well to examine the rules of Christianitie whereto espetially we ought to submit our actioÌ„s many shall finde themselues farre enough from the precents thereof Yet are there but fewe that thinke vppon and hauing thought of it once a weeke it vanisheth as doth the image when a man turneth his glasse and so returning to their accustomed manner they conceiue some imagination that to vse riches according to the commaundements of the diuine preceptes is as much as to depriue themselues of the most parte of the honour profit and pleasure that they bring But it is but a false imagination for there is no perfect instruction that teacheth the true vse of riches but the same is therein described Hee that seeth himselfe rich shoulde often consider whence his abuÌ„dance commeth And although that ordinarily it seemeth to proceed from the parents labors yet must we coÌ„fesse that it was brought forth by the blessing of God who as Salomon sayth is the author of riches The rich and the poore are mette and the Lord made them both Moses lykewise vppon this point giueth vs a verie holie admonition as well generally as perticularly saying Let not thy heart be puffed vp neither forget the Lord thy God that thou sayest not in thy heart My power and the strength of my hand haue gotten me these goods but remember the Lord thy God that it is he that hath giuen thee this power Nowe when we haue this liuely impression in vs y t it is hee that giueth goods we therevpon doe conclude that it is his will they shoulde be iustly and truely administred For our selues are but stewardes thereof And so oft as we heare the poore crie in our eares it is as if God should summon vs of our duetie which is to succour the needie But if we stop our eares they are as many condemnations agaynst vs Which the rich glutton wel proued who being plunged in a sea of delights reiected the grones of Lazarus Heereby may we knowe that riches doe so besot those that suffer themselues to bee maistered by them that they forgette what they ought to doe Plutarke recordeth that the Scithians in the middest of theyr banquets were accustomed to strike vpon make their bowstrings to sounde so to reclaime theyr spirits which they feared to mollifie loose among the diuersitie of so many delicates euen so likewise these worldlings that abounde with so many temporall blessings ought sometimes to make sounde in their eares this saying of Iesus Christ That it is more easie for a Camell to passe through a needles eie than for a rich man to enter into the kingdome of heauen so to waken them out of theyr deepe slumber and want of charitie procured by the vapours of wealth I knowe well inough that some of those that set before their eyes nothing but worldly pompe will scoffe at this aduertisement and saie that wee must preache magnificence and valiancie to yong Gentlemen rather than these small duties of pietie which are more fit for old men that haue not aboue some three or foure yeres to liue which is as much as if they should saie We in our youth will passe awaie our time in delights and vanitie and when we grow into age we will take order for better gouernment But to them I will make no other answere but onelie aduertise them that to end well they must beginne well and that death doth as soone catch him that is but twentie yeres old as him that is sixtie The wise also wil reiect these scoffes in consideration that it is no vncompatible thing to vse goods as a Christian and as a vertuous person for the one wel fitteth the other but the worthiest must march first because that Euangelicall preceptes are to bee preferred before those that proceede from Philosophers rules The one pulleth downe our charitie euen to the poorest and the other stretcheth out our liberalitie to our friends and to those that deserue it wherein there is not so great difference as similitude in that euerie of the sayde actions are well done which likewise ought to proceede of heartie good will These were good and profitable expenses wherein the nobilitie ought to imploie parte of their abundance rather than in many vnprofitable vanities for so should they not be without reward as Salomon sheweth saying He that hath pittie vpon the poore lendeth vnto the Lord and it shall bee paied him againe In respect of other liberalities I lyke of Alexander wheÌ„ one asked him where he hid his treasure I commit it sayde hee to the custodie of my friend thereby signifieng that whatsoeuer was distributed vnto honest meÌ„ was not lost because the reward of perfect amitie or loiall seruice which thereby hee retained in their harts was farre more precious than the golde or siluer that he distributed among them But withall we must note that liberalitie must be vsed with discretion in measuring the giuers abilitie and not prophaning it vpon vnworthie persons Who so therefore is