théefe that steales away our wealth Is sore afraide a true mans steps to sée The fearefull wight that doth misdoubt his health Will blushe to come where that sound people be The faithfull stands the faulty man will flée The rebell shrinks where rule and order swaies Troth bides the brunt the Traitor runs his waies Bold practise quakes when power supplants his pride Where biles breaks out there is rebellion spide Among good Ewes beware of scabbed shéepe The Wolfe with Lambe may not be matcht aright The flocke is spoilde where For the Géese doth kéepe The sicke with sound is sure no comely sight What néedes more tearmes who dares not bide the light In darkenesse dwels a blinde rebellious minde Is more corrupt then any thing we finde Then either heale the member that doth smell Or cut him of before he further swell But farre more fit that flesh should be reformde And sanâ—de from harme that else corrupt would grow The itching hand of force must needes be wormde Least skinne waxe rough and pimples rise ye know If knife pare well a corne vppon the toe The foote is easde and man shall march vpright Take slime from eies the blinde receiues his sight So cleansing cleane each part and member well The state of man in safety long shall dwell So all thinges meant that here doth passe the pen Woundes to be heald and searched as they ought All to be done for health and wealth of men And nought amisse in word in deede nor thought Yea when my verse so great a worke hath wrought To linke in loue good subiects all in one To stand as firme as rocke or marble stone Then shall my mouth my muse my pen and all Be prest to serue at each good subiects call FINIS THE HONOR OF A Souldier TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPful Sir George Carew Knight Lieutenant of the Ordinance Thomas Churchyard wisheth worldly felicity and heauenly blessednes IN calling to minde good Sir George our méeting in Ireland a long while agoe for the seruice of the Quéenes Maiesty your good brother then liuing to whome I was bound in good will I penned at that instant by his meanes the life and death of a Pirate and promised a further worke to your selfe which now I performe because your Souldiour-like disposition is aunswered with the aduauncements of Fortune and your ancient house and bloud is beautified with an honourable place the Prince hath possest you of a signe and token as I beleeue that a noble Souldiers profession shall neuer goe out of your remembraunce for the which cause I haue dedicated this worke called The honor of a Souldier vnto your protection in hope that which you haue séene and read for the commendation of Souldiers shall be a sufficient testimony of their value and worthines and shall not only procure you and others like your selfe to further their fame but like wise willing to read that I haue set downe in their behalfe for as briefely as my small Iudgement can discharge a true discourse thereof with good probable reasons and auncient authors of famous credite I minde to expresse and set foorth at large how Souldiours were made off and honoured in times past and what prerogatiue they hadde aboue other people And to declare how Princes held them in admiration and gaue them liberties titles and dignities farre beyond the rest of any that liued vnder their lawes and obedience And this by the waye is to bée thought that all my former discourse and rehearsall of warres attended to no other purpose and effect but for the aduauncement of Souldiours and to bee as it were a foile to sette foorth the matter I presentlye mind to publishe out For nowe I will in a manner shewe howe Gentility beganne and where and in what sort honour was first gotten and maintayned which argument as I hope shall not onely content the wise and well learned but also please euery degrée and make the simple sort plucke vp their courages and imitate by some honest exercises the liues of noble Souldiers I trust I néede not in this ready and ripe age wherein good writers great learning and studious iudgements doth florishe rehearse by particulars euery parcell and poinct that belongeth to a Souldiers profession Nor that you looke I should recite when and where the Romanes Lacedemonians Athenians and other nations did preferre and extoll men of Marshall minds and noble courages For their books and Commentaries and the innumerable Libraries of great antiquity are the very recordes of my discourse and remaine as mirrours for you to looke in And shall proue a thousand partes more in the commendation of Souldiours then either my penne or tongue by sufficient cunning hath power to expresse For it can not be that from a little gutte or Channell of water you should looke for so great a floud as from a multitude of springes from whence mighty Riuers takes originall and recourse And so I send you to the Welspring of knowledge I mean the auncient Fathers workes to fetch true intelligence of the thinges I make mention of touching the worthy reputation of a good Souldiour and the antiquity of his credite triumph and glory First looke in the sacred Scriptures and search from the death of Abell comming downe orderly to the birth of Christ And sée whether Souldiours were made of or no. And doubtlesse you shall finde they were not onely embraced and maintained but likewise they are of a long continuance and credite As all the Bible before Iohn the Baptistes time declareth And Christ himselfe in a sort did vtter when he saide he had not found such faith in Israell as he saw in a Centurion Yea and in the Apostles Actes there is a speciall poinct to be noted Deuout Souldiours were sent to Simon Tanners house to find out Peter Well now I committe you to the Scripture and I will follow prophane Histories begin at the very Infidels a scorne for a Christian to be taught by which are no small number nor of no little continuance people alwayes