this rashnesse of many dyd the gouernement of the hastie Chiefetayne augmeÌ„t who had brought nothing into the field besides approued fidelitie and the name of his renowmed house for he reproouing those that were set to followe warie counsels and not all vpon lustinesse and honor sayde What my maisters neither are the Frenchmen now adayes those auntiente Heroes whome Fraunce for their miraculous strength of body hathe celebrated in their sabulous Poemes neyther are we altogither women armed and garnished after thys manlike guise so that we must doubt to set vpon and ouercome these Barbarians walking with drunken traine as soone as euer we sée them And immediately after he had thus said he commanded Proclamation to be made that euery man shoulde make hymselfe readie and bridle his Horse and after the third watche all the army issued out of Eboli Persiue and the Prince of Besignano hadde passed ouer the riuer of Cochile by a bridge anone after the breake of the day and marched towards Salerno but when they saw theyr enimies they retired backe aboue thrée furlongs that they myghte raunge their battels in a more indifferent place and there layde their left side close vnto a mightie woâ—â—â— that adâ—â—yneth with the open fieldes that their small army might not be enclosed round aboute by the multitude of their enimies for they were scarce one thousand Switzers who being backed with eight hundred Calabrian footemen made a square batallion and close to the side of the footemen stoode the Horsemen being of Frenchmen and Italians of all sortes a thousand But the Earle of Matalone following the olde order which hath oftentimes destroyed the Italians deuided his army into fyue battels the which were stretched forth in leÌ„gth from the middle battell with equall front like vnto direct wings In the middle battell was he himselfe and Lucas Stabello flanked on the left hand with a thousand Spanyards and on the ryght with thrée thousand Italian footemen But in the vttermost wings were on the one side Venanzi the Duke of Camerino and on the other Hierome de Tutauilla the Earle of Sarno with eyther of them their companyes of Horsemen for thys purpose that as soone as euer the Earle of Matalone shoulde charge the Switzers on the front with his footemen and the French Horsemen with his Horsemen Venanzi shoulde euen then get betwéene the Frenchmen and the wodde with his Horsemen and the Spanyardes and on that side valiantly inuade them and at the very same tyme the left wing should be ledde by Tutauilla vpon the side and backe of the enimie the reason of this deuise was not absurde if that the heartes of the Souldiers and the mouings and goings of the battels whome fortune maketh subiect vnto a thousand chaunces did fully aunswere vnto the counsels and commaundementes of the Captaynes as it then happened For besides that the Arragoman battels were vnwisely placed full against the beames of the Sunne rising whyche did very much dazell their sight yet they séemed also to be vnaduisedly raunged for that the raunges standing a small distance one from an other had neyther strength ynough to abide the shocke neyther yet had euery ranke space ynough lest to turne about their front if néede should be but that one should be encounbered and disordred by an other but that whiche was a greate detriment and iâ— warfare vtterly to be detested the Sâ—â—â—lâ—yers being ouerlustie and cranke as freshe water Souldioâ—â—s commonly are and hauyng neyther learned to be obedyent 〈◊〉 to fighte well discharged neyther duetie of discipline For as soone as euer the great ordinance was shot off farre from them certaine of the Horsemen lustie and braue Gentlemen that they mighte intercept from the rest of their fellowes the honor of approoued prowesse without commandemeÌ„t charging their staues did out of aray one after another runne their Horses vpon their enimies whose charge when the Frenche Horsemen had receiued with the strong front of their vnshaken battell many of them being broched vpoÌ„ their enimies launces cast off from their Horses were slayne all the rest incontinently ranne their Horses backe agayne amaine lighting vpoÌ„ the Spanish footemen disordred their battell and draue them vpon Venanzi his wing of Horsemen in suche sorte that they not onely brake the rankes of the Horsmen but also threw them downe to the grouÌ„d Besides at that very instant the Arragonian footemen running apace gaue with like rashnesse the onset on the Switzers for when some of them bearing Targets hadde hurled their iauelins they drewe their swordes and other bare eyther boarespeares wyth eares or rhompheyes with an hooked head of iron that would cut on both sides they coulde not come vnto the body of the Switzers squadron for their long pykes and therewithall followed suche a change of courage that they whiche euen now ranne forthe wyth singular fiercenesse and surpassing chéerefulnesse incoÌ„tinently turned fearefully backe namely when that their Horsemen ranne in among them Persiue being astonied at the miracle of so great a chaunce that he mighte not fayle vnto Fortune who vehemently fauored him contrarye to hope did valiaÌ„tly set forward couragiously running ouer the heapes of men and Horses falling downe did within the space of halfe an houre which is almost incredible quite ouerthrowe the power of his enimies and that almost without anye wounde of hys owne Souldyers welnéere all the Italian footemen were slayne by the Switzers and with them also a band whiche hadde bin leuied at Naples of the Ruffians and cutters of passing hardinesse there also perished valiauntly fyghtyng whén the rest turned their backes these stoute petito Capthynes Henry a Gentleman of Consieâ— Lewes Sqâ—arcia and Vincent Capeâ—â— The thicke woddes through the whiche the armed could 〈◊〉 easily goâ— defended the Spanyards and light and nimble fellowes withoute armoure But the Earle of Matalone and the rest of the Captaines hauing lost many of the Horsemen shamefully fledde vnto Eboli But when they were hardly receiued in at the gate and the french Horsemen pressed at their backes Venanzi a man of a constant conrage stoutely susteyning the inuasions of the enimie in the hindermost tayle and fighting valiantly was there slayne Furthermore the rest of the Horsemen being in number almost thrée hundreth fetching a compasse thorough very yll wayes came flynging vnto the foregate of the towne but the townesmeÌ„ were so amazed with feare that no maÌ„ would suffer the gate to be opened nor was moued with the daunger of their friendes holding vppe their suppliant hands vnto the walles to saue their liues But as the Frenche had become victors through the vnskilfulnesse and cowardise of theyr enimies so through their fatall slouth knewe they not how fully to vse the victory For Persiue lost the occasion offered to destroy the Horsemen perhappes bycause not surueyng round about the vtter â—iâ—châ—s the situation of the towne he brought his power only â—nto the broade gréene that lay before the towne wondering
gastlye hemmyng and withall stricken at by manye menne at once was soone slayne and a common souldiour as it were for a triumphe â–ª helde vppe alofte his cut off hande with his bracelette and ryngs and then the Emperialles giuing a great shoute ranne forth couragiouslye But whylest that the two battallions made one towardes the other Pescara was betwéene them on horsebacke but in a footemans armour often desiring Frondesberg to amend his pace and rehersing the battels before time in whome his prowes had bene séene inkindled him to wynne a victorie of all other most noble and most worthie of memorie So when both battalions ranne togyther and Pescara galloped his horse on the enimies he was wounded in the face which was bare and afterwarde his horse being slayne vnder him he was also thrust through the left legge with a Pyke In this terrible clashing togither of weapons he had doutblesse bene oppressed by the Pykes both of his enimies and his friendes vnlesse that nowe at this pynche â–ª when he coulde hardly wrastle out himselfe first an horseman of his owne housholde and afterwarde the petie Captaynes and Ensigne bearers that were neare at hande had not with much adoe got him out and saued him In the meane tyme Frondesberg and Sitch stretching out in length their battalions on both sides with wonderfull skill for to enclose their enimies receiued them as it were into their bosome and then streyghtway clasped togither their wings compassing them in rounde and fiue them all who resisted verye manfully and constantlye so that one regiment fighting with thrée and therefore repugning with vnhappy valor almost no man of the blacke regiment escaped There perished besides Longomantes Richarde de la Pole surnamed the white Rose sonne vnto the Duke of Suffolke who for his honorable birth being descended of the bloude royall of Englande and his great skill in Martiall affayres had bene made Captayne of the blacke regiment Also Francis brother vnto Anthonie Duke of Loraine a yong Gentleman of passing prowes who being notorious for his armor and crest had requested a place in the foremost rank before all other men and also two Almaines Earles of Hortumberg and Closfen famous men of warre and Theodoricke Sconberg knight brother vnto Nicolas the Bishop of Compagna and one also of great fame for his honor of Ambassades in whiche he had bene often sent for the industrie of his excellent witte Thus whilest the Switzers are put to flight in one quarter and the Almaines slayne in another almost at the verye same time the Kings battell is broken by the Harquebusiers and the horsmen to whome also came the Pykemen But then euery notable Captayne and notorious horseman runnes to defende and saue the king Manye for desire to doe their last seruiâ—e in the sight of the King do forsake their appoynted places and wards Nowe whiles that Salice his horse being slayne vnder him doth hardly retire vnto the Switzers he being laden with yeares and armour is intercepted by the horsemen But being yéelded vnto Gastaldo Vsurtes a Spaniard enuying that the horsemen should haue the raunsome and pryse of so great a prisoner did set his Harquebusse to his brest and flue him And also Tremouille an olde Captayne that had wonne manye noble victories is also shot through in two places and slayne Moreouer Galeazo Sanseuerino galloping his horse this way and that way with singular cunning repelleth the enimies and fighteth valiantly but at length being slayne in the Kings sight payde that by honourable ende of lyfe which he owed vnto the Kings great fauour towards him and the fame of his noble name â–ª When his horse fell downe vnder him he calling vnto VVillyam Lorde Langey a noble Gentleman who endeuoured to helpe him in his fatall fall sayde Sonne let me take my fortune and runne backe as fast as you can to defende the King and if you doe escape frendly reuerence the memory of my name and honorable end It was a battell of all other most deadlye and aduerse for the horsemen for the deadly bullets were shotte from all partes by the nymble Spaniardes who were spred rounde about them and nowe they vsed not such small péeces as they had done a little before but greater whome they called Arcubusses with whoÌ„ they woulde stryke through not onely a man of armes but oftentimes two men and two horses at a shot so that the field being strewed ouer with the miserable lying along of the noble horsemen and the heapes of the dying horses did both hinder the valor of the horsemen if that they would endeuour to break in with thicke troupe and also if that anye man accounted his lyfe dearer than his honor he coulde not cedily and spéedily flée for the heapes of the stayne that lay euery foote in his way lyke vnto great rampires In this cursed state VVilliam Lord Boniuat the Admirall after he had long galloped to and fro endeuouring by adhortation to staye the Switzers and also the horsemen that were readie to flée séeing at length that the battayle was doubtlesse lost neyther woulde he eyther to be punished or to liue in ignomie suruiue so great an ouerthrowe wherof he him selfe was reported to be chiefest author with graue and obstinate shame ranne into the middes of the enimies and offering his throate vnto their weapons poyntes was slayne there as he â—â—ade with open face after the maner of the Captaines that gallop to and fro and commaunde the souldiours what is to be done But when the king was bared almost of all the companies that were appoynted to garde his bodie and so many had bene slayne rounde about him and the rest had scattered themselues abroade into all partes he laboured to get himselfe out from his enimies but certaine horsemen of sundrie companies being mingled togither followed him as one that was richlye appointed and apparailed Neyther doth the king forsake him selfe although he were forsaken by his horse and fortune but turning his horse this waye and that defendeth himselfe with his sworde against the infulting Emperialles and both giuing and taking woundes doth valiantly repugne But while hée stryueth to go vnto the next bridge which went ouer a small water course his horse was thrust in â–ª and fell downe The first men that came vnto him lying vnder his horse were Didaco de Abila and Iohn Orbieta a Biscaian they not well knowing him did shake their swordes ouer him and willed him to yéelde vnlesse that he had rather be slayne In the meane time came Monsieur de la Motte a Frenchman Lieutenaunte vnto Burbon who knewe him by the face although it were fowly embrued all ouer with the gore bloude of his wounde But when Motte adhorted him to yéelde vnto Burbon who was not farre off the king chafing at the name of the traitor and speaking as though he commaunded sayde Call me hither Lanoy Who in the meane time that Motte galloped vnto Burbon being sought for in euery
long before had Lanoy come whole vntouched with his horsemen but anon after the sunne was set the Marques came thither wounded a little aboue the knée with an harquebusse shotte that went through his stéele saddle as also his helmet was battered with the many blowes of horsemens Malles but bicause he wore not at that time the Ensignes of a Generall as he was wont to doe but onelye a blacke and meane cassocke he was not knowne of his enimies and so defending himselfe with his sworde got out of this bloudy broyle But the cause why that the French horsmen did not set vpon nor pursue the Italians we learned was this They hauing lost Termes their Captaine and also being dispersed had turned themselues to oppresse the right wing of their ennimies For when the Spaniardes Seisneches and Lansquenettes that had defeated the Gruers and hadde pursued them farre returned ioyfull of their valiaunt seruice and were ignoraunt of the discomfiture of their fellowes they being sodenly amased with the sight of that slaughter and also being in suspence what to doe lighted on the victor Frenchmen by whom being enclosed as in a pownde the horsemen enuironing them rounde were taken prisoners almost without wounde bicause the valiaunt nien thoughte it better in this desperate state to yéelde to fortune than to repugne with foolishe deadly pertinacie There yéelded Raimonde of Cardonna the Campe maister sonne vnto that Raimonde whiche was Generall at the battell of Rauenna and with him Captaines of greate marke Iohn Beamont Lewes Châ—xada Consalres Hernandes and Cheuedes But the Baron Seisnech getting on horse escaped the daunger and Charles Gonzaga when he sawe the horsemen shamefully flée that he might not be attainted with the like dishonour brake in among the French men and being hurled off from his horse was taken prisoner And also Hercules Martinenge borne of a noble house at Bressa being incensed with the selfe same shame but wyth harder lot of honorable attempt lustilye thrust into the thicke battell of his enimies with his cornet as it became one brought vp by Guasto where he was slaine with his brother Attilio They report that there was stayne xij M. of whom farre the most were Almaines And whereas there was in the fielde almost with equall number on both sides aboue xl M. footemen the victorie happened not vnto the Frenchmen altogither without bloude namely séeing that their left wing was defeated put to flight and diuers of the French nobilitie slayne I hearde afterwarde the Marques himselfe saye that he had neuer thought but that he should haue susteyned and defeated the force of the Frenche horsemen which was otherwise to be feared by his bacquebusiers as it had happened at the battell of Pauie and also he did ouermatch the enimies their footemen in strength of thicke Esquadron The fruite of this victorie was nothing else but the winning of Carignano ¶ The Battell of Scriuia in Lumbardie betvveene the Prince of Salerne Generall for Charles the Emperour and Peter Strozzi Chieftaine for Francis the French king in Anno. 1544. Out of Iouius WHen that the Duke of Anghieu had giuen the Marques of Guasto that famons ouerthrowe at Ceresoles the French king deuouring in hope the Duchie of Milan began to reenforce Anghiers power and for that intent sent Peter Strozzi a banished man of Florence into Italie for to take oppe souldiours the which he did with great spéede hyring about Mirandula seauen thousande Italians with his owne money with whom also ioyned Martinengo a noble man of Bressa with his company of horsemen and also Francis Orsins the earle of Petilia is banished men of Naples the duke of Somma the prince of Capazzi who had leuied power in the Romane territorie But when that Strozzi woulde haue passed the Po the Marques of Guasto who had gathered togither a power shewed himselfe on the other side of the riuer readie to impeache his passage also sent the prince of Salerne with the greater part of his power to take the straites of the mountaine Apenine that he might not passe that way neyther Whereby he was forced to séeke safetie by retiring back ouer the painful mouÌ„tains But with in iij. days the Prince Strozzi were in sight one of thother at the riuer of Scriuia begaÌ„ streightway to skirmish But wheÌ„ Strozzi for feare of the princes horsmen passed ouer the riuer withdrew himself to the vineyards that stood on the hanger of an hil certain of the Princes bands of footemen tooke a hill nere vnto theÌ„ The which the Strozzians coulde not abide but did set vpon them so fiercely that they put them to flighte and forced them to léese their enfignes and also to forsake their two péeces of ordinance Then Strozzi being very ioyfull of this good successe as though he had séene victorie nowe comming towardes him by the adhortation of Mathewe a Captaine more aduenturous than skilfull could not kéepe in himselfe but brake forth out of the vineyards and cried victorie victorie and sent vnto the Captaines of Petilians regiment for he himselfe being grieuouslye hurt by chaunce in the legge stayed at Placentia for to followe with spéedie pace with the rerewarde and to be present at the victorie begun Petilians bandes who were not ruled by one man but many and were obedient not vnto the skilfullest Captaines but the noble men of greatest honor as soone as they hearde the crie of victorie coulde not be kept in although that Somma and Capezza commaunded them to marche vnto the vineyardes in a thicke Esquadron but that they ranne forth with loosed rankes and by their thin araye gaue occasion vnto the horsmen of the ennimies to breake forth to the which occasion Salerne fayled not rating the horsemen who a whyle lingering with infamous slouth woulde neyther runne their horses lustily as though they were wearie nor couragiously charge the Esquadron When sayde he will ye thinke that the ignomie lately taken at Ceresolos must be wyped awaye by some valiant facte if that ye doe not nowe charge ouerthwharte the side of this thinne Esquadron of the wearye ennimie marching with loosed rankes The horsemen blushed and immediatly gaue a couragious charge on the enimie Bartholomewe Grece the Lieutemant of Beleons companie being the first that brake forth the yll closed battallion of the enimies was broken through and at length the horsemen charging on all parts and the footemen following all the Switzers were fouly defeated and scattered wyth this euent that few being slain all were almost taken vnhurt the memorie of the vnbloudy warres of our fathers being renued For the Italians did curteously spare them that yeelded being coÌ„tented with the spoyle Neyther were the Almaines and Spaniardes present whose cruell handes reioyeing in slaughter fewe had escaped And also with good lot the two Neapolitane banished Princes Somma and Capezza who were in assured daunger of death were let go when that euery souldiour thought that the
confesse and affirme this one thing that we shal deale with an army of fresh water Souldiers and of Omnigatherum for the greatest part of those Horsemen whom we sée glistering in their crestes and armoure haue neuer put on armour before but at a pomp when that armes were mustered and in sporting fightes and shewes nor euer heard sound of Trumpet for indéede there haue bin no warres in Italy these many yeares nor no iust and bloudy battell foughten but the footemen will not only not susteyne the force of the Almayne Esquadron but being inferiour both in armour weapons and courage will not abide so much as the sight of them comming vpon them with so great order and array Then there remayneth that we do greately feare the artes and suttle policies of some olde beaten Chiefetaine Alas what ambushe will he lay or with what array will he bring forth his army through the incommondious fordes of the rough riuer to inuade vs marching in array of battell a springall Chiefetayne that neuer sawe Campe of Souldyers besydes this of hys owne wherevnto he is preferred rather for the title of his name than for merite of tryed prowesse Therefore mine opinion is inuincible Kyng that we marche on still forwarde as we haue begun and your maiestie shall doe well if that you do adhort the Souldyers not to doubt of the euent of the battell and to contemne their enimies The baggage of the army being sente away a little distance from the armed rankes on the left hande towards the hilles woulde I purposely obiect to be ryfled by the enimie who is more gréedy of pillage than of fight On the ryghte hande towardes the ryuer let the greate ordinance be placed agaynst the enimies I with my college Gien will leade the fore warde and the way and béeyng néerest to daunger wyll valiantly endeuour that it nothing repent youre hyghnesse to haue followed this counsell the rest of the martiall charges lette the Captaynes and specially the auntient parte amongst them and lette them marche forward vnto victorie with the armye prepared for both chaunces of battell and trauayle for neyther their wonted vertue nor youre fortune shall fayle them who being made noble by perpetuall victories haue learned to fight valiantly yea and if it were but for only glory After that Trivulzi had pronounced this Oration with a countenance full of confidence no man almost séemed although in some of their heartes feare were fettled which did not chéerefully assent to his sentence and swore that they woulde not departe the fielde but victors Then Charles disposing hys Horsemen to represse from all partes the Greekes who almost euery houre with great cryes stirred vp sundry tumultes in his Camp and watching almost the whole night the next morrow as soone as it was fayre day brake his fast and commaunded the Souldyers to doe the same and to prepare both their bodyes and hartes as well to fight as to march forward and not long after he béeing cladde rather in strong than fayre armoure mounted on Horsebacke enuironed with seauen yong Gentlemen of approued fidelitie and prowes armed apointed and trimmed in all poyntes like vnto him selfe As hée set forward the Souldyers saluted him with so chéerefull voices and gesture that they interrupted him when he began to encourage theÌ„ besieching hym to haue no doubt of the victorie whiche they had now in their hands For when he was on Horsebacke he séemed to be taller and more liuely thaÌ„ he was indéede for of nature he was a very little man and by reason of his olde disease weake and not strong legged to goe on foote but then he looked lyke vnto a valiant and fearelesse Souldioure for his face eyes and specially hys hawkes beked nose There guarded him on both sides two companies of noble Horsemenne with whome were intermingled the guard of Scottes Moreouer Mathew the bastard of Burbon in whom the Kyng reposed very greate trust and Robinet Framesell the valiant conductor of the Duke of Orleans his men of armes enuironed him with theyr companyes of Horsemen one on the right side and the other on the left There followed aboute a two furlongs behinde them the thirde and the last battell the conduct whereof had Foix a noble man of Guien and Seignieur de Trimouille who afterward for his great actes became a renowmed Chiefetayne With them was a great power of excellent Horsemen But in the vantgarde were séene the Esquadrons of the Switzers and Almaynes their chiefest hope and strength and the great ordinance The Marshall Gien and Trivulzi marched before with a companie of light Horsemen to shew the way vnto them that followed An arrow shot behinde them followed the Switzers and Almaynes to whome their Colonels Gilbert of Cleue and Antony Bassey men skilfull of their tungs had promised in the Kings name treble pay if that they saued the King by their faithfull and valiant handes Wyth them on the left hand were ioyned the Gascoignes Archibalistes and almost thrée hundred archers of the guarde who thorough vnlucky counsell had sent away theyr Horses and marched on foote that they might shoote the more strongly But the greate ordinance béeyng drawen with equall pace close to the batallion of the footemen were placed againste the riuer and the battels of their enimies The drudges of the army and all the rascall rable marched with the â—uggage towards the hylles on the left hande but the Marques who hadde determined if the Frenchmen hadde bentâ— on the â—este hande towardes Medesano which was the way vnto Dertono to pursue them on the backe wyth all hys power when he sawe them come downe from Foronouo in array of battell thinking it not good any longer to stay vsing the counsell of olde Souldyers araunged his battels in this order All his whole host was deuided into nine battels the number of his meÌ„ were aboue two thousand four hundred men of armes a few lesse than two thousand lighte Horsemen and about twelue thousand footemen In the first battell was Peter Dodo a Venetian with sixe hundred Gréeke Horsemen and Alesso Beicacuto with almost so many Archers on Horsebacke who did not vse howe 's of woode as did the Frenchmen but crossebowes of yron To them it was enioyned to compasse the hylles on the backe of their enimies and to charge the left side of the vantgard and by skirmishing to stay the marching Frenchmen from their intended iourney In the seconde battell was the Earle of Giazza with the power of Milan for this consideration that as soone as Trivulzi and Gien were encountring with the lighte Horsemen he vppon the ryghte side should set vpon them being then occupyed and troubled That battell consisted of syxe hundred men of armes and thrée thousand Almaine and Italian footemen The Generall hymselfe callyng to him his Vncle Radulph and Ranuccio Farnesi with aboute fyue hundreth men of armes so many archers foure thousand footemen took vpon him the charge to
the thicke battels of theyr enimies wyth greater force than arte and in the ende with aduerse fortune On the contrary syde the Frenchemenne makyng theyr battelles thicke and close togyther and not vnaduisedly stirring out of theyr place receyued them that charged them and that done enuironed them rounde aboute and wyth theyr shorte Swordes assaying where the blade myghte best enter into the body did thrust them in and beate them downe In the meane tyme the Gréeke Horsemenne that had inuaded the fore ward béeyng repelled on all partes by the menne of armes and their hote spurre Captaynes Annonio and Busichio departed out of the battell wounded suddainely turning theyr Horses flewe togyther to rifle the baggage whiche by the counsell of Trivulzi had bin obiected vnto the enimies that they béeing occupyed about the spoyle a more readie and easie passage might be made for the king There the Lackeys drudges Women straglers and moyletters were fowly tossed among the beastes and falling packes and when they repugned or sought to saue the goodes being slayne among them almost all the baggage was taken and rifled This tumult caused all the field to ring of the dissonant outcryes of so many nations by reason whereof thither ranne al the bandes of footemen that were néere who béeyng also gréedy of pillage without shame brake their aray But then arose there a very bloudy and miserable fight among the riâ—â—ers themselues euery man pulling one from another the Kyngs baggage and the weaker still oppressed by the stronger were slayne with the pillage in theyr aâ—mes This thing by the consent of all men brought safetie vnto the frenchmen for their fore ward when the Greekes once enclined vnto the spoyle valiantly receyued the charge that the Earle of Giâ—zza gaue ouerthwart them and succoured the second battell that was in distresse and also the seconde being augmented with strength and courage repelled the Marques of Mantoa with great slaughter and ayded the third which Montoni had disordred At the last wheÌ„ the two battels of the Marshall and the Kyng vehemently pressed the Italians on both sides at one time Radulph and Ranuccio béeyng circumuented in the middes of their enimies were slayne and also almost all the whole bande of the familiars of the Marques among whome were many noble menne There fell also before the Generals eyes Caluisiano the band of an C. singular good Souldyers footemen that had bin chosen to guard the Marques were slayne and troden downe The Marques himselfe who with wonderfull prowes had pierced through the middes of the Horsemen euen vnto the ordinance and the maisters of them and the Horses by whome they were drawen being slaine had ouerwhelmed with a tempest of Horsemen a bande of Gascoignes appoynted to guarde the ordinance and also the archers of the Kings guard with much adoe got himselfe out of the middes of his enimies his Horse béeyng gréeuously wounded For all men did auye strike at and pursue him fléeyng throughout the whole battell with a spire of silk in the crest of his helmet The same fortune also felte the Italian footemen that were in the Earle of Giazza his battell for when the formost rankes of them did as the manner was then shake from the grounde theyr long forkes stayed vp with their left arme but the nexte rankes of Souldyers defensed with Targets hurled Iauelins with broade heads and the rest after them shotte quarrels out of crossebowes they were receyued of the Switzers not only without any feare but also with slaughter for they beyng verye skilfully cast into a close Esquadron dyd lightly contemne that fonde kinde of weapons and manner of fight for as soone as euer they approched almost thrée hundred extraordinarie yong men who for commendation gotten by extreame perill are called the Desperates the Forlorne hopen leaped for the from both sydes of the Esquadron and with myghty two hande swordes beganne to cut off those vnruly pykes with whose hardinesse almost all the Italians beyng feared before they expected the impression of the Esquadron turned theyr backes In that place one bande of Almaynes whiche had with great hardinesse inuaded the French Ordinance and hadde stoutely resisted was slayne by the furious charge of the Switzers And withall a very suddayne showre of rayne mixed wyth Hayle thunder and lightning did in so apt a time afflicte them béeing foyled and nowe readye to flée that God hymselfe séemed to fyghte for the Frenchmen for the Riuer of Tarro whiche a little before ranne as though it had bin dryed vp was nowe growen so greate through falles of waters from the Mountaynes and dytches that neyther they whiche reposed hope of safetie in flyghte could safely escape neyther durst the vntouched battels that longed to goe succoure their discomfited fellowes once passe the Riuer whiche with swift and violent streame caryed away menne Horses armour weapons and all Neyther in the meane time did the ordinance ceasse on eyther side although with doubtfull but vayne perill they were often shotte off euen amongst the blended battels In all this so hard state of things the Marques forsaketh not himselfe although he were attached with incredible sorrowe séeing so many valiant Gentlemen that had come thither onely for good will towardes him yea and his vncle enuironed by their enimies and no succoure to be hoped for There was on the left haÌ„d a déepe ditch of water that ranne downe to certayue corne Milles into this ditch were both footemen and Horsemen carried by hedlong flight fowly strugling and striuing togither The which wheÌ„ the Marques sawe he changing his Horse came thither and rebuking the flight and staying the ensignes of diuers troupes he gathered togither one strong band who although they were sore wéeryed by the sundry incommodities of fight flight finally of raine yet valiantly renewed the fight with slaughter repelled the FreÌ„chmen that pursued them amaine There Seigneur de Mioll and the Bastard of Burbon being wounded by Alesso Beicacuto in the neck were takeÌ„ not farre from the King diuers renowmed Horsemen of the freÌ„ch side slaine But the comming of the Erle of Penâ—a was a great stay that they which had first attached the fight were not quite destroyed for he being brought prisoner out of Naples nowe when his kéepers were busied in that daunger of the battell hadde escaped in the middes of the tumulte vnto the Venetians and what by telling that the Frenchmen were vanquished and put to flight and also by cohorting them not to let goe assured victorie out of their handes he restored vnto the fearefull and fléeyng suche courage that with the auctoritie of his name he caused all that he met with to returne into the battell But the Frenchmen pursuing the Italians being discomfited and broken by the first and second battels were empeached by the swollen riuer from winning of an entier victorie euen as a little before the rising of the riuer had bin a lette vnto the rerewardes of the
VenetiaÌ„s for following succoring their disordred formost battels But this is well knowen that the Marshall Guien although Trivulzi and Frances Sicco the Captaine of the Florentines vehemently obtesting hym not to suffer an occasion of destroying their enimie to be lost would not pursue them wheÌ„ they fledde or goe one foote forth for that he thought he ought not rashly to depart out of the sight of the Kings battell the euent of the fight being as yet vncertaine the K. being circumueÌ„ted from all partes by diuers although vtterly scattered troupes of the enimies Not long after many of the Captaines gathering togither about the King caused the retreate to be sounded that with ioyned bandes and battels agayne araunged they mighte expecte what their enimies would do for they not only sawe fresh whole battels of them on the farther banke of the riuer ready to receyue the encounter but might perceiue both their owne Horses and meÌ„ wholly wéeried and therefore thought it best rather to rest than pursue their scattered enimies as they which were contented with that victorie the which considering the perill appeared greater thaÌ„ it selfe bycause they had by armes and prowesse made themselues a way not only in spite of their enimies but also with their foyle discomfiture The Marques also after he hadde in vaine loked for ayde bycause the rest of the battel 's feared with the discomfiture of their fellowes the hardnesse of passing ouer the risen riuer had detracted to fight wound himselfe out from the hindermost tayle of the departing FrenchmeÌ„ passing ouer the riuer in a better forde returned into the Camp vnto the Prouiditori â–ª There perished in that battel of the VenetiaÌ„s Milanese aboue foure M. amoÌ„g whom were besides Radalph and Ranuccio Iohn Picinnino nephew vnto the famous Captain Nicholas Galeazo Correggi Robert Strozza and Alexander Beraldo Captaines of Cornets of Horsemen and Vincent Sorso who ledde a regimeÌ„t of footemen and Malfacto and Gabanello who being of the guard had whereas at other times theÌ„ specially in the battel gotteÌ„ the prayse of singular prowesse wheÌ„ with theyr weapoÌ„s they made a way through the mids of the enimies for the Marques to escape But on the french part beside the multitude of the rask all rable whiche made the slaughter greater and fouler there were lost about a thousande Souldioures and also Iulian and Dason Lieutenauntes of companyes of Horsemenne and Vardey the Captayne of the Archers on Horsebacke and the Captayne of the troupe that guarded the Kyng and also noble menne called by the names of theyr Townes Torsy Semple and Ambrun But the Kyng selfe in déede a notable losse wyth greate griefe when hée vnderstoode that almoste all the Archers of hys guard were slayne who as is sayd before sending away their Horses fought on foote And the reporte is that hymselfe was in no small daunger of life when the Marques breaking thorough hys battell and disordering the whole wardes he being almost lefte alone made hedde and drew his Sword and confessed that he was doubtlesse saued by the inuincible strength of his fierce fightyng Horse which was a cleane cole blacke with one eye The Frenchmen lodged that night vpon the next hyll beside Tarro hauing lost all their baggage and tentes and brought to extreame lacke of victuals who although they had vndoubtedly gotten the victorie and were very ioyfull yet did they greately feare theyr small companie and had a speciall care for the sauing and carying away of the number of the wounded whiche was thought woulde be a verye hard thing by reason of the yll and troublesome iourney that they had to goe for they sawe that their enimies had a greate number of light Horsemen thorough whose vnwéeried diligence and swiftnesse they myghte cut off victuals stoppe the wayes and by pursuing and hagling on the hindermost much endamage them and specially the heauie armed Switzers But the Captayne 's being busied with this feare and care and very wéerie the Almaynes and Switzers when the King had with liberall hand deuided among them a thousand Crownes for a rewarde tooke vppon them wyth great noyses of Drummes the charge of kéeping the Camp that night On the other side in the Venetian Camp were they diuersly affected for almost in euery cabine were some attached with sorrowe and other with ioy as euery mans happe had bin eyther to haue lost his fellow and friende or to haue gotten rich pillage for all the Kings furniture plate of siluer and golde riche apparell hangings of all sortes and sacred furniture sette with pretious stones Finally the riches of the Kings of Naples which were now in carrying into France to garnish the triumph was taken by the basest of the Souldyers and the Gréekes But when all the Captaynes with the Lieutenantes were assembled togyther euerye man spake according to his humor for some and they farre the greatest number who séemed to be oppressed with feare thoughts it good to dislodge and to saue their army in whose safetie consisted the safetie of Jtaly Other that hadde but in the battell and hadde thereby taken to them greater courage thaÌ„ they had before would haue the enimie inuaded agayne and béeyng weakened with woundes and amazed with feare vtterly destroyed saying that they had not bin ouercome by the prowesse of the Frenchmen but by the iniquitie of the place But then the Marques of Mantoâ— spake in this manner If that with equall consente we had bin all to day eyther hardie or fearefull we had not bin nowe to consulte whyther we shoulde forsake oure lodging or inuade our enimies for eyther we shoulde haue supped more mery with the epptyue King in our enimies Camp or certes haue bin held in thiâ— moste safe trench with strength and courage not lessened but whereas extreame counsels in dissenting heads doe alwayes hurt but the meane generally do good neyther will I suffer the fearefull to flée backe neither permitte that the valiant agayne hazard the fortune of fight for as though our rashnesse were not yet sufficiently chastised to set vpon oure enimies in an vnhappie place and of greate disaduantage what else is it than to téese wilde beasts and to prouoke them being made madde with the extreame danger of death for extreame necessitie turneth into rage and most times maketh them that do vtterly despaire of life of cowards most valiant men But whereas some do counsell that we remoue our Camp farther from the enimie God forbidde that men shoulde be of the mynde that the shame whiche we haue receiued to day through the cowardise and flight of a fewe we should heape vp higher by fondly dislodging as it were with vtter dishonoure For what will thys suddayne dislodging signifie vnto our néere enimies thaÌ„ a grieuous wound gotten extreame feare and finally a most shamefull flight therefore we must tarrie in this lodging and valiantly endeuoure that the incommâ—ditie that hathe bin taken may be repayred thorough my
noble men present at this Counsell who afterwarde came to the estimation of great Captaynes Andrew de Altauilla of the noble house of Capua Hugh of Cardonna Theodore de Trivulzi and of the Spanyardes Emanuell Benauides Peter Pâ—ces Alberade and Pennalosa who being very desirous to fight prayed Gonsalues that he woulde not distrust the prowesse of the Souldyers and promising to behaue themselues valiauntly adhorted Ferdinande to commaunde the armie to issue out of the Towne Seminara standeth high and from the Towne runne there hylles along vnto a little valley the whiche sendeth forth a riuer out of a lowe botome at this vale beginne the Champeine fieldes whither the Frenchmen were now come from Terranoua Ferdinande marching thrée miles along the hilles came to the riuer and lodging his footemen on the hither banke vppon the lest hande and all hys Horsemen béeyng stretched out along like vnto a wing on the right hand looked when his enimies would passe the riuer Ouer right againste the footemen of their enimies dyd Obegny and Persiue set their Switzers being cast into one battaylion they placed the foot men of the Calabrians behinde them as it were to succoure them and deuided betwéene them the Horsemen who were little lacke of foure hundred men of armes and after the order of the Frenchmen twice as many light Horsemen and passing ouer the riuer in a square battell made towardes their enimies The Spanishe Horsemen séeing that set spurres to their Horses and chéerefully ranne foorth and when they béeyng ouermatched both in armour weapons and strength could not make the thicke battell of the men of armes to giue ground giuing a shoute began to turne their Horses and after a Spanishe kind of sight to retire vnto their fellowes with fetching a round compasse that both discouraged the heartes of the Arragonian footemen thinking theyr horsemen had bin discomfited by the enimie and so fledde backe and also encouraged the Frenchmenne couragiously to presse on them so that Obegny on the right hande and Persiue on the lefte hotely charging the battell of the footemen with theyr Horsemen disordred them before that the Switzars coulde bende their pykes towardes them and many of them being ouerthrowen quite cat-stered the whole â—attell Ferâ—â—â—â—â—sse 〈…〉 aâ—â—â—â—ting hys Souldyers to returne into the battell like a valiant Horseman ranne vppon his enimies accompanyed with certayne men of armes of his seruauntes and brake hys Launce on the brest of a Frencheman of Maâ—â—â— and anoâ—e after béeing ouerwhelmed with the multitude of his enimies was forced to â—â—ée béeing pursued of many by reason of his crost and guilt annour but ouertaken by none when sée the such his Horse foundering threw him downe headlong into a very narrowe place in a hollow way neither were the frenchmen farre off from hym béeyng encombred with hys Horse lying vpright vppon hym and hys foote â—â—taugâ—â— in the stirrops when Iohn brother vnto â—adrâ—w â—tiaâ—â—â—â— came to his helpe and of entieâ—â—mis worthy of eternall memorie offered him his owne swifte Horse to saue his life vpon whome Ferdinander as he vauâ—ted excellently well spéedely leaped although he were in heauie â—â—fâ—plete armoure and so escaped the enimie But Aâ—â—â—uilla being on foote was anâ—ne after staynâ— by the Frenchmen â—â—egry hauyng stayne a great part of the footemen lodged not farre from the place of enâ—oâ—â—tes so â—â—atâ—â— was said that he little knew how to vse the victorie bycause he neyther pursued so manye noble men among whome was the Cardinall of Arragon nor incontinently brought his victorious armye before Semiâ—â—â—â— through the whiche leysure both the noble men and the King came by dyuers wayes in safetie vntoothe Shyppes and Goâ—salues also who by valiauntly fightyng and by repayring the array in many places had doubtlesse saued many entred the Towne and carryed away the baggage and all the better part of the furniture of the Camp and then gote hym to Rezo the Frenchmen afterward pursuing him in â—â—yne The Battell of Eboli fought in the Kingdome of Naples betvveene Persiue Chiefetayne for Charles the French King and Thomas Carafa Rarie of Matalone Generall for Ferdinande the King of Naples in Anno. 1495. KIng Ferdinande and the greate Gonsalues béeing escaped as yée haue heard out of the battell of Seminara the king embarking his power that was lefte sayled 〈◊〉 the Citie of Naples where he was receyued in by the well willing Townemen and many noble men Arragonites repayring vnto hym he straightely besieged Monipensier the Frenche Viceroy and other in the Castel the which he had entrenched round And also the great Gonsalues hadde repayred hys power at Hezo out of Sicile and warred on the Calabrianâ— Monpensier signifyed vnto Obegny and Persiue that he was not able to hold out long vnlesse that ayde were spéedyly sent vnto him eyther by sea or land Vpon this they sent for the noble menne that were of the Aniou or French faction â–ª to repaire vnto theÌ„ with their hands and also gathered togither their dispersed people and then deuiding the army Obegay went against Gonsalues and Persiue with Bernardiue Sanseuerino Prince of Besignino who had brought a cornet of Horsemen and four hands of footemen hasted to Naples came to EBOLI a towne not far froÌ„ the riuer of Cochile standing vpon a very high hir and enclosed round about with a déepe valley Ferdinand hauing intelligence of the french mens comming hadde sent his Captaines power thither before to let the passage of the whose way lay by Salerne himself remained at Naples to the end he might be presente at the parle of the FrenchmeÌ„ who séemed willing to entreate of taking truce and yéelding vp the Castel The General of the kings army was Thomas Carasa Prince of Matalone a man vtterli ignoraÌ„t of forraigne warfare but thers were with him many good warrioures amoÌ„g theÌ„ Venazi D. of Camerino Lucas Sabello who knowing whiche way the Frenchmen mynded to trauayle and hauing diligently viewed their power gaue aduice with small iourneys to followe at their enimies héeles who marched directly to Salerno to cut off their victuals and not to ioyne in battell wyth them before that a place of disaduantage hadde taken and offered them to be oppressed or else which séemed to be best incontinently with all spéede to take the Towne called the little Lake and the inhabitants thereof being commaunded to abandon the Towne and to set it on fire that the enimie might not vse the victuals and bouses thereof and then to marche spéedely to Salerne before the Frenchmen But the rest of the Captaynes and Souldyers contemning the small number of their enimies dyd burne with so great desire of fight that béeing incited by a foolishe courage they cryed out that it was not for the dignitie of the King and of so great an army that the victorie which they almost held assuredly should be sought not by the right way opeÌ„ prowesse but by going about the bushe and dastardly suttletyes Moreouer
