But now to shew vppon how manye occasions noble victoryes haue bin attayned , it would aske to long discourse considering they be so infinite , yet for that many tymes it hath bin found to be of great importaunce during the time of fight , to spred certayne rumors , How many victoryes haue bene obteyned . affirming the Captayne of the enemies to haue bin slayn , or to haue ouercome , on the other syde of the Armye or such lyke I will not forget : considering it hath bin the cause of many victoryes to such as hath vsed it .

Iugurth in the battayle agaynst C. Marius by the same policy made the Romaines to recule , so did Mironides of Athens against the Thebians , wherby he got the victory .

When Valerius Leuinus fought against Pirrhus and had kild a rascall Souldier , he held vp his Sword all blody , and made both the Hostes beléeue that hée had kyld Kyng Pirrhus , wherfore his enemyes supposing them selues to bée destitute by the death of their Captayne , all abashed with that lye , gaue ouer the fight . When Claudius the Emperour of Rome , came to recouer tribute of Gwider , King of Britaine , who in the stead of tribute gaue vnto hym stronge and forceable battaile , Hamo a Romayne Captayne , Arming him self , in a Britaines Armour , by meanes wherof , he came wher Gwider the King was , and flew him , which being perceiued by Aruiragus the Kinges brother , tooke on him the Kinges Cognoscaunce , and thus being taken for the King , continued the fight , whereby hée obtayned the victory against the Romaines .

When a Barbarouse Alien in battayle , had broght word to Q. Sextorius that Herculeius was slain , he straight slew him with his dagger , least he should haue borne those newes any farther , & discouraged the Army .

One speciall regard ought to be had amongst Captaines , when they be in fight , which is not to bring the enemy into any extreame desperacion , or so to inclose them , that dispair should cause them to fight , which caused Haniball , Not good to bring the enimy into desperation . when he had inclosed the Germans at Trasimenus , by which constraint they fought exceding fercely to open his Army , and to make them away to get out , beating them downe as they fled , without any losse of his owne men .

The lyke vsed , L. Marcius a Romayne Knyght , when hee had inclosed the Carthaginences and so did Agesilans with the Thebans .

When Themistocles had vanqished the power of Xerxes , he would in no wise agrée , that the Bridge shuld be broken , ouer the which they shuld returne saying , it wer better to driue them out of Europa , then to inforce them to fight in despayre .

Captayns shuld haue regard with what order they folow , for he that with his people disparted pursueth his enemyes , What regard should be vsed in the pursute . may hope to geue his enemies the victory , as appeareth by Q. Fabius Maximus Consul , being sent to succour the Sutrines agaynst the Hetrusciens , so ordred the matter , that when the whol power of his enemies set against him , then desembling as he feared them , and as though he fled , got the higher ground , the other folowing him out of order , were by him not only vanquished , but also bereued of theyr Campe .

The lyke respect ought to be vsed , What diligence should be vsed after a victory obteyned . by such as should fortune to be Conquerours , and not through affiaunce of their victory , to leaue them selues disordered , least it might happen vnto them , as happened to the Percians , for when T. Martius a Romain Knight being gouernour of the residue of the Hoast that remayned after the death of the twoo Scipyons , perceiued that the twoo Hoastes of the Percians lay at hand , not many miles a sunder , he incouraged hys Souldyers to set vpon the Hoast that laye nexte hym , at midnight , being carelesse and out of order through affyaunce of their victory , & flewe them , leauing not so much as a messenger to beare tidings of the miserable mischaunce , and then geuing his Souldiers a litle space to rest them , the same night with all spéed preuenting the fame of any thing don , inuaded the other Army , and thus twice in one night enioyed like chaunce of battaile , and euery wher distroying the Percians , hée restored Spayne againe to the Romaines .

And now for the better safetie of the pursued , Examples of such as hath ben pursued . & to cause such as folow to slack their pursute , Triphon King of Syria vsed this meane to scatter money by the way as hée fled , which so hindered Antiochus Horsemen that pursued him , that he therby escaped . When the Gaulls should fight with Attalus , they deliuered all their Gold and Siluer to be kepte of certayne men that might scatter it abrod , if it happened them to be put to flight , to the intent they might the more easly escape their enemyes , being let with the gathering vp of the pray .

When Q. Sertorius was put to flight of Quintius Metellus Pius , he supposed not a thing sure ynough onlye to flée , but also warned hys Souldiers to disparte themselues diuers wayes , and tould them whither hée wold haue them resort . Some hath vsed to preuent the worst to begin the fight , a litle before nyght , to the ende that if they were ouerthrowne they might yet through the darkenesse of the night the better escape away .

Though many other matters myght heare haue bin expressed , yet I omit them , and will something shew thée how carefully the discipline of war hath bin continued , and how precise the antiquitie hath bin in punishing those that hath broken their prescribed orders , or hath procéeded anye farther then they haue bin limitted .

Papirius Cursor being dictator , Examples of disciplyne . required that Fabius Rutilius Mayster of the Horsemen should be beaten with rods & beheaded , bicause he fought against his commaundement , notwithstanding he had the vpper hand neither would hée forgeue the punishment for the contencion or intercession and request of the Souldiers , and fleeing to Rome pursued him , neyther would he ther remit the dreadfull punishment , vntil that Fabius and his father fell downe on theyr knées , and that also the Senate and people made intercession for him .

Manlius caused his sonne which against his commaundement had incountred with his enemy that chalenged him though hée got the victory to be beaten with rods , and haue his head striken of .

The Romaynes punished with death him that lacked in the watch , he that forsooke the place that was geuen him to fight , he that caryed anye thing hidde out of the Campe , if any man should say he had done some worthy thing in fighte and had not done it , if any for feare , had cast away his weapon , and when it happened that a Legion had committed the like faute because they would not put all to death , yet theyr names were taken and put to gither in a bag , and so by lot they drew out the tenth person , and put those to death .

When Marcus Cato after a token geuen , had loosed from the Coast of his enemyes wher he had layne a certayne space , & sawe one of his Souldiers left on the Shore , crying , calling , and beckning to be taken in , he cast about with al his Nauy to the shore agayne , and commaunded the same Souldier to be taken and straight put to death , willing rather to make him an example to the other , then that he should be slayne by his enemyes , with reproch and infamy .

Alisander of Lacedemonia corrected a certayne man , A necessary example for English Souldiers because hée strayed from his company , and when the man sayde hée strayed not from the Army to rob or steale any thing , he aunswered , I will that thou shewe no likelihode of robbery . A very good lesson to be learned , aswell of English Captaynes , as also of English Souldiers , but inspeciallye of these newe leuied bandes which are no sooner twoo miles from home , but fall presently to robbing , spoyling , and euell intreating their own Countrey men , to shamefull to be suffered , and to much to be borne withall , whether this that I say be true or no , I stande to the report of such as hath dwelte in theyr way , where they haue had occasion to trauaile ▪ but the greatest faulte of thys , is to bee imputed to the Captayne , who hath so litle care that he wil suffer it , or so simple gouernment that hée will not amend it , but such Captaynes are méete to gouerne such Souldiers , when Haniball should passe a long iourney by land , he caused his Souldiers Swordes to be sealed vp in their Scabardes , to the end the● should vse no disorder by the way . The Army which was led by M. Scaurus was of such abstinence that it is left in memory , An example worthy to be remembred . how the Appell Trée which was inclosed at the foote of the Campe , in the morning when the Hoast remoued , was lefte standing without touching of the fruit .

What diligence should be vsed when Captains march through vnknown places . There resteth now to shewe thée , what diligence Captaynes should vse when they haue occasion to march through vnknowne places , wherin with out great foresight , he is in more perill then when he is in fight , wherfore Alexander vsed to haue such places discribed in mapes which should be hanged in the Campe for all men to beholde , wherby they might learne to know the places , the distaunces , the wayes , the Hilles , the Riuers , the Fennes , and all the qualities of them , but inspecially wher the countrey is wooddy or hilly , Captaines ought to beware of ambushes , which being not foreséene may quickly ouerthrow them .

Ambushes haue many tymes bin discouered by the raysing of great dust , or when Doues or other Byrdds hath bin séene to slye about in flocks turning to and fro , and hath not séemed to light , in these respectes there ought to bee wyse scowtes to sée and vewe the Countrey cleare .

And as they may enter into these daungers by marching vnawares , so may they lykewyse by craft of the enemy be trained into them , as were the Fideniens by Romulus , who laying a parte of his Army in secret , ambushment approched vnto them , from whome hee fayning him selfe to flye , brought them hastely agayn pursuyng him where his Ambushmentes lay , who assayling them on euery syde easly slewe them . They ought therefore to take héede and not strayght way to beleue those things which are nothing reasonable , and that they are not as they import . Some to intrap their enimyes hath set before them a pray , if many of the one side be driuen away by a few of the other , or if a few on the one side assaught many of the other , or if some sodayne flight should be made , not standing with reason , let them in these causes take héed and iudge the worst , so shal they be sure to be the lesse beguiled .

By what meanes many hath passed Riuers or strayghts . To passe Ryuers or straightes , there hath bene diuers means vsed , some to passe Ryuers haue cut out a Trench like a rainbowe , filling it full of Wood , and setting it on fyre , by these meanes haue passed .

This policy was vsed by Q. Sextorius in Spayne , likewise by Pelopidas a Thebian , against the Thessalonians .

When Cressus might not wade ouer the Riuer Halis , neither yet could make Boat nor Bridge , he cast a ditche behynd his Army , and so turned the course an other way .

Caeser being in Fraunce and hauing to passe a Ryuer , and his passage being letted by the enemy on the other side , who were still ready to receiue him , marched many dayes along the Ryuer , and the like did the enemy , wherefore Caeser incamping in a wooddy place fit to hyde men , he tooke out of euery Legion iii. Cowardes and made them to tarye in the same place , commaunding them that so soone as he was deperted they should cast ouer a bridge and fortify it , and he with his other men kept on his way , but when he supposed the Bridge was redy , he returned passing the Ryuer without anye great let .

When Pericles of Athens , being driuen by them of Peloponesus into a place inuironed with stepe Hils , where was but twoo wayes to escape out , before the one way where hée entended to get out , hée caused a ditch to be cast of great breadeth , vnder pretence to shut out his enemyes , and to the other syde he led his Hoast , as thogh he wold ther haue broken forth , wherefore his enemyes beleuing he might in no wise escape that way where he him self had cast the ditche , withstood him with all their power , on the other syde , than did Pericles cast Bridges prepared for the nonce , ouer the ditche , & that way conuaid out his Army , wher ther was no man to let him . When Spartacus was inclosed by L. Varinus Proconsul , he pitched vp stakes here and there , before the entring of his Campe , and set theron dead carkases clad & Harnised lyke men , to make a show vnto them that were farre of , that watch and ward , was diligently kepte , leauyng also fyers in euery quarter of the Campe , vnder the which deceiptful colour he deceiued his enimyes , and conuayed away hys Hoast by night .

Darius to deceyue the Scithes at his departing , left Dogs and Asses in his Tents , whose barking and braying the enemyes hearing , thought Darius to be ther still .

With the lyke errour the Genowayes blynded the Romaynes .

Of such as hath bin inuaded . And now to speak something of such as hath bin inuaded , some hath sent their own men with their enemyes Aunsyentes to spoyle and burne their owne Countrey , whereby the enemy beleuing them to bée some of their owne company , or some that wer come in their ayd , running forth with out respect , hath bin therby made a pray .

By this meanes Alexander hauing a company of Epirotes agaynst them the Illiriens , sent forth certayne of his men in the Illiriens apparell giuing them commaundement to wast and destroy his own countrey , Epirus the which when the Illiriens espied , they now carelesse began to run forth on euery syde to pillage , and thus they wer intised & brought into daungerouse places where many of them were slayne , and the rest put to flight .

Some haue suffered the enemy to take many Townes , to the intent that by putting in the same Garisons he might by that meanes deminish his power and be made weake , and then by assaughting them they haue ouercome them .

Wher Souldiers hath bin found to be fugitiue or to run to the enemy , Where Souldiers hath bin fugityue . I think ther may be no better meane then that vsed by Haniball , who knowing certayne of his men to be fled the night before , & wist well that the enemyes spyes were in his Campe , he pronounced openly that those runagates were gon by his commaundement to harken and spye what his enemyes pretended , this being known to the Romanes spies , returned & told these newes to their company , whervpon these runawaies wer taken and their hands cut of , and thus they wer sent agayn to Haniball . When Hanno Captayne of Carthage in Cicilia vnderstood that Gaulls which hée had hyred about 4000. would leaue hym and go to the Romaynes : bycause they were behynde vnpayde for certayne monethes wages , and durst not punish them for feare of sedicion , but promised very liberally to recompence the iniury they had by prolonging the tyme , which something appeased them , and at conuenient he sent his most trusty Steward to Otacilius consull , fayning as though hée had fled away for a controuersy betwéene hys Captayn and him , in a certayn compt making , and shewed him the nexte night hée might take at aduantage 4000. Galleys which should be sent to get pray & pillage , Otacilius neyther geuing credit by and by to the runaway , neyther yet thought it a matter to be despised , layd an ambushment for them of the most piked men that he had , which incountring with the Galleyes , satisfied the drift of Hanno double , they slew many of the Romaines , & were themselues all slayne .

