other goodes whatsoeuer are but small Nobilitie is a goodly matter but it is but a benefite of our auncestors Ritehes are most precious but they consist in the power of fortune Glorie is reuerent but vncertaine and chaungeable Health is pretious but subiect to chaunge Contrariwise knowledge is the onely deuine and immortall qualitie in vs. For there are in mans nature two principall partes vnderstanding and speech whereof vnderstanding is as it were the maister that commaundeth and speech the seruant that obeyeth but this vnderstanding is neuer habandoned to fortune It cannot bee taken away by sâ—launder corrupted by sicknesse nor wasted by age because it only waxeth young in age Warre which as a vyolent streame taketh away and scattereth all things can not carie away knowledge Also the aunswer that Stilpon the Megarian made when Demetrius hauing taken the towne of Megara demaunded whether he had lost any thing of his saying No for warre cannot take away vertue deserueth remembraunce Hereby may wee knowe the inestimable benefite that proceedeth of good bringing vp which although it bee most necessarie yet are there other thinges that as saith the same Author must concurre therewith to make a young man perfect in vertue Now he nameth three Nature Reason and Vse By Nature he meaneth inclination by Reason doctrine of precepts and by Vse exercise The beginning sayth he doth come to vs by nature the encrease by the precepts of reason and the accomplishment by vse and exercise And the tyme of perfection by all there conioyned If there bee defect in any of these three partes nature must bee of force therein defectiue and deminished For Nature without doctrine and nurture is blinde Doctrine without nature is defectiue and Use without the two former is vnperfect This instruction ought well to bee noted as conteyning the principall matters that Parentes are to consider in the fashioning and disposing of their Children to vertue And although they can not bee alwaies founde so well together as a man would wish yet should not that discourage them from proceeding to approach to the best and eschue the worst Some Parents there are whose Children they finde to bee of so lumpish and heauie a nature that they thinke it but lost labour to goe about to teach them the things that they presume they can neuer learne But herein doe they erre for vpon those that want the power of nature is most arte and labour to be employed there with to supplye the first defectes so sometymes in tyme the one amendeth by the other Experience daylie teacheth vs that when a Horsekeeper is disposed to take paines he doth in one yeere so forme and teach euen a great carte Horse that he maketh him shewe some actiuitie and become profitable in certaine péeces of seruice Is there lesse hope then to bee conceiued of a young childe Who although he haue some naturall imperfections wee meane not such as may hinder the principall actions of either the minde or bodie yet with continuall exercise may bee brought into frame to learne sufficient ciuilitie to keepe himselfe from dishonoring his Parentes Likewise in doctrine and nurture I will here note another error that often happeneth and Plutarke reproueth There are now sayth he some Parents who through want of experience doe commit their children to such maisters as falsely professe themselues to bee that which they are not sometymes also they knowe the insufficiencie of such maisters and yet will put them in trust therein imitating the sicke man who refusing the skilfull Phisition reposeth himselfe vpon such a one as by ignorance killeth him Others there are also who through couetousnesse for sparing a little wages doe choose simple maisters therein seeking a good penyworth of ignorance Uppon which saying Aristippus on a tyme iested with such a father For when this father asked him what hee would take to teach and instruct his sonne he aunswered a hundred Crownes A hundred Crownes quoth the father O Herculesâ— that is much Why I can buy a good slaue for a hundred Crownes True sayd Aristippus and so thou maiest haue two slaues Thy sonne and him whome thou hast bought Truely that father is very vnwise that trauaileth continually to gather much goodes and yet will denye a small parte thereof for the instructing of those that must one day possesse them But what commeth of this nigardlinesse After his death they prodigally wast that which with so greate labour hee hath gathered together or els become extreame couetous for lacke of good teaching how to vse ritches But those men are to bée moaned who hauing many Children and being poore cannot satisfie their desire to haue them well instructed but are forced to put them some here and some there into other mens handes where they may bee in daunger of euill example Albeit thereof they are to haue an especiall care that they mistake not but of that wée will speake more at large in an other place Youth likewise doe faile in that which concerneth the vse and exercise of the good things that they haue begunne to learne for when they should put them in practise to the ende to settle a good foundation in them they growe carelesse or suffer themselues to bée led away by the force of vitious affections which striue to suppresse in them the rudiments of doctrine and vertue Then therefore is the tyme that Parents should especially beware of discontinuance from that which cannot bée formed in them without continuance A man when he hath planted a tree is very carefull to proyne and looke to it vntill it hath brought foorth fruite and then is he satisfied in that he seeth it is not barren neither his labour lost The like care is to bee had of young Children for to the ende to bée assured that they haue profited wée must first see most euident testimonies and then is the care the lesse Oh how happie are the Children whose fathers euen from the cradle are so fauourable as neuer to cease their instructions vntill the yéeres of discretion to the ende their mindes and handes haue no lesse perfection then their bodies growth force and health For sith the conduct of their life is afterward to bée grounded vppon themselues it is very requisite to procure that the foundation bée good Thus much in generall briefly what is after the doctrine of Plutarke to be obserued in the instruction of youth Now must wee see the maner how the French gentrie doe behaue themselues in the nurturing thereof so to knowe wherein they doe ill and wherein well Then to shewe what may be added for the establishing of a better order then any that yet is vsed in so necessarie a matter But before wee speake of those that herein doe shewe their good affection to their Children I must say somewhat of the others that doe but little or not at all discharge their dueties therein Truely those bee such people as would bee sent to schoole
spoken suffize to teach vs that vniustice draweth néere to her full period For there is as little care of oppressing the Poore the Widowe and the Orphane as there is feare of the threats written against such as commit it And yet we must thinke that when oppression is growne vniuersall and continual then God hasteneth his iudgements to destroye vs because wee will not amend when we are instructed and taught and that doth the Prophet well shewe when he saith The Lord shall enter into iudgement with the auncients of his people and with their Princes for ye haue wasted the vine and the spoyle of the poore is in your houses Why doe you oppresse my people and bruse the face of the poore saith the Lord of hoasts This decree might be a sufficient warning to the oppressors if they were as easie to be taught as paraduenture they be incorrigible The third vice afore mentioned is dissolution vnder which tearme I doe comprehend Adulterie Pompe Pride Gluttonie and Drunkennesse Which to those that delight in worldly prosperitie are merueilous pleasant imperfectiōs And although in our age nature is much enclyned to ryot and vanitie yet may wee say that the euill example giuen in most eminent places together with impunitie haue bene great helpes to encrease this mischiefe which taketh the surer roote when it is practized and borne out by the mightie Now among the vices aboue mentioned Adulterie hath the preeminence And besides that it corrupteth the bodie and poluteth the soule it is ordinarily accompanied with sicknesse prodigalitie murder and other inconueniences that drawe on each other In all places they are so addicted thereto that they care no more for concealing of it as in tyme past when honestie held them in some shame In these daies they seeke onely to couer the filthinesse thereof with beautifull titles or pleasant aunswers yea they goe further in some euen notable places For they accompt this vice as a necessarie spurre wherewith when one is pricked and can guyde himselfe cunningly or atteyne to any worthie price that he hath desired he is exalted he is enuied he is sayd to haue a good capacitie and quicke vnderstanding After this sorte doe they make blacke white attributing purenesse to that which is filthie and foule Youth which is easely catched with these baytes holpen by custome and not restrayned by lawes doth more and more stirre vp their appetites hereto and hauing once taken so bad a trayne the state of manhood and age doe nourish rather