from sorow But returning to my discourse at the ende of the combat when I had seene the death of these three my so dearly honored soueraignes my eyes being drowned with teares and my soule with sorow vnwilling to ouer-liue so great a desastre I pulled downe my beuer and dreadlesse and carelesse what might happen nor looking nor fearing who came against me I rushed into the listes defying my aduersaries to come both or one or how they listed or dared Memorie seeing me thus altred feared least I had bin troubled with some passion of Despaire and therefore willed me to recommende my selfe vnto God which I did and constantly attended the comming of my aduersaries But by and by came vnto me a felow like a Heralde of litle stature with a blazon of prolongation his name was Sommons Great Atropos saith he that heere gouerneth hath commaunded me to tell thee that thy houre is not yet come and therefore willeth thee to stay till thou be called which shall not be long first In the meane time rest contented for there are now many other combats to be determined of greater worth and among the rest especially of fiue famous aduenturers whose names and particularities I desiring him to recount vnto me though sayd he some of these be things to come and the secretes of the destinies are not to be reuealed yet for this once I will satisfie thy request Know then that these fiue dismall conflictes I speake off heere to be tryed are such that the onely thinking of them breedeth an astonishing terrour both to Atropos and her Champions who hearing of the victorious conquestes that are and shalbe by these excellent aduenturers atchiued are fore-possessed with an incredible feare and amazement I will therefore tell thee first what each of the aduenturers is and then how prepared and armed they will come to this the last combat that euer they shall make And do not thinke that I do fable with thee in telling thee of things to come for I doe certeinly assure thee that the euent shalbe as I doe tell thee for Atropos is well acquainted with the Destinies who haue discouered the whole vnto her But because it greeueth me exceedingly to see thee so sorowful and sad I would yeeld willingly some comfort to thy perplexed minde And this assure thy selfe the heauens doe neuer denie consolation to the comfortlesse and distressed As for the three ended princes whose vntimely deaths haue brought thee to such excessiue and immoderate sorow and these other with the particularitie of whose combats I haue promised to acquaint thee they shall leaue behind them such and so noble a succession that their losse shalbe to the whole worlde restored But especially the great English Monarch who among the rest of his royal issue shal leaue one so excellent a daughter so highly of the heauens blessed that besides the glorifying of the frozen poles and the fiery equinoctials with the trophes of her inuincible armes such shalbe the worldes wonder and admiration of her vertue that the greatest kings princes and estates of the worlde shall thinke it the greatest happinesse that may befall them to be shrowded vnder the faire spreading wings of her Imperious gouernment some of them falling downe at her sacred feete and flying into her realme for refuge as to an vnblemished Azyle and inuiolable sanctuarie But now to enterteine thee no longer with circumstances know that the first which in these listes is by Atropos so fearefully expected is the great and mighty princes Dōna Isabella Queene and enheritrix of Castile Her am I ere long time ouerpasse to sommon to the aduenture of this passage to which as euery mortall creature is subiect so shall shee not be disobedient but presently come into the field armed and accompanied as followeth Shee shalbe mounted vppon a triumphall Chariot accompanied with innumerable vertues contending betweene them selues which of them shoulde haue the chiefe possession and presidence within the royall harbour of her thoughts They shall attende on eache side of her Chariot singing in her honour immortall prayses Fayth and pure Zeale shalbe her Chariots guyde Foure Horses exceeding the snow in whitenesse therein denoting her puritie shall draw the same their names Wisedome Religion Hope and Charitie all being blessings and especiall graces of the highest her armour shalbe of Magnanimitie her Helmet of good Counsayle assisting her in gouernment The Sworde she shalbe gyrt withall shalbe of an accustomed vertue of hers called Natural Pitie the which she shall employ put in vre against Crueltie Her Speare shalbe of good Desart steeled with a head of hating Errour all her workes and cogitations being thereunto incessantly bent and directed her Shielde of Honestie and her Coat-armour of Aucthoritie before which vayne Pleasure and worldly Vanitie neuer dare appeare Vpon her arriuall her King at armes called Gouernment shall proclayme all the particularities of her estate name condition and cause of coming Presently will weerilesse Accident come foorth armed with a new and fryghtfull Harnesse of Amazement his Shielde of Dispayre therewith to bereaue the defendant of all hope to escape his Dart of Crueliie his battle Axe of Impossibilitie whose blow no soundnesse of health nor vigorousnesse of force shalbe able to withstande his Sworde shalbe of Passion his Dagger of Sorow And thus furnished shall he begin the combat halfe dismayed at the vertue fame and estate of so great an enemie onely encouraged by the perswasion of Furie that still incenseth him forwarde The gentle Princesse seeing him come shall presently dismount off her Chariot and with a well resolued constancie attende him opposing against his fiercenesse her Speare of good Desart But inexorable Accident no whit at all thereof esteeming shall in such sort vexe and pursue this noble Ladie that notwithstanding all the defence of her infinite vertues he shall in the ende depriue her of lyfe and the worlde of his chiefe ornament So that heere shall be seene the ende of the mightie and puissant Queene the very thought whereof forepossesseth my minde with griefe But so firme and vnuanquished shall her vertue be that it shall perpetually retayne her name and memorie in lyfe in despite of Atropos that gaue her death Fame and Glorie shall geue her Sepulture and though her body be by death vanquished yet with a farre more worthy conquest shall her ioyfull freed soule by the grace of Gods goodnesse winne eternall rest in the heauens At the ende of this wofull conflict shall a noble and heroyicall aduenturer present him selfe in the lystes by name great Philip heyre to Austria Burgundie to which by mariage with Donna Iohanna daughter to Ferdinande and the late remembred Q. Isabelle he shall adioyne the riche and mightie kingdome of Spayne Sicily Arragon and Naples Accident vnderstanding the arriuall of this matchlesse Prince shall presently mount vpon a fresh Courser called Outrage his Armour shalbe of cruell Chaunce of a
consisteth in fruitfully reading the sacred volume of the holy Scriptures the precious workes of those godly Doctors Fathers whose blessed pennes haue diuinely prescribed vnto vs the way of perfect repentance and vertuous perfection teaching vs nothing but that which still we ought to contemplate with the eyes of our mynde that is to lyue and die well For there is not any thing vnder heauen so happelesse heauie and miserable as for a soule sleeping carelesly in sinne to approch the dolorous passage of Death Of this desirable place I speake off the walles were all round about trimmed with Delight The Portal at which you entred figured foorth nothing but Pleasure The Dytches were secure deepe and well trenched curiously wrought in great conformitie by Good exercise The Chappel was of Zeale the Windowes of Charitable Loue the Gate wherein was the entrance and going foorth of Heedefulnesse and the Bridge of Industrious Trauaile The Vanes and Streamers of the house were of Pleasure which glystering aloft shewed all the passers by that there was the schoole and practise of Vertue and Learning No Idlenesse dared to approch this blessed Mansion for Diligence was the Porter Onely Emulation is suffered to enter who there serueth as a spurre to Vertuous operation In fine the time there bestowed is in the onely learning and exercise of that heauenly philosophie whereto whosoeuer arriueth may well be accounted happie and blessed That I was desirous to enter into this blisfull place no man needeth to doubt but in the end seeing the gates did not of themselues open vnto me I was bould to goe vnto the porter with earnest entreatie that I might by his fauour meanes be suffered to enter To which he answered this house said he which is the very Perfection of studie and enemy of ignorance is not to be dallied withall or to be entred with sportfulnesse and scorne For within it is enclosed the Treasure of life and the Riches of the Worldes wisedome it is kept and gouerned by a beautifull Princesse whom it hath pleased the highest to blesse with a Happy euer-during youth shee neuer changeth estate liuing free from deaths subiection her proper name is Memorie of all the worlde highly honored and esteemed From her are deriued all the chiefe pleasures wherewith Olde age is honored whom through wisedome and experience shee ennobleth with regard and worship Where shee is enterteined shee neuer breedeth weerinesse making him blessed with whom shee pleaseth to harbour Some there are whom shee flieth though they labour neuer so earnestly to be acquainted with her for in her operations is so great strange a secret of nature that neither Socrates nor Plato noral the deepe pearcing wits of the passed Philosophers haue bin able to define whence or how this corruptible body of ours is beautified with so pure and excellent an ornament as this of Memorie But for my part I do verily beleeue without any doubt or question that this being so singular a good procedeth onely from the miraculous working of God and not from any setled habite or ingrafted guift of nature for as the soule hath by God her habitation domicile appointed her in the body so hath Memorie hers in the soule it selfe whence she springeth vsing her qualities and operations And seeing the soule is an inuisible peculiar frame and workmanship of God as a sparke of his diuinitie It foloweth then also that my Ladie and Mistresse must needes be a seuered work of God alone without hauing any relation to Nature 〈…〉 Her excellence nobilitie and byrth considered and withall the notable comforts and sweete sauouring vertues that she in her selfe conteyneth she hath euer bin of all wise men honored in high degree as one of the chiefest beauties and ornaments of lyfe Since I first came acquainted with her seruice I haue bin in stead of her seruant as it were her gardian My name is Diligence and I continually accompanie her in respect of the vehement loue I beare vnto vertuous studie whose true perfection without her helpe is not to be obteyned The onely way to see her perfectly is through Vertuous industrie first by exercising our mindes to learne and know and then fastly to reteine that which we haue once learned and knowen But because