What circumspection shuld be vsed for fear of spyes . Noble Captaynes hath vsed great circumspection in their affayres , for being preuented with spyes , wherefore aboue all thinges it behoueth him to be secret .

One demaunded of Metellus pius , being in Spayne , what he was minded to doo the day folowing , who aunswered , if I wist the shirt on my back did know it , I wold surely burne it .

When one asked Lucinius Crassus what tyme he would remoue his Army , he aunswered , art thou aferd thou shalt not know that by the Drum.

But forasmuch as in al this time , ther hath yet bin nothing sayd appertayning to thée besieged : I will therefore shew thée something what respects they ought to haue , and so will end .

To shew thée what prouision of victuall , Vhat regard should be obserued by the besieged . Artilery , shot Powder , and such other firnitures they ought to be prouided of , were but in vayne here to make rehersall , considering they be thinges that euery man vnderstandeth , and is requisit to be prouided before the siege doth come .

I thinke it should as litle neede to aduertise them to beware of treasons , for those examples are likewise as generall .

But this ought to be had in regard amongest them , that the enemy take no comodity of their cattel , victual , hey , strawe , or any other prouision in the Countrey neare about them , for these thinges ought rather to bée destroied , than to be left as prouisions wherwithall to serue the enemy

The besieged ought to haue a speciall care to haue good watch to be kept , yea euen in those places wher they thinke they may take least hurt , for many Towns haue bin lost when the enemy hath assaulted it , on that part which the besieged hath thought to be inuincible .

By this policy Fabius Maximus wan the Citye Arpos , by the same meanes Marius in the war against Iugurth obtained a castel .

Let them lykewyse take héede for being drawne out of the Towne by any deuyse , as if the enemy fayneth to flye , or to make some other staall , for by these means many hath bin deceiued .

Haniball by these meanes obtayned the Citie Hymera Himilco of Carthage , at Agrigentum layd priuily in wayte neare to the Town , part of his Army , and commaunded that when the Townes men wer issued out a good way of , they should set gréen● wood on fyre , and in the morning very early with the other part of his Army he wen● to intise out his enemyes , and making a● though he fled reculing backe , drewe the● a good way from the Citye , then they tha● lay in ambushment neare the wals as the● wer commaunded , set the greene Wood on fyre , the Agrigentiues beholding the smother , ryse vp , supposed verily their City had bin on a fyre , thus fearfully running back to defend it , they wer incountered by those that had layne in ambushment , and thus betwéene them and the other which pursued they wer discomfited and slayne .

The besieged are sometymes beguyled by signifying vnto them some victory gotten , as did Pelopidas of Thebes , who pursuing to conquer twoo Townes at one instant of the Magnecians and which stood not far a sunder , he commaunded that foure Knightes shuld come from the one siege to the other , with Garlands on their heades , as though they brought tydings of victory , and to help forth this dissimulation he ordayned that a Wood which stood betweene both the Townes should be set on fyre to make a show as though the Towne had burnt , besides that he caused certayne men to be brought as prisoners in Townes mens apparell , by which assuraunce hee so amased the besieged , that they thinking them selues halfe ouercome , yelded vp .

There be many other practices wherwith the besieged hath bene beguiled , Many deuises wher by the beseged hath ben deceiued . some tyme when it hath bin knowne to the enemy , that there should come ayde to assist them , haue therfore appareled their Souldiers vnder the aunsients of those that should come , and thus haue deceiued them .

Sometyme by taking of those that haue gone aforaging sending others in their apparaile : Sometime by sending Souldiers vnder the colour of market men , dryuing beastes laden with trashe .

Sometime by turning from them their water , or else by poysoning of the same , as did Clisthenes of Cicion , the water that serued the towne of Criseans .

Sometyme when a Captayn hath found a Citie to be strong haue therefore conquered rounde about it , all the Townes and Casteles of purpose , to send in aboundaunce of people to the same Citie which they desired , and by these meanes haue spent their victuals , when famishment hath caused them to yeld .

Sometyme when Townes haue bin well replenished with men , which beyng knowne to the enemy that came to besiege it , haue turned to other places , and by these meanes haue brought abought , that the townes men on trust that their chiefe citie was strong enough , haue emptyed themselues to defend others , wherby it hath ben made easy to be won .

Fabius Maximus , wasting and destroying the countrey of Campania , to the ende he would leaue his enemies as bare as might be , he departed from them in the séede time to the entent they might sow the residue of theyr Corne , and when it was sprong vp , he returned and trod it to naught , and thus by famyn got them to yelde .

Thus I haue briefly shewed thée such sleyghtes as hath béen vsed by the noblest Captaynes , the knowledge wherof would not a little norish the imaginations of such as should peruse them , ther resteth now to shew thée certayn general rules , which are no lesse worthy to be noted , then profitable to be folowed , and thus they begin .

That whatsoeuer is profitable to thée , Certaine generall rules . is hurtfull to thy enemie , and that which helpeth him , hindereth thée .

He that in war most laboureth and exerciseth his Souldiers in warlike trauails shall alway sustayne lest perill , and sonest hope of victory .

Those counsailes are best which the enemy knoweth nothing of , tyll they be executed .

Occasion or sodaine hope in battail helpeth more , then vertue or strength .

To know in war how to take occasion , helpeth more then any other thing .

Neuer conduct Souldiers to fight the fielde , tyll theyr myndes be setled .

The greatest part of prudent Captains rather receue the vyolence of the enemye , then to go wyth vyolence to assaught .

It is hard to ouercome him that can truely iudge his owne strength , and what power his enemy is of .

A fewe men well practised , more auayleth , then great numbers vnperfect .

The well chosen place doth sometyme more auayle , then valiaunce or strength .

He that with disorder followeth his enemy vnwisely , may of a conquerour , become sometimes a loser .

He which is vnprouided of necessary victuall , is ouercome with out weapon .

He that asseyeth more in his horsemen then in his footemen , or in his footemen more then in his horsemen , must chose his ground ther after .

If thou thinkest thy counsayl to be known to thy enemyes , it standeth thée in hande to chaunge thy pretence .

Consult with many what thou oughtest to doe , but what thou myndest to execute , kéepe secret to thy selfe .

Good Captaynes neuer fight the fielde , except they be driuen vnto it by sodayne hap , or great néede .

The greatest pollicie is to greue thy enemie rather with hunger then with weapon .

It is necessary that Captaynes be well furnished with thrée kyndes of trusty people , that is to say , spyes , scowtes , & guides , ther trusty seruice bringeth good assurance to an Army , the lacke of them is great hinderaunce to inuasion .

Learne what may preuent thy enemie and profit thy selfe .

Captaines ought rather to say with pity this I can doe , then with tyranny this I will do .

To vse victory gently is more famous , then to conquer cruelly .

The hardy courage , lyberall heart , and good perswasion , maketh a Souldier more profitable to the battaile in the day of fight , then the coward Captaine folish and vnthankfull , with multitudes of treasure .

Though many other matters might here haue béen expressed , yet thus much at this instant , touching captaines shal suffice .

Soul.

The goodnes of thy godhed doth so graciously abound , that it maketh me perseuer in demaunding , being not afrayde to be reputed presumptious , and bicause it hath pleased thée of thy owne beneuolence , thus throughly to instruct me in the knowledge of martiall feates , and the seruice in the warres on the lande , yet forasmuch as the knowledge of the seruice at the Sea hath euer lykewise bene accompted a most honorable seruice , but in specially with vs in England , considering the greatest parte of our defence , doth something consist in the knowledge of the same , that it would therfore please thée to informe me likewise in some thing appertayning to that noble seruice , and of what gouernment Captaines should be , that ought to take such charge in hand .

Mer.

Touching the noble seruice at the Sea , it were much better for me to be sylent rather then in speaking , that I should seme to speake to lyttle , the which of necessitie I shuld be constrayned , or else to speke to small effect , considering that neyther by woord ther may be expressed , neyther with pen ther may be prescrybed any certayne derection that might gretly profit the skillest man , for the knowledge of that seruice is not to be attayned , Seruice at the Sea not to learned but by seruing on the Sea . but onely by seruing on the sea , and it behoueth such as shold be Captaynes , or to take charge that way , to haue some skil in Maryners Arte , the which at the shore is not to be come by .

Soul.

And yet I haue known some which I am wel assewred , cam neuer at the Sea , that hath bene able to discourse of Nauigation in a more perfect maner , then a great number of those that be accompted for skilfull Maisters .

Mer.

And yet those perfect talkers should be founde as ignorant to execute their own prescriptions , if they wer brought vnto the Sea , as thou shewest thy selfe to be deceyued in my meaning , to aunswer me thus in a cleane contrary matter , for it forceth not so much in a man of war to haue knowledge in the Art of Nauigation , as to be well experimented in many other causes , but bicause the variacion of thy aunswere falleth out so fit , to talke of Maisters skill , I wil shew thée therfore how the Maisters should be chosen , whereby thou maiest the better perceiue the meaning of my former words . Fyrst thou must vnderstand ther are , as they be termed , two sorts of Maryners , in whom ther is likewise found , two sundry skylls , that is , Art in the one , experience in the other , then first to speak of the artificiall Nauigator , who best deserueth the greatest commendation , be such as vse to trauail to far and vnknowne countries , who sayleth altogether by the vse of his instruments , who knoweth by the eleuacyon of the Pooles , by the Altitude of the sunne , the place wher they neuer came in before , with many other things , which to the vnlearned , might séeme very straunge , and the perfect manner of this Arte is in déede to be learned by him , that neuer came at the Sea , yet not to be executed but by him that hath experience withall .

The second sort be those that be commonlye called Coasters , and bée suche as hath little skill in the vse of Instruments , but their helpe is onlye by knowyng of the Land where they happen to fall , or else sometyme by sounding of the Depth , or by knowing what ground they haue vnder them in the place wher they sound , & such other lyke , as experyence hath taughte them , so that where there is occasion of seruice at the Sea , ther must respect be had to the place when the seruice should be done , and thereafter to make the choice of the Maister .

But forasmuch as English men are not greately troubled with Warres , on the Sea , but only vpon theyr own Coasts , the last sorte of Maryners are therefore thought moste requisite to bée appoynted for Maysters , the reason is , bycause England is inuironed with Holand , Sealand , and Fraunce , on the one syde , and with Ireland on the other syde , and the distaunce of the Chanyell is so narowe betwéene Land and Land , that it is a great chaunce that a Shippe being betwéene eyther of these places , should not once within xxiiii . houres fall , eyther with the one , or with the other , and then the perfect coaster that can ryghtly deserne to make & know the lande , is for many occasions the méetest man to serue in these afayres : and bicause the Maisters charge is especially to kéepe the Ship in good securitie when stormes and tempestes happen to fall , considering ther is here no Sea rome to try it out , but must séeke some place to herbour themselues , as wynde & weather will geue them leaue , I haue therfore briefly shewed how to make choyce of such a one as might be most fyt to aunswer the purpose .

But now to returne to our former talke , considering that the manner of the fighte should altogether be ordred by the captain , therfore , as I saide before , it is néedeful for him to haue some skill in Mariners Arte , else shall he neuer be able to iudge what he ought to do .

Soul.

I would thinke ther should be no great policie in Sea fight , but when they méete , he that hath the greatest number of Shyppes , and the best apoynted , by common reason , were lyke to haue the victorie .

Mer.

Nay not so , for ther is yet an other helper , which as it passeth the common reason of such as want experience , so it preserueth him that can attayne it , from any great daunger of his enemies , were they neuer so many , and that is , to haue the aduantage of the wynde .

Soul.

But then where the greater force hath bereft the other of that aduauntage , and thereby haue gotten himselfe double benefite , is there no other help then but to yeld ?

Mer.

