wise for albeit their meaning may be good yet may a man after some forte stumble because the sodainnesse of the matter may make him neglect diuerse circumstaunces therein to bee considered Yea although one shoulde thinke vpon all that were requisite to bee noted yet may many doe it much beter The worthinesse also of the matter in hande may be such and the number of confederates so great that euen the cheefest must haue respect as well to the one as to the other As likewise they must imagine that they to whome they promise although thinges vnreasonable will neuerthelesse vpon want oâ— performance finde themselues greeued and complaine thereof By what occasion the warre did first breake foorth betweene the two armies DUring the parlies afore mentioned there was as it were a trucâ— betweene both armies which caused that there was nothing enterprized at Paris or Orleance But when the Prince of Conde and his associats did well perâ—eiue that wordes were to weake to remedy the present alterations hee determined to adde effects and so immediately after the resolution vpon the offer made vnto the Queene hee called aside â—eauen or eight of his cheefest captaines and consulted vpon the most conuenient meanes to buckle with the enemy for the trucâ— was ended the daie before who all were of opinion that they must be preuented by diligence considering that they had two aduauntages the one that the Duke of Guise the Constable and the Marshall of S. Andrewes were then absent and so none but the king of Nauarre with the armie the other that the companies of men of armes were lodged scattering from the maine battaile That if they shoulde march forward by daie theyr light horse or forragers might giue them warning and therefore it were best to vse greate diligence in the night and so come vppon them in the dawning for thus might they vndoubtedlie be surprised likewise that because they had not ordinarily vsed any camizadoes they might nowe the more easilie put this in execution while the enimy least doubled anie such thing As for the waie it was most easie as being al plaine fields between them About one houre after the campe departed and came betimes to Feâ—te where the Generalles opened their intents to the Captaines willing them to cause their souldiours to put on shirtes and resolue them to beare themselues manfully in this so valyaunt an enterprise By eight of clocke at night the troops were in the field who after publike praier as was then vsed among the Protestants began to march with such a courage as I may in truth affirme that in souldiours I neuer see greater Before the departure did a gentleman commit a most villanous act in forcing of a maiden whose calling together with the shortnesse of the time were causes that it could not be punished This did many take to be a bad signe in this enterprise Presuming to finde the enemies in their lodginges the order to fight was this First the Lord Admirall marched formost with eight hundred speares to ouerthrowe whatsoeuer horsemen hee shoulde finde in armes then followed 1200. harquebuts in foure troopes with charge to assayle the watch of the enimies footmen and thence to enter theyr quarters Next marched eight hundred harquebuts supported with two great battayles of pikes to seaze vppon their artillerie after all came the Prince of Condee with one thousand horse in foure squadrons and the rest of the harque buzerie Now are we to vnderstand that considering at what time they set forward they should by all reason haue reached to the enimies lodging by three of the clocke in the morning for the waie lay ouer a playne field neither was there any straight passage but that the footemen might march a whole league in an houre and a halfe but when they had gone two leagues the guides perceiued that they went wrong and thinking to recouer their waie they strayed farther out remayning as men amazed and not knowing where they were to the no small discontent of the Captaines To be briefe hauing thus trauayled vntill one houre after daie they found themselues a long league of from the enimies lodgings whose scoutes descried the head of the Princes armie and so returning with al speed gaue a great alarum Heerevpon tooke they counsayle what was best to bee done but in the meane time they hearde the Canon discharged in the enemies campe for a warning to call in their horsemen which brake theyr deuise for passing any farther as well for that they weâ—e descried as also that they had yet a great waie to goe albeit if they had bene within halfe a league they were resolued to haue gone forward and fought Thus was this enterprise which in ontward appearaunce seemed verie certaine was vtterlie broken of I haue asked the opinion of sundrie good Captaines then present in the aduersaries campe what successe might haue followed if the Protestants had come in time who all affirme that they woulde haue fought albeit they were preuented by their separation from their most affectionate Captaines and the greatest parte of theyr horsemen The Lorde Marshall of Anuille a watchfull and verie skilfull Captaine was with his light horse lodged at the head of the Catholikes armie wo tolde mee that hee waked and was in armes almost all the night neuerthelesse if our whole power had come in time theyr armie had beene in daunger which is not in deede to bée doubted for albeit the hazardes of warre bee vncertaine yet the aduauntage of a surprise doth import apparaunt losse to those that suffer themselues to bee so farre ouertaken All the faulte was layde vppon the guides who to cleere themselues said that the Lord of Andelots putting the footemen in araie at the departure from the lodgings made their march the flower but I thinke this excuse more subtil than true considering there was neither bush nor hedge to stoppe them In deede if the Countrie had beene straighter it might haue had some likelihood Both armies albeit somewhat asunder stoode in araie vntill two of the clocke afternoone Afterwarde the Prince of Condie went to lodge at Lorges a small league of and the King of Nauarre with all speede certefied the Lorde of Guize and the Constable who laie at Chasteaudun of all that happened who immediatlie came to him Then fearing to be assayled by night because the Princes armie was strong in footmen and their owne lodgings verie vnfit for horsemen they made at the head of theyr battayle grounde vppon the comming in fiue or sixe great heapes of fagots with strawe inough vnder them to kindle if they were assaulted to the ende by the light thereof to discharge three or foure vollees of artillerie which woulde haue greatly annoied the assaylauntes There are that disdayne such inuentions albeit they may sometime be to good purpose In the morning they fell agayne into araie but see not one another neyther did anie but the light horsemen skirmishe The Captaines of
riuer Some Catholikes reporte that the discorde that fell betweene them hindred diuerse braue enterprises which they might haue executed if they had still agreed I wot not how it was but if that were true it was no meruaile that they fought noâ— or rather that they were not fought with all but thus 〈◊〉 I haue learned that the enimies had small notice of their braules This great barre the riuer of Loire might also haue bene a second verie great difficultie to staie this Dutch armie in that so lowe it was not wadeable besides that all the townes standing thervpon were enemies but the passage ouer was in necessarie for them that it so doubled the diligence rashnesse and inuentions of the French Protestants that they assayled the towne of Charite which had a goodly bridge and finding it but badly furnished with men they pressed so sore vpon it that what with countenaunce and threates before anie succour came they had carried it awaie which was vnto them a wonderfull ioy For had not that ben they were in a verie bâ—â— case must haue ben forced to haue sought the head of the faiâ—riuer which would haue lengthned their way 60 leagues and which was worse taking that course they should haue pestured themselues in a hilly and wood Countrie where their horsmen could haue stood them but in small stead I haue sometimes heard the Lord Admirall discoursing hereof among his familiars account this passage of the straungers almost impossible For sayd he we cannot helpe them by reason of Monsiers armie which lyeth in our waie and as for them they haue another vpoÌ„ their arm also so difficult a riuer to stop their course that it is to be feared that they shal not wel void this inconuenience without shame or losse Agayn albeit they had passed it yet the 2. armyes ioyned together wil haue ouerthrowen them before we can come neere by 20 leagues to succour them but when we hard of the successe of La Charite also y t they were determined to trie al dangers to ioyn with him he grew into better hope and sayd This is a Princes good prognostication les vs by diligence and resolution perfect it This caused the Lordes Princes of Nauarre Conde the same who had allowed and receiued leaue for generalles of the Protestants to march toward the marches of Limosin so to drawe neere the armie of Monsieur and to keepe it still occupied and to saie the truth wee were dayly as it were in a foure waiting when we should heare that two such mightie armies had oppressed our Reisters but it fel out otherwise for they watched their opportunitie so â—itlie and speedely that beeing guided by their French troopes wherein the Lorde of Auy bare himselfe most valyantlie they out went them and drew to the place where the Lorde Admirall had sent them worde that he woulde meet them with ten thousand harquebuziers and two thousand and fiue hundred horse Thus did these two armies ioyne with greate â—â—aâ—ulation I will not heere â—axe the Generalls and braue Captaines of the Catholikes for suffering them to passe because I 〈◊〉 not what reasons they had to diuert them neither will I extreamely command those that passed but rather must thinke it to haue ben a great good hap for them the lyke whereof doe sometimes appeare in militarie action where in great Captaines in their warre are to learne in their greatest extremities not to abandon all hope for one onely fauourable accident which commonly followeth the diligent and shunneth the slothfull may suffice to free them Both the armies being then verie mightie for there were in the Kings campe aboue thirtie thousand men and in the Princes full 25000. were forced for theyr better commoditie of virtualles to seuer themselues for the countrie of Limosin is but barren but they drew togither ward againe about Yries La Perche The Lord Admirall perceiuing that the barrennesse of the Countrie forced them to lodge scâ—â—teringlie also that beeing craggie and full of wood the places for the armies were oftentimes verie discommodious determined rather to preuent then to bee preuented Wherefore hee counsayled the Princes to goe and surprise the Catholike armie which was not farre of at a place called Roch-labelle They set forward before breake of daie in purpose to giue battayle and came so fitlie that before anie allarum taken they were within a quarter of a league of the enemies front who were lodged strongly and the Lord of Stossy at the noise comming in with fiue hundred harquebuziers to support three hundred of his men who kept watch at the chiefe entrie found the skirmishe verie hot And wee may well saie that hee bare himselfe verie valyantlie for hee helde foure thousande Protestant harquebuziers plaie a long houre which time stood the Catholike armie in good stead to set themselues in order The Lorde Admirall meruailing that they could not force the passage sent thether Captaine Bruel a skilfull man Hee by and by perceiued that our shotte endeauoured to ouercome the others rather by multitude than by arte wherefore to make short worke hee spake to the Captaines and hauing ordered the troopes assayled their flanks and withal setting forwarde foure Cornets to sustayne them he beganne a sharpe onsette wherein our men hauing broken certain casemates that couered the enimies did so disorder theÌ„ that soone after they fled leauing diuerse of their menâ— dead with 22. of their officers also their Colonell prisoner who that daie had done Monsieur good seruice for had it not bene his resistance the Protestants had come without leâ—te to their ordinance But because it rayned all the daie and the Catholike army was placed vpon the aduauntage they could not worke anie great effect and therfore retired hauing shewed themselues too rigorous in their execution for they tooke verie fewe prisoners whereaâ— the Catholikes were â—ore prouoked and reuenged themselues intime and place It is a commendation to fight well but it deserueth no lesse praise to bâ— genele and courteous to those whome the first furâ—e of our weapons haue pardoned and into whose handes our selues may another time fal vnlesse there be great cause to the contrarie And in skirmishes skill and pollicie is in my opinion as necessarie as violence which experience doth 〈◊〉 coufirme For if the lande be somewhat couerd a man may vse sundrie aduantages which the Spaniards and Italians can verie wel practise as being ingenious people but it is alwaies most profitable to order their men in smal troopes to assayle on the flankes ere they bee aware to place the troope that beareth the brunt verie well and finallie to come resosolutely to the sword The siege of Poictiers MAny enterprises doe men attempt in the wars which were neuer premeditated as also they giue ouer others long before thought vppon which proceedeth of the alterations which time bringeth foorth and as it is a signe of valiantâ—e well to execute so is
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
defeated by the Lord of Mouluc which encreased his care notwithstanding in all these aduersities he quayled not either in courage or countenance This mishap as I haue heard light vpon the Lord of Duras through two especiall reasons The one that to the end to bring with his troopes two Canons he marched heauely the other that vpon the commoditie of this ordinance he stayed by the way to beate certaine Castles replenished with great booties Thus had his enemies oportunitie to ouertake him whose streÌ„gth consisting in horse did by and by ouerthrowe him for such as are to bring any succour must alwaies free themselues from combersome cariage and crowne their expeditions with diligence During these affayres I remember I once heard the Lord Admirall talking of these matters say vnto the Prince of Condé That one mischiefe followeth an other howbeit that he must yet expect the third aduenture meaning his brothers passage which would either lift them vp againe or quite cast them downe As in deede if it had miscaried they looked to haue bene besieged which so happening they were very secretly resolued that one of them should haue gone into Germany to haue endeuoured there to haue yet raised some power being of opinion that the Prince of Condé in respect of the greatnesse of his familie should bee the best able to perswade the Protestant Princes of Germany to assist him in a cause wherein themselues did partly participate Howbeit all the difficultie consisted in the conueying of him thether safely wherevpon some gentlemen there present did euidently declare that going from one of his partakers houses to another and alwaies marching by night and resting all day he might easely passe with twentie horse and no more But he was not put to that plonge for within tenne or twelue daies after they had newes that the Lord of Andelot hauing passed the chiefest difficulties of his iorney was come within thirtie leagues of Orleance which was also supplied with a second comforte viz. that the Earle of Rochefouâ—ault accompanied with three hundred gentlemen and the remainder of the Lord of Duras armie would very shortly ioyne with him Wherevpon the Prince of Condé sayd Our enemies haue giuen vs two shrewde checkes in taking our rookes meaning Râ—an and Bourges but I hope that now we may catch their knights if they take the fielde Neither is it to bee demaunded whether euery man reioyced or was glad at Orleance for commonly the Souldier the more oportunitie that he hath to hurt and molest his enemie that iniureth him the gladder he is such sway doe wrath beare among theÌ„ And how should not their affections be sometimes alittle spotted with blood when many Clergie mens are so red with the dye of reueÌ„ge in whose harts should nothing but charitie be harbored Of the Prince of Condées purposes when he sawe his forreine succour approach and how he came before Paris from whence after he had there soiourned eleuen daies done nothing he departed toward Normandie IN as much as good counsailes are the fountaines of good exploytes and encrease of force the instruments to atteyne thereto the Lords Prince of Condé and Admirall finding their succour to be at hand deuised with themselues vpon the choyse of some good purpose Finally with their most trustiest they resolued to march toward Paris not meaning to force it for they doubted that the enemies would immediatly thrust in their armie thereinto but only to terrifie the Parisians whome they accompted the bellowes of the warres and kitchen that fedde the same as imagining that they seeing their countrie houses forreyed and burnt and so many insolent Souldiers lodged euen within their towne would either vrge the King and Queene to hearken vnto peace or els so quarel with those that should be so enclosed within their walles that they should euen force them into the field where they might finde