when the men of arms were instituted maintained ordinarilie vsed y t others were quite reiected reseruing vnto them only their auncient name with a verie weake effect Howbeit I will not blame the institution of the men of armes which haue brought forth so good effects still may bring forth more nay rather I wil alow it but likewise I wish to see a good order among all that deale w t armes The difference between thē consisteth not in y e men for y t same nobilitie y t in time past serued after one manner doth now serue after another The diuersitie resteth in the warfare which is changed The better to vnderstand these changes to know the dueties of seruice we must take things farther of climbe euē to their original Those that haue written of the affaires of France especiallie the L. of Haillan do aduow that our fees were instituted vnder the first line of our kings By which fees he meaneth a certain quantity of land which they gaue to some more to some lesse to such gentlemen famous warriors as had serued thē in the wars to holde the same vpon their faith homage to come serue them a certaine time of the yere at their own charge To the end also that these noble innobled persons should be the better able to maintaine thēselues they licensed thē to let and demise their lands to the pesants for rent and yerely pension Moreouer they granted thē both high meane and lawe iustice ouer their men and vassalles the appeales whereof were reserued to their soueraigne iurisdiction Thus had the high Iusticer his lawe and inferiour Iustices vnd er him whom he tearmed his men of warre for they were bounde to wait vpon him as vpon the Lord of their fee and the others he tearmed peasants These landes thus giuen vpon condition aforesayd such a fee was to set out one man of armes such a one an archer such a one a third and such a one a fourth who were bound to meet at a place appointed so oft as by the dukes or earles who were but simplie gouernors of the prouinces townes or their bailiefes or stewards y t succeeded thē they should be commanded These assēblies were called Ban or Heriban which after some signifieth crie or outcrie This order seemeth to haue bene confirmed in the time of Charlemayn vnder whose posteritie the fees Lordships which vnder our former kings were but benefits giuen for tearme of life were through fauour continued from the Father to the sonne and so grew to be patrimoniall and hereditarie Heereby it appeareth what goodly priuiledges haue bene graunted to the nobilitie but withall we are to consider that the bonds are verie strict For they must alwayes come armed in defence of the Realme and be readie to repulse the assaultes and violences of straungers abroad These were the auncient strength of France where with our kings for the space of seuen hundred yeeres did many notable deedes vntill the yere 1454. wherein the men of armes were instituted But who so is desirous more perticularly to see theyr auncient order let them read Frossart who describeth the difference between the Barons Bannerets and high Iusticers as also of those that might beare banners which were square Ensignes and of those that might carrie but penons Likewise the armes of knights and manner of fight as well ioyntly as seuered with the rewards and martiall punishments neither doe I doubt but hauing seene all this he will iudge our auncestors to haue beene braue fellowes The Lord of Haillan like wise in his discourses of France dooth shew how fees came to be alienated which were not amisse to bee knowen The first cause proceeded of our parents deuotion For they being by the Cleargie dayly perswaded that they that gaue most to the beautifying and enriching of the Church had the highest places in paradise such of them as were able founded Abbies Priories and Chappels al wel prouided for of good rents therby thinking sufficiently to discharge themselues Then followed the imaginations of Purgatorie where they were tolde that for a mortall sinne they must burne seuen yeres in a most violent fire howbeit y t they might be deliuered therefro through abundance of messes and praiers Wherevpon he that had but one hundred shillings of rent gaue twentie for singing and praying as well for his owne soule as for his kinsfolkes and parents deceased Thus came aboue the sixt part of the fees of France into the hands of the Clergie The second cause was the vioages vndertakē for the conquest of the holy land whereat whosoeuer bare anie valiant minde would not faile to be the rather for y t our kings thēselues went in person And because that some lasted three or foure yeres the nobles solde part of their fees so to get money to maintaine themselues withal Besides all this they also made their wills wherein they bequeathed in case they died a good portion thereof to be praied for so as many dying in those dangerous and long iourneies a greate number of the fees were still alienated to the Church The third cause hath growen of the continual warres with the Englishmen where through many Gentlemen haue bene forced to sell their fees to the vnnoble who had permission of the kings to buy the same for with out such license they could not before haue anie proprietie therein All which alienations set together haue pulled the third part of fées out of the bodie of the nobilitie whereby they are fallen as it were into dead hands that is into their hands who cannot in person discharge the auncient duties belonging to the same Likewise since that time the Lawiers Receiuers some Merchants haue so wel husbanded for themselues that they also haue laide holde vppon a good part of the sayd fees so as we may truly saie that the nobilitie doe not now possesse aboue the one halfe Which notwithstanding our kings in the meane time haue still had the vse of their Arrierbans wherin were but few Gentlemen who all almost ranne into place where paye honours and martiall rewards were shared out so as there remaine none but men of smal experience neither were they imploied but in the defence of those prouinces that lay farthest out of the danger of warre Moreouer many of all sorts of people both great and smal haue purchased exemptions frō the charges wherto their fées are bound which haue bred as great weakning both in men and money Our kings Frances the first and Henrie the second seeing all these inconueniences which they sought to redresse made notable decrees for the reducing of the said Arrierbans into some order which for lacke of well obseruing haue not much profited Thus much in briefe of the succession of these matters Some man may now tell me y t I labour in vaine in giuing counsaile to redresse that thing which the experience of many yeres
to grow sauage one to another for in absence we set before our eyes onely the iniuryes passed whereto commeth reporte suspition and slaunder so that though one were as white as snow yet by such blemishes he may be made as red as scarlet We ought likewise to consider that notwithstanding our warres haue continued aboue 24. yeeres yet doe we still returne to our Fathers houses and necessitie compelleth vs to be conuersant again not with our friends onely but also with those that haue bene our sharpest enemies Wherefore it is requisite that wee resolue our selues to mildnesse and sith wee are to liue and die not among the Italians or Spaniards but euen in the same lande wherein we are ingendered let vs endeauour to do it peaceably rather than by languishing in tumults to bee replenished with terror Some man may obiect that sith mistrust is one of the principall sinowes of wisedome it must not in so daungerous a time be layde vnder foote Truly my counsayle is not altogether to burie it but rather to leaue it to euerie mannes libertie to vse it conueniently as occasion may require howbeit I woulde haue the occasions to bée such as may beare some apparaunt likelyhoode of truth and not to rest vppon euerie trifling imagination vntill that time haue purged the hearts from rancour blotted inueterate hatred out of remembrance For we must thinke sirst that in the end men wil be wéerie of euill willing and of euill doing because those things are of themselues tedious and noysome Secondly that some wil conuerwhen any smal spiritual motion touch them make them know that it is a most harde matter for thē to loue God whom they sée not so long as they abhorre those that beare his image and whome they sée For this cause must we not despaire of anie vnlesse in them appeareth some euident tokens of mallice and rooted crueltie conioyned with obstinacie Of whom wee may saie The Phisition hath giuen them ouer their familiaritie is vnfruitfull yea euen dangerous Before wee ende this discourse wee must also speeke somewhat of counterfaite concorde and peraduenture it will not hurt to set downe some warnings vppon that point to the ende men bee not abused as they that for want of waying and well looking to doe take counterfaite coine for good gold for in this so corrupt a world wherein wee liue we must looke verie neere vppon those thinges that beare a fayre shew because that vnder such a cloake mischiefe for the most parte lurketh When therefore wee chaunce to see a good agreement betwéene some with whome wee are requested to enter societie let vs diligently enquire whether the ende wherevnto eyther of them doth tend bee good or badde For if it be bad then may wee conclude that agreement to bee false and so consequently of small continuance and to be eschued This may better be made manifest by examples The first therefore that I will beginne withall shall bee of land theeues and robbers and of sea rouers A man woulde sometimes thinke such a fraternitie and steadfast amitie to bee betweene them as in his opinion there coulde none bee more excellent But if we come to considerwhat these people be who for the satisfieng of their peruerse desires do confederate themselues together and trouble publike tranquilitie with their murther and spoyles in respect whereof they are feared and hated as mortal plagues what shall we iudge of their vnion but that it is a perillous conspiracie Lewde and licentions women that dwell euen by pernission in sundrie Cities especially in Italy Spaine are so familiarly acquainted together that it séemeth their league to bee of perpetuall continuance But so farre is it from being accounted concord that in déed it is rather discord cimented together with poison I beléeue that almost all men condemne such confederacie and would be loth the pleasant name of concord should be blemished in such societies Notwithstanding still there be some that let themselues be caught in such snares Thus much concerning those persons that haue embraced infamous kinds of life who both by diuiue and humane constitutiōs are to be reproued There is another kind of concord which is furious as appeared among the peasants in Germanie who in the yere 1525. armed themselues to sacke the gentrie and spoile the rich They liued one with another as brethren yea they died couragiously together notwithstanding their procéedings and purposes were abhominable In this rank I thought good to place also the confederacie of the mad Anabaptists of Munster who assembled to the number of nine or ten thousand persons Heare wil I likewise adde the seditious assotiations of whole communalties or part of the same for they to the end to cut their throates that displease thē doe together as did y t Sicilians agrée against y e Frenchmē who for y e punishing peraduēture of 500. guiltie persons slew 5000. innocēts with such people we are rather to haue discord thā cōcord because their vnion aimeth at nothing but the alteration of lawfull societies I doubt not but if some good Father being affectionate to his conuent should reade this he would by and by saie It had not bene amisse among these to haue placed the Lutherans and Huguenotes whose whole agréement tendeth onely to the destruction of our holy orders To this will I aunswere Sir I haue forborne that because there is no reason to place those that are not cōuict among the condemned but if you with some of your brotherhoode will dispute with them and by good and forcible reasons of diuinitie confute them when you haue so done I wil obey you but as your friend I counsaile you not to doe it for feare least Marots wordes proue true viz. That neuer any Papist spake well of Luther also if they shoulde come to dispute one of them must needes proue an heretike For if you should chance to be ouercome you might well inough giue ouer the wallet because no man would giue you ought But the best both for you and them is to liue at the least in politike concord and to content your selues with the mischiefes that you haue done each to other considering that mans life is of it selfe miserable inough though thereto you adde no new miseries Now let vs speake of those that haue attained such a degrée of abuse in their lawful vocations that we may say of them that vnder the authoritie of lawes and gouernment they peruert all equitie iustice Of such assemblies we finde many kindes wherof to auoid superfluous rehearsall I will note onely some of the chiefest The first is a framed tyrannie wherein the publike actions doe tende to strengthning of it with all mens harmes In this we must imagine two sorts of men namely the tyrannizers the tyrannized Concerning the last inasmuch as force euer maistreth them they must hūmbly stoop waiting vntil it please God to raise vp lawfull meanes of
