were so fine that thei could not bee easely perceiued nor preuented because so many tales were brought and so many flatters tooke sir Bryans parte Yet alwaies the Erle did that whiche he thought for the beste and was lothe to seeke blood but vpon a greate occasion and yet in the ende true woorde was brought that Mackefellyn was stollen awaie by this meanes as I shall tell you Capitaine Malbie and his brother hearyng of this dispute and hauyng greate businesse to repaire vnto Lakaill tooke their iourney and as thei were ridyng thei espied a freende of theirs commyng galloppyng whose name was Marke Hoult Who brought newes of Bryans goyng awaie whiche messenger thei sent in all haste to the Erle and thei appointed a place where thei would meete the Earle But in the meane while thei hasted to staie Bryan and thei might or to holde hym plaie till the Earle came But that was in vaine for all the Creete had take a strength before the daie Yet the Earle marched apace and came within twoo miles of the enemie where he mette Capitaine Malbie but of necessitie the Earle retired to Carryckefargus for this matter could not be recouered Yet in a fewe daies after the Earle made a rode against Bryan and by meane of a Spaniell in the companie their entent was eskried and wantyng Kerne to enter the wood the Earle retired homeward againe The Earle sent for the Barron of Dongarren and maister Edwarde Moore and one Thomas Flemmyng but Bryan had gotten intelligence thereof and laye in waite for to entrappe theim The Barron came to Bellfaste and passed the Foorde and sent to Hollyngburne Abbey for maister Moore so passyng a softe pace towardes the Earle Bryans horsemen brake and so the Barron retired backe to the forde again where by chaunce maister Malbie was and gaue the Barron succours and caused theim to passe ouer the Foord for their better suertie But those horsemen that thei had sent for maister More did light in the lappes of their enemies in commyng backe againe yet some of theim were well horssed and so escaped to Hollyngburne Abbay and those that were nerest mischeef were slaine This hazarde beeyng paste Capitaine Malbie sente in poste to the Earle to come closely with as many horsemen and footemen as he might make and to come in the night followyng the Earle made speede and came as secretly as he might three howers before daie to the place appoincted where he laye in couerte till it was tyme to passe ouer the Foorde Now the Barron with maister Moore and their companie passed ouer and had not gone but a little ground but thei were sharpely set vpon and sent backe againe Bryans foote men were so nere them with that Capitain Malbie and his brother hastened to the skirmishe whiche grewe very hott and as thei were almoste ouer the water maister Richard Blunt commyng with them cried a charge a charge and so settyng his staffe againste his thigh he ranne emong theâ—m whiche were footemen whiche had quickely killed his horse and had hym doune laiyng loade vppon hym whiche was a wonder of the worlde he had not been slaine capitain Malbie and his brother with fiue or sixe more gaue a charge to rescue him and so put his enemies backe where at a man of the Barrons and an other called Thomas Flemmyng tooke hym vp and haled hym awaie At this skirmishe many of Bryans men were slaine and the Englishemen did retire ouer the water in tyme for the tide was commyng And the very same night the enemies came ouer the water and encamped them selues by the Englishe power And in the mornyng betymes thei prouoked the skirmishe bothe cunnyngly and manfully For at the firste beginnyng thei killed maister Willyam Norrises horse vnder hym who valliauntly behaued hymself and in lesse then an hower capitaine Malbies horse was striken doune and if Sir Willyam Morgan with greate courage and one maister Egerton had not dooen verie well Capitaine Malbie had been slaine for his horse laye vppon hym The noble Earle beholding this broile with his footemen came fliyng in and gaue a charge on the rebelles and put them to flight and did it in suche order that many of the enemies loste their liues thereby And after that charge thei retired into the wooddes where sondrie of them were ouerthrowne and those that escaped went to their Creete As tyme did passe and the Erle laie at Karrickefargus newes was brought that one Noall Macke Bryan Artho had deuised a draught for the killyng of Maister Thomas Smithe who was slaine by that deuise My Lorde of Essex was muche moued at that deede and Capitaine Malbie and his brother were marueilous sorie for the losse of suche a neighbour and good companion And swore to reuenge his death ere it should be long as thei did when occasion serued therefore In processe of tyme the twoo brethren desired leaue to repaire into Lakaell meanyng to practise a reueÌ„ge for maister Smithes death the Earle not knowyng their myndes gaue Ihon Malbie leaue to goe but kept the other Capitaine about his owne persone Maister Ihon Malbie commyng into Lakaell mustered all the menne he might make and hauyng a good power sufficiente as neede required practised with one called Donny Sallowe for the catcheyng of Neall Bryan Artho at some aduantage and promised at the least an hundred pounds for his labour that should drawe suche a drifte This Donny Sallowe as muche for the money as glad to please his freende went closely about this matter and brought suche certaine newes of Neall Bryan Arttoes haunt and order of life that it was an easie thyng either to compasse hym in some daunger or laye handes vppon his followers And by a good occasion maister Ihon Malbie with three score and fower horsemen and a fewe footemen he made suche a slaughter that fiue and thirtie of his beste men that followed Neall Bryan Artto were licked vp and slaine and a greate preye and bootie taken from hym and brought awaie he beeyng twoo hundreth footemen and fourtie horsemen in the feelde Emong those menne that was slaine was one Con Mackmeloeg who before caused maister Smithe to be eaten vp with Dogges after he had been boiled and this same Con Mackmeloeg beyng slaine was lefte emong wolues v. daies and was had into a house where his freendes howled and cried ouer his dedde bodie so long that by mischaunce a greate deale of pouder caught fire and sett the house in a flame the Dogges in the toune smellyng this ded bodie ranne in and tooke it out of the house and so tore it in peeces and fedde vppon his carraine fleshe openly Whiche was a thyng to bee muche marueiled at and thought to bee sent from God for a terrour to all tyrauntes hereafter Now here is to be noted that the Erle so long as he had power left no occasion to trouble Bryan Mackefellyn and to make hym knowe he had offended the Queenes highnesse and for that cause
become prisoners because thei abode the assault and stoode so long in their defence against a mightie power and shotte of the Cannon Maister Nicholas Malbie was prisoner to a Spaniard for whose raunsome capitain Matson a honest Englishe gentleman was aunswerable and so maister Malbie retourned to Muttrell where the Duke of Vandome embrased hym and tooke hym to the Frenche Courte who beeyng there presented to the Frenche Kyng was muche made of by the Dukes meanes and bountifully rewarded without suyng for thesame as good soldiours bee in many places and so he was sente to Braye againe to lye in Garrison there till thei were remoued to Amiance And when the whole bande was come thether the Countrey furnished maister Malbies soldiours with all kinde of victuall by the kynges commaundement The Spryng commyng on all the Frenche Garrisons and Englishe Soldiours were commaunded to make their repaire to sainct Quintaines where the Kyng assembled his power and marched into Henault where he tooke a Toune called Synnie and from thence went and besieged Marryngbrough a verie strong toune whiche was yeelded vnto hym within fourtene daies A garrison of the Gascoins was lefte therein and the Campe marched to a Castell called Denouanter In whiche Castell Iullian Romero was and had with hym fiue hundred Spaniardes and as many Almains that valiauntly defended it in so muche that there was diuers bandes and Capitaines that refused to assault the saied Castell The kyng hearyng thereof called those capitaines and bandes before hym and caused them to be degrated and committed them to the Spade and Mattocke whiche is as much dishonor as a soldior maie suffer but there was great sute made by the Duke of Vandome and the nobilitie for to restore them to their honour againe Whiche suite the Kyng would not heare nor giue any grace vnto The companie degrated on knees besought the kyng that thei might goe and winne their credite againe at the assault The kyng hardlie graunted that but seeyng thei sought to serue and doe their duetie the kyng badde theim make newe blacke Ensignes and saied suche as could winne their old Armes by manhod at their retourne from the assaulte thei should be restored to their first degree of honour Wherevpon the assault was giuen and verie many of those men made there their laste seruice for euer but their manlinesse and furious approche was occasion that the Castell was rendered shortly after to the kyng and suche as retourned from that assaulte were muche made of againe and grewe in greate fauour with other soldiours euer after The Castell beyng randered Capitaine Iullian marched Ensigne displaied armor and weapon bagge and baggage with Wagons for their hurte men and so he and his soldiours were conueyed saffely to Mowns in Henaulte where Iullian made the Wagomers greate cheare and gaue them good rewardes Within three daies after the Castell was vndermined and blowen vp and the Campe marched from thence to Cambraie where the Emperour was with a greate Camp whiche Campe laye within three leages of the Freche kynges in a night before the kyng marched forwarde so that there was Alarum giuen to the kynges Campe and many issued out to the skirmishe in whiche skirmishe albeeit it was hotte maister Nicholas Malbie beyng vnarmed tooke an armed man from his companie and brought hym prisoner into the Frenche Campe. In that season D. Wotton was Embassador in France for Queene Marie who commaunded all the Englishemen to retire home or serue the Emperour The twoo brothers hearyng of that Proclamation toke their leaue of Fraunce and came to the Emperour who gaue them fiftie crounes a peece euery Monethe and so waited on the Emperour to raise the siege of Renttie where the Frenche king had laine three weekes before with fourtie thousande menne and had battered it verie sore and was likely to haue wonne it had not the Emperour prepared to giue the Frenche kyng battaile and come thether in tyme But the Frenche kynges fourtie thousande might not fight with sixe score thousande And yet the Frenche kyng shotte of his Batterie in the full hearyng of the Emperour and would not withdrawe neuer a peece of his ordinaunce from the breach although the Emperours Campe came in a merueilous brauerie and approched nere vnto Renttie The Batterie was so plied that it went of from Sunne risyng to Sunne sette and neuer seased whiche made the Emperours Soldiours meruell and therefore the soner to shewe some noble seruice Notwithstandyng for fourteene daies the Batterie seased not these twoo Princely Campes liyng all that while within one league of an other a meruell of the worlde how suche a sorte of people could bee so long kept a sonder Then Martine van Rous an Almaine seruyng with fifteene thousande soldiours saied to the Emperour it was a greate scorne to see his enemies lye so nere hym in quiet on whiche speeches Martin van Rous was sente to ioyne with the Duke of Sauoye and many Spaniard and Italian bandes and so to sette vppon the Frenchemen that laye in a woodde betwene Renttie and the Emperours Campe and to attende vpon those companies was appoincted Count de Horne with fiue hundreth Pistoliers Roittars and certain other bandes that serued as winges to Vanrowses regimēt So these people well bent and sette in order marched towardes the woodde and the Spaniardes on greate peril entered the woodd couragiously where thei founde a hotte and daungerous businesse and were sharpely encountered but thei behaued them selues so stoutly that with muche a dooe thei made the Frenche retire to their maine battaill and whole Campe whiche was within a quarter of mile of the woodde The Duke of Sauoye with certain bandes of horse men and footemen accompanied with Martin van Rous and the Count de Horne marched on the plaine vntill thei came to the wooddes ende where thei founde the kynges battaill readie to present the combate or giue the assaulte to the peece that so long he had besieged The Englishe and Scottes horsemen that serued the Frenche kyng were in a troupe together in a valley where thei prouoked the skirmishe The Barron of Kyrtton who was a moste valliaunte gentilman charged vpon a bande of Spaniardes horsemen and cleane defeatted theim The Count da Horne seeyng that slaughter and ouerthrowe charged the Barron of Kyrttons bande whiche was a little out of order by meane of their furie and so ran through them euery man as though thei had been a fewe children in his waie Suche is the aduauntage of disorder who wiselle can take it In whiche charge the noble Barron was taken prisoner and brought by one of the bande to the Count de Horne the Counte seeyng hym tooke out a Pistolet and presented the shotte to his breast but he was so well armed that the shott could not enter The Barron beholdyng by this outragious deede a bloodie murtheryng mynde craued mercie and told the Count that he was a noble man and would giue a noble raunsome who answered that he