oportunitie to fight with them and so recouer that aduantage that they lost at the skirmish of Tally and that in the meane time they would send into Normandie to make readie the hundred and fiftie thousand crownes which as the voyce went were borowed of certaine English Marchants and vpon good pawnes for therevpon did their only hope to wage the forreine armie wholly depend as also because necessitie constrayned them to cause it to liue out of their Thus did spite shame resolue them to attempt a difficult matter which before vpoÌ„ ripe deliberation wheÌ„ it was more easie they accompted vnprofitable and the like haue I seene happen many times euen among many good men of warre At night therefore order being giuen out euery man armed himselfe and marched by by waies toward the side of the Suburbes of S. Germain where they vnderstood that the trenches were small and the gard weake which was true Now the Lord of Guize had some inckeling of this enterprise that it should be performed at midnight whervpon he kept all his horsemen and footmen in armes al the night long in the trenches euery one in his quarter appoynted But when the clocke had stroke foure in the morning and that they perceiued no noyse from our campe they all sayd that it was but some false allarum and that the Protestants harts would not serue to set vppon them also that it was to no purpose considering the extreame colde to freeze them vp a whole nights space vpon a simple suspition peraduenture without any ground To be briefe one after an other they all returned each one to his lodging so as there remayned no more but y e ordinary guard The Protestants in the meane time fetthing a great compasse for feare of descrying lost themselues so as they could not come néere the place that they should assayle before broad day wherevpon perceiuing themselues discouered and the alarum great they retired but had they come three quarters of an houre sooner it was likely they might in that place haue forced the trenches In this enterprise we may see how some mens impatiencie had like to haue put them to a great foyle also how the small foresight of the others in the conduct of their men made them lose the occasion that they had vndertaken and so remaine a scorne to their enemies I haue heard that the Lordes of Guize and Constable did feare the forcing of those Suburbes rather for the shame then for the hurt as affirming that the same would haue bene the destruction of the Protestants if they had taken them For whiles they had bene dispersed about the spoyle they made accompt to haue sent foorth at sundrie gaâ—es and other places foure or fiue thousande Harquebuziers and two thousande Corcelets to fall vpon theÌ„ who surprizing them would haue slaine a great parte and put the rest to flight We did so farre ouershoote our selues as three daies after to purpose the like againe and I beleeue we should haue bene well beaten But at the chaunge of our watch one of our
the comming of the Catholicks succour so sore would they haue bene astonied yea peradueÌ„ture other inconueniences might haue ensued I for my parte who was then there haue wel viewed both the inside the outside also the state of the affaires do not think the execution therof to haue bene vnpossible But as it is requisite that God should watch ouer theÌ„ that sleep vpon the preseruation of cities so when the Countie was vpon his way to performe his enterprise he light vpon an vnlooked for mishap which ouerthrew all his entent For hauing to y t effect see forward with 12. ladders his men well resolued being within two good leagues of the towne by chaunce he met with two hundred Protestants horsemen that were going to beate about who seeing this great troope of horsemen and footmen in the fielde did suddenly returne and giue the alarum both to the towne and to the other quarters of the horsemen whereby the Countie was forced to retire Afterward the Lord Admirall caused greater watch vpon the waies and to beate the fieldes oftner albeit he neuer knewe of this enterprise nor my selfe neither vntill after the peace concluded Truely I doe greatly commend this valiant enterprise of this yong noble gentleman to whom the only daring to attempt it was an honor Howbeit I meruaile not that the Lord Admirall neuer doubted any such matter for he must as a man should say haue foreseene it by inspiration Neuerthelesse it is good for a man when he is neere a great power and such resolute Captaines to haue a double care and to thinke that the desire of honor will furnish them of wings Of the death of the Prince of Condé at Bassac THE Protestants hauing in the former daies endured much founde the more sweetnesse in their aboade in Poictow whether they were retired where they were aduertised that Monsiers armie was in the field marching toward Angolesme There were newly come to him two thousand Reistres and as I suppose to the end the sooner to ende the warre he purposed to force his enemies either to fight or els to shut vp themselues in the townes In the one he had the aduantage in the other he deminished their reputation The Prince and Admirall vpon this aduice caused their men to close determining to keepe themselues along the banckes of the riuer of Charente so to behould their countenances but to hazard nothing as also to fauour their Houlds for the furnishing wherof with men they must diminish there armie There was nothing done worthie remembranee vntil the Catholiks came to Chasteaunueuf which staÌ„deth vpon the same riuer where at theyr first comming they tooke the Castle which had but a bad keeper And because the bridge was broken in two places the Admirall himselfe to the end to discouer their countenance and the passage would needs come thether with 7. or 800. horse as many harque buziers hauing the riuer still betweene theÌ„ where he began a skirmish with some people whoÌ„ they had sent ouer either by bôate or vpon some plankes sodeinly laide which lasted not long In the meane time it might bee easily perceiued that they would labour to passe ouer there The Lord Admirall desiring as much as he might to preserue his credite and to giue his enimies to vnderstand that he would not giue them ground foote by foote that he purposed to stop their passage yet for one daie in the same place appointed two regiments of footmen to lodge within a quarter of a league of the bridge and eight hundred horse a little behinde This done with the rest of the auanâ—gard he retyred to Bassac which was a league of and the Prince came to Iarnae which is one league farther but his commandement was not performed for both horsemen and footemen seeing that in the places appointed there were fewe houses and no virtuals or forrage hauing quite forgotten the custome of the camp and wanting of prouision at home tooke their quarters else where Thus most of the troop departed to take their lodgings so as there remayned but few vppon the place who setteled themselues halfe a league from the passage whereof it ensued that the gard was very weake neither could it approch neere inough to heare or giue allarum to the enemies gard from time to time according as was deuised so to haue made them beleeue that our whole auantgard had bene there lodged The Catholikes who were resolued albeit our whole campe would haue letted them to seaze vppon this passage through the diligence of the Lord of Biron not onelie repaired the olde bridge but also made a new of such beates as are ordinarilie transported in armies royall which was also finished before midnight and then they began to passe ouer without anie noise both horsemen and footmen The Protestants that watched there did scarce perceiue their passage before breake of daie whereof immediatly they certefied the L. Admiral who vnderstanding that most of his men were lodged scatteringlie euen on the same side that the enemies came sent them worde of their passage warning them to drawe to him withall speede so to retire together in the meane time that hee woulde houer at Bassac he also commaunded the carriages and footemen to retire which was performed Now if then yea an howre after his whole troopes had beene come together they might easily haue departed euen a soft pace But the delay of time being at the leaste three howres while he stayed for them was the cheefe cause of our mishap neither woulde hee loose such troopes conteining eight or nine corners of horse-men and some ensignes of foote-men whose captains were the County of Montgomery the Lord of Acier and Colonell Pluuiault In the end beeing all ioyned with him except Colonell Acier who tooke the way to Angolesme the enimies that still passed ouer weare waren so mighty and come so neere vnto vs also the skirmish so whot that it appeared that needes wee must fight Hereupon the Prince of Condee who was already a good halfe league vpon his retraict vnderstanding that they shoulde be forced to buckle hauing the stonracke of a Lion woulde needes haue a share When to the end to retire we forsooke a small brooke which coulde not be passed but in two or three places the Catholicks set forwarde the flowre of their horsemen vnder the conduct of the Lordes of Guize Martigues and Brissac who ouerthrew fower cornets of Protestants beeing vpon the retraict where my selfe was taken prisoner then did they set vpon the Lord of Andelot in a village who bare their brunt wel ynough hauing ouerpassed him they perceiued two great battailes of horse among whome were the Prince and Admirall who seeing themselues beset prepared to charge The Lorde Admirall gaue the first onset and the Prince the second which was fiercer then y e first at the beginning they forced al y t came to turne their backs truely it was well
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
the Turkes Prediction of the Turkes Alcoran The meanes to set vpon the Turkes Guicciard lib. 13. To what vse the former discourse of Guicards may serue what is to be altered in these daies How to deuide the Christian forces also to what number they should amouÌ„t What Captaines were meet to command in the Christians armie Of the principall members of this army At what time the Christian power should begine their warre how The troupes of the army that should march by lande Their first endeuors Their exercises The ordering therof in warre Their order in a large contry Of the battaile by lande betweene the Christians and Turkes Of the ordring of the army in the straights Of the exploits of the nauy That the armies as well by land as by sea should inuade and how The continuation of the warre in the second yere with the order to be taken as well by sea as by lande Of the nations of Greece the Turkes bondmen Of the exploits and behauiors of both the Christian armies the third yeare The exployts of the nauy Of the exployts and effects of both the armies in the fourth and last yere of their warres against the Turkes Of what importance this warre against the Turke is in respect of all other warres Of the principal battaile against the Turkes The following of the victorie The exp 〈…〉 of the Nauie Of the siege assaults and taking of Constantinople The behauiors after the Conquest Partition of the Conquest The conclusion of this discourse The fruits of learning Of such as are to curious in the search for gould by Alcumie The summe of this discourse Three sorts of men that deale Alcumie Their principles Their curiositie examined Of the partes of Phillosophie also whether Alcumie hath relation to any of the same That habundancie and pleÌ„ty of Gould hath done more harme then good in the world Of the coÌ„moditie and vse of gould also of the mischiefes arising of the abuse thereof How dangerous the abuse of Gold is also in what estimatioÌ„ and vse it is in these dayes Of the mischiefes proceeding of those mens vanitie who because they haue much Golde doe thinke themselues to be rich Gold hath brought the barbarousnesse of sauages into Europe and finally made the sauages very wilde men indede Aunswer to the allegations of the Alcumists concerning the substance of mettall Whether they can minister any forme to the thing by them imagined To what vse experience may serue the Alchumists The examination of the multiplication of their pouder Whether any of the 〈◊〉 writers did euer find out this secret Examination of the examples of antiquitie with the Alcumistis doe aleadge Of the mischiefes wherin the Alcumistes doe plague themselues Of the vse of true Alcumie Of the vanitie of those that aspire to haue heapes of gold and Siluer Who it is that in deed coÌ„uerteth mettals Of some Alchumistes who ween vnder pretence of piety to attaine to their purposes Psal 2â— Of the true Philosophers stone taught by Solomon Eccle 3. That the true goodes are spirituall and vncorruptible Also the meanes to attaine thereto Pâ—o. 3. Answer to those that loke only vpon earth Prouer. 8. Prouer. 3. The excellency of heauenly wisdome Wisdome 8. How liberally God doth communitate this treasure to all men also the vse and abuse of the same The subtiltie of the Epicures How dangerous they are also how to beware of them How they may be knowen Of the Epicures of the Court. Their speches to those whoÌ„ they seeke to seduce Of the Epicures and Libertines which enhabit the Townes Their speeches Of Epicures and Libertines brought vp in the warres Their speeches Why the speeches of the Epicures are heere set downe also the meanes to eschue the infection of the same A more briefe order of the discourses of the sundry sortes of these Libertines The examination of the arguments or sophismes aforegoing Confutation of the Libertines argumet touching the pleasure The second part of the confutation touching the sorow which the Libertines doecoÌ„demne The cowardlines of those Libertines that enhabit the townes Answere to their argument concerning the motions of nature also whether it be well done to hide their liues Plutarke in his treatise whether this common speech Hide thy life be well saide Aunswer to the errors of the courtly Libertine A refutation of the errors of the Souldier-like Libertine Whether Christian profession doe banish ioy out of the harte In his treatise that by the doctrine of Epicurus no man can liue merely The confutation of the Libertines alligations against the terrors of hell A consolation to the good against the apprehension of hell also how fore affliction tormenteth the Libertines The comforts of the true Catholicks both in affliction and prosperitie The abuse of the Libertines in the vse of the thinges that they feele after wherein they ground their schcitie The Christanmanes delight That the pleasures of the body which the Christians do enioie are more delectable and firme then those wherin the Liibertines doe plague themselues Plutarke in the banker of the seuen Sages Of the contentation of Christians in the vse of temperall goods Against those that haue depriued most men of contemplatiue life That all men are capeable of coÌ„templation The miserie of many 〈…〉 sake their parte of this priuiledge and reprooue it Of contemplatiue power and the true obiects thereof Of such persones as may entend thereto The Gentrie Aunswer to a common obiection touching contemplation Of the contemplation that beseemeth Studentâ— Lawiers and Churchmen Aunswer to the obiection of such as imagine the contemplatiue life to belong onely to them selues Whereto Monasteries did in old time serue Of Monasteries of our daies and of Moncks contemplations A comparation of the ould and newe Monckes Of the contemplation of the Students in humaine sciences Whether contemplation beseemeth Princes Soldiers Lawiers and those that haue the care of bodely health 2. Chron. 14. Of contemplation meete for the commonoltie both of the towne contrie Math. 11. The conclusion conioyned with a notable aduertisment to such as giue themselues to vice and pollution Psal 42. Gene. 3. The beginning of the first troubles The Princes retire from Paris Occasion of the assemblie of his troupes A notible coÌ„sideration vpon the former discourse The Princes intent in these beginninges Why he could not possibly be the stronger about the Kinge and courte That Historiographers cannot possibly note all perticularities How the Prince of Conde seased vpon Orleance Of writinges published for the taking of armes in the first troubles Of the parlie betweene the Queene mother and the Prince of Condie The approches of the two coÌ„trary armies Treatie of peace Of the Princes offer made to the Queene The counsell and aduice vpon this matter Obseruations vpon this matter The Princes resolation to sette vpon his enemies Now this enterprise might haue succeded and what happened the next daie An accedent fauorable to the Princes enemies