waightie considerations thoughte it best to deferre the fight vntill the next day but Monsieur Cyandey the Captayne of the Switzers and Signeur de Alegre stoutely contended that victorie whiche had alwayes luckely happened vnto the Frenchmen when they were hardie was not to be sought by flouthfull and dishonorable lingering but by spéedy and manly encounter By whiche sentence Nemoures vnderstoode that his honor and fame was greately touched for hée had heard a little before how Alegre had spread very euill words of him as though he being no greate skilfull nor valiaunte Chiefetayne was afraide to ioyne in battell with the enimie and had suffered with the foule blot of the French honor and the great empayring of their strength his army to be fléesed and pulled by the suttle enimie Whervpon he not enduring this reproche without stay said these wordes Go to then séeing it séemeth so to some that we must this day by battell make one end or other of the wars suche as Fortune will alotte certesse I will satisfye by honorable death if not the publike desire of the French King yet at the least myne owne honor and this sayd he incontinently gaue the signall of battell although the Sunne were scarce an houre and an halfe high and made towardes the enimie with thrée araunged battels not with equall front but one a little behinde another so that wheÌ„ the righte wing wherein he and Arsye were ranne forth Ciandey should shoote off the great ordinance from the middle battell wherin stoode all the footemen and shoulde followe a certaine space behinde the fore warde and in like maner Alegre should admoue the thirde battell vnto the lefte syde of the Switzers when he shoulde thinke good so that the Frenche battels by reason of their vnequall length muche resembled in the setting forth the thrée hindermost fingers of a mans hand But on the other side Gonsalues set against them sixe battels with direct front two of Horsemen were in the wings and one backed the Almaine footemeÌ„ so néere vnto whome stoode the Spanish footemen that a farre off they séemed to be both one battell but yet so that there was space ynough lefte for the Horsemen that stoode in the middes to issue out if it were néedefull But all the light Horsemen he sent forth vnder the conduct of Fabricio de Colonna and Didaco de Mendozza to stay the enimie by skirmishing whereby such a thicke cloude of dust was raised that the French vauntcurrers could not one whit sée before them and this was augmented by the smoke of the great ordinance whiche fléeing ouer both armies did hurt neyther of them But when GoÌ„salues coÌ„manded the great ordinance to be shot off againe Leonard Aleccio told him with great feare and sorrow that all the barrels of Gunpowder were there by chance or falsehood set on fire with whyche newes Gonsalues being nothing dismaide sayd I do gladly receiue this good abodemeÌ„t for what greater ioy can happen vnto vs than to haue séene the lightes of victorie comming forth neyther was his prognostication false for Nemours charging the Almaines the Horsemen of the left wing vntimely sticked fast in the ditch the Gonsalues had cast vp before his Camp in somuch that when he being repulsed turned his troupe to séeke some other way to come vnto the enimie he was slayne with an Hargubusse shot almost before Cyandey hadde giuen the onset on the Almaines And the like lucke receyued Cyandey of the same ditche for the Almaynes wyth their Pykes and the Spanyardes with their harquebuziers disordered and slewe the Switzers beyng very yll troubled with the ditche and also Cyandey hymselfe who tourned the handes and eyes of all his enimies vppon him bicause he fought on foote with a great plume of whyte feathers on his headpeece and stoutly striued to get out of the troublesom place to come to the enimie But when Nemours was slayne Arsy and Alegre fledde whome the Spanishe horssemen pursued slaying and taking many among whom was Formantes and then retourned vnto the Campe when the Sunne going downe had not giuen so muche as halfe an houre of perfect lyghte to ende the battayle whyche doubtlesse saued Alegre and Arsye There were slayne of Frenchemen foure thousand and that with so greate celeritie and felicitie that when the battayle was begonne and ended within halfe an houre there peryshed not an hundred of the Spanyardes I hearde Fabricio de Colonna saye when he tolde the successe of this battayle that the victorie was not gotten so muche eyther by valiauncie of the Souldyers or prudence of the Generall as by the small rampyre and shallowe ditche cast vppe before the Campe whyche caused the Captaynes that ranne after him to reuine the auntiente martiall discipline in fortifying their Campe. Gonsalues following the victorie expelled the Frenchmenne quite out of the Kyngdome of Naples the which he conquered for his Soueraigne the King of Spayne Thys battell was foughte the nine and twentith of Aprill seauen dayes after the battell of Gioia ¶ The Battell of Vaila or Giaradda fought in Lumbardie betvveene Levves the .xij. King of Fraunce and the Venetians in An. Domini 1509. MAximilian the emperor Lewis the FreÌ„che King Ferdinande king of Spaine Iulius bishop of Rome Alfonse the Duke of Ferrara being entred in to league againste the Venetians bicause they had eueroched vppon them all Lewes the French king marched from Milan with a great army agaynst the Venetians who hadde also a great power in the fielde beyond the riuer of Adda vnder the conducte of the earle of Petilia Generall Barthlomew de Aluian the Campe maister and George Cornarie and Andrewe Grittie Legates or Prouiditori But when the Frenche king being desirous to fight coulde get the Venetians by no prouocation out of their fortified campe he dislodged wyth entent the nexte night to lodge eyther at Vaila or Pandino where by cutting off theyr victuals that were brought from Cremona and Crema hée might force them to dislodge as in very deede it didde Now there were twoo wayes to come vnto those places one the lower and nexte to the riuer of Adda which was the longer bicause it was â—rooked the other further from the riuer which was the righter and the shorter The lower way tooke the Frenche army wherin were aboue two thousand men of armes six thousande Switzers and twelue thousand Gascoignes and Italians footmen with great furniture of ordinaunce and Pioners On the vpper way on the right hande marched the Venetian armye wherein were two thousand men of armes aboue twenty thousaÌ„d footemen and a great number of light horsemen part Italians part Grecians The Greeke horsemen were the auauÌ„tcurrers but by reason of the bushes and shrubbes that occupied all the space betwéene the twoo armies they straggled not so wide as otherwise they commonly vsed to doe and this also was a cause that one army coulde not descrye another And as they thus marched but the Venetians with swifâ—er
the middes of the battell and with greate force beates backe the insulting Epirotes and slaying Alexio Bosigno a noble Geeke their captain â—â—ite defeateth them And with the same fease is also carryed into the ennimyes Campe and there the drudges and stragglers beeing slayne and the Souldiours of the station disordered tooke the carriages and baggage But a little before these thynges were doone by Mottine an other company takyng a longer iourneye thoroughe the Corne fieldes then growen vppe and thereby receyuing small hurte by the ordinaunce had charged the syde of the enimye The Frenche power was deuided into three battailes Tremouille and De la Marche hauyng the leadyng of the wyngs and Trivulzi of the middle battayle and the Batallion of the Lancequenetz hadde gotten them within a ditche betweene the battailes of the horsemenne bycause theyr Trenche beeyng of a newe and wounderfull workemanshippe inuented by Roberte de la March for to enclose them agaynste the chaunce of battayle coulde not bee pitched and sette vp in that suddayne commyng of the ennimie Vppon this Esquadron of the Almaynes the Switzers brynging about their battell towardes the right hande courageously tourned them selues for that they vnderstoode the victorye woulde bee easely obtained after they had once defeated the chiefest force of their enimies armye The Frenche Captaynes seeyng this incontinentely commaunded the greate ordinaunce to bee shotte off vppon them the rankes to bee broken thoroughe wyth greate slaughter and anone after the menne of armes also vehemently charged them on the lefte syde In this tumulte the Amans of Berne and Zuche were slaine yet the Souldiours nothyng appalled wyth their Captaines deathes neyther with their owne perill nor the horrible slaughter of their fellowes gathering their strength togither do cast them selues into a ring and wyth greate valoure doe propell the horsmen and straightway as they had before determined passing ouer the ditche set vppon the Almaines Whervppon incontinently began a bloudye and cruell fight yea and that without either wordes or noise on eyther side sauyng onlye an horrible clashyng of armour and weapons and the softe sighes of them that fell downe deade The Almaines that they mighte reuenge the slaughter of their countreymen the laste yeare at Pauia and now by newe renowne redeme the glory of warfare lost fourteene yeares before at Bruderholtz in the confines of Basill foughte very fiercely But the Switzers that they myght yet one daye quite destroye their olde and peculiar enimies fellowes that had runne out of Germanie and serued the Frenche Kyng in reproche of the Emperour were no whitte behind either in strength or feruencie of courage But whilest the Switzers and Almaines thus fought at push of pike newes was brought vnto Trivulzi and Tremouille that the baggage was taken those that were appoynted to kéepe the Campe slayne and all places fylled full of tumulte and slaughter The fame whereof so troubled the Frenchemens myndes that a greate parte of the horsemen euery man being carefull for his bagge and baggage ranne thither without commandement to recouer the praye Also in another quarter almoste at the same instant the third companye or battell of the Switzers shewed themselues at the fronte of the Frenchemen which battell whilest the Frenchmen hadde in vayne shotte off their ordinance into the woodde that stoode béefore them by reason the Switzers to deceiue the ennimies had politikely lefte among the trees certayne vnprofitable drudges to make a shewe of armed men hadde crepte along by a syde way by little and little stoupyng and traylyng theyr pykes after them And nowe so greate was their contempt of the flying bullets and so terrible their chardge that the Frenche and Nauarrine footmen their Captaine Beamont being slayne and twoo bandes of Genouese and Salucians were quickly defeated and also their ordinaunce taken and tourned on the backs of them that fled When the reste of the horsemen sawe the greate ordinaunce gotten by the enimie in whome the Frenchemen hadde in all warres reposed more truste than in theyr armes and prowesse that the Almaines were nowe almoste quite destroyed their tents taken the enimie ouerthrowing all now large lords of the field betwene shame and feare they tourned their backes When all men were thus dismayed the Captaines themselues were fearlesse enough considering the fearefulnesse of the state and went about to rallye the rankes that were disordered and turned them selues towardes the dissonant cries of their own fellowes made them to abide and fighte encouraged the petye Capitaines and ensigne bearers to put away feare and so long to susteine a fewe pesants of weary vnarmed and nowe weakened wyth woundes vntill the lighte armed had enclosed them The Lansquenetz beare the brunt of the battell and the fight is repaired in all places But the horsemen being nothing moued wyth the wordes of the encouraging and commaunding captaines shamefullye flye For the Switzers althoughe their Captaine Mottine were slaine by a péece of ordinaunce yet hauing gotten the Campe did al bloudy fiercely inuade the lefte side of the horsemen and on the righte syde and on the back a greater power with terrible pikes did very sharply vrge the affrighted and disordered horsemen There perished in repairing the fielde Monfalcon Captaine of the Duke of Albanies companye of horsmen and Coriolano Trivulzi a yong Gentleman of singular hope But the Almaines who leesing halfe their men and two ensignes and their Generall Floranges greeuously hurte had foughte very constantly a long time Nowe when they sawe themselues to bee forsaken by the horsemen and the reste of the footemen in all quarters to be defeated and the great ordinaunce taken thinking that flight was shamefull and yet nothing safe did set the points of their weapons vpright accordyng vnto their manner and yeelded themselues seeking mercye of the victor enimys In this grieuous vproare Robert de la March Lorde of Cedan attached with impotent sorow to see his two sonnes the lords Floranges and Gemese enclosed by the enimye and almoste in desperate daunger of life burst in euen into the midst of his enimies battell wyth a troupe of horsemen and toke them vppe lying among the dead bodyes miserably berayed and embrued wyth the bloude of their woundes and being halfe dead layde them ouerthwarte the neekes of two horses like vnto twoo cloke bagges and thus wyth singular praise bothe of fatherly pitie and warlike prowesse he caried them away preseruing their liues to purchase renowne in future and more fortunate fieldes Thus the Switzers fighting in thrée companyes or battells within an houre and an halfe dyspatched and finished a famous battell and a moste weyghtye warre Neyther yet althoughe the Switzers sawe so many of their enimies lye slaine before their face canne they once to the spoyle notwithstanding that precious furniture of household and al the baggage of the riche army did allure their minds for they remembring their country discipline which doth not permitte them to take anye armed man prisoner in the
madnesse Drawe your swords therefore with me and cutte the throats of these freshe water Souldiours and be ashamed not to goe thither for feare of death whither ye shall see mee your Captaine leade you the way for renowne and glory The souldiours succlamed vnto the Oration of the king yet speaking with the clashing of their weapons and dissonant cries wythout any longer delay the king first sending out of sight his own horse and then al other doing the like to the end that all mens peril being made equal all hope of flight quitetaken away as it is the manner of that nation hee might shewe both his strength of bodye and valiauncie of minde diuided all his power into fiue battels for this reason that the midle battell wherin was his chiefe standerde shoulde be guarded on both sides with two battels as it were with wings In the right were the Earles of Huntley Craforde and Montrosse in the lefte the Lorde Hume and the erle of Lennox and Arguile reported to bee experte menne of warre He had ordeined a knight to be captaine of euery band and with them certaine Frenche captaines whome King Lewes had sente into Scotlande a little before to teach them the discipline of war and all the ordinaunce which coulde serue to no greate vse down the hill being bestowed in a fitte place hee himselfe stoode in the middle battell againste Surrey Nowe had Edmunde aduaunced the foremoste bandes vppe the hill when the ordinaunce on both sides being shotte off and the firste rankes disordered Hume brought downe hys speares on foote who lay wyth so furious force vppon the Englishemenue commyng vppe the hill that the valiauntest of the ring leaders being slaine and Edmunde stroken downe they had turned almost all that battell into flight And nowe was thereâ—â— hope to abide the handes being both affrighted and also defeated vnlesse that in so greate daunger on one side Bastarde Heron a renowmed man for his wonderfull strength of body and noble courage and embrued with his own and hys enimies bloud had lifted vp Edmund and from another parte Dacres beeyng intentiue to all sodayne chaunces of the battell had sente an hurlewinde of horsemen ouerthwarte the side of the enimies And therewithall the Lorde Howarde also comming after with the moste chosen men the battell was without doubt restored and courage was rendered vnto the vanquished So the fortune of the battell béeyng made equal and then mo Englishemen comming still vppe bande after bande the afflicted beyng intermedled wyth the freshe beganne wyth emulation of prowesse to aduaunce the front of the battell vp the hill Nowe when they were come vnto the strengthe of the Sedttes and bothe sydes foughte almoste wyth greater hatred than strength Montrosse and Craforde commyng into the foremost rankes to encourage the Souldiours were there slaine valiantly fighting and the esquadron of the speares on foote was broken through scattred slain and vtterly defeated by the horsmen and footmen But in the lef wyng almoste at the same tyme Stanley being ioyned in battayle hadde won the hill of the Scottes and with the multitude of his arrowes lighting thicke vppon them had brought them into that case that nowe they foughte not close togither but their rankes beeyng loosed and thynne and as menne that soughte to auoyde the shotte their ensignes beganne to sweye and shrinke hyther and thyther Whiche when Stanley perceyued he fetching aboute thrée bandes of succour vppon the open side of the enimies broughte so greate terrour that they were not able to susteine their violent charge and stande to it but incontinentely fledde and running headlong downe the hill hidde them selues in the Woddes There Arguile and Lennox reteyning wyth voyce and handes the enclined battell were slaine In the meane tyme Kyng James who hadde a little before ioyned in battell wyth Surrey as soone as he sawe that the arraye of his menne was disordered in the wings and his enimies were spreadde abroade rounde aboute hys skyrtes adhortyng the bande that was appointed for his guarde and the olde souldiours and the noble men that were aboute him that they would doe nothing vnworthye of themselues nor their auncestours broughte his battell into the middes of hys enimyes So that a newe battell arose againe afreshe and sharper than the firste bycause all this Scottishe battell being well armed had very wel susteined the arrowes of the Englishemen and certain Captaine of the foremost rankes being slaine had perced almost to the Englishe ensignes There were on both partes very tall men chosen by both Captaines for the supreame and laste chaunces of the battell and the fight as it must needes bee in such a case was diuers and doubtefull one whyle to the one and another whyle to the other prosperous and deadly The King hymselfe fighting on foote before the ensignes mayntayned the fight wyth greate pertinacie inflaming some with praise and other wyth shame finally crying out to them all with diuers encouragements that since now they had gotten their enimies they should be reuenged on them with sworde and woundes the which thing they had so greately desired and so gréedely thyrsted after On the other syde Surrey when the best of hys Souldiours were eyther slayne or wounded contended with greate valor still wythdrawyng the wounded into the hindermoste rankes very earnestly encouraged his men to bring the battell to the dint of sworde and where the enimies moste vrged there also fought he moste stoutly But whilest this hotte conflicte lasted at the ensignes with vncertaine euent the lorde Howard and Stanley who hauing defeated theyr enimies at both wings came victors vnto the middle battel turned their powers vppon the enimies charging him in two quarters and therwithall in very good tyme Dacres ranne vppon the backes of them with a very thicke troupe of horsemen so that when the Scottes were slaine on the from the sides and the back and being wearied with laboure and woundes coulde not breake through for the heaps of slaine carkasses weapons and armours they being on eche side enclosed were forced to fight in a ring But when the Kyng saw his chiefe standerd throwen downe and Adam Forman that bare it slayne before his face then doubting nothing but that he muste immediatly dye that he might deliuer his harte from imminent reproches ranne foorth vnto the thickest of his enimies and there was slaine fighting very valiauntly Nor farre from him certeyne greate men of the Church contending with equall pertinacie and prowesse were likewise slaine One Archebishoppe twoo Byshoppes and foure Abbots and of noble men and men of marke for dignitie of knighthoode and honours of warfare thirtie sixe Hume and Huntley getting horses in this tumult through the benefit of the night approching escaped into Scotland wyth the hindermoste bandes and battells whiche consisting of a very cowardly kynde of Souldiours had not stroke one stroke There were slaine that daye about eight thousand Scottes and almost so many taken but all the ensignes were
being opprossed when they could ueyther beack through in the front beeyng drged by the men of armes nor not giue barke their fellowed behinde thrusting them forwarde theâ— brake their arraye and flew out side long vpon both the wings of the Lithuanians and there as one tyme attached two encounters in dyuers places yea and the same tyme also the horsemen who as wee tolde you were seâ—e by Basill at the backe of the Polonians throughe the hidden valley with â—â—deous cry and great sounde of trumpets that they myght seeme the greater number iâ—uaded the Polonians on the 〈◊〉 which being once perceiued tertaine captaines valiant men amongst whom was the Palatine Polosky notwithstanding Constantine had straightly commaunded them not to stirre out of their places nor to sight without his coÌ„maundement Yet thinking that in sodaine and daungerous chaunces of sight all things are not to be done according to streight prescript but the present occasion of things muste bee encountered since they coulde not then runne to aske the Generalls counsell bycause hee fought busily aâ—me other quarter nor in any case in that shortnes of time certifye hym thereof turned the esquadron of the footemen on the enimies The esquadron beeyng by their array immoueable and strong although they hadde receyued some detriment by the arrowes yet notwithstanding discharging all their harquebusters togither at once by that tempest of pellets staying the forâ—oÌ„branks of the enimy came to their pikes and halbards and by their impulse and valoâ— repulsed the enimie When the horsemen being empeached with their multitude could not gette out to spreade abroade themselues and trauerse their grounde they â—usteyned the sight in that streight and throng wyth greats slaughter There when the sight wared hâ—t yâ—e might haue séene man and horse thâ—uâ—t thorough with a stroke other ouerthrowen and great heapes of slaine men lying euery where and all places silled with the bloud and grouings of dying mâ—n But in another quarter Constantine hauing disordered the ranks of the enimie and almoste quite destroyed Michaels horsemen was nowe come vnto the middle battel and atâ—aching a sharpe encounter had disordered the foâ—â—ndste rankes with his violente charge and slaughter When Basill distrusting of the midle battel and his own streÌ„gth gaue backe but yet turned not his face as one that expected the supreame euâ—nt thinking verily that the horsemen which he had sent before to inuâ—de the Pulâ—uiam oâ—r the backe woulde strike a soddaine and therefore the greater feare into the heartes of the Polonians neyther foreseeing nor distrusting any suche vnlooked for inuasion But the footemen that deseated them tourning their rankes and comming wyth speedy pace vppon the battell of succour brake all the reste of his hope and hearte So that Basill departing out of the battell with a troupe of noble horsemen fled amaine vppon the spurre whom that battell incontinently followed whiche we shewed you was placed at the hill for a succour being not once able to abide no not the looke of the bloudye and victorious footemen Then folowed a foule flight all the field ouer but yet the middle battell with greate constancy receiued the enimie that egrely vrged For Basil had placed al the armed and valiantest Souldiors of the whole host about the ensignes and in the front of that battell So that they fought long with variable fortune and moste egre and fierce contention on eyther side and diuers Polonian horsmen of marke and two yong noble men were there slaine as they ouer hotly ranne their horses into the thicke battell of the enimye At the length the Lithuanians and footemen after they had defeated them with whome they had encountred came also vppon them from diuers partes with furious force the Moscouits before they should be constrained to sight also behinde thought beste to prouide for themselues by speedy flight The Polonians victors winning the enimies campe got a greate and riche pray by the kings furniture and fiue thousand horses They slew aboue seuen thousand men Michaell also and certayne other famous captaines were taken whome with the ensignes that were taken King Sigismunde afterward in triumphant maner brought bounde into Vilne After this fortunate sight Constantine besieged Smolencho but not with the lyke fortune for Basil had in his flight sent thether certayne companies of horsmen and strengthned the Towne wyth a newe garrison thinkyng that if they coulde sustaine the firste assauites of the enimy that then the Polonians being excluded by the time of the yeare wold neuer once minde to besiege it for thys battell was fought the eyght day of September When Constantine perceyued that the winnyng of it was harder than he had hoped neither would the nature of the very cold countrey suffer the Souldiors to lye abroade in the field he despayring to atchieue thys enterprise reduced his army home agayne ouer the riuer of Boristhenes ¶ The Battell of Chois in Armenia the greate fought the fifte of August in anno 1514. betweene Selym the greate Turke and Ismaell the Sophy of Persiae WHen Selym the greate Turke in reuenge of the wrong done hym by Jsmaell the Sophy in marying hys daughter vnto Amurathes his enimy and the banished sonne of his brother Achomates and also in aiding hym wyth a power to inuade Cappadocia had entred Armenia the Sophy although hée nothyng at all suspecting any inuasioÌ„ of the Turke that yere had sent the greatest parte of his power against the Coraxenes â–ª yet to saue the beautifull and pleasaunt towne of Chois from sacking encamped within sight of the Turke and reposing great trust both in the hardynesse of his souldiors and also in his owne good fortune thought it beste to the end he might strike the greater terror into his enimies harts not to defer the tyme but roundly to ioyne in battell with them and incontinently sente an Heralde vnto Selym and with hym certaine men of warre who should diligently viewe what kinde and howe greate the army of the enimies was howe manye péeces of ordinance hée had and what the forme of theyr Campe was But they should do this message vnto Selym that Armenia was assuredly the Persians neither had there euer béen any contention betwene the Turkes and them for it and therfore he maruelled why he was come into that prouince with an enimious army But if perhaps be emulating the antieÌ„t prowesse of Alexander the Macedon thought that so much land of right was hys as victory and fortune by encroching armes should get him that then he should make hymselfe ready and euen the nexte daye trye what his owne and other mens power was able to do Selym answered therevnto that apparant iniuries were in freshe memory Wherfore the Othomannes might iustly take armes against the Persians both his grandfather Mahomet and Cassen his vncle in tyme paste and nowe of late his father Baiazet and hymâ—â—â— also whilest he was oppugned with the armes of his brother Achomates had receyued of the Persians both very
by the ordinance bicause he had not so spéedily gotte himselfe and his company out from that daunger charged the Asians of whom hée slewe a greate number but not wyth the same felicitie that Jsmaell had for whilest he sought very egerly among the formost hée was slaine with an harquebusse shot through which chaunce the Turkes recouered againe their daunted spirites so that they who euen nowe driuen from their grounde had loste aboue the thirde parte of their fellowes nowe verye lustily renewing the fight susteined the men of armes and setting agaynste them the Harquebusierz by whom the horses of the Persians were moste affrighted droue them hedlong in one troup vpon the Asappes The Persians eyther compelled by necessitye for that hauing receyued greate detriment they had also loste their Capitayne and coulde not rule their horses affrighted with the noise and thundering of the ordinaunce or else séeing the side of the Asappes lie open wherby they thoughte a better hande myght there be had with thicke troupes gaue a charge ouerthwarte the footemen whom they ouerthrowing with greate slaughter came vnto the ordinance and there enclosing the maisters and gunners slew them all who vnaduisedly shooting off their greate péeces in that greate hurle of things had fouly slaine a greate number indifferently aswell of their owne fellowes as of their ennimies and wyth continued course came thorough as it were victors vnto the ryghte wyng where Jsmaell fought wyth the Europian horsemen who hauyng lost their captain and being repulsed and wearied with wounds had before tyme withdrawen themselues vnto the aides and battelles of succour But now when they were vrged on the side with another company of the enimies féeling themselues vnable to sustain their impression began to cry out as in their extreme perill for succour vnto the battell of aide In this hard state of the battel Selym loosing the chaine of the wagons opened the Trench in two places and incontinently sent foorth a part of the horsmen of his guarde And then tourning hymselfe towardes the Janizars he sayde The victory of this day is reserued for your valor seruice wherfore plucke vp good hearts lusty laddes and behaue your selues valiauntly breake foorth courageously and being now fresh and lusty set vpon your weary and wounded enimies The bodyes of their horses euen melt with sweaie and the horsemen themselues do now faint vnder so greate a waighte of armour The Janizars notwithstanding these speches did neither spéedily nor readily obey Selym but in so greate desperation of things willingly kepte thēselues within the munitions So that whilest they made courtesy to set forward the Persians in this heate of the victory being spred rounde aboute the Europians slewe them all Selym beholding it and in vayne hastyng to succour them Fabricio Carrecto the greate Mayster of the Rhodes vnto whome all these matters were very diligently reported wrote vnto Leo the Pope that the Janizars were not obedient vnto Selym neyther coulde they be adduced eyther by his adhortation or prayers to succour the distressed Europians as they that doubting the vtter losse of the battayle lyked better to expecte the euent than wyth apparaunte perill to obiecte them selues vnto the storme of the horsemen who had destroyed the rest of the footemen Nowe hadde the Persians from all partes inuaded Selym who made his abode in the battel of succoure When Senambassa drawing after him his wyng al to torne greatly diminished came all in tyme the enimye following through the mids of the heapes of the Asappes and then sending for bringing certayn freshe troups that had escaped whole from the violent charge of Vstaogle the fight is restored namely through the surpassing prowesse of the two brothers Turabey and Mahomet Malcocks who being equall among the Turkes in noblenesse of stocke vnto the house of the Othomans resembled and shewed the noble prowesse and courage of Malcocke their father the renounted captain in that lamentable roade made by the Turkes into Venetia and Carnia And also not despayring but erected into hope and very cherefull Selym cōmanded all his ordinance to be shot off vpon the enimy which thing he had reserued for the supreame daunger wherwith so many horses and men both Turkes and Persians being blended togither were slain that when the men had lost the vse both of eyes and eares through the dust the smoke and noise of the ordinaunce and the horses also being affrighted wyth the vnwonted terrible roaryng contemnyng the bridles caryed their ryders an other waye the battell was broken off the victorye being as yet vncertaine Jsmaell being caried out of the daunger of this storme perceyued him selfe wounded with a Harquebus shotte in the shoulder when by the aduise of his friendes hee wente out of the battell ▪ to looke vppon his wounde whyche onely thyng didde doubtlesse bring safety vnto Selym and all his For the Persians incontinently following Ismaell and his standarde loste and forsooke the vndoubted victorye and by the opinion of all men for a greate parte already gotten But when hee founde that hys wounde was but lighte for that the pellet could not pierce deepe by reason of the syngular temper of hys Armour hee purposed to retourne agayne into the battayle But bearyng that Vstaogle was slayne in whome hee reposed greate truste for his passing skill in martiall matters and hys friendes also still counsellyng hym not to neglect hys wounde that was yet hotte but to haue speciall regarde of his life hee beganne to retire in a square troupe wyth a slowe pace that his departure might not séeme to haue any shew of flight and going vnto Taruis the chiefe Citie of Armenia yea and of the Persian Empire after he had willed the chiefe of the citie to open their gates vnto the Turke and receyue his garrison leaste throughe vaine constancy they might receiue some greate detesment hee departed into Media But the Turkes being sore shaken with so many losses hauyng neyther courage for feare nor force through faintnesse to pursue tooke without resistāce There wer found besides tents wrought with the néedle and enterwouen with silke and golde and other pretious furniture of houshold many women of greate nobility who had folowed their husbands al of whom Selym released without any raunsome They that were present at this battell had reported that among the heapes of the men that were slaine diuers women were also founde who puttyng on helmet and harnesse and following their husbandes had died with them valiauntlye fighting Selim loste in this battell aboue thirty thousande men among whom besides Cassembassa the Belerbech of Greece seuen Sanzaces and the two Malcockes who were slaine as the one brother endeuored to succour the other being enclosed and besides the despised multitude of Asappes obiected to slaughter the horsemen of Sclauony Macedony of the Tribals Epyrus Thessaly and Thracia no doubt the floure and strength of his army who were in the right wing were for a great parte eyther
deliuered and ridde of the greatest feare and mightiest daunger and séemed to haue nobly susteined men of so greate valor yet being hofull for the feare that remayned and as it were the laste care exspected the ende of the troublesome night and vncertaine fortune Neyther did he giue greater reste vnto his bodye whiche was wearyed with the weight of his armour and was scortched for thirste and continuall toile than pulling vppe his beauer to take breath leane a little while vppon a greate péece of ordinance whilest that his horse was chaunged And then incontinently tourning to the charges of a chieftaine sent vnto Liuiano to come vnto hym wyth his armye and anone drewe in and made his Campe lesse After that the deuise hadde béene liked of the Captaynes to whome he had imparted it and bycause that the enimy professed the place where his fore warde had stoode he placed within a better defenced plot aboue sixe thousande Almaines at the banke of the ditche and commaunded them to guard the ordinance which he had commodiously planted there in greate abundaunce And in another quarter he ioyned a great number of horsemen with himselfe and willed Burbon and Alencen to admoue the firste and thirde battells vnto his side wyth equall order and front so that hée standing full butte against the enimy did as the place required stand in stéede of the fore warde and vsed the two other battells placed on his lefte and right sides as it were for wings Neyther farre from that place had Nauarro and a greate multitude of Almaines encamped pitching downe their ensignes in the grounde bycause when the battell was broken off by the going downe of the Moone they coulde learne neither the forme of the Campe nor the kings counsell and purpose The King that hée might viewe with his owne eyes howe the ditches stoode and how broade the fielde that laye betwéene them and the highe waye was roade foorth with a few horsemen within the sight of the enimy and anone the darke vanishing by little and little into the dawning the King went to encourage the Almaines whome being erected by greate promises he adhorted to finish the battell by fighting a little while and to take the rewards of victory alredy gotten He also full of assured hope and couragiousnesse vehementely enkindeled them by rehearsing the iniuries and discomfitures that the Switzers had don and giuen the Almaines rather through the benefit of fortune and the greate aduantages of times and places than by true prowesse Wherefore they shoulde persuade themselues that this was the proper and ready occasion to reuenge the Massacre of their kinsfolks and fellowe Souldiours and also the meane for to shewe by valiaunt actes that as the Almaines did excell them in nobilitie and faithfulnesse so neyther woulde they graunt vnto these clownes the martiall glory for valor and skil in armes And also vsing the like spéeche he adhorted the French horsemen not to degenerate from their forefathers who had in former ages excelled all nations for seruice on horsbacke Neyther were the batells ranged among the Switzers with lesse hope courage although the greatest parte of the souldiors as they had with diuers chaunces lodged in sundry places ye within the munitiōs of the enimy being refreshed with no succour of meate did hardly with fierce hartes susteine their fainting limmes For the victuals that by the procuremēt of Gonzaga shold be brought from Milan in so shorte time namely in the night seasō which doth cōmonly hinder hast in all doings could not bée brought vnto them timely enough made redy And also most of them when their breakefaste was offered vnto them anone after the breake of the day being called to the battell by the noise of the drummes and the roaring of the ordinance left their meate desired before and also néedefull to repaire their strength At the beginning dyuers Capitaynes assembled togyther among whom was Haisler Focte a famous mā for the honor of his age and the cognisaunces of his office and Chezze Amman who had serued in the fieldes aboue forty yeares pety Captayne ensigne bearer Captaine in chiefe and had wonne singular praise in the forefront at that famous battel at Nancey in the which the Switzers slue and destroyed Charles the Duke of Burgongne and al his power These men whether adduced by consideration of the greate losse that they had receyued or hauing intelligence of the departure of diuers of their fellows and also now séeing through the benefit of the light the greate disaduauntage of the places iudged it to be beste to abstaine from battell thinking that they had gotten estimation ynoughe by yesterdayes encounter for to breake the hauty heartes of the Frenchemen But after they had gone aboute in vaine to stay by dissuading praiers the ensignes which were now aduanced foreward and to retein them by standing against them in the way they should goe they also yéelded vnto the fate and wilfulnesse of the souldiours So Rafe Segne Visembach of Vnderwalden Vlderick Iock Zambron desperate captains of singular valour ordering among them selues how they would attache the battell made towardes the enimy in two companies or battells The formost and greatest battallion wherein was placed the ensigne of the Canton of Zurich the whyche is of highest dignitie among the Switzers hasted directly agaynste the Kings battel the which we told you stood in the mids The other company which had stoode vpon the right hand a little beneath the houses of the village that was burnt fetching a greater circuit about began to bende towardes Alencon the Captaine of the rereward for this entent that when the auaunt guarde had turned the king and the strength of the French army vpon them they might with furious charge sette vpon the side of Alencon who was entrenched with weaker munitions and defenced wyth lesse guard and his battell being broken through they myght perce into the syde of the lefte wing and the backe of the kings battell But vnto an other multitude of their fellowes who were encamped in a fielde on the lefte hande on this side the high way they appointed no certaine charge of attaching fighte bycause they were thought to consist of Cantons being of small fidelitie but did sette them thrée hundreth paces from the reste ouer right against the right wing wherein Trivulzi and Burbon gouerned When the Switzers had gone forwarde an arrowes shoote the Frenchemen in continently at one instant time shooting off all the kings ordinaunce vpon them slue so many of them with singular celeritie that they whiche hadde taken counsell of foolishe hardinesse were punished for their rashenesse before that they coulde come to hande strokes yea or approche vnto their enimies Now since this chaunce had caused an horrible wastenesse and slaughter in the middes of the Switzers so that there was no longer one body of their battallion their rankes being torne parte of them that feared the second volée began to
pellets of their enimies For the Turke had very skilfull Gunners in his campe whom he had allured by his great rewards and riche entertamment out of Italie and Germanie and specially manie oute of that filthie rable of Iewes who being expelled by the pietie of king Ferdinand out of al the Spaynes brought afterward such rare vnvsed and deadly artes into all the Orient to spite our men withall The captaine of all these Gunners was one Iames borne at Reggio in Lumbardie a man of passing skil in these artes who being enticed by the Turkishe giftes had a little before forsaken the seruice of Christ and reuolted vnto Mahomets superstition But after the fight is on both sides brought vnto handestrokes the Mamaluches raise a cruell and horrible cry and in thrée quarters charge the Turkes with great valor for Selym kéeping his olde order so marched that he approched in the forme of a croysant The Captain of the Asians in the right wyng was Mustaphas and Innubassa of the Europeans in the left but he himself gouerned the middle battell wherein was the Esquadron of the Ianizars with a great multitude of ordinance But Synambassa being made generall of the fielde had chosen for himselfe a certayne battell or bande of the moste valiantest horsmen taken and picked out of all the companies for to serue for al vncertain euents of the battell Vnto whom he added out of Selyms esquadron fiue hundred footmen of passyng prowesse and swiftnesse that he being reâ—â—â—e in all places of the battell for all chaunces were they neuer so suddain might succour that parte of his fellowes whiche was most pressed by his enimie So that when almost at one time Tomumbey had stoode in the middle battell against Selym and the wings of the Mamaluches had encountred the Turkishe with equall fronte and the Arabians had fought valiantly at their backes as they had bene commaunded foure fights were holty attached at one tyme in diuers places They that were present at this battell do report that through the cry of the Souldiors the noise of the drummes and trumpets the thundring of the artillerie the cloude of the dust and the clashing of the weapons all mens mindes were so amazed and confounded that they beeing all on bothe sydes alyke blynded with furye they rushed foorthe wyth madde desperaetnesse in suche sorte that neyther coulde the voyces and watche woordes bée discerned and knowne one from an other nor the ensignes séene nor the commaundements of the captains heard they by mutual error slew a great number both of their owne felowes and also their enimies without all regard for neuer before that daye had any armies encountred togyther inflamed with greater hatred neuer had two most mightie Emperors more constantly and feruently shewed their valor of bodie and hart with lesse care of life and safetie For when both of them manifestly perceiued sawe that with like daunger of themselues and their armies they had set their liues and empires at sixe and seuen they also vnderstode that there woulde be no other hope left vnto eyther of them but that which the victorie it selfe would bring Now Gazelles enkindeled with desyre of honour and reuenge that he myghte repaye vnto the Europeans a foyle equal vnto that whiche he had receyued at Gaza charging Innubassa with greate violence had ouerrunne the formost the resisting troupes had throwne downe the Guidons and the Arabians preassing on the victors at their backs had made the vanquishing companies of al warres where the strength of the Thracians the Thessalians and the Macedons were to turne their backes whiche neuer any enimye had séene before Then Synambassa being redy and intentife both with mynde and strength for al occasion of victory flew vpon the side of the enimies with a fresh and strong companie of his men and repaired the battaile which was inclined and fouly scattered But anone after Synambassa who had discontinued the manyfest victorie of the enimies by exercising a supreme déede of prowesse was slayn verie valiantly fighting before his men after that thâ— Mamaluches vnder their fierce captain Bido had turned themselues on their new enimie And also his horsemen endeuoring to takâ— vp from the ground their dead captain and to saue him were foâ— a great part slain put to flight by Gazelles who did spread abrodâ— his troupes that they hauing more roone might more fréely vsâ— their swords in which kind of fight the Mamaluches do most excell and also that noble hand of Ianizars being enclosed were ouerrun and flain after that they being forsakeÌ„ of the horsmen had long time very valiantly resisted But in another quarter Mustaphas giuing a vehement charge with all his horsemen vppon the left wing of the Egyptians wherin coÌ„maunded the most renoumed captaines Neylius Diadarius and Giapal Oreemas very sharply vrged theÌ„ They had a little before receyued a notable detriment by the ordinance which was by chaunce shot from Selymb middle battell trauers the fielde Mustaphas perceyuing it and being very desirous to abolish olde ignominy very sharply vrged theÌ„ being once disordered and bringing in his troupes by wedges brake thorough ouer ranne and beate them downe and being notorious all the battell ouer for his voice and armour adhorted the Asians to thinke that they must now recouer eyther by passing prowesse or honorable death their auntient martiall honor the whiche they had lately loste at the battell of Alepo Also at the same time Tomumbey hauyng broken through the middle battell of the horsmen was come vnto the footmen and as he was a mightie man both in body and strength did many notable actes with his semitarre and also the Arabians enclosed the outer wings of the Turkes and forced them in many places to fight with double front when Selym aduaunced forward his esquadron of footemen the whych was hys onely and assured helpe in this extreamitie whose charge neyther coulde the fierce and harded horses nor the victors men abide for part of his souldiours being harquebusierz did much muschiefe when they were impaled with pikes whose immoueable force beyng closed togyther into the array of one body bare downe all that they encountred Yet they fought with variable euent on both sides from the fourth houre of the day vntill Sunne sette neyther was there any part of the armies which suffered not sundry alterations fortune being now prosperous then aduerse for both the vanquished the victors being made mad with mutuall and implacable rage fought with obstinate harts the Mamaluches disdaining that the victory shold be taken from them by those men of whome they had slaine so many but the Turkes chafing that they whome they had before vanquished in two battells did so loÌ„g time resist them in so much that yet the languishing armes and the bodies wearyed and tyred with woundes which were held vp by only wrath and pertinacie of heart might féeme would haue bin able to haue continued an other day in murdering if that
