and the victorie hanged long in ballaunce in so muche it was doubtfull to whether partie good Fortune would fall but in fine the Burgonions fledde towardes the woodde where all their force of footemen stoode and in that encoūter and bloodie fight the Prince of Pianoyes was smored to death in his armour the Duke of Askotte compelled to creepe and lye in a woodde all night where the Peisantes on the morrowe tooke him and fifteene hundreth prisoners more were ledde awaie with the Duke by the Frenchemen And when the vieue was made at their returne to Amiance of their losse the Frenchemen missed many of their owne people especily of the Citie and many by meane of their valiauncie were come home sore wounded mangled and out of hope to liue any long season the fight had been so daungerous and cruel that fewe whiche were desirous of fame escaped skotfree from the conflicte The Emperour not long after this broile gathered his people together and came to Vallencian with a great army but the French kyng gathered in a maner suche a multitude of soldious wherein was muche Nobilitie that it was gessed his Campe was at the leaste fiftie thousande horsemen and footemen and hymself in persone noblie mounted marched towardes Valencian where he founde the Emperoure entrenched and passyng before the Emperour with his vawwarde wherein was sixe thousande horsemen and twentie thousande footemen the Frenche kyng presented the Emperour battall who had out of his trenche certaine Spanishe and Italian horsemen with a small troupe of Launces on the whiche companie the Frenchemen offered skirmishe and the skirmishe grewe so hotte that a charge was giuen wherein was prisoners taken at the verie entrie of the trenches so that the Emperoures power beeyng not twentie thousande were faine to tarrie in their Trenches all that season The Frenche kyng seeyng this and commyng from his maine battaile on a barbed horse with a goodlie troupe of braue gentlemen made no more a dooe but shewed hym self in the feelde and marched so awaie makyng his waweward his rereward and his maine battaile his waweward yet I maie not forgette that sondrie in his companie were hurte emong the whiche M. Nicholas Malbies horse a bastarde courser was shotte through the necke and in at the reines of the backe behinde the saddell whiche horse when he was whole was giuen to the lorde Grey of Wilton then lieutenaunt of Gynes Now the Emperour bearyng in minde the braue offer the Frenche kyng had made as here before is expressed he sent Mounsire graunde Maister as generall of a greate armie to besiege Torwain shortly after a toune of greate momente and well fortified to whiche siege so soone as the Frenche heard of it was sente Memorancie that now is liuyng to assiste Mounsire Dessie then capitaine of Torwain a man of greate vallue for the same Dessie was before generall of all the Frenchemen that besieged Sir Iames Wilforde at Haddyngton in Scotlande Now Mounsire Memorancie bryngyng with hym diuers gentlemen for the aidyng of Mounsire Dessie in Torwain determined to dooe some good seruice and the Frenche kyng in the meane while leauied thirtie thousande men to remoue the siege if it were possible or at least to releeue the toune in some sorte as the tyme would suffer Where vpon diuers capitaines and gentlemen requested that thei might be the firste that should enter the toune emong whiche was M. Nicholas Malbie the kyng graunted their requeste and prepared pouder in bagges and other munition for them to carrie with them that toke this enterprise in hand thus one Humfrey Hassock and a gentleman called Ihon Griffin with twoo other called Poell and Kockes ioyned with three score Frenchemen M. Nicholas Malbie beeyng with theim and passed through the Emperoures Campe with greate hazarde and so entered Torwain whiche gaue no little comforte to them that were besieged Then vppon the hope of the kynges commyng and other causes thei fallied daiely out of the toune and did often annoye the Burgonions Campe. And one daie the watche espiyng a bande of footemen liyng louse from their succoure vnder a banke gaue warnyng thereof to the capitaine of the toune who sent on the spurre the Frenche horsemen to giue charge vppon them And maister Malbie espiyng when he came neare them that thei were Englishemen seruyng the Emperours side badde theim goe awaie or els thei should be cutte all in peeces Goe awaie that is aferde saied Nicholas Sibbill a valiaunte gentleman The Alarum then was giuen and the Frenche footemen approched and so capitain Sibbell was slaine and sondrie others of his companie defeated and Humfrey Hassocke hauyng a redde dubblet was taken to bee a Burgonion and so vnhorsed But M. Malbie seyng his seruaunt in daunger to bee slaine succoured hym by a charge he gaue on those that would haue killed his mā and brought his seruaunt to the toune with muche a doe the soldiours on the walles beholdyng thesame commended the acte verie muche Thus euery second or third daie thei sallued out and slue in the feelde and in the trenches many soldiours but still the Englishemen gatte greate praise for their stoute and desperate aduentures The Capitaine of the toune walkyng on the walles and notyng how busilie the Canons went of against the breach came doune and deuised that bothe horsemen and footemen should sodainly make a sallie out of the toune and so thei did but though the Campe semed to bee quiet and did nothyng but plie the Batterie thei were well prouided to resiste the force of the Frenche and at their issuyng out there was a verie greate skirmishe And an Almaine beeyng an armed Pike marched brauely out of the Campe vpon some lustie conceipte vnto whom rode maister Nicholas Malbie and brake his staffe on hym and so the Almaine was slaine For whiche seruice Mounsire Memorancie and the Capitain of the Toune came and embraced hym when he retourned and gaue hym bothe a reward and thankes for his labour But after this toune was helde so shorte that the soldiours could issue no more for a generall assaulte was daiely looked for and the breache beyng assaultable the Burgonions attempted the assaulte Capitaine Gonnie hauyng the leadyng thereof with whom I was in wages but capitain Gonnies bande and all the reste were repulsed to their greate rebuke and losse notwithstandyng an other assaulte was a preparyng for and the greate shotte went of so fast that thei within the toune were faine to holde in their heddes a great tyme But Mounsire Dessie aduaunsyng hym self a little to hye for to discouer the meanyng of his enemies was striken in the hedde with a little shotte and yeeldyng vp the ghost spake certaine manly wordes and so fell doune dedde Then the toune was somewhat discouraged and came to a composition howbeit a midde the Parley the Spaniardes brake into the toune and did muche mischeef yet the composition was that all of the Toune of what degree so euer thei were should