The causes of good discipline The notable perticularities of the same The begining of disorders The remedies applied Discontentment in the Princes armie Of the taking of Burges and the counsaile to besiedge Orleance The reasons of those that counsailed the fiedge of Roan rather then of Orleance The taking of Roan Of the ouerthrowe of the Lorde of Duras troupes The execution of the Prince of Condes purposes staied through the succour that the Lorde of Andelot brought in The Princes armie marched toward Paris A Camisado enterprised against the suburbes of Paris also the retreat of the Princes army A notable battayle 1 The countenaunce of both the armies 2 The Generositie of the Suitâ—ers 3 The Lorde of Guizes patience cause of his victorie 4 The long continuance of the battell 5 The taking of the two generalles of the armies 6 The retraite of both the armies How the Lord of Guyze intreated the Lord Prince of Conde The foundation of the Duke of Guizes hope The Lorde Admirals resolution the Siege of Orleance and the notablest perticularities of the same The wouÌ„ding and death of the Duke of Guize whereof ensued the pacification of the first trobles also what the Lord Admirall did in Normandie The causes of the taking of armes in the second troble The resolution to take armes also the difficulties in the beginning Of the successe of the Princes attempts The first A generall taking of armes vpon one selfe day The second Their courage in setting vpon 6000. Suitzers The third The taking of Saint Dennis The Prince of Condies first entent to force his aduersaries to harken to accorde The second and third cotent The Lord Constables purposes The meanes that were practised to ouerthrow the Prince and his armie The behauiors of the Princes armie in Loraine A notable historie A meane to attaine to peace The Lord Admirals care for the entertainement of the armie Of the lodging of the armie The march Into what Difficulties the Protestants were reduced during the ciuill warres The beginning of the siege of Chartres A counter enterprise of the Lord Admirales during the seege Of Chartres The second peace cause of more mischief then the warre it selfe Part of the Protestantes causers of their owne mischiefe The notable reuolution of these warres also of the Princes retrait The Lord of Martigues braue resolution to gette to Saumure What helpe the towne of Rochel was to the Prince and his who therby became maisters of a large country The arriuall of the Queene of Nauarre and her children in the armie also of the troupes of Daulphine The ouerthrow of the Colonels Mouuans and Pierre-gourd Of the power of both the armies which albeit they desired it could neuer haue opportunitie to ioyne The Duke of Aniâ—ous armie lost a braue opportunitie to ouerthrowe the Lord Admirall an d 〈…〉 Andelot Aduice vppon the aforesaid aduenture The Prince lost the occasion to ouerthrow the enemies Auantguard Of the iourney of Iasnueil A pleasant chance which troubled many The extreame could kept the 2. armies from executing their pretenses The Lord Admirals enterprise voide of his pretended effect The retract of both the armies through the extreamitie of the colde The Earle of Brissackes bould enterprise and what came of it What happened before the battaile of Bassac The euell keeping of the passage and their smale diligence to ioyne together cause of the ouerthrow shortly ensuing The battaile of Bassac with the taking and cause of the Prince of Condees death The praise of the Prince of Conde also what happened after his death The lets to keepe the Duke of Biponts army from ioining with the Princes Of the ioining of the Germaines with the Princes The occurrences betweene both the armies at Rochell The purpose of the Princes army before the siege of Poictiers also the taking of Lusignan The cause of the siege of Poictiers The notablesâ— perticularities of the siege of Poicters Vpon what occasions the siege was raised from before Poicters Diuers causes of the ouerthrow of the Princes armie at Montcontour The charge sâ—irmishes about Saint Cler. A notable aduertisement giuen before the battaile but not followed The Counsells and difficulties in the Princes armie whereof ensued the meanes to the aduersaries armie to assaile them The battaile fought and wonne by Monsiers army Ouer sight of MoÌ„sieurs army after their victorie A notable counsaile houlden by the chief Captaines of this armie and so their resolution What helpe Rochel hath ministred to the Princes and their warlick affaires CoÌ„modities of warres by sea also the abuses therein committed By what meanes the Princes armie was restored Of the forces that ioyned with the Princes The voiage of the Princes armie The meeting of both armies at Rhene le Duc. Of the third peace Of the behauiors of the Lord Admiral during the three first ciuil waries Sundry causes of this mention of him this third peace as well on the one side as on the other When they beginne to breake of peace also what is to be noted therein Consideration vpon these th 〈…〉 pacifications of the ciuill warres The diuers affections of those that long after warre and how they haue bene prouided for Against such as like of euerie peace and mislike euery warre
maner of aranging the horse in hay or file is now to small vse also that it were necessarie they should take the vse of Squadrons pag. 184 16 Of the vse of Camarades which among the Spanish footmen are of great accompt pag. 190 17 Of the rewards ordinarily bestowed vpon the Spanish souldiers when they haue done any notable peece of seruice which they tearme their Aduantages pag. 194 Foure militarie Paradoxes 1 That a squadron of Reistres should beate a squadron of Speares pag. 198 2 That 2500. Corcelets and 1500 Harquebuziers may more easely retire three French leagues in a plaine field then 2000. Speares pag. 203 3 That it is expedient for a Captaine to haue susteyned an ouerthrow pag. 210 4 That daily experience haue taught such meanes to fortifie Houlds as are most profitable in respect of the small charge thereof and no lesse defensible then such stately ones as the Ingeniors haue aforetime inuented pag. 215 19 That the continuation of the wicked proceedings of the warres of these daies doe make a iust cause to seeme vniust pag. 220 20 That a King of France is of himselfe mightie enough though he neither couet nor seeke other greatnesse then his owne realme doth afford him pag. 226 21 That alliances of Christian Princes with Mahumetistes the capitall enemies of the name of Christ haue euermore bene vnfortunate also that we ought not to enter any firme confederacie with them pag. 234 22 That the Christian Princes well vnited are able in foure yeeres to expulse the Turkes out of Europe pag. 245 23 Of the Philosophers stone pag. 291 24 Against those that thinke that godlinesse depriueth man of all pleasures pag. 312 25 That euery man according to his capacitie and vocation may vse contemplation pag. 334. Obseruations of diuers things happened in the three first troubles of France together with the true reporte of the most parte of the same The first Troubles That the Protestants but for the late accident at Vassie had bene preuented in the beginning of the first ciuill warre pag. 346 Whether the Lord Prince of Conde in the first troubles committed so great an ouersight as many haue giuen out in that he seased not vpon the Court or Paris pag. 350 Of three things which I noted that happened afore the armies tooke the field The one pleasant the other artificiall and the third lamentable pag. 352 Of the Prince of Condees promise somwhat rashly made to the Queene Mother that hee would depart the Realme of France and why it was not performed pag. 357 By what occasion the warre did first breake foorth betweene the two armies pag. 362 Of the good discipline which for the space of two moneths only was obserued among the Prince of Condees troopes both of hotsemen and footmen Also of the originall of Picoree or Prowlinge pag. 361 Of the reasons that moued the Prince of Condees armie to breake vp after the taking of Boisgency also how hee conuerted that necessitie into profite and of the purposes of the King of Nauarre pag. 366. That but for the forraine ayde that the Lord 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 pag. 372 Of the Prince of Condees purposes when he sawe his forraine succour approach and how he came before Paris from whence after he had there soiorned eleuen daies and done nothing he departed toward Normandie pag. 375 Of sixe notable occurrences in the battaile of Dreux pag. 379 Of the siege by the Lord of Guize layd to Orleance also of the Lord Admirals iourney into Normandie pag. 384 The second Troubles Of the causes of the taking of armes in the second troubles also how the purposes wherevpon the Protestants had built themselues proued vayne pag. 388 That the P. of Condees attempt of three things set a proud face vpon the beginning of his enterprise wherat the Catholiks were at the first astonied pa 394 Of the most notable occurrēces happened at the departure frō S. Denis p. 396 Of the voyages of both the armies toward Lorrain but to seueral intēts p. 400 Of the returne of the two armies toward Orleance Paris also of the course that the Prince of Conde tooke in victualling marching and lodging of his men pag. 403 Of the new forces out of sundrie Prouinces that met at Orleance which inuited the Prince of Conde to vndertake the voyage to Chartres pag. 406 The second peace concluded at Lon-iumeau pag. 409 The third Troubles Of the Protestants diligent retreat in the last troubles also of the Lord of Martigues braue resolution when he came to Saumure pag. 411 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 wherof he could not haue cōtinued the warre p. 415 Of the first progresse of both the armies when being in their prime they sought with like desire to fight pag 418 That both the armies endeuouring to ouercome each other could not so much as come to battaile also that the sharpnesse of the wether parted them almost destroying as well the one as the other in fiue daies pag. 425 Of the death of the Prince of Conde at Bassac pag. 430 Of the notable passage of the D. of Bipont from the borders of Rhine euen into Aquitaine pag. 434. The siege of Poicters pag. 438 Of the battaile of Montcontour pag. 442 That the siege of S. Iohn d'Angely was the springing againe of the Protestants pag. 446 That the towne of Rochel stood the Protestants in this warre in no lesse stead then Orleance had done in the former pag. 447 That in 9. moneths the Princes armie marched almost 300. leagues compassing in maner the whole realme of France also what successe they had in this voyadge pag. 449. The causes of the third peace The comparison therof with the former also whether the same were necessary pag. 454. FINIS THE POLITICK AND MILITARIE DISCOVRSES of the Lord De la Nouë The first Discourse That the realme of France doth by little and little runne into decay and is neere to a great ouerthrow vnlesse God of his goodnesse vphold it Also that as yet there be some remedies to raise it vp againe in case they may bee with speede accepted THE mindes of euery man ought to be firmely and stedfastly resolued that God is the author of all politick gouernements which he hath established to the ende that through good order all humaine societie may bee preserued and mainteyned in pietie and iustice also that it is he that vpholdeth them in their beautie force and dignitie vntill that vpon mans contempt of his lawes and corruption of their maners he powre foorth his wrath vpon them whereof doe ensue the subuertions and alterations of Monarchies and Commonwelths Those men
will receiue not onely their instructions but also reprehensions This is in briefe the benefite that they reape of their Camarades Now let vs see how wee may so practise the like custome that we may gaine any profite therein wherof others do finde so much Concerning the first sorte I iudge our Captaines cannot so well fit themselues therein as the Spanyards in respect that they must then breake an other custome which hath taken so deepe roote that it would hardly be extinguished And that is that they haue vsed to haue their tables furnished according to their abilities sometimes for one and sometime for an other of their Souldiers who would thinke themselues contemned if with that and such other like familiarities they should not be enterteyned For the French Souldiers are perswaded that their Captaine must not debarre theÌ„ either his table or good countenance sith they spend their bloods for his sake and he who for sparing sheweth himself slack herein is accompted a Chicheface or niggard for wel for to discharge himself herein he must not spare expences So as if our Captaines should finde three or foure Camarades aboue their other charges they were not able to performe it without stealing from the Souldier vnreasonably which would redound to their shame The Spanish Souldier do not goe so freely to his Captaines table except vpon great necessitie or that he be inuited as hauing discretion enough to consider that they haue other charge sufficient as in deede they haue For such there are among them as haue in their families aboue twentie mouthes and thirteene or foureteene horses But their best comfort is that their King as they say will neuer leaue them poore Thus we may see things fit for one which in diuers respects that make the difference will not serue an other But concerning the second I am not of the same minde for I thinke it requisite that our Souldiers should put it in practise yea that they should bee earnestly perswaded thereto as well for the respects afore mentioned as also to accustome them to grow more tollerable each to other Besides that in some one of our companies we shall finde that ordinarily the third part of our souldiers shall in the first weeke haue eaten vp their whole moneths pay where if they were thus assotiate together they would learne one of an other to line and withall each enstruct his companion to shuune braules wherewith our Regiments are so sore infected that in some one day you shall haue three or foure whereas contrariwise the Spanyards doe detest it among themselues I haue heard some of the Captaines of that braue Tertio wherein Peter de Passe doth commaund affirme that in eighteene moneths they haue not had one whereof neuerthelesse they were not exempt through any want of stomack for they haue as much as any men but they are endued with modestie and doe knowe that their swords ought to bee employed in fighting against their enemies and not in murdering one another This Discourse is vnperfect The 17. Discourse Of the rewards ordinarily bestowed vppon the Spanish souldiers when they haue done any notable peece of seruice which they tearme their Aduantages I Am not of the opinion of those men who peraduenture flattering their Princes do vphold that y e rewards which they vse to giue to their souldiers doe proceede of their meere liberalitie and that thereto they are no way bound And their reason is for that he hath his pay for his good seruice so as whatsoeuer he getteth more proceedeth of fauour Truely they peize the ballance â—o much to the one side which I would faine bring to stand equall and that may easely bee done by putting as much waite to the merite of the inferiour as to the goodwill of the superiour But if we consider the martiall lawes and customes we shall find that in such actions there is more of duetie then of grace And I hould that rule good which willeth that as the pay goeth before the seruice so the reward must followe the merite Truely if any men in the world doe labour and encurre great hazards in seruice the souldiers do it They must not therefore be defrauded of the rewards which euen the meanest doe hope for and the greatest cannot be denied of For their valour shewed hath a certaine attractiue power which wresteth praise and garlands out of the mouthes and hands euen of the ignorant of the couetouse and of the vnthankfull Now these Aduantages whereof I purpose to speake do consist in coyne and are small recoÌ„pences which the Catholicke King or his Lieutenants generall doe distribute to those that haue done any valiant exployt The least are two crownes and the greatest eight Also this is moreouer to bee noted that if a souldier once rewarded doth againe any extraordinarie seruice he is againe recompenced And my selfe doe remember that I haue seene sundrie that at sundrie times had so gotten some twentie some fiue and twentie crownes Aduantage besides their ordinarie pay which in my opinion is both a good helpe to the maintenance of a Souldier and a honest token of his valour Yet some doe set downe these rewardes vnder the title of profite and not of honor But if they marked the cause which purchased them as well as the qualitie of the thing purchased they should perceiue them to bee as honorable as profitable Commonly the General doth assigne them because that being in place he better knoweth those y t are worthie then the King who is farre of Likewise when any hath giuen his ordinance he may goe where he will so he serue among y e bands of footmen which are deuided into diuers parts of his Empire still he shall haue his pay for such debts are woonderfully priuiledged I could neuer learne when this custome began but I gesse the Emperour Charles was the author therof for he being personally in many armies exployts thought them necessarie for the maintenance and encrease of his souldiers valour by the fruites which both haue and doe yet appeare wee may iudge them to haue bene grounded vpon good reason Wherin is verified the saying of one that sayd that where much honor was sowne great vertue springeth vp For the souldier that seeth his assured reward as it were before his eyes neuer feareth if occasion serue to hazard himselfe to all perilles thereby to shewe his courage and desire of fame whereof it also followeth that he is the better affected to forme his life well I haue heard that honorable olde man Peter de Pas report that to his Tertio or regiment which coÌ„sisteth of 23. Spanish Ensignes there were giuen monthly aboue 1200. crownes in Aduantages which well testifieth that the same was replenished with valiant men It may be some seuere Censor will herevpon exclaime and say Is it not an excessiue prodigalitie to giue away 14000. crownes by yere extraordinarily vnto one regiment Might not 250 good
