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
I hope of his infinite goodnesse will there graunt rest and quietnesse to his soule which heere his body so much abhorred If warre be to be praised as an honorable exercise then great ought your sorow to be ò souldiors for the losse of such a prince whose like in that profession neuer liued any yet notwithstanding al this incomparable losse it doth not a little comfort me in that it is to the whole worlde notorious that he was not ouercome by any that were worthy of such a conquest but onely through the diuine power permission by which fortune holdeth in her handes and handleth at her pleasure all humane woorkes For the sentence permission decree and secret iudgment of the heauens farre exceedeth our science deceyueth our knowledge and maketh vaine our wisedome If a man liue in this world fortunately and possesse what so his hart desireth then the common opinion is that he is an happy man was borne in a good houre but if by aduerse fortune he afterwardes chaunce to become poore and afflicted with aduersities miseries or losse of honor then euery one crieth out that he is vnhappy that it is pitie that euer he was borne To auoyde therefore these inconueniences and vncertainties of the worlde let euery mortall creature turne him selfe with a pure and penitent minde vnto the eternall creatour of all things to whom both heauen and earth are obedient and then shall he be assured that there shalbe no errour in his course neither being ankered vppon so sure a rocke shall he neede to depende on the vaine fleeting blastes of worldly so soone deceyued opinions In fine though Accident victoriously triumphed ouer this famous Prince yet neuer in any age shall the glorie and valorous endeuours of great Charles be forgotten whose vncomparable valour and magnanimitie all nations and histories haue beautified with the surname of Hardie But now though with tearefull eyes yet shal my penne proceede and leaue the wofull storie of this worthy Duke vnto some happier writer whose muse may be glorified with so great a subiect Accident presently thirsting after a new pray put on his armour of deepe-pirceing Dispaire and with a sharp grounded Iauelin of Misfortune leapt out into the high way putting to his side a Sword of Sodaine griefe which only hath shortened the life of many worldly creatures but to make the matter more speedy his Dagger was of Secret melancholy which being ioyned to Sickenesse were able to consume a marble With this there began a musique so well accorded so variable sweete and delicious that it rauished with delight the hearers To-wardes the which as the people ioyfully flocked to know whence or from what cause the same did proceede they might beholde a Litter that approched supported by two milke-white Vnicornes of which the one was Perfect bountie and the other Sweete demeanour The riches ornament and sumptuousnesse of this Litter was such that it exceeded all estimation The Vnicornes were guyded by foure Princes the first good Fame the seconde Flower of Youth the thirde Noblenesse of Hart and the fourth Disdayne against villanie and all foure linked togeather by Reason Straight folowed a great troupe of Cauallerie and withal a companie of so choyce fayre and beautifull Ladies as though each one had bin selected and chosen out of the greatest Courtes of the worlde But now it is time to say somewhat of that royall personage that came within this sumptuous Litter though to touch rightly her perfections be farre beyond the compasse of mine or any mortall penne It was a glorious young Princesse armed at all peeces and resolued there in that passage to shew her power where she had receyued her griefe In her seeming one woulde haue deemed her to be a very Penthesilea that came to reuenge the death of Troyan Hector But cruell and vnhappie Destinie had conspired her ouerthrow Her Harnesse was of Contentment her head was armed with Vertuous Thought therwith the better to defende her selfe in this dangerous conflict Her Sworde was Desire to do well sharpe and well poynted wherewith she came determined to reuenge the wronges that had bin offered her Her Dart was of Debonairnesse and her Shielde of Faythfull vnspotted Loue neuer to be altered Her vpper garment was wrought and rounde about adorned with thousandes of vertues who finding her pure soule free from all euilles had therein made their quiet and blessed mansion This excellent Ladie as Loyaltie her Heralde at armes in loude speeches proclaymed was Marie the great and puissant Archduchesse of Austria worthie of the worldes gouernment Accident stoode all this