forts as to offende in the fielde This armie being in the field it would bee some what harde to goe burne the windmils at Paris and it may be those that are of that opinion will then be so curteous as to be content with the firing of that at Catelet So mightie an armie will some oran saie would deserue the kings presence neither should it want if any other king should come to assaile him for he is no appreÌ„tise in matters of war neither shall we at this daie finde anie that with the swoord in his hands hath bene so victorious in two battailes as he or that in the ditch of a besieged towne hath receiued the harquebuze shot which maketh me to thinke that he will neuer suffer anie vpon presumption to curtall his coate Sith therefore he is yet able to bring such a power into the field there is no wise man that will thinke him redie to play banquerout as some men doe make account but rather to be a most mightie Prince It resteth that we speake of order which in many other matters is verie disordered among vs. But the kings owne hand must bee the true meane to restore it which can as well do that as handle the sword But he must haue the assistance of time and peace without the which it is vnpossible hee shoulde attaine thereto for adding to them both his owne diligence and good example the worke will be performed in such wise that where now it is called France decaied it shall be tearmed France restored I would extend my speech farther were it not that I remember I may be accused of cogging with strangers and flattering my owne nation Rather woulde I wish the first to knowe that as stronge bodies doe through theyr owne riot ouerthrowe themselues so likewise by a certaine hidden power in them they rise againe examples whereof we haue enow For such considerations may make them wiser to iudge of matters of estate and of other mens and not vnder the pretence of a few diseases to condemne a man to death As for the second I should be glad to see them affected to maintaine themselues vnited vnder the authoritie of this crowne wherof would insue the greatnesse and felicity of the same which we ought as much to desire as heretofore we haue tasted of the swetnes therof But if God wold vouchsafe vs y e grace to see y e beginning of this goodlie world it would redoâ—â—d to our great coÌ„tentatioÌ„ after we haue wrestled against so many calamities to finde our selues in the middest of our domesticall goods which were almost vanished awaie we should haue no cause to waken our couetous desires neither to wheâ— our swoords to goe with great labour to seeke goods other where for we should find sufficient in our own houses To conclude we must not thinke that true greatnesse consisteth in getting much land but rather in possessing much vertue which is such a prize as when a king hath coueted and obtained it both he and his realme may be tearmed mightie The 21. Discourse That aliances of Christian Princes with Mahumetists the Capitall enimies of the name of Christ haue euermore beene vnfortunate Also that we ought not to enter anie firme confederacie with them THe great Orator Demosthenes in one of his Orations sayth that Like as the maister shipwrights going about to build a ship do lay stronge and steadfast foundations thereof so the principles of publike actions ought to be iust and honest This peraduenture is not vnfitly alleadged in the beginning of this small discourse for the better representing to those that gouerne great estates those necessarie rules whereby they ought to compasse their affayres And like as for the most part those men doe amisse who cleauing too much to their owne opinions doe go from the lawfull wayes So do they seldome straie who borrowing good examples of y e instruction and wisedome of the elders doe followe the same In the meane time whatsoeuer care man maye take to containe himselfe within the bounds thereof yet can he not alwayes bee exempt from transgressing the rules of equity through the imperfection of his iudgement and force of his passions Howbeit he must at the least take heede of encurring those great faultes that breede bad consequences as diuerse Princes both afore time and still haue done and doe whereby there haue growen irrecouerable losse to theyr estates A Prince seeing himselfe oppressed and his Countrie in necessitie deuiseth with himselfe and hath those that do also counsaile him to seeke all meanes to preserue it which peraduenture hath made men too free to make leagues with barbarous Nations the fruite whereof hath neuerthelesse bene so small that few there haue bene but haue soone repented their rashnesse But before we propound anie examples of these wretched confederacies I thinke it requisite in a word to teach the originall of the Turkish nation their increase and terrible behauiours Iohn Carion in his briefe Chronicle of the world faithfully corrected out of al histories sayth the Turkes to be descended out of the straightes of the mount Caucasus And that as some reporte they dispearsed themselues out of the North into some small corners of Asia about two hundred yeres before the comming of Christ where they remayned almost vnknowen vnto the time of the the Emperour Heraclius who raigned in the yere 612. Then Orismada king of the Persians finding himselfe assayled by the Sarazens called to them for succour whome they assisted But after his death seeing the Sarazens had seased vpon the Realme the beautie and fruitfulnes of the land so allured them that they stayed about the Caspian sea in that place which in olde time was called Hircanie and finallie so compounded with the Caliph of Babylon that he suffered them to possesse and till the land where they had stayed There also they imbraced Mahumets religion and obeied the Caliph a long time Afterward the Sarazens growing into dissention and warres among themselues the Souldan finding himselfe too weake to defend his partie called the Turkes to his helpe and expulsed the Caliphes After this victorie the Turkes demanding their paie he denied it which so prouaked them that they set vpon him ouerthrew him and braue him out of his Realme Thus did they establish theyr dominion in both the Armenies whereto they adioyned Capadocia Galacia and Bithinia which by little and little they conquered and this was about the yere of Christ 1050. Shortly after the Tartarians tooke awaie the Turkes dominion and brought them into subiection to them vntill that in the yere 1300. they rebelled and fortified themselues destroying the Tartarian Empire Then the other ancient families hauing through enmitie domesticall wars destroied each other begaÌ„the race of the Ottomans to beare sway Under this race grew the Turkes to that mightinesse wherein we now see them Thus the name and Empire of the Sarazens decaying this nation got the dominion of
It was agreed that two dayes after he should meete the Queene a league and a halfe thence so to proue if any thing might be determined which he did There after many speeches the said Prince did in the end make her the offer aforesaid namely to depart the realme so to testifie his zeale to the quiet thereof which she tooke holde of before the word was out of his mouth telling him that that in deed was the true meanes to preuent all mischiefes feared for the which all France should be bound vnto him also that the King comming to his maioritie would bring all into good order wherby euery man should haue cause to be content Nowe although the Prince was a man that would not be easily danted neyther wanted his tongue yet was he at this time astonished as not thinking to haue bene taken so short because it waxed late she tolde him that in the morning she would send to knowe what conditions hee would demand Thus she departed in good hope and the Prince returned to his campe laughing but betweene his teeth with the chiefe of his Gentlemen which had heard all his talke Some scratching their heads where they itched not others shaking them some were pensiue and the younger sort gybed oue at another each one deuising with what occupation he should be forced to get his liuing iu a forein land At night they determined the next morning to call all the Captaines together to haue their aduice in so waightie a matter In the morning they entered into counsayle where the Admirall propounded that in as much as this matter concerned all it was in his opinion good to impart it vnto al which was done and the Colonels and Captaines were sent to demaund the aduice as well of the Gentrie as footemen But they imediatly aunswered thatsith France had bredde them it should also be their scpulture likewise that so long as anie drop of bloud rested in them it shoulde bee imployed in defence of their religion With all they requested the Prince to remember his generall promise that hee would not forsake them This being reported to the Counsaile haâ—ted the conclusion of those that were there to deliberate who considering of the generall disposition of all were the rather confirmed in their opinions which did concurre w t the same neither were there aboue three or foure that vsed anie speech the matter being so euident and I do yet in part rememâ—er the particularities there deducted The Lord Admirall declared vnto the Prince that albeit he supposed that the Queene in accepting of his offer meant no harme as one that desiring to deliuer the state out of miserie means conuenient 〈…〉 ot that he thought those which had weapon on hand did circuÌ„â—ent her to the end to betraie him that he neither ought neither could performe that that was propouÌ„ded himself had promised in respect that beforè he stoode bounde in stronger bandes and besides all this that if he should now absent himselfe he should vtterly loose his credit condemne the cause that he had takeÌ„ in hand which besides the equitie therof being authorised by the Kings edict ought to bee maintayned euen with hazarde of life The Lord of Andelots speech was this My Lord the enimies power lyeth but fiue small leagues hence if it perceiueâ—â— amoÌ„g vs either feare breaking vp or other alterà tioÌ„ whatsoeuer it wil with â—â—â—ord and speare driue vs euen into the Ocean sea If you none shoulde forsake vs it will bee sayde that yee doe it for feare which I knowe neuer harboured in your heart Wee are your poore seruantes and you our maister diuide vs not then sith wee fight for religion and life so many parleyes are but snares layde to intrappe vs as appeareth by the effectes else where The best waie therefore to come to a speedie agreement is that you will vouchsafe to bring vs within halfe a league of those that wish vs to departe the Realme so may wee peraduenture within an houre after growe to some good resolution for wee can neuer bee perfect friendes before wee haue skirmished a little together Then stepped foorth the Lorde of Boucarde one of the brauest Gentlemen in the Realme whose head was fraught both with fire and Lead My Lorde sayde hee hee that either giueth ouer or putteth of the set looseth it which is more true in this matter now in hand than in the tenis court I haue alreadie seene fiftie yeeres in which time I may haue learned alittle discretion I would bee loth to walke vp and downe a foraine lande with a tooth picker in my mouth and in the meane time lett some flattering neighbour bee the maister of my house fatten himselfe with my reâ—â—newes God willing for my parte I will die in my Countrie in defence of our alters and hearthes I beseech you therefore my Lorde and doe wish you not to abandon so many good men that haue chosen you but to excuse your selfe to the Queene and imploie vs with speede while we are willing to bite Little more was there spoken except a generall approbation of all men Then the Lord Prince began to speake and for the iustification of his offer sayd that he made it because they went about couertlie to taxe him with the cause of the warre as also for that if his absence might breede theyr peace he would thinke himselfe happie as not respecting his owne particular affayres lykeâ—â—se that hee did well perceiue seeing the enemies power so neere and theyr resolution that they woulde impute his humilitie to cowardlynesse whereby it should breed no rest but rather destruction to the cause that hee maintayned and that in consideration thereof hee was resolued to followe theyr counsayle and to liue and die with them Thus sayde they all shooke handes in confirmation thereof At the breaking vp of the Counsaile Theodore Beza with others of his companions made vnto him a verie wise and piâ—hre exhortation to comfort him in his resolution alleadging vnto him the inconueniences ensuing the departure from the same and so besought him not to giue ouer the good worke hee had begun which God whose honour it concerned woulde bring to perfection About the same time came the Lorde of Frense Robertet Serrâ—tarie of the commaundementes whome the Queene had sent to knowe vppon what conditions the Lorde Prince woulde departe Whose â—unswere was That it was a matter of waight neyther was hee yet resouled thereof in respect that many murmured thereat but when it was concluded hee woulde eyther sende or bring the Queene worde himselfe But Roberter by some particular speeches perceiued that matters were altered and so returned to the Queene whome hee certefyed that shee must haue more than paper to thrust him out withall who afterwarde went her waie Heereby may Princes and great Lordes learne in matters of importance not to binde themselues by promise before they haue throughly consulted thereof with the