beyng therby quite out of daunger or certes very far from any Moreouer Iohn de Medici was commaunded to goe before all the battelles wyth hys horsemen who were verye passyng excellent consisting both of light horsemen and also men of armes and with the light bands of Italian footemen who also serued vnder him that he coursing this way and that way might take all prospecte from the enimies and not suffer their auaunt currers to take any viewe of the French power So the footemen being hidden by Medices horsemen approched wyth great pace not being séene of the enimies yet the formost of Lescunes horsmen were by reason of their glistering armour séene of the Emperials betwéene certaine trées vpon the lefte hand but they did fetch suche a greate compasse about that they séemed to be beyond the camp and to march towardes Milan In the meane time Pescara than whom no man kept a more constant iudgemeÌ„t of mind in sodaine chaunce commaunded Gastaldo to scout with a company of horsemen he had not gone far but that hée met with Medici and then their horsemen skirmished togyther very brauely now one side and then the other was driuen backe and the loose shotte came also in among them finally they were so blended togither that neither the one was suffered to haue any certaine knowledge of the approche of the Switzers nor the other of the situation and array of the enimies campe The ordinaunce as I said was opportunely placed in the front of the ditche and the footemen were cast into foure battallions but yet so with equall front that Almaines and Spaniards wer mingled together by course The captain of the Almaynes was George Frondesberg a notoriou man for hys mightie body and strength the harquebusters standyng before the pikes occupied all the whole length of the front when Pescara commanded by as new and witty as afterwarde happy deuise that they should not sette fire to their péeces before that they had séene volagues dischardge at his commaundement But he willed the foremoste rankes that after they had dischardged they shold immediatlye stoupe downe on their knées and charge agayne that the seconde rankes might incontinently discharge without daunger of the foremoste hée also commaunded the seconde and then the third and so the fourth to do the same so that when the last had discharged the firste and the sâ—â—ond rankes should quickly and readily shoote off agayne theyâ—â—â—charged péeces So that this order being repeated incessantly the footemen of the enimyes myght bée beaten down as it were wyth a continuall storme before that they could come to hand strokes Euent wanted not to Pescara his deuise For when the Switzers approched they first shooting off their great ordinaÌ„ce as also the Emperials had done ranne amaine vnto the ditche suspecting nothing of the disaduantage of the place Where all things were oportunely administred by Pescara both wyth great quietnesse and also celeritie and he did sodainely let flye a storme of small shotte which did so much mischiefe that not onely the ensignes but whole bandes fel downe at once yet Albert himselfe lustily scaling the rampire flewe vnto Frondesberg whom he knewe and callyng him by an opprobrious name did with a mightie arme thrust his pike into his side gréeuously wounding him but Albert himself was immediatly slaine being stroken at from all partes round about And also that bande of desperate fellowes that succéeded hym wyth franticke fease were easily slaine by the Almaines and Spaniardes from the vpper grounde In this encounter Alfonse the Marques of Guasto cousin germaÌ„ to Pescara was wouÌ„ded in the arme But the rest of the Switzers after they had béene a long time turmoiled and troubled among the heapes of the slain and the piles of their pikes turned their backes Also at the same time Lescune bringing aboute hys horsmen both giue a charge vpon the backes of the enimies and passyng ouer twoo ditches doth breake into the Campe. Ambrose Landriano the Captaine of the Dukes wing of horsmen is defeated and taken prisoner the tentes are caste downe the hales of Antony de Lena and the Earle of Termine and their siluer plate fall to the share of the lackeys and drudges There is a wounderfull great hurly burly raised throughout the whole Campe feare attacheth not onely the Souldiours but also the Captaines themselues yet Prosperi gets himself quickly out of the feare of this sodaine chaunce and setteth his horsmen caste into troupes against the Frenchmen Aâ—irâ—o and the Earle of Collisa valiaÌ„tly helping him 〈◊〉 Antonin de Lena râ—ning thâ—â—her formost of al. Now Lescune fought vpon the bridge with singular prowesse which if he could haue gotten the French horsmeÌ„ had doubtlesse broken into commit a great slaughter of the Emperials when sée the dukes horsmen aduauncing forwarde their guidons from the high way receiued the encounser also a bande of Italians Harquebusters spéedily ranne vnto theyr succour and also the Milanese that lay beyond the riuer in a verie safe place dyd shoote their fielde péeces ouerthwart vpon the enimies Fraunces Forza the Duke was in that quarter a continual encourager the fyght was diuers and cruell as that which was fought in a place very combersome in all partes not only for the ditches and déepe streames and small riuers but also for the ropes of the tents and many long polles that were set vp to tye the horsses vnto But there was a verye sharpe encounter at the bridge for there Lescune hymselfe being notorious for his Caparissons and plume of fethers in his crest contended with great valour to breake through whose prowesse the Monsieurs Montmorency Baiarde and Pontiremy very forwarde Capitains honorably emulated and also Fredericke de Bozolo one of the house of Mantoa had pierced into the highe waye but the iniquitie of the place did withstande the prowesse of the Frenche horsemen For neyther were they able to breake through wyth thycke troupes nor yet to defende themselues bicause they had brought no and of footmen So the FrenchmeÌ„ that fought on the bridge after that many on both parties had ben cast down hedlong into the Ryuer wyth fowle slaughter of men and horsses were at length driuen from the bridge Lescunes horse was slayne vnder hym and anone after when he had taken an other he was wounded in the mouth with a sworde whiche was thruste thorough the bener of his helmet and Mounsieur Baccalaure the Ensigne bearer of Monsieur de Brion was slayne and Hugh Earle of Pepoli had his legge shot through with an harquebusse the Frenche guidons were rafte and torne and the Harquebusters that were beyonde the ditche tourning themselues on the side of the enimies did with their often and thick shooting much endamage the men of armes and specially their horses In the meane space the battel of the Switzers being defeated the footmen freste cryed Victorie victorie this most fayful crye brought from one to another euent vnto the hindermost rankes the Frenchmens hartes
brother for this day thou must endeuour to win the place but if that your handes whiche God defende shall not suffice against your so often vanquished enimies then sée that your bodyes by dying honorably do nobly pay your enimies not vnreuenged that which they doe owe vnto vnto their valiant heartes To whome Guasto aunswered with a ioyfull countenaunce I will this day manfully doe my deuoyre that I being eyther aliue or deade the honors of our house maye be augmented by heape throughe some newe and famous déede of prowes and then breaking into the Parke with square battell marched to a streame called Vernacula méeting with none of his enimies and then passing ouer the small riuer went to Mirabello where bicause of the largenesse of the house a myghtie multitude of Merchauntes straglers sicke souldiours and men of peace had settled themselues and great store of victualles and much of the Kings furniture of housholde was also layde there And there was among all other that he might lodge the more quietly and wholsomely the Popes Ambassadour Hierome Aleander a man verye excellentlye learned and of greate fame nâ—mely for his wonderfull memorie So when the ennimies had flowen thither vnlooked for all that whole companye was streightwaye oppressed and all thynges were in a trice spoyled and then Guasto gathering his bandes togither into one as Pescara had commaunded him he did set vppe the Emperiall Ensignes within the diche of the house In the meane time Pescara immediatly bringeth in the rest of the footemen Lancy and Burbon doe sende in the horsemen the artillerie is drawen into the Parke by Oxen and horses although hardlye yet at one tyme The fieldes are filled with whyte linnen battayles for all the Emperialles had by Pescara his Edicte put their waste-coates vppermost and they which lacked waste coates and speciallye the Almaines had so couered their breastes with whyte paper that by the vnwonted whyte the weapons glistering betwéene a shewe of a greater and more terrible hoste might hée presented vnto the eyes of the amazed Frenche men For nowe the dawning hadde brought in fayre broade daye light and the somewhat thicke cloude which had bene spreade ouer the fields began to vanishe awaye by little and little But the Frenche King who perpetually watched intentiue for all chaunces is nothing appalled with that noueltie and therewithall as it became eyther a King of high heart or a skilfull and stoute Chieftaine giueth signe by the Trumpetie that euery man taking his armour and weapons shoulde stande by the Ensignes hee commaundeth the great ordinance to be drawen forth by the harnessed horses and by the Captaines as néede was administreth all things spéedily but yet not without all tumult and vprore for he had learned long before by the report of Greco Iustiniano what the enimies went about by thicke thumping against the wall of the Parke and when he hearde the thundering of the enimies ordinance whoÌ„ Leua by appointmeÌ„t had answered with the like nuÌ„ber he had iudged by coniecture that it was doubtlesse a signe eyther of attaching battayle or of attempting some great exployte It is also reported that he sharply reproued certayne that of vaine flatterie tolde him that the Emperialles being oppressed with penurie and lacke of all thinges were fleeing backe againe vnto Lodi Thus when he plainely séeth that the battayles of the ennimies marche with full pace not vnto him but to Mirabello he thinking it not good to linger leadeth the Switzers and Lansquenettes out of the munitions he commaundeth the Frenche footemen to staye in the Campe with Bussie de Ambois he leaueth the Italian footemen in commodious places vnder the Castell agaynst the sallyes of Leua and marcheth himselfe vnto the ennimye in araye of battayle with thys order that on the one side the great ordinaunce and on the other wings of horsemen shoulde flanke the Switzers and march with them with equall fronte one as farre forth as another and not farre off the Lansquenets were flanked in like sort with other horsemen and ordinance They report that when the King ledde the footemen out of the campe he being very ioyfull in couÌ„tenance nor any thing fearing the malignitie of fortune sayde vnto the Captaines that stoode rounde about him that he went not rashlye forth to fight the battell neuer calling reason into counsell but with a right and noble iudgement séeing that he coulde with most equall lot wish nothing more commodious for the winning of the victorie than to get his enimies not within diches and munitions as it had often happened at other tymes but in the open and wyde fieldes and in their marche and iourney where it might be séene what the standing Esquadrons of Switzers Almaines were worth what force the most strong horsemen had what good the great ordinance flying our swift whéeles coulde doe For against the Lansquenets who onely of all other séemed most to be feared he did rightly set the Switzers as their matches indiscipline furniture strength and courage so also alwais their most bitter enimies by naturall hatred But he thought that the Spaniardes woulde not be able to abide no not the first impression of the blacke regiment of Lansquenets if that they woulde kéepe their rankes in thicke araye neyther if that they woulde fight scattered and running hither and thither that they coulde escape from being ouerrunne by the horsemen Doubtlesse these things were foreséene and prouided with very good aduise and reason if that as it most times happeneth insolent fortune being foe vnto noble deuises had not preuerted all thinges by confuse order For they ranne togither in sundrie places with so great confusion of horsemen and footemen blended togither that neuer any armies fought more confusely and scatteringly For happe came streight wayes into the place of Martiall prudence and valor was oftentimes vanquished by an vnthought of chaunce when rashnesse séemed by happye euent to vsurye the name of mature counsell and reason In the hindermost taile of the Emperialles were seuen bandes of Italian footemen and thrée of Spaniardes appointed tâ— garde fiue battering péeces of ordinance When they hardlye followed the rest of their fellowes that went before bicause that almost as soone as they had entred the Parke the whéeles sinking in the ordinance staâ—ke fast in a watrie plot it came to passe that they which were last in order were contrarie to hope the first of all that met the Frenchmen their enimies For the King séeing them separated farre from the rest of the armie did out of hande sende thither Philip Lord Brion Fredericke Earle of Bozzolo with a strong companie of men of armes with certain speedy péeces of ordinance and also certain small loose companeis of footemen were ioyned with them They doe spéedily his commaundement and doe set vpon the enimies being busied in weyghing vp the ordinance There is a cruell fight but although the Emperials fought with singular valor yet they susteyning neyther the storme of the
ordinance nor the force of the horsemen tooke the woode adioyning to saue themselues by the garde of the trées from the violence of the insulting horsemen So the Frenchmen quickly cutting off the legs of the drawing beastes doe get the ordinance and with the same violent pursuite doe enter the woode where being oppressed with the disaduauntage of vnaccustomed encounter Sebastian Squaccia a man of passing prowes was slayne and with him certaine stout petie Captaynes and Ensigne bearers yea and foure whole bandes This exployt being prosperously done in the sight of both armies as it did greatlye augment the courage of the King and the French men so did it strike Pescara with incredible sorowe bicause he coulde not succour them But on the other side he being gréedie of fight as soone as he sawe the Kings armie the which he did not thinke woulde haue come forth into the fielde out of their campe wonderfully reioyced as though he had conceyued the victorie Neyther stayed he but immediatlye sent Falzi an horseman of his acquaintance vnto Lanoy to admonishe him to stay his marche and all things set apart and turning the Guidons towardes the enimies incontinently to encounter them he also signifieth the same vnto Burbon and Nicolas Earle of Salern and gallopeth himselfe to call Guasto but Guasto as soone as he had séene his enimies leauing Mirabello marched backe to Vernacula and setting his men in aray of battel had turned the ensignes towardes the enimies for he did not thinke that in this moment of time he ought to obey that which had bene at the firste commaunded him but spéedily to vse the newe counsell whiche chaunce did present Then Pescara sayde this is well brother you haue done that which I woulde you should wherefore haste you on the lefte hande vnto the ennimie with spéedie pace and valiauntlye endeuour that the victorie maye moste speciallyâ— aryse at your wing When he had thus sayde he flewe vnto the Lansquenets in whose valor and strength he did foresée that the weyght of the battayle and the whole victorie did consiste In the meane time a troupe of the Emperiall light horsemen boldly charging the blacke Esquadron of Almaines were easilye repelled and thrust backe with foule disorder into the valley of Vernacula that laye vnderneath and also the Frenche ordinaunce being commodiously drawen with swift horses into all quarters with marueylous skill and celeritie did so annoye the enimies that the Spaniardes yea laying their brestes flatte vpon the grounde coulde scarse escape the fléeing pellets through the benefite of the lower greunde and Lanoy and Alarco were forced to bring their fearefull troupes of horsemen behinde a countrie Cottage which happily defended them But then the king being vohemently incited by these as it were beginnings of not doubtfull victorie and moued both by the disposition of his owne nature and also through the adhortation of his Captaines doubted nothing to giue the signall to dismarche to giue the charge The rest do the same and before all other Palice the leader of the auantgarde did in the right wing charge the Emperiall horsemen who were now lustily turned This fease and charge of the Frenchmen as it was gréeuous and terrible to Lanoy so by the opinion of many men it séemed to haue afterward not doubtfully caried away the victorie from the Frenchmen for by that headlong and spéedie departure not onely the Switzers and Almaines who coulde not followe after with equall pace were bared of the guarde of the horsemen but also the vse of the ordinaunce was for a great part taken awaye for that the Gunners were forced to cease shooting least that they shoulde strike both the sides and backes of the kings troupes who were runne forth farre before them But neuer in our age did horsemen encounter togither more couragiouslye and strongly for on both sides olde beaten Captaines and horsemen fought with burning heartes not for only glorie a thing yet that doth most sharpen the edge of true prowesse but also for the Empire of Italie The Frenchmen being gréedie of reuenge sought in all places of the encounter most narrowly for Burbon as a forsaker of the King and his countrie with the ignominie of treason and perfidiousnesse but all in vaine for Burbon that he might more safely shewe his valor had giuen his Cognizaunces vnto his familiar freude the Lord Pomperant and fought himselfe in his coate and apparailed like vnto a priuate souldiour But the King himselfe being notorious for his coate of cloth of siluer and specially for his tall stature fullye perfourmed the dutie of an encouraging Captaine and a valiant warrier he setting spurres to his horse brake throughe the enimies battayles he encountred those that he mette and namelye those that were moste of marke for veluet and golde In thys vprore Ferdinand Castriâ—ta who broughte his pedigrue from the Kings of Macedon and was also a noble Captaine was slayne by the Kynges owne hande and Hugh of Cardona the Lieutenaunt of Pescara his companye of Horsemen was also beaten downe twoo Guidons were torne into péeces and the horsemen of Baâ—ier whome Ferdinande the Emperours brother had sent lustilye attaching the encounter and most constantlye fighting were defeated so that nowe the Guidons and troupes of Lanoy and Barbon did almoste swaye and shrinke backe For the Frenche men were superiour in horsemen both for number and strength bicause the Emperiall men of armes did lacke the ayde of light horsemen for of the thrée troupes the firste had gone to Mirabello with Guasto the seconde as wée haue toldo you béeing shamefullye repulsed by the blacke Almaynes had fledde backe But the thirde beyng lefte wythoute the Parke vnder the conducte and guyding of Guy Gaino did garde the cariages and baggage of the whole armye Also that surpassyng companye of horsemen whyche consisted wholye of Italian and Spanishe Gentlemen and was the peculiar companie of the Viceroy ayded them not at all as they which were not at the battell For Lanoy had coÌ„maunded Monsieur Verereis a Fleming his cosin and Lieutenant ouer that hande to staye without the wall of the Parke nor by any meanes to stirre from thence vntil that he had receyued from him by assured messenger the token of departure and of entring the fight But when the battaile was incontinently attached and very hote and Lanoy had all his senses and memorie so vehemently occupied about the present and terrible matter that he sent no man to call his cosin the yong Gentleman thinking that he must in any case obey his vncles commaundementes and the preceptes of Martiall discipline stoode still and moued not vntill the ende of the battaile neyther could he be adduced to go forth into the field by any intreatie or chasing of the horsemen vnto Lanoy being for these causes in great distresse and hardlye susteyning the force of the Kings battayle Pescara who viewing all things and places with wonderfull and present prudence and specially with intentiue
troupe of Almaine horsemen strengthened the light horsemen who contrarie to his expectation had bene repelled and adhorted the rest to glorie and valiance and greatly were his commaundementes aduaunced through the skilfulnesse of the souldiours who did execute Martiall preceptes spéedily an exactly Wherefore they renuing the fight did so valiantly giue the charge on their ennimies that they had almoste made them to turne their backs The Saxon perceyuing the faint courage of his menne that he mighte not be enuironed on all partes and the way of his safetie taken from him called a troup of horsemen from the left wing and commaunded them to succor their distressed fellowes and as the shortnesse of the time would suffer adhorted them in this maner to reteyne the stoutnesse and glorie of their auncestors Vnlesse that ye your selues fellowe souldiours did verye well knowe that almost all mans nobilitie and glorie doth consist in Martiall matters it woulde haue bene néedefull for me to declare with many words that our ancestors got estimation glorie and empire by none other thing and I woulde haue reuoked into your memorie their diume and wonderfull actes But séeing that the straytnesse of the time doth not beare it the which doth require fortitude of hart and strength of bodie than any eloquent speach This onely thing do I say that at this time we must fight for all that we haue the conseruation whereof is reposed in onely fortitude and valor of armes For if we shall playe the valiant and stoute fellowes as in déede we ought to doe this daye will be vnto vs the happiest day that euer shined and of greatest memorie among all our posteritie For we maye I doe not saye defende our goodes countrie libertie religion wiues children although that these things are of them selues most deare and of such price that for them all perils are to be cōtemned neither conserue the recouered principality of Saxonie but with surpassing prayse and admiration of all forein nations augment the glorie of the Germane name deliuer from thraldom and make frée the Almaine Empire and feare the rest of the enimies of the Germaines from euer againe vexing of Germanie and finally obteyne a glorious and quiet peace for euer But contrariwise if we giue place to fortune who is mostlye frende vnto the hardie but seldome vnto the fearefull we must néedes come into the hands of our enimies with extreame shame and at one time léese all that we haue possesse By these reasons were the Saxons a litle cōfirmed who being set in such aray as was thought best for that present the Duke himselfe stoode with his horsemen before his footmen that they might be confirmed For he did not a litle distrust their prowes In the right wing against the Emperials he placed Ernest the Duke of Brunswicke with the horsmen of Nicolas Bernarde and Iohn Segherne whome he did take to be his best He gaue order that if the Emperials did giue any charge in their battels they shoulde shoote off all their Pistolets and harquebusses at once and alwayes kéeping their aray suffer the inuasions of their enimies and also commaunded that no man on payne of death shoulde go out of his place for he himselfe woulde be carefull to bring them succour and thus they faire and softlye expected the onset of the Emperialles The Saxon himselfe roade hither and thither opportunelye prouiding and séeing to all things then he commaūded the horsemen and certaine harquebusiers to giue a charge vpon the Emperiall light horsemen that the rest of his footemen might the more commodiouslye get into the woode through whose garde they thought they shoulde be safe But by this time had the Emperour ioyned with the auantgarde of his men and with fewe words adhorted his souldiours to attache the battell crying Saint George Hispaine and the Empyre But when all the Emperiall troupes ran forth togither equally frōted they came vnto a dirtie plot where many of the horses did slyde as in a slipperie place wherfore the battell was forced to staye vntill that the fore warde were passed the slough least that else both battels should be disordered and one intermired with another whereby it came to passe that they going aside the auantgard was passed by at that same time that the Saxons gaue the charge that I spake of with very good order on the lyghte horsemen of the Emperialles When that the Emperour sawe this oportunitie to haue a sayre daye he sente from the one side men of armes and from the other the harquebusiers on horsebacke and Duke Morrice to charge that parte of the Saxons that had before séemed to be the more fearfull The battell was begunne in the right wing where the Saxons discharging their shotte altogither as they had bene commaunded the fight séemed at the firste to be very cruell But when that the light horsemen of the Italians and the Hungarians charged them in another parte on the side and woulde graunte the shotte no leysure to recharge their péeces agayne and in another quarter the men of armes of Naples Duke Morrices and the Harquebusiers fiercely vrged they so feruentlye charged the Saxons on all sides that the auantgarde whiche had not entred the woode was opened and scattered It was marueylous to sée wythin howe small a space of time and as it were in a momente all the armie of the Saxons was ouerthrowne defeated the light horsemen and the Hungarians pursuing the victory with wonderful celeritie The Saxon although hée endeuoured opportunelye to succour his menne and timely to prouide all things yet when he fawe that so greate a number of his men were layde on the grounde and ouerthrown he determined to saue himselfe by taking the wood after that he certainly perceiued that he was in no wyse able to resist with the reste that were lefte him But when he was disclosed vnto his ennimies by one that was taken prisoner and his Princelye porte and almoste Kinglye maiestie did persuade them to beléeue that it was he in deede firste twoo Italians pursued him and althoughe he were valiantly defended by his men yet at the last when that moe of the Emperialles came he was taken prisoner after no small fighte by Hippolito a Vientine who pulled off his heade péece and did put hym on an hatte in signe of a prisoner But when that the Emperialles came afterwarde into the woode they founde so manye armours and weapons throwne awaye and lying on the grounde and so manye slayne bodyes heaped in the wayes that it was a lamentable sight vnto their countrimen some séeing their berthren other their cousins and frendes slaine by them and also it was no small impediment vnto the rest to pursue the chace Moreouer there were such a number of prisoners taken that many of the Emperialles led fiftie or xx prisoners a péece with their haudes bounde behinde them But bicause that the Emperials séemed to be greatly dispersed for desire of spoile the which is no
he neglecting his torment of the goute called for his horse rode incontinently vnto the campe the which was pitched in a coÌ„modions and well defenced place Nor long after Egmont and Binicourt came in sight with their armie aranged in order of battell with haughtie harts lodged within an harquebusse shot of the Frenchmen and with incredible ferocitie skirmished with theÌ„ in all quarters Then Termes calling the Captaines togither that same night bicause he sawe that he was farre ouermatched in number of souldiours and he was enuironed in his enimies lande as it were with an euclosure of infestuous townes that the power of the Burgonions did daily encrease he concludeth to flée back vnto Calice the next day along the sea sandes when it was low water so to escape by the benefite of nature At the which oportunitie the FrenchmeÌ„ as they had before determined came hofully vnto the mouth of the riuer of Ha where it runneth into the sea aboue Graueling nowe it being low water easily passed ouer the riuer On the other side as soone as Egmont vnderstoode of this flight of the Frenchmen hâ—spéedily passed ouer the riuer beneth the towne that he might stoppe the passage of the fléeing enimie This was done the xiij of Iuly Then he mette with the enimie on the front about Calice since and in the sight of Graueling Here when Termes sawe that he was intercluded from his intended iourney he seruing the time wholye prepared to fighte and when the broade sealaye on the one side of him but on the other a playne without any trée bushe hill or any other impediment and he coueted to haue the place of most aduantage as much as might be he aranged his hoste in this order he deflected all his armie on the right hande northward on the which quarter the sea flowed and therefore did well defence the one side but on the left hande Southwarde he did set the wagons for a trenche and his backe was garded with the riuer of Ha. So that the Frechmen being safe on all other sides laye open vnto the Burgonions onely at the fronte where before their rankes they placed all their ordinaunce which were sixe Culnerings and thrée Falcons yet so that large spaces were left betwéene for the horsemen that by this meanes both the ordinance and also the incursions of the horsemen might at once infest the enimies both sides of which horsemen were flanked with Gascons harquebusiers The rere warde and thirde battell consisted of Frenchmen and Lansquenettes who stoode at the backes of the horsemen with blended rankes Lansquenets and Frenchmen togither that they might succour their fellowes if that néede shoulde be But although that Egmont had no ordinance which had bene left behinde that they might march the more spéedily yet he not gretly forced that his enimies did therin ouermatch him for he trusted chieflye in prowes and valor He then knowing that the enimies had bewraied their feare by their premeditated flight that they ment to driue away with them a mightie bootie coÌ„municating his deuise with the captains determineth incoutineÌ„tly to fight least the Termes might else scape out of his hand by the coÌ„ming of freshe ayde nothing regarding the coÌ„mon Proue the that we must not only giue way vnto our sheing enimie but also make a want for him Egmont encouraging his souldiors to fight doth thus arange theÌ„ He deuideth al the horsemen into fiue troupes commaunding the light horsemen to ryde before in thrée troupes of whome the Earle of Ponteuaules a Flemming gouerned the right wing and Eriques a Biscaian the left but the middle battell Egmont reserued for himselfe Behinde the light horsemen followed troupe of Reysters with Pistolets and then a troupe of men of armes of the lowe Countrimen a certaine space being left betwéene eyther of the battels Then were all the footemen deuided into thrée hattels the footemen were high Almaines Nederlanders whose regiment was greatest and certaine bandes of old Spanishe footemen they were led by their Colonels Hilmaner of Mumchausen Binicourt and Caruatal The armie being thus aranged Egmont cried out with a loude voyce we haue vanquished All that haue regarde of their owne prayse or the glorie of their countrie let him followe me and setting their spurres vnto their horses runne in with me among the thickest of our enimies And sodenly as soone as he had spoken the worde be giuing the signall ran forth The prepared Frenchmen doe manfullye susteyne the charge of the Burgonions and with their ordinance commit great slaughter in the foremost rankes so that Egmonts borse fell downe vnder him But the Burgonions being nothing appalled with this chaunce valiantly insist in their enterprise are caried with all their whole strength vpon the câ—imie by the admonishment and impulsion of Egment Incontinently all the hattels on both sides joyne togither they fight with swordes launces pykes harquebusses pystolets halbards al other weapons The troupes of horsmen encouÌ„ter one the other so likewise the footemen finally they fight with handstrokes setting foote to foote whether this hapned by chauÌ„ce or whether it was prouided by the industrie of the captains certes it séemed a straunge and also a marueylous thing yea vnto those that were skilfull in martiall affaires who did plainly say that it had not happened in our age that any battell was fought with such equalitie of all rankes and orders and weapons and ioyned togither in such indifferent sort Thus they fought verye sharply a long and doubtfull battell For although the Lansquenets stoode still and fought not yet the valor of the Gascons footemen was so great that they supplied the others dastardie with their strength susteyned almost all the brunt and force of the battell for the Lansquenets standing still as it were men separated from them and left a certaine space of the Gascons flewe vppon the vrging Burgonions they resisted them and with haughtie heartes receyued their anpression The French horsemen also encountred but more slowly and dissolutely than their wont is neither as it became Gentlemen of their qualitie although that according vnto the maner of that nation they were chosen men and very well and brauely appointed with all furniturie and horses Moreouer whyle that they fought so valiantly and with so great contention of heartes that neyther partie woulde turne their fares a straunge marueylous chaunce happened for at the same time ten Englishe shippes chaunced to sayle by who descrying the encounter when they were in the maine sea made towarde them and it being full sea came neare vnto the shore and with their ordinance did beate the side of the French armie the which we solde you before lay full vpon the sea The French men being dismayed with this sodeyne chaunce began to be in greate feare distrusting that mo shippes woulde come vnto them But on the other side the Burgonions pressed the more instantly when they had defeated the horsemen anon
footemen to garde the great ordinance and this Esquadron was guarded with a wing of Reystres Thus Conde went towardes the enimie in aray somewhat broade déepe But his enimies were redy aranged in this order the Duke of Guise led the one wing of the auantgarde with a strong troupe of horsemen nere vnto whoÌ„ stoode two Esquadrons of Spaniardes footemen and of Frenche footemen olde souldiours with fouretene péeces of ordinance and the Marshall of Saint Andrewes guided the other wing with a strong troupe of horsemen and was garded on the one side with a battallion of Lansquenets and on the other with a battallion of horsemen Of the maine battell the Constable led one wing with a strong troupe of horsemen neare to whome were placed a battallion of seuentene ensignes of French footemen whome there followed xxij ensignes of Switzers with eyghtene péeces of greate ordinance the other wing his soune Danuille ledde with a strong troupe of horsemen Thus stoode the battels of the Catholikes in grat length on a row here footemen and there horsemen being still interserted The Admirall stoode ouer right against the Constable and Conde against Danuille and the Switzers but no bodie againste Guise and the Marshall of Saint Andrewes who were in the auantgarde Conde first gaue commaundement that the souldiours shoulde be present at diuine seruice and that being ended he ryding about vnto the rankes abhorted them to constancie and confidence and hauing thus prepared their heartes he gaue the signall and he himselfe Curey going before with the light horsmen charged vpon the Switzers in that part where he sawe they were bared of horsemen and strongly brake thorowe them Rochfocault in the meane time standing still The Switzers at the first stoutly susteyned the charge partly through the power of their ordinaunce and also the strengthe of their owne weapons but yet through the thicke hayle of the shotte they began to giue grounde and anon after not being able to beare the force of the horsemen their Launces brake their aray and forsooke the great ordinance and were scattered the Condeans raging with great slaughter And almost at the same momeÌ„t the Admirall charged the Constable and in the meane time the vpper troupes of the Reysters ryding vnto Danuils troupes skirmished with their pistolets WheÌ„ Conde had with great slaughter defeated and put to flight the Switzers he gaue a charge on the next battallion of French footemen and breaking throughe their rankes discomfited and put them to flighte But there was a furious fighte betwéene the Admirall and the Constable but at length the Constable his men begaune to shrinke backe and after that the Constable being wounded in the face with a Curtelace and sore bruised with small shot of pistolets was taken they fledde the Admirall and Conde pursuing them But whyle that Conde his horsemen were busied in pursuing of the enimie the French and Almaine footemen were left naked which Danuill espying charged vpon the Almaine footmen who fledde at the first sight of the enimye towardes a village called Blinuill Then a strong troupe of Guises horsemen gaue a charge on the French footemen and brake their araye and quyte defeated them at the first shocke taking the ordinaunce and committing great slaughter yet when that diuers of the Frenche footemen fought couragiouslye manye of the Guisian horsemen were slayne Moreouer Danuill séeing Conde his horsemen to be disordered and dispersed by pursuing the Switzers and the Constables troupes charged vpon them wounding the Conde with a Pistolet and vnhorsing him did take him prisoner When the Admirall sawe his fellowes fléeing in all places and also the Reysters giuing backe vnto a woode in a thicke troupe after their guyse that when they had recharged their Pistolets they might lustily altogither recharge the ennimie the which vsage of theirs being vnknowen vnto manye did put them in greate feare they suspecting them to flée and finally when he perceyued that all the Condeans were nowe in dispayre bicause that Conde was taken prisoner he was verye pensife namely when he saw thrée mightie troupes of horsmen of the auantgard of the enimie wysely reserued by Guise for the last brunt to make towardes him In these troupes were the Marshall of Saint Andrewe the Dukes Daumall and of Neuers and other noble men but they saye that the Duke of Guise stoode still with other bandes that had not yet foughte for to beholde the ende of the battell then the Idmirall spéedilye relying all the Frenche and Almaine horsemen that he was able to make and also by the returne of those Reisters that I sayde went aside vnto the woode their heartes being confirmed stoutlye susteyned the charge of their enimies Then there beganne a sharpe encounter bothe sides fighting full suriouslye their heartes being constantlye sette to murther one another with almoste equall fortune yet the Guisians gaue grounde and by little and little drewe backe and more grieuous had bene the fighte namelye the souldiours of Conde being chased if that the nighte had not parted them who were wearied with long labour of fighte Both partes caused the retire to be sounded and returned vnto their Campes The Admirall for lacke of horses lefte foure fielde péeces behinde him In this laste encounter were slayne the Marshall of Saint Andrewes with a Pistolet after he was taken Monbrun the Constables sonne the Lorde Piennes the grand Prior one of the Guises two Brosseys Giures Anneboult and a greate number of other of the Nobilitie Daumâ—ll was grieuouslye hurte and also Neuers who died thereof and manye other and an hundreth of the nobler sorte were taken prisoners and also certaine of the order as Beauâ—ayâ— Roâ—â—fort â—t Of the faithfull or Protestantes Mouy and diuers other noble men and Captaynes were eyther taken or slayne God so mode rated the euent of so great a battell that neither part coulde be sayde eyther to haue wonne or to haue lost the fielde for on the part of the faithfull was Conde the patron of the cause taken and on the Catholikes their side the Constable was taken and the Marshall of Sains Andrewes slayne And as the faythfull flewe a greate number of the Catholikes their footemen so did the Catholikes of the faithfull their footemen but mo horsemen were slayne on the Catholikes part and also footemen for of the xxij ensignes of the Switzers few were saued but Conde his losse was more difficill to be borne and repaired but Guise being better furnished for the warres had great incommoditie by the losse of so many great Captaines and noblemen as were there slayne taken This battel was fought the xix of December The Admirall gathering togither his power returned vnto Orleans and the Guise vnto Paris eyther of them to repayre their sore weakened armies ¶ The Battell foughte at Saint Dennis neare to Paris in France betvvene Levves of Burbon Prince of Conde and Annas Montmorencie Constable of France in Anno. 1567. Taken out of the booke intituled
fight without feare and valiantly against their enimies their nauie If that anye man did forsake the battell eyther for slouth feare or anye other cause he and his vessell and all that were with him should be incontinently consumed with fire In the meane time he commaunded as our men did that euerye man shoulde repayre incontinently vnto his ranke and order and kéepe it ordeining a grieuous payne for all them that shuld doe otherwise Moreouer he assembling his men togither adhorted them to be myndefull of their wonted prowes through the which they had so often hitherto put to flight this same enimie and reduced into their memorie all the noble actes that they had done in former yeares agaynst Charles the fift and his sonne Philip during the reygne of Solyman Moreouer he briefelye repeated all that they had at sundrye times done agaynste the Venetians and what they had of late gotten by warres and armes that is to wit howe they had augmented the Turkishe dominions with the kingdome of Cyprus Wherefore they ought to remember that they were also nowe to fight wyth those men whome they had so often discomfited and that they shoulde make a waye and entrie not onely into Italie but also shortlye vnto the possession of all Europe and therefore they shoulde fight valiantly assuredly trust that God and Mahomet through whose helpe their auncestours had subdued so manye kingdomes and Prouinces and had broughte backe from the vanquished enimye so manye renowmed victories woulde also be with and assiste them in this battell These things and manye suche lyke did he set before his souldiours with an oration no lesse graue than eloquent that thereby his souldiours although he sawe them of their owne accorde to be sharply inkindled to fight might yet be through these adhortations the more and more accensed Nowe was all the daye almoste spente when that the nauies on both sides were made readie to fight The ennimies fléete was sette in almoste the same araye that oures was For the middle battell came against our middle battell and their wings against ours Our sixe greate galleyes or Galeazes as I haue tolde you wente before of whome two stoode before eyther wyng as a moste sure Bulwarke and the rest wente before the myddle battell These greate Galleyes charging the leaders of the Turkishe battelles against them did beate the ennemie on all sides with their ordinaunce and committed horrible slaughter But althoughe the Turkes had receyued manye greate losses by them and sawe that their orders and rankes were scattered yet they being passed by them did wyth a certayne marueylous pertinacie and stoutenesse of heart gette them incontinentlye vnto the Ensignes So anon the two fléetes ioyned togither in battell and the highe Admirall galleyes of bothe fléetes vsing the surpassing chearefulnesse of the Mariners and Rowers ranne togither with so greate force and violence that their beakes on bothe sides were strycken off They foughte valiantlye and variablye for the space of an whole houre the victorie enclyning vnto neither parte fortune giuing ioyfull hope of prosperous euente nowe vnto oure men and then vnto the aduersaries And nowe they began to fighte no longer with Arrowes Dartes and Gunnes but encountered close togither with their Swordes But when our menne had twyce boorded the Turkishe Admirall and had gotten vnto the Maste and séemed to be maisters of hir they were twyce repulsed thence and not withoute a notable losse by newe succoure that ranne thither Whyle that these thynges are in doing Bernardine de Cardona séeing that Lewes de Figaroa the Captayne of the stemme of the highe Admirall had manye of his menne wounded and slayne came spéedilye to relieue and succoure him wyth Michael de Moncada to whome also that charge had bene enioyned But whylest that Bernardine foughte valiantlye at the stemme with his sworde and target he being shot in with thrée pellets fell downe and dyed the next morning And in that place were also Peter Zaputha Lewes de Ferez Pliege the father Federick de Benauides Gusman Philip de Rhodes Ruide de Mendozza Iohn de Sâ—to and Lewes de Rochenes who was sometime at the standard and sometimes with Dom Iohn and all these noble gentlemen fought against the enimie with great and incredible valor At length our men still vrging with sharpe sight and hauing gotten a fauourable aspect of victorie did after an houre and an halfes fight discomfite the middle battell and boorded and tooke the Admirall galley in whome were about fiue hundreth of the noblemen slayne and mo taken and wounded the Admirall himselfe while that he encourageth his men he erecteth those that doe faynt and be fearefull he confirmeth the couragious he extolleth to the heauens those that fight valiantly and promiseth them great rewardes finally whilest that he executeth no lesse the charge of an excellent Chiefetaine than of a stout souldiour is slayne with a small shot that hit him in the heade the whiche being streightway cut off from his necke was brought by a Spaniard vnto Dom Iohn who as soone as he saw it coÌ„manded it to be set on the poynt of a speare for a space held it aloft with his own hande as it were a trophey and to strike terror into the heartes of the rest of his enimies who fought yet very valiantly anon were all the Turkish flagges pulled downe and one of the crosse hanged out in their place But although that a principall galley of the enimies sodenly inuaded the Admirall when that she had almost vanquished hir enimies yet she had the same euent that the rest had While that the high Admirals doe most fiercely encounter eche other Partaw and Colonna encountred togither and euery one of Colonna his galleys with the Turkishe some with two and some with thrée as Colonna himselfe and the Admirall of the Venetians had done equall almost was the prowes of the souldiours on both sides At the beginning of the encouÌ„ter many were slayne but most on the enimies part by reason that our men had in euery galley thrée hundreth skilfull verye well practised harquebusiers and on the other side the enimye had verye fewe although in steade of them there were innumerable archers and among them some on horsebacke who deadly wounded manye of our menne But in the meane time the Galleye slaues also brought no small helpe to the obteyning of the victorie by hurling of Dartes and stones vpon the enimie While that the chief Captaynes of the fléetes encounter one the other with so bloudy and cruell fight all vessels of both nauies doe also in all partes furiously fight one against the other and Doria and Occhiali runne togither But here was the fight most troublesome and hardest bicause that Doria had ioined with so suttle an enimie and an old beaten Captaine and one whome he sawe did recule backe that he might choose that which he iudged woulde be most for his aduauntage This was a great impediment that his counsels
encounter the midle battel wherin was the Kyng But the fourth battell to charge the rerewarde was assigned vnto Fortebraccio de Montoni Also thrée battels of succoure were appoynted with very good order indéede but with a very shamefull euent so that Antonie de Feltri the bastard of Vrbine should timely ayde the Generall when the signall shoulde bée giuen Aniball Bentiuogli Galeazzo Pallaâ—icini when néede required should follow the Earle of Giazza and finally Lewes Aduocato and Fraunces Gambara Bressâ—ns and Soneino Beazono a Gremenese should attend vpon Montoni The reason why these battels of succour were ordeined was this that when euery battell of the Frenchmen béeing entangled with their owne peril could not succour the nexte being in distresse they shoulde all of them be at one time beaten downe almost from all partes The eyght and ninth battell were placed a little father off for as ayde against all vncertaine chances But Taliano Pio Charles Meliteo were left with the rest of the armye to guard the Campe. Moreouer the maisters of the great ordinance were commaunded to plant their ordinance in a long ranke on the banke of the Riuer of Tarro in as commodious places as coulde be prouided by martiall arte When the battels were thus sette in aray the Marques returned vnto the Prouiditori who albeit they being suspended with very weightie care iudged it contrarie vnto the reason and trade of their common wealth to dareyne battell yet suche was the chéerefulnesse of the host singularly well arraunged and appoynted to fighte that nowe it repented them of their ouerwary counsell and were throughly filled both with ioy and assured hope of victorie Neither was ther any man honourable either for his age or martiall dignitie that then durst consult with cunctation and suspense whether the battell were to be aduentured or openly to make any doubt of obteyning the victorie for most of the fresh water Souldiers béeyng lifted vp by a certaine hote desire to fight and a trust reposed in their strength were so lustie that if they hearde anye men speake somewhat warely or considerately in that daunger of the whole state they openly rayled vppon him with manye reprochful wordes and called them drawe backes and feareful dastardes And it happened that wheÌ„ Radulph Gonzago sayd that hée thought the place would be incommodious for them to fighte in and therefore would haue had it first made euen and leuell he was streight wayes malapertly scoffed at by Mario Caluisano a goodlye lustie youth and one in greate fauoure with the Marques for hée tolde him with vnreuerend spéeche that they which were so greatly afrayde of their skinne might do well immediately to get them thence and shrowde themselues warely within the walles of Parma I pray God quoth Radulph then that these foolishe hardie kilâ—owe princoxes do valiantly follow me piercing into the middes of the enimies for they shall receyue the strokes not of painted and trilling vain stanes as they do at games but féele of the stroÌ„g and sturdy stéele God graunte we maye embrue these braue casâ—â—â—kes and coates rather with our enimies than with oure owne bloud Radulph indéede was the true and the best Iudge and valure of forraigne warfare for from his childhoode he had bin one of the Henchmen of Charles the Duke of Burgoigne and was present at those thrée last battels in whiche he béeyng at length vanquished lost hys martiall power whyche before was feared of all men and hys Duchie togyther wyth hys life In the meane tyme when the Frenchmen now drewe néere and the Souldyers were excited vnto the battell by the often thunder of the great ordinance the Marques turning hymselfe vnto the Lieutenantes sayde If you thynke it for the behoofe of the common weale that we doe valiantly bridle the foolishe hardinesse of the Frenchmenne whiche wyth barbarous vanitie doe promise themselues the Empyre of all Italy we must not long consulte but nowe when the Fyffe and Trumpettes of oure enimies do call vs we must out of hande bende oure heartes to fyghte for if by lingering we shall lette oure enimies escape out of our handes wée shall not fynde héereafter so good an occasion to oppresse him and shall in vayne pursue hym béeyng lyght and vncumbred and wyth wasting all the Countrey hasting through the paineful and blinde pathes to succoure his people at Nouara I for my part if yée shall commaunde it will lette the Seigniorie of Venice to vnderstande my seruice and will stretche all my strength of body and minde to shewe that the auntient honor is not takeÌ„ from the Italian Souldiour by forraigne nations and that thorough oure valiaunce a most renowmed victorie may be gotten of the prowde enimie for you Venetians the true and assured setters at libertie of the dignitie of Italy Therevnto hys college also assentyng thus aunswered Triuisano Go to most valiant Generall séeyng that you doe testifye wyth surpassing courage so singular a good wyll towardes the Venetian name and that the honor of sauing Italy doth instantie you to winne the fruite of euerlasting prayse commaunde the battell to be sounded the whyche I pray God may bée good and fortunate vnto the Seigniorie of Venice and their confederated felowes turne the araunged battels against the enimies and endeuour by vanquishing valiauntly that youre house renowned for the perpetuall glistering of auntiente glorye maye bée made to shyne 〈◊〉 brighte through the honorable title of a newe victorie And without anye more tarriance at one tyme the Drummes Trumpettes and greate ordinance beganne to sounde and the battel 's arraunged in suche order as we haue declared made towarde the enimie thorough the Riuer in thrée places but they ranne foorth so rashly and vnluckily that they who were carried wyth so greate couragiousnesse were troubled and halfe ouercome by the greate iniquitie of the places before they coulde come vnto theyr enimies for the Chanell of Tarro was very yll to passe ouer full of turnings and windings and verye muche cumbered wyth Willowes growyng therein and also the brimmes of both the bankes were very hard both to goe vp and downe And moreouer manye quagge myres and blinde gulfes were made by the greate rayne that fell the daye before And finally the Fordes of the Ryuer were euery where stony and vncertayne through whyche difficultyes as it must néedes happen the course and force of the passengeâ—s was greately hyndered And albeit they were sore annoyed with these incommodityes and the greatest parte of them coulde hardly gette out themselues nor ouertake them whyche marched before yet they valiantly charged their enimyes and ranne togyther with Speares and Swordes and in thrée places attached a hote and variable fight nowe fortunate to one and now to the other The Frenchmenne hadde stoode still in a place very safe the whyche on that syde whyche the Italians came was very vneuen and cumbered wyth many trées so that when the Italians clambered vppe the hyll they foughte dispersed with