brought vp in war and Princes of great fame power and auctority Yea conquerours of the whole world and Kinges to whom all people did stoupe and doe homage These Paganes or as we may terme them lost shéepe to whome the great Shepheard would not be knowen and yet among them tormented and crucified did make such lawes and orders for Souldiers as the Turke to this day obserueth and holdeth in great reuerence Regard but the liberties and auctority of the Ianessaries and that shall manifestly proue that men of warre are had in great admiration But because you shall haue the more beliefe to the matter read the life of Alexander the Great The Commentaries of Iulius Caesar and the noble actes and victories of a number of other notable Princes And then assuredly you shall be perswaded that the renowne of Soldiours hath reached and spread as farre as fame can flie or good report could haue passage I
found me aliue Long was the talke of manie a farlye thoe Long did I looke for that which did not come But all those blasts in sine did ouerbloe I listned long to heere the sound of drumme Yet though I had the great good will of some God would not thâ—ell for one mans sake alone That broyles should cause a million make their mone When birde is limde farewell faire feathers all The fish in net maie bidde the sea adiew When world beholds a man is neere his fall It leaues him there and follows fancies newe When all is saide the olde prouerbe is true Who cannot swimme must sincke there is no boote Who hath no horse of force must goe on foote Thus â—yed to clogge and pende in prison fast My hope decaide my hart did heauie waxe So souldiers came and brought me foorth at last The butcher then began to whâ—t his axe All was on flame the fire was flowne in flaxe There was no choise I must a size abide Prooue foule or cleane and by my Peeres be tried To Edenbrough the captiue man was brought Along the fieldes where flockes of people were The sight of whom did trouble much my thought But when in deede I was ariued there Both streetes and stalles and windows euery where Were stuffed full to giue on me the gaze But that might not my manly mind amaze Yet neither one nor other small nor great Did me salute So turnde the moodes of men That colde deuice nay rather raging heate Could not appall my princely courage then For I did looke as I did nothing ken Yet knew the whole that some in secret bore So passed through the thronge what would ye more A russet cloake a garment rude and bare For such a state make what of mee they would With foule felt hat and robes but base I ware That people might my great disgrace beholde Alas poore lambe thy life was bought and soulde No force of weedes to couer clott of claye Morton was dead full longe before that daie Now Lawyers flockte and swarmde in ilke a place Now Lords repaird and Lardes came daily in Now learned heads did long debate my case Now did in deed my sorrowes all beginne Now was the time that I must lose or winne For I appeard before the iudgement seate And there maintainde my right with reasons great Made good defence to many matters sure Spake boldly still and did but iustice craue My pleading there did foure long houres endure And Lawyers then to me good leasure gaue But to what end did I long pleading haue I was condemnd the world would haue it so A thing there was but that the Lord doth know And I that héere confesse my former gylt A murther than was laide vnto my charge Which I concealde yet saw a Kings bloud spilt A fowle offence for which there is no targe Nor could not claime therefore to goe at large But byed the sence and censure of the lawes For fowle God wot and filthy was my cause The iudgement was a heauy thing to héere But what they did I could not call againe The sentence past too late my selfe to cleere Once iudgd to die condemnd I must remaine As silly shéepe in shopp must needes be slaine Then to the pot or pit our flesh must passe All flesh is dust vaine ashes earth and grasse Then thought I on some friend that absent was And spoke some words but askâ— not what they were So from the bench to prison did I pas And for to die did make me ready there The Preachers came and shed full many a teare To bring my soule in perfect patience than And make me die a faithfull christian man In secrete sort the Preachers there I told Great things of waight that in my conscience lay And so confest what right and reason would But thereon pawsde I would no further say Aske what they pleasde I did but troth bewray Whereat I knockt my troubled trembling brest And so desirde the Preachers let me rest O brethren mine your doctrine likes me well Qd. I good men bestow some praiers now In your beliefe looke that you daily dwell As you beganne so still continue through The bloud of Christ hath washt my blotted brow As white as snow I haue no doubt nor feare Shall be my sinnes that red as scarlet were The Preachers glad to bring my soule to rest Brought Scripture in and did the text vnfold And many a place and sentence they exprest Towardes the death to make my body bolde O my good Lord you may not now behold The pompe quoth they and glory that is past But you must thinke on that which aye shall last Both wealth and friends and worldly wisedome to Are banisht quite and blush to come in place When soule goes hence those things haue nought to doe With man that is then newly borne in grace The light of day hath darkenes still in chase The heauenly thoughts doe hate all earthly things And faith to clowdes doth flie with flittring wings They praide with me and wipt their wéeping eies My heauy sprite stood troubled sore that tide And as the sighes from panâ—ing heart did rise My groaning Ghost O Abba father cride The sobs flew forth the â—eares I could not hide As babe doth wéepe when he beholds the rod So then I feard the wrath of my good God Full soone reformde I