then abolish it This vice doth naturally resemble the Cancre which by little and little gnaweth the flesh for if once it begin to take hold of any it so encreaseth the corruption of his affections that it is afterward a hard matter to purge him againe God for such like iniquities in old tyme rooted out whole nations from before his face as well to shewe that he abhorreth them as also to teach Magistrates not to leaue them vnpunished Concerning Pompe and Superfluitie the roote thereof springeth in the Court where vanitie doth so abound that those persons which will bee any thing accompted of must transforme themselues into sundrie fashions and colours For the outward shewe of things are in such estimation that many tymes men iudge of the person by his apparell so as it seemeth wee would say that the chiefest perfections are hidden vnder the costliest garments Kings Princes did not so soone chaunge their auncient ordinarie simplicitie into Italian glistering brauerie but their subiects immediatly imitated them yea and some endeuoured to exceede them and this mischiefe hath stooped so lowe that pompe and pride appeareth euen in y e meane citizens of simple townes Herewith hath the Nobilitie especially empourished her selfe so sore that she can no longer so mainteyne her selfe to doe the King any such seruice as in tyme past Neither doe women for their parts forbeare these superfluities for weening with outward ornaments to breede themselues more beautie commendation and honour they haue not since bene so carefull to adorne themselues with the beautifull giftes of vertue which doe farre exceede the others At the tayle of all these vanities commeth Pride which although it be borne with man doth neuerthelesse whet it selfe and encrease with their smoake or rather according to the opinion of others engendreth them But howsoeuer it is the one still agreeth with the other so that of this vnreasonable presumption or ouerweening of themselues groweth the contempt of others and thence come iniuries quarels and manifold murders An other braunch of Dissolution is table excesse and great furniture wherein many doe suffer themselues to bée willingly led away as taking this path which is so full of intemperance to be the only meanes to liue in pleasure and fame All which bad customes do perticulerly corrupt and spoyle whole families and being mixed with publick errors doe make the disease of the vniuersall bodie more incurable Doe we then thinke that God will long suffer these corruptions which are to him so odious It is not like but rather are we to feare least the iudgement comming so slowly will bée the more grieuous How many kingdomes where they haue atteyned the fulnesse of al vice haue bene ouerrunne and giuen in pray to straungers The histories doe verefie it and the multitude of examples might terrifie those who hauing power to represse the mischiefe at the least in part doe suffer it to encrease euery where Thus may wee see some of the most manifest mischiefes that haue and still do infect France briefly set downe according to the purposed order which are sufficient to make all men thinke except the corrupt or sencelesse her daunger to bee most euident considering how sore the foundations of Piety and Iustice which should vphold her are decayed shaken The sinnes afore mentioned are y e true causes that prepare to put her to a great iumpe Neither want wee other signes and foretellings which threatening vs doe warne vs to endeuour to turne away the wrath of God from vs. Alreadie haue appeared horrible Comets and other strange sights in the ayre Earthquakes the bringing foorth of Monsters and feareful voyces which haue bene felt heard and seene and being so prodigious ought to terrefie vs. But if the curious doe for their satisfying craue more curious and vaine obseruations my selfe will alleadge them twaine that I haue obserued in a certaine mans writings The first that wée are now vnder the Climactericall raigne of the Kings of France namely the sixtie and three which noteth vnto vs some alteration to bée made The second that all the roumes made in the Pallace of Paris to place the pictures of our Kings which some do imagine to haue bene fatally so builded are now full But to leaue thē to descant vpon these vanities I will speake of another forewarning more to bee considered which the Prophet Daniel maketh mention of viz. of the commō period
long tyme take an other course I will also repeate one domesticall example namely the deuision betwéene the houses of Burgundie and Orleance which was so sharpe as it induced the English warres which brought France to so lowe an ebbe that it was almost vtterly destroyed yea it had dismembred the state into sundrie morcels if Gods great goodnesse had not holpen In the meane tyme for the space of fortie or fiftie yéeres it was made a pray euery one seeking either to kéepe himselfe or to encrease his owne power either els to destroye his enemie All publique force mightinesse or iustice whereto men might haue recourse being vtterly extinguished To be briefe it was a Countrie habandoned to euery one that could catch any part thereof all which miseries doe warne vs that wee may yet happen to trye them once more For straungers may see so good sport that they may fall vppon vs againe But it is farre more likely that our estate should incurre the other dismembring whereof I haue spoken And the reason is because the French being by nature fierce and hating forraine bondage will rather become subiect to it selfe and so of this one great bodie make many péeces For the assurance whereof the vsurpers would put themselues into the protection of such of their neighbours as could most commodiously mainteyne them and withall were most conformable to the opinions that they shall haue embraced When I doe more néerely consider this I finde no condition so miserable disordered and confused as ours which being such would burie all iustice lawfull authoritie respect feare good maners and concorde and to the contrary encrease all malepertnesse ambition trecherie violence Impietie guile and sedition And who could delight to liue among such stormes vnlesse it were some barbarous minded person Among all these alterations I imagine some Prince to seaze vppon some one Prouince some Lord vppon some Townes some head Cities to conuert their Parliaments into Aristocratyes of some of their noblest and principall Citizens and others to growe into Commonwelths Among the Nobilitie also other sorts of Gouernements Oligarchiall or Monarchiall One would become a prince ouer his owne Castles an other a Tyrant ouer other mens One quarter of the Countrie would growe into Cantons an other commit it selfe to some warlike Capteyne as for those that should at such a tyme finde themselues seazed of the strong holdes of the greater Townes thinke whether they would haue any parte herein All which diuersities of gouernments humours and qualities of men must néedes bring in mortall warre and dissention which would not bee ended while wee and our children were consumed Of these my spéeches some man might imagine that I presuppose that the royaltie should then bee as it were made voyde because that so long as that remaineth in authoritie the aforesayd confusions can no way come néere vs. Truely my selfe would be as loath as any man that the same should bee so much as contemned For sith wee haue liued 1100. yéeres vnder that gouernment it were our partes to reuerence it as a lawfull power ordeyned by God whereto whosoeuer doth not voluntarily yéeld obedience the same is guiltie before him Besides that wee are to thinke no other gouernment more meete to guyde the French then that But because the matter whereof I entreate doe leade me from bad causes to those worse effects y t ensue it hath also caused me to set downe such things as might happen to the ende that imprinting in vs some feare wee should endeuour so to behaue our selues as they might not come to passe But if wee still perseuer any tyme in our imperfections and disorders let vs not doubt but God will take away his good Angell from France whereby wee shall see the royall dignitie disobeyed and in small fauour with the subiects and the same likewise exempt of all loue and humanitie toward them which will bee the accomplishment of the desolations aforesayd For the eschuing of which inconueniences we ought most zealously to pray to God long to continue our King and in him to encrease all true Pietie Justice wisedome and affabilitie graunting vs likewise to bee as affectionate toward him as were the Romaines to the good Emperours Traian and Titus for if the Realm should fall vnto children especially now that the lawes are out of force Magistrates contemned maners corrupt hatred and ambition excessiue it must needes be in great daunger Now let vs proceede to the remedies and see whether there be any so sufficient as to warrant vs from destruction In my opinion there be some if we can finde the way to take hold of them in tyme. For in this tempest wherein wee are tossed wee must not shrinke vp our shoulders and say All is lost but wee are valiantly to helpe one another But to what remedies shall wee haue recourse To Philosophers rules Or to passed experience of such meanes as haue serued to vnderproppe this Realme when it hath bene