I see you are arriued to this vncomfortable soyle of Olde Age taking compassion of your weakened forces I will accomplish your desire hoping somewhat therewith to refresh and comfort the languishing of your spirites Whereupon being by this industrious Porter brought to the presence of Memorie I was of her saluted with a most pleasing and gentle behauiour Her attire was sumptuous and rich embrodered in meruailous art by Cogitation rounde about strangely presenting vnto my view a large course and historie of Time both past and present And withall the more to subtilize my remembrance she made me smell to a Garlande of Knowledge which she ware whose excellent and delicious odour did so refresh the vigour of my senses that me thought I was not halfe so earthly as before After some few conferences I requested her to fauour me with the sight of her librarie which I imagined could not be but rare magnificent But she briefly answered me that whosoeuer determined to studie there may not vse any other bookes or lessons then such as Remembrance yeeldeth him for it were labour lost and meere vanitie for old men to begin first then to studie Their exercise ought rather to be in well keeping and reteyning that which before time they had seene and learned and therewith in shewing the fruites of their wysedome to recreate them selues and to counsell others But now tell me sayd she what is the thing that you do demaunde of me you shall finde me redy to yeelde you satisfaction Being comforted with her courteous and gentle language I did without delay acquaint her with the circumstances of my aduenturous enquest telling her how that my thought-fulnesse had instantly mooued me to visite the forest of Atropos which voyage I had now resolued and withall to enter in single combat with eyther of the two famous Champions Debilitie or Accident to whose garde the place is committed beseeching her earnestly to tell me if she had heard read or founde in any ancient bookes writinges or recordes hidden figures or long remembrance of times that any of these Champions had bin put to the foyle by any of those worthy men that at sundry ages haue liued so puissant and conquering in their times For yf any one had at any time or in any age vanquished them I woulde not doubt but by Gods assistance to goe as farre as he that had gon farthest But in fine howsoeuer the matter shoulde goe I tolde her that I was resolued to winne eyther glorie with my sworde or with my body death Memorie hauing with attention heard my speaches I will not sayd she smilingly enterteine you with long discourses but geuing
so euer you haue wronged forgeeuing and desiring of all the worlde forgiuenesse When you come to take your Othe sweare that you receiued Baptisme by vertue whereof you are a Christian in which Fayth you determine to liue and die and which quarell you do most willingly offer your present body to mainteyne against your aduersarie who not satisfied with the desolution of your body will also with tempting and frightfull suggestion seeke the destruction of your soule Presently will your aduersarie come foorth and sweare full of hopefull assurance that you are the childe of Adam and subiected vnto Death Which ransome for the remedie of original sinne it pleased Christ the sonne of God by taking on him our humanitie him selfe to pay And as the warie Champion when he beginneth to fight will as neare as he can take his aduantage of the Sunne so likewise be you circumspect so to appeare within the Listes that you be no way offensiue to the glistering of the diuine goodnesse The Iudge of this your Combat shalbe the euerliuing Righteousnesse and therefore looke that you be vnto him fearefully Obedient firmlie and constantlie Beleeuing in him with a true Worship and adoration of his sacred name That shalbe vnto you a strong Shielde of defence against all whatsoeuer inconuenience and with such a securitie any feeblenesse is strong and forcible If you finde your selfe ouertaken with any sodaine faintnesse confusion or amazement of your senses flie presently to the blessed refuge of his infinite and endlesse Mercy wherein assure yourselfe you shall finde all refreshing contentment and quiet consolation of your vnrestfull senses for who so in that passage of Terror forgeteth not but remembreth with due honor and reuerence his maker and redeemer can neuer be ouerthrowen or vanquished such is his owne promise witnessed in the holy Scriptures which we must firmely and stedfastly beleeue And withall note this that the first steppe to true Life is a godly Death Be not rashe in your fight but mooue yourselfe with a wel aduised and leisurely Resolution See that you employ well your blowes strike not any of them vainely at the winde and then though your breath chaunce to faile you feare not for if you obserue these precepts of mine I assure you the Glory of the day shalbe yours But first for a sure safe conduct and protection against all mischieues I would haue you reuerently to receyue the blessed Sacrament of Christ his supper and so shall you be assured to conquer your enemie at whose sight be not terrified or amazed but with a patient magnanimitie obey your good Angell whom God hath appointed for your garde I haue now no more to say but if you do beleeue effectually follow these my counsells you shalbe eternally safe if not you will incurre the daunger of a double death both in bodie and soule Thus did the reuerend Hermite with zealous instructions teach me the way to euerlasting life when yet in my minde did arise a new doubt and question which but for feare to haue bin accōpted ouer-curious I would haue entreated him to explane vnto me which hee perceyuing willed me not to be dismayed but boldly and freely to vtter my conceipt Whereuppon I earnestly entreated him to tell me if there were not any certaine signes or tokens to foreknow the time that Atropos should appoint for triall of this combat Debilitie sayd he will shortly send you warning hereof by his messengers and Accident likewise by his But as I tolde you before there is in this no certentie for they perchance will take you so short and so of a sodaine that you shall haue no leysure to put on your armour The best therefore is to haue a watchfull eye and to be euer redy The first Vant-currors that commonly will bring you tidings hereof wilbe your eyes when you must be fayne to supply their decayed sight with Spectacles For nothing more euidently foresheweth the nights approching darknesse then the dayes decreasing cleernesse Your eares likewise when they must be furred and stopt with cotten may serue in steede of an Alarum bell or Trumpet to sommon you to present your selfe vnto the fielde Your head also and your handes like trustie seruants will by their feeblenesse and trembling giue you warning of your approaching danger Neither will your legs once so well proportioned and with such delicate streightnesse supporting the stately burthen of your so much beloued body be behind hereof to giue you aduertisement when they must craue the assistance of a staffe to performe their office The decaying of these limmes senses and members is an assured token that you cannot long holde out Therefore still I aduise you as neere as you can to seeke with your soule those ioyes that will neuer faile nor corrupt as for the body the ende thereof is corruption and the truest repose the graue Besides these rehearsed messengers there are thousands of griefes sickenesses woundes mischances and infirmities that will serue for heralds to sommon and chalenge you to this deadly point and sorowful passage you speake of Herewith the aged father ending his discourse tooke his leaue of me and departed leauing me though greatly comforted with his encouragements instructions yet sorowfull and heauie for his departure But seeing there was no other remedie gathering together in my memory all these passed discourses I arose and determined to write truely and sincerely the passages and aduentures of my life euen as I had felt and passed them and thereuppon I made this litle treatise which I hope will finde gentle acceptance though the stile be barren especially of all those that beare vertuous mindes and are according to the title of this litle booke true Resolued Gentlemen To them I offer it in charitable loue hoping that the vertue of my honest meaning shall ennoble the poorenesse of my guift Heauie thoughtes and most iustly conceaued griefe moued me first to beginne it now it is ended I beseeche the almightie that comfort profite and contentment may betide those that shall reade it I haue and in my iudgement not without some reason adorned it with the title of the true Resolued Gentleman whose aduentures I beseech you well to note that do vouchsafe the reading heereof for euen such wilbee the course of your encountres such the ende as heere vnder the name of an other you see represented For in fine all worldly pompe Beautie magnificence and what els soeuer the world hath goodly or admirable turneth to rottennesse and corruption and Death enemie to nature equalleth scepters with mattocks and king with beggers Once againe I beseeche you accept this litle Treatise in good parte if not for the worth thereof yet for his sake Qui taunt ha suffert Who so much hath suffred La Marche This Tretise was first written in French by Sir Olyuer de la Marche in the yeere of our Lord. 1483. A briefe explanation of some
THE RESOLVED Gentleman Translated out of Spanishe into Englyshe by Lewes Lewkenor Esquier Nel piu bel vedere Cieco Imprinted at London by Richarde Watkins 1594. OMNE â—† BONVÌ„ â—† SVPERNE Maur. Kyffin to the Reader SEe heere layd open to thy sight and sence Th' Error and Terror of this wretched Life Thy many Foes the meanes for thy Defence The glorious End succeeding all this strife Learn to redeeme the precious Time heere lent thee Shunne false allurements and Courts subtilitie Resolue herein Of thine amisse repent thee So maist thou vanquish Chance and Debilitie This Allegorie shaped first in French And thence transferd into Castilian verse Conteining Rules our follies to retrench Lewknor by Metaphrase doth heere reherse Him vertue Armes and Languages adorn Hatefull reproouers he may iustly scorn Le Temps s'en va INforced cause vnfayned Loue proue both constaints in mee To raise my Muse Oh worthlesse Muse to sing the worth of thee But what I sing is that I see what I assured euer Hopes of your freends are springing stil sweete Lewes do stil perseuer And though nor Armes oh losse of Arme nor Muses now are minded Dispayre not freend men worthy know that now the time is blinded And as this perfect subiect shewes the subiect of thy minde So this pretends vnto thy frends more resteth yet behinde Thou leaust the Warres so wills thy freends leaue not the Muses name All is not lost though now likd least what left is vnto fame And rest not heere but still run on we longing are for more Great are thy guiftes yet geue vs still thou lesnests not thy store Rob. Dillington TO THE MOST HONORABLE AND VERTVOVS LADY THE LADY ANNE COVNTESSE OF WARWYCKE GReat Alexander excellent Lady in nothyng more delyghted then in the