maintained on bothe the parties with suche a resolute mynde and determination to winne libertie or lose life There wer after this siege some other seruices but none so greate nor none of theim I mynde to treate of as yet for that I haue bente my studie to pleasure the Readers of my booke with other fancies varietie of matter The change of matter and maner of writyng thereof I hope shall rather bryng delite then breede wearinesse For that whiche doeth presently followe is sette out purposely with a nomber of deuises to occupie tyme withall and pleasure them that hath any good disposition towardes the woorke FINIS ¶ A description or discourse that declareth how that by tastyng of miseries men become happie written for that Soldiours alwaies beares the burthen of Sorrowe and suffers more calamitie then any other people GOod readers for that calamitie and combersome chances doe seeme intollerable too beare and for our first fathers offence thei are the burthens of life and companions of man till the hower of his death I beyng often charged with the heauie fardle of misfortunes haue taken in hande to treate of a troubled mynde and shewe what blessednesse and benefite to the bodie and soule this worldly infelicitie bryngeth As the common afflictions of mankynde are many in nomber and seem at the first feelyng so irksome and weightie that fewe can suffer them or support them So a multitude of miseries accustometh the minde so long in the sharpnesse of sorrowes that a sounde iudgemente is made the more able thereby to abide the brunte of troubles and attende for a short season a remedie of mischeeues by proof the trothe of this is tried For let the laboryng manne or ordinarie porter that daily carries greate burthens be often vsed to lifte vp packes he shall better beare a greate Logge then an other that is fine fingered shall bee able to heaue a small peece of Timber And there is none that laboureth so sore but is sure at one tyme or other to attaine to reste and commoditie So that all sorrowes are to be compted but a sharpe sause to season the appetite and bryng the sweete and delicate dishes in suche order that it glutte not the stomacke And nowe to consider howe all pleasures are possessed and profittes take their beginnynges The verie issue and originall of those yearthly commodities springes onely from continuall care and paine and labourious vexation of bodie and mynde The greatest glories and cheefest seates of honour anywhere are gotten and compassed by this kinde of calamitie and the leaste or moste sparke of mannes delite is maintained and at the lengthe enioyed by the meane of studious labour and painfull exersices But herein to be breef paine and labour is the portion appoincted for man in his pilgrimage and thei that are moste persecuted so thei bee not tempted aboue their strength are moste to be thought in fauour with God and happiest emong men if heauenly graces and correction bee measured by the yearthly vessailes of vanitie that we carry about whiche without correction and refourmyng would growe so full of filthe and corrupte maners that thei neither could holde good liquor nor serue to any good purpose Doe you not beholde that the purest mettall with ill lookyng vnto becommeth full of cankers and ruste if it bee not scoured rubbed and roghly handled his beautie decaieth and the worthe and vallue of it is little because it hath loste his vertue and estimation So mānes corrupt Nature were it not serched with sonderie instrumentes that takes awaie the dedde fleashe and toucheth the quicke would putrifie waxe lothsome to the whole worlde and to the creature hym self that beares it in his bowelles And for the auoydyng of suche an inconuenience calamitie muste bee tasted and troubles are necessarie for the keepyng cleane of a spotted conscience and fraile bodie puffed vp with Pride and vanitie of curious conceites And so I proue aduersitie is the brynger home of good spirites and gentill wittes that wanders after worldly follies and ronnes a gaddyng beyonde the boundes of measure to the vtter confines of daunger and destructiō Yea a little trouble and tormente produceth greate goodnesse and bryngeth foorthe noble bookes and goodly workes whiche the libertie of life and wantonnesse of pleasure denies and hinders As a thyng that drawes manne frō the couetyng of Fame and true searchyng of immortalitie Mannes prosperous estate breedes but idelnesse nourisheth vice contempnes vertue and banisheth good studies and learnyng albeit some one emong the ritchest at one season or other maie looke on a booke fauor writers and giue good speeches of well dooyng Yet seldome comes any greate woorke from their handes that are in prosperitie And none in a maner but the afflicted did at any time hether to yeelde benefite to their countrey and generally knowledge the vniuersall worlde Lette Socrates Plato Aristotoles Cleantes and a nōber of poore Philosophers ye