was in godly wise Gaue ore the world forgot all earthly thing Heaud vp my hands and heart vnto the skies To God that did this plague vppon me bring And then I sued and sent vnto the King To scape the coard by losse of life and breath For heading was for me more Nobler death He graunted that and sad for my mishap He let me goe where God and man assignd Now euery fault lay open in my lap Each small offence came freshly to my minde The secret sinnes that we in conscience finde A muster made and passed for their pay Before great God that doth all things bewray The wrong I did to simple people plaine Bad heart â—orethinke the fury of mine ire The gréedy thirst of glory rule and gaine Made soule afeard of hote infernall fire My selfe I blamde for fleshly fond desire But falling thus full prostrate on my face From heauens hie I felt a sparke of grace Which warmd my sprites that waxed faint and cold The last conflict that in this life we haue Then comfort came and made weake body bold Care not for death for life mounts vp from graue Qd. knowledge then when Christ the soule shall saue With that I flong behinde all fearefull dread So cald for booke and many a Psalme did reade In lesse then halfe the time that I haue spoke Me thought I talkt with God whose face did shine Who from a cloude discende as thinne as smoke And entred in my breast by power diuine O mortall man said he come thou art mine Be strong and stout to fight the battell throw
stormes I stoutly stood to sterne And turnd about the shippe to winne the winde And what defects and fauâ—tes I did discerne I readie was a quicke redresse to finde And no man durst restraine the Regents minde For were it good or bad I would haue done Unto that side would most of people runne Yet murmors rose among the mighty flocke Whose hidden hate huggd close in cankred brest To vndermine my strong and statelie rocke That stoode on propps and did on pillers cest For longer sure in Court I could not rest Then King might come to perfect age and yeares As thinges besell and by my fall appeares The secret swarmes of â—lie and subtill snakes That lurkes in grasse and vnder fayrest flowers The flattering cloudes that oft faire weather makes Great showers of raine vppon the people powers The smiling face that when it list it lowers Betraies the eyes of them that well beleeues When scorners flier and laugheth in their sléeues My hedge stood stackte with such weake sticks of woode That manie a gappe was made into my grownde I trusted much to freindship birth and blood But some of those in fine were faythlesse founde Most spake mee faire but least of them were sounde Some sought my ruyne that waighted hard at heeles For time so shapt the world went all on wheeles What is enuid but rule and high estate The seruant seekes ofâ— times his maysters fall The subiect beares to lawe a priuie hate The stubborne child is silde at fathers call The froward wiues findes fault with husbands all The scholler hates to heare his follie tolde And each degree abhors to be controlde Rule wants no foes the horse hée hates the bitt The dogge disdaines the leashe that holdes him in The hauke desires not long on pearch to sit Rule is despisde Rule doth no fauour winne The man that hath in courtly honor béene Can tell how oft he was with flattry fed And some there are with blinde affection led Whose humor weake the wilâ—e worldlings fede They followe fast and fawnâ— like whelpes a while Till great mens meanes hath â—erued their turne in déede Then gallants goe awaye and giue a smile Thus waâ—ters on doe nought but friends beguile And slipper lads as false and fine as those For no offence become most mortall foes With curtsie great and knéeling on the knée The harmelesse hartes of noble states are trapte They looke so high they can no tromperie see Untill the â—lye in spiders webbe be lapt And when by sleight the simple is mishapt The wandring world but maruels at the case And from the weake the strongest turnes the face Who had moe freindes or yet more wealth than I Who sounde lesse helpe O fie on friendships trust My stocke and race did reach to starrie skie Yet world trode downe mine honor in the dust And I was left alone thinke what I lust Weepe sigh or sob when Fortune gaue checkmate Ferâ—â— friends were fledd and I in wofull state Yet wisdomes grace helde vp my noble minde I scornde to thinke when sorest tempests blewe In face and cheere my courage men might finde I counted all and then the worst I knew It was but death a paiment that is due To yeild to day or else when date drew néere To paie the shot and make the reckning cléere What néeds more talke amid my chéefest ioyes A draught was drawne to driue me out of grace The newes whereof did fill my head with toyes But my stout hart would giue no practise place I stifly stoode in Court with manly face And thought to thrust them out that stroue with mée And so in spigt of world I would goe frée Great banding then began in Borough towne And to the view I had the strongest side For on my part were men of great renowne Yea as the fish doth follow greatest tide So people swarmd and crucifige cryed On Mortons foes for dayly eurye houre In Princes Court with pompe increast my power But when wée met that seuerall waies did draw Sweete words did walke bespyest with fained cheere In dulcet shell a kernell sowre I sawe That cunning crafte by cloude conuayd full cléere Our powdred speach most fresh would still appéere Till bitter taste bewrayd our meanings all Then honie combe in proofe became but gall So angrie bées burst forth from quiet hiue And offred stinge to those that neerest stood Then fearefull folke too féeble were to striue They floke so fast that daily sought my bloode Yet to the worlde I made my quarell good And craude no more but iustice in my cause And so to shifte by course of common lawes In open Court I was accused