while trembling to see so imcomparable a beautie ioyned with so vertuous a courage woondring that those many excellent rare partes and vertues shoulde be all so viuely vnited in a young Princesse of three and twentie yeeres whereas they are rare and scarce to be founde in the many setled yeeres of longer ages But Furie his trustie Counsayler seeing his amazement bade him be of good courage for the victorie shoulde assuredly be his if so be he would folow his counsell which was that he shoulde not assay her with any other weapon or stroke then onely of a deepe Hart-Sorow which the gentle temper of her wel framed minde not enduring he was assured would soone ouerthrow her Accident folowed his aduise and ashamed of his former fayntnesse with a cruell Vnkindnesse gaue her so deepe a Sorowes-wounde and thereupon a feruent Ague that the gentle Princesse loosing by degrees the perfection of her beauties though she apposed her vertues in resistance was finally vanquished and taken out of this vnworthy worlde in prime of her yeeres and beautie leauing behinde to vs nothing but griefe heauinesse and compassion though God wot bootelesse sorow and weeping teares be of small effect and moment to equall so great an occasion Thus now hath cruell Accident taken from vs our rarest iewell that precious Palladium which while Burgundie enioyed it reigned in all prosperitie and happinesse But now alas the name of that noble house is finished and Death hath taken away this excellent Lady whose glorie shall yet liue heere eternally and her soule there I hope in endelesse blisse This was shee that refreshed our languishing spirites and comforted our former distresfull calamities as Troilus did who with vertue and courage bare vppon his shoulders the burden of besieged Troy when Hector fayled And if heauen would haue graunted vs so much happinesse as to haue left vs onely her aliue we should haue bin able to haue suffered and endured whatsoeuer els could haue hapned But what I might thinke and what griefe might be mine let the compasionate Reader iudge seeing in so short a space three Princes dead whom I serued and had such cause to loue and honour I was brought vp young and nourished in their court They were alwayes my shelters against all tempestes stormes and aduersities But alas there is none now lefte to shelter me
hard and vnpenetrable temper hammered and forged by Vnpitifulnesse against which no bountie or valour is able to preuayle His Shielde shalbe of Griefe his Mace of Discomfort his Sworde of Furie and his Lance of the greatest Sorow that euer might happen to the worlde in this terrible furniture shall he come to encounter the fearelesse youthfull Defendant The vertuous Austrian Prince shal come royally accompanied vnto this dolorous passage though greatly out of season in the very florishing spring of his age and honour And surely though I must needes accomplish the commandement of Atropos my Ladie and Mistres in citing and summoning vnto this feared passage all humane creatures yet can I not dispossesse my thoughts of an infinitenesse of sorowe in that I must be constrained to be a meane of so soone shortening the life of this exellent Prince depriuing his people and subiectes of such a treasure as they shall neuer be able to recouer He shall enter the listes armed onely with his owne excellent giftes which ouer the world shal make him so renowmed and glorious But disdainefull Fortune enuiyng the worldes happinesse shall take him away in the sweetest time of his life shewing vs thereby a faire example of the vnsecure estate ficklenesse and instabiltie of all vaine worldly prosperitie His horse shalbe Frankenesse his corslet Soueraine bountie his Lance True fortitude his helmet Assabilitie his sworde Mercy yet tempered in meete proportiō of Iustice his targuet of High cogitation substancially by Reason forged perfected His heralde at armes cald Beloued of all shall with loud proclamation bidde giue place vnto this notable prince whose like for louelinesse was neuer in the worlde no not Titus Vespasian though he were called the Delices of mankinde Fierce shalbe the first encountre of these two puissant warriors But Accident fearing the daunger of Delay considering the vndaunted valour of his aduersarie shall employ euen at one instant the very vttermost of his force and therewith shal so mortally wound him with the feruent blow of a Continuall burning feuer that not able to resist so great a violence this incomparable prince shall yeeld the spoile of a glorious youth to the crueltie of victorious Death whose dayes did worthyly deserue to be without number so