It must be likewise that the enemie did hold and possesse the place that same daie that the Romaine Citezen was rescued in It is necessarie that the manne whiche hath been succoured should confesse the same before the people For a Soldioures owne witnesse in that behalfe serues to no purpose And furthermore it is required that he whiche was rescued be knowen to be a Burgois of Rome For if one dooe rescue a Kyng that commeth to serue the Romains he dooeth not merite for the same the Croune Ciuique In like sort if one doe rescue a generall of an armie he gettes no more honor therefore then though he had rescued a simple Citezen For thei whiche established this ordinaunce had no regard but to the conseruation of the Citezens of Rome who so euer thei were The Priuilege of this Croune shall be to giue power to weare a Hatte of broad leaues as ofte as he pleased that had been once Crouned for his well dooyng Further all the Senate had a custome to rise out of their places and to doe honour to them that haue had this croune when thei goe to see the common plaies and pastymes And it is sufferable and permitted that thei shall sitte in a seate neere the Senatours And thei shal be exempt from all Ciuill charges not onely theim selues but their naturall Fathers and Graundfathers and now beholde touchyng their Priuileges there was one Cicinius Dentatus accordyng as wee haue saied Crouned fowerteene tymes And one Capitolinus had sixe tymes been Crouned for he rescued Seruilius then generall of the armie not withstandyng Scipio Affrican would not suffer them to giue hym the croune Ciuique for succouryng his Father in the iourney of Trebia O ordinaunce worthie of immortalitie saieth Plinie that assigneth no other praise for suche greate workes then this greate honor whiche surpasseth all other warlike crounes This farre goes the verie woordes of Plinie and many other auncient aucthors that I could rehearse in the commendation of menne of warre whiche neither in Tholomeus tyme Artaxerses daies nor any of the mightie Monarkes long raignyng before could bee forgotten but were so honoured that lawes and orders was onely deuised for the enlargyng of their lande and stirryng vp their noble myndes Yea Soldiours and Herrauldes had power to denounce warres in so muche as the aunciente Romains who were the Fathers of all Marshall affaires and conquerours of the worlde helde this for a moste certaine rule Nullum bellum iustum esse nisi pro rebus iniuste ablatis quod fecialis Romani antea denunciabant Whiche rule and order of the Romains for the power and honour of soldiours and Herrauldes declareth thei are of greate dignitie and callyng and maie compare by this their authoritie to be no whit inferiour to the beste sorte of gentlemen You maie reade in like maner that there was a manne emong the Romains that merrelie or paraduenture in contempte putte a Croune Cinique vppon his owne hedde and loking out at a greate windowe into the streate was espied And thervpon apprehended and brought before the Senate where he was iudged presently to bee putte to death for touchyng and abusyng that Croune Ciuique Whiche was ordained for the wearyng onely of an honourable Soldiour and for suche a one as had been by deserte Crouned with triumphe and solempnitie in open audience So this foolishe manne albeit he might meane but little harme was had to the place of execution and there loste his life to the greate terrour of those that rashely meddle with thynges that becomes theim not and to the greate honour of those that are aduaunced by vertue and winneth with courage the wearyng of this Croune called the Croune Ciuique Nowe commyng doune to this presente age in the tyme of our peace where Soldioures haue nothyng to dooe there is enough spoken and peraduenture to muche for the Soldiours commendation yet let me leade you a little further in that cace For now is to bee proued what degrees of Soldious hauyng serued long or borne any office of credite are gentilmen and maie vnrebukeable be bolde to take that name and title vpō them First you haue heard that seruyng tenne yeres honestly and truely he is not onely paste his prentishippe but also aboue a iourney manne and ought from all iourneis to bee spared As a man might saie though vnproperly compared a good free horse after his long labour and many greate iourneies is to bee ridden but seldome and kepte in the stable till extreme necessitie requireth and then is to bee vsed gentillie least his stiffe limmes and old bodie deceiue the riders expectation So a soldiour commyng to this age and perfection or beyng paste the iollitie of youth and youthfull actions ought to be prouided for and maie without presumption pleade for armes albeeit he neuer gaue none before and can bryng no greate proofe of his house gentrie or dissent and though he be the first of that house stocke and name that gaue Armes his beginnyng is allowed of all our aunciente writers and Princes and shall put his aduersaries to silence when in that poinct thei seeke to deface hym I remember once I sawe and heard an Italian vceyng in the Emperour Charles the fifth his Campe so stande on his reputation that when a meane Gentleman quarrelled with hym and desired the Combate he aunswered he had been Soldado Vetche an old Soldiour and had borne office and passed through sondrie offices by order and that the gentleman was but a yong man and but of twoo yeres experiēce in warre and farre vnmeete to make challenge with hym that had passed so many steppes of honour and places of credite But saied the Italian to his aduersarie goe and dooe that I haue dooen or passe through the like and when thou haste mounted vp and troden on euery steppe that I haue passed come to me and I will fight with thee the combate But to saie I will stoupe so lowe and base my self as a Lorde maie in fightyng with a Ruffian beyond the compasse of my callyng I will not nor no Lawe of Armes can commaunde me The matter came in question before the Prince of Orrange that now is and the Duke of Sauoye yet liuyng and the challenger had a foule disgrace in the audience of a multitude and the defendaunte had a rewarde of fiue hundreth Crounes allowed hym by the Emperour for preseruyng his honour and estimation so muche This was doen and openly seen a little before the siege of Renttie and standeth for a good recorde Then an old Soldiour is a gentleman bothe worthie to giue armes and collours and mete to be borne withall in causes of quarrell An other proofe for the maintenaunce of my matter I sawe at the siege of Leeth a gentlemant of greate courage and birthe called maister Ihon Soutch quarrell with Capitaine Randall then Maiour of the feelde And maister Soutche did vrge through ill woordes and stoute language Capitaine Randall verie farre whiche might haue
A generall rehearsall of warres called Churchyardes Choise wherin is fiue hundred seuerall seruices of land and sea as Sieges Battailes Skirmiches and Encounters A thousande Gentle mennes names of the beste sorte of warriours A praise and true honour of Soldiours A proofe of perfite Nobilitie A triall and first erection of Heraldes A discourse of calamitie And ioyned to the same some Tragedies Epitaphes as many as was necessarie for this firste booke All whiche workes are dedicated to the honourable sir Christopher Hatton knight vize Chamberlain Capitaine of the Garde And one of the Quéenes Maiesties priuie Counsaile Written by Thomas Churchyard Gent. 1579. ¶ Imprinted at London by Edward White dwellyng at the little North-doore of S. Paules Churche at the signe of the Gunne To the right honourable my most assured freend sir Christopher Hatton Knight vize chamberlaine to the Queenes Maiestie and one of her highnesse priuie Counsaill Thomas Churchyarde wisheth as greate good Fortune and worldly felicitie as he desireth heauenlie blessyng IF the ground yeld not corne the Tree beare fruite the flower keepe sent and sauour we hold them as waste and in a shorte season forget their former goodnesse So freendes waxyng faint of memorie feble in duetie and negligent of that becomes them fall at length out of fauour and lose the blessed benifite of freendshippe For the penne hedde or hande that hath vsed honeste exercises once liyng idell doeth not onely purchace suspition but also breedeth muche misliking and makes menne forgotten where moste thei would be remembred So right honourable consideryng these causes I ought to be occupied in my accustomed maner of writyng least that tyme and slouth the corrupter and cankerar of good conditions weare me cleane out of credite and compell me to forthinke the idelnesse I haue vsed Yea albeit the matter be but barraine I seeke to bryng forthe yet a duetifull wel willar ought to bee doyng the beste in his power that the best maie be taken and gathered of the good will that still hath a desire to bryng forth some acceptable fruite And truely though my senses are simple to sift and search out suche matter as were meete for the personage to whom this is offered Yet I can not want good store and copie of causes to write of in this crooked age where no one thing is streight and vpright but a noble mynde that neither stoupes to the mutabilitie of fortune nor boweth doune to the wickednesse of this waiward worlde To treate of the whiche vnder correctiō I haue a great desire For the common people haue clapped on sutche newe Natures and are so finely transformed from the olde fashion of goodnesse as a perfite iust man is as hard to finde emong them as a Phenix out of Arabie Yet was there neuer more curiositie of woordes nor lesse constancie in deedes for now is he accoumpted no bodie that can not deceiue a multitude And the more finelier he can behaue hym self the more affection is borne hym so that the plaine meanyng is ouermatched with the connyng cōueiance of muffled mischeef And the outwarde show of simplicitie disceiues the inward iudgement so mutche that the subtell Foxe goes vnspied and the simple Sheepe is led to the slaughter For with artificiall courtezie and double dessembled countenaunce plaine people are carried from them selues and made the bonde slaues of those wolues that priuelie deuoures thē The little Antes ronnes not so faste out of the Moule hill as the fauners with flattrie followes their heeles that thei minde to ouer reache and wrest to their profite And who is so diligent as the deceiuer and so readie to attende waite as the wilie worldlyng VVho first can fishe out mennes maners inclinations and after feede their humours accordyng to their infirmities And in deede these craftie men pleasars haue more mynde of Mammon then of God of vanitie then of vertue For like vices on a stage thei serue in a State and helpe to fill out a bare matter with a bad laughter These are the wiely Spannyels of the worlde that can not be beaten frō the heles of nobilitie These are the turning weather cockes that seldome standeth stil. And these are the cunnyng Clarkes who neuer came in vniuersitie and yet are fine maisters of Art. And who licketh vp the crommes that falleth from the table of good fortune but these whinyng whelpes that priuely can bite and openly can faune For the dissembler getts more by doublenesse then by plaine dealyng more by good lucke then by good maners As some of the Sages affirme that conning creepes alwaies in fauour And blinde affection is the onely father that begettes the children of good chance and brynges the fauoured to prefarment And all the reste are but bastardes of beggarie begotten out of season borne in haste VVhich babes for want of blessyng are become wanderars of this worlde pilgrims of the yearth and blossomes of a blasted tree But the graue and wise holde opinion a man maie as well seeke to clime to the cloudes as come by commoditie till the cause and ground of all goodnesse call hym to the doale and deale hym an almes For neither shifte nor snatchyng will helpe where portions are deuided and lotted out to the pleasure of the giuer In plentie he tombleth that is prefarred to any place or benefite by this celestiall order and appointment of the almightie But some shreude serchers of secretes holde opinion that Sathan is princeps mundi and the mucke of this moulde vndeseruedly falles in their lappes that least is thought worthie of so greate aboundance And the poore are the personages that in the other worlde for their pacience here shal be placed beyonde our common exspectation It maie be moste likely For riche's is a readie instrument and a pleasaunte pipe to make men dance after the deuells Tabber And pouertie is the perfite pathe to lead men to felicitie Yet there nedes no argument to descipher the one from the other For in bothe estates a manne maie doe well but the riche hath better meane to doe good then the poore If those that are fleetyng in the flood of good fortune looke backwarde on the little brookes that feedes the Sea with water and followes the tides by continuall recourse the onely cause of the swellyng of the Seas and pride of the streames For if euery small spryng were stopte eche large Riuer kepte in and all kinde of Fountaines restrained from their course a seconde Sea would bee seen on the lande or the fulnesse of the firste would begin to decline So that the repaire of people to any place procures vaine glorie loftie lookes ambicious myndes and maintaineth mutche pompe and sutche as withdrawe them selues frō wilfull seruitude neither flatter their owne iudgementes to farre nor filles vp the flood to faste There is no more to bee saied but in this worldly Theater euery man plaies one parte or other that either is worthie rebuke or merites