shaken Either els to the politique counsailes of the wise that now liuing doe knowe our griefes For that were the way that wisedome would teach Hereto I aunswer that wee may reape profite out of all but it is necessarie that wee beginne further of In as much as wee see that for our transgressions God hath withdrawne his fauour from vs it is requisite that wee appease him to the ende he may returne vs it againe otherwise all humaine remedies are in vaine for what power wisedome or counsaile is there that can alter any thing that he hath decréed against vs In the holy Scriptures wee haue a notable example of his mercie toward the Niniuites that were heathen people for when his wrath was kindled against them and he had by the Prophet Ionas to the ende to terrefie them pronounced the sentence of their destruction they were so touched to the quicke that their King and all the people hauing fasted wept and prayed and turned from their wicked way he withdrewe his plagues which alreadie hung ouer their heads tooke them to mercie How often did the Iewes féele his woonderfull compassions when for their wickednesse and transgressions his scourges euen light vpon them Whē they and their Kings through true repētance turned vnto him he tooke pitie of them conuerted their pitifull estate into prosperitie Wherof it followeth that our soueraigne and onely meanes to auoyde these calamities that doe now assaile and threaten vs is to imitate those whom I haue named For as it is one great comfort when a man knoweth that his griefe is not altogether incurable and that there be meanes to heale him much more doth it increase when he finddeth the same to bee easie The same is in vs and consisteth in knowledge will and execution whereof euery one through holy perswasions and example of the greatest may bee made capable For when men shall see first the King and then the Princes and such as
to the ende to labour them the more earnestly to long after a good vnion of heartes as yet so strangelie alienated It is most euident that all these thrée Princes did greatly loue their people especially Lewes and those charges that hee layed vppon them procéeded through the vrgent necessitie of warres notwithstanding some haue bene but rashly enterprised The lyke or rather more was theyr loue shewed to theyr nobilitie as well in respect of the accesse and familiaritie that they allowed them about their persons as also of the worthie rewardes bestowed vppon them Likewise we neuer sawe vertue in greater estimation than at that time But what obedience honour and affection did as well the nobilitie as communaltie than beare to their kings More coulde not haue bene wished for they were neuer wearie of sounding forth their prayses beholding of theyr personnes and hazarding themselues to all daungers for them Then if we woulde but consider the accord that was among the sayde subiectes what shoulde wee doe but wonder how they could since so farre disagrée To be briefe that all partes of this mightie Realme dyd together yéelde so pleasant a harmonie as euerie man was gladde to dwell therein yea euen straungers flocked to participate in that felicitie And notwithstanding in the time of King H. the second many things beganne to alter yet did vertue beare such swaie that the outward forme at the least seemed fayre After this manner dyd the Frenchmen liue vntill the yeare 1560. when Concord beganne to flie from among them after whose departure vertue and iustice haue not so much shewed themselues abroade nay they are gone to soiourne heare and there among their priuate friends where they assure themselues of better entertainment This in my opinion may suffice to proue that through concord small things doo increase and great are maintained and kept Now let vs compare that time with this which wee now so often haue triall of and we shall see the difference to be no lesse than betwéene a faire bright Sunne shine day in the spring time wherin nothing appeareth but flowers greene grasse and a foule Winters daie in the which the clouds tempests darkning the aire nothing is to be séene but y e grasse depriued of her ornamēts séeming to be white with frosts and snow But like as by the order which God hath established in nature after foule weather commeth faire so are we to hope for a more fortunate world after this when once we haue through a holie conuersion appeared his wrath If a man enter into speech hereof by and by a number come in and saie Oh what is it that hath troubled and diuided vs but diuersities of opinions in Religiō Likewise there are others which on the other side doe replie that it is not the nature of Religion to bring forth such and so many calamities but rather that the cause is to be impeuted to the mallice of man who loueth darknes more than light and to their ignorance that think that such contrarieties should be decided by fire and sword when in deede they ought to be determined by gentlenesse and clemencie I would thinke that experience should make vs wise in this difficultie which shall nothing let me from prosecuting my purpose declaring what discord doth ingender Neither will I goe to séeke exāples hereof in foren lands neither in times past but in our own Countrie and age for if anie man be desirous to behold the image of all mischiefe hee néede not seeke farther than into France where this tragedie haue bene plaied the actors whereof beeing Frenchmen who euer since they were sezed of this cursed passion doe neuer sticke to hurt each other And like as a continuall feauer weakneth and pulleth downe the strongest bodie euen so the continuance of our warres hath almost abated depriued the Realme of the principall of her greatnesse mightinesse and beautie Wherin appeareth the truth of the other parte of the sentence alreadie alleadged viz. that by descord great thinges doe perish and runne into decaie Now notwithstanding hatred ordinarilie ingendereth discord where amitie for the most part bridgeth forth concord yet hath not this bene the cause that hath driuen many of those that are entered hereinto but rather some haue bene vrged by zeale others by persecution and othes by some duty that they ow to other men As also we haue séene many diuerse effects some more gentle than other some whereby the authors of the same deserue commendation in that they haue in these vnmercifull calamities borne themselues more moderatlie I dare not rehearse the horrible cruelties committed in all places notwithstanding some haue felte them more than others for the remembrance of them cannot but either bréede great horrour or exasperation Yea some such haue beene wrought as may be tearmed to bee against nature as when some haue deliuered their néerest kinsmen to the slaughter or dipped their handes in the bloud of their owne friends I thinke if anie man had in the dayes of king Frances the first foretolde those thinges that haue since happened he had ben slame as a spreader of lies and yet haue our beastly mindes bene such that we haue euen extolled and magnified the prodigious actions which blind rage hath committed I beseech God we neuer fall againe into the like abhominable gulfe of inhumanitie Thucidides a wise hystoriographer dooth briefely describe the manner howe the Grecians behaued themselues in their ciuill warres Whose saying I haue thought good here to insert to the end we may compare the forepassed mischiefes with those of our time thereby to discerne in which of these times mallice preuayled most After it was knowen sayth he that anie riot was committed in one place others waxed bolde to doo worse to the end to worke some noueltie to shew themselues either more diligent than others or else more insolent and hot in reuenge and all the mischiefes that they cōmitted did they disguise with gaie titles as tearming rashnesse magnanimitie modestie cowardlinesse headlong indignation manhood and boldnesse counsaile wise deliberation cloked dastardlynesse Thus he that shewed himselfe most furious was accounted a loyall friend and he that reproued him ranne into suspition If anie one of the contrarie faction propounded any thing that were good and honest it was not liked of but if they were able indeede to impugne it they had rather be reuenged than not to be wronged If by solemne oth they made any attonement the same lasted vntil the one see himselfe the stronger whereby he might violate infringe and ouercome it through mallice Yea he reporteth much more which to auoide tediousnesse I omit Now therefore would I know whether we haue not bene equal with the Grecians in like actions I thinke that none dare denie it but that we haue surmounted them in crueltie it is most euident Such Frenchmen as after so many ruines shall remayne maye iustly make that exclamation