shall the worlde with the shining of his rare vertues be adorned But mercilesse Atropos therby to encrease the terror of her name shall cut a sunder his threed when it was not a quarter wouen filling the world with such a sorow as it neuer before had tasted But now Accident toiled with the greatnesse of these his former conquestes shal quit for this time the place and ordeine Debilitie in his steed to manteine the field telling him of a mightie arriuing King with whom he must encounter willing him by any meanes to looke wel to himselfe and to the surenesse of his armour in respect that the enemie with whom he shall haue to do shalbe second to none of the worlde in glorie of warre peace With these admonishments shal Debilitie presently come forth mounted on a horse named Helplesse giuing thereby to vnderstand that all hope of succour is vaine his armour shalbe of Griefe and his mace which vsually he accustometh to beare of languishing Weakenesse wherewith he hath subdued many millions of people his Lance shalbe continuall Ill-rest his Sworde of paynefull Disease his Target obscurely enamiled with sundry infirmities and greeuous paynes and many other sorowfull signes of increasing Sicknesse and decaying health his Coat-armour shalbe all ouer embrodered with Crownes of Kings that he hath slayne as likewyse he shall do to him that now commeth Dreadlesse of force or pollicie he shall stande brauing at the entrie of the passage when straight shall appeare great Ferdinande the king Catholique of Spayne with whom shall come a thousande memories of his great and glorius victories obscuring darkening those that in ancient histories were before accounted famous His Horse shalbe great Valour his Vamplate Felicitie eyther of both being able to keepe Aduersitie at the bay his Lance shalbe of great Gouernment firme and constant in euery change either of time or occasion his helmet of Discretion making the effects of all his actions prosperous his sword Magnanimous conquest winning him throughout the world both feare and honor his shield of great Power such as fortune with all her exorbitant excesse shall not be able to diminish his Coat-armour of Prosperous euent and his K. at armes Inuincible who shall vppon his entrie within the listes proclaime his titles kingdomes estate and name ennobled with so many triumphes victories But at the very first meeting Debilitie shall with his Lance giue him such an encounter of Il-rest that the K. shall presently finde an alteration in his health and quiet which aduantage Debilitie perceyuing shall so double vpon him fierse blowes of Encreasing sicknesse and languishing feintnesse that in fine notwithstanding his most constant godly and vertuous resolution in that dismall combat he shalbe depriued of life and his enemie honoured with the victory of one that neuer in this world before was vanquished But Fame shall wayte vpon his funeralls and with his golden Trumpet blow about the worlde his Innumerable victories and vertues Debilitie swelling in the pride of so great an atchiued conquest lifting vp his sight shal presently espie an other excellent prince roally accompanied directing his steppes towardes this passage of Terror by name Maximilian of Austria Emperour of the Occident who shall come with a secure countenance and princely resolued gesture to the fielde mounted and armed as the other fore named princes with infinite guifts of his owne naturall vertues honoured besides with many warlike Ensignes and Standardes taken from the powerfull Venecians fierce Bohemians and warlike Frenchmen But pitilesse Debilitie armed with rageful Crueltie shall soone with a dispiteous blow of remedilesse Sicknesse dimme the worldes lyght by taking away this honorable Prince whose zeale iustice and magnanimitie made him inferiour to none of the passed Emperours in greatnesse of true glorie neuer in any perpetuitie of time to be razed out of the registers of memorie The funeralles of this great Emperour who while he lyued as he did surmount al the rest of the worlde in degree so did he equall the best in vertue shalbe no sooner solemnized when of a sodayne the ayre shalbe broken with so terrible and martiall a noyse of Drummes Trumpetts and Fifes that the whole forest of Atropos shall seeme therewith to tremble and shake and Debilitie that standeth glorifiyng him selfe in the fortunate euents of these his late conflictes shalbe sodaynely astonished with a colde and chyllish feare forecasting I know not what ensuing dangers in his minde But when the heroicall warres musique shall approch neare and the wauing Stremers of banerolles appeare glittering aloft richly guylded and embrodered with Lions and Flourdelices of golde then shal he first begin to be so fully possessed with an vnacquainted