reading of warlyke discourses especially and aboue the rest with greatest affection he embraced the Iliades of Homer beholdyng therein as in a cleere looking glasse lyuely set foorth and deciphred in the person of Achilles the excellent vertues of his owne inuincible minde Traian lykewyse founde nothyng that so much pleased him as the morall preceptes and phylosophicall discourses of Plinie Neither is this affection peculiar onely to Princes but in a maner to the most part of men chiefly to delight in those discourses that to the qualitie of their humors are best agreeing In which regarde consideryng the sympathie betweene the noble vertues of your worthy minde and the most pure intentions of the Authour expressed in this Treatise I thought I coulde not to any more worthyly offer the patronage of this my poore translation entreating of a minde vertuously resolued then to your Ladyship whose pietie zeale religion and vertue haue placed you in that high seate of the worldes opinion that there is nothyng among all degrees sortes and sexes more honored nothyng more admired nothyng more applauded Accept therefore good Madame with your wonted fauour this poore Translation the greatest part of whose best substance is your owne as lyuely though vnder the shadowe of other names representyng the innated vertues of your owne noble minde I owe you many other dueties aswell in regarde of your many honorable fauours and continuall redinesse to do me good in Court since my first commyng to her Maiesties seruice as also of the infinite obligations which not onely I but also my Father and sundry of my frendes do owe vnto the memory of your noble deceassed Husbande and his most worthy and euer memorable Brother which I wyll rather endeuour alwayes to witnesse with an euer duetifull and obsequious remembrance then to endeere with any vayne circumstances of enforcing wordes And thus good Madame wyshing you happines and honor to the full measure of your vertues and mee to my wyll occasion and ablenesse to do you seruice I take in all humblenesse my leaue Your Ladyships euer most faythfully at commaundement Lewes Lewkenor To the Reader THis Treatise was first written in French by an ancient Knight of Burgundy called Olyuer de La Marche a man that both in matter of warre and peace bare great sway with Philip Duke of Burgundy and after him lykewise with Duke Charles his sonne whom in all his warres he neuer abandoned and was lastly with him at the vnfortunate battayle of Nancy in the yeere 1476. where by the Duke of Lorayne and the Swyssers he was ouerthrowen and slayne After this he had great charge and authoritie vnder his daughter the Lady Mary sole inheritrix of all the Dukes great estates and Prouinces who maryed Maximilian Archduke of Austria afterwardes elected Emperour to whom leauing two chyldren a sonne and a daughter she dyed shortly after some say of the fall from a Horse But this Authour who bestought to know the trueth sayth that it was through the inwarde conceyte of an excessiue sorow But once such was the greefe that he conceyued of her death and of the two other before named Princes vnder whom he had been brought vp that he retyred himselfe from administration of great matters to a quiet lyfe and in his solitarinesse composed this Treatise It hath been since translated into sundry Languages and among the rest by Don Hernando de Acunia into Spanysh verse and dedicated vnto the Emperour Charles the fifth whose translation I do here folow because I coulde neuer yet lyght on any of the French originals It seemeth that the Spanyarde in some places much altered the Authors meaning adding taking away according to his owne fancy and fitnes of the tyme in which he translated it as both by the sequele of this discourse appeareth as also by his Epistle to the Emperour which I haue here prefixed Some perchaunce may blame me of hauing done the Author whom I folow wrong by translating into an vneloquent barren Prose his excellent conceyte expressed in such heroicall Verse and beautified with so many fayre Tables purtraictes marueylously delighting with the varietie of the one and the sweetnesse of the other both the eare and the eye of the reader To this I answere with the confession of my fault that it is true and withall that this matter being for the most part allegoricall had in deede been farre better to haue been handled in verse Neuerthelesse I doubt not but those that do more esteeme substance then shadowes wyll lyke neuer the worse of the matter for being delyuered in a playne speach Neyther had mine Authour yf he were alyue any great cause to be angry with me seeing I haue bestowed an Englysh habite vpon him such as it is though it be no way comparable to the beautie of that wherewith he was in his owne countrey language attyred As for new fangled fickle conceyted heads that whensoeuer they reade any thing neuer go farther then the rynde my sliking of euery thing how vertuous matter soeuer it conteyne that thundreth not into their eares with a lofty tempest of words I would earnestly request them and that more in regarde of their owne
refresh me he led me into a litle Chappel exceedinglie full of beautie and euen with the very sight moouing to deuotion in which kneeling downe at my prayers I saw sundry workes of pietie and repentance curiously wrought and garnished round about with sundry examples of Reformed life all set foorth in so comelie a sort and in so liuely colours that I was euen in a maner rauished with the sight thereof if the good Hermite considering my passed trauaile and the latenesse of the nyght had not by calling me to supper withdrawen my minde from the infinitenesse of contemplation whereunto the rare vertue of these glorious sightes had mooued it As we sate at the table I coulde not withdraw mine eyes from beholding his face His age was not lothsome but florishyng in vertue and himselfe wise though not according to our common worldly conceyte yet in the deapth of that wisedome that leadeth the soule to saluation I coulde not refrayne from asking his name and withall the cause that did mooue him being so notable a man to liue retired in so solitarie a place To satisfie your demaunde quoth he You shall vnderstande that I do well know both you and your estate which did the more moue me to geue you entertainement As for me I am called Vnderstanding a name in the worlde well worthie of honour though it be of the most part wrested turned and misdeemed I haue retired my selfe vnto this place to the ende that by Gods grace and goodnesse I might leaue the wyde way of the worlde that leadeth to euerlasting perdition The bread I feede vpon is seasoned with sobrietie and the wine I drinke is watred with the pure liquor of sincere liuing That which suffiseth susteyneth me No passion enuie or dissention hath entrance into this house of mine which is called Reason Here I hope to leade the rest of my life and to ende my dayes in flying the allurementes of the fleshe and the worlde and seeking with my soule him that did with his blood redeeme it Onely the thought of sinne is bitter and greeuous vnto me from occasion of the which as I do now liue sequestred so I beseech the guyder of the heauens to encrease in me perseuerance in this life which I haue vndertaken As for your estate linage name and condition I am thereof well informed likewise of the aduenturous enquest which in this dangerous voyage of yours you haue vndertaken Neither am I ignorant of your natiue countrie the marches of Burgundie in the miserable affliction of which with warre desolation and bloodshed vnweeried fortune seemeth to take such pleasure As for your selfe seeing like a valiant Martire you haue determined to bestow your life vpon these two tyrannizing Champions whose cruell handes neuer any of your foregoers that contended with them how famous or warlike soeuer coulde escape without bodily death and dissolution I will geue you the best and most expedient aduice I can First you must know that Accident is alwayes and at all houres redy mounted and armed attended vpon with all sortes of mischiefe and pernitious engines to bereaue mortall men of their liues Debilitie helpeth him as neede requireth so that betweene them they suffer none to escape But notwithstanding all this the greatnesse of your enimies puissance and your danger yet such is the condition of mankinde and such the course and poynt whereunto you are now arriued that flie backe or retire by any meanes you may not Therefore proceede on a Gods name with a resolued courage for as the danger is great so great wilbe your glorie if you do but withstande Accident alone yea so much that you may aduance your armes and set foorth your trophees equally with the most famous conquerour that euer was And insomuch therefore that heedefulnesse and warie circumspection is the chiefest meane to the accomplishment of great thinges I will bestow vpon you a Lance so surely steeled with a head of good gouernement that if you vse it rightly and make therewith resistance at any time when Accident shall distresse you he shalbe able to do you but litle greeuance But the surest preseruatiue I can geue you is euery day in the morning when you rise to commende your selfe deuoutely and zelously vnto almighty God desiring him to be a stedfast guide to your vncertaine steppes in the transitorie course of this your wandring mortalitie and forget not to be thankefull vnto him for the many benefites which for his part so plenteously without any desart of yours he hath bestowed vpon you With these such like speache we brought supper to an ende where after hauing giuen thankes vnto God he brought mee to my chamber the bed he appointed me was of Quiet securitie euen such as I my selfe would haue desired wherin I was no soner laied but that I fell into a sound sweetnesse of sleepe and so continued till the next morning being awaked with the sound of a litle bell that roung vnto diuine seruice hearing of which I arose quicklie and comming downe did finde the Alter called Perfection couered with the Ornamentes of Trueth and a chapleine whose name was Humilitie reuested in a Pure surples of perfect charitie beginning the holie seruice which after he had ended and my Hoast finished his orizons he saluted me and demaunded what rest I had taken to which I answered as I had cause that I neuer in my life had receiued the like contentment quiet repose With that he seeming wel appaide that I had so well liked of my lodging opened a back doore which to my seeming was of Remorse the lock a cleere Loking glasse and the key Desire of knowledge within the same was a cloyster or gallerie full of strange emblemes pictures and engines to marke vnderstand the particularitie and meaning of whose diuers maners formes I was with great wonder verie heedfull and attentiue which the gentle Hermite perceyuing did of himselfe offer to explane them vnto me to the end that he might make me the better acqueinted with the seueral kindes of death-bringing instrumentes that my aduersarie Accident doth accustomablie vse First quoth he see here this culter of a plowe with this did enuious Cain guided by Accident murther his innocent brother Abel He was the first that did till and delue the ground likewise the first that in the world did commit the cruell deede of mans-slaughter See here the statelie Marble pillars which mightie Sampson pulld downe and therwith the fundation of the Philistian pallace dying himselfe contented because with his ruine did also perish those his malicious enemies that had before so insolentlie triumphed at his miserable calamitie This did hee through a noble indignation and Accident was the onely contriuer of so great a mischefe See here the burning shirt the deadlie gift of a traiterous Centaure with which Deianeira pore deceaued Ladie thinking to procure wholly vnto her selfe the loue of Hercules her famous
