Cromnus he would not only geue him a huge mase of money but also the fayrest Lady that was to be found amongst the Lacedemonians to wife who aunswered that Archidamus was nothing lyke to Hercules for he went about the world to destroy those that were euil but contrary the other those that wer good When Decius Brutus made war into Spayne and had subdued al Lucitania except one Citie called Cinania and demaunding of the citizens what money they wold geue to be at peace who aunswered our Auncitours lefte vs swordes to defend and not money to redéeme from so couetouse a Captayne as thou shewest thy self to bée Many tymes when Captaynes hath ben rigoriously bent yet perceiuing the parties to be wise haue chaunged their fury into linitie which hath redounded to their great commendation as when Cirus hauing taken Cresus commaunding forthwith to be burnt who going to the fyer cried out with a very lamentable voyce saying O Solon Solon King Cirus wondering at these wordes and what they should meane bad one of his seruauntes aske him the cause that with so greate sorow hée cried and named Solon theÌ„ Cresus drawing a great sigh answered in this wise Solon sometime amongst the Athenians was a veri wise man vnto whom I once when he was with me did shew vnto him all my power and treasures which done I asked him whether he thought that euer any aduersitie or misfortune might hap vnto me being fensed with such power and riches against all chauÌ„ces of fortune or force of enemies But to thys aunswered Solon rebuking me for my secure and carelesse mynd and sayd no man in this world O King Cresus is so happy and fortunate in this life that he can be called throughly in euery parte blessed before he dye neither is there any man I aunswer thée be he neuer so mightie but some aduersitie may chauÌ„ce vnto him and ouerthrow him or hée be aware but at that time trusting retchlesly alas vppoÌ„ my happy luck and suckcesse of things despised his words neyther could I feare this so exceding a fal as now I fynde wherefore bicause first I vnderstode the sentence of Solon now before my death I named him and I do wish all men in prosperitie not to be vnmindful of misfortunes and calamities that may chaunce lest they become ouer haughtie of their present felicitie greedy to attempte thinges heddily that by occasion may bée their vtter confusion These thinges when Cirus the King had hard he was not a litle touched with pittie and clemency towardes him and sayd hée would not hereafter shew him self to hard vppon Cresus which was sometime a right mightie King for he remembred that hée him self was also a man and that it might chaunce him to haue neede of other mens ayde and mercy after that he comâ—â—aunded Cresus to be brought vnto him whom he entertained lyke a noble Prince and vsed his aduise and counsaile in all his affaires and procedinges Porus a King being vanquished by Alexander in the field Alexander asked of hym how shal I intreat thée Porus who aunswered Kingly againe Alexander demaunded if he required any thing else altogither qd Porus is comprised in this word Kingly Alexander meruailing both at the wisdom and at the noble stomake of the man enlarged hid dominions ouer that they were before When a certayne Iudian which was noised to bée so cunning an Archer that he could shout thorow a Ryng â–ª and was taken prisoner and brought to Alexander â–ª who willing him to make a proofe of his cunning before him which thing he refused to do the King ther with being very angry commaunded he should be put to death as hée was led away he sayd to such as led him that he had not vsed his feat of showting many dayes and therfore feared least he shuld haue failed when Alexander was informed hereof that be 〈…〉 sed not for spight but rather for fear of disworship wondering at this mans mynd so desirous of glory which rather desired to dye then to haue lost his fame and renown he let him go not with out a great rewarde What tyme Philip Kyng of Macedonia had an Army lying at Cheronia Diogenus comming thyther anon was taken by the Souldyers and brought to the King who angerly cryed out a spye a spye to whom Diogenus forthwyth aunswered in deede Philip I am a spye and am come hither to espye thy madnesse which not being contented with the Realme of Macedonia by the incroching of other mens Realmes puttest thy self in daunger to lose both thine own kingdom and also thy life the King wondering at the mans franke speach and bould language commaunded he should be let go without any hurt to bée vsed toward him Although ther be many other examples which could not bée preiudiciall for Captaines to note to haue in remembrauÌ„ce yet here I let them passe remeÌ„bring thée but with this one example of Fabius Maximus he hauing certayne of his Souldiers taken by Haniball sent to the Senators for money to redéeme them his sute being denyed commaunded his sonne to go straight to Rome to sell all the landes and liuing which he then possest without the City and to bring him money wherwith hee redéemed his Souldiers and brought theÌ„ franke frée to Rome saying he had rather want patrimony in his countrey then loue to his countrey men And now hauing something shewed how a Captayne of him self should be adicted which as L. Paulus sayth should be to be aged and aunsient in maners Now it foloweth how a Captaine ought to trayne and practise his Souldiers and although I know experimented Captains nede no such instructions yet for thée or other that be young Souldiers it can not be hurtfull A Captayn ought first to teach his Souldiers how to kepe the order of aray and to instruct them that they may know how to march to learne them to vnderstand the sounds of Drums and Trompets wherby they are commaunded what they ought to do and bicause it chauÌ„ceth of ordinary that when men be redye to ioyne in fight they come to gither with great shoutes and rumor by reason wherof the coÌ„maundementes of the Captaynes may not many tymes be hard nor vnderstand it is therfore requisit to make them to obey to signes as by casting his armes a broad when he wold haue them to march wider by bringing his armes to gither wheÌ„ he would haue them to march close by holding vp his hand when he would haue them to stand still by turning him selfe towardes them if he would haue them turne and thus to instruct them how the fight is begunne how they should retier and being ouerthrowne who should sucséede in their places and thus to make them practised which more auayleth then strength and multitude as maye appeare by Marius who being at his liberty to chose one of the best Armies hee would eyther that which had bin with Metellus or that which had ben Rutilius