desirous to learne the good vse thereof let him reade Seneca his treatise of benefites The ninth Discourse That the Frenchmens great affection to foreine warres is at this time more hurtfull than profitable AMong y e French nation armes haue ben euermore in special recommendation and the common opinion is that by the same it hath obtayned that great glory that it hath aâ—chieued according to the varietie of times is increased or diminished Euen the nobilitie which is abundantly crept out of this innumerable aâ—â—heape of people maketh as it seemeth no such account of anie fame as of that which hath proceeded from the sword which neuerthelesse hath cost both them and their neighbours deere by reason of the great warres that they haue maintained The Romaines haue aboue all nations in the world exceeded in earnest desire to this exercise which they haue greatly affected to the ende therewith to bring vnder the yoake of their vnsupportable ambition those that gladly would eschue the same A most violent custome which since hath had continuall course In the first ages force was put in vse to repell the iniuries whereinto humaine mallice was ouer flowen But in these daies it serueth rather to doe iniurie than to defend therefro So farre doe all things by little and little decline to corruption Neuerthelesse no man looketh so neere thereto for the most parte doe thinke that as weapons if they bee not often made cleane doe rust so lykewise they must bee often occupyed least mennes courages through the rust of cowardnesse should be daunted as haue bene throughly tried among vs within these 35. yeres Which notwithstanding so farre are some from beeing satisfied with warre that yet after so manye ruines and losses wanting it in theyr houses they trauayle to seeke it else where farre or neere Those that among the rest are readiest to depart are certayn souldiors new captains who in y e ciuil wars
which in some mens iudgement he attributeth to all estates and is vnto them as it were a limite that they cannot passe At the least we see within that tyme woonderfull alterations And it is comprehended within the compasse of 500. yéeres Which experience hath sufficiently verified in diuers especially in the auncient people of the Iewes as Iasper Peucer hath diligently noted Bodin likewise in his Commonwelth following the opinion of Plato hath noted that the number of 494. which he tearmeth perfect and is ment of yeeres is a terme which fewe Commonwelths doe escape without encurring most daungerous alterations Now if wee will applye this to our selues and count how long it was betweene the time that this Realme came to bee settled and assured in the familie of Hugh Capet the author of the second chauÌ„ge which happened vnder Henry the first his grauÌ„dchild who dyed in the yeere 1060. and the death of Henry the second in whose raigne many great corruptions as well in maners as pollicie were conceiued which afterward were brought foorth with incredible encrease we shall finde fiue hundred yeeres fully compleat But the chaunges of most excellent vertues into most infamous vices are most daungerous because other do still followe on which breede destruction without remedie Yet must we not say but this tearme is sometyme farre ouerpassed which procéedeth of Gods great goodnesse as wee may now see in our Realm that haue perseuered in forme royall aboue 1100. yeres As also that sometymes God in his wrath doth shorten it because of mens horrible sinnes And although the knowledge of the tyme be to them a secrete article which God hath reserued to himselfe yet the consideration of so many as well waightie as trifling matters concurring to one selfe end ought to driue vs to thinke vppon his iudgements But much more should wee bee thereto induced in that wee see the prophecie of Moses daylie drawe to performance against vs. And yet notwithstanding our so many experiences and sufferings wee cannot become wise These be his words If thou wilt not obey the voyce of the Lord thy God to keepe and doe all his commaundements all these curses shall light vppon thee Thou shalt be cursed in the Citie and in the field the Lord shall send thee hunger and scarcitie and the plague shall take hold of thee vntill it hath consumed thee from the face of the earth The heauen that is ouer thy head shall be of brasse the earth vnder thy foote of Iron the vermin and the rust shall consume all the trees and fruites of thy earth The straunger that is within thee shall get ouer thee and be the highest and thou shalt stoope and be vnder him he shall lend to thee vppon vâ—urie and thou shalt not bee able to lend to him The Lord shall cast thee downe before thy enemies and thou shalt get from them by a contrary way and thou shalt flee through the hedge A nation that is farre from thee shall rise against thee whose language thou