princes of education bee witnesse of that I speake from whiche Philosophers the sowres of noble Artes and Sciences did spryng and aboundantly flow The bodie pampered bedecked with beautie full of ornamentes and sett out to sale like fleashe in the Shambelles Either would bee bought quickly or will be tainted in hangyng too long in the winde So that as horses doe waxe reistie for want of good vsage and cleanest thynges taketh corruption by lacke of lokyng vnto in season Pleasure and libertie in processe of tyme makes a manne wilde if callamitie tame not the bodie bryng the minde in willyng subiection Sorrowe sadnesse and other passions of this worlde that comes by common causes puttes the wittes and iudgemente to suche a plonge secrete shifte and pollecie that all the senses openly makes a muster to defende the estimation and vpright bodie from fallyng to the whiche assemblie comes Pacience Reuerence and Modestie that the matter is so wel taken iniuries are putt vp and wronges that haue been offered woorkes in a wise hedde a worlde of deuises wherein vertue gettes victorie To beare the comfortable Crosse of persecution is the true badge of blessednesse wherby the seruaunt is seen to followe his maister and all the vices of manne be maistered or reformed by the crossyng chances of this world and vertuous operation of callamitie whiche miraculously worketh the distempered minde as the hotte Fornace tries out the Golde and the warme fire bringes in temper and makes softe the harde and coldest Waxe A deuine secret to them that are chosen and familiare example to those that glories in worldly felicitie who knowes the naturall causes of yearthlie thynges If a manne might aske wherefore was manne made sent from the highest dignitie of pleasures to this lowe dongion of sorrowes and base soile of seruitude It maie bee aunswered Adam was thruste out of Paradice for offence he had committed and for that he was formed out of the yearth on the face of the yearth he should get his foode and liuyng as a vessell ordained to
commendation O that menne knewe what gaie garlande is gotten by the goodnesse of vertue then the inferior sort would not striue wrastell to putte on the wretched wreath of vice For as right renoume is the true reward of well dooyng So open reproche followes as a shadowe the bodie that is readie to doe harme The good that is dooen emong the thankefull is not onely redoubled againe with good will but like wise linketh in a chaine of loue the hartes of those that receiues it And thei are priuie rich that can by bountie purchace many debtars deserue many blessynges and make many people be beholdyng vnto them A number of glosyng and glorious worldlinges that by bragges of boūtie offer good turnes to saell with a signe and showe that thei maie be bought for a little or nothyng but on a sodaine thei rather looke who can doe theim good then remember to whō thei haue offered the saell and commmoditie of their marchandice Sutche fine fellowes and petie foggars are the frothe and scome of the sea that welters with the waues and not the Honie and Creame of the yearth that ought to be preciously made of And lo for a proofe of praise sutche yonkars can promesse more in an howre then thei minde to performe all their life tyme thinking with bare woordes to winne freendes and followers where naked woorkes of Nature nourisheth nothyng but hollownesse of harte For proofe and example thereof let the thristie looke for drinke and finde his hope deceiued at the well hedde of comforte he flynges awaie his bottle beates his breast with repētance falles in misliking for euer or seekes some other faire fountain to coole and quenche the flaming furnaies of the stomacke An other sorte there are but no greate number whiche without boste bragge or businesse are glad to finde an occasion to pleasure their freende by woorde deede trauaill or charges And these are the Salte of the worlde that seasoneth the life of manne with sweete sauor and giueth good tast at the death to the soule before god There is no one man so mightie so strong valiaunt or wise but needes the aide of an other and happie are the handes hedde and bodie from whom helpe proceadeth It breedeth merrie thoughtes causeth sweete sleepes shaketh of displeasure to woorke a common commoditie or a priuate benefite whiche goodnesse and noble Nature is in some that I knowe But for feare of fallyng into a kinde of adulation therein nor in the discourse of the worlde I goe no farther confessyng that who soeuer listeth to write hath coppie and store of matter enough to treate vppon when willyng mynde leades the penne and honest iudgement shall skilfully scan the maners of menne their sondrie inclinations their quallities and callinges and the disposition of the worlde And for that my capacitie reacheth not farre and discoursyng of greate thynges maie bryng my small knowledge out of compasse I haue bente my studie to treate of