places wherby to profit Neither shal there néed aboue sixe such in a whole band of souldiours to bring the same into liking with all commendable exercises whereas nowe for the moste part they all imploy their vacaunt leisure either in trifling or hurtful pastimes so shold the assēblies which oftē meet in the prouinces to decide controuersies or to leauy grayne bee conuerted into sweete and pleasant contentions betweene yong gentlemen sometime in townes and somtimes in lords houses to runne at the ring or to fight at barriers with such other exercises whereby to winne the prises allotted to the most actiue then would they also maintaine chalenges and of these communications in so honest recreations ingender acquaintance and fruitfull amity I will leaue to the iudgements of such as haue haunted the courts and warres to note howe soone the yong men that I haue spoken of will grow both good courtiers and better souldiers For beeing already so well instructed in the actions both of the body and minde such a preparation would make them capable of that in two yeeres which others who besides the helpes of nature haue but small learning can not comprehend in six Finally the report of this good order beeing spred through forrein countries we should haue great resort of strangers to participate in the saide instructions which woulde greatly redound to the glory of our country This is one small meanes in some sort to keepe the vniuersall corruption which as an ouerflowing streame seeketh to winne ground from further infecting of our nobilitie Besides we might conceiue this hope that by continuance of such an order we should by litle and little see good manners restored As also that age seeing youth so modest and wel taught would be afeard to transgresse and haue a greater desire to vnderstande what is worthy themselues Only it remaineth to perswade his maiestie to prouide either these or better establishmentes which I assure my selfe hee would not be against in respect of that singuler affection which he beareth vnto his nobility who hauing beene euer heretofore ready to sacrifice their liues for his seruice woulde be much more bent thereto when by new benefites their bands shall be encreased The sixt Discourse That the reading of the bookes of Amadis de Gaule such like is no lesse hurtful to youth than the works of Machiauel to age I Haue heretofore greatly delighted in reding Machauels Discourses his Prince because in y t same he intreateth of high goodly politike martial affaires which many Gentlemen are desirous to learne as matters méete for their professiōs And I must néeds confesse y t so long as I was cōtent sleightly to runne thē ouer I was blinded with y e glosse of his reasons But after I did with more ripe iudgement throughly examine them I found vnder y t fayre shew many hidden errors leading those that walke in them into the paths of dishonour and domage But if any man doubt of my sayings I would wish him to reade a booke intituled Antimachiauellus the author whereof I know not and there shall he sée that I am not altogether deceiued Neither doe I thinke greatly to deceiue my selfe though I also affirme the bookes of Amadis to be verie fit instruments for the corruption of maners which I am determined to proue in few words to the end to dissuade innocent youth from intangling themselues in these inuisible snares which are so subtilly laide for them Euermore haue there bene some men giuen to the writing publishing of vanitie wherto they haue bene the sooner led because they knew their labours would be acceptable to those of their time the greatest sort whereof haue swallowed vp vanitie as the fish doth water The auncient fables whose relickes doe yet remaine namely Lancelot of the lake Pierceforest Tristran Giron the courteous such otheas doe beare witnesse of this olde vanitie Herewith were men fed for the space of 500. yeeres vntill our language growing more polished our mindes more ticklish they were driuen to inuent some nouelties wherewith to delight vs. Thus came y e bookes of Amadis into light amōg vs in this last age But to say y e troth Spaine bred thē France new clothed thē in gay garments In y e daies of Henrie the second did they beare chiefest sway I think if any man would then haue reproued thē he should haue bene spit at because they were of themselues playfellowes and maintainers to a great sort of persons whereof some after they had learned to Amadize in spéech their téeth watered so desirous were they euen to taste of some small morsels of the delicates therein most liuelie and naturally represented And although many disdayned and reiected them yet haue but ouer many hauing once tasted of them made them their continuall foode This sustenaunce hath ingendered euil humours that distempered those soules which peraduenture at the first thought not to haue growen so weake My iudgement therefore of these bookes in generall shall bee this I thinke vnlesse I be deceiued that hee that composed them was some courtly Magitian cunning slie who to the end to bring his arte into estimation and withall to procure vnto those that bee dealers therein both honour feare hath cunningly fayned 1000. meruayles which he hath couered and wrapped vp in a number of pleasant desired and vsuall matters so as the one running among the other the whole might be the better receiued I knowe there are some that will finde my opinion to bee verie strange because they wéene that the author of the sayde bookes intent was no other but to leaue to the posteritie a portrayture of the exercises of the Courts in his time and withall to forge a spurre wherewith to pricke forward young Gentlemen and to incite them to entertain loue and practise armes as the two onely most beautifull obiectes that may delight fashion and cause them to climbe to honour But their iudgement is too simple as staying rather vppon the consideration of the beautie of certaine outward matters than vppon the truth of the inward For notwithstanding I graunt that the instructions and examples of this fabulous historie may also be propounded to the end to teach both to loue and fight yet will I saie that the most of those loues are dishonest and almost all the combats full of falsehood and not to be practised so that the following of those rules is to walke in errour All therefore that I pretend to shew may far better appeare by deducting the particularities that I haue noted I will begin with the persons of Alquif Vrgand and their like inchanters and witches there tearmed Sages as also the Magicall or deuillish arts which they vsed ase called Perfect wisedome Yea I thinke if the author durst he would haue named them Prophets which name they deserued but with this tayle of Satan When these Sorcerers or Witches came
to any Princes court they were cherished and wonderfully honoured yea they were admired as if they had newly come out of heauen neither did themselues fayle to séeke méete occasions for to come as when they must parte two knights fleshed to murther each other to minister pastime to y e Ladies either to bring inchanted armour to saue a young Prince that was to receiue the order of knighthood either to set a whole Court in an vprore by some terrible sight and then to appease and qualifie it agayne But I doe amisse in going about to specifie their myracles For we must imagine that Iupiter and Minerua in olde time did neuer so much as these Moreouer when there was any question of enquiring after things to come they were straight sought vnto as the Painims vsed to go to the Oracle of Apollo We are not therfore to meruaile that they were much made of sithence we see them thus indued with a supernaturall power For these kindes of Magitians are accounted good and succourable But the author forgeth also others as Archalaus the Enchanter Melie and many more that delighted onely in dooing mischiefe Whereby we may easily perceiue that he maketh Magicke arts matters indifferent thinking them lawfull or vnlawfull according as they be vsed well or ill Yet it seemeth hee allowe the vse thereof among the Christians and disalloweth it among Painims These doth he saie to haue drawen their knowledge out of the bookes of Medea who in olde time was a notable sorceresse But his Vrgande the vnknowen he sayth to be instructed by the wonderfull precepts of great Apollidon whom he faineth to haue ben as another Zoroastes wherein he speaketh better than he is aware For Apollidon may be the same Apollion mencioned by Saint Iohn in his Reuelation namely the Deuil whom we may saie to haue beene the common schoolemaster to them all because that so pernitious arts replenished with fraude and lying cannot procéede out of any other shop than his We must therefore settle our selues and beware we bee not snared in the writinges and persuasions of those that after they haue masqued and disguised impietie would harborowe it among vs who are to driue it awaie as a most horrible monster Most men when they heare speaking of inchauntments and sorceries doe at the first scorne or detest them but if they suffer themselues so farre to be led as to delight to talke of them or to sée some of their proofes they doe by little and little take a custome not to abhorre them Like vnto such as hauing long eschued serpents do neuerthelesse by seeing haÌ„dling theÌ„ come at y e leÌ„gth to weare theÌ„ about their necks notwithstaÌ„ding nature doth somwhat therat rapine Some may say y t of a flie I make an elephaÌ„t also y t if y t reading of these follies which euery one accouÌ„teth but fables wer so dangerous our great learned men should likewise abstain froÌ„ reading y e bookes of IaÌ„blichus Porphirie Psellus Apolonius Tianeus such like who haue at large intreted vpoÌ„ Magick the coÌ„municatioÌ„ y t may be had w t Demons as also of y t sacrifices y t they require Whereto I answere y t there is great differeÌ„ce