But seme to mend that is amisse in rude and rustick phrase Loe this is al he craues in guerden of his payne Thy frendly fartheraunce report he seeks no other gain THE AVTHOR TO HIS BOOKE WHy shouldest thou make such hast abroad to be a meane wherby to purchace me defame Yet mightest thou still abyde and stay with me and I therby remayne deuoyd of blame But if I once permit thee scope to trudge I know not I what euery man will iudge The booke to the Author VVhat doubtes be these that thus doth dul thy braine or what conceiptes doth yet thy mynd pursue I know no cause thou shouldst me thus restraine but geue me scope to such as list to vow Then they no doubt will thank thee for thy payne as I suppose thou seekest no greater gayne The Author I craue no more in deed but the good will of such as shall thy simple sence behold But this I doubt my rude and slender skil may geue them cause to iudge me ouer bold So I in steed of thanks may purchace blame so vayne a â—oy to set forth in my name The Booke And who so redy euer fault to fynde as witlesse head that least of all doth know For none so bold they say as bayerd blynd nor none more riefe their doultish domes to show VVher wyse men yet will deeme thy doings right what carst thou then for Zoylus cankerd spight The Author Well yet my booke I geue thee this in charge the maners marke of such as thee peruse If thou perceiuest their tonges do run at large in fynding fault the Author to accuse Tell thou them then I ment not to offend what they mislike desire them they wold mend And thus farevvell ⧠A Pleasaunt Dialogue IN Maye when all Creatures commonlye reioyce being prycked foorth by my owne desire to leaue the house and walke the pleasaunt Pastures which was to my great contentacion by reason of the swéete and delectable Verdeur which Tellus Imphes doth yelde in that blessed season thus as Iâ—romed vp and downe I fortuned to find a fayre Meade which was gorgeouslye aryed all in gréeue bedecked with Flowers of diuerse and sundrye collours on the farther sidewherof I might beholde a gallant Groâ—e out of the which there came such Heauenlye Hermony as at the first it caused mée to thinke Orphei againe had béene returned frequenting his accustomed order but as I drewe nearer I knewe it to bée the tunes of sundrye Birdes which as it séemed reioysed them selues in that pleasaunt plot with their swéete and delectable laye Thus as I was come vp vnder the side of the Woodde I found a faire Trée whose spreding bowes shadowed the place where I layd me down of purpose to heare more of those pleasant notes but as Cyllemus mery pipe brought Ergus to a nodding nappe so I think those Hermonical soundes yelded mée the lyke For I was no soner layde but Morpheus immediatly assayled mée with a straunge troublesome dreame for to my thinking I heard the sodaine sound of Trumpettes Droms Phifes musing with my selfe what it might meane I might sée diuerse bands both of Horsemen footemen being armed which in very comely order with auncientes braue displayd came marching toward mée and when they were come to the place where I aboad putting themselues in troupe one by the assent of all the rest vttred these wordes folowing Although of this our sodaine repaire vnto thée thou haddest no intelligence yet som part of the cause wée are assured thou knowest verye well which should make me to bée so much the shorter in that which I haue to say theÌ„ know this we haue by our general assents apointed thée as our trusty friend wylling thée with al speede to prepare thée in maner of a messenger to the mighty court of Mars where in our behalfe thou shalt make presentacion into how many extremities wée the vnfortunate Souldiours of England are euen now lately falne into otherwyse then hath béene séene or heard on and with a contrary alteracioÌ„ of time past so cleane chaunged as there is difference betwéene white and blacke hath not the name of a souldior here before béen had in such reuerence and accounted of such value as they haue béene honoured of euery estate is not the profession of so worthy seruice now becom so odious the name so reprochful as they be disdained and y of each degrée who hath béen heretofore more carefully prouided for more worthily maintaind or more iustly preferred who is now so slenderlye estemed of so lightly accounted of so litle cared for where they haue béen loued they be now despised where before al other they haue béen had in estimatioÌ„ they be now as abiects to al other had in no reputacion but what should I stande to vse longer circumstance To finde a present redresse in these causes we haue as I tolde thée before appointed thée our messenger to make these matters knowne to mighty Mars him self who is our onely refuge our whole hope of comfort and chiefest helpe at néede not doubting but by these meanes to finde such happy redresse as wée shall haue iust cause to extoll our mighty Mars as also to yeld the continuall thankes for thy diligence vsed at our requestes Thus when I had heard the sum of their pretence I aunswered as followeth If I were as sufficient to discharge my selfe of that credite whiche you would committe vnto mée as I fele my selfe wylling and readye to the vttermost of my power to pleasure the simplyest of this noble company as the hope that you haue in mée should not bée frustrate so I shoulde not bée dryuen to séeke excuses as nowe I am forced requesting your pardons herein Fyrst because I knowe there bée many whose experience wyll much better serue to satisfye your requestes than I knowe my owne to bée of and there bée some that I knowe would accuse mée of ignoraunce or presumption if it were knowne that I should attempt in any such matter but in especiallye when I consider my owne insufficiencye it vtterlye discourageth mée But I rather thinke your Message shoulde bée executed by some famous Oratour or some excellent Rethorisian which shoulde not bée vnfurnished with pleasaunt tearmes or such a one as could tell a learned tale as occasion dyd serue and not by such as I knowe my selfe to bée who is able to saye no more than what you haue already taught mée Wherefore I trust you wyl except these as reasonable lawful excuses and not as any surmised shifts whereby to auoyde that seruice whiche I knowe my selfe to bée vnworthy of When I had made this answere after a lytle conference had amongst them selues thy replied in this manner As wée thinke thée sufficient ynough to performe any thing that wée haue yet desired so wée are not come hyther estéeming thée best able of any other to satisfye our request but wée presuming to haue found thée as