cōmon causes as familiar with the wise learned in these our daies as weakest fancies in other seasons hath been with the ignoraunte people embraced And because many writers haue but sleightly touched both in Chronicle and otherwise the affaires of warre the honour of Soldiours the cause and beginnyng of Nobilitie the erection of Haraldes the names of Gentlemen that well haue deserued the goodnesse that Calamitie bryngeth and the fame that noble life attaineth vnto I haue taken this troublous taske in hande not onely to woorke truely for the daiely hire that good report giueth but to showe plainly my honeste meanyng in the thynges named that bothe laboure and long studie hath brought me too Not thinking but your honourable insight and acquaintaunce with these matters needes none of my discourses but because I promised in the booke of my Chipps a matter vnfit for your honour to looke on to presente an other worke whiche hath been long of commyng out and I feare is ouer simple with all this greate laisure to merite thankes Notwithstandyng the paines hath been greate and desire to dooe well not little yet the barenesse of the woordes and weakenesse of the matter I dread will either lose my thankes or driue me in disgrace And yet I might saie that the matter nowe presented though not well written maie claim a greate consideration and merites as mutche fauour as any thyng that euer passed from my penne The iudgemente whereof can not escape the compasse of your honorable knowledge and albeeit that with diuers deuises and bookes dedicated to sondrie good and greate personages I haue wandered a while after the fauour of this worlde and the good Fortune that diligence might haue brought yet nowe wearied with ouermutche labour in gaddyng about for the purchasyng of freendshippe hardely to bee gotten and as daungerous to bee kepte am driuen to retire to my firste Fortresse and holde where helpe is to bee had and succour is to bee sought because my second practise neither purchased prefarment nor paied for the paines and paper that I thinke well bestowed And though verely some thinke that good turnes comes rather in generall cases by Fortune affection or fauoure then by diligence studie or desarte I a dresse my laste woorkes where I truste a noble mynde shal bee iudge of my labours and so further my happ and fauour in the worlde that no hatefull Fortune nor people shall hinder my hope Thus hopyng the woorkes by help of your protection presented shall haue as many fauourers as readers and no more readers that mislikes the matter then liketh to write an other discourse as well meante I shadowe my self vnder the sheelde of youre honoure so dwellyng in that saffetie staiednesse of mynd whiche is a beautie to hoarie heares I wishe you what beste can bee imagined of honoure wealthe knowledge credite and worldly felicitie Praiyng with all that the blessed deawe of heauen multiplie and keepe moiste the manifold graces of your well desposed mynde From my lodging the xv of October 1579. Thomas Churchyard in all that he maie at your honorable commandmente To the freendly reader AS it is a thing sufferable and daiely seene that eche man fauors those personages whose nature qualitie or condition agreeth together so I hope albeit I am but a small Soldiour I maie boldly write of Marciall affaires and men of warre without dislikyng of any because suche matter or menne are fittest for my penne to be honoured withall and neerest the compasse of my knowledge and profession Yet albeeit that some of the malicious sort doe maruell at my boldnesse herein I let them babble and aunswere the quiet people of milde and sounde iudgemente that I thinke the beste tyme I can bestowe is to further the fame of the honest nexte to the prefarmente of my countries commendation And that before all other thynges excepte the honouryng of Prince and publike state a true writer ought of duetie to haue in admiration and reuerēce the valliaunt Soldiours and
draue vs out of the feelde and gaue an attempte to winne the base Courte where wee attended their commyng and stroue with them so stoutly that in that struggle wee were ioyned and wrastled together as daungerously as any man liuyng maie imagine but in suche order that the Frenche were forced to retire a little and we were faine to recouer the Forte and yet the Frenche so valliauntly handled their busines that thei laye vnder the rampire of the Base courte and slue sondrie of our soldiours that could not in due season come in Emong the cheef Capitaine Manneryng had his deathes wounde and fell doune in the dike before the gate whose bodie we recouered with very little losse but he died within three daies after And the Frēche missyng that thei sought retired that presente night to their Campe where thei abode not tenne daies but a peace was concluded and we marched all towardes Barwicke Now here is to bee noted that in those daies wee had greate soldiours