Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	great_a	time_n	write_v	6,271	5	5.2850	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89449	The chiefe events of the monarchie of Spaine, in the yeare 1639. / Written by the Marquesse Virgilio Maluezzi, one of his Majesties Councell of Warre. Translated out of th'Italian copy, by Robert Gentilis Gent.; Successi principali della monarchia di Spagna nell'anno M.DC.XXXIX. English.	Malvezzi, Virgilio, marchese, 1595-1653.; Gentilis, Robert.	1647 (1647)	Wing M355; Thomason E1161_1; ESTC R202848	79,537	217

sustaine one in great misfortunes being ill used precipitates us into miserable calamities Not cōtent through it to keep our selves from dispaire we would thereby attaine to happinesse The future becomes present hope is turned into security And being deceived by our owne desires and not hopes promises we call it deceitfull and false which would not be deceitfull if we did not make it so nor false if we did not falsifie it It deceives none but leaves them perplexed without any determination and he that determineth changeth it by his opinion The Count Duke who made use of hope with a proviso that it should not prejudice wisdome comforted himselfe through it as if it were certaine and did use prevention against it as if it were false At this time the art and deceipt of the French was to be more looked too them their valour who have changed their custome though not their nature their head though not their heart That the Prince of Conde was their generall who had openly said in Dola that his understanding was much to be feared his force not so much and his fortune but little That it was unlikely he having had so much time and so covenient a season had not sufficiently victualled the place That it was to be imagined the Governour fearing force more then want to prevent that feigned he feared that most which he feared least To eate rotten bisket was in wise men not so much a demonstration of want as an argument of providence as they who reserved what was good against a greater faintnesse and for a smaller number little regarding the health and life of souldiers when they can doe no better service then to dye When shew is made in any besieged place either of abundance or want the contrary is alwayes to be doubted His advice was that two thousand of the best old souldiers should be left in the trenches the rest should be lodged some where nere thereabouts to refresh themselves and be ready upon any occasions That the void place which they left should be filled up with men our of Catalonia Arragon and Valencia with a promise of exchanging them if the siege should last long and if ended soone to discharge them That the Gallies should returne to Naples and Sicilie having first landed reliefe into the State of Milan and the rest remaine in Spaine And that the ships should make ready for the Indian voyage This opinion was applauded by all men but not wholly effected by reason of a rumour which began to be raised of a great reliefe preparing in France And likewise because that some few weekes after the Governour upon honourable conditions which are set downe in the end of the booke covenanted to yeeld up the place if he were not relieved by the day of th'Epiphanie In the meane time the Marquis of Balbases writ to the Duke of Ferrandina how he heard the enemy was advancing with a numerous and strong Army having a double intent Namely either to force their out-workes or to keep away our provisions Hee shewed that the former was not impossible to be done and the latter vere easie He spake concerning both with much valour and yet with some diffidence an ordinary thing in wife men and being done with moderation is profitable to secure one against future times If it falls cut well it credits the valour which hath overcome the difficulties if ill the advice which hath given notice of them The Marquis of Villa Franca sent the Letter to the Count Duke I have affirmed this to be a great Generall who from his Closet can command Armies I would be silent in many things concerning the Count Duke if I framed a Poem but I relate them because I write a Historie The former makes use of what is likely though false the later leaves not out that which is unlikely so it be true Be it then granted mee to prove the truth of the most unlikely thing I can speake in the commendation of this great man to honour my Historie by the Letter he writ to Marquis Spinolis I will set set down a true copy of it word by word without adding or diminishing I shall secure my selfe from the blemish of infamy if not amongst ignorant and malicious men the praise and dispraise of whom I equally contemne yet amongst understanding and well minded folk who alone can commend and discommend SIR There arrived here this morning a letter from the Marquis of Villa Franca dated the 29 of the last month and one inclosed from your Excellency of the 27. I confesse that if the advices your Excellency writes of are those which you expected for certaine I find my selfe disburthened of three quarters of the cares I tooke An Army which hath two designes doth much weaken the action with the diversity of two intentions whereas having but one it may doe much there remaining no appeale to the second I will now discourse with your Excellency upon your letter to the Marquis after I have cursorily touched something concerning the time given for the yeilding of the place it being judged to be somewhat long and though here others consider other points of the capitulation I only insist upon that of having water in the dike which being so extravagant and new to me maketh mee suspect finding no other reason for it they desired it to th' end they might have water to drinke and if they wanted water seeing thirst cannot be endured two dayes I would by no meanes have made any agreement with them but for a very short time And if this bee a customary clause and there be other reasons to enforce it I referre my selfe to experience which though it cannot hinder the prefixed time from being thought long may satisfie the strictest difficultie and chiefest ground Now comming to your Excelencies Letter wherein you relate the enemies twofold designes I will speake what I thinke of it As for the first to force the out-works I assuredly believe that after so many moneths time they are setled in very good forme and that by that meanes and with the helpe of the Cavallerie it will be more then difficult for the enemy to force those workes in such sort as to enter them with their Horse and Ordnance which not comming to passe it will bee impossible for him to obtaine his desire which I fear the lesse because I know those two thousand men are making ready for your Excellencie which I suppose you onely wanted to secure the Workes As for the hindering you from victuall if I may speake the truth I hold it impossible your Excellencie hath within your Trenches provision sufficient for twelve dayes at the least according to the reiterated orders and peradventure for longer They who must hinder them must return back to take the way of Estagel and consequently must passe under your Excellencies Canon whereby besides the discouragement an Army receives by going back you may have them pursued in the reare and if