the Viscount of Gant and the reste moste valliauntly encountered with a Spanyard and as worthely acquited hymself of the same at their enteryng or chargyng for the Hille thei made signes that their forces should followe Who beyng arriued and possessed of the grounde discended from their horses to encourage the whole nombers and troupes of our Nation to the seruice to followe whiche thei beganne to doe verie faste The first that came in was the Capitaine maister Roger Byngham accompanied with diuers Gentlemen and Soldiours as maister Huzey maister Knight maister Tēple with many more The other brother came in vpon the higher grounde more neere the Hethe with a fiftie or sixtie with hym some of that bande and some of others with whiche the saied Capitaine incontinent entered into scirmouche with the enemie from the Hille and the corner of the Heathe to their forces whiche were placed all a long vnder a Hedge This scirmouche was so well maintained of bothe sides that thei grewe verie neere the one to the other and diuers slaine on bothe sides As the actions passed in this heate of shotte the horse of maister Yorke was stricken with a bullet throughe whiche he was forced to forsake the Hille or place giuyng a note thereof by woorde from hym self to the Lieutenaunte Who fearyng leaste the goyng awaie of that horse from the Hille inward would staie or discourage those that were cōmyng into their succours or aide Sent one of his menne to his brother the Capitaine willyng hym to fight or deale warely vppon a reteate And leaped hym self to horse to hasten and bryng them in whiche by this meanes or charge he doubted of and were commyng euen in this meane while The enemie charged with greate furie Capitaine Bingham and the reste that were with hym who moste worthely choose rather to sell his life dearely with the slaughter of some of his enemies then in vile and disorderly sort to retire yet made he an orderly retreate into the high waie in whiche there came vp on the lefte hande a greate troupe of the enemies who inuironed or caste theim aboute with this the Lieutenaunte came in with succours who was encountered with the saied enemie twentie paces before he could ariue at the Capitaine and was so hardely charged and ouersaied with nomber that he was forced to fight pelle melle in a retraite all a long vnder the Hedge till he came to the elbowe or bought of the cloase where Capitaine Edwardes the Lieutenaunt of maister Cabendiches companie came in to hym well accompanied with the shotte of that band with the aide of whiche the Lieutenant Generall charged the enemie again with a greate furie and courage forcyng them to a maine retraite euen to the Hille or corner of the Hedge where thei findyng their freshe reserued troupes strength charged vs againe the seconde tyme with greater furie then before For it stoode them in hande to giue vs our filles that thei might make their retraite with saffetie forsyng the Lieutenaunt againe to a general retraite vpon this seconde retraite came in the cheefe Generall of our Nation Maister Norris to whom the Lieutenant adressed hym beyng then extreme wearie bothe in bodie and mynde for the doubtfull estate of his brothers and the other gentlemen as whether thei were taken or slaine whiche he signified forthe with to the Generall maister Ihon Norris Who beyng freshe and lustie endeuoured hymself moste worthely in commandyng charge of all handes with whiche the enemie was againe repulsed to his ordinary garde of strength beeyng brought to this state there beganne againe a hotte scirmouche betwixt them in whiche was neither sworde nor pouder spared The enemie seyng the great courage of the Englishe who would not leaue theim but were harde at their heeles was doubtfull how to make his retraite with any assuraunce thought good in pollicie to giue vs a maine charge once againe with as greate furie as thei might And this was the third tyme and the laste that thei persed our Nasion in whiche thei forced vs further then euer before euen to the corner of the cloase nexte to our Trenches At whiche place came in Capitain Fitz Willyams with a reasonable good troupe who the Lieutenaunt commaunded to charge on the enemie and promise doo followe hym in the back as he did but as he cam to the elbowe of the cloase he mette the saied Capitain commyng aboute sore beaten and all the place from that to the Hille imploied with the companies of bothe sides in fight of pelle melle with diuers encounters of many worthie men of courage vpon this occasion or fight wee stoode longer then in any other before Here thei gaue vs so muche as we were well contente after wee had forced them to retire to take a pauce on it Attendyng the commyng of the Collonell Morgan who was sette forward from the trenches with a good troupe to our succours And truely though he were not in the feelde yet did he very worthie seruice within the Campe in giuyng order for vs to be supplied in diuers cases As also in fastenyng and assuryng the myndes of a nomber of fearfull straungers