Thou must vnderstand , the order of Sea fight is this , when enemies méete , the stronger wil seeke to assayle the weaker , the weaker then for his better securitie séeketh as much as he maye , if he can not get from him with a sayl , to get the winde , which if he may obtayne , the greatest fear is past , but if he be preuented , he must then determine to defende himselfe by blowes , which with wise gouernment , he may wel do , for although the hauing of mo Ships , or the greater company of men , is in déede a great aduauntage , so their daunger is a great deal more when they shall be driuen to assaught , & the other but to defend , for as great pollicie , and as much aduauntage may be vsed in the defence of a Shippe , as in the defence of a Castell , where one thousand men with good dyscresion , may repulse ten thousand , that should assaught them .

To shew thée any farther of their orders of ●ight , it would fall out to as small effect as this which I haue alredy tould thée , and therefore I would wish those that are desirous to haue knowledge in that seruice , to séeke it at the Sea , wher it is to be had , and otherwyse to be come by , to any perfection .

Soul.

Although thus ignorantly I follow styll in my order of demaunding , and séeing thy godhead so liberally to offer that which I should haue bene ashamed to haue asked , it geueth me therfore the greater encouragement , in specially when it procedeth rather of a desire that I haue to be satisfied my selfe , then of any obstinacy or any other wilfull contencion , and bicause I do now call to my remembraunce some part of our former discourse , wherein thou séemest to mislike in our choyce of English Souldiers , as far as I can perceiue by other of thy instructions , ther ought greater regarde to be had , in appoynting of the Captayne , then in the choyce of the pryuate Souldier , considering that it onely resteth in his dilygence , to trayne and make hys Souldiers perfect and redy at such time as néede shall require .

Mer.

what respecte should be had in the choosing of a Souldier , I wyll a lyttle ouer passe , and wyll fyrst shewe thée how Souldiers be chosen in Englande when occasion doth serue , which commonly falleth out in this manner .

The Prince , or Counsayll , The maner of chosing Souldiers in England . sendeth downe theyr warrant , to certayne Commissioners , of euerye such Shyer where they mynde too haue suche a number of Souldyers to bée leuyed and appoynted , the Commissioner he sendeth hys precept to the hye Constable of euery Hundred , the hye Constable of euerye Hundred , he geueth knowledge to euerye petye Constable of euerye Parrysh within his cyrquet , that vppon such a daye , he must bring two or thrée able and suffycient men , to serue the Prince , before such Commissioners , to such a place , the pety Constable when he perceyueth that wars are in hand , foreséeing the toyles , the infinite perilles , and troublesome trauayles that is incident to Souldyers , is loth that anye honest man through his procurement , shuld hazard him selfe amongst so many daungers , wherfore if within his office , there hap to remayne any idle felow , some dronkerd , or sediciouse quariler , a priuye picker , or suche a one as hath some skill in stealing of a Goose , these shall bée presented to the seruyce of the Prince , and what seruyce is to bée loked for amongest such fellowes , I thinke may easily be déemed , and I will somethinge shewe .

Fyrst by the way as they trauayle through the Countrey , Their vsage as they trauail thorough the countrey . where they chaunce to lye all nyght , the goodwyfe hath spedde well if shée fynde hyr shéetes in the morning , or if this happe to fayle yet a couerlet , or Curtins from the bed , or a Carpet from the table , some table clothes , or table Napkins , or some other thing must néedes packe away with them , there comes nothing amisse if it will serue to by drinke .

And lykewise as they go by the waye , wo be to that Pyge , Gose , Capon , Hen , Shéepe , or Lambe , that fortunes to come in their walke .

Then in the ende , The best seruice that is to be loked for amongst them . when they come in the place of seruice , where generally there are no suche loose endes in common to be founde , bicause they must haue something to kéepe them selues in vre , then his felowes shyrtes , his sword , his dager , his Caliuer , his Moryon , or some other parte of his furniture , must suffice the turne .

Whether this that I haue sayd be trew or nay , I stande to the report of such as hath hadde the leadinge of newe leuyed bandes .

Thus through the simplicitie of a Cunstable , the Princes seruice is abused , the maners and discipline of the aunsient orders corrupted , and the name and estimation of the noble Souldier vtterly despysed .

What farther inconuenience myght come of this appoyntment , Note this well . I thinke those that be wyse may very well foresée , when such euell condicioned people , in whome there remayneth neyther Religion , neyther obedience , neyther fidelitie , or good meaning , neyther any other one sparke of vertue , who being in place wher so many good lawes are prescribed , and may not yet be restrayned from their vile and filthye condicions , & yet shall nowe be put in trust to defende the Princes quarraile , wherein doth consist the onely securitie of those that were the setters of them forth , if they had reason to consider of it .

Soul.

I will not séeme to contende , but such order of apoyntment there may bée , and such Souldiers peraduenture maye be founde in these new leuied bands , but this I dare boldly affirme , that such Souldiers as hath ben trained , or that knoweth what to seruice doth pertayne , or any other in whome good seruice might be found , would as greatly despise to be detected of any such infamy , as any other that doth counterfait the greatest ciuilitie .

Mer.

How Souldiers ought to be chosen . Then to procéede how Souldiers ought to be chosen , the first and greatest respecte that should be had , is to haue regarde to his manners and condicions , otherwise ther might be chosen an instrument of mischife , and a beginner of disorder , then consideration must be had of his sufficiency , which is to be coniectured by the yeares , by the composition of his members , by the grace of his countenaunce , by the lustines of his body , and by the quicknes of his spiright , which may be supposed by the liuelinesse of the eyes .

And bicause such hath euer bene thought most expedient to serue for souldiers , which might best indure all maner of trauailes , & such as hathe not bene accustomed to any great ease , the which condicions , as many do suppose , is most common to be founde in the husband man , or labouring man , and although this supposition is not to be denaied , yet I do not allow of their choice , that wold chose husbandmen to serue for soldiers

Fyrst , bicause the labouring man may in no wise indure to be pinched of his victuall , I meane to be brought to some short alowance , as those that vse or frequent the wars , may sometime be brought scarsly to make on good dinner in a weeke , somtimes in a moneth , sometime in more , as occasion doth fal out : although I know , ther be many the wil think me to be much deceued , & wold aunswer , the husbandmen might best away with this scarsitie , considering the they be brought vp to hard & simple fare , which although it be trew , yet proofe hath shewed the contrary , wher any such hath bene apoynted , and experience hath taught such as haue marked it , that where any such want hath hapned , those kynd of people haue first shewed themselues to bée worst able to indure it .

And in warres it goeth not so much by him that can fare hardly , as by hym that can longest continewe with least meate .

For to fare hardly , ther is no man how dayntely so euer he hath bene brought vp , but hunger wyll teach him to away with a courser dyet .

But he is to be alowed for a Souldier , that if occasion doth serue , can be wel contented to satisfie himselfe with some small petaunce , or that may endure with some little quantitie , whose courage wyll nothing dismay , if they may haue but wherwith to suffice Nature , and this abstinence proceedeth onely of the valewer of the mynde , and is not to be founde in the husband man , or labouring man , who although they may away with simple fare , yet they must haue their bellies fyld , they can not abide to be pinched of their victual , for if thei be brought but to some small restraint in comparison what noble Souldiers will indure they presentlye shewe themselues to haue no manner of courage but euen as men that were more then halfe dead in whom there is to be found neither hope nor comforte .

An other cause why I would refuse suche for Souldiers is this , because the order of seruice in these daies consisteth much in the quicknesse , nimblenesse and redinesse in Souldiers and this celerytie is not to be found in Husbandmen , or laboryng men .

Furthermore they are vtterly voyde of one of the greatest graces that to a Souldier doth pertayne .

Which is to be delightsome in the wearing of his apparell and in the keeping of his furniture : for lyke as there was yet neuer any excelent Artificer whiche hath not had a speciall regard in the keepyng of such Instrumentes as apertayneth to his facultie in a neat and decent manner , so questionlesse he he wyll neuer proue to be good Souldier , that hath not delight in the keping of his furniture , wherewith he is apoynted to serue in a braue and galant order .

And in my opinion one of the greatest respectes that maye be vsed in the choyce of a Souldier in whome there hath bin had no maner of triall , is to haue consideration in his order of apparell , for he that taketh not some felycitie in the wearynge of his garments in good order and fashion , wil neuer take any pleasure in the keepynge of his furniture , and to be short wyll neuer proue to be a good Souldier , for what vnséemlyer sighte may there be when a Souldier shall come into the Féelde with his Armour all rustye , the ioyntes vnriueted , the Leather and Buckels all broken and tyed together with poynts , his Sworde halfe without a scabard , his Pyke head vnuayled , and sewtable to the reste , his Caliuer so vernisht with rust , that the Cocke wyll not play , and then his game wyll not goe , as they tearme it , his Morryan with one cheeck off , and an other one , or els hanginge a swashe lyke a Hogge new hunted , and although that euery band hath of ordinary Armorers , and other that be appoynted for the mendyng of any the premesses , yet the pinishnesse is such , or rather the slouthfullnesse of a many of lubbers so great , that they cannot vouchsafe to cary them where they might haue suche fautes amended withoute any other trouble .

Wherfore , I woulde not wishe that any such kynde of people should be permited to serue for souldiers , for what greater incouragment may there be to the enemy , then when he shall incounter with such a one as both by his apparell and the reste of his furniture doth shew himselfe to be but of some base minde , or of some other simple condytion , and noble Captaines hath euer sought al meanes and occasions to discorage their enemies , and not to incorage them . Wherfore the Romaynes were accustomed to garnishe their souldiers with Feathers , to the ende the shewe of their Armye might seeme the more teryble to their enemyes .

Lykewise the first inuention of the wearynge of Scarfes in the warres , was vsed as well for terrifinge the enemye with the brauery of the show , as also for necessaryes verye meete and readye to bynde vp a wounde when they shoulde not come by clothes at a souddayne where with to serue the tyme .

Thus much touching the choyse of Souldiers at this present shall suffice , yet not forgetting to geue them these few precepts . Which is principally and aboue all things to be obedient to their Captaine , to practise the vse of such weapons wherewith they be appoynted to serue , to be secret , to be silent and to be couragious .

And now beholde where the court of Venus doth shew it selfe to be but euen , heere at hand , and therefore there is better time to end our talke , then when we shall ende our iourney .

Soul.

But if without presumption I might but demaund this laste question wherein I greatly desire to be satisfied , and this it is , whether the Calyuer , or the long Bowe as we tearme them heare in Englande , be of greatest force I haue harde this question diuers times to be argewed on & some that haue bin supposed to haue had good experience haue preferred the Caliuer to be of greater force in seruice then the bow which I think few wisemen wyll beleeue , and our enemies can witnesse to the contrary that from time to time haue felte our Archers force , and how many noble victoryes haue bin by them achiued , Cronicles are ful , and Histories can well make mencion , and I am of that mind that one thousand good Archers would wronge two thowsande shot , yea and would driue them out of the Feeld and there be a great many of that opinion beside my selfe .

What hath bin don in time paste maketh nothing to the purpose for the time present for the order of the warres is altogether altered , and in an other manner then they haue bin in time past , but now to answer to thy demaund and breefly to satysfye thy desire , thou must first consider to what perfection shot is lately growne vnto ouer it hath bin within these few yeares , when paraduenture if there were one that sarued with a Halfehaake or a Hagbus as they termed them which were peeces to small efect , vnlesse it were euen hard at hand , ther is now ten for that one , which serueth with the Caliuer or Musquet which , peeces ar of a new inuension and to an other effect . So lykewise they haue a better composition for the makynge of their powlder and the Souldier is grown by practise to a greater celerity in the vsing of his peece then in time paste he hath byn of . Thus the effecte of the one by practise is increased , and the force of the other by nature is deminished , for the strength of men is generally decaied , whereby they are not able to draw so stroung a bow , nor to shoote so stronge a shotte as in the olde tyme men haue bin accustomed .

But to the ende thou mayest the better perceaue wherein the aduantage or disaduantage doth growe . I wyl vse this comparison ( wherby ) I doubt not but thy owne reason shall perswade thée .

Suppose one thousande Archers shoulde be leuyed within any two Shiers in Englande let them vse no further regard in the choice then of ordinary they ar accustomed : In the seruice of the Prince , let these Archers be apoynted with such liuery Bowes as the Country generally vseth to alow , let these Archers continnewe in the feelde but the space of one wéeke , abidynge such fortune of weather , with their Bowes and Arrowes , as in the mene time might happen . I would but demaunde how many of those thowsand men were able at the weeks end to shoote aboue x. score . I dare vndertake that if one hundred of those thousande doo shoote aboue ten score , that .ii. hundred of the rest , wyll shoote shorte of .ix. score , and is not this a peece of aduantage thinkest thou ? when euery Calyuer that is brought into the Feelde wyl carry a shot xviii . score and , xx . score , and euery Musquet .xxiiii , and xxx . score .

