bee necessarie for them which after they shall for a while haue inioyed they wil afterwarde be but ouer-readie to imploie themselues where a man list But now had they no other enterprises in hand yet were it vnlikelie that anie coulde prosper vntill the imperfections as well publike as perticular which burie our auncient fame were banished good order reestablished and vertue honoured The tenth Discourse Of the three false opinions that misleade sundrie of the Nobilitie First that the chiefe marke whereat a Gentleman should aime is to become valorous Secondlie that the Gentleman which keeping home trauaileth not abroad to seeke aduentures inioyeth small contentation and is but base minded Thirdly that although the Prince command things vniust to his subiect he must neuerthelesse put them in execution THe Phisitions doe saie that olde diseases are of hardest cure Which the politikes as well as they may iustly affirme concerning those errours that through long vse haue taken déep roote For whatsoeuer is fixed in the minde hath as a man shoulde saie more bandes than that which is tied to the bodie so as it is needfull to bestow whole yeeres in the rooting of them out And as the first doe temper sundrie simples to applie to bodily iufirmities euen so should the seconde out of the rules of wisedome drawe profitable instructions to reforme the manners of those thaÌ„t list to vse the same Howbeit some woulde saie the Phisition to bee verie presumptuous that should come to a Patients house vnsent for but in the care of spirituall diseases and euill customes hee that seeth his Countrie afflicted and taketh compassion thereof maye in my opinion freely discourse and write of the same so long as he wayeth hir disposition and hath in himselfe anie tender regard toward the subiect whereto he would apply it I will begin with the first opinion which hath not sprong out of any bad fountaine but from the vniuersall disposition of the nobilitie which time out of minde hath meruailously celebrated déeds of armes as worthy instruments to aduance them to great honour but the same haue by little and little so exceeded that in the end vnder the pretence of valiancie she hath subdued and confounded the rest as if one kind did comprehend them all in generall This false opinion hath attained euen to our dayes wherein the sayd pretence is worse vsed than euer it was For now men seeke rather to win a little fame through that only then a great deale by diuers ioyned together I thinke it no abuse to esteeme of the thing that so deserueth no more then to like of some pearle that a man hath bought but if any mans affection thereto should be so addicted as therefore to disdaine all other precious stones were it not a token of a peruerse iudgement The like is it with vertues whereof the least is so necessarie that we may say that the want thereof breedeth great discommodities If a man might serue his turne with one of them as well as with one garment his life would not peraduenture bée so troublesome But it should likewise leese a great parte of the beautie and commoditie in being despoyled of all the fayrest ornaments For as the more a garden or medowe are planted and enritched with diuers kindes of fruite and flowers the better they are esteemed euen so should he be that hath most vertues without the which his life is but obscure Neuerthelesse it is good that euery one should consider his owne vocation to the end to apply thervnto that which may be most conuenient for himself the vse wherof should also bee to him most familier As to the politique man discretion to the Deuine humilitie to the Lawyer iustice and to the Souldier courage But as for the Nobleman whereto shall we tye him Especially him whose auncestors haue bene an honor to his age I am not of opinion that Gentlemen should stay vpon one onely vertue but also grow in loue with many For such loue is lawfull and these virgins are neuer ielouse Painters doe vse to shadowe all the Muses in a troope as neuer habandoning one another with like reason might they so doe by this worthie societie wherein the associates doe greatly delight to dwell whereof wee are to learne sith so willingly they walk together still to kéepe our doores open that when the one entreth she may bring in all the rest with her I knowe that Fortitude by some named Prowesse or â—aliancie is an excellent vertue beseeming the best as well as the inferiours without the which their liues are of small valure but the same being destitute of Iustice is hurtfull to the good If Temperance doe not moderate her she will turne into rage and not guided by discretion will labour out of season Wherein wee see there is a league betwéene them and each affordeth mutuall ayde to other which cannot be altered without perticuler preiudice to euery of them The Martiners doe not thinke one Anchor sufficient to stay and hold a Shippe tite The like may we say of Nobilitie who must haue more then one vertue to confirme their reputation which is not vnknowne to those that are learned in morall discipline of whome the number is very small by reason that the error whereof wee now entreate hath made the greater multitude too partiall as appeareth in the titles that many take vpon them as calling themselves The arme of the country the mainteyner of armes and the terror to the enemies which titles I blame not notwithstanding in my opinion the name Professor of Vertue would comprehend much more and yéeld them greater honor It is most certaine that for the well handling of the weapon it were requisite to be endued with much boldnesse generositie as also to such as haue bene furnished therwith haue redounded much commendation which hath caused many so to admire this profession which neuerthelesse through ouer much praise haue bred this error namely to make small accompt of all other vertues For it is not vnknowne that in our grandfathers daies if a gentleman had giuen himselfe to studie the Greeke tongue or Latine his companions would say that he must be made a clarke also that a sword beseemed him not Wherof grew this prouerbe that it was enough for a Souldier to be able to write his owne name as if knowledge had bene a hinderance to his valour I thinke they were of opinion that he that shewed himselfe audacious expert in his weapon and prone to quarrelling was sufficiently armed for the attayning to ritches and honor and ordinarily they that were noted to bee such obteyned both I will not vtterly reiect these things which beare I wot not what fayre shewe yet will I say thus much that not being accompanied as is aforesayd with other good qualities they be not so commendable as men think for Howbeit although some one chaunce not to abuse this vertue of Valiancie yet ought he not to burie
haue taught to be so weake and feeble that it is vnpossible to raise it vp againe This argument hath in deede some apparance howbeit I will yet better examine it then if reason will me to yeeld I will be content Shall we hauing so long practised with our French Florentines who through their subtil wits haue bene able to wreast a quintessence out of the most vnprofitable things seeme such doults as to haue retained no one precept of theirs It hath bene already shewed y t in old time bailiefs stewards were charged with y e leuie coÌ„duct of the Arrierbans It is their office euen to this day And in place where there bee none of the short roabe they choose Captains as in Britain to gather their men together after the proclaiming of the kings precepts but because in such offices there consisteth no great honor none but such Gentlemen as neuer stir out of the Country wiâ—take them yea those rather for the benefit thaÌ„ for any other respect they also although they be honest and such as may be imploied yet hauing for the most part but small experience in armes take no great heed of those that come to them and to the end to pleasure their neighbors friends doe accept of all that are offered Now is there great difference betweene the troups when they appeare at the musters in the chiefe towne when they march whether they be commanded For at the musters we many times see Gentlemen well prouided who appeare onely to saue their fées from seazure as it were to say that they are ready to do their seruice but wheÌ„ the said troups are appointed to go forth theÌ„ shal we see y t the one halfe of theÌ„ are but great lubberlike boies with a foot of beard who wil daily deuour halfe a mattoÌ„ do march for their masters Then say you whether the king be not wel serued So in a companie that should contain at the least 60. horse of seruice ye shal scarce finde ten that may passe How is it then possible that they should worke any good effect considering the diuersitie of men so meanly armed For we shal find y e speares pistols harquebuts on horsebacke very simple ones others armed only with brestplates likewise crosbowes on foot harquebuts others armed only with a shirt of maile a rustie iaueline wherof some wil say they be men of armes others archers but in deed few of them good souldiours There is not so expert a Captaine but would find himselfe shreudly troubled to set the whole generation of them in araie to fight so as euen they that command ouer them may wel iudge that it is hard to get any good seruice at the hands of such disordered troups In y e time of k. Henrie the L. of Iaille was made Colonel who in an expedition into the fontiers of Picardie had so bad hap y t his men fled as it is said before they came to battel which brought the Arrierbans into such conteÌ„pt y t euery man laughed them to scorue Since the L. of Sanzlay hath gotteÌ„ that office to whoÌ„ it should appertaine to purchase redresse In the meane time my selfe will grosely trace this purpose that tendeth to the same end leauing to him and others more skilful than my selfe the adding of the draughts of perfection as also the correction of any thing wherein I may erre In old time the Arrierbans were bound to serue the king but sixe weeks only in defence of the realme neither might he detain theÌ„ longer without pay then also were wars short commonly decided without battel But in y e decrees since made it seemeth y e time to be proroged to 3. moneths as wel in respect of trauailing to the place where the seruice is to be done as also for their soâ—ourning there wherin there is some reasoÌ„ in respect of the exteÌ„t of y e realme Now wil I proceed to speak of the abuses especially of one y t is coÌ„mitted in the taxing of fees wherin it is often seene y t a manor worth 2000 franks rent shal pay but 40. franks toward y e Arrierban others lesse Neither know I whence those errors should proceed but only froÌ„ those y t are charged with the said taxes who vpon their perticular consideration do defraud the common In these daies most of those that owe the seruice both noble vnnoble do acquit theÌ„selues with money For he y t should set out 2. or 3. men of armes shal coÌ„pound for some smalsuÌ„me those are rare fellowes y t set forth meet men for seruice True it is that when a small fee oweth but the 3. or 4. part of man they must take money but so should they not for higher fees Then all that money as I vnderstand is afterward coÌ„mitted to the treasorer of the Arrierbans who disposeth thereof according as either the supertor or inferior Captaines do appoint Whether ther be any fraud vsed therin I wot not but do refer it to y e iudgemeÌ„t of others Notwithstanding al these defaults yet when these troups are leuied whatsoeuer mixtioÌ„ there be we stil see some good portioÌ„ of that old shipwrack wherby I deeme y t if they might be purged and furnished againe we might reap some commodity at their handes I did once enquire what number of such men euery prouince was able to furnish one with another wherevpon I was certified that Britain which is one of the greatest might easily furnish 300 good horse then considering with my selfe of the rest each according to the proportion either for largenesse or smalnesse I gathered that all France by coÌ„uerting the kind of men into horsmen was able to bring into y e field 2500. horse which is no smal power This ancient order is yet in practise in the Turkish Empire For there the most part of the horsmen are entertained of the lands that are giueÌ„ to euerie horsman for his life time which is called Timar and it is a tenure somwhat resembling our fees exceyting the priuiledge of Iustice And when the Beglierbei who are gouernors of prouinces do send for men they al come to yeeld their seruice as being therevnto bound in paine of depriuation from the benefite receiued Without the diligent obseruing of this rule the Turke could neuer be able to bring halfe so many horse into the field as he doth neither to maintaine warres so long Whereby it appeareth that the barbarous nations haue better obserued the consideration of their estate than we Frossart writeth that in a iourney that K. Charles the 6. made against the Flemings whom y e k. of England fauored at his entry into their country had aboue 22000. speares such a number as sufficiently testifieth the plentie of nobilitie theu in France as also the good order to call them together which consisted in the Ban and Arrierban But since the men of arms were instituted I assure my selfe there
such recompences Of the small order obserued by the Frenchmen in respect of rewardes A meane how to establish this disciplines The Reisters actiue with the Pistoll what aduantage they seem to haue of the Speares What aduantage the speare seemeth to haue ouer the pistoll especially head to head Which of the 2. Squadrons should haue the aduantage Answer to the obiection that the Reistres haue diuers times suffered the speares to beate them Ouersights of the Reisters Of the effect of two Squadrons when they come to charge Why moste men do reiect this Paradoxe Proofes hereof may be performed by the notable examples taken out of the stories of our time The first example The second example That such restraites may be made when the arte of warre and in struction of the Soldiers is ioyned with bould resolution Of the ordering of the battailes Answer to the obiection against the former aduice How the battailes should beare themselues either to fight or to retire Aunswer to another obiection founded vpon the impossibilitie Aunswer to two other obiections A meane to proue what assurance is in this paradox also a remedie to the difficultie propounded there against The generall ground of this paradoxe The perticuler ground hereof Example of Captaines that haue benefited by the ouerthrowes that they haue susteyned An other example in Cesar The vse of these examples The first cause of presumption The second cause The third cause The effectes of pride enflamed through our owne bad nature and the discourses of our frendes flatterers Remedies against these effectes In his treatise of profit to be taken of enemies An exhortation to Captaines with a description of the good which the vertuous do reape whiles the viti ous and ignorant doe empaire and confound them selues Where to costly fortifications doe serue To whom those of smale expense are profitable Forteresse which haue so much Against those that like of such expenses How to helpe our selues with the Ingeniors deuises and yet auoide excessiue expenses An aduise vpoÌ„ the meanes to fortifie with smale cost The way how to descend a place that is besieged Against such as thinck water to be hurtfull to rampiers of earth The Duke of Burgundy an Image of such as haue no delight but in troble and coÌ„fusion The meanes which doe seeme necessary to be houldeÌ„ in the consideration of the present estate of the Realme to restablish it The miseries of warres especially ciuill Examples of these miseries of Warre Other miseries of ciuil warres The straÌ„ge offence of the most of those that beare armes in such warres An exhortation to those Frenchmen that are banded one against an other To the Souldiers To whome the aforesaid calamities are to be imputed The state of warres in ould time coÌ„demne those of our dayes The ambition of Princes and common welths cause of great calamities Whar considerations ought to moderate the desires of princes Answer to the obiections of ambitions Counsailers Aunswere to an other obiection touching the mightinesse of Prinses Consideration of the greatnesse of a king of France The extent of the realme The fruictfulnesse The people The contry Aunswere to those that emblason and abase France because of her miseries Of godlinesse Of Iustice Of the tresury Of the Frenchmens concord Of Martiall discipline Of the chiefe martiall Capteyns What meanes the King hath to defende him selfe against any Prince his neyghbour that list to assaile him Of the restoring of order in France What the groundes of publike actioÌ„s ought to be The grouÌ„d of confederaties with Turkes The originall of the Turkes their increase behauiours gouernments as well in respect of the soules as of the bodies What Christian princes were the first that repented their confederaties with the Mahumetistes Ihon Paleoiâ—gue Answer to the obiection of such as vnder coulor of couenants euel kept among some Christian princes doe alowe of conâ—ederaraties of Infidels so as therin men be wise and circumspect What treaty may be made with Turkes also what difference is betweene such treaties and true alliance with the danger of stedfast consederaties with tirants Other latter examples of the danger that is in confederaties and trust to Turkes Other examples How many mishappes haue bene hatched out of the confederaties of Christians wihch the Turkes The originall and occasion of the alliance of the French Kinges with the Turkes What seruice the Turkes haue done to France How â—ore this league hath blemished the glory of the French nation How farre such confederaties doe preiudice christiaÌ„ religion Whether confederaties with the Turkes be lawfull Answer to an obiection grounded vpon the consideration of the Turkes prosperitie Aunswer to those that thinke it no time now for the Frenchmen to breake their league with the Turkes The conclusion of this discourse The excuse occasion of this discourse A brief Description of the Turkish dominion Of their hatred and conspiratie against ChristeÌ„dome why they suffer Christians among them The meanes to suppresse the Turkes insoleÌ„cie also the cause why it is propounded Against those that thinke the Turkish tirannie to be so farre of as it can neuer reach vnto them How terrible the Turkes power is at this day and why To whome it belongeth to suppresse the tirannie of the Turkes What letteth princes from thinking therof also the meane to set this matter in hand Who they are that ought to begin to sette the rest on worke The Pope The Emperor The King of Spayne How other princes may be induced to ioine with the three asorenamed Reasons for the leagne betweene France the Turkes Answer to the reasons and allegations aforesayed That it is requisite to vnite Christian princes before they meddle with the Turkes Of the vnion of princes with their subiectes and the ceasing from all acts of hostilitie and ciuill warres within their lands Of the necessitie of peace in the Low couÌ„tries and how the King of Spaine may and ought to graunt it Vpon what consideration the enterprize against the Turke ought to be of great commendation among all Christian princes Hauing treated of the fouÌ„dations of this warre it is here spoken of the proceeding thereof and first of the generall assembly for the entire resolution of the affaires Of the meanes to continew the warres diuers yeares Of treasure to maintaine this warre Of forces necessitie for the executioÌ„ herof Of Martiall discpline Of other preparatiues requisite to beginne withall Against those that thinke the Turkes easy to be subdued Of the great power and habilitie of the Turkes Of the manner how to assiuill the Turkes in what places and with what power How longe our auncestâ—rs were in their warre also whether it bee harder in these daies then in those What was the cause that our forefathers lost the aduantage they had of them were driuen out of the east The warres of those princes that succeded Godfrey and others against the Turkes Why the time is now conuenient to sett vpon
commit against God it may be they would refrayne themselues but as the sleights of the deuill are merueilous so doth he drawe them on by fayrer pretences vntil they find themselues so snared that they cannot escape The cause of these mens mishap consisteth in their corrupted affections which driue them by vnlawfull and damnable waies to seeke their accomplishment One would knowe what successe he should haue in some great enterprize another how he might eschue some euident daunger The couetous and ambitious man must know how to atteyne to his desires he that hateth and seeketh to doe harme the like One seekes to lengthen his life another to shunne death This man desireth to know the issue of the warre that man whether the estate may be preferued with infinite other such things as mans imagination can conceiue To be briefe mans vanitie hath of vanitie it self made Oracles wherwith to satisfie his curious frowardnesse hereof are sprung vp so many kindes of Magicke Enchauntments Witchcrafts and Sorceries that we say that there is nothing in heauen in earth neither vnder the earth which the man that is plunged in this error doth not vse in hope to finde some instruction or ease although ordinarily he is frustrate of his expectation because therin he can meete with nothing but falshood and deceipt And what els is to bee looked for out of the instructions of the deuill considering that himselfe is a lyer and deceiuer But that we may the better knowe how these abuses are to bee reiected let vs heare what Moses sayth When thou shalt sayth he be entred into the land which the Lord thy God shall giue thee beware that thou followe not the abhominations of those people neither shall there bee foūd in thee any person that shall passe his sonne or daughter through fire or that shall enquire at the Southsayer or that shall obserue dreames or the singing of birds neither shall there be any Sorcerer or Enchanter or any that shall seeke counsaile at familier spirits or that shall aske the truth at the dead for all these things be abhomination to the Lord and for such abhominations will the Lord driue them out before thee This was no lawe deuised by any Lawyer but an expresse inhibition of almightie God wherein wee may note three things First that these impieties be the inuentions of such as haue forsaken God Secondly that he detesteth them especially aboue all other offences and thirdly that he doth grieuously chastize them with most terrible punishments But in our daies if any man couet to see where these accursed vanities are practized let him goe to the Courtes where he shall finde some of all sorts and callings that are not only affectionate thereto but do euen runne mad after Soothsayers as they did after one Nostrodamus and others whose lyes were receiued for trueth Thence let him walke all ouer France and he shall finde that among the Nobilitie Clergie and men of lawe there bee many secret disciples of this profession of whom I suppose some doe not thinke to doe so much mischiefe as they doe and yet in these cases the least transgressions are reputed most heynous sinnes as witnesseth the holy Scripture which to the end to aggrauate the heynousnesse of any offence doth say that it is as the sinne of the Soothsayers And vndoubtedly the encrease and tolleration of such abhominations is one of the most euident tokens of the subuertion of any Commonwelth wherefore it is requisite that euery one that is polluted with this or the rest doe clense themselues For it is a hard matter for him to bee a good Citizen of France that for so wicked a cause doth voluntarily banish him selfe out of the holy Citie of God Now must wee speake of Vniustice which is a publicke and particuler oppression vsed by such as bee in auctoritie or mightie ouer the poore and weake who also through their pride couetousnesse and wealth doe practize all violence deceipt and extremitie against the simple These disorders haue bene so long continued against the poore that now it is openly sayd that they are no longer shorne but euen flayne with a thousand extraordinarie oppressions and newe impostes heretofore vnknowne in such sort that y e coyne now wrested from them is watered with teares and accompanied with most sorowfull complaints And notwithstanding whatsoeuer knowledge that men haue of Gods finall succour to the oppressed either that he doth chastize their oppressors yet will they not cease therefrom but still continuing the same course they doe day by day proceed to augment the miseries of others vntill they bring them to such a passe as themselues doe tremble thereat Thus haue we procéeded from yeare to yeare in so wofull an estate that without speedie remedie France must growe halfe desert Then if we marke the men of lawe which are ordeyned to minister iustice to euery man wee shall see a many of them helpe themselues with this holy vertue to entrap the wealth of those that either through follie or neede haue entangled themselues in the most subtile nets of pleading neither can any man expresse the extortion that vnder such colour is committed Moreouer there runneth a great rumour of some gouernors of Townes and Castles and paraduenture of whole Prouinces who to the ende to mainteyne their pompe and fill their coffers doe vse newe lawes to the detriment both of the King and Commons as if the purpose of offices tended either to make an outward shewe or to glut them with wealth and not rather to make their vertues to shine in such functions both to the reliefe of many to their maisters honor But if there be any behauiour that may be termed rage it is the behauiour of the men of warre who are so farre out of square that hauing habandoned all humanitie they make no lesse hauock in their owne countrie then in the enemies land where all is made a pray vnto them in such wise that the forraine warres of France for these eightie yeres haue not wasted so much as the souldiers robberie haue done since these ciuill warres began Yea and there be some gentlemen who as I thinke doe imagine that the true tokens of Nobilitie doe consist in making themselues to bee feared and in beating presumpteously taking from their subiects any thing y t may be cōmodious vnto themselues as if they were their slaues The great cities what do they but encroch to themselues all the cōmodities that they may thunder foorth their priuiledges lay all the burthen charges vpō the poore country people who being besides pinched by the subteltie of the receiuers it is a merueile wherevpon they liue and finde themselues To be briefe if wee looke generally into the particuler dealings of each one toward other wée shall finde plentie of fraude and vyolence as if a man were brought into the world only to hurt his like Well let that which is