betwéene those y t peraduenture neuer read any other bookes but Amadis wherin the suger y t is dispearsed al ouer maketh theÌ„ to swalow great morcels of Alloes at vnawares y e others who grounded in learning age experience do seeke for some roses in y e large forrests of thorns For the first not knowing the snares are sodainly taken wheras the others perceiuing theÌ„ a far of doe séeke to break theÌ„ Truly y e youth of our courts w tin these 10. yeres had not ben so redie to féed their curiositie w t such meruailes had not the laid books of vanitie prepared theÌ„ And this is it that hath caused Astronomers inchanters to be so well welcome Many account it no inconuenience to sée learn those things y t procure mirth meruailes but they perceiue not y t the same is the beginning of y t game that the poison lieth in y e taile There be other pastimes enow though we meddle not with those wherin the magitiaÌ„s cuÌ„ning varlets come to play the feats of passe rapasse such as enter familiarity w t theÌ„ do neuer escape their paimeÌ„t not in Apes coine as y t prouerb tearmeth it but in much worse which these petie transfigured maumets that come to play w t the simple do liberally deliuer them For in the end they catch the soules infecting theÌ„ with a foolish beliefe which by little little carieth theÌ„ froÌ„ God The prophet Balaam though a false Prophet did neuertheles saie very well That the people of Israel was blessed because they had among theÌ„ neither Southsayer deuiner nor inchanter If we will inioy y t like blesse we must also imitate that people as wel in reiecting the persons at y t writings which are as baits to inure vs in diuellish mysteries Thus much of the first principal poison hidden among the the fruits of Amadis delightes Concerning the second which I tearme the PoisoÌ„ of pleasure which also is much more open than y e other w tal so subtil penetratiue y t to eschue harme therby we must first vse very good preseruatiues it consisteth in many sorts of dishonest lusts which therin are so liuely described y t young men in the coÌ„sideration of theÌ„ are deceiued as the birds were in y e sight of Zeuxes counterfait fruits The French translators haue studied wel to polish their translatioÌ„s also haue added as I ween for the true Spanish aÌ„guage is too simple all y t fairest ornameÌ„ts y t they were able to borow of Rhetorike to y e end y e new might be of the more efficacy to persuade y t things wherto many are but too willing to be persuaded hauing made it more copious wantoÌ„ it is not to be demanded whether the sound therof be pleasant to the eare through y t which being once passed it tickleth y e most teÌ„der affectioÌ„s of the hart which it moueth more or lesse according as the persons are disposed therto Oh what a goodly instructioÌ„ is it for ladies to see yong princesses frying in amorous flames for some knight whoÌ„ they neuer saw vntil within two houres before for albeit shame modestie ought to restrain theÌ„ w tin the bounds of shamefaâ—â—nes yet doth the author make theÌ„ confesse eueÌ„ at the first that the violent stings of the God Cupid whoÌ„ they do blame haue wounded theÌ„ so deep as not being able to get out at the doore they must créepe forth at the window into some delicate garden to eat Apricocks But this I haue noted that fortune haue ben to them alwaies so favorable that neuer anie of theÌ„ toke harme so that wel we may apply vnto theÌ„ this song Your pace it
their worke to bee both easie and possible They saie there is a certaine mettallicall substance â—it and conuenient to be transformed into perfect mettalls which is the true seede that yeeldeth the Gold and the same as the principal ground whereon they must build it is requisite to know verie wel That in time past few men knew it but that nowe some excellent schollers in this art are nothing ignorant therein also that it is likely not to be so strange and vnknowen a thing considering that euen meane men are perfect in the knowledge of the substance seed and vertues of plants hearbes and foules Like wise that albeit most of these goodly operations of nature bee hidden in the deapth of the earth yet is mans spirit able to penetrate into such secretes sith it can also mount aboue the heuens To deny the substance that they search for I dare not because wee see the effects but to affirme that it is knowen there resteth the difficultie for although wee knowe many as the aforenamed yet followeth it not thereof that wee are able to comprehend the other which hath so long beene hidden excepte by the discourse of our imagination vntill experience hath taught vs the truth of this matter Some common Alcumistes haue in their pamphlets gone about to describe the saide substance One assureth it to be quicke siluer or brimstone the other egges or bloud and others haue named sundrie other kinds which haue procured a thousand and a thousand experiments all which haue proued false Some of them doe affirme that the true matter must of necessitie haue in it a great vegetatiue power and some similitude with that substance whereinto it shoulde be transformed Concerning y e vegetatiue power theyr speech doth stand with some reason for sith nature must be an agent and worke in this action the matter must likewise haue the same propertie and not resemble a stone or a peece of wood As for the similitude it is likely also that the substance that should yeeld Gold must haue some correspondence therewith for it were a plaine mockerie to imagine that an egge should bring forth a tree or an acorne a bird These two properties then are verie necessarie for the matter which we speake of neuertheles by y e onely discoursing vpon things conuenient therto it is not founde no more than is the Philosopers wisedome albeit they haue in their discourses qualified and formed it But admit I graunt they knowe the true substance which neuerthelesse is a deepe point yet are they to proue by what artificial meanes that is to saie by what regiment or helpe they can enforce their wished forme which is not easy to be done for albeit that arte doe imitate nature yea that in some thinges it can euen helpe her yet dare not our common Alcumists affirme that it can growe equall with her Heereto they replie that experience teacheth that the vertue of the arte duelie fitted with the force of nature doth so helpe it that thereof insueth the bringing forth of the kinds in likewise as Nature alone may haue brought them forth As in Egges which are the substance whereof foules are bredd a man may minister to them an arteficiall heat so temperate either in an ouen or by other meanes that wee shall see them yeeld forth the like foules as nature woulde haue ingendered as also in the Salte pits wee see that arte together with the sea water and helpe of the natural heate of the Sunne formeth the Salt If therefore in liuing things yea euen in dead things it hath so much power why may it not lykewise worke in the substance of mettalls Heereto I aunswere that this is but a bad kinde of arguing of a few particular examples in things knowen to make a generall rule for thinges as it were yet vnknowen for that which may agree with one cannot agree with many Wee may easilie see that there is great difference betweene the manner by nature obserued in the ingendering of mettals and the other kindes afore noted For hauing made the seede of plants hearbes and foules so common vnto vs she also sheweth vs the facilitie of their generation But in mettalles it is another case for if their substance hath bene hetherto as it were hidden it is no meruayle that their procreation is vnknowen Who so list to consider how a Wheate kirnell bringeth forth a fayre and greate eare shall neuerthelesse therein see but small helpe of arte sauing some trauayle and tillage of the ground with the sowing therof which cannot properly be sayde to be the principall cause of the generation for it is onely nature who hauing receiued the seed into the ground as into a matrix doth heate putrifie it also it maketh it to sprout growe and take that forme whereto it is most proper The lyke effect is to be noted in the generation of mettals which is performed by the onely vertue and power of nature neither can art worke any great matter therein And whosoeuer should take the substaunce of them out of their matrixe wherein nature by hidden meanes worketh weening through art to make perfect the saide mettalls shall greatly deceiue himself for so would it loose the whole force and become lame This might the Empirical Alcumists haue therby learned by so many their false experiments made so long time which neuertheles haue not yet vtterly diuerted their mindes froÌ„ promising to theÌ„selues somwhat more for they affirme that this pouder of proiection once performed they may by casting a little of it among a greate masse of imperfect mettals reduce y e whole into gold Now thy proceed thereto by degrees saying that one once of this pouder is able to coÌ„uert a thousand ounces of other mettal into gold that which is better purified will conuert ten thousand but that which is once brought to perfection will multiply as they tearme it from one waight to 100000. These be the braue fruites which they make the trees of their garden to beare whereof the least wil be worth 9000 crownes the greatest about 900000. Truly if these effects were as true as the discourses of them are braue wee shall see many gardens giuen themselues to the tilling of so fruitfull a soyle The common opinion of man doth account this same to be a prodigious matter yea sundry learned men do meruaile how so many can suffer theÌ„selues to be lead away with such persuasions of whom if a man aske how this great augmentation can come to passe they will answere that that should not seeme so strange considering that daily we see as great matter as that after the same manner for say they ae candle once light is able to impart her light to 100000 more yet neuer diminish it selfe one whit so likewise the vertue of this power is so great that it communicateth the selfe substance thereof to other mettals apt to receiue it This similitude in my opinion