thereby founde sustentation Sir Henrie Sidney came out of Englande anon after this and landed at Karykefargus where remainyng but a few daies he marched towardes the Ban for to parley with Torlo Lenno who named hymself Oneall The Deputie beyng there made Proclamation for all suche as had any pledges for their behauiour willyng them to come in accordingly or els their pledges should suffer for their disobedience that lefte theim in pledge Emong all the residue Macke Ilaspete was one moste accounted of but he nothyng respectyng his pledges or els nothyng doubtyng the daunger thei were in staied and would not come vnto the Lorde Deputie the Lorde Deputie beyng no dallier in causes of duetie caused the pledges to be executed That beeyng dooen Macke Ilaspet sought to reuenge and came with fiue hundreth Scottes into the Countrey he was encountred with one Richard Hunt a Lieutenaunt of horsemen a verie valliaunt soldiour who vpon his first charge was slaine Then Capitaine Cheston beyng in the feeld marched toward the Scottes with a hundreth footemen and beeyng nere the Scottes there were certaine gentlemen as it seemed by their apparell that attempted the bande of foote menne and charged them but Cheston and his bande stoode verie faste and determined to fight it out In whiche stoute standyng to their businesse thei slewe on the firste charge giuen vnto them fourtie gentlemen whereof Macke Ilaspite was the beste for he had the leadyng of the reste that tyme Vppon whiche repulse the residue fell to flie so that thei were murthered and slaine like a sorte of Sheepe Now Bryan Mackefellyn standyng not farre of seemed neuer to come in till he sawe the ouerthrowe giuen whiche happened otherwise peraduenture then he hoped for but at the length he came faintly in and yet would not followe the chace beyng called a verie good subiect This broile enden Capitaine Chestons menne tooke the spoile of suche as was slaine and so retired It was not long after but there came a newe supplie to reuenge Macke Ilaspetts death whiche beyng entered the Countrey were encountered withall againe with Capitain Cheston who shewed suche vallue that in one skirmishe were slaine twoo hundred Scottes and in the same skirmish that valliaunt Soldiour Cheston by name was shot into the baule of the knee of whiche hurte he died whiche brought greate sorrowe to Karyckefargus Capitaine Nicholas Malbie beyng in the Englishe pale with his bande There was a iourney appointed by the lorde Deputie to be made vpon a certaine Rimer that belonged to Oneall at a place called the Kloher This draught was drawen by one Thomas Flemmynges a greate freende of capitaine Malbies And there was cheef appoincted for that iourney the Barron of Deluin maister Edward More and Capitaine Collyar Some businesse was emong the soldiours for the goyng of that iourney and some drewe backe and some misliked the long marche whiche must bee dooen in shorte tyme But the Barron of Deluyn and Capitain Malbie did determine to trie Fortune and appoincted the footemen a place of metyng and to retire vnto theim if occasion so serued But the horsemen rode on the spurre and entered the Countrey thei sought at a good hower and slue there a nomber of rebelles bringyng from thence a greate bootie to the nomber of xij thousande Kine and Mares and draue their prey to the Cloher Whiche was within twoo miles of Onealles house and thether came the foote bandes and so Camped all together that night Oneall whilest thei were there sente theim woorde thei should bee foughten withall ere thei went out of the Countrey to whiche threates thei gaue small eare and made lesse aunswere Shortely after Capitaine Malbie was to retourne to Karickefargus with his charge where he remained a small season there was an occasion giuen by the capitaine of Kyllowlto of his disorder and hauyng a conuenient tyme for the correction of the same and did it not Wherefore Capitaine Malbie called his soldiours together and entered Kyllowltoes Countrey and tooke a parte of his prey and marchyng through apace There went by Capitaine Malbie a woodd Kerne talkyng with hym the Kernes sworde drawen and passyng vnder a bowe in a straite the Kerne let driue at the Capitaine and hit hym on the hose whiche was so well stuffed with heare that the hurt was nothyng greate and so the Kerne sled into the woodde It was not three daies after but Capitaine Malbie and Capitaine Peers hauyng a Commission to sitte vpon made Proclamation that whatsoeuer he was of any degree and had made offence that would come in and aunswere to that should bee laied to his charge he should come saffe and goe saffe without any harme or daunger On whiche Proclamation the self same woodde Kerne came and presented hym self before the Commissioners whereat Capitaine Malbies harte sturred and a soldiour of his that gaue hym warnyng of this Kerne in the place saied openly Capitaine this is the traitour that stroke you stoupyng vnder a bowe The Kerne aunswered it was he in deede Then was he demaunded how durst he come thether that had dooen so traiterous an acte The Kerne aunswered againe because I heard that the Capitaine neuer brake his woorde I ventered to trie his fidelitie not caryng for myne owne life With that he was had into a house and made bothe drinke and eate and so was sent awaie whiche courtesie and trothe kepte in promesse made this Kerne euer after a true follower of Capitaine Malbie Capitaine Peers vpon some conceite or cause hated this Kerne and afterwardes arrested hym diuerse tymes which Kerne sent to maister Malbie to be his suretie who became bounde for him to paie fower and twentie Kine at a daie appoincted There was one made a complainte to the Lorde Deputie of Bryan Ballowe who sent for Bryan to aunswere the wrong he had dooen Well ê™ Bryan I will goe keepe my promesse for I hope Capitaine Malbie will not see me suffer death whiche keeps my woorde The onely credite of a mannes life With that his wife and freendes tooke holde of his mantell to staye hym but he so struggled that he gatte from theÌ„ and came starke naked before the Lorde Deputie of whom Bryan Ballowe was cherished for his faithfulnesse In that tyme while Sir Harry Sidney was Deputie there befell a greate broile aboute Kylkennie to redresse the whiche businesse was sent sir Peter Carowe Capitaine Gilbart Capitaine Malbie and Capitaine Basnette who beyng in Kylkennie heard saie that a thousande Gallowglasses were in a plaine not farre from the toune so these Capitaines issued out of the gates whiche were kept shut for great occasion and came in the vewe of those Gallowglasses There fell a greate shower of Rain the same season and the Gallowglasses seyng the Englishemen but a fewe and thei beeyng many made a shewe of fight and puttyng of their broeges and shakyng their Axes gaue a greate shoute and a crie as their maner is when thei hope of victorie But the Englishe