sacrament of Baptisme in your forhead that your speede cannot be but good and glorious But now seeing you wel prouided of armes defensiue I thinke it not amisse to prouide you likewise of such as may hurt offende and terrifie your enemie Ordinarily whosoeuer is chalenged may choose to fight a foote or a horsebacke as he shal for his aduantage finde fittest But so diffrent is this your fight from the nature of other Combats that it is to be fought by your selfe alone and that on foote neither if it were otherwise would I haue you trust to your Horse or to any other helpe But euen that you do do it of your selfe I meane in doing workes of Charitie and bestowing Almes for your soules health while your selfe is liuing for when you are dead small auaile will the good workes done by your heires yeelde you neither as the worlde goeth will they be greatly carefull of any such performance Alwayes prouided that for the securer passage to the place appoynted you take Baptisme whom at your birth you vowed neuer to denie for your Padrine He will yeelde you valoure courage and contentment and to your enemie terrour sadnesse and amazement such and so preheminent is the force of this excellent Sacrament Let your Casting-dart be surely steeled with a head of feruent Deuotion your Speare Remembrance of his Death that with his Blood redeemed you your Dagger with a sharpe and wel pearcing point of a pure vigorous and true catholique Faith and your Targuet of vertuous Example witnessed by good Workes And seeing you want now nothing but a Sworde let the same be of Iustice keene and wel edged doing vnto others as you woulde be done vnto your selfe But especially and aboue all looke as I said that these your Harnesse and Weapons be without delay yea without the losse of one moment tempered by true and wel grounded Repentance who for such a conflict is of all others an armourer most excellent Stande not vpon Inconueniences nor be not pulled backe with Worldly lets nor terrified with Charges but be diligent and looke well about you it is no matter of mine it concerneth yourselfe neither is there any freende or kinsman in the worlde how deere soeuer vnto you that will or may fight this Combat for you Good father quoth I I hartely thanke you for these your so louing and zelous aduertisments which haue alredy taken so deepe an impression in my minde that I hope through Gods goodnesse I shalbe able in some part to execute and performe them Yet because there must be a preparation and meane while betweene this the time of my Combat I pray you tell me how I shoulde behaue and exercise my selfe to be the better able to withstande the dreadfull approche of my Death-bringing enemie Nay quoth he whether there shalbe any meane while or time of preparation giuen you that onely knoweth the Diuine prouidence For you may chaunce to be sommoned euen while you are now speaking Therefore I wish you not to be vnresolute or long in preparing but to put your selfe presently in redinesse seeing the thing that by delay you do put in hazarde is no lesse then the eternall weale or woe of your soule which is either to be glorified with blisfull and euer-during ioyes or els to be condemned to the ragefull neuer-ceasing tormentes of hell fire Woebe vnto them that making hereof but a skoffe and iest do hazarde so great a treasure as their soule vpon so hard a iumpe as to delay preparation in so important a matter especially the time and sodainnesse thereof being so vncertaine Yet if it so fall out that there be any space of preparation or amendement which the goodnesse of the heauens graunt you I would haue you to spende the same in vertuous exercise and practise of your fore-described weapons Adioyne vnto them the often vse of feruent Prayer not onely with an outward wagging of your lippes but also with an inwarde weeping of your hart Rise earely in the morning least the nights darknesse at vnawares ouertake you Stop as neare as you can your fiue sensual powers from hearing seeing touching tasting or consenting to any Wickednesse fraile sensualitie or blasphemous impietie Slumber not drowsilie in Sinne but watchfully arise by true Contrition and vnfeigned Repentance As your appetite so let your tongue be temperately vsed Besides for the better enabling of your body against the endurance of fight I woulde haue you still be wrestling and skirmishing against such Champions as haue the chiefest fame for strength and power such are Pride Enuie Gluttonie Couetousnesse