husband was occasion both to him and her selfe of direfull and violent deathes and Accident hereof the onely executioner See heere the cruel poniardes wherewith in the heigth of his greatnesse most glorious Caesar hauing vanquished all publique enemies was by a priuate conspiracie of his dissembled freendes stabbed murthered in the senate house Accident did strangely bring him to this tragical end as most plainely the Romane histories do make manifest See heere the fatall Box wherein faithlesse Antipater kept the virulent poison wherwith he murthered admirable Alexander king of Macedone and conquerour of the worlde See heere the great and mightie trunchon of that deathfull speare wherewith fierce Achilles slew magnanimous Hector bulwarke of Troy and terror of the Grecians This was againe the fatall bow and stedie directed arrow wherewith effeminate Paris the firebrand of his country vnmanfullie reuenging the death of his noble brother traitorously to death wounded the glorie of the Grecian armie when full of ragefull loue he nothing lesse then death suspected This was the vnhappie sworde wherewith the honorable head of great Pompey was cut off by the vniust commaundement of the periured Egiptian traitor staining therewith his owne glorie and ouerthrowing the piller wherevpon Romes greatnesse was propped See heere the enuenomed ring out of which fearelesse Hanniball tooke his last draught of deadly poyson the greatnesse of his inuincible minde choosing by his owne handes rather to die then to yeld to any the least thought of captiuitie cursing as he died the head and kingdome of the disloial Bithinian Prince for hauing violated the lawes of hospitalitie See heere the bloodie Iaueline wherewith great king Agamemnon by the wicked consent of his detestable wife was trecherouslie slaine by Aegistus Ten yeeres had he warred in Asia commaunding all the vnited forces of the Grekish princes and lastly hauing burnt and razed Troy returning victoriously home in steede of glorious reposefull happinesse with hope of which he flattered him selfe was thus by Accident requited See here the well sharpned Cimitarre which guyded by the delicate hande of faire Iudith did deuide the brisled head of sleeping Holofernes from his huge giantlie carkas Great was the ioy of this deede vnto the Israelites and great was herein the successe of Accident This is the Hammer and therewith ioyntly the Nayle wherewith vertuous Iabel ended the vnworthie life of wicked Syzara geuing therewith ioy to the people and glorie to the greatnesse of Accident These were the fatall Lances of the two young Theban Princes Polinices and Etheocles either of which through ambitious desire to raigne did bereaue the other both of life and raigne whose bodyes as while they liued did harbour deuided and disagreeing soules so did their flames after death when with pompous solemnitie they were to be burned refuse to ioyne This was the sharpe piercing dagger wherewith dissembling Ioab mortallie to death wounded credulous Abner while he helde him in his armes embraced with a cheerefull disguysed shew of gladnesse This was the well directed Stone and this the farre reaching Sling out of which the feeble hande of young Dauid guyded it to the fall and death of great and puissant Golyas who alone was a terrour to the whole Israelites This was the well imployed Halter wherein proude Aman was strangled for endeuoring with damnable entent to murther and destroy the chosen and beloued people of God whereby the vertuous Queene Hester procured great honor to Mardocheus and executed in Aman the mighty power of Accident We had not visited the fourth part of this place so many so strange and so diuerse were the instrumentes that Accident vsed to surprise mens liues withall when the good Hermite withdrew me from thence willing me not to forget but mindfully to consider of those his reliques which I had seene Being thence departed when I began with perfect iudgement to consider of the thinges which I had viewed though the strangenesse and varietie of them were somewhat delightful yet coulde I not but feele a great tendernesse and perplexitie in my minde to consider that so many great and excellent men had been by Accident so cruelly murthered and made away some euen at such instantes as the vayne frailtie of this deceauing worlde did promise vnto them a stable and firme estate in all glorie happinesse and contentment withall it was a griefe vnto me that I had not seene the rest which remayned the which in apparance was ten thousande millions of times more then that which I had seene But withall I wondred much that among so many remarkable trophees of Accidents victories I had not seene any of his companion Debilitie which my freendly Hoast perceiuing tolde me that if I did at my returne repaire vnto him he woulde likewise satisfie mee therein and make me acquainted with the wonderous puissance of Debilitie As for now he chieflie desired to prepare me against the violence of Accident as being of the two the more cruel and sodaine and then he discoursed vnto me of many great and mighty Princes that he had at vnawares surprised and murthered some tasting of delicious meates some riding and managing of proude horses some geuing audience to sutors some riding in triumph to the capitoll some by sea some by lande some by fire some by fall of houses some by thunder some by earthquakes some in dauncing some in singing yea and some fast embraced in the armes of their beloued mystres euen in the pleasingest action of their Loue. Herewith the aged Father being loth to retaine me any longer from my intended voyage with tearefull eyes embracing me recommended me vnto God willing me not to be vnmindfull of his counsails and withall requested me at my returne if I did escape with life to come visite him which promising him to do I presently put on my armour and taking the Lance of Good gouernment which he had geuen me I leapt a horsebacke and went foorth on my iorney I had not long trauailed when I entred into a vallie that did directly leade me to a plaine which in appearance seemed to be aboue measure great and spatious This plaine I speake of is called Time which though it be large farre extended yet scarcely doth the passenger come vnto it when he is alredie beyonde it and the nature thereof is such that pleasure contentment do passe through it so vnconstantly and with such swiftnesse that they leaue in celeritie the winds behinde them I was no sooner come thither but my Horse whose name as before I tolde you was Desire tooke so strongly the head that do what I could I was not able to stay him till he had brought me farre beyonde the middle of the playne where striuing to restraine his course I might espie before me a fierce Champion that seemed in guyse of skilfull warriour to bid me battaill His armour was of Trauaile
the ende of my pretences was pleased to assist me with his gracious goodnesse so that I went on the right way to accomplish my faith and promise which I had geuen vnto Age and such was the haste I made to be at my iourneys end that I found my selfe arriued in the Countrey of Feeble olde Age before I my selfe knew how There the earth trembled and euery thing seemed to be a quagmire The ayre was darke and mistie the smelles noysome the grounde barren yeelding miseries in steede of fruite and the rentes that there were gathered was griefe and anguish There groweth not any tree that beareth either fruite or flower all is full of barren briers and withered thornes There is not any meate of good taste nor herbe yeelding iuise in fine it is a destroyed parte dry fruitlesse and consumed in the which there is not any nouriture or verie litle and that mingled with care and sorow The fountaines there are of sufferance the brokes of bitternesse The Moones brightnesse and the Sunnes glistering is there obscured with darkenesse and fogs The sweetest songs accustomably vsed in this barren desert are sorowfull complaintes of time misspent and for good things passed that can not be recouered The longer a man lingreth there the lesse repose he findeth euerie thing yeeldeth griefe and Infirmitie is there enthronized as princesse and regent of the whole territorie Health hath no entrie but is thence perpetually banished comfortable mirth appeareth not being suppressed by fretting Melancholy one of the cheefest Lordes of this desert A small iourney from thence lieth an Iland of diseased infirmitie whose proper name is Decrepitude where health died making griefe and sorow his executors bequeathing vnto them all his rightes and possessions I haue not as yet bin there but I am comen so neere that the verie ayre thereof maketh al the ioyntes and members of my body to shake and tremble Iudge then what effect it will worke in him that shalbe therein landed and ariued Thence being once entred there is no departing till the soule doe free it selfe from out the encombred bodies prison aspiring to a better habitation But which of all is strangest such is the miraculous working and vigor thereof that from the extremitie of Olde Age it constreineth men againe to returne vnto the verie extremities of Childehood then the which what wonder can be greater Feeblenesse is there so strong that it taketh from Strength absolutely his beeing The eyes brightnesse being of mans life the chiefest comfort is there in such sort turned to obscuritie and dimnesse that it scarcely seeth any thing at al and yet that litle is in such imperfect dazeling maner that all the things discerned seeme to be but images of death No benefit is so great that it can yeeld soundnesse of health or comfort and euerie litle euill is so efficient that it easily becommeth mortall each litle griefe offendeth deadly without resistance as in a rendred ouerthrowen Countrey where life hath nothing but onely the name and apparance I know this Decrepite estate to be a thing fearefull vnto fleshe yet surely it is a great benefite of God by whose goodnesse the vertuous and patient bearing thereof may be a great meane to our saluation which of his endlesse mercie I beseech him that we may all obteine But to come backe to my discourse being once in this vnpleasant desert of Olde Age I coulde not finde any path gate way or issue to get out vnlesse I woulde enter into that of Decrepitude and therefore I enterteined my selfe the best that I could in that health lesse prouince in which after I had