streight And straightlie chargde to keepe my chamber still Where if I had but vsed anie sleight I might haue scapte awaie and had my will But destnie did bewitch both wit and skill And robd mee so of spirite and feeling sence That I was méeke and neuer made defence But what I thought and what I hepte for both Is knowne to God and some that liueth yet In deede my feare was small I tell you trothe For manie things in compasse of my wit Did cleare mee cleane and so though I should sit In prison faste a time till thinges were tryed In duraunce long I hopte I should not bide But loe in haste I was from thence remoude And sent vnto the Castle there to staie And then perchaunce I was but finely proude To see for feare if I would flie awaie For mine owne folkes had there the whole conuaie Of bodie through the streetes such grace I gote But woe is me for then did th'old man doate Had I but sayde I would not be in pounde I would bee franke and free from daungers doubt I might haue turnde the worlde in Scotland rounde Like teâ—nis ball and thrust myne enemies out But who can bring a sternlesse barke aboute My wits were gone that guided all before My shipp on ground and I was set on shore Loe what God doth to make his glorie knowne Loe how mans life is cut off like a bough Loe lookers on how sone is man oerthrowne Loe where became my worldly wisdome nowe Loe héere a glasse that shewes your faces throughe You greatest Peeres and Lords of péereles prayse Your pride is past if God abridge your daies No sooner I beléeude I was so well But was conuayde vnto Don Bartyn than So all my friends that did in Scotlande dwell Made sure a shew to raise vp manie a man The King straight waies before these broyles began Fiue ensignes chose to kéepe the world in awe For sure defence of him and of his lawe Those bandes held backe some forward busines strange Yet in good faith my friendes were twise as strong The force of whom made worlde to feare a change But on and of alas they dalied longe And all the while I thought they did me wronge Yet vaine it was in armes to stande and striue For they had not that waye
occupied in warre that they may bee occasion of great good and a great hinderer of many harmes For when houses are ready to be burnt impoteÌ„t persons poore women and children ready to bee slayne they may saue what they list and preserue an infinite number of thinges that a man at home can doe no good in nor none but the Souldiour in the fielde hath power to comfort and succour And for certame I know Souldiours of that disposition that hath beene occupied in these honest actions when some Helhoudes haue beene spoyling and murthering and founde by their follye and ouer great cruelitye a dispatch of their owne dayes and peraduenture the terrible wrath of God and damnation to their soules My Prince maie bée well serued and the Enemie not alwayes to the vttermost persecuted the Lesson that Sainct Iohn Baptist gaue the souldiours may suffice for this matter and carrie mens mindes from violence and doing wrong to quallifie furie and maintaine right with a regard to the innocent that ought not to bée touched for the offence of an ambicious Leader or one whose faultes the ignoraunt may not answers This point though simply it is passed ouer may containe a large volume and is to be looked into with a diuine 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Christian consideration Then if the souldiors as few there are in number be honest and is to be proued they are not to be reproued it followes that honor and reputation accompanies those souldiours and that a singular priuiledge and libertie may be had for those that haue such regard of their fame that they wil do no any one thing preiudicial to their credite in the compasse of which regard is knit valiancy modestie pitty hope of another life to come wheÌ„ thâ— affaires of this world shall dutifully and honestly be finished And for that the reader hereof shal not thinke but that great Princes thought their Souldiours to bee honest men that were worthy the making of whose doings regarde did argue and shew a speciall hope of another place to go to or a certaine fame and credite heere to be maintained I will shew you as I haue gathered by translation how triumphant kings princely potentates did ordaine set downe and deliuer a law rule for souldiours By the which they had honor libertie prerogatiue aboue and beyond the Commoners or common course of people The translation I speake of is not long and tedious but bringing willing mindes to heare know the truth you may read if leasure permit and you peruse that followeth First you must marke and make a good note of that Heraldes were at the beginning souldiours and were called auncient knights as well it séemeth to be true for they I meant Heraldes being brought vp in warre beheld who deserued renowne and had by their authoritie and experience a power to giue Armes and signe of honor to those which for well doing in field or publike state did merite remembraunce which power and place of the Heralde doth plainely expresse that from the fielde or honourable offices at home sprong vp our gentilitie generation of Gentlemen For as euery mans blood in a bâ—son lookes of one colour and when Adam was created and a long while after meÌ„ were al alike So vertuous actes that shines to the heauens hath made them to bee honoured and aduaunced where vicious liuers and bloodthirsty wretches were accursed of God and hated of man And had a marke set vpon them to be known by and be a testimony to the world that they were not worthy of honour and were appointed to reproch Let Cain that killed his brother Abell by an vniust warre be a witnes in this behalfe Aeneas Siluius doth derine Heraldes of ab Heroibus of Noble men For Heroes were auncient Knights otherwise called Souldiours and an Herauld signifieth Centonicum vocabulum