Who had their wagons and packes all readie truste to flie onely restyng vppon the assurance of our Nasion In this meane while the launces of the enemie had passed the straite in their retraite backe againe and laye at the mouth of the straite towardes vs seuen or eight companies of Harcabuses on horsebacke to deale with them that would attempte to pursue theim Their footemen that had been so long in action with vs seyng their retraite prepared for and their tyme come without sounde of Drumme stale awaie ouer twoo or three cloases till thei paste the crossewaie that went towardes the straite on the right hande At this crossewaie thei had placed a releefe of shot whiche was emploied againste maister Norris and the reste that followed hym From this crossewaie and corner whiche was a grounde of strength thei deliuered a volle in brauerie and somewhat in pollicie more then to hurte on the instant of whiche volley of shot thei tooke their heeles ouer the Medes and ditches and neuer tourned till thei came to the farre Heathe where thei founde the Launces for their garde who presentely conducted them into the Armie And thēselues made the rereward with the shotte on horse that laie yet more behinde at the mouthe of the straite towardes our trenches as I haue shewed you before ouer twoo or three cloases thei were paste before wee could learne of their fearfull retraite Yet were there diuers lustie fellowes of ours that were in with the hindmoste and tooke some prisoners The Prince of Parma commyng to the gouernemente of Flaunders after the death of Don Ihon whose vallue is waighed by the wisedome of the worlde beganne pollitikely and manfully to vse his aucthoritie For so the cace required consideryng diuers Gouernours bearyng the Torche before hym and he with a little Candell must
that his cunnyng failed him his force was but ill and his fortune worse For in the middell of his traiterous triumphyng he tasted the right recompence of rebellion and was slain in the feeld his hedde brought into Corke Toune and his bodie and reputation buried in the graue of reproche and infamie The Lorde Iustice had by this tyme or in shorte tyme after receiued some succour and aide out of Englande And sir Ihon Parret as Admirall of fower of the Quenes Shippes maister Willyam Gorge maister Nicholas Gorge maister Gilbart Yorke Capitaine Peers Capitaine Awdley Capitaine Hinde accompaniyng hym as Capitaines appointed for that seruice Sir Willyam Morgan maister Pellam maister Bousser maister Broncker maister Willyam Norrice maister Crofttes maister Ihon Soutche and many other lustie Capitaines and Gentlemen of good regarde were in like sorte appoincted for the seruice of Irelande But what was dooen and the rehearsall thereof I committe to those that liueth to Regester and keepe in memorie mennes labours and seruices hereafter Whiche writers in giuyng life to matters that tyme maie weare out of mynde are not onely well occupied but likewise makes good Soldiours imitate and followe the noble footesteppes of those that wente before them by whiche meanes Goddes glorie is aduaunced and our Countries honoure is vpholden and worthely defended Finis ¶ A small rehersall of some speciall seruices in Flaunders of late part whereof were in the tyme of Don Ihons gouernment and the reste beyng doen in the present seruice of the Prince of Parma now gouernour of Flaunders THE remembraunce of a booke dedicated to the right honourable Sir Frances Walsyngham touchyng the troubles of Flanders moues me againe to putte penne to Paper in that dehalfe Breefly to beginne where I left whiche was a matter of Don Ihon and procede a little in the dooynges of the Prince of Parma presentely in action and place of greate matter exspected And because my moste desire is to aduaunce the Soldiours of Englande as well as to publishe the seruices of forraine countreys I omitte many thinges that straunge Nations haue been exercised withall And declare somwhat in the fauour of myne owne countreymen that serue and haue serued vnder the Prince of Orange and States of the Lowe Countrey meanyng not to meddell with matter of State that passeth my reache and capacitie but familiarely to treate of suche thynges as the common sorte of people doe carpe vpon and is sufferable to bee written of As muche to delite the reader that searcheth for noueltie as any other cause that moues me to this labor and rehearsall of seruice The houge and greate armies the long continuaunce of troubles the passages and and discourses of manyfolde miseries and the open Plague and disturbaunce of poore afflicted Flaunders I referre to the vnsearcheable wisedome of the Almightie and the graue iudgement of the worlde And hearyng the certaintie of some scirmouches and seruices of late I followe the trothe of newe matter that falles nexte into my memorie You haue heard and the worlde can witnesse that Don Ihon before his death being desirours of fame and victorie sought and practised all meanes possible to come to his purpose and knowyng where and