a liue and moste of theim at Barwicke as Capitaine Honte Capitaine Sanders Capitaine Tems Capitaine Pickman and verie many others of good experience and credite Now I muste leaue to your iudgementes and readyng of other bookes the warres of Scotlande and will shewe you of some seruices that happened in Irelande duryng the tyme that sir Anthonie Sellenger was Lorde deputie there who was a graue and fatherly wise gouernour and had muche a doe in that countrey to bryng thynges in good perfection and quietnesse For the Lordes of that soile were at that presence giuen to sondrie troublesome practises whom he reformed and set in very peaceable estate emong the rest was one Makarttie More whiche helde out a greate season but the Lorde Deputie goyng against hym with an armie made hym come in at Corke where vppon his humble submission I sawe hym beare the sworde before the Lorde Deputie Yet albeeit that in this and many other seruices sir Anthonie Sellenger at seuerall tymes deserued greate commendation he beeyng a knight of the Garter yet his fortune was so aduerse and contrarie that he was seldome at home in his Countrey out of trouble and daunger of displeasure and felte as many haue dooen that gouerned Irelande the self same plague that Scipio Affricane possessed for his praise the greef whereof brought sir Anthonie to his graue as the workes I could shewe of his one pennyng can testifie For this honourable knight had an excellent gifte to write in verse or prose and was of so tractable a nature and condition that moste men did honour hym as muche for his vertues as for his office and callyng But my matter depēdeth not onely in one mannes merites or praise wherefore I doe passe to other thynges that commeth to my mynde In Irelande at those daies was the noble Capitaine Randall Capitaine Masterson Capitaine Lippiarde Capitaine Thomas Smith Capitain Coolley and a nomber of other Capitaines that now are out of my remembraunce who for seruice and well doyng are nothing inferiour to many good Capitaines that I haue named before The honourable sir Iames A Crofttes was Lorde Deputie of Irelande and had taken the sworde at Corke of sir Anthonie Sellenger at this season when many greate thinges was to bee dooen And he had no small regarde to his charge and gouernement the seruices theim selues are sufficiente argumente of his no little labour and diligence and maie well enough declare that whiche I omit and for want of laisure doe not speake of Now the warres burste out betweene the French kyng and the Emperour on whose sides sondrie Englishe gentlemen serued for knowledge sake and reputation And on the French side did Capitaine Crayer Capitaine Twittie and their companie florishe and did many exploites as in an other place of my booke I haue reported And on the Emperours side was Capitaine Plonket Capitaine Matson and a greate nomber of verie valliaunt soldiours of our nation who sought nothyng but credite renowme and good report Sir Willyam Drewrie now Lorde Iustice of Irelande was then so gallauntly disposed that he did but daiely search where or how he might bestowe his tyme in seruice and so serued a long season to his greate commendation with the Emperour as heretofore I haue rehearsed And he was so enclined to Marshall affaires that when forraine warres were ended he sought entertainement at Gines and those partes whiche had warre with the Frenche for kyng Phillippes quarrell And he hauyng charge and a lustie bande of horsemen did many thynges that merites good likyng For at that tyme was muche adoe and a bande of horsemen verie well appoincted and full of gentlemen was sente from the lorde Warden an honourable and a worthie gentleman moste full of noblenesse the Lorde Cheinees father now liuyng In this bande and belongyng to that charge was sondrie of the Keises gentlemen of good seruice maister Crippes hauyng the leadyng of all that companie There was sente in like sorte from the Prince Maister Willyam Harbertes brother of sainct Gillians called maister George Harbertte with a bande of footemen and one Capitaine Borne whose Lieutenaunt I was at the siege of Gines These bandes a good season before Callice and Gines were taken ioynyng with other bandes of Callice did make diuerse iourneis into Bollinnoyes and sped verie well Sir William Dreurie at euery seruice deserued no little praise and one Capitaine Winnibancke an auncient soldiour was oftentymes so forward that he was ronne ones through the buttocke with a Launce Many gentlemen in those seruices did well and worthely And sondrie tymes the Lorde Wardeins bande was to be praised And at length a voyage was made by the consente and whole power of Callice and Gines to fetche a prey from Bolleyn gates Mounsire Snarppoule then beeyng gouernour of Bolleyn but we could not handle the matter so priuilie but the Frenche by espiall had gotten woorde thereof Notwithstandyng as Soldiours commonly goes forwarde with