necessarie for the helping of our poore France which through the banishment therof is almost rent in péeces that me think all good men should bend their whole vowes and endeuours to the calling of it back againe And when we shall haue shewed how other estates are thereby encreased and redressed men will be farre the more affectionate to put it in execution Plato the Philosopher sayth that the greatest mischiefe that can befall any citie is sedition which is no other but discord Whereof it followeth that concord being the contrary must needes be a great benefite to them that enioye it Likewise it is vnpossible to thriue by their commodities before this foundation be layed yea we see that the greater plentie of power wealth and habilitie that is in a state if this good temperature be away is but matter of greater ruyne Some wise men in old tyme knowing this did vse to send to such of their friends as had the gouernment of commonwelths a sheafe of Arrowes bound together to the ende to admonish them that as these so small péeces of brittle ware being knit together made a strong bodie not easely shaken so if the mindes of their people consented well together were vnited in themselues y t which of it self were but weake would become mightie strong The experience here of hath bene seene in the Grecians who so long as they agréed among themselues did withstand the power of the Kings of Persia which was incōparable for sometymes they brought in nauies of 1000. sayle an other tyme by land 600000. men who all were ouercome by small armies of such men as loued like brethren and which accōpted y e bondage of their fellow countrimē as their own so good concurrence was there betweene thē so long as this continued they mainteyned themselues in credite felicitie Plutarke reporteth that before the tyme of Aratus all the townes of the Achaians were of small accōpt each trafiking doing their affaires apart and taking no care but for themselues but after he had ioyned them together and vnited sundrie other small Townes vnto them by perfect concord they grew into a great and mightie body in Peloponessus and oftentimes did resist such tyrants as sought to vsurpe their libertie wherby they became terrible to their neighbours But if anie man imagine that examples taken of Monarchies would better fit our estate to the end to content him I will also aleadge some such The first of the kingdome of the Lacedemonians wherein Licurgus established most excellent discipline which among all other things commended prowesse concord whereof also a long time they continued so good obseruers that their Citie séemed to be but one sole family so steadfast and good was their vnion By that did they increase and purchase such fame that all Greece did oftentimes submit it selfe to their conduct and iudgement Many other might likewise be herevnto added as wel Romanes as other Nations whereof such as vse the reading of histories cannot be to séeke and therefore it were but a superfluous repetition here to heape them vp againe Onelie it shall suffice to remember that such Monarchiall estates haue from time to time increased as much by concord as by anie other vertue that euer they put in practise And although the Romanes in the daies of their first kings did sometimes disagrée with their next neighbors yet doe we sée that afterward they grew into most firme accord as with the Sabins for of the two Nations they became but one people but farre better ordered and a greate deale more mightie than they were before From this antiquitie let vs descend euen to our daies and vnto that which is euident in our owne eies to the end thereby to be the better persuaded consider the state of the Suitzers for that may be vnto vs a cléere spectacle wherein we shall perceiue the praise of concord and fruites thereof The histories do testifie that the thrée little cantons Schuitz Vri Vnderualde whose habitations are onely in villages were the first authors of that their vnion whereinto the rest are since incorporated Which euer since hath so well continued that at this daie their bodie séemeth as it were inuincible I must also commend the concord of Germanie which notwithstanding their controuersies in religion and strife for dignities hath neuer altered and in déede it now flourisheth as much as euer it did What excuse then maye wee alleadge wee Frenchmen as a sufficient discharge for that we haue so long fought one with another considering how other nations can vpholde themselues in conford and amitie Trulie it is time we should take instructions for remedie of our calamities by the felicitie of others to the end to make vs seeke meanes to returne into that which now hath forsaken vs. The waie is alreadie found if wee woulde put it in practise That is to grow into concord among our selues for so shall we rise againe and increase I knowe some will saie that it is but a discourse to affirme that France grew great by concord for their increase procéeded of the Frenchmens valiancie Whereto I aunswere that I will not denie but that force together with iustice and good order were causes of the increase yet must they néedes confesse that if these mightie pillers had not had for their base and foundation mutuall concord betwéene the king the nobilitie and the commons it must néedes haue yéelded vnder the waight of so great a burthen Our first auncestors did sufficientlie shew forth the profite that therein they reaped in that they knew howe to vse that vertue For they were many diuerse nations inhabiting the bankes of lesser Germanie who not hauing felt the Romanes bondage neither willing in anie case to trie it did assemble and gather themselues together and named themselues Francons Then they planted themselues along the Rhine from whence they stepped into Gaul which they subdued Thus hath a certaine learned man written in a treatise of the originall of the Frenchmen which opinion I thinke to bee more likely than that which the other writers report Heereby it appeareth that concorde hath beene one of the chiefe causes that of many Nations we were made but one and if wee will farther marke the increasing thereof wee shall finde that same occasion hath likewise stoode them in greate steade This doe I speake in generall because the perticular effectes which haue from time to time ensued woulde bée ouer painefull to rehearse and maye likewise bee troublesome Onelie I will by the waie report the blessed concord that was among the French nation in the time of king Lewes the twelfth Frances the great and Henrie the welbeloued which continued aboue sixty yeres not so much to refresh the remembrance of diuerse yet liuing who haue séene the most part of that time as for the instruction of such as haue beene onely beholders of the last disorders
to the ende to labour them the more earnestly to long after a good vnion of heartes as yet so strangelie alienated It is most euident that all these thrée Princes did greatly loue their people especially Lewes and those charges that hee layed vppon them procéeded through the vrgent necessitie of warres notwithstanding some haue bene but rashly enterprised The lyke or rather more was theyr loue shewed to theyr nobilitie as well in respect of the accesse and familiaritie that they allowed them about their persons as also of the worthie rewardes bestowed vppon them Likewise we neuer sawe vertue in greater estimation than at that time But what obedience honour and affection did as well the nobilitie as communaltie than beare to their kings More coulde not haue bene wished for they were neuer wearie of sounding forth their prayses beholding of theyr personnes and hazarding themselues to all daungers for them Then if we woulde but consider the accord that was among the sayde subiectes what shoulde wee doe but wonder how they could since so farre disagrée To be briefe that all partes of this mightie Realme dyd together yéelde so pleasant a harmonie as euerie man was gladde to dwell therein yea euen straungers flocked to participate in that felicitie And notwithstanding in the time of King H. the second many things beganne to alter yet did vertue beare such swaie that the outward forme at the least seemed fayre After this manner dyd the Frenchmen liue vntill the yeare 1560. when Concord beganne to flie from among them after whose departure vertue and iustice haue not so much shewed themselues abroade nay they are gone to soiourne heare and there among their priuate friends where they assure themselues of better entertainment This in my opinion may suffice to proue that through concord small things doo increase and great are maintained and kept Now let vs compare that time with this which wee now so often haue triall of and we shall see the difference to be no lesse than betwéene a faire bright Sunne shine day in the spring time wherin nothing appeareth but flowers greene grasse and a foule Winters daie in the which the clouds tempests darkning the aire nothing is to be séene but y e grasse depriued of her ornamēts séeming to be white with frosts and snow But like as by the order which God hath established in nature after foule weather commeth faire so are we to hope for a more fortunate world after this when once we haue through a holie conuersion appeared his wrath If a man enter into speech hereof by and by a number come in and saie Oh what is it that hath troubled and diuided vs but diuersities of opinions in Religiō Likewise there are others which on the other side doe replie that it is not the nature of Religion to bring forth such and so many calamities but rather that the cause is to be impeuted to the mallice of man who loueth darknes more than light and to their ignorance that think that such contrarieties should be decided by fire and sword when in deede they ought to be determined by gentlenesse and clemencie I would thinke that experience should make vs wise in this difficultie which shall nothing let me from prosecuting my purpose declaring what discord doth ingender Neither will I goe to séeke exāples hereof in foren lands neither in times past but in our own Countrie and age for if anie man be desirous to behold the image of all mischiefe hee néede not seeke farther than into France where this tragedie haue bene plaied the actors whereof beeing Frenchmen who euer since they were sezed of this cursed passion doe neuer sticke to hurt each other And like as a continuall feauer weakneth and pulleth downe the strongest bodie euen so the continuance of our warres hath almost abated depriued the Realme of the principall of her greatnesse mightinesse and beautie Wherin appeareth the truth of the other parte of the sentence alreadie alleadged viz. that by descord great thinges doe perish and runne into decaie Now notwithstanding hatred ordinarilie ingendereth discord where amitie for the most part bridgeth forth concord yet hath not this bene the cause that hath driuen many of those that are entered hereinto but rather