their courages To be briefe that those which minde to bring into the Theatres where Mars playeth her bloudie tragedies fastings portuaises contemplation doe but put forth themselues for mocking stockes considering that there is nothing to be looked for but triumphs rewards and commendations which are atchieued by contrarie waies These be the pettie rudiments of their schooles wherby we may perceiue how all three sortes doe agree in the reiecting of pietie which is the worthiest and most precious ornament of our soules I know such wicked speeches do deserue to be buried in silence also that neither the mouth of man should vtter them neither the paper beare them but now other farre worse are so common that we need not to make any doubt of reuealing theÌ„ so as we do it onely to the end to warne others to beware to shew the meanes how For as men set manifest markes in certaine places in the greate streames where the rocks do lie hidden vnder water that the sailers may escape them so hauing marked the places where these dangerous shelues are harbored I thought good to set downe some smal description of their forme Many there are who beeing ignorant of these dangers do thrust through the middest them and these are to be moaned as much as the others are to be blamed who perceiuing them doe seeme to haue a pleasure to make shipwracke thereon as taking their beginning to be verie sweet though the end be sower The best way to scape without scath is to carry with them the quadred that is wisedome and the card which are the goodly precepts to discerne the true from the false For when the vaile that couered this false life is taken awaie and that the filthinesse thereof appeareth that man is verie beastly that immediatly flieth not from it for feare of polluting himselfe in so filthie a puddle We haue alreadie scene the beautifull shew of this vayle which shineth in the painted and sweet speeches of these teachers and especially in those which they make to runne downe so sweetely in the beginning for men woulde thinke they should bring them to heauen but when they gather to theyr conclusions they make a sodayne stoppe taking the waie not to anie pleasant places of the earth but euen to the darkest dens therin And in the meane time their intermingling of the fayre with the foule and of the good with the badde doe dazell the eyes of the simple and dim their iudgements wherby they cannot at the first perceiue their iutentes which in deede they seeke to couer because they cannot catch the birdes without counterfaicing such pleasant calls But least we might be deceiued it is not amisse to shew the fallacies of their intangling argumentes reducing them into a more briefe and manifest forme The Courtiers is this The instructions of the Court with the examples of the quiokest wits doe teach man to follow such things as minister pleasure contentation as a benefit greatly to be desired in this life and contrariwise toteschue all such as are sorrowfull and noisome which also make it miserable But deuotion and the straight rules of religion doe plunge it in 1000 anguishes make it melancholy and hinder it from attaining to this ende We must therefore reiect them and ensue those that bring more delight The second argument gathered out of the Epicures speeche is this The best rules to mans lyfe are the naturall motions of the soule somwhat holpen with the precepts of Philosophie But the superstitions which transport man to imagined perfections strange to mans reason doe turne it out of this waie We are therefore rather to follow that which is according to nature and conformeth it selfe thereto The souldiers is this Those things that effeminate the mindes and daunt the courages of the souldiers taking from them their wonted cheerefulnesse which they ought to haue doe in no wise agree with their profession But the rules of religion which commend humilitie forgetfulnesse of iniuries a feareful meditation of death do work all these effects They are therefore vnconuenient thereto By this abrigement of speech we may as I thinke better comprehend the speakers meaning as seeing it naked and cleere from that which before kept it disguised neyther doe I suppose that anie man pare deaie that these argument are grounded vpon impietis and intemperancie for as well those mennes purposes tend onelie to let goe the bridle to bodilie affections to the ende to wallowe and glut themselues in all pleasure and to reiect the lawes and admonitions that labour to restraine them within the boundes of vertue But if we doe more neerely marke their arguments we shall see that all their conclusions are false as also are the most part of their propositions which must not seeme straunge because that in the approbation of wickednesse wee cannot proceede but by falsehoode and lying The principall thing that y e propound to dazell mens eies withal is that all creatures doe long after whatsoeuer may reioyce them and eschue whatsoeuer may make them sorrowfull This doe I with them graunt to be true and that nature teacheth euerie reasonable soule the same lesson howbeit with this condition that eueuerie one vse it as to him shall be most conuenient In beasts this appetite is ruled by certaine instinctions which nature hath giuen them whereby they order themselues and vsually wee see them seldome change this order But man is indued with reason to guide his actions whereto he yeeldeth verie small obedience which also albeit it were much greater than it is yet could it not escape sâ—umbling and falling into things vicious considering how reason her selfe hauing bene in a manner blinded by originall sinne standeth in neede of a guide so farre is shee from beeing altogether capable of the conduct of affections but is it possible to finde anie man whose affections are so wel ordered as to reioice at nothing but that which is good Such a one must wee seeke in the other worlde for in this wickednesse vanitie and delightes doe please farre better euen without comparison than that which is good so as this vniuersall desire which in beasts is ruled after their being is verie vnperfect in those that haue the vse of reason vntill it bee after a sorte restored through heauenly humiliation This is their goodly foundation which taketh more of the bad than of the good howbeit they neuerthelesse proceed to lay a great building therevpon For saie they the delightfull ought to be a most soueraigne felicitie to man sith his owne forcible desires are so liuely bent to such an end Heetevpon if a man should deuiand of them what is the delight of the intemperate person they dare scarce be acknowen for shame forbiddeth them to saie impudicitie or gluttonie wherein wee may brholde the beautie of their braue Philosophie which maketh mannes soueraigne felicitie lyke vnto that of a hog or goate Neither is it to
any purpose for them to replie that they can well inough shun such villanous excesse for experieÌ„ce doth but to plainly teach that when man fixeth his felicity in bodily pleasures he doth extreamly exceede in the vse of the same and heerein doth all the vice consist when wee exceede the meane whether in wishing or enioying besides that whatsoeuer is of it self wicked we ought neither to wish nor labour for The doctrine of Philosophers teacheth that there bee three sortes of good The pleasant the profitatable and the honest Also that as the profitable are to bee preferred before the pleasant so the honest are to bee esteemed aboue them both as farre exceeding them in all excellencie and these doe properly pertaine to man who onelie among all creatures is capable of vertue Who so therefore preferreth pleasure before and setteth vertue which is the true honest good last committeth a great errour and placeth himselfe among bruite beasts who do respect no more but to satisfie theyr lusts Neither will I forgette to saie that the good of pleasure commeth behinde the good of profite but that which accompanieth the honest is without comparison the most perfect neyther is there anie falsehoode hidden therein as in the others which for the most parte doe breede sorrowe and sacietie whereas those which consist in the enioying of vertue are pure and cleane not subiect to alteration but continually yeelding content This sheweth the blindnesse of our Libertines speeches when they saie that pleasure is aboue 〈◊〉 things to be desired meaning of inferiours for they ough 〈…〉 adde the honest to make their proposition the more receiueable Now let vs speake