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
Princes I wyl shewe thée an example the which in auncient historyes is yet to bée séene in these wordes following Dionisius when he went to Conquere other Regions there were many of his folowers which being ouercome with age and extreame trauaile woulde neyther tarrye without a King neyther followe their Captayne wherefore comming to their Prince with Teares they desired him to take pittye of them to whome hée sayde My brethren and fellow souldiers laye your cares a side you haue followed mée a great while you haue often and long fought for mée and with mée I wyl nowe call others into their fortunes It is now time for you to take your rest and this shall remaine a reward for euer for your labours and trauailes settle your selues here and possesse you this fat Land whiche by your valiaunce I haue Conquered I doe nowe release you from all Warrelike laboures I wyll haue you to carrye the name of oulde Souldiours and to bée called here as your office shall bée to gouerne the common Weale to reproue the yll to prayse the good and from all other laboures you shall be frée to what people or countrey so euer you come too the King shall finde you meate Drincke and Cloathe you shall bée most honourable with all menne Princes shall offer you presents and shall geue you theyr owne Garments what so euer you saye shall bée allowed for trueth You shall hate Lyers and you shall iudge Traytours and those that haue yll Women you shall punishe with infamy the whole Lande shall be frée for you to haue safe trauayling and safe dwelling if any man shall offend or gréeue you with worde or déede hée shall dye by the sworde I doe farther appoint that my verye friende Spertembam shall bée Kynge of the Indies amongst you who shall appoint you necessaries and yerely stipendes who shall maintayne your priuiledges and hée shall holde you most honourable about him and you and your heyres shall counsayle him in whome if succession shall want let the election of the Indian Kinges bée amongst you and your Children Thus Dionisius comforting and perswading his Heroas departed with his army out of India whose office is to bée assistaunt to Kinges to bée a comfort to the common weale to aduaunce vertue and to punishe vice being no other of them selues but olde Souldiers the which after many and greate mischiefes endured and after many wonderfull Warres ended with most glorious Triumphes there strength drawne from them tyred with age are released from the toyling labors of warres and called to the court for counsaylers Octauius Augustus was of the same mynde and so lykewise was Marcus Anthonius and Marcus Crassus Thus the Romaines when there Warres were ended dydde styll determine of their olde Souldiours But why staye wée so long about so small auayle if thou mindest to prosecute as thou hast begonne beholde Venus Court is not so farre hence but that wée may walke thyther euen at our pleasures debating on these causes by the way as wée goe Sou. Yes surely if the Gods permit I wyl now doe my Message and the rather when thy Godhead hath so throughlye perswaded mée and so earnestly defended the souldiers cause we want such atturneis in England to pleade in their behalfes where I thinke of all other Countreys they are had in least estimation Mer. I thinke in déede a Souldiours credite in England is but of a small valewe yet not so small but their order of appointment in the tyme of seruice and that as well of Captaines as of other priuate Souldiers is vsed with as litle regarde Sou. I doe not vnderstand the meaning of these wordes but I perceyue they tend to some dislyking whiche although peraduenture some small abuse may bée committed in the choyse of our Souldiers yet for Captaines I thinke there bée none admitted but suche as iustlye maye not bée accused of any insufficencye Mer. Then omitting to speake of souldiers tyll some other occasion I wyll some thing saye of twoo sortes of Captaines whiche in tyme of seruice are as busye as the best to attaine charge and as it is greate pittye that the one sorte should bée parmitted so it were very good if the abuses of the other might bée reformed and the greatest cause that stirreth both these sortes to seruice as maye be supposed procedeth of one mocion which is the gripell desyre they haue of Princes paye The first sort which I meane bée such as wyll presume to take vppon them conduction being altogeather vnable and cleane voyde of experience no not so much as to place twoo hundred men in right order of araye The other bée such which although they be seruicable inough yet in the time of seruice wil make a cōmon profit by powling and pilling his Souldiers yea somtime wyll not sticke to deceyue the Prince by a slye deuise or twaine Such Captaines in times past there hath béene appointed and suche Captaines bée most readye to make meanes to bée appointed and it is nowe growne to a generall order in Englande that in the time of seruice hée that can best carrye fauour with this or that noble man hée is sufficient inough to take charge there pertaines no more to a Captaine but if hée may get my Lordes good wyll by meanes whereof there hath béene some appointed which if they came to the place where good seruice shoulde bée some were to farre vnfitte to performe the duetye of a Captaine or else such whose greatest care is howe hée maye deceyue both Prince and souldier of the paye Soul. Although it hath pleased thy Godhead to enter into this familyer discourse yet before I wyll presume to procéede any further I craue most humbly pardon least peraduenture in vsing many wordes some happe to bée amisse for that euerye honest minde of dutye is bound as much as in him lyeth to defende any infamye or reproche wherewith his Countrey is charged so it might fortune that I in respect of God wyl to defende those accusations whiche here thou hast pronounced against our Englishe Captaynes might fall into suche rashe reasoning as myght not well beséeme mée and so forgette that reuerence whiche to thy Godhead by right doeth appertaine Mer. As I am well pleased at this instant to argewe and debate these causes with thée so it shall nothing dislyke mée for any thing that thou shalt saye but woulde rather wishe thée to speake fréelye whatsoeuer thou thinkest maye best serue for thy purpose Soul. Then I doubte not but to make such reasonable answere in our Captains behalfes as may very well be permitted for good and sufficient excuses and nowe to speake of those first kinde of Captaines which here thou condempnest to be presumptious because they wyll attempt to take a charge notwithstanding theyr smal experience thinking the greatest mocion that should styrre them to it procéeded of desire of gaine nowe it might bée very wel supposed that if any
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
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
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