their deuise so we marched secretly all the whole night to come to our purposed enterprise and our footemen whereof sir Harry Palmer a man of greate experience had the leadyng He remained with the whole power of footemen nere the Blacke Neastes as a stale to annoye the enemie and succour for suche as were driuen in if any suche occasion came So the horse bandes brake into the Countrey and preased nere Bollayne where was a greate nomber of gallaunt soldiours to receiue them but our horsemen makyng small accounte of the matter beganne to prey the countrey and driue a bootie from the face of the enemies The Frenche horsemen takyng their aduauntage offered a skirmishe to detracte tyme till better oportunitie serued to giue a charge This couragious bickeryng grewe so hotte that the Frenche bandes beganne to showe and our menne must abide a shocke or retire hardely with some foile wherevppon the cheefest of our horsemen charged those of the Frenche that were nerest daunger by whiche attempt the Frenche staied a while but vpon
other men haue written of those causes Now I make a little recitall of a seruice beeyng dooen betweene sainct Dennis and Parris where the Conestable of Fraunce was slaine in whose companie was maister Edward Barkley attendyng on Mounsire Brizak This battaill was attempted and fought by the power of the king againste the Prince of Conde whose force laye scattered a broade in the countrey aboute Parris and yet the nomber of xviij hundred horsemen and three thousande footemen wer lefte at saincte Dennis Whiche hearyng of the kynges power marched towardes them issued out of the Toune and beganne the skirmishe moste daungerously and with suche courage as seldome hath been seen or redde of consideryng their power was so small and the Parrisians were suche a multitude and to tell the trothe it seemed that the Prince of Condes force was but a handfull in comparison of the contrary side And it seemed a greate madnesse or mockerie for the small nomber to encounter with the greate and huge companie But necessitie that either redoubleth the strength of menne or dauntes the hartes of cowardes had so plucked vp the hartes of this little nomber that thei imagined thei rather sought againste children then champions And as it proued this little troupe presupposed that in a multitude is many opions and many that would rather bee at home in suretie then abroad in daunger whiche opinion and desire of of the weaker sorte breedes oftentymes a confusion and vtter mischeef emong a greate multitude Well albeit the hazard was marueilous and the enterprise paste all the exspectation of man yet the Prince of Condeis power did sette a good face on the matter and plied the kynges force with shotte and polliticke deuises of warre Yea in suche sorte and with suche manhoode at euery encounter some paied the beste blood in their bodies and some were forced to giue a lustie charge to staye and amuse the whole battaill And charge vpon charge was giuen on bothe sides moste noblie with moste assured hope of victorie And the fight beeyng begonne nere Saincte Dennies endured from the winde-milles almoste to the suburbes of Parris But alwaies as the multitude did ouerlaye the little bande the small companies courage did encrease and their myndes were become so greate that thei thought the feelde to small and the daie to short to shewe the valliauncie of their hartes And in this their manly disposition thei gatte grounde at euery charge thei gaue And in fine beeyng furiously bente compelled by greate Fortune and daungerous seruice the kynges side to swaie a little about and takyng the aduauntage offered thei charged a bande of horsemen where thei thought the Conestable of Fraunce stoode in troupe and hitte so full vpon the marke thei shotte at that the noble Mounsire Memorancie was slaine at the firste stroke by the handes of one called capitaine Steward a Scottishe gentleman Thus the Conestables death and others of good credite beeyng knowne and published emong the Parrisiens that came with hym to the feelde Thei fled as faste as thei could and so the whole armie was discouraged and as thei might euery man made shift for hym self But yet some order was kept emong them or els a great slaughter had been made and yet in trothe the Prince of Condeis side were waxt so a wearie that thei but looked for a tyme to take breathe in and refreshe their ouerlaboured horses Here maie the worlde beholde what good Fortune the forward myndes of men maie attaine vnto and what victorie and conquest is compassed by a constaunt determination and a resolute seruice Whiche who that lookes into and regardes throughly shall euer haue a prosperous successe For in all battailes and seruices where good Capitaines are the leaders the valliauncie of menne commonly goes awaie with the garlande and all worldly glorie and triumphes attendes and waites on the worthinesse of mennes courages as a thyng incident