Besides this euery Bushe , euery Hedge , euery Ditch , euery Tree , and almost euery Moalhil is a sufficient safgarde for a shotte , where the Archer is little worse , but on a playne , when the shotte wyll conuay them selues into euery couerte , that the Archer shall not see whereat to shoote , and yet hee himselfe remayne a fayre marke for the other , or els can vse no seruice .

Now whether part hath the aduantage , I thinke may well be deemed , and whether weapon is of greatest force , a man maye eas●ye perceaue , when the shotte shall be able to preiudice the Archer , who shal not be able to shoote halfe the grounde towardes him agayne . Farther when the Shotte shal take aduantage almost in eueri ground to shrowd himselfe , where the Archer must remaine an open mark vppon the plaine or els to occupy his Bow to smal efect .

But let it be that one thowsand Archers and one thowsande shot should meete in the playne Feelde where no vantage were to be taken by the ground , & admit they were ioyned in skirmish , within .viii. or .ix. score where the Archer is able to shutte twice to the others once , wherby the Arrowes comming so thick amongst them , wil so astone them that the contrarye part shall not well know where at to shoote .

Mer.

But those that frame this argument hath little practise in the vse of the Calyuer , and lesse experience in the order of a skyrmishe for if a thowsand Archers were brought into the Feelde I trust all woulde not be brought to shootte at one instant for yf they were , some of them would shoote to small a vayle , as he that hath experience can well say .

And yet if there were no other aduantage to be vsed in skirmshe , but who can shoote fastest he that is a ready shotte I dare say , would be loth that an Archer should shoots aboue , viii . times to his .v.

And this aduantage in often shootyng is not so great in the one but the difference is much more in the other , considering their force for where the one doth but gaulde the other doth either mayne or kyll .

But to shew thée what farther aduantage the shot hath of the Archer thou shalt vnderstand that where the Archer may shoot both wide short and gone , the other may shoott but wyde onely . But because thou mayst the better perceayue my meanynge thou must consider that when the Archer shooteth any distance of grounde , the Arrowe commeth compasse of a great height , so that when it commeth where it should indanger , which is , with in the compasse of mans height it falleth presently to the ground and hath but as it were one lightyng place and paraduenture may come directly ouer one mans head and fall right at an other mans feet which standeth but .iii , yeardes behind , where if it had falne but one foote shorter , it had indaungered the firste so yf it had gone but one or two foo●e farther it had hazarded the last .

Thus as I haue saide the Archer though he shoote right yet he may shoote both ouer and vnder , where the other can shoote but wide onely , considering that the shot is styll carried away within the compasse of mans height , whiche aduantage to such as hath reason to decerne it arighte shall perceyue , that one shotte from the Musquet or Calyuer , is of greater possibilytie to indaunger then fiue that shall come from the beste Archer that is brought into the Feelde .

Soul.

I vnderstande the meanynge verye well , and doo nowe perceaue the Calyuer indeede to be of greatest force , and yet I had a great deale rather beleeue it my selfe , then to vndertake to make a great many of others to beleeue it .

But nowe I perceaue we may hange our Bowes vppon the walles for I can not perceaue how they wyll nowe stande vs in any great steede to serue in warres .

Mer.

Nay not so neyther , was it any part of my pretence so absolutlye to obiecte the Archer nor yet to make hym of so small effect , but that his seruice is to be commended , and not to be forborne , for so it mighte as well be sayde what should Horsemen do in the Feelde where the enemye hath picks to defende them against whom they coulde yet neuer preuayle : yet no man doubteth but Horsemen are seruisable for manye causes , although it be not to run against the Picks , so likewise Archers maye do verye good seruice , althoughe it be not to incounter with shotte .

But my wordes tended to this ende that I woulde not haue thee to be ignoraunt in the vse of so principall a weapon , but rather woulde wysh it might be practised , considering it asketh tyme , or many may haue the readye vse of it , for lyke as it is a specyall Weapon to hym that can vse it in good order , so it is as defused , and vntowarde to hym that hath not the practise of it , and shal sooner indaunger hymselfe , or his Friende that standes nexte vnto hym , then hurte his Enemye . Therefore I woulde wyshe that those which should vse this Weapon , to be very expert and wary in the vse and orderyng of the same .

And now behoulde , we haue at lengthe approched to our desyred place , loe heere the Courte of Venus , where for a tyme I wyll leaue thee to finish thy pretence .

And as I was deuising with my selfe , what reuerence I might vse to the God for his great curteysies , hée was sodainly vanished from my sight , I wyst not where , and it was no tyme for me then to stande vppon my newe determinacions , but prepared my selfe to this sumptuous Court . To the which when I was approched nere , my mased minde was fullye fraught with greate admiration , not so muche to sée the rarietye of the worke , and the straungenesse of the buylding , as to sée such sundrye shewes of diuerse stoanes of pryce , of variable hewe , the whiche in euerye wall was there ●o curiouslye couched , as it surely passed any arte of hand ▪

There was dyrectlye ouer the entrye of the gate , twoo fearefull examples of Iustice vsed vpon twoo obstinate persons which had béene rebelles to the Lawes of Venus .

The one was that scornefull ymphe Narcissus , whose bewtye enamoured the heart of euery Dame that dyd behold him , and whose pryde disdayned that any at all shoulde so muche as touch him , for which contempt hée him selfe was as iustlye deluded , as before he was accustomed to delude , and mocke with others , for lyke as his bewtye had inflamed the harts of many a Ladye , which had behelde it , euen so it was ordained by the prouidence of the Gods , that in beholding the Image of his owne face in a cleare well , his owne bewtye , which before had bewitched so many hath nowe so beguiled him selfe , that hée there miserably consumed with loue with his owne shadowe .

The other shewed how the Lady Anaxarete , a wylfull Dame , whose stoany heart woulde neuer rewe on Iphis cause , who seeing him selfe to bée bereaued of al manner of hope dyd hang him selfe before her gate , the Gods now séeing this woofull chaunce transeformed this Dame to a hardyned stoane for her vngentle facte .

There was ouer these twoo stories , a verse in Latine written in lettes of golde , which might bée Englished thus .

Loe , here the dome of Rebelles such which earst our lawes contemnde : Whose paruerse mindes , and haughtye pride , are iustly thus condemnde .

And when I was come into the base Courte , I gaue my specyall regarde to the maners of such as passed by me to and fro , whose gestures as they were diuers , so ther orders of apparell and maner of aray was as contrary & varyall , for who had throughly marked them , might partlye haue deserned the effects of loue by their orders & conuersation .

Ther were some that were arrayed all in greene , Snters at Venus Courte or lyke delightsome coulors , by whose lustye cheare , they seemed to be such as had the world at wyll , wantyng no part of their desyers .

There were other lykewise appareled in blew , vsynge a more demuer countenance there were some that were appareld all in yellowe , by whose franticke conuersation there mighte be deemed some suspytiouse minde , there were other in russet , vsing a very modest cheare , some in tawny , whose doleful lookes bewrayed some secret greefe

There were some that were arayed all in black walkyng by them selues in solytary sorte , wringing of their hands , beatynge of their breastes , yeeldynge many piteous sighes , who had behelde them , might well haue deemed a liuely patterne of a desperat mynde . And when I was come into the vpper Court , the beauty thereof , was not so far excéeding , but the Musick which I hard in euery corner , was as swéete and delctable : from thence I passed into a sumptious Hall which was richly hanged with clothe of Arres work , wherein was wonderfully wrought many a famous History , tending all to the aduancemente of the Goddes Venus , and of Cupid her sonne , shewinge how it hath caused the stronge and myghty to become feeble and weake , the Cowarde and dastarde , to be valyant and hardye , the wylde and sauage to be humble and meek , the fierceste and furyous to be gentyll and lowly , the wise and learned to be foolyshe and fond : and not onely men that hath bin thus transformed , but euen the Goddes them selues , hath become subiecte & thral , and constrained to obey to Venus and her lawes .

In the vppermoste parte , the Goddes Venus was firste described , sittynge in her Waggon , wherin she is drawne by her too Doues , there was standing by her a basket heaped with harts : which was most pitifullye consumed in Flames of scorchyne fire , sauing that the Goddes hauing Water standing by , would nowe and then delaye the rage and furious heate : In the fore parte of the Wagon stoade the blind boye Cupid , wounding with his arrowes the hearts which houered in the ayre , in secure and carelesse sort . Then there was lykewise shewed howe the mighty Ioue , when hée went to vewe the Heauens and earth , to sée if ought had perisht through Phaetons wylfull fact , in which suruaye , as hée espied the fourme and bewtye of Parrasis , a Nimphe of Dianas troupe , with whome hée as carefullye sought to accomplishe his desyre , as before hée had regarde to the repayring of the Heuens and the restoring agayne of the Earth to the former estate where it was decayed .

There was also shewed the whole storye how Appollo was in loue with Daphne , Mercury with Herse , Bacchus with Guosida , Virtunmuus with Pomena , Pan with Sirinx : And how many of them for their better speede hath taken vpon them sundry shapes , and transformed themselues as Iuqiter to a Bul , Phebus to a cuntry clown Mercury to a Goat , Saturne to a Genit and Bacchus to a Grape , and not the celestyall Gods , that haue bin thus by loue subdewed alone , but also the Goddes of the Sea , and euen Pluto himselfe , the God of Hell , hath not bin able to resist this mighty strocke of Cupids pearsing dart .

There was also to be séene that monstrus and ougly Giant Polipheme , whose wylde and sauage kynde gaue terror to euerye thing that dyd behold hyme , and yet he was by loue so surprised and ouer come , that for the time he cleane forgate his wildernesse and mourtherous harte , and frames hymselfe in forme of woers trade .

There was also how the noble Herculus became from a mighty conquerour , to sitte in womans attyre , at the whéele and Cardes , and serued Omphale Queene of Liddia , and farthermore , how both Aristotle and Socrates , in despight of their Philosophy , the one became a slaue to Hermia the other a subiect to Aspasia .

There were many other Historys , which all together tended that neither wysedome learnyng , polecye , strength . valyaunce , nor any other sleighte , may once withstande or preuayle against the asaults or conflictes of loue . There was in the vppermost verge of this clothe artificially wrought in great Letters , a verse in Latten , the some wherof contayneth to this effect .

Yf neither God ne man my snares , hath yet escaped free : What wight art thou , wilt then resist , against my lawes and mee .

Dewring the time that I stood thus pervsinge of these descryptions , there weare many Gallaunte Ladyes and other beautyfull Dames , which passed by me to and fro , amongst which there was one who perceyuing me to be a straunger , very courteously salutynge me demanuded yf I had any sute to prefer to the Goddes Venus , wherin she might pleasure me , for that she was accustomed as she sayd to prefer ech louers cause , and to assist them in their sutes .

To whom when I had geuen most humble thankes , I courteously intreated her to shew me her name , which as she sayd was good countenaunce , whom euery louinge wight hath in great veneration .

When I perceiued Fortune so fauorably to assist me , I thought it had binne but mere simplicytie for me to forsake the Ladies fryndly offer . Wherfore in breefe discourse , I shewed her the whole cause of my comming thither , which as she vnderstoode takynge me by the hande , she led me vp a payre of stayers , and broughte me into a merueylous large and beautifull chamber whiche was replenished with lusty Gent. and mani other braue and gallaunt dames and as they were dispearsed in many companyes , so they were vsing as many amorus exercisses , some were recityng of tales , and tellyng louinge Historyes , some were singyng to the Lute and Virginalles , many amorous Ballades , some were in the Pauyans and Galliardes , and happye was he that before his Ladye coulde do the lustiest tricke , with many other like pastimes .

The which when I behelde , I began to imagine in my selfe , and in my mind to say O blessed and happy wights , how fortunate are your dayes , in what pleasure and delight spend you your blessed time in respect of souldiers , whose hard tearmes and miserable conditions , are far otherwise alotted , when they must march in the Féeld after the stroks of dredful droms , you may dance vppon the risses after the steps & sounds of Inruments , when souldiers be in the féeld dealynge of bloudye blowes , you may be your Ladies chambers delyng of amorus kisses , sweet imbracyngs , and louinge countenances , when Souldiers muste be content to take their lodgings in the wylde feelds : and open ayre , and yet not assuered to lye all night in quiet , you may be in your warme and soft feather Bedes , imbracing your delights , abidyng no vnrest vnlesse it be to satisfye your owne amorous desires , when Souldiers muste be rowsed to geue some earlye assaulte you may kéepe your Beds , vnlesse you some times , arise to geue your Parramours the hunte is vp , vnder the windowes , most happye therefore ( I say ) is your estates , and as I continued in these cogitacyons , commendynge in my minde both loue and louers trade .