will wee speake in the ende after wee haue first layd open such dissipations as oftentymes happen vnto the mightiest Monarchies Some there are that notwithstanding they knowe there bee great dissipations yet doe they make them but small especially when they applye them to their owne countrie as well in respect of their charitie thereto as also because they bee loath to bee the reporters of so many mischiefes In such affayres as this wee must not flatter neither our selues nor other men but freely declare what passed experience doth shewe Among many desolations happening to an estate readie to fall the two worst are these The first when one mightie nation or many being of diuers dispositions and language doe come to vsurpe and bring into bondage then is it not to bee demaunded how many miseries the subdued must endure The other when a Kingdome renteth it selfe in many péeoes and that the quickest or strongest doe seaze each vpon his owne portion which they gouerne in diuers maner and for the maintenaunce of themselues doe leane to straungers then likewise ensueth a great ouerthrowe of all things and the calamities doe long endure Of these two only will I now discourse as being those which threaten vs and are the worst neither is it to any purpose to replye that France cannot incurre these inconueniences For sith so many and so detestable mischiefes together with so many and so diuers partialities haue set in foote we must imagine them without speedie remedie to bee the open gaâ—es vnto newe maisters If wee doe throughly marke the accidents happened in sundrie estates we shall finde that many haue decayed when ciuill dissention hath so beaten them downe that they haue not bene able to defend themselues against straungers The kingdome of Iuda being mightie and florishing vnder Dauid and Salomon and deuided vnder Roboam it followed that the Kings of Israell and Iuda held almost continuall warres against each other and so weakened themselues euen in good maners that the Assyrians led them into captiuitie Soone after that the Romaine Empire was deuided in it self the seate transported to Constantinople that vice augmenting the vertue of Princes decayed the Northerne nations rose vp and rent it in sundrie péeces neither is it possible to rehearse the calamities of them that liued in those daies In the kingdome of Hungarie which in tymes past hath bene so florishing and mightie when those that should succéede straue who could carie it away the Turke stepped in betwéene them and became Lord of the greatest part thereof And although the Turkes conquestes are extraordinarie destructions yet must wee in these examples note Gods punishments with the causes that bring them in thereby to take warning that vnlesse we preuent them there will bee no want of such as shall put them in execution Yea which shall come and bereaue vs of our libertie life and land And who doubteth not that many nations our neighbors doe but lye in waite for such occasion Is not the Spanyard who seeketh to force all men to stoope vnder his scepter and contemneth the French mightie enough to bring vs vnder Will the Germaynes that distayne vs be slowe to such a bootie How suddenly will the Italians that behold vs be readie to catch whatsoeuer may fit them The English calling to mynd their auncient losses may then haue their remedie yea the Scots and Suitzers which now bewayle vs may peraduenture seeke to plucke away each of them some one small feather Finally the Flemmings that did loue vs whose hate we haue perforce procured how ioyfully will they skippe in our neckes I take him to be very sencelesse that doth not feare it But some man will say that it is an easie matter in words and writing to raise vp many nations which neuerthelesse wee sieldome see in effect come to passe Hereto I aunswer that whensoeuer God is determined to thunder vpon the sinnes of men he doth much sooner stirre vp those whom he pleaseth to vse as ministers of his vengeance And in case the report of histories bee true with what celeritie I pray you did the Goths Huns Alans Francons Burguignions and Wandales fall vpon Italie Gaule Spayne Affricke Such was their furie and speede that in short space they subdued and wasted all those great Prouinces The like also did the Sarazens two hundred yéeres after in the conquest of Spayne Haue not we also had tryall in France during the English warres that that only nation which in deede by enheritance at that tyme possessed almost the third parte thereof brought it into so miserable estate that they were like to haue bene maisters of all Let vs then feare least that which hath alreadie happened to others doe fall vppon vs considering that our iniquities are so readie to the haruest Concerning the dismembring of an estate by the selfe nation among whom many tymes the straunger hath his share it is no lesse a kinde of miserable destruction then the former This did the Empire of Constantinople finde soone after that Baldwine Earle of Flanders was made Emperour For then did Alexis Comnene as Carion reporteth erect y e Empire of Trebizond Thessaly shaking off the yoke of Michael Angel yeelded to y e Paleologues Achaia Attica Peloponessus Aetolia Caramania and Epirus had their seuerall gouernors whom they often chaunged according to the sundrie euents of warres and sedition Especially Attica Achaia and Peloponessus were gouerned sometymes by the Grecians sometymes by the Sicilians and Florentines sometyme by the Genowayes Venitians euen as the hazard of warre fauoured notwithstanding most of them made there no long aboad The Bulgarians Ruscians and Seruians had their Despottoes who being sometymes friends and confederates with the Emperors of Constantinople and by and by againe enemies did with continuall roades wast Thracia and Macedonia These confusions did deserue the name of théeueries rather then of warres because both the ground of them was vniust and the practises wherewith they holpe themselues most wicked For they sought all meanes to rent and teare the Empire in péeces whereby the Emperour of the Turkes had oportunitie to seaze vppon Constantinople and the other Prouinces The same author in an other place saith thus I will likewise rehearse the calamities that oppressed almost all Italie as a punishment for the sinnes that therein rayned which happened during the mortall deuisions betweene the Emperours and the Popes when the names of Guelph and Gibeline were the markes of each faction For so many mischiefes were there then committed so much blood shed so manytownes destroyed and whole Countries layd wast that whosoeuer shall reade the histories thereof cannot but meruaile Then did there spring vp many pettie Tyrants in most townes acknowledging no superiour but leaning some to the Popes and some to the Emperours exercising all cruelties against both friends and foes vntill that Italie rather wearied then satisfied with so many miseries did after a
him in it were a good precept that at the Court and in Paris which are the two lightes that ought to lighten all France order might be first throughly established to the end all others might direct themselues according to these two most ritch presidents So long as the citie of Rome kept her self sound her inferiours florished in vertue but when she came to be corrupt the infection was spred all ouer Yet minde I not hereby to inferre that all disorders haue their originall from the rulers for many doo spring from the subiects but it is to bee perceiued that some of the principall fetch their beginning from the principall persons and so doe remaine There is yet an other soueraigne precept without the which all the rest are to small purpose and that is to seeke some meanes how to take order in the controuersies of Religion without force of armes For vntil ciuill warre be banished it is but a folly to speake of redresse because the same worketh a greater breach in the countrie in maners in lawes and in men in sixe moneths then may posbly bee repayred againe in sixe yéeres Among other the fruites thereof this is one That it hath engendred a million of Epicures and Libertines Secondly it hath made most part of the French nation so wilde cruell and sauadge that where they were before but shéepe they haue now put on the shape of Tygers These two reasons might fully suffise to perswade euery one that is possessed of any one sparke of conscience or charitie to desire and wish that we might be brought into concord by fayre and peaceable meanes For so long as discord holdeth our swords drawne we doo nothing but establish a new Kingdome of Impietie Iniustice Crueltie and Theft wherein many théeues and wicked persons do rise and grow ritch with the spoyle of the innocent and glut themselues with blood A man may truely say that if all the French nation were deuided into sixe parts wée should finde that fiue of them doe daylie mourne and pray to God to graunt peace vnto France and a good politique redresse vntill an Ecclesiasticall may bee had which disposition being in maner vniuersall maketh the difficultie to attaine to that poynt a great deale the lesse The ordinarie obiectiou hereto is that two Religions cannot possibly consist in one Commonwelth And when we aske wherefore it is annswered because of their repugnancie which bréedeth perpetuall contention But I would knowe of them whether vice and vertue good and bad bée not also contraries and yet we must not for the remedying thereof bring a whole Realme into dissention In the tyme of the good Emperours Constantine and Theodosius also when the two holy Bishops Augustine Ambrose florished in the worlde were there not in the Romaine Empire both Pagans Iewes and Arrians whom the true Christians were driuen to permit to liue after their owne rites and consciences rather then for those contrarieties to kindle cruell warres and most â—â—â—lent persecutions Are wee more wise or mightie then those Emperours or more holy and zealous then those holy Bishops I thinke wée had néede of a good Orator to perswade that So that sith they haue so farre exceeded vs in perfection wee are not to bée blamed though wée guyde our selues by their rule as well in matters of pollicie as of the Church And notwithstanding vnder the Children of Constantine there chaunced some seditions and troubles for Religion yet doth it appeare that the Arrians were euer the authors thereof for the true Church hath sieldome bene seene to vse persecution Which this excellent sentence of Augustine very well verefieth that sayth He that persecuteth is of the deuill but he that is persecuted is of God It is sayd that King Frances the first when the Suitzers were at warre among themselues for Religion counsailed them to appease such controuersies by modest conferences and gentle meanes which since they haue happely put in practise and sped well by it for thereby haue they mainteyned concorde among themselues and mightilie enriched their Countrie and yet are become neuer the worse This sole example might stoppe their mouthes that vpholde that fire and sworde must determine our debates also that gentle meanes are vnprofitable But I cannot thinke that such counsailes can procéede from any other then most cruell and hypocriticall mindes To bée briefe I thinke assuredly that if their Maiesties their Counsaile the Princes and the Court of Parliament of Paris would vnfainedly labour for a generall reconsiliation and redresse notwithstanding whatsoeuer contrarietie the same might easilie be brought to perfection Are they to be restrayned by the authoritie of the Popes precepts who by his Nuncios seeketh vncessantly to trouble France Must they feare the rage of some of the Clergie that crye out Kill murder haue no pitie vpon the Protestants our aduersaries Can the power of the Spanish Empire which they haue prouoked out of season force theÌ„ to sheath their French swords in the bowels of France Shall the feare and complaynts of the Protestants which are not without some grouÌ„d so terrefie them y t they shall desist Or may the secret practizes which tend to stirring vp of great matters feare them Truely all this should not let theÌ„ from establishing y e soueraigne law that bringeth health to al FraÌ„ce which is y e law of peace concord Only it is requisite the King be armed with his grandfathers magnanimitie to daunt all such as dare propound any pernitious Complois against the Commonwelth as also to harten those that are desirous to say do well The Queene mother likewise is to remember that she rather theÌ„ any is able to fixe the nayle in the turning wheele of deuision which would be to her life a Crowne of most excellent commendations The Princes likewise must call to minde that domesticall power acchieued by a vertuous peace is as assured and happie as that which is purchased with doubtfull and infortunate warre This great Senate which maketh such account of fame is to thinke that it shall lose the same that it hath obteyned vnlesse it bring forth such excellent Senators as with pure hart and franke speech will freely vphold as did our Cato l'Hospitall publique equitie But if to the contrary they shewe themselues obstinate and slacke in readinesse and labour they shall be the first that shall feele by the contempt and disobedience of the inferiours whom they haue suffered by warres and corruption to transforme themselues into barbarous conditions how great an ouersight it is not to cut off when they may the way to such confusions as tende to the subuertion of the whole A King by encreasing his dominion atchieueth great honor but much greater doth he obteyne by vniting and clensing it when it is deuided and infected for the first is compassed by force the other by discretion Such braue exploytes as worthie their greatnesse are to them reserued to the end in
theeueries which redound to the great hinderance of the Kings seruice can no way be reformed but by exemplary punishments At the least if they yet robbed Gentleman like it were somewhat tollerable considering the course of the tyme but to proceede thus farre is but clownish theft The Souldier may peraduenture say They vse our seruice but of money we heare no newes In this case being depriued of the benefite of their pay they are to bee exempt from the rigour of lawe so that they liue with discretion But when vnder colour of non payment they shall exceede to all violent and infamous actions they are not to bee excused as not hauing any further priuiledge but to liue moderatly vpoÌ„ the people as is aforesaid There are likewise of the Nobilitie who either for their priuate quarels either to the end co encroach the spoyle of some fat benefite doe without reason beare Armes whereof doth often tymes ensue many murders neither is there any Prouince in the Realme free from this abuse Then if you sende some inferiour Sergeant at the mace to forbid them neuer was pilferer better swinged then he shall bée To send likewise the gouernors letter that is as could because in these daies the gouernors in liewe of commaunding doe pray and this haue our dissentions brought to passe What is then to bee done in the restraynt of these pettie warres which followed in the countrie do kindle againe hatred and breede partakings For sooth euen trusse vp fiue or sixe of these warriers so to make fiue or sixe hundred wise To be briefe sith by the continuation of eiuill warres impudencie mallice and disobedience are so sore encreased we must not now thinke with proclamations and decrees to suppresse them vnlesse those also to whom it doth appertaine doe take the rodde in hand therewith to minister waight to their wordes And although in this reformation considering things in generall we are to proceede with much moderation for feare of Commotions or trouble yet if wée perticulerly looke into many vitious qualities which hinder the reestablishment of order I think it not amisse to mixe some sower with the sweete Thus may wee iudge which remedie may bee most profitable whether this or the more moderate For my parte I suppose that in some matters the mixed were necessarie although in other some the moderate as being assured that there will be lesse difficultie in making this difference then in setting the matter in hande But wee driue of soo long for our mischiefes are growne to that passe that wee are no lenger to consult how to cure them but rather to wonder that we haue not alreadie done it The fifth Discourse That instruction and good bringing vp are necessarie for all young gentlemen SUch as haue noted the singularities of France among the rest haue set downe that parte of the Nobilitie giuen to iustice and valiauncie wherewith it hath alwaies bene adorned not to bee the least wherein they haue had reason For if wée consider the tymes past wee shal by the apparant effects which from age to age haue appeared perceiue that out of this great stocke haue procéeded such excellent men as haue greatly profited and stoode their Countrie in steade But as all that hath bene is subiect to varietie and chaunge so hath it fallen out that the most parte of those that haue succeeded in their auncestors goodes haue not neuerthelesse inherited their vertue but rather being halfe buryed in common corruption are degenerate and gone astraye from the auncient maners whereby is greatly deminished the commendation and good reputation in olde tyme attributed as well in generall as perticuler to those that beare so fayre a title Now if wee shall seeke the causes that haue engendred so many imperfections in this vniuersall bodie wee shall finde that the most notable hath bene their small care to see their young Children well instructed in honest discipline though withall I suppose that some haue likewise erred in weening to atteyne thereto whereof it hath ensued that the beginning being bad that which hath bene added hath bene of the same If the Parents for their excuse doe alleadge that therein they haue followed the custome that will not iustifie them considering that in so necessarie occasions they ought to bée directed by the instructions of the wise who did so greatly accompt of this that to the ende the posteritie should remember it they haue treated very largely thereof in the most parte of their bookes that they haue left vs. I knowe well enough that naturally euery man hath a certaine inward motion to keepe and exalt that which he hath begotten but when this affection is 〈…〉 lpen and guided by learning it may better atteyne to the desired purpose And therfore it is not amisse briefly to heare the opinions of the auncient Philosophers and Lawgiuers to the end this iudgement being confirmed wee may afterward be the better disposed to doe that which shall be requisite All the most renowmed Philosophers as Licurgus Socrates Plato Aristotle Xenophon and Pâ—utarke doe affirme that the negligence in the well instructing of youth doth corrupt Common welths also that the vices which in youth are rooted in them can hardly be corrected Whereas contrariwise when vertue doth in tyme take place it afterward fructifieth wonderfully They also not only blame the fathers that through couetousnesse sloth or ignorance do deny their children that good bringing vp that they owe them but likewise haue an euill opinion of those Commonwelths that want order and discipline for the instruction of youth Yea and they further alleadge that the best natures wanting good bringing vp doe growe very pernitious likewise that they cannot in age be crowned with honor if in youth they neuer learned to walke in the path of vertue To bee briefe they all are of opinion that as Plants and Trees for want of husbandrie and proyning do grow wilde so youth if it bee not polished by good customes doe waxe rude and vitious This in briefe is one small morsell of the instructions by them left in generall as well to the Parents as Magistrates to exhort and stirre them vp diligently to see youth brought vp and instructed in all honest discipline But what neede we seeke so great proofes and confirmation hereof sith no man calleth it in doubt Rather ought wee to declare how wee should proceede in this bringing vp to cause it to fructifie in the beautifull actions of vertue Herein likewise it is requisite to helpe our selues with the doctrine of the same Philosophers who haue so well discoursed vpon euery thing that belongeth to all partes of ciuill life that the heauenly precepts onely excepted it is vnpossible to deuise any better direction I will therefore here set downe some sayings out of Plutarke to this purpose There is nothing saith he that bringeth so soone to vertue and maketh a man happie as good instructions in respect whereof all