a litle romed vp and downe I espied sundry people both men and women that did busie them selues in the practise of strange and cosening sleightes some to hide and dissemble their yeeres filled vp the wrinkled furrowes of their face with payntinges some died their heades and beards with waters of their owne mingling some pulled quite out the gray heares that appeared in them thinking so to rid them selues of those hatefull messengers of decaying life But Olde Age would not consent vnto such falsenesse protesting against them that they laboured in vayne for there is no possibilitie of turning backe one iot from that degree of his acquaintance and subiection whereto they are once arriued Being once withered and decayed with Age to florishe and waxe greene againe is not graunted to any mortal creature The ende of such deuices and endeuours tendeth in fine to nothing but to filling of the Churchyardes But leauing this discourse because it breedeth melancholie Olde Age as I tell you had so entangled me that though I woulde feine haue gotten out of his iurisdiction yet coulde I not by any meanes finde any way or passage which at the first mooued me to be very heauie and sorowfull and that the rather because I saw my youth vnrecouerable and my griefe remedilesse But euen as the poore seely birde newly inclosed within the prison of his Cage doth for a time at the first sullenly lament the losse of his abridged libertie till at last seeing the bootelesnesse of his sorow he beginneth to comfort him selfe with thinking of his sweete for passed pleasures as of the delightfull trees and sweetely smelling bryers wherein he had harboured the pleasant chirping of his litle louely companions with whom he had conuersed and such his other recreations and pastimes whilest he enioyed the freedome of the fieldes and euen with those thoughts of comfort forgetteth his melancholy and falleth sweetely a singing so fareth it with me who though my present estate mooued me to heauinesse and sorow yet considering the necessitie thereof and with all my many passed youthfull pleasures I framed my minde to a contentment and so began to trauayle and searche each part and coast of the countrie through to see yf I coulde finde any part or corner therof exempted from the generall barrennesse of the rest to th'ende I myght there passe away my time with lesse griefe Hauing trauayled awhile I happened of a sodayne to espie therein a place so full of goodlinesse and riches that I could not refraine from wonder in beholding it Within the same was a lodging of inestimable worth called Good aduenture Then first began I to perceyue the falsenesse of the worldes common opinion which is that there is not in Olde age any pleasure whereas surely there is a thing called Studie in whose vertuous exercise a vicelesse Youth passed ouer doth manifest the contrary But you must vnderstand that I meane not the fond studie of vaine worldly trifles but rather that which teacheth vs to scorne and contemne the brickle and howsoeuer faire guilded yet soone defaced alurementes of this world and so to liue and die that our soule once freed from the mortall bandes of our heere-soone perishing body may through the merits of our Sauiour attaine to euerlasting blessednesse and rest This I speake of
you the best aduise I may let you with your eyes beholde the certaine euent of this most dangerous enterprise in which you are engaged And opening therewith a Posterne gate she placed me in a great immense and spatious playne called the Vniuersal Sepulcher of mankind open and discouered on euery side without eyther Rocke or Mountaine so that there was no limit nor restraint to the eye but that it might boldly and frankly throw his view so farre as the sharpenesse thereof coulde pearce or discerne and as the playne was infinite so was the number of Graues Monumentes vpon most of the which of those of the right side were Epitaphes and famous Figures of the name and being of humane creatures whom Death had swallowed and deuoured Marke now there sayd she yf you can and note vp the number of those enterred bodies who sometimes florished with such applause of the worlde in great pompe honorable estate But yf your wittes be not able to comprehende them nor no wysedome learning or retentiue able to register them then rest assured that the force of your aduersaries are mightie and to be feared for they are all the spoyles of Debilitie and Accident See there the Churchyarde of Memorie wherein you shall finde buried al those whose names are in the sacred historie of the Bible mentioned Enoch and Elyas only excepted of whom it pleased the heauenly wisedome otherwyse to dispose There shall you finde all those whose names Homers heroicall verse or Liuies maiesticall prose hath made glorious to the worlde Those that Valerius and Orosius spake off lie here all in a reckoning Olde young rich poore fayre and foule lie heere altogeather encoffined The great warriours of Babylon the learned Philosophers of Athens the vanquishing Graecians and the ouercome Troyans the Amazonian Viragos and the Romane Matrons being summoned by DEATH haue all accomplished her commandement heere their carkases do rest I saw there of Queenes and Princesses Ladyes and Gentlewomen of high degree such a number that it passed imagination of which though some had bin glorified with regall diademes some shined with admirable beautie some adorned with infinite wysedome and incomparable vertue yet had no one of them all bin able to defende her selfe against the Neuermissing Dart of Liues enemie There were Popes and parish Clarkes Cardinals and Carters Bishops and Beggers Patriarkes and Pedlers though before time in degree vnequall yet now to the woormes alike who found no difference in their flesh Their bones being confusedly put togeather of such likenes that one was not to be knowen from another Emperours and slaues Kinges and Ploughmen Lordes and vacabondes Law-giuers Louts were there all vnder Deaths clapnet None of them escaped nor euer shall thence bring newes to the worlde of the good or euyll enterteinment he there receiued Retyred Virgins new professed Nunnes and aged Abbesses vertuous Matrones and wanton Curtizanes all had there yeelded vp their lyues to Deaths commandement In fine such was the infinitnesse of the number that my eyes were weeried with viewing and my spirits dulled with meditating vpon them Of all those whose carkases I there behelde I woulde gladliest yf I knew which way entreate of those of this present age of ours But though it shoulde please God to graunt vnto me the lyfe of Mathusalaem and I shoulde in all that time do nothing els but write yet should I want space to reckon vp the number of the dead inhabitantes that this playne possessed Cruell Accident woundeth Debilitie ouerthroweth and Atropos in her forest geueth them free campe and there all humane creatures do ende their lyues For so victorious is the violent hand of Consuming Death that whatsoeuer Nature buyldeth and maketh he breaketh and dissolueth and from this lot no mortall creature is free Herewith Memorie seeing me at these tragical sightes oppressed with exceeding sadnesse with a chearefull countenance bad me not be dismayed For Feare quoth she befitteth not a noble minde but yf you will folow my aduise take with you a magnanimious resolution to die constantly and with patience and so to order your soule that it may not be subiect to a seconde death but rather be receyued into that euerlasting ioy where it shall liue eternally in glorious rest And therewith leading me into an inner mansion and enterteining me still with good and vertuous counsell I tolde her that though my cause of Feare were greater then any hope of Comfort yet in fine come what woulde I was resolued to proue the vnauoydable aduenture let lyfe or death ensue as vnto the diuine Almightinesse should be most pleasing Of which my so resolued courage she did conceiue such liking that she offered her selfe to be my guyde which I thankfully accepted and without delay she tooke her Palfrie and bad me follow her Such was the speede we made that of a sodaine before I was well aware we were arriued neere the fatall place where the cruell dreadfull combat to which I hasted was to be ended and determined At our verie arriuall I heard a great noyse and clattering of men and armour as though it had bin of some well fought Turney or warlike iusting but the sounde thereof seemed rather plaintfull and discomfortable then signifiyng any pleasant triumph Approching neerer I might see certaine great letters of Golde ingraued in a fayre register or table of Stone conteyning these following wordes Heere all vayne worldly deuises and the life of all humane Creatures maketh an ende This is the dolorous passage where the strength beautie wysedome puissance and valour of mankinde is vanquished and ouerthrowen Atropos is Ladie of this place who mainteyneth heere in garrizons two mightie Champions whose incomparable valour hath bereaued of lyfe all those that euer liued in the worlde heretofore and shall do the like with those that liue at this present Accident commonly beginneth the fight against whose sundry stratagems and strange kindes of fight no worldly strength preuayleth but yf at any time he chaunce to misse then commeth the Prince of sorow called Debilitie whose heauie comfortlesse blow no Armour of proofe withstandeth So that heere in fine all humane flesh endeth leauing to the worlde their possessions vanities pursuites and fonde desires wherein while they lyued they did set such pleasure flattering them selues with a foolish conceipt of longer enioying them But hearing a great rumor noyse within the Steccada I stayed no longer heere but got me to the listes where I found a great number of people assembled to beholde a strange dreadfull combat that was there to be tryed so that there was a great whispering and confused noyse of voyces Atropos beholding all sate aloft in a stately skaffolde queintly clothed with a garment embrodered rounde about with Putrified earth and Wormes Her gesture full of Ire and threatning and in her hande a Death-bringing Dart with which she first defieth them that least thinke of it Cruelty