in what order the states laye and what straites were kept by the pollecie of Mounsire de Bussie Generall of the Campe for the States He determined with a full resolute mynde manfullie to attempte some exploite that might amase the Prince of Orranges side and plucke vp the courages of his owne people that laye a longe season idelly from dooyng of any greate enterprise And so therevppon Don Ihon in a maner gaue to vnderstande as by the sequel was perceiued that he would visite the campe of the States or winne suche straites from them as should be muche to their discontent and his greate aduauntage In the yere of our Lorde 1578. the warres beyng then at the hottest betwixt the estates and the Kyng the estates hauyng a greate puissant armie in the feelde vnder the conduicte of the Graue of Busie The Kyng hauyng also an other vnder the leadyng of Don Ihon his base brother It happened the firste of August the enemie to visite the armie of the states who laye then intrenched in the feelde nere vnto a Toune called Reminant The Armie beeyng composed of diuers nations bothe horsemen and footemen there was one regimente of Englishe of twelue hundred vnder the leadyng of the Collonell Candishe and in his absence his Lieutenaunte Collonell Richard Bingham The saied Lieutenaunt and no other Generall officer of that Nation beeyng commaunded to the feelde by the Generall of the states led forthe the whole nomber of shotte that was vnder his charge viz. sixe hundred The leaders vnder hym of the regimente were Capitaine Laukynges Capitaine Fitz Willyams Capitaine Edwardes the Lieutenant Paddon the Lieutenante Dalton the Liutenante Chubbe well accompanied with diuers other worthie gentlemen and officers Beeyng thus appointed with direction to leaue in a sure garde vpon the nexte Mounte to the trenche and with the reste to make hedde to the enemie and to entertaine hym as he should see cause offered at sight of the eye keepyng euermore the streight on the right hande and Steward with the Scottes on the lefte hande hauyng now placed a sufficient garde vppon the Mounte and sent Capitaine Fitz Willyams farther forthe by a quarter of a mile to assure theim of an other grounde and strength of aduauntage He receiues commaūdemente againe from the Generall that he should leaue the Mount and drawe his forces to the Churche whiche stoode aboute an Englishe Mile from the Mounte and vppon the saied streight wherevpon he presently lefte the Mounte leauyng behinde Capitaine Fitz Willyam to garde the place of aduauntage where he firste lefte hym beeyng a place of greate importaunce And with the reste he maketh waie to the Bridge where he lefte the Lieutenaunte Paddon with Chubbe and their companies in garde of the place and to stande faste for a releef to those that he ledde more foreward to the Churche Beeyng now arriued at the Churche with Capitaine Liggins his Lieutenant Dalton And Capitaine Edwardes with a three hundred shotte he sendeth vp to the Steeple twoo of his Soldiours to discouer the enemie who presently shewed that thei might see the faire Hethe whiche was yet halfe an Englishe Mile further and vppon it the whole power of the enemie in battaillions bothe horsemen and footemen and further that thei marched in for bothe the streightes The Lieutenante not reposing to muche truste in the twoo priuate Soldiours leaped of from his horse and went vp the Steeple hym self where as soone as he had discouered the enemie and perceiued hym to make in for bothe the streigtes he presentely at his commyng doune commaunded Capitaine Liggins to stande fast with twoo hundred shotte at the Churche and takyng with hym the Lieutenaunt Dalton Edwardes Finche and Straubrige with diuers other gentlemen officers with twoo hundred shotte He maketh hedde
sure I sawe good hope here in Sowre was the sweete and suger tournd to gall I sonke where hope was held vp by the chin And in dispaire I likely was to fall This goodly feeld this ley alone would be This soile would not be hedged in by me False Fortune fround and flang from me in haste And with a freake left faithfull freend disgraste Who can haue hold of Fortune when he liste She flitts so faste and flies somtymes so farre She will not come like hauke that stoups to fiste When man thinks best she mounts as hye as starre â–ª And at a brunt leau 's louers in the duste O Fortune strange thou art of little trust O daintie happe O Deastnie I thee blame For thou art she that tourns to greef my game All other harms and former wrongs of myne The scourges greate and plag's of forraine soile Were small to this that Deastnie doeth assigne Wherein at home I take an open foile All cares of minde all coste and charge abroad Not halfe so muche doeth sillie conscience load All whiche good Lorde and all the blame of this And ground of greef God wotte blinde Fortune is I blame no more though present death I found By this rebuke and charmyng checke of chance Yea though by this I haue a curelesse wound And scarre remains where Cupids darte did glance In cloked