places wherby to profit Neither shal there néed aboue sixe such in a whole band of souldiours to bring the same into liking with all commendable exercises whereas nowe for the moste part they all imploy their vacaunt leisure either in trifling or hurtful pastimes so shold the assēblies which oftē meet in the prouinces to decide controuersies or to leauy grayne bee conuerted into sweete and pleasant contentions betweene yong gentlemen sometime in townes and somtimes in lords houses to runne at the ring or to fight at barriers with such other exercises whereby to winne the prises allotted to the most actiue then would they also maintaine chalenges and of these communications in so honest recreations ingender acquaintance and fruitfull amity I will leaue to the iudgements of such as haue haunted the courts and warres to note howe soone the yong men that I haue spoken of will grow both good courtiers and better souldiers For beeing already so well instructed in the actions both of the body and minde such a preparation would make them capable of that in two yeeres which others who besides the helpes of nature haue but small learning can not comprehend in six Finally the report of this good order beeing spred through forrein countries we should haue great resort of strangers to participate in the saide instructions which woulde greatly redound to the glory of our country This is one small meanes in some sort to keepe the vniuersall corruption which as an ouerflowing streame seeketh to winne ground from further infecting of our nobilitie Besides we might conceiue this hope that by continuance of such an order we should by litle and little see good manners restored As also that age seeing youth so modest and wel taught would be afeard to transgresse and haue a greater desire to vnderstande what is worthy themselues Only it remaineth to perswade his maiestie to prouide either these or better establishmentes which I assure my selfe hee would not be against in respect of that singuler affection which he beareth vnto his nobility who hauing beene euer heretofore ready to sacrifice their liues for his seruice woulde be much more bent thereto when by new benefites their bands shall be encreased The sixt Discourse That the reading of the bookes of Amadis de Gaule such like is no lesse hurtful to youth than the works of Machiauel to age I Haue heretofore greatly delighted in reding Machauels Discourses his Prince because in y t same he intreateth of high goodly politike martial affaires which many Gentlemen are desirous to learne as matters méete for their professiōs And I must néeds confesse y t so long as I was cōtent sleightly to runne thē ouer I was blinded with y e glosse of his reasons But after I did with more ripe iudgement throughly examine them I found vnder y t fayre shew many hidden errors leading those that walke in them into the paths of dishonour and domage But if any man doubt of my sayings I would wish him to reade a booke intituled Antimachiauellus the author whereof I know not and there shall he sée that I am not altogether deceiued Neither doe I thinke greatly to deceiue my selfe though I also affirme the bookes of Amadis to be verie fit instruments for the corruption of maners which I am determined to proue in few words to the end to dissuade innocent youth from intangling themselues in these inuisible snares which are so subtilly laide for them Euermore haue there bene some men giuen to the writing publishing of vanitie wherto they haue bene the sooner led because they knew their labours would be acceptable to those of their time the greatest sort whereof haue swallowed vp vanitie as the fish doth water The auncient fables whose relickes doe yet remaine namely Lancelot of the lake Pierceforest Tristran Giron the courteous such otheas doe beare witnesse of this olde vanitie Herewith were men fed for the space of 500. yeeres vntill our language growing more polished our mindes more ticklish they were driuen to inuent some nouelties wherewith to delight vs. Thus came y e bookes of Amadis into light amōg vs in this last age But to say y e troth Spaine bred thē France new clothed thē in gay garments In y e daies of Henrie the second did they beare chiefest sway I think if any man would then haue reproued thē he should haue bene spit at because they were of themselues playfellowes and maintainers to a great sort of persons whereof some after they had learned to Amadize in spéech their téeth watered so desirous were they euen to taste of some small morsels of the delicates therein most liuelie and naturally represented And although many disdayned and reiected them yet haue but ouer many hauing once tasted of them made them their continuall foode This sustenaunce hath ingendered euil humours that distempered those soules which peraduenture at the first thought not to haue growen so weake My iudgement therefore of these bookes in generall shall bee this I thinke vnlesse I be deceiued that hee that composed them was some courtly Magitian cunning slie who to the end to bring his arte into estimation and withall to procure vnto those that bee dealers therein both honour feare hath cunningly fayned 1000. meruayles which he hath couered and wrapped vp in a number of pleasant desired and vsuall matters so as the one running among the other the whole might be the better receiued I knowe there are some that will finde my opinion to bee verie strange because they wéene that the author of the sayde bookes intent was no other but to leaue to the posteritie a portrayture of the exercises of the Courts in his time and withall to forge a spurre wherewith to pricke forward young Gentlemen and to incite them to entertain loue and practise armes as the two onely most beautifull obiectes that may delight fashion and cause them to climbe to honour But their iudgement is too simple as staying rather vppon the consideration of the beautie of certaine outward matters than vppon the truth of the inward For notwithstanding I graunt that the instructions and examples of this fabulous historie may also be propounded to the end to teach both to loue and fight yet will I saie that the most of those loues are dishonest and almost all the combats full of falsehood and not to be practised so that the following of those rules is to walke in errour All therefore that I pretend to shew may far better appeare by deducting the particularities that I haue noted I will begin with the persons of Alquif Vrgand and their like inchanters and witches there tearmed Sages as also the Magicall or deuillish arts which they vsed ase called Perfect wisedome Yea I thinke if the author durst he would haue named them Prophets which name they deserued but with this tayle of Satan When these Sorcerers or Witches came
must stil be in y e purse or the land at gage Next to the Courtiers come the Gentlemen who are not altogether so excessiue as they although they take paynes to imitate them And as for those that neuer stirre out of the countrie vnlesse it be a few very good husbands they likewise do so followe the custome that euery one farre excéedeth his porte And yet is all this but halfe charges For the women also will haue their share in so many gay ornaments which yet became them better then the men who haue larger meanes to beautifie themselues with vertue Some are content with honest sufficiencie others delight onely in aboundance and some doe so farre passe the boundes of reason that their poore husbands may scratch their heads when they see pouertie come posting to them vpon Indian stones and Italian clothes of golde This custome began vnder Frances the first and did mightely encrease vnder Henry the second but since their excesse hath bene such as to apparell their Lackies and Pages in cloath of siluer Our auncestors were without comparison farre more moderate yea our Kings sought to make their Maiesties venerable rather by grauitie iustice wisedome fortitude liberalitie and a trayne of worthie and learned personages then by any sumptuousnesse of apparell which also inuited their subiects to the like imitation Subiects and Prouinces ensue the maners of Princes And vntill the great ones doe begin to cut off these superfluities they will still continue to the great detriment of the Nobilitie Some man may say Is it not decent that euery one should goe according to his dignitie Yes truely and I thinke it were great inciuilitie and an vnwoorthie matter to doe otherwise I reprooue only the excesse therein vsed which puffe vp our mindes to vanitie and in the ende breede destruction Neither must we imagine that our fathers went apparelled like Artificers For when they came to any Feasts or great assemblies their garments were according to their calling and yet free from superfluitie and such as lasted long Now if in the Court we see any man weare a garment of a yeere olde we say of him We know him well enough he will not bite vs he is a two yeeres birde so that with such scoffes he is forced to giue it ouer And it may be sayd that among Courtiers the age of an ordinarie garment is three moneths and of an extraordinarie sixe and among the rest of the Nobilitie somewhat longer tyme. For the newe fangles that doe after ensue doe make them ridiculous To the ende likewise the better to knowe the diuersitie thereof resort you to the Frippery at Paris where you shall finde a most plentifull storehouse So that if a man were disposed vpon this medlie to frame Antiques there were no pleasanter deuise to bee seene This inconstancie in apparell argueth a woonderfull lightnesse of minde whereof ensueth the purgation of the purse and laughing sport to straungers For when we come into their countrie and they see our great Ruffes womens Verdugalles mens long heare and the sword at the backe they runne after them as the little children at Paris do after maister Gonin It is a hard case to empouerish our selues with these péeuish follies and then to bee laughed to scorne too It may bee replyed that scoffes the ordinarie pastime of the world are mutually lent and payed againe also that our Nobilitie trauailing to Venice and there seeing the Nobilitie couered with cappes like the coffin of a pye and girt in broad girdles euen laugh outright I denye it not but withall this I will say that when some of them doe afterward come to consider that the simplicitie of their garments swelleth vp their coffers with treasure also that wisedome and grauitie shine in their Senate and that their Statutes are inuiolably obserued and contrariwise that wee with our short hose and long dublets haue made our lawes leape out at the windowes because they speake too loude also that our coffers are for the most part as voyde of golde as the head of a passionate louer is of reason they conclude that our selues doe better deserue to be mocked Let vs now come to the second article of our vayne expences consisting of the immoderate affections that sundrie beare vnto stately buildings For although it hath bene so from the beginning yet was it but little in respect of our tyme wherein we see the qualities of the buildings and the number of builders farre to surmount the olde tyme. And especially our Nobilitie haue therein exceeded rather vpon vayne glorie then any necessitie I suppose it is not much aboue threescore yeeres since that Architecture was restored in France where before men lodged but grossely But since that the faire fruites of this arte hath bene reuealed many haue endeuoured to put them in practise If none but great or ritch men had employed onely the aboundance of their Crownes vpon such workes it had not bene to be reproued considering they were ornaments both to towne and countrie But after their example the meane wealthie persons yea euen the poore haue coueted to set hand to the worke and as it were at vnwares haue bene forced to doe much more then they thought for and that not without repentaunce The Lawyers likewise and especially the Treasorers haue likewise encreased the desire of the Lordes to building For say they How is this These men that are not so well grounded as wee doe build like Princes and shall we sit still So as it were vpon spite one at an other we haue a multitude of goodly houses made and that oftentymes with the losse of the reuenues which are fallen to other men through that vehement passion that vrged them to heape vp stone vpon stone How many haue there bene that hauing begunne stately buildings haue left them vnperfect as hauing learned to bee wise in the middest of their follie In euery Prouince wee see but too many examples It may bee that some when they haue seene themselues so well clothed and spangled in golde haue saide This cage is too narrowe for so fayre a foule it must haue a more stately one To which discourse some flatterer may haue replyed Sir it is a shame your neighbour who is no better then your selfe should be better lodged But take hart for he that beginneth bouldly hath finished halfe his worke neither can a wise man want habilitie Then he feeling himselfe clawed where it itched by and by in his minde conceiued a purpose which he began with pleasure continued with labour and charges and ended with sorrowe So as it hath often fallen out such a one hath builded a house fit for a Lord of 25000. Franckes rent whose heire hath not found aboue seuen or eight hundred and being ashamed to lodge his pouertie so stately hath sould it to buy an other more fit for his liuing And him that would not so sell to bee driuen to feede vpon small loues as
chooser but rashly to condemne other mens argueth a little pride and want of consideration Now the cause why some doe so greatly commend trauailing abreade procéedeth of a conceiued opinion that â—iuilitie is better learned abroade as also that reputation and ritches are obteyned by haunting of diuers places and keeping companie with diuers persons I would not greatly argue against their opinions if they comprehended no more but this yea my selfe would counsaile yong men to go as I haue already sayd in an other discourse into places where any thing that is honest is to bee learned Likewise such as are poore and haue quicke wittes being capeable to serue either publiquely or priuatly may seeke their aduentures through al places and those likewise that haue met with them and are bound vnto them by any bond of seruice of office or of arte to goe neere or farre ought not to faile in perfourming these dueties But before I enter any farther into any other exceptions I must confesse y t I meane here to excuse certaine Gentlemen who being alreadie possession of house famelie and meanes and withal are not to seeke what vertue and knowledge meane are neuerthelesse despised because they are resolued to speade their liues at home by those that make as it were an ordinary occupation to be continually vpon the publique theaters of Courts Cities Warres â—orreiâ—e lands Of these will I speake one word by the way That is that some there are that trot into all places onely vpon curiositie others doe also goe to the ende aforesayd namely to bee better instructed Concerning the first They hauing no other meaning but an outwarde and vayne pleasure reape nothing but vanitie and such a conâ—ontation as is of no continuance as hauing no other foundation but winde Only they can praâ—â—le a little among simple people of things that they take for wonders in that they want knowledge and that is all Likewise will I there leaue them because in their doynges they beare no other affection but as it were to goe see a Maygaine But with the second it is otherwise for they learne goodthings and sometymes to encrease so as we see the good 〈◊〉 of their 〈◊〉 appeare Butias the wood worme engendreth in wood 〈◊〉 happen 〈…〉 the more they haue attâ—yned them or 〈…〉 doth the â—â—rrogance enâ—tease where of ensueth contempt of their equalles that imitate them not Youth that hath not yet experience of the seuerall kindes of life doth easely stumble into these rash iudgements vntill it be reformed but there are some whom neither age nor reason can diuert from such imaginations wher 〈…〉 they shewe that they haue profited but little in strayings â—o 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 Also as 〈◊〉 knowledge doth neuer passe vp it selfe but maketh the person the more humble and lowly so should vertue make it the more discreet Now let vs see wherewith they blemish the countrie common course of life It giueth say they small content and extenuateth the force of courage They doe likewise perswade themselues that those which are nothing mooued in the presence of great obiects neither stirred vp by emulation of their equals must of necessitie stoope to such actions as may be termed seruise Also the most of these hauing bene brought vp in these stately Courts doe thinke that the excellencie and beautie of vertue doe neuer shine but where it is best florished out and with greatest traynes so that perceiuing it oâ— clothed of those outward ornaments and in simple aray they doe but winke at it as men of â—â—â—y doe at their friends when they be fallen into extreme pouertie And therefore marking those that neuer stirre from home but lye still as it were hidden and without any shewe they would thereby inferre that they want good qualities as thinking that if they had any the same would force them foorth as the sailes doe force the Shippe into the maine Sea But in their wordes they make many false consequences For to say that that vertue seemeth obscure which beareth but her owne simple shewe likewise that he that hath enough if he proclaymeth not abroade I haue vertue to sell seemeth to haue but little Also that contentment dependeth vpon the knowledge and fauour of the mightie and the multitude is to be blinded with the apparance of outward things which bleare the sight of those that are inward The Philosophers doe holde that true felicite consisteth in the participation of vertue likewise that the same may be found in all sortes of men and in all places Which is so true that none can denye it Wee must therefore before we contemne any kinde of life how base soeuer it seemeth looke whether no portion of vertue shineth therein For if there doe wee ought not to condemne it at randon Well the better to iudge thereof let vs more neerely examine this maner of countrie life and wee shall peraduenture see that it bringeth foorth very good and fayre fruites both for it selfe and others First he that hath chosen it may in these some what solitarie places more deuoutly exercise-the dueties of Religion and with lesse hinderances those of charitie then among the great societies where Princes or vanities doe for the most part detaine the minds in thraldome and withdrawe them from such meditatious as are necessarie for all and when Godlinesse which is the foundation of life is well vnderstood and perfectly practised there ensueth great contentation Next the minde findeth greater tranquilitie in such places then in Courts and Cities where it is tormeÌ„ted with most vyolent verturbations as ambition raging loue reuenge wrath papine and enuie For in the countrie life those obiects that stirre vp inward rage doth not commonly haunt As for delight it is as much in that there is no cause but a man may finde as good relish in the smallest things the taste whereof is so farre from those that are are intangled among the ciuill multitude that they do not so much as perceiue them Dauid although a great Kind did neuerthelesse sometyme delight in these small countrie ornaments which are in the 65. Psalme very well described where he sayth In places playne the flockes shall feede And couer all the earth The vales with corne shall so exceede That men shall sing for mirth Now let vs proceede to the commodities which truely are of two sorts For first superfluitie the only sepulcher wherein many rich houses are buryed is in maner vnknowne in the countrie life Secondly household orders are well obserued and although the vse of thrift bee the ordinarie rule yet doth liberalitie shine in the middest thereof and honest sufficiencie who is still neighbour to aboundance neuer departeth the contrary wherof appeareth where prodigalitie raiâ—â—eth For her followers doe often tymes trye the same that Shippes doe in a storme whome the waues doe sometyme lift vp to the Clowdes and by and by bring downe to the bottome of the Sea Euen so they hauing made