wylling to haue vsed thy dilligence at our desires as wée were ready to desire thée gaue vs the more occasion to presse thus much vpon thée and where thou sayest there bée some that woulde accuse thée of ignoraunce or presumption if thou shouldest yelde to our requestes wée assure thée there be as many others that might Iustly accuse thée of folly yf for the reprochfull tauntes of Momishe mates thou shouldest omit any thing that tendeth vppon good or commendable occasion but what nicite hath nowe ouertaken thée that thou wouldest perswade vs to sende some Oratoure or such lyke and that we must nowe vse such eloquence to preferre our causes thou must consider we woulde neither send the to Pallas nor yet to Apollo nor yet to any other captious wight that will haue greater regarde to the termes then he hath to the tale for who is so scrupilouse that will looke for eloquence to come from souldiers or to thinke that they muste paynt out their matters with any curiouse philed phrace vnlesse it be some curiouse philed foole which knoweth not what appertayneth to a souldier but to driue thée oute of these doubtes wée haue framed a supplication to Mars wher in wee haue included the whole sircumstaunce of oure pretence the which in oure behalfes thou shalt present receyuing thy answere without vsing many words thus minding to vse no farther perswatioÌ„s of incouragement if this that we haue sayd be not sufficient we leaue the rest to thy owne discretion Yes surely sayd I it is ynough and youre wordes hath so throughly perswaded me that euen now I remayne at youre pleasures redy prest to aunswere the sum of your pretence as far as my abilitie will any wayes serue me yet crauing the pardons of such as be beter experimented considering it rather procéedeth from a desier to do wel then of any presumtuose minde Then they deliuering me the supplication which they had framed one of them sayde as foloweth Well then we minde no lenger to deteine the but woulde rather wishe the to make as great spéede as conueniently thou mayest we haue no more to saye but we desier the sacred Gods to farther thy pretence and thus till oure next méeting we leaue thée Then putting them selues agayne in order too my farewell certayne voll of shot discharged in hope of my good spéede Thus they marched awaye againe in such gallant sort that who had séen them might well haue déemed though their estimacions were impaired yet their noble and valliant harts was no whitte diminished But sodainly as they were vanished from my syght I began to bethinke mée of my vndertake attempt which when I had well considered I cursed my owne follye that would so rashlye condiscende to take in hande I knewe not what for neyther wyst I where Marses Court shoulde bée neyther knew I by what deuise I might get thyther the remembraunce whereof brought mée almost to a kinde of desperaration how I might prosecute or by what meanes I might performe my promise but when I had called to minde the goodnesse of the Gods who commonly bée assistaunt to all distressed wightes I began somwhat to comfort my selfe in hope likewyse to finde some fauour vsyng this peticion as followeth If the humble supplications of wretched wights may any thing preuayle before you the celestiall Gods vouchsafe most humblye than I beséeche you that my pytyfull plaintes might so moue you to helpe mée in this distresse that through your mighty powers and prouidence deuine I might yet in the ende bring my attempt to some happy effect But as I continued in this contemplacion I might beholde one standing by mée clothed all in white holding in his hande a rodde which séemed all of massye Golde by which signe I dyd knowe it to bée Mercury who in this wyse sayde vnto mée The Gods hath listened to thy prayers and in some part yelded to thy request aryse therefore and with spéede prepare thy selfe to followe mée with that me thought on both my shoulders there were sodainly growne a payre of winges of maruailous bignesse and as I perceiued my guyde softly to soare awaye I assayde with my selfe howe I coulde followe whiche mée thought I could doe euen at pleasure and as well as though I had beene practised in flying many a daye before and after wée had thus flyed a whyle togeather I looked about and I might vnderneath mée beholde Cityes Townes Castelles Wooddes diuerse Hylles and Valleys wherein I tooke great pleasure and delight and muche reioysed with my selfe to sée these newe and vnaquainted thinges but with in shorte space we were so mounted that I had cleane loste the sight of altogether which was belowe and then I might perceiue a merueilouse huge and sumtiouse Castell standing on a plesaunt plotte directly ouer againste vs toward the which my guide began to bend his course and I following hym till we were come in manner to it where vpon a very fayre gréene we stayde oure selues and as I stoode gasing aboute I might perceiue greate rowts of people that ishewed out and in at the gates and almoste on euery parte of this castel they were vsing many exersises some were running at the tilte others at the turny others were pushing with the pike som were throwing of the dartes some were exercising the Caliuer in manner of skirmishe and many were on horsebacke the one hauing the other in chace These sightes made mée greatly to muse but my guide I thinke of purpose to cut mée from my farther imagination sayde Loe here quod he the Court of Mars where thou mayst beholde those blessed wightes who spent theyr passed dayes in defence of theyr Countrey and right onely to attaine prayse and noble fame and not for filthye lucours sake or hope of any Golde gaine Where nowe their iust desertes is quitte with like delight what though their bodies intombed bée in clay thou séest their spirite doe here remaine in euerlasting blisse for here no yeres may make theÌ„ olde no bare-head skul no wrinkled browe may here be found no visage here may ought anoy theÌ„ nor yet Morpheus once assayle them no Borias blastes may hurt them with cold nor the fiery flames of Aetna hyll oppresse them with heate no Cerberus is Porter in this place nor the grieslye grones of Promotheus at no time here are hard they neuer sée the gréedy gripe to tyer on Ticius heart to bée short they neuer féele of any woe but styll continue their daies in most happy and blessed estate euerye one vsing his owne delights euen as it hath pleased the Gods to appoint Why then sayd I thou Godes soÌ„ne sith it hath pleased thée to reueale these matters vnto mée vouchsafe lykewise I beséech thée to satisfye mée in this that I sée vpon the Towers and Turâ—ets which as they bée innumerable so they are beset with an infinite number of Auncients In the which as I do gesse the Armes of diuerse Countreys be displaid
number of souldiers but yet not of purpose to deceiue the Prince neyther yet to enryche them selues by sauing of theyr pay for if they haue wanted ten or twelue of theyr number whiche they haue ben allowed for they haue yet had twentie or thirtie Gentlemen to whom they haue geuen doubell paye the better to maintayne them selues in the Princes seruice and the rather to incourage both them and others to serue for it is generally séene that a Gentleman wyll soonest prooue a souldier of any other and shewe hym selfe most valiaunt in the fielde and when Xerxes king of Persia was in manner put to the worse but of .300 Lacedemonians where he hym selfe had with a very great multitude he confessed hym selfe deceiued in that he tooke with hym many men but fewe souldiers for he perceiued that it forced not so muche howe many there be as howe well assayed picked and tryed they be and it may be that these Captaynes be of Xerxes mynd they had rather bring the smaller nūber of chosen souldiers then the greater companie of ordinarie men as they be appoynted Mars although this excuse séemeth to be reasonable yet for some causes it is not tollerable but yet as