and at the requeste of the Soldiours in Mottrell those prisoners were giuen to Mounsire Bilboe to purchace his fauour because he seemed to bee angrie for the burnyng of the Abbey of S. Poule and the Frier house there Now at the same tyme when this bootie was gotten and brought into Motterell thei made open sale of the preye in the Market place and the soldiours beeyng of the old garrison in the Toune bloshyng at the boldnesse of the Englishemen and disdainyng their well dooyng that were not of their owne nation immediatlie beganne to spoile the bootie Maisters and by force thought to haue reaped the laboures of others that better deserued Whereupon the Scottishemen of Armes assembled in the Markette place and takyng the Englishe mennes parte demaunded wherefore that outrage was committed and saied thei would not suffer suche a follie to goe vnreuenged For the whiche cause and encouraging of good men Mounsire Bilboe tooke order in the matter committyng one of them that made the spoile to passe the shotte of the Hargaboes without mercie notwithstandyng the twoo brethren seeyng that Mounsire Bilbowe fauoured so muche lawe of Armes and dissipline of warre made sute for the pardon of the offendour by whiche sute and courtesie of theirs thei conquered and obtained the loue of al the Frenche soldiours whiche amitie after did thē as greate pleasure as their present pitie was a thyng to be liked For when the Englishemen wente to any seruice the Frenche would striue to see who could bee fauoured moste to goe in their companie Suche force and vertue hath mercie and gentilnesse to leade the hartes of people euery where either toward seruice or any other hazarde or worthie accion that the remembrance of mercie maie reche into and consider of The Englishe beeyng commaunded then to lye in the borders of Picardie of season at their owne discretion and the Countries charge were after sent to Bohayn and putte there in garrison where was a Capitaine called Capitaine Hearyng with a valiaunt bande of Gascoins whiche ioyned with the Englishmen and made many iournies and roades together into the Burgonion Pale spoilyng the Countrie and puttyng the Burgonions sondrie tymes to the worse and endamaged the countrie so muche and so often that the poore people complained to the Emperour of their Burgonion capitaines beyng many in nomber did suffer a fewe of their aduersaries to distresse the whole Frontiers Wherevpon Mounsire de Fammey then capitain of Laundersey seyng the Emperour moued with this incurssion beganne to practise by all the meanes he might to ouerthrowe the Englishe bande either by pollicie or Treason and findyng a guide that alwaies had the leading of the English when thei wēt about a bootie Moūsire de Fammey infected this guide with a fewe Crounes to betraie his companie and in the meane while againste the daie appoincted Defammey had prepared and made readie a thousande horse and diuerse bandes of footemen to entrappe the Englishe soldiours of Bohain The daie of this practise and murther approchyng and all thyng in readinesse the Burgonions to lye in waite and the Englishe to issue there fell a debate and quarrell betwene twoo Englishemen the one called Tuttell and the other Cheaston whiche faulyng out hindered their goyng to horse and detracted tyme in so muche this traitorous guide could not at the hower appoincted bryng foorthe the Englishemen nor answere the expectation of the Burgonions and so the Capitaine of Laundersey mistrustyng the guide had deceiued hym brake sodainly into the countrey and fell to spoile and to followe their moste aduauntage for the season and beeyng many in nomber did muche hurte aboute Gwyes before the small power there might make any head towardes their enemies but in conclusion the Englishe bande though but a fewe of them were at that presente at Bohayn with the helpe of capitain Hearyng a valiant man and leader of the Gascoins sette vpon the Burgonions and at the first encounter ouerthrew so many Burgonions that the residue fledde and made shifte for them selues at whiche on sette and couragious charge maister Nicholas Maelbie was sore hurte through bothe the sides and one Ihon Daie and he beeyng by seruice drawen from their companie in a daungerous place and plight thei tooke greate care how to recouer their people and in the ende to escape the hazarde Ihon Daie carried maister Malbie on his backe till a horsemanne by chaunce happened to come and comforte theim both Mounsire Deffammey by meanes of a blowe that Ned Driuer had giuen him on the hedde peece was faine to kepe his Beauer doune a long season and taried al a whole night in a woodde the meane while A none after this bickeryng the Frenche kyng made a Proclamation that all his Garrisons should repaire vnto Reins in Schampanie at whiche tyme there was a secrete speache of battaile betwene the Emperour and the Frenche kyng for the whiche cause all the bandes and garrisons that might be made with greate expedition repaired to the place appoincted for the fight And beyng assembled together thei encamped and so the Frenche kyng marched towardes Meattes in Lorraine where he vsed suche pollicie and faire speache that he wanne the toune without bloodshed tooke the Duke of Lorraine and sente hym safely into Fraunce And from Meattes the kyng marched vnto Speeres in Almaignie where he had a certaine masse of money And so to Stroseborough the kyng giuyng order that the Englishe horsemen and others that serued as vaunt currours should ride about the countrey and spoile what thei thought good Maister Nicholas Malbie beyng left at sainct Quintaines to bee healed of his hurte as you haue heard had his brother Ihon Malbie in the campe with the Frenche king who ioyned an other gentleman vnto hym called George Liell and thei twoo seekyng aduentures mette twoo gentlemen Almaines well mounted and appointed but the twoo English men charged them and tooke them prisoners and possessed their Borespeares and other weapōs of warre But George Liell hauyng somewhat to amende deliuered his prisonar his Borespeare to hold because he could not hymself amende his thinges and holde his Borespeare at that instaunte the prisoner seyng his aduauntage thruste the Borespeare vnder the armour of George Lyell and so slue hym he giuyng his laste gaspe and wofull crie made maister Ihon Malbie looke behinde hym who findyng his fellowe dedde ran hastely on the Almaine and in that charge slewe hym and so forthwith set vppon the other prisoner with like determination the other Almaine fell on his knees and asked mercie vppon whiche submission he was saued and ledde awaie by Ihon Malbie where other Englishemen attended to heare some newes And hearyng of this straunge cace thei altogether repaired where the twoo dedde bodies were and buried them bothe as the tyme and place did permit The Frenche Kyng marchyng from Stroseborough came to a strong toune called Domuiell whiche the Kyng besieged and the assaulte beyng readie to be giuen the capitaine
should haue a noble death because he should bee killed at a noble mannes handes and with that woorde slue hym whiche was against all ciuill order or lawe of Armes but note what followed The Duke Domale in the ende of this crueltie and encounter charged the Count de Hornes bande with a braue companie of men at Armes and ouerthrewe moste of the Count de Hornes people and defeitted them all or carried them awaie prisoners with hym And in that charge giuen there was a companie of Frenche footemen whiche sette vpon the Spaniardes and Italians in the woodde and draue theim out of the same and possessed the woodde againe to the greate discourage of the other partie whiche Frenchemen entrenched thē selues in the saied woodde as surely as thei could The Englishe and Scottes men beeyng well mounted and desirous of some honour beholdyng what good successe the Duke had founde by the valliaunt charge he had giuen Thei sodainely brake vppon van Rousis Launceknightes with a greate shoute and crie who amased at the noyse and afferde of the charge flang doune their weapons and betoke them to their feete whiche ouersight and feblenesse of spirit in theim was occasion of a greate slaughter For when the Englishe and Scottes horsemen were a wearie of killyng the poore Almaines thei tooke prisoners some one man ten or twelue a peece as was crediblie reported So that in a maner moste of all van Rousis Ensignes were troden vppon or taken from them that carried them The Emperour was somewhat moued at this misfortune and determined the nexte daie in the Mornyng to giue the Frenche kyng battaill The Frenche kyng on that victorie sent a Harralde of Armes with a Trompet to the Emperour declaryng vnto hym that within fower and twentie howres he would meete hym in the feelde For whiche message the Herralde had a good rewarde and the Emperour was glad that so honourable an acte as was offered should ende the quarrell betwene the Frēche kyng and him The fame night beyng well spent and thynges in order for battaill the Emperour caused the Drommes and Trōpettes to sounde and strike a marche to the feelde for that he would by the breake of the daie behold his enemies power The Frenche Kyng beeyng a beaten Soldiour with many daungerous seruices and lookyng into the daunger of an exstreme fight for a wearied armie tooke compassion on his ouerlaboured menne of warre that had lyen in the open feelde all that yere and so without sounde of Dromme or any noyes makyng he retired his Batterie caused his footemen to marche quietly towardes Muttrell whiche thei recouered before the breake of the daie and the kyng with the reste of his armie at midnight priuelie withdrewe hym sel and his power from daunger of the Emperours Campe. Placyng his horsemen in the reergarde to tarrie till the Emperour were readie to marche who had intelligence of the Frenche Kynges priuie practises and departure And thereon gaue commaundemente to followe with all expedition the horsemen hauyng that in charge to see if thei could ouertake any of the Frenche kynges armie especiallie the footemen The Duke Denamores attendyng on certaine straglars in goyng out of a woodde to the plaine happened with his whole bande on Capitaine Stukeleis troupe who all that iourney and at sondrie other seruices had dooen merueilous actes in whiche troupe was the twoo brethren maister Nicholas Malbie and Ihon. And the Duke Denamores was no soner espied but capitain Steukely and his troupe charged hym who fled as fast as he might to recouer some freendes and Ihon Malbie beyng well horssed put the Duke to leape hedge and dicke till he mette with a bande of men at Armes which the Englishmen wer not strong enough to deale with all and so thei retired M. Richard Bingham at this seruice And in that retiryng thei mette with the Emperoure who gaue them greate thankes and rewarded hym that deserued moste praise The Emperour liyng at Renttie fiue or sixe daies caused the breache to be made vp againe and that beyng dooen he commaunded the Duke of Sauoye beyng his Lieutenant generall to make his repaire to Heddyng with his whole Campe. Where he made a verie strong Toune and there was not a noble manne in that Campe but for to giue good example putte once a daie his handes to the Baskette and Spade And euery soldiour had a double paie so long as the woorke was a buildyng where there was in wages a hundreth thousande daiely whereof some were suffered to make roades into Picardie and many bootes gotten emong the reste the Spaniardes had gotten a greate bootie beyng accompanied with the Burgonions in the same attempte and commyng into the Campe with their preye and spoile thei were to passe by the Almaines Campe or quarter whiche thei kepte The Almaines seyng a greate compaie desirous of spoile or glad to make a mutenie fell to take some shepe and what els thei thought good from the Spaniardes the Spaniardes thereon made Alarum The Duke of Sauoye knowyng of this vpprore gallopped with his bande emong the Almaines and tooke diuerse sedicious fellowes and committed them to the Prouost and one manne emong them retained to a noble man of Germanie whiche came to the Duke and did request hym to spare his manne and pardon his offence the Duke aunswered he should suffer for his follie committed the noble manne spake againe in so muche that the Duke was displeased at the suite The other seyng he could finde no fauour tolde the Duke in a rude maner that if he were not a Lieutenaunte generall ouer hym he should not put his man to death the Duke made no more a doe but tooke out a Pistolet that was bente and discharged it vpon the noble man and so slue hym The Almaines and Roiters therevpon armed them selues and put them in order of battaill The Spaniardes Italians and Burgoniōs presently repaired to the Dukes Pauilion The Prince of Orrange and many other noble personages came betwene the twoo powers and made a peace and so the businesse ended whiche at the beginnyng was like to haue come to a greate flaughter and bloodshed Now for the better contentation of the Almaines there was a roade made vnto Muttrell and twentie thousande Almaines appointed to bee at the winnyng of the bootie where was a greate skirmishe prouoked and at that tyme Capitaine Steukeleis horse was killed vnder hym when he gaue a valliaunt charge on his enemies There was a challenge made by the Frenchmen for the breakyng of certaine Launces for their mestresse sakes To aunswere the chalenge went a Portugall a greate companion with the Duke of Sauoye and one capitaine Tother an Albanoies sometyme seruyng in Englande was an other And the thirde was a gentleman called Ambrose Digbie who encountred a valliaunt horseman named Petro Strose and thei brake bothe the one vpon the other Ambrose Digbies horse was somewhat strong hedded and bare his Maister awaie into the Frenche troupe where the
maner marueile at the happe and manlinesse of our people I will firste and formoste declare vnto you a victorie gotten against the Count de Ringraue albeit it falles not in order of the whole discourse a man of greate honour and no little courage and conducte Who gouerned his Campe and regiment with as good pollicie and knowledge as any manne liuyng in his daies and place of seruice It fell out after the Frenche were knit in vnion and that bothe the Religions were bente against vs as in causes of dominion is alwaies to be looked for and so determinyng to laye siege to Newe Hauen with all the power thei could make Thei sent this noble Count Ryngraue to take a certaine village not farre from the Forte in whiche village did encampe the whole regiment of the Ryngraue when he had with some difficultie possessed it The Earle of Warwicke Lorde Lieutenaunt for the Queenes Maiestie beyng carefull of his charge and watchfull to preuente mischeef Sent out at Midnight Capitaine Reade and some other bandes to holde the enemie some plaie and bidde them the basse and so in skirmishe as the season and occasion would serue thei droue out a peece of the night receiuyng little harme and doyng all the hurte thei could deuise But my Lorde Lieutenaunt beholdyng the boldnesse of the Ryngraue and seyng how nere he sought to nestell hym self to Newe Hauen with suche a power as peraduenture might haue troubled the whole toune My Lorde issued and went to the Forte whiche stoode a good distaunce from the Hauen And after my Lorde had a while digested this businesse and had well foreseen what might followe if the enemie wer suffered like a strong hedded horse to take the bridell in his teeth my Lorde called Capitaine Reade before hym and tolde hym that the enemie must bee remoued For by Gods will ê™ he as it is my Lordes earnest woorde if the Ryngraue lodge so nere my charge the one of vs bothe shall take little reste and so my Lorde concluded and fully determined that Capitaine Read should haue the leadyng of a thousande men and goe giue a charge on the enemie To whiche commaundement Capitaine Read willyngly obeyed wherevppon Capitaine Souche Capitaine Ward Capitaine Gam Capitaine Somersettes Lieutenaunte Capitaine Apleyarde Capitaine Parkinson Capitaine Anttwesill Capitaine Wilfforde and all their bandes were appoincted to followe Capitaine Reades order and direction in as duetifull maner as my Lorde hym self had had the leadyng of these bandes and officers Now it behoued Capitaine Reade to looke well aboute hym and to sette doune a course and order to keepe firmelie and