stately cheare for the space of some eight daies must remaine halfe a yeere pinched with al kinde of penury As for the coÌ„moditie that the others reape by the presence and frequentation of that whereof of I speake it is likewise to bee considered For to begin with his famelie there is no doubt but according to the prouerbe Such maister such man if he be endued with many vertues he shareth them with his especially with his wife and children describing in his priuate famelie the forme of a well ordered Commonwelth His subiects likewise what comfort doe they also conceiue in comming to trye his aâ—â—abiliâ—ie and good will Entring farther into the course of his life what an example is he to make them the better Finally such a mans neighbours and kindred may among their greatest commodities note this that they may be ordinarily conuersant with him and so to taste of sundrie goodly fruites of learning and amitie Who so list farther to learne the commendations of the countrie life let him reade those bookes that are purposely written thereof For my parte it is enough that I haue in a word touched it by the way as well not to bring out of liking those that vse it well as also to shew to others that disdaine it that it is not destitute of vertue honestie and solace Now let vs see whether it deminisheth prowesse as some doe suppose For my parte I thinke not in any in whom the loue of vertue is not quite extinct For in whatsoeuer place they bee they still thinke it conuenient for a Gentleman to beare a mans stomacke On the other side the exercise of the Horse the running at the Ring hunting and the haquebut are portraitures and instrumeÌ„ts of warre which waken the courages and maintaine them in force But communication with our like doth also greatly helpe thereto because the speeches both of the one and other doe tend only to contemne towardlike demeanours and to exalt the valiant so as hereof wee make a counterpoize against that delicacie which by little and little is engendred in those persons whose liues are free from daunger I knowe well enough that the Nobilitie that houldeth residence a great parte of the yeere in frontier Garrisons is through continuall exercise in warlike discourses more stirred vp to the loue of prowesse then that that kéepe home But all cannot be there maintained neither doe those that are depriued of that exercise considering the reputation of the rest but make inwardly some small prouision of that which is the cause of obtaining the same Moreouer it followeth not that because they are not so skilfull in militarie profession as others y t they are therefore voyde of courage For he that hath good seede in him with a little custome maketh it well to fructifie How many braue Capteynes haue in our fathers daies bene seene neuer to stirre from home after the warres were once ended And yet when occasion serued that they must to it againe they were nothing inferiour to any of the rest Thus much must I needes say that like as martiall exercise maketh not all that practise it valiant no more doth dwelling at home so daunt the courages of those that vse it but that they can alwaies be well enough disposed to doe their parts when honor commaundeth As for the rest who euen burye themselues by perpetuall kéeping home in their owne houses to the ende onely to stoope to effeminate pleasures and sloth either els to haue the better opportunitie to practise violence or couetousnesse I will say no more but only wish that among the Nobilitie there were Censors established as in the Romaine Commonwelth that through publique shame their faultes whether secrete or open might be corrected For it is a shame for the goodly title of Nobilitie to be made a cloake to vnworthie actions Now were it not amisse to examine whether the felicitie of those that goe vp downe to seeke it thus euery where and who weene to haue more then others be so great as they say for But I will not stay therevpon to the ende to discourse vpon the third false opinion Many there are that reproue it others also that put it in practise either thinking it not to want a good foundation or els because that by the vse thereof they reape profite and preferment But how soeuer they list to take it they are not to be excused For our opinions must agree with that that is iust and our commodities bee purchased without iniustice which euen those ought to knowe that make accompt to excéede the common people in dignitie and wisedome to the ende they by their example may conforme themselues to fulfill whatsoeuer the duetie of all And as it is an easie matter from liberalitie which teacheth vs the maner to giue in place and season conuenient to fall into prodigalitie which sheweth how to doe the contrary so without diligent heede from true obedience we slide into false which in counterexchaunge of a matter due maketh vs to doe that that is not due This question haue sundrie learned personages at large treated vpon of whose iudgements wee ought not to bee ignorant to the ende alwaies in our selues to bee resolued of a matter of so great waight I will therefore following their steppes speake only two or three words according to my capacitie especially vsing the instructions taken out of Gods worde The same teacheth vs that God hath set vp the mightie that haue dominion ouer the nations to rule and gouerne them in pietie and iustice whom likewise he commaundeth vs to haue in singuler honor and to obey whervpon S. Paule saith Let euery soule be subiect to the superiour powers for there is no power but of God and the powers that are are the ordinance of God This only place might suffice to enstruct as well the one as the other in their dueties For herein are the superiours warned to remember the sacred dignitie wherewith they are adorned that they neither abuse nor prophane it by crueltie couetousnesse or voluptuous lust Likewise the inferiours to bowe their neckes vnder those authorities as vnder the yoke of God not only in patience but in ioye also For as S. Paule in the same chapter sayth They that resist the powers doe resist the ordinance of GOD. Whereto he afterward addeth That the Prince beareth the sword for the benefite of his subiects whether for their defence or correction Which reason ought to make vs thinke obedience sweete because in yeelding the same wee both please God and reape profite If Princes would well consider the goodly titles and large prerogatiues that God giueth them they would amende and their commaundements should be more iust For by the mouth of his Prophet Dauid he saith I haue sayd ye are Gods and children to the most highest herein signifying that as in them shineth the image of Iesus Christ whose Empyre is both in heauen and earth so ought they
that wee shall scarcely finde any Captaine that will be the first to proue it then that I doubt but it may be put in execution The third Paradoxe That it is expedient for a Captaine to haue susteyned an ouerthrowe PLutarke among his small workes in a treatise intituled Of profite to be taken of enemies doth somewhat verifie this proposition where with great arte and eloquence he generally sheweth the same which I pretend to describe perticulerly though rudely but this opinion of myne I thinke many Captaines blinded peraduenture with the apparance of things which by nature are hurtfull will gainesay howbeit when I haue discouered the fruites there vnder hidden they shall as I suppose though not wholy yet in parte be satisfied And therefore without farther circumstance of words I wil come to the principall matter Such as attaine to militarie offices doe ordinarily climbe thereto by two waies The one called merite or desert and the other fauour Some of those that haue trodden the first path seeing themselues in authoritie do grow proude and others that haue come by the second I doe imagine to be ignorant which are very great imperfectiōs as easie to bee knowne in others as hard to be espied by those that are possessed with them And as to diseases engendred in mens bodies the remedies must bee applyed according to the rules of Phisicke the like doe these that are of the minde stande in neede of But many times neither arte nor counsaile can preuaile but the accident which more properly seemeth to bee hurt and destruction then remedie Howbeit if any doe meruaile how any profite can be found in things hurtfull let them consider the Scorpion who carieth in her both the sting poyson that infecteth the deadly wound and the medicine that cureth the same So also may wee say that militarie mishaps doe sometimes worke the like effects For by bringing vpon vs an apparant calamitie they doe thereby serue for an instruction to heale the hidden euill that bred the other This inward euill whereof I purpose to speake is Pride which ordinarily breedeth in those that are endued with sufficiencie and valour and bringeth their soules as farre out of fashion as the Dropsie doth the bodie wherof ensueth an vnreasonable selfe-estimation and contempt of others which are two such errors as oftentimes doe cast those that followe them into most manifest destructions And as all men ought to beware of stumbling vpon such great inconueniences so must they take in good part the vnlooked for corrections which make thē wise to take héed another time The first example that I will alleadge of such as I thinke to haue gayned thereby shall be of Gonsales Fernando a Spanyard and most notable Captaine who hauing bene vnder Ferdinand of Arragon the chiefest instrument to tame and driue the Moores out of Granado was sent into the Realme of Naples which that King chalenged against the French men Comming thether with an armie against them he thought peraduenture that the French men of armes would as easely haue bene broken as the Moores Genetairies also that his fame alreadie obteyned would terrifie them But he was deceiued for they ouerthrewe his troopes And himselfe losing that field which the Lord of Aubigny wonne he afterward shewed that he had gathered instruction by such an ouerthrow for he guided himselfe with such arte and discretion that he ouerthrewe the Frenchmen in sundrie encounters and finally expelled them the Realme That great Iulius Caesar who in the arte of warre surpassed all Capteynes that euer were after he had driuen Pompey out of Italy enclosed him in Dirachium waxed proud cōtemned him so as vndertaking to entrench a great countrie wherby to close him vp the straighter Pompey knowing his aduantage came forth and flew the chiefe part of his armie and had like to haue wonne a full victorie This shrewd blowe made Caesar so warie and diligent that he neuer after gaue Pompey any oportunitie against him but with his 〈…〉 ted pollicies brought him to the same poynt that he required and so ouercame him These two examples the one olde and the other newe may suffice to giue to vnderstande that the greatest giuing themselues euen to the least pride doe sometimes encurre an ouerthrowe by this imperfection but withall they haue this good thing in them that hauing receiued of their enemies some chastisement for their negligence or rashnesse they will soone amend Many Capteynes therefore now liuing must not bee ashamed to confesse that in prosperitie they may bee ouer seene sith those that haue bene endued with such modestie haue so farre ouershot themselues The first cause of this mischiefe consisteth in our selues and is our had inclination which corroborated by custume tēdeth to exalt vs aboue measure so as if an occasion falleth out of a quarter long it stretcheth it to an ell Which appeareth in all professions of arte and knowledge but chiefly in the arte of warre the professors whereof doe make great account of themselues because they exercise the actions of Fortitude and Magnanimitie Many times among the Spanish bands you shall heare a newe Souldier of three crownes pay say I am as good as the King let vs then thinke what a Capteyne that hath bene in sundrie assaults and battailes will doe He will straight way say I am better then the Pope Thus doe wee see militarie presumption swell euen aboue the thing it selfe The commendations of friends are an other cause that helpe to encrease it for they not able to forbeare praysing those whom they loue who also doe deserue the same by powring plentie of this liquour vpon them doe sometimes make them drink so much therof that they be halfe giddie therewith Herein they that are too free in attributing doe ouershoote themselues at vnawares and they that are so curious in the receipt thereof are willingly ouertaken Flatterers also which followe such as are in authoritie as the shadowe doth the bodie doe greatly helpe to giue to Pride her true shape For with their deciptfull and windie words they puffe vp the soule like a bladder If a yong Lord doth any valiant act they straight compare him to Gaston de Fax If he be an expert Captaine they tell him he passeth Bertrande du Glesquin And if they haue any better hap they make him equall with Scipio and Marcellus To him whom in hope of profite they would allure they say he must proceede in his good fortune sith the mightie doe estéeme of him the Souldiers doe loue him and the people haue him in admiration Hereto they adde also that his fame is so dispersed among his enemies that when they knowe him to be in the fielde they feare him as the Shepheards in Barbary doe the mightie Lyon when he commeth out of the woods And that for their parts they are glad to see him in so good a way to atchiue most worthie tryumphes and
that wast our good and valiant men and corrupt perticuler maners politique orders are much worse Truely we haue great cause to wonder at our negligence which on euery side is such that no man laboureth so much as to qualifie these so terrible furies which greatly offend all those that are beholders of our miserable tragedies Yea many of those that be vpon the theaters hereof and are endued with some integritie are no lesse offended thereat Thucidides saith that in seditions men may see the image all mischiefes but in our warres men may say that euen the mischiefes themselues doe come in poste to the ende to fester them with eternall reproach Yea euen the extraordinarie ones which were hidden and durst not haue appeared fiftie yeeres ago do now come to bragge among vs. No yeere escapeth free without some note of treason treacherie murder poysoning or barbarous vyolence yea sometime the terrible monster Massacre striketh through and with the mightie blow of her talents smiteth those that thinke not vpon her Oh what straunge things are these A Spanish Gentleman reported vnto me that when the Forte of Frezin Ferry was wonne from the French there was a Wallon Souldier being found there taken prisoner and when the chiefe Captaine commaunded to put al to the sword the said souldiers owne brother seruing in the Spanish Campeâ— stepped foorth and shewing a cruell countenance sayd This wretched traytor to his King must dye of no other hand but mine owne Neither was his wrath appeased vntil he had diuers times thrust him through notwithstanding he pitifully kneeled to him Had the dead mans offence bene fower times as great yet should he haue abhorred to foyle his hands in his brothers blood We reade in the ciuil warres of Silla that a Romaine souldier hauing in â—ight slaine his enemie stripping him found him to be his owne brother who was on the contrary partie which when he perceiued he was attached with such sorowe and so spited his vnfortunate ignorance that himselfe ranne vpon his owne sword and so fell vpon the others bodie And although that was a very corrupt world yet many commended that furious pietie of the poore Paynim But the deede that here I haue rehearsed of this Christian of our daies which is so farre vnlike to the other and ought to be buried in obliuion had not peraduenture any fewer allowers thereof If this déede were true it deserueth to bée yoked with an other as bad or rather worse of a notable murderer of Paris who as some haue written began his rage with two of his owne niepâ—es of twelue yeeres of age whom he slewe while they embraced his knees and cryed him mercie I am ashamed to speake of these parricides which neuerthelesse these men were not ashamed to commit But being entred this carrier I will performe my race and reueale yet one mischiefe which is but too well knowne for I haue touched others in other my discourses It is the villanous sacking of poore countrie people yea euen friends and partakers for notwithstanding their continuall labour as well for their owne sustenance as to satisfie those whome iustly wee may tearme warlike Harpies yet do they not spare to eate theÌ„ vp sometime all at once sometime by little and little with vnspeakeable boldnesse and contempt neither can they be restrayned therefro by any consideration that they serueth y e same partie or that their deuotion is tyed therto Uyolence wrought against the enemie breedeth no wonder neither néedeth any excuse although there should bee a little measure obserued but these are inexcusable as meanes to destroy them selues and to bring common hatred vpon their superiours which out of the fieldes is sowen in townes and cities The sayd superiours should remember that into this great troope the poore the widowe and the Orphan whom God houldeth so deare are in corporate who in their sorowes haue no other recourse but to sobs and sighes which ascend into his presence where they are most fauourably receiued And it is a bad signe when such as should blesse doe curse and euen plucke downe Gods wrath and cast it vpon those that in outward apparance doe seeme to defend them but in deede doe deuoure and eate them vp These are in part the exercices of our ciuill warres which daily do empayre which also are the occasioÌ„ that many times the wisest who do imagine that they haue the best cause in seeing so many miserable maners of proceedings which teach to commit all mischiefe without remorce doe growe into such doubts as doe in maner shake the foundations of the firmenesse that they had leyed If then they doe sometimes totter or reele thinke what the simple shall doe that vse to allowe or disalowe of the causes of warres according as they be well or euill ordered If wee speake of words wee heare nothing but Gods honor the Kings seruice Catholick religion the Gospell our Countrie All which goodly titles doe binde the ministers of armes to endeuour that their workes may concurre with their words But when afterward wee see the most part take a contrary course and as the prouerbe of the Tennis court importeth play at bandy and scraping yea that rather vpon the friend theÌ„ vpon the enemie that is to say glut their vengeance ambition couetousnesse and auarice vpon whatsoeuer the warre doth make to stoope to them wee must not thinke that they will bee mumme that suffer all these things If such a peasant as he that dwelt vpon the bancks of Danow who was said to haue come in the time of M. Aurelius to the Romane Senate to complaine should now rise among vs I imagine his speech should tend to this purpose Oh ye Christians that doe so cruelly deuoure each other like fierce and angrie beasts among whom pitie seemeth to be dead how long shall your rage continue Why do ye graunt no truce or release to the rest of your miserable liues to the end at the least to creepe into your graues in some quiet What violent causes are those that stirre you vp If Gods glorie then consider that he taketh no pleasure in sacrifices of mans blood but detesteth them and loueth mercie and truth If your Princes seruice you must thinke ye doe them small seruice in slaying one an other for so doe you deminish and plucke away the chiefe senowes of his Realme If religion moueth you it seemeth ye knowe not the nature thereof for sith it is all charitie the same should induce you to meekenesse If your Countrie behold your fieldes are almost all desert your villages burnt your cities sacked your ritches in straungers hands and your glorie vtterly lost Seeke then no more excuses to lengthen your calamities rather cut them off then alleadge such necessities as doe impose other necessities This were easie to bee done if ye would practise this soueraigne rule of estate which excelleth the most excellent Giue to Caesar that belongeth to
Caesar and to God the things that appertaine to God But when I remember my selfe how can you you Souldiers fulfill this who haue forgotten the arte of rendering and can doe nothing but take Who sometimes doo saie well and alwayes liue euill What are your troupes and armies in these dayes but shoppes of all vice which where they passe doe leaue more horrible footsteps than doe the Grashoppers where they liue continuallie Your enimies do hate your crueltie your friends doe feare your sackings and all people doe flie from before you as from the flouds Who wil beleeue that your cause is iust when your behauiours are so vniust And although it were iust doe not you yet hazard it to all rebuke and slaunder To be briefe learne to liue better or thinke not much that no man beleeueth your wordes but cry out against your deeds This truly were a very free speech which neuertheles I think to approch so neere y e truth y t I wil not giue it the lie least they y t haue indured it should come in for witnesses against mee and so returne my lie vpon my selfe Out of this ranke I will exempt the honorable and good mem that professe armes as well noble as others of whome there be yet many abroad Neither must the whole blame of these disorders be layde vpon the small whose wantes doe oftentimes stirre vp their mallice For there be great ones who because they care not for moderating or suppressing them must haue their parts those especiallie are most guiltie that had rather see whole riuers of mischiefe than loose anie part of their reuenges or dominion If anie man aske the souldiours why they make such hauock they will answere that want of paie compelleth them which is a reason to be considered of If they tel the Princes y t these behauiors sauour verie euill and must be taken awaie with golde they wil say that all the Indias will not suffice for so many high payes and other subtill proulings Which cause must be well waied In the meane time vnder these excuses the mischiefes doe on both sides continue and feede vpon the infortunate Prouinces that beare theÌ„ which cannot possiblie be eschued so long as the mightie ones are so obstinately bent to make the wars perpetuall by keeping great armies all Winter and Summer in the fielde whereof it followeth that in the ende most of the men become rauening beastes the country is disinhabited the treasure is wasted the great curse themselues and God is displeased If we should call to minde how in the wars betweene the French and Spanish especially in Piedmont we should often see a Cornet of speares passe through a village where they might see banqueting dauncing the people without anie force come bring them all kinds of refreshing Againe within halfe an houre after another troope enimie to the former to passe in like sort and to receiue all kinds of curtesies Also these 2. troops within a while after to meet and beate each other well fauouredly Then the conquerer to carie into the sayd village the sore wounded as well of the one partie as of the other to be dressed and to lie all in one hostrie the vanquished vpon their faiths and the vanquishers in the custody of the aforenamed vnto their ful â—nre when each ought to returne to theyr Captains Thus should we see that these and such maner of proceeding purchased to both nations great fame among strangers and more amitie than is now to be found among pareuts This I say being reported vnto them they would account for fables because our present customes are cleane repugnant thereto And yet if in any wars ciuill behauiour be to be practised than in these wherein fellow Citizens after they haue ben together by the eares in their natiue soile doe fall agayne into familiaritie and loue one with another which neuer happeneth with strangers for the controuersies ended they neuer lightly haue occasioÌ„ to see one another again yea they ought to behaue themselus herein as kinsmen who among their hatred force doe intermingle equitie and honestie Finally such as do better note pollicie and good order and withall doe shew themselues most curteous doe giue the lookers on to thinke that they haue the better cause who therefore do fauour them with their prayers and themselues likewise by their good actions are the more satisfied and confirmed in their opinions which make them the bolder Contrariwise those who through their dissolutions doe make their warre which of it selfe is terrible vtterly detestable notwithstanding the cause be neuer so iust God will not fayle to punish for prosecuting it by such sinister meanes The 20. Discourse That a king of France is of himselfe mightie enough though he neither couet nor seeke other greatnesse than his owne Realme doth afford him ALL such as professe the reading and diligent examination of histories doe with one voice confesse that most of the calamities miseries fallen vpon diuerse lands and nations haue proceeded of the ambition of Princes and common wealthes who haue raysed such warres as â—red the same To auoide all the doubtes whereof reade but the liues of Philippe of Macedon Alexander Pirhus and Demetrius with the warres of the Romaines against the Catthaginians wherein ye shall finde that nothing is more true And although time by little and little suppresseth the force of the strongest things yet coulde it neuer much extinguish the flames of so vehement a passion which passing from the Father to the sonne heaping the former ages with mischiefe hath reached euen to ours I will forbeare to speake of things happened within these fifty yeres in respect of so many people yet liuing which may haue considered thereof but of foure score yeres ago Phillip Commines Fran. Guicciardine doe yeeld such testimonie that wee may say that the desire of dominion haue caused infinite disorders which haue disfigured the beautie of politike gouernment It cannot be denied but ours haue danced at the feast among others and peraduenture oftner but it hath likewise soone after mourned for it as wel as y e rest as hauing reaped no other commoditie of the greate warres of Charles the eight and Lewes the twelfth which neuerthelesse were not quite deuoide of all grounds of iustice but wast of money and consumption of men Which might admonish all Princes to undertake none but such as be necessarie vtterly to reiect those that containe no necessitie I knowe they haue a wonderfull quick desire to increase which neuertheles they maye moderate by a representation of the mischiefes and difficulties of warres were it not that they find themselues strengthned and vnderpropped with the counsayle of the young together with custome which not onely maintaineth it in force but also dooth greatly increase it For assuredlie the mightier that a Prince is the more is hee pricked forwarde with such stings as leaue him but small rest