thou sayest sufficient yenough to pourge them from any pretended deceipt towards theyr Prince Aug. And who woulde suppose that any Captayne woulde séeke to deceiue his souldier on whose report hangeth the greatest part of his credite for what greater infamie may come to a Captayne then to be defamed by his own souldiers and such as hath serued hym But it hath ben the custome in England as I haue heard that in the tyme of seruice in what Shiere soeuer souldiers were leuyed theyr Captayne was lykewise appoynted in the same Shiere some Gentlemen of great worship and of fayre reuenewes who had ben able if cause had so constrained to haue serued the Prince and rather would haue spent a thousand pound amongst his souldiers then to haue sought to defraude thē by any manner of meanes this gaue some incouragement to men when they dyd knowe theyr Captayne to be of countenaunce amongst them it dyd lykewyse bréede due obediēce in souldiers when they were in the warres theyr Captayne beyng suche a one as had gouernement amongest them to minister iustice when they were at home in the tyme of peace to be briefe it caused euery one to endeuour hym selfe to vse his best seruice and to please his Captayne to the ende that when the warres were fynished it lay yet in the Captaynes possibilitie at theyr returne to requite them eyther with good or ill accordyng as they had deserued The Captayne lykewyse when he consydered who they were that serued vnder hym and that he remembred them to be his neyghbours and suche as were dwellers about hym yea peraduenture manye of them his owne tenauntes he for his owne credites sake and to auoyde defamation would so order him selfe towardes them as they shoulde haue no cause to exclayme this by report hath ben the order tyl nowe of late and in my simple iudgement it were very necessarie if that manner of appoyntment were styll obserued Mer. but nowe thou must consyder the alteration of the tyme for in those dayes Gentlemen were as desyrous to become souldiers as they are nowe studious to become Lawyers but it is nowe come to an other passe ▪ for in the tyme of seruice there are very fewe whose experience may serue them to take charge but suche as are partly constrayned to it by néede then where the Captayne is néedie and the souldier more néedy there must néedes fal out some absurditie in seruice and by these meanes the orders of seruice in the warres are altogether corrupted and a great way from the auncient manners altered whereby hath growen these sinister opinions which maketh men to hate warlyke seruice and to flye the conuersation of such as doth professe it And as for the greatest parte of suche as be indued with worldly possessions hath a further desyre to folowe other vayne and idell deuises then they haue to serue and defende theyr countrey If they fynde the Prince a horse to the field they thynk them selues to haue bene at great cost and it is done so grudginly amongest a number of them that they cared not if he myght passe musters yf he were not able to go a myle out of towne suche is their impudencie as they haue no reason to deserue of thynges apperteynyng to theyr owne securitie Dyd not Philip king of Macedonia take occasion to conquere the Gréekes when he perceiued them to neglect the feates of armes geuyng themselues to other pleasaunt pastymes and to be occupyed about triflyng matters forgetting the iust regarde of theyr owne defence and safegarde of theyr countrey howe many examples myght here be alleaged to shew how daungerous it were for a Prince his Realme to be driuen to trust to the seruice of straūgers for lacke of sufficient skylfull men of their owne for theyr defence Soul. But howe greatly are we bounde to prayse the goodnesse of the sacred Gods through whose deuine powers we now enioy a most worthy Princes who although duryng the tyme of her Maiesties raigne by her politique gouernment shee hath styl continued her countrey and subiectes in a most peaceable and quiet estate yet what a zelous desyre shée lykewyse hath to haue her people instructed in the knowledge of warre and to haue thinges in a readinesse apparteyning to the same may very well be perceiued by her noble procéedings from tyme to tyme to the great comfort of all true Englishe hearts Mars Plutarch sayeth as a wise Marryner prepareth in caulme to looke for a storme so ought the minde when it is most at quiet to doubt of some tribulation and Alexander Seuerus a quiet wit and a clear vnderstanding taketh héede of thinges that are past prudently waying thynges that be present and thynges that are to come and Xeno sayeth to sée is but a smal thing but to forsée is a token of good wit howe many examples there be whiche wylleth the wyse in the tyme of peace to prouide for warre were ouer superfluous here to be rehearsed but forsamuch as we haue vsed this long discourse of Captaynes and that as Valerius Maximus saieth the pleasaunt and quiet state of blessed peace doth rest in the bosome custodie of the knowledge of warres I doo not therefore thynke it a misse to recite vnto thée many good instructions apparteyning to the same and because as Xeno sayeth No man ought to be chosen for his yeres or riches but for his vertues sake I wyll first begyn to shewe thée to howe manye vertues noble Captaines haue ben disposed and because mercye and pitie be two principall vertues wherewith Captaynes shoulde be indued for whiche cause the Lacedemonians vsed before they should go to the warre to make solemne sacrifice to the Muses to the ende they myght by them attayne aswell howe to
Pyge Gose Capon Hen Shéepe or Lambe that fortunes to come in their walke Then in the ende when they come in the place of seruice where generally there are no suche loose endes in common to be founde bicause they must haue something to kéepe them selues in vre then his felowes shyrtes his sword his dager his Caliuer his Moryon or some other parte of his furniture must suffice the turne Whether this that I haue sayd be trew or nay I stande to the report of such as hath hadde the leadinge of newe leuyed bandes Thus through the simplicitie of a Cunstable the Princes seruice is abused the maners and discipline of the aunsient orders corrupted and the name and estimation of the noble Souldier vtterly despysed What farther inconuenience myght come of this appoyntment I thinke those that be wyse may very well foresée when such euell condicioned people in whome there remayneth neyther Religion neyther obedience neyther fidelitie or good meaning neyther any other one sparke of vertue who being in place wher so many good lawes are prescribed and may not yet be restrayned from their vile and filthye condicions yet shall nowe be put in trust to defende the Princes quarraile wherein doth consist the onely securitie of those that were the setters of them forth if they had reason to consider of it Soul. I will not séeme to contende but such order of apoyntment there may bée and such Souldiers peraduenture maye be founde in these new leuied bands but this I dare boldly affirme that such Souldiers as