of water will be as long and the inner trench being almost equall with the heigth of the rampier that is beaten downe may be kept as long or longer prouided alwaies that it be made 60. or 80. foote from the Courtine Now I take this at the worst for there bee such weake assailants of Houlds as shall labour two moneths about the winning of a Raueline There are that thinke it an easie matter to keepe them from passing the ditch but for my parte I thinke it harde for they will enter either by night or day Thus when a frontier towne shal haue stopped a mightie armie so long as I haue sayd it shall haue quit it selfe well for there bee fewe townes inpregnable and the Prince that may haue lost it shall haue this comfort That as the fencing of it had cost him little so his enemie shall haue spent much time many men and money enough in the winning of it Some Ingeniour may say that water vndermindeth the foundations of a Rampier and that from tenne yeeres to tenne yeeres they runne out which they do not if they be walled within It is so indeede where the water is a running water but the repairing cost little as also doe the props that beare vp nothing but earth Howbeit I say that a man may fortifie a whole small towne with earth with the charges of one enclosure to a Bastion made of bricke or stone with the countermynes thereof This maner do I here alow for an other respect which is that Potentates Commonwelths are better able to prouide for the inward fortifications which must accompanie the outward do consist in al kinds of necessarie prouision that want in many townes though not in whole yet in parte And as many are lost through this default as for lack of Bastions They may likewise spare great sommes which are spent in these great workes and with the same maintaine a sufficient armie through want whereof the strongest places are taken as hath bene seene in Flanders Many thinges more may bee obiected to beate downe this our Bulwarke which is much more profitable to the weake then beautifull to the mightie Monarkes In the meane time such as shall followe this construction shall not finde themselues the worse thereby as the future experience peraduenture will teach better then the passed The ninetenth Discourse That the continuation of the wicked proceedings of the warres of these daies doe make a iust cause to seeme vniust PHilippe Comines in his remembrances reporteth that the Duke of Guyenne the brother of King Lewes the 11. ioyning with Duke Charles of Burgundy in the warre for the Commonwealth when he considered the number of the wounded and slayne at the battaile of Montleherie with the spoyles that the Souldiers made all ouer the Countrie was merueilously daunted thereat and tolde Duke Charles that it had bene better neuer to haue begunne that warre that bred such mischiefe and ruine who aunswered him that those things were not to bee meruailed at sith such were the naturall fruites thereof But being afterward alone among his familiers he scorned that yong Prince which brought pitie and compassion vnto the Theaters of Mars where rigour and vengeaunce doe holde their soueraigne Empyre In these daies wee heare some make almost the like aunswers to many that curse our ciuill stormes for they tell them It is the warre and so doe weene that that word being heard should make them to shrinke vp the shoulder after the Italian maner and prouide to suffer worse matter But in my opinion such reasons are to bee suspected as procéeding from those that hauing no other delight or sustenance but in other mens spoyles would make men to accompt warre to be a necessary euill to the end they should not be slacke in giuing to them that foode which they do desire Truely these men are not altogether to be beleeued least wee confound crueltie and iniustice with equitie and humanitie and so of an extraordinarie accident make an ordinary custume Neither must we print in our phantasies the imaginations of many others who wish to sée a warre exempt from the things that of long time haue bene proper thereto and are as it were essentials namely rapine disorder and crueltie for in these daies wherein wee liue vertue being tyed vp and vice let loose wee cannot atteyne to this perfection What shall we then say hereof For sooth that to the ende well to measure the matters whereof we now speake wee must take the olde rules not of Iron which cannot bend but of leade which are somewhat plyable and frame them to the crooked and difformed stones whereof our ciuill warres are composed that is to say to our confusions and then finding what is somewhat â—ollerable as also what is to bee reiected to patch vp againe so well as wee may this house of bondage wherein so many persons within these fiue and twentie yeeres haue bene tormented or els quite to rase it to the foundation by an assured peace which were the better way I meane not here curiously to examine or way the right or wrong of those that are in armes because I will not offend any Only I am content generally to say that such on either side as loue godlinesse or vertue doe for the satisfying of themselues either inwardly or outwardly vnderproppe their actions with iustice Neither should any warres bee vndertaken without that good faundation least otherwise wee bee found guiltie before God who will not that men vse such vyolent remedies but vpon great necessitie neither guide them after their owne disordinate affections Now in these controuersies and publique quarelles as well ciuill as others furiously raised through mans mallice it often falleth out that all the right lighteth on one side and all the wrong on the other Sometimes that both parties are led by like mallice and sometime that he which in deede hath the right doth seeme to haue the wrong and so to the contrary As also that sometimes in some one of the poynts thereof a man may be in the right and in all the rest in the wrong of all which differences I meane not here to entreate Only I would aduertise the readers to note them in reading the histories wherein the diuersities of so many martiall purposes are liuely set out But for my self I wil procéed in discoursing vpon my first proposition of the euill behauiours which are to bée seene in our sayd ciuill warres together with their consequences I thinke they cannot bee better compared then to an ouer flowing brooke which with the vyolent force thereof not only destroyeth the whole â—roppe of a plaine but also carieth downe the trees buildings and bridges where it goeth so as neither arte nor diligence are able to preuent it Whosoeuer would walke through France and Flanders might see euen vpon insensible things the footsteps of our daily furies which are not neuerthelesse the greatest domages for those
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
all the rest Carion saith that this famely at the first was but small but through I wot not what destinie it grew to this vnreasonable greatnes w t wonderful speed prosperitie as a cruel people whoÌ„ God would haue to beare sway all ouer to punish the sins of all other Nations Furthermore the occasion that moued the Turkes to inuade Europe as also of the victories that they haue obtayned hath growen of the dissentions wickednes treasons disloyalties idlenes couetousnes rashnes and mistrust of all states Christian from the least to the greatest And the reuoltes of Christians haue wonderfully increased the Turkes For many vnthrifts from time to time through the libertie of warres seeing the flourishing estate of y e Mahumetists haue forsaken the Christian Church to cleaue to their sect as well in respect that libertie is of it selfe agreeable to mens fansies as also because their wils do incline anie waie where they see things prosper well It will be needlesse here to number the Empires Realmes and Prouinces by them conquered within these two hundred yeres for such as haue bene conuersant in the world or that haue perused the histories will confesse that they possesse much more land than all Christendome doe containe Their sect is replenished with all impietie and blasphemie against God and against Christ Iesus and his doctrine and their gouernment with the most horrible and cruell tyrannie that euer was as being as it seemeth erected rather to ouerthrow all lawes discipline and honestie than to maintaine them Thus much briefly concerning the estate of the Turkes the knowledge wherof may tend greatly to the opening of that which shall hereafter be spoken of The first Christian Prince punished for all such confederaties was Guy of Lusignian the last king of Hierusalem For hee hauing a quarell with Reymond Earle of Tripolie and finding himselfe too weake to follow it made a couenant and called to his aide Saladin the gouernour of the Sarazens who hauing ouerthrowen Reimond did afterward expulse Guy and so ouerthrow the state of the Christians in Siria and finally suppressed the realme of Hierusalem And albeit the Sarazens and Turkes are not all one yet did they concurre in Mahumets lawe and all trecherie About sixe score yeres after Iohn Paleologue Emperour of Constantinople being molested by sundrie Lordes of Greece whome the Bulgarians fauoured determined to enter league with Amurathes the first then ruler of the Turkes and craued his helpe which was graunted Herevpon they passed into Europe whereof insued the destruction of Greece For these Lords presumption being suppressed the Turkes remayned in garison in the townes of Greece and shortly after Amurathes allured by the beautie of the Countrie came into Europe with 60000. men and seased vpon Philippopolly Adrionople with other places whiles Peleologue bewayled and too late confessed his fault that he had committed in entering a league with so traiterous an enimie whereby he sawe his Countrie become a praie vnto theÌ„ These vnfortunate beginnings might haue bene a warning to other Princes their successors not to be ouer hasty of the acquaintance of such a nation according to the prouerbe which sayth Happie is he whom other mens harmes can make to beware But his next successors forsooke not the same path neyther had they other payment than he For after that Emanuel Paleologue had made a steadfast league with Baiazet the tyrant bearing him no long good wil besieged Constantinople which when he coulde not winne by force hee determined to famish and had so done had not the comming of Tamberlane preuented his purpose Two or three other Emperors following were through the errors and bad examples of their predecessors constrayned as it were to cleaue to these barbarous people vntill they inuaded the Empires of Constantinople and Trapizond before in the possession of the Greeke Princes Whereby wee see that the thing which in the beginning was done of an vndiscreete free will grew in the end to be followed of forced necessitie But howsoeuer it was wee may saie that the vniustice of such actions hath beene the cause to bring in great mishaps It may be obiected that within these three hundred yeres sundry weake Christian Princes haue made confederacies with such as haue bene strong thinking by the same the better to preserue themselues yet haue found that they haue turned to their destruction because the others haue vsed those occasions to oppresse them and therevpon would conclude that onely indiseretion hath bene cause of their mishaps when they haue called to their helpe coueted to ioyne neighborhood or confederated themselues out of season with such a one as hath bene mightie or desirous to climbe for small faith raigneth in ambitious persons Heereto we may answere that in truth in such deedes there is want of iudgement and consideration and that the histories though we set not down the examples do beare witnes of many that haue tried the hurt proceeding of such follies Neuerthelesse wee must make a difference and haue other regard when we come to ioyne amitie with the Princes afornamed either with tyrants whether to assayle the Christian Princes or to defende our selues from them For when a Prince through ambition or disloyaltie vseth confederacies to the end to deceiue the infamie still â—â—eaueth to him and as for him that hath bene too simple and so circumuented or indomaged wee doe rather pittie than accuse him But in all such leagues as wee make with these destroiers and scourges of the worlde in whom treason impietie vniustice and crueltie haue their continuall habitation there is alwayes errour especially if we exceede certaine bounds prescribed by reason because it is in no case lawfull to confederate with them except for matter of small importance and such as bindeth not the hearts with any strict amitie neither the persons in anie great bond For what stedfast societie can there be with those whose continuall imaginations tend onely to subdue you to vngodly bondage so to destroy you Wee cannot neuerthelesse here inferre that no man may enter anie treatie with them because somtime necessitie induceth vs to grow therto with the most diuellish enimies that we can imagine as to craue truce or peace to agree controuersies for Lordships or territories to demand amends for iniuries and to deale for trafick assurance for merchants In these cases it is lawfull to deale and treate with these tyrants Who so therefore would compare these agreements with those true and lawfull leagues which are vsually made betweene Princes to the ende each to helpe other against all that seeke their trouble shall see a wonderful difference betwéen them For these are grounded vpon equitie and tend to the preseruation and maintenance of ciuill amitie betweene them whereas Princes do vse the other agreements vppon necessitie somewhat to bridle their rage whereof doe grow some assurance to their subiects and their affaires The Wallachians Moldacians Transiluanians
dishonor him neither neede we elsewhere seeke the cause of the Turkish prosperitie then in our owne sinnes the continuance whereof doe thereto minister sustenance and strength where contrariwise our amendment would bée an occasion that the Lord should pull it downe I would wish all such as are familier with Princes often to put them in minde that lawfull Monarchies which ought to be supported with Pietie and Iustice cannot bee preserued by any meanes repugnant to these vertues so to resolue them the more not to seeke any profite in actions vtterly seperate from honestie I knowe there may be some that will say that France is now so weake and brought so low that it were not meete it should for sake those leagues which seeme to retaine her enemies in any feare who would peraduenture be easely enduced to set vpon her so soone as the proppe which is to them a terror shall be taken away First the Germaines would redemaund the imperiall townes Then the Spanyard who hath sundrie both olde and new quarels would alleadge some one or other and it is to bee doubted but such mightie enémies would deale hardly with her Indeede this requireth consideration But the Germaines will aunswer That their nation is not so hot to entangle the Empire in so great a warre which they would not wish to bee mightier then it is least it should gripe them as did the Emperour Charles the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgraue Neither would they aduance the ruine of France which they knowe to bee a good counterpaize for the inner side of Christendome and a strong shield for the outer side The Spaniards do say that the long peace betweene their King France together with his affayres in the Low countries doe sufficiently declare that he intendeth not to molest her with warres For it is enough for him that she daily decayeth through her owne ciuill dissentions whereby now he no whit feareth her power which aforetime hath bene a terror vnto him So as it were rather to be beléeued that if the Princes her neighbours might see France for an vniuersall benefite to giue ouer their league with the Turkes they would like very well of so commendable a worke which they haue long desired Howbeit I referre my selfe to the matter as it is and to conclude doe say that our Kings in olde time shewed forth their affection to the rooting out of the enemies of Christendome for them selues trauailed personally together with the flower of their Subiects euen into Asia and Affricke to fight with them namely Lewes the yong Phillip August and S. Lewes as also Godfrey of Bolein with most of the Princes that accompanied him in his voyadge to Ierusalem were for the most part French men Likewise long before them what scourges were Charles Martell and Charlemaigne to the Sarazens who being the Lords of y e French nation obteyned mightie victories against that terrible people Wherevpon I conclude that vpon good occasion with condition and assurance sufficient vnto our King that none would attempt against his state I thinke we should not finde him to haue any whit degenerated from his auncesters zeale to wisedome and valour The 22. Discourse That the Christian Princes well vnited are able in fower yeres to expulse the Turkes out of Europe IT might better beséeme sundry excellent Captaines whome I take to bee yet liuing as the L. Iohn Dorie the Italian Lazarus Schuendy the Germaine or the Knight of Romegas the French man who haue bin employed in diuers warres against the Turkes to discourse of such meanes as may best serue to suppresse their power then mee who neuer sawe their streamers waue in the wind either by sea or by land neither looked vpon their frontiers Neuerthelesse sith yet they haue layd open no parte of their goodly conceipts in this argument howbeit I cannot thinke but they haue imparted some to their friends I haue thought good as well for mine owne content as also to instruct others who peraduenture haue not employed their cogitations vpon such an hautie exployt to