videlicet and old man of Armes or an old Knight but at this daie sayd Eneas a long while since certayne seruile men feeble and weake messengers which neuer haue playde the Souldiours doe professe that office The priuileges and offices of the Herauldes in auncient time to this day continuing neuerthelesse And the first authour of them was Bacchus which India being conquered did call them by this name I absolue you of Warres and trauell and will that you bée auncient Souldiers and to bée called Heroes Your office shall bée to prouide for the Common weale to try out the originall of causes and to prayse the wise you shall call for greater rewardes in what place or Countrey you shall come And the Kings shall giue you meat and apparell You shall bée most honourable to all men Princes shall offer vnto you many thinges and shall licence you their apparell Credite shalbe giuen to your sayings you shall abhorre lies You shall iudge traytors and Aduâ—â—terers These infamous persons ye shall punish and in euery Nation you shall haue libertie and sure egresse and regresse shall bée vnto you if any man shall gayne say any of you in worde or déede let him die with the sword Alexander the Great hath annexed to these priuileges of noble men after a long season that they might vse purple golden and beautiful garments And that they should bring in princely and notable Armes at euery place in any Countrey or Region soeuer it shal bée If any man shal repulse these without respect or secretely defame in woorde hée shall bée accounted gilty of death and deposition of gooddes And so the same Eneas doth say Tucidides Herodotus Didimses Magashones and Zenophon together Thirdly then Octauian Auguste the Romaine Monarch being established hath beautified them on this condition Who so euer sayd hée hath played the Souldiour with vs the space of ten yeares and be of the age of fourty yeares whether he be horseman or els footeman he shall haue his wages and afterwards be absent from wars be a noble man and old Souldiers No man shal forbid thée the Ctity the Market the Church Hospitality and house no man shall impute any fault to thée thou shalt be discharged of that blemish or burthen no man shall aske any thing of thee if thou make fault in any thing onely looke thou for Caesars vengeance for what filthinesse men shall impute let them feare thée being a iudge and corrector whether they bée priuate or Princes what so euer thou sayest thou shalt affirme and no man contrary All iourneis and places shall bée free and plaine to thée let thy meat and drinke be in the houses of Princes and take daily of the common treasure wherewithall to kéepe thée and thine house Marry thou a wife of comely beauty and estéeme her aboue all other Whom thou wilt checke and reproch with infamy thou shalt say this man is an infamous reprobat Armes Ensignee names and ornaments of noble men beare thou Doe what thinges become Kinges and what thou wouldest doe or say in euery place and Nation make mention of it if there be
any iniurious person let him die And last of all Chaâ—les the Great the name of the Empire being translated to the Germaines after the conquest of the Saxons and Lombardes Caesar called Augustus hath rewarded them with this honour saying My Knights you noble men fellowes of Kinges and Iudges of faultes liue after your labour without trauaile prouide for Kings in a common name Take away vice Fauour women Helpe children Kéepe councell of the Prince and of him aske your apparell stipend and if any deny let him be accounted presumptuouâ— and slaunderous If any shall doe you iniury let him acknowledge himselfe guilty of empairing the Empire But take you héede least you defile such worshippe and such priuiledge gotten by iust trauaile of warre either by dronkennesse baudry or any other vice neither that we giue vnto you should redound vnto praise or peace which is to be taken of you If perhaps you shall exceede vs and our successors Kinges of the Romains for euer hereafter These before rehearsed woorde for woorde as I might I translated out of Latine finding therein a maruailous commendation of Souldiers and so is thereby to be pâ—rceiued that in all ages times and publique gouernements Kinges and mighty Monarkes tooke care as much for their men of warre as for their Common-weale and to bring them in heart if any dispaire or mislike should grow through slâ—cknes of looking vnto The Princes of their princely benignity and méere good will borne to Marshall people inuested them with titles names and honours such as alwaies pluckes vp a mannes courage and procures thousandes to valiauncy and seruice For who will not venter boldly a season when they know for tenne yeares toile and hazard he shall be honoured sitte at ease liue without daunger and remaine in a perpetuall priuiledge neither subiect to the mallice of lewde people nor worldly want whose plague persecuteth many millions of men and throwes downe in the dust the prayses of such as otherwise should shine like the Sunne before the â—ies of all nations And as those Kinges and Conquerours many hundred yeares agoe ordained by decrée and vertue of a Law that Souldiers should bée made honourable and possesse great contentation of minde So fell it out from time to time theyr seruices were considered And that Souldier-like King and triumphant Conquerour King Henry the eight hauing triall of Souldiers and a warlike heart to shew the honour belonging to that profession and to follow his noble predecessours Made a Law as yee may read in the Statutes that Souldiers might weare what they listed And further to the comfort of all men of warre he left no one worthy Souldier vnrewarded in what place so euer of his dominion or affaires the Soldiour had béene emploide In Fraunce our néere neighbours makes so great account of Souldiers namely those that they call Soldado Vetche that