shalt not vnderstand an impudent people which shall not honor the older neither haue compassion of the infant The same shall deuour the fruite of thy cattell and the fruite of thy field shall leaue thee no remainder of thy Corne Wine or Oyle neither of the flockes of thy sheepe vntill it hath destroyed all To be briefe thou shalt serue thy enemie whom thy Lord shall send thee in hunger and thirst in nakednesse and want who shall put a coller of Iron about thy necke vntill he hath wholly rooted thee out These be part of the threatnings denounced against those that harden themselues in wickednesse whereof we doe alreadie so feele the effects that there want no more but the last wounds to fulfill our vtter oppression And sith Gods worde hath prooued so true in this bitter correction let vs feare least it so doe likewise in our destruction I suppose there bée some Courtiers who being but smally satisfied by my speeches will rather scorne mée because I endeuour to decide matters of estate with Theologicall principles and would better like that I should haue propounded some out of Polibius Plutarke and Xenophon to the ende by them to haue iudged of the casualties of Kingdomes and willingly I would haue leaned to their opinions but to the end not to be deceiued I haue thought this way that I haue taken to be the better For notwithstanding mans wisedome which neuerthelesse is giuen from aboue doth shine in prophane bookes yet is it very vayne in respect of the heauenly wisedome that appeareth in the holy Scriptures Howbeit to the ende the better to satisfie euery one I will somewhat touch the opinions of these great persons concerning the matter now discoursed vpon The matters say they namely Aristotle which breede innouation alteration or destruction especially in Monarchies are these when there happen debate betwéene brethren or mightie men of the Realme when the Princes are vnder age or in contempt when the Magistrates doe robbe the common people when wicked and vnwoorthie persons are put in office and the good reiected when the superiours do oppresse their inferiours with grieuous iniuries and the tributes layed on the peoples neckes are insupportable when Princes through their dishonest actions doe become contemptible to their subiects when Iustice is so cowardly and corrupt that impunitie of vice beareth sway when wee see an vnproportionable encrease in one member of the estate when dignities and offices are set to sale when pouertie is so vâ—ersall that not onely the priuate are poore but the common is poorer when martiall discipline is neglected when concord quaileth among Citizens and maners are vtterly depraued when lawes are out of force and that the Prince is ruled by wicked or ignorant Counsaylers and when forrainers are in greater fauour and authoritie then the naturall borne subiects These are in parte the causes by them noted which breede sundrie alterations in estates and bring them to naught All which things may easely be seene to concurre in ours and thereby may wee iudge of the sicknesse thereof But albeit wee are not altogether to contemne the Philosophers opinions yet must wee rather cleaue to those of the Scriptures which search out the originall causes in mans transgressions For GOD detesting the same doth withdrawe his fauour and protection from whole Realmes and then spring vp confusions Whether therefore wee looke into the first causes or into those that ensue wee shall in all bée sure to finde matter and tokens of destruction How is it then that wee feare not ours when all iudgements both deuine and humaine doe foretell it Howbeit in as much as there is no disease so great but the sicke person may conceiue some hope of recouerie wee are not altogether to dispayre but diligently to search among both ordinarie and extraordinarie deuine and humaine remedies for such as may bee most profitable for our restauration And of those
the same to employe themselues So did Charles the 7. to whom the reestablishing of good order and auncient customes in his Realme through wisedome was no lesse glorie then was the recouerie thereof from the English nation partly by force and partly by fortune Now in case discord were banished from among vs peace established and a good reformation begun yet must wee as I thinke beware how wee reenter into any forraine warre but vppon either great necessitie or a iust and good occasion but rather to kéepe peace with our neighbours for otherwise it is not possible to restore good maners and order For so doe I imagine that in sixe yeeres it may be halfe reestablished and in tenne altogether Great and strong bodies that are well founded and haue some good parts yet sound doe rise vp againe as woonderfully as they were ouerthrowne The chiefe is to begin well for a good beginning is halfe the worke Neither is there any doubt but