forts as to offende in the fielde This armie being in the field it would bee some what harde to goe burne the windmils at Paris and it may be those that are of that opinion will then be so curteous as to be content with the firing of that at Catelet So mightie an armie will some oran saie would deserue the kings presence neither should it want if any other king should come to assaile him for he is no appreÌ„tise in matters of war neither shall we at this daie finde anie that with the swoord in his hands hath bene so victorious in two battailes as he or that in the ditch of a besieged towne hath receiued the harquebuze shot which maketh me to thinke that he will neuer suffer anie vpon presumption to curtall his coate Sith therefore he is yet able to bring such a power into the field there is no wise man that will thinke him redie to play banquerout as some men doe make account but rather to be a most mightie Prince It resteth that we speake of order which in many other matters is verie disordered among vs. But the kings owne hand must bee the true meane to restore it which can as well do that as handle the sword But he must haue the assistance of time and peace without the which it is vnpossible hee shoulde attaine thereto for adding to them both his owne diligence and good example the worke will be performed in such wise that where now it is called France decaied it shall be tearmed France restored I would extend my speech farther were it not that I remember I may be accused of cogging with strangers and flattering my owne nation Rather woulde I wish the first to knowe that as stronge bodies doe through theyr owne riot ouerthrowe themselues so likewise by a certaine hidden power in them they rise againe examples whereof we haue enow For such considerations may make them wiser to iudge of matters of estate and of other mens and not vnder the pretence of a few diseases to condemne a man to death As for the second I should be glad to see them affected to maintaine themselues vnited vnder the authoritie of this crowne wherof would insue the greatnesse and felicity of the same which we ought as much to desire as heretofore we haue tasted of the swetnes therof But if God wold vouchsafe vs y e grace to see y e beginning of this goodlie world it would redoâ—â—d to our great coÌ„tentatioÌ„ after we haue wrestled against so many calamities to finde our selues in the middest of our domesticall goods which were almost vanished awaie we should haue no cause to waken our couetous desires neither to wheâ— our swoords to goe with great labour to seeke goods other where for we should find sufficient in our own houses To conclude we must not thinke that true greatnesse consisteth in getting much land but rather in possessing much vertue which is such a prize as when a king hath coueted and obtained it both he and his realme may be tearmed mightie The 21. Discourse That aliances of Christian Princes with Mahumetists the Capitall enimies of the name of Christ haue euermore beene vnfortunate Also that we ought not to enter anie firme confederacie with them THe great Orator Demosthenes in one of his Orations sayth that Like as the maister shipwrights going about to build a ship do lay stronge and steadfast foundations thereof so the principles of publike actions ought to be iust and honest This peraduenture is not vnfitly alleadged in the beginning of this small discourse for the better representing to those that gouerne great estates those necessarie rules whereby they ought to compasse their affayres And like as for the most part those men doe amisse who cleauing too much to their owne opinions doe go from the lawfull wayes So do they seldome straie who borrowing good examples of y e instruction and wisedome of the elders doe followe the same In the meane time whatsoeuer care man maye take to containe himselfe within the bounds thereof yet can he not alwayes bee exempt from transgressing the rules of equity through the imperfection of his iudgement and force of his passions Howbeit he must at the least take heede of encurring those great faultes that breede bad consequences as diuerse Princes both afore time and still haue done and doe whereby there haue growen irrecouerable losse to theyr estates A Prince seeing himselfe oppressed and his Countrie in necessitie deuiseth with himselfe and hath those that do also counsaile him to seeke all meanes to preserue it which peraduenture hath made men too free to make leagues with barbarous Nations the fruite whereof hath neuerthelesse bene so small that few there haue bene but haue soone repented their rashnesse But before we propound anie examples of these wretched confederacies I thinke it requisite in a word to teach the originall of the Turkish nation their increase and terrible behauiours Iohn Carion in his briefe Chronicle of the world faithfully corrected out of al histories sayth the Turkes to be descended out of the straightes of the mount Caucasus And that as some reporte they dispearsed themselues out of the North into some small corners of Asia about two hundred yeres before the comming of Christ where they remayned almost vnknowen vnto the time of the the Emperour Heraclius who raigned in the yere 612. Then Orismada king of the Persians finding himselfe assayled by the Sarazens called to them for succour whome they assisted But after his death seeing the Sarazens had seased vpon the Realme the beautie and fruitfulnes of the land so allured them that they stayed about the Caspian sea in that place which in olde time was called Hircanie and finallie so compounded with the Caliph of Babylon that he suffered them to possesse and till the land where they had stayed There also they imbraced Mahumets religion and obeied the Caliph a long time Afterward the Sarazens growing into dissention and warres among themselues the Souldan finding himselfe too weake to defend his partie called the Turkes to his helpe and expulsed the Caliphes After this victorie the Turkes demanding their paie he denied it which so prouaked them that they set vpon him ouerthrew him and braue him out of his Realme Thus did they establish theyr dominion in both the Armenies whereto they adioyned Capadocia Galacia and Bithinia which by little and little they conquered and this was about the yere of Christ 1050. Shortly after the Tartarians tooke awaie the Turkes dominion and brought them into subiection to them vntill that in the yere 1300. they rebelled and fortified themselues destroying the Tartarian Empire Then the other ancient families hauing through enmitie domesticall wars destroied each other begaÌ„the race of the Ottomans to beare sway Under this race grew the Turkes to that mightinesse wherein we now see them Thus the name and Empire of the Sarazens decaying this nation got the dominion of
standeth in the same climate as Strigon so as we shal need to feare no more but our enimies yron But to proceede we are to vnderstand that after the posteritie of Godfrey of Bolleine had inioyed the lande aboue 80. yeeres ciuill dissention crept in among them and some of them calling the Sarazens to their aide grew so strong that they droue out the rest This afterward moued diuerse Christian Princes to ioyne againe in the recouerie of that which was lost so as in fiue or six score yeres they made sixe or seauen notable voiages wherein went personally the Emperours Fredericke Barbarossa Frederick the second Conrade king of Germanie some kings of France and of England wherof neuerthelesse grew smal profit At the beginning the Christians had goodly victories but in the end they had the foile were neuer able to expell the Turkes and Saracens out of the lands that they had recoueres All these later losses proceeded of sundrie causes as of particular warres leauied by some of the princes that staied behinde in their lands that were gone y t voiages of want of wine other prouision of the small perseuerance of them that were leagued of the pestilence that fell in the armie finally of such hinderances as the Emperors of Greece did vnderhand work to the westeru forces enuying as it shuld seme their generosity being loth they shuld conquere the land which y t Sarazens had won froÌ„ the said Empire These are the deformities of the former enterprises which ought to be warily shunned for feare of disgracing the present for it is a double fault to know the former ouer sightes yet to fall into theÌ„ again Other princes y t followed the aforenamed haue but defeÌ„ded yelded to y e Turkish rage which ouerflowing in y e family of the Ottomans hath for these 300. yeres stil increased to our great losse destruction howbeit euen in the middest of our disorders we haue not wanted some excelleÌ„t persons who with very smal means haue withstood the meruailous force of these barbarous nations whiles life hath lasted ben a rampier to all Christendome One was Iohn Huniades the Father of Mathy Coruine chosen to be king of Hungary Another Scanderbeg Prince of Albania who both were surnamed The scourges of the Turkes because of the great slaughters that they made in those battailes that they won Wherin we are to note Gods power wisedome who with weak smal things can pluck down the pride of the mighty They like wise haue held long wars vpon the seas yea the Sarazens haue ben so strong therin y e oftentimes they haue made great discents in the costes of Christendome and haue taken land in sundrie places as in Spaine the most part whereof they possessed aâ—oâ—t 780. yeeres also in Sicil where they remained aboue two hundred â—eâ—res But the Turkes great power vpon the seaneuer appeared so much as after the losse of Constantinople For hauing so commodious a harborow they thereof tooke occasion to thinke vppon sea matters shewing themselues terrible in the conquest of Ilandes and firme land where they haue descended The Christians alwaies so much as they might withstoode them but in the end by litle litle were through their great force oppressed so as for theyr more assurance they haue bene driuen 〈◊〉 them with the Mediterranean and Adriaticke sea abandoning vnto them almost all that is beyonde the same Diuerse are the reasons that leade me to thinke the time to set vppon them as conuenient now as euer First the want of experience in their greate Lord who is sayde to be rather a Philosopher than a souldiour as neuer wearing armour as his grandfathers Selim and Soliman the conquerâ—rs of sundrie countries did For the Turkish nation hauing such leaders doe notable things Then their losses in the Persian warres haue much weakened them whereof we are to gather that their great prosperitie which so long hath accompanied them doth now begin to droope Thirdly Don Iohns victory hath eased vs of one errour wherein wee were which is that wee thought theÌ„ to be by sea inuincible withal taught vs what aduaÌ„tage in ioyning we haue ouer them wherein wee should scarcelie haue bene confirmed but by this experience All this together considered should the more incline vs to take the occasion when it is offered for we must imagine that time altereth things men grow into experience good hap returneth inuentions increase I know our sinnes are the chiefe causes that God vseth them as scourges to smite vs but we neede not doubt but they haue like wise fourefolde procured his wrath And who knoweth whether their time bee not come to receiue the same that they haue inflicted vpon others We ought to be assured that in his iust iudgementes toward his hee alwayes mixeth his abundaunt mercie with his wrath and they that be vesselles of his wrath shall soone or late feele his vengeance without mercie To this purpose I will alleade a foolish Prophetie contained in their Alcaron where I haue read it not that I thinke anie truth to be harboured in theyr false Oracles vnderpropped with lies but because sometime the wicked haue at vnawares foretolde thinges that haue afterward come to passe This it is In the later dayes it shal come to passe that the Musulmans that is to say the Turkish nation shall straie from the lawes of the great Prophet Mahumet giuing themselues to all iniquitie Then shall the Christian swoord arise and thrust them out of their Empire Such as haue ben conuersant among them do report that their wise men doe sometimes set these speeches before them and they feare them as indeede they ought sith they were neuer so corrupt as at these dayes or so worthie grieuous punishment I haue bene long before I could speake of the meanes to assayle these so mightie aduersaries and the rather because I haue imagined the former matters verie requisite for the better vnderstanding of that which I wil saie To begin therefore I wil set to your view some counsayles of our forefathers out of the which we may gather good instructions who for the like causes haue often beene stirred vp to frame braue purposes Guic ciardine the historiographer who well noted such things as happened in his time reporteth that when Selim had conquered all Aegypt and obtayned sundrie victories else where all Christendome grew into great feare His owne wordes because they deserue consideration I will set downe The Pope sayth he with all the Court of Rome astonished at such successe and to the end to prouide against so great a mischiefe shewing that he would first craue Gods helpe commanded sundrie deuout processions at Rome wherin himselfe went barefoote Then calling vpon the help of men hee sent his Mandats to all Christian Princes admonishing them of this great danger and perswading them to laie aside all disorders and contentions speedely to
attend to the defence of religion and their common safetie which was continuallie opposed to great danger if with courage and vnited force they transported not the warre into Turkie and so inuaded not the enimie in his owne Countrie Here vppon the opinions of sundrie skilfull men of warre and others that knew the Countries dispositiō as wel of the Princes as of the power of the Turks being taken it was thought necessary to make great prouision of money by the voluntarie contributions of Princes an vniuersal impostio be leuied ouer all Christendome That the Emperour with the Hungarian and Polonian horsemen warlyke nations such as were practised in continuall wars agaynst the Turkes as also with such the strength of Germanie as might beseeme so great an enterprise shoulde sayle along Danowe into Bosina in olde time tearmed Misia and so into Thrace and to approch vnto Constantinople the imperiall sea of the Ottomans That the French King with the forces of his Realme the Venecians and other Potentates of Italy accompanied with the footmen of Zuitzerland should passe from the port of Brunduse in Albanie a very easie and short cut to inuade Greece a landful of Christian inhabitants as well in respect hereof as for the intollerable yoake of the Turkes most readie to rebell That the kings of England Spaine and Portugall as well in their nauies at Carthagene and the hauens thereabout should take their course with 200. shippes full of Spanish footmen other souldiors to the straights of Gallipolis thence to make roads to Constantinople hauing first seazed vpon the Dardanes that is their Castles standing vppon the mouth of the straight That the Pope should take the same course with an hundred great gallies With these preparatiues sufficient to couer both sea and land the Turkes estates being inuaded in so many places who make their chitfest account of defence in the plaine field it seemeth especially adding therto the innocation of Gods name that of so holy a warre there could not be hoped but a happie end This deliberation of the most excellent Captaines then liuing I finde to be so well grounded that I thinke we might borowe much of theirs but had the execution thereof insued we should the better haue séene what it had ben howbeit the death of Selim comming on asswaged the feare of these Princes so consequently their desire to proceed whereby they passed but to wordes Now as since there haue followed great alterations so are we to frame our selues according to the disposition of matters somwhat to vary from this platforme but rather in the particularities than principall pointes thereof First we may be certaine that it is to small purpose to inuade the Turkes by lande onely or by sea onely for leauing them either of those gaps open they will thereby so molest vs as that they will turne vs from the other in kindling the flames farther within our houses than we can do in theirs In respect wherof it is requisite to set their whole estate in Europein combustion by following the wars in euery part thereof which is vnpossible to be performed w tout a mighty power as wel by sea as by lād which our ancestors thought expedient as also it is as Guicciardine saith the perfect meanes to abridge any warre for being strong ye shal soone bring your enimies to reason either by victory or composition Wheras contrariwise when it is weakly followed it groweth ruinous Whē Caesar inuaded Pompey who had seazed vpon all Greece and the Easterne Prouinces he made himselfe strong both by sea and land wherein neuerthelesse his competitor exceeded him The like did Augustus against Marke Anthonie who possessed the same countries which now y e Turks inioy both of thē had neere 1000. vessels aboue 35. legions by land But because it is an easie matter to know that for the well inuading of those countries both y e powers must be matched together I wil speak no more therof As for y e partition of these princes forces which Guicciardine mentioneth it is not amisse nor the inuasiō of 3. sides albeit I think it were better for vs to stick to two For I consider that y e whole defence of the Turks lands consisteth in 2. great armies the one vpon the land y t other vpon y e sea neither hathhe anie fortified places as we haue so as y e losse of one of these props is y e opening of a gate vnto vs which is y e reason why I would wish we should make but 2. strong bodies wherwith to attempt our enterprises Moreouer if we should strike into Slauonia or Greece w t a body of 18. or 20000. men they wold ere we were aware fal vpō vs with some 100. or 120000. wherby we wanting assured places of retreat this bodie would be quite ouer whelmed This other reason wil I also adde that if both our armies as wel by sea as by land do shoot at Constantinople and by winning litle litle do attaine therto must it not needs follow y t in performing this purpose they shal seaze not only vpō Slauonia but also vpon all the land of Romagnia which shal be a pray to toe conqueror The Christian forces would I wish to be thus diuided The K. of Spain as the mightiest prince Christian to arme as many gallies galeasses as he were able The Pope y e Venetians w t other the potentates of Italy to ioyne with him I think if they list to straine thēselues they be able to set forth 300. galleis 12. galeasses besides other smal vessels for y e transport of victuals horse which be but the dependances of y e campe If any demand whether y e number may stay the Turks power by sea I thinke yea for Don Iohn had but 200 galleis whē he wan y e battell against thē As also when the armies whether by land or by sea do excéed a competēd quantity y e rest do but bréed confusiō The soldiers for the furnishing of the said vessels might be leuied in Spain Italy notwithstanding it would amoūt to 30000. For y e land the Emperor likewise shold prepare a mighty army to inuade through Hungary consisting of the power of all Germany the low countries Sueden Denmark Boheme Hungary thereto also adioining his that now raigneth in Pole lande which vnited together woulde vndoubtedly amount vnto 35000 horse and 30000 footemen and 10000 pioners The other part of the land forces to come from the most Christian king of France the Queene of England the king of Scots with the Suitzers and Grisons who vnder some notable Captaine should ioyne with the Emperor and in my opinion would amount vnto some 20000. footemen 5000. horse This power would I take to be sufficient to obtayne some braue victorie containing at y e least 125000. fighting men which seemeth to be a great number but if we also consider all Christendome it is to
of importaunce thereby to make them to approche with theyr armie so as they shoulde hardlie escape battayle when they are come so neere with theyr carriage footemen and artillerie For when they come but with thirtie or fortie thousande horse to succour what so is besieged they cannot by anie meanes be ouercome by reason of the swiftenesse of theyr horse which neuerthelesse dooth greatly molest a campe I woulde also lyke verie well that in tenne or twelue dayes before the armie shoulde marche the Captaines euerie other daie shoulde cast them into seuerall orders of battayle whereby to choose the best to help themselues withall when neede shoulde require For it doe much better conceiue the trueth of thinges by liuely representations than by forecast figured vppon paper And by them is the generall the better resolued in his conception and the inferiour Captaines to bee the better prouided to the practise Heerein doo wee in our pettie warres ordinarilie faile in that wee neuer looke to the ordering of battayles vntill within two dayes before wee must fight and then dooth the Generall sette downe a fayre order in writing howe bee will haue it which hee sendeth vnto the leaders of the regimentes as well of the horsemen as of the footemen For such ordering many times as beeing made ouer rashly and without ripe deliberation proueth verie vnfit It is verie requisite that a Generall bee in minde verie perfecte in the order which hee purposeth to obserue as well in the large fieldes as in the straightes least hee bee amazed or driuen into much consultation when his businesse commeth vppon him For the chiefe groundes beeing well layde if through anie accident the order bee to be altered it is easilie performed There bee some that will saie that in so dooing wee shall warne the enimie of our order whereby hee maye prouide to preuent vs. I graunt if wee still vse but one forme it may be so But when wee practise sundrie wee shall put all men in doubt which we will cleaue vnto sauing the Generall who is to reserue the best in memorie For the well ordering of this armie it were good to haue the aduice of such Captaines as hauing serued in Hungarie doe by experience best knowe the most conuenient formes And sith I am entered so farre into this point I am content for the satisfying of those y t be curious to deliuer my opinion concerning whatsoeuer may serue agaynst these barbarous people In this case we are to cōsider of two kinds of coūtries y e one large y e other straight Concerning y e large or plaine as we terme it which is the most parte of Hungarie the battayle may be so aranged that the enimies innumerable strength of horse which wil amoūt to 200000 at the least shall not without great losse endomage them and verie hardly breake them The order were to dispearse the horsemen among the footmen as vpō the like consideration the late Duke of Guize did at the battel of Dreux I woulde therefore make a strong bodie of my armie consisting of eight battayles of footmen each comprehending 2500 pikes so as the sayd rankes should euerie of them containe ninetie men be 28. men thick besides the Ensignes to the flanks wold I ioyne 1000 harquebuziers They should be all ordered in an equal front with sufficient spaces to set in araie 2000. horse in foure squadrons each of them of fiue hundred men fortie horse in front two somewhat for warder than the other two These seauen spaces might serue them for places of aduantage and assured retraits to fall into order againe for it would be too hot to come vpon them into place where they should be so succoured by the harquebuzerie and pikes yea in my minde it were meere rashnesse Likewise in as much as the flankes of the battayles are not commonly armed but with harquebuziers which is but a weake defence against a great armie of horse I would thinke it were good both the flankes of the two battayles standing vppon the wings of the armie to bee fortefied with some other instrumentes like vnto those which the Duke of Alua inuented and vsed when the Prince of Orenge passed ouer Meuse or better which might be easily brought thether by two hundred pioners and those should suffice for one of each flanks as for the rest they shall neede none as well for that the force of this order shall supplie that want as also because it would be ouercumbersome On the right and lefte point without the battayles should stand at each sixe thousand horse euery squadron of one thousand and in two bodies the one to support the other And if anie man aske wherefore I make them so great I saie it is because the Turkes as I haue heard doe make theirs especiallie in any great combats of fiue or sixe thousand speares which swallowe vp three hundred horse as a lion would doe a mouse And therefore we must sette strength agaynst strength Then woulde I diuide my 5000. harquebuziers into ten troopes placing sixe as it were for the aduenturers at the heads of the battayles toward the wings and the other foure at the taile I would also place two thousand harquebuziers on horseback at y e head of the horsemen vpon the wings to serue in the first skirmishes Thus doe ye see in this great bodie 28000. horse 20000. Corcelets 13000. harquebuzes aranged which as I thinke will not take aboue 4000. cōmon paces in length wherin there is no great disproportion and I haue thus stretched it out to the ende to debarre the enemie from all hope of enclosing it There would be likewise in y e first ranke of this great front almost 1900. men which is sufficient The rest of the men I would thus appoynt I would make two small bodies which should be set in aray 800. paces behinde the two winges of the armie because the first shockes doe begin there In either of them would I place 4500. Corcelets in two battailes and 2500. Harquebuzes then in the spaces and poynts 4000. horse in eight squadrons which for the two bodies would amount vnto 22000. men euery wherof should stirre when they perceiued any of the first troopes to yeeld for vndoubtedly they should so make them to holde fast I would also place betweene these two troopes and 500. paces behinde them 3000. horse in three squadrons whom the Emperour or in his absence his Lieutenant should accompanie when it were requisite to fight And this should be the Holy ancker as we tearme it which should vpon great necessitie moue forward Yet doe there remaine 1000. Corcelets 2000. Harquebuzes and 1000. Reistres or Hungarian horsemen that should be appoynted to the keeping of the Campe which the Pioners should fortifie with small trenches for the safegard of the cariages for if through negligence the enemie who might appoynt twentie or thirtie thousand horse to doe the feate should peraduenture be suffered to