more wary counsell and youre more happie prowesse First of all we will commaund the hurt men to be carried to Parâ—â—â— and there cause them to be cured and the bandes that haue not fought shall haue the charge of the Camp that the wéeried maye take some rest I will go about the watch my selfe and will streÌ„gthen with sure garrisons all wayes and entrances and this will I to the vttermost endeuoure that we may lye in safetie from the violence of our enimies Tomorrow will more manifestly shewe vs the motion and mindes of our enimies and will open a safer way to our counsels The Prouiditori lightly assented to this opinion for although the Marques séemed to haue performed rather the duetie of a valiant Horseman than of a prudente Generall yet they were so farre from reprehending him of rashnesse for that vnluckie euent of the battell that they had him in admiration as made more renowmed through this newe glory of approued prowesse and inuincible courage for although the aged menne were of themselues men of great honor and such as had borne great dignities at home yet did they reioyce for that augmentation of martiall prayse as most honorable and dyd thinke that the most glorious triumph of almost taking so great a King prisoner and of the victorie wel néere gotten thorough the hardie attempte of the Marques was taken from them thorough the vnskilfulnesse or cowardise of a fewe The next day the Kyng sent vnto the Venetian camp for truce for thrée dayes the which was denyed and only that day graunted for to burie the slayne men on both sides The next night the Kyng about one of the clocke after midnighte causing manye fires to bée neade in the Campe to deceyue his enimies dislodged withoute Trumpet sounded or Drumme stroken in somuche that he hadde 07 marched certaine myles before his departure was knowen to the Venetians But as soone as it was light and the Marques had intelligence that the enimies were dislodged he sente the Gréeke Horsemen and also the Earle of Giazza and his brother Fracassio with the lighte Horsemenne to pursue them who although they might muche haue eâ—â—amaged the Frenchmen marâ—â—ing almost in â—â—éâ—yng manâ—â— yet they did theâ—â— no haâ—â—e whyther for â—â—â—ate good will or by the commaundemente of the Duke of Milan who feared as much the Venetians obteyning an entier victorie as the Frenchmen with their vnappayred power I leaue vnto other to iudge But after this the Duke of Milan forâ—â—â— the Duke of â—â—â—ans to surrender Nouara Of the Battell of Seminara foughte in the kingdome of Naples in Anno. 1495. betvveene Verdinande King of Naples and the great Gonsalues Captayne of the Spanyardes on the one syde and the Lordes Obegnie and Persiue for Charles the Frenche Kyng on the other ANone after the departure of Charles the french K. out of the kingdome of Naples Ferdinande the king of Naples wafted out of Sicile with about seuen C. horssemen and fiue M. Spaniardes and Sicilians sent by the K. of Spaine vnder the conduct of GoÌ„salues de Cordoua vnto Rezo in Calabria The whiche Towne and castel they tooke as also they did Saint Agatha and then all the Townes there aboutes partly for desire they had of their king and partly for the wéerinesse of the Frenchmen opened their gates vnto Ferdinande so that nowe he was come so farre into the countrey as SEMINARA WheÌ„ the K. Obegny gouornour of Calabria for the french king had intelligence hereof he sent for Seigneur Persiue out of Basilicata to bring with him all the garrysons that were in that countrey with whome he with his power méeting at Terranoua before that his enimies had knowledge of Persiues comming marched to Seminara to fight with Ferdinande out of hande or if he would holde himselfe within the walles of Seminara nor durst not commit himself to the open fielde and fight that then he woulde returne as victor making manifest vnto the world the cowardise of the enimies The which thing he thought would be of greate moment to kéepe the people in their duetie specially séeyng he did thinke that within few dayes ayde would come vnto hym out of Campagna Puglia and Abruzzo But Ferdinande who had not yet intelligence of the comming of Persiue and had bin aduertised by espyes of the power of Obegny which was very small nothing doubted to issue out of the Towne and encounter his enimies thinking that al the estimation fauoure that he had gotten a little before by bold attempting and valiantly trying of Fortune would now be lost by one infamie of being shamefully enclosed by siege and the dishonor of conceyued feare if that he should hyde himselfe without the Towne But Gonsalues in whose head was that power of exacte prudence whereby he afterwarde passed almost all the rest of the Captaynes of oure age beganne to admonishe the yong Prince gréedy both of recouering the Kingdome and of winning glory earnestly desiring him not to goe out of the Towne before the purpose and power of their enimies were more certaynely knowen that those counsels are honorable ynough which promise â—â—â—uritie to doubtfull matters but those are most shamefull and miserable whiche through rashnesse when that we vauntingly shewe a vayne vigour of hart are wont to destroy all meanes to obteyne the absolute Conquest and conceyued victorie And must we then sayde Ferdinande recouer the Kingdome with as grease cowardise as we lost it and not rather in these so prosperous beginnings proue that fortune by doing and attempting whyche we fouÌ„d aduerse by setting stil and absteyning from sight in Romagna Campagna as though the beginnings of warres haue not the gretest momeÌ„t for the successes that folow those exployts that are couragiously begun vnlesse they be valiantly prosecuted haue they not a soule and vnhappie ende Fortune will be with vs Gonsalues which hath hitherto stoode with the Frenchmen séeing that shée now smileth on our first enterprises neyther will she euer forsake them whome of hir owne accord she calleth vnto victorie vnlesse that we do shamefully forsake hir by our dishonorable lingering Let vs once sée the faces of the Frenchmen which only Fame and that to very vayne hath made terrible and let vs couragiously setting foote to foote trye both oures and their strengthes We are superiour in footemen Horsemen the good will of men and finally in the fauoure of Fortune neyther must we doubt of the prowesse of you and your regument For who is there of you that if we should fighte man to man would not gladly desire his Frenchman or Almayne to encounter withall and also woulde valiantly slay him I doubtlesse for my part will first before you all boldly charge the first braue Gentleman that I shall sée in their battell and by happie hardinesse giue you an example that yée running vppon them with like heate may through equall courage bring backe a spéedie victorie from this drunken enimie There were many
togyther and a little refreshing hys Souldyers that hadde escaped out of the battell he wente downe vnto the Citie of Hierazzi The baggage and carriages of the Spanyardes fell vnto the pillage of the Frenche Souldyers and Pesauntes the ensignes with many goodly Genets of Spayne were brought vnto Obegny and the nuÌ„ber of them that were taken prisoners was greater than of them that were slayne Neyther coulde that victorie séeme ioyfull vnto Obegny séeing it cost hym the deathe of that most valiaunt Gentleman his déere friend Griguines After thys battell when Obegny hadde without wounde taken Bubalina Motta whyther hys enimies hadde fledde there was no man almost in Calabria that dyd not incontinently turne his deuotion towards the Frenchmen victors the Spanyardes fleing into the strong Castels whiche they thought the Frenchmenne woulde hardly winne in the Winter season The Battell of Gioia fought in the Kingdome of Naples betvveene the Lord Obegny Generall for the Frenche Kyng and Andrado for Ferdinande the Kyng of Spayne in Anno. 1506. FERDINANDE Kyng of Spayne hearing of thys ouerthrow in Calabria and how that his LieutenaÌ„t General in the Kingdome of Naples Gonsalues was besieged in Puglia sente Portecareri with a strong fléete army into Naples vnder whoÌ„e serued Alfonse Caruaiall with 600. Horsemen Ferdinande Andrada who had brought out of Galicia Biskay about 5000. footemen but Portecarery dyed as soone as he came vnto Rezo and so the supreme gouernement fel vnto Andrada who coÌ„sulting with Hugo de Cardonna marched with his army into the territorie of Terranoua And the verye same daye also came Obegny from Bubalina Motta to take Terranoua which when Alrerade a Spanyard had taken before hée came he after a light skirmish to trie the force of his enimies turned to Castel San Giâ—n not far froÌ„ Seminara in the whiche place seauen yeares before he hadde vanquished in battell Kyng Ferdinande and Gonsalues Neyther were the fieldes famous for the late ouerthrowe of Hugo de Cardonna farre off in somuche that Obegny béeyng fierce through hys former victories although he were inferiâ—ure in number yet beholding with his eyes the fieldes fatall vnto hys foes but fortunate vnto himselfe was ledde with a ioyful abodement to aduenture the thirde battell and for that intente sente his Harraulde Ferracute vnto the Spanyardes who wyth proude mouthe offered the fielde vnto them as men of no valâ—o and accustomed to be vanquished Hugh being of hymselfe iâ—rensed through the heate of his disceyuing â—earte was of the opinion that the offer of battell shoulde bée accepted and that for the bringyng of the message Ferracute shoulde haue a basen and a cuppe of syluer and presently sente for hys brother who was not farre from thence to come with his footemen but hys Souldyers refused to goe forthe excepte their wages behinde that had bin so often promised them were nowe payde But this contumacie of the Souldyers he easily dissolued by giuing vnto them all the golde and syluer he had and gaging hys friendes credite for the rest and so the footemen were brought into the Camp. But Obegny after certayne skirmishes marched to Gioia whome the Spanyardes incontinently followed and the next day came Obegny downe from Gioia in aray of battell which as soone as the Spanyardes espyed they also incontinently arraâ—nged their battels In the wings were Emanuell de Benauides and Caruaiall But in the middle battell were Hugh Antonino de Leua and Aluerade the father with the olde footemen and Horsemenne A little behynde this battell stoode Andrada with the Horsemenne that came lately out of Spayne and the Galician and Biskay footemen who after the auntient manner of the Romane warfare vsed pauices somewhat long and inflected and iauelins to be hurled But Obegny himselfe was in the vannâ—gard Alphonse SaÌ„seuerino was in the seconde and Honorato Sanseuerino in the thirde and did leade the bandes of their friendes and tenauntes But Malherbe was Captayne of the square batallion of the footemen with whome was the greate ordinaunce whyche béeyng shotte off on bothe sydes the Horsemen came forthe But when Obegny wente aboute to auoyde the Sunne that shyned in hys face hée missed of hys purpose for a troupe of Spanishe lyghte Horsemen tooke the place before him so that he turned about gaue a vehemeÌ„t charge on Emanuels wing But when the sighte was most hote and Emanuels wing did verye hardlye susteyne the forte of the Scottes Hugh Antony and Aluerade succoured them and then they sought on both sydes so fiercely that both Frenchemen and Spaniards fighting with their swords were intermedled togither neither did the one or the other doubte of the victorie when loc with speedie counsell Caruaial brought about the left wing and gyuing a charge vpon the backes of the fore ward of the enimies brought such terror vnto them being busied with the doubtfull fight before that Obegny hauing his battaile distressed fled And the horsemen of Andrada defeated AlphoÌ„so Sanseuerino that brought aide with the second battell and with like lotte was Honoratus put to flight and the thirde battaile ouerthrowne and within halfe an houre whiche is scarse credible there was a notable victorie gotten almost all the French footmen being slayne both the Sanseuerines Honoratus Alfonse were takeÌ„ prisoners But a troupe of Scottes tooke away Obegny out of the handes of his enimies and then Malberbe and he met and fled on the spurre to Gioia But there they stayed not long bicause newes was broughte that the Spanish horsmen were at hand pursuing them but Obegny in the darke night came to the castell of Angitula often complayning of Fortune that had nowe illuded and deceyued him hauing bin inuincible vntill that daye and victour in twelue Britayne and Frenche battayles The Spaniards pursuyng hym besieged the Castell whiche Obegny yelded vp himselfe within fewe dayes after when he vnderstood how the Duke of Nemours the Viceroye of Naples was discomfyted and stayne in battayle ¶ The Battell of Cerignola foughte in the Kyngdome of Naples by the Duke of Nemoures Viceroy and Generall for Lewes the Frenche King and the great Gonsalues Viceroy and Lieutenant Generall for Ferdinande the Kyng of Spayne in Anno. 1506. THe same day that the Lord Obegny was ouerthrowen at Gioia the great Gonsalues de Cardonna Lieutenant Generall for the Spanyardes in Naples hauing receyued a supplye of Alwaynes issued out of the Towne of Barletia wherein he had bin after a sort besieged seauen monethes by the Duke of Nemoures Viceroy for the Frenche King and marched to CERIGNOLA with intent to besiege the Towne or to gyue battell vnto the Frenchmen if they woulde attempte to succoure it The Duke of Nemours forsaking Canossa was encamped not farre from Cerignola where he called togither the Captaynes consulting with them whether it were best to fight or no. But thorough vntimely alteration the greatest parte of the day was spent in consultation when he himselfe Monsieur de Formantes and Monsieur Darsey for
de Medici Moreouer along the same banke of the riuer stoode the rerewarde conducted by Caruaiall a Spaniarde in that battell were foure hundreth men of armes and foure thousande footemen all the light horsemen whose Generall was Daualos Marquesse of Pescara a verye young Gentleman but of passyng greate hope guarded the right syde of the footemen behinde that they might succour that part that fainted the great ordinance was placed in the front of the men of armes and Peter de Nauarro the Generall of the Spanishe footemen accompanied with fiue hundreth horsemen had tyed hymselfe tone certain place but had sette at the ditche in the front of the footemen thirtye Wagons lyke vnto the hooked Chariotes vsed in auntient time Wherevpon he had placed fielde peeces and very long boare spears to sustain the more easely the furious fease and chardge of the Frenchemen in which order they expected the impression and chardge of their ennemies strong armye wythin the munition of the ditche the which counsell as in the ende it profited nothing so did it appeare at the beginning to be pernicious for it was the minde of Fabricio de Coloma to inuade the enemies assoone as they beganne to passe ouer the riuer thinking it more commodious to encounter with one only parte of the ennimies than to abide in the camp defenced with a single ditch but when Peter de Nauarro whose counsell the Viceroy dyd folowe as oracles repugned it was decreed thoughe nothing prudently that they should be suffered to passe ouer the riuer Now the Frenchmen beingcome within 〈◊〉 hundreth paâ—en of the ditche stayed when they saw their enimies kept theÌ„selues within their Campe not stirring one foote least that otherwise they should giue their enimie that aduantage whiche themselues desyred to haue so both armies stoode stone still aboue two houres but innumerable pellets were in the meane time shot out of the great ordinance on eyther syde by whome the Frenche footemen suffered not a little detriment for Nauarro had planted his ordinance in suche a place as he might muche hurt them but the Duke of Ferrara with great celeritie brought a part of the great ordinance behinde the army vnto another wing of the Frenchmen where the archers on Horsebacke stoode which wing bycause the army was of the forme of a croysant was almost on the backe of the enimies from whence he began cruelly to flanke their sydes with very great detriment and namely of the Horsemen for the Spanish footemen being brought by Nauarro into a lowe place along the rampyre of the riuer and by his commaundement layde flat on the ground could not be hit Fabricio called out with a loude voice and vrged the Viceroy with chicke sending of messengers to begin the battell before they were absumed by the fury of the great ordinance but Nauarro being led by peruerse ambition would not assent for synce he had promised himselfe victorie thorough the valor of the Spanish footemen yea though all the rest of the armye were slayne he thought that hys glory would be the more augmented the more the detrimentes of the rest of the army were heaped But now the men of armes and light Horsemen had susteyned so greate slaughter that it coulde be no longer borne and with a miserable spectacle mingled with horrible cryes nowe Horsemen now Horses fell downe dead nowe heads and armes torne off from the rest of the bodye were séene fléeyng in the aire whereat Fabricio exelayming And must we all quoth he shamfully dye through the wilfulnesse and peruersenesse of one Maran and must this armie be vtterly all loste not one enimie slayne by vs Where be our so many tropheys of the FreÌ„chmen must the honour of Spayne and Jtaly perish for the pleasure of only Nauarro and when he had spoken these wordes no longer staying eyther for the signall or commaundement of the Viceroy he draue his Horsemen ouer the ditche whome when the rest of the Horsemen followed Nauarro was forced presently to giue the signall vnto his Regiment who rising vp with great ferocitie encountred the Almaines which had now approched them so all the battels on both sydes being mixed a maruellous mightie battell was begun and the greatest without doubt that Jtaly had séene in many yeares for that at Tarro was scarce any thing else but a strong encounter of Horsemen and the battels in the Kingdome of Naples were rather disorderings of array or rash attemptes thaÌ„ battels and at Giaradaedda the smallest part of the Venetian power had fought but héere all of both sydes béeyng mixed togyther in a playne without impedimente of waters or munitions two mightie armies fought with hartes firmely fastned eyther to vanquish or dye being inflamed not only by perill glory and hope but also with the mutuall hatred that the nations bare euery one to other In the encounter of the Almayne footemenne with the Spanyardes two Colonels of greate fame named Iacob Emser an Almayne and Zamude a Spanyard fought as it were by challenge before the frontes of the battels in whiche fighte the Spanyarde slaying his enimie became victor The Horsemen of the confederates were not comparable vnto the French Horsemen besydes they had bin that day so endamaged and torne by the ordinaunce that they were made farre inferioure so that after they had awhyle susteyned the force of their enimies rather by stoutenesse of hart than strength of body and Alegies sending for Palice wyth the rereward and also the thousande footemen which had bin lefte at Montone had charged them on the syde and Fabricio de Colonnae fyghting very valiauntly had bin taken by the Souldyers of the Duke of Ferrara they séeyng themselues no longer able to beare the force of their enimies and also taught by the examples of theyr chiefetaynes turned theyr backes For the Viceroy and Caruaiall neuer tarrying the vttermost triall of the valour of the Souldyers fledde leading away with them the rerewarde almost whole and vntouched wyth whome also fledde Antony de Leâ—a a man then of low state but one that afterwarde being exercised by the space of many yeares in all degrées of martiall seruice became a verye famouâ—â—enerall Nowe all the lyghte Horsemenne were ouerthrowen and Pescara theyr Captayne wette wyth bloud and woundes was taken with hym and also the Marquesse of Palude who hadde broughte into the fyghte the seconde battell through a fielde full of ditches bushes and bryers whyche muche disordred the aray and besydes that the grounde was nowe couered ouer wyth the carkasses of Horses and men slayne whyche was no small hynderaunce vnto them But yet the Spanishe footemen béeyng forsaken of the Horsemenne foughte with incredible fiercenesse who although they hadde bin a little driuen backe at the fyrste encounter wyth the Almaynes by reason of the strong rankes of theyr pykes yet after they came within the length of theyr Swordes and manye of the Spanyardes béeyng couered wyth Targettes hadde gotte betwéene the legges of the
Almaynes thrusting them in in those vnarmed places wyth theyr daggers and commyttyng a greate slaughter they were nowe come almost vnto the middes of the battel among whome the Gascoigne footemen hauyng gotten the way betwéene the Riuer and the Rampyre had charged the Italian footemenne who although they hadde receyued greate losse by the greate ordinaunce yet hadde repelled them to theyr singular commendation if Alegres hadde not gyuen a violente charge on them wyth hys Horsemen wyth greater force than good fortune for when hée sawe hys sonne Viuerroes slayne in his syght almost at the very fyrst encounter hée vnwillyng to lyue after so greate griefe flang in wyth hys Horse into the thyckest of hys enimies and fyghtyng as became a most valiaunte Captayne after he had slayne many was slayne hymselfe The Italian footemenne when they coulde no longer susteyne so greate a multitude beganne to shrinke but parte of the Spanyardes commyng to theyr succoure they kepte styll in the battayle and the Almayne footemenne béeyng oppressed by the other parte of the Spanyardes coulde scarse stande vppe anye longer But nowe all the Horsemenne being put to flight Foix with a great multitude of Horsemen sette on the Spanyards who rather retiring thā driuen out of the field did with their aray in no parte broken take the way that lyeth betwéene the riuer and the high banke marching with equall pace with their front very thicke of men and so repelling the Frenchmen with the strength thereof began to retire and departe out of the field whiche Nauarro beholding was more desyrous of deathe than of life and therefore not departing out of the battell was taken prisoner but when Foix coulde not abyde to sée the Spanishe footemenne thus goe away safely and victor-like with their whole rankes vnbroken and perceyued that the victorie was vnperfect vnlesse they were broken as well as the rest in great fury charged on the tayle of them with a troupe of Horsemen but he incontinently being enclosed by them and throwen off from his Horse or as diuers say oppressed with the foundering of his Horse was slayne with a pyke thrust into his syde and certesse if they ought to wishe for deathe as the common opinion is that are come vnto the highest degrée of felicitie then doubtlesse this noble Gentlemans death was most fortunate hauing gotten so glorious a victorie He dyed a very yong man hauing now wonne among all men immortall fame for that within the space of thrée monethes being a Generall almost before he was a Souldyer he had with incredible celeritie and ferocitie gotten so many victories The Lord Lautrech his Cousin germaine béeyng hurt wyth twentye woundes lay besydes him almost dead but béeyng carried to Ferrara was saued by the diligent cure of the Chirurgians Thorough the deathe of Foix the Spanishe footemen were suffered to go theyr wayes without impeachment The rest of the army was nowe scattered and put to flight all the bagge and baggage taken togyther with the ensignes and ordinance and the Popes Legate Iohn de Medici Fabricio de Colonna Nauarro and the Marquesses of Palude Bitonto and Pescara and many other Princes the chiefe of the nobilitie and men of name of the Spanyards and Neapolitanes The number of them that were slayne in this battell is altogyther vncertaine yet among the varietie of many reports most do affirme that on both sydes there were at the least tenne thousand slayne of whome the third part were Frenchmē and the rest of theyr enimies but without all doubt according vnto the common mannet of Mars the valiauntest and the stoutest men among whome of the Papistes or the Popes bandes was Raphaell de Pazi a Captayne of famous renowne and innumerable were hurt But without cōtrouersie the losse on the victors side was farre the greater by reason of the death of Foix Alegres and many of the French nobilitie and of Iacob and other of the valiauntest Captaines of the Almaine footemen vnto whose prowesse this victorie bought with no little effusion of bloud was chiefly attributed Moreouer many of the Captaynes of the Gascoignes and Picardes the which nations that day lost al their glory among the Frenchmē were slaine with Monsieur de Molard but the death of Foix surpassed all other losses with whome the courage strēgth life and fiercenesse of that army was vtterly extinguished The greatest part of the vanquished that escaped out of the battell fledde vnto Cesena and from thence vnto farther places neyther dyd the Viceroy stay anye where before he came to Ancona whither he brought but very few Souldyers many béeing spoyled and slayne in their flight for the Duke of Vrbine not only stirred vp the Countreymen against thē but also sent Souldyers to doe the like in Pesaro they only escaped safely that passed through the dominions of the Florentines But although that after this battell the victor army tooke and sacked Rauenna yet within very short time when the couetous Treasoucer of Normandy to saue charges had dismissed the Italian Souldyers and part of the men of armes had returned into France and the Emperoure had reuoked the Almaynes they were by a new army of Switzers that came downe to the Popes aide with whome also ioyned the Venetians quite dispossessed of the whole Duchie of Milane and all that euer the French King had in Jtaly besydes ¶ The Battell of Riotta or Nouara fought in the Duchie of Milan betvveene Iohn Trivulzi and the Lord Tremouille Generalles for the French King Lewes the twelfth on the one syde and Maximilian Sforza the Duke of Milan and the Switzers on the other in Anno. 1513. out of Iouius his historie THe French King Lewes the twelfth not brooking his losse of Milan chose two Captaynes of greate authoritie and skill to passe the Alpes they were Trivulzi and Tremouille and also sent for Robert de la March out of the lande of Luke with the blacke regiment of Almaynes and Lewes Lorde Beamont out of the frontiers of Nauarre with those bands of Gascoignes that serued Signeur de la Palice a little before at Pampelona againste the Spanyards Among them he also mingled certayne ensignes of footemen consisting of very chosen men for then euery Gentleman whyche was not appoynted vnto an Horse dyd with singular chéerefulnesse thynke it for hys worshippe to serue on foote All thys power béeyng verye well appoynted with a greate furniture of greate ordinaunce hée commaunded to hasten into Jtaly Maximilian Sforza the Duke of Milane hauyng intelligence of this prouision in Fraunce agaynste hym solliciteth the Switzers to come into Lumbardy in hys defence the whyche hée easily obteyneth And firste of all the Hamans or Maiors of the Cantons of Vry Switz and Vnderwald as nexte vnto Jtaly passed the Alpes whome the bandes of Glaron Zuch Lacerne Sciphausen Zuriche and Berne followed in another companye And in the thirde and last companye were fyue thousande footemen vnder the conduct of Altosaxe an experte Captayne But Sforza
béeyng dismayde wyth the vnlooked for reuolting of Sacranoro Visconti who kepte aboute him at Milane a great number of desperate vnthriftes as well of the nobilitie as other ioyned with the first company of the Switzers and wente to Nouara there to exspect farre from priuie awaytes and Treason the conunyng of the rest of the Switzers The Frenche power came before the Towne of Nouara but when they had intelligence that the second companye of the Switzers were at hande and also that Altosaxe was at Galarita they withdrewe to a place called RIOTTA twentye furlongs from Nouara néere to the Riuer of Mora. But as soone as euer the seconde companye of the Switzers hadde entred the Towne and broken their fast the Captayne 's assembled togyther to consulte what was best to be done where Craffe the Haman of Zurich rising vppe sayde I besieche you inuincible bréethren suffer not the exployte that ye haue wyth valiaunte heartes determined to bée corrupted through the vntymely staying for Altosaxe and his companye for the safest and happiest way to good successe will doubtlesse fall out to be only by celeritie Neyther néede we that are rightly and valiauntly resolued ought else than spéedie execution least we may nothing couragiously fayle vnto so great occasion whych is offered vnto vs to put vs in hope of a fayre daye whyche yet may be preuented by a light momente of tyme for yee a fewe bandes of inuincible valor will be ynough to oppresse the enimies whylest they thynke we wyll attempt nothing before Altosaxe bée ioyned wyth vs let vs therefore vse their error and by an vnloked for onset bring suddayne terror not without assured slaughter and flight into the heartes of the enimie puft vp with vnaduised pride and erronious opinion doubtlesse we haue alredy vanguished if the victorie conceyued and assured by this honorable deuise and counsell be presently pursued by fearelesse heartes and valiaunt armes Craffe had no sooner ended his spéeche but all the Captaynes and ensigne bearers without stay assented vnto him and grauely consulted vppon the manner how to attache the battell wherevpon the Souldyers were commaunded to refresh their bodyes with meate and rest and to repaire vnto the ensignes after the secōd watch then the Captayns should tel thē before the dawning what they would haue done Now whilest all mens mindes were musing on the euent of the future fight the Sunne was now going downe beholde a wonderful chance hapened al the frēchmēs dogges forsaking their Camp entred Nouara in one great troupe and began to licke the handes and legges of the Switzers that warded and wagging their tayles and laying downe their eares fawned now vpon one and thē vpon another of them as though they were now become their Maisters or shortly after should But the Switzers to the end they might make a shew that they meant some other thing than that they intended indéed commaunded the Drummes to be sounded all the whole night now in this part of the Citie and nowe in that to make the espyes if there were any in the Citie to beléeue that they would issue out of the Towne and thereby kéepe their enimies who they knewe had bin in armour all the whole day on Horsebacke armed also all the night long But they commaunded all their owne men to strengthen their bodyes wyth fléepe and to stay for day that euery man might in the cléere lighte shewe his valor with a noble contention for honor For these are the most seuere lawes of the Switzers that whosoeuer shall in the sight of the armie doe things for feare whiche are shamefull and vnméete for valiaunt menne shall be incontinently slayne by their nexte fellowes so that the greater feare doth ouercome the lesse and for doubt of a shamefull death an honorable death is not feared Now a little before it was light the Captayne 's chose out of all their armie whiche was about nine thousand footemen one thousande men of approued prowesse who should haue the charge of eyghte falkons and accompany Maximilian and his Horsemen who were very fewe but of the chiefe of the nobilitie The rest dyd cast themselues into two battels and marched all whyst without sounde of Drumme towardes their enimies two diuers wayes But Triuulzi who although he were accompted a Captayne of approued and beaten wisedome yet thoughte nothing lesse than that a few and those weary footemen woulde before Altosaxe were come issue out against a very strong power or attempt any thing touching the fortune of the battell When he vnderstoode that the enimies power was in syght reyseth vp Tremouille and the rest of the Captaynes commaundeth the signals to be sounded the ordinance to be placed against the enimie and all things that he hadde learned by experience and discipline to be administred according to the necessity of the perill The shortenesse of the tyme was suche and the heartes or the enimies so ready to fighte that the Frenche horsemen had scarse tyme to bridle their horses and put on their heade peeces as they which had stoode a greate parte of the day and night in armour attending what shoulde bee commaunded them and at length thoughe very late when newes was broughte that all was quiet at Nouara had gotte them into their cabines to take their reste But the light horsemen as men sooner ready in good time enoughe ranne forth with a very long wing stretched towards the lefte hande and mette with the thousande Switzers as they were commyng who that they mighte auoide the greate ordinaunce that nowe tempested vppon them marched towardes the riuer of Mora fetching a little compasse aboute and then minded to passe ouer the riuer by a bridge and set vppon the backes and tentes of the enimies Thus the Switzers marching on towardes the bridge in a broade waye beganne to be torne in peeces with the ordinaunce whych flanked them on the side and to be vehemently pressed by the horsemen But then Mottine wyth vnappalled hearte altered hys counsell and willed Maximilian who was in great danger the Epirotes insulting roūd about him to depart out of the fight and incontinently to returne vnto the Citie that so he might keepe the heade of the warres which then laye open vnto the acerbitie of fortune for to enioye the noble hoped victory But when hee nobly refused so to doe and with constant hearte desired that he might be suffered to take the chaunce of common fortune two pety Captaines and so manye ensigne bearers tooke his horse by the bridle and pulling off the crest from his helmet and casting about hym an olde cloke to bide his coate armoure ledde him out of the field forcing him to returne vnto the citie with a troupe of horsemen that hee beyng a daungerlesse beholder of their prowesse myghte there exspecte the newes of speedy victory Mottine being thus deliuered of that wofulnesse relieth his swaying battell which had nowe lest thrée of their Falkons wythdraweth the wounded into
battell nor to pursue any that flieth stoode still a great part of the day fearing lest the French horsmen incited either through the policie of their Captaines or theyr owne shame would come backe againe and appresse them while they were busied in spoilyng the deade But their enimies ranne awaye wyth suche feare and pertinacie that Trivulzi galloping to fro all dustie and hoarse with crying vnto them was not able eyther by faire or foule speache or the aucthoritie of Generall to stay the ensignes or to retaine the horsemen that casting awaye their launces gallopped awaye foremost It is well knowen that Grittie the Venetian Prouiditor who being a companion of this vnluckye iourney ran awaye with them oftentimes sayde among this company of hasting horsmen Yee olde horsemen that flyng awaye so faste vppon the spurre to day bee not the men of armes of the Venetians but those noble Gentlemen of France that vsed to cal them women runaways Certes it neuer happened before that Captains at all other times inuincible and fortunate being furnished wyth so great an army were defeated by a fewe footemen fortune nowe listing to sporte a little It is reported that the French horsemen might haue bin all wholy destroyed in their flighte if Maximilian Sforza had had but two hundreth men of armes for not one of the French horsemen caried launce beyonde Sesithes so greate was their heate to escape yet a while after Siluio Sabello and Corradino Cribelly with certaine light horsmen pursued them euen to the towne of Trecato But the Contadmes or Pesantes running out of the fieldes and â—ainlets vnto the spoile cruelly slue where they sawe any bootie the dispersed and fearefull Frenchemenne wearyed and quite spente at ditches hedges and all other places that didde lette their course The same daye the Switzers gathering togither the slaine bodies of their countrymen caried them on their shoulders into the Citie that the laste honoures myght iustly be done vnto them that had singularly wel deserued of the common wealth There were slaine of them in this victory aboute a thousande three hundreth of whome they broughte into the Towne aboue seuen hundreth torne into péeces with the great ordinaunce and almoste as many were wounded But on the Frenche part were slaine to the number of eight thousande of all sortes Among the Captaines of the Switzers the almoste monstrous valor of Jordin of Vnderwalde was specially noted who by the credible report of many slewe twenty of his ennimies with his halberde carying away the iuste rewardes of assured praise But Maximilian being very ioyfull for so happy successe called the Souldiours togither and the teares trickling downe his chéeks scarfe able to speake for ioy he gaue them all harty thankes and that whych might be a gift of present pleasure hée gaue them in rewarde of their prowesse all the victualles that was taken to be deuided among them besides the ordinaunce and all the spoyle and praye that was gotten But the trenche that was taken from the enimie hee sette vppe in a publique place as a monumente of the victorye And forasmuche as wée haue seene the maner of the making thereof wee doe thinke it good to describe the same that it may be both a paterne and also profitable vnto the posteritie A square plotte of fifty paces euerye waye like vnto a small Campe being measured out foure strong postes sharped at the ende were driuen into the grounde at euery angle one standyng aboue the grounde nauell highe the sides were defenced with lesser posts or stakes a certaine space being lefte betweene post and post betweene the postes went rayles which they might take off and on they being fastened togither with yron bookes or claspes The Almaines stoode within this munition which was defenced rounde about wyth almoste an hundreth Harquebuzers a crocke Through the defence thereof Sedan had thought verily that the force of his assayling enimies woulde not only haue bene susteined but cleane dashed broken and defeated for he was of the belefe that the Switzers before they could come to vse their pikes and to hande strokes shoulde be paide for their inconsiderate inuasion It being likely that the esquadron terrible for their pikes and safe and inuincible for their strength wold defend the trench and at length opening the munition breake out vpon the disordered enimies and so obteyne an vndoubted victory But this engine inuented by a warlike witte and brought ouer the Alpes with so greate labour and charges as it did greatly delight the eyes of the beholders both for the noueltie of the fashion and the hope of victory so Fortune after hir wonted guise scorning such subtill inuentions tooke successe quite away from reason and the woorke when it shoulde haue taken moste effecte But thys deceyued the Almaines that they thought it not nedefull that day to set vppe their trenche which lay in the Wagons seeing the camp did then go backe from the enimie When wee conferred wyth Tremouille at Bolongne about these matters he did not fondly laye the faulte in Trivulzi as thoughe that hee woulde not encampe as Tremouille hadde perswaded hym on hys owne landes for destroying of the grasse that then was ready to be mowen But Trivulzi as he that had neuer bene vanquyshed before when hee declared muche of the euente of this battell did referre it wholly vnto the iniurie that was fatall vnto hys renowne for hee sayde that the skilfullest Captayne in the worlde coulde not by any me anes redresse rashe men and Souldiours made starke staring madde by degenerate feare The Battel of Ginghat fought in Picardie betvveene Henry the eight King of England and Monsieur de Piennes generall for Lewes the French king in Anno Domin 1513. WHen that HENRY the eight king of Englande besieged the Citie of Tyrwin with three camps of whom himself coÌ„ducted one the Earle of Shrewsbury an other and the Lord Herbert the third he had intelligence that Lewes the Frenche king had leuied an armie vnder the conduct of the Lord Piennes for to victual the Citie whiche was sore oppressed wyth penurie Whervpon king HENRY passed ouer the riuer with all the retinue of his owne camp his ordinance for to impeach the Frenche passage in that parte In the meane season a French man beeing taken in skirmishe in hope of pardon of his raunsome declared that the Frenche armie with their full power and strength were comming from Blangie to the number of fifteene thousande horsemen to ayde Terwyn on that side of the water And to the intent that the armie of the Earle of Shrewsbury and she Lord Herbert should not ayde the King there were appointed fiue thousand of the fifteene thousand on the other side of the water to inuade them on the other side of the water The Kyng had no sooner pitched his field and sette in order his ordinance but that he was aduertised by the Northern prickers that the Frenchemen to the number of twelue thousande
myste by settyng on fyre the Souldyers Cabins the strawe and al the rest of the forrage that Kyng Iames was come to hys purposed place before Surrey who was but one myle from hym eyther perceyued hys departure or coulde sée the long traine of hys marchyng armye Kyng Iames thus possessing the toppe of the hyll Surrey came wyth all hys power vnto the foote thereof and staying there a little whyle determined wyth hymselfe séeyng the hyll was neyther verye hygh nor harde to ascende to climbe it and to fyght before the enimie hadde fortifyed hys camp and then calling togyther the Souldyers he declared vnto them into what place and case they were come that on the one syde the hygh bankes of the ryuer and on the other the stiepe hylles that ranne along many myles tooke quite away from them al wayes of flight yea and all hope of lyfe vnlesse they foughte lustyly and vanquished valiauntly and therefore they shoulde couragiouslye encounter their forsworne enimyes who breaking the league thoughte thorough the occasion of the Kyngs absence to winne the Empyre of the whole Islande neyther shoulde theyr heartes be troubled with their greate multitude for it had but sufficiently tryed by the often victories of their auncestors how small strength and constancie there is in Scottes that God hymselfe woulde be with them in the fielde as he hathe alwayes héeretofore bin iustly agaynste the breakers of their faythe and the contemners of hys and mans lawes and Religion onely the Souldyers shoulde reteâ—ne styll the memorie of theyr olde prowesse for by the consente of all menne the most iust cause of warres is to propell iniuries and defende by armes theyr Houses Children Wyues and that whyche séemeth to be much more renowmed the dignitie of the Papall libertie the whyche with noble hearte and holye counsell hadde taken vpon hym to defende and so accordinglye by Goddes assistaunce hadde dryuen the vngodly oppugners of the inuiolable Maiestie béeyng discomfyted in battayle theyr Captayne 's taken prisoners and theyr strong Citie wonne into the inner partes of Fraunce and therefore they should vnder the conduct of the same God fight against men defyâ—ed with the same contagion of polluted Religion and if they made accompt of the honor of their Countrey the Kyngs estimation and finally their owne glory and safetie that they shoulde followe hym their Captayne ready eyther to vanquish gloriously or else to dye honorably The Souldyers cryed out incontinently that he should giue the signall of fight and nothing doubt to darreyne battell yea though in a place of great disaduantage for they stoutely said that they would with their wounding weapons climbe the toppe of the hill and neuer returne into the Campe but victors Then Surrey in this hope and couragiousnesse of the Souldyers deuided all his power into thrée battels The fore warde he assigned vnto the Lorde Howarde wherein he also placed Edmunde another of his sonnes to gouerne a parte thereof Hall makes it a wing He himselfe ledde the middle battell and ordeyned Sir Edward Stanley to bée Captaine of the rereward He placed the Lorde Dacres with the Horsemen for a battell of succoure and dysposed the great ordinaÌ„ce in certaine distaunces among the rankes and in the front and so with a round marche maketh towardes the enimie In the meane time when the King saw the glistering of the armoure and the seuerall battels of the enimie as he might very well from the hyll thinking that occasion of victorie was that day giuen him if he being then superioure both by the sighte the ground and also the nuÌ„ber of men did out of hand fight with the enimie he gaue the signal of battell and turning vnto the nobilitie of his Realme who stoode néere vnto him vsed such a like spéeche Séeyng most valiant compéeres in armes that we shall this day fight with better condition and more aduauntage than euer any of our auncestoures hathe héeretofore done with this enimie remember that now is the time of supreme occasion to reuenge youre iniuries whiche ye feared woulde neuer haue come and haue hitherto in vayne wished for when ye suffered all villanies and reproches of these most proude enimies but we that haue borne these things so long at home with sighing for vaine anger often crying vnto God for reuenge and at length in this most goodly occasion haue taken so iust and so needefull armes shoulde doubtlesse shew our selues very vile and abiecte persons and of all men the vainest if nowe when deedes and true prowesse are needefull and that we muste sette foote t s foote and by woundes and death seeke for glorious victory we shoulde feare the face of our enimies and wyth timorous hearte measure the perills of battells I for my parte beyng contented with the old limits of my kingdom enioyed wyth good peace could haue passed my time in reste and quietnesse and haue bene wythout the perylles and laboures that warres doe dayly bryng If without care of dishonour I had preferred mine owne priuate felicitie before both the dignitie of my countrye and your safetie But by your generall consent in that passyng great opportunitie of reuenging of your wrongs and of all other thinges when you were al of one opinion that warres were openly to be made bycause that those things which wee and our Progenitours had suffered at the handes of oure moste bitter and spitefull enimies were shamefull gréeuous and intollerable I forthwith proclaymed warres wyth greate courage and that whyche dothe make me hope of victory ye wyth greater endeuour and desire singular feruencie and incredible alacritie haue folowed the ensignes that one daye by doing some notable acte and as it were the vttermoste worke of valiauncie ye might shew the egregious fortitude of your heartes and ende those immortall controuersies by a notable victory For what may there anye doubt be had of the prosperous successe of the victory seing the armye of the enimies is in nothing to bee compared wyth ours theirs consisteth wholy of a kinde of freshe water Souldiers that will quickely runne awaye amaine beyng take vp in haste wythout regarde of prowesse and â—uenished with weapons and armour only for a shewe of Souldiours for all the olde men of warre or suche as are meet for the field indeed either for strength of youth or good personage are caâ—â—ed awaye by Kyng Henry into France And will not you then from the higher ground wyth the multitude of your weapons 〈◊〉 â—heâ—â—â—â— a sort of wretches 〈◊〉 we in number and spent with weaâ—â—nesse and famâ—â—ie assoone â—s they shall 〈◊〉 daâ—e 〈◊〉 approche you They clamber vppe the hill â—oâ— bycause they be so hardy but for that they are needy and must needes doe it that they maye at once more honestly and spéedely by death escape the pinching pains of vnwonted labour hunger after the manner of wild beasts whoÌ„ when fretting fury hath once vexed theyr heartes and famine their bellies extreame anger dryueth into raging