hath ben trained or that knoweth what to seruice doth pertayne or any other in whome good seruice might be found would as greatly despise to be detected of any such infamy as any other that doth counterfait the greatest ciuilitie Mer. Then to procéede how Souldiers ought to be chosen the first and greatest respecte that should be had is to haue regarde to his manners and condiciōs otherwise ther might be chosen an instrument of mischife and a beginner of disorder then consideration must be had of his sufficiency which is to be coniectured by the yeares by the composition of his members by the grace of his countenaunce by the lustines of his body and by the quicknes of his spiright which may be supposed by the liuelinesse of the eyes And bicause such hath euer bene thought most expediēt to serue for souldiers which might best indure all maner of trauailes such as hathe not bene accustomed to any great ease the which condicions as many do suppose is most common to be founde in the husband man or labouring man and although this supposition is not to be denaied yet I do not allow of their choice that wold chose husbādmen to serue for soldiers Fyrst bicause the labouring man may in no wise indure to be pinched of his victuall I meane to be brought to some short alowance as those that vse or frequent the wars may sometime be brought scarsly to make on good dinner in a weeke somtimes in a moneth sometime in more as occasion doth fal out although I know therbe many the wil think me to be much deceued wold aūswer the husbandmen might best away with this scarsitie considering the they be brought vp to hard simple fare which although it be trew yet proofe hath shewed the contrary wher any such hath bene apoynted and experience hath taught such as haue marked it that where any such want hath hapned those kynd of people haue first shewed themselues to bée worst able to indure it And in warres it goeth not so much by him that can fare hardly as by hym that can longest continewe with least meate For to fare hardly ther is no man how dayntely so euer he hath bene brought vp but hunger wyll teach him to away with a courser dyet But he is to be alowed for a Souldier that if occasion doth serue can be wel contented to satisfie himselfe with some small petaunce or that may endure with some little quantitie whose courage wyll nothing dismay if they may haue but wherwith to suffice Nature and this abstinēce proceedeth onely of the valewer of the mynde and is not to be founde in the husbād man or labouring man who although they may away with simple fare yet they must haue their bellies fyld they can not abide to be pinched of their victual for if thei be brought but to some small restraint in comparison what noble Souldiers will indure they presentlye shewe themselues to haue no manner of courage but euen as men that were more then halfe dead in whom there is to be found neither hope nor comforte An other cause why I would refuse suche for Souldiers is this because the order of seruice in these daies consisteth much in the quicknesse nimblenesse and redinesse in Souldiers and this celerytie is not to be found in Husbandmen or laboryng men Furthermore they are vtterly voyde of one of the greatest graces that to a Souldier doth pertayne Which is to be delightsome in the wearing of his apparell and in the keeping of his furniture for lyke as there was yet neuer any excelent Artificer whiche hath not had a speciall regard in the keepyng of such Instrumentes as apertayneth to his facultie in a neat and decent manner so questionlesse he he wyll neuer proue to be good Souldier that hath not delight in the keping of his furniture wherewith he is apoynted to serue in a braue and galant order And in my opinion one of the greatest respectes that maye be vsed in the choyce of a Souldier in whome there hath bin had no maner of triall is to haue consideration in his order of apparell for he that taketh not some felycitie in the wearynge of his garments in good order and fashion wil neuer take any pleasure in the keepynge of his furniture and to be short wyll neuer proue to be a good Souldier for what vnséemlyer sighte may there be when a Souldier shall come into the Féelde with his Armour all rustye the ioyntes vnriueted the Leather and Buckels all broken and tyed together with poynts his Sworde halfe without a scabard his Pyke head vnuayled and sewtable to the reste his Caliuer so vernisht with rust that the Cocke wyll not play and then his game wyll not goe as they tearme it his Morryan with one cheeck off and an other one or els hanginge a swashe lyke a Hogge new hunted and although that euery band hath of ordinary Armorers and other that be appoynted for the mendyng of any the premesses yet the pinishnesse is such or rather the slouthfullnesse of a many of lubbers so great that they cannot vouchsafe to cary them where they might haue suche fautes amended withoute any other trouble Wherfore I woulde not wishe that any such kynde of people should be permited to serue for souldiers for what greater incouragment may there be to the enemy then when he shall incounter with such a one
standing by would nowe and then delaye the rage and furious heate In the fore parte of the Wagon stoade the blind boye Cupid wounding with his arrowes the hearts which houered in the ayre in secure and carelesse sort Then there was lykewise shewed howe the mighty Ioue when hée went to vewe the Heauens and earth to sée if ought had perisht through Phaetons wylfull fact in which suruaye as hée espied the fourme and bewtye of Parrasis a Nimphe of Dianas troupe with whome hée as carefullye sought to accomplishe his desyre as before hée had regarde to the repayring of the Heuens and the restoring agayne of the Earth to the former estate where it was decayed There was also shewed the whole storye how Appollo was in loue with Daphne Mercury with Herse Bacchus with Guosida Virtunmuus with Pomena Pan with Sirinx And how many of them for their better speede hath taken vpon them sundry shapes and transformed themselues as Iuqiter to a Bul Phebus to a cuntry clown Mercury to a Goat Saturne to a Genit and Bacchus to a Grape and not the celestyall Gods that haue bin thus by loue subdewed alone but also the Goddes of the Sea and euen Pluto himselfe the God of Hell hath not bin able to resist this mighty strocke of Cupids pearsing dart There was also to be séene that monstrus and ougly Giant Polipheme whose wylde and sauage kynde gaue terror to euerye thing that dyd behold hyme and yet he was by loue so surprised and ouer come that for the time he cleane forgate his wildernesse and mourtherous harte and frames hymselfe in forme of woers trade There was also how the noble Herculus became from a mighty conquerour to sitte in womans attyre at the whéele and Cardes and serued Omphale Queene of Liddia and farthermore how both Aristotle and Socrates in despight of their Philosophy the one became a slaue to Hermia the other a subiect to Aspasia There were many other Historys which all together tended that neither wysedome learnyng