iotte of honor from them that well had deserued Yea this Ryngraue was suche a noble warriour that after the battaill or skirmishe was ended or any peece of seruice was doen he would sende flaggons of wine to his enemies and in tyme of truce or breache of warre whiche he vsed often for honours sake he would make bankettes giue giftes shewe liberalitie and bee as courteous as a little child And in the feelde a verie Lion more like then a manne and yet a man of moste sober iudgement and knowledge The whole Campe of the Frenchemen came to a greate hille after the ouerthrowe that the Ryngraue had and fullie bent to besiege Newe Hauen thei made euery daie a newe approche to the toune in moste soldiourlike sorte and order and to holde them in some awe as our power might many skirmishes were made and good pollicie and courage was put in excersice and nothyng lefte vndoen that either tyme or place would permit But what should I further delate of thinges paste mannes helpe and pollice when Gods wrathe and visitation dooeth cutte of all argumentes and makes a quicke dispatche of the matter For the Plague was so sore in the Toune that many men in a rage did leape out of the windowes into the streate and suche a generall disease and dispairing sicknesse was spread throughout the whole companie of soldiours that no one stoode in certaintie of his own state or life Suche was the heate and furie of the fearefull Pestilence and greeuous botche a dauntyng malladie that takes awaie the vse of witte and courage of man. Well albeeit that this greate mortalitie and miserable state of life might haue vtterly ouerthrowen the valliaunte myndes of many good men yet our people stoode so stoutely to their defence that many exploites were taken in hande and thei forced the enemie to make an offer vnto theim of a noble composition whiche of necessitie muste bee taken all thynges considered for there was no succour to bee hoped for to come out of Englande And some that were sent thether as sir Thomas Finche and diuerse other gentlemen were caste awaie by the sea and presently drouned Then noble Capitaine Randall who can not haue to muche fame who after was slaine in Irelande was appoincted by the Lorde Lieutenaunt to tarrie behynde when the Toune was yeelded vp to see all conditions and capitulations performed whiche were but slackly handeled and looked vnto by the Frenche and yet in effecte our soldiours with as muche honour as men in their plight could haue came home and brought muche ordinaunce and goods with them But thei had so greate a plague still emong them that many here at their arriuall departed this worlde This was but a peece of the seruice that capitaine Read was at in his daies for his moste paines hath been taken aboute the warres of Scotlande and roades made into that Countrey where he hath borne hym self so well and that a long season that all those who knowes the same or can call the seruice to memorie giueth good reporte thereof and speaketh muche to the adâ—â—â—ncement of his good name And seeyng that in 〈◊〉 praise and others my penne hath gone so farre I wil â— touche the seruices of sir WillyaÌ„ Winter who bothe by lande and Sea hath often been emploied And in the rehearsall of some parte of his doynges I will as I maie make mention of sir Willyam Drewrie sir Humfrey Gilbart sir Willyam Morgane Capitain Barkley Capitaine Morgane Capitaine Chester Capitaine Bingham and sondrie that of late daies hath been in diuers places of daunger and good seruices But this is to bee looked for that the honourable sir Iames Croftes now Controller of the Queenes Maiesties houshold sir Ihon Walloppe sir Iames Wilfforde and sir Ihon Bellyngame bee not forgotten and that euery one of these as remembrance shall serue me be breefly spoken of For if at large I touched some of their noble exploites that laste I haue made mention of I should make a greate volume of the same and so seeme to write a Chronicle that meanes but to treate of a fewe passages for the passyng of the tyme and the pleasuryng of my freendes The seruices of sir Iames Croftes maie well bee vnderstoode if you loke into the siege of Bullein The warres of Scotlande and the troublesome affaires of Irelande where he was Lorde Deputie And who that looketh depely in the mannagyng of those matters shall iustely of hym self yeelde due honoure to the persone that hath taken these paines without the reporte of my penne or further publishyng of the same Sir Ihon Walloppe that long remained gouernour of Gines and the seruice of the good knight Bellyngame once lorde Deputie of Irelande are of no little moment For the one had suche a hurt by a counter boffe that he got at Laundersey that he carried it to his death albeit he liued long after and did many greate thynges and the other was giuen to suche valliauntnesse as his doynges doe declare that in a maner we can not imagine more worthinesse in twoo men nor rightly attribute vnto them the glorie thei deserue If neuer any seruice but the siege of Haddyngton were spoken of it were sufficient enough and a witnesse greate to shewe the greate mynde and manly courage of sir Iames Wilfforde For he beeyng there as generall helde out the force of Fraunce and power of Scotlande the Queene mother lookyng and liyng at the siege and the Toune was so battered and beaten that men on horsebacke might haue ridden ouer the breache Yet notwithstandyng besides a nomber of other greate causes to make men rander a Forte sir Iames Wilfforde kepte the enemies out and did so noblie euery waie neither scarcitie of victuall nor want of pouder could moue his inuincible mynde For the more was the miserie the greater grewe his harte and hope to haue good Fortune for the whiche assured fortitude and determinate purpose he purchased euerlastyng renowne And liues at this daie in as freshe memorie as he were seen presently before the eyes of the people In that season was a place called Donglasse at our deuotion where one maister Aston was placed and an other fort beyonde Fiffeside called Broghttie Cragge where sir Ihon Luttrell did serue verie valliauntely a longe tyme And at a Toune nere the same Forte called Dondie Sir Willyam Winter and others did a greate peece of seruice worthie the rehearsall But for that Broghttie Cragge was at the length loste for lacke of succour out of Englande I leaue out muche matter that otherwise I had written After the Siege of Haddyngton was raised and the Frenche had withdrawen their batterie and the old Erle of Shrewesburie was come with an armie and laie at a place called Abberladie The Earle of Linkcolne that now is beeyng Lorde Admirall landed a greate companie of soldiours at a Pile called sainct Minius where our Fortune was but frowarde and for that I was taken prisoner there and our