the greatest Dukes or Princes in the field Court or Towne encountering a Souldier salutes him with curtesie takes him to his Table and vseth him with such entertainement and reuerence that it is a world to beholde And when seruice is to bée séene either in battaile or at an assault The greatest Duke or noble man thinkes himselfe happy to bée ioyned with a knowen Souldier and commonly both olde and young of their nobility are formost in the â—ight and last that will retire It is a thing incredible among some ignoraunt persons to be told how Souldier-like and manlike in all poinctes they behaue themselues and how little account they make of life when death must be sought by seruice and thereby their honour and liberty of Countrey is to be preferred The Spaniards a Nation not inferiour to any yet named ioyne so in amity at their méeting make such courtesie and shew such fastnesse of friendship especially among Souldiers that euery one in presence embraceth his companion and in absence lets fall good report of the absent Yea their loue and constancy by custome and ceremonies knits them in such an vnion that no straunger can seperate and they giue so great place one to another that it is hard to know by their gestures and vsages which is the better of them And they haue theyr own Souldiers in such a liking that no people in the world shall be suffered to reape any péece of their glory The Italians Souldiers of great antiquity and of no lesse value with most humility and ciuill manner enterchaungeth their talke yéelding for one gentle word twenty good tearms smooth speeches and philed phrases And happening to come together either in seruice or otherwise they agrée like brethren and depart without quarrell And their great men and mightiest in power if they repaire where Souldiers are showes them selues of little authority as a man might gesse by their courtesie Refuseth to take any thing vppon them whâ—re the Marshall man approacheth and seemeth to be at the disposition of such as haue serued so great is the reputation of a Souldier among them The Scots men a stout and manly people beginning to take a sauour in the warre seekes sundry soiles to serue in and haue great delight to be in the company of souldiers and proue them selues worthy of commendation in any place they repair And for that they would become famous and attaine to some experience and credite they shunne no kinde of seruice that is offered and all the sorts of Gentility among them estéemeth much a Souldier Which is a signe that at the length Souldiers will come to their ancient dignity and admiration where the sound of Dromme or Trompet may be heard Now to speake of our owne Nation were superfluous although many haue serued well and sundry are yet in the exercises of warre because I haue named before diuerse thinges wherein our countrey men haue wonne desired fame and renowne yet for arguments sake and to enlarge this volume Further matter may be treated of neither hurtfull to the hearers that fauoureth well doing nor hatefull to any when nothing shall be touched but that which is necessary for the aduauncement of vertue Our soueraigne Lady by Gods prouidence to make vp the matter I bring for a testimony of great regard to Souldiers considering whom they are she hath holpen in some sort and respect and what good things haue passed among Souldiers as her highnesse heard well of or had intelligence giuen her to vnderstand the worthinesse of those that haue well deserued Doe but examine how many since her noble raign of Souldiers haue had Leases gotten liuings béene preferred to gouernment and gone from Court with full hands that beganne with empty purses And then tell the world openly what secret suits were passed and what open wrong they doe them that bountifully bestowed good gifts wher any good cause appeared Admit some by the report of their friendes stole away the benefites from the fountaine head yet looke to the rest of thinges that worthely fell out and you shall sée the best sort of
Walles at the taking of Fidena Now before a Burgoies shoulde at any time enioy this Crown Ciuique hée must rescue a Romaine Citizen and kill the Ennemie that ledde the Citizen away Prisoner It must bée likewise that the Enemie did holde and possesse the place that same day that the Romaine Citizen was rescued in It is necessarie that the man which hath béen succoured should confesse the same before the people For a Soldiours own witnesse in that behalfe serues to no purpose And furthermore it is required that he that was rescued be known to be a Burgois of Rome For if one doe rescue a King that commeth to serue the Romaines hée doth not merite for the same the Crowne Ciuique In like sort if one do rescue a generall of an Armie hee gets no more honor therefore then though hée had rescued a simple Citizen For they which established this ordinaunce had no regard but to the conseruation of the Citizens of Rome whosoeuer they were The Priuilege of this Crowne shall bée to giue power to weare a Hatte of broad leaues as ofte as hée pleased that had béene once Crowned for his well doing Further all the Senate had a custome to rise out of their places and to doe honor to them that haue had this Crowne when they goe to sée the common playes and pastimes And it is sufferable and permitted that they shall sitte in a seate néere the Senatours And they shall bée exempt from all ciuill charges not onely themselues but their naturall Fathers and Graundfathers And nowe beholde touching their Priuileges there was one Cicinius Dentatus according as wee haue sayde Crowned fourteene times And one Capitolinus had sixe times beene Crowned for hee rescued Seruilius then Generall of the Armie notwithstanding Scipio Affrican would not suffer them to giue him the Crowne Ciuique succouring his Father in the iourney of Trebia O ordinaunce worthye of immortalitie