polecye strength valyaunce nor any other sleighte may once withstande or preuayle against the asaults or conflictes of loue There was in the vppermost verge of this clothe artificially wrought in great Letters a verse in Latten the some wherof contayneth to this effect Yf neither God ne man my snares hath yet escaped free VVhat wight art thou wilt then resist against my lawes and mee Dewring the time that I stood thus pervsinge of these descryptions there weare many Gallaunte Ladyes and other beautyfull Dames which passed by me to and fro amongst which there was one who perceyuing me to be a straunger very courteously salutynge me demanuded yf I had any sute to prefer to the Goddes Venus wherin she might pleasure me for that she was accustomed as she sayd to prefer ech louers cause and to assist them in their sutes To whom when I had geuen most humble thankes I courteously intreated her to shew me her name which as she sayd was good countenaunce whom euery louinge wight hath in great veneration When I perceiued Fortune so fauorably to assist me I thought it had binne but mere simplicytie for me to forsake the Ladies fryndly offer Wherfore in breefe discourse I shewed her the whole cause of my comming thither which as she vnderstoode takynge me by the hande she led me vp a payre of stayers and broughte me into a merueylous large and beautifull chamber whiche was replenished with lusty Gent. and mani other braue and gallaunt dames and as they were dispearsed in many companyes so they were vsing as many amorus exercisses some were recityng of tales and tellyng louinge Historyes some were singyng to the Lute and Virginalles many amorous Ballades some were in the Pauyans and Galliardes and happye was he that before his Ladye coulde do the lustiest tricke with many other like pastimes The which when I behelde I began to imagine in my selfe and in my mind to say O blessed and happy wights how fortunate are your dayes in what pleasure and delight spend you your blessed time in respect of souldiers whose hard tearmes and miserable conditions are far otherwise alotted when they must march in the Féeld after the stroks of dredful droms you may dance vppon the risses after the steps sounds of Inruments when souldiers be in the féeld dealynge of bloudye blowes you may be your Ladies chambers delyng of amorus kisses sweet imbracyngs and louinge countenances when Souldiers muste be content to take their lodgings in the wylde feelds and open ayre and yet not assuered to lye all night in quiet you may be in your warme and soft feather Bedes imbracing your delights abidyng no vnrest vnlesse it be to satisfye your owne amorous desires when Souldiers muste be rowsed to geue some earlye assaulte you may kéepe your Beds vnlesse you some times arise to geue your Parramours the hunte is vp vnder the windowes most happye therefore I say is your estates and as I continued in these cogitacyons commendynge in my minde both loue and louers trade There was one that as it were in the nick began to tell a straunge and tragicall History the which I gaue good heed which tale when he had finished I was throughly resolued to how manye mischifes vayne men commit them selues whose loue is so inordinat that nether bite nor bridle is able to restraine the furye thereof and for as much as I haue vsed this tedious longe discourse of warres and marciall causes I think it not amisse to recreate your weryed myndes with this so straunge a Historye whereby you shall perceiue whether this grose affection vayne hope and blynd loue may carry men vnto and of what force the Arrowes of blind Cupid be and what frute they bringe to them that practise the same how it not onely passionatly their mindes with most outragiouse and intolerable afflictions but also so farre ouerwhelmeth them that they many times throwe them selues head longe into the gulfe of mortall destruction and into the depth of shame and infamy as this history more euedently appeareth which in this wise ensueth IN Prouince a Countrye which all men know no whit inferior to any in all Europe whether it be for the situation thereof as being replenished with rych and fayre townes or for the fertyllytie and pleasantnesse of the soyle or the courtesye and ciuillytie of the people inhabityng or dwellyng in the same There is a little towne or village not farre from Nice whiche they call Lagrasse situated in a fayre long playne in so pleasante a place as any man may with eie behold in that plaine to the merueilous ornamentes and deckynges of the buildyng the goodly grasse groweth so thicke and greene that were it not for the continuall grasinge of the cattell in the same it would alwaies appeare a contynuall springe time besides throughout this grassye and flowery playne you maye beholde the goodlye Lemons Orange and Pomegarnet Trees charged and laden with their frutes deckynge the country
effused to appease and pacifie the ghost of my good Lorde and husband I beseech the Gods that thou mayst neuer be able théefe and traytour what soeuer thou be to escape the handes of him which hauing sworde in hande shall auenge me that am thus miserably afflicted by thy onely meanes Ah my friende sayde she imbracing the body all discheuered of hir dead husbande how shoulde this traytour knowe thée whiche hath thée so vilanously outraged and slayne Alas poore children what a father haue you lost and I poore widdowe desolate the sustentation of myne honour and the support of all my familie In this meane time the Doctor hauing made sute after the murtherers of his good Lorde and returning from the pursute of them which lodged in his owne house was very ioyous to sée this Lady so well to play hir parte in this Tragedie of the which she hir self was the very first author approching vnto hir hauing the teares in his eyes sayd vnto hir Wel Madame sayde he wyll you nowe as they say cast the Hatchet after the Helme My Lorde is deade and thinke you to rayse him vp agayne by your vehement lamentations and cryes Take pacience I pray you in that aduersitie that it hath pleased God to sende vs and imploy and assay your selfe to take vengeance vpon those whiche you shall find to be culpable of the death of your Husbande In the meane time take order that his Corpes may be entombed as apperteyneth to a Lord such as he hath bin in his life time which thing was foorthwith executed for they buried him very honorably with the lamentations and teares of all his subiects in the chappell of the Castle and in the sepulcher of his Predecessours Also the poore Subiects sore lamented their Lady séeing the incomparable sorrowe and mourning she made for so soden losse of hir Lorde And they all supposed that willingly she would haue made a sepulchre of hir owne body to haue buryed hir husbande if it had bin lawfull for hir to haue caused him to be burned to haue drunke his ashes as sometime Artemisia did of the burned Relikes of hir deare Mansole O feminine cautel crafty hoore who is so sapient wise that can be able to kéepe him selfe from beeing deceyued with thy craftie and fraudulent