of the other part thereof which so earnestlie persuadeth to eschue whatsoeuer may breed griefe or sorow for therin doe they account the greatest parte of their felicitie to consist Heerevpon we may saie that the principle of such affection is bad sith it tendeth onely to eschue the thing that altereth the temperature of the bodie breedeth discommoditie to the minde because the same seemeth to be a peruerting of the order of nature but they haue other considerations For as they referre almost all to the body so they thinke it a great inconuenience to suffer whereof also insueth another which they thinke to be no lesse that is a hinderance from inioying of pleasures which their false opinions doe minister vnto them double torments I will not denie but he that professeth wisedome ought so far forth as he may to eschue all griefes Howbeit when they happeÌ„ vnto him he must not make the accident greater than it is but by the valyancie of his courage diminish the same Whereas these men to the contrarie doe imagine euerie worde of sorow to be ten such a delycate felicitie haue they forged theÌ„selues They also shew themselues to bee of small iudgement in that they seeke to shunne sorrowes and griefes yet doe wallow in all pleasures which draw them after them by douzens It is as if a man to keepe himselfe from wet should runne vp to the chin into the riuer whome we might well saie to be besides himselfe Wherevpon Erasmus verie â—â—tlie sayth that pleasures at theyr comming doe flatter but at theyr departure doe leaue vs full of sorrowe and heauinesse The Towne Libertines doe incomparably feare these inconueniences more than the other because that hauing chosen the more effeminate life themselues haue through custome grewe as tender as the waxe that melteth against the Sunne which in them is a great token of pusilanimitie so sore to feare that which so many vile and base persons doe beare with so greate facilitie Yea we shall sometimes see women and young children make so small account of the griefes that pricke them that you shall not heare one lamentable voyce proceede out of theyr mouths which are the goodly fruites of constancie But who should better know this than they that thinke themselues in finenesse of wit knowledge to passe all others In respect whereof theyr opinions in the ordering of theyr liues ought in soundnes and truth to passe the common sort They imagine that they haue layde a sure foundation in saying that wee must followe the motions of our nature wherto neuerthelesse they also adde the helpe of precepts wherby they shew that they account it vnperfect But it were better for them freely to confesse the great imbecilitie weaknesse thereof than by extolling it so high to put it in hazard of a greater fall themselues doe but too often try how much it is inclined to euill rather than to good Howbeit although it were much purer and sounder than it is yet woulde they through the bad sustenance wherewith they feede it vtterly corrupt it And what maner of Philosophy is this of theirs which seketh to straighten crooked things by those that be more crooked This is the occasion in my opinion that they so loue to hide their life least men should perceiue their disordered manners I will rehearse vnto you the admonition of Plutarke to such people for the same wil suffice It is sayth he a poynt of dishonestie so to liue as none shall know howe thou hast liued for if thou beest endued with vertue thou oughtest to let it appeare If with vice to seeke to haue it cured Whom then may this Prouerbe Hide thy life profite The ignorant the wicked or the fooles No. It were as if thou shouldest saie to them Hide thy ague or thy phrensie let not the Phisition know of it Goe creepe into some darke corner where no man may see thee or thy passions Goe hide thy selfe with the incurable and mortall diseaâ—e of thy vices couer thy enuie thy adulterie and excesse as a hastie and lofâ—ie poulse least thou be shewed and deliuered to such as are able to admonish correct and cure them Let vs also looke what commoditie the hiding of a mannes selfe and not to let anie in an knowe him doth breede to the honest It is as much as sayth Plutarke as if a man should say to Epaminondas Take no charge of the armie to Lycurgus Trouble not thy selfe about the making of lawes to Thrasibulus Kill not the tyrants to Pyâ—hagoras Teach not or to Socrates Make no discourse Heereby wee may verie easilie comprehende that those which seeke to perswade others to liue in these small corners haue no lust to make men to amend their imperfections or to serue the the common wealth but rather that they seeke to glut themselues with all pleasure But as for him whome wee see so disposed and past amendement wee may well applie vnto him the saying of the same Philosopher to the brother of Epicurus Goe and hide thy selfe with thy harlot Hedia and other thy yonckors sith that contemning all honestie thou placest thy felicie in the pleasures of the flesh Truely such endes are to bee buried in the darknesse of the night least their wicked example should stirre vp others to
fought on euery side Howbeit in as much as the whole army of the Catholicks still came on the Protestants were forced to flee after they had lost in the field about a hundred Gentlemen but especially the Princes owne person who being borne downe coulde haue no succour and hauing yeelded himselfe to the Lorde of Argences there came a Gascoigne Gentleman named Montesquion and discharged a pistoll through his head whereof he died His death bred wonderfull sorrowe among the Protestantes and as great ioy to some of his aduersaries who supposed they shoulde soone ouercome the whole body nowe that they had cut of so good a head howbeit as some did greatly blame him so others there were that commended his valour As also this commendation may iustly be giuen him that in bouldnesse or curtesy no man of his time excelled him Of speech hee was eloquent rather by nature then art he was liberall and affable vnto all men and withall an excellent Captaine although he loued peace Hee bare him selfe better in aduersity then in prosperitie His greatest commendation of all was his stedfastnesse in religion My best is to holde my peace for feare of saying to little albeit I thought good to speake somewhat leaste I shoulde be accounted ingratefull to the memory of so valiant a Prince Many a worthy person both Catholike and Protestant whome our ciuill stormes haue caried away are to be lamented for they honored our Fraunce and might well haue holpen to encrease it had not discord prouoked the valour of the one to the destruction of the valour of the other After this blowe the Protestantes army was wonderfully astonied and it fell out well for them that the country whereinto they were withdrawne was all full of water for thereby were the Catholicks restrained and they had time to recouer themselues Hauing atchieued such a victory the Catholicks imagined that such of our townes as were not very strong woulde bee amazed But the Admirall had placed in them the most part of his footemen thereby breake this first fury so as when they set forward to assalt Coignac they well found that such catts were not caught without mittens for therein were fowre regimentes of footemen but as when they had sent three or fowre hundred shot vnto the parkeside to disceuer that part they that were within sent foorth 10 or 1200 who sent them so quickly away that they came no more as also they had in their army but sowre Canons and as many Culuerines Monsieur contenting him selfe with his victory and perceiuing that hee coulde not performe any greate matter in his tender youth triumphing ouer moste excellent captaines as also hee had good counsaile and assistaunce of other worthy Captaines that accompanied him retired to refresh his men In this action we are to gather that in whatsoeuer waighty and daungerous attempt it must not bee followed to halues for we must either quight leaue it off or else employ whatsoeuer our senses and force Moreouer this is to be noted that when armies are lodged scatteringly they incurre viuerse inconueniences which the sufficiencie of the best Captaines is not able withstand Of the notable passage of the Duke of Aipont from the borders of Rhine euen into Aquitaine MAny that shall heere see it set downe as it were for a meruayle that a forraine enimies armie coulde pierce so very far into the realme of France wyll not peraduenture thinke it straunge because that considering other examples namelie that of the Emperour Charles the fifth when hee came to besiege Saint Desier they will not take such expeditions to be so extraordinarie as we wold make them beleeue for Howbeit if they list well to waigh the length of the iourney also the mightie and continuall lets and hinderances that this had I doubt they wil be of another opinion Yet will I confesse that ciuill warres doe greatly fauour the entrie of our neighbours who otherwise without the support of one of the factions neuer durst haue enterprised the same But when on the one side the fauour is small and on the other side the resistance great we are the more to admire the deeds of those that haue so aduentured Touching that which is alleadged of the Emperour Charles I will aunswere in fewe wordes First for his person hee