to those that dare aduenture by vallue to striue for good fame The Kyng notwithstandyng this ouerthrowe whiche might not a little moue his Maiestie raised a greate Armie after this when Sharters was besieged by the prince of Conde and marched thetherwardes with a princely power where was greate seruice and many a man slaine before the siege was raised But for that but a fewe of any greate name loste their liues there I write little of the particulars and yet if I liste to delate there is matter enough lefte to enlarge my volume of the same seruice Maister Edward Barkly was on the kynges side in like sort at this seruice and at the reste of the Frenche warres that followes on the Prince of Condies side Capitaine Barkley went after with the Prince of Conde and was at the siege of sainct Ihon Dangill At the siege of Poictiers At the siege of Angulem At the skirmishe of Lodwyne At the skirmishe of Lasmirie At the skirmishe of Pompero in whiche skirmishes many greate conflictes were giuen and many thousandes were slaine And a nomber of greate aduentures were to bee seen the Chronicle of Fraunce settes theim foorthe at the full For whiche cause I leaue out muche of the matter And after Capitaine Barkley had been at all these seruices afore named he was with the Prince at the battaill of Iernake where there was a greate fight and a hotte encounter long in ballaunce hangyng betweene hope and doubte But to conclude as the Frenche writers and trothe dooeth testifie The Kyng had the vpper hande and the Prince of Conde was slaine and his whole force driuen backe In whiche fight and blouddie battaill thousandes were discomfited on bothe the sides But the grace of good Fortune and the glorie of that daie wente awaie with the Kyng that longe had sought victorie and founde but harde chaunce till that present howre Some doe excuse the Princes misfortune with an ouersight of those that were aboute hym But in Gods blessed bosome the bowels of those broiles and businesse is shrined and lyes faste locked from the lookes and iudgement of man. Now I mynde to touche somewhat the seruices that were by Sea since we that are a liue can remember the reporte of the same and yet I maie not expresse at large any greate thyng thereof because I would not be tedious to the reader nor would not write more then is or maie bee well liked â–ª For that I searche no bookes nor robbe no one Aucthour of his studie and laboure I runne but to my owne vewe and reache of reason or followe the true report of those that I knewe will not fable with the worlde in matter of trothe and credite In the raigne of that moste redoubted and perelesse Prince Kyng Henry the eight whose famous actes can not bee to muche spoken of There was a noble and terrible fight on the Sea betweene the Frenche Galleis whiche were nineteene in nomber and twoo Foistes and our shippes whiche were not many The Kyng hauyng sente to Laundersey sir Ihon Walloppe and a
saile in his coÌ„panie But he proceaded onward and houered vp and doune the coast a certain space till at length commyng before the Castell of Cane Mongomrie hauyng espied the Shippes that Capitaine Biston brought before the Toune of Cane whiche was besieged by the enemies of Count Mongomries beganne to prepare hym self and all his people to goe a Shippe boarde and so came from Cane and passed to Newe Hauen by Capitaine Bistons meanes giuyng hym greate thankes for his commyng to Cane and for seruyng the Counties tourne in that extremitie The Counte had brought with hym from Cane twelue hundred soldiours and other thynges necessarie for his furniture And Capitaine Biston departyng from hym made saile into Englande and receiued sir Adriane Poinynges and maister Cutbart Vaughan with twoo thousande Soldiours and there on sailed backe againe to Newe Hauen and landed them there at their owne willes and pleasure After the siege of Newe Hauen the Count Mongomrie gathered a greate Nauie and wente out of Englande in hope to succour Rotchell that was strongly besieged and enteryng in at the hauens mouthe of Rotchell a Cannon shotte passed through the Shippe the Count was in hym self So vpon that or other causes vnknowne to many in his companie he retourned and lefte Rotchell in greate daunger Whiche toune notwithstandyng againste all hope or expectation of manne kepte it self in suretie and did suche wonderfull thynges duryng the siege thereof as to this daie and to the worldes ende is and wil be spoken of For emong all the sieges that euer wee haue heard of there is not one comparable to the siege of Rotchell Albeeit Haddyngton Harlam and Malta are monumentes and patrons to shew that manhoode maie woorke maruailes and constancie ioyned with courage is not easely conquered As Rotchell and these places before mention of doeth witnesse and shall whiles we are men be daiely remembred In that season whiles the Count Mongomrie was aboute to succoure Rotchell Bell Ilande was