There was one that as it were in the nick began to tell a straunge and tragicall History , the which I gaue good heed which tale when he had finished , I was throughly resolued to how manye mischifes vayne men commit them selues , whose loue is so inordinat , that nether bite nor bridle is able to restraine the furye thereof , and for as much as I haue vsed this tedious longe discourse of warres and marciall causes , I think it not amisse to recreate your weryed myndes with this so straunge a Historye , whereby you shall perceiue whether this grose affection , vayne hope , and blynd loue , may carry men vnto , and of what force the Arrowes of blind Cupid be , and what frute they bringe to them that practise the same how it not onely passionatly their mindes with most outragiouse , and intolerable afflictions , but also so farre ouerwhelmeth them that they many times , throwe them selues head longe into the gulfe of mortall destruction , and into the depth of shame and infamy as this history more euedently appeareth which in this wise ensueth .

IN Prouince a Countrye which all men know , no whit inferior to any in all Europe , whether it be for the situation thereof as being replenished with rych and fayre townes , or for the fertyllytie and pleasantnesse of the soyle , or the courtesye and ciuillytie of the people inhabityng or dwellyng in the same .

There is a little towne or village not farre from Nice whiche they call Lagrasse , situated in a fayre long playne & in so pleasante a place , as any man may with eie behold in that plaine to the merueilous ornamentes and deckynges of the buildyng , the goodly grasse groweth so thicke and greene that were it not for the continuall grasinge of the cattell in the same , it would alwaies appeare a contynuall springe time , besides throughout this grassye and flowery playne you maye beholde the goodlye Lemons , Orange and Pomegarnet Trees charged and laden with their frutes , deckynge the country so rychlye in such goodly order that it séemeth onely nature hath traueled to the adournyng thereof , and besides these all other kynde of frutes doth so inoble and adorne this teretory or place , that it semeth to resemble the famous wood of Thesalien remembered or spoken of by Heredotus Plinius , Strabo , Elias & in his third booke of Hystorys diuers , and not forgotten of the the Poets whiche place is frequented , and assayled of the passers by , especiallye of the Inhabytantes , whiche bidde ( as it were battell ) to the Trées and fru●es

Which Playne is set betwéene two small Hills on eueryside , shadowing the flancks of this frutful Valley , which is waterd with brookes or Riuers : that with their pleasant murmur or swéete softe noyse , do floate aboute this pleasant verdure naturall , re , ioysinge the eyes of man , and serue for the pasture of the flock of sheepe and heards of cattell , of all the countrye theraboute , In this same earthlye Paradice , and not farre from the sayd towne , stands there a Castle named Chabry , the Lorde wherof not long before espoused the Daughter of one of his neighbors called the Lord of Mas , of whom our Historye hererafter shall make ofton mencion , This younge Lady gouerned her life so modestly al the time of her youth , that her honest chastitie was no lesse commended of all that knewe her , then the chaste Lucrecia or Penelope .

But be it , whether the hipocrisie so long hyd in the wicked hart of this Ladye , could not any lenger couer the wickednesse therof , without shewing some profe of the fruts of the same , or whether that the grenenesse of her Husbands yeares , being now for age come into a scortchy drynesse , and withoute moysture , had lost his strength , or ( possible ) led by the naturall appetite of such as loue to change , beinge now vppon the poynte of their age , of a younge vertuous and chaste Lady , she was now become an olde harlot , and being tender , and in the yeares of her youth gaue vnto all a more hope , ( that is to say ) shewed more effect of her honesty , then hir age did in the mortifica●ion of these heats , proper to the follye of that vnbridled youth , to the whiche they binde their affection , and the effect of litle discription , accordynge as they saye commonlyg that of a young holy Hermit , oftentimes we sée the chaung , to be transformed into an olde Deuyll .

This Ladye now comminge to yeares and Children , began to muse of loue , and to desire of her Husband that which could not be twice had , and that whiche she her selfe had not so much desired when those flames are moste excéedinge in the gréennes of her yeres , she not contenting her self now with the frosen and rare imbracementes of her Husbande , she beganne to excogitate the meanes to satisfie her vnbrideled desyers , and by that meanes beganne the mischife which after caused the ruine of her self , and the perpetuall dishonour of all hers .

These are , as you may see , the effect of this wrecthed beast , carnall pleasure to bring to man the plague or pestilence , vnder the vizor of a cleare & holsome ayre , and to plong and drown the séely ship when the saylours shal think themselues most in queit harbor Who wil not confesse heere that loue is as it weare a certayne rage , madnesse or fury , séeing that she doth cause to doo violentlye , that whiche ought to refraine and bridle those immodesties , & foolysh passions , that she doth suggerate or put into our mindes . Now there was dwelling in this Lagrasse , a certaine Docter of the lawes , an aduocate and a Citisen of the sayd towne .

This Docter , for that he was of counsell with the Lords of Chabry , in proces of time had so good credit both of the Lorde and Lady that oftentimes he entred into the chamber of the Lady , her Lord being absent , and woulde there consult with her in her Bed , wherof the Lorde was nothing suspicious , but it came that on a daye , ( during the absence of the Lorde of Chabry ) this Doctour came to visyte and sée this Madame , lying yet in her Bedde , where hée bent him selfe to behold & contemplate more liuely the bewty of the Lady , whsoe liuely colloure her Age had nothing altered : And with an intent farre otherwyse then hée was wont to ouersee the professe the Lord of Chabry : Shée which sawe the Doctour youthfullye disposed : And as sufficientlye able to furnishe the affayres appertayning to the bed , as of matters in the Lawe whiche touched the house , was nothing sorye to sée this Goate to beholde her so vnshamefastly , but more bolde than any common harlot , made no conscience to discouer that part of her bodye , the which honestlye any shamefast woman coulde not , nor ought to discouer , And that with countenaunce and eyes so Lasciuious & vndiscret , that he that were least practised in the affayres of loue , might easelye haue knowne and perceyued , what prouendour the Horse nayghed for , Iudge then if this Lawyer sufficiently practised in such deceyptes , knew or perceyued that , she most desyred , or if hee forgat to commend the bewty or proportion of the well shape in members of this vnshamefaste Alcine : Which in smyling wyse spake vnto him : Alas Mayster Tolonio ( for so was hée called , ) Is it not , vnto me , great dammage ? That my Lorde is so discrepite and olde , that I can not nowe any more enioye that thing , that it may content my pleasure and appetite , being my selfe in suche disposition as you sée ? truelye this good man careth for no more but to mumble his Prayers and small Suffrages , in the euening tyll he bée as coulde as Ise , which doeth whollye coole in mée the heate of my first desyres : And if at any tyme I doe aduaunce my selfe , to styrre vp in him , or to awake the forces of the fleshe , alas it is no purpose , so that ( wyll I or nyll I ) I must bée fayne to kysse ( as it were the Shéete ) with so great displeasure , as I shoulde haue of contentment , If I had a man worthy of mée , which could accomplishe this appointment , whiche is due in Marriage .

The Doctour hearing this , right easelye vnderstood vnto what ende shée had discoursed this fayre Tale : Aunswered , Madam , I suppose your Ladyship hath euer prooued and knowne mée for the Loyall and faithful seruitour of your house : Neuerthelesse , I beléeue ( vnder correction ) that my Lorde is not so farre spent , that his age should let him to geue yet some contentacion , to any Gentlewoman , how yong or lustye so euer shee were .

The dishonest Ladye hearing him saye so , aunswered : Tolonio , men iudge commonly of thinges at randome , as they haue taken roote in theyr cogitacions , through their owne onely opinions , but those which haue knowne the effectes , and whiche haue experimented tho contrarye , maye speake without reproche , and according to the truth of that which others hold not , but by thought onelye , you estéeme my Lord so valliaunt a Champion : that ( by your wordes ) there is no armour which he is not able to péerce , But I which doe féele , his weakenesse , cowardise , and small force , maye speake thereof more certainelye and assuredly , to my great gréefe , to the ende , that you taking compassion of my sorrowfulnesse , maye seeke the meanes to succour mée , and to delyuer me from this greéfe of sicknesse , that I doe endure : Madame sayde hée , thinke not , that for the encrease of your anoy , I haue spoken so boldlye , for I wyll rather chose death , the most shamefull and ignomious , that anye man coulde imagyne or thinke , then to haue geuen to your Lady shippe , the least occasion of sorrowe : And I woulde to God , Madame that my trauaile or dylligence , might serue for an ease , or abatement of your Ladyshiyps trouble , you shoulde then right well perceyue that Tolonio is not of the number of those , whiche promysing much and performing lytle , but I geue you to vnderstande , ( if it please your Ladyshippe to vse mee ) that of al those of your housholde , there is none more readye to obeye , or do seruice vnto your Ladyshippe , bée it that therein I should offer or sacryfice myne honour , or lyfe , yea , and I shall thinke my selfe happy to employe and spende eyther the one or the other , in the seruyce of so famous and high a Ladye : And saying so ? seeing him selfe aloane in her Chamber , tooke the hande of the Lady and kyssed it , with great affection : The Ladye séeing the matter sort to that effect , euen as shée had before excogitate , or thought in her fantasye to execute , pressing hard the hande of this Gentleman , spake vnto him verye curteouslye : My Lorde Tolonio , if fortune were to you so fauourable , and rendered mee so muche yours , that you shoulde thinke or beléeue to haue parte of my good grace and fauour , what thing woulde you enterpryse or attempt to inioye : and please her which so lyberallye , and without any other respect , eyther of lyfe , or honour , would leaue vnto you her heart in gage , and her bodye to dispose at your pleasure .

A Madame , sayde the Doctour , the feare that I haue , that so greate goodnesse shall not chaunce or come vnto mée , ( although I doe earnestlye desyre the same , ) maketh my heart to faynt : And on the other syde , the pleasures of my conceptions lyfteth mée vp so high , that there is nothing so difficult or harde , that I would not wyllinglye take in hande to attayne the same : Pardon mée Madame I beséeche you , if I haue béene bolde so lyberally to discouer vnto you , that whiche I thought to kéepe secréete in myne owne heart ? And blame and accuse your selfe , that hauing power ouer mée , haue made mee to saye more then I had determined to manifest , vanquished of a passion so extreame .

And say you so said this dishonest lady ? truly that was the very scoope or poynt wherevnto I did most aspire , and since it is so , that I maye Assure my selfe of youre fidelitie and faythfull loue , I praye you also to trust and beleeue assuredly , The infamous Docter , and coursed Ladye haue agreed together . that I am and wilbée holy at youre commaundement , and that which I haue promised in worde you shall sée it come to passe by the effectes , the playes and pastymes accomplished both of the one and the other partie , the two detestable adulterers made theyr matche to geue them thenceforth to passe the tyme as plesauntly as coulde be thought : Euenso this disloyall varlett obeyed the vnbrideled pleasure of this vnshamfast woman heaping sinne vpon sonne , for beside the abhominable syn of defyling Another mannes bedde , he committed felony and treason againste him which put assured trust in him , He committed Felonye and Treson . and at the wages of whome he did ordinarilye liue . Here may we sée what the mallice and wretchednesse of those is , which vnder the cloak of good letters & learning and couloured ( naye rather stuffed ) with a certayne vayne knowledge to descerne and Iudge Iustice from iniustice , make profession to ouerthrowe all Iustice , to peruert all order of honesty , and to deceiue vnder the title of good fayth , the consciences of the most simple .

Thus oure vnhappy worlde ( or rather ) the mallice of this our cursed tyme hath made to budde and spring of men that are learned , Deuells , which vomiting a certain false Philosophy haue infected the ayre with their corruption , and not contenting them selues to abuse the fleshe , and to bring the life of man vnder the Adulterouse Infamy of beastly , carnall and filthy pleasure , haue ( as it were giauntes ) addressed them selus to battayle against the heauens .

So truelye the houshoulde Seruaunt euell effectes towardes his Lorde and mayster is more to be feared , then a thousand enemies Running and wandering abroade as ths Lorde of Chabry experimented by the meanes of this mayster Lawyer the which abusyng the Lady and she her Lord & husband , both of them ( I say ) to the ende the more at their ease to continewe their insolent whoredom and abhominable lyfe , made their matche together , to murder him , and euen as they had deuised so they brought it to effect .