was the mightiest Captaine in Christendome then for his campe it consisted of fiftie thousand men lastlie that at such time as hee came in the King of England had alreadie taken Bollein which caused King Fraunces who woulde not aduenture anie thing rashlie to leaue the passage more free Nowe the Duke of Biponts case is farre otherwise for notwithstandinge he were a valyaunt valyant Prince yet did he not any thing neere approch the militarie sufficiencie of the other and a great helpe and ease it was for him that he was accompanied with the Prince of Orenge Countie Lodowicke Countie Wolrad of Mansfield besides other braue French Captaines and two thousand footmen and horsemen of the same nation that ioyned with him His number of Germaines was fiue thousand Lance knights and sixe thousand Reisters With this small armie did he passe forward in purpose to ioyne with the Princes power The King vnderstanding that he prepared for their succour did immediatlie appoint a small armie vnder the leading of the Duke of Aumale to withstand him and doubting of the weaknesse therof he also ioyned thereto another vnder the gouernment of the D. of Nemours These two bodies vnited did in footmen exceede the Duke of Bipont but in horse were inferiour vnto him They determined not to state his comming into the realme to molest them and therefore marched euen into the borders of Germanie and toward Sauerne ouerthrew the regiment of one named Le Coche composed of certaine straies gathered together who meant to haue ioyned with him Neuerthelesse he entered into France on the side of Burgundie whether they came to coast him and vntill he came to the riuer of Loire which was little lesse than foure score leagues they neuer gaue him ouer but still were either on his flankes or tayle yea many times the armies were in sight each of other and had great skirmishes I haue oft heard the Prince of Orenge report that he meruayled in so long and difficult a waie that the Catholikes could neuer finde anie fit occasion to their aduauntage for sometimes they had fayre offers by reason of the pestering with store of carriages Neither can I omit this that besides the braue forces of the Kings armie they had other aduantages which were not smal as the fauour of the townes Countries and riuers yea and one point more was to be noted that is their notise of the enemies purposes which consisted in making of way and winning by power or pollicy some passage ouer Loire For albeit both the Dukes of Nemours and Aumale were braue Captains yet notwithstanding all their pollicies and endeauours this armie gate to the sayd
Howbeit howsoeuer the matter had fallen out had it not bene wonderful in an assalt to see the horsemen fight among the footmen on either part There also happened another matter contrarie to that which ordinarily chaunceth in townes not forced that is that they within lost more than they that were without neuerthelesse such as were lost it was with great commendation for we might plainlie see them come boldly and assuredly present themselues with the Canon and harquebuze shot In the ende Monsieurs armie did the Protestants greate honour in comming to assayle Chastellerault For the same was to them a lawfull occasion to raise the siedge with neuerthelesse they woulde haue raised because they wist no longer of what wood to make their boultes and I beleeue that the besieged were no lesse busied Concerning the siege of this towne thus much I will say that the captaynes doe easily yeelde to any high attemptes for hauing great stomackes they aime at obiectes of the same nature howbeit the surest way is to rely vpon the prouerbe He that gripeth too much straineth but little The D. of Guize his brother purchased great fame in kéeping so weake a hold considering their youth Some made no lesse accouÌ„t of this act theÌ„ of y t of Mets Others said y t the Admiral he staied ther purposely to catch those Princes whome they presumed to be perticularlie his enimies but himselfe hath often tolde mee that if the towne had beene taken so farre woulde hee haue beene from suffering them to bee anie waie misused that contrarywise he would haue caused them to haue bene honourablie intreated according to their dignities as hee had done their vnkle the Marques of Elbeufe when he fell into his handes at the taking of the Castle of Cane and my selfe do remember that at the capitulation he sent me because I knew him into the Castle to assure him from hauing anie harme which was obserued Monsieur seeing our armie fraught with spight rise to come towarde him hauing in vaine attempted one assault against Chatellerault where the Popes Italians who were nothing slacke in their duties were receiued according to that good affection that the Protestants doe beare to theyr maister did retire We folowed weening to haue constrayned him to buckle but still hee kept a riuer in our faces to coole our heate When an action tending to diuersion fayleth in the accessaries and is executed in the principall it is not to be complayned of for the great fruit of the one dooth sufficiently recompence the small losse of the other as also we are to note that wee ought to study thrice or foure times before we vndertake to besiege any great towne once Of the battaile of Montcontour SOme will say that this battaile was a consequence of the siege of Poictiers because the ProtestaÌ„ts power was much weakned before which in troth happened rather through sicknesse and the retiring both of Gentlemen and souldiers then by any violent death Indeed this was one of the causes of our mishap but there were others as our seiourning at the borough of Fay La Vineuse while the armie of Monsieur grewe strong at Chinon Whereto we were all forced because then all our draught horse for our ordinance were sent awaie to carie to Lusignan part of that artillery which had ben emploied at the siege of Poictiers had euer since remained in a Castle which returned so iust that had they staied but one daie longer we should haue bene driuen to haue forsaken ours by reson of the approch of Monsieurs army to London which was within three leagues of vs. Also because we were in a deuoured soyle and but badly seated the Lord Admiral thought it better to goe lodge at Montcontour where the lodginges were commodious and victualls more plentifull and I beleeue that as well he as many other were deceiued in that no man supposed that they whome we had forced to so long a retreate that in the night from before Chastelleraud could so soone haue bene readie to seeke vs. Thus on the fridaie he departed sending his carriage one waie while himselfe with the armie went another Now neere to a village called Saint Clere the one hearing in manner no noise of the other the head of the Catholikes armie led by the Lord of Biron met with ours as we marched almost vppon our flanke he seeing opportunitie with one thousand speares gaue a charge vpon the Lord of Mouie who was vpon the retreate with 300. horse and two hundred harquebuziers on foote These hee ouerthrew and put to flight and there were lost the most part of the sayd shot and about fortie or fiftie horse This happening sodainlie and at once with the sound of foure Canons that were discharged bredde such a terror among our men that without telling who had wonne or who had lost euerie man at the onelie noise they heard behinde them fled as halfe afraide One thing I will aduow not that I will speake it to our reproch but rather to shew preuention to be a cause of great disorder also that the hazards of warre are dangerous that is that had it not bene for a passage which was founde in time where there could but twentie horse passe in front and so staied the Catholikes our whole armie had bene ouerthrowen at this first encounter The Lord Admiral séeing this shewed himselfe to his men gathered togither his troopes so as at this passage there were giuen two or thrée great assaults repulses of 1500. or 2000 horse at a time and whosoeuer passed ouer was soone driuen back there did Countie Lodouicke Countie Wolrad of Mansfield behaue theÌ„selues very wel The two armies planted themselues in battell araye the one on the one side and the other on the other within a good musket shot together where ours was somewhat in couert neyther did I euer see any so neere together and not to fight a maine battell No man durst aduenture any more ouer the passage in respect of the daunger thereof for sundry squadrous would haue oppressed that which should haue aduentured But the Catholikes hauing their ordinance there and ours beeing already at Monâ—contour they vsed it and therwith slue about 100 men in the squadrons who neuerthelesse set a good countenaunce and had not the night come on vnder the fauour wherof euerie man retired we had had more hurt That at S. Denis this came wel for vs. In the morning Monsieur caused to discouer y e lodgings at Montcontour and to tast the Protestants but he found them verie well fortested in the suburbes hauing no other comming thereto where was a skirmish both of horsemen and footmen The same time it happened that two Catholike Gentlemen stragling came and spake to some Protestants in place where there was a ditch betweene My masters sayde they we weare the badges of enemies albeit we hate neither you nor your party Warne my L Admirall to