gotten and two and twentye peeces of ordinance among whom were seuen culuerings of greate hugenesse whom the king for their likenesse one vnto another hadde named the seauen sisters The Scottishe Campe was with the same fease wonne and spoyled the kyngs body was founde the nexte daye by Dacres and brought to Berwicke and there a long time lay vnburyed for the Englishemen thought hym vnworthy of the holy honor of buriall and graue among Christians after death for that he had in lyfe time fauoured and mayntained the Frenchmen and Schifmatickes ¶ The Battell of Vlmo fought in Venegia betvvene Raimonde of Cardona Generall of the armie of the league made by Maximilian the Emperour Ferdinande the King of Spaine and Bartholmewe de la Aluiano or Liuiano Generall for the Venetians in Anno. 1513. Oute of Iouius ANno Domini 1513. Raimond de Cardonna captaine of the army of the league againste the French King inuaded Venegia with fifteene bandes of Spanishe footemen vnder the conducte of Ferdinande Marquesse of Pescara euerye bande conteyning three hundreth Souldiors and seuen bands of Lansquenetz ledde by James Landawe euerye bande consysting of fiue hundreth Souldiours both the Spaniardes and the Almaines were olde Souldiours and hadde foughte verye valiauntlye of late at Rauenna wyth seauen hundreth men of armes of Kyng Ferdinandes olde companies and also one hundreth and fiftie Almaine men of armes vnder the conducte of Rician and Celemberg the Emperours Captaines and also a companye of light horsemen whose Capitayne was Succaro Heduo and besydes two companies of men of armes of the Popes power ledde by Troilo Sabelli and Mutio Colonna and a company of light horse vnder the gouernement of Vrsino Mognani finallye wyth sixe hundreth Spanishe horsemen seruing vnder Peter de Castro among whome many were archers With thys power and .xij. falcons he inuaded Venecia bicause the Venetians hadde that same Sommer ioyned wyth the Frenche power in Milan againste the Duke when that Trivulzi was discomfited by the Switzers But when he sawe that he coulde not gette out the Venetian power to fight with him neither coulde he winne eyther Padoa or Treuiso where they kepte themselues hee passed ouer the riuer of Brenta where after they had wyth fyre and sword wasted all that countrey beeyng of singular fertilitie hee encamped at a village on the Sea coaste called Maestre from whence as the nearest place of the mayne lande vnto Venice hee holdyng the stately seate of the enimie commaunded the ordinaunce to be layde vppon the nearest parte of the shoare and to bee shotte off in reproche and spite of the proude Citie as thoughe hee hadde layde hys batterie againste thē Citie as in deede some pellettes lighted in it The whiche spitefull parte bredde suche indignation in the heartes of the angred Seignorye who not wythout teares behelde theyr princely Mannour houses burning in all partes of the Countrey that they wrote vnto Liuiano their Generall who was at Padoa with a power to represse the insultyng insolencie of their enimyes wyth armes and whensoeuer he shuld get opportunity of tyme and place to gyue them battell Liuiano gathered togither almost seuen hundreth men of arms and few lesse than two thousand light horsemen seuen thousande footemen and greate store of fielde péeces wyth hym also ioyned Sacramoro Visconti being excluded out of Milan wyth aboute seauen hundreth horsemen very well appointed Moreouer this barbarous burning hadde excited a great number of Contadines or pesants vnto whome Liuiano had before sent Paulo Manfrony an experte Captaine to rule and guide with reason and counsell the rude multitude commaunding hym to permit no occasion of inuading the enimies on the backe whensoeuer hee shold see them either troubled with the woddes or riuers or busied with battell The newes of the approch of Liuiano made the army of the league to cease their wasting and to seeke to passe ouer the riuer of Brenta the which they politikly did in the night time deceiuing Liuiano who being driuen from his first councel marched to a place called Vlmo thrée miles from Vicenza to take the streightes of the next hilles which way the Leagers muste needes passe to go vnto Verona which the Emperour then possessed But Liuiano stopped the passage of the streights with castyng by of ditches trenches and rampires wherein he had placed hys great ordinance so that it was not possible for the enimie to passe that waye wythout assured destruction and agayne to take an other way aboute by the mightye Mountaynes and the thicks Woods of Basiano seemed to be worse than an aduerse battell the Pesantes cruelly pursuing them that had loste their baggage as men vtterly vanquished and turned out of their auntient honour Nowe was the armie of the League come wythin sight of the enimie and were encamped so neare vnto the Venetians that they hearde the neighing of their horses and the noise of their camp and were wonderfully annoyed by Liuiano from the higher ground with the greate ordinaunce so that the horsemen were forced to seeke low places and great trees to defend them selues and the footemen to lye flatte vppon the grounde But when night was come proclamation was made that al the fires throughout the camp shuld be put out that the enimies might haue no marke to direct their shot more certainlye and also thoroughe the persuasion of Prospero de Colonna who ruled all the armye although Raimonde was Generall al the Wagons and bootie that they had gotten was burnt that they might more speedyly marche the nexte daye before it was light towardes Basiano hoping assuredly of victory if they coulde gette the enimie out of the strong place of aduauntage for to folow them It was somewhat late ere Liuiano vnderstoode of the departure of the enimies by reason of a thicke miste that arose as it commonly doeth in such moorish countreys but assoone as hée perceyued that they were gone he sent Bernardine Antiniola his sisters sonne a valiaunt yong Gentleman with the light horsmen and three Falkons to endamage the taile of them and to view whether they wente for his minde was not to ioyne with them in battell wythout greate aduauntage knowyng hys footemen not able to match the old Spaniardes Lancequenetz but determined only to vex annoy and stay them wyth often skirmishes as they marched thorough troublesome and yll wayes that he might deliuer them being wearied with trauel watching and famine into the hands of the Pesantes swarming aboute them so to be destroyed But Antiniola very hotly vrging on the tayle of the ennimies attached a very sharpe encounter wyth the Almaine horsemen in the whiche he beyng repulsed had forsaken his ordinaunce but after that other troupes of horsmen succoured hym the fight was againe so furiously renewed that not only the three péeces of ordinance were recouered but also the Almains put to flight in such sort that Prospero commaunded al the horsemen to open their troupes and to make way through the middes of
them for the fleing Almaines and least they should else haue disordered the whole battell hee also commaunded Pescara to turne heade wyth his Spanishe footemen towardes the Venetians There was with Liuiano Andrew Lauridame the Venetian Legate or Prouiditori a vehement man neyther lesse greedy of reuenge than of glory but one altogyther vnskilfull of the wars He hearing good newes from all partes of the auauntâ—urrerâ— hasted vnto the Generall as he was vehemently stirred vp with the sharpe affectes of hope and griefe and sayde vnto him Why linger you Generall the enimies escape an assured and notable victorye will slippe out of our handes it will rather be accompted falsehoode than cowardise if that you linger any longer neyther can this opinion bee taken awaye vnlesse you do incontinentlye commaunde the signall to be giuen and pursue with all your power the fleing and disordered ennimie Then Liuiano turning towardes Hugo de Pepoli and Guido de Rangoni saide let vs aduenture though rashly yet nobly the footemen of battell seeing that ouer greate power of superioritie doth ouercome reason least if I be to daye wary and considerate I shall anone after being accused before the seignory of cowardise or treason and oppressed with wrongfull hatred be putte to death by the aduerse and malicious voices of the vnskilfull as was vnlucky Carmagnola That be vttered these speches wee lerned of those that were present at thou Then causing the signall to be sounded he pursued the enimies with three battels the leading of the right and lefte wings whiche were both of light horsemen had Antonio Pio and Bagleone but the middle battell wherein were the men of armes and Sacramoro Visconti Guido de â—â—â—â—goni and Hermes Bentiuogli he himselfe conducted The battels of the footemen marching also wyth equall pâ—â—e 〈◊〉 the one and the other side of his battells the horsmen on both sides encounter very fiercely and nowe Liuiano fleing hether and thether and trying out that this day would be the ende of theyr laboures and the begynuyng of theyr dewardes hadde enkindeled his Souldioures with so greate dessce to vanquishe that many of them pierced thoroughe the thickest of their enimyes euen vnto theyr Ensignes and stryuyng to bryng them awaye and bryng strongly resisted tore thou into péetes and slew Ebrardde Cornia the enfigne bearet of Mâ—â—tiaks company a valyant olde Gentleman and his couragious sontie But whylest the horssemen thus encounter togyther in the scoute wyth equall hope and feare on bothe sydes Prospere rode vnto euery rancke encouragyng them and commaunded Pescara to aduauntee forwarde on the one syde wyth hys Spaniardes and Landaw on the other wyth his Launsqueneti and to charge the footemenne of the ennimie the whyche they did wyth suche furie that the bandes of Babo Brescehelli whome Liuiano had for the opinion of then notuble prowesse placed in the foremoste cankes scarse once attemptyng the encounter turned their backes almost before they had scene their enâ—â—â— although their Captaines men of singular dalor endeuoured by incouraging threatning beating to make them abide sought themselues very valiantly in the forfront where they were slayn also among whom were John Bernardino Alezzo Seraphino Alfonso Mâ—to Phillippe Carsoleio Aniball de Simoni and Baptista Docto who had placed aboute him a crewe of very valiaunt Souldiours choser out of diuers hands which were all staine by Pescara who there valiauntly coughte on foote before hys Spaniardes with apike in his hande Then the middle battel of the Venelian horsmen being bared on one side of their footemen began first to be driuen barke and being vrged more sharpely anone after with slaughter to bee put to flight neyther coulde the disordeted battell be repaired or made to staye when the foremost rankes were slaine although that all the valiauntest horsemen eudeuoured to their vttermoste to suâ—eine the impression of their â—minses So that when al suche as resisted were slaine the ensignes were throwen doâ—â— and namely the ensigne of 〈◊〉 the which Authony Monâ—oâ— had long time valiauntly kepte but at the last lost it togyther with hys life and at the same bruÌ„e Sacramoro and Hermes being vnhorse â—â—were slain by the Launce quenetz But Pescara Gentlmanlike saued Otho Visconis brother vnto Sacramoro althoughe there had bene before a priuate quarrell betweene them Nowe when the horsemen of the right wing sawe the middle battell wherein they reposed all their hope of victorye and that whyche they thought should beare the brunte of the battell slaine and put to flight they shamefullye burling awaye their armour and weapons ranne awaye amaine and Antonius their Capitayne appressed wyth the wayghte of hys armour was drowned in the Riuer of Becchilio The right wyng also wyth like cowardise didde the like for when Paule Baglione hadde not brought aboute speedily enoughe the right wing by reason of the moorishe and slimy grounde where vppon he had lighted by going about to enclose the enimie Liniano also had more hastily attached the battell than he had thought he would it came to passe that his souldiours seeing the slaughter and flight of other of their fellowes and also distrusting their owne strength fledde away whole and vntouched Yet in the front although that feare and flight had taken the bartes of all the souldiours many valiaunt Captains whilest for the dignitie of their martiall scruice passed they endeuoured to reteine the souldiours to keepe the array and grounde were at length fighting couragiously slaine beeyng for saken by their souldiors and enclosed by the multitude of theyr enimies But Paule Baglione hauing loste his twoo base brothers Troiano and Hierome and all his horsement seattered in vtter dyspayre fledde awaye and lightyng on a marrishe was taken by the Spanishe horsemen In the meane tyme Liuiano althoughe hee were forsaken of Fortune and lefte alone by his Souldioures still ratyng them for fleeing yet went busily about to renew the fyght but at lengthe beyng broken in hearte and spente in strengthe hee fledde and came to Padoa The reste of the Capitaynes were almoste all taken in the chase or slayne by the Almaines who spared no man and many also were drowned in the riuer of Bachillie for when they came wearye vnto the Ryuer eyther they were or owned in the streame or wer ouertaken and oppressed by the enemy as they stoode deliberating whether it were best to passe it or no. And thus they perished by diuers chaunces The Lansquenetz also the Spanishe footmen breaking theyr arraye pursued the flight slaying those that the horsmen running before had ouerthrowen or whom the throng of them that fled and the heapes of armours and weapons Wyth whom they euery where met had hindered or stopped Andrewe Lauredame Prouidirou a â—â—ant vnworthy of that calamitie if he had not bene the vnlucky authour of that vnfortunate battel was taken and albeit after he was withdrawen he promised a mighty masse of golde for hys raunsome yet was hée moste cruelly stayne by a raskall droudge
But Andrewe Gritti gotte hym to Vicenza and was there verye hardly saued for assoone as the Venetians beganne to flye the perculleis of the gate was let down which was the cause of many a mans death for they missing their hope of entring Vicenza in going backe againe met with the ennimies by whome were slayne Captaines of companies of horsemenne Charles Monrons 〈◊〉 Saxatello Constantius Pio sonne to Anthony and Meleagriâ— of Fonli but there were slaine of Captaines footemen and pety captains aboue sixe and twenty Many were saued by the Italians and Spâ—â—mardes but those whome fortune caste on the Almaines hauyng before sworne to spare no man were al slaine There dyed of the Venetian army that day being the .vij. day of October about vij M. whereof .iiij. C. were men of armes a thing that had neuer happened before in any battell There were also taken .xxiij. péeces of ordinaunce wyth all the ensignes yea and this almoste atâ—â—icued without wounde of theyr enimies for there were lost but only two men of marke they were of Mittius de Colonnd is company Eberard de Cornia his ensigne bearor and Camillo Maximo knight of Rome a yong Gentleman of rare towardenesse There was neuer armye in our age that had foughte eyther wyth more shamefull ende or was vanquished with lesse damage of the enimie in so much that the Marquesse of Pescara euen in the mids of his ioy for the victory detesting the dast arolynesse of the Venetian Souldiors openly protested that he was very hartily sory that it was his lucke to haue béen inserted by dys auncessours into the land of Italy that brought forth so feeble faint harted souldiors But after this greate ouerthrowe giuen the army of the League by reason of the approch of winter wer forced to forsake the field and to returne vnto their wintering places ¶ A Battell fought in anno 1514. at the riuer of Boristhenes betvvene Basilius the great Duke of Moscouie and Constantine Generall of Sigismunde King of Polande Out of Iouius WHen Basill the gâ—â— are Duke of Mosconie had by treason taken the strong towne of Smoleincho he sent thrée companies of horsmeÌ„ to waste Littaw Against whom Sigismunde King of Polon sent his approued Captaine Constantine with an army of 〈◊〉 thousaÌ„d Foloman mâ—â— of auntes twelue thousand Lithuamâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—bâ—oâ—â—e aâ— archers on horsebacke and three thousande footemen part harquebusierz and parte pikemen in whose puissance if they once ioyned in battel the reposed assured hope of victorye Basill who had aboue fourtse thousand horsemen doubting nothing of the euent of the 〈◊〉 battell suffred the Pâ—â—lonian power quietly to passe ouer the riuer of Boristhenes or Neptâ—â— that he might haue the more full and noble victorye and when bee vnderstoode by his espites that all the Polonians were passed ouer turning himself towardes his Captaine her spake as followeth Our eniuâ—â—â—ane passe the Riuer to late to retourne againe if ye 〈◊〉 playe the men Wherefore moste valiaunt fellowe Souldiours aâ—â—â—one as euer ye shall receyue the signall breake forth as thicke togither as ye can clustes and after ye haue once powred downe shorte of shaftes vppon your enimies battels then euery two of you encountes one enimie and persuade your selues that by this dayes victory ye shall sacke the riche Cities of vilâ—â—nd 〈◊〉 the Chiefâ— Cities of Liâ—â—â—â— and Polâ—â— When hee had thâ—â— sayde â—eechâ—se out of all the whole hoste aboute seauen thousande horseâ—â—â— whome hee commaunded to enclose the enimye behinde at the backe and when they perceyued the battell waxed hotte at the front then they shoulde wyth all their power sette vppon the ennimyes at the backe fearing no suche think for on the lefte hande was there a little valley hedged in as it were with little hilles running along and couertly clothed with very thicke buâ—yes and briers fitly seruing to hyde such an ambushe But of the reste of hys power hee made thrée battells The forewarde wherein were twelue thousande horsemenne hee placed an the right wing and made Michaell Golijza a valiaunt man Capitaine thereof the seconde hee appoynted for the lefte wing neare vnto the hilles to the ende it shoulde bee as it were a battell of succour but at the wagons cariages and baggâ—â—â—â— of the armye â–ª bee hymselfe stâ—â—de wyth the middle battell wherein were placed the strength of the army On thâ— câ—â—trary â—â—e Constantiâ—â— not being ignoraÌ„t that the vnâ—â—aned enimie wold in no respect be equall vnto hym if he could at the firste brunt susteine the multitude of their arrowes and bring the matter to hande strokes and that the battell might not altogâ—â—â—e be foughtes by thicke troâ—â—es of horsemen he placed all the men of â—â—mes in the â—roâ—â— to receyue the firste force of the â—â—â—â—wes but strengthned both wings with Lithuanians and their backes with the footemen And riding from ranke to ranke he saide vnto them we must this daye fight not for glory nor by armes to recouer Smoleâ—cho lately loste by â—râ—uds but to impeache that the perfidious and moste shamefull Moscoâ—ites maye not raigne ouer the Polonians and Lithuanians Neyther fellowe Souldiours will I enkindlâ— you vnto prowesse and vyctorie more by any adhortation than by putting you in mâ—nd that the riuer Boristhenes is at your backe which if yee beyng discomfited by the armed enimye cowardly thinke ye maye agayne passe ouer by giuing place or shamefulye fleing ye shall make it famous for a perpetuall ignominy of your Country and your notble discomfiture and â—aughter But that ye do not suffer so great dishonoâ— and soule fact to be coÌ„mitted vnder my conducte I doe beseeche and obtest thée O God moste bounteous and almightie and yee holy Ladist and Caffimire the defenders and pastrons of the Polontas Empire and I do bowe an altare and Church vnto both of you if it maye stande wyth your pleasures that the Poldnian vanquish and I discomfiring and putting to flight the annimye may bring home a speedy and entire victorye While Constaâ—â—ine was yet speaking the Moscouils founded the battell and the rewithall Michaell commaunded his horsemen to run forth fâ—ourth eâ—â—â—â—ng and to shote theyr arrowes Neyther did Constantine as hed instructed the Captains when hee arranged the battels keepe in the men of armes but they were commaunded incontinently to charge their stames but running vppon the enâ—â—â—ys spee dyly to bring the rouflices vnto the sworde And sucâ—â—e in deebe was the 〈◊〉 that being come beyond the fall of their euiâ—◠〈◊〉 they escaped the greatest part of that shoure and aâ—â— represting in with the be easts of their horses and their weapons tooke from the arhers on horâ—â— backe the vse of their bowes and their second arrowes in whom they had reposed greate consideâ—â— On the other shoe the Luâ—â—â—nians streâ—â—ving out their widge as long as they coulde possible charge the sides all the iuâ—â—â— shâ—ting innumerable arrowes vppon their thick battels where with all the Moscouites
greate detrimentes and notable reproches But although these were greate and very waighty matters yet did he not thinke them to be causes worthy of warres but his only request was to haue Amurathes hys brothers sonne yet his enimy and the waster of Cappadocia deliuered into his hands whom if he would according to equity friendly yéelde vp vnto him that then as the mutuall rightes betwéene Kings for the defending and strengthning of theyr Empires required he would withdraw his army and retourne into his own dominions But if the Sophy neglected thus to doe that then hée would wast Armenia and Persia with fire sword The Herald being dismissed both princes kept themselues within their camps But the nexte day Selym by the encouragement of all his Souldiours brought foorth his power into the open fielde and marched in array of battell towards the enimy who lodged two miles off thinking that Jsmaell a chieftaine of so great name would make no stay but according to hys worde incontinently ioyne in battell wyth hym But as for the number of Persians what kinde of horsemen they were what armour and weapons they bare hee coulde not lightly learne for besides the natures and wittes of that nation fraught with subtile pollicies and wisedome so greate was the loue of the souldiours and so greate their reuerence towarde Jsmaell their king that there was not one man found that fledde vnto the Turkishe Camp wheras on the other side as it was afterwarde learned by the Persian prisoners diuers dayly fled from Selym vnto Jsmaell Selym who is reported to haue had that day in the fielde foure score thousand horsmen placed in the right wing Cassembassa the Capitaine of the Europian horsmen and in the left Sinambassa an Eunuch with the horsemen of Asia the Acanzi going before or auauntcurryng whiche Acanzi are horsmen of dyuers nations that voluntarily folowe the warres being thereto excited in hope of bootie and spoile The middle battell was assigned vnto the Asappes a multitude of râ—â—â—l and half vnarmed footmen who for that they are accompted no losse at all are alwayes obiected vnto the firste encounter and brunt thereby to blunt their enimies blades Behinde the Asappes was the greate ordinaunce disposed in directe fronte guarded wyth foure thousand horsemen Hee hymselfe wyth the chosen horsemen of the guarde and all the Janizars stoode for an aide and succour in a place somwhat higher than the rest and being entrenched wyth a double circle or trench of ordinaunce and carriages rounde aboute hym had placed the sumpter Camelles according to their custome so linkyng them one to an other with long chaines going crosse their breasts that they seemed to bee a strong munition wherwith he being enclosed might aide those that hee sawe in distresse and if any harder chaunce should happen from thence as from a Castle wyth the floure of the whole army susteine all the force of the enimy Moreouer hee willed the Asappes that assoone as the ennimies horsemen began to approch that then they shoulde immediatlye seuer themselues a side into two partes therby to leaue an open gappe to shoote off the great artillery full on the ennimye On the other side Jsmaell who had certainly learned by fugitiues all the counsels of the enimy calling vnto him his Captaines tolde them that it woulde bee nothing to winne the victory if they could but escape the tempest of the ordinaunce whiche thyng hee affyrmed myght easily bee broughte to passe if the horsemen as soone as they once sawe the battel of the Asappes deuided wold also be intentiue and redy incontinently to breake their array and likewise to seuer theÌ„selues into two wings Wherefore hee caused two chiefe standardes to be borne the one was the Emperiall standarde the whiche he disposed in a certaine place where hée stoode hymselfe wyth the force and floure of the horsemen the other he assigned vnto hys approued Captain Vstaogle with the rest of the armie Jsmaell had about hym thirty thousand horsemen without any aide of footemen and of them were there aboue ten thousand men of armes very valiaunt Souldiours well practised in the warres and famous for their nobilitie They had very excellent horses barded with strong steele and theyr helmets were all crested bothe for a brauerne and also to terrifie the ennimye moreouer they bare Semiters and after our maner malles of yron also very strong Launces The rest of the horsemen being armed with open and somwhat long head peeces and curasses vsed either great bowes or else launces of Ashe after the Sparishe manner and as for guns they had none in whiche one only thing they were ouermatched by the Turkes But so greate courage and valiauncye was in the heartes of the Persians that they despysing the multitude of theyr enimies and contemning the perill of the ordinance doubted nothing to giue them battell The signall being giuen Jsmael sette forwarde with all his army adhorting all his Souldiours that they would reteine in memorie their olde martiall praise and that they woulde folowe him their chieftaine whom they hadde thoroughe many moste prosperous battells made the most mightye Kyng of all the Orient nowe marching againste the enimie that they were to encounter wyth a sorte of vnarmed Turkes vsing only a light staffe and a Target whose horses are of stature lowe weake and carreine leane and almoste starued wyth hunger that they wold neuer abide no not the first shock of the men of armes On the other side Selym seing the duste of the enimies army comming commaunded it to be proclaymed vnto all the armye by the Colonelles and capitains that the battel was at hand wherein if they fought valiauntly and vanquished the Persians the conquerours of nations they shoulde enlarge the Othomanicall Empire from the Persian Ocean vnto the mount Caucasus But if they remitted any thing of their wonted prowesse that then being in that huge wildernesse of the straunge Countrey and vnmmeasurable deserts there were no hope of escape to be looked for for eyther they should shamefully dye or else wyth euerlasting reproche be slaues vnto the Persian women since that behinde them so farre from their Country both the mightye riuer Euphrates and the monstrous mountaines of Taurus and also beside that the vnfaithfull Aladule possessing the streights hadde taken away from the vanquished all hope of returne into Cappaâ—ocia Nowe when Jsmaell approcked and the Asappes at the signall giuen opened their rankes and in the space betwéen them the Fashons were shorte off hée incontinently deducting his horsmen gaue a charge vpon the right wing of the Turkes with suche seruencye that there was a very sharpe encounter betwéene the halfe armed Turks and the complete armed Persians so that Cassembassa and the formost rankes being slayne and so shootly the other one after another discomfited defeated they propelled all that wing euen vnto the aides and succours where Selym himselfe stoode In another quarter Vstaogle receiuing no small detriment
immortall hatred betwéene the Frenche nation and the Switzers Hauing therefore communicated his counsell and purpose with the ensigne bearers and the most faithful chief men of the Cantons hée secretely admonished Mutio Colonna a Capitaine of the Popes horsemen that of a sette matche when he had receyued the signall hée shoulde cause an alarme to be cried and as thoughe the Frenchemen approched vnto the suburbs wyth a great power should issue out with the horsemen and with counterfaiting as greate fear perill as he could possibly shuld craue aide of the Switzers He also cōmanded the formost bands of the Switzers to do the same who being of great renoume of valor and hatred towardes the Frenchemen had still requested at the beginning of all wars to haue the places next vnto the enimies And so accordingly the Souldiours had no sooner dined and were gone to take their noone nappe but the trumpets and drummes sodainly sounded at the gates of Rome and anone the rumour of the comming of the Frenchemen waxing hotte all the bands one after another when the foremoste tolde them that followed the cause of the alarme made themselues ready and with incredible feruency of fight issued out at the gate whome also the mistrusted regiment folowing with aduanced ensignes hasted on heaps vnto the gate least they should séeme in that tumult whiche apperteyned vnto the publike safety and estimation eyther to haue forsaken those that were before or to be of another opinion touching the cause of the warres The Cardinall being notorious for his hatte and scarlet robe roade vpon a greate horse before the marching rankes wyth hys crosse borne before hym and still as he came vnto the ensigne bearers the pety Captaines or any Souldiours of marke for notable factes he would encourage and inkindle them to make spéede saying that God and the holy Saintes did promise them the victory of that daye in the which they shoulde not only by valiaunt fight destroye all the whole nobility of France brought vnder the conducte of a Princoxe King betwene two armies of his enimies but also breaking the power of the Venetians and Genouese by theyr fortitude and felicitie giue lawes and conditions vnto all Italy nor that the hyred Almaines in whom consisted the Kings chiefe strength whō yet they had often foyled in fight were so estranged frō the Emperor or were of so prodigall prowes that a man might thinke they would for the Frenchmens sakes who indéede were their vtter enimies fight against the honour of al Germany neither yet they should thinke that the Gascoignes very runaways or those horsemen that braued it in their silkes and chaynes of golde who had vsed to repose a little more safetie in their horses and spurres than in their swordes strengthe and stomackes would fight either more stoutly or constantly than they had done before But that labour and perill whiche was lefte was to bee vndertaken with a noble hearte in winning the ordinance of the enimies Where if any of them were slaine they might most constantly beleue that their soules being clensed from all spottes of sinne by hym with the Popes authoritie woulde forthwith flye into heauen leauing behinde on the earthe a notable memorye of their singular valiancy As the Cardinall ridde to the foremoste ranks euery where stil pronouncing these speches ther folowed hym Galeaze Visconti Iohn Gonzaga Cambero and Aquila the Popes Legates and diuers horsemen of those families that of auntient good will fauoured the name of Sforza and had ioyned themselues with the Switzers when they issued out And also certayne armed bands of the commons and cutters intermedled themselues of theyr owne accorde with the company passyng by They had scarcely marched thrée miles from Milan neyther was the French Campe aboue thirty furlongs from them when they began to shoot off their great ordinance which was ten falkons whych thing brought great hofulnesse admiration vnto the Italian horsemen for Mutius riding with changed cheare vnto the Capitaines of the first company began to aske them what madnesse had moued men skilfull in martiall matters and the maisters of that discipline to striue with the vnseasonable thundering of theyr ordynaunce to rouse the enimye whome they had thought best to inuade being vnprepared and looking for nothing lesse than battell Vnto whom it was couragiously aunswered by the foremoste rankes that they shoulde fight well enough according to the discipline of warre euen with the armed and prouided enimy if their mistrusted fellowes and the ensignes of al the Cantons with one counsell and intent descended into the field with them which thing they hoped might be brought to passe if that through that faining of more certaine signes that the battell was begun had come vnto the eares of their folowing fellows whose valor vanquished by infamous hire and mony if that there were no shame at all in them of the publike dignitie yet at the leaste the grones of their kinsfolke falling down dead before their eyes the religion of a souldiors othe and the fear of iudgement which wold anone after be giuen at home against the forsakers of their fellowes they thought woulde be able to stirre vp and inflame them for so greate truste of valor was in their proude heartes that they despised with very greate contempt the moste mightye and strong power of the enimies neyther did they thinke that any store and multitude of greate ordinance or any munitions of place would stay their force from breaking into their Campe by bearing them down and vanquishing Aboue al other there were thrée valiaunt fellowes but men of barbarous prowesse called Pelegrine Landaberg Centy Amerer and Rafe Long that led the thrée voluntary bandes of moste valiaunt Souldiours that were placed in the front As soone as euer these menne were come within the syghte of their ennimyes they incontinentely burned oute wyth so greate heate of fight that they coulde not be helde backe by the rest of the Captaines who with better counsell had commaunded the ensignes to staye and to take a place to lodge in and to refresh the Souldiours who were weary of their iourney but that they woulde néedes haste towardes the ennimyes wyth spéedye pace Burben and Trivulzi were encamped at Sainte Iulians Churche in a small village and wisely lodged at the lefte side of the high waye whyche was defenced on all partes wyth stiepe and déepe ditches and after the manner of the Countreys wyth hyghe bankes nexte vnto them the Kyng hym selfe and behynde hym the Duke of Alaunson vnto whome by right of bloude the kyngdome of France dydde appertayne if that Francis dyed wythout heyre male hadde placed the middle battell and rerewarde one being seuered from the other by a small distance They being thus lodged in thrée parts that the thrée great armies might the more commodiously and spéedily be an aide one vnto another when chaunce did require were enclosed within a large and very well defenced place for rounde aboute were
many ditches made by the husbandmen to water their lands and Nauarro had also added new munitions in commodious places where it was thought good and néedefull and also had set vppe against the enimy mighty targets fastened in the grounde and closed togyther with greate ropes that the Gascoignes beyng defended and couered by them might shoote at the enimy more safely and ceratinly This forme of the Campe and the nature of the place had Mutius and certaine of the Capitaynes of the Switzers riding vnto the higher part of the banke for to suruey the camp incontinently marked and then had also noted that on the right hande there was a commodious place lefte for them to lodge in where was a prety low plaine enclosed almost on two sides with a small riuer that ranne downe vnto corne milles They began to counsell the Switzers to encampe in that place and their bodyes being refreshed wyth rest and meate to thinke nothing rashly of fight they also tolde them that as victory procéedeth from counsell and good aduise so vaine and sorowfull attemptes from vnaduised hardinesse and that those men do oftner féele the aduerse euentes of fight that truste to ouercome their enimyes by desperatenesse and fease than those that séek victory by profitable tariance and reason Moreouer they sayde that the enimy was prouoked againste all aboadement bycause by an olde obseruation of that nation that day of the wéeke was all the yeare after vnfortunate vpon the which Childermasse day had fallen This was the thirtéenth of September But when that fury and fatall madnesse the which had neuer hapned before vnto the Switzers in the warres had takē away obediēce frō the souldiors and authority from the captaines the busier sort ranne foorth and attached a very cruell fight with the Gascoignes and Almaines Trivulzi and Burben hauyng intelligence long beefore of the comming of the enimies had sette their men in array of battell and placed their ordinance in a fitte place but nowe being doubtlesse pressed did sette on fire all the houses of the village both to staye the fease of the enimies by the fire and also to bereaue them of the vse and munition of the houses and then reduced their men into a larger place Before the Frenche ordinaunce was there a mighty ditche which must be passed ouer with extreame peril of desperatenesse the whiche ditche was kepte by Nauarro his bands and the Launsquenetz men of passyng valour wyth their thicke rankes This ditche a bande or ring of very desperate yongmen doubted not to passe with more assured death than victorye They were very chosen felows taken out of al the Cantons men in the prime of youth and of singular forwardenesse who by a very auntient order of that Countrey that by dooyng some déede of passyng prowesse they may obtaine rare honour of warrefare before they be growen in yeares doe of themselues requeste all perillous and harde péeces of seruice and often vse wyth deadlye praise to runne vnto proposed death These men do they call of their immoderate fortitude and stoutnesse the desperats forlorne hopen and the frenchmen Enfans perdus and it is lawfull for them by the prerogatiue of their prowesse to beare an ensigne to haue conducte and double wages all their life long Neyther are the forlorne knowen from the rest by anye other marke and cognisance than the plumes of white feathers the which after the maner of Captaines they doe tourne behinde waueryng ouer theyr shoulder with a braue kynde of riot They wyth noble courage ranne full vppon the ordinaunce and after that they hadde valiauntly and long fought with greate losse in the place of great disaduauntage at length when that they woulde for no incommoditie giue ouer they driuing the Almaines out of the place and beating backe Nauarro hys bandes came ouer the heapes of the dying vnto their ordinance The which in number seuen péeces being taken they relying themselues agayne vrged their shrinking enimyes and disordered all the whole foreward In this greate daunger Trivulzi and Burbon flue hither and thither to repaire the distressed battell to the vttermost that they could do by strength or prouide by counsell sending in the horsmen in diuers places Neyther fayled Nauarro vnto his Souldiours by chydyng some and asking other whether that they hadde come from the farthest parte of the Ocean and the Mountaines Pyrenees onely for to turne their backes and moste shamefully to flye out of the fielde almoste before they had séene their enimies that they should plucke vp their heartes and make ready their harquebusses and bowes and abide so long vntil that their sides were garded with freshe succour of horsemen and thinke that they ought to wipe out by fighting that day valiantly the note of cowardise or of ill lucke that they had gotten at Rauenna by fighting ill So at one time a mighty troupe of horsemen breaking vppon them and the Gascoignes being stayed by adhortation and shamefastenesse and the Lansquenetz kéeping their place for anger and shame a cruel and variable fighte is renewed bothe sydes are inuaded wyth the horrible noise of the ordinaunce and weapons and the ensignes are torne into péeces Anone Cenry and Pelegrine are slayne fighting couragiously and Pure the Captaine of the Pretorian or guarde bande and with him foure ensigne bearers are slaine by a greate culuering shotte from the side Neither did the Switzers who fetching a longer compasse aboute had come vnto the enimies faile vnto the their distressed fellowes for they gathering thrée bandes togyther into one came in twoo companyes wyth freshe strength and courage and encountering wyth the footemen on the lefte hande slue Sciatalarde a Captaine of the Gascoignes of renoumed name and Lewes and George Earles of Hellempurg noble men of Germanye But in another parte they loosing a little their ranckes did receyue in among them the charging horsemenne where they fought long with variable and doubtfull fortune for althoughe the men of armes cruelly treading to death the dispersed and the ouerthrowen did with the force and fease of their horses breake throughe with slaughter the flight and thinne small bandes yet when they met with the thicke rankes they were eyther broched with their long pikes or else their horses being slain vnder them perished thorough the waighte of their armour There were slayne in that place very valiantly fighting these Capitaines of companies of horsmen the Erle of Sancerre the Lord Imbercourt a renoumed man for his singular prowesse and long seruice in the warres the Lorde Bussy de Ambois and Francis brother to the Duke of Burbon and Burbon himself was in the like danger of life as he himselfe said being among the thickest of that bloudye broyle But afterward I heard the contrary of the kyng hymself who affyrmed naming witnesses that Burbon durste not succour his enclosed brother and retired vntouched out of the sight of the enimies vnto the middle battell Also whilest that Trivulzi endeuoured in vaine to
succour his enclosed and dying ensignebearer he being tossed among the pikes and halberdes of hys enimies and his horse wounded and the creste stroken off from his helmet gotte hymselfe out of thys daunger by the rescous of hys company of horsemen And nowe was the battayle hardely susteyned in moste places and the Switzers for that they had passed ouer the very yll ditche had with greate valor wonne the ordinance and defeating the footemen and disordering the horsemen had wonne the place where their enimies had stoode séemed to haue the better of the battell when the King aduauncing forward wyth him the middle battell and commaunding Alencon to folow him with the rereward with equall pace and many péeces of ordinance being bestowed by the Captaines in certaine places by whom the Esquadrons of the Switzers might bée annoyed on the sydes came in very good time wyth the blacke regiment and a mightye number of horsemen hée couragiously professing bothe to hys owne Souldiours and also vnto hys enimyes by hys coate armour of Skye colour poudered wyth Lillies of golde that hée was the King was conuersaunt in the fore front valiauntly laide on the enimye and perillouslye galloppyng hys horse hyther and thither encountred the hotest of the enimies finally inflamed his souldiors not only wyth words adhortations but also with singular example of true prowes for the Switzers did presse on so feruently and stoode to it so sternely and stoutly yea and so great was the valor and courage yea of them that were wounded and were dying that the Kyng in that iniquitie of fight muste néedes forget his maiestye contemne his life and repaire his enclined state rather by valiant hand and strength than by sleight counsell or aduice The horsemen also who had by running away at Nouarra and Turwin loste the olde opinion of their prowesse did now least that if they should againe giue place be marked for euer after with euerlasting ignomy contend to satisfy the Kyng who fought valiauntly in the sight of them all eyther by honorable death or else with noble victory There were slaine in this encounter the Prince of Talemonde sonne vnto Seigneur Tremouiile and Seigneur de Roy a man of greate nobilitie in Picardie and Seigneur Vantell who bare the extraordinary standerde of the Kyngs troupe and many moe of the valiantest horsemen and Mounsieur de Moy that bare the ensigne of a very noble company of horsmen bycause they beyng empeached and entangled wyth the ditches and vines could not get out and orderly range their bands But of the Switzers there was slaine Rafe Long that greate stirrer vp of the multitude and also Flech a man more renoumed for his valiauncye than his stocke and VVolter Offy who for his singular prudence mighty strength which are not lightly blended togither in men of that nation had gottē great opinion of prowesse in al warres especially at the battell of Nouara They fought continually seauen houres without ceassing ▪ for when the sunne had failed them in the mids of the heate of the battell the Moone that then shined bright kepte both armies in armes And the fighte was horrible and very bloudy as long as there was any light at all But anone when the Moone was hidden wyth the cloudes althoughe they being wearied with toile and woundes and their weapons blunted sought place for reste yet in the meane tyme through mutuall error both friends and foes were slaine by blind and frantike blowes For when the Almaines not beyng muche vnlike vnto the Switzers neyther in tongue nor habite were blended togither with the Switzers in dyuers places at length the watcheworde bewrayed them and then foule slaughter was committed in the darke Neyther ceassed the ordinance all night but as they were shotte off without any certaine markes so did they cause more terror than flaughter The Cardinall who had not this daye failed vnto his Countrymen in hope care and toile did by mistaking the place lighte among the Almaines but got himselfe out of the daunger by counterfaiting their tongue by a rougher voice and passying the ditche returned vnto the burnyng houses of the village whether Rosty and Anglarde being inuited with the shining of the fire and many other of the Captaines resorting as it were vnto the Generalls tent had caused the mighty horne of a wilde Vri the which being deliuered by hand from their ancesters is kept with great care and religion at Vri the authours of the libertye of the Switzers to be sounded that the dispersed and wandering Souldiours might be called vnto the ensignes This no doubte saued many that were intermedled in diuers places among their enimies bycause they coulde haue no certaine recourse vnto their fellowes the likenesse of the sounds of the drummes confounding their eares Both armies by reason of mutuall feare passed the whole night without sléepe yet were more readye in hearte than in strength for to fight againe for although the valiant also the cowardes were both tyred with the long toile of fight yet with dyuers habites of heart they were excited eyther with desire of fight victory or feare of death The Cardinall and the rest of the Captaines althoughe that the firste opinion séemed greately to haue deceyued them for that they had not as they hadde hoped vanquished at the firste charge their enimies yea being disordered with great slaughter and lost wyth almostle vaine attempt the stoutest of their men yet forsake not themselues and call many into counsell and when that it pleaseth them all to expecte the light and to fight againe they doe decrée that certaine be sent to Milan to requeste all kinde of helpe for that they had come foorth vnprouided of all things Iohn Gonzaga is sent to fill wyth newe hope Maximilian and the Citizens of Milan who were hofull of the euent of the battell and to sende from the Citie out of hand bread and meate ready dressed and many vessels of wine for the souldiours that fainted for wearinesse and thirste and to conuey vnto the Campe greate ordinance shotte and pouder with all possible spéede But when the Counsell was broken vppe the Capitaines and ensigne bearers spake dyuersly among the Souldiours according as euery man thought of the Cardinall and of the euent of the battell Some beyng desirous of honour and victory made light of the greate losse that they had in déede and did extoll and augment with false tales the valiant actes of their fellowes and the slaughter of the Frenchmen Contrariwise those of the aduerse faction that they might spéedilye prouide for their owne safety and also augment the daunger of dignitie and lyfe in the Cardinall who was enuironed with extreame difficulties disbended and returned to Milan Also the Popes horsemen who for their small number had serued to no greate vse did for a greate parte of them either for feare or despaire forsake their captaines and returne into the Citie But although the king were
