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
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
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
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
But then twise wounded Accident enraged and betweene feare and furie desperate shall strike the triumphant King so cruel a blow with his Sworde of Distemperature that though styll remayning in courage inuicible yet shall he in his health and strength finde him selfe greatly impayred Neuerthelesse drawing the weakenesse of his body vp to the worthynesse of his mynde he shall enforce him selfe styll to mainteyne the fight tyll traytor Debilitie mercilesse like a preuayling cowarde shall while the King contendeth with Accident powre downe vpon him with all his violence so vnreliueable a blow of remedilesse Sicknesse that the neuer-before yeelding Prince shall now seeing such he knoweth to be the diuine pleasure with a quiet yet magnanimous resolution couering him selfe with his Target enrich the earth with the noble burden of his fallyng body and the heauens with his freed soule empouerishing onely the worlde whose griefe for his losse shalbe such as though the greatest pyller thereof being gone it coulde not but attende a speedie ensuing downefal and ruine But herewith as Sommons woulde haue proceeded in his wofull hystorie I feeling my very soule ouerburdened with an insupportable greatnesse of sorow entreated him to spare my alredie enough miserable eares and not to afflict them with hearing of further tragedies but yf euer he would do me pleasure then to shorten the time of my prolonged combat For alas what shoulde I miserable wretch that I am desire to lyue or wherein should life be sweete vnto me seeing the glorious lights of the worlde so soone extinguished no vertue no wysedome no loue no honour no beautie no conquest no nobilitie no goodlinesse no scepter no force no prayer being able to stay the stryking hand of vnmercifull DEATH Whereunto Sommons replying I had thought fayd he to haue reuealed vnto you two future Combats more of two great and Princely aduenturers The one of the most valourous and towardly young Prince of the worlde eldest sonne and successor to this great Englysh King The beames of whose sayre rising Sunne shall no sooner begin to glimmer in our Orizon but they shall warme the whole worlde with his loue The other of his eldest daughter lykewise succeding him in the royall Diademe who wereby Accident both soone depriued of their lyues and dispossessed of their thrones But seeing thee alredie of apprehensiue of forow and afflicted with such extremitie of passion I will forbeare to perplex thy eares with any farther griefe yet woulde not I haue thee to repine at the diuine ordinance For though the Almightie in his secrete iudgement shall thinke good to depriue the worlde of these most excellent Princes yet shal he not leaue it altogeather desconsolate and abandoned For he shal blesse the perished Princes with successors of such worthinesse that lyke true heyres as wel of the Vertues as Crownes of their predecessours they shal afresh brighten the worldes obscured face and with the goodly shyning of their wel deserued glorie returne the estate thereof into the former blisfulnesse But aboue all the rest so shall he ennoble the memorie of the late Englysh Monarch with so excellent and glorious a DAVGHTER that in her alone shalbe seene vnited all the seuerally dispersed Vertues that made so glorious the forenamed Princes in so much that all the worlde with one agreeing consent shal proclayme her to be the most admirable Princesse that euer lyued And which is a thing not of the lightest consideration but perchaunce one of the greatest wonders that euer any age hath seene In her onely shal not Fortune contende with Vertue but contrarie to her nature lyke a submisse and willing Handmayde attende vpon her noble desires constantly effecting them yea sometimes in things most rare and marueylous Likewise there shalbe so sweete a consent so fit a proportion betweene the great richesse of her minde and the fayre ornaments of her body that as the one shal atteine to the height and perfection of fortitude wisedome temperance iustice and all other diuine vertues wherewith a royall minde should be garnished so shall the other in goodly lyneamentes and beautifull features so without all degree of comparison surmount the rest of her sex that the worldes eye shal neuer more beholde a sweeter and more louely obiect as being in deede Delitiae humani Generis singular in her selfe and excellent beyonde al comparison And to make vp the full poynt of her happinesse as she shal both in rules of gouernment and vertue of gouerning serue to all Christian Princes as an excellent Paterne and example preseruing her Subiectes in a quiet estate full of reposefull blessednesse when round about her some through the tyranous exactions of their Prince and some through the vnskilful gouernment of their Prince and some through his negligent and contemptible loosenesse shall murther them selues with mutuall woundes and be torne within them selues to peeces As she I say shall by her princely care and prudent foresight maynteine her Subiectes in this calme securitie of vntroubled peace