God will prosper our endeuours whē he seeth vs wel disposed to take away the euill to restore that which is good The feeling of our miseries ought sufficiencie to mooue vs as also should the bad reputation whereto we are growen among all Christian nations who now doe hate vs as much for the vices that they impute vnto vs as in tyme past they commended vs for our vertues Now they stand no longer vpon the reproouing of the French inconstancie and insolencie as in tyme past They passe on a great way further yea so farre as all whatsoeuer disordinate or dissolute behauiour whether in maners or in politique gouernment is attributed thereto This mightie kingdome which heretofore was the refuge of the oppressed and a schoole of all learning and honestie whether our bordering neighbours sent their youth to bee instructed is now by them tearmed a denne of dissolution which they feare to come néere Such as trauaile forraine Countries can if they list to confesse it be good witnesses of the reproches wherewith we are taxed Yea which woorse is often tymes the common voyce attributeth like imperfections both to the good and bad I am ashamed to write what I haue heard euen of such as are very modest who spake rather of compassion then reproach Let vs cōsider how many kingdomes haue through farre lesse disorders then ours bene destroyed And sith God through his patience doth yet giue vs space to rise againe let vs not let slippe occasion but spéedely take hold thereof least our ingratitude and negligence procure the taking of those remedies from vs which we may haue despised In the meane tyme let vs not faint for I suppose there is no Estate in Christendome that yet hath better matter then we but it is now so mixed together as if a man should make a mangle of Diamonds Rubies Iron Lead Gold Siluer Marble Brasill Pearle Corrall Tyle and Slate But each thing being reduced into order and applyed to his owne vse the inferiour matter would serue to make most beautifull and excellent workes wherein the superiour being gathered together and adioyned would also shine as most ritch ornaments God who hath preserued our auncestors from so many destructions and giuen power and counsaile to our Kings in their greatest extremities vouchsafe to defend vs from the mischiefes which threaten vs and encrease the vertues of our King and graunt him grace to be the restorer of his kingdome The second Discourse That by Concord small things doe encrease and by discord great things doe decay THis most excellent sentence so common among many nations and which experience hath so often taught to bee true was heretofore alledged by one Micipsa a King of Numidia who lying vpon this death bed taught his children that the most soueraigne meane to preserue themselues and the Realme which he left them consisted in the obseruation of this rule Himselfe liued many yéeres in peace and prosperitie ordering his doings with great discretion and giuing the worlde to vnderstand that he knewe how to vse such things as tended to the encrease of an estate and could withall iudge of those that might demiuish the fame As also that which ensued his death was a great helpe to confirme that which he had sayd in his life tyme for his children either forgetting or contemning his instructions continued not long without debate among themselues which bre◠their vtter ruine In this example it were good to note some words spoken by this King before he pronounced this sentence as Salust reporteth I leaue vnto you saith he to his children a Realme both strong and stedfast if you be good but very weake if you be bad for by concord doe small things encrease and by discord doe they runne into decay Wherein his entent was to shewe that of goodnesse that is of vertue procéedeth Concord and thence prosperitie and contrariwise of vice groweth hatred of hatred discord and so destruction This deserueth to be considered to the end not to bee ignorant in the causes that bréede goodly effects neither in such as engender the contrary Truely I cannot but woonder of the knowledge that the heathen had of many good rules which carefully put in practise doe greatly helpe mans life wherein also they haue reuealed their wisedome notwithstanding me thinkes that to the ende well to knowe wherein the perfection of vertue doth consist we ought not so much to depend vpon thē as to seeke it in the wisdome of God from whēce all other barbarous prophane nations haue from time to time collected some small parcels which bréede light to their vnderstandings beautie to their works There shal we finde the soueraigne concord to be the same which we ought to hold with God for the man that careth not for the contrarying of him can hardly agrée with men in any thing y t reason which ought to be his guide cōmaundeth But for y t the discourse of this poynt apperteyneth rather