sacke it wee should afterward bee driuen through the inconueniences both generall and perticuler to breake vp our Campe. This armie thus ordered were able in my opinion to stand in a plaine fielde against y e whole power of the Turkes who being destitute of Corcelets Pikes and armed squadrons can hardly ouerthrowe our battailes Wee see likewise how our horse are surely prouided for in the spaces wherby I suppose that either the enemie must be endued with an extraordinarie valour or our men shewe great cowardlinesse if they lose the battaile This order haue I not here set downe as the best of all for other men may peraduenture deuise some more conuenient but it is done to the ende to inuite sundrie Captaines to seeke what may be more profitable The Christian armie thus in presence of the Turkes they after a few Canon shot I presume they will begin both because they be very proude and also that they bee ordinarily fower against one which greatly embouldeneth them and will peraduenture come with some three or fourescore thousande horse to charge gallantly vpon the flanckes of our formost horse yea euen in the middest of the head but I would thinke they should at this onset be well beaten and repulsed with y e losse of some fower or fiue thousand horse howbeit their horse being very swift they wil returne behind their maine battell to fall in aray againe Then I imagine that hauing discharged some two volees of their Artillerie whereof they haue plentie they will giue a strong charge with their whole bodie whereof so much as should strike into the battailes or spaces would bée handled God knoweth how But peraduenture the horsemen on the flanckes may bee ouerthrowne which so happening the other 2. small bodies appointed for their support should mooue who finding the victorers in disorderly pursuite which alwaies for the most part happeneth should so brauely inuade them as also should some of the Squadrons who stepping out of the spaces aforesaid should come vpon their slanckes that they should bée quite broken So should also their Harquebuzerie being ioyned with ours beare the punishment of their rashnesse Neuerthelesse the Christians should not vndiscréetly pursue them for they are very skilfull in rallying themselues and would peraduenture so doe within two Canon shot and so enclose fower or fiue thousand of the most eager vppon the chase as their forefathers did D. Iohn of Burgundie and all the French Nobilitie in their battaile against Amurathes Wherefore it were requisite for the whole Christian armie to march and sende after them some twentie thousand horse by squadrons each supporting other except the Hungarian and Polonian horse who might goe more dispersedly in chase And it may seeme enough to chase them thus one league To be briefe I suppose that in so notable a iourney they might bée defeated of halfe their footmen all their Artillerie and cariages and aboue twentie thousand horse but in case but one quarter of such an exployt were at the first performed yet would it breede great reputation and in the Souldiers harts confirme a confidence to ouercome For he who in warre winneth the first aduantages conceiueth a great hope of the issue Now must wee speake one worde of the straight countries It seemeth the armie to bée there in more safetie then in the large by reason of the great numbers of their footmen and there if the enemie should offer vpon them they might alter their order according to the places being still diligent to keepe their aduantages of the Woodes Uallies and Artillerie But especially they ought to beware of aranging their bodie in any such sorte that the first ouerthrowne should strike into the second for that was the losse of the battaile of Poictiers where King Iohn had fiftie thousande men and the English were but tenne thousand This so fauourable successe once obteyned no doubt afterwarde the rest of the great Artillerie prouided at Vienna being caused to march wee might in three moneths take from them fower or fiue of the best townes standing vppon Danowe as Strigon Bude Pest and others which the enhabitants there about do better knowe True it is there would be great lettes and the Turkish armie being refreshed would not faile to fauour their places where wee might see braue skirmishes In the meane tyme wee to keepe that earnest for our first yeeres worke I leaue to your imagination whether all Christendome would reioyce when they should heare of such a victorie obteyned ouer those who for these two hundred yeeres haue but tryumphed of our destruction Yea euen the small babes would sing foorth the praises of such valiant personages by whome such notable exploytes should haue bene performed Now let vs come to the Nauie which being so mightie must not the whiles lye idely in the Hauens but make saile to execute matters worthie thereof My best counsaile were that it should conforme it selfe to the lande power in trying to bring the enemie to a daie of battaile which peraduenture might bee easely done as being of no lesse pride by Sea then by lande so as seeing vs drawe towarde Greece they will by and by bee vpon our armie neither shall wee neede to counterfaite the besiedging of any place to bring them thereto And sith the battaile of Lepanto hath made them wise the Christians must also bee well resolued in their inuentions and other necessarie meanes to attaine to the victorie There are other reasons besides the equitie of a cause and vrgent necessitie that stirre vp men to fight couragiously As the presence of noble persons which detest cowardlinesse and exalt prowesse secondly the Captaines orations wherein they exhort their souldiers to behaue themselues manfully in solemne iorneys Thirdly confidence which encreaseth when we see men well disposed and the armie well ordered Finally hope of reward which is a good spurre to such purposes And aboue all other the Spanish and Italian Captaines are meetest to take order herein in whom being accompanied with choise of valiant persons we are to thinke that neither order courage nor prouocation shall want I will forbeare to discourse of the putting of Nauies in aray as one not so skilfull in Sea matters notwithstanding the order by Don Iohn obserued at Lepanto I haue alwaies thought to bee most conuenient and well inuented Some too fearefull or ouer circumspect person may say that the hazarding of all our strength at once is the way to bring all Christendome into great daunger Whereto I aunswer that he which voluntarily entereth the carrier doth purpose to runne and so he that shippeth himselfe in a warre as the assailant must aduenture otherwise all his former preparations and threates are in vayne For it is a greater daunger to suffer a mans selfe to be by little and little deuoured and to do nothing An other as farre too eager considering of all this power would to the contrary that wee should march directly to Constantinople
Turkes and in many places for fower Turkish families wee shall finde aboue ten Christian but they bee so quayled and terrified that when they be layd on with slaues they dare not complaine Some man will laugh at me sore for iudgeing the euents of warre as if they should fall out as I prescribe them But I am not so presumpeâ—ous as to imagine that men can forsee the things that are to them vnknowne For I doe onely discourse here vpon by likely reasons leaning vnto certaine rules and experiences as men are accustomed in humaine affaires as also I speake of CouÌ„tries Townes Riuers and Passages not that I haue bene there but by noting their â—â—ituation in the Cardes and withall to cause the common forte to conceiue-good hope in this enterprise knowing well enough that in matter concerning battailes men doe ordinarily take counsaile in the field and it is the proper duetie of the Captaines there present to deliberate vpon such matters The third yeere comining on I thinke the like cheerefulnesse as had moued so many braue warriers to employe themselues in the two former would still bee of like force in them And albeit the enemies Iron their owne passed labours and sicknesse shall haue taken some away yet many other who hetherto shall not haue stirred from home being desirous to perticipate in the common commendation would goe to supplye the emptie roumes so as there would bee no want of men The tyme to take the fielde thus drawing on the armie by land hauing passed Draue should march to the riuer of Saue whether it is not past twentie Hungarian leagues here doe I not thinke that the barbarous people will meete with them in grosse by the way but rather employe their whole studies and endeuours to stoppe their passages ouer the riuer which is such an aduantage as being good Captaines they will preuaile of Uppon those tearmes may a man see on both sides the practise of all sortes of braue pollicies and inuentions But because experience hath alwaies taught that a mightie riuer can hardly bridle a mightie armie for if they can not passe vnder the fauour of some commodious place together with their Artillerie they will doe it by subteltie dallying in one parte while they cast their bridges and doing their endeuours in an other I will speake no more thereof sauing that I am perswaded that they may compasse it in eight daies This done the most profitable exployt will consist in the assault of Belgrade a famous towne standing vpon the fall of Saue into Danowe neither haue any action be 〈…〉 in my opinion of greater difficultie then this For besides that wee shall finde the-towne well prouided for defence wee must also haue an especiall eye to the Turkish armie which will not bee farre of keepe some great bridge vpon Saue haue an other passage on the side of Danowe make Fortes and Trenches and goe safely on forraging with conducts so as the taking of it were a notable peece of worke And to iudge thereof may wee not boldly say that those that are accustomed to conquer will surmount all these difficulties This place once wonne must speedily bee repayred and a strong garrison left therein as being the most conuenient place to establish a great storehouse wherein to gather all necessarie prouision There about doe there fall three great riuers not farre asunder into Danowe namely Draue Saue and Tibise which springeth about the borders of Transiluania which are as great at the Rhine or Mense By these fower chanels might wee bring all commodities in case wee first take order that the Turkes remayning in some places in the harte of the countrie molest not the boates Also because wee shall not haue spent past halfe the yere the rest may be employed in driuing them forth which peraduenture may be easely done Hauing thus spoken of the exployts of the land power we must likewise say somewhat of the Nauie which in the beginning of May should make saile toward the conquered I le of Negroponte where if the Turkish were desirous of battaile it should not be refused but if it would not aduenture but lye in waite for good oportunitie the best deuise were to surprise and force the towne of Salonike in olde tyme called Thessalonica which is in the borders of Macedon vpon the sea coast and being but weake might soone bée wonne Then by all meanes possible to deuise how to make it defensible because it were good there to leaue a strong garrison both of footmen and horsemen to scoure the countrie Here it is to bée noted that whatsoeuer were to bee left in the conquered Houlds should bee an ouerplus of men aboue the number for the armies both by sea and land should still retayne their number furnished according as is prescribed to the ende to bee alwaies prepared to the battaile Wee might as well haue enterprised vpon the coastes of Sclauonia where the Turkes doe keepe many townes but by seasing vpon these which are more easie to be taken we shall come behinde them and so make them thinke as well vpon flight as fight Hauing thus soiourned there one moneth or two it might scoure the Iles of the maine sea as well to the ende to sacke all the Turks there to bee found as also to assure the Christian enhabitants It may bee the Turkes fearing the first heate of the Christians may suffer our armie to trye it selfe two or three moneths in the siedges of Forts and then while they be al occupied about some one place to come vpon them fresh and lustely as they did at Gerbes where the Spanish forces were defeated for the which the Spanyards likewise toward the ende of the siedge of Malta in parte requited them and ouerthrewe fiue or sixe thousand Turkes For this inconuenience I hope the Captaines will well enough prouide for being surprised and before our armie withdrawe to their wintering it were good to leaue fortie gallies in the I le of Candy there to bée readie vpon neede In the winter time likewise it were not amisse on the edge of Hungary to deale with the Walachians and Moldanians the Turkes subiects though his great enemies in respect of their remembrance of the iniuries and mischiefes lately inflicted vpon them to procure them to rise against them and to send some choyse of men waged to ioyne with the Christian forces or to worke any other profitable commotions As for the Transiluanians the Turkes tributaries they will also be easely stirred vp so as this supplye would stande vs in great steade to withstande the Tartarians if peraduenture the Turkes should procure them to inuade Christendome to the ende to turne away our power from them For 50000. Duckats by moneth they can cause 50000. horsemen to march who as Grashoppers doe make innumerable waste It were good also at the same tyme to practise with the enhabitants of Greece to declare themselues at the next spring wheÌ„ they should see the
is not put in practise resteth in the Kings Princes and Potentates that beare soueraigne dominion ouer the people and much more profitable and honourable would it bee vnto them than to stand quarrelling with their neighbours or to suffer so much of their subiects bloud to be shedde vnder coulour of pietie and so make their warres domesticall and perpetuall I knowe wee haue some controuersies in religion among vs which notwithstanding the Protestants and Catholiks are still brethren and grafted vpon one selfe stocke Iesus Christ But with these prophane Mahumetists who worshippe an imaginarie God which is as the Scripture sayth rather a deuill and do pollute al honestlie and sack the world what coniunction or fellowshippe can we haue Agaynst these enimies the rauishers of our goods tormentours of our bodies and poisoners of our soules are wee to striue with our swoords But among those that beare one selfe title all controuersies ought to be ended in modestie and truth The 23. Discourse Of the Philosophers Stone AFter that through the knowledge of good Letters which by Gods especiall goodnesse are dispearsed in sundrie places in this latter worlde the artes and sciences had recouered their auncient beautie diuerse men hauing seene the glimpes of this light which for many yeeres had as it were layen buryed haue therewith holpen themselues in the safe conduct to the search of difficulte and hidden secretes and according to the greater light that eache hath receiued so hath he penetrated farthest into the deapth of such wonderfull secrets as are dispearsed throughout the whole worlde Yea euen at this daie who so list to beholde anie Countrie whatsoeuer shall in diuerse persons perceiue the lyke affection and diligence as haue beene in their predecessours to finde out the perfection of those things that other men had in their dayes sought for But as when many archers do shoote few doe hit the marke so are there not many that can atteyn to that that in their imaginations they had conceiued which default is rather to be attributed to the weaknesse of mans braine than to any imperfection of the arts and sciences the which he that can wel vse and reduce to their true end doth attaine a great part of his desire Among those that are but ouer curiouslie giuen to the pursuit of diuerse obiects there are none that stande in greater need of admonition than such as professe with continuall blowing to make their furnaces yeeld forth great treasure which they imagine their long proofes should reueale for wee ought to take compassion of those whome we see in errour to spend their yeeres and loose theyr labour without reaping any fruit whatsoeuer which haue mooued me to giue thē this smal aduertisement which they may vouchsafe to take in good part wherein I pretende by common reason easie to comprehend and according to my abilitie to shew them that they are deceiued in those meanes that they take to attaine to their wished end Afterward I will speake one word to some learned Philosophicall Alcumists that prosecute the same obiect as also shew what is to be iudged of their so rare and vnknowen purpose Finallie hauing confessed that there is a true Philosophicall stone but rather spirituall than materiall I will declare what it is also that being diligently sought it may be found and found will bring incomparable treasure and contentation There be as I take it in these dayes three kindes of men which deale in seeking for golde by Alcumistrie The first beeing poore are through necessity that oppresseth driuen to haue recourse to this art hoping thereby to find remedie for their want The second beeing learned are by the curiositie of their minds moued to search into natures principall workes but thereto especially driuen by lycorousnesse of profite The third are mightie Lordes whose desires still tending to greatnesse and wealth are through other mennes perswasions so stirred vp that for the compassing as wel of the one as of the other they are disposed to vse this art Now by the examination of the causes that moue each part we may iudge who hath the best intent But in the meane time it is greatly to be presumed that they all shoote and draw at the deuill of siluer I haue hard some of them discourse in this manner There haue bene say some of them in time past sundrie learned persons as Mercurius Trimegistus Geber and diuerse Arabians that haue imployed their time in the consideration of both naturall and supernatural things who in their bookes haue left written diuerse goodly instructions concerning the Philosophers stone or pouder of proiection which is of so wonderful a vertue that albeit their speeches be verie darke yet are they of such sort that sundrie excellent wits haue since vnderstood them plainly expoūded their highest conceits in putting in practise that which others haue bene content to see into by speculation for both these conioyned they haue by sūdry proofes deliuered to the view of the sense that which in old time was cōprehēded only in imaginatiō whence haue proceeded the discouerie of wonderfull secrets Truly these speeches bere a goodly shew and are built vpon the authorities of very braue personages which these puffing bellowes do diligently note to the end to set the better glosse vpon their merchandise Neither can I tell whether I dare alledge that which one of their learned Alcumists did on a time tell me namely That they were the heretikes of their sect but I referre my selfe to the truth thereof Now if the considerations of antiquitie haue ben able as sparkles to kindle in their hearts the desire which wee see doth consume them the receites and books written in our dayes of the like argument cannot but haue greatly increased the same and experience most of all in such manner as some do seeme to be euen rauished in discoursing vpon the excellencie of this art Now will I proceed in the course of their reasons which are as doe follow That God hath not in vaine indued man with the vnderstāding which he hath giu him to the end to consider of the greatnes and beautie of his diuine workes and thereof reape so much fruite as shoulde bee vnto him permitted that afterward he might yeeld to him all praise That in time past he reuealed infinite wonderful and singular things alwaies reseruing to himselfe neuertheles sūdry new secrets to disclose by the varietie whereof the more to stirre vp euerie man to confesse that the abundance of his workes are incomprehensible That the West Indies which seeme to inclose the whole tresures of the earth vntill before vnknowen were not discouered within these hundred yeeres Likewise that in these later yeeres the art of transformation of vnperfect mettals into perfect the multiplying of the quantity therof which barbarousnesse and ignoraunce had long buried is as it were reuiued agayne Also that men haue learned with fire to drawe forth the essence of sundry