For this corriuall of his Lorde , The adu 〈…〉 Lady hi 〈…〉 one to ki 〈…〉 husbande . corrupted and hyred a varlet , alreadie enclined and accustomed vnto suche detestable exercises , & made him to promise him that he would murther the Lorde of Chabry , and to that ende he gaue vnto him a good summe of money , this minister of mischiefe hoping also for some further gayne , made no more a doo , but watched the houre , time , and occasion , when without noyse he mighte bring to ende hys determinate purpose , whiche came him well to passe , for one day fynding the poore Lorde walking alone within a certayne close , whiche lay néere to his house , this Murtherer accompanyed with another lyke him selfe , came all disfigured , and without speaking any worde , they bothe ranne vpon this vnfortunate Gentleman , and most miserably killed and mangled him , and fledde from the place where the fact was committed before any man vnderstoode of the myserable death of this Lord , whiche was the cause that the murtherers were not surprised nor knowen . And lesse it was that any had the least suspition , that the Lady his wife , or hir Proctor Tolonio had deuised that treason , and caused this poore Innocent to be murthered . But this mischieuous woman after the knewe of the death of hir Husbande , She fayneth desperation . halfe in dispayre ( for suche she faygned hir selfe to be ) cast hir selfe vppon the mangled and bléeding carkasse of hir Husbande , maynely crying out , not sparing to teare hir apparell , and the heares of hir head , watring the face of the deceassed with faynt feares , began to fayne a voyce apt to expresse the inwarde dolour of a passioned spirite , Ah wicked woman . in saying : Ah ▪ misfortunate Gentleman , is it come to passe that thy fate and destinie should conduct thée to this misfortune ? and that in the time of these thy latter yeres , in the middest of thy friends , and in thine owne house , to haue béene murthered so trayterously ? Ah that I my selfe had not beene partaker of thys thy great misfortune , that I might haue been companion in graue with him , the loue of whom shall neuer departe , out of my soule : Ah cruell Murtherer ( who soeuer thou arte ) what floudes of teares thou shalte make to be distilled , and how much bloude wilte thou make to be effused to appease and pacifie the ghost of my good Lorde and husband ? I beseech the Gods that thou mayst neuer be able ( théefe and traytour what soeuer thou be ) to escape the handes of him , which hauing sworde in hande shall auenge me that am thus miserably afflicted by thy onely meanes . Ah my friende , sayde she ( imbracing the body all discheuered of hir dead husbande ) how shoulde this traytour knowe thée , whiche hath thée so vilanously outraged and slayne . Alas poore children , what a father haue you lost , and I poore widdowe desolate , the sustentation of myne honour , and the support of all my familie ? In this meane time the Doctor , hauing made sute after the murtherers of his good Lorde , and returning from the pursute of them which lodged in his owne house , was very ioyous to sée this Lady so well to play hir parte in this Tragedie , of the which she hir self was the very first author , approching vnto hir , hauing the teares in his eyes , sayd vnto hir : Wel Madame , sayde he , wyll you nowe ( as they say ) cast the Hatchet after the Helme . My Lorde is deade , and thinke you to rayse him vp agayne by your vehement lamentations and cryes ? Take pacience , I pray you , in that aduersitie that it hath pleased God to sende vs , and imploy and assay your selfe to take vengeance vpon those whiche you shall find to be culpable of the death of your Husbande . In the meane time take order that his Corpes may be entombed as apperteyneth to a Lord such as he hath bin in his life time , which thing was foorthwith executed , for they buried him very honorably , with the lamentations and teares of all his subiects , in the chappell of the Castle , and in the sepulcher of his Predecessours : Also the poore Subiects sore lamented their Lady , séeing the incomparable sorrowe and mourning she made for so soden losse of hir Lorde . And they all supposed that willingly she would haue made a sepulchre of hir owne body to haue buryed hir husbande , if it had bin lawfull for hir to haue caused him to be burned to haue drunke his ashes , as sometime Artemisia did of the burned Relikes of hir deare Mansole . Mansole . O feminine cautel , & crafty hoore , who is so sapient & wise that can be able to kéepe him selfe from beeing deceyued with thy craftie and fraudulent deceipts : Alas there is no malice , deceipt , treason , mischiefe , or crueltie , that is comparable to the treason , mischéefe , or diuelishnesse of a woman that hath once forgotten the vertue & good grace that oftentimes doth accompanie the feminine Sexe . What greater argument of sutteltie and craft would you in this woman than to sée hir desperately to deplore that whiche inwardly maketh hir spirites to leape for ioy , at which instant hir eyes are constrayned to poure out riuers of teares , and hir toung to tell foorth abundance of lamentable words : After the buriall of the Lorde of Chabry , for that she woulde not be thought to haue faygned the great amitie that she had always pretended to beare towardes hir Lorde , caused to make diligent information agaynst those that had perpetrated and committed this haynous murther : but the Commissaries and witnesses were those them selues whiche had imbrued their gyltie hands in the bloud of the poore Innocent . The Doc 〈…〉 ouerseeth 〈◊〉 treasurie 〈◊〉 goods of 〈◊〉 innocent l 〈…〉 Euen so and by this meanes was this facte kepte secret for a certayne tyme : During the whiche Tolonio reuisited all the péeces of the Treasure of the house , without forgetting hir vnto whome he moste was affectionate , and for the inioying whereof he had made so prodigious an enlargement of his conscience , the whiche was suche as dyd prepare the way to all mischéefes , yet more great & detestable ( if possibly it might be ) than the euils & faults before committed . Consequently foloweth this Lady ( béeing made widdow by hir own treason ) who had foure sonnes , The Ladie had .4 . children . two of the which did neuer departe ordinarily from the Castle : now the eldest of the two was not so grosse or dull of spirite & vnderstanding , but that he knewe and easily vnderstoode that this great priuitie and secret familiaritie of the Doctor with his Lady and mother , passed the bounds and bars of honestie , and further than the honor of his mother mighte well suffer or beare : whereof if he were pensiue and sorrowfull , I leaue it to the iudgement of all noble and gentle hearts , and for that cause this young Gentleman determined in him selfe to vtter the same by some meanes to his Lady and mother . Béeing stedfastly set and arrested vpon these termes and deliberations , séeing this Doctor gayning more and more the fauour of his Lady and Mother , and that the Lady abusing vndiscretely hir greate honour , coulde not liue at reste withoute the presence of hir Tolonio , he came on a daye to hys Mother , vnto whome addressing hym selfe wyth an honest shamefastnesse , intermedled wyth a iuste anger and disdayne , béeyng alone wyth hyr , sayde vnto hir very reuerently : Madame , The eldest sonne adm●nished the mother of 〈…〉 wicked b●hauiour the reuerence that I owe to the place that you holde on my behalfe , and the duetie and obeysance that God wyll and hathe commaunded that children shoulde beare to those that haue begotten and borne them , maketh those wordes whiche I haue premeditate in my minde , longe time before to declare vnto you , to stycke as it were in my mouth , not able to vtter the same before you , whome the matter that I haue to open to your Ladishippe , dothe touch before all other , and woulde to God that the thing that I haue conceiued in my minde , as a thing moste assured , were so false , as I wishe it to be estraunged and farre from my opinion , and yet further estraunged from the truth and veritie , then truely I shoulde not be so afflicted in my heart , and constrayned to be such an Orator as I am to you , the office whereof I woulde willingly be dispoyled of if greater and more iust occasion did not offer hir selfe for me , to performe it : but Madame séeing that the passions of euery one are frée , and that the spirite of man is not restrayned ( notwithstanding any captiuitie the bodie doth suffer ) but to the libertie of hys owne imaginations , I humbly beséech you , not to thinke straunge , that the extreme loue that I beare you , and the honor of your house commandes me to say vnto you , that is , that your greatnesse and the bloode of the late Lord of Chabry , are or oughte to be , in my iudgement , lettes and stoppes vnto the ouer gret familiaritie that the aduocate Tolonio hath ordinarilie with you , which are the mother of such children that deserue not that such a villain should spoyle that gentle bloode whereof they are sprong , & whiche with greate difficultie shall endure thys abuse , without auenging them selues according to the quality and greatnesse of the crime .

Pardon me Madame , I pray you , for speaking so boldly , séeing affection dothe so transport me , and the bloode that can not dissemble or lie , cause me to féele the iniury that you do vnto vs , if this our great familiaritie haue so déepe roote , as I suppose it hath : I sweare vnto you by God that the onlie respect of your honor hath caused me too looke vnto it more neerely , and to prouide for the same , with discretion , but if ye haue no regarde nether of your owne reputation nor of the honor of your chyldren , I will so prouide , that M. Doctor shal go serue his prosesse in some other place . The blubbering & malitious woman , seeing the countenaunce , gestures , and words of hir sonne , knowinng his passion to be more than vehement , and knowing also his humor doubted in hir selfe , least he shoulde execute vppon Tolonio , the vengeaunce of the secret death of hir husbande . For this cause , blushing with cholor and rage , and powring foorth abondaunce of teares , set hir selfe vpon the grounde so amased and confused , that she was longe time inmoueable and as though she had béen spechlesse : in the end hauing ouercome hir affections & dissembling hir anger , aunswered hir Sonne , with a trembling voice followed with an infinite number of sighes and sobbes , almoste stopping hir wordes : Alas , sayde she , what is he nowe that shall take vppon him the defence of the honour of this desolate wyddowe , Marke hir straunge inuentions and persuasions . séeing hir owne children are the first that bring hir honestie in doubte and question ? where shall we finde fayth , loyaltie , good opinion and assurance , if the proper bloude descended from our Entrayles , doth so conspire agaynst our selues . O miserable is the condition and state of our Sexe , that when we thinke to haue certayne and sure rest , euen at that tyme fortune dothe sorte and allot to vs hir priuie watches and ambushes , to turne vs from the ease that we before pretended . O my sonne , my sonne , are you of the number of those which iudge so rashely and at randon ? Make you so little accompte of the reputation and constancie of Ladies of honour ? Measure you their chastitie with the foolishe reprehensions whiche flowe out of the braynes of vayne talkers and euill speakers ? Alas , it is not onely at this day , but euer hath been accustomed that vertue is on euery side besieged with slaunder , enuie , and false imposition of crymes : it is not I alone that endure these bitter and almoste insupportable iniuries and false accusations , whiche nowe féele my selfe falsly slaundered of that villanie whereof I neuer thought . They are not the Ladyes of my Chabry , which suffer them selues to be so transported vnto the fonde appetites of the fleshe , neyther is it from hencefoorth tyme that I shoulde thinke of these follies , vnto the whiche I neuer gaue my selfe in my young yeeres ▪ Are you offended to sée Tolonio speake to me in secret ? Do you thinke it euyll that he entreth familiarly into my chamber ? Know you not that it is he only which knoweth al the affaires of the house , and did execute the same in the lyfe time of your late Father my L. and husbande ? Ah wretched and infortunate woman that I am , to sée my selfe so suspected , who neuer thought nor aspired to any other thing than to the encrese of your welth : and Tolonio more infortunate to trauell & take payne for the loue of you , which promise none other thing vnto him for his rewarde than present deathe : No , no my sonne , Tolonio is a very honest Gentleman , and hath béene euer so taken and accompted of , onely speake vnto hym of it , and you shal see if that at your simple commaundement he do not forsake the house without returning , at any time hereafter to anger you , and then shall you know that our affections are farre otherwise then you thinke , and that the fauour I shewe hym , is rather for your profit & aduauncement , than for the pleasure that you falsly suspect in me , which being your mother , ought rather to be worthely commended of diligence then to be accused wrongfully of incontynency . The yong gentleman hearing the excuses of his mother , and seeing hir so beblubbered with teares , and attached with dolor , ● faigned ●veeping . although he coulde not blotte out of his fantasie that whche he had conceyued for certaine truth , answered : Madame , I know not whether I am more moued to ioye or sorrowe , séeing I am sory verily to see you so outraged with dolor & griefe that the passion thereof redoundeth vpon mine owne soule , in suche sort that the remembrance thereof doth penetrate euen to the profunditie of my heart : and agayne ioyous to haue knowen you suche as you haue alwayes been , and as I truste you will continue hereafter , I desyre none other testimonie heereof but your owne honesty and vertue , vnto the which I will adioyne myne , heart and your promised worde , as a symbole or token that I confesse that I haue done you greate wrong , and you most iust occasion to complayn you of me : neuerthelesse if you measure the affection that is in me , and the reason which causeth me thus to speake , & withal beholde with what modestie , I haue vnto you made this narration , you woulde accepte it in as good parte , as with good hart I haue declared it to you . Pardon me Madame for my boldnesse , with protestation that from hencefoorth I shal be more wise and sage to speake , and better aduised to suspect the thing that may turne to such consequence . She appeased hir selfe , at the leaste shee feigned hir selfe contented , attending till opportunitie might serue , that she might execute vpon hir son , the tragedy alredie begon vpon the father , for she did not trust the wordes of the symple and vertuous young man , thynking him of fayth to be as slippery as she her selfe was , for such is the custome of the wicked , to balance & way the life of others by their own wicked déedes . This newe Progue , or rather Tigresse , altogither set vpon the shedding of Innocent bloud , infected with most wretched crueltie , which had altered the swéetnesse of hir good nature into a rage moste desperate , for the loue of hir Doctor , determined to dispatche the worlde of hir sonne ( whatsoeuer should come of it ) to the ende she might liue more at hir ease , & without any that shoulde controll hir lyfe ▪ Nowe within the sayde castle of Chabry , there was a highe Galarie , A rare inuen 〈…〉 ion to mur●her hir son . betwéene two lodgings , the planks wherof were very euill ioyned , and the timber halfe rotten , wherevpon this young Gentleman for his pleasure ordinarily was acoustomed to walke , aswell for the pleasantnesse of the ayre , as for the fayre prospect it had into the fields , but especially into a most pleasant Garden , replenished with all sortes of hearbes and frutes that man coulde deuise to imagyne , whiche was the cause that the Pageant whiche before shee had premeditate , was the sooner broughte to effect . Thys detestable mother then , one euenyng caused the knaue hir Doctor to vnnayle two or thrée bordes of the same Galarie , and to disioyne them from the ioystes wherevppon they were layd , that he that should treade vppon them shoulde fall downe headlong vppon the rockes in the dytches that laye vnderneathe . As it fortuned to thys young Gentleman no lesse vnhappie in an vngracious mother , than his Father had beene in a wycked wife , for the daye after that thys trap was thus prepared he fayled not to come into the Galarie , where hauing made two or thrée turnes , sette hys foote vppon the ende of the disioynted boordes , and sodaynely fell downe vpon the Rocke : so was he moste mischieuouslye brayned , and hys members all to bruzed and broken with the fall , dying before he almoste felte the apprehention of death . Oh cursed fact . Who woulde euer haue once thought that the Mother had beene so follonious , cruell , and vnmercifull , as to sée ( by hir owne vile and wicked meanes hir owne sonne brused , mutilated , and deformed , seeing that this name and tytle of mother is so sweete , and amarous , that the hearts of the moste stubborne are thereby mitigated or mollified , and we see that euery one holdeth their owne so deare and in suche price , that the very beastes them selues , pricked by nature ( although incapable of reason ) haue suche affection towards their yong ones , that they feare not to ▪ oppose them selues to all perils , to conserue and defende them : Also the greatest comfort or good that man may haue , beeing in the continuall waues of the Sea of this troublesome worlde , is to sée him selfe as it were regenerate and borne anewe in his children , and in the propagation and increace of his seede : and yet this shee diuell and madde furie of hell , hauing alreadie lost the affection that the spouse or wife ought vnto hir husbande , put also in obliuion the natural loue she ought to haue borne to the frute of hir body engendred .