moued any man liuyng But Capitaine Randall in a maner vsed those woordes that the Italian had dooen before expressed and goyng further on in communication commaunded the Soldiours to laye handes on maister Soutch and swore he would execute hym and learne all other by his boldnesse to knowe their dueties And when maister Soutch was staied well ê™ Capitaine Randall since thou haste challenged me I will not vse my power and aucthoritie ouer thee But by the faithe of a Soldiour when I am out of the Sergeaunte Maiors roume I will meete thee and make thy harte ake for those woordes thou haste giuen excepte thou repente before of thy lewde demenour Maister Soutche hauyng disgested and wisely waighed this matter beeyng talked with all of the Capitaines in the Campe came like a gentteman on himself and acknowledged his fault moste duetifully and with greate repentaunce for whiche submission of his he was the better thoughe on after This shewes and declares that an aunciente Soldiour and Officer hath a greate Priuilege and maie not bee compared with nor offered any iniurie because he carries the admiration of the people and the honour of the feelde Ye shall finde written in Spanishe and the language of the Portugall whiche Portugailes founde out the Easte Indians that there was a mightie Kyng of Calicute and many other Kynges in the Indians whose Soldiours were all Gentlemen and did liue euer on the stipende that the Kyng allowed theim And those Soldiours had many Priuileges and titles of honour and stoode so muche on their reputation that thei would not touche a housbande mannes handes nor suffer a Rusticall fellowe to come into their houses And the housbande men were bounde when the Soldiours goe in the streates to crie with a loude voice to make place for the Soldiours For if those gentlemen did come and bidde the common people goe out of the waie and thei doe not obaye their commaundement therein it was sufferable for the gentlemen Soldiours to kill those obstinate and proude people And furthermore the Kyng could not make Gentlemen if thei were not borne of some noble stocke of the race of Soldiours Thei could not take their weapons nor enter into any Combate before thei were armed Knightes Thei must at the age of seuen yeres bee putte to learne to plaie with all weapons and to the ende thei should bee perfecte their maisters doe hale their armes very farre out thereby to stretch their limmes and afterward thei teache theim suche fence as is apte for that purpose Thei did by an ordinaunce and custome of theirs honour and salute their Maisters that had taught theim at the weapons whiche were Graduates and cunnyng menne where soeuer thei met them in the streate Thei were bounde twoo Monethes in the yere to plie their schole and take a lesson at their Maisters handes By whiche reason thei were verie skilfull of their weapons and for that cause thei greatly esteemed theim selues Thei could not bee Knighted but by the Kynges owne handes who asked theÌ„ before he laied his hande on their heddes if thei could obserue and keepe the custome and ordinance of gentlemen Soldiours and thei saied and aunswered the Kyng Thei minded to take that profession of armes vpon them and so the Kyng caused a sworde to bee girded about them and after embraceth those gentlemen so Knighted then thei did sweare to liue and dye with hym and for hym whiche othe thei well keepe and obserue For if their Lorde were slaine in the warre thei would feight to their laste breathe and kill hym that had slaine their Kyng Or if at that instaunte thei could not bryng their purpose to effecte thei would watche and spie out a conuenient season for the performaunce of their promesse and othe And vndoubtedly some of theÌ„ would reuenge their Maisters death Thei had a greate regard to their duetie and endeuoure Thei thought nothyng so precious as fidelitie and their Princes fauour Thei cared not for life so glorie might be gotteÌ„ by their death Thei serued moste faithfully vnder them that gaue them entertainemente Thei spared nothyng but spente liberally Thei applied their onely studies for the mainteinaunce of their Kyng and Countrey Thei would not suffer any dishonoure nor offer any iniurie Thei thought it a double death to lose their good name Thei made no accompt of their meate money sleape or ease and little esteemed their owne liues or persones wheÌ„ thei should make proofe and shewe of their manhoode Their wages and stipende was so muche and so wel paied that euery one of theim might liue gallantly and the meanest might keepe to waite on hym a man or a boye The lawe was that thei might not Marrie and yet had lemmans and women appoincted by order whiche thei kept and vsed well and all quarrelles was auoided by that meanes For thei might not companie with their women but at certaine seasons appointed Thus thei past ouer their life tyme without the care and trouble of wife and children Thei might forsake vpoÌ„ a good cause any of their Lemmans And their women might at their owne willes forsake the menne All those that accompanied these Soldiours were gentlewomen and of good birth but might not be married to any persone after she had been at the Soldiours commaundemente And because many men by their often chaungyng happen to haue the coÌ„panie of one woman thei fathered not any childe though it were neuer so muche like theÌ„ and therefore their brothers children did alwaies enherite their landes and goodes And this lawe that those gentlemen Soldiours should not marrie was made by a king that would not haue a man of warre to fixe his loue on a wife and children nor thereby to waxe feeble Spirited and effeminate But the Kyng ordained because these gentlemen should haue no womaÌ„nishe manners nor myndes that thei should haue all thynges at their willes and liue in suche libertie as no one thyng might drawe them from noble seruice nor commauÌ„de them to seruile drudgerie And because thei should bee the more animated to liue in noble order and encouraged to serue well thei were Priuileged that no man might emprison theÌ„ for any cause nor thei might not bee put to death by any meane of ordinarie iustice Howbeeit wheÌ„ one had killed an other or did slepe with a Countrey woman or did speake euill of the Kyng then raignyng Then would the Kyng hauyng true and iust information of the matter make a writyng and sende the same to a hedde officer commaundyng hym to cutte in peeces the offendour where soeuer he was founde And after he was dedde there should bee hanged aboute hym the Kynges writyng to shewe the people wherefore he suffered but no Lawe nor iustice could touche hym before the Kyng had iustly condempned hym So by this libertie and honour that Soldiours had is well to be seen that none but Caesar might meddle with men of warre And it seemeth this libertie was fetched from Alexanders daies who