amazement and feare that presently quitting the place he shal with haste repayre vnto the Pauilion of Atropos laying before her with a wylde and affrighted gesture the great danger of her selfe and her estate yf presently she did not take better order for the resistance of this puissant arriuing enemie As for me shal he say I am not able to beare the stroke of so vnresistable a force for how can I alone but feare him whom so many mightie Kings vnited and the most warlike nations of the worlde did so dreadfully redoubt This is he of whom the Destenies haue so often tolde you that with such an ouergreatnesse should commaund the worlde Great Maximilian Emperour of the Romane Monarchie shoulde serue him in his warres and to do him both honour and homage shoulde with the Englysh Rose adorne his Imperial diademe Iames the most puissant valourous King of warlike Scotlande should with the ouerthrow of his royal assembled Armie the slaughter of his innumerable Subiectes the death of his greatest Peeres the losse of al his honorable Enseignes Artillarie and Munitions and finally with his owne liues losse yeelding him at Floddon a most famous and memorable victorie satisfie his royall indignation so iustly conceyued at the disloyaltie of so neare a beloued kinsman freend The inuading French should with the feareful noyse of his onely approching name drowne them selues in the Southerne Seas Great Frauncis whom French hystoriographers and not vnworthely shoulde cal their Achilles should so feare the fortune of this inuincible Prince that he shoulde suffer him to range with his Armie ouer his Countrey vnfought withal to put sundry of his Townes to the sacke and lastly to returne victoriously vncontrolled Charles the fifth then whom since Charlemayne there neuer lyued a more worthy and heroycall Emperour though highly offended with him for his Auntes diuorsment yet should be so farre from daring to reuenge it notwithstanding the greatnesse of his Empire and many Kingdomes that he shoulde at length instantly desire his freendshyp yea and sue for it with mighty presents and great pensions to such great Lordes as shoulde in those dayes beare sway about him Charles of Burbon should receyue his wages by whose meanes the French King shoulde be taken at Pauia and afterwards agayne by the meanes and vnspeakable liberalitie of this redoubted Monarch mooued with a royall compassion should be set at libertie and restored to his regall Crowne and dignitie Pope Clement being prisoner to the Imperiallistes though afterwardes vnthankfully requiting so great a benefite should be by his meanes set at libertie and once againe enthronized But what shoulde I stande repeating these things vnto you which you your selfe so well remember were long agon by the Destinies in maner of prophecie to you vnfolded you see your selfe what he hath accomplyshed what now remayneth for him hauing by admirable Vertues and inuincible Armes drawen the worldes loue vnto him but aspiring to immortalitie to conquer death and to make him selfe Lorde of this Forest. As for my selfe I know mine owne power and finde the same farre too weake to resist so great a puissance Therefore I pray you yf you be not vtterly carelesse of my safetie and your owne seruice let Accident be commaunded to ioyne with mee and withall the vttermost of your other forces to be assembled to succour vs if neede require Atropos hereupon shall call for Accident encharging him to assist Debilitie comforting them both with this assurance that though this were the greatest and most redoubted enemie that euer they encountred yet they shoulde not feare for being mortall the high neuer-faylyng decree of Heauen had ordeyned him to death neuerthelesse she shall aduise them to arme them selues with all possible Heedefulnesse and to be circumspect in their maner of fight Heerewith being somwhat encouraged they shall arme them selues at all peeces with the surest tempered armours and the sharpest deadly weapons that the shorehouse or armorie of Atropos can yeelde them and so march into the listes though terrified in themselues yet terrible to al the world els saue onely to the dreadlesse Prince that shal encounter them And now euen like the roring Ocean against a tempest so shall the cloud-breaking noyse of his warrlike instruments approch with an vnspeakable terror when presently like the Sunne out of a cloude so gloriously from out the louing presse of his enuironing subiectes shall appeare the excellent heire of the two long diuided houses Lancaster and Yorke great Henry the eyght of England with an vnmooued Maiestie and sure resolued looke though he see all deaths forces bent vnto his ruine His Courser shalbe inuincible Courage sure footed and neuer once stumbling in this dangerous carreere but bearing him smoothly thorough without euer starting fearing or blemishing at the furious encoūter of his forcible enemie His Corslet shalbe of Fortitude gorgiously glistring in the pure brightnesse of true Nobilitie as being of excellent proofe against al outward violence so of singuler vertue in defending his royall minde from all thoughts of dishonour His Lance well iudging Foresight surely fastened to his rest of great Experience neuer therewith vnskilfully failing or vnknightly breaking a crosse but with a faire encounter still striking the honorable marke whereunto it is by his worthy minde directed His Sworde of cleere vnspotted Iustice firmely hilted in Wisdome and ensheathed in a faire scabbard of Mercie out of which he shall neuer draw it but when he shalbe by forcible necessitie therto constreined His Target of Trust onely in God vpon which he shal beare the blowes of all earthly violence His fierie crested Headpeece of high Cogitation lyned with prosperous Effect and adorned with a fayre beautiful penache of immortal Fame His Coat-armour of such and so great Renowne as neuer more coulde happen to any mortal creature His Heralde at armes shalbe vnspeakable Liberalitie which shal set such a grace vpon his other vertues and that in so loude a voyce that all the worlde shal heare him Thus honored thus armed thus adorned shal this great King enter within the compasse of the fatal lystes Vertue leading him and Glorie folowing him The eyes and hartes of al the worlde being fixed and attentiuely bent vpon the sequel of this admirable combat In fine the Heraldes hauing commaunded silence the Trumpets sounded the cruel notes of warte Accident not daring approche the rayes of so great a brightnesse shal begin the fight a farre off thinking to terrifie him with forayne Leagues and Inuasions But the King betaking him selfe to his trustie fore-remembred Lance shal with a thundring carrere so represse the violence therof that the blow in steede of harming him shal erect new Trophees to his honour Then shal he throw at the fearelesse Prince his dartes of Treason and secret Conspiracies but he vnsheathing his excellent Sworde shall turne the danger thereof aside and make frustrate the force thereof so that the smart and peryll shall returne to his enemies
Histories but obscurely touched by the Author in this Treatise which I thought fitte to annex for the greater delight of those that shall reade it especially Gentlewomen and those that are vnacquainted with such historicall discourses There are some sacred Histories which I do but brieflie touch referring the Reader for the better vnderstanding them to the holy Bible whence they are taken imagining that they are or at least ought to be familiarly knowen to all CAIN through enuie that the offering of his brother Abel was more pleasing and acceptable vnto God then his murdered him and was the first that embrewed his handes with humane blood Sampson being by Delilah entreated to tell him wherein the greatnes of his strength consisted discouered it vnto her and was by her betrayed vnto the Philistians who tooke him and put out his eyes brought him downe to Azzah bound him with fetters and made him to grinde in the prison house and when they were merrie in a banket they called him one day foorth in derision and set him betweene two Pillars which grasping in his armes he pulled downe and together with the same the Pallace burying vnder the ruines thereof himselfe and an innumerable number of the Philistians Hercules the famous Grecian begotten by Iupiter vpon Alcumena wife of Amphitrion extreamely louing the beautifull virgin Deianira daughter to Oeneus King of Calidonia comming to her fathers Court to demaunde her in mariage with the terrour of his presence caused sundrie youthful Princes that pursued her loue to desist their suite Onely K. Achelaus preferring his loue to the delicious Princesse before all death and danger whatsoeuer refused to yeelde his clayme and interest to youthfull Hercules but after scornefull wordes vpbrayding him of bastardie came to ioyne with him in Armes but being wounded ouerthrowen was constreined to yeelde and to leaue the young Ladie as a rewarde to the victorie of Hercules who rauished with extreamnesse of ioy returning with his beloued pray to his fathers Kingdome was retarded by the ouerflowing of the Riuer Euenus about the shoares of which as he walked to see if he coulde finde any Foorde or passage he met with Nessus a Centaure who bearing from the girdle vpwarde the shape of a Man and thence downwarde of an Horse was exceedingly enflamed with the loue of Deianira and with an humble dissembled looke offered so Hercules coulde make shift to swimme or passe the riuer himselfe that he would vppon his backe safely transport his Lady Hercules thankfully accepted his offer committing vnto him his fearfully trembling Lady and throwing off his quiuer and bowe to the farther side of the riuer betooke himselfe vnto the streame which hauing past and taken vp againe his bow and arrowes he heard his Lady in lamentable accent cry for helpe with whom the trayterous Centaure ran away with all possible speede but Hercules taking heedfully his leuell pursued him in such sort with an Arrow that he strake him in the chine of the backe a mortall wound which Nessus feeling in the instant of death meditating reuēge gaue vnto Deianeira the shirt which he ware bestained and infected with his owne blood which issued out of his body mingled with poyson because the arrow with which he was wounded had bin by Hercules dipped in the contagious blood of the serpent Hydra which shirte he tould her that if she should at any time send vnto her husband when he should be in loue with any other Lady would reclame his loue from the other to her alone The Lady receiued it and with secrecie many yeeres did keepe it as a iewell of rare and singular price It happened after that Hercules amid his great victories with fame of which he filled the world chaunced to beholde the admirable Iole the fairest and most goodly virgin that the world in that age affoorded Her he honored and loued and at length obteined The greefe of which so deeply wounded the gentle hart of Deianeira that neuer poore Lady liued more abandoned ouer to sorow One day it chaunced that her husbande being to doe sacrifice to Iupiter vpon the mountaine Ceneus sent vnto her his faithfull and trusty seruant Licas for certaine rich and sacred garments that of purpose he kept to were at such times as he did sacrifice vnto the gods The innocent Lady sent him those superstitious ornaments which he required and withall bethinking herselfe of the dying Centaurs gift sent him by Licas the enuenomed shirt beseeching him for her sake to weare it which he had no sooner put on but the venom so ragingly pearsed euen to his very intrals that thinking to teare it of he pulled therewith away great gobbets of his owne flesh and so furiously laying handes vpon guiltlesse Licas and tearing him to peeces bequeathing to his deare freend Philoctetes his bowe and fatall arrowes he threw himselfe into a fire which he had made vpon the mountaine Oeta and there sacrificed him selfe which Deianeira hearing after many detestations and maledictions of her selfe concluded with a violent and desperat death her miserable and hated