so shal they againe with so quiet and unmurmuring a course of faythful obedience loue and honour her that she if euer any Prince shalbe blessed in her Subiectes and they yf euer any Subiectes blessed in their Prince But which is strangest comming to the royal Diademe in the fayre youthful spring of her virgins yeeres she shall finde the estate of her Realme diuided in faction differing in religion and through the troubles of the late preceeding gouernement exceedingly discontented All which incōueniences being by the vnfortunate successe of the former gouernment wherein the Sworde was more employed then the Scepter styrred vp and in apparance tending to some feareful and dangerous issue she shal with the sweete breathing gale of her well tempered Mildnesse so pacifie alay and vtterly extinguish that she shal reduce her Subiectes from the deepest degree of constreyned feare to the highest pytch of faythful loue and duetiful obedience that euer Prince was honored withal Neither shall her inuincible armes in iustly vndertaken Warres abrode be lesse glorious vnto her then this her admirable Peace and iustice in ciuill gouernment at home Neyther shall be most warlike nations of Europe onely as Spayne Portugall France Scotlande and Irelande but euen the remotest regions and concealed partes of either Tropique the frozen Poles and the middle burning Zone be constreyned to bow vnto the victorious Englishe Enseignes nothing being more rife in the mouthes of men yea as well of the farthest Indians and sauage people as of the proude neighbouring nations then the name of great ELIZABETH written in the blood of those that resist and the pardoned lyues of those that yeelde of all victories the fayrest register and best enduring monument To recount vnto you the seuerall egregious victories that shee shall giue both by sea and land to the most fierce and warlike nations that then shall possesse the world were fitter for the large relation of a Chronicle then this my short
instant the valiant Hector disteyned in blood and bathing in swet was with his immoderate toyle welnigh sweltred in his Armour so that he withdrew him selfe out of the battayle and by the Riuers side disarmed him selfe to refresh his spirites and to take a litle ayre which Achilles perceyuing folowed him and at vnawares cruelly and dishonorably ran him thorow with his Lance and not yet therewith satisfied caused his body with thonges to be tied to a Horse tayle and so in derision to be thrise trayned about the walles of Troy Shortly after it fell out that either side being weerie with the dayly turmoyles of Warres agreed vpon certaine dayes of truice in which meane time it might be lawfull for the Troians to come into the Greekish Tents and the Greekes likewise to enter into Troy Among the rest Achilles entring the Towne chaunced one day to espie young Polixene daughter to K. Priam the sight of whose admirable beautie did so astonish him that laying all hostilitie apart from thence forwarde meditated on nothing but loue which Priamus and Hecuba the Parentes of the Virgin perceyuing enterteined him with hope to the end that they might with the more securitie entrap him to which his often repayre thither drawen with the violence of loue yeelded easie occasion So that one day among the rest Paris still watching his steppes slue him with an Arrow in the Temple of Apollo In reuenge of which trecherous and vnnoble acte afterwardes when Troy was taken and rased his sonne young Pyrrhus slue Priamus with his owne handes and sacrificed Polixene vpon his fathers Tombe Great Pompey after the vnfortunate battayle of Pharsalia wherein he was ouerthrowen by Caesar seeing all abandoned and lost fled out of his Campe comfortlesse and slenderly accompanied and disguysed with garments conuenable to his fortune went first to the Isle of Lesbos to see his faire and deare Cornelia who seeing her L. and Husbande that was wont to be wayted on when he went by Sea with 500. Sayle arriuing in a poore Barke and that not his owne altogeather sorowfull and vnhonored coulde not bridle the extremitie of her passion but fallyng downe at his feete with most pittifull and passionate lamentations imputing this great aduersitie of her noble Husbande to his vnhappie mariage with her did so intenerat the manly hart of Pompey that requesting her not to increase his miseries with her sorow he coulde not refrayne his eyes from bursting out into a riuer of vnused teares But seeing the speedie pursuite of his preuayling enemie gaue him no leysure long to determine he presently departed thence with his constant and most vertuous Cornelia and bended his course towardes Egipt no whit doubting but that young Ptolome the K. woulde receyue him with all courteous enterteynment and gentlenesse in regarde of the infinite fauours which he had done vnto his father Comming neare the shore he aduertised the King of his approch who was then in Pelusium with his Armie making warres against his sister Cleopatra The king was young and wholly gouerned by one Pothinus and Theodotus a Rhetorician who tolde him that the receipt of Pompey coulde not but be dangerous and that there was not any way more expedient to winne the good grace of Caesar then by bereauing Pompey of life To