speake somewhat thereof and that the rather because I suppose it to be most iust and necessarie to the vniuersall benefite of all Christendome Yet not that I would men should thinke I would at randon put forth any speeches depending onely vpon my owne imaginations for so might they conteyne small assurance But hauing read and ouer read the histories that entreate of their warres therwith noted what hath happened in our time I haue accompted such a ground to bee sufficient to beare vp whatsoeuer we list to build therevpon Here might I haue occasion to rehearse the originall and encrease of this tyrannous and vnpitifull Turkish Empire but sith I haue alreadie declared it in an other small treatise I will vse no repetition Such as are neighbours thereto doe bat too much feele the waight thereof neither ought they that bée farther of to bee ignorant that it is a horrible scourge of Gods vengeance which hauing many yeeres agoe ouerthrowne the florishing Easterne Empire and set deepe foote into the Westerne doth yet threaten the rest to bring it vnder the intollerable yoake therof The consideration of the greatnesse of this perrill which is so neere might bee sufficient to terrifie and waken especially those that are in chiefest dignitie to straine themselues to prouide for cōmon preseruation For the fire by little little taketh hold hath alreadie consumed the suburbes of Christendome namely Hungarie with all the great coastes of the Adriatick sea cōmonly called Sclauonia So as by sea wee haue these barbarous people at the mouthes of our hauens vpon the land in our gates Certaine it is that had it not bene for the famous victorie of Don Iohn of Austrich a most valiant and noble Prince together with the warre of Wallachie wherein died 50000. Turkes now their last with the Persian which hath cost them very deere we should haue felt their forces Al which losses notwithstanding yet do they hold the I le of Ciprus as a glorious monument of their tryumph hauing withall quite rased to the very foundations the proud forteresse of Goletta in Affrick Herein do we see y t as they haue lost men they are able for euery one get 4. where we haue lost land by our vsuall procéedings it is almost vnpossible to recouer it out of their hāds Thus do their losses breed their cōmoditie whereas ours doe leade vs to destruction Now to those that knowe them not they seeme to be on sleepe or letted for a great while whereas contrariwise they do but take breath prouide neither tendeth their delay to any other ende but to gather force wherby their first assaults may be the more furious One of the first solemne othes that all these tyrants of the house of Ottoman at their entrie into the Realme do make when they take their vsurped scepter importeth that they shall bee
word or two The way were in my opinion to proceede by gentlenesse not to iudge by foreiudgement and to frame the lawes according to the natures and not to leane so much to the reportes of some as to the iust complaints of many subiects as being assured that consciences cannot bee forced without merueilous force Finally the successe of things past may haue taught that those princes who by warres haue endeuoured to accompany the vehemencie of their Priests haue disfigured their dominiōs deminished their greatnesse And what Iesuite is there how skilfull soeuer that is able to perswade those that bee no Iesuites that God delighteth in so much blood as on both sides is shed The people of the Low countries are of a free nature the affections of whose hearts are remooued by clemencie and vnfayned humanitie but by stripes and iniuries they be prouoked and alienated The surest counsaile therfore were to graunt to those that are in armes the permission which they craue to serue God to the ende they may yeeld also the obedience that man doth require for it is to be supposed that if this bee not willingly done time will wrest it by force which may as well breede fauourable accidents to the losers as it hath done to the winners The liueliest sting and sharpest pricke to mooue the Spanyards to peace is the remembrance of the folly of France wherby they may say We haue scaped fayre This difficultie shall not let me from proceeding in my discourse and by diuers examples to shewe that this enterprise against the Turkes ought to be vnto vs in great recommendation Our grandfathers had courage enough to assaile their grandfathers euen in their owne cities and fieldes which they watered with the blood of these misereants which prooueth that the children are not inuincible Wherfore the better to see those notable victories we may reade the historie of Paulus Aemilius who treateth of the conquest of the Holy land It is merueilous to see how zealous euery man then was to employe himselfe in these forrein expeditiōs wherfro neither the dangers could terrifie the yong nor the tediousnesse of the way the old but both sorts either sold or morgaged part of their goods to furnish set forth thē selues therin Euen that excellent Prince Godfrey of Bollein to y e same effect sould his Dutchy to the Bishop of Liedge He was the first Westerne Prince that gloriously tryumphed as well of the Sarazens as of the Turkes in taking from them the realme of Ierusalem and driuing them away Many other vayages haue since bene made by diuers Emperours Kings which haue had good bad successe wherof I will speake in time conuenient At this time it shall suffise to beholde in these by oyles the zeale of so many noble personages the consent of nations the magnanimitie of gentrie the liberalitie of all men finally the high prowesse conquestes of so many warriors to the end by the motions therof our affectiōs now as it were asleepe may awake bustle themselues to y e same ende which our auncesters shot at For it were a great signe of degenerating from the auncient vertue if we should not stirre against these our terrible enemies that approach euen to our doores sith they trauailed aboue 600. leagues out of France to seeke them And yet are wee to feare them much more then they because their power is fower times as much againe as it was then This may bee a warning to Princes being resolued to enter into this enterprise to be the more carefull to lay the foundations so sure as they may not be shaken For if through negligence or haste there should happen any default it would be somewhat troublesome to redresse and it would fall out as to those that build a beautifull Bridge vpō weake pillers who are afterward for the repayring thereof driuen to breake it downe againe I haue here afore made mention of two foundations consisting the one vpon the iustice of the warre the other vpon y e necessity which both are throughly to bee considered because by seeing the grounds to be good we conceiue the better hope of the ende which we pretend Now it remaineth that we proéeed in the rest the principall whereof dependeth vpon the will of the Princes whence the generall vnion must grow For y t is it which beareth vp the whole frame and maketh it to moue And in as much as the matter that may hinder it is to bee ouercome as wee haue seene we are to beleeue that after diuers negotiations and iourneys too and fro the Princes may in the ende growe to resolution This compassed it were good to summon some notable assembly wherein to deliberate vpon the whole to sweare to whatsoeuer may be concluded And sith y e Emperor should be one of the chief dealers withal of greatest dignitie he to appoynt the place so as the Pope would not be ielous where the Embassadours of the greatest Princes might méete whether also the meaner will come in person for that the Emperour himselfe should be there To which purpose the towne of Ausbourg in my opinion might well serue for them all where also with the aduice of many other skilfull Captaines they might better determine all matters Hauing formed such a confederacie it were requifite to go on to prouide fit means to continue the warre at the least foure yeres to y t end none might giue it soouer ouer without incurring reproch and displeasure of al the other Princes either else not to enter therinto at all For to begin this warre and then to leaue it vnfinished would breede too great inconuenience as hauing forced a mighty enimie to play double or quit wherinto being entred he might peraduenture attempt such deuises as before he neuer thought vppon True it is that it is hard so sure to bind those Princes which depend but of themselues howbeit all that might be must be done for ordinarie experience teacheth that onely three or foure leagued together can hardly long agree And sometime before the first peece be performed some one shrinketh who then wanteth no reasons nor excuses therefore Then must they prouide for treasure for forein wars are neuer wel conducted without abundance want doth oft make them to decaie In the first warr against y t Mahumetists the zeale affection was so great y t most men waged thēselues of their owne goods Afterward they were holpen with y e treasure which through y t Croisats that the Popes published was leauied in sundrie realmes and prouinces This help whether it now proceeded of the Popes or of the authority of princes were tearmed either Croisade or contribution would be necessarie to helpe the Potentates to defray their charges For hauing gathered among their subiects an extraordinarie summe yet not immoderate thereto laying part of their ordinarie reuenues it would suffice to maintain great armies Howbeit sith in
warre where also they keepe them partly in garrisons and partly vppon their conquered landes which they diuide among them with charge to bee alwayes readie to serue vppon anie the great Lords commandements so as out of the sayd Prouinces of Europe they are able to bring into the field neere 100000. horse which is a token y t the barbarousnesse that we take to be in them is not altogether deuoide of wisedome and pollicie They vse not to fortefie many holdes for no man dare enterprise to assault anie of their chiefest but he shall straight waies be assured of a mightie power at hand readie to make him giue ouer quicklie As their lande power is great so is not their strength by sea anie whit smaller which now they are more iealous to keepe well than euer heeretofore through the remembrance of their great losse receiued by the good hap and prowesse of Don Iohn of Austria They neuer empouerish themselues in warres as Christian Princes doe for their warfare and order of paie doth somewhat differ from ours and the coine that theyr Emperour taketh out of his treasurie at Constantinople in the time of warre hee supplieth againe in time of peace To bee briefe they be most mightie enimies against whom whosoeuer shall deale he had not neede to forget anie thing at home as wee vse to say but doe as they that enter the liftes who before they do come loke to increase their strength courage to see to see their defensiue armes sit and their offensiue sharp to the end either to ouercome or die valiantly Now are we to enter into the chiefe point of this matter which is of the meanes how to assaile these terrible enimies in what places with what power to the end within the time afore noted to atchiue a happie conclusion And although in y e assembly before mencioned wherat should appere suÌ„drie princes Captains they may argue of this point to y e end to grow to some resolution yet will I not let as briefly as I may to saie my minde according as I purposed at the first alwaies submitting the same to the censures of such as are more skilfull than my selfe to correct the imperfections therof My discourse teÌ„deth rather to kindle y e affections of valiant persons to enterprise than to giue anie counsayle in the proceeding in so haughtie a purpose whose euents may not easily bee forseene wherin the chiefest Captaines whose poore scholler I shal account it an honour for me to be shall not bee too sufficient to giue aduice The better neuerthelesse to behaue our selues in such a warre I thought good to set down some examples of but ancestors who sundrie times fought against the same nation to the end that what they wisely executed may be to vse a rule by fitting it to our time as also we may eschue and auoid their ouersights I will not enter into search of matters beyonde Godfrey of Bolleine albeit there were greate warres before betweene the Emperours of Constantinople and the Saracens in whose daies the Christian Princes beganne to confederate themselues agaynst them The first armie that was sent went vnder the leading of Peter the Hermite who passed euen into the lesser Asia and at the first acchieued a few valiant exploites but he and all his men were afterward ouerthrowen by the Souldan of Nicee Likewise two other armies as they marched were broken by the Hungarians a nation which at that time had scarcely attayned the rudimentes of Christianitie and as yet did holde of the auncient fiercenesse of the Hunnes so as these first expeditions yeelded small fruit and great hurt The cause of which disorders inconueniences proceeded as I thinke of the want of authoritie and experience of their leaders who vpon a zeale assembled al these troups gathered out of diuers nations in whom peraduenture they founde not conuenient obedience and wanting foundation both in purpose and prouision could not long holde out neither among their friendes neither agaynst their enimies The histories reporte that in the first expedition there were unlesse than 100000. able men And the Hungarians ouerthrew the others which were not so many because by the way they â—ell to spoyle which argueth that they vsed small discipline Wee can therefore make no account of the greacnesse of a multitude if there be no order among them which especially fayleth when their Captaines be either insufficient or want authoritie Shortly after did Godfrey of Bolein tooke vppon him his notable voiage about the yeere 1086. toward the end of the raigne of the Emperor Henrie the fourth This voyage was better looked to and ordered than the former and had many more excellent Captaines for besides himselfe who was alreadie a famous Captaine he had his two brethren Baulduine and Eustace Earle of Flanders Hugh Philippe the French kings brother Robert of Normandie the sonne of William King of England and many other Lords Gentlemen yea if we list to beleeue such as haue written the particularity therof we shall find there were in that armie aboue 40000. horse and 150000 〈◊〉 al fighting men a great part wherof which was me 〈…〉 about their owne expenses So soone as they were assembled they marched forward and so followed their businesse that they finished their conquest in 3 yeres ouer a great part of the lesser Asia Siria Mesopotamia In this warre they had many reencounters but the most notable were two great battailes which they woune and two principall sieges Nice Hierusalem where they were the conquerours Many Christians were also once besieged at Antioch but they sharply repulsed y t Sarazens and Turkes with great slaughter Finallie hauing expulsed them out of the farthest Prouinces they established the Realme of Hierusalem where Godfrey of Bolleine raigned and his successours after him who so list nowe to consider the time that was spent in so great a conquest shall find it but short for the winning of more land than all Germanie and Scotland doe containe Great was the defence assalt but 2. great battels 2. sieges yelded the whole victory wherby we may beleeue y t the hardest enterprises are ouercome with valor good order Neither wil I let slip the inconueniences of those long iourneyes for the tediousnesse of the way the distemperance of the aire the continual trauaile bred sundrie diseases among those great troopes which were holpen forward by the excesse of the mouth too much vsed in these north parts These brought the losse of many eueÌ„ of the better sort y t wanted no abilitie Now haue the Turkes taken order y t we shall not need to go so far to seeke them for they are come abroad eueÌ„ to some of our gates others haue them within fiftie leagues of them and the farthest within an hundred We shall not neede to feare the hearts of Asia for our batable grounds shall be in as good a temperature as France yea euen Constantinople
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
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