some haue bene vrged by zeale others by persecution and othes by some duty that they ow to other men As also we haue séene many diuerse effects some more gentle than other some whereby the authors of the same deserue commendation in that they haue in these vnmercifull calamities borne themselues more moderatlie I dare not rehearse the horrible cruelties committed in all places notwithstanding some haue felte them more than others for the remembrance of them cannot but either bréede great horrour or exasperation Yea some such haue beene wrought as may be tearmed to bee against nature as when some haue deliuered their néerest kinsmen to the slaughter or dipped their handes in the bloud of their owne friends I thinke if anie man had in the dayes of king Frances the first foretolde those thinges that haue since happened he had ben slame as a spreader of lies and yet haue our beastly mindes bene such that we haue euen extolled and magnified the prodigious actions which blind rage hath committed I beseech God we neuer fall againe into the like abhominable gulfe of inhumanitie Thucidides a wise hystoriographer dooth briefely describe the manner howe the Grecians behaued themselues in their ciuill warres Whose saying I haue thought good here to insert to the end we may compare the forepassed mischiefes with those of our time thereby to discerne in which of these times mallice preuayled most After it was knowen sayth he that anie riot was committed in one place others waxed bolde to doo worse to the end to worke some noueltie to shew themselues either more diligent than others or else more insolent and hot in reuenge and all the mischiefes that they cōmitted did they disguise with gaie titles as tearming rashnesse magnanimitie modestie cowardlinesse headlong indignation manhood and boldnesse counsaile wise deliberation cloked dastardlynesse Thus he that shewed himselfe most furious was accounted a loyall friend and he that reproued him ranne into suspition If anie one of the contrarie faction propounded any thing that were good and honest it was not liked of but if they were able indeede to impugne it they had rather be reuenged than not to be wronged If by solemne oth they made any attonement the same lasted vntil the one see himselfe the stronger whereby he might violate infringe and ouercome it through mallice Yea he reporteth much more which to auoide tediousnesse I omit Now therefore would I know whether we haue not bene equal with the Grecians in like actions I thinke that none dare denie it but that we haue surmounted them in crueltie it is most euident Such Frenchmen as after so many ruines shall remayne maye iustly make that exclamation
hauing liued licentiously vpon the spoile now are loth to return vnder the yoke of the laws which represse insolencie withal vnderstanding y t their good mother Nurce is else where are yet desirous to goe and sucke her breasts Some of them likewise are allured by foreine paie and others because they will not become artificers at home will liue abroade lyke souldiours These are the ordinarie causes that make them to take the fielde although most of them pretende the winning of honour As also since the beginning of these diuisions orders haue not bene so straightlie obserued as afore time for who so list may departe and no man taketh anie care thereof as if they were euill humours that purged away Now these men that make account that they cannot liue but in the warres and doe so vowe themselues thereto that they make of that profession which shoulde bee as it were extraordinarie such a perpetuall vocation as they exalt it aboue all others are greatlie deceiued as not knowing or at the least not willing to knowe that man ought principallie to shoote at peace and tranquilitie to the end to liue more vprightly For so long as the same beare swaie all thinges as well publike as priuate are in farre better order than when the confusions of warre haue as it were reuersed all manners and lawes In this my saying I meane not neuerthelesse to condemne the lawfull warres whereinto necessitie constrayneth men to enter for theyr defence for so is it no blemish to vse them Neyther will I anie whit contemne the ordinarie bandes of Princes and common wealthes because they bee the gardes of the lande who also for the most parte doe liue in rest But they of whom I minde to speake will neuer bee in peace neyther doe they care when they serue or wherefore so as they may finde fatte pastures There is a pretie Spanish saying which manye times they bee and I haue translated it thus Warre is my Countrie my harnesse my house I am readie at all times to fight for a souse What more could a bad Phisition and a worse iudge which wish the Citie to be full fraught with maladies mortalitie and strife to the end to haue good doings saie For these men likewise seeke nothing but alteration of estates that they may gorge themselues with the destruction of the same In this our age wherein wee liue it is impossible for anie to exempt themselues from warre because ambition couetousnesse and reuenge are as fruitfull as euer they were to ingender the same and when it comes good men doe swallowe it lyke a most bitter pill But to delyght in so troublesome a custome is to do as he that seeketh to be tormented continuallie vpon the sea Whome a man may iudge to be verie crooked and peruerse Moreouer these perpetuall warriours doe as much as in them lie shake off all such dueties as are most requisite in a good Citizen as that to their Countrie wherein they staie no longer than it is troubled c. to their parents whome some doe after they are growen prowd by armes disdaine because of their pouertie Concerning the perticular care that euerie one ought to haue to the erecting of a familie to the end to leaue children to his Countrie they neuer thinke of it as seeking rather to haue some bastard by their gentle gossips that followe them for whom afterward they take but small care These imperfections be the dependaunces of that choice of lyfe wherein the most of those that haue embraced it doe wrap themselues and finallie after long labour if they can attaine thereto they perish against some rocke or vpon some coast as a rouers ship There are will some man saie some that rise thereby true but not one of the fiftie And hee that woulde gather a Catalogue of those that suffer shipwracke vppon that hope must haue a long roule Another obiection is this many beeing brought vp â—ong in the warres and scarce knowing of whence they are cannot but followe that trade whereinto they are fashioned This were not to bee blamed if hauing reaped some fruite of their labours they would as some doe staie themselues when they are meetelie well But incessantlie to runne heere and there as rauens after carren that they haue smelt is as a man shoulde saie to transforme themselues into rauenous beasts or foules of praie The French souldiour ought in warre to serue his king and his Countrie and when peace commeth he must seeke if hee may to get into the entertayned bandes whereto if hee cannot reatch hee should not neuerthelesse vppon a desperate minde cast himselfe headlong into vnconsiderate enterprises as if the Realme were not able to keepe him or himselfe to finde meanes whereby to liue in the time of peace It is a wofull matter to thinke vppon the number of men that so cast awaie themselues For the pettie piracies of Perow doe swallowe vp aboue fiue hundred euerie yeere and other foreine warres more although the groundes bee vnlyke so as in fiue or sixe yeeres eight or nine thousande braue souldiours do shrinke awaie who might better haue serued some other time if they could haue had the patience to staie the necessitie of the common wealth I haue heard that at the battayle which Sebastian king of Portugal lost hee had certayne French harquebuts with him as also that in the armie of the Moores that ouer came him there were some lykewise Is not this a mad lusting after warre to runne so farre to seeke it yea and to serue vnder Infidelles I thinke when those men fall into anie premeditated perill they bee somewhat touched with repentance for theyr rashnesse but it is then verie late Those who for profite onelie doe flitter about like a birde at the call are more to bee excused than they that I haue spoken of For when some Captaynes haue spedde and the souldiours passed ouer their necessitie they returne home agayne although it many times fall out that as well the one as the other are defrauded of theyr hope in that the paie proueth so small and rare that they are not able to holde out yea and in place where paie is rifest the souldiours taste but little thereof It is onelie for a fewe Colonelles and Captaines who beeing licorous of such foode doe deuoure it and leaue the souldiours in lyke case as Colliers and Smiths who are all blacke and full of sweate while none but their masters that set them on worke doe gather the profite Which custome is farre different from that of our auncestours who appointed to the Captaines the honour and to the souldiours the siluer But of all that profite by payes none doe so well helpe themselues as the Reysters And to saie the truth wee are but clownes in respecte of them though some thinke themselues more actiue For they are so perfecte in Arithmetike that they neuer ouershoote themselues in accounts Lykewise they keepe possession
haue taught to be so weake and feeble that it is vnpossible to raise it vp againe This argument hath in deede some apparance howbeit I will yet better examine it then if reason will me to yeeld I will be content Shall we hauing so long practised with our French Florentines who through their subtil wits haue bene able to wreast a quintessence out of the most vnprofitable things seeme such doults as to haue retained no one precept of theirs It hath bene already shewed y t in old time bailiefs stewards were charged with y e leuie coÌ„duct of the Arrierbans It is their office euen to this day And in place where there bee none of the short roabe they choose Captains as in Britain to gather their men together after the proclaiming of the kings precepts but because in such offices there consisteth no great honor none but such Gentlemen as neuer stir out of the Country wiâ—take them yea those rather for the benefit thaÌ„ for any other respect they also although they be honest and such as may be imploied yet hauing for the most part but small experience in armes take no great heed of those that come to them and to the end to pleasure their neighbors friends doe accept of all that are offered Now is there great difference betweene the troups when they appeare at the musters in the chiefe towne when they march whether they be commanded For at the musters we many times see Gentlemen well prouided who appeare onely to saue their fées from seazure as it were to say that they are ready to do their seruice but wheÌ„ the said troups are appointed to go forth theÌ„ shal we see y t the one halfe of theÌ„ are but great lubberlike boies with a foot of beard who wil daily deuour halfe a mattoÌ„ do march for their masters Then say you whether the king be not wel serued So in a companie that should contain at the least 60. horse of seruice ye shal scarce finde ten that may passe How is it then possible that they should worke any good effect considering the diuersitie of men so meanly armed For we shal find y e speares pistols harquebuts on horsebacke very simple ones others armed only with brestplates likewise crosbowes on foot harquebuts others armed only with a shirt of maile a rustie iaueline wherof some wil say they be men of armes others archers but in deed few of them good souldiours There is not so expert a Captaine but would find himselfe shreudly troubled to set the whole generation of them in araie to fight so as euen they that command ouer them may wel iudge that it is hard to get any good seruice at the hands of such disordered troups In y e time of k. Henrie the L. of Iaille was made Colonel who in an expedition into the fontiers of Picardie had so bad hap y t his men fled as it is said before they came to battel which brought the Arrierbans into such conteÌ„pt y t euery man laughed them to scorue Since the L. of Sanzlay hath gotteÌ„ that office to whoÌ„ it should appertaine to purchase redresse In the meane time my selfe will grosely trace this purpose that tendeth to the same end leauing to him and others more skilful than my selfe the adding of the draughts of perfection as also the correction of any thing wherein I may erre In old time the Arrierbans were bound to serue the king but sixe weeks only in defence of the realme neither