After the fall of this yong Gentleman , you should haue heard nothing within the house but lamentations and cryings , one crying his Brother , another bewayling his Cousin , another lamenting the sodayne and vnlooked for death of his Master : but all this was nothing in respecte to that which this detestable Murdresse dyd , for she tormented hir selfe so desperately , and of suche sort , that you would haue thought all the worlde should haue sunke , she faigned hir selfe to be so excéeding sorowful . So this same Megera , vnder a huge heape of dolours she couered the extreme ioy of hir heart , and vnder the shewe of a certayne exteriour sorrow , nourished the venemous hony which lay hidde in hir stomacke . The obsequies of this yong Gentleman were celebrated somewhat pompeously , and his body was buried by his father , to the ende he might participate both in tome and misfortune , him whiche had begot him . The Lady seeing hir selfe discharged of a great hartebreaking , not hauing any more hir Sonne in hir companie , to suruey or mark● hir dealings , began nowe more familiarly and boldly to intertayne and imbrace hir Doctor , not fearing so muche as she dyd in the life of hir eldest sonne . But the seconde sonne , not knowing any thing of the occasion of the death of his brother : and where before he had not taken any great regarde of the fonde gouernment of his Mother , began nowe to suspect hir , and declared the same so wel in countenaunce , that he could not speake one onely worde to Tolonio , but suche as contented him not , and suche as made to appeare the euill will that he bare to this infamous knaue : and if perchance he spake at any time to his mother , he did it with suche disdayne , that he could not well beholde hir with a good eye , wherof she being maruellously vexed & as angry as was possible , did deliberate and determine to bloudy wholly hir renowne , and to fill hir whole house with parricide & murthers intollerable , tending to that ende to celebrate the nuptiall song of hir wicked mariage . And so this vngentle harlot conspired agaynst hir seconde sonne , & so sware his death as she had done the other , with the minister of hir abhominable wickednesse Tolonio , which tooke vpon him the charge , and promised to bring to effect , that which she before so earnestly desired . This worthy Lawier brought vp in the schole of Pluto , and rather learned in his lawes , than in the lawes of Emperours and Pretorierum Edicts or ordinances of the Senate , addressed him to a wicked companion of his , that before had murthered the Lord of Chabry , the whiche he very easily corrupted , for an euil heart and a mischéeuous nature can not but shewe the frutes of their corruption and malice . This knaue hauing receiued a certayne sum of money of this Doctor , assured him to make him a good accompt of that he hoped for : and he fayled not of this promise , for certen dayes after , they béeing on hunting , as the moste part of the seruants were folowing the chase of the Hare , the poore young man resting him selfe vpon a high rocke , from the which the going downe was very perillous , for the headlong steepenesse thereof vpon the one side . This murtherer whiche all the whole day had not ceassed to ride and followe by trace to finde occasion to performe his enterprice , very glad to see that he had founde so good oportunitie , came behinde him , and thrust him downe from the toppe of the rocke so forsibly , that thys poore Gentleman was depriued of this mortall lyfe , before he coulde perceyue who it was that had aduaunced him selfe so outragiously to finishe and ende his dayes . Neuerthelesse ( thys cursed Hagge of Hell borne to spoyle and tormente hir owne children , thinking to keepe secrete hir detestable and abhominable filthinesse , and to appeare a woman of great honestie before the worlde , which had made no curtesie to sprinkle the earth with the bloud of Innocents , whiche cryed vengeance bothe agaynst hir and agaynst hir Varlet , whiche had béene the cause and mouer of all these murthers . After the funerals of this young man , séeing that all hir seruaunts began to suspect of their priuie dealings , and doubted of their ouer muche familiaritie , she communicated and conferred with hir beloued Doctor , of the ende of all their enterprises , that is , howe they might bring it to passe , that they might ioyne togither in mariage : but Tolonio ( béeing alreadie married to a wife as sage and vertuous as he was vile and mischéeuous ) deliberated to make some secrete riddaunce of hir by death , how deare soeuer it cost him . Wherfore he certified his Lady and louer , who liking very well of his deuice , prayed him to hasten and dispatche the execution therof with as muche spéede as he possible mighte . This wicked and couetous Doctor did this , not for any great or extreme loue he bare vnto hir , when he desired so muche to marrie : for he knewe very well that commonly they are wont to intertene and imbrace traytours , to ayde them with their diuelishe and subtil inuentions : euen so Tolonio knowing that the Lady of Chabry was riche and well monied , purposed ( his wife béeing dead ) to marrie hir , to haue the spoyle of hir goods , and then after ( peraduenture ) to make hir to treade the same pathe , traced by so many murthers , committed by the meanes bothe of the one and of the other : Neuerthelesse he did not yet knowe which way to perfourme his wycked desire . O wicked and vnbrideled couetousnesse , how hast thou depraued and bewitched the spirites of men at this day ? Truely the father is not well assured of his sonne , the neighbour dothe feare the ambushes and deceipts of his neighbour . And the Prince oftentimes is in daunger of his person , enuironed and compassed on euery side with his garde and ministers : for the foolishe desire to haue , blindeth so rightly the sences of man , that he betrayeth his Lorde to enriche him selfe : and he to the same end dothe sell his friende , another aduaunceth the death of him , for whose life he oughte continually to pray . And the thing is come to suche disorder , that euen the sacred or holy thinges them selues , haue felte the poyson and venime of this cursed beast , the whiche howe farre foorth she extendeth hir forces , so muche dothe this worlde become more mischeous , and men more trayterous and disloyall . Now to returne againe to our bloudy Lawyer , whiche did nothing but as it were buylde castles in the ayre vpon the deliberation taken in the death of hys wife , for he held ( as they say ) the wolfe by the eares , not knowing howe to leaue him , nor yet with what assurance to holde him , without the danger and perill of hys person . Firste he deliberated to assay by poyson to ende hir daies , but that way seemed vnto hym verie daungerous . Then he caste in hys mynde to make hir to bée murdered by hym whiche had before by his commaundement committed the murder on the person of the Sonne of the L. of Chabry , but that way lyked him not , for the chast dame seldome or neuer wente out of hir own house . Finally ledde by his owne foolishe appetyte , and lefte in the handes of the deuill , he determined to vse none other meanes for this exployte , but his owne proper handes . And therfore one night being in bed with his wife , wrything a table napkin with force about hir necke , strangled hir , and as she was vpon the ende and laste gaspe of hir life , the varlet , ( thinking to make his matter good ) made an outcrye , saying to them that came in , that the rewme falling into the throte of his wife , choked hir , and brought hir to that poynte that she was past remedie of life , the which thing was easilie credited and beléeued of them that came in , and had passed without further question or accompte to be made of it , but that the father of this miserable deceassed came to this crye , the whiche the nighte before hadde supped wyth his daughter , leauing hir as whole and sounde , and in as good case as euer shee had been in all hir lyfe before . Nowe the Father beholding the vysage and throote of hys myserable Daughter , perceyued by and by that hee hadde ended hyr dayes by violente deathe , and that the Rewme that hadde chooked hyr , was eyther the handes of hyr Husbande or of some other by his appoyntment : whiche he perceyued by the blacknesse and swelling about hir face and throte . Neuerthelesse dissembling this anger , and couering his mourning , he purposed to aduenge him selfe in such sorte , that he would make him an example to all murtherers of their chast and honest wiues . And the better to attayn his purpose , he sayde vnto Tolonio , My sonne , I pray thée take order for the preparation of hir Obsequies and Funerals , according to the demerites of bothe our houses , and in the meane time I will go into the Towne , minding to make quicke returne , and to ayde you in any thing that shall be requisite . The Aduocate occupying him selfe about the pompe and preparation of the Funerals of his wife , his father in lawe halfe transported with dolour and griefe , went to séeke out the criminall Iudge of the Towne , whome he prayed to come to sée the moste detestable facte that man could imagine to thinke , and of whiche he would haue compassion , if he were not more cruell than Timon the Athenian , whiche for his fierce and cruell nature was surnamed the common enimie of mankind . The Magistrate , aswell to be readie ( as his office required ) to render to euery man iustice , as to sée what newe thing that shoulde be , whereof he had made to him relation , followed him , accompanied with a troupe of Sargeants and neighbours to backe him , and arriued at the house of Tolonio , wondering out of measure , séeing the dead body in that order , and yet more maruelled , vnderstanding the father of the deceassed to vse to him these or suche like words : Syr , if this present spectacle be not straunge vnto you , or if the teares of a sorrowfull father loosing his child so mischieuously , moue you not to compassion , I suppose that all impunitie of vice and sinne hathe place on your behalfe . I knowe neuerthelesse , that at the first blushe , you will thinke straunge of that I pretende to say vnto you , but the thing beeing well and exactly vnderstoode , you shall be made certayne of my vprightnesse , and of the iniquitie of him , whiche hath so gréeuously wounded my heart , that I feare it will cause my death , the whiche I woulde rather haue wished a thousande folde , than to see this lamentable and piteous Tragedie vpon my daughter , whome , I say , hathe bin trayterously slayne in hir bedde by the detestable murtherer whiche you sée , and whom amongst all other I had chosen for the loyall spouse and husband of my daughter , and the successor in time to come of the goods that God hath giuen me : You sée sir the euident signes & open marks howe she hath bin strangled , and it is well knowen that she layde hir downe as sound and mery as any of vs . Alas syr haue pitie on my desolate house , venge with the sworde of Iustice the iniurie done to my daughter , and the heartbreake that afflicteth the soule of the father : punishe with extremitie the most mischéeuous deede that euer was done in this countrey , to sée so straunge and barbarous crueltie of a husbande , a man of such qualitie and knowledge , yea the husbande of one of the most vertuous Dames that mighte be founde , and neuerthelesse without iust occasion hath murthered hir as vniustly as he is mischieuous and abhominable . Alas si , the onely hope I haue , is that euen the Gods wil make you to know the wicked acts of this vngracious man , and thervpon to extend iustice , haue letted me to venge the wrong that I assure my selfe to haue receiued of this homicide . And willing to continue his talke further , his tung fayling he began to weepe , in such sort that the Iudge moued to pitie , sayde vnto the Doctor : You heare that which your father in Law sayth agaynst you , neuerthelesse I see you not answere one poynt of those accusations that he hath laid before you . But the infamous and adulterous murtherer , iudged by the testimonie of his owne wycked conscience , and condemned by the memorie of his filthy and abhominable factes paste , coulde not expresse nor vtter one onely worde to refute and reproue the accusation layde before hym by hys Father in Lawe . The Iudge hauing maruelled as muche as was possible of thys , knowing the Doctor to bée a man verye Eloquente , prompte , and readie in aunswers , doubted exceedingly of his cace : & thus pondering and weying the matter within him selfe , he immediately desired the iudgements of diuers expert and well learned Phisitions and Surgeons , whiche all sayde that the deceassed was dead by the violence of some one that had strangled hir . Then the Iudge layde handes on the louer of the Lady of Chabry , and sente him to espouse & marry the hole of the prison house , in leu to enioy the free imbracements desired in the premeditate bed of his wife promised , whom he would haue made lieftenant of his wife deceassed . The next day the corpes was set in a publike place , where both men and women of all estates did deplore hir with infinite teares , not without cursing a thousand times the cruel fellon , which had caused to die so vertuous chast , & honest a wife , notwithstanding the corpes was buried honorably in the collegeat church of the place , with suche lamentations and teares , that it appeared that a verie Matron of the Citie had finished hir dayes . The Father ceased not too pursue the prisoner for the death of his daughter , & that with such diligence that the prisoner was heard , & confessed the crime without question or constraynt , which stroke suche horror into the heart of the Prouost , that he wrote thereof to the Lords of the Parliament of Aix , before whome the case was brought . The Lady of Chabry hauing vnderstoode the discourse of this Imprisonment , and the voluntarie confession of the Doctor , knowing hir selfe to be gyltie of the whole matter , and fearing the sequell and future mischéefe , least he should open and discouer all hir practises , and shoulde confesse all the murthers perpetrated in hir house , deliberated with hir self to flée away before the tempest , least the lightnings and thunderboltes thereof shoulde fall vppon hir head . Therefore taking with hir a good rounde summe of money , with the best of hir Iewels , she retired to Poget in the territories of the D. of Sauoy . In the meane time the Doctor was led bounde towards the famous Citie of Aix , where his processe béeing made , and he newly examined , confessed further all the enormities and detestable sinnes that he had committed with the L. of Chabry , without omitting any of the haynous murthers , the occasion of them , & the names of the persons by whom he had bin ayded concerning the same . The Court séeing the abhomination & gréeuousnesse of the cryme , condemned him to be led backe agayne to La grasse , where he should be executed in the publike place of the Towne , according to his demerites . This being don he was led back to the place where he was borne , and put agayne into prison , within the which hearing the day of his deathe to approch , bathed in teares , knowledging his sinne , and earnestly repenting him of hys faultes , knéeling down vpon the earth , and addressing his blubbered eies vnto the heauens , began to speake in this sort : Ah cruel fate , that from so highe degrée of honor and reputation , am nowe in one moment fallen into the depthe of infamie & perpetuall shame . O what a notable example maye they take in me , that put their confidence in the subtiltie of their iudgements and humayne prudence ? what a looking glasse is offered to those that put necessitie to the mobilitie of fortune ? what a liuely picture am I , to aduertise secrete sinners to acknowledge their faults , seeing that at the end the wicked liuers ( althogh they haue long enioyed the contentments of their cruell appetites ) they shall yet at the last be discouered with their iniquities , leauing ( as I doo ) their renowme defaced , & their life ( which finally shall ende ) ignomious , the memorie wherof shall be left to the posteritie . This is the rod that beateth my soule , this onely thought is to me more gréeuous than the death , the which I haue demerited , as beeing the most mischieuous & moste cursed creature that euer nature brought foorth . This his oration thus ended , he was led to the place of execution , where he ended his wretched life , to the great contentment of his father in lawe , and all the dames of the countrey , sauing that mischieuous & miserable dame the Lady of Chabry , which knowing that diligent inquisition was made of the place wherevnto she was retired , and that they went about by al meanes to recouer hir , to the ende to do iustice on hir , not knowing hir selfe sufficiently assured in Poget , determined to take the way to Genes : and so hauing taken and transported hir baggage , tooke his iourney , accompanied with a gallant , who robbed hir of that she had : after béeing in these extremities , she addressed hir selfe to an honest widdowe , where declaring hir extreme necessitie , thys good widdowe receyued hir very beningly , and perceyuing hir by hir demeanours to be some Gentlewoman , committed vnto hir hir daughters in gouernment . In thys house she poorely ( but much more honorably than she deserued ) finished hir dais . Thus in such sort she which al hir life had commaunded & ruled a great troupe of seruantes & maids , was now constrayned to obey vnto suche a one , which was muche inferior to hir : and agayne shée which in hir young yeares had béen delicately and with great care nourished & brought vp , now drawing vpon the end of hir days , she suffred perpetual exile , subiect to the pleasure of another , prest and ready ( as she did in déede ) to die out of hir country , & to receyue sepulcher in another place , then in the Monument & tombe of hir Progenitors . This is then the ende of the vnhonest loue of these laciuious adultrers : beholde the frutes of a trée so detestable & pernitious . These are the pleasures that in the ende accompanie these inordinate louers , sée howe the lowryng eyes of beautyes vading Ioyes hath so inchaunted these Venerians , that now quite forgetting all grace and goodnes do plunge them selues in the pitte of perpetull shame and infamie : beholde whither thys outragious and beastly lust couered with the name of pure and earnest loue , is able to draw these gentle subiects , to cause them to commit most heynouse murthers , to imbrue theyr hands in the shedding of innocent bloud .