life Iulius Caesar hauing victoriously brought vnder the yoke of the Romane empire Germanie Fraunce England Scotland and Spaine and filled the whole circuit of the world with the greatnes of his renowne demaunded by letters the Consulship suborning and brybing with money in that behalfe sundry great personages in Rome but so formidable grew the report of his ambitious greatnes to the Romaine senate that they sent him worde that if he would leaue his forces behinde and come vnarmed and peaceable to the citie they would graunt that or any other his lawful request but perticularly they commaunded him not to passe the riuer of Rubicon with his armie threatning him if he should otherwise do to holde him as an enemie to his countrie but he scornefully disdaining this commaundement of theirs and exceedingly enuying the greatnesse of Pompeis glory who bare the greatest sway and gouernment at Rome passed the Riuer with his armie and came still conquering vp into Italy the terror of whose approche wrought such astonishment in Rome that Pompie with the greatest part of the Senatours and nobilitie fledde whom Caesar after hauing taken possession of Rome pursued and finally ouerthrew at the battaile of Pharsalia and thence passed conquering into Fgipt where he subdued young Potolome the K. that rose in armes against him he placed faire Cleopatra in the royall seate with whom he liued a while in amorous delights and had by her a sonne called Casario who was afterwardes murdered by Octauian thence hauing taken order with matters of the Orient he returned in triumph to Rome where he vsed incredible liberalities to the people pardoning his greatest enemies and those that had been sharpest in warre against him yea and some of them he honored with great dignities as among others Cassius and Brutus who were both made Pretors But so vnsure is the seat of honor especially being
of Manasses decking her selfe in rich garmentes secretly issued foorth of the Towne into Holofernes Tent who allured with her beautie for she was exceeding faire gaue himselfe to mirth and much drinking so that through drunkennesse falling into a deadly sleepe Iudith being left with him in the Tent alone strengthned therein by the hand of God cut of his head with his owne Fawchion returning the same to Bethulia which thereby she deliuered from seruitude Sisera was Captaine general to Iabin the great king of Canaan and twentie yeeres together had vexed the children of Israell verie sore for he had with him 900. Charets of Iron at length being ouerthrowen by Barak the sonne of Abinoam he fledde into the house of Heber the Kenite whose wife Iaell taking a Naile of the Tent and a Hammer in her hand did smite the same into his temples and slue him After the death of Saule Dauid was annoynted King in Hebron but Abner that was Captaine of Saules hoste tooke Isbosheth the sonne of Saule and made him king ouer Israell Soone after Abner was ouer-throwen by Ioab the seruantes of Dauid who being in his flight pursued by Asahell the brother of Ioab turned backe and slew him For which occasion when Abner came afterwardes to reconcile himself with Dauid Ioab tooke him aside to the gate to speake with him peaceably and smote him vnto the hart with his dagger so that he died Goliath was a Giant in the Philistian armie of meruailous hugenesse and his weapons with which he was armed of vnspeakable terror in so much that there was no one in the armie of the Israelits that dared answere the prowd defiances and chalenges that he dayly made till at length young Dauid comming from the keeping of his Sheepe strengthned thereunto by the mightie hande of God encountred him with his Sling only into which putting a Stone which he pulled out of his bagge he smote the Giant therewith full in the forehead and ouerthrowing him with the blow stepped to him and with the Giants owne sword cut of his head Haman the Agagite standing highly in the fauour of great King Ahashuerus because Mardocheus the Iew did not reuerence vnto him when he passed by the Kings gate obteined of the King that all the Iewes through the Kings Prouinces might be put to death Which Ester the Queene vnderstanding made a banquet to the King inuiting Haman thereunto in which she pleased so the King with her behauiour and speeches that the King sent letters throughout all his Prouinces to reuoke the sentence which he had passed against the Iewes and caused Haman to be hanged vpon a paire of gallowes which he had made for Mardocheus the Iewe. A short discourse of the Princes of Burgundie and some other in honour of whom this Treatise was first written by the Author who bewayleth their Deaths but speaketh litle of their liues IOHN first of that name K. of France who was taken prisoner at the battaile of Poictiers by the Prince of Wales in the yeere 1356. had by his wife Bona daughter to the K. of Boheme foure sonnes and three daughters Charles which was King after him and fifth of that name Lewes Duke of Aniow Iohn Duke of Berrie and Philippe who being caried prisoner with him into England vpon his deliuerie returne thence he created Duke of Burgundie This Philippe maried Margaret daughter and heire to Malanus Earle of Flaunders and Arthois by whom he had three sonnes Iohn that succeeded him Anthony afterwardes Duke of Brabant and Philippe Earle of Neuers and Estamies which two younger were both slaine at the battaile of Agincourt by the Englishmen Duke Philippe died in the yeere 1404. Iohn succeded his father and maried Margaret daughter to Albert Duke of Bauiere and Earle of Hollande and Zeland by whom he had a sonne called Philippe which was he whom this Author serued This Iohn Duke of Burgundy caused Lewes Duke of Orleance to be murthered in Paris who was brother to Charles the sixth then K. of France In reuenge of which he was afterwarde slaine disloylly by the Dolphin of France at a solemne meeting appointed betwene them after othes and assurances taken of both sides at Montereau in the yeere 1419. Philippe surnamed the good Duke of Burgundy had three wiues the first was Michelet daughter to Charles the sixt king of France the second Bona daughter to Philippe of Arthois the thirde Isabelle daughter to Iohn first king of Portingale whom he maried at Bruges in the yeere 1429. and had by her Charles surnamed the Hardie The verie selfe same yeere of his mariage he instituted the noble order of knighthood of the golden Fleese which the king of Spaine his successor maynteineth yet in great reputation honour At this frst comming to the Dukedome which was about the latter end of the raigne of K. Henry the fifth he was a great fauourer and maynteiner of the English partie in France and did many notable seruices to the Crowne of England When the Duke of Bedford Vncle to king Henry the sixt was sent ouer to be Regent of France he met him in great loue at Amiens and hauing with him his two sisters he gaue the one of them in marriage to the Duke of Bedford But afterwards at the siege of Orleance they of the citie desired him to be a meane for them vnto the Duke of Bedford that the siege might be raised in regarde of the long emprisonment of their Lord the Duke of Orleance to whom the counsaile of England had promised in the meane time to leaue all and euerie part of his landes and townes vndisquieted whether it were so or no once Duke Philip dealt earnestly with the D. of Bedforde his brother in law in that behalfe but being therein absolutely refused he commaunded by a Heralde all the Gentlemen of his Countrey that were with the English men at that siege to depart thence from that time forwarde declined by litle and litle in affection and at length declared him selfe absolutely French He was a vertuous Prince and gouerned his Subiectes in great peace and quietnesse and finally in the extremitie of his age dyed in the yeere 1466. and was with great magnificence buried at Bruges in Flaunders Charles surnamed the Hardy sonne to Philip the good was borne at Dyion in the yeere 1433. he had likewise three wiues Katherine daughter to Charles the seuenth king of France Isabell daughter to Charles Duke of Burbon by whom he had the Lady Marie that inherited his dominions and lastly Margaret sister to Edward the fourth king of England He was a Prince that hated rest and was altogether enclined to vnquietnesse and warres His father yet liuing he ouerthrew in a bloody cruel fought feelde Lewes the. 11. king of France at the battaile of Montelhery in the yeere 1465. with whom making afterwards peace he warred vpon those of Lyege that had chased out
reputation then in defence of this poore Treatise whose harmlesse innocencie shalbe a sufficient shielde agaynst whatsoeuer calumniation to forbeare to censure amysse thereof for though perchaunce the basenesse of the style the shallownesse of the inuention yeelde no harmonie to delight their delicate eares yet it woulde be moderately iudged of in regarde that it conteyneth nothing but most effectual and moouing examples of great pietie laying open to our eyes the vaine and deceitfull instabilitie of this most wretched and miserable worlde and finally teacheth nothyng more then how to lyue vertuously and dye blessedly Besides it maketh honorable mention of sundy excellent Princes some of which though long agon deceassed yet such was their noblenesse and pietie that their names are styll entertayned of the worlde in all honor and reuerence Others yet lyuing who through the inestimable blessing wherewith God and nature hath adorned them are of all the worlde most worthyly honored with admirable applause As for me lyke a well mounted Cowarde in a skyrmish that relyeth more vpon the goodnes of his Horse then his owne valour So I hope the worthynesse of my Author and the zelous integritie of his discourse shall how faynt soeuer I finde myne owne desert be able to free me from the reprehension of those that are wyse and well iudgeing whom I chiefly desire to please and to whose censure I wyllyngly submit my selfe and this poore Pamphlet L. Lewk To the sacred Catholique and Imperiall Maiestie of great Caesar. I know not whether be greater the hardinesse of the Resolued Gentleman of whom this booke entreats in his combates or my presumption in dedicating it vnto your Maiestie for so small a seruice caryeth with it so great a disproportion that I feare my good intention shalbe accompted rashnesse in presenting so meane a trauayle to so high a greatnesse But two thinges did chiefly encourage mee to publish it vnder the glorious name of your Maiestie The one in respect of the conformitie of the discourse vnto your Maiesties vertues in whom aboue all the Princes of your tyme the profession and practise of true Christian and militar discipline chiefly florisheth The other of communicating vnto those of my nation these my poore paynes in translation of this Treatise which though it be lytle yet yf they do attentiuely reade and marke it they shall therein finde an excellent hydden treasure shewing in deede the very marke whereto the perfection of all vertue tendeth It was first written in French by a Gentleman of great worthynesse noble aswell in letters as in armes His