aduisedlie because he had not to deale with men of small value nor people that before tyme had been ignoraunte of the seruice in the feelde Wherefore he sorted his soldiours and placed them in the moste assured and aptest maner for the accomplishyng of suche an enterprise deuided theim into that order that one might aunswere an other and the maine battaill should giue releef to the whole companie But here is to bee noted that the enemies were thought verie strong and to the nomber of fiue or sixe thousande soldiours Frenche and Almaines who looked for some encouÌ„ter and were in battaill closely sette and knitte together at the entrie of the village hauyng certaine louse shott without the toune and some horsemen withall redy to giue a charge and take what aduauntage might be gotten Fearyng little that our people would haue ventered on their battaill and doubtyng nothyng the victorie if so small a power as ours durst putte in hazarde the fight or offer to giue the repulse Well in this daungerous and doubtfull peece of seruice Capitaine Reade beeyng resolued to trie the vttermoste of Fortune and followe my Lordes will and pleasure who behelde all the exploite With as greate expedition as could be deuised he sette Capitaine Souche Capitaine Gam Capitaine Parkinson and Capitaine Warde menne of good seruice and readie to aduenture for renowme as a wyng on the lefte hande of his battaill to plie the enemie with shotte and in the battaill and as occasion required he placed Capitaine Apleyard Capitaine Anttwesill and Capitaine Wilford For to aunswere his hope with their manhood and diligence and doe that was conuenient in suche a hotte and couragious encounter Now Capitaine Souche and his companie made suche haste to the seruice this beeyng at sixe a clocke in the Mornyng and had trotted so faste towardes the enemies that thei were likelie to haue been out of breathe and in greate perill had thei not been succoured with the foresight and dexteritie of Capitaine Read. For he beholdyng the swiftenesse of the wing and the necessitie of the cause beganne sodainly to mende his wonted marche and helde a good pace and trotte towardes the village hauyng euer an eye and regarde to bryng on his people whiche was the battaill alwaies in good order and breath But this haste and bolde attempte was no soner offered but the enemie thought to preuent it and so with suche horsmenne as thei had at hande thei charged our footemen who were so strongly garded with Pikes that the horsemennes labour was loste and some of them slaine emong the Pikes thei were so well ioyned and clasped together By this tyme went of all the small shotte of the enemies battaill and as God would our menne were come so nere that thei were crept vnder the daunger of the hargaboze by meane of a smother and smoke that a greate while before the enemies shot and ours had made For Capitaine Read espiyng that aduauntage badd marche apace to come to the ioynyng so that through this occasion the enemies shott did little or no hurte at all At this instaunt were our people euen at the verie entrie of the village and a Frenche gentleman as seemed beholdyng Capitaine Read the cheef leader of our battaill marchyng before the reste leuied his peece at hym myndyng to haue shotte but by trauesyng of grounde Capitaine Reade staied the Frenche mannes hande who stepte straight waie behinde a little waule and at the enteryng into the Toune discharged his peecefull at the breast of Capitaine Reade the peece beeyng charged with twoo bullettes but albeeit it was so nere that the fire flewe in his face yet he was so well armed that the shotte but rente and broke his Armour and did hym no further hurte Wherevppon Capitaine Reade steppes to the Frencheman and so thrust hym through with a Halbert an other gentleman standyng nere this offered to bee taken prisoner but Capitaine Read myndyng to doe that he came for followed his enterprise and charged on the battaill of the enemie that stoode as stiffe as a waule till our men laied their Pikes lustely vppon theim and by verie fine force and pushe of the Picke put them backe and caused theÌ„ to wheele aboute In whiche conflicte sixe hundreth were slaine and nine score and three persones were taken and brought awaie The victorie was followed a small season with as
muche manhode as could be shewed and the enemie driuen out of the village But for the auoydyng of suche daūger as ouer farre marchyng into a straunge Countrey as might haue brought our menne vnto Capitaine Read with fame and victorie retired in verie good order and maner of the feelde Now I praie you was not this a peece of seruice worthy the honoring and because many at home that neuer saw seruice abrode sittyng on soft cushons and feles no hard fortune doeth descāt of euery mans doyng yet neither knowes plainsong nor vnderstandeth measure I haue thought good to sette out plainly sutche a peece of seruice put in proofe at newe Hauen emong the reste of seruices as the ignoraunte babler shal be a shamed to speake againste and the manne of knowledge shall honour and hold in reputation whē he shall heare what trothe hath reported After Capitaine Rede and his valliant companions capitains and soldiours had giuē the Ringraues companie an ouerthrowe there befell a seconde and a third daies seruice sutche and so noblie maintained and followed as seldome hath been seen in any place of the worlde And for the better vnderstandyng of the same and in praise of our Englishe nation I will rehearse it vnto you orderly as it was or at the least wise as well as I cā The Frenche stomackyng the ouerthrowe lately spoken of and the Ringraue seekyng a reuenge drewe a draught to traine our men out of the toune whiche were readie enough either for skimishe or any other maner of enterprise and to this seruice on the sodaine wente out one maister Charles Leighton as leader of all our shot in the feeld that daie this Charles was Sir Thomas Leightons brother then there and now gouernour of Garnesey on whose good seruice I could speake in like maner But now to my former matter The Frenche side with as greate a brauerie and order of warre as might be came lustellie to prouoke the skirmishe hauyng certaine bandes of horse menne for their garde and greate aduauntage And our Englishe Soldiours desirous to encounter ranne in vpon their enemies so feercely and with suche a couragious charge that nothyng but smoke of shotte and flamyng fire was seen betweene the twoo powers And alwaies maister Charles Leighton who was a moste notable Soldiour kepte his companie in so warlike an order that the horse men durst not charge them albeeit thei made many an offer and ranne in vpon our men sondorie tymes but thei came so sparkled abroade and so daungerously without fastnesse of troupe and suretie of force that our armed Pikes had many of them at their pleasure And our shotte made greate hauocke emong their cheefest Soldiours But the maner of this fight was so Soldiourly handeled that those of the Frenche side beyng maisters of that arte were learned a Schoole poinct of skill and tooke out a lesson worthie the notyng For those whiche thei tooke for ignorant schollars taught a newe kinde of conuyng and shewed an Artificiall poincte of pollecie and practice of warre Whiche was sometymes to retire vpon fight to drawe the Frenche forwarde and there on to charge with the Pike in bothe the handes enterlarded with shotte sworde and Targette and came so gallauntly to the pushe of the Pike and blowe of the sworde a volley of Hargaboze shotte of before that the Frenche and Almains thought that our meinie had been rather dauncyng the Almaine Haye then trauessyng the grounde to forsake the feelde and retire into the Toune and albeeit it was in earnest for life and honour our Soldiours did striue yet thei made it but a sporte it was so lustely maintained and so noblie handeled In the beginnyng of this skirmiche and when the seruice grewe somwhat hotte and furious at whiche tyme diuers stoute gentlemen were come to the feelde sir Humfrey Gilbart was hurte with the shotte of a Hargaboze There were at this seruice sondrie of our gentlemen as maister Thomas Gorge now of the priuie Chamber maister Ihon Horssey maister Ihon Souch and to bee shorte diuers of good callyng and reputation whiche I must omitte for that an other daies ▪ seruice muste be remembred whche was vpon a Saterdaie not long after this Yea sutche a daies seruice it was as who so euer notes it well shall finde matter enough to talke or write of a long season the maner whereof a litle shall bee touched because suche valliauncie shall remaine as a spectacle to looke into while the siege of newe Hauen can be remembred Now as you haue vnderstoode the Frenche and Almaines desirous of honour and to bryng to passe that thei came for laied an ambushe of horsemen and footemen priuily for their purpose And so a fewe of theim aboute Dinner tyme approched a trenche that was fortified with barrelles because the grounde serued for no other fortification on the Peeble and there our menne withstoode theim to the vttermoste and issued out of the same trenche diuers tymes with the force thei had whiche was but small The enemie seeyng the Trenche not sufficiently manned waxed more bolder then thei were wont and so meant to driue our small power into the toune whiche was from the newe deuised Trenche a good distaunce and so determinyng and disbandyng certaine shotte and other apt Soldiours for sutche an exploite thei gallauntly came forwardes and in a little season yet with somwhat adoe thei enioyed the Trenche forcyng our men to retire to their better aduanntage and more suretie My Lorde of Warwicke beholdyng this broile and bold attempte not meanyng that our menne should either lose honour or grounde beganne to bee somewhat moued in minde and for that he would beard the enemie and knowe what his freendes and those good Soldiours vnder his charge would doe He called Capitaine Horssey now sir Edward Horssey Knight and Capitaine of the I le of Wight and asked his aduice in this matter who aunswered my Lorde that he and his power with the helpe and aide of maister Francis Somersettes bande would driue the Frenche out of the Trenches and that right soone if thei that issued out of the toune followed good direction and order My Lorde Lieutenant agréed to this deuice And so capitaine Horssey had the whole charge of this seruice who marched towardes the trenches with great courage and hope of victorie The enemie bothe at hande and farre of in the vewe of this attempte framed themselues to defende and resiste that came to defeite them and so on bothe the sides a hotte peece of seruice was put in proofe and no partie was well that might any waie occupie weapon in that present action But alwaie the Frenche side with their forces whiche were double or treble our nomber sought aduauntage how to giue a charge on our menne with little losse whiche Capitaine Horssey had a good eye vnto and sought to preuente For euen as the enemie came lustely on to doe mischeef by horsemen so our menne mette them a foote as stoutly and
other men haue written of those causes Now I make a little recitall of a seruice beeyng dooen betweene sainct Dennis and Parris where the Conestable of Fraunce was slaine in whose companie was maister Edward Barkley attendyng on Mounsire Brizak This battaill was attempted and fought by the power of the king againste the Prince of Conde whose force laye scattered a broade in the countrey aboute Parris and yet the nomber of xviij hundred horsemen and three thousande footemen wer lefte at saincte Dennis Whiche hearyng of the kynges power marched towardes them issued out of the Toune and beganne the skirmishe moste daungerously and with suche courage as seldome hath been seen or redde of consideryng their power was so small and the Parrisians were suche a multitude and to tell the trothe it seemed that the Prince of Condes force was but a handfull in comparison of the contrary side And it seemed a greate madnesse or mockerie for the small nomber to encounter with the greate and huge companie But necessitie that either redoubleth the strength of menne or dauntes the hartes of cowardes had so plucked vp the hartes of this little nomber that thei imagined thei rather sought againste children then champions And as it proued this little troupe presupposed that in a multitude is many opions and many that would rather bee at home in suretie then abroad in daunger whiche opinion and desire of of the weaker sorte breedes oftentymes a confusion and vtter mischeef emong a greate multitude Well albeit the hazard was marueilous and the enterprise paste all the exspectation of man yet the Prince of Condeis power did sette a good face on the matter and plied the kynges force with shotte and polliticke deuises of warre Yea in suche sorte and with suche manhoode at euery encounter some paied the beste blood in their bodies and some were forced to giue a lustie charge to staye and amuse the whole battaill And charge vpon charge was giuen on bothe sides moste noblie with moste assured hope of victorie And the fight beeyng begonne nere Saincte Dennies endured from the winde-milles almoste to the suburbes of Parris But alwaies as the multitude did ouerlaye the little bande the small companies courage did encrease and their myndes were become so greate that thei thought the feelde to small and the daie to short to shewe the valliauncie of their hartes And in this their manly disposition thei gatte grounde at euery charge thei gaue And in fine beeyng furiously bente compelled by greate Fortune and daungerous seruice the kynges side to swaie a little about and takyng the aduauntage offered thei charged a bande of horsemen where thei thought the Conestable of Fraunce stoode in troupe and hitte so full vpon the marke thei shotte at that the noble Mounsire Memorancie was slaine at the firste stroke by the handes of one called capitaine Steward a Scottishe gentleman Thus the Conestables death and others of good credite beeyng knowne and published emong the Parrisiens that came with hym to the feelde Thei fled as faste as thei could and so the whole armie was discouraged and as thei might euery man made shift for hym self But yet some order was kept emong them or els a great slaughter had been made and yet in trothe the Prince of Condeis side were waxt so a wearie that thei but looked for a tyme to take breathe in and refreshe their ouerlaboured horses Here maie the worlde beholde what good Fortune the forward myndes of men maie attaine vnto and what victorie and