turne their backes and to retire but parte despising the ordinance againe gaue a chardge vppon the enimies and with more constant valor and desperatenesse than euer they they had vsed before giuing and takyng many woundes passed the ditch and encountering with the Lansquenetz and the kings horsemen did many actes of sauadge prowesse for when Trivulzi and Burbon stretching out in length their wing and fetching a compasse about with their horsmen had charged their lefte side they were forced to fight with double front But the Launsquenetz who had in this moste sharpe encounter loste their stoutest Capitaines Iames Condey Henry Ricurt and Saxey beying madâ—â— for anger and griefe did valiauntly sette forwarde and repressed their violence and with the shotte of their harquesses tumbled from his horse Pontinâ—r one of greate renowne among the Capitaines of the Switzers for the tallenesse of his stature and the valiauntnesse of his harte as he roade vnto the rankes and encouraged his souldiours with a loude voice and vsed reprochfull wordes againste the Almaines who in the fight of the Switzers annointed their bloudy pikes in the tallow grease of his mighty and fatte body that ranne out at his wide woundes which thing is accompted among the Barbarians in deadly hatreds for a verye graue ceremony of reuengefully acquited There also Zambron and Anty Eucher menne of strong courage and terrible stature while that they guided wyth singular skill mightye twoo hand-swordes in the middes of the Almaine batallion cutting off a greate number of these pikes and slaying many of their enimies were at the laste oppressed when all the whole battell turned vppon them Then also was Chezze Amman slaine hys horse being firste killed and hâ—â—â— himselfe also shotte in with thrée arrowes a man who being of that yeares had by encouraging and fighting many houres coÌ„mitted the duty neyther of a very good capitayn nor a moste valiant souldiour where as the rest of the Captaines that I spake of had died before that they came to fight with the enimy being for he into péeces with the ordinaunce And when Iohn Berre the ensigne bearer of the Baâ—â—lians being wearied wyth many woundes was not able any longer to kéepe the ensigne hée pulled it off from the â—â—aâ—â—e and tore it into very smal péeces that hys enimies might not gaine it and then dyed Moreouer in the meane â—â—â—e the seconde battell whiche wée tolde you deâ—â—ected vnto Alencon inferred so greate â—â—rror vnto the rerewarde that the horsemen for a greate parte Monsieur Beaument their ensigne bearer being slaine at the firste méeting toâ—rned their backes and fledde a maine on the spurre towardes Ledy which caused the Pesants and many espies that were in the fields seing the French horsemen fleing among the cariages to write vnto all partes of Italy that the Frenche King was discomfited and the Switzers had gotten the victory And doubtlesse the FrenchmeÌ„ in the quarter had â—en brought into very great danger if that Emar Prieus and the Lord Obegney capitaines of singular experience who were wyth Alencon raryng them that fledde rolying the ensignes and casting the Souldiours into a ring had not borne the â—runt of the fight with surpassing paine and toile And also Liuiano was a greate succoure vnto the disordered who with a company of noble men of armes came before the reste of his power whiche folowed after And as hée was a man gready of fight and to doe some feare encoraging his horsemen to folow him without doubting or staying so he gaue a charge ouerthwart the side of his enimyes whom two bandes of Switzers turning their ensignes receyued very couragiously and wounding many and slaying Capino the sonne of the Earle of Petilia a yong Gentleman of passyng towardlinesse did repell farre from them the hotely vrging horsemen Yet that company of Switzers bring more terrified by hys comming than hys power for that they thought all the whole power of the Venetians who were indeede neare were already come beganne to prouide for their safety for some of them being quite speÌ„t with werinesse woundes thirste and sweate gotte them into the Gardens that neare adioyned where a greate parte of them were slayne when that the horsmen were sent ofter them yea from the kings battell other retiring into the nexte village after they had long time defended themselues at the gate walls vnder the conduct of Tuler Cefuse a very valiant captain at the last being won and vanquished with the ordinance and fire most cruelly perished but other being despersed and fleing backe vnto the greatest companye or battell of their fellows the horsemen chasing them in those very large and open fieldes had ben wholy destroyed if that by the aduise and valor of certayne olde souldiors who in that frowning of fortune being mindefull of discipline neuer failed vnto themselues and their fellowes they had not retired vnto their fellows that were on this side the ditches and high way in a thicke Esquadron Almoste at the very same time the thirde battell of the Switzers the which we shewed you had stoode ouer right against Trivulzo and Burbon eyther bycause they sawe the iniquitie and disaduauntage of the battell or else were adduced by detestable counsell for that they had rather satisfy their faction and hatred than publike necessity in being beholders of the slaughter and prowesse of othermen beganne to retire wyth their ensignes towardes Milan neyther woulde they as men thoroughly attached with feare once come into the battell to fight the whych yet they were almoste forced to do seing that they had all the lyght horsmen in sight were often shot at with the great ordinaÌ„ce which beyng politikely hidden behinde the horsemen were at the laste when the troupes had opened at the sounde of the trumpet often shotte off in the voide spaces Therefore when the reste of the Switzers whome wee lefte fyghtyng at the Kyngs battell inflamed with fury and wrath kepte their grounde rather by obstinacy of hearte than strength and sawe other freshe regimentes of Launsquenetz to whom the light hadde not yet come ready to come vppon them they despairing of the victory sounÌ„ded the retreite for a little before they had receyued a greate detriment at the ditch being maruellously endomaged from the higher ground by an innumerable multitude of arrowes shotte by the Gascoignes Arcubalisters who being placed harde by the harquebusters that the one might haue time to chardge their harquebusses and the other to bende their crosse bowes did so shoot off one after another by hundrethes with mutuall running backe that the battell of the Switzers being ouerwhelmed with the continuall haile of the shotte were without reuenge beaten down they in vaine séeking succour of prowesse and valor The battell being thus broken off when that Rosty Ronne Anglarde and the other Capitaynes coulde not succour so greate and so drsordered a multitude by admonishment and commaunding them what they should doe nor easily doe the dueties of captains the
souldiors themselues yea although they were quite spoyled by so many incommodities did in that iniquitie of things prescribe vnto themselues wyth meruelous constancie and singular skill what was to bée done that they might not séeme to flie For hauing a care of the wounded two souldiours did with singular pittie cary on their armes and shoulders one man weakened with woundes and bringing backe euery one of the péeces of ordinance that they had brought from Milan strengthned the hyndermost taile with a guarde of the fresher Souldiours But they marched with so staied a part that their departure séemed to haue no similitude of flight neyther indéede coulde they be easely inuaded bicause they were defenced on both sides of the highe way wyth very déepe and continuall ditches The Frenchmen who had stoode armed in the battell twenty houres togither and the moste part of the time with doubtfull victory and their limmes nowe slowed with sweate and theyr horses fainted for wearinesse and had almoste loste the sense of their eyes and eares with the thicke miste of the raised duste and the incessant and horrible thundering of the ordinance made an end of pursuing yet hauing so gotten the victory that they rather vanquished them by fighting valiauntly than taught that by all mens opinion it is impossible to ouercome them again by any power The Switzers being very courteously and liberally receyued and entertained in their olde lodgings at Milan did put in the publicke hospitalles those that were greuously wounded and then gaue the reste of the daye and the night folowing to recreate their bodies The nexte daye they filled the broade streate that lyeth before the Castell with so greate a number that by the estimation of all men they séemed to haue riceyued almoste no losse at all There they holding a counsell requested thrée moneths pay and vnlesse that it were presently payed they said they wold go home But when Maximilian could not perfourme it bycause he hadde not so muche ready money they incontinently aduaunced theyr ensignes at the gate that leadeth to Como and went home When a viewe was taken of them that were slaine the Frenchmen contended that of the fiue and twenty thousande Switzers that had come foorth into the fielde scarce the one halfe of them returned and that of their men there were not aboue thrée thousand slaine But the Switzers did verye muche augment the number of the Frenchmen that they slue and holding a muster at home in theyr countrey confessed that they had loste in that voiage to the number of fiue thousand very valiaunt men Among the carkasses of the enimies Claude Duke of Guise brother vnto Antony Duke of Loraine was found drawing onwarde to death but yet was saued This yong Gentleman of singular towardlinesse was Capitayn of the Lansquenetz and had fought so valiantly in the fore ward that béeyng sore wounded and at lengthe the whole battallion of the Switzers lying vppon hym hée was beaten downe among the deade of his owne men and hys enimyes After the departure of the Switzers the Kyng had the whole Duchye of Milan yéelded vnto hym wyth the Duke and also Placontia and Parma by the Pope ¶ The Battell at Synga fought in Syria betvvene Selym the great Turke and Campson the Sult an of AEgipt in anno 15 16. Out of Iouius SElym the greate Turke intending a seconde voyage againste the Sophy sente Legates vnto Campson the Sultan of Aegypt whome dée vnderstoode had lately entred into league wyth the Sophy that he might without any displeasure or impeachmeÌ„t of his pursue the Sophy with warres who hadde brought so many and so greace calamities into Asia and by inducing of newe superstitions vehemently laboured to depraue and defare the most certaine lawes of the Mahumetane religion But when Campson had aunswered that he woulde haue no peace with him vnlesse that he woulde abstaine from molesting the dominions of the Sophy and also restore Aladine the expulsed sonne of the King of the Aladoles vnto hys fathers kingdome Selym changed his purpose and striking downe from the Mountayne Taurus into Comagene came with aboue an hundreth thousande armed men and a great number of fielde péeces within two days iourney of Alepâ— where the Sultan was with a small power before that proude Campson who had thought to terrifâ—e Selym with his only auctoritie and the greatenesse of his name coulde be persuaded that hée hadde passed the mountaynes But when hée was thus caught vnprouided and was forced to consulte in the midâ— of his daunger what was to he done he began to wauer and to be tossed to and fro wyth feare and shame not being able to be redily resolued whether be should with stout stomack abide by it and try the fortune of battell with greate disaduauntage or warily gius place vnto the imminent deadly storme and retire backe into more safer places vntill that hée had leuied a greater power There were some of the Captaines that preferred safe aduises before glorious and aboue all other one Iamburd surnamed Gazelles a man brought vppe by the great Caitbey and a valiaunt man and famous for martiall prudence and also Captaine of Amanus and Apamia who as hée thought it woulde bring greate calamity to encounter in battell the mighty and olde army of the enimies with so small power so he said that it was best to retire backe with spéedse marche and to choose the seate for the warres at Damascus the which might very safely and easily be done bycause the Turkishe armye hauyng many footemen and also being combred with wagons was flowe to pursue them In the meane time all the rest of the Mamaluches which were in garrison in Iudea and Aegypt being sent for and also the Arabians their neighbors hyred to serue them the warres might be prolonged vntill that the enimy might be easily ouercome thorough lacke of victualles Neyther woulde Alepo if that it were strengthned but only with a small garrison straight way yéelde vnto the Turkes séeing they had no other ordinance wyth them than fielde péeces and by this tyme to there woulde 〈◊〉 aide of Persians out of Mesopotamia and also the Sophy hymselfe vnderst anding of the Turkes voiage woulde breake foorth into Asia the lesser neyther woulde the Christians if they were requested by legates faile to supply greate ordinance against the common enimy out of the Isles of Cyprus and Rhodes Which beyng gotten and their power made match vnto the Turkishe then he might if he thought it to be so glorious a thing to aduenture the battel not rashely descende into the fielde But verye grieuous and waighty warres whych haue at the fyrste vehement and sodaine violent braides and forces doe commonly languishe in time thorough the prudent lingering of theyr aduersaries Therefore hee shoulde not haste to make proofe of fortune séeing that the errors and escapes of warres which oftenest proceede from the vnskilfulnesse and rashnesse of the chieftayne all good men may bewayle and hartily
almoste all the middle battayle wyth slaughter and tercouâ— The Turkishe state stoode in greate daunger for that Selyâ— was by the incursyon of the enimies almost cut off from his footâ—â—â— in whom he reposed his greatest hope and also the horsemen of the guarde were very sharpely pressed by Gazelles who followyng the fortune of the Prince of Damascus had now charged the middle front and finally the Asian horsemen being disordered and defeated coulde finde no meane to repaire the fight when Synambassa came to succoure them being in greate distresse By his comming who had béene vered by Cayerbey with none or small fight and therby brought in a freshe multitude of horsemen the audacitie of the Mamaluches was abated and the courages of the Turkes encreased and anone after the victory also was taken away from the enimy When by Selyms commaundement the ordinance was shot off full vpon the enimies whose vnaccustomed thundring did so affright the Mamaluches their horses that their riders coulde not rule them neyther could they themselues do any good with al their singular and wonderfull valor bycause they were enclosed in the mids by the infinite multitude of their enimies Yet notwithstanding in this asperitie of things were not their harts brokeÌ„ neyther although they were forsakeÌ„ by Cayerbey and fortune failed they vnto themselues either in aduise or valor for vniting themselues all togyther into one thicke troupe they brake throughe the battell that stoode before them with the slaughter of the Europeans and the detriment of the wing of the horsemen of the guarde and beganne to make their continued course vnto the Campe and Citie Anone all the reste also were made to flye Sinambassa pursuyng them wyth the lightest and the freshest of the horsemen for Selym who hadde that daye wythout all doubt appeared greater than hymselfe for the patience and sufferance of bodye that hée shewed in that extreame heate the couragiousnesse of his hearte and the felicitie of his counsell had fleing hither and thether adhorted his men to folow the victory and pursue the affrighted Now had Campsâ—n aduaunced forwarde hys battell eyther that hée might succour his men or be present at the victory if the Turkes were vaÌ„quished when hée vnderstoode by the way of those that fled that Cayerbey hadde reuolted his power was defeated neyther coulde nowe the flyght of them hée stayed finally so greate was the force of the ordinance and so greate the multitude of the eniuries that they were able no longer to sustaine them With the which newes the haughty olde man of lxxvij yeres who liuing in perpetuall traÌ„quility of state had neuer before séene fortune frowne conceyuing a supreame griefe almoste wounded nor long after a company of his owne fléeing men and also of the pursuing enimies who being caried wyth violent course vppon the spurre threwe downe all that they met indifferently wythout regarde comming vpon hym Campson being loaded wyth yeares and the waight of a mighty Hernia or rupture and also fainting for extreame heate and sorowe was smouldered in that duste Moreouer as the Mamaluches sledde amaine vnto the Campe and from thence vnto the Citie the Princes of Damascus and Tripoli endeuouring to sustaine the force of their vrging enimies in the hindermoste taile were slaine But Selym causing a fewe tents to bée set vp in the same fielde where they had fought and the greater parte of his army being placed in station passed that night without sléepe as he that beyng ignorant of his victory and fortune did greately feare leaste that men of so greate valor would haue returned againe that night and giueÌ„ a Camisado vnto his camp Sithence he himselfe had séene that they were defeated and made to flye rather for feare of the ordinance than by the true prowesse of his Souldiours But afterward when Gazelles and the rest of the Mamaluches had more certaine intelligence of Campsons death they departed from Alepe with spedy pace hasted vnto Damascus at the fourth watch their horses being scarse yet refreshed of their wearinesse The nexte day Selym marching forward graunted vnto his souldiours the spoyle of his enimies Campe the whiche was full of all royall riches and from thence marching vnto the Citie receyued the yéelding Alepans with their Captaine Cayerbey and graunted them to be frée from paying tribute There died in this battell not aboue one thousaâ—â— Mamaluches but moe of their seruants and greater slaughter was committed in the flight than in the fight For when their horses fainting with sweat and dying euery where for thirst they were sette on foote and were easyly oppressed by euery towardly souldiour for a greate number of noble horses died bicause they beyng very fatte and kept ouer delicately in the shadow and stable coulde not beare vehement and vnwonted laboure and namely that daye when the Sun scortched all things with his immoderate blaze This field was fought the fiue and twentyth of Iugust vpon the very same day which is wonderfull that two yeares before he had vanquished the Sophy in battell But they report that on Selims fide there were staine aboue thrée thousand horsemen that hereby we may confecture how great a slaughter he had receyued if that the lefte wing which had remayned vntouched the ough the benefit of the traitour Sinambassa had also lighted on his Prince of Damascus albeit in very déede séeing that Selim was sully strengthned and established with the freshe and yet whole and vn touched guard of his footemen it was thought that he coulde not come into any daunger of safety or ignomy Two dayes after was the body of Campson found without wound by them that were appointed to search for hym the which Selim commaunded to be openly shewed that those natioÌ„s which thought wish obstinase credulity that Campson was yet liuing and gone towardes Caire to repaire hys power might be depriued of all the reste of their hope and also they whiche were faithful vnto the Turke might he made euer after more firme nowe that all suspition of that matter was quite taken away Nor long after when the body began to stinke and the fame of the common people séemed to be sufficiently reproued by shewing of the body thrée dayes it was buried with small funeralls at a very auntient Temple of the Citie Alepo being yéelded Selim marched vnto Damascus a Citie of verye greate riches and power whych also yéelded whose example caused the Cities on the Sea coaste and especially Tripoli Beritus Sidon and Acres to sende Legates vnto Selim wyth surrender of themselues vnto hys clemencye and fealtie ¶ The Battell of Gaza fought betweene Synambassa Chiestaine for Selym the Turke and Gazelles Lieutenaunt of Tomumbey the Soldan of Aegipt in anno 15.16 Out of Ionius AFter the death of CampsoÌ„ Selym minding to pierce Aegipt sente before from Damascus Sinambassa into Iudea with fiftéene thousand horsmen and a strong power of Marquebusiers which had béen chosen out of the Ianizars and Asappes for to
surney all that region and to open the way vnto Gaza the which was combersome and troublesome by reason of the Arabians That Citie standeth on the Sea coaste and in the fines of Aegipt neare vnto the sandy desertes throughe whome they muste go with a harde and painfull iorney that will tranaile vnto the farther Aâ—gipt and vnto the Citie of Caire The Citizens of Gaza bycause they had no garrison of souldiors at the very first receyued Synambassa and subtilly thanked hym for that hée hadde vouchesafed to deliuer them out of the intollerable slauerye of the Mamaluches for the memorie of the which benefit they promised to be and remaine true and faithfull vnto Selym and his successors for euer But whilest that Synambassa expected in Campe wythin an arrowe shoote of the Citie the comming of Selym learning out diligently in the meane time the region that they must passe thoroughe to goe into Aegipt and endeuouring to winne the friendshippe of the Arabian Capitaines and suborning espies to goe vnto Caire to learne the counselles of the Mamaluches and Tomumbey whom they had chosen after the death of Campson to be Sultan the Citizens of Gaza who by nature were extreame enimies vnto the Turkes and nowe began to féele dayly great dammage through the present Turkishe army certified Tomumbey of the comming of Synambassa and also gaue hym to vnderstand that the same power of the Turkes might be easyly oppressed and destroyed before that Selym were come if that a strong crue of Mamaluches with skilfull Capitaines were sent vnto them for whilest the Mamalâ—ches did in the deade time of the nighte at a time agréed vppon betwéene the Citizens and them inuade the fléeping Tuâ—kes they would also at the selfe same momeÌ„t sally out of the Citiz and disorder and deface the enimies campe with fire and swood Temumbey and the Mamaluches doe incontinently like the deuise and sende Gazelles with sire thousande horsemen or Mamaluches and a greate multitude of Arabians But he was scarse departed from Caire but Synambassa had intelligence thereof by Syrian espies and howe they hasting without any cariages would be there within two daies The whiche newes as it saued the Turkishe army to also was it of greate moment to the obtayning of the entire victorye of the whole warres But althoughe Synambassa had no intelligence at all of the falshoode of the Gazans yet bycause he did suspecte as he was a man of a prouident and wise head that the like might happen vnto hym determined lefte that hée might haue to doe wyth twoo enimies at once to méete the Mamaluches by the waye and to trye the fortune of fight Therefore dislodging after the seconde watche hée wyth greate silence departed out of the sight of the Citie and marched fiftéene miles in the way towardes Caire Nowe hée was come neare vnto a small village where all trâ—uailers doe commonly vse to ledge by reason of the commoditie of a plentifull Spring that riseth in that place It fortuned that Synambassa was minded to stay in that village and also Gazelles had likewise thought to rest there certaine hours and refreshe his men and horses that he might fiye to Gaza in the night time on hys refreshed and â—ayted horses when almoste at one time it was tolde the Chieftaines on both sides by the auant-currers that there was a mighty duste raised and that the enimies approched Gazelles being vehemently troubled in mind with this vnlooked for chaunce for that he perceyued hée shoulde misse of hys purpose and entent and be vnable to matche the enimye if he wold encounter hym speciall ye séeing hyâ— dâ—oses were weary yet for all thys hâ—â— hearts fayleth hym not althought hée wors forced presently vppon a sodaine to deuise what was to bée done for the common safety of the whole armie and adhorteth his souldiours to make ready their weapons and to thinke that the thing whiche they coulde not doe by ambushe and stealth as they hadde ment they must now dispats he openly by true valor On the other side Synumbassa hauing his men farre sooner sette in array than Gazelles coulde bycause he had tolde them long before at leysure what he woulde haue to be done if they shoulde happen to sight vsed â—â—â—ng and chearefull spéeches vnto all the rankes of his souldiours but the ende of his oration was that they should quite forget all fleing away séeing that all places round about them wold do shal and â—â—â—urions to them vnlesse they were victors and speriasly that they shoulde fully persuade themselues this one thing that nouman shoulde perish that day but he whom God almighty had prodestinated to death by the most certaine lawes of fate and that with equall perill the valiant should finde safety in the minds of the â—â—â—â—nses sâ—â—ordes and also the fearefull death in their most safest â—â—ight throught the power of â—oauâ—â—â—â—ble lâ—t The harquebusâ—â—â— were in the wings the which were stretched foorth in leÌ„gth with a single array and one man not standing very nere vnto another that they mighte be able to vse their harquebusses more foâ—â—ly and compasse he theâ—â—nimy but the pike men were placed in the 〈◊〉 for to susteine the impression of the Mamaluches But Gazelles approching sent the troupes of the Arabians before for to disturbe the wings and he himselfe with a square battell charged the middle battell of the Turks The fight was very cruel a long time doubtful for that the Turks yea though superior in number wer not able is abide the foâ—ce of the armed horsmen now being beaten 〈…〉 ground and dispensed some one way and some an other by the Mamaluches that brake in among them looked rounde about for flight both with eyes and hearâ—es when by Synambassas coÌ„mandement the harquebusserâ— who had with the first storm of their shoâ—◠〈◊〉 a way the Arabians reducing their wings enelosed all the whoâ—â— battell of the enimies Then both men and horsmen were a fair◠〈◊〉 shenk endedâ— with mortall yellets whiche were shot by 〈…〉 and no place for prowesse was lefte vnto the enclosed for when that any troupe of Mamaluluches did run their horses violently vpon the Turkes they by reason of their lightnesse and nimblenesse being accustomed to giue grounde did very swiftlye flye backe and in all places this was their endeuour not to encounter them wyth their horses but to vse only their harquebusses When Gazelles sawe that his horses were tyred with extreame wearinesse and that nowe many of his stoutest men were eyther slaine or hurt and he himselfe was gréeuously wounded in thenecke hée wyth the reste makyng themselues away wyth their weapons fledde vnto Caire thoroughe those wildernesses that hée came losing all hys Ensignes There perished in this battell the Captaine of Alexandria and Orcomas the Gouernour of Caire men of greate accompt and besides them a greate number of Arabians and almoste a thousande horsemen of marke Neyther did Synambassa winne a ioyfull and vnbloudy victory for hée
loste aboue twoo thousand horsmenne and among them some of the beste of his Capitaynes But bycause the fight had continued from noone to Sunne sette the Turkes were not able to pursue their ennimies their horses being almoste deade for thirst and they themselues fainting thoroughe lacke of meate and extreame laboure but encamped in the place where the battell was fought neare vnto the Spring afore mentioned ¶ Three battayles fought betweene Selym the great Turke and Tomumbey the Sultan of Egypt in the yeares 1516. and. 17. Out of Iouius AFter that Selym had intelligence that Synambassa had taken Gaza and discomfited Gazelles and also hée himselfe had receyued a freshe supplye of souldiours by sea from Constanethople he marched with his whole armye vnto Gaza and from thence within eighte dayes came neare vnto the chiefe seate of the Sultan called Caier Synambassa always going a days iorney before hym Six myles from the Citie is there a Village called Rhodania into the which place Temumbey the new Sultan had brought al his olde and newe prouision and furniture of great ordinance and had made ditches crosse ouer al the plain fielde and the high waye the which ditches he had couered ouer with small stickes and earth layd vpon them and he himself had stoode in an oportune place with the Mamaluches who were about xij thousand a great number of Arabian horsmen for this intent that when the hoste of the Turkes did beginne to approche they might be beaten downe by the vnthought of ordinance before that they coulde come to reache the Egyptians with theyr Harquebusses and then he hymselfe being spread rounde about them woulde incontinently fyght with them being disordered and fallen into the ambushe These things were so cunningly and prudently deuised also perfected in so good time that no man in the armie did thynk that the victorie of that day was any thing to be doubted of Doubtlesse a gret calamitie hanged ouer the Turkes if that Fortune who as she always fauored Selym so she enimy like and sharply persecuted Tomumbey had not defeated the painefull endeuors of the Mamaluches through the perfidiousnesse of a fewe persons There were in the Sultans armie foure Mamaluches Albanoyses borne who did greatly stomack it that Tomumbey was ful sore against their will aduaunced vnto the royall seate by the voices of the aduerse faction They whether impelled by lewduesse of disposition or adduced by hope of rewards and more liberall entertainment bicause they thought that nowe séeyng their owne side went to wracke it were wisedome for them to séeke new and more certaine friendes fled vnto Synambassa as vnto the chiefest Turkish captain and their countreyman By these horsemen Synambassa and incontinently after Selym vnderstood all the counsels and intents of the enimies and how great an ambushe Tomumbey had layde for them with singular suttietie and arte into whiche they must néedes fall vnlesse they did forsake the high and direct waye Whervpon they being guided by the same fugitiues dyd fetche a great compasse about on the left hand and before it was day came again into their old way and with aranged battels and produced ordināce that there might be no stay to attach the fight shewed themselfs at the backs of their enimies auoiding the front of their campe When Tomumbey sawe this he coniectured by the marche of his enimies that his Ambushe had bene disclosed thorough the treason of his owne men But although he were tormented with incomparable grief of minde for that al those thinges which he had doone with the toyle of so many men and wyth so great endeuor was quite dashed and caste awaye in one moment of tyme by spitefull Fortune yet neuerthelesse as he was a very stout man he incontinētly reuoked al his senses vnto counsel wonted valor calling vnto him al the captains spéedily told them what he wold haue to be done Tomumbey being placed in so great straight of things must doe all things at one time he must giue the signall vnto the souldiours wherby they were willed to mount on horseback to take their weapons to turn the order of his cape to arange his battels to encorage his souldiors to traduce his ordināce into contrary quarters as the case did require Al which things as one chieftain could not do alone but hardly and confusedly so were they hastyly to halfes and peruersly administred at one pushe by many But the thing that did moste hinder the spéedye dooying of all thynges was the huddlyng togyther of all menne for to remoue the ordynaunce the moste of whiche were yll fauoured and houge péeces made of yron and sette in greate stockes of wodde wyth rings of yron after the rude and nauall workemanshippe vsed in olde time they by reason of their mighty waighte coulde not be moued out of their places without the draught of many beastes and greate thrusting and heauing with yron crows and leuers and with the gréeuous laboure of men But the greate péeces that were mounted on whéeles being drawen by the witlesse hasting multitude with the great clamor of those that pulld haled and shoued throughout all partes of the Campe did with their tumultuous passage disorder those that were mounting on their horses and the Souldiours that were repairing vnto the ensignes But two things were a great help vnto those difficulties that is to wit the cherefulnesse of the souldiours and the singular constancie of them all farre greater than a man would beléeue for that they had not by any conceyued feare fallen from their hope and harts as it commonly hapneth in sodaine chaunces in whome yea the olde souldiours doe oftentymes forget their olde valor but being twice vanquished in battayle they had alwayes resumed greater confidence and courage than they had before bycause they perswaded themselues that not valour and saill in fighte but only Fortune sayled them Therfore when Tomumbey had set his men in array and the souldiors with hote desire of fight had requested the signall he commaunded all the multitude of the Arabians to fetche aboute their wings on the backe of their enimies and to attache the fight firste so that the Turkishe horsemen might be troubled and disordred with a doubtfull daunger of fight before that hée himselfe had run foorth with his induced troupes Streightwaye he cōmaunded the great ordinance which had bene now brought about and directed against the enimies to be shot off And incontinently did the Turkes the same who hadde once shot of theyr smaller greater péeces when they were a iuste distance of and quickly charging them agayne had now drawen them within an arrowes shoote of the Egyptian ordinaunce they foughte a long tyme on eyther side with only often shooting off of their ordināce whyle that the armies approched In the which cōtention almost all the Egyptian gunners were slayne and most of their artillerie his mounted from their whéeles and broken into péeces by the violence of the
the very nighte had not brought an ende vnto so great a slaughter Tomumbey who no doubt was vanquished distrusting the entier losse of the fielde first commanded the retreate to be founded that his men who now could not matche the esquadron myghte séeme not to haue bene beaten back but ledde backe The which thing he thought was of very great moment to establish the harts of his souldiors and also to reteyn his owne authoritie for that same dame Fortune who had deceyued his first hope did séeme to promise vnto him who hoped as meÌ„ in miserie do for better lot prosperous euents of things if that his heart quayled not and he sauyng that power whiche was yet lefte woulde repaire the warres The battell being broken off by the commyng of the night the Turkes who were victors and had gained the ordinance and tentes of the enimies pursued vntill it was late nights the Mamaluches that marched to Caire almost in fléeing manner In the flight were taken Biadarius who could make no spéede by reason of his gréeuous wounds and with him Bidon who had one of his knées broken with the shotte of a falcon whiche dyd also kill his horse The next day Selym commaunded both of them to be slayne either bycause they coulde not be healed or for that it was decent that he myght with so worthie sacrifices appease the spirite of Synambassa for whom he singularly lamented Although the Turks had nobly vanquished yet was their power vehemently decayed yea through these fortunate battells The fourth parts of them was quite spent with sicknesse and woundes and also a great number of their horsses were brought weake through the toyle of the long fourney and specially by the wearinesse of this day For the which causes Selym was constrained to renut somewhat of his olde manner in hasting for he knewe not as yet the myndes and deuotion of the Aegiptians that inhabited Cair neyther did he yet vnderstande by fame in what place Tomumbey soforned and what he intended to dâ— But before he had maturely and diligently learned out all these things hée in no case minded to commit the safety of his owne person and of his whole armye vnto the innumerable Citizens the greatest Citie of the whole worlde Wherefore staying foure dayes in his olde Campe at Rhodania he caused the wounded to be cured and the bodies of hys slaine souldiors to be buryed in the ground but lefte the carkasses of the enimies to be torne into péeces by byrdes and beastes And then hée dislodged and marching towarde Caire encâ—mped in a plaine betwéene olde Caire and Bulach for the Citie of Caire is diulded into thrée townes olde Caire new Caire and Bulach that they might be the more commodiously serued of water The Battell at Caire IN the meane tyme Tomumbey beyng nothyng broken with so many and so lamentable vnfortunate successes of things but gathering togyther the Mamaluches from all partes had pitched his campe in a commodious place betwéene newe Caire and the riuer of Nilus had armed an eight thousande Aethiopian bondmen the whyche kind of meÌ„ he had not vsed before by reason of the memorie of an olde rebellion Morcouer he opening the olde armoury had deliuered armour and weapons vnto the sonnes of the Mamaluches and the Moores their reteyners the Iewes and the Arabians with all diligence had prepared greater and more cruell wars against the Turkes than he had made before But after warde when his deuise to giue a camisado vnto the Turkishe campe had béene disclosed vnto the Turkes who beyng prepared therefore had with losse repelled his foremoste rankes hée by the adhortation of all hys captains entred the citie of Caire for the Mamaluches being vanquished in all battells thought that they muste take another way in administring the warres and therefore counselled him to strengthen the Citie by placing his army in guarde in the most commodious places thereof and to impeache the enimy from entring the towne for in this lamentable state seeing that they must néedes fight for their houses wiues children they thought it honorable correspoÌ„dent to the glory of their antient valor to dye fighting in the sight of them before the dores of their houses So euery horseman or Mamaluch going to his owne house furnished all his houshould and the toppe of his house with all kinde of weapons and euerye one suppliauntlye desired the Aegyptians of hys streate and warde that they woulde take armes against the common and cruell enimies nor suffer them selues to be slayne and their wiues and children to bée carried away for slaues for if the sauage and moste couetous enimy should win the victory which God forbidde they woulde not spare no not them yea though they woulde beare them selues indifferent and healye neyther the one parte nor the other bycause that victory being fraught ful of licentiousnesse and insolencie will knowe no man but hym that without staggering and doubting what to do did helpe with goodes and hand the fortune of their parte while that the warres were of vncertaine euent Moste of the richer sorte of the Aegiptians as they did foresée that the alteration of the state and of the Empire would be very hurteful and bring greate losse and hinderaunce vnto their traffique and wealth so in deuotion and healpe they failed not vnto the Mamaluchs Contrariwise moste of the meane sorte of the Citizens and a mightye multitude of the worser who being voide of danger do always gain by other mens losses remembring all the villanies and extreame oppressions that they hadde suffered almoste thrée hundreth yeares vnder the Mamaluches in wailefull and wretched slauery kept themselues within the dores waiting for the euent of the supreame fight and reioyced in their sléeues that not without the care of almighty God a time had come when their wicked and outragious lords shold be punished for so many heynours facts yea and the reuenge shold be sought by the bloud of strangers whereby it wold come to passe that they shold anone fully satisfy their eyes with a most desired and wished spectacle and sight In the meane tyme Tomumbey with most intentise labor and trauell fortified the gates and all the wayes into the Citie appointed Capitaines ouer euerye streate made adhortatorie orations in euery court market place and assemble of people suffered not any light loytering to be vsed in the works and finally whiche is thought to be the moste hardest thing in calamitie and danger shewed a surpassing great hope and a renued and singular valor in his vnappalled face and countenaunce But the Mamaluches ouer and aboue necessitie the whiche doe vse in extremities to enkindle and to make mad and desperate yea the very cowards being stirred vp by emulation did spéedily and couragiously execute the duties and offices of Captaines for euery one of them as his witte inuention and industrie did bear made ditches crosse the most notorious streats and also laid mighty greate péeces of
timber ouerthwart them other did set in priuie pits holes and ditches very sharpe stakes vppon whom the enimies vnwarily falling might be gored other furnished with gunnes according to their store the windows and houses that stood in the turning of the stretes that wer much frequēted Al which things were doon with so great celeritie that no man no not the ioyliest felow of all the Mamaluchs made curtesie to take the spade or to do any seruile or foule work so the all things séemed not to haue bin deuised before they were don finished Although the citie being very great very old was enclosed with no walls yet there were gates but certain ways into it of whom the one with direct and very broade way or strete did lead from the East gate vnto the Castell and into the middes of the Citie The rest of the ways into the Citie had very narrow pathes and ill fauored streates in whome the ordinaunce could not be well and aptly drawen neyther coulde aranged battells safely ioyne togither Into this place and way had Tomumbey chiefly brought a power bycause he vnderstood that of necessitie the enimie must breake in at that place by reason of the wydenesse of the streats but the other quarters of the citie father off he kept with small gards but the inner and middle parts of the citie where the castel stood were guarded with a very strong part of his power that they being very intentiue might spéedily run with succor to al places of the citie where that the cry of the enimies the perill of their fellows did call thē bicause that the citie being of al other the gretest could not be defended round about the outward cōpasse with so small power namely wayes lying open into it in euery place But when Selym certenly knew that Tomūbey was entred Caire and al the Mamaluches gathering their strength into one wold try the vttermost fortune of the wars he admoued his host more neare vnto the Citie and adhorted his souldiours to thinke that they must that day entierly vanquish and quite destroy their enimies whom they had so often ouercome and to take a little paine more that they might receiue the rewardes of their former labours and victories the which would be so many and so greate as they had before coueted with immoderate mindes that there remained a few men wyth the forsaken and naked king who bycause they beyng attached with woundes and feare were not able to abide the fielde had decréed to expect at home in the sight and armes of their wiues and children the supreame and laste caste of wretched life That the Aegiptians of their owne accorde had sent for him for they deadly hating the name of the Mamaluches did moste gréedily exspect their destruction and did promise to fight from their houses for to destroye that progenie of moste wicked and sauage men But yet notwithstanding that the very absolute victory of the whole wars consisted in the vtterly vanquishing of the remnauntes of the defeated and throughly affrighted army bycause they could not be accompted ouercome that yet hoped were yet in armes and possessed the siege of the Empire and the greatest Citie thereof Therfore they should think that whereas their safety and glory then also their whole state and welfare did consiste in the euent of that day But that it woulde be a thing almost of nought and of no daunger if that they woulde persuade themselues that they muste néedes vanquish in this newe kinde of fight as they hadde valiauntly done before vnder his conducte in all other The souldiours heartes burned for desire of spoile and being ready and deducted into rankes exspected the signall of the irruption When Selym entring the Citie at Bassuell gate sent in his horsemen at many places at once but the Ianizars at the broader way horsemen met with horsmen and attached a cruell fight in the turnings of streats and narrow lanes but the footemen drawing foorth their falcons and culuerings before them in their front did flank with them all the streats along as they wente making them naked of defendants But when they were come vnto the munitions and ditches and went about to remoue the logs and greate beames that lay in their waye and to passe the ditches and on the other side the Mamaluches valiauntly obsisted they fought on both sides with so greate valor and so great pertinacie of harts that neuer none in our memory encoūtred either more fiercely or more bloudily for both the Mamaluchs the Turkes shewed all their strength and all their sleights of warre in this one daungerous fight not being ignorant that they fought in this last encounter for life and Empire séeing that sporting fortune did set indifferently before them both supreame rewardes for the victors and extreame punishments for the vanquished Very greate slaughter was committed at the munitions by reason that the Turks vnwarely running into the blinde and priue ditches pits and holes fell downe into them by heapes one vpon another the hindermost thrusting them forwarde that were before and other were gored on the sharpe stakes The Mamaluches their wiues and children did with manlike hardinesse hurle and tumble down tiles and great stones on them that were beneath On the other side the Turkes woulde wyth their harquebusses fetche suche off as they coulde sée in the windowes and on the houses and breake open the doores where they saw any hurtefull thing hurled downe and fight wythin the houses wyth diuers euent Also the Aegyptians beholding the fortune now of the one side and then of the other did with diuers deuotion take for enimies and assaile them both that vnto whether of them lot would giue the victory they might séeme also to haue greately aided that partie Many encounters were attached in diuers quarters at once as they ranne into diuers streates yea and in sundry partes of one streate now this company now that lighted vpon new troups of the enimies they that vrged the victors in the front were often intercluded by the enimies were beaten down behind The ways and the space that were left betwéen house and house were an horrible thing to behold so wet of the gore bloude that ranne oute of the slaine men that laye on leapes euery foote that the raised dust whyche at the beginning was very thicke was nowe quite layd Yet neuerthelesse the aire was darkened wyth the smoke and miste of the gunnes and the cloudes of arrowes and so greate was the crie of the souldiours the clashing of the weapons the thundering of the ordinaunce that the earth séemed to tremble and quake and the houses to bée torne into péeces They fought continually two days and so many nights with doubtfull fortune but yet so that the Mamaluches who being fewe in number were not able to sustain the labour and watching had withdrawen themselues by giuing backe by little and little into the inner partes of the Citie forsaking