Slouth Anger and Sensualitie which doing and keeping your body cleane in breath with the sober diet of a vertuous and harmeles Life doubt not but cheerefully go on to the Combat for by Gods grace howsoeuer if fareth with your bodily life your better part shall triumph in glorious victorie and in despite of raging Lucifer and all his adherents purchase eternall saluation If there be any warde or poynt of defence that you doubt off repaire vnto some godly Father reuerend Priest of Christ his Church and he will sufficiently aduise you for such are the Maisters of Fence whose counsayle in these cases you must vse Good Father quoth I I finde great consolation in your speeches but now you haue tolde me what maner of Armes I must vse and what exercise I shoulde enterteine my selfe withall till the time of my Combat I pray you tell me yet a litle more how I shall behaue my selfe when I come to the paynefull poynt within the List or Barrier You haue not made this demaunde quoth he without great cause and reason for in deede such shalbe in that perilous conflict the trouble of your senses and terrour of your enemie conspiring all his wilinesse and force to your ouerthrow that it wilbe hard for you to retayne a constant behauiour especially seeing your selfe frustrated of all worldly helpe No one of your tendrest harted frendes will excuse you nor helpe to fight on your side yea perchance your parentes children and neerest freendes shall not at such disaduantage may you be taken be present to be vnto you witnesses of combat or meanes of comfort Therefore reposing no trust or confidence in any other helpe or assistance flie onely vnto GOD with a fast and feruent Fayth imploring his grace through the precious death and blessed merites of his onely Sonne our Sauiour with the contemplatiue meditation of whose holy crosse and bitter passion yf you do fortifie your hart and senses be assured that you shall therewith easily daunt and confounde your enemie Alwayes desire of God to geue you firme stablenesse in Fayth whose assistance being ioyned with mine I trust that in strength we shalbe able to vpholde you But withall for your greater securitie and repose I woulde haue you take with you a resting seate of Satisfaction which is in making Restitution and doing Right to whom
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
is the marshall of her field Her K. at armes Wilfulnesse his coate armour of Vnrespect her chauncelor Instability and his diuine Let no man trust The lystes are of Sorowes enclosed with Heauinesse her pauilion of Clamours her banners and streamers there wauing all of Plaints and Wailings her neerest attendants are Bitternesse Despite and Villanie On the defendants side was his pauilion embrodered round about with Heroicall bounty High valour and beautified with infinite streaming banerolls and flags of Honor his King at armes was Welbeloued the paynting of his bawdricke and coate armour was all garnished with Vertuous prowesse crowned with True Nobility Wilfulnesse in his Ladies name proclamed Silence cōmanding vpon peine of great penalties that none should with any good or euill signe or with any other meanes assist either of the combatters And after proclamation seeing generall silence commaunded the champions to begin the fight and to shew their force Debilitie first entred bringing with him two mightie sharply steeled weapons the one of Persecution the other of a Remedilesse consumption His vpper garment or coate-armour had figured in it the Carkas of a dead Man miserably pined away bare and without flesh hanging only togeather by the bones yeelding a sight full of ghastfulnesse and horror On the other side came foorth a most honorable Defendant beautified with the glorious armes of Burgundie Honour both wayted vpon him and was his guyde This was the most excellent Prince of great and famous memorie so highly for his vertues honored and loued Philip of Burgundie of all our Westerne worlde the greatest Duke his right hande was armed with a Lance of Stayed aduice The fayre enameled bosse of his guylded Target represented the Great prayse the many Freendes and powerfull dominions that he possessed Nothing was about him but witnessed Trueth Bounty Constancie and Courage And finally his Mace was of Firmenesse against all aduersities Debilitie was neuer at any time fuller of feare then now at the constant behauiour of this gallant enemie and therefore threw at him a farre off a dart headed with so Manie troubles that it had bin able to haue daunted and ouerthrowen the greatest courage liuing But the gentle Duke opposed him selfe with so Quiet