No hazard here on yearth that men maie finde But there to me blinde deastnie had assignde My life was sought and freedome loste I long Compeld to stoupe where God was scarcly knowne Denied of right and forste to suffer wrong And plainly spoild of that whiche was my nowne In hockstars hands where lawe was made of will And hauocks mouthe I daiely hapned still Now drownd in dread and wishyng greedie graue Then feard to be a seruile galley slaue No helpe from home was lookt for any waie All hope was gone betweene good happe and mee In these extreams thus paste I many a daie Till God had sette bothe minde and bodie free And in the ende ere I did homward drawe At my nowne will Ierusalem I sawe And Sipres too with diuers kyngdoms more Whiche stately seats I had not seen before A minde I had of further toile then this But sondrie letts in that behalf I founde And as oft tyms I did my purpose mis So loe in fine I drewe me homeward round But Fortune wrought for me suche spite at home That once againe a broad I must goe rome I shapt me thoe a nerar course to hold In hope that happe the haplesse fauour wold Now sought I how to serue my countrey well And fram'd bothe witts and wealth to that delite In forraine soile the wandryng Prince did dwell From whence oft tyms to countrey did I write Yea to the cheef that here hath rule and charge To whom I showd some matters full at large For whiche I wanne greate fauour and good will So long tyme spent in right good credite still But Fortune fround at that good lucke of mine As she was wont to doe by course and kinde That froward dame ye knowe doeth still repine At eurie one that bears a noble minde A dreadfull Duke a fearfull prince I saie Sore matters there vnto my charge did laie And clapt me vp in cruell prison faste Where long I lookt for nought but death at laste A leuen months I laie in lothsome sincke Where some condempd aboad the diefinoll daie Some liu'd in lacke and staru'd for meate and drinke Some made greate shift yet could not get awaie Some were had out to suffer for offence Some had small wealth yet laie at greate expence And some were rackt and loste their lims there bye And none but glad to please the Iailours eye The fulsome smells and sauours out of frame Weare able sure to burst a Giants harte The vsage vile and other greefs to name Did farre surmount the weight of common smarte The checks the taunts and bitter bityng words Did cutte more sharpe then bloodie mortall swords The torments strange that helhounds shewd vs theare Was sure muche more then humain kinde could beare The worlde abroad knows not what prisnars feele The birde on bushe conceiu's no care of cage Who sitts a loft in topp of Fortun 's wheele Full little knowes the cause of captiu's rage Well I suckt vp of this the sweete and sowre And sought for freends and so stretcht forth my powre That out I came and homward once againe I paste in peace and scapt a scouryng plaine Here found I things as God hym self did please My wife in graue and worlde was altred cleane Then did I frame my self to liue at ease And as I might to hold a merrie meane Content with cares that tyme had ouer blowne Full bent to dwell and reste vpon myne owne Not lookt for chere in house I kept before Those spendyng daies bad spare and seeke for store But yet small while I rested here in deede But that I hard of one a noble brute A widdowe wise of gentill race and seede And suche a dame as worthie was of sute Whose wifely port and comlie maners graue With shamfast looks and glance of beautie braue Was able sure as worlds report did shoe To make from tombe the dedde to speake and goe Her famous brute so set my harte on fire That fancie flam'd on that I neuer sawe And still so hotte did burne this newe desire That witte confest in loue there was no lawe A sodaine heate and sure a thyng full strange That loue so sone could worke so sore a change To make hym like and namely in the place Where loe before he sawe ne shape nor face A powre deuine or Deastnie drewe this draught It can not come of light conceits nor toyes For as wilde birds in bushe or lime are caught And so strange handes poore sillie birde enioyes Through Deastnies lot that all appointeth here So was I caught I bye the proofe full dere For nought but smart as yet thereby doeth rise Suche Fortune falls on men from starrie Skise Where Gods doe worke men must of force giue place It hapned thus what needs more words here in Me thought in slepe I sawe a strangers face A wake I walkt as I in mase had bin In house or feeld all that I did behold Presented plaine this noble fleece of gold The wandryng Prince a Iason wisht hym than Or for that fleece to be a happie man. In spendyng daies and tyme of that deuice A chance befell as blisfull Fortune wold The preshoes Iemme and iewell dere of price That wandryng Prince doeth call the fleece of gold At dinner was where I was bidde a geast O happie house nay rather happie feast O castell good where in my Ladie satte Where but bare vewe and sight of her I gatte My gasyng eyes no soner sawe this sight But straight I saied the worlds report was true And in all poincts she was the self same wight That I had heard and more to saie to you Her grace so muche did please my inward minde That sure I thought I could not easly finde So sweete a sainct to serue and honour still If boldnesse durst present here my good will. A feare straight waies possest my senses all Of fitter matche for her then I in deede And dreadyng sore how matters forthe would fall That I might speake and others then might speede I silent stoode and stole awaie God wotte Yet hopyng still to finde a better lotte An aptter tyme a season for my sute That fancies toile should reape some thankfull frute In watchyng long and vsyng sleight of witte I fauour wan my sorrows to escrie But Fortune made me plaie vpon the bitte And want my will when hedde I held full hye I curbed was and suche a mozroule felt That in no staye nor certaine hope I dwelt Saue that accesse to her I had somtyme As on the staire I durst attempt to clime I did not preace the mountaine hye to win Nor clime the bowes and spraies of mightie trees The valley smothe I tooke greate pleasure in Or goodlie ley where haunts somtymes the Bees To sucke the flowrs that pleasant Honie makes And ley to ley I thought to hedge with stakes As feeld to feeld should better sure agree Then Skie with yearth or winde and ayre with tree Short season