to the Deuines then to a politicke man I wil hold my peace notwithstanding I think y t the cōsideration of supeeriour matters doth greatly auaile to y e displaying of the inferiour Wee shall not as I thinke néede many words to declare what Concord is which resembleth not other liberall artes or sciences whereof fewe men haue knowledge for it is very cōmon neither is there any but may make some tryall thereof Wee may in fewe words say that it is a cōmendable affection which bindeth strictly ioyneth vs with our like in all necessarie honest dueties Without such consent it were very hard for any societies either great or small long to continue by reason of those contrarieties which as naturally do méete in those persons wherof the same be composed would procéed to alteration if by this holy vertue they were not ruled If we cast our view vpon vnsensible creatures we shall see that the agréement of the elements among themselues doth mainteyne thē in their
destruction truely of so many soules fallen into such horrible gulfes of perdition Neither is it almost to bee imagined how grieuously these mischiefes haue moued all countrie people both to speake and write in the reproach of the French nation What then might sayd they the kindred and friends of those that were led into this miserable bondage doe One lost his father and mother an other his wife and children this man his brother that man his cosen It is very likely that their iust sorowe haue wrested from them infinite complaints teares and lamentations which haue peraduenture knocked at heauen gates This confederacie seemeth to haue bene the cause of the deminishing of the glorie of so florishing a Realme as France for euen at the death of King Henry the second it was fallen from a great parte of that greatnesse which fortie yeeres before it did enioye And although other causes might set forward this declination yet doe many thinke this to haue bene none of the least Yea say they if we should compare the commoditie reaped by all this Turkish succour with the onely tainting of the French good name among all nations in Europe we must of force confesse that the reproach doth farre exceede the profite For what is the winning of two or three townes to the reproofe of so many people for actions so vniuersally condemned Yea our selues can yet testifie that at the concluding of the peace betweene the two Kings of France and Spayne Anno 1559. the common speech of Germany Italie and Spayne was that one of the chiefest causes of our misfortunes proceeded of confederating with the Turkes bringing in and fauouring them to the hurt of the Christians To whome I aunswered That they did too sharply taunt those things which in some respects might be borne with neither were so vnlawfull but that vpon necessitie they might bee vsed likewise that the offence was in him that forced others for their safegard to haue recourse to such meanes But they replyed That it is one thing to confederate with a Christian Prince though vniust and ambitious and an other with these barbarous people which are the instrumēts of Gods wrath Also that those which seeke to excuse these errors ought to shew what wisedome there is in backing our selues with the succour of such as blemish the Princes fame and bring him into reproach Moreouer whether it be not mere blindnes to passe the same way wherin we see euery man encurre shipwracke Finally that their opinion was that no wise man endued with any conscience could much gainsay so euidēt a truth but would rather yeeld and grannt not onely to condemne that which was so vnlawfull but also to abstaine from perseuering therein These in brief were the reasons that they propounded which also I could not finde to be much impertinent Neuerthelesse for my better satisfying I thought good to trye the opinions of some Deuines which came to visite me whether Christian integritie were empaired by such confederaties To this question they aunswered that Daniel in his prophetie speaking of the 4. Monarchies which should be in the world and describing them vnder the shape of 4. beastes sheweth that toward the declining of the fourth which was the Romaine there should spring vp a little horne that is to say a kingdome which should be more mightie then the rest also that this horne should haue eyes a mouth That the eyes signified a law craftely inuented the mouth blasphemy against God also that this power should fight against the Saincts and haue great victories This did they affirme to signifie the doctrine of Mahumet houlden first by the Sarazens and then by the Turkes That if we list well to consider the Turkish kingdome wee should finde it to be a terrible tyrannie whose subiects were wonderfully enthralled their warres destitute of all good foundation their politique gouernmēt being wel examined to be but a bare name their