armies both by land and sea set forward and so fall vpon the Turkes scattered and dwelling in those Prouinces The effects of the fourth yeere which wee haue appoynted for the ende of this glorious conquest should be more notable then the former wherefore it were most expedient that the good vnion of the Princes should continue least necessary prouision should fayle Neither is it likely but it should perseuer considering that prosperitie hauing alwaies accompanied these enterprises euery man replenished with hope would straine himself to attaine to the wished ende With greater courage therefore and the same men of other yeeres should the whole armie by land take the fielde more tymely then aforetyme At Belgrade should there bee alreadie prouided plentie of munition for the Artillerie with a surplusage of two thousand horse to performe the furniture therof and three hundred Chariots for victuals at the least for going from thence they must giue ouer the riuers Thus should they march to performe their worke toward the towne of Sophy which is the beginning of Bulgarie for that doe the Cardes shewe to bee the direct way to Constantinople not past two hundred french leagues therfro It standeth in a plaine and is vnfortified It is likely the Turkes will not there make their head but hauing gotten out the enhabitants and either consumed or transported the victuals that they will leaue quite emptie and goe to Philippopoli there to make vp their whole campe The same is a towne of Thrace famous through the battaile that Brutus and Cassius there lost It standeth in a fruitfull soyle vppon a small hill at the foote whereof runneth a small riuer scarce wadeable This were a fit place and well chosen to make great resistance yea and to hazard a fielde for it is not so neere their Empire that by the losse of a fielde they may being in feares bee preuented neither so farre of but that they may if Fortune so farre frowne vpon them there gather vp good relliques of their armie wherefore I suppose they will fight there yea and their Emperour came thether in person And how can he suffer vs to inuade him euen to his denne and not defend himselfe after the examples of the noblest beastes Albeit also that this nation bee replenished with al vniustice and crueltie yet are they withall fierce and hardie and such as make great accompt of their reputation The Christians likewise should haue matter whereon to encrease their hope considering there are no more great Riuers or strong Houldes before they come to Constantinople their onely hinderance will bee a mightie armie to resist them whereat valiant persons doe reioyce neither is there any other thing that troubleth them but when they are forced to fight against Hunger Thirst Sicknesse great heate or extreme colde because there is no vertue but may be suppressed by such inconueniences The Christian armie may as I suppose ariue at Philippopoli about the middest of June where if the Turkes should be entrenched and lodged in any ground of aduantage it will be hard pulling of them foorth But because they haue neuer vsed so to doe especially their Emperour being present I will rather presume that they wil after their wonted maner come bouldly into the field as did the first Baiazet against Tamerlane notwithstanding his armie were innumerable I thinke the Turkish power would amount vnto 220000. men and the Christians to fourescore thousand for some must haue bene left in the last warres in garrisons and some to safeconduct victualles c. And I dare assure that as well the one parte as the other will bee well bent to ouercome because this battaile should bee as it were a definitiue sentnce of the whole warre Of the order I will not speake for if the same which I haue before prescribed bee not good they may deuise of a better and there referre the euent to God who as wee are to hope will fauour those that worshippe him against such as doe dishonor him When I consider with my selfe of this great warre and stately armies and conferre them with our small ones in these partes I remember the aunswer of Alexander to Antipater whom he left in Macedonia at his going to the conquest of Asia Antipater wrote vnto him that certaine of his enemies were risen against him and had alreadie brought into the fielde tenne or twelue thousand men and therefore did desire him to sende him succour he returned him this aunswer All your small warres in Macedonia now that I fight against the mightie armies of Daryus and am conquering of the great Empire of Asia doe seeme vnto me to bee battailes betweene Cattes and Rattes and therefore resist them as well as you may Some man may say that sometime in our ciuill warres we may note some braue martiall exploytes albeit with small power as at the battailes of Dreux S. Denis Montcontour fought in France with the siedges of Roan and Rochell also seuen or eight great ouerthrowes in Flanders with the siedges of Harlem Maistrict Tournay and Oudenard I graunt it howbeit they are no whit to be compared to the battaile of Lepanto which D. Iohn wonne As also I beléeue the siedge of Malta which withstoode foure score thousand Canon shot and that of Nicosia in Cyprus which as some write bare out fifteene are to be preferred before the afore alleadged The wars against Infidels are the same which our braue Captaines souldiers ought to seeke 100. leagues of where they ought likewise to flee 50. from the ciuill which by their continuall course doe deuoure and consume and that with small husbandrie the flower of kingdomes and Commonwelths I neede not to deseribe the maner of this great battaile for wee must imagine that in the former conflicts were neuer seene such stomackes or so furious charges To be briefe after three howers fight I suppose they will leaue vs but a bloodie victorie But such as may there perish shall build to themselues more honorable sepulchers than those that are purchased by perticuler quarels wherin the soules doe for the most parte encurre shipwracke In this case shall their desire be iust and their cause good both which conioyned with that excellent courage that many shall haue here shewed will breede perpetuall renowme which shall yet crowne the posteritie of noble persons that still may remayne The Turkes thus ouerthrowne and their campe spoyled wee shall bée driuen to soiourne eight or tenne daies at Philippopoli which after this great losse would make no resistance to rest our selues and prouide for the wounded and there were it requisite to hazard sundrie Greekes seuerally to goe to carie newes of this good successe to Salonike as also to sende the Nauie worde to the ende the same might drawe toward Constantinople for it were hard to besiedge it without both the powers togethers The Turkes losse in this battaile cannot bee such but he shall saue 130000. men of whome some may
scatter ouer the countrie to see to the preseruation of their families which they may haue left so abroade but the great bodie will drawe toward Constantinople with their Emperour there to make their last resistance for in the plaine fielde dare they shewe themselues no more Because also the towne is nothing strong we must imagine they would with all diligence raise fortifications of earth make their planes erect their spurres to plant their Artillerie vpon All the victuall also there about would they take into the towne leauing for the defence thereof at the least fortie thousand men but for their great Lord it is to be presumed that he would passe forward into Natolia which is the lesser Asia with all his treasure and Concubines there to prouide for newe succour Our power by land according as they could make their preparations should by little and little set forward leauing a sufficient garrison in Philippopoli to keepe the waies Thence should it passe to Adrianople a great Citie which being very weak would neuer make resistance where also it were good to leaue some garrison and there to lay vp whatsoeuer victualles might bee gotten wherof through diligence we should neuer want This order were likewise to be obserued That the Souldier should neuer spoyle any but of the Turkish nation also that all Christians should bee exempt from pillage and seruitude so would they bring you in virtuals from fiftie leagues about Also good order and seuere iustice ought to bee established in great armies otherwise through the multitude of wicked and vnthriftie persons all would runne into confusion were not their mallice by such meanes brideled and punished During three or fower daies rest at Adrianople wee must cause our Nauie to set forward whereto hearing of this good successe it will not be very slack It should draw toward the straights of Hellespont where it is likely the Turkes remembring their losses and not willing rashly to hazard vsing the aduantage of the place will settle themselues to fight where they may bee flancked with the artillerie of the Castles besides that they shall haue that commoditie that they cannot bee assailed without fower score or an hundred gallies in front The first day that our armie should shewe it selfe to the enemie in good order to behould their countenance they will discharge sundrie Canons which must be aunswered with the like and so to retire considering the strength of the place In the euening they should take counsaile and the expert Marriners to giue their opinions how to attempt nothing out of season Finally the Captaines should resolue to land some of their men and artillerie on the side of Europe to beate and take some one of the Castles to the ende to displace the Turkes from this aduantage considering they shall there finde but fower or fiue hundred horse on that side where on the side of Asia they shall meete with aboue two thousand By breake of day they must put forth fower thousand Corcelets sixe thousand Harquebuziers and thirtie Canons out of the gallies landed by the forsats or gallie slaues While they shal thus march the enemies horse will come to prouoke them but the number of Musket shot shall scatter them well enough So soone as night is come they shall make their approaches to the forteresse and the artillerie bring planted they shall by breake of day fall to beating of it This will make the Turkes to prouide to bring vppon them twentie thousand men to cut them in péeces or els with some 150. gallies to inuade our Nauie there to doe the like sith they shall finde it vnfurnished But the Turkes liking best of this second counsaile will seeke to put in execution Which our armie perceiuing they must goe on halfe the way with their furnished gallies which may bee about two hundred and so each armie deuided into three parts to ioyne bouldly but after a long houres fight our men hauing the victorie scarce the third parte of the enemies gallies shall saue themselues The same tyme also may the Castle that our men shal haue besiedged after the brunt of a furious assault be taken Thus should wée become maisters of this proude passage where Xerxes built a wonderfull bridge of vesselles and such as shall bée escaped amounting to some one hundred gallies may carie the newes of their mishappe to Constantinople Our men hauing then soiourned there fiue or sixe daies as well to prouide for their wounded as to take the other Castle hauing put good garrisons into both shall take the way to Constantinople where they may ariue within two daies after the armie by lande Then on both sides knowing of the arriuall of their long looked for and victorious forces it is not to bee demaunded what ioyes there will be But wee may in trueth affirme this last deede to bée more difficult then the rest For a battaile though well fought is but one daies worke whereas the forcing of so many men couered with rampiers and prouided of all prouision to be atchieued in two moneths is a testimonie of the experience of the Captaines and valiancie of the Souldiers The land armie being come within two leagues of the towne the best Captaines with 20000. horse and 7. or 8000. Harquebuziers should goe within halfe a league therof to discouer the lodgings and well to consider what may anoye or empeach their safetie Neither is it to bee doubted but they may thereby growe to a hot skirmish for the Turkes being so strong in the towne will shewe their couragies and small astonishment The next day they shall come to take their lodgings betime and to furnish themselues with some sleight trenches at the head and middest of the flanckes To the ende also the Nauie may conferre with the land power and safely sende their prouisions it will bee good at euery thousand steppes to make small fortes with trenches for the safetie of the passages from the sea about which workes both the Pyoners and the most parte of the Souldiers may labour 7. or 8. daies This done they should goe neerer to discouer the towne whereon they must stay at the least fower or fiue daies for my self haue ordinarily seene that of hasty and rash discoueries haue ensued great ouersights Now must wee looke what way will bee best to giue the assault which I would wish to doe but in one place for separating the armie the garde of the trenches may proue too weake and so not bee able to beare their sailies I would not thinke it amisse to place 6000. Corcelets and as many Harquebuziers at the least with 3000. horse vpon the flanckes in some place vnder couert hauing also the whole bodie of the armie to support them which should not be aboue a Canonshot of The first trench should bee made a thousand paces from the Campe in forme defensiue with conuenient flanckers and two long wings of fiue or sixe hundred paces stretching toward
side they shoulde bring one hundred Gentlemen with armour and speare That no troops shuld come within two leagues of the place appointed That thirtie light horse on each part should sixe houres before their meeting discouer the fielde which was as playne as the sea That at the appointed houre the Queene and King of Nauarre should bee on horse backe in the place appointed where the Prince and Admirall lykewise on horsebacke shoulde meeâ—e them to intreate together of the publyke affayres In the meane time the two troopes consisting of choice men and for the most parte Lordes to houer eight hundred pates asunder the Marshall de Anuil commaunding ouer the one and the Earle of Rochefoucault ouer the other Hauing thus beheld eyther other for the space of halfe an houre each coueting to see one his brother another his vnkle cousen friende or olde companion they â—raued leaue of theyr superiours which was hardlie graunted in respect that at the first they were forbidden to meete for feare of iniuryes and affrayes But so farre were they from quarelling that contrariwise there was nothing but salutations and embracings of such as could not forbeare y e demonstration of amitie vnto those whome parentage or honestie had vnited vnto them notwithstanding the contrarie tokens that they bare For the King of Nauarres troope was clothed in cassockes of crimson veluet and redde scarfes and the Prince of Condes in white The Catholikes imagining the Protestants to bee lost exhorted them to see to themselues not to enter obstinatlie into this miserable warre wherein neere kinsmen must murther one another heereto they aunswered that they detested it howbeit if they had not recourse to theyr defence they were assured of lyke intreatie as many other Protestants had receiued who were cruellie slaine in sundrie parts of France To be briefe each prouoked other to peace and to persuade their superiours to hearken thereto Some who a parte did more deeplie consider of these things bewayled publike discord as the spring of future mischiefes Then waighing with themselues that all these greetings would bee conuerted into bloudie murthers vppon the least token of battayle that the superiours shoulde giue that the â—iseardes being shut and readie furie hauing â—ayled their sight one brother woulde scarce pardon another the water euen stoode in their eyes My selfe was then among the Protestants and I may truelie saie that on the other side there were a douzen of my friendes whome I accounted as deere as my owne brethren who also bare mee the lyke affection In the meane time as well conscience as honour bounde each one not to fayle in the one or the other Priuate amitie did as theÌ„ liue but since these great calamities had course and conuersation discontinued it is euen dead in many The Queene and Prince of Conde hauing conferred two long houres together when they coulde growe to no agreement departed each verie sorie that they had no better succesie Of the Prince of Condies promise somewhat rashlie made to the Queene mother that hee would depart the Realme of France and why it was not performed AFter the ariuall of a great number of the ordinarie bandes and parte of the olde infanterie at Paris the King of Nauarre the Constable and the Duke of Guize who contemned the Protestants as rebelles thought themselues strong inough to make them afrayde and in battayle araie marched towarde Chasteaudun The Prince vnderstanding heereof craued the aduice of such Captaines as accompanied him what were to bee done who all with one consent declared that sith they had hetherto as well in deedes as wordes set so good a face on the matter if nowe they shoulde at the beginning of the warre suffer themselues to bee shutte vp and besieged in a Towne it would bee some testimonie of cowardlynesse and greatly disgrace the Protestants affayres as well with foraine nations as with such of the Frenchmen as tooke heir partes withall considering that their power alreadie grew well toward sixe thousand footmen and two thousand horse also that by the report of the spies the enimies were not yet aboue foure thousand footmen and three thousand speares to whom notwithstanding they were not so well armed they were no whit inferiour in courage that nothing ought therefore to let them from taking the field with all speed and fighting with the enimie if occasion might so serue for they could neuer haue them at a better aduantage considering how theyr power would from time to time increase Upon this resolution ehey encamped a league and a halfe from Orleance whether the Queene sent new Embassadours to enter parley for both sides did greatly feare the vniuersall desolations ensuing of warre if once it were begun At the two first meetings they argued sufficiently though to small resolution onely it was agreed that the Catholike and leagued Lordes and Princes should depart each to his owne home and then would the Prince of Condie obey whatsoeuer the king should command for the wealth of the Realme Soone after they marched to Chasteaudun and no farther which the Protestants presumed to bee but a dissimulation Some will saie that in the sayd parlies the Prince of Conde hazarded himselfe into ouer great peril but he was still stronger than the enimie and his men too warie to be deceiued albeit in one point they ouershoot theÌ„selues vpon simplicitie which was in deliuering to y e king of Nauarre when he came to y e parley the towne of Boisgencie which was nothing worth for his fafety but was neuer restored them again this did greatly chafe them as perceiuing that thence forth they must talke with the bridle in hand Now as daily there came some from the Queene to the Prince of Conde to perswade him to peace which hee seemed greatly to desire among the rest was imploied the Bishop of Valence a man in learning and eloquence most excellent when he lyst to shew forth eyther the one or the other Hee with his fayre speech so qualyfied the Prince that he increased his desire of a good accord and finally told him that in as much as many reproched him to be the author of the war it were his part to make euident his iustificatioÌ„ by al good offers braue effects also y t if at the next enteruiew he wold tel y e Queene y t rather than to sée y e real me hazarded to fire sword he wold be coÌ„tent with his friends to depart the same shee could haue nothing to answere much lesse his enimies who had promised to returne to their habitations likewise that of this motion might ensue some good resolution that should stay all wepons which being laid downe all things might after ward be easily reestablished This sayd he departed leauing in the Prince who was loth to be constrained to fight agaynst his owne nation certaine impression to followe this counsayle which he imparted to some that were desirous of peace therefore gainsayd it not