might he detain theÌ„ longer without pay then also were wars short commonly decided without battel But in y e decrees since made it seemeth y e time to be proroged to 3. moneths as wel in respect of trauailing to the place where the seruice is to be done as also for their soâ—ourning there wherin there is some reasoÌ„ in respect of the exteÌ„t of y e realme Now wil I proceed to speak of the abuses especially of one y t is coÌ„mitted in the taxing of fees wherin it is often seene y t a manor worth 2000 franks rent shal pay but 40. franks toward y e Arrierban others lesse Neither know I whence those errors should proceed but only froÌ„ those y t are charged with the said taxes who vpon their perticular consideration do defraud the common In these daies most of those that owe the seruice both noble vnnoble do acquit theÌ„selues with money For he y t should set out 2. or 3. men of armes shal coÌ„pound for some smalsuÌ„me those are rare fellowes y t set forth meet men for seruice True it is that when a small fee oweth but the 3. or 4. part of man they must take money but so should they not for higher fees Then all that money as I vnderstand is afterward coÌ„mitted to the treasorer of the Arrierbans who disposeth thereof according as either the supertor or inferior Captaines do appoint Whether ther be any fraud vsed therin I wot not but do refer it to y e iudgemeÌ„t of others Notwithstanding al these defaults yet when these troups are leuied whatsoeuer mixtioÌ„ there be we stil see some good portioÌ„ of that old shipwrack wherby I deeme y t if they might be purged and furnished againe we might reap some commodity at their handes I did once enquire what number of such men euery prouince was able to furnish one with another wherevpon I was certified that Britain which is one of the greatest might easily furnish 300 good horse then considering with my selfe of the rest each according to the proportion either for largenesse or smalnesse I gathered that all France by coÌ„uerting the kind of men into horsmen was able to bring into y e field 2500. horse which is no smal power This ancient order is yet in practise in the Turkish Empire For there the most part of the horsmen are entertained of the lands that are giueÌ„ to euerie horsman for his life time which is called Timar and it is a tenure somwhat resembling our fees exceyting the priuiledge of Iustice And when the Beglierbei who are gouernors of prouinces do send for men they al come to yeeld their seruice as being therevnto bound in paine of depriuation from the benefite receiued Without the diligent obseruing of this rule the Turke could neuer be able to bring halfe so many horse into the field as he doth neither to maintaine warres so long Whereby it appeareth that the barbarous nations haue better obserued the consideration of their estate than we Frossart writeth that in a iourney that K. Charles the 6. made against the Flemings whom y e k. of England fauored at his entry into their country had aboue 22000. speares such a number as sufficiently testifieth the plentie of nobilitie theu in France as also the good order to call them together which consisted in the Ban and Arrierban But since the men of arms were instituted I assure my selfe there
of many Gentlemen good Captaines that would not faile in their duties wherof in y e armies but one halfe were to bee vsed for feare of vnfurnishing the prouinces and the same would amount vnto about 1200. horse And in my opinion that Prince were farre out of taste that would disdaine to command ouer such a companie which vpon necessity might seeme to sight in flanke of a king in two great squadrons Neither is it yet al to haue propounded this braue patterne and set downe orders for small fruit would arise hereof vnlesse we should prouide for two pointes of great consideration The one to make a more iust valuation of that which the fees ought to coutribute the other to cut off vnnecessarie exemptions Concerning the first many abuses are therein committed For sundry doe spare themselues and burthen their neighbours or fauour others I remēber that once I heard of a fee not worth aboue 400. franks by yere belonging to an ancient Gentleman that in his youth had done verie good seruice rated at 80. franks for the Arrierban And of another goodly manor hard by it worth 1800. which a 〈◊〉 Aduocate had scratched in with 4. hands rated but at 35. This is the goodly equality many times obserued in such affaires Wherfore to preuent all such deceits it were requisite in euery bailiwick to chose six men of the three estates honorable honest men because at this daie the fees are diuided amōg them to assist at the taxing to y e end to draw thē neerer to reason so do I imagine that if we should take but the tenth part of the sayd fees the king should be well serued the priuate parties haue no great cause to complaine It were also good to haue regard to the persons For there were no reason as much to charge him who after a sorte serueth the common wealth or is vertuous or that hath bene employed in good seruice as a greate feed vsurer at whose gate the poore die for hunger or a pettie fogger that continually troubleth his neighbours Thus might men that would incroch fees be accustomed to abandon their euill manners that hurt others I knowe verie well that vpon this reuiew sundry will crie out and that peraduenture with sound heart saying What doo ye seeke to alter My fee for this hundred yeeres paide but so much which is peraduenture but the thirtieth or fortieth part and now you aske me more this violence is not to be borne If this plaintiefe be a Gentleman hee is one that eyther goeth to the warre or that tarrieth at home If he be a warriour he complaineth wrongfully considering that going to serue he is exempt frō paiments If he go not to the war he is either vertuous or vicious if vertuous he will consider that if it be a point of dishonestie to denie priuate bonds much more dishonestie is it to denie publike And then it is to be supposed he wil yeeld to reason But if hee bee one of them that doth but beare the name of gentilitie which he blemisheth w t vicious actions I would set before him the custome practised by our ancient Gaules in the time of Iulius Caesar which was this After the precepts directed forth for the assembling of the nobilitie he that came after the time limited not letted but by his owne negligence was put to death in sight of the whole armie thereby to warne the rest to be more diligent For so might he gather that if in those daies they did so seuerely punish their sloth that were willing to serue their ingratitude that will neither helpe in person nor in purse deserueth much greater punishment As for the vnnoble that haue fees such as haue anie iudgement or are endued with any indifferency or knowledge either be put in office should not murmure when they are called vpon to giue some small portion to be exempt from personall seruice whereto they are vnmeet Neither wil they in anie wise refuse so to do But as for those who as much vpō an earnest desire to be called Lords as for couetize do nothing but heape fee vpon fee do neyther serue the common wealth nor vse charitie yet would excuse thēselues frō discharging those most ancient duties which I doubt whether euen the Kings can bee excused of ought to bee charged double like the Asse y t hath a strong back to teach them to bee more willing Should they not consider y t they are vnworthy the prerogatiues honors of fees sith they are vncapable of military actions which ought to accōpanie those y t do possesse them They that séek nothing but starting holes will yet saie that the king raiseth subsidies of the people for the paie of his men of armes which sheweth that noble mens lands should be quite discharged Truely they doe wel fulfil y e rule of iustice making it to yeld to their owne profit straining it to the ouerthrow of others I thinke if anie man would euen flay the people they could be content so thēselues might haue some morcel of the skin It is the cōmons pouertie that ought to be pittied not their abūdance y t cannot be satisfied One word yet of exemptions which in such a case as this that concerneth the preseruation of the Realme are but ouer common The harme is the kings who is stil y e worse serued But as himself is the cause of this diminishing through the lyberalities which without giuing to him to vnderstande the consequences they force at his handes so is it his part also to enquire what may iustlie be granted and to cut off whatsoeuer is vnnecessarie Wherfore it were requisite the Captaine generall should be carefull to obtain of him a declaration for a rule in the Prouinces For as these dueties are no new matters but verie auncient and meete for the vpholding of the crowne and maintainance of the French Nation so must they be diligentlie seene into before they bee dispensed withall The Romaines who did but seldome oppresse their subiectes with great tributes had neuerthelesse when any great warre came vpon them especially agaynst the Gaules no respect of persons neyther were their Priests whom they esteemed sacred exempt from common contributions so carefull were they for the publike benefite The lyke regard ought we to haue of ours and not to let those helpes that serue to that end runne into decaie which neuerthelesse we ought not to vse to the murthering of our selues but rather to repulse the chiefe enemies of this estate who doe but watch occasion to destroie vs. For this cause ought wee of our pouertie and necessitie to make a vertue least we be circumuented For if we suffer our selues to be beaten our neighbours will saie that we shall haue wrong but if we well defend our selues as wée may if wee redresse the forces of our Realme they will be affeard to come and assaile vs. The twelfth Discourse Of the multiplying
regiments For if the Colonell bee a man of small experience he maketh but bad choyse of Capteynes and they of Souldiers Then as well the one as the other guyding them selues rather after their owne phancies then after any good militarie order it is not to bee meruailed though such bad beginnings haue worse ends The like may also happen to this warfare for if the Colonell louing the Court will not remaine with his companies and the Capteynes do for the most part keepe home likewise that as well the one as the other to the ende to furnish themselues doe make their prouision of halfe their Souldiers pay all will bee corrupted In a matter of such importance we ought to be very diligent and the more that abuses doe multiplie the more seuerely are they to be looked vnto The fower regiments afore mentioned would I wish to bee put in garrison in the frontiers of Picardy Champagne and others of protection there to serue as well for the custodie of some places of importance as Metz and Calais as also to bee Schooles where young Gentlemen growne from Pages and other youth might goe to learne the arte of warre but the chiefe ende indeede is to haue alwaies a storehonse of old souldiers readie prouided for euery neede For so soone as warre were proclaymed and the King shall haue cōmaunded to encrease the companies to their full number amounting to two hundred a peece we should within some sixe or seuen weekes be able to bring forth into the fielde two thousand Corcelets sixe thousand Harquebuts which ioyned with a parte of the men of armes would beare a good brunt vntill the comming of the rest of our power Now if euer it is necessary to reforme our footmen sith the ciuill warres haue so corrupted them y t either they cannot or will not almost obey onely breeding terror where they march and scath where they continue In these daies when a yong man commeth newly into a regiment of Footmen I presume that he learneth some feates of warre also to be the more couragious but it is to bee feared least in the same Schoole he get as great imperfections which darken all the good that he had learned as I haue shewed els where Where cōtrariwise these fower regiments would be as it were great springs from whence would flowe none but fayre and cleere water which shedding it selfe all ouer the Realme would clarifie those that are troubled For discipline being established and obserued such as followe the same shewing themselues euery where gentle to their equalles obedient to their superiours courteous to the commōs and stout against the proud especially against their enemies should cause all men much more to admire them therefore then for their bigge lookes besides the fame of so braue an institution being spred abroad all noble harts will detest the accustomed corruptions and withall desire to