sayth Plinie that assigneth no other prayse for such great workes then this great honour which surpasseth all other warlike Crownes Thus far goes the verie words of Plinie many other auncient Aucthors that I could rehearse in the commendation of men of Warre which neyther in Tholomeus time Artaxerses dayes nor any of the mighty Monarkes long raigning before could bee forgotten but were so honoured that lawes â— orders was onely deuised for the enlarging of their Land and stirring vp their noble minds Yea Soldiours and Herraldes hadde power to denounce warres insomuch as the auncient Romaines who were the Fathers of all Marshiall affaires and conquerours of the world held this for a most certaine rule Nullum bellum iustum esse nisi pro rebus iniuste ablatis quod fecialis Romani antea denunciabant Which rule and order of the Romaines for the power and honour of soldiours and Herauldes declareth they are of great dignitie and calling may compare by this there authoritie to be no whit inferiour to the best sort of Gentlemen You may read in like manner that there was a man among the Romaines that merelie or peraduenture in contempt put a crowne Ciuique vppon his owne head and looking out at a great windowe into the stréete was espyed And thereuppon apprehended and brought before the Senate where hée was iudged presently to be put to death for touching and abusing that crowne Ciuique which was ordayned for the wearing onely of an honourable Souldiour and for such a one as had béene by desarte crowned with Triumph and Solempnitie in open audience So this foolish man albeit hée might meane but little harme was had to the place of execution and there lost his life to the great terrour of those that rashly meddle with thinges that become them not and to the great honour of those that are aduaunced by vertue and winneth with courage the wearing of this Crowne called the crowne Ciuique Now comming downe to this present age in the time of our peace where Souldiours haue nothing to doe there is ynough spoken and peraduenture too much for the Souldiours commendation yet let mee leade you a little further in that case For now is to be prooued what degrées of Souldiours hauing serued long or borne any office of credit are gentlemen and may vnrebukeable bee bold to take that name and title vpon them First you haue heard that seruing ten yeares honestly and truly he is not onely past his prentiship but also aboue a iourney man and ought from all ioyrneis to be spared As a man might saie though vnproperly compared a good frée horse after his long labour and many great iourneis is to bee ridden but seldome and kept in the stable till extreme necessitie requireth and then is to bée vsed gentelie least his stiffe limmes and olde bodie deceaues the Riders expectation So a Souldiour comming to this age and perfection or being past the iollitie of youth and youthfull actions ought to be prouided for and may without presumption plead for armes albeit hee neuer gaue anye before and can bring no great proofe of his house gentrie or dissent and though he be the first of that house stocke name that gaue armes his beginning is allowed of al our ancient writers and Princes and shall put his aduersaries to silence when in that point they séeke to deface him I remember once I saw and heard an Italian being in the Eâ—perour Charles the fifth his Campe so stand on his reputaâ—ion that when a meane Gentleman quarrelled with him and desired the Combate hee aunswered hee had béene Soldado Vetche an old Souldiour and had borne office and passed through sundrie Offices by order and that the Gentleman was but a young man and but of twoo yeares experience in Warre and farre vnméete to make challenge with him that had passed so many steppes of honour and places of credite But sayd the Italian to his aduersarie goe and doe that I haue doone or passe through the like and when thou hast mounted vp and troden on euerye steppe that I haue passed come to mée and I will fight with thée the Combate But to say I will stoupe so lowe and abase my selfe as a Lorde may in fighting with a Ruffian beyonde the compasse of my calling I will not nor no Law of Armes can commaunde mee The matter came in question before the Prince of Orrange that now is dead and the Duke of Sauoy yet liuing and the challenger had a foule disgrace in the audience of a multitude and the defendaunt had a rewarde of fiue hundreth Crownes allowed him by the Emperour for preseruing his honour and estimation so much This was done and openly seene a little before the siege of Renttie and standeth for a good record Then an old souldiour is a Gentleman both worthy to giue armes and colours and méete to be borne withall in causes of quarrell An other proofe for the maintenaunce of my matter I saw at the siege of Leeth a Gentleman of great courage and birth called Maister Ihon
Soutch quarrell with Captaine Randall then Maior of the fielde And Mayster Soutch did vrge through ill words and stout language Captaine Randall verye farre which might haue mooued any manne living But Captaine Randall in a manner vsed those words that the Italian had done before expressed and going further on in communication commaunded the Souldiours to lay handes on Maister Soutch and swore hee would execute him and learne all other by his boldnesse to knowe their duties And when Mayster Soutch was stayed well qouth Captaine Randall since thou hast challenged mee I will not vse my power and authoritie ouer thee But by the fayth of a souldier when I am out of the Sergeaunt Maiors roume I will meete thee and make thy heart ake for those wordes thou haste giuen excepte thou repent before of thy lewde demeanour Mayster Soutch hauing disgested and wisely waighed this matter being talked withall of the Captaines in the campe came like a Gentleman on himselfe and acknowledged his fault most