intention was to discourse of the dangerous warres made vnto vs by our Senses touchyng diuers passages of age thorow which we runne or rather to speake more properly are by disorders violently caried And so vnder the figure of bodily combates he layeth the spirituall so lyuely before our eyes as cannot but draw the well-iudging Reader to great consideration of our frayle estate The translation hath not been altogeather without some hardnesse for that as the tongues are dyuers so is their style and maner of phrase exceedingly different I haue left out some thynges expressed by the Authour as being hystories peculiarly concernyng himselfe and his Countrey vtterly vnknowen and vnnecessary to vs and in their place haue inserted others of more moment and more famously knowen not onely to our owne nation but to all the worlde besides which I haue not done onely by myne owne aucthoritie but ioyntly by aduise of men of good iudgement and great skilfulnesse in eyther tongue But my intention being rather to prayse the Booke then to endeere the translation I say that it is such that both in myne and other mens iudgementes it deserueth your Maiestes protection And so with all humblenesse I kisse your Imperiall handes Your Maiesties humble seruant and subiect Don Hernando de Acun̄a THE RESOLVED GENTLEMAN IN the declining season both of the yeere and of my age trauailing farre from my natiue home countrie solitarie sorowfull all alone my thoughtfulnes did of a sodayne waken reuiue my slumbring memorie by renewing vnto her the time and historie of my passed youth and quickning my senses with a fresh and vnusuall vigor forcibly recalling my mynde to the consideration of my presente state by suggesting therevnto infinite and confused discourses of my many variable and dangerous forepassed fortunes did begin at length to argue with mee in this sort First quoth she Whosoeuer is forgetfull or carelesse of himselfe and his estate flyeth not the pitch of true honor neyther shall at any tyme see hymselfe beautified with the glorious bryghtnesse of her perfection in which miserable lethargie yf he perseuere then is his case most lamentable and vtterly desperate as not onely depriued of this worldes honor but also of that euerlasting glorie and eternall health to which blessed myndes with the winges of a vertuous industrie do aspire Seest thou not quoth she how miserable a face of thinges the now passed and gon sweete Sommer season hath left vnto vs The earth is now dispoyled of all her beautifull raymentes and glyttering ornamentes her greene and fruitefull florishing hearbes her so fayrely colored flowers and sweete odoriferous smelles are gone Both playnes and mountaynes are now depriued of all their passed pleasures hauing nothyng left them to delyght the beholders eyes but a bare and naked barrennesse The high stately Trees that lately so aloft florished all vigor and pleasing greennesse being lost haue now neyther fruite nor shadow hauing yeelded all their glorie to the nipping rigor of the colde that hath bereaued them of their fragrant humour Such as this of theirs is thy estate who hauing now ouergon the sundry degrees and seasons as the Spring Sommer and Autumne of thy age rest assured that thy Winter is at hande onely this is the difference that thou canst not be agayne renewed in this worlde as are these vegetatiue creatures for so is it by the eternall wisedome enacted that there is no going backe from that degree of age whereunto a man is once ariued It behoueth thee therefore well and wysely to ponderate with thy selfe that thou now drawest on towarde the exceeding dangerous horror of an ineuitable passage kept by an euer victorious enemie called DEATH who entertayneth in his dayly wages two myghtie and puissant Champions the one called Accident the other Debilitie the cumbate with one of which thou canst not by any meanes auoyde These two vnuanquished Champions do keepe the great forrest of Atropos agaynst all aduenturers the passage of which as it is most dangerous so is it full of horror and amazement For such is the nature of their chalenges that they neuer desist fyght tyll they see him whom they haue vndertaken conquered and dead them selues being free from death and carelesse of repose The elder of them and most terrible is Accident who with variable and vncertayne kindes of fight bereaueth for the most part the
liues of braue and lustie youthes in the prime strength of their vnmellowed yeeres yea and sometimes he sporteth himselfe in the death of olde men women and chyldren But hydeous Debilitie with inuisible blowes killeth onely those that are weake and languishyng They are so nusled in blood that their dayly exercise and practise is nothing but to murder and destroy mankinde neyther is their puissance by any pollicie to be deluded nor by any agilitie or stratageme to be auoyded This being so iudge then with thy selfe in how great degree these myghtie foes are to be feared Thou hast been long agone summoned to this battayle by Excesse their heralde at Armes and therefore the fyght being so full of perill and the matter of such importaunce I cannot but much maruell at this thy carelesse vnreadinesse especially seeing at thy very birth-day thou wert waged therunto Thou doest not exceede Sampson in inuincible strength Hercules in valorous courage Salomon in profound wysedom Tullie in powerful perswading eloquence Diomedes in vigorous vnderstanding nor Absolon in delicious beautie yet no one of these was able to resist these death-bringing Champions that euen now attende thee in the lystes The farther that the vncertayne race of thy miserable lyfe lyngreth on the nearer approcheth the houre of thy ineuitable conflict to which attende no other trumpet then the dolefull knowlling of a deadly Bell. Therefore with all instance I aduise thee to looke well about and to call well all thy wittes tegeather that thou mayst be the better prepared agaynst the hard brunt of so terrible a reckoning Herewith my thoughtfulnesse ending I awaked as it were out of a drowsie traunce or dreame thanking her in the highest degree for these her carefull admonitions and withal tolde her that for mine owne part I was redy to performe as much as to a true resolued Gentleman did appertaine and therewithall presently without delay put on my armour and lyke a Knight aduenturous passed foorth onward on my way My horses name was Desire my harnesse tempred in the water of Puissance my shielde of Hope my launce of Aduenture and my sworde of Courage In this equipage I entred into the quest of my so much renowned aduersaries at the ende of two dayes trauaile in which I had not found any aduenture worthy the wryting I came into a very greene and florishing Medowe the name whereof was Worldly pleasure The outwarde shew whereof presented vnto my senses such pleasure and delyght that rauished with contentment forgetfull of my iourney and vndertaken enterprise I euen determined to remayne there But sodainely I myght espie a galant Ruffler that came fiercely coursing along the Medow bidding me defende my selfe for without farther delay he meant to iust with me I was much moued with the roughnesse of his speach and iesture as also that he had interrupted me in the sweetenesse of those delyghtes wherein my senses were lulled a sleepe I askt hym yf he were a Gentleman and withall of what name and Countrey My name quoth he in an ill tuned harsh and queasy voyce is Ill Diet My office is to put all out of order where I come My linage is noble for Gluttonie is my mother and I am her eldest sonne I am maynteyned with ryches norished in delices and hyghly esteemed in the court of Princes Are you then quoth I eyther of these warriours that do with such vnuanquished puissance keepe the forest of vnmercifull Atropos Neyther of them quoth he but yet their great familiar friende and lyue by the same chase which they do which is by persecutyng of lyfe And therewithall he gaue me such a blow with his launce of lytle witte vpon the bosse of my guylded target that I do yet full well feele the weight of his encounter neuerthelesse pullyng my spirites vnto me with an eagre desire of reuenge with a full carrere I brake my Lance on his bosome and foorthwith we both layde handes on our swordes with which being tempered in folly we gaue one an other mightie blowes of banquettes bathings quaffings watchings wantonnesse and such lyke wherein Time the treasure of life is consumed and nothing hoorded vp but griefe and repentance When he had almost weeried me with these kindes of blowes then he let driue at me a freshe with many disorderly strokes of dauncyng running leaping playing at tennis immoderate exercise sweatyng sodayne colde takyng and other such lyke so deadly and dangerous greetings that without all doubt he had then made an ende of my daies had not a Lady called Reliquia iuuentutis commen to my succour who though in a maner tyred with often helpyng me in such lyke combates yet did in defence of my health put foorth the vttermost of her force and vertue requestyng my aduersarie to leaue the fyght and to geue me respit to see yet somewhat farther on in the worlde I am contented quoth he for the farther he runneth on in the worlde and the more trust he putteth in his owne forces the more certaine is his destruction yet before he depart because he hath behaued himselfe so stoutely with me I wyll bestow a Cappe vpon him dyed in my colours of such operation and vertue that it shall distyll a fountayne of rhewmes and humors into his eyes legges thyghes armes and ioynts so that in one part or other of his bodie while he liues go where he will he shall haue cause to remember my acquantance In geuing me which present he departed with exceeding haste leauing me extreamely turmoyled and sore in my bones with the weerinesse of this combate But my greatest griefe was that wheras in this last conflict I had beene relieued through the helpe of that litle youth that was remaining in me the same also being my chiefest comfort did now of a sodaine abandon me bidding me hereafter gouerne my selfe well for of her I neyther coulde nor shoulde receiue any farther assistance Being thus forsaken I folowed on my way desolate and comfortlesse not knowyng whither Onely my thoughtfulnesse still suggested vertue and valour vnto my minde animating me to perseuere on in this important voyage But as my mynde doubtfully wauered in sundry and diuers thoughts amidde this vncertaine way the night drawing on I might espie an aged fatherly Hermite not farre off standing before the doore of his Cell whose graue and courteous aspect encouraged me to acquaint him with my wandering vncertaine voyage and in frendly sort to entreate him of harbour for that nyght The good Hermite bade me from his hart welcome and by his countenance worde assured me that I should finde him a most freendlie and comfortable Hoste He himselfe disarmed me and bringing me into the inwarde part of his lodging did cast a warme mantle about my shoulders Me thought I did neuer beholde a man of more pleasing behauiour nor one whose conuersation did more delight me After that he had called for water to