conquest is compassed by a constaunt determination and a resolute seruice Whiche who that lookes into and regardes throughly shall euer haue a prosperous successe For in all battailes and seruices where good Capitaines are the leaders the valliauncie of menne commonly goes awaie with the garlande and all worldly glorie and triumphes attendes and waites on the worthinesse of mennes courages as a thyng incident to those that dare aduenture by vallue to striue for good fame The Kyng notwithstandyng this ouerthrowe whiche might not a little moue his Maiestie raised a greate Armie after this when Sharters was besieged by the prince of Conde and marched thetherwardes with a princely power where was greate seruice and many a man slaine before the siege was raised But for that but a fewe of any greate name loste their liues there I write little of the particulars and yet if I liste to delate there is matter enough lefte to enlarge my volume of the same seruice Maister Edward Barkly was on the kynges side in like sort at this seruice and at the reste of the Frenche warres that followes on the Prince of Condies side Capitaine Barkley went after with the Prince of Conde and was at the siege of sainct Ihon Dangill At the siege of Poictiers At the siege of Angulem At the skirmishe of Lodwyne At the skirmishe of Lasmirie At the skirmishe of Pompero in whiche skirmishes many greate conflictes were giuen and many thousandes were slaine And a nomber of greate aduentures were to bee seen the Chronicle of Fraunce settes theim foorthe at the full For whiche cause I leaue out muche of the matter And after Capitaine Barkley had been at all these seruices afore named he was with the Prince at the battaill of Iernake where there was a greate fight and a hotte encounter long in ballaunce hangyng betweene hope and doubte But to conclude as the Frenche writers and trothe dooeth testifie The Kyng had the vpper hande and the Prince of Conde was slaine and his whole force driuen backe In whiche fight and blouddie battaill thousandes were discomfited on bothe the sides But the grace of good Fortune and the glorie of that daie wente awaie with the Kyng that longe had sought victorie and founde but harde chaunce till that present howre Some doe excuse the Princes misfortune with an ouersight of those that were aboute hym But in Gods blessed bosome the bowels of those broiles and businesse is shrined and lyes faste locked from the lookes and iudgement of man. Now I mynde to touche somewhat the seruices that were by Sea since we that are a liue can remember the reporte of the same and yet I maie not expresse at large any greate thyng thereof because I would not be tedious to the reader nor would not write more then is or maie bee well liked â–ª For that I searche no bookes nor robbe no one Aucthour of his studie and laboure I runne but to my owne vewe and reache of reason or followe the true report of those that I knewe will not fable with the worlde in matter of trothe and credite In the raigne of that moste redoubted and perelesse Prince Kyng Henry the eight whose famous actes can not bee to muche spoken of There was a noble and terrible fight on the Sea betweene the Frenche Galleis whiche were nineteene in nomber and twoo Foistes and our shippes whiche were not many The Kyng hauyng sente to Laundersey sir Ihon Walloppe and a
sufficient power to annoye that Toune and for other greate causes then mouyng his Maiestie prepared anone after a small Nauie to moleste his enemies makyng Admirall of that fleete the noble Lorde Lyle after Duke of Northumberlande and with hym was sent the Lorde Clinton now Erle of Lincolne sir George Caro sir Peter Caro sir Gawine Caro sir Robert Stafforde maister Clement Parstons maister Willyam Winter now knight maister Biston a valliant Capitaine with whom was maister Biston the Pensioner that now is a liue And all these gentlemen vnder the leadyng of the Lorde Lyle encountred the Galleis in moste braueste and warrlike sorte vppon the Seas and fought with them halfe a daie daungerously and in greate perill our Shippes hauyng a greate disaduauntage because the porte holes were not so lowe as reason required by whiche meane our Shippes might not come to dooe the harme that was intended Notwithstandyng the greate Ordinaunce plaied on the enemie all the while and our gentlemen behaued them selues as noblie as might bee deuised not in no little hazard nor without greate courage For this fight was so sore and daungerous that euery mannes vallue and stoutnesse might be seen There was no hole nor caue for the cowarde to hide his hedde in For the Cannon could fetche theim vp that would creepe in the Cooke roume and sette them a woorke that would sitte doune and doe little good The barres and chaines of Iron flewe about so thicke and the smoke and smother of the pouder was so greate that one might scarce see an other for fume flame and the furie of the shotte And to bee plaine because I haue seen the like I take it to bee the moste terrible and cruell fight that can bee named or expressed with penne For it is rather if it bee rightly painted out a helle then any other thyng it can bee compared vnto But how so euer it is or was at that present tyme our fleete abode the brunte thereof and tried it out to the vttermoste as the Frenche theim selues did afterward reporte and affirme And so bothe the sides beeyng wearied with roaryng of Cannons and murtheryng of menne were driuen at the length to leaue of and saile seuerall waies but the Frēche had the worste and were glad to departe to their losse and mischeef But in the necke of this the Frenche Nauie came gallauntly to Portchmouthe and in the vewe of Kyng Henry thei made a stoute showe and signe of some shrewde intent Againste the whiche Nauie went out sir George Caro in a noble vessell and with a greate nomber of valliaunt gentlemenne but by mischaunce and ouersight of some reachlesse persones the Shippe and all was caste awaie and drouned full before the vewe and face of Kyng Henry the eight And yet our other Shippes made out and sette so lustely vppon the Frenche fleete that thei made them retourne homeward to their small contentatiō so that little or nothyng was doen worthie the notyng a good tyme after An other seruice there was where maister Clementte Parston and Capitaine Wolffe was in Kyng Edwardes daies where thei had a Galley in chace and ouercame the same Galley For maister Parston brought it awaie and had in signe of that victorie a Iewell thereof made in maner like a Snake of golde In Queene Maries raigne the Lorde Admirall that now is with sir Willyam Woodhouse sir Thomas Cotton sir Willyam Winter maister Gonstone maister Holstocke maister Morley Sir Richard Brooke Capitaine Poole a knight of the Rodes as sir Richard Brooke was sir Richard Winkfeeld sir Robert Conestable that now is Maister Willyam Gorge and Maister George Biston bothe Pentioners went to the burnyng of Conkquette and did there a greate exploite and made muche spoile and hauocke in that countrey and retiryng to our Shippes tooke good order for the saffetie of our menne But the Almaines beyng greedie of gaine and ouercome with wine could not bee brought a Shipboarde in no due season and so through their owne follie and lewde behauioure thei were entrapped and ouerthrowne and yet was there as greate regarde for their preseruation as might bee but their reatchlesse maner was suche that no deuise could recouer them and so thei perished When our people did prospere and came awaie with honour and commoditie From Concquet there was appoincted seuen Sailes of Shippes to goe to my Lorde of Sussex then Lorde Deputie of Irelande The names of whiche Shippes followeth the Hue Willoughbie in whiche was sir Thomas Cotton Admirall for that seruice The Gearfaucon in whiche was maister Tornar of the Garde The Newbarke where was Southerwicke of Douer The Saker at the commaundement of M. Peter Killegrey The Barcke Caree vnder the charge of M. Gregorie Carie. The Ihon of Plimmouthe in the whiche was maister Richard Bingham And all these attended my Lorde of Sussex at Daukkith who noblie sett forwarde and bornte Kynteer Iames Mackono beeyng in the countrey and raized twoo of Mackonoes cheef Castles tooke diuers of thei Galleis and executed many of their mē My Lorde also burnt the I le of Butte the I le of Combra and the I le of Amilashe with diuers other places in that iourney And at this seruice was sir Willyam Fitz Willyams maister George Delues Capitaine Colliar maister Thomas Masterson Capitaine Warren Capitaine Peers sir George Stanley maister Edward Stāley who was there made knight And a nomber of other lustie gentlemen that presently I make no mention of Sir Willyam Winter did a greate peece of seruice with other Englishe gentlemen and Soldiours at a place called Alderneye For the Frenche to the nomber of mene hundred had taken that Ilande and were in the Castell in a marueilous triumphe But sir Willyam Winter hauyng but fower hundreth soldiours and Marriners whiche Marriners who so markes shall see greate worthinesse in landed in Alderneye with his small companie and handeled the Frenche so hardly that he draue them into the Castell and would not leaue theim till he had dispatched the Ilande of theim And so in his countreys honour retourned into Englande againe There was an other peece of seruice by Sea when Mounsire Determes loste a battaill by Grauelin and as I dooe remember maister Nicholas Gorge was at this seruice But be there who might it happened well on Mounsire Degmondes side that the shotte of our Shippes had any meane to annoy his enemies For euen as at Mosseborough feelde our Galleye did greate seruice that flancked a long the Scottes Campe and slue many stoute menne So our shippes at this battaill made suche waie emong the French that the Borgonions gatte good passege by that bargaine and went awaie with victorie In the raigne of our Soueraigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth there was sente the Hope the Lyon the Harte the Swallowe and the Phenix verie goodly Shippes to newe Hauen sir Willyam Woodhous beyng Admirall who fallyng sicke at Deepe wente home againe with maister Holstocke And then remained maister George Biston Admirall hauyng but three
saile in his coÌ„panie But he proceaded onward and houered vp and doune the coast a certain space till at length commyng before the Castell of Cane Mongomrie hauyng espied the Shippes that Capitaine Biston brought before the Toune of Cane whiche was besieged by the enemies of Count Mongomries beganne to prepare hym self and all his people to goe a Shippe boarde and so came from Cane and passed to Newe Hauen by Capitaine Bistons meanes giuyng hym greate thankes for his commyng to Cane and for seruyng the Counties tourne in that extremitie The Counte had brought with hym from Cane twelue hundred soldiours and other thynges necessarie for his furniture And Capitaine Biston departyng from hym made saile into Englande and receiued sir Adriane Poinynges and maister Cutbart Vaughan with twoo thousande Soldiours and there on sailed backe againe to Newe Hauen and landed them there at their owne willes and pleasure After the siege of Newe Hauen the Count Mongomrie gathered a greate Nauie and wente out of Englande in hope to succour Rotchell that was strongly besieged and enteryng in at the hauens mouthe of Rotchell a Cannon shotte passed through the Shippe the Count was in hym self So vpon that or other causes vnknowne to many in his companie he retourned and lefte Rotchell in greate daunger Whiche toune notwithstandyng againste all hope or expectation of manne kepte it self in suretie and did suche wonderfull thynges duryng the siege thereof as to this daie and to the worldes ende is and wil be spoken of For emong all the sieges that euer wee haue heard of there is not one comparable to the siege of Rotchell Albeeit Haddyngton Harlam and Malta are monumentes and patrons to shew that manhoode maie woorke maruailes and constancie ioyned with courage is not easely conquered As Rotchell and these places before mention of doeth witnesse and shall whiles we are men be daiely remembred In that season whiles the Count Mongomrie was aboute to succoure Rotchell Bell Ilande was assaulted and verie valliaunly wonne with a fewe menne one of sir Willyam Winters brethren beeyng the cheef leader to that seruice In whiche seruice was many a hotte skirmishe and many more matters worthie memorie putte in practise wherein manhoode and diligence of manne was throughlie tried And the Englishe nation did shewe their accustomed courage in in suche maner and sort that the Frenche which thought to keepe Bell Ilande were forced to leaue it and seeke their beste waie to conueigh theim selues from daunger albeeit thei defended the saied Ilande as long as thei might Now hauyng further causes to treate of and meanyng no more to wearie the readers with many wordes or warre either of Sea seruice or Landes bloodie broiles I mynde to expresse and set forthe at large how Soldiours were made of and honoured in tymes paste and what prerogatiue thei had aboue other people And to declare how Princes helde them in admiration and gaue theim liberties titles and dignities farre beyonde the reste of any that liued vnder their lawes and obedience And this by the waie is to be thought that all my former discourse and rehearsall of warres attended to no other purpose and effecte but for the aduauncement of Soldiours and to be as it were a foile to sette forthe the matter I presently mynde to publishe out For now I will in a maner shewe how Gentilitie beganne and where and in what sorte honour was first gotten and maintained whiche argumente as I hope shall not onely contente the wise and wel learned but also please euery degree and make the simple sorte plucke vp their courages and imitate by some honest exercises the liues of noble Soldiours I truste I neede not in this readie and ripe age wherein good writers greate learnyng and studious iudgementes doeth florishe rehearse by particulars euery parcell and poincte that belongeth to a Soldiours profession Nor that you looke I should recite when and where the Romaines Lacedemonians Athenians and other nations did preferre and extoll menne of Marshall myndes and noble courages For their bookes and Commentaries and the innumerable Libraries of greate antiquitie are the verie recordes of my discourse and remaine as mirrours for you to looke in And shall proue a thousande partes more in the comendation of Soldiours then either my penne or tongue by sufficiente cuÌ„nyng