Ecclesiastical regiment to be none but in liew thereof wee should see a wicked prophaning of the name and seruice of the true God their household affayres subuerted with Poligamy other disorders which dissolued all humaine societie And as for their trecherie and crueltie the histories together with experience the matters afore alleadged doe yeeld sufficient testimonie to make vs to beleeue that prophetie to belong to them as being therein so figured as they are Now presupposing the premises to be true say they we would weete how a Christian Prince can confederate or make any stedfast league with such barbarous nations as are as it were marked and appoynted to be the scourges to Christians For as we thinke they can hardly be vsed without offence to pietie In olde tyme God expressely forbad the Iewes to enter amitie with the Canaanites or Amorites people whom for their abominable vice he did abhorre Neither were the comparison amisse in setting the Turkes downe for the one and our selues for the other whereof it must of necessitie followe that the same defence ought to stand vs in stead of a lawe to restraine vs least we pollute our selues in their abominations Then did I tell them that I much meruailed how so many Cardinalles Bishoppes and Doctors endued with great learning of whome France had no want could brooke this league or made no meanes to breake it Hereto their aunswer was that many tymes Princes made the gownes to yeeld to the sword and the counsaile of the Clergie to the necessitie of the state And so wee brake off our conference which hauing since well considered hath forced me to say That these barbarous people are the same against whome the Pope ought to turne his excommunications and all Christian Potentates their wrath and weapons rather then against them selues or their Subiects to whome very rashly they impute Heresie when they should haue in much greater abomination all Turkish infidelitie Against those should they drawe their Swordes not to conuert them for the Gospell taketh no roote in mens mindes but by preaching and holinesse of life but to represse their crueltie and tyrannie and these warres would bee as necessarie as our domesticall bee vnnecessarie But there are some who seeing the Turkes prosperitie to continue so long and to encrease rather then deminish are as it were confounded in themselues and cannot thinke their dominion to bée so detestable considering that God powreth not his wrath vpon them but rather his fauour I doubt not but such as want instruction in Gods prouidence are sometimes when they enter into discourse hereof euen shaken but they ought to bee assured that this power can haue no perpetual continuance which hath her bounds as had the Sarazēs that is ended together with their name so that these many yeeres we haue heard no newes thereof These rods doth the Lord entertaine to the ende only to punish and chastise those who bearing the glorious title of Christians doe neuerthelesse through their iniquities
wherevpon he doubted of that which was happened and marched toward the noyse with all that he could gather but when he came to the place the Sunne was going downe whereby they could haue no time to consult discouer or enterprise any matter in grosse But al went away in great skirmishes as braue as any that had bene seene of long time which somewhat amazed Monsiers armie by reason it stood vpon a very discommodious ground which notwithstanding it still set a good face on the matter They see not one an other as being hidden with hedges and small vallies neither was there any but the loose Shot perceiued I could well note that our men were full of courage but the conduct was not alike for they discharged as it had bene for salutation and remayned too close together yea a whole regiment assailed at once where contrariwise Monsiers came scattered shooting slowly and marching in small troopes so as two hundred harquebuziers could keepe a whole regiment of Protestants occupied Howbeit they could not keepe some of ours from entring euen into the first tentes which their heate cost them dere for the Lord of la Valette twise charged them with three hundred Speares and slewe some hundred and fiftie Now may some man aske if the Princes whole armie had come with him what would haue ensued I am of opinion that the other would haue bene shrewdly shaken for their battaile ground was so straight that they had not enough to haue set them in aray when they should haue come to fight wee might haue cast vppon their flanckes which was al vpon a strong ground tenne thousand harquebuziers supported with one thousand horse Then with the rest of the footmen and aboue one thousand fiue hundred horse haue charged vpon their front who could hardly haue borne it The Catholick Captaines there present if they list to say the truth cannot greatly