Selected quad for the lemma: prince_n
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A40459
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The French intrigues discovered with the methods and arts to retrench the potency of France by land and sea and to confine that monarch within his antient dominions and territories : humbly submitted to the consideration of the princes and states of Europe, especially of England / written in a letter from a person of quality abroad to his corrsepondent here.
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Person of quality abroad.
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1681
(1681)
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Wing F2185; ESTC R9404
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35,025
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34
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Lavinians against the Romans but they put off their resolution so long that when they were going forth of Town to give Summons to them News came that the Latines were defeated whereupon Milonius the Pretor said We shall pay deerly to the Romans for this little way we are gone For if they had resolved not to have given Aid they had not given offence to the Romans by helping of them and had their Aid come in time with the addition of their own Forces they might have gained the Victory But by delays loss and misfortunes came every way And whether this may not be the Case of England I submit it to your great judgment This is not such a War as was between the Etolians and Archadians for a wild Boar nor for a Cart-load of Sheep-skins as was between Charles Duke of Burgondy and the Switzers nor like that between the Scoâ—s and picts for a few Dogs but it 's pro aris focis We fight to preserve our own Interest and to avoid Beggery and Slavery which will unavoidably fall upon us if the Ambition of that aspiring Prince be not stinted When England shall vigorously appear against them the French King will be necessitated to desire Peace and to do Justice The apprehension of your Forces will be a terrour unto him our Allies will be greatly encouraged and they with united Forces will act more powerfully Our Fleets will give them such just fears that they will be obliged to employ some great part of their Troops to defend their own Coasts and will be necessitated to quit some of their new Conquests as they have done Messina to secure their own Dominions The conquering of Villages and Towns are like Bonfires of Straw but if they meet with a stout opposition they are mortal as other men and one good blow will cause a reverter of all their new Acquests It 's storied that Charles the fifth after he had clasped Germany almost in his fist he was forced in the end to go from Jusprug as if it had been in a Masque by Torch-light and to give up every foot in Germany that he had gotten Which I doubt not will be the Hereditary fate of the late Purchases and Conquests of France I know the Most Christian King hath as many experienced Captains and disciplined Souldiers as any Prince in Europe but that sorts to the honour of the English seeing they ever have had the better of it in all Rencounters and never left the Field but with Glory The French Valour lieth to the eye of the lookers on but the English Courage lieth about the Souldiers heart and the Fury of the French the first blast being over turns to Fear No King or Prince hath such a spring and seminary of brave Military people as be in England Scotland and Ireland and who will be ready to sacrifice their Lives for their King and Country Where was Caesar in greater danger than in England Where was there a Prince that durst challenge him to a single Combat but in England The Romans conquered Gallia in ten years whereas they did not subdue England in 200 years and not then till they had conquered all the rest of the World Because they reserved the Conquest of England as Conquerors use to do most commonly in great Enterprizes for the last and greatest Conquest that they had to do If you will consult the Register of times you will observe England never had any Encounter with France but it came off with Honour I shall give you a particular List of some of them in an Historical truth no ways strouted nor made greater by Language that 's becoming a General at the head of an Army when they are going to Battle but not with me And I shall begin with that at Cressey the first great Battel That Heroick King Edward the third having been provoked by divers Affronts that Philip of Valois the French King had offered him goes over in person into France with an Army of 8000 men at Arms and 10000 Archers he takes with him his Son the Prince of Wales and Duke of Guyenne being but fifteen years of age called afterwards the black Prince to train him up in feats of Arms. Landing in Normandy he marches within ten miles of Paris and after divers Skirmages a Battel was appointed King Edward incamped near a Village called Cressey the French Kings Army was above twice the number consisting of above 60000 with all the Flower of the French Nobility The Battle began the Fight grew hot and doubtful insomuch that the Commanders sent to King Edward who was gotten into a Wind-mill where as from a Centinel he might behold the face of the Enemy to come up with more power the King asked the Messenger whether his Son was hurt or slain and being answered no he replies Then tell them who sent you that so long as my Son is alive they send no more to me for my will is that he have the honour of the day The Fight on both sides was very furious the French King having his horse killed under him withdrew which being known to the English it added so to their Courage that they soon after won the Field This Battle was so bloudy that there were none made Prisoners but all put to the Sword The number of the slain French surmounted the whole Army of the English for the number of the slain were about thirty thousand The next great Victory in France was the Battle of Poitiers The black Prince being tapred up now to a good growth was sent by advice of Parliament to Gascony the Truce being expired He ravaged the Country as far as Tourane John the French King raiseth a potent Army more numerous than that at Cressey and going to finde out the Prince of Wales found him about Poitiers not much above 10000 men effective in his Army The Prince finding the main strength of the French Army consisted in Horse he intrenched amongst the Vineyards where when the French Cavalry entred being wrapt and intangled amongst the Vines the English Archers did so ply and gall them that thereby being defeated and put to rout the whole Army was soon defected In this Battel King John himself was taken prisoner whom the Prince brought into England where he continued four years And as the French Historians themselves confess he was so nobly received that he knew not whether he was a free King or a Captive Besides Lords and Nobles that were slain in this Battle there were upon the whole more French slain than the whole English Army was in number We will now to Agencourt Henry the fifth that Mirror of Princes being come to the Crown he cast his eyes towards France and for claiming of his Title he sent the Duke of Exeter in a magnisicent Embassie to demand the Crown but receiving no satisfactory Answer but rather a kind of Jeer the Dauphin sending him a Sack full of Racket-balls to pass away his time he