submit themselues to the same Had I not heretofore seene the like effects proceede of the like cause I would not speake so boldly as I doe I remember that in the beginning of King Henry the seconds raigne when certeyne Capteynes and Souldiers that had lyen two yéeres in garrison in the townes of Piedmont returned into France they were greatly esteemed because they shewed them selues so ciuill and courteous nothing iniurious and speaking so orderly of the exercise of armes which caused many young men to runne thether in hope of the like instructions Yea my selfe haue seene the Earle of Charny one of the most vertuous and honestest Lords of this land weare the Corcelet and goe to warde as duely as one of the meanest Souldiers euen in the tyme of peace Now may some good husband obiect that this multiplicitie of Capteynes and Companies will much augment expences which though they be ordinarie doe neuerthelesse growe grieuous in the ende also that it were better to mainteyne but tenne compleat To whom I will aunswer that my entent is not to forme one full regiment for alwaies as affayres growe on it shall bee but one regiment but I looke to lay the foundation of many which being good all that shall be built thereon will take the like goodnesse that is to say Valour As also it would followe thereof that we should haue thrise so many men which is one of the drifts that I tend vnto For as hath bene aforesayd these fower bodies should maintaine eight thousand Souldiers all which being incorporated therein might be tearmed olde They should moreouer be shops out of the which we might fetch Capteynes for our footmen for in three or fower yeeres exercise euen in the tyme of peace a man of any capacitie might grow worthie to commaund through often conference of the 〈◊〉 of warre and practising the offices of those that deale therein 〈◊〉 also by continuall viewe of some image thereof before his eyes As for the charge I confesse it would amount vnto about fower thousand crownes at the most by moneth But withall we should mainteyne a hundred or sixe score men of commaundement whereof many might in tyme doe such seruice as could not bée recompenced What braue Colonels haue the Infantery bred within these fiue and twentie yeeres of whom I will name but a fewe as Charry Gohas Causseins Sarlabous Pilles Mounans and the valiant Montbrun It is to bee thought that this good order will raise vs vp more such Wee shall doe our maister no hurt in giuing him counsaile to spend a handful of money to reape againe so good interest for it The Colonels of these regiments being well and without fauour chosen must also wee subiect to dwell fower or fiue moneths of the yeere among them neither may the Capteynes haue leaue to bee absent aboue three or fower moneths at the most For when the officers be away discipline is neglected and obedience lost Likewise were it requisite the assignations of payment were certaine to the ende the Souldier bee not corrupted in being driuen to seeke his liuing abroade Thus would 15000. crownes by moneth suffice which is such a somme as our Kings sometyme doe giue to some one man in one day Likewise where our Souldiers will now a daies weare no Corcelets the same might by this meanes be brought againe into vse and estimation which is more easie to bee done then men weene for but then the Capteynes must begin who haue reiected the vse of the Pike for they must bee enioyned to take it againe together with the Millan Corcelet If they will they may also haue the Sword and Target of proofe against assaults and skirmishes In the Companies one quarter should bee Corcelets and that should neuer faile and the rest Harquebuts And notwithstanding this were not a fit proportion which requireth to consist of as many of the one as of the other yet must we come as neere it as wee may Also the better to bring our Souldiers into tast with the sayd Corcelets they should haue those that
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
standeth in the same climate as Strigon so as we shal need to feare no more but our enimies yron But to proceede we are to vnderstand that after the posteritie of Godfrey of Bolleine had inioyed the lande aboue 80. yeeres ciuill dissention crept in among them and some of them calling the Sarazens to their aide grew so strong that they droue out the rest This afterward moued diuerse Christian Princes to ioyne againe in the recouerie of that which was lost so as in fiue or six score yeres they made sixe or seauen notable voiages wherein went personally the Emperours Fredericke Barbarossa Frederick the second Conrade king of Germanie some kings of France and of England wherof neuerthelesse grew smal profit At the beginning the Christians had goodly victories but in the end they had the foile were neuer able to expell the Turkes and Saracens out of the lands that they had recoueres All these later losses proceeded of sundrie causes as of particular warres leauied by some of the princes that staied behinde in their lands that were gone y t voiages of want of wine other prouision of the small perseuerance of them that were leagued of the pestilence that fell in the armie finally of such hinderances as the Emperors of Greece did vnderhand work to the westeru forces enuying as it shuld seme their generosity being loth they shuld conquere the land which y t Sarazens had won froÌ„ the said Empire These are the deformities of the former enterprises which ought to be warily shunned for feare of disgracing the present for it is a double fault to know the former ouer sightes yet to fall into theÌ„ again Other princes y t followed the aforenamed haue but defeÌ„ded yelded to y e Turkish rage which ouerflowing in y e family of the Ottomans hath for these 300. yeres stil increased to our great losse destruction howbeit euen in the middest of our disorders we haue not wanted some excelleÌ„t persons who with very smal means haue withstood the meruailous force of these barbarous nations whiles life hath lasted ben a rampier to all Christendome One was Iohn Huniades the Father of Mathy Coruine chosen to be king of Hungary Another Scanderbeg Prince of Albania who both were surnamed The scourges of the Turkes because of the great slaughters that they made in those battailes that they won Wherin we are to note Gods power wisedome who with weak smal things can pluck down the pride of the mighty They like wise haue held long wars vpon the seas yea the Sarazens haue ben so strong therin y e oftentimes they haue made great discents in the costes of Christendome and haue taken land in sundrie places as in Spaine the most part whereof they possessed aâ—oâ—t 780. yeeres also in Sicil where they remained aboue two hundred â—eâ—res But the Turkes great power vpon the seaneuer appeared so much as after the losse of Constantinople For hauing so commodious a harborow they thereof tooke occasion to thinke vppon sea matters shewing themselues terrible in the conquest of Ilandes and firme land where they haue descended The Christians alwaies so much as they might withstoode them but in the end by litle litle were through their great force oppressed so as for theyr more assurance they haue bene driuen 〈◊〉 them with the Mediterranean and Adriaticke sea abandoning vnto them almost all that is beyonde the same Diuerse are the reasons that leade me to thinke the time to set vppon them as conuenient now as euer First the want of experience in their greate Lord who is sayde to be rather a Philosopher than a souldiour as neuer wearing armour as his grandfathers Selim and Soliman the conquerâ—rs of sundrie countries did For the Turkish nation hauing such leaders doe notable things Then their losses in the Persian warres haue much weakened them whereof we are to gather that their great prosperitie which so long hath accompanied them doth now begin to droope Thirdly Don Iohns victory hath eased vs of one errour wherein wee were which is that wee thought theÌ„ to be by sea inuincible withal taught vs what aduaÌ„tage in ioyning we haue ouer them wherein wee should scarcelie haue bene confirmed but by this experience All this together considered should the more incline vs to take the occasion when it is offered for we must imagine that time altereth things men grow into experience good hap returneth inuentions increase I know our sinnes are the chiefe causes that God vseth them as scourges to smite vs but we neede not doubt but they haue like wise fourefolde procured his wrath And who knoweth whether their time bee not come to receiue the same that they haue inflicted vpon others We ought to be assured that in his iust iudgementes toward his hee alwayes mixeth his abundaunt mercie with his wrath and they that be vesselles of his wrath shall soone or late feele his vengeance without mercie To this purpose I will alleade a foolish Prophetie contained in their Alcaron where I haue read it not that I thinke anie truth to be harboured in theyr false Oracles vnderpropped with lies but because sometime the wicked haue at vnawares foretolde thinges that haue afterward come to passe This it is In the later dayes it shal come to passe that the Musulmans that is to say the Turkish nation shall straie from the lawes of the great Prophet Mahumet giuing themselues to all iniquitie Then shall the Christian swoord arise and thrust them out of their Empire Such as haue ben conuersant among them do report that their wise men doe sometimes set these speeches before them and they feare them as indeede they ought sith they were neuer so corrupt as at these dayes or so worthie grieuous punishment I haue bene long before I could speake of the meanes to assayle these so mightie aduersaries and the rather because I haue imagined the former matters verie requisite for the better vnderstanding of that which I wil saie To begin therefore I wil set to your view some counsayles of our forefathers out of the which we may gather good instructions who for the like causes haue often beene stirred vp to frame braue purposes Guic ciardine the historiographer who well noted such things as happened in his time reporteth that when Selim had conquered all Aegypt and obtayned sundrie victories else where all Christendome grew into great feare His owne wordes because they deserue consideration I will set downe The Pope sayth he with all the Court of Rome astonished at such successe and to the end to prouide against so great a mischiefe shewing that he would first craue Gods helpe commanded sundrie deuout processions at Rome wherin himselfe went barefoote Then calling vpon the help of men hee sent his Mandats to all Christian Princes admonishing them of this great danger and perswading them to laie aside all disorders and contentions speedely to
and not to stay els where but as this speech is a token of courage so is it a signe of small experience at the least as I thinke because armies march not in poste Moreouer they doe ordinarily meete with barres and stops which they must first breake For vndoubtedly the Turkes being certified of these great preparations of the Christians both by sea and by land will set against them three hundred thousand fighting men against whom they must march with leaden héeles and Iron hands and take as great heede of ouersight by rashnesse as by retchlesnesse especially in actions of great importance Now presuppose the Turkes Nauie doe offer to fight with vs I must not thinke our Souldiers to bee by sea any whit of lesse discretion courage and felicitie then vpon the land for I make certaine accompt of their victorie But admit these barbarous people purposing onely to trye our men should fight neere to their aduantages and then hauing lost twentie or thirtie gallies should retire to the couert of their Townes and Castles yet should we so winne great fame and bee thought bolde that durst aduenture to inuade them euen in the face of some of their Houlds Then if any mans courage so encreased as needes he would to Constantinople wee might tell him that besides the reasons afore named we should bée too farre of and that the Turkish armie will still be as strong as the Christian Againe that although we had more fauourable successe yet were it too much presumption to thinke at once to winne that proude Citie without any armie by lande within two hundred leagues thereof as also that if they should perceiue that wee would take that course they would presently thrust in twentie thousand Souldiers and bring as many horsemen into the fielde to fauour it all which they might raise in Natolie And herevpon wee are to note that Mahumet the second at the taking thereof besieged it with two mightie armies one by sea an