which vilanous and dishonorable counsell the youthfull abused King yeelded his consent and Achillas and one Septimius that had sometime serued vnder Pompey in the warres were sent to put in execution this dishonorable and bloodie decree They came vnto the galley wherein Pompey lay at ancher and pretending the coast to be full of flats and sandes and not to haue water inough for his galley they prayed him to come into their litle boat to which Pompey agreed though much in his minde amazed at this slender and honorles enterteinment Discending out of the galley he tooke leaue of his louing Cornelia with speech and gesture as it were presaging his ensuing desaster who with eyes full of teares and handes vp to heauen pursued him with her lookes till at length they were encountred with so dismall and horrible an obiect that if she had not been by the Mariners restreined she had throwen her selfe into the sea for when the boat euen now touched the brinke of the shore as Pompey reached out his hande to his seruant Philippus to helpe him to rise Septimius thrust him through the backe with a sword and then Achillas strake of his head which nowe whyte heares had made venerable throwing his body into the sea Soone after Caesar arriuing in Egipt was presented with this pitiful spectacle of Pompeys head But merciful magnanimous Caesar not enduring to beholde a sight of so great crueltie and horror turned with a wofull gesture his face watring his eyes with an infinite aboundance of teares shewing that he did abhorre both the vnnoblenesse of the deede and the barbarousnesse of the doers Achillas and Pothinus he caused presently to be slaine Theodotus fledde but fell afterwardes into the handes of M. Brutus who caused him to be put to a most cruell death and Ptolome himselfe shortly after was ouerthrowen in a battayle and slayne by the riuer of Nilus Anniball of Carthage the sonne of Amilcar noble in birth and great in puissance in his infancie was by his father made sweare vpon an altar whereon he was doing sacrifice that while he liued he should be a mortall enemie to the Romanes which he failed not to performe for after his fathers death beeing in Spaine created Captaine generall of the Carthaginian armie in the xxvi yeere of his age hee presently drewe downe his armie into Italy passing the Alpes with exceeding difficultie where he maintained warres xvi yeeres with the Romanes euen in the bowells of Italy taking from them all the plaine countrie and chasing them some times euen to the gates of Rome Besides many conflictes of lesse moment he ouerthrew them in foure famous battails at Ticine Trebia Thrasimene and Cannas sending to Carthage besides many other rich despoiles three whole bushels of rings taken frō the fingers of slaine Senatours and Romane knights For it was not lawfull for any els to weare them of gold But being in the ende called backe by the Senate of Carthage to the defence of his owne countrie he that was in Italy inuincible was in Africa fighting euen in the sight of his citie vanquished and ouerthrowen by Scipio Which brought him into such disgrace with his vnthankefull citizens who were now constrained to bow vnto the Romans yoke that fearing farther inconuenience he was constreined to flie vnto Antiochus king of Siria who newly entering into warre with the Romanes exceedingly reioyced at the happy arriuall of this famous and renowned Captaine wholy for a while vsing his aduise and counsell in all matters of greatest weight till at length abused with Romane practises and incensedby priuie whisperings of his Sirian nobilitie who grew exceedingly enuious at the familiar greatnesse
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
ouer the whole Realme that the very mechanical people abandoned ouer to sorow ceassed their trades for the space of fourtie dayes filling the ayre with pittifull cries and lamentations They had also foure daughters Isabel Ione Mary and Katherine Isabel died yong Ione was married to Philippe brother to the foresayd Lady Margaret and Katherine to Arthur prince of Wales eldest sonne to Henry the seuenth of England Queene Isabel after that by many noble and heroicall deedes she had ouer the whole world won vnto her selfe a reputation to bee one of the most vertuous and excellent princesses that euer liued in the fiue fiftieth yeere of her age ended her dayes at Medina del campo the .xxiiij. of Nouember in the yeere 1504. Twelue yeeres after died Ferdinand her Husband at a litle Vilage named Madrigalecio hard by Gaudalupe A Prince as of singular integritie and vertue so of a rare and wonderfull felicitie and happines in whatsoeuer he did vndertake Philip sonne to Maximilian and Mary being in Flaunders hearing of the death of Isabel Queene of Castile whose eldest daughter he had maried departed presently thence towards Spayne with his wyfe the Ladie Ione to take possession of the Crowne and Royaltie which at their arriuall was willingly by olde Ferdinand to them resigned Philip being now but .xxiiii. yeeres of age was with a firme constitution of body wel proportioned and beautiful and especially aboue the rest so courteous and affable in his speeches and behauiour that what with his beautie and his vertue he drue the eyes and loues of all men to