This History thus finished , my thought was very straunge , but in specially to be told in Venus Court , which tended so much to the deprauation of her Lawes , wherfore I asked of Lady Countenance , what he should be that had vsed such lauish speache : who aunswered , that it was one Bandelio , an Italian , not far vnlyke in condicions , to the Emperour Marcus Aurelius , who many times vsed by words to inuay againste that which actually he so much frequented , so ther be many which with sharp and bitter words , wil outwardly seme to reproue such as yelde themselues to loue , and yet in their déedes shew themselues so earnest professours of Venus and her Lawes , as they worthely demerite to be shryned Saints . But aboue all these deuises , I had a speciall regard to the bewti of the Chamber which was wonderful to behold . In the middle of the Roofe ther was artificially wrought , a knot of massy gold , in maner foure square , and in the middest of this knot was placed a stone of a marueilous bignesse , whose brightnes did so excede , that it daseled my eyes , I was not able to behould it in euery square , ther was likewise set a rich Emeraud , from the which there issued forthe a Vine , in maner of a fret , which spreading all the Chamber , as was wonderfull to be holde , the braunches and leaues were all of pure Golde , curiously Enameled , in stede of Grapes , the Rubyes ther did shine which were correspondent to the residew of the worke , the hangings wer al of Arras , very richly wrought . In which was expressed the pitifull History , of Romeus and Iuletta , Gismonda and Guistairdo , Piramus & Thisbe , Liuio and Camilla , and of many other louing wightes , who in regarde of Venus Law , had indured many bitter torments , and yelded themselues to martirdome .

Hauing passed this Chamber , we came into a Gallery , which in curiositie , or workmanship , in euery respect , was as far exceding the rest , as Phebus Rayes , of light , excedeth euery other Starre , in the vpper ende wherof , ther were many worthy Dames , whose bewty might welbe compared to the place . Well now , quoth Lady Countenance , thou must make quick dispatch , be hould wher Mars and Venus are now here in place , with the I espyed wher Mars was layed in Venus Lap , before whome , kneling on both my knées , sayde as followeth .

O mighty Mars , O dreadfull God , His request to the Gods. to whom it wholly doth belong , to geue victory , and conquest , the only stay and comfort , of euery valyant heart , loe heare the Supplicacions , of poore dystressed wyghtes , the which in their behalfes , I humbly here present , wherby thou maist perceiue the summe of all theyr gréefe .

With which words he arose , and I kissing the Supplication , deliuered it into his hand , which when he had throughly perused , sayd as followeth .

And are Souldiers then so slenderly accompted of , Mars maketh aunsweare . be thei so lightly regarded now in this peaceable tyme , who in the time of warres , must offer themselues to the slaughter , for theyr Countries defence , well vngratefull Country , and most vnthankfull people , I perceiue your quiet state , dothe make you to forget both me and myne , but take hede you be not more sodainly ouertaken then you be aware of , when you will wysh , you were as well furnished with expert Souldyers , as you are prouided with other warlike prouisions , your enemies be as secret as they be malicious .

And as he was abought to procede in farther talke , the Goddes Venus sodainely arose in a great rage , as it semed , turning her selfe toward me ▪ Venus checketh the Souldier . and sayd as followeth .

A syr , and is this the cause of your repayer to my Courte , I now perceiue right well , the wholl cyrcumstaunce of your pretence , bicause your vnbrydled mynds haue bene of late restrayned , whereby you haue wanted some part of your vngracious wils , you haue therfore amongst you made a byl of complaynte , thinking your selues to be greatly iniured , when in déede you are but iustly plauged , and yet nothing in respectt , according to your deseruings , your malicious myndes , are not to me vnknowne , you hate the good hap of any one that is not of your own profession , it greueth you that any shold be preferrid before you . You think the princes before all others , shold bestow offices & promocions vpon you , to be short you despise al other in respect of your selues , & yet you your selues would not be despysed , you hate al , & you wold be beloued , how euident these matters be , I think may wel be perceued , when it pleaseth you to bestow so many nice names , & other rope rype terms , vppon such as be my subiectes , and professours of my Lawes , geuing them the tytle of Carpet knights .

But if al be Carpet Knights which hath submitted to my behestes , I trust you may put the greatest parte of your most renowned Souldiers and Captaines in the number .

Was not Hercules that noble conquerour , conquered him self by loue with Dianayra , was not the fierse Achiles in like maner with Polixena , & Troilus with Cressid , was not Alexander when hée should haue geuen battayle to the Amazons comming to a Riuers side , wher beholding the Quéene he was so subdued , that their fierse and cruell fight conuerted to wanton amorous wordes . Was not Haniball in like maner stayd in Capra , and Iulius Caeser in Alexandria . But here ouer passing a great number of others , is not your god of battail him self obedient to my will , and yet a many of you who in respecte are but reprobate persons , would prefer your selues to be more worthy then any of these .

These wordes thus pronounced by the goddes , did daunt me so with such dispayre , that I ne wist what aunsweare I might make , which being perceyued by the God of battayle , sayd as foloweth .

Mars taketh vp the matter Well well Lady deare , if I should aunswer these causes effectually , peraduenture I might vse greater vehemency in wordes then I willingly would , but yet I wold not wish that any of these before named should be regestred , amongst that effeminate number , although I am not ignoraunt that not only these but also many other valiaunte Captaynes and noble Souldiers , hath bin obedient to the lawes of loue , for who commonlye are more subiecte to loue then the most valiaunt mynded wight , and who soner disdayned by a number of scornefull dames , who wil rather except of those that are in déed but Metamorphisis hauing but the shapes of men , or that are as Hermaphroditus halfe men , halfe women , such as wil ly rowling in a Ladies lap kissing her hands , feeding hyr eares with philed flattering talke .

But how should these womanlike mynded men , or any other of these louing wormes , inioy their delightes in such quiet maner , were not the noble Souldier to backe them , who is the very Wal and only Bulwark to defend them .

Wherfore deare dame you haue no iust cause thus to exclayme on Souldiers , on whose valiauncy , principally dependeth the quiet estate of such as be your subiects and professors of your law , which else might remayne a pray for euery man if causes wer thorowly considered .

Well then qd . the Goddes Venus , Venus is perswaded . what simplicicie might be imputed vnto vs , betwéene whom ther hath bin such familiaritie , and that of so long continuaunce , and should now séeme to contend about so slender occasion : agayne it séemeth vnto me as good reason , that as great frindship and familiaritie shuld be continued between such as be our professoures , on eyther pa●te , as there is loue and amitie betwéene vs our selues , and for my parte from henceforth I will yeld my selfe beholding vnto Souldiers , promising them my fartheraunce in any thing , wherin I may pleasure them .

These ioyfull newes did bréede in mée such a sodayne alteration from dispayre , The Souldier awaketh . to comfort , from dolful doubt to assured hope , from mourning to myrth , that in the middest of al these surmounting ioyes , sodainly awaked , perceiuing my self to be but deluded by a dreame which I haue thus rudly penned , desiring the gentle reader to beare with my infirmitie , and to mend that is amisse .

FINIS .
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