assured hope of ready victory séeyng that Francis of all Kings the most liberall would requite this their singular benefite not only by frank dealing wyth them selues but also with their wines and children Surely the Captalâ—â—â— and 〈…〉 well aâ—â—ecâ—ed and very faithfull but the common sorte of the souldiours as they which were bouâ—â—â—e by no giftes did very leudly wauer but yet so that it séemes that all of them would fight valiantly if they were spéedily brought to darraine battell When Prasperâ— and Pescara vnderstoode the entent of their 〈◊〉 they staying almost neuer a whit at Milan euâ—â—â—â—â— theiâ—â—â— wer wel furnished with all things beyng fully refâ—â—ed tâ— giuer the enimy battell if that any indifferent occasion were offeâ—â—d They eueauped themselues at a village called Bicocna in a place very fafe and commondious for on the right 〈◊〉 it was enclosed with the ditche of the highway but â—â—â—the leasie and on thehâ—â—ke with two small riuers secuing to water the corne fieldes but in the front it hadde a crosse waye so broade that two waiues méeting might passe one by another the which was on bothe sides so lowe that the edges of the corne fieldes were nauell high aboâ—â— it This way for that it was very hollowe did Pescara vse for a ditche and in the front thereof plaâ—â—â— the ordmance and footemen and behinde stoode the horsemen with Prospero But Francis Forza the Duke of Milan who had brought thither bandes of the Citieof Milan and all the nobilitle of the whole duchie that he might be present at the battell encamped in the high way Now the Captaines of the Switzers being singularly addicted to the French welfare and honour and namely Albers Petra a captaine of sucpassing same in many wars who had then the chiefe authoritie among the Switzers assooâ—e as nows was brought by the horsmen that the Emperitialls were encamped middle way betwéeno Milan and Moâ—za and were in a plaine and leuell péece of ground not aboue fiue miles from them they canne vnto the French Captaines and Alberâ— spake vnto them and tolde them that the Souldioures coulde bée kepte by no meanes but that they woulde goe home vnlesse they were lidde into the fielde to fight and that hée hym selfe might satisfye the kings Maiestie who had very well deserued of hym and also the dignitie of the Switzers was fully resolued to giue hatâ—â—ll neither ought they to doubt of the victory if that the frenchmen as they were by bucâ—y bound wold wyth couragious harts folow the Switzers who would pierce euen vnto the ordinance of the enimies If that there were any that would rather linger shamefully than fight valiauntly they ought not to bée thought faithfull to the king or the commoÌ„ wealth Therfore he to shewe his fidelitie and vnfained hart vnto the Kyng would go against the enimies yea with onely the Switzers if no man else woulde follow This couragiousnesse of Albert was not displeasant vnto Lautrech as that man that had rather fight yea with doubfull eueÌ„t than to be forsaken by the Switzers for this was his opinion that their hote valor séeing that they did request the battell wyth such flaming heartes was to be vsed out of hande namely séeyng that he séemed inferiour to the enimies neyther in footemen horsmen nor yet in number for he priuily accompted it an ignomye if that now as it had happned the yeare before he should againe be driuen out of Lumbardie and neuer fight battell and namely séeyng that wheras the Switzers then specially the french horsmen had alwayes in vaine requested of hym with many prayers that they might shewe their valor in a pitched fielde which thing as it often happeneth in aduerse fortune had gotte him greate enuy among the Frenchmen But Palice both gréenously offended wyth the rashenesse and arrogancie of Albert and also moued with the nothing tymely inclination of Lautrech praysed in déede at large the good will and deuotion of the Switzers but could in no case abide to heare the counsell of assaulting the Campe as a deuice full of extreame madnesse and deadly desperatnesse often saying that he who had wared olde in the Italian warres did very wel know the valor of young Pescara who alwayes vseth to fight lustily and the artes of olde Prospero who had learned to lodge his army skilfully to the discoÌ„moditie of his enimy with his owne chiefest and highest praise He did not thinke the french state was brought vnto that despaire the as it were in extreme necessitie they shoulde rather chose to fight and be vanquished than by staying wyth very good and holesome reson moderate the violent fease of vnaduised corage Wherfore what was more safe and better thaÌ„ to get them betwene Milan the enimies camp and encamping themselues there force the enimies being intercluded from the citie and victuals either to fight with disaduantage if that they woulde assaile their Camp or certes if they would returne vnto Milan to offer them the fielde in an indifferent place In déede the Lorde Lautrech who had the supreame gouernement might fight with disaduantage both then also at al other tymes when he wold but it was the duty part of a wise Generall neuer to prouoke the enimy vnlesse he hauing before surely shifted the eueÌ„t might with firme reason assuredly promise himselfe vndoubted victorie But then thus answered the Lord Lautrech we nede not slouthful lingring in sitting still but lyuely valour in fight tore-couer the honor and Duchy lost the which doubtlesse can not be done if we do suffer the Switzers who are now going away to depart home and do no feate of prowesse Wherefore make your selues ready to fight that we may this day ende the warres one way or an other Thervnto replied Palice God assist the mad and desperate I for my part that I may not séem to haue shuÌ„ned the perill will certes fight on foote in the forewarde of the footemen yée French horsmen behaue your selues to day valiantly that in a hard case rather fortune than courage may séeme to haue fayled you So before the Sun was vp it was the .xxix. day of Aprill Albert leadeth foorth his regiments of Switzers they were about fiftene thousand with the ordinance being puffed vp with so foolish or certes fatal pride that he would not one whit be ruled in any thing by either Lautrech or Palice Captaines of greate skill but wyth barbarous statelinesse promised that hée woulde chardge the Emperialls full in the face And without stay the famous Petro de Nauarro and the renowned Captaine Biciarde being sente before to surueye the situation of the enimyes Campe Lautrech made two battells of all the french horsemen the first he committed to his brother the Lorde Lescune commaunding him to fetche a great compasse about and to inuade the enimies on the backes but he himself folowed the maine army It was enioyned vnto the Venetians who were on the left hand to back the Switzers
Frenchmen for he was so couragious vigilant and expert a Capitaine that there was no souâ—â—ior so verye a cowarde and faint harted that woulde not chéerefully folowe his ensignes and would not desire to be séene in the â—â—elde with hym Also about the same time as though that fortune being sore displeased wyth the Frenchmen would bring all incommodities vppon them in one daye the handes of the Grisons who were sixe thousand being reuoked by domesticall warres began sodainely to aduance their ensignes to departe home for Iames de Medici a Milâ—â—esse afterwarde created Marques of â—â—drinian had at the commâ—indement of Francis Fâ—rza and the earnest requeste of Pescara inuaded the Grisons vpon a sodaine and wonne the town and castell of Clauenna and thereby brought greate terror vnto all the whole nation The which daunger being certified by the magistrats vnto the Grisons that were in the french campe they could not be caused to tary by any entreatie although they were offered double wages which did augment the incoÌ„moditie also diuers ensignes also of those Switzers that were their confederates folowed them although that Marshall Lescune openly reuiled with reproches of auarice perfidiousnes their Colonell Then when that be obstinately persisted in his purpose to be gone chalenged him vnto the combat Nowe had the armies lyen many days almost close one vnto an other with so nere front a thing that had neuer happened in our age that it was wonder that the souldiors would so long abide the incommodities either of perpetuall labor or most harde winter and woulde â—â—ertâ—se their bodies with continuall watchings and shirmishes neither a thing seldome séene although all things in all partes were beaten with the great ordinance yet would they not ioyne in battel fortune inclining â–ª neyther to the one side nor the other But hope of guerdon and praise the noble stirrers vp of meÌ„s harts and feare of dishonor which is a very sharpe pricke yea vnto dastards did wonderfully susteine and holde them vp who contended with equall power as though they must vanquish not by force but by sufferance for the french king being of an high minde thought it for his dignitie rather to suffer all hardnesse than not to maintaine the fame of egregious constancie the which vertue séemed to be straunge to the French mens nature for as they hadde gotten all the victories of former times rather by hot courage and swift fease than long perseueraunce so in déede they being tired by the long lingering of the Emperiall Captaines and broken by tediousnes of long warres had lost the name of their auntient glory He also knewe that the besieged were distressed wyth incredible penurie almoste of all things and namely of wine the which by long custome and vsage is the thing that holds vp the bodies of the Almains makes theâ—â—â— chearefull and couragious to sight he also vnderstoods that those meÌ„ which had arriued lately out of Germany also the spaniardes Italians could not be loÌ„g kept togither without wages séeing that the moneth was now almost out the which they had promised at Pescara his â—ntecaty to serue without money finally seing that his campe was fortified in all places with so greate rampires munitions he did not thinke that the enimies were soâ—nuche to bée feared that he ought to leaue his enterprise with ignominie séeing that they which had proudly come with so greate fease violence boasting to assault his campe séemed by dishonorable lying before it xx days with frustrate atteÌ„pt to haue spent not only their victuals prouision and mony but also that terrible fame of fiersnesse Yet neuerthelesse not being ignorant how much his power was diminished he very earnestlye endeuoured to augment his army with newe supplies yet doeth Guicciardin write that hée had in his campe 1300. men of armes 10000. Switzers so many Lansquenetz 50000. french footmen 7000 Italians although that through the sâ—aud of the captains the negligence of his officers the nuÌ„ber of the footmeÌ„ was far lesse thaÌ„ be payd wages for But first of al other things the king made truce with the Genouese the 4000 Italians might be incoÌ„ttueÌ„tly brought into his camp froÌ„ Sauâ—na by the Marques of â—alures but Gaspar Mayno a Milanese sodainly setting vpoÌ„ this power with certaine bands of Sforzans as they passed â—uer the riuer of Burnta did so defeate theÌ„ that he brought the captains prisoners almost all the ensigns vnto Alessandtia Thus the K. hauing lost the hope of aid froÌ„ Sauana sent for Tremouille froÌ„ Milan with a company of horsmeÌ„ for the greatest part of the footmen the besieged the castel of Milan Now there were at Milan by Guiceâ—ardins report 300. men of armes 6000. footemen of Grisons VValisse land men .iij. thousand French footmen Tremouille carried with him to the kyng all the footmen except .ij. M. The K. also commaunded Momorentey who was captain of the third freÌ„ch campe which lay in the small Island that the riuer of Tesino maketh before the citie of Pauia to bring all the most chosen horsmen footmeÌ„ into the greater campe leaue the erle of Claramont with a certayn to kepe the Isle The sum of all the kings entent purpose was this to sende foorth a part of his horsmen vnto S. Columbano that they fleing about and remaining at the backs of the â—nimies might take away froÌ„ theÌ„ al abilitie to be victualed to forage fréely at their pleasure in the meane time he wold kepe himselfe within the munitions coÌ„tinue stil the siege expect intentiue and ready with what eueÌ„t Albany did enter the kingdome of Naples and what the Pope the Venetians his confederates would attempt yet there wanted not men of great qualitie for their long seruice in the warâ— who with frée speach did discoÌ„mend these counsels which were fraughtful of supreme peril endeuoured to pluck out of the kings minde that determinatioÌ„ of fatall seÌ„teÌ„ce specially aboue other Tremouille Galeazo Sanseuerino Palisse Theodoro Trivulzi for they saide the both the honors and dishonours of warrefare are defined by none other estimation than the supreame victory whervnto a prudent and graue Chieftaine would reuoke al his cogitations for what maye séeme vnto men skilfull in martiall matters to be more foolishe and shameful than being not forced by necessitye to bring the kings person into that perill whereby the whole Realme of Fraunce shoulde endaunger both their diguitie and safetyeâ— finally what could be moro estraunged froÌ„ reason thaÌ„ with lesse nuÌ„ber of Souldtors and wyth lesse reward of victorye to fight a doubtfull battell wyth theyr moste valiaunt and desperate ennimyes For aâ— their aduersaries their hope was reposed in hasting 〈◊〉 tâ— leâ—itie that before they were vahquished by difficulties of all things they might fight with more indifferent conditions while that they are yet strong by great and freshe power What saide Palice do not our
place by the calling and running of the souldiours came timelye and remouing from the King the great companie of them which stoode houering ouer him causing him to be pulled from vnder his horse did reach forth his hande and helped him vp Abila pulled oâ— his gaâ—â—let and they that were next his coate armour â–ª the which they tore into péeces other got his gyrdle and other his spurces euery man hasting to catch some thing of the Kings the which he might be able to shewe wyth not obscure credit either for his honor or for to win rewardâ— After the King is taken the Emperials in all places crie victorie victorie The French mens heartes quayle they fouly flée in all parts of the field The Switzers being fearefull like shepe runne into the riuer of Tesino and being vtterlye vnskilfull of swimming are drowned by whole troupes at once but other of them casting downe their weapons suppliantly desire lyfe But rare prayse of humanitie and mercie appeared that daye but in those that were tyred with much slaughter for that mightie victorie made the souldiours proude and mercilesse And Leua his souldiours who had sallied out late at the castel new gate of all other raged most gréedily and cruelly for as they had not â—ene present at the battayle so they opportunely issuing forth after the victorie met with the afrighted and wounded intercepting from them all hope of flight Also the Italian and French footemen who we told you were left about the castel the camp the king when he doubted of the victorie had sent for to come to his aide and Bussie de Ambon hasting into the battell brought them with him but they lighted vpoÌ„ the Lansquenets that had defeated the blacke Almaâ—nes by them were defeated put to flight Ambou being slayne But the nearenesse of the campe gaue many space to escape for the Lansquenets woulde not breake their aray to folow any man but they stoode in aray of battel euen vntil the very last of the fight redy against al'chaÌ„tes bicause they are forbiddeÌ„ by a â—â—uere very noble lawe of maâ—tial disciplins to go out of their aray wards iâ— take any enimy prisoner or to gather vp the spoiles the which other men greedily catched By reason where of it is well knowen that almost neuer a noble prisoner a very litle of the spoyle and pillage came vnto the hands of the Almaâ—nes but as the Spaniards by valiantly discomsâ—ting the horsemen the Switzers doubtlesse won the victorie so as it were by verye good right they got and obteyned the most precious pillage and the noblest prisoners There were taken prisoners Heâ—â—e king of Nauarre and Renee the vastard of Sauoy the kings vncle great master of his house who dyed not long after among his enimies by an ague that grewe vpon him by reason of his wounde and also Montmorencie Brion Bozzole Obegnâ— Floranges who was Captaine of the Switzers Fortune saued Francis of Burbon Counte of Saints Poule lying grieuously wounded among them that were slayne when that a Spaniards did cut off his finger as though he had bene deade that he might haue his ring With contrarye fortune Lescuâ—e whom none of the French nobilitie did excell in strength of bodie and valor of heart being shot into the hyppe with a great pellet dyed of his hurt at Pauia within â—yne dayes after They report that when as he lay sore gréeued with his deadly wound and the Emperiall Captaines and namely Guasto often visited him he bitterly cursed Boniuet and his pestilent nature and sayd moreduer that he sought for him in that infortunate field â–ª that he myght reuenge the publike mischiefe with his infestuous sword for that he had through his peruerse couÌ„sels brought so great a foyle and dishonor vnto the French name and namely vnto the king who had nothing deserued it There also perished the Counts de Tourâ—er a noble gentleman and seigneur de Turnon who had bene Generall with Lesparre â—â—â—tuâ—â—â— brother in the warres in Nauarre at the which time they aduanceâ— the French ensignes euen vnto the riuer of Ebrâ— the Spaniardes being then busied with eiuill warres and tumultes Turnons bodie coulde not be founde Onely the Duke of Alanson escaped away vntouched â–ª with a mightie troupe of men of arnies that he might bring into Fraunce the 〈◊〉 of â—o great an ouerthrowe who pâ—rhaps would haue â—â—ne worthy of the singular prayse of prudence â–ª if that it might haue bene thought that he had fled rather to saue a companie of valiant men for to succor Fraunce which was brought into greate lacke of good men of warre than for to kéepe himselfe harmelesse and get him out of daunger the horsemen following him bicause he was their Captayne But Alanson dying within fewe dayes after of great grief of mind Roch de Main his LieutenaÌ„t defended the fame of that returne by an honorable testimonie which was that he himselfe who was a lustie couragious Gentleman an approued man in martiall skill did reduce the horsemen home full sore against the will of Alanson thinking that séeing the victorie was past all hope that necessitie was to be obeyed Moreouer when Claramont that laye in the Isle perceyued that he coulde bring no succour vnto the lost battell encouraging hys souldiours not to be dismayde with this cruell mishappe but with confirmed and manly heartes to followe the Ensignes to winne safetie and not doubtfull prayse by constant returne educed his souldiours in warrelike order and passing ouer the riuer and cutting off the bridges after him first came vnto the towne of Mortaria afterwarde into Fraunce without any incommoditie And the like did they that besieged the Castell of Milan for they suppressing the fame of the receiued ouerthrow and in the meane time spreading a false bruite of victorie escaped away safe with all their bagge and baggage vnder the conduct of Theodorâ— de Triuulzi But it is reported that there were slayne in the battell to the number of ten thousande And afterwarde the King to obtaine libertie renounced for euer all hys titles vnto Naples Milan and Asti and the superioritie ouer Artois and Flaunders and payde vnto the Emperour twelue hundreth thousand crounes But thrée things I do thinke worthée to be added out of Iouius The first that the king tolde the Marques of Guasto that he had thought assuredlye to haue died in the battayle but that angrie fortune enuied him an honourable death and reserued him lyfe against his will for to be a gasing stocke vnto that scorning dame the seconde that the King being entred into talke with the Emperiall Captaines about the euent of this battell affirmed that if the battell had bene to fight againe he woulde not doubt to vse the same order that he had done before as the very best but that he was deceiued by the Switzers who had shamefully deceyued not only his but also all mens opinion and that he was
couetously defrauded by the Italian Captaines who did take wages for a great number mâ— than they had in their bandes Finally that he was to hastily forsaken by the thirde battayle of the horsemen And the thirde thing that I note is that all which he had written and namely of this battell he had learned it by the report of the greatest Princes and Captaines themselues whose great frendship and familiaritie he had deserued and gotten that he mighte be able to write the truth in his hystories But in that long and harde studie of honest labour no man did more fréelyâ— and cloquently fauour him than Francis the French king who told him all things with maruellous order and vpright truth of the successe of the warres and namely of this battell first at Marsiles and afterwarde at Nizza with his so greate admiration that those things which were vncertaine and obscure he conferring them with the testimonies of his enimies founde them to be most true and playne ¶ The Battell of Nugas in Hungarie fought in Anno domini 1526. betvvene Solyman the great Turke and Lewes the king of Hungarie ANno domini 1526. Lewes the King of Hungarie hauing intelligence that Solyman the Turke was sette forwarde from Constantinople with a myghtie power to inuade Hungarie sent Legates in vaine vnto all the Princes of Christendome for aide and summoned an armed parliament after their order where the Bishops brought the bands that they were bounde by the tenure of their lands to finde scarce halfe full and also lesse money than they ought But the nobles of the Temporaltie as they that had forgotten the olde discipline of warre and had neuer séene the Campe of the Turkishe kings but vsed to fight by incursions inskirmishes did of a certaine arrogancie naturally ingrafted in their proude heartes so contemne the Turkes that they boasted that they woulde with a small power ouerthrowe and destroye in a pitched fielde yea a mightie armie of Turkes And among all other Paule Tomorrey a Frier Archbishop of Tolosse who in roades had vsed often to skirmish was caried with so great fiercenesse of minde and so great desire of hoped victorie that he made many sacred sermons vnto the souldiours to encourage them to fight and promised that he himselfe inflamed with religion woulde breake his inâ—estuous staffe first before all the Nobilitie on the front of the Turkish battels A little before they had leuied with the Popes money certaine bandes of Almaines and Bohemians with whose garde they thought that the battell of their horsemen might be established and the force of the Barbarians susteyned For neyther yea by a very diligent muster could they finde that there in their were army both of horsemen and footmen fiue and twentie thousand souldiours so that the desperatenesse of Tomorrey and the rasâ—â—esse of the rest of the Captaines that requested the battell was greatly condemned by the olde souldiours who sayde that it was moste miserable to encounter with that enimie who woulde bring into the battell a power eyght times greater than theirs Wherefore some thought it good that the yong King shoulde be remoued out of the imminent daunger Stephan Verbet councelling in vainâ— that for the publike safetie the person of the yong king should be kept in the castell of Ofen without the hasarde of fight for both the euentes of the battell But the enraged souldiours cried oute against it and sayde they woulde not fight vnlesse the King led them Then Tomorrey speaking his opinion obteâ—ned that they shoulde fight out of hande and the â—â—â—ble King vnder the defence of the great God shoulde go â—â—â—th against the enimie to giue the signall of the battell So with frantike fease and vnluckye aduise Lewes marched euen vnto Nugass which is a small towne almoste middle waye betwéene Ofen and Belgrade Nowe the Turkishe auantgarde approched very neare when that the Christians consulted whither it were best to keepe them selues in their campe enuironed round with wagons on the banke of Thoâ—aw vntill that the power of Iohn the Veruode or Leiutenant of zipserland were come who was reported to haste thither with great iourneyes But Tomorrey who should obey the Veiwoode if he were come by reason of the dignitie of his office blaming all cause of stay that he might still retayne the gouernement of the armie for hope of victorie and hasting headlong to his fall so withstoode this wholsome counsell that he drought the vnwarie king into a verye vnequall hazard of battill For the Turke had sent foure battels of horsmen before who by course diâ—iding betwéene theÌ„ the houres of the day and night should continually molest the Kinges Campe on all sides And they besieged it so streightlye that no man durste to go forth eyther for fewell or forage no nor vnto the neare banke of the riuer of Thoâ—aw to water hys horse but that he fought with great daunger and disaduauntage by reason of the multitude of the Turkes Throughe the which necessitie Tomorey was forced to arrange his battayles and to fighte a pitched fielde for the auncient honour of that Nation before tyme inuincible and the dignitye of the Kings name The forme of the battaile or the araye was almoste single that is to witte the bandes of the footemenne were stretched forth in a long ranke and in commodious places the horsemen were interlaced that the Barbarians ouermatching in number shoulde not inclose the whole battayle and the Hungarians be forced to fighte almoste in a ring The Campe and tentes being entrenched with chayned wagons were lefte on the ryghte hande with a small bande to guarde them and neare vnto the trenche had Tomorey placed not with absurde counsayle a bande of chosen horsemen that the King might be defenced by theâ—â— strong and readye guarde agaynste all vncertayne chaunces But that daye vnluckye vnto the Hungarian name and â—â—â—ste vnfortunate vnto the King ouerthrewe this laste wholsome deuyce for at the verye firste encounter althoughe the greate ordinaunce of the Turkes being lenesled to highe did no hurte yet were our battayles withoute anye labour quite ouerthrowne namelye Tamorey and almost all the nobles of the Hungarians being slaine and the Vsarones whiche are the light horsemen of the Hungarians being scattered and put to flighte and with them all the rest of the horsemen being fouly discomfited and slayne In this so greate asperitie of fortune when that a troupe of Turkishe horsemen hadde galloped to rifle the tentes and they were hardlye defended by the garde that was placed in them that bande of chosen horsemenne the whiche as I sayde before shoulde haue bene a garde vnto the King coulde not conteyne themselues but brake oute vpon the assaulting Turkes that they myght saue the Campe. In the same moment of halfe an houre King Lewes séeing all his power in all places beaten downe and also being bared of them whome he had hoped and prepared for his garde did begynne to flée but his head-strong horse
shoulde go backe vnto Cassiano vpon Adda and suffer nothing to be brought into the Citie out of the moste fertile Countrie of Martia but in another quarter S. Poule should lie at Abiato and cut off all victuals that might be brought vnto Milan by an arme of the riuer of Tesino For they did hope that their enimies which coulde not be subdued by force woulde not be able to abide the incommodities of a long siege This being determined at a village called Landriano ten myles from Milan Vrbine dislodging marched vnto Cassiano admonishing S. Poule with equall digresse to bende his iourney to Abbiato But the day being well spent S. Poule sayde that he woulde not remooue that daye but woulde go the next morowe vnto Pauia and leaue there certaine great ordinance and other weightie cariages But Leua who most diligently watched for all occasion to hurt his enimies vnderstanding that Vrbine was departed from S. Poule and coniecturing that the French men would not spéedily set forward called togither all the Captaines and commaunded them to be in a readinesse with all their souldiours to go forth with him about one of the clocke in the morning cohorting them to go this iourney chearefully and promised to giue them for a bootie the vanquished French men before the sunne arose But if sayd he they do more hastily flée as surely I do not thinke but they will yet the tayle of them will fall vnto vs for an assured bootie The souldiours crying out answered that he shoulde procéede to conceiue in his mightie minde valiant actes correspondent to his former victories for they woulde with chearefull and fearelesse heartes take vpon them this daungerous iourney and doubtfull hasarde that he had commaunded them And without stay he putting on his glittering armour althoughe he were tormented with the payne of the goute almost in euery ioynt sent the horsemen before and he himselfe with two battels on ech side the Almaines on the one side and on the other the Spaniardes flanking the Italians that were appointel to the garde of the great ordinance hasted to the enimies whome he founde not yet remoued and busied about dispatching away of their baggage S. Poule who had thought nothing lesse than that Leua woulde come vpon him with all his power aranged in battell when he was preparing to dislodge séeing the sunne was nowe risen the battels of his enimies with shirtes ouer their armour after the manner of them that giue a Camisado in the night was astomed and as it doth commonly happen vnto those that are so caught vnwares was attached with great feare and not without cause namely for that he had commaunded the Conte Guido de Rangoni to go before with the auantgarde vnto Pauia and there to prouide lodging for him and the rest of the armie Thus he being vnprepared and vnreadie and also disioyned farre from the forewarde was circumuented with so greate perturbation of the middle battell and rerewarde that he was forced with wonderfull vprore and tumultuously to set his men in araye and in vayne to repugne being quite put out of heart by the violence and celeritie of hys vrging enimie Fortune also gaue Leua space to winne the victorie by an vnlooked for chaunce For when one of the great péeces had broken his whéele and fallen in the middes of a dirtie waye it was a great discommoditie vnto them for the French horsemen yea and the best of them were lighted on foote to lifte vp and amende it For by an olde vsage of theirs they doe accounte it a great dishonor to leaue any of their ordinaunce behinde them as they march to be gotten by the enimie Through this staying both Rangoni was gotten so farre before that he coulde neyther be called backe nor in time tolde of the sodaine comming of the enimie and also Leua had time to bring forwarde his footemen who being aduaunced forth and the horsemen fighting very couragiously the middle battell of the Conte S. Poule with whom the rerewarde had also ioyned began in a moment of time both to turne their backes When that Antonie de Leua cladde in glysteting armour and adorned with a braue crest commaundeth him self to be brought into the forefront borne â—y force of me noâ— with terrible voice adhorteth his souldiors and terrifieth the Frenche men with his fierce looke and fierie eyes In the meane time the Almaines that serued the French king a thing which had almost neuer happened at other times shamefully turned their backes as they that were of the omnigatherum that had in former time serued the French King or else had bene taken vp in the region which is on this side the Rhein and doth abutte vpon Lâ—râ—iâ—â— who haue no greate estination for Almaine valor and discipline The Almeynes and the French footemen and after them also the Italian bandes followed without any care had of dishonor and small was the slaughter bicause that neyther the harquebusiers coulde shoote among the confounded and blended rankes nor the great ordinance be discharged without equall perill The Conte S. Poule assaying daungerously to take a dich with his horse was taken by the horsemen nor far froÌ„ him the valiant Claude de Rangoni the Captaine of the rerewarde had the like lucke but Sâ—â—phan de Colonna escaped although he had bene cast by his horse headlong into a diche Leua hauing gotten all the Ensignes and ordinance and taken the Generall prisoner wanne great estimation in the worlde But the French men openly complayned of Guido de Rangoni whome they sayde had left them to the spoyle through his ouer hastie pasting but Guido defended his honor by alledging the commaundement of his Generall chalenging all his obtrectors to the combat But afterwarde in familiar talkâ— the Duke of Vrbine decided this controuersie both Leua and the Marques of Guasto assenting vnto him who gaue iudgement that they had both with almost equall error swarued from the discipline of warre the which doth will that in marching the Captaines that leade distict and seuerall bandes doe with mutuall diligence by horsemen ryding to fro measure the march nor suffer the Ensignes to go any thing out of sight the auantgard to obserue with what pace the middle battell marcheth and so likewise the middle battayle the rerewarde that euerye battayle mayâ— be readis at hande for al sodeyne incursions of the enimie and to succour that battayle which is circumuented and finally to sight with all their power vuited into one This victorie vtterly destroyed the French power in Milan and made Francis Sfuza whome the French King maintayned to come in and suppliantly yéelde himselfe vnto the Emperour ¶ The Battell of Frumentaria fought on the sea by Rodoricke Portundo Admirall vnto Charles the fift and Aidin and other miscreant Pirates in Anno Domini 1529. AFter that Rhedoricke Portundo had brought Charles the Emperour out of Spayne into Italie to be crowned He in his returne hearing that fiftéene vessels
also adioyned Theodore Bischeimiâ— the Captayne of the Epyrote horsemen vnto Rasciâ— his wing of horsemen After them sold wed a regiment of olde Lansquenets and also he himselfe with all the light horsemen and also the men of armes marching towardes Pistoia He traualling all night â—aâ—ue vnto a place called Lagoni almost and waye betwéene Pistâ—ia and a towne named Gabiniano where he stayed to refreshe the horsen with a little rest and the souldiours with a light breakefast Whyle that he thus rested there came a priest vnto him running who tolde that Fernaâ—â— was at hande and had entred sacked burnt the towne of S. Marcelles out of she which he had bardly escaped and moreouer that the Emperials were at the héeles of them the which was knowen by the often crackes of the harquebusses Then the Prince commaunded Francis de Pratey and Rossales Spaniardes and zucers an Epirote to go before with all the light horsemen to whome he added for a garde Pompeio Farino with thrée hundred harquebusiers and admonished them that still as they went wheresoeuer they founde the way narrowe so that the horses coulde not well passe that they shoulde place vpon commedious hilles certaine bandes of Harquebusters for this purpose that if the horsemen after they were come into the sight of their enimies chaunced to be pressed then they might retire fayze and foftlye vnto those sure gardes but if that they mette with anye leuell grounde the which they sawe was commodious for horsemen they shoulde stay the enimie so long by flowe skirmishing vntill that he were come with the men of armes When the horsemen were come vnto Gabiniano and coulde not be suffered to enter the towne they turning about rode vnder the wall of the towne towardes S. Marcelles and began to skirmish with the auaÌ„tecurrers of the enimie For Fernaio was minded to come vnto Gabiniano thinking that his enimies woulde not haue mette him with so greate spéede Yet there had bene some who being skillfull of the countrie and hauing receyued more certain intelligence of the comming of their enimies had counsayled him to climbe the high mountaynes besides Saint Marcelles and so safely come downe agayne at Scarparia the enimies not being able to pursue him in that very strayte and troublesome way To the which aduise inclined the valiant Captayne Paâ—lo de Cere who accounted the losse of the baggage but small so that escaping their enimies they might come in safetie to Florence But Farnaiâ— with a loftie minde detesting that aduise whith might giue some signe of feare and flight marched still forwarde the horsemen going before with their Captaines Charles the Earle of Ciuirilla and Arsiolas And whereas Gabinâ—ano is two myles from S. Mâ—railler â–ª the auantâ—arde which â—arnarde Strozzi surnâ—â—â—d Capâ—â—unzo ledde was come vnto the gate of Gabiniâ—no when the Ensignes of the reâ—einarde were yet at Saint M'arcelles gate The waye is not very yll but that they must go a little downe the hill for Saint Marcellea which standeth in a low bottome enclosed counde about with mountains Nowe the Emperials who as we haue elphe you were sents before molested the hindermost of the enimies For Refeâ—â— had brought a bande of Harquebusiers with him euerys horseman taking an harquebuster behinde him who with their shot much vexed the enimies But when Maramaldo sawe that the enimies bended towardes Gabiniano from Camalenbo where they lodged the might before be crossing ouer the mountaines and woodes was come to Gabiniano And also Vitelli by another shorter waye but verye yll was encamped not farre from the towne In the meane tyme Fernaio tyding on a whyte horse wyth his sworde drawen adhorted his men kéeping their araye to haste to take the towne first the whiche was then in sight and to propell the vrging borsemen of their enimies for the Earle of Ciuitella and Atsula fighting with singular vallor did not only susteyne their enimies but also the charge being on both sides often renued along the sheluing bankes forced their enimies to retyre with turned backes Whyle that they thus soughte with great tumult and noyse for that certayne bandes of Harquebusiers had bene sent forth out of Fernaio his battell and also the shotte of Pompey who as we haue shewed you had bene sent to be a garde vnto the horsemen had intermedled themselues in the conflicte of the horsemen and nowe manye men had bene slain on hoth sides when Maramaldo got into the town at the farther gate and at a part of the wall which was easilye throwne downe at the verye same time that Fernaio entred in at the foregate Ind thus a cruell and bloudie fight was committed along the towne so that they fought with great contention in the middes of the Market place for Fernaio leaping off from his horse and taking a footemans Pyke layde about him lustilye Neyther fayled Maramaldo vnto his men but casting them into the forme of a wedge fought fiercely to wynne the whole stréete In the meane tune part of Fernaio his battell following their Captaine fought valiantly in the towne but part defleeting along the towne wall and hauing gotten a commodious place among the Chestnut trées to defende themselues against the insulting horsemen ouerwhelmed their enimies with a great tempest of small shatte By them as it was afterwarde knowne who were in number almost fiue hundreth was the Prince of Orange slayne when he hastred with the men of armes to be present at the fight Neyther was he streyght way known being spéedily spoyled of his coate of cloth of siluer and his guilte armour They saye that before he was wounded he foughte or horsebacke hande to bande with Nicolas Masio the Gréeke who battered his heade péece with a Mall of pron and Orange often assayed to thruste him through with his sworde But Masio fearing the shocke of the men of armes fledde backe vnto the Chestnut trées but the Prince pressing forth ouer hardily receyued two deadlye woundes by barquebusse Almoste at the verye same time Vitelli charging ouerthwarte the rerewarde which Paolo de Cere ledde did so breake their araye and scatter them almoste at the first encounter that hée gotte all their ensignes although that Paule himselfe valiantly resisted and lighting on foote repayred the araye of his men and also renuing the fight brake throughe vnto the towne to ayde Fernaio But when it was bruted abroade that the Prince was stayne and the troupe of the men of armes a thinge shamefull to sée and incredible to hée reported was fledde backe headlong Fernaio crying victorie victorie gathered the Florentines close togither and beganne to presse on the appalled Emperialles And if that the Lansquenettes who had not yet stirred but kept in araye not farre from the towne their Esquadron as it were a Castell to receyue their fellowes marching forwarde had not repressed the tumultuous procursions of their enimies doubtlesse not one of the horsemen had made curtesie to flée séeing that many of them before
smal dauÌ„ger in victorie for that vnknown aideâ— may come to the vanquished and with small labour defeate the scattered victors a thing which hath often happened the Emperour commaunded the men of armes to be called backe the retire to be sounded But incoÌ„tineÌ„tly after newes was brought vnto his maiestie that the Saxon was taken There were stain of the Saxons about ij M. footemen aboue vij C. wounded moe than vto C. taken of horsmen v. C. slaine farre moe taken yet many Germanes were let go by the Germanes of all the armye not aboue iiij C. horsmen so many footmen escaped to VViteÌ„berg Few of mark were slaine there were takeÌ„ beside the Saxon Ernest the Duke of Brunfwicke and Charles of Thuring and two of the Saxon his secretaries There were also taken xvij ensignes of footemen ix of horsemen great store of houshold stuffe money and martiall furniture two Culnerings iiij Demiculuerings foure Demicanons and fiue Falconets His eldest sonne Iohn being wounded in two places was throwne off his horse but being succoured by his frends he that had wounded him being slayne he escaped to VVittemberg There were slaine of the Emperials vnto the number of fiue hundreth bicause that the fight being begunne at eleuen of the clocke continued vntill seauen for the Saxons marched fighting fiftene myles from the riuer of Elbe After this victorie all Saxonie yéelded and also the Lantgraue came in and other Almaine states submitted themselues vnto the Emperour who was nowe absolute victor ¶ Muscleborough fielde fought in Scotlande betvvene Edvvard Duke of Somerset and Iames Hamelton Earle of Arraine Regents of Englande and Scotland during the nonage of Edwarde and Marie the Princes of the saide Realmes in Anno. 1547. Taken out of VVilliam Patens WHen that Marie the yong Quéene of Scottes was not deliuered vnto the Englishe nobilitie to be ioyned in happie mariage wyth Edwarde the sixt the yong King of Englande according vnto faithfull promise made Edwarde Seimar Duke of Somerset and Protector of his Maiesties person and dominions inuaded Scotlande the thirde of September with an armie by lande of ten thousande footemen of whome sixe hundreth were harquebusiers sâ—ure thousande men of armes and Demilaunces and two thousande light horsemen and of them two hundreth were hakbutters on horsebacke thirtene hundreth Pioners and fiftene péeces of great ordinance and a fléete of Lxv. vessels whereof the Galley and xxxiiii more were perfectly appointed for the wars and the resid ue for munition and vittayle The Admirall of this fléete was the Lorde Clinton The ninth of September the Englishmen were encamped within two myles of the Scottish power leuied and ledde by lames Earle of Arrane Gouernour of Scotlande The next morning the Scottes leauing their lodging which was very strong and of great aduauntage and to the intent that aswell none of their souldiours shoulde lurke behinde them in their campes as also that none of their Captaines shoulde be able to flée from their enterprice hauing caused all their tentes to be let flatte downe to the grounde ere they came out and then all aswell nobles as others fewe except that were not horsemen appointed to leaue their horses behinde them and to march on with their souldiours on foote hasted towardes the Englishmen who were also marching against them but neither side any whit ware of the others intent But the Scottes staying a while vpon the waye our Galley shot of and slue the maister of Greyme with xxv neare him and therewith so scarred the foure thousande Archers brought by the Earle of Arguill that where as it was sayde they shoulde haue bene a wing to the foreward they coulde neuer after be made to come for warde Herevpon did their armie hastily remoue and from thence declyning Southwarde tooke their direct waye towarde an hill called Fauxside Braye Of this Sir Râ—fe Vane Lieutenant of all our horsemen quickly aduertised my Lorde Protector who thereby did readily conceyue much of their meaning which was to winne of vs the hill and thereby the winde and the Sunne of it had shyned as it did not for the weather was cloudie and louring The gaine of which thrée things whether partie in fight of battell can happe to obteyne hath his force doubled against his enimie In all this enterprise they vsed for haste so little the helpe of horses that they pluckt forth their ordinance by draught of men whiche at thys time began fréely to shoote of towardes vs whereby we were further warned that they ment more than a flâ—rmish Herewithall began euery man to be smitten with the care of his office and charge and therevpon accordingly to apply himselfe aboute it and also my Lordes grace and the Councell on horsebacke as they were fell streyghte in consultation The sharpenesse of whose circumspect wisedomes as it quickly espyed out the enimies intents so did it among other things promptly prouyde therein to preuent them as needefull it was for the time asâ—ed no leysure Their deuise was this that my Lord Gray of VVilton Marshall of the armie and Captaine Generall of all the horsemen shoulde with his bande of Bulloners and with my Lorde Protectors bande and the Earle of VVarwickes Lorde Lieutenant of the armie bande all to the number of xviij C. horsmen on the one halfe Sir Rafe Vane with Sir Thomas Darcie Captaine of the Pencioners and men of armes and my Lorde Fitzwaters with his band of Demilances all to the number also of xvj C. to be readie and euen with my Lorde Marshall on the west halfe and thus all these togither afore to encounter the enimies a front whereby eyther to breake their araye and that waye weaken their power by disorder or at the least to stop them of their gate and force them to stay while our fore warde might wholy haue the hilles side and our battel and rerewarde be placed in groundes next that in order and best for aduantage And after this then that the same our horsemenne shoulde retire vp the hilles sides to come downe in order afresh and infest them on both their sides whiles our battels shoulde occupy theÌ„ in fight a front The policy of this deuise for the state of the case as it was to all that knew of it generally allowed to be the best that coulde be euen so also taken to be of no small daunger for my Lorde Marshall Sir Rafe Vane and other the assaylers the which neuerthelesse I knowe not whether it were more nobly or wisely deuised of the Councell or more valiantly and willinglye executed of them For euen there wyth good courage taking their leaues of the Counsell my Lorde Marshall requiring only that if it went not well with him my Lordes grace woulde be good to his wife and children he sayde he woulde méete the Scottes and so with their bandes these Captaynes tooke their way towardes the enimie By this were our fore warde and theirs within two flyght shottes
a sunder The Scottes basted with so fast a pace that it was thought of the most part of vs they were rather horsemen than footemen Our men againe were ledde the more with spéede The maister of the ordinance Sir Francis Flemming to our great aduauntage pluckt vp the hill then certaine péeces and soone after planted two or thrée Canons of them well nie vpon the top there wherby hauing so much the helpe of the hill he myght ouer our mens heades shoote nyest at the enimie My Lorde Protector whose peculiar charge of al this voyage was the conduct of the middle battell being cladde in fayre armour tooke his waye towardes the heigth of the hill accompanyed with no mo than Sir Thomas Challoner â–ª to tarie by the ordinaunce whereas he moughte both best suruey vs all and succour with ayde where moste hée sawe néede and also by his presence be a defence vnto the thing that stoode weakest in place and moste in daunger the which therby howmuch it stood in stead anon shall I shew But the Scottes in the middes of their swifte marche were all at a sodaine staye and stoode still a good while the cause whereof is vncertaine and then made hastily towardes vs againe I know not to saye the truth whether more stoutlye of courage or more strongly of order me thought then I might note both in their march But what after I learned specially touching their order their armour and their maner of fight as well in going to offende as in standing to defende I haue thought necessarie here to vtter Hackbutters had they fewe or none and appoynt their fighte moste commonlye alwayes on foote They come to the fielde well furnished with Iacke Scull Dagger Buckler and Swordes all notably broade and thinne and of excéeding good temper and vniuersally so made to slice that as I neuer saw none so good so thinke I it harde to deuise the better hereto euery man his pike a great kerchiefe wrapped twise or thrice about his neck not for cold but for entting In their aray toward the ioyning with the enimie they cling thrust so neare in the â—ore ranke shoulder to shoulder togither with their pikes in both handes streight afore them and their followers in that order so harde at their backes laying their Pykes ouer their foregâ—ers shoulders that if they doe assayle vndisseuered no force can well withstande them Standing at defence they thrust shoulders likewise so nie togither the forerankes well nie to knéeling stoupe lowe before for their fellowes behinde holding their Pykes in both handes and therewith in their lefte their Bucklers the ende of the Pyke against their righte foote the other against the enimie brest high their followers crossing their Pyke pointes with them forwarde and thus eche with other so nie as place space will suffer through the whole warde so thicke that as easily shall a bare finger péerce through the skin of an angrie Hedgehogge as anye encounter the front of their Pykes My Lorde Marshall notwithstanding whom no daunger detracted from doing of his enterprise with the company and order afore appointed came full in their faces from the hylles side with present mynde and courage continuing their course towarde the enimie And my Lordes grace also at his place furiously tempested aloft with the ordinance The enimies were in a fallowe fielde whereof the furrowes laye sideling towarde our men By the side of the same furrowes next vs and a stones cast from them was there a crossedich or slough which our men must néedes passe to come to them wherein many that could not leape ouer stacke fast to no small daunger of themselues and some disorder of their fellowes The ennimies perceyuing our men fast approch disposed themselues to abide the brunt and in this order stoode still to receyue them The Earle of Anguish next vs in the forewarde as Captaine of the same with an eight thousande and foure or fiue péeces of ordinance on his right side and foure hundreth horsemen on his left behinde him somewhat westward the Gouernour with x. M. inlande men as they call them the choysest men counted of their countrie And the Earle Huntley in the rerewarde welnie euen with the battayle on the left hande with eyght thousande also The foure thousand Irish archers as a wing vnto them both last in déede in order and first as they sayde that ranne away These battelles and rarewarde were warded also with ordinaÌ„ce according Edwarde Shelley Lieutenant vnder my Lorde Grey of his bande of Bulleners was the first on our side that was ouer this slough my Lorde Grey nexte and so then after two or thrée rankes of the former bandes But badly yet coulde they make their race by reason the furrowes laye trauerse to their course That notwithstanding and though also they were nothing likely wel to be able thus a front to come within them to hurt them as well bicause the Scottishe mens pykes were as long or longer than their staues as also for that their horses were all naked without bardes whereof thoughe there were right many among vs yet not one put on forasmuch as at our comming forth in the morning we looked for nothing lesse than for battell that daye yet did my Lorde and Shelley with the residue so valiantly and strongly giue the charge vpon them that whether it were by their prowes or power the lefte side of the enimies that his Lordshippe did set vpon though their order remained vnbroken yet was compelled to swaye a good waye backe and gyue grounde largely and all the residue of them beside to stande much amased Before this as our men were welnie at them they stoode very braue and bragging shaking their Pyke poyntes crying come here Loundes come here Tykes come here Heretikes and such like opprobrious wordes Our Captaines that were behinde perceyuing at eye that both by the vneuennesse of the grounde by the sturdie order of the enimie and for that their fellowes were so nie and streight before them they were not able to any aduauntage to maintaine this onset did therefore according to the deuise in that poynt appointed turne themselues and made a soft retire vp towarde the hill againe Howbeit to confesse the truth some of the number that knewe not the prepensed policie of the couÌ„sayle in this case made of a sober abuised retire an hastie temerarious flight My Lord Marshall Edwarde Shelley little Preston Brampton and Gerningham Bulleners Ratcliffe the Lorde Fitzwaters brother Sir Iohn Cleres sonne and heire Digges of Kent Ellerker a Pencioner Segraue Of my Lorde Protectors bande my Lorde Edwarde his Graces son Captaine of the same bande Stanley VVodhouse Conisbie Hergill Morris Dennis Arthur and Atkinson with the other in the fore ranke were not able in this earnest assault both to tende to their fight afore and to the retire behinde the Scottes agayne well considering hereby how weake they remayned â–ª ranne sharplye forwarde vpon them and