hath power to expresse For it can not be that from a little gutte or Channell of water you should looke for so greate a flood as from a multitude of springes froÌ„ whence mightie Riuers takes originall and recourse And so I sende you to the Welspryng of â—â—â—â—â—edge I meane the auncient Fathers woorkes to fetche true intelligence of the thynges I make mention of touchyng the worthie reputation of a good Soldiour and the antiquitie of his credite triumphe and glorie Firste looke in the sacred Scriptures and searche from the death of Abell commyng doune orderly to the birthe of Christe And see whether Souldiours were made of or no. And doubtlesse you shall finde thei were not onely embraced and maintained but like wise thei are of a long continuance and credite As al the Bible before Ihon the Baptistes time declareth And Christe hym self in a sorte did vtter when he saied he had not founde suche faithe in Israell as he sawe in a Senturion Yea and in the Apostles Actes there is a speciall poinct to bee noted Deuoute Soldiours were sente to Symon Tanners house to finde out Peter Well now I commit you to the Scripture and I will followe prophane histories and beginne at the verie Infidelles a scorne for a Christian to bee taught by whiche are no small nomber nor of no little continuaunce people alwaies brought vp in war and Princes of greate fame power and aucthoritie Yea conquerours of the whole worlde and kynges to whom all people did stoupe and doe homage These Paganes or as we maie tearme them loste shepe to whom the greate Shepherd would not bee knowne and yet emong theim tormented and crucified did make suche lawes and orders for Soldiours as the Turke to this daie obserueth and holdeth in greate reuerence Regard but the liberties and aucthoritie of the Ienessaries and that shall manifestlie proue that menne of warre are had in greate admiration But because you shall haue the more beleef to the matter read the life of Alexander the Greate The Commentaries of Iulius Caesar and the noble actes and victories of a nomber of other notable Princes And then assuredlie you shal be perswaded that the renowme of Soldiours hath reached and spread as farre as fame can flie or good reporte could haue passage I praie you can any manne deny but it springeth of a greate courage and zeale to the Common wealthe when a man forsaketh the pleasure of life to followe the painfulnesse of warre and daunger of death and refuseth no toile nor trauaill to purchase credite and attaine vnto knowledge Yea some suche wee reade of as Marcus Cursius and Musius Sceuola that refused no
order against the commendation of the sword and the Sworde beyng disgraced by a balde blotte of a scuruie Goose quill lyes in a broken rustie scabberd and so takes a Canker whiche eates awaie the edge and is in a maner loste for lacke of good lookyng to and consideration of a painfull Cutlare And the Penne as many people are perswaded is like the Pensell of a Painter alwaies readie to sette out sondrie colours and sometime more apt to make a blurre then giue a good shape and proportion to any inuention or deuise that proceades of a plaine meanyng And as all Penselles are as well occupied of a bonglyng Painter as a cunnyng woorke manne So the scriblyng Penne is euer woorkyng of some subteltie more for the benefite of the writer then commonlie for the profite or pleasure of the reader yea and the Penne is waxt so fine and can shewe suche a florishe that a maister of Fence though he plaied with a twoo hande Sworde might bee put to a foule foile where the Penne is in place and is guided by a sleight hande and a shrewde hedde But vnder correction if a man maie bee plaine the Pen and the Sworde can neuer agree because the Penne standes in suche feare of the Sworde it would not come vnder the blowe of the blade and the Sworde is in suche doubte to bee moiled with ynke by the dashe of a Penne that it loues not to come where the Penne maie annoye it And so the dissention and quarrell betweene the Penne and the Sworde is neuer like to bee taken vp the harmes are so greate that growes on their amitie and meetyng and the aduauntage of them bothe is so muche when thei bee kept a sonder For the sworde is beste and in his moste brauerie when it is shinyng in the feelde where blood maie bee shedde and honour maie bee wonne And the Penne is in cheefest pōpe when it lyes lurkyng in the toune where pence maie be purchased and peace and quietnesse maie doe what it pleaseth And the Penne is so glad to reste in the Pennar till profite calles hym out that he can not abide the hindrers of his commoditie nor the disquieter of his ease Whiche commeth by warres and procedeth from the Sworde when the Drom and the Trompet puttes the Penne out of credite Now to speake roundly to the reason maie bee alledged in the Pennes behalfe and praises of those haue the vse of the same it can not bee denied but the Penne maie bothe perswade warre and purchace peace And those that here at home maintaine good Lawes see iustice ministered vphold the publike state Plead controuersies at the barre studie to vnfolde doubtes Labour at their booke to bee profitable mēbers and striue daiely to excell in learnyng and quiete the quarellous people of their countrey Suche I saie that with Penor tonge aduaunceth vertue and ouerthrowes vice are meete to bee honoured deserueth greate lande and ought to goe in the rancke and place of commendation and dignitie For there is but fower sortes of true Nobilitie or Gentlemenne The firste is Gouernours by whom all states and Kyngdomes are guided brought to knowe order and made possesse in quietnesse the gooddes that either good Fortune or sweate of browes hath gotten The seconde are Soldiours whose venter and valliance hath been greate seruice and labour not little and daiely defended with the hazarde of their liues the libertie of their Countrey The thirde are vpright and learned Lawyers that looketh more to the matter thei haue in hande then the money thei receiue And are neuer idell in dooyng their duetie and studiyng for the quietnesse of matters in controuersie The fowerth are Marchauntes that sailes forrain countreys and brynges home commodities and after greate hazardes abroad doe vtter their ware with regard of consciēce and profite to the publike estate And as from the beginnyng gouernours and rulers wer ordeined by God and the reste of gentilitie came in and did followe as reason required and desarte did commaunde So auncient birth and blood ioyned with good conditions is a thyng muche to bee honoured and esteemed and beautifies not onely the noble race but brynges likewise a treable beatitude to the persone so verteouslie bent and noblie borne And as for the soldiours and their originall of honours titles and callyng the Romains whiche were the Fathers of all Marshall affaires and conquerours of the worlde haue so muche spoken of and praised that no manne can deny but thei are the men of greatest antiquitie and people that princes firste prefarred and gaue stipendes vnto Yea and the cheefest conquerours that euer were before our daies had a greate glorie them selues to bee called Soldiours and Noble Capitaines For thei thought none so worthie as the soldiour nor none so mete to compare them selues vnto as the man that stoode on his honour and would neither stoupe to no kinde of slauerie nor yeelde to no villanous action But in verie deede to speake of euery one in their order there is none so muche to bee feared loued and honoured as the rulers and leaders of the common people For the peaceable Gouernoure and suche as are experimented in worldlie pollicies knowes how to make warre and how to auoide troubles and as thei are lothe to fall from reste and wealthe to ruffelyng warre and wickednesse that breedes bloodshed and want So thei can breake the bandes of peace and set menne out to the feelde when causes commaundes them and oportunitie doeth serue But since that my purpose is but to treate of Soldiours alone and that I lacke skill to set forthe the reste I will retourne to my firste discourse and intent and leaue the wise to cōsider what good matter maie be saied in the thyng I leaue of The Soldioure because his life is in Ballunce and his death is at the dore hath so many mischeeues to passe and so fewe meanes to escape daunger that he is compelled to bee honest and be ready to make an accompt euery hower of the daie For as the Cannon maie call hym before he be a ware or the pollicie of the enemie maie cutte of his yeres So is he assured that the potte whiche goeth often to the water commes home with a knocke or at lengthe is passhed all in peeces Through whiche accidentes or crosse chances he is held so harde and curbed so shorte if any feare of God bee in his breast that he hath no scope to runne at riot in nor plaie the partes of a wanton or prodigall soonne Albeeit some holde opinion that Soldiours be giuen to spoile and offered to insolente life by a nomber of inconueniences yet maie thei so well be occupied in warre that thei maie bee occasion of greate good and a greate hynderer of many harmes For when houses are readie to be burnt impotente persones poore women and children readie to bee slaine thei maie saue what the liste and preserue an infinite nomber of thynges that a man at home can doe
either followe their steppes or goe the course his owne light should leade hym And beeyng wearied with worldely affaires though yong of yeres sought sonderie waies to ease the burthen of his breaste bothe by pollicie and causes that happe hazarde might bryng to good perfection and so bendyng his studie and spirites aboute some daungerous aduenture and noble attempte He firste made a shewe as though he would haue besieged Antwarpp bryngyng a power on the spurre to amasse the worlde and in that ronnyng campe amused their wittes that sawe but into the outwarde shewes of ordinarie causes ▪ and therewith all when the brauado was made towardes Antwarppe on whiche toune the whole State depended and some of the Prince of Parmas men wente and ventered verie farre yet siue of Englishe and others a nomber scarce worthie hearyng The Prince of Parma retired and immediately vppon good direction and order besieged Mastricke a marueilous strong Toune subiect to no euill but misfortune or mannes pollicie Whiche Toune shewed it self so well and worthely that I must needes without any greate intelligence of euery particuler seruices write of the notorious matters that fell out duryng the tyme of the siege And for that the noble myndes and greate courages of menne delightes in doyng greate thynges and hearyng of mightie matters It is reason in aunsweryng their hopes and iudgementes to delate a little and make a long discourse of these Marciall affaires For suche a noble behauiour of Soldiours on bothe sides maie not bee forgotten nor bee left bare and naked from the roebes of renoume and remembraunce of the worlde The Spanyardes and others what soeuer that serued the Prince of Parma made a stoute and gallante approche to the Toune of Mastricke In whiche attempte thei of the Toune were tried and founde bothe able to resiste and willyng to defende Their scirmouches and maner of warre did to the vttermoste shewe there was no faintnesse of hart nor lacke of force to withstande a stoute enemie For euery Minute of an an howre thei offered as muche brauerie and bolde courage as any people that euer were in our daies did abide the siege set Haddyngton aparte Well now the Spanyardes placed the Campe in good order the Countrey neere about in subiection the Munition ready and all necessaries for a siege prouided for the Batterie was planted and euery Trenche garded and looked to in the moste warlike sort and maner might be deuised Notwithstandyng thei of the Toune made many sallies and issued so often that it was thought neither their courage was to be daunted nor their Toune to be wonne But the Prince of Parma myndyng onely victorie and perswadyng nothyng but hazard of life or daunger of bodie framed his Soldiours to suche a resolution of mynde that thei thought neither vamures of yearth nor walles of brasse might keepe theim from their desired conquest with whiche resolution in the face of the shott and lapps of their enemies thei lighted verie often yet scambled out of perill as the present mischeef would suffer and euery man might make shift for hym self There was to be seen betweene these twoo people suche stoutnesse of minde and practise of witte that nothyng was forgotten that might giue grace to the one or bryng good fortune to the other So in this sort a long season was spent and no small charges bestowed greately to the disquietnesse of bothe the parties and wonder of their neighbours farre or neere that daiely gaped for newes and were fedde with suche reportes as the packettes vnfolded and the Postes would make brute of And all this while thei within the Toune hoped for succour and their enemies without were but to withstande any power should approche them And made a full accoumpt either to giue battaill or winne the toune thei had besieged The Batterie was plied the Cannons wente of the wilde-fire was flong the engines of warre were occupied the soldiours were readie to assaulte and the Mine was thrust full of poulder to blowe vp the walles and all the crueltie and terrour that could bee inuented was speedily sette a broche too make the murther and bloodshed the more The people of Mastricke had made a counter Mine and in the tyme of the assaulte siue the woorkemen vnder the yearth and defended their walles moste manfully whiche was assailed with suche a furie and courage as though a mainy of Gyauntes had set vpon a fewe children or a multitude of Wolues had ronne vpon a poore and simple flocke of Shepe But yet for all this furie and dreadfull maner of approche the Soldiours assalted did shewe thē selues so valliant that the assailantes were forced after long fight at the pushe of the Pike to retire and shrinke from the breache and with greate losse of many a noble Soldiour turne their faces from their enemies and drawe them selues from daunger to the sauegard of their Trenches and gardyng of their Campe. This first assault was so stoutly withstoode that a long while after the Toune tooke some reste But the Spanyardes waiyng not their liues and waxyng angerie for this repulse made sonderie sharpe approches When many legges and armes by meane of the Mines fiue vp in the ayre as though a tempest or whirle winde had blowen a fewe feathers or gotten vnder a loose bundell of Strawe yea the Mines at one tyme were so terribly sette on fire and shaked a peeces by a nomber of barrells of pouder that you would haue thought it had Thondered or the worlde had been at an ende and the Iudgement daie had been come So pitifullie the bodies and heddes of people fiue aboute the feeldes for thereby the Cloudes were dimmed with gloumyng smoke and smother A sight moste dreadfull to behold and as a man might saie a verie helle vppon yearth where diuers bloodie wretches and Ruffians dooe dye without any hope of heauen or regarde of God. Well in this miserable maner and plight the people of Mastricke continued full many a heauie daie and weeke and yet alwaies the greatest losse fell on their enemies part who neuerthelesse became so venterous and hardie by this their hard Fortune That thei were in a maner as desperate as wilde Bulles that neither cares for Dogges nor shunneth no daunger And in deede the Prince of Parmaes power were become suche Tygers and Lyons that thei thought no force could resiste their furie nor no people could matche them in courage and valliauncie Suche was the greatnesse of their myndes and desire of worldely fame and glorie the onely sturrer vp of stoutnesse in a Soldiours stomacke and the principle poincte that a manne of warre careth for and holdeth in reputation And in this pride and gallaunce conceipte of doyng what thei pleased thei made no more of the losse of halfe a score Ensignes of menne then of a handfull of Rushes or a trusse of Hey For when a thousande or two thousande Soldiours were slaine at the assaulte or at any peece of seruice thei erected newe