other by land the Christians hauing at that tyme but fifteene or sixteene thousand men to defend it But our best counsaile were to bestowe the time vntill the ende of September in conquering of Moroca inuading the same at the head namely by Coron Modon either by those Castles that kéepe the mouth of the gulfe of Leganto to the end afterward to fortifie it after our best maner at the falling of that peece of an I le where the famous citie of Corinth was in olde time builded The like enterprise made Andrew Dorie in the yeere 1532. who by force tooke Coron Patras Lepanto places which were afterward lost againe for lacke of succour Hauing therefore left a strong garrison of footmen in the conquered places seuen or eight hundred horses and prouision of victualles sufficient with thirtie gallies whose slaues might serue for Pyoners the rest of the Nanie might bee dismissed vntill the spring These through Gods great fauour might be the effects of the first yeere Now are we to discourse of the effects of the second yere when I thinke wee should not finde the Turke so proude as before but much more warie and aduised for experience teacheth those things which otherwise we neither would nor could knowe The armies should be readie to march in the beginning of May with like purpose againe to come to battaile if the Turkes would offer it But if they list to take a surer course and not to attempt any thing out of season then must the Captaines shewe forth their braue pollicies whereby to force them to the combate without their Houlds as Hanniball did who by subteltie drewe the Romaines to three battailes which he wonne soone after his ariuall in Italy The most ordinary meanes to be practised to that entent is to besiege places of importance for if this mooue not the enemie to hazard himselfe it is a signe of small courage and lesse force I doubt not but into those which they minde to vse to delay vs withall they will put 8. or 10000. Souldiers well victualled and furnished with all sortes of munition whiles themselues will lodge their armie some sixe leagues of to relieue them as aportunitie may shall serâ—is And to say the truth such exployts will bee difficult chiefly for any towne standing vpon this great Riuer But that must bee no let but that we proceede and with plentie of Pyoners and instruments enowe to set teme thousand men on worke we raise trenches both offensiue and desensiur and builde as many Fortes as may bee requisite for the more conuenient assaulting of the besieged and safe defence against the enemies armie vsing withall whatsoeuer our bridges And I think certainely that vp planting fiftie Canons before such places as may be but weakely fortified we shall in fower daies see breach sufficient for a horse to goe in at Then comming to haudie blowes with them wee being strong and they weake and withall hauing the aduantage of the qualitie and goodnesse of our armour may easely he we them in peeces vnlesse Christian courtesie list to spare any During these actions it will stande our horsemen on hande to bee very watchfull in going to safeconduct the bictuall and forrage wherein may bee braue enterprises and either parte may lay great ambushes to trye the sufficiencie of the Captaines together with the baliancie of the younger sorte And if the first yeere wee may reach to Bude I thinke that in the second wee may reach vnto place where Draue falleth into Danowe This donâ— the imperiall power should bee placed in fome conuenient ground to vnderprop this newe couquest vntill the townes conuenient to bee kept for the assurance of passage bee fortified and made defensible then to retire to their garrisons to passe ouer the wiuter Concerning the Nauie tyme of yeere comming on it should set forwarde to the I le of Negroponte to put the Turke therefro which if their armie should peraduenture offer to let then the same to be fought withall For in this expedition the watch word should bee Fight but if they lye aloofe then to goe forwarde with their enterprise But still this is to be noted that assailing the land they must alwaies bée prouided as if themselues should be assailed by sea Then hauing diligently fortifled the best Hauens with men virtuall and vessels the armie might scoâ—â—e some parte of the entries into the great Ocean and so to recâ—iâ—e to wintering Hetherto haue I saide nothing of the enhabitants of Greece who haue long groned after their deliuexie because I wot not what seruice may bee reaâ—ed at their handes 〈◊〉 as the boyce goeth their courages are so quayled through the great tyraunie that moâ—esseth them and they so vnprouided of weapons and martiall knowledge that I dure not adâ—owe that they would make any great stirre so soone In all those Prouinces lying on this side of Constantinople which together are at this day called Romania there bee many more Christians then
all olde souldiours and the others newe did so disorder them as they were forced to abandon the village and leaue him free passage Finallie within two leagues of Saumure hee founde yet another companie of footemen lodged in a Church whome hee forced and tooke theyr Ensigne and so at the shutting in of the euening came safe with his men well wearyed with fighting and marching hauing lost but twentie of them but slayne foure times as many of his enemies and scarred aboue a thousande This exploit did I thinke good to sette downe as seeming to bee replenished with a braue determination albeit it was â—o meruayle that the Lorde of Andelots troopes entered not within them for they were sodainelie surprised beeing all scattered a sunder besides that the horsemen were in too straight a roome to fight well and although they had beene gathered agayne together yet were the enemies alreadie in safetie Thus do we see how much it standeth a body in hand both to march in order and to be well determined and this is it that causeth those small troopes that are willing in valour to supplie their weaknesse ordinarily to ouercome Notwithstanding this checke yet was not the Lord of Andelot past hope of passage ouer the riuer hauing therfore closed his men in two bodies he caused them to trye euery where In the ende they found a foord as it were miraculously where no man had in mans memorie passed and the next morning both he and all his being very glad that they had met that which they hoped not of he passed ouer vnto the other side Remaining in these vncerteynties I could him that it were good for vs to consider what wee had to doe if our passage were stopped wherevpon he aunswered What can wee elâ— doe but take some extreeme partie either to dye as Souldiers or to saue our selues as Souldiers My opinion is sayd he that wee all ioyne and so retire seauen or eight leagues hence into the open countrie and thence to aduertise the Lordes of Montpensier and Martigues that we be fled are scattered euery man seking to escape the daunger which they will soone beleeue In the meane time we will encourage and prepare our men to ouercome Then if they approach neere vnto vs as vndoubtedly they will rather to spoile than to fight let vs valiantlie set vppon them so shall we bâ—eake them and afterwarde will no troope for one moneths space bee so bolde as to come before vs thus maye wee easilie gette into Germanie or vp the riuers This readie and couragious counsayle of so gallant a knight is no more in my opinion to bee concealed than the braue determination of the Lord of Martigues two personages vndoubtedly worthie the best militarie offices The last woâ—ne farre greater honour in his passage and the first much more profite as getting him and his into safetie For within eight dayes after hee ioyned with the Prince of Condie which was a greate strengthening vnto him This the Protestants so badde a beginning and enterie into the warre by such headelong retreates was a foretoken that they would vse these remedies in the continuation thereof which also came to passe albeit in the former they had but verie seldome had anie such happe whereof if there bee anie that desire to knowe the causes I will set them downe It proceeded of the contempt of discipline and the multiplication of vice the which dooth breede greate disorder and engendreth bouldnesse in many not in all who vnder colour of necessitie doo take vpon them too much libertie That the respite which his Maiestie gaue to the Prince of Conde without sending any armie against him was a meanes for him to preuaile of a great Prouince without the support whereof he could not haue continued the warre THE Protestants whole refuge in these last troubles coÌ„sisted in retiring to Rochel which hauing embraced the Gospell and reiected the doctrine of the Pope rested alreadie at their deuotion The towne is reasonable large and wel seated vpon the sea coast in a soyle abounding with victuals full of rich Marchants and good artificers which was very profitable for the preseruation of sundrie families the reaping of al commodities necessarie for the Souldiers and whole armie both by sea by land Now after the Lord of Andelots arriuall the Captaines were aduised to lose no time so as hauing taken some artillerie out of Rochell they assayled the townes of Poictow and Xantoigne which then were but weake and meanly prouided of garrisons and so became maisters of as many as they might as Nyort Fontenay S. Maixant Saintes S. Iohn d'Angely Ponts and Coignac Afterward they tooke also Blay and Angolesme some being wonne easely others with batterie and assault To bee briefe in lesse then two moneths of poore vagabonds as at the first they were they had gotten into their hands meanes sufficient to coÌ„tinue a long warre In all these places they lodged about thirtie companies of footmen and seauen or eight cornets of horse which was a great ease to the countrie and so formed a braue politicke and militarie order as well for the Frenchmen as for the guiding of the armie Herein do I consider how necessitie being followed by occasion the Protestants could helpe themselues with both Being oppressed with the first they layd open all inuentions of the minde and strength of bodie to eschue destruction And when the second came in place they found themselues readie to embrace it I sometime heard the Lord Admirall applie the goodly saying of Themistocles to the state of the affayres of that time viz. We were lost if we had not bene lost thereby meaning that had we not fled we could not haue recouered that good spring which was farre better then the same that we had before I knowe not how it fell out that the Catholikes did no sooner knowe that they whome they had driuen from about them did settle themselues a farre of and so send remedies there against for vndoubtedly if they had it might haue cut off halfe our conquestes but I thinke that at Paris they were so glad to see those Prouinces and Townes which before had made them so sharpe warre abandoned that many of their harts were so puffed vp that afterward they disdained the Protestants effects who thought Rochell only able to resist them wherein in three moneths they might bee shut vp These be the forecastes of man after some fauourable accident The Queene of Nauarre perceiuing these stirres was very diligent to draw to those quarters bringing with her her childreÌ„ and some good power which serued as well to authorise the cause as to strengthen the armie She feared least staying in her owne countries she should bee forced as well by the commotions of her subiects as by other power to let her sonne go to the Court where vndoubtedly at the least in outward shewe he should be driuen to change his religion In consideratioÌ„ wherof she made
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