deceipts Alas there is no malice deceipt treason mischiefe or crueltie that is comparable to the treason mischéefe or diuelishnesse of a woman that hath once forgotten the vertue good grace that oftentimes doth accompanie the feminine Sexe What greater argument of sutteltie and craft would you in this womā than to sée hir desperately to deplore that whiche inwardly maketh hir spirites to leape for ioy at which instant hir eyes are constrayned to poure out riuers of teares and hir toung to tell foorth abundance of lamentable words After the buriall of the Lorde of Chabry for that she woulde not be thought to haue faygned the great amitie that she had always pretended to beare towardes hir Lorde caused to make diligent information agaynst those that had perpetrated and committed this haynous murther but the Commissaries and witnesses were those them selues whiche had imbrued their gyltie hands in the bloud of the poore Innocent Euen so and by this meanes was this facte kepte secret for a certayne tyme During the whiche Tolonio reuisited all the péeces of the Treasure of the house without forgetting hir vnto whome he moste was affectionate and for the inioying whereof he had made so prodigious an enlargement of his conscience the whiche was suche as dyd prepare the way to all mischéefes yet more great detestable if possibly it might be than the euils faults before committed Consequently foloweth this Lady béeing made widdow by hir own treason who had foure sonnes two of the which did neuer departe ordinarily from the Castle now the eldest of the two was not so grosse or dull of spirite vnderstanding but that he knewe and easily vnderstoode that this great priuitie and secret familiaritie of the Doctor with his Lady and mother passed the bounds and bars of honestie and further than the honor of his mother mighte well suffer or beare whereof if he were pensiue and sorrowfull I leaue it to the iudgement of all noble and gentle hearts and for that cause this young Gentleman determined in him selfe to vtter the same by some meanes to his Lady and mother Béeing stedfastly set and arrested vpon these termes and deliberations séeing this Doctor gayning more and more the fauour of his Lady and Mother and that the Lady abusing vndiscretely hir greate honour coulde not liue at reste withoute the presence of hir Tolonio he came on a daye to hys Mother vnto whome addressing hym selfe wyth an honest shamefastnesse intermedled wyth a iuste anger and disdayne béeyng alone wyth hyr sayde vnto hir very reuerently Madame the reuerence that I owe to the place that you holde on my behalfe and the duetie and obeysance that God wyll and hathe commaunded that children shoulde beare to those that haue begotten and borne them maketh those wordes whiche I haue premeditate in my minde longe time before to declare vnto you to stycke as it were in my mouth not able to vtter the same before you whome the matter that I haue to open to your Ladishippe dothe touch before all other and woulde to God that the thing that I haue conceiued in my minde as a thing moste assured were so false as I wishe it to be estraunged and farre from my opinion and yet further estraunged from the truth and veritie then truely I shoulde not be so afflicted in my heart and constrayned to be such an Orator as I am to you the office whereof I woulde willingly be dispoyled of if greater and more iust occasion did not offer hir selfe for me to performe it but Madame séeing that the passions of euery one are frée and that the spirite of man is not restrayned notwithstanding any captiuitie the bodie doth suffer but to the libertie of hys owne imaginations I humbly beséech you not to thinke straunge that the extreme loue that I beare you and the honor of your house cōmandes me to say vnto you that is that your greatnesse and the bloode of the late Lord of Chabry are or oughte to be in my iudgement lettes and stoppes vnto the ouer gret familiaritie that the aduocate Tolonio hath ordinarilie with you which are the mother of such childrē that deserue not that such a villain should spoyle that gentle bloode whereof they are sprong whiche with greate difficultie shall endure thys abuse without auenging them selues according to the quality and greatnesse of the crime Pardon me Madame I pray you for speaking so boldly séeing affection dothe so transport me and the bloode that can not dissēble or lie cause me to féele the iniury that you do vnto vs if this our great familiaritie haue so déepe roote as I suppose it hath I
in maner foure square and in the middest of this knot was placed a stone of a marueilous bignesse whose brightnes did so excede that it daseled my eyes I was not able to behould it in euery square ther was likewise set a rich Emeraud from the which there issued forthe a Vine in maner of a fret which spreading all the Chamber as was wonderfull to be holde the braunches and leaues were all of pure Golde curiously Enameled in stede of Grapes the Rubyes ther did shine which were correspondent to the residew of the worke the hangings wer al of Arras very richly wrought In which was expressed the pitifull History of Romeus and Iuletta Gismonda and Guistairdo Piramus Thisbe Liuio and Camilla and of many other louing wightes who in regarde of Venus Law had indured many bitter torments and yelded themselues to martirdome Hauing passed this Chamber we came into a Gallery which in curiositie or workmanship in euery respect was as far exceding the rest as Phebus Rayes of light excedeth euery other Starre in the vpper ende wherof ther were many worthy Dames whose bewty might welbe compared to the place Well now quoth Lady Countenance thou must make quick dispatch be hould wher Mars and Venus are now here in place with the I espyed wher Mars was layed in Venus Lap before whome kneling on both my knées sayde as followeth O mighty Mars O dreadfull God to whom it wholly doth belong to geue victory and conquest the only stay and comfort of euery valyant heart loe heare the Supplicacions of poore dystressed wyghtes the which in their behalfes I humbly here present wherby thou maist perceiue the summe of all theyr gréefe With which words he arose and I kissing the Supplication deliuered it into his hand which when he had throughly perused sayd as followeth And are Souldiers then so slenderly accompted of be thei so lightly regarded now in this peaceable tyme who in the time of warres must offer theÌ„selues to the slaughter for theyr Countries defence well vngratefull Country and most vnthankfull people I perceiue your quiet state dothe make you to forget both me and myne but take hede you be not more sodainly ouertaken then you be aware of when you will wysh you were as well furnished with expert Souldyers as you are prouided with other warlike prouisions your enemies be as secret as they be malicious And as he was abought to procede in farther talke the Goddes Venus sodainely arose in a great rage as it semed turning her selfe toward me â–ª and sayd as followeth A syr and is this the cause of your repayer to my Courte I