gainsay this for they neuer were so pestered as then as my selfe haue heard euen of the best who haue not concealed it from me The night comming on the Prince went to take his lodging at Sansay which was but a league and a halfe of One thing worthie laughter which then happened I will not suppresse and it was this While wee houered all our footmens cariage came and stayed along a woods side not farre from the taile of our men of warre and there prouided them selues weening they should haue pitched in that place making aboue 4000. fires they perceiued not the retiring of the armie by reason of the night whereby many maisters had but had suppers Some of the Catholickes watch haue confessed vnto me that seeing so many fires and hearing such noyse they tooke it certainly to be our armie and expected the battaile in the morning wherevpon they were the more diligent in fortifying all the waies The late Captaine Garies also could me that himselfe offered to goe and discouer what it might bee but they would venture nothing against those braue Souldiers About midnight the Prince was aduertised that all the cariages were as it were enclosed and it was accompted lost neuerthelesse he sent foure or fiue Cornets to get it away and an houre after commanded one thousand horse and two thousand harquebuziers to goe to the rescue if the enemie followed The first commers found our maisters the â—arlets and lackies camped very orderly warming themselues singing and making good cheare yea a farre of men would haue thought them to haue bene 10000. men neither were they any more afeard then if they had bene in some strong towne They began to laugh at this rascaldrie which for the most part is as fearfull as a Hare euen in place of assurance and yet there in the middest not of great daunger onely but euen of death was nothing but mirth for they had very well supped with their maisters victuals They came to the head of this braue campe where the valiantest lackies and boyes had set their watch and sentinels who from as farre as they could perceiue any albeit a hundred began to play into the squadrons which sometimes it â—â—â—â—maged There might a man see aboue 40000. men the most French in aray and not farre asunder their courages as fierce as their countenances braue and many of them did but waite for the token of battaile Now must ye vnderstande that vetweene the two armies there was but a plaine fielde without any aduantage which may make some man maruaile why they ioyned not But on the other side ye must weete that there had not bene so sharpe a winter seene in 20. yeeres before neither was it only a hard frost but withall there fell so terrible a sleete that a footman could scarce march without falling much lesse the horse for it was so slipperie that a horse could not passe a bancke of three or foure foote high And whereas betweene the two armies there were many such made for partition of lands the same were as good as trenches so as who so had attempted to assaile must of force haue bene wholy disordered This caused them to stand fast each looking who would first begin this hazard or rather follie No man would trie the passage only there was some small skirmish and one houre before night they retired each into his quarter The next morning they set themselues againe in battaile aray discharging their artillerie as the day before some also that went to skirmish either brake or put their legges or armes out of ioynt and more there were hurt by this incoÌ„uenience then by any harquebuze shot The third day they shewed the like countenance but could finde no meanes to ioyne without falling into great disaduantage But the fourth day Monsier retired a league of not to refresh his men as we vse to say but to warme them vnder couert against the iniurie of time for they were no longer able to beare the colde which killed diuers as well of the one as of the other It is a manifest abuse obstinatly to labour to ouercome the sharpnesse of the weather for sith euen the hardest things are thereby broken much more must man who is sensible giue place as also that which followed teacheth that we ought not but vpon great necessitie to make the souldier beare more then he may For within a fewe daies such violent and lanquishing diseases seased vpon them that in one moneth I am assured there dyed aboue three thousand of ours besides those that retired home and I haue heard that on the other part there were as many or more that tooke the same course Euery mans desire to fight together with the presence of their Generalles made them to beare euen to extremitie howbeit if I should not lye Monsiers parte endured most through want of the couert and victuals that we had Some Cornets of horse of both campes were lodged within halse a league or three quarters of a league each of other howbeit when they returned to