assaulted and verie valliaunly wonne with a fewe menne one of sir Willyam Winters brethren beeyng the cheef leader to that seruice In whiche seruice was many a hotte skirmishe and many more matters worthie memorie putte in practise wherein manhoode and diligence of manne was throughlie tried And the Englishe nation did shewe their accustomed courage in in suche maner and sort that the Frenche which thought to keepe Bell Ilande were forced to leaue it and seeke their beste waie to conueigh theim selues from daunger albeeit thei defended the saied Ilande as long as thei might Now hauyng further causes to treate of and meanyng no more to wearie the readers with many wordes or warre either of Sea seruice or Landes bloodie broiles I mynde to expresse and set forthe at large how Soldiours were made of and honoured in tymes paste and what prerogatiue thei had aboue other people And to declare how Princes helde them in admiration and gaue theim liberties titles and dignities farre beyonde the reste of any that liued vnder their lawes and obedience And this by the waie is to be thought that all my former discourse and rehearsall of warres attended to no other purpose and effecte but for the aduauncement of Soldiours and to be as it were a foile to sette forthe the matter I presently mynde to publishe out For now I will in a maner shewe how Gentilitie beganne and where and in what sorte honour was first gotten and maintained whiche argumente as I hope shall not onely contente the wise and wel learned but also please euery degree and make the simple sorte plucke vp their courages and imitate by some honest exercises the liues of noble Soldiours I truste I neede not in this readie and ripe age wherein good writers greate learnyng and studious iudgementes doeth florishe rehearse by particulars euery parcell and poincte that belongeth to a Soldiours profession Nor that you looke I should recite when and where the Romaines Lacedemonians Athenians and other nations did preferre and extoll menne of Marshall myndes and noble courages For their bookes and Commentaries and the innumerable Libraries of greate antiquitie are the verie recordes of my discourse and remaine as mirrours for you to looke in And shall proue a thousande partes more in the comendation of Soldiours then either my penne or tongue by sufficiente cuÌ„nyng hath power to expresse For it can not be that from a little gutte or Channell of water you should looke for so greate a flood as from a multitude of springes froÌ„ whence mightie Riuers takes originall and recourse And so I sende you to the Welspryng of â—â—â—â—â—edge I meane the auncient Fathers woorkes to fetche true intelligence of the thynges I make mention of touchyng the worthie reputation of a good Soldiour and the antiquitie of his credite triumphe and glorie Firste looke in the sacred Scriptures and searche from the death of Abell commyng doune orderly to the birthe of Christe And see whether Souldiours were made of or no. And doubtlesse you shall finde thei were not onely embraced and maintained but like wise thei are of a long continuance and credite As al the Bible before Ihon the Baptistes time declareth And Christe hym self in a sorte did vtter when he saied he had not founde suche faithe in Israell as he sawe in a Senturion Yea and in the Apostles Actes there is a speciall poinct to bee noted Deuoute Soldiours were sente to Symon Tanners house to finde out Peter Well now I commit you to the Scripture and I will followe prophane histories and beginne at the verie Infidelles a scorne for a Christian to bee taught by whiche are no small nomber nor of no little continuaunce people alwaies brought vp in war and Princes of greate fame power and aucthoritie Yea conquerours of the whole worlde and kynges to whom all people did stoupe and doe homage These Paganes or as we maie tearme them loste shepe to whom the greate Shepherd would not bee knowne and yet emong theim tormented and crucified did make suche lawes and orders for Soldiours as the Turke to this daie obserueth and holdeth in greate reuerence Regard but the liberties and aucthoritie of the Ienessaries and that shall manifestlie proue that menne of warre are had in greate admiration But because you shall haue the more beleef to the matter read the life of Alexander the Greate The Commentaries of Iulius Caesar and the noble actes and victories of a nomber of other notable Princes And then assuredlie you shal be perswaded that the renowme of Soldiours hath reached and spread as farre as fame can flie or good reporte could haue passage I praie you can any manne deny but it springeth of a greate courage and zeale to the Common wealthe when a man forsaketh the pleasure of life to followe the painfulnesse of warre and daunger of death and refuseth no toile nor trauaill to purchase credite and attaine vnto knowledge Yea some suche wee reade of as Marcus Cursius and Musius Sceuola that refused no