both sides perceiuing that it was harde to surprize one another also that theyr lodgings were verie discommodious and moued by a certayne kinde of necessitie to get some townes which might stande them in greate steade to continue the warre as Bloyse and Boisgencie did in the morning sende awaie their carriage and artillerie and in the afternoone followed parting after this sort without bactaile or losse Heere will I declare an accident which happened two houres after this separation which if it had fallen out when they were together the Prince of Condie had beene in daunger to haue beene ouerthrowen It was this There fell such a horrible raine and tempest continuing almost an houre that I am assured that of his foure thousand harque buziers ten coulde not haue discharged besides that most of them sought to the couert which was such an occasion of victorie to the Catholiks as well in that they were strong in horse as also for that the winde and raine so beate in their enemies faces that euen the fiercest had inough to doe to withstande the rage of the weather This is the truth of all occurrences among the Protestants in this expedition but the particularities of the King of Nauarres armie are they that were present and so may haue knowen them to describe Of the good discipline which for the space of two moneths onelie was obserued among the Prince of Condies troopes both of horsemen and footmen Also of the originall of Picoree or prouling IN the beginning of this warre the Generalls and Captaines had yet fresh in their remembrances the goodly martiall discipline obserued in the armies of King Frances and his sonne Henrie which sundrie Souldiours also had not forgotten the memorie whereof did somewhat containe those that nowe tooke armes in their dueties howbeit the continuall exhortations of their Preachers who admonished them to beware of oppressing the poore commons together with the zeale of religion where with most of them were led being then in strength were of greatest force in working this effecte Thereby were al men without constraint voluntarily brideled from committing those actions which often times horror of punishment is not able to restraine but chiefely the nobilitie in this beginning shewed themselues worthie their name for marching ouer the Champion Countries where they haue without comparison greater libertie to spoyle than in the Townes they neyther spoyled nor misused theyr hostes but were content with a little their heads and most of themselues that had brought anie wealth from home paide honestly for all things Then should we not see anie running out of the villages neither heare any cries or complaintes To bee briefe all was a well ordered disorder If anie one in anie troope had committed any offence he was imediatly banished or deliuered into the executioners hands yea his owne companions durst not excuse the offender so much did they detest mischiefe and â—oue vertue In the campe at Vassadoune also neere Orleance where the Prince of Conde soiourned a fortnight the footmen made demonstration how they were touched with the same feeling they were lodged in the fieldes and consisted of sixe and thirtie Eusignes at the most Then did I marke foure or fiue notable accidents First among all this great troope yee should neuer heare Gods name blaspheamed for if anie rather rather of custome than mallice chaunced to doe it he was sharply reproued which greatly repressed the rest Secondly there was not a paire of Dice or Cardes the fountains of many braules and thefts walking in any quarter Thirdly all women who neuer vse to haunt such places but for dissolution were banished Fourthly no man forsooke his Ensigne to goe on forraging but were content with such victualles as were distributed among them or the small paie that they receiued Lastly euening morning at the setting and raising of the watch they vsed publike prayer and the Psalmes sounded in the aire In these actions might wee perceiue Godlynesse in those that are not much troubled therewith in the warres and albeit Iustice was seuerely executed yet did few feele the rigour thereof for there were but fewe disorders Truly many wondred to see them so well disposed and my late brother the Lord of Telignie and my selfe discoursing therof with the Lord Admirall did greatly commend it wherevpon he sayd vnto vs It is in deede a goodly matter if it would continue But I feare this people will powre foorth all their goodnesse at once so as within these two moneths they will haue nothing but mallice left I haue a great while gouerned the footmen and doe knowe them They willfulfill the prouerbe A yong sainct an olde deuill If this faile we may make a crosse vpon the chimney wee smiled hereat but tooke no farther â—eede thereof vntill experience taught vs that herein he was a Prophet The first disorder happened at the taking of Boisgency which the Prouincials wonne by two holes that they mined in the wall where they practised more crueltie and spoyle against the Protestants there dwelling that could not get foorth then against the Catholicke Souldiers that held it against them yeâ— they euen forced some women This example became a brâ—â—ge to the Gascoynes who soone after shewed that in playing with their handes they would not be surmounted But the Lord of Yâ—oyes regiment consisting wholly of French men did skirmish herein â—â—eter then the tâ—o former as if there had bene any reward alotted to the worst doer Thus did our footmen lose their virginitie and of this vnlawfull coniunction ensued the procreation of Ladie Picoree who is since growne into such dignitie that she is now 〈◊〉 Madam yea if this ciuill warre continue I doubt she will become a Princesse This peruerse custome immediatly crept in among the Nobilitie whereof parte hauing tasted the first delicates here administred would neuer after eate any other meate Thus the perticuler mischiefe grewe generall and still woâ—ne more and more into the whole bodie Sundrie remedies did I see ministred in hope to restrayne the mallice of this humour which albeit they somewhat profited yet were they not strong enough altogether to expell it Among others the Lorde Admirall tooke paynes therein who was a fit Phisition to cure this disease for he would not be entreated neither were the friuolous excuses of the guiltie which he esteemed not of able to breede their escape In his iorney into Normandie he heard of a Captaine of the Argoulets that had sacked a Uillage whether he presently sent but could catch no more but the Captaine with foure or fiue souldiers who immediatly had their condemnation and were trussed vp booted and spurred with their cassackes on their backes and their clout for an Ensigne where also to the enriching of the monument he caused to be layd at their féete their conquered spoyles as womens apparell sheetes and table clothes entermixed with hennes and gammns of bacon which was a warning as it were
written in great letters to all others of the same trade to beware of the like behauiour Neuer did you see wiser men then the rest were for a moueth after but then they returned to the practise of their good customes which without seueritie will not be forgotten As also in fauour of the Catholickes this I will say that at the beginning they likewise were well ordered did not much anoy the coÌ„mons whose nobilitie did also shine among them Howbeit I cannot well tell how long they so contiuued but I haue heard that they also did by and by spred their sayles and tooke the same course as the other Thus albeit our disorders may somtimes procure sport yet haue we greater cause to weepe when wee see so many of those that deale with armes through their bad behauiours deserue the name of theeues rather then souldiers Of the reasons that mooued the Prince of Condées armie to breake vp after the taking of Boisgencie also how he conuerted that necessitie into profite And of the purposes of the King of Nauarre THE principall Captaines and such as were best practised in worldly affayres did well for esee that their armie would not long continue whole because they did in parte want the necessarie foundations thereof so as they feared this dissipation as men feare least the fall of some great Dake shaken with y e windes should light vpon some wall and cast it downe or vpon a number of small plantes bearing fruite which caused them to giue counsaile while it was in force to hazard thâ— fielde whereof they missed Now after the taking of Boisgencie when they see the contrary power placed at Bloys which standeth vpon the riuer of Loyre and that the warre grewe long their first heate began to coole as also at the same time began their treasure wherewith to wage Souldiers who had alreadie consâ—med all that they had gathered as well aâ— Orleance as els where to faile This necessitie opened the gates to diuers discontentmens whereof the most parte had but simple foundations albeit the principall motion proceeded of the naturall impatiencie of the French nation which if it by and by see not the imagined effects doe grow out of liking and murmureth Neither will I conceale but that some euen of the chiefe of the Nobilitie too much affected to their goods either endued with somwhat an ambitious hope or els ouer delicate and tender endeuouring to hide these defaults did call the equitie of the warre into question This being knowne they were requested to departe least their speeches should alienate the minds of others As for the greater parte of the Nobilitie and Gentrie which could not bee maintained or placed in the neerest Garrisons and might serue els where it was thought good to employe them in their owne countries where debate began to breake foorth betweeene the Protestants and Catholickes especially in Poictou Xaintogne and Angolesme Thether sent they the Earle of Rochfoucault to Lyons the Lord of Soubize and to Bourges the Lord of Iuoy with his regiment Also seeing the Germaines Suiâ—zers and Spanyards did alreadie enter into France in fauour of the Catholickes they sent the Lord of Andelot into Germanie and the Lord of Briquemaud into England to seeke for helpe and succour By this meanes did the towne of Orleance remaine freed and safe from that which would most haue molested it forreine negotiation well established and the preseruation of those Countries from whence they had succour prouided for Thus were the difficulties that happened among the Princes partie determined so as the hope of the successe of this warre was not much deminished whereof I doe not much meruaile For sith in extremities wise and valiant persons can finde remedies why should they dispayre in such as are not so farre growne In the meane time in matter of warre want of money is no small inconuenience neither is it any losse to haue to deale with voluntarie persons which is a burden of it selfe hard to be borne whereby a man is soone oppressed and this doth none so well knowe as he that hath proued it The King of Nauarre and his assotiates considering that it was not good to lose time which ought to be precious to those that haue power at commaunde encreased their campe as well with French men as Straungers and besought the Queene to bring the King into the armie to the ende the Huguenoâ—s who 〈…〉 ned it the King of Nauarres or the Duke of Guizes might be forced to call it the Kings campe as also the more to 〈…〉 horise the warre that was prosecuted in his name which she did And they met at Chartres where they resolued to set vpon Bourges before it were fortified for sayd they so mightie a citie not past twentie leagues distant from Orleance did but too much benefice the Princes affayres Thether they marched and assaulting it found no such resistance as was looked for whereby it fell into their hands Then being with this so sudden victorie which sayd they was the cutting off of one of the Protestants armes puffed vp and very ioyfull they entered deliberation of their affayres Many were very earnest to besiege Orleance whose reasons were these That the two chiefe heades that moeued all this bodie namely the Prince of Condé and the Admirall were there so the same being taken they might easely make the rest of the bodie immoueable That the strangers that looked vp and euen tickled to come into France when they should but heare of the siege thereof would not bee very willing to set forward That they had men enowe to begin the siege for placing and fortifying two thousandmen in the little gate to bridle the towne on that side they should still haue tenne thousand footmen three thousand horse who might suffice vnto the ariuall of other their power that was marching Finally that the towne was but weake as being neither well flancked nor well diched and hauing no counterscarpe Onely there was a rampier wherein thirtie Canons would in sixe daies make a breach of two hundred foote But sayd they if ye giue those Huguenotes any respite to finish their fortifications wherein they labour alreadie wee shall not bee possibly able to winne it That they should remember that that towne was no small thorne in the foote of France but euen a very great darte which pierced the bowelles thereof and kept it from breathing Others of the contrary opinion did thus replie That by their intelligences in Orleance they were assured that the two regiments of Gascogns and Prouincials amounting to aboue 3000. souldiers were in it Also fiue or sixe hundred other souldiers of those that had bene in Bourges and were now retired thether Moreouer foure hundred gentlemen Then the townsmen able to beare armes being no lesse then three thousand persons All together aboue seuen thousand men besides such as hearing of the siege drawing thether would likewise enter thereinto That a towne
furnished with so many men and great store of victuals was not easie to be taken That in consideration aforesayd it were to no purpose with twelue thousand men to pitch their campe against it considering how many seuerall campes for the well enclosing thereof they must make Moreouer that to vndertake such a peece of worke without at the least two hundred thousand of poulder twelue thousand bullets and two thousand Pyoners all which the Kings whole power was not able to gather together in one moneth were as a man should say to take shipping without Biscuit That they had elsewhere more easie worke which was requisite to be prouided for namely to take from the enemies the towne of Rcan whilest it were yet weake for that the Englishmen being by them drawne thether might there frame a great armie to goe afterward where they list in respect whereof that arme must be speedily cut off As for whatsoeuer power the Lord of Andelot might bring in if they would send there against 1500. horse and 4000. shot the same vnder the fauour of the countries townes and riuers might suffice either to stoppe or cut them in peeces Then hauing atchieued al this they should haue a very fit time without daunger of empeachment to plant a notable siege before Orleance wherewith to winne it either speedily by maine force or at the length by mynes and sappe or finally by building fortes round about it This last counsaile tooke place and was followed and to bee plaine with you I take it was the better for in the towne there were for the defence thereof aboue fiue thousand straungers besides the enhabitants store of munition the Rauelines begunne and the fortifications of the Iles almost finished True it is the Lord Constable sayd that he would haue nothing but sodden Apples to beate them downe withall but when he was brought to see them he confessed that he had bene misenformed Our Captaines did often growe into cōmunication of the siedge but the Lord Admirall laughed at them saying that to a towne able to furnish three thousand men for an issue they could not approach without daunger much lesse bring their artillerie Likewise that the examples of Mets Padoa where two mightie Emperours in assayling such bodies as were too strong from them had the foyle were goodly mirrours to all such as would goe about to besiedge places well furnished That but for the forreine ayde that the Lorde of Andelot brought in the Protestants affayres had bene but in bad case and many mens mindes shrewdly daunted as well through the taking of Bourges and Roan as for the ouerthrow of the Lord of Duras GReatly did it grieue the Prince of Condé from time to time to heare of the voyadge of the armie against Roan for that he had no meane to succour so principal a towne whose apparant losse he plainly perceiued for he tooke it to tende greatly to the empayring of his credite neither could he doe any more then send worde oftentimes to the Lord of Andelot to hasten his returne but especially to beware that the power which wayted for him did not surprise him Howbeit as all negotiations in Germanie are long so much time did weare away whereby the aduersarie had oportunitie to preuaile against him namely by the taking of the sayd towne which being couragiouslie assaulted was as obstinatly defended The great Captaines who before had taken such strong townes as Dauuilliers Mariembourg Callais Thionuille did imagine that so weake a place so greatly commaunded and hauing no fortification of any accompt would quayle at the first noyse of the Canon but by the resistance which the forte of S. Katherin that defendeth the hill did make they found that they should haue somewhat to doe to driue all the Pigeons out of that Douecoate Therein together with the Earle of Montgommerie were seauen or eight hundred Souldiers of the olde bandes and two Ensignes of Englishmen vnder the gouernment of Maister Kiligree who very well discharged their dueties notwithstanding the Artillerie that played in Courtine did greatly molest them for vpon the day of the great assault the defendants did thereby lose aboue foure hundred Souldiers which was a great number There was also a fierce assault giuen without any order but at the third it was wonne I haue heard that the Duke of Guize commaunded their leaders that albeit they forced the Rampier they should not neuerthelesse runne scattered here and there wheresoeuer the spoyle of so rich a towne might drawe them but to march in sundrie troopes of two or three hundred men a peece straight to the Market place which if they found abandoned then the Souldier to seeke his aduenture for he doubted that those men who had fought so couragiously would there yet worke their last spite which neuerthelesse they did not albeit it was a wise foresight For it hath bene seene in other Townes that when the assailants haue pierced euen to the Market place they haue bene driuen backe beyond the Rampier with great slaughter of those that were scattered abroad about pillage It is also sayd that the spoyle lasted but three daies which is such an order as ought to bee taken with whatsoeuer townes a man list to preserue namely one day to gather the bootie an other to transport it and the third to compound Howbeit in these affayres the superiours doe lengthen or shorten the tearme as they please or as they knowe that they may procure obedience and this obedience doth much sooner appeare in poore and small houlds then in great and rich townes This was one of the principall acts of our first tragedies and so much the more notable in that there was a King slayne foure thousand men on both sides either slayne or wounded and the second Citie in France for wealth abandoned to the spoyle of the Souldier This was heauy newes to the Prince of Condé namely in respect of his brother as also he was greatly grieued at the hanging of three persons famous in armes Lawe and Deuinitie viz. Decroze Mandreuille and Marlorate which reproach so prouoked the Protestants likewise that they endeuoured to be reuenged vpon other prisoners whom they had taken of whom one was a Counsailor in the Court of Parliament of Paris and the other an Abbot The King sayd the Catholickes may hang his rebellious subiects wherto the Protestants replied that his name shrowded other mens mallice wherefore according to the prouerbe they would make such bread such brewisse Albeit in the meane time we ought to be sorie yea euen ashamed of such rigorous reuenges and much more shamefull is it for y e satisfying of perticuler wrath to make an entrie to new crueltie But ours were no ciuill warres if they should not bring foorth such fruites Shortly after the Prince of Condé heard of the ouerthrowe of a small armie of Gascognes which the Lord of Duras was bringing vnto him conteyning at the least fiue thousand persons
realme others hauing better foresight perceiuing that they could no longer be stopped from ioyning with their Germains thought it best to let them go then to seeke how to keepe them from comming in again But there were some likewise they no small number that laide great fault in diuerse of Monsieurs counsailors for suffring them so to escape with out battaile saying that the Admirall had secret intelligence with them which was a very false imagination wherat himselfe vsed to scorne many times he assured me there was no such matter neuerthelesse he would endeuour still to maintaine thē in y e suspition Now will I rehearse some stirs follies of the Protestants during their small abode in Lorraine as also the voluntarie liberalitie whereof they made demonstration in the middest of all their pouertie that there inuironed them an action which I take in these daies to be vnpractiseable Many were persuaded as also the voice so went that they could not set foot in Lorrain but they should heare the Reisters cockes sing but hauing there soiourned 4. or 5. daies they had no more speech of them than when they were before Paris which bred sundrie mutinies euē among some of the nobilitie who in their ordinarie speeches did somewhat rudclie gird at their Generals so great is the impaciencie of our nation But they vnderstanding hereof endeuoured to remedie it Likewise as men can hardlie abandon their naturall inclinations so the perswasions which their heads vsed were different for the P. of Condie beeing of a pleasant disposition did so conuenientlie gird these chollerike and busie persons that hee made euen those that most exceeded either in the one or the other to laugh On the other side the Admirall with his graue speeches did so shame them that in the end they were forced to appease and quiet themselues At the same time my selfe asked him of his best counsayle in case Monsieur should followe vs We would march sayd he towarde Bacchara where the Reisters should make their assemblie also that it were not for vs to fight without them and that after the enimies first heat was somwhat quailed But what if the Reisters were not there would some man saie what coulde the Protestants then doe I thinke they coulde haue blowen theyr fingers for the weather was verie colde Now was all the Towne soone conuerted into mirth when as they vnderstoode certainelie that Duke Iohn Casimire a Prince endued with all Christian vertues and one to whome the Protestants are highlie bound did march and was at hande Then was there nothing but singing and leaping yea they that had most cried out did leape highest These their behauiours did verie wel verefie the saying of Titus Liuius that y e Gauls are soone angrie and so consequently soone merrie againe which passions if they be not after the imitation of the sages moderated by reason do easilie exceede The Prince of Condie vnderstanding by his agents in Germanie that the Reisters looked vppon theyr ioyning with him to finger at the lest 100000. crowns was in greater care than before he had bene for his mennes mutinies because hee had not 2000. There was it expedient for him to make of necessitie vertue and as well himselfe as the L. Admiral being in great credice with the Protestants employed all their cunning credite and eloquence to perswade euerie man to depart with whatsoeuer his abilitie would beare toward this so necessarie contribution wherevppon depended the contentation of those whome so diligently they had waited for Hereof thēselues gaue the first example in giuing their own siluer vessel The ministers in their Sermons exhorted heereto and the most zealous Captaines prepared their men for in so extraordinarie a matter they had neede to vse all kindes of instruments There did sundrie of the Gentry shewe a greate readinesse to discharge themselues loyallie But the chiefe brunt of this battaile appeared whē they came to vrge the scholers of Lady Picoree whose propertie it was to be readie to take and slacklie to forgoe howbeit partly by loue partly by feare they quit themselues better than men looked for yea this liberalitie was so generall that euen the souldiours lackies and boies gaue euerie one somewhat so as in the end it was accounted a dishonour to haue giuen but little Some such of these there were as made the Gentlie ashamed in parting more voluntarilie with their gold than they had done with their siluer To bee briefe the whole beeing gathered together there was in monie in plate and in chaines of golde aboue foure score thousand Frankes which came in so good season that without it they could hardly haue appeased their Reisters I knowe that many of them were vrged to giue by example shame and persuasions but certainlie a great part did it vpon zeale and affection as appeared in that they offered more than was required of them Was it not a deede worthie wonder to see an armie vnpaide and vnprouided of all meanes who thought it a meruaile to part with their smal commodities for their owne wants now not to spare to furnish others therwith who peraduenture did giue them no thanks Now would it be vnpossible to doe the lyke for that all Gentlemanlike actions are almost out of vse Of the returne of the two armies toward Orleance and Paris also of the course that the P. of Condie tooke in victualling marching and lodgiug of his men AFter the ioyning of the Reisters there needed no long consultation to knowe what were best to be done For the generall voice imported to transport the warre to Paris This did some desire peraduenture the rather to the ende to see their owne houses but the most part knewe it to be the best waie to attaine to peace neither were the Generalles ignorant that to continue the warre their armies could not misse artillerie pouder money and other commodities that are to be wreasted from the marchant and the artificer whereof vnlesse they drewe towarde Orleance which was their nource mother they should be depriued which made them to yéeld to the common desire In this good minde did the Protestants returne beeing of opinion that the enimies armie would coast them as well to debarre them from dismantelling diuerse small and weake Townes as also to spie occasion to intrappe some one of their troopes Then did Fraunce abounde in all sortes of virtualles and yet were they to vse greate arte and diligence to feede an vnpayd armie of aboue twentie thousand men whom the Countrie fauoured not as they did the other beeing but meanely furnished with munition The Lorde Admirall had an especiall care aboue all things to haue expert commissaries and to cause them to haue carriage according to the Protestant want and was wont when so euer there was anie question of forming the bodie of an armie to saie Let vs beginne the shaping of this monster by the bellie Nowe because our horsemen did commonlie