maintained on bothe the parties with suche a resolute mynde and determination to winne libertie or lose life There wer after this siege some other seruices but none so greate nor none of theim I mynde to treate of as yet for that I haue bente my studie to pleasure the Readers of my booke with other fancies varietie of matter The change of matter and maner of writyng thereof I hope shall rather bryng delite then breede wearinesse For that whiche doeth presently followe is sette out purposely with a nomber of deuises to occupie tyme withall and pleasure them that hath any good disposition towardes the woorke FINIS ¶ A description or discourse that declareth how that by tastyng of miseries men become happie written for that Soldiours alwaies beares the burthen of Sorrowe and suffers more calamitie then any other people GOod readers for that calamitie and combersome chances doe seeme intollerable too beare and for our first fathers offence thei are the burthens of life and companions of man till the hower of his death I beyng often charged with the heauie fardle of misfortunes haue taken in hande to treate of a troubled mynde and shewe what blessednesse and benefite to the bodie and soule this worldly infelicitie bryngeth As the common afflictions of mankynde are many in nomber and seem at the first feelyng so irksome and weightie that fewe can suffer them or support them So a multitude of miseries accustometh the minde so long in the sharpnesse of sorrowes that a sounde iudgemente is made the more able thereby to abide the brunte of troubles and attende for a short season a remedie of mischeeues by proof the trothe of this is tried For let the laboryng manne or ordinarie porter that daily carries greate burthens be often vsed to lifte vp packes he shall better beare a greate Logge then an other that is fine fingered shall bee able to heaue a small peece of Timber And there is none that laboureth so sore but is sure at one tyme or other to attaine to reste and commoditie So that all sorrowes are to be compted but a sharpe sause to season the appetite and bryng the sweete and delicate dishes in suche order that it glutte not the stomacke And nowe to consider howe all pleasures are possessed and profittes take their beginnynges The verie issue and originall of those yearthly commodities springes onely from continuall care and paine and labourious vexation of bodie and mynde The greatest glories and cheefest seates of honour anywhere are gotten and compassed by this kinde of calamitie and the leaste or moste sparke of mannes delite is maintained and at the lengthe enioyed by the meane of studious labour and painfull exersices But herein to be breef paine and labour is the portion appoincted for man in his pilgrimage and thei that are moste persecuted so thei bee not tempted aboue their strength are moste to be thought in fauour with God and happiest emong men if heauenly graces and correction bee measured by the yearthly vessailes of vanitie that we carry about whiche without correction and refourmyng would growe so full of filthe and corrupte maners that thei neither could holde good liquor nor serue to any good purpose Doe you not beholde that the purest mettall with ill lookyng vnto becommeth full of cankers and ruste if it bee not scoured rubbed and roghly handled his beautie decaieth and the worthe and vallue of it is little because it hath loste his vertue and estimation So mānes corrupt Nature were it not serched with sonderie instrumentes that takes awaie the dedde fleashe and toucheth the quicke would putrifie waxe lothsome to the whole worlde and to the creature hym self that beares it in his bowelles And for the auoydyng of suche an inconuenience calamitie muste bee tasted and troubles are necessarie for the keepyng cleane of a spotted conscience and fraile bodie puffed vp with Pride and vanitie of curious conceites And so I proue aduersitie is the brynger home of good spirites and gentill wittes that wanders after worldly follies and ronnes a gaddyng beyonde the boundes of measure to the vtter confines of daunger and destructiō Yea a little trouble and tormente produceth greate goodnesse and bryngeth foorthe noble bookes and goodly workes whiche the libertie of life and wantonnesse of pleasure denies and hinders As a thyng that drawes manne frō the couetyng of Fame and true searchyng of immortalitie Mannes prosperous estate breedes but idelnesse nourisheth vice contempnes vertue and banisheth good studies and learnyng albeit some one emong the ritchest at one season or other maie looke on a booke fauor writers and giue good speeches of well dooyng Yet seldome comes any greate woorke from their handes that are in prosperitie And none in a maner but the afflicted did at any time hether to yeelde benefite to their countrey and generally knowledge the vniuersall worlde Lette Socrates Plato Aristotoles Cleantes and a nōber of poore Philosophers ye princes of education bee witnesse of that I speake from whiche Philosophers the sowres of noble Artes and Sciences did spryng and aboundantly flow The bodie pampered bedecked with beautie full of ornamentes and sett out to sale like fleashe in the Shambelles Either would bee bought quickly or will be tainted in hangyng too long in the winde So that as horses doe waxe reistie for want of good vsage and cleanest thynges taketh corruption by lacke of lokyng vnto in season Pleasure and libertie in processe of tyme makes a manne wilde if callamitie tame not the bodie bryng the minde in willyng subiection Sorrowe sadnesse and other passions of this worlde that comes by common causes puttes the wittes and iudgemente to suche a plonge secrete shifte and pollecie that all the senses openly makes a muster to defende the estimation and vpright bodie from fallyng to the whiche assemblie comes Pacience Reuerence and Modestie that the matter is so wel taken iniuries are putt vp and wronges that haue been offered woorkes in a wise hedde a worlde of deuises wherein vertue gettes victorie To beare the comfortable Crosse of persecution is the true badge of blessednesse wherby the seruaunt is seen to followe his maister and all the vices of manne be maistered or reformed by the crossyng chances of this world and vertuous operation of callamitie whiche miraculously worketh the distempered minde as the hotte Fornace tries out the Golde and the warme fire bringes in temper and makes softe the harde and coldest Waxe A deuine secret to them that are chosen and familiare example to those that glories in worldly felicitie who knowes the naturall causes of yearthlie thynges If a manne might aske wherefore was manne made sent from the highest dignitie of pleasures to this lowe dongion of sorrowes and base soile of seruitude It maie bee aunswered Adam was thruste out of Paradice for offence he had committed and for that he was formed out of the yearth on the face of the yearth he should get his foode and liuyng as a vessell ordained to
of the saied toune came and rendered it to the kynges handes ▪ in whiche toune was left a sufficient Garrison And the Campe retired for that yere and broke vp at Reines in Schampaine where the kyng paied his armie for fiue Monethes and those he kepte in wages were commaunded to lye in Garrisons the Englishe bande was appoincted to remaine at Abontton fiue leagues from Gwies to whiche place was now Maister Nicholas Malbie come and there the twoo brothers shewed suche courtesie to a gentleman of Yorkeshire as is worthie the remembraunce and seldome hath been seen in a straunge lande and harde season At Abantton were many honest and valiaunt soldiours Englishe gentlemen as maister Iames Crues Nedde Driuer Humfrey Blont and a nomber of others that accompanied the twoo brethren Whose names I would gladlie shewe because those gentlemen did suche seruice in those daies and beyonde the seas as thei deserue to be honoured for thesame in their owne Countrie whiles the worlde lasteth but hauyng forgotte moste of their names I proceede to my former matter From Abantton the Englishe bande were cōmaunded to lye at sainct Quintains where liyng but a season thei were emploied for the furnishyng of a ronnyng Campe appoincted to marche into the Countie of Saincte Poule and in this exploite Sainct Poule was burnte and spoiled and many villages there aboutes brought to vtter ruine and mischeef The Emperoure to reuenge these iniuries sente into Fraunce an other runnyng Campe entryng at Noua Chatteau and did muche hurte in many places albeeit the Englishemen were so often in the skirtes of the Burgonions that thei could not doe many tymes what thei intended thei were by the Englishemen kept so well occupied and daiely waited on The Burgonions beyng thus nettled and vexed by a fewe in comparison of their greate nomber began politikely to woorke and so laied an ambushment to entrappe Capitaine Crayer and his bande and placyng fiftie Spanyardes all horsed vppon gallant Genettes to breake vppon the Englishe horsemen It came to passe by occasion of seruice that sodainly thei brake on capitain Crayer who wheelyng about for his moste succour had not his horse so readie as he was disposed to tourne him and there withall his horse stombled and fell flatte on the yearth in whiche faule Capitaine Crayer was taken and the residue of the enemies retired towardes their ambushe whiche laye a league from the place where capitaine Crayer was taken And yet vpon aduisemeante and hope of good happe to bee gotten by some hazard presently offred the Englishmen grewe so warme that thei had the enemie in chace and in the ende the broile and businesse began to be so hotte that bothe sides were Pell Mell. Ihon Malbie beyng in a Swarffe rotters garmente girded on his armour was taken to bee one of the Spaniardes owne troupe and knowyng hym self not farre from the Englishe companie he plucked out of a Spaniardes handes the raines of his horses bridell and caried hym ouer the Brooke perforce where was one of the Englishe bande that challenged halfe of the bootie and stroue so for that was not his owne that the prisoner lost his life in the pleadyng of the matter Whiche prisoner had he been voide of that brabble might haue paied a good and reasonable raunsome Now on the takyng of capitaine Crayer was capitaine Clauers his lieutenaunt made leader of fiftie horsemen and he chose maister Nicholas Malbie his lieutenaunt vpon the erection of whiche bande or immediatlie after the Emperour besieged Heddyng and Capitaine Clauers bande beeyng commaunded to keepe vppon the Frontires happened vpon the Prince of Oranges bande whiche had been in the countrey spoilyng as thei might and findyng the Prince of Oranges bande in a maner tired set on them so couragiously that thei gaue them the chace where was thirtie or fortie prisoners taken and maister Nicholas Malbie tooke a gentleman of the Princes chamber and M. Ihon Sauage tooke another of the Prince of Oranges troup whiche were well vsed and suffered on their faithe to goe where thei would shewyng them selues at night to their taker But twoo of the worste of those prisoners stoale awaie and their fellowe had been like to haue been straightly handeled therevppon but fauour was founde and he sente by a Trompette to the Emperours Campe for all their ransomes whiche was but quartarage a courtezie then vsed emong Soldiours and so sone as the Princes gentilman came before the Prince he complained of his companions for breakyng of their faithe for whiche cause a poste was presently sette vp and the prisoners lost bothe their eares on the same post and after thei were banished the Campe for euer The Prince paied all their raunsomes and giuyng a reward of tenne crounes to the Trompetor sent hym safely awaie in like sorte At the siege of Heddyng Capitaine Clauers was taken prisoner and maister Nicholas Malbie had the leadyng of al his men and hauyng occasion to ride to Paris he lette his charge to his brother Ihon till he retourned His brother as desirous of fame as any other after he and his bande laye awhile at Braie vpon some ingarrison made many rodes into the Burgonion pale and committed greate spoiles Whiche the capitaine of Beawpawlme sought to reuenge And vpon a Sondaie at Masse tyme in the mornyng he brake into the Frontires with a greate troupe of horsemen and tooke a greate bootie from the toune that the Englishemen laye in whereon there was a larum that euery man in all haste mounted to horse and followed the enemies in suche a furie that in rescuyng one of their owne people the enemies were betweene some of the Englishe bande and the toune but Ihon Malbie and an other were in greatest hazarde for thei twoo hauyng taken twoo prisoners were faine to plucke the bridelles ouer the horses heddes pricking the horses in the buttockes to the ende the enemies might bee occupied about the recouerie of their owne menne And when the prisoners were let go in this maner thei ventered through the troupe of the enemies offeryng their Pistolles from one to an other till thei had passed through the thickest and at the laste slue one and ouerthrewe an other and tooke the third prisoner and brought hym horse and man into the toune The tounes menne and nobilitie emong the whiche was capitaine Gordant now capitaine of Calice beholdyng this boldenesse aduertised the Frenche kyng of the seruice who rewarded at the nexte paie daie Ihon Malbie with a good somme of money For that a kyng would not forgette suche an acte nor let suche seruice eskape vnrecompensed The nexte Sondaie after this businesse rehersed the capitaine Beauppawm came againe with a troupe of fiue hundreth horsemen and a regimente of three thousande footemenne And to encounter theim marched fiftie Englishe horsemen and as many others of the Albanoies whiche serued before at Bulleyn with a fewe gentlemen of Fraunce puttyng them selues in good order as nere as thei could vnder