the succour of the greate ordinaunce of the toune So beyng abroade the skirmishe began to bee so hotte that no one of the Garrison retourned to the toune without his Launce broken And the Albanoies bande serued so valiauntly that eche of them brake twoo staues vpon the enemies in which hazard and couragious seruice their lieutenaunt was taken prisoner But an Englisheman called Willyam Spencer seruyng in the Albanoies bande beholdyng his lieutenaunt taken cried a charge a charge and therewith all flue in emōg his aduersaries so furiouslie and fought with suche courage and manhoode that he set the lieutenaunt at libertie and so recouered the toune And at that tyme was taken fiue horsemen Burgonions and brought to the toune and one horseman was taken awaie prisoner and brought to Beuppaum That daie capitain Twettie desired Ihon Malbie to goe with hym into the feelde a foote and thei hauyng but tenne Pikes and one and twentie shot withstoode fiftie horsemen and slue diuerse of thē the Skottes men beholdyng that seruice gaue all the honour of that daie to the Englishe nation At that seruice was a worthie Capitaine called Gurdan before spoken of whose bande and hymself surmounted the reste in the feelde and came with greate glorie to the toune Now the whole companie that serued in that peece assembled them selues together and deuised how to reuenge the iniuries at twoo seuerall seasons offered to them by the Burgonions and concluded that all the Garrisons nere thē on the Frontires should meete at a daie appoincted for the skalyng of Bauppaum on the soddaine And in the meane while Ihon Malbie wente towardes Bauppaum with the Englishe band and tooke with hym thirtie or fourtie pound of matches whiche was tied vpon cordes and lines twentie fadome long and euery mache halfe a yarde a sonder and for euery line was twoo stakes prepared breast hye to bee sette in the grounde when the matches were a fire The night beyng darke and the matches beeyng espied after thei were pitched of the Soldiours in Baupaum thei tooke alarum and the Englishmen that deuised this mockerie cried skale the waules and so priuily stoale awaie but thei within the toune of Bauppaum bent all their ordinaunce vpon the matches and shotte at them all the night after pliyng the matches with small shotte in like sort whiche was a great madnesse and follie as thei them selues cōfessed When thei daie appeared and made theim iudges of their owne ouersight and matter mistaken In the necke of this but three nightes after thei came in deede with their whole garrisons vppon the Frontire and brought Lathers for to skale the waules and aproched nere the toune for that purpose in a verie darcke night and in passyng good order but the Ladders beyng set to the walles as secretly as might bee deuised thei were faine to withdrawe them againe because thei were to shorte and the noyes that the Ladders made awakened the watche and thereon a terrible larum began in the toune whiche had been taken if the Ladders had been long enough For thei that came to surprise it were fiftene thousande footemen and twoo thousande horsemen well and throughly furnished for a noble enterprise Whiche power disappointed of their purpose entered the countrey burnyng and spoilyng as muche as thei might euery waie for the space of a whole daie and then euery one retired to their garrisons from whence thei repaired before And within a shorte season after the Emperour besieged Mettes in Lorrain with a greate armie the Frenche kyng on that newes sent many bandes thether emong the whiche the Englishe bande was placed twelue leagues from Mettes where thei daiely annoied their enemies and sondrie tymes tooke many prisoners and spoiled the Forrengers horses and other necessaries verie often and grewe so riche by the raūsomes and spoiles thei had gotten that their enemies laied many a staille and trappe to take them in but that preuailed not For their Fortune and courage brought theim through many daungers and made them as muche feared as their were spoken of and more spoken of then tenne tymes so greate a companie The siege of Mettes continued aboute a whole yere and it was thought that there laye before the Toune sixe score thousande menne in paie emong whiche nomber was suche mortalitie and Plague that it was a wonder to rehearse it For thei died sometymes twoo thousande a daie by whiche mischeef and miserie the Emperour raised his Campe and yet was faine to leaue in cabbens sicke behinde hym twelue or thirteene thousande Almaines whiche could not marche awaie The Duke of Gwies beyng generall of the Toune seeyng those poore Soldiours lefte to the mercie of God or murther that manne liste to commit thought it not fitte to put them to the sworde And so vpon aduice and sute of their generall thei were releeued and as many as liued were sent home without raunsome whiche courtesie of the Duke of Gwise was well remembred and requited ten yeres after this For some saie that those Almaines seruyng the Prince of Condie at the battell of Drues whē thei sawe the Gwise thei caste doune their Pikes keepyng their promised vowe whiche was neuer to beare armes in feelde againste hym that had saued their liues and dooen them so greate a good tourne at Mettes The siege of Mettes beyng raised as you haue heard the Englishe bande was commaunded to lye in Picardy where the Duke of Vandome was lieutenaunt who heard that the Emperoure was commyng towardes Amiance with a puissaunt power and to encounter hym the Duke reised as many soldiours as he might and so kepte the Frontires till the Emperours power came and shewed them selues with in twoo leagues of the Citie of Amiance then greate was the Alarum and euery man to horse and a maruelous braue companie issued out of the toune to giue battaill and trie the vttermoste of Fortune And so well thei agreed together and were so gallauntlie disposed that one of them swore to an other neuer to departe without blood nor neuer to retourne again into the toune without doyng of some exploit The Emperoures power were in like disposion and so the Trompettes on bothe sides sounded as heauen and yearth should haue ioyned together Then the Englishe bande prouoked the skirmishe and so the bloodie broile began hotter and hotter in so muche that the horsemen ioyned and came to hande strokes where many a Launce was broken and many a man laie grouelyng on the ground some vnder their horses and some strikē from their horses backes suche was the terrour of the tyme and furie of the fight And Mounsire Dangwion brother to the Duke Vandome loste no tyme but charged Mounsire Benyngcourtes bande or Mounsire Derues his companie The Prince of Condie and Duke D'onmall charged on the Duke Deaskot and Mounsire Demberies bandes and withall came in the residue of the Frenche and Burgonion companies and stoode so manfully to their businesse that the conflicte on bothe sides was greate