all olde souldiours and the others newe did so disorder them as they were forced to abandon the village and leaue him free passage Finallie within two leagues of Saumure hee founde yet another companie of footemen lodged in a Church whome hee forced and tooke theyr Ensigne and so at the shutting in of the euening came safe with his men well wearyed with fighting and marching hauing lost but twentie of them but slayne foure times as many of his enemies and scarred aboue a thousande This exploit did I thinke good to sette downe as seeming to bee replenished with a braue determination albeit it was â—o meruayle that the Lorde of Andelots troopes entered not within them for they were sodainelie surprised beeing all scattered a sunder besides that the horsemen were in too straight a roome to fight well and although they had beene gathered agayne together yet were the enemies alreadie in safetie Thus do we see how much it standeth a body in hand both to march in order and to be well determined and this is it that causeth those small troopes that are willing in valour to supplie their weaknesse ordinarily to ouercome Notwithstanding this checke yet was not the Lord of Andelot past hope of passage ouer the riuer hauing therfore closed his men in two bodies he caused them to trye euery where In the ende they found a foord as it were miraculously where no man had in mans memorie passed and the next morning both he and all his being very glad that they had met that which they hoped not of he passed ouer vnto the other side Remaining in these vncerteynties I could him that it were good for vs to consider what wee had to doe if our passage were stopped wherevpon he aunswered What can wee elâ— doe but take some extreeme partie either to dye as Souldiers or to saue our selues as Souldiers My opinion is sayd he that wee all ioyne and so retire seauen or eight leagues hence into the open countrie and thence to aduertise the Lordes of Montpensier and Martigues that we be fled are scattered euery man seking to escape the daunger which they will soone beleeue In the meane time we will encourage and prepare our men to ouercome Then if they approach neere vnto vs as vndoubtedly they will rather to spoile than to fight let vs valiantlie set vppon them so shall we bâ—eake them and afterwarde will no troope for one moneths space bee so bolde as to come before vs thus maye wee easilie gette into Germanie or vp the riuers This readie and couragious counsayle of so gallant a knight is no more in my opinion to bee concealed than the braue determination of the Lord of Martigues two personages vndoubtedly worthie the best militarie offices The last woâ—ne farre greater honour in his passage and the first much more profite as getting him and his into safetie For within eight dayes after hee ioyned with the Prince of Condie which was a greate strengthening vnto him This the Protestants so badde a beginning and enterie into the warre by such headelong retreates was a foretoken that they would vse these remedies in the continuation thereof which also came to passe albeit in the former they had but verie seldome had anie such happe whereof if there bee anie that desire to knowe the causes I will set them downe It proceeded of the contempt of discipline and the multiplication of vice the which dooth breede greate disorder and engendreth bouldnesse in many not in all who vnder colour of necessitie doo take vpon them too much libertie That the respite which his Maiestie gaue to the Prince of Conde without sending any armie against him was a meanes for him to preuaile of a great Prouince without the support whereof he could not haue continued the warre THE Protestants whole refuge in these last troubles coÌ„sisted in retiring to Rochel which hauing embraced the Gospell and reiected the doctrine of the Pope rested alreadie at their deuotion The towne is reasonable large and wel seated vpon the sea coast in a soyle abounding with victuals full of rich Marchants and good artificers which was very profitable for the preseruation of sundrie families the reaping of al commodities necessarie for the Souldiers and whole armie both by sea by land Now after the Lord of Andelots arriuall the Captaines were aduised to lose no time so as hauing taken some artillerie out of Rochell they assayled the townes of Poictow and Xantoigne which then were but weake and meanly prouided of garrisons and so became maisters of as many as they might as Nyort Fontenay S. Maixant Saintes S. Iohn d'Angely Ponts and Coignac Afterward they tooke also Blay and Angolesme some being wonne easely others with batterie and assault To bee briefe in lesse then two moneths of poore vagabonds as at the first they were they had gotten into their hands meanes sufficient to coÌ„tinue a long warre In all these places they lodged about thirtie companies of footmen and seauen or eight cornets of horse which was a great ease to the countrie and so formed a braue politicke and militarie order as well for the Frenchmen as for the guiding of the armie Herein do I consider how necessitie being followed by occasion the Protestants could helpe themselues with both Being oppressed with the first they layd open all inuentions of the minde and strength of bodie to eschue destruction And when the second came in place they found themselues readie to embrace it I sometime heard the Lord Admirall applie the goodly saying of Themistocles to the state of the affayres of that time viz. We were lost if we had not bene lost thereby meaning that had we not fled we could not haue recouered that good spring which was farre better then the same that we had before I knowe not how it fell out that the Catholikes did no sooner knowe that they whome they had driuen from about them did settle themselues a farre of and so send remedies there against for vndoubtedly if they had it might haue cut off halfe our conquestes but I thinke that at Paris they were so glad to see those Prouinces and Townes which before had made them so sharpe warre abandoned that many of their harts were so puffed vp that afterward they disdained the Protestants effects who thought Rochell only able to resist them wherein in three moneths they might bee shut vp These be the forecastes of man after some fauourable accident The Queene of Nauarre perceiuing these stirres was very diligent to draw to those quarters bringing with her her childreÌ„ and some good power which serued as well to authorise the cause as to strengthen the armie She feared least staying in her owne countries she should bee forced as well by the commotions of her subiects as by other power to let her sonne go to the Court where vndoubtedly at the least in outward shewe he should be driuen to change his religion In consideratioÌ„ wherof she made
force them to parley for their returne into Germanie which might easilie be compassed by giuing them two moneths paie We also sayd they knowe the Admirall to be one of the most politike Captaines in the world most skilfull in winding himselfe out of aduersitie if he may haue anie leasure He will repaire his power and thereto adioyne more out of Gascogne Languedock so as in the spring we shall see him appeare with a newe armie wherewith he will harrie our Princes molest vs and burne euen to the gates of Paris Moreouer the Princes of Nauarre and Condie comming among these conquered people will by their presence by little and little cheere them vp againe and waken many other flomackes as yet daunted in diuerse places vnlesse with diligence we take frō them almeanes to preuaile of the time They concluded that Monsieur with the two thirds of his armie should follow them for so he might vndoubtedly in short space force the Captaines for their refuge to enter some weake holde which might finish the warre Others being of another opinion sayd that they now reaped one of the principall fruites of their atchieued victorie in the conquest of these townes wherof they had alreadie wonne sixe in ten daies that now they should set vpon get the rest considering in what feare they now were that the Protestants woulde neuer bee quiet so long as they had any places of retreate which being taken from them they woulde haue no great desire to stirre that there rested no more but a few townes in Xantoigne Angonlucis in that quarter which could not aboue two moneths holde out agaynst the force of their victorious armie and Monsieurs good hap that afterward Rochel seeing it selfe naked of all couerture would quake As for the remainder of the conquered armie wherwith the Princes and Admirall had saued them selues the same did flie would scatter of it selfe howbeit to hasten it thereto they might send after it a thousande horse and two thousande Two leagues within the sea there lie certaine Iles which fauour her the inhabitants giuen as much to warre as traficke the magistrates discreete and all wel affected to the reformed religion as for the fortifications experience hath taught what they are therefore I shall not neede to saie anie more of them Well I will confesse that Orleance to him that is strong in the field is a place more proper to assayle but if it be for defence Rochel is farre more profitable some there are that note the inhabitaunts of rudenesse but how euer it be they be loyall the same may be spoken of the people of Namure who are with their rudenesse loyall And when the imperfections of a man or citie are much lesse than the good qualities they may be borne well enough The succour which the Princes had thence in this third warre doe sufficientlie testifie it to be a good shop and well furnished neither doe I alleadge this to the end great townes should bee puffed vp with pride but rather to prouoke them to praise God for those plentifull commodities that he hath bestowed vpon them For hee that exalteth himselfe shal be brought lowe either earlie or late Among all others that they had thence this is to be noted that she furnished and armed a certaine number of vessels which fetcht them in sundrie rich prizes yeelding great treasure to the generall cause for albeit they then tooke but the tenth for the admiralty yet did the profit thereof amount vnto aboue 500000. frankes Afterward in the next warres which began in the yeere 1574. necessitie constrayned them take the fifth it was thought that this would haue restrayned sea faring men from seeking their aduentures in such hazard howbeit this exercise was so pleasant vnto them that notwithstanding this excessiue tribute they could not desist therefro albeit oftentimes it hapned that in those booties which their talents had griped the nailes of the land Picoree or prouling gaue terrible pinches whereby we may see what wealth the sea warre dooth minister to anie Countrie Now if the land warre be iust so ought this also to be howbeit when we come to examine diuerse the perticular actions thereof we shall therein finde wonderfull abuses at the least among vs for most of these aduenturers doe make small difference betweene friends and foes and many times the poore enemie hath had fauour when the rich friend hath bene robbed and committed to the streames by them that presumed through crueltie to conceale their coueteousnesse But heauen hauing both eies and mouth seeing these secret inhumanities reuealeth them openly and with al more iustlie casteth some of the cōmitters therof headlong into the gulfes wherein they had vniustly buried the innocent marchant But bee this spokē without iniury to those that do behaue themselues lawfullie in their vocation for my speech I direct onelie to such as are disordinatlie affected to robbe the whole world I haue heard of the Spaniards who were at the ouerthrow of the Lord of Strossie that halfe his armie consisted of pirats and rouers who forsooke him at his most neede suffering him euen in their view to perish together with such braue persons as accompanied him to the battaile also that they meruayled that of fortie saile that went with him there fought not aboue sixe or seauen but as they commended the valour of these so did they blame the cowardlinesse of the rest notwithstanding it redounded to their profit This teacheth vs that the affections to spoile and the affections to fight do worke contrarie effects For my part I shall still bewaile this valiant Captaine my verie good friend who both in his life and death was an honour to our Fraunce That in nine moneths the Princes army marched almost three hundred leagues compassing in manner the whole Realme of France also what successe they had in this voiage FOrce it was for the Lords Princes and Admirall after their ouerthrow to goe farre enough from the victorious army as well for their owne safeties as vpon sundrie other respects afore as it were by the way mencioned which counsaile redounded to their profite through the follie of the Catholikes who suffered this small snowball without let to roule so long that in short time it grew as great as a house for the authoritie of the Princes stirred vp gathered many the L. Admiralls foresight and inuention compassed profitable things the bodie of the Reisters which amounted to 3000. gaue credite to the armie they endured much vntill they came into Gascogne where they strengthened themselues with shot wherof they stod in great need especially for the warranting of their horsemen from surprises by night which in those quarters through the neighbourhoode of both townes and castles are verie cōmon They dispearsed them among the cornets of Reisters other French troopes so as as wel in the open as close Countrie they were still readie to defend themselues
to force their enemies withdrew to their lodginges as also did the Princes who hauing considered that their staie might be hurtfull as also that they wanted pouder marched by great ionrneis vnto La Charitee and other townes their partakers there to furnish themselues anewe with all commodities necessarie Shortlie after there was a truce taken betweene both armies which grew to a peace wherevpon euerie man laid downe his weapons It had bene verie noisome lieng so long in the field in heate in colde in bad wayes and almost alwayes in the enemies lande where the verie peasant made them as sharp warre as the souldier which inconueniences many times troubled that great Captaine Hannibal when he was in Italie It is therefore a braue schoole point to marke how men can fit their counsayles to necessitie such labours are in the beginning so odious that they make the sculdiours to murmure against their owne Captaines but being a litle accustomed hardned in these painful exercises they begin to grow into a good opinion of themselues when they see that they haue as it were ouercome y t which terrefieth so many chieflie the delicate These be the braue galleryes beautifull walks of the souldiours then their bed of honour is the graue wherinto a harquebuze shot may haue ouerthrowen them But in truth all this is worthie reward commendation namely when they that tread these pathes and endure these labours doe maintaine an honest cause and in their proceedings shew themselues replenished with valor and monestie Now if anie man in this woful warre laboured sore both in bodie minde we may saie that it was the Admirall for the waightiest part of the burthen of the affaires and military labours did he with great constancie and facilitie beare as also hee bare him selfe as reuerentlie among the Princes his superiours as modestie with his inferiours Godlinesse he alwayes helde in great estimation and bare greate loue to iustice which made him to be esteemed honored of all that part which he had taken he neuer ambiciously sought offices or honors but in eschuing them was in respect of his sufficiencie and honestie forced to take them When hee dealt with weapons he shewed himselfe as skilful in them as anie Captaine of his time and alwayes couragiouslie hazarded himselfe to all daungers In aduersities he was noted to be endued with magnanimitie and inuention to get out and shewed himselfe alwayes free from glosing and dissimulation In summe he was a man worthie to restore any weake and corrupt estate Thus much I thought good by the waie to saie of him as hauing knowen and kept his companie yea and profited in his schoole and so should doe him iniurie if I should not make true and honest mention of him The causes of the third peace The comparison thereof with the former also whether the same were necessarie NOne of the three ciuill warres lasted so long as this which coÌ„tinued two whole yeres where the first was ended in one yere the second in sixe moneths and many doyet thinke that had not y e Protestants draweÌ„ toward Paris it would not haue bene done so soone of which experience they haue gathered this rule that to purchase peace war must be brought beere this mightie Citie which I also take to haue ben one of the chiefe causes to help it forward for y e stripes which threaten the head do greatly terrefie the Catholike strangers hauing also wasted innumerable coin had left such want that they knew not how to furnish paie Ruine and robberie was rife euerie where Moreouer good hap seemed to begin to raise vp those that had ben wearied For the Princes armie had made a braue head against the Kings at Rene le Duc. Gascogne LaÌ„guedock Daulphine held sorer than war before Bearne was recouered in Poictou Xantoigne the Protestants had spead well in ouerthrowing the two old regiments and taking sundrie townes Al these things gathered together which other secret perticular oceasions disposed y e King and Queene to grant to the peace which was published in August The Protestants also desired stood in great need of it for hauing neuer a crowne wherewith to satiffie their Reisters their necessitie would haue driuen them to abandon the Princes as by the Countie of Mansfield they gaue them to vnderstande Likewise seeing them neere their owne Countrie it was to bee feared least they would haue resolued so to doe which falling out would haue beene the ouerthrow of their affaires Many other discommodities which I omit vrged heereunto among the rest the misrule of our souldiours was such as it could not be remedied Insomuch that the Admirall who loued good order and hated viâ—e did many times since saie that he had rather die than fall into the like confusions againe and to see so many mischiefes committed before his face To bee briefe the peace was accepted vpon tollerable conditions also for y e assurance thereof was added that which in the former they neither durst demand nor coulde obtaine namelie foure townes The beginning of this communication was after the siege of S. Iohn d'Angelie wherin were emploied the Lords of Thelignie Beaunois la Nocle gentlemeÌ„ endued w t diuerse vertues who faithfully discharged their duties and if before when the Protestants affaires were at a latter hand the Catholiks had offered smaller conditions I thinke they would haue bene taken But when they saw that they would not graunt them anie exercise of religion but onely a simple libertie of conscience it brought them into such despaire that they made of necessitie vertue And as time breedeth alterations so those that ensued turned so far to their fauour that their courages were raised and their hope corroborated The best time then to treate of peace is when we haue the aduantage in war But that doth ordinarilie so puffe vp men that they will not heare thereof howbeit either earlie or late the king did wiser to graunt it for the continuation of warre depriued him of his pleasure supplanted the loue and obedience due vnto him forâ—aied the Countries sacked the treasurie consumed his power But may some man say the king of Spaine hath not done so in Flanders Truely may another aunswere he hath not wonne much and per aduenture in the end for the ceasing of these troublesome tragedies hee will followe the same counsaile that his neighbours haue done Now albeit peace was necessarie for the Protestants yet haue this â—shap almost euer ensued that the same haue not continued neither so much as beene established according to the couenant I will speak first of that which was framed before Orleance lasted foure yeeres and a halfe was nothing neere so profitable for them as the edict of Ianuarie howbeit it followeth not but that it was at that time acceptable for theyr affayres were not in state to refuse it and time discouered the fruit that it