the succour of the greate ordinaunce of the toune So beyng abroade the skirmishe began to bee so hotte that no one of the Garrison retourned to the toune without his Launce broken And the Albanoies bande serued so valiauntly that eche of them brake twoo staues vpon the enemies in which hazard and couragious seruice their lieutenaunt was taken prisoner But an Englisheman called Willyam Spencer seruyng in the Albanoies bande beholdyng his lieutenaunt taken cried a charge a charge and therewith all flue in emōg his aduersaries so furiouslie and fought with suche courage and manhoode that he set the lieutenaunt at libertie and so recouered the toune And at that tyme was taken fiue horsemen Burgonions and brought to the toune and one horseman was taken awaie prisoner and brought to Beuppaum That daie capitain Twettie desired Ihon Malbie to goe with hym into the feelde a foote and thei hauyng but tenne Pikes and one and twentie shot withstoode fiftie horsemen and slue diuerse of thē the Skottes men beholdyng that seruice gaue all the honour of that daie to the Englishe nation At that seruice was a worthie Capitaine called Gurdan before spoken of whose bande and hymself surmounted the reste in the feelde and came with greate glorie to the toune Now the whole companie that serued in that peece assembled them selues together and deuised how to reuenge the iniuries at twoo seuerall seasons offered to them by the Burgonions and concluded that all the Garrisons nere thē on the Frontires should meete at a daie appoincted for the skalyng of Bauppaum on the soddaine And in the meane while Ihon Malbie wente towardes Bauppaum with the Englishe band and tooke with hym thirtie or fourtie pound of matches whiche was tied vpon cordes and lines twentie fadome long and euery mache halfe a yarde a sonder and for euery line was twoo stakes prepared breast hye to bee sette in the grounde when the matches were a fire The night beyng darke and the matches beeyng espied after thei were pitched of the Soldiours in Baupaum thei tooke alarum and the Englishmen that deuised this mockerie cried skale the waules and so priuily stoale awaie but thei within the toune of Bauppaum bent all their ordinaunce vpon the matches and shotte at them all the night after pliyng the matches with small shotte in like sort whiche was a great madnesse and follie as thei them selues cōfessed When thei daie appeared and made theim iudges of their owne ouersight and matter mistaken In the necke of this but three nightes after thei came in deede with their whole garrisons vppon the Frontire and brought Lathers for to skale the waules and aproched nere the toune for that purpose in a verie darcke night and in passyng good order but the Ladders beyng set to the walles as secretly as might bee deuised thei were faine to withdrawe them againe because thei were to shorte and the noyes that the Ladders made awakened the watche and thereon a terrible larum began in the toune whiche had been taken if the Ladders had been long enough For thei that came to surprise it were fiftene thousande footemen and twoo thousande horsemen well and throughly furnished for a noble enterprise Whiche power disappointed of their purpose entered the countrey burnyng and spoilyng as muche as thei might euery waie for the space of a whole daie and then euery one retired to their garrisons from whence thei repaired before And within a shorte season after the Emperour besieged Mettes in Lorrain with a greate armie the Frenche kyng on that newes sent many bandes thether emong the whiche the Englishe bande was placed twelue leagues from Mettes where thei daiely annoied their enemies and sondrie tymes tooke many prisoners and spoiled the Forrengers horses and other necessaries verie often and grewe so riche by the raūsomes and spoiles thei had gotten that their enemies laied many a staille and trappe to take them in but that preuailed not For their Fortune and courage brought theim through many daungers and made them as muche feared as their were spoken of and more spoken of then tenne tymes so greate a companie The siege of Mettes continued aboute a whole yere and it was thought that there laye before the Toune sixe score thousande menne in paie emong whiche nomber was suche mortalitie and Plague that it was a wonder to rehearse it For thei died sometymes twoo thousande a daie by whiche mischeef and miserie the Emperour raised his Campe and yet was faine to leaue in cabbens sicke behinde hym twelue or thirteene thousande Almaines whiche could not marche awaie The Duke of Gwies beyng generall of the Toune seeyng those poore Soldiours lefte to the mercie of God or murther that manne liste to commit thought it not fitte to put them to the sworde And so vpon aduice and sute of their generall thei were releeued and as many as liued were sent home without raunsome whiche courtesie of the Duke of Gwise was well remembred and requited ten yeres after this For some saie that those Almaines seruyng the Prince of Condie at the battell of Drues whē thei sawe the Gwise thei caste doune their Pikes keepyng their promised vowe whiche was neuer to beare armes in feelde againste hym that had saued their liues and dooen them so greate a good tourne at Mettes The siege of Mettes beyng raised as you haue heard the Englishe bande was commaunded to lye in Picardy where the Duke of Vandome was lieutenaunt who heard that the Emperoure was commyng towardes Amiance with a puissaunt power and to encounter hym the Duke reised as many soldiours as he might and so kepte the Frontires till the Emperours power came and shewed them selues with in twoo leagues of the Citie of Amiance then greate was the Alarum and euery man to horse and a maruelous braue companie issued out of the toune to giue battaill and trie the vttermoste of Fortune And so well thei agreed together and were so gallauntlie disposed that one of them swore to an other neuer to departe without blood nor neuer to retourne again into the toune without doyng of some exploit The Emperoures power were in like disposion and so the Trompettes on bothe sides sounded as heauen and yearth should haue ioyned together Then the Englishe bande prouoked the skirmishe and so the bloodie broile began hotter and hotter in so muche that the horsemen ioyned and came to hande strokes where many a Launce was broken and many a man laie grouelyng on the ground some vnder their horses and some strikē from their horses backes suche was the terrour of the tyme and furie of the fight And Mounsire Dangwion brother to the Duke Vandome loste no tyme but charged Mounsire Benyngcourtes bande or Mounsire Derues his companie The Prince of Condie and Duke D'onmall charged on the Duke Deaskot and Mounsire Demberies bandes and withall came in the residue of the Frenche and Burgonion companies and stoode so manfully to their businesse that the conflicte on bothe sides was greate
enterprises to doe their Countrey pleasure Yea some haue solde their patrimonie and consumed their Threasure and riches to enriche their Princes with glorie and euerlastyng renowme Were not this a madnesse and more then a meere folly to be a drudge to the worlde and a labourer for those that sittes at reste and to watche and warde Feight striue and struggle with strangers for victorie and then to come home and be rewarded as common persones and walke like a shadowe in the Sunne without estimation or countenaunce Would any that had wisedome vallue and courage be ouer ronne with vicious fooles and cowardes or be made a footestoole to ther inferiour when thei haue climed vp the steppes of honoure and are gotten into the toppe gallaunte of worldlie glorie and warlicke triumphe Emong children that doe but plaie at the bucklars there is a preheminence and one will acknowedge the other to be his better when good bobbes are bestowed and sodainlie a stoute taule lobber will laye doune the waster and yeelde to hym that hath more practise and skill in the weapon then hym self Then shall not a man that hath coped with Champions buckled with Conquerers and abidden the hazard of the Cannon stande on his Pantoffelles and loke to the steppes he hath passed Yes sure and suche a mēber of the state the baser sorte are Ciphers ought to be made of deserueth place and preheminence and is no companion for punies ▪ nor meete to bee matched with Milkesoppes whose manhoode and maners differs as farre from the graue Soldiour as a Donkite in courage and condition differs from a Ierfaucō As the duetie to a mannes countrey and the wages that he taketh bindes him to doe the vttermoste he maie so were there not an other cause that forceth further matter Full coldly some would feight and full slowly some would march to the battaill albeit the Princes quarrell and wages receiued commaundeth muche and is a thyng stoutly and wisely to be looked to But I tell you fame and reputation is the marke that men shoote at and the greedinesse of glorie and ambitiō pricketh the mynde so fast forward that neither the man lookes vppon the multitude of enemies Nor regardes the daunger of death so he maie bee eternised and liue in the good opinion of the Prince and people For he that but bluntly lookes aboute hym and goeth to the warre for wealth whiche hardly is there gotten is lead on with a coueteous desire of that he shall not haue and may feight like an Oxe and dye like an Asse But who so respecteth his credite and paiseth in ballaunce the worthinesse of fame that riseth by well doyng doeth combate like a Lyon and either conquers like a man or dieth like a conquerour as many greate Kynges and Capitaines haue doen whose ensamples a long while agoe as yet remaines freashelie in memorie It maie not be thought that euery mercionarie mnane and common hirelyng taken vp for awhile or seruyng a small season is a Soldiour fitte to bee regestered or honoured emong the renowmed sort of warlike people For suche nombers of besoingnes or necessarie instrumentes for the tyme are to fall to their occupation when the seruice is ended and not to liue idellie or looke for embrasyng For neither thei tarrie long in the feelde when thei are preste to goe forthe Nor are not often called againe to the like iourney so greate is our store of suche persones and so many shiftes thei can make to putte of any paine and hazard But he is to be accounted the couragious Soldiour that is giuen by his owne disposition to delight and folowe the Cannon wheele whose countenaunce and chearfull face beginnes to smile and reioyce when the Dromme soundeth and whose harte is so high it will not stoupe to no seruile slauerie But hath a bodie and mynde able to aunswere that is looked for and hath often been tried and experimented in Marshal affaires through hauntyng whereof he is become ignoraunt of drudgyng at home and made a skilfull scholler in the discipline of warre whiche is not learned without some losse of blood charges of purse and consumyng of tyme. And this maie bee iudged and plainly presupposed that many of that sorte of men are not founde a liue to trouble or burthen a common wealth because thei are cutte of through daungerous seruices or forced by seekyng of Fame in the feeld to sell that thei haue at home and so to trauaile abrode subiecte to all miserie and farre from any freendship or prosperous estate And sometymes through the greatnesse of their myndes that galloppes after glorie are carried awaie to seeke out newe kyngdomes and refuse their old abitatiō A matter fallyng out well worthie to bee liked but other wise a heauie tale to bee tolde and an experience bought with ouermuche repentaunce But euery waie occasions thei are that dispatcheth many a good Soldioure and makes the nomber so little that it is reason suche as are lefte a liue of that profession should either bee rewarded or at the least reape some suche credite as the common sort of people should haue theim in admiration for and offer theim suche courtesie as the worthinesse of their experience and seruice requireth If in the olde tyme our forefathers vsed their menne of warre noblie prefarred theim to promotions and dealte honourably with theim that serued their countrey when warres were not so cruell Why should not this worlde wherein pollicies murthers and bloodshed is followed and hazardes are maruelously escaped to the vttermoste of mannes power haue more regard to a soldiour that shunneth no hazard nor refuseth no perill There is no more to saie for the aunsweryng of this greate ouersight but the Hackney horse is vnhappie hauyng borne a burthen al the daie on his back and is caste of at night to a bare common there to seeke for foode and abide a harde Fortune There is a worse matter then this to bee treated of yet nothing but that so farre past remedie to bee touched let any one seruyng man gett a good maister and for followyng his heeles at an ynche he shal be more spoken for and gett more benefite then twentie of the beste Soldiours that you can name that haue followed the warres all their life daies and knewe not how to flatter and faune or crouche and coursie for commoditie Yea suche as serues at home and can not goe out of the vewe of a faire house and Smoke of a foule Chimney snatcheth vp good tournes and stealts awaie prefarmentes priuilie when those that merites more consideration ofte goes openly a beggyng and findeth fewe emong thousandes that wisheth them well or doeth them any good Some saie the cause of this harde happe to the one and good Fortune to the other is a certaine deadly discention fallen betwene the Sworde and the Penne. By which mortall malice is bredde and nourished in bosome suche a head-strong hatred and parciallitie that the Penne is euer giuyng a dashe out of