become prisoners because thei abode the assault and stoode so long in their defence against a mightie power and shotte of the Cannon Maister Nicholas Malbie was prisoner to a Spaniard for whose raunsome capitain Matson a honest Englishe gentleman was aunswerable and so maister Malbie retourned to Muttrell where the Duke of Vandome embrased hym and tooke hym to the Frenche Courte who beeyng there presented to the Frenche Kyng was muche made of by the Dukes meanes and bountifully rewarded without suyng for thesame as good soldiours bee in many places and so he was sente to Braye againe to lye in Garrison there till thei were remoued to Amiance And when the whole bande was come thether the Countrey furnished maister Malbies soldiours with all kinde of victuall by the kynges commaundement The Spryng commyng on all the Frenche Garrisons and Englishe Soldiours were commaunded to make their repaire to sainct Quintaines where the Kyng assembled his power and marched into Henault where he tooke a Toune called Synnie and from thence went and besieged Marryngbrough a verie strong toune whiche was yeelded vnto hym within fourtene daies A garrison of the Gascoins was lefte therein and the Campe marched to a Castell called Denouanter In whiche Castell Iullian Romero was and had with hym fiue hundred Spaniardes and as many Almains that valiauntly defended it in so muche that there was diuers bandes and Capitaines that refused to assault the saied Castell The kyng hearyng thereof called those capitaines and bandes before hym and caused them to be degrated and committed them to the Spade and Mattocke whiche is as much dishonor as a soldior maie suffer but there was great sute made by the Duke of Vandome and the nobilitie for to restore them to their honour againe Whiche suite the Kyng would not heare nor giue any grace vnto The companie degrated on knees besought the kyng that thei might goe and winne their credite againe at the assault The kyng hardlie graunted that but seeyng thei sought to serue and doe their duetie the kyng badde theim make newe blacke Ensignes and saied suche as could winne their old Armes by manhod at their retourne from the assaulte thei should be restored to their first degree of honour Wherevpon the assault was giuen and verie many of those men made there their laste seruice for euer but their manlinesse and furious approche was occasion that the Castell was rendered shortly after to the kyng and suche as retourned from that assaulte were muche made of againe and grewe in greate fauour with other soldiours euer after The Castell beyng randered Capitaine Iullian marched Ensigne displaied armor and weapon bagge and baggage with Wagons for their hurte men and so he and his soldiours were conueyed saffely to Mowns in Henaulte where Iullian made the Wagomers greate cheare and gaue them good rewardes Within three daies after the Castell was vndermined and blowen vp and the Campe marched from thence to Cambraie where the Emperour was with a greate Camp whiche Campe laye within three leages of the Freche kynges in a night before the kyng marched forwarde so that there was Alarum giuen to the kynges Campe and many issued out to the skirmishe in whiche skirmishe albeeit it was hotte maister Nicholas Malbie beyng vnarmed tooke an armed man from his companie and brought hym prisoner into the Frenche Campe. In that season D. Wotton was Embassador in France for Queene Marie who commaunded all the Englishemen to retire home or serue the Emperour The twoo brothers hearyng of that Proclamation toke their leaue of Fraunce and came to the Emperour who gaue them fiftie crounes a peece euery Monethe and so waited on the Emperour to raise the siege of Renttie where the Frenche king had laine three weekes before with fourtie thousande menne and had battered it verie sore and was likely to haue wonne it had not the Emperour prepared to giue the Frenche kyng battaile and come thether in tyme But the Frenche kynges fourtie thousande might not fight with sixe score thousande And yet the Frenche kyng shotte of his Batterie in the full hearyng of the Emperour and would not withdrawe neuer a peece of his ordinaunce from the breach although the Emperours Campe came in a merueilous brauerie and approched nere vnto Renttie The Batterie was so plied that it went of from Sunne risyng to Sunne sette and neuer seased whiche made the Emperours Soldiours meruell and therefore the soner to shewe some noble seruice Notwithstandyng for fourteene daies the Batterie seased not these twoo Princely Campes liyng all that while within one league of an other a meruell of the worlde how suche a sorte of people could bee so long kept a sonder Then Martine van Rous an Almaine seruyng with fifteene thousande soldiours saied to the Emperour it was a greate scorne to see his enemies lye so nere hym in quiet on whiche speeches Martin van Rous was sente to ioyne with the Duke of Sauoye and many Spaniard and Italian bandes and so to sette vppon the Frenchemen that laye in a woodde betwene Renttie and the Emperours Campe and to attende vpon those companies was appoincted Count de Horne with fiue hundreth Pistoliers Roittars and certain other bandes that serued as winges to Vanrowses regimēt So these people well bent and sette in order marched towardes the woodde and the Spaniardes on greate peril entered the woodd couragiously where thei founde a hotte and daungerous businesse and were sharpely encountered but thei behaued them selues so stoutly that with muche a dooe thei made the Frenche retire to their maine battaill and whole Campe whiche was within a quarter of mile of the woodde The Duke of Sauoye with certain bandes of horse men and footemen accompanied with Martin van Rous and the Count de Horne marched on the plaine vntill thei came to the wooddes ende where thei founde the kynges battaill readie to present the combate or giue the assaulte to the peece that so long he had besieged The Englishe and Scottes horsemen that serued the Frenche kyng were in a troupe together in a valley where thei prouoked the skirmishe The Barron of Kyrtton who was a moste valliaunte gentilman charged vpon a bande of Spaniardes horsemen and cleane defeatted theim The Count da Horne seeyng that slaughter and ouerthrowe charged the Barron of Kyrttons bande whiche was a little out of order by meane of their furie and so ran through them euery man as though thei had been a fewe children in his waie Suche is the aduauntage of disorder who wiselle can take it In whiche charge the noble Barron was taken prisoner and brought by one of the bande to the Count de Horne the Counte seeyng hym tooke out a Pistolet and presented the shotte to his breast but he was so well armed that the shott could not enter The Barron beholdyng by this outragious deede a bloodie murtheryng mynde craued mercie and told the Count that he was a noble man and would giue a noble raunsome who answered that he