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
most were slayne rather in fight then in flight But the chiefe cause of the prolonging of it was as I thinke because the Kings armie was strong in footmen and the Prince of Condées in horsemen For the one could not breake the great battailes neither the other driue away the horses If wee doe well consider all battailes that haue bene fought since the Suizers battell which fought againe the next day wée shall finde none comparable to this yea the battell of S. Laurence was ended in halfe an houre The fifth accident was the taking of the two Generalles of the armies a rare matter because that they ordinarily doe neuer fight but in the ende and vpon extremitie and many times a battell is almost wonne before they came to this poynt But these stayed not so long for in the beginning each of them endeuoured to set his men an example not to dallie The Lord Constable was first taken and sore wounded hauing likewise bene wounded in seauen battailes that he had bene in which is testimonie sufficient of his courage and the Lord Prince was likewise taken toward the ende and wounded also Herevpon may growe a question whether a Generall ought to aduenture so farre Whereto it may bee aunswered that this is not to be termed aduenturing when the maine battaile marcheth to the charge and so he departe not out of his place Besides that these hauing good seconds did the lesse feare the daunger of their persons for the one had the Lord of Guize and the other the Admirall who both also were farre enough in the conflict The sixâ— was the maner how both the armies parted which many times happeneth otherwise then there it did Wee lightly see that the end of a battaile is the flight of the partie ouercome which is withall pursued two or three leagues and sometimes farther But here we may say was no pursuite but the Protestants retired an easie pace and in order hauing yet two battailes of Reistres and one of French horsemen in all amounting vnto about 1200. horse But the Lord of Guize who was weake in horse not willing to abandon his footmen was content to haue followed fiue or sixe hundred paces after them Thus as well the one as the other being wearie the night comming on parted them He tooke his lodging in the fielde where the battaile was fought and the Admirall went to a Uillage a long league of whether his footmen with all his cariages were retired Some hould opinion that the battaile was not lost because the losers were not quite disordered but therin they are deceiued For he that getteth the field winneth the Artillerie and taketh the footmens Ensignes hath tokens enowe of the victorie albeit it may bee sayd that it was not at the full as if plaine flight had ensued If anie man should replie that often times they had seene the two armies retire each from other in good order as at Roche-abeille also the fridaie before the battail of Moncontour It is true but then had they not had any maine fight as heere but onely great skirmishes wherein eyther parte kept their aduantage of the ground There are yet liuing many Gentlemen Captaines able to remember what was there done stil to deliuer some obseruations thereupon Finallie I thought good to set downe yet one thing aboue my number as also it happened after the battaile which was the curtesie and honestie that the Lord of Guize beeing the conquerour vsed toward the Lord Prince of Condie his prisoner which most men of each parte did not thinke that hee would haue done for it is well enough knowen how odious in ciuill watres the chiefe of either faction is as also what things are imputed vnto them so as if they fall into their enimies hands after many reproches which they are forced to beare their liues also are in daunger Howbeit here it fell out contrarie for being brought before him hee spake reuerentlie vnto him and with verie modest speeches wherein hee coulde not gather that hee meant to gird or checks him Also so long as he soiourned in the campe he oftentimes did eate with him likewise because vppon this daie of battayle they coulde haue but few beds brought the rather for that the carriages were halfe rifled and scattered be offered him his bed which the sayd Lord Prince would not accept but for the one halfe Thus did these two mightie Princes beeing as it were capital enimies both in one bed the one triumphing the other a prisoner take theyr rests together It may be sayd that the Lorde Marshall of Anuillâ— hauing him in custodie for to him he yeelded himselfe would not suffer him to haue any iniurie offered because his father was also a prisoner I confesse he would haue done what in him had lien but surely if the Lorde of Guize woulde haue hurt him his credite and reputation was then such as no man coulde haue letted him Such braue actions are not in my minde to bee buried in obliuion because that all that professe armes ought to study to imitate them and to abondon all crueltie and vnworthy deme aâ—â—res whereinto in these ciuil warres so many doe fall for that they either cannot or will not bridle their malice To the enimy that resisteth we are to shewe our selues haughty but being ouercome honesty willeth that we shew him curtesy Some man might yet crosse me and say that hee might well ynough shewe him this curtesy considering what hee had before procured at Orleance against the saide Prince To whome I will aunswere that heare I meane to commend the beautifull actions of vertue when by chance I mèete with anie but not to speake of other's which are not to my purposes so that when I see them shine in what man so lower I will honour them Of the 〈…〉 Lord of Guizes laide to Oâ—leance also of the 〈…〉 Admiralls iourney 〈◊〉 Normandie GRem hope had the Duke of Guize now 〈…〉 what a goâ—dly victorie hee had obtained albeit 〈◊〉 cost him deere as hauing taken the Generall of his aduerse partie and did remaine without companion hauing the whole gouernment in himselfe Neither was he slack in publishing it abroade as also he tooke good order to refresh his armie whereto he saide himselfe constrayned In the meane time all his imaginations tendeâ— to the preparing of all sortes of engins and prouision to assayle the towne of Orleance giuing out that the denne whereinto Foxes retyred being once taken they might afterward hunt them all ouer France Neither had the Lord Admirall lesse neede to rest his people who grieuing that they were beaten did many times finde cause of mutenie Wherefore he passed ouer the riuer of Loire as well to refresh them as to furnish them a new at the charges of diuerse the enemies small townes but meanely defended and a good quarter paie where the souldiour had the â—rdle somewhat at will to the end in parte to recouer his losses
no difficulty for the keeping of their consciences vnspotted to leaue her countrie for a pray A most rare example in this world wherein wealth and honor are in such accompt that vnto many they be euen a domesticall God whom they serue Now likewise a maruellous encrease vnto the Protestants armie were the troopes which the Lord of Acier brought out of Daulphine Prouence and Languedoc The Prince had before written as well to him as to others the most notable in the sayd Prouinces to send him some good power to succour him and to withstand the armie Royall which came vppon him least so many Princes and excellent Captaines should encurre so great disaduantage as to see themselues besieged in the townes Whereof so farre were they from faâ—â—ing that it seemed they had dispeopled the places they came from so many men did they bring for they were not lesse then eighteene thousand bearing armes who vnder the conduct of the Lord of Acier marched But as the same was one way the 〈…〉 ole support of the armie so on the other it was the losse of sundrie places which the Catholikes after their departure seased vpon And many times I haue heard diuers Colonels reporte their departure in such numbers as if they should haue gone to seeke newe habitations for had the halfe onely come yet had they bene too many These could not neuerthelesse ioyne with the Prince of Condé without a great inconuenience that befell them for two of their regiments were ouerthrowne by the Duke of Montpensier the cause arising as I haue vnderstoode of that the Lords of Mouuans and Pierregoord finding some discommoditie in lodging so close as vntill then they had bene forced would needes scatter wéening that hauing two thousand harquebuziers no lesse then an armie could serue to offend them The said Mouuans was as braue a souldier as any in the Realme but his great valour experience brought him to attempt that which turned to his destructioÌ„ which is it also that many times bréedeth the losse of both Captaines and troopes He tought valiantly and both he and his fellow with two thousand of their men dyed in the fielde The Catholikes haue reported vnto me one course that they then tooke which I like well of That was that fearing least the Lord of Acier who lodged but two leagues of should come to the rescue they did at the same time that they charged vpoÌ„ the said Mouuans quarter with their whole footmen sende into the Lord of Aciers quarter eight or nine hundred speares and many harquebuziers on horsebacke with a great sound of Trumpets crying Battaile Battaile which they did to the ende to make him thinke that their drift was against himselfe Thus did they linger him while they performed their enterprise wherefro they caried seuenteene flagges This losse grieued the Price and his partakers howbeit the comming in of so many other regiments did soone blot out his sorow For the man of warre euen during his action against the enemie endeuoureth to abolish the memorie of all sorowfull accidents least the same should deminish this first furie which being in him doth sometimes make him terrible Of the first progresse of both the armies when being in their prime they sought with like desire to fight AFter the ouerthrowe of Mouuans the Catholicke armie retired to Chastellerault fearing least the Protestants being so mightie would come vpon them in some bad ground There was also the Duke of Anieow who brought other power very resolute in that their Captaine to whome they bare great honor and reuerence was such a Prince And in my opinion there had not of long time bene seene so many Frenchmen in both the armies The Prince of Condé his places furnished had in his eighteene thousand Harquebuziers and three thousand good horse and I take that in Monsiers were at the least eighteene thousand Souldiers and foure thousand Speares besides the Suitzers so as on both sides might haue bene found aboue fiue and thirtie thousand Frenchmen all trayned and peraduenture as bould Souldiers as any in Christendome The Protestants finding themselues strong would haue sought to ioyne and came within two leagues of Chastellerault But the Prince hauing aduice that the other campe was planted vppon a strong ground almost enuironed with a small marish whereto was in some places adioyned a slight Trench ment not rashly to attempt any thing but sought meanes to drawe them foorth to battell Hereto was he enuited by the heate that he perceiued in his souldiers likewise by his great number for he doubted that such an armie wanting pay would not long continue great as also that the sharpenesse of winter would soone deminish it It may be that in the Catholike army some of these considerations might likewise take place But there was a good vniformity in this that both the generalls were touched with equall desire to ioyne and like purpose each to goe liue vpon his enemies land so to preserue his owne from the extreeme spoyle which whole armies doe make Thus they both raised their campes and tooke their way to Lusignan neere whereto was a small quarter of land good in all perfection where each entended to lodge and albeit they were both neere together yet could neither heare newes of other which is not very straunge for we see it many times come so to passe Both parties therefore hauing appoynted their generall meeting at a great borowe named Pamprow plentifull in victualles the Marshals of both the campes came thether much about one time with their troopes from whence they beate each other forward and backward twise or thrise so desirous was euery man to catch that bone to knawe vpon which in the ende was giuen ouer Howbeit either of them knowing very well that they should haue support stood stiffe and would not flee but retired a quarter of a league of where they set themselues in battaile aray Afterward came the Lord Admirall and d'Andelot with fiue Cornets of horse onely and on the behalfe of the Catholickes came seauen or eight hundred Speares It is now sayd the Lord Admirall no speaking of lodging but of fighting and with all speede aduertised the Prince who was a long league of to set forwarde in the meane time he would set a good face on the matter He commaunded them to stand in aray vpon a small rising so to take from the enemies the viewe of a valley least they should discouer him and this did he to the ende to make theÌ„ think that we had some great power both of horsemen footmen hidden therein Being thus in aray within a Canon shot each of other he willed a Captaine of harquebuziers on horseback to set forwarde fiue hundred paces and to stay neere to a hedge which he did But as these people albeit they can discharge running are not neuerthelesse skilfull souldiers so had they not stayed there sixe paternosters while but halfe of them moued to