now perceiue right well the wholl cyrcumstaunce of your pretence bicause your vnbrydled mynds haue bene of late restrayned whereby you haue waÌ„ted some part of your vngracious wils you haue therfore amongst you made a byl of complaynte thinking your selues to be greatly iniured when in déede you are but iustly plauged and yet nothing in respectt according to your deseruings your malicious myndes are not to me vnknowne you hate the good hap of any one that is not of your own profession it greueth you that any shold be preferrid before you You think the princes before all others shold bestow offices promocioÌ„s vpon you to be short you despise al other in respect of your selues yet you your selues would not be despysed you hate al you wold be beloued how euident these matters be I think may wel be perceued when it pleaseth you to bestow so many nice names other rope rype terms vppon such as be my subiectes and professours of my Lawes geuing them the tytle of Carpet knights But if al be Carpet Knights which hath submitted to my behestes I trust you may put the greatest parte of your most renowned Souldiers and Captaines in the number Was not Hercules that noble conquerour conquered him self by loue with Dianayra was not the fierse Achiles in like maner with Polixena Troilus with Cressid was not Alexander when hée should haue geuen battayle to the Amazons comming to a Riuers side wher beholding the Quéene he was so subdued that their fierse and cruell fight conuerted to wanton amorous wordes Was not Haniball in like maner stayd in Capra and Iulius Caeser in Alexandria But here ouer passing a great number of others is not your god of battail him self obedient to my will and yet a many of you who in respecte are but reprobate persons would prefer your selues to be more worthy then any of these These wordes thus pronounced by the goddes did dauÌ„t me so with such dispayre that I ne wist what aunsweare I might make which being perceyued by the God of battayle sayd as foloweth Well well Lady deare if I should aunswer these causes effectually peraduenture I might vse greater vehemency in wordes then I willingly would but yet I wold not wish that any of these before named should be regestred amongst that effeminate number although I am not ignoraunt that not only these but also many other valiaunte Captaynes and noble Souldiers hath bin obedient to the lawes of loue for who commonlye are more subiecte to loue then the most valiaunt mynded wight and who soner disdayned by a number of scornefull dames who wil rather except of those that are in déed but Metamorphisis hauing but the shapes of men or that are as Hermaphroditus halfe men halfe women such as wil ly rowling in a Ladies lap kissing her hands feeding hyr eares with philed flattering talke But how should these womanlike mynded men or any other of these louing wormes inioy their delightes in such quiet maner were not the noble Souldier to backe them who is the very Wal and only Bulwark to defend them Wherfore deare dame you haue no iust cause thus to exclayme on Souldiers on whose valiauncy principally depeÌ„deth the quiet estate of such as be your subiects and professors of your law which else might remayne a pray for euery man if causes wer thorowly considered Well then qd the Goddes Venus what simplicicie might be imputed vnto vs betwéene whom ther hath bin such familiaritie and that of so long continuaunce and should now séeme to contend about so slender occasion agayne it séemeth vnto me as good reason that as great frindship and familiaritie shuld be continued between such as be our professoures on eyther paâ—te as there is loue and amitie betwéene vs our selues and for my parte from henceforth I will yeld my selfe beholding vnto Souldiers promising them my fartheraunce in any thing wherin I may pleasure them These ioyfull newes did bréede in mée such a sodayne alteration from dispayre to comfort from dolful doubt to assured hope from mourning to myrth that in the middest of al these surmounting ioyes sodainly awaked perceiuing my self to be but deluded by a dreame which I haue thus rudly penned desiring the gentle reader to beare with my infirmitie and to mend that is amisse FINIS Marcial exercises The discription of Mars his Court. The description of the wales Mars 〈…〉 nowe in Venus court â—he frutes â—f warre Ruine 〈◊〉 folower 〈◊〉 warre Warrâ— greeuouâ— plague 〈◊〉 swyftly 〈◊〉 be shunâ— Wars hath beene from the beginning and shall continue vntyll the worlds ende Souldiers maye not bee spared if it bee but to defend the inuasions of others To howe many incoÌ„uenieÌ„ces a souldyer committeth him selfe in his contries defence Howe many commodities are gained by the souldyer Who can giue better counsayle in Marcial causes then the experimented Souldiour How olde Souldiers hath beene accounted of with noble princes It is to bee supposed Herroldes of Armes toke the original of this Souldierâ— in EnglaÌ„â—â— had in small account The ordeâ— of apoinâ—ment vsdâ— with lesse regard Vnfit captaines Pollicye of more effect then force or strength No wisedome for a man to take vpon him that he can not skiâ— The opinioÌ„ of a Spaniard ItaliaÌ„ Frencheman the disiplin of war to be lerned without goinge to the filde The reputacion of the Captaine causeth obedience in souldiers Note To how many vertues noble Captayne haue ben disposed How Captaines should instruct their Souldiers ExaÌ„ples of incouragement Note Pollicy in Captains for some causes to forbeare to fight How many victoryes haue bene obteyned Not good to bring the enimy into desperation What regard should be vsed in the pursute What diligence should be vsed after a victory obteyned ExaÌ„ples of such as hath ben pursued ExaÌ„ples of disciplyne A necessary example for English Souldiers An example worthy to be remembred What diligence should be vsed wheÌ„ Captains march through vnknown places By what meanes many hath passed Riuers or strayghts Of such as hath bin inuaded Where Souldiers hath bin fugityue â–ª What circumspection shuld be vsed for fear of spyes Vhat regard should be obserued by the besieged Many deuises wher by the beseged hath ben deceiued Certaine generall rules Seruice at the Sea not to learned but by seruing on the Sea. The maner of chosing Souldiers in England Their vsage as they trauail thorough the countrey The best seruice that is to be loked for amoÌ„gst them Note this well How Souldiers ought to be chosen Snters at Venus Courte The infamous Docter and coursed Ladye haue agreed together He committed Felonye and Treson The adu 〈…〉 Lady hi 〈…〉 one to ki 〈…〉 husbande She fayneth desperation Ah vvicked vvoman Mansole The Doc 〈…〉 ouerseeth 〈◊〉 treasurie 〈◊〉 goods of 〈◊〉 innocent l 〈…〉 The Ladie had .4 children The eldest sonne admâ—nished the mother of 〈…〉 vvicked bâ—hauiour Marke hir straunge inuentions and persuasions â— faigned â—veeping A rare inueÌ„ 〈…〉 ion to murâ—her hir son Oh cursed fact His request to the Gods. Mars maketh aunsweare Venus checketh the Souldier Mars taketh vp the matter Venus is perswaded The Souldier awaketh