force them to parley for their returne into Germanie which might easilie be compassed by giuing them two moneths paie We also sayd they knowe the Admirall to be one of the most politike Captaines in the world most skilfull in winding himselfe out of aduersitie if he may haue anie leasure He will repaire his power and thereto adioyne more out of Gascogne Languedock so as in the spring we shall see him appeare with a newe armie wherewith he will harrie our Princes molest vs and burne euen to the gates of Paris Moreouer the Princes of Nauarre and Condie comming among these conquered people will by their presence by little and little cheere them vp againe and waken many other flomackes as yet daunted in diuerse places vnlesse with diligence we take frō them almeanes to preuaile of the time They concluded that Monsieur with the two thirds of his armie should follow them for so he might vndoubtedly in short space force the Captaines for their refuge to enter some weake holde which might finish the warre Others being of another opinion sayd that they now reaped one of the principall fruites of their atchieued victorie in the conquest of these townes wherof they had alreadie wonne sixe in ten daies that now they should set vpon get the rest considering in what feare they now were that the Protestants woulde neuer bee quiet so long as they had any places of retreate which being taken from them they woulde haue no great desire to stirre that there rested no more but a few townes in Xantoigne Angonlucis in that quarter which could not aboue two moneths holde out agaynst the force of their victorious armie and Monsieurs good hap that afterward Rochel seeing it selfe naked of all couerture would quake As for the remainder of the conquered armie wherwith the Princes and Admirall had saued them selues the same did flie would scatter of it selfe howbeit to hasten it thereto they might send after it a thousande horse and two thousande Two leagues within the sea there lie certaine Iles which fauour her the inhabitants giuen as much to warre as traficke the magistrates discreete and all wel affected to the reformed religion as for the fortifications experience hath taught what they are therefore I shall not neede to saie anie more of them Well I will confesse that Orleance to him that is strong in the field is a place more proper to assayle but if it be for defence Rochel is farre more profitable some there are that note the inhabitaunts of rudenesse but how euer it be they be loyall the same may be spoken of the people of Namure who are with their rudenesse loyall And when the imperfections of a man or citie are much lesse than the good qualities they may be borne well enough The succour which the Princes had thence in this third warre doe sufficientlie testifie it to be a good shop and well furnished neither doe I alleadge this to the end great townes should bee puffed vp with pride but rather to prouoke them to praise God for those plentifull commodities that he hath bestowed vpon them For hee that exalteth himselfe shal be brought lowe either earlie or late Among all others that they had thence this is to be noted that she furnished and armed a certaine number of vessels which fetcht them in sundrie rich prizes yeelding great treasure to the generall cause for albeit they then tooke but the tenth for the admiralty yet did the profit thereof amount vnto aboue 500000. frankes Afterward in the next warres which began in the yeere 1574. necessitie constrayned them take the fifth it was thought that this would haue restrayned sea faring men from seeking their aduentures in such hazard howbeit this exercise was so pleasant vnto them that notwithstanding this excessiue tribute they could not desist therefro albeit oftentimes it hapned that in those booties which their talents had griped the nailes of the land Picoree or prouling gaue terrible pinches whereby we may see what wealth the sea warre dooth minister to anie Countrie Now if the land warre be iust so ought this also to be howbeit when we come to examine diuerse the perticular actions thereof we shall therein finde wonderfull abuses at the least among vs for most of these aduenturers doe make small difference betweene friends and foes and many times the poore enemie hath had fauour when the rich friend hath bene robbed and committed to the streames by them that presumed through crueltie to conceale their coueteousnesse But heauen hauing both eies and mouth seeing these secret inhumanities reuealeth them openly and with al more iustlie casteth some of the cōmitters therof headlong into the gulfes wherein they had vniustly buried the innocent marchant But bee this spokē without iniury to those that do behaue themselues lawfullie in their vocation for my speech I direct onelie to such as are disordinatlie affected to robbe the whole world I haue heard of the Spaniards who were at the ouerthrow of the Lord of Strossie that halfe his armie consisted of pirats and rouers who forsooke him at his most neede suffering him euen in their view to perish together with such braue persons as accompanied him to the battaile also that they meruayled that of fortie saile that went with him there fought not aboue sixe or seauen but as they commended the valour of these so did they blame the cowardlinesse of the rest notwithstanding it redounded to their profit This teacheth vs that the affections to spoile and the affections to fight do worke contrarie effects For my part I shall still bewaile this valiant Captaine my verie good friend who both in his life and death was an honour to our Fraunce That in nine moneths the Princes army marched almost three hundred leagues compassing in manner the whole Realme of France also what successe they had in this voiage FOrce it was for the Lords Princes and Admirall after their ouerthrow to goe farre enough from the victorious army as well for their owne safeties as vpon sundrie other respects afore as it were by the way mencioned which counsaile redounded to their profite through the follie of the Catholikes who suffered this small snowball without let to roule so long that in short time it grew as great as a house for the authoritie of the Princes stirred vp gathered many the L. Admiralls foresight and inuention compassed profitable things the bodie of the Reisters which amounted to 3000. gaue credite to the armie they endured much vntill they came into Gascogne where they strengthened themselues with shot wherof they stod in great need especially for the warranting of their horsemen from surprises by night which in those quarters through the neighbourhoode of both townes and castles are verie cōmon They dispearsed them among the cornets of Reisters other French troopes so as as wel in the open as close Countrie they were still readie to defend themselues
to force their enemies withdrew to their lodginges as also did the Princes who hauing considered that their staie might be hurtfull as also that they wanted pouder marched by great ionrneis vnto La Charitee and other townes their partakers there to furnish themselues anewe with all commodities necessarie Shortlie after there was a truce taken betweene both armies which grew to a peace wherevpon euerie man laid downe his weapons It had bene verie noisome lieng so long in the field in heate in colde in bad wayes and almost alwayes in the enemies lande where the verie peasant made them as sharp warre as the souldier which inconueniences many times troubled that great Captaine Hannibal when he was in Italie It is therefore a braue schoole point to marke how men can fit their counsayles to necessitie such labours are in the beginning so odious that they make the sculdiours to murmure against their owne Captaines but being a litle accustomed hardned in these painful exercises they begin to grow into a good opinion of themselues when they see that they haue as it were ouercome y t which terrefieth so many chieflie the delicate These be the braue galleryes beautifull walks of the souldiours then their bed of honour is the graue wherinto a harquebuze shot may haue ouerthrowen them But in truth all this is worthie reward commendation namely when they that tread these pathes and endure these labours doe maintaine an honest cause and in their proceedings shew themselues replenished with valor and monestie Now if anie man in this woful warre laboured sore both in bodie minde we may saie that it was the Admirall for the waightiest part of the burthen of the affaires and military labours did he with great constancie and facilitie beare as also hee bare him selfe as reuerentlie among the Princes his superiours as modestie with his inferiours Godlinesse he alwayes helde in great estimation and bare greate loue to iustice which made him to be esteemed honored of all that part which he had taken he neuer ambiciously sought offices or honors but in eschuing them was in respect of his sufficiencie and honestie forced to take them When hee dealt with weapons he shewed himselfe as skilful in them as anie Captaine of his time and alwayes couragiouslie hazarded himselfe to all daungers In aduersities he was noted to be endued with magnanimitie and inuention to get out and shewed himselfe alwayes free from glosing and dissimulation In summe he was a man worthie to restore any weake and corrupt estate Thus much I thought good by the waie to saie of him as hauing knowen and kept his companie yea and profited in his schoole and so should doe him iniurie if I should not make true and honest mention of him The causes of the third peace The comparison thereof with the former also whether the same were necessarie NOne of the three ciuill warres lasted so long as this which coÌ„tinued two whole yeres where the first was ended in one yere the second in sixe moneths and many doyet thinke that had not y e Protestants draweÌ„ toward Paris it would not haue bene done so soone of which experience they haue gathered this rule that to purchase peace war must be brought beere this mightie Citie which I also take to haue ben one of the chiefe causes to help it forward for y e stripes which threaten the head do greatly terrefie the Catholike strangers hauing also wasted innumerable coin had left such want that they knew not how to furnish paie Ruine and robberie was rife euerie where Moreouer good hap seemed to begin to raise vp those that had ben wearied For the Princes armie had made a braue head against the Kings at Rene le Duc. Gascogne LaÌ„guedock Daulphine held sorer than war before Bearne was recouered in Poictou Xantoigne the Protestants had spead well in ouerthrowing the two old regiments and taking sundrie townes Al these things gathered together which other secret perticular oceasions disposed y e King and Queene to grant to the peace which was published in August The Protestants also desired stood in great need of it for hauing neuer a crowne wherewith to satiffie their Reisters their necessitie would haue driuen them to abandon the Princes as by the Countie of Mansfield they gaue them to vnderstande Likewise seeing them neere their owne Countrie it was to bee feared least they would haue resolued so to doe which falling out would haue beene the ouerthrow of their affaires Many other discommodities which I omit vrged heereunto among the rest the misrule of our souldiours was such as it could not be remedied Insomuch that the Admirall who loued good order and hated viâ—e did many times since saie that he had rather die than fall into the like confusions againe and to see so many mischiefes committed before his face To bee briefe the peace was accepted vpon tollerable conditions also for y e assurance thereof was added that which in the former they neither durst demand nor coulde obtaine namelie foure townes The beginning of this communication was after the siege of S. Iohn d'Angelie wherin were emploied the Lords of Thelignie Beaunois la Nocle gentlemeÌ„ endued w t diuerse vertues who faithfully discharged their duties and if before when the Protestants affaires were at a latter hand the Catholiks had offered smaller conditions I thinke they would haue bene taken But when they saw that they would not graunt them anie exercise of religion but onely a simple libertie of conscience it brought them into such despaire that they made of necessitie vertue And as time breedeth alterations so those that ensued turned so far to their fauour that their courages were raised and their hope corroborated The best time then to treate of peace is when we haue the aduantage in war But that doth ordinarilie so puffe vp men that they will not heare thereof howbeit either earlie or late the king did wiser to graunt it for the continuation of warre depriued him of his pleasure supplanted the loue and obedience due vnto him forâ—aied the Countries sacked the treasurie consumed his power But may some man say the king of Spaine hath not done so in Flanders Truely may another aunswere he hath not wonne much and per aduenture in the end for the ceasing of these troublesome tragedies hee will followe the same counsaile that his neighbours haue done Now albeit peace was necessarie for the Protestants yet haue this â—shap almost euer ensued that the same haue not continued neither so much as beene established according to the couenant I will speak first of that which was framed before Orleance lasted foure yeeres and a halfe was nothing neere so profitable for them as the edict of Ianuarie howbeit it followeth not but that it was at that time acceptable for theyr affayres were not in state to refuse it and time discouered the fruit that it