streight vpon our ordinaunce and cariage My Lordes grace as I sayde most speciallye for the doubt of the same placing himselfe thereby caused a péece or two to be turned towarde them with a fewe shottes whereof they were soone turned also and fledde to Dakith But to returne vnto the Scottishe chase it was continued with bloud and slaughter fiue miles in length westwarde from the place of their standing whiche was in the fallowe fieldes of Vndreske vntill Edenborough Parke and welny to the gates of the towne it selfe and vnto Lyth and in breadth nye foure myles from the Frith sandes vp toward Dakith southwarde In all which space the deade bodies laye as thicke as a man maye note cattell grasing in a full replenished pasture And for the smalnesse of our number and shortnesse of the time which was scante fiue houres from one welnie vnto sixe the mortalitie was so great as it was thought the like afore time not to haue bene séene In déede it was the better maintained with their owne swordes that laye eche where scattered by the way whereof our men as they had broken one still tooke vp another there was store inough and they layde it on fréely that right manye among them at this businesse brake thrée or foure ere they returned homewarde to the armie There were thus slaine in fielde of Scottes xiij thousande of the which number as we were certainlye enformed by sundrie and the best of the prisoners then taken beside the Earle of Loghemwor the Lorde Fleming the Maister of Greym the maister of Arskin the maister of Ogleby the maister of Auendale the maister of Rouen and many other of noble birth among them there were of Lardes and Lardes sonnes and other Gentlemen slayne aboue xxvj C. and xv C. were taken prisoners among whome were there of name the Earle Huntley Lorde Chauncelour of the Realme there the Lord of Yester Hobbie Hambleton Captaine of Dunbarre the maister of Sampoole the Lard of VVimmes and a brother of the Earle of Casselles Two M. by lurking and lying as though they were deade scaped away in the night all maimed and hurt Herewith wan we of their weapons and armour more than wée woulde vouchsafe to giue cariage for and yet were they conneyed thence by shippe into these partes of Iackes specially and swords aboue xxx M. The camp also was taken wel replenished with their simple victualles and also some péeces of plate and chalices were founde After this my Lordes grace tooke the towne of Lyth with thirtene vessels in the hauen the which he burnt with the towne brought vnder the Englishe obedience all Tiuidale and their marches all the Lardes and Gentlemen thereof comming in and swearing fealtie and within the mids of the lande did wynne and placed there garrisons S. Colmes Ince and Broughtie crag a place of greate importance standing at the mouth of the riuer of Tey whereby all the vse of the ryuer might be cut from Saint Iohns towne Dundee and many other townes in those partes And vpon Michaelmas day returned ouer the Twede with losse not of aboue lx men ¶ The Battell of Weser fought in Saxonie by Morrice Duke and Prince Elector of Saxonie and his confederates against Albert Marques of Brandenburg in Anno. 1553. Out of Natalis sinnes WHen that Albert one of the collaterall line of the house of Brandenburg raged with a great power through Franklande and Saxonie sparing neyther frende nor foe he brought his faithfull frende Morrice Duke of Saxon in his top who being ayded by the power of Ferdinande king of the Romanes Henrie the Duke of Brunswicke Philip the Lantgrane of Hessen the Bishoppes of VVirtzpurg and Bamberg the citie of Nuremberg and other did by taking of a streite force Albert to fight The wynde blewe with Albert which doth somewhat helpe in fight and also he had taken a little hill that stoode in the playne and fiest the great ordinance was shot off on both sides but with small detriman◠of eyther armie But although that Albert was inferiour vnto his ennimies in horsemen yet he was verye well furnished with eyghtene goodly Cornets of horsemen and in footemenne did muche ouermatche them The hostes beganne to drawe neare one vnto the other by little and little and sodenlye a most cruell battell was begunne they fighting on bothe sides with greate valor and courage In the middes of the fighte Albert commaunded the beste of his horsemenne to charge foure Cornettes of Morrice his men of armes the whiche was done both parties approching one so neare vnto the other that for lacke of roume they coulde not breake their Launces The shotte encountered togither with noble courage singular prowes and incredible alacritie and charefulnesse But at the last Albert being inuaded on all parts and weakened through the great slaughter and discomfiture of his men was forced to séeke safetie by flight and fléeing with onely eyght horsemen left his defeated people his ordinaunce furniture and baggage vnto the mercilesse vsage of his enimies This battell which was begun in the morning early continued almost vntill night and was fought in a playne that lyeth betwéene the Duchies of Brunswicke and Lunenburg in the which battell were taken liiij ensignes of footemen and fiftene of horsemen there were slaine iiij M. horsemen and many footemen There were taken on Albert his side of noble men the Earle of VVarenberg and Nicolas Berney and many other slaine On Morrice his parte were slayne Charles Victor and Philip Magnus sonnes of Henrie Duke of Brunswicke and many other noble men Many ensignes of Albertes power were saued by reason of the greate woodes that were neare at hande and also of the spéedie approche of the night But Morrice himselfe being shotte into the bodie at the battell with a Pistolet dyed the next daye There were some that thought he was not wounded by his enimies but by one of his owne familiars to whome he had done reproche in former time the reuenge whereof hée deferred vntyll thys commodious tyme This one aduerse battell didde so breake the power of Albert that whereas before he was inuincible a terrour vnto all Germanye and spoyled all states at hys pleasure hée was neuer afterwarde able to doe anye thing but being anon after againe ouerthrowne in fighte with his small power by Henrie the Duke of Brunswicke was turned out of all his dominions and forced to die in banishment ¶ The Battell of Martiano fought in the territorie of Sene in Italie betvveene Iohn Iames Marques of Marignano Generall for Charles the v. Emperour of Rome and Peter de Strozzi Chiefetaine for Henrie the seconde King of Fraunce Anno. 1553. Out of Natalis Comes ANno domini 1553. Henrie the Frenche king to molest the Emperour Charles in Italie sent Peter Strozzi a banished Florentine and one of the Marshals of France to take into his protection the noble citie of Sene and to his vttermost to endammage Cosmo the Duke of Florence a faithfull
fauourer of the Emperour Which caused Charles to sende the Marques of Marinian his Lieutenant in Milan with a power to besiege Sene the whiche he was forced to discontinue when Strozzi inuaded the dominions of the Florentine whome the Marques sought by all meanes to defend and made Strozzi to retire againe into Sene out of the which he came againe after that his power was so augmented that he had two thousande Gascognes and so many Switzers two thousand fiue hundreth Lansquenets sixe thousande Italians and about one thousande horsemen with intent not to refuse to ioyne in battell with the Emperials if that anye good occasion shoulde be offered althoughe that they were xiiij thousand footmen of Italians Spaniards and Almaines and one thousande fiue hundreth horsemenne partlye men of armes and partly light horsemen Betwéene these two hostes passed manye bloudie skirmishes and namely one vpon the xxviii of Iulye in the whiche continuing ten houres were one thousande and two hundreth slaine on the French side and of the Emperials aboue foure hundreth But when both armies had long lodged verye neare one vnto another they were in great distresse for water for the which they must continuallye fight when eyther men or horses néeded it Moreouer the souldiours being pinched with penurie of victuals tyred with the continuall toyle of skirmishing the armies lodging so neare togither many weried with this warfare dropped away out of the campes by little little so that both armies began therby to be much weakned Thē the Marques of Marinian made proclamation that al men that would depart from the Frenche campe shoulde haue safe passage through the Duchie of Florence and if they woulde serue the Emperour they shoulde haue better intertainment than the French king gaue them And like kind of liberall promises did Strozzi also cause to be published On the first of August they skirmished againe in the which conflict both the horsemen and the footemen of the Emperials hauing the better strake no small terror into the heartes of the Frenchmen But when Strozzi sawe that by the Italians their slyding away from him he was brought to weake for his enimie he went about by little and little to withdrawe his hoste out of daunger sending his cariages and ordinance before but yet so that he woulde not only not séeme to fléee but also of his owne accorde to offer the battell vnto his enimies the whiche yet he thought he shoulde auoyde bicause it was so neare night But his counsels being knowne of the Emperials were infringed by them for they incontinently followed him in aray of battell and light harquebusiers were sent before to haggle on the backes and tayle of the Frenchmen and to hinder their marche vntill that the Emperiall horsemen coulde ouertake them who were gone forth vnto the riuer of Thiane for water The Marques egerly pursuing and following Strozzi thus ordered his armie He did cast the Almaines into a square battell placing the Spaniardes vnder the conducte of Iohn de Luna in the left wing and the Italians in the right But the Earle of San Fioria stoode with all the Horsmen on the left side at the foote of the hill called Womens hill ouer right against the French horsemen But thus were the French battels aranged A thick battallion of Italian footemen stoode vpon the Womens hil directly against the Spaniards an other of Gascognes and Frenchmen and a thirde of Switzers the horsemen were sette opposite to the Emperiall horsemen and were guarded with seauen hundreth harquebusiers Strozzi had before him Martiano behinde him Luciano on his lefte hande Fogliano and on his right diuers other townes When both the armies stoode thus aranged in order of battell and the Marques was doubtfull whether he shoulde trye the fortune of the battell that daye or no he was impelled through many reasons and specially by the Spaniardes to determine to fighte wherefore after he had giuen the signall he gotte him vnto the rerewarde For séeing hée foughte almoste agaynste his will hée thought if that anye yll lucke happened hée woulde prouyde for hys owne safetye but if that all thinges succéeded well then he woulde encourage his souldiours to folowe the victorie As soone as the signall of the battell was giuen the Conte of San Fiora passing ouer a ditche that ranne along the playne gaue the charge on the Frenche horsemen who were all ledde by the Earle of Mirandula They fighte fiercelye on both sides but the French men being inferiour in number and also ouermatched by reason of the strength of the menne of armes althoughe they were garded with harquebusiers were put to slighte and defeated the which happened bicause that Bighet fledde with the chiefe guydon as soone as euer the enimie gaue the onsette When thys had happened sooner than coulde be credited San Fiora fearing that there was some ambushe layde woulde not at the firste suffer his horsemenne to pursue his fléeing enimies as the reason of the victorie required But afterwarde when he certainelye vnderstoode that it was a true slyght and not a feygned he graunted his horsemenne leaue to followe the enimie in chase whiche when Strozzi sawe he vtterly casting awaye all hope of the horsemenne and their repayring of the fight séeing that the pursuing of the Emperialles woulde graunte them no place to strengthen their course and to staye and stande and vnderstanding that hée shoulde be enuironed rounde aboute on all partes if he dyd come downe into the playne but on the other side if that hée stoode still on the hill he shoulde be verye greatly annoyed by the ordinaunce of the enimies and besieged he of necessitie determined to aduenture a pitched fielde And bicause the streightnesse of the place did so require he reduced his thrée battels into one battell for that at neyther side there was anye vse of harquebusiers who had in their often skirmishes spent all their pouder and emptied their flaskes The Emperials standing still expected the cōming charge of the French men and namelye séeing the Frenche footemen and Switzers came forwarde verye lustilye and couragiouslye the Emperialles vsed the benefit of a good déepe ditche that ranne crosse the playne neare vnto the banke whereof they placed their foremoste rankes for it was iudged that they which shoulde firste passe ouer the ditche woulde come into great difficulties and giue an easie victorie vnto their enimie by reason of the going downe and climbing vp againe of the ditch Now séeing that matters of verye great importance are sette before wyse Chiefetaynes as the glorie of their armies Empyre the safetie of their subiectes and all humane felicitie they oughte to be moste circumspecte in all things that doe appertayne vnto their honour and the safetie of their people and to prouyde and foresée that those things whiche are profitable and good for them if that they cannot gette themselues yet then at the least to be sure that they suffer not their ennimie to haue them
after they also disordered the footmen and so at the last quite ouerthrew and defeated all the whole French power not without great honour generally of all orders but chiefly of the light horsemen and particularly of Egmont who deserued the high commendation both of a wyse chieftaine and also a valiant souldiour through whose approued noble courage and valiant heart that notable victorie was chiefly gotten but yet so that the rest of the Captaines deserued singularprayse as Monsieurs Binicourt Renty Rues Enriques Ponteuauls Fontâ—ynes Hilmaner of Munichausen and Caruaial On the other side Thermes who had the ouerthrowe is reproued of many for carelesnesse also slouth for that he had ouerlong deferred his returne and had not at the least remoued his campe the night before the fatall fielde for the report was that he of couetousnes â—eking to get a very rich bootie of the spoyle of Flaunders did pretermit a fit oportunitie of frée regresse But some doe affirme that he stayed in Flaunders by the Kings commaundement to whome the rumor was that the King had appoynted to sende aydes But howsoeuer the matter was doubtlesse Termes erred in this that he suffered himselfe to be intercluded by that meanes and after a sort to be oppressed But of the number of the slayne there were diuers reportes as it alwayes happeneth in the bruites of the people but we diligently enquiring the truth haue hearde of men most worthye of credite and of those souldiours that were present at the battell that there was a publike note taken of about one thousande fiue hundreth slayne in the battell But of them that fledde farre the moste were slayne by the peysantes who had gotten them into the streyghtes through which the discomfited Frenchmen did séeke to escape Besides the greate slaughter foule ignomie also happened vnto the Frenche men for the Flemmishe women as well of the townes as countrie lyke Lacedemonian viragoes assembled togither in great troupes and when they metts with a French man they woulde rayle vpon him for that he had wasted Flaunders spoyled their townes and burnt their houses and when one of them coulde not kill him manye of them woulde flée vpon him and pitifully teare him with their nayles or beate him well and thriftily with their Distaues That in the meane time they maye be wrapped in déepe silence whome eyther the riuer swallowed vppe or the sea and tyde ouerwhelmed But the English men leauing their shippes at anker rowed in the long Boates vnto the shore and tooke alyue about two hundreth of those Frenchmen that swimmed in the sea whoÌ„ although they might haue drowned yet moued with swéetenesse of glorie they did take vp into their Boates that thereby they might as it were partakers and helpers of that hattell be able to shewe at home in Englande sure witnesses of so famous a victorie the whiche few they hauing gotten of many did vnto their ignomie transport into their coutrie as it were for a triumph Moreouer of those that being intercluded from flight were taken prisoners of whâ—â—â—e there were a great number these are numbred for the chiefe first of all the Lorde Termes the Generall of the armie and Captaine of Calice who had receyued a grieuous wounde not onely in his fortune but also in his bodie and with him the Lordes Danebault Villebon and Simarpont and manye other menne of verye good qualitie whome for breuities sake we doe passe ouer in silence Moreuer they lost all their ensignes ordinance munition bagge and baggage and all the furniture of the campe and also all the bootie that they had gotten in Flaunders fell vnto Egmont and the Burgonions There 〈◊〉 slaygie on Egmont his part fine hundreth and not aboue But among them was Monsieur de Pelew a noble manne of the lawe countrie with some number of horsemen and footemen that were of great marke and accounted among the chiefe Those thrée handes whome we tolde you Termes had placed in Lunkinke when that he departed vnto the campe he commaunded to sacke and sire the towne and streyghtwaye to followe him the which they did but being intercluded by the victors Burgonions they were slayne euery man This noble victorie no doubte did muche represse the insolencie and ferocitie of the Frenchmen that then had a great power in the Duchie of Luxenburg and made the French king verye glad to incline vnto peace the whiche did take effecte within fewe moneths after ¶ The Battell of Dreux fought in Normandie betvvene Levves of Burbon prince of Conde Anne Montmorencie high Constable of France in the yeare of our Lorde 1562. Taken out of the Commentaries of the state of Religion and the Common wealth in Fraunce WHen that the furious ciuil warres in France for religion brake out in Anno domini 1562. the Prince of Conde Generall for the resormed religion marched into Normandie to ioyne with the English arme that their was landed at Newe hauen to empeach the whiche purpose the power of the contrarie faction vnder the conducte of Anna Montmorencre the Constable hasted from Paris and came with greate armies into the â—erriforie of Dreux where Conde also had stayed and the two armies lodged within two leagues one of the other The Catholickes had chosen a commodious place to lodge in being neare vnto the towne of Dreux wherein they had a garrison and vnto diuers villages and also vnto a woode which was good for all sodeine defences of vncertaine euent There lay betweene both their campes a long and euen playne onely in one part there was a little valley betwéene them When Conde sawe that his ennimies were come so neare vnto him he consutting with his associates what was to be done determined to giue them battell that the ende of the whole matter being committed vnto the prouidence of God the long lingering calamities of the warres might be more spéedily ended And yet his enimies did farre ouermatche him in footemen for they had sixe and twentie thousande whereas the Conde had scarce eleuen thousande but it was partlye recompenced in his horsemen he hauing almost foure thousande where his enimies had but thrée thousande The next morning a little afore eyght of the clocke the Prince brought forth all his armie the which he had so aranged that the horsemen wherein he was the stronger should be in the foremost rankes he himselfe ledde the battell with Rochfocault taking to him certaine light horsemen of Cureys his companie and placing on the one side of him the cornets of horsemen ledde by Mony and Auarell and on the other side certayne cornets of Reysters But the auntgarde was garded by Chastillion the Admirall with the Prince of Porcien setting close vnto them two troupes of horsemen consisting of certaine cornets Then followed a strong battallion of Lansquenets and fiue hundreth loose shot whome they doe call Enfans perdus who marched a little before the battallion Then was there placed a strong Esquadron of xxiij ensignes of French
say the truth if he had not bene the battell had bene then ended And one may truly note in him that all his enterprises bicause they neuer were none of those hastie and lightly aduaunced were alwayes valiantly and fortunately executed as things maturely deliberated are alwayes most sure in execution All in time Tauannes ranne to the Switzers and made them to come a trot to giue the charge their Colonell Mern marching before them The Mareschall de Cossé the yong Brisac aduauncing forwarde made the Protestants to staye somewhat who moderated their pace a little that they might rallye themselues and charge those that came fresh In fine the Conte Lodowick with his troupes as well French as Almaines gaue lustily vpon the Mareschall de Cossè Conte de Mansfelde Tauannes and other that flanked the left side of the Switzers it was very valiantly fought on the one side and the other as well with blowes of Launces and Coutelas as of Pistolettes The impetuositie and furie of the which Pistolets doth not permit our slaughter in fight to endure so long as it did in auncient time For then euerye man affronting his aduersarie woulde not depart out of the place before that the happier man had slaine his enimie or made him obedient to his will. But bicause we doe assure our selues more in the diuelrie of our Pistolets than in valiant armes after we haue discharged our Pistolet vpon our enimie as we runne we doe passe further as the horse will eyther for to recharge or to take the tucke And it doth most often happen that the cōpanies doe find thēselues so dispersed of the enimies after the first charge they must tarie a long time to rallye themselues expecting the seconde encounter as it here happened for after they hadde bene well martyred with the first impression they perceyued that they were so put out of aray that they must néedes retire for to revnite themselues But the Protestantes séeing themselues to be so small a number and the Catholikes to be refreshed and strengthened to the purpose as well by the companies of the Mareschaur of the Campe as by the Switzers who were ready to giue the charge lost their anger and hatred to recharge In the meane time his Excellence had the leysure to be refreshed with an horse through the ayde and meane of the Marques of Villars and Biron with the troupes of the Mareschalles ordeyned for to rallye the dispersed wente all againste the Switzers for to encourage them and to make them marche against the Lansquenettes Neyther was it long but that the Mareschall the Conte de Mansfelde and his companie being rallyed on the other side of the Switzers returned altogither to the charge Then Biron with his companies with whome all that had fledde and other that had wandered from their Cornettes had ioyned and rallyed encouraged the Switzers and tolde them that if they woulde but followe him he would ouerthrowe the rest of the Protestantes the greatest parte of whome in déede retired as fast as they coulde The rest being ioyned with them of the auantgarde who for the same occasion not being able to abyde the shocke of the Duke de Montpensier had gone vnto them of the battell for to rencounter that they might retire in masse or plumpe with as little dammage as coulde be left vnto his Excellence with the fielde of the battell the felicitie and glorie of this entire iourney being constrayned miserablye to abandon the Lansquenettes to the crueltie of the Switzers their auncient enimies who entering in as it were at the breache whiche the Frenche harquebusiers had made in their battallion slue them all for the moste parte although that manye of them with ioyned handes and knées on the grounde cried out Bon papist bon papist moy I am a good Papist I am a good Papist As in déede no fewe of them were Catholikes by reason of the little acception that such sorte of people haue who will first giue them intertainement yet at the length they being wearye rather of stryking than of killing were in the ende constrayned to leaue those occasions of sighing and wéeping vnto other who tooke them as it were into their seruice for to serue them afterwarde as it were their Custerels Of foure thousande two hundreth or thereaboutes escaped their bloudye handes and almost seauen hundreth other who being lesse armed and better legged than the foremoste and hauing the knowledge to presage by the beginning of a sléete the comming of so piteous a storme had fledde oute of the fielde with the greatest part of the French footmen who as I haue sayde had done the same long time before Neare thrée thousande harquebusiers were aranged with these Lansquenets who had all felt the same furie of the victorious if it had not bene for certaine French Captaines in chiefe and Monsieur himselfe who being a right Gentleman in déede contented himselfe with the honor and the happy end of the notablest victorie that euer was giuen vnto him in Fraunce and it maye also happen that euer shall be afoorded him in any other countrie commaunding them to pardon the Frenchmen Yet neuerthelesse one thousande or twelue hundreth dyed there for to enrich the playne of Cron and to serue for an eternall marke of the iourney of Moncontour the which the Protestants lost aswel through the fault of the hearts of those that fledde as for the yll disposition and aray of their horsemen For the Generall being curiouslye carefull to hide the small number of his men would stretch thē forth in length like vnto an hedge for to giue apparence vnto the Catholikes that they were farre mo than they were in in déede and by this meanes to haue made thē cold to encounter them that the iourney nere at hande might be passed ouer in peace bicause he doubted that he shuld not therin beare himselfe well with aduantage the which the Catholikes gained being assured of his state there bicause they had better disposed their horses in grosse battallions who giuing as it were desperately through these hedges of the whyte Cassockes ouerranne them and put out of the araye the greatest part of them notwithstanding all the hayle of the harquebusse shot which they made to rayne thicke and thréefolde vpon them And otherwise the Reislers were not able to abide the impression of the French horsemen bicause they fought seperated contrarie vnto their natural and ordinarie fashion so that they were in the ende broken by the Catholikes The forme of fight in the maner of an hedge is good for Frenchman against Frenchman but more proper to one that beareth Launce than vnto a Pistoletter who we sée doe all charge togither and the hindermost do not couer nor hinder the foremoste and as this disposition was of no force that daye so let him not vse it any more hereafter In summe they lost very fewe of the horsemen both for the grace and fauour that their spurres gayned those that
and that no man should depart out of his place that euery man should put himselfe in a readinesse for to fight Moreouer euery one of them adhorted their souldiours and did to their vttermoste declare vnto them all things that might inflame their heartes and nothing was pretermitted by them which did appertayne vnto the dueties of good Captaines In the meane time euerye man made his most heartie and suppliant prayers vnto God for the good successe of the fight and then tooke a shorte breakefast and also the Mariners and rowers being refreshed with meate and drinke and anon all of them euery one of them with prompt and valiant hearts made ready themselues for to fight Two of the galeazes went before the middle battell Iohn Andrew Doria Admiral of the Genouese fléete had the leading of the right wing wherein were thréescore and foure galleyes and also two of the galeazes went before him Augustine Barbadico was Captayne of the left wing with fiftie thrée galleyes and likewise two of the Galeazes went before him But Andrew Baciano Marques of Sancrace and Admirall of the Neapolitan fléete who had the leading of the rerewarde or the battell of succour stoode with his galleyes who were in number thirtie eyght halfe a myle from the battelles But that our men might fight with happy euent it was wrought through the helpe and singular prouidence of God who made the winde which at the begynning did greatlye fauour the enimies their nauie by little and little to fall and anon there followed suche a calms that the Turkishe vessels coulde scarce be stirred out of their place in so much that their shippes were rowed forth and in the meane time more leysure and aduauntage was giuen vnto our men to sette their araye The Admirall of the Turkishe fléete Haly Bassa had before this tyme sente one Caracosse with a Brigantine to take a vewe of our nauie the whiche he reported vnto the Admirall to be farre lesse than it was in déede eyther bicause he coulde not well sée the galleyes of the lefte wing by reason of his spéedy posting or else which is more likely for the Islande that was behinde them But two other that were sent after Caracosse hauing vewed our fléete more diligently and curiously marked the kings flagges returned spéedilye and tolde that our nauie was very strong and very excellentlye well appointed and prepared to fight with their ensignes aduaunced But as soone as he hearde this he greatlye maruelled as he that had before fully persuaded himselfe and also the same had bene tolde him by Caracosse that our nauie was farre lesse thā it was in déede and therefore woulde our men go backe againe as soone as euer they sawe them comming and seeke their safetie by shamefull flight or else if that they were so foolishe hardye as to fight they woulde receyue a notable ouerthrow He is also reported to haue enquired whether that those vessels which were placed in the front were Venetian or Spanishe and when he was aunswered that the one was intermired with the other he was very pensiue and had thought at the first that it scarce could haue bene by any meanes possible At the first he had thought to haue wintered eyther in the gulfes of Cataro Corfu or Cephalenia but after that he had lerned for a certaintie that our men had rigged forth a mightie nauie he returned incōtinently into Greece where he commaunded newe bandes of souldiours to be pressed forth and they being spéedily embarked in his nauie the whiche was also againe newe furnished with victualles and other necessary things he directed his course with the rest of the Lanizars and other ordinarie souldiers that he had before leuied towards Cuzzologri which was almost midde waye betwéene Lepanto and Patras with intent to fight with our fléete and in that minde was he the more confirmed for that he had vnderstoode by Caracosses wordes that his nauie was farre the greater Wherefore at the first the Turkes began to reioyce and promised themselues assured victorie and so great a desire to fight had inflamed all of thē that euerye man coueted to go before his fellowes although it were commaunded vnder payne of death that no man should go before the Admirall galley They were like vnto a mightie thick woode and coulde scarce be restrayned from fight and when they sawe our men come forwarde to fight verye valiantly and couragiously and euery galley to followe the ensignes according to the discipline of warre and in a very goodly order with the noses of their galleys directed against the enimies they also incontinently began to set their nauie with greate arte and celeritie and they had so much the more conceyued the victorie in hope bicause the winde did at the beginning blowe very commodiouslye for them as we haue sayde before But for that the beames of the sunne which shined that day very bright were full in their eyes they coulde not so aptly and commodiously order and sette their vessels in aray Partaw the Generall of the souldiours and Haly the Admirall of the fléete whiche two did leade the middle battell had appointed Mahomet Bey to be Captaine of the righte wing with fifty galleys and with him were Sirocke the President of Alexandria Caurlaw Asiscau Dragan Agadel Bassa Vstregasa and many other men of great marke But Occhialy had charge of the left wing with almost fourescore and ten vesselles and there accompanied him Caraiolo and Arabey his sonnes and many expert souldiours and also many of the Pirates and they went directly against Doria their wing séemed to be much stronger than his and also the galleys to be farre mo in number bicause that Doria his galleys that were on the lefte hande not farre from the mayne lande coulde not at the first be séene But the principall Chiefetaines themselues who were as ye haue hearde Haly and Partaw were garded on both sides with almost as many galleys And of those noble menne that accompanied them these were part Agan the maister of the Arsenall Mustapha Celibi the Treasurer Treymontana Amath Bey with his brother and Haly his sonne Amath Aga the Captaine of Teuthrama Assis Caiga the gouernour of Gallipoli Caracosse Cambey the sonne of Barbarossa Malamur the Captaine of Mitilene Deli Solyman Gider the Captaine of Scio Cassembey the Lieutenaunt of the Rhodes Prouy Aga the Captaine of Napoli Giapar Cilibi President of Calaba Dordagnan Dondomeney Beribeuole Osman Reul Agada Ciasafer Dram Rais and many other of marke both for their riches and authoritie and also for their prowes in warrefare Thus when they sawe our men the which in déede happen vnto them otherwise than they had expected readye and couragious to fight they incontinentlye aranged their galleyes for the battell being cast into the forme of a Croisant or halfe Moone as they haue of long time accustomed The Admirall of the Turkes verye seuerelye commaunded all men and euery man in the name of Selim for to
and intents coulde not be knowne nor all the galleyes brought forth at the first But when they at length though late came vnto fight Doria fought valiantly and had with him Octauian Ganzaga Vincent Vitelli and certaine noble men of Spaine who wyth the rest bestirred themselues not lasily Whilest that this furious fight continueth Lewes de Rechezenes dealt with Don Iohn to goe out of hande for to succour the right wing bicause he had séene and marked that manye of the enimies galleyes that hadde not yet begun to fight made thither and also that sundrie of Doria his galleyes were somewhat farre off When the Admirall was come there was a fierce and bloudy fight committed There were with Don Iohn Iohn Vasques Coranade Andrada and Francis Doria who fought all verye valiantly and although that at the beginning fewe of the galleyes followed the Admirall yet they which had bene appointed to garde hir sides did neuer forsake hir But the Admirall of the Spanishe fléete chauncing to sée a galley wherein were the sonnes of the Turkishe Admirall whome they thinking to be aliue and well diligently and carefully fought for here and there made in vnto hir and they fought togither with passing prowes for in the Turkishe galley were a great number of valiant men and in the Spanishe were the son of the Constable of Castile Iohn Velasco Alexander de Torelles and many other knights of Arragon At that time also Peter Iustinian the Admirall of the fléete of the Knightes of Malta a man of verye stoute courage and greate valor being assayled by three galleyes fought so valiantlye that he boorded two of them and hadde also almoste boorded the thirde when that other thrée Turkishe galleys seeing the flagge of Saint Iohn did spéedilye inuade him on all sides and they being ioyned with the other thrée slue almost all his men among whome were fifite Knightes of the religion who had with maruellous prowes long time susteyned the violent assault of their enimies Insomuch that all men thought she had bene quite loste when beholde vpon a sodeyne and not without the instinct of God twoo galleyes of his fellowes that had fought so valiantly with other thrée of the ennimies that they had taken almoste all of them séeing Iustinian his galley in greate distresse and daunger spéedilye hasted to helpe hir whome they deliuered out of all daunger and founde the Adinirall yet aliue although he were shotte in with thrée arrowes and still fighting with vnappalled heart at the decke with those fewe souldrours that were left aliue being cast into a ring In the meane time Occhiah very hardlye pressed Doria his side on all partes with his galleyes and had nowe taken ten of our galleyes Whyle that they thus encounter with doubtfull victorie the araye was broken in the aduerse parte and certayne small vessels fledde out of the battell whome yet our men did not chase for that it séemed to be no matter of anye greate importaunce but bent their strength directlye towardes that parte which was moste oppressed by the enimie When Occhiali percepued this he leauing the galleyes whiche be had a little before taken incontinentlye made towardes the middle battell but when he sawe that the middle battell was discomfited and that Don Iohn was come thither with his galley to helpe Doria he incontinentlye beganne to thinke of flight But our menne to interelude him didde take before hande a certayne place throughe the whiche they had thought be must néedes haue passed but he to escape the daunger directed his course close vnto the shore and there landed all the menne that were in his galleyes and thus the greatest parte of them were saued by swimming But if it hadde not chaunced that the greater parte of oure Galley slaues from whome their fetters were that daye taken and libertie promised them if that they did their ducties lustilye and faithfullye hadde not taried in those galleyes of the enimie whiche had bene taken in the battell not one Turke hadde escaped But nowe manye of them were saued by flighte Don Iohn Baciano and Doria spéedilye pursued Occhial vntill that it was almoste night But he fléeing awaye in the night time wyth Sayles and Oares accompanyed with sundrye Galleyes for the number was then vncertayne some reporting moe and some fewer but yet the common fame was thirtye escaped in safetie neyther coulde it be then certainelye knowne what waye he had taken But in the meane whyle in another quarter Barbadico and Mahomet Bey foughte togither with greate ferocitie And albeit that euerye one of our menne didde his duetie and foughte verye valiantlye and couragiouslye and speciallye the leader of the battell and also Antonye Canali and Marke Quirini the Lieutenauntes yet they had receyued greate incommoditie and doubtlesse had bene in no small daunger if Aluaro Baciano that ledde the rerewarde hadde not spéedilye come wyth succour By hys comming the fighte was farre more sharplye renued and they did charge the aduerse parte with suche force and violence that they discomfited them wherein they were also holpen by a fortunate wynde whiche blewe with vs and caried the smoke of our ordinaunce vppon the ennimye and didde beate backe theirs vppon themselues whereby their sighte was muche dymmed and obscured whereas oure menne sawe them verye playnelye and perfectlye In thys conflicte and fighte were manye slayne on bothe sides But the manne of moste renoumed fame and courage was Barbadico who was shotte into the eye with an arrowe as hée foughte verye valiauntlye and lustilye at what tyme the prowes and manne hoode of the Venetian Lieutenants although it were often also séene at other times yet then certes did most specially appeare For when they sawe that Barbadico was stricken in the eye with a very grieuous wounde and that he was so impeached by the immeasurable griefe thereof although that he suppressed it with surpassing stoutenesse of heart that he coulde not anye longer execute that which he had a little before done so stoutlye and excellently they did so performe the dueties of stoute Captaines and souldiours that nothing was wanting in them But Barbadico died that euening and not without the sighing and sorowe of all good men It is sayde that before he died he asked which part had the victorie and being tolde that our men had gotten it and that Selyms nauie was part taken and part sunken and burnt he gaue immortall thankes vnto God therefore and immediately after departed most ioyfull out of this life vnto the heauenly I cannot omit one notable acte of Aluaro Baciano that happened in this battell He séeing a mightie Admirall galley of the Turkes to make in lustilye towardes our Admirall layde hir aboorde himselfe and tooke hir but not without some losse of his men and his owne target was shot in with thrée small pellets and as he fought valiantly with hir there came another ship fraught ful of noblemen of Naples for to helpe him Furthermore it chaunced that Iohn de
Cardona the Admirall of the Sicilian fléete and to whome this office was enioyned in all this voyage to go before the fléete with eyght galleys to scout and learne the counsels and intents of the enimie was entred a roade with foure galleyes to execute his office a little before the time of the consticte but he returned in good time euen then when the two fléetes began to ioyne in battell and comming vnto his place which had bene before assigned he founde it verye open insomuch that he was forced to take it before fiftene of the enimies galleys that approched For when he noted howe great detriment it woulde bring if that the enimie got in at that gappe he by fighting with great policie and celeritie did foreshutte them from that entrie neyther did anye one of them enter before that the Admirall came to succour Doria through whose and also other mens helpe those galleys were taken with small labour There were in these fouâ—â— galleyes of Cardona about fiue hundreth Spaniardes of whome scarce fiftie escaped vnhurt no nor any man that bare office There were slaine in this battell on our side of all fortes aboute eyght thousande and almost so many hurt Men of marke slaine were these Iohn Bernardine of the noble house of Cardona in Spaiâ—e Keâ—giâ—â—â— and Horatis Orsini noble Romanes Of the Venerian nobilitie Banedictâ— Sâ—peranzi Catarino Malipetri Vincent Euâ—riai Hâ—erâ—mi and Marino Contarini Iohn Lauredano Andrew Barbaedrica Fraâ—ncis Bâ—â—o Marke Antonie Lando Antony Pasqualigi and manye other of noble bloude Moreouer Iohn Baptista Benediâ—t Cipâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Cotonie Cudemâ—nico Cydon Iames Trissini of Vicenza Hier◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—â—zi Andrewe Calergi and Malatesta of Rimini who was wiâ—â—â— Barâ—â—â—iâ—â—â— Of them that were wounded were Iohn de Austriâ—â— withâ—â—â— arrowe but with a light wounde Paule Forano with another arrowe the Conte de San Fiora with a pellet of a gâ—nne and Troâ—lâ— Sauello with the same and Marke Molini a Captaine of the souldiours of Malta And also Thomas de Mâ—dica Martello Reâ—eriâ— Biffoli Martelino Guicciardini Spina Mazzingâ— Iuliâ— Nalâ—â—â— Guiaâ—â—uo Magnali Iohn Maria Pucoi Tornaboni Figliazi Federick Marcello and Berardâ— all Gentlemen and Knights of Florence But a certayne number of the enimies that were slayne coulde scarce be knowne bicause that very many of theÌ„ were drouned yet the same is that fistene thousande were slaine fiue thousande taken and innumerable hurt Of them that were slayn these were the men of greatest name Haly Bassa the high Admirall of the fléete Amath Bey the Captaine of the Ianizars Assam Bey the sonne of Barbarossa with his sonne Mehemet Bey the Captaine of Metileno Gider Fâ—y the Captainte of Scio Capstan Bey the Captaine of the Rhodes Prouis Aga the Captaine of Mahemeda or Africa Mustapha Scelubi the high Treasurer A stu Caiga the Captaine of Gallipoli Tramontana the Maister of the Turkes Admirall Caracosse and manye other to set downe whose names in this place it were too long a péece of worke Of prisoners among other were Malemet Bey and Seyn Bey the Admirals sonnes Malemet Bey the Captayne of Nigrepont and Syroch Bey whose wife was also taken a woman they saye of passing beautie The chiefe of them that escaped were Parlaw Occlâ—alâ— Murate Rays with his sonne and Genouese Aly. But Caraperis a famous Pirate was gone before vnto Cyprus with twentie galleyes and Brigantines parte of those 333. that came from Constantinaple and therefore be coulde not be at this bloudie battell The vesseles of the Turkes that escaped with Part 〈◊〉 and Oceâ—ialâ— were afterward certainly known to be xxv galleyes and ten Brigantines Of our enimies their nauie Cirj galleys came into our mens power but fortie were drowned and of Brigantines and other sortes of vesselles lx were taken But the Admirall galley which was taken among the rest it is reported was a wonderfull goodly and beautifull vessell insomuch 〈◊〉 there is scarce anye vessell in the whole Ocean that â—â—â—ye iustily be compared vnto hir for beautie and riches The decke of this galley as they haue talde we that sawe hir is on both sides greater by thrée partes than others be and is made all of blacke Walnut trée like vnto Hebene woode checkered and wroughte maruellous sayre wyth diuers colours and hystories of all kindes There be also in hir many counterfeytes ingraued and wrought in golde with so cunning a hande that it can scarce be thought that anye house in the worlde is more magnificent and stately The inner part and the chamber or cabban glistered in euery place with ryche hangings wrought with golde twist and diners sortes of precious stones and among them certayne small counterfeytes wrought with wonderfull cunning Moreouer there were also founde great store of clothes and apparell whiche were the Admirals wrought with the néedle and adorned with siluer and with so beautifull and riche workemanshippe that hye great Lorde Selim himselfe coulde not put on more royall and riche roabes But his rich casket with the fire thousand péeces of golde in it with a yearely reuenue of thrée hundreth Ducats was giuen vnto a Greke born in Macedonie who slue the Admirall and he was also created knight by Don Iohn he had also giuen vnto him the burrell of the Turkishe standarde the which after he was returned to Venice where he had long time before dwelt with his wyfe and serued the common wealth about the Arsenall he solde vnto a goldsmith Whereof when the Senate had intelligence they redéemed it of the Goldsmith paying a Ducate for euery ounce that it might be layde vp among the rest of the tropheys and spoyles It was all of siluer and guilt and that wonderfull thicke and ingraued rounde aboute with Turkishe letters On the one side was engrauen God doth conduct and adorne the faythfull In worthie enterprises God doth fauour Mahomet On the other side God hath no other God and Mahomet is his Prophet But to returne vnto the Christian nauie After that this renounted victorie was gotten the Princes sate in counsell what was to be done and at length after nature consultation Doâ— Iohn and Colonna determined to returne vnto Messina bicause they were not able to besiege any towne they being all well knowne to be strongly appointed before that their nauie were newly furnished with a freshe supplye of souldiours and that coulde not be now done for that the winter was come vpon them But the Vâ—netians repayring their nauie wanne a Castell in Epyrus called Margarita and also recovered the towne of Soppoto the which the Turkes had wonne this sommer and nowe they hearing of this great ouerthrowe did fearefully forsake it at the approch of the Venetian fléete The Conclusion Nor thus muche of the bloudy battels of our age Yet gen the readâ—rs I woulde you to vnderstande that all the great battels fought in our diuelishe dayes are not here set downe bicause that the liuely and faithfull description of diuers hath not henâ— published in print or at