Vnblemished a minde that it made in him no breach at all rather did he with his Lance of whose temper I tolde you before geue his enemie so vertuous an encounter that he made him to stagger Each of them shewed the vttermost of his valour striuing in this hard and cruel combat whether of them should be superior Debilitie let flie at the Duke with his Pollax of Persecution the Duke betoke him selfe to his Mace of Firmenesse and so auoyded the blow So that as the fight was fierce and vehement so was it in a maner doubtfull betweene them Memorie seemed to hope that the Duke should escape victorious But the Destinies were against it and the Eternall ordinance of the Almightie For in the ende Debilitie thrust the noble Duke into the Lungs with a deadly Consumption assayling him besides with many a fierce blow of other infirmities so that though he were him selfe exceedingly weeried and foyled yet farre greater was the Defendants extremitie of whom to make a finall ende gathering togeather all his force he strake with so violent a Catarre that downe fell the magnanimous Duke breathlesse and with him the glorie of our age Atropos in so heauie a case all the hartes of the beholders els throbbing and their eyes weeping made no other reckoning then as it were a Maygame ful of laughter and scorne no whit at all respecting his great honor estate and alliance nor the worldes generall sorow for the losse of so excellent a Prince The Heralds at armes laide ouer the dead bodie a rich embrodered Herse garnished rounde about with workes of Glorie and thence conueyed the same vnto the noble Mansion of Memorie where with sacred Obits and sumptuous Funeralls it was most solemnly enterred as for his blessed soule I trust in Gods mercie that it is now glorified with celestiall ioyes free from hauing hence foorth any more to do eyther with Debilitie or Accident Scarce were these mournefull Obsequies ended when we might heare a new rumor and noyse of two freshly arriued Champions The first was Accident who in terrible gesture presented himselfe armed and fierce on horsebacke in the fielde His Horse was caparasoned with Arrogance neuer tempered his Lance of Vnhappinesse his Harnesse of Ire his Sword with which he hath ouerthrowen millions of men of Ouerweening boldnesse and his Mace with which he vsually ouerturns those that are in best liking with themselues of Fortune Out comes against him like Mars or Hercules enraged great Charles of Burgundie the most feared aduenturous Prince that liued in his age who alwayes made Reason attende vpon his Wil which yet neuer was vnuertuous though to him selfe some times domageable His Courser was Fiersenesse euerie peece of his Armour tempered in True courage his Lance of High endeuour his Sworde of Mindes greatnesse and his Dagger of Incredible munificense And surely yf we will rightly iudge of this worthy Prince there was not any vertue that he had not in perfection neither was there any vice with which the nobilitie of his minde was spotted vnlesse selfewill and ouer-greatnesse of courage be to be called vice Where this feelde was fought was neither tent nor pauilion but only shrubbes brushes The encounter began with great clashing and noyse of armour Great was the furie of either Champion and great the fiersenesse of their first onset either of them deadly and despitefully desiring the destruction of the other Accident like a tempest or whirlewinde with such vnresistable puissance so encountred the Duke three times that he ouerthrew him to the ground and yet vndid him not for still in his greatest disgrace vndismayed he made head againe with greater and more reuengefull resolution then before Yet such was the hurt of these vnfortunate encounters that not only the Duke but his whole house estate countrey was thereby greatly weakoned But now was the fight growen to that heate of furie betweene them that it amazed the beholders The Duke being full of magnanimous wrath resolued to die or to be victorious spared no meanes or wayes he might to greeue his aduersarie who strake him a mightie blow with his Pollax of Conspiracie geuen him by Fortune therewith to ende the lyfe of him whom manly and equall vertue neuer coulde haue vanquished Yet still the fearelesse Duke mainteined valiantly the place though Fortune and all the worlde els had forsaken him till at last Accident with vnworthy handes doubling a downright blow vpon him bare him for whom the earth while he liued was too litle slaine and sencelesse to the earth who as all his life time he had bin great and incomparable so was his valorous ending euen to his hatefullest enemies admirable God