dutifully and with great repentaunce for which submission of his hee was the better thought on after This shewes and declares that an auncient souldiour and Officer hath a great Priuilege and not be compared with nor offered any iniurie because hee carries the admiration of the people and the honour of the field Yee shall find written in the Spanish and the Language of the Portugall which Portugalles founde out the Easte Indians that there was a mightie King of Calicute and many other Kinges in the Indians whose Souldiours were all Gentlemen and did liue euer on the sâ—ipend that the King allowed them And those Souldiours had many Priuileges and titles of honour and stood so much on their reputation that they would not touch a Husband mans handes nor suffer a Rusticall fellowe to come into their houses And the Husbande men were bounde when the Souldiours goe in the streetes to crie with a loude voyce to make place for the Souldiours For if those Gentlemen did come and bid the Common people goe out of the waie and they doe not obay their commaundement therein It was sufferable for the Gentlemen Souldiours to kill those obstinate and proude people And furthermore the King could not make Gentlemen iâ— they were not borne of some Noble stocke of the race of Souldiours They could not take their weapons nor enter into Combate before they were armed Knightes They must at the age of seauen yeares bée put to learne to play with all Weapons and to the ende they shoulde bee perfect their Maysters doe hale their armes verie farre out thereby to stretch their limmes and afterwarde they teach them such Fence as is apt for that purpose They did by an ordinaunce and custome of theirs honour and salute their Maysters that hadde taught them at the Weapons which were Graduates and cunninge menne wheresoeuer they mett them in the stréete They were bound twoo Monethes in the yeare to plie their schoole and take a Lesson at their Maysters handes By which reason they were verie skilfull of their Weapons and for that cause they greatlye estéemed themselues They coulde not bee knighted but by the Kinges owne handes who asked them before he layde his hande on their heades if they could obserue and keepe the custome and ordinaunce of gentlemenne Souldiours and they sayde and aunswered the king They minded to take that profession of Armes vppon them and so the king caused a Sworde to be girded about them and after embraceth those Gentlemen so knighted then they did sweare to liue and die with him and for him which oath they would keepe and obserue For if theyr Lord were slayne in the Warre they would fight to their last breath and kill him that had slayne theyr King Or if at that instaunt they could not bring their purpose to effecte they would watch and spie out a conuenient season for the perfourmaunce of their promisse and oath And vndoubtedlie some of them woulde reuenge their Maysters death They hadde a great regarde to their duety and endeuoure They thought nothinge so precious as fidelitie and their Princes fauour They cared not for life so glorye might bee gotten by theyr death They serued most faythfullye vnder them that gaue them intertaynemente They spared nothing but spent liberally They applied their onely studies for the mainteinaunce of their king and Countrey They would not suffer any dishonour nor offer anye iniurie They thought it a double death to loose their good name They made no accompt of their meat money sléepe or ease and little estéemed their owne liues or persons when they should make proofe and shewe of their manhood Their wages and stipende was so much and so well payde that euerye one of them might liue gallantlye and the meanest might keepe to waite on him a man or a boye The Lawe was that they might not marrie and yet hadde Lemmans and Women appoynted by order which they kepte and vsed well and all quarrells was auoyded by that meanes For they might not companie with their women but at certaine seasons appoynted Thus they past ouer theyr life time without the care and trouble of Wife and Children They might forsake vppon a good cause anye of their Lemmans And their Women might at their owne willes forsake the menne All those that accompanied these Souldiours were Gentlewoman and of good birth but might not bee married to anie person after shée hadde béene at the Souldiours commaundement And because many men by their often chaunging happen to haue the companye of one Woman they fathered not any Child though it were neuer so much like them and therefore their Brothers children did alwayes inherite their Landes and goodes And this Lawe that those Gentlemen Souldiours should not marrie was made by a King that woulde not haue a manne of Warre to fixe his loue on a wife and children nor thereby to waxe féeble spirited and effeminate But the king ordained because these Gentlemen should haue no womannish manners nor minds that they should haue all thinges at their willes and liue in such libertie as no one thing might drawe them from noble seruice nor commaunde them to seruile drudgerie And because they should be the more animated to liue in noble order and encouraged to serue well they were priuileged that no man might imprison them for anye cause nor they might not bee put to death by anye meane of ordinarie iustice Howbeit when one killed another or did sleepe with a Countrey Woman or did speake euill of the king then raigning Then would the king hauing iuste and true information of the matter make a Writing and sende the same to a head Officer commaunding him to cutte in péeces the offendour wheresoeuer hee was founde And after hee was deade there should bee hanged about him the kinges Writing to shewe the people wherefore hee suffered but no Law nor Iustice coulde touche him before the king had iustlye condempned him So by this Libertie and honour that Souldiours had is