him in so much that the Spanish Nobilitie and Courtiers forsaking Ferdinand who thirtie yeeres had been their King all folowed the rising sonne of young Philip so that the Court of Ferdinand was altogeather solitarie and vnfrequented no one of the Nobilitie keeping him companie saue onely the Duke of Alua who neuer did abandon him with which inconstancie of theirs he growing into an exceeding dislike and with all not pleased with his Sonne-in-lawes behauiour which by reason of whisperers that went betweene was not so kinde louing and reuerent as he expected taking with him his approued seruant the Duke of Alua he went without delay to Arragon and thence to Naples But scarsely was his backe turned when young Philip liuing in as great delitiousnesse honor and triumph as either the delight of a Crowne the pleasure of that Countrey or the dutifull loue of his Subiectes could yeelde him fell extreamely sicke of a violent hot burning Feuer of which notwithstanding the lustinesse and strength of his young floorishing yeeres he died at Burgos the .xxv. day of September in the verie yeere of his entry into Spaine Neuer Prince left behinde him a nobler issue for he had by his wife the Lady Ione two sonnes and foure daughters of which the least was adorned with a royall Diademe viz. Charles who besides his great succession of many Kingdomes and Prouinces was elected Emperour of the Romans 2. Ferdinande who after his brothers death succeeded him in the Empire and was besides created King of Hungarie 3. Leonore maried first to Emanuel King of Portugale and after in seconde mariage to Francis the French King 4. Marie maried to Lewes King of Hungarie who in a battaile against the Turkes died young and without issue 5. Katherine maried to Iohn the thirde King of Portugale and lastly Isabel maried to Christerne King of Denmarke Maximilian sonne to Fredericke the Emperour thirde of that name and Leonore daughter to Edwarde king of Portugale was in his fathers time made king of the Romanes and after his deceasse Emperour He was a Prince exceedingly well learned iust in gouernment at home and fortunate in Warre abrode He had sundry victories against Mathias Corunis King of Hungarie from whom he recouered Vienna and many other of the Prouinces of the lower Austria Likewise he recouered from the French King the Earldome of Artoys and many townes of Burgundie and ouerthrew a great Armie of his at Guignet whereby he recouered Cambray He ouerthrew harde by Regensberg in a memorable battaile a great Armie of the Bohemians that came to make warre vpon his brother in lawe Albert Duke of Bauaria He was with K. Henrie the. 8. at the siege of Terowan and receyued his wages during which siege he him selfe in honor of England ware the Rose and his men the S. Georges crosse He was an exceeding scourge vnto the Venetiās from whom when they were in the fulnesse of their glory he tooke Padwa Verona Vincentia and the greatest parte of Foro Iulio and lastly ouerthrew them in a notable battaile by Vincentia where he slue of them 5000. Taking 24. great Cannons and all their Enseignes and Standards from them In seconde mariage he tooke Blanca daughter to the Duke of Milan Finally in the. 59. yeere of his age he died in Austria some say by taking or rather mistaking a wrong Potion to preuent a sickenesse which he feared He lieth buried at Newstad in Austria 8. leagues from Vienna He left behinde him 2. children Philip whose historie you heard before and Margaret who beeing by her first husband Iohn prince of Castile left a widow was afterward maried to Philibert Duke of Sauoy It is written of Maximilian that in his sickenesse he would not suffer those that were about him to honor him with any title of dignitie but to call him simply by his name Maximilian protesting himselfe to be but a vile peece of Earth and Clay made of no better mettall then the poorest begger The last combat spoken of in this treatise is of Henrie the eyght of famous memory Whose noble and heroicall deeds being so fresh in the remembrance of all men I thinke it needlesse to make repetition of them neither if I woulde vndertake it were the labour of so high a taske in any proportion conuenient to the feeblenesse of my slender force Much lesse to speake of her Maiestie whose Princely name is lastly therein mentioned but will leaue the glorious storie of her happie reigne to those golden pennes that being dipped in the licour of the Muses may like Ariosto his siluer Swannes with a cleere flight beare vp her sacred name and in dispite of Time fasten the same to the faire pillars of Eternitie in the highest turret of the house of Fame That which I can do is to pray vnto the euerliuing Righteousnesse that as he hath with admirable goodlinesse made her shine in giftes both of body and minde aboue all the Princes of her time so he will preserue her vnto vs many long and flowrishing yeeres For so long as wee shall enioy this our precious and sacred Palladium we shall neede to feare neither the force of fierce threatning Agamemnon nor the wiles offals vndermining Sinon FINIS I haue in the margent of euerie Historie noted the names of those Authors which herein I do chiefly folow Philip de Comines in
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