should haue a noble death because he should bee killed at a noble mannes handes and with that woorde slue hym whiche was against all ciuill order or lawe of Armes but note what followed The Duke Domale in the ende of this crueltie and encounter charged the Count de Hornes bande with a braue companie of men at Armes and ouerthrewe moste of the Count de Hornes people and defeitted them all or carried them awaie prisoners with hym And in that charge giuen there was a companie of Frenche footemen whiche sette vpon the Spaniardes and Italians in the woodde and draue theim out of the same and possessed the woodde againe to the greate discourage of the other partie whiche Frenchemen entrenched thē selues in the saied woodde as surely as thei could The Englishe and Scottes men beeyng well mounted and desirous of some honour beholdyng what good successe the Duke had founde by the valliaunt charge he had giuen Thei sodainely brake vppon van Rousis Launceknightes with a greate shoute and crie who amased at the noyse and afferde of the charge flang doune their weapons and betoke them to their feete whiche ouersight and feblenesse of spirit in theim was occasion of a greate slaughter For when the Englishe and Scottes horsemen were a wearie of killyng the poore Almaines thei tooke prisoners some one man ten or twelue a peece as was crediblie reported So that in a maner moste of all van Rousis Ensignes were troden vppon or taken from them that carried them The Emperour was somewhat moued at this misfortune and determined the nexte daie in the Mornyng to giue the Frenche kyng battaill The Frenche kyng on that victorie sent a Harralde of Armes with a Trompet to the Emperour declaryng vnto hym that within fower and twentie howres he would meete hym in the feelde For whiche message the Herralde had a good rewarde and the Emperour was glad that so honourable an acte as was offered should ende the quarrell betwene the Frēche kyng and him The fame night beyng well spent and thynges in order for battaill the Emperour caused the Drommes and Trōpettes to sounde and strike a marche to the feelde for that he would by the breake of the daie behold his enemies power The Frenche Kyng beeyng a beaten Soldiour with many daungerous seruices and lookyng into the daunger of an exstreme fight for a wearied armie tooke compassion on his ouerlaboured menne of warre that had lyen in the open feelde all that yere and so without sounde of Dromme or any noyes makyng he retired his Batterie caused his footemen to marche quietly towardes Muttrell whiche thei recouered before the breake of the daie and the kyng with the reste of his armie at midnight priuelie withdrewe hym sel and his power from daunger of the Emperours Campe. Placyng his horsemen in the reergarde to tarrie till the Emperour were readie to marche who had intelligence of the Frenche Kynges priuie practises and departure And thereon gaue commaundemente to followe with all expedition the horsemen hauyng that in charge to see if thei could ouertake any of the Frenche kynges armie especiallie the footemen The Duke Denamores attendyng on certaine straglars in goyng out of a woodde to the plaine happened with his whole bande on Capitaine Stukeleis troupe who all that iourney and at sondrie other seruices had dooen merueilous actes in whiche troupe was the twoo brethren maister Nicholas Malbie and Ihon. And the Duke Denamores was no soner espied but capitain Steukely and his troupe charged hym who fled as fast as he might to recouer some freendes and Ihon Malbie beyng well horssed put the Duke to leape hedge and dicke till he mette with a bande of men at Armes which the Englishmen wer not strong enough to deale with all and so thei retired M. Richard Bingham at this seruice And in that retiryng thei mette with the Emperoure who gaue them greate thankes and rewarded hym that deserued moste praise The Emperour liyng at Renttie fiue or sixe daies caused the breache to be made vp againe and that beyng dooen he commaunded the Duke of Sauoye beyng his Lieutenant generall to make his repaire to Heddyng with his whole Campe. Where he made a verie strong Toune and there was not a noble manne in that Campe but for to giue good example putte once a daie his handes to the Baskette and Spade And euery soldiour had a double paie so long as the woorke was a buildyng where there was in wages a hundreth thousande daiely whereof some were suffered to make roades into Picardie and many bootes gotten emong the reste the Spaniardes had gotten a greate bootie beyng accompanied with the Burgonions in the same attempte and commyng into the Campe with their preye and spoile thei were to passe by the Almaines Campe or quarter whiche thei kepte The Almaines seyng a greate compaie desirous of spoile or glad to make a mutenie fell to take some shepe and what els thei thought good from the Spaniardes the Spaniardes thereon made Alarum The Duke of Sauoye knowyng of this vpprore gallopped with his bande emong the Almaines and tooke diuerse sedicious fellowes and committed them to the Prouost and one manne emong them retained to a noble man of Germanie whiche came to the Duke and did request hym to spare his manne and pardon his offence the Duke aunswered he should suffer for his follie committed the noble manne spake againe in so muche that the Duke was displeased at the suite The other seyng he could finde no fauour tolde the Duke in a rude maner that if he were not a Lieutenaunte generall ouer hym he should not put his man to death the Duke made no more a doe but tooke out a Pistolet that was bente and discharged it vpon the noble man and so slue hym The Almaines and Roiters therevpon armed them selues and put them in order of battaill The Spaniardes Italians and Burgoniōs presently repaired to the Dukes Pauilion The Prince of Orrange and many other noble personages came betwene the twoo powers and made a peace and so the businesse ended whiche at the beginnyng was like to haue come to a greate flaughter and bloodshed Now for the better contentation of the Almaines there was a roade made vnto Muttrell and twentie thousande Almaines appointed to bee at the winnyng of the bootie where was a greate skirmishe prouoked and at that tyme Capitaine Steukeleis horse was killed vnder hym when he gaue a valliaunt charge on his enemies There was a challenge made by the Frenchmen for the breakyng of certaine Launces for their mestresse sakes To aunswere the chalenge went a Portugall a greate companion with the Duke of Sauoye and one capitaine Tother an Albanoies sometyme seruyng in Englande was an other And the thirde was a gentleman called Ambrose Digbie who encountred a valliaunt horseman named Petro Strose and thei brake bothe the one vpon the other Ambrose Digbies horse was somewhat strong hedded and bare his Maister awaie into the Frenche troupe where the