cares I hide the hurts I haue And burthen beare till bodie be in graue As one whose ghost with gronyng waests awaie Whose cold conceits warme life doeth cleane decaie So cease good pen and bid the worlde farewell No further verse nor line my hande shall write This is my laste this toulls the passyng bell Of vitall breath and wished liues delite This warns the worlde and bids the wise beware Of doubtfull chance the onely cause of care O faithfull freends yet shed some teares for me That through mishap my wretched ruine doeth se. FINIS A Pirates Tragedie beyng a gentleman of a verie good house Made at the request of Maister Peter Caroe Capitaine of Laughlin in Irelande and fette out to shewe the miserable life of a Rouer whose wretched desire of other mens goodes bringes open shame and a violente death WHen slumbryng slepe with maiger hande Can touche myne eyes that slouth doeth daunt When all my limmes repos'd did stande And so some reste to me did graunt Me thought I sawe a wretched wight With wringyng handes to make his mones He rather seemd a ghostly spright That gaspyng lyes and grouelyng grones With horie beard and scorched face With poudred hedde and heare vnshorne With hackes and hewes in euery place He seemed like a man forlorne His sappe and sauerie sent was past His youthfull daies worne in decaie His mellowed yeres were gone to wast His blowmyng spryng was blowen awaie His lippes and cheeks were pale and thinne His hollowed eyes were sonke in hedde His fleshe was frette nought left but skinne His marrowe dried that youth had bredde His teeth and gummes like harowes stoode His furrowed face like ploughed lande His vaines did want their wonted bloode His sinewes shronke like knottes did stande A Sea mans cappe on hedde he ware A slidyng stoppe of Friers graie A checker Kaep bothe thinne and bare To furnishe vp his queint araie A gables ende his girdle made His shurte besmerde with Pitche and Tarre Close by his side a rustie blade This carle in youth a man of warre A Pilotes compasse he did holde To shewe what science he profest The skill whereof had made hym bolde To saile the seas bothe East and West This wight with faultryng tonge I saie Gan curse the prancks his youth had plaied And then a loude withouten staie With double sighes these wordes he saied Woe worthe the yere the month the daie The season tyme and instant howre When first I formed was in claie And tooke my shape in yearthly bowre Woe worthe the wight that ioyned fast My parents handes in wedlockes rest Would poison had been my repast When first I suckt my mothers brest Oh would the Nurse that bound my hedde Had brus'd my braine with bloodie pawe Or that my Font had boild with Ledde When I came bounde to Christian lawe Oh would the bandes my bane had bin That swadled me in tender age Oh would the cloutes I battelled in Had been bewitcht with Cyrces rage Thou cradell that rockte me a sleepe I wishe thy couche had been my graue And who so taught me first to creepe Some vengeance vile on hym I craue When I these thynges had seen and heard And throughly waied this wofull sight It me appald and made afeard Yet ruyng on his wretched plight I askt hym then from whence he came What cause constraind hym thus to waile What life he ledde and what his name What strange mishappes did hym assaile Here at a while he held his peace With wringyng handes he wipte his eyes Then my desire did more encrease To knowe the cause of all his cryes Why staiest thou thus why doest thou pause Thou sprite thou man thou grisly ghoste Why standst thou still shewe me the cause What troubles now torment thee moste Oh meruaile sir no whit ê™ he Muse not to see me in this case I was a man as now you be Whiche haue mispent my youthfull race In Ladron lande my birthe I tooke Thalassilestis once I hight Bothe name and soule I well maie brooke My life from them deriu'd a right From noble stocke by true discent Vnworthie I my race doeth rise Good lande I had but not content Desire to clime did blinde myne eyes My home and soile I set at nought My mynde was bent to wander still To Court I came and there I thought To winne bothe worlde and wealth at will. This recknyng rashe was made in hast Myne hoste was absent you maie see Then recken twise least false thou cast Thus Prouerbes old doe counsell thee First looke then leape and doe not spare Or els thy shinnes maie chance to bleede He sure shall reape the croppe of care Of rashe attemptes that sowes the seede Who shootes before he see his marke No meruell though he shote a side In seas vnknowen who brynges his barke Without a compase saileth wide Who climes the Alpes withouten guide No meruaile though he misse the waie In Laberynth who so is tide If Dedall helpe not there must staie O happie you that learne by me And my mishappes your harmes to shunne Thrise happie thei that can for see The rocks whereon my barke hath runne In Court thus plast my self I gaue With wanton lookes eche where to gase All Pecokes plummes appered braue Bewitch'd I was with glorious blase With hardned harte I held that haunt In hope those ioyes would neuer blinne I thought no change of chaunce might daunt Or stoppe the course I did beginne But hoela sir t was tyme to staie My braue attire and wanton braggs When all my lande was sold awaie And rents were rapt on