skirmish and after marched their whole Cornet to support them The enemies seeing this imagined they would haue comen to them which made them to close themselues with three or foure great troopes of Speares begin to set forward Truely at that time I saw these two Captaines very sorie that they had not foreseene the folly of that foole but more because they wist not what counsaile to take seeing their enemies much stronger then themselues Howbeit when they came to conclude each of them concluded otherwise then his nature or custome did import The Lord of Andelot who neuer found any thing too hot sayd that they ought to retire the pace that the enemie being the stronger would giue vs the foyle and that wee should not respect the shame considering that he that scapeth the perill besides the profite that he reapeth doth also enioy the honor The Lord Admirall a man of great consideration was obstinatly bent to abide saying that it was necessarie with a good countenance to hide our weakenesse and immediatly sent to reuoke the harquebuziers wherevpon the enemie stayed Now albeit this counsaile was profitable yet was the Lord of Andelots the surer and to be preferred at the least in my opinion who thought it good to rehearse this small action somewhat at large to the ende that such as would bee instructed in deedes of armes may reape this fruite viz. When any action of importance commeth in question to remoue the Argolets out of the front and in their place to commit some warie Captaine accompanied with good Speares For he that hath this place is a guide to the rest and vpon his aduice they all doe mooue and who doth otherwise doth erre as he who marching in an vnknowne countrie doe commit the conduct to such a guide as knoweth not the way Herein wee may also note that albeit there bee no ielouzie betweene Captaines yet euen in a very euident matter wee shall see contrarietie of opinions But herein my most wonder is that each of them contraried his naturall disposition and vsuall maner of proceedings For the one being as actiue as a Marcellus determined verie wisely and the other slawe and very consideratiue as a Fabius did giue a very aduenterous opinion To reporte the cause hereof I cannot except that vppon sudden motions men doe not alwaies obserue the order accustomed in their actions Wee may also see how bouldnesse sometime standeth vs in steade But according to the prouerbe These things may well bee done once but it is not good to vse them often in respect of the daunger I did since aske the Lord of Martigues who commanded ouer this troope of speares whether be knewe that the Lordes Admirall and Andelot were among these fiue Cornets He tould me no for had he knowne it it should haue cost them all their liues but they would haue had them quicke or dead and that they tooke them to haue bene the Marshals of the lodgings troopes which also they would haue charged had it not bene for a doubt least they had bene supported by a maine power of harquebuzerie which to their seeming appeared in a village behinde who in deede were but varlets that attended the comming of their fooâ—men Within one houre after each parte looked for a greater game for on all sides they might discerne the Footmens Ensignes come inâ—arthing on with the squadrons of horsemen and it was late before all were come so as there was nothing done but a great skirmish which the night brake of There was but the Catholikes 〈…〉 ntguard who seeing the match but euill made of them onely against the Protestants whole campe vsed a proper pollicie wherewith to make vs suppose that their maine battaile had bene there for they caused the Drammes of their French Regiments to strike vp after the Suitzers maner which confirmed our opinion that their whole power was present neither was there any speech but of battaile in the morning As also they charged that none of their bands should straggle foorth likewise that they should in fight stande onely vppon the defensiue least by the taking of any prisoner the trueth might bee reuealed all this if wee had knowen they had bene set vppon the same night They strooke vp the watch and caused to make great fires but hauing taken their repaist with small noyse they departed some to Iasnueil where Monsiere was lodged with the battaile and the rest to the Borrowe of Sansay which is but a league of At three of the clocke after midnight was the Prince aduertised of their departure and at fine followed vppon their tayle with his whole power doubting that all theirs was not come thether Thus doe wee in one day see two braue occasions lost the first by the Catholikes the second by the Protestants albeit neither of them are greatly to bée blamed as being hard to bee discouered at the instant and in two or three houres they were past True it is that some aduice would haue bewrayed them at the full but this is a benefite of good happe which dependeth not vpon the sufficiencie of the Captaines All that I haue reported of the former day is yet but a small matter in respect of that which happened the next day at Iasnueil and it seemeth y t the guider of all things purposed for certaine daies to laugh to skorne so many excellent Captaines there present for many things which then happened and fell out were rather by chaunce and in a maner vnlookedfor then through any counsaile The Protestants were determined to follow the enemie euen into y e bodie of his armie also to fight with him whersoeuer they might find him HerevpoÌ„ the L. Admiral followed their steps which were euident enough and the Prince marched after But where as there were two waies the one leading to the borowe of Sansay the other to Iasnueil the Prince through a mist that arose afore breake of day strayed and tooke the way to Iasnueil The forefront which being strong the Lord Admirall had set before him about eight of the clocke in the morning came vpon the borowe of Sansay where fiue or sixe hundred horse were lodged who were forced to retire more then the pace lost all their cariages and were pursued very farre In the meane time the Prince continuing the way that he had taken after he had marched two leagues lighted vpon the forefront of Monsiers armie not hearing any newes of his aduant-guard Then seeing himselfe beset he thought it best to set a good countenance and seeing the countrie was strong he placed his Harquebuziers who were aboue twelue thousand formost and began the skirmish he also sent word to the Admirall albeit he wiâ—â— not where he was that he had bene forced to make as if he would fight seeing himselfe so neere the enemie willing him with all diligence to returne to him Before the messenger was in the midde way the Lord Admirall heard the Canon rore
fought on euery side Howbeit in as much as the whole army of the Catholicks still came on the Protestants were forced to flee after they had lost in the field about a hundred Gentlemen but especially the Princes owne person who being borne downe coulde haue no succour and hauing yeelded himselfe to the Lorde of Argences there came a Gascoigne Gentleman named Montesquion and discharged a pistoll through his head whereof he died His death bred wonderfull sorrowe among the Protestantes and as great ioy to some of his aduersaries who supposed they shoulde soone ouercome the whole body nowe that they had cut of so good a head howbeit as some did greatly blame him so others there were that commended his valour As also this commendation may iustly be giuen him that in bouldnesse or curtesy no man of his time excelled him Of speech hee was eloquent rather by nature then art he was liberall and affable vnto all men and withall an excellent Captaine although he loued peace Hee bare him selfe better in aduersity then in prosperitie His greatest commendation of all was his stedfastnesse in religion My best is to holde my peace for feare of saying to little albeit I thought good to speake somewhat leaste I shoulde be accounted ingratefull to the memory of so valiant a Prince Many a worthy person both Catholike and Protestant whome our ciuill stormes haue caried away are to be lamented for they honored our Fraunce and might well haue holpen to encrease it had not discord prouoked the valour of the one to the destruction of the valour of the other After this blowe the Protestantes army was wonderfully astonied and it fell out well for them that the country whereinto they were withdrawne was all full of water for thereby were the Catholicks restrained and they had time to recouer themselues Hauing atchieued such a victory the Catholicks imagined that such of our townes as were not very strong woulde bee amazed But the Admirall had placed in them the most part of his footemen thereby breake this first fury so as when they set forward to assalt Coignac they well found that such catts were not caught without mittens for therein were fowre regimentes of footemen but as when they had sent three or fowre hundred shot vnto the parkeside to disceuer that part they that were within sent foorth 10 or 1200 who sent them so quickly away that they came no more as also they had in their army but sowre Canons and as many Culuerines Monsieur contenting him selfe with his victory and perceiuing that hee coulde not performe any greate matter in his tender youth triumphing ouer moste excellent captaines as also hee had good counsaile and assistaunce of other worthy Captaines that accompanied him retired to refresh his men In this action we are to gather that in whatsoeuer waighty and daungerous attempt it must not bee followed to halues for we must either quight leaue it off or else employ whatsoeuer our senses and force Moreouer this is to be noted that when armies are lodged scatteringly they incurre viuerse inconueniences which the sufficiencie of the best Captaines is not able withstand Of the notable passage of the Duke of Aipont from the borders of Rhine euen into Aquitaine MAny that shall heere see it set downe as it were for a meruayle that a forraine enimies armie coulde pierce so very far into the realme of France wyll not peraduenture thinke it straunge because that considering other examples namelie that of the Emperour Charles the fifth when hee came to besiege Saint Desier they will not take such expeditions to be so extraordinarie as we wold make them beleeue for Howbeit if they list well to waigh the length of the iourney also the mightie and continuall lets and hinderances that this had I doubt they wil be of another opinion Yet will I confesse that ciuill warres doe greatly fauour the entrie of our neighbours who otherwise without the support of one of the factions neuer durst haue enterprised the same But when on the one side the fauour is small and on the other side the resistance great we are the more to admire the deeds of those that haue so aduentured Touching that which is alleadged of the Emperour Charles I will aunswere in fewe wordes First for his person hee was the mightiest Captaine in Christendome then for his campe it consisted of fiftie thousand men lastlie that at such time as hee came in the King of England had alreadie taken Bollein which caused King Fraunces who woulde not aduenture anie thing rashlie to leaue the passage more free Nowe the Duke of Biponts case is farre otherwise for notwithstandinge he were a valyaunt valyant Prince yet did he not any thing neere approch the militarie sufficiencie of the other and a great helpe and ease it was for him that he was accompanied with the Prince of Orenge Countie Lodowicke Countie Wolrad of Mansfield besides other braue French Captaines and two thousand footmen and horsemen of the same nation that ioyned with him His number of Germaines was fiue thousand Lance knights and sixe thousand Reisters With this small armie did he passe forward in purpose to ioyne with the Princes power The King vnderstanding that he prepared for their succour did immediatlie appoint a small armie vnder the leading of the Duke of Aumale to withstand him and doubting of the weaknesse therof he also ioyned thereto another vnder the gouernment of the D. of Nemours These two bodies vnited did in footmen exceede the Duke of Bipont but in horse were inferiour vnto him They determined not to state his comming into the realme to molest them and therefore marched euen into the borders of Germanie and toward Sauerne ouerthrew the regiment of one named Le Coche composed of certaine straies gathered together who meant to haue ioyned with him Neuerthelesse he entered into France on the side of Burgundie whether they came to coast him and vntill he came to the riuer of Loire which was little lesse than foure score leagues they neuer gaue him ouer but still were either on his flankes or tayle yea many times the armies were in sight each of other and had great skirmishes I haue oft heard the Prince of Orenge report that he meruayled in so long and difficult a waie that the Catholikes could neuer finde anie fit occasion to their aduauntage for sometimes they had fayre offers by reason of the pestering with store of carriages Neither can I omit this that besides the braue forces of the Kings armie they had other aduantages which were not smal as the fauour of the townes Countries and riuers yea and one point more was to be noted that is their notise of the enemies purposes which consisted in making of way and winning by power or pollicy some passage ouer Loire For albeit both the Dukes of Nemours and Aumale were braue Captains yet notwithstanding all their pollicies and endeauours this armie gate to the sayd
He that giueth a notable Captaine respite to bring forth that which his imagination hath conceiued he doth not onelie heale vp his old woundes but also ministreth strength to his languishing members therefore he should rather endeauour still to diuert combet him so to break the course of his purposes The longest aboad y t this half army made in anie place was about the quarters of Agen Montauban where it spent almost al the winter through the good entertainment that it there had it was restored as it were with new mens bodies Heereto ought all such as haue anie militarie offices to haue regard and not to do as the couetous labourers who granting no release to their lands doe make them barren for when for the increase of their owne glorie they doe euen tier their souldiours for lacke of refreshing they doe vtterlie ouerthrowe them Also if the North winde together with the moisture of the Moone doe euen weare the stones how much sooner will the delicate bodie of a man bee worne out with such labours rigorous toyles Wherefore the best rule is infayre weather to emploie themselues well and in foule to take some rest except extreame necessitie constrayneth to the contrarie In this voiage they verie well followed the rule of Hanniball in Italie which was to giue the enemies Countrie to be a praie to their owne men so often as occasion required that they should bee contented for who so list to aduenture wanted no commodities such plentie raigned in those Prouinces The first power that ioyned with the Princes was the Countie of Montgomeries who returned victorious out of Bearne which truly was a braue exploit and is at large set downe in the histories for through his diligence he preuented the power of the L. of â—erid who besieged Nauarrins which alreadie was tired with his long aboâ—de therabout neither is it to be demanded whether he was wel welcommed at his comming About the ende of Winter they marched toward Tholouze where began a kinde of most violent warre in respecte of the fires permitted howbeit onely against the houses of those that belonged to the Court of Parliament The cause heereof was sayd to be for that they had euermore bene most sharpe in burning the Lutherans and Huguenotes as also for the beheading Captain of Rapin a gentlemaÌ„ Protestant who brought them from the king the edice of peace They found this reuenge to be verie hard howbeit it was sayd that it might bee a warning for them to be more moderate afterward as in deed they haue so shewed themselues This companie is one of the most notable in the realme many learned men therein albeit they might haue vsed more clemencie The L. Marshall d. Anuil was then in the sayde towne with a good power was bitten by slanderers who reported that he had intelligence with his coosen the L. Admirall yet throughout all that voiage no man warred so sore vpon the Princes armie as he for he ouerthrew foure or fiue companies of their horse This report was vndoubtedly false and that I well knowe notwithstanding whatsoeuer may since haue fallen out The army went on euen into the County of Roussillon where albeit it belonged to the Spaniard it vsed some some sacking Thence it marched along Languedocke and comming neere to Rhosne Countie Lodowicke went ouer with part of the armie to assaile some holdes But the chiefe intent of these Captaines tended to get some footmen out of Daulphine to the increase of their bodie as also they thought to haue done out of Gascogne Languedock which desire could not be brought to anie good effect for when the souldiers vnderstood that it was to march toward Paris and into the heart of France withall that they considered the miseries which theÌ„selues their companions that had bidden by it had indured the last winter euerie man fled from it as from a deadly downfall desiring rather without coÌ„parison to stay folow the war in their own countries neuerthelesse they gathered together aboue 3000. shot determined to passe any whether which were distributed among the regimeÌ„ts but they were al on horsback Necessity forced theÌ„ so to do in respect of the tediousnesse of their iourney sharpnesse of the winter albeit it sometimes bred pesturing yet came there profit of it in y t as occasion fell out their footmen were alwaies Iustie fresh neither was there much sicknesse among them in respect y t they were euer wel lodged entertained The L. Admirall a man of great experience in such affaires well perceiued albeit there were some treatie of peace that yet it was harde to purchase any good vnlesse they did approch to Paris and therewithall knowing that beyonde the riuer of Loire hee shoulde finde greate fauour and helpe did hasten the voiage but the difficultie of passing the mountains of Sauenes and Viuarets were some stay but more his sicknes that tooke him at S. Steuens in Forest was like to haue caried him awaie which if it had fallen out peraduenture there woulde haue ensued change of counsayle for hauing lost the henge where vpon the whole gate was turned they could hardly haue found such another True it is that Countie Lodouicke was a braue Captaine and well thought of among the French howbeit hee was not yet come to the authoritie experience of the other neither dare I affirme if he had died whether they woulde haue proceeded in theyr carrier or not In the end God sent him health to the great contentation of all men after the which the armie marched so swiftly that it ariued at Rhene le Duc in Burgundie There had lyke to haue ben giuen a terrible sentence for the peace which neuertheles was but good for the setting of it forward The L. of Marshall of Cosse gouernor of the kings armie was expresly charged to keepe the Princes army from comming nere to Paris yea to fight if he see the game fayre wherevpon he coasted it in full deliberation so to doe Finding it placed in a reasonable strong seat he thought with his artillerie which the other wanted to take awaie the aduantages thereof also by skirmishes of shotte to make them forsake certaine passages that they had Onelie one ditch did they at the first abandon where happened great charges recharges of the horsmen wherin either part when their turn came were pursued The Captaines which on the Catholiks part gaue the first onsette where the Lordes of La Vallette Strossie and Chastre who bare themselues wel on the Protestants side those that bare the first brunt were the Lord of Bricquemaud Marshall of the fielde the Countie Montgommerie and Genlis and in this action did the Princes albeit as yet verie young in theyr countenaunces shew theyr desires to fight wherby it was thought that in time they would proue most excellent Captaines In the end the Catholikes seeing how hard it was