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
draue vs out of the feelde and gaue an attempte to winne the base Courte where wee attended their commyng and stroue with them so stoutly that in that struggle wee were ioyned and wrastled together as daungerously as any man liuyng maie imagine but in suche order that the Frenche were forced to retire a little and we were faine to recouer the Forte and yet the Frenche so valliauntly handled their busines that thei laye vnder the rampire of the Base courte and slue sondrie of our soldiours that could not in due season come in Emong the cheef Capitaine Manneryng had his deathes wounde and fell doune in the dike before the gate whose bodie we recouered with very little losse but he died within three daies after And the Frēche missyng that thei sought retired that presente night to their Campe where thei abode not tenne daies but a peace was concluded and we marched all towardes Barwicke Now here is to bee noted that in those daies wee had greate soldiours a liue and moste of theim at Barwicke as Capitaine Honte Capitaine Sanders Capitaine Tems Capitaine Pickman and verie many others of good experience and credite Now I muste leaue to your iudgementes and readyng of other bookes the warres of Scotlande and will shewe you of some seruices that happened in Irelande duryng the tyme that sir Anthonie Sellenger was Lorde deputie there who was a graue and fatherly wise gouernour and had muche a doe in that countrey to bryng thynges in good perfection and quietnesse For the Lordes of that soile were at that presence giuen to sondrie troublesome practises whom he reformed and set in very peaceable estate emong the rest was one Makarttie More whiche helde out a greate season but the Lorde Deputie goyng against hym with an armie made hym come in at Corke where vppon his humble submission I sawe hym beare the sworde before the Lorde Deputie Yet albeeit that in this and many other seruices sir Anthonie Sellenger at seuerall tymes deserued greate commendation he beeyng a knight of the Garter yet his fortune was so aduerse and contrarie that he was seldome at home in his Countrey out of trouble and daunger of displeasure and felte as many haue dooen that gouerned Irelande the self same plague that Scipio Affricane possessed for his praise the greef whereof brought sir Anthonie to his graue as the workes I could shewe of his one pennyng can testifie For this honourable knight had an excellent gifte to write in verse or prose and was of so tractable a nature and condition that moste men did honour hym as muche for his vertues as for his office and callyng But my matter depēdeth not onely in one mannes merites or praise wherefore I doe passe to other thynges that commeth to my mynde In Irelande at those daies was the noble Capitaine Randall Capitaine Masterson Capitaine Lippiarde Capitaine Thomas Smith Capitain Coolley and a nomber of other Capitaines that now are out of my remembraunce who for seruice and well doyng are nothing inferiour to many good Capitaines that I haue named before The honourable sir Iames A Crofttes was Lorde Deputie of Irelande and had taken the sworde at Corke of sir Anthonie Sellenger at this season when many greate thinges was to bee dooen And he had no small regarde to his charge and gouernement the seruices theim selues are sufficiente argumente of his no little labour and diligence and maie well enough declare that whiche I omit and for want of laisure doe not speake of Now the warres burste out betweene the French kyng and the Emperour on whose sides sondrie Englishe gentlemen serued for knowledge sake and reputation And on the French side did Capitaine Crayer Capitaine Twittie and their companie florishe and did many exploites as in an other place of my booke I haue reported And on the Emperours side was Capitaine Plonket Capitaine Matson and a greate nomber of verie valliaunt soldiours of our nation who sought nothyng but credite renowme and good report Sir Willyam Drewrie now Lorde Iustice of Irelande was then so gallauntly disposed that he did but daiely search where or how he might bestowe his tyme in seruice and so serued a long season to his greate commendation with the Emperour as heretofore I haue rehearsed And he was so enclined to Marshall affaires that when forraine warres were ended he sought entertainement at Gines and those partes whiche had warre with the Frenche for kyng Phillippes quarrell And he hauyng charge and a lustie bande of horsemen did many thynges that merites good likyng For at that tyme was muche adoe and a bande of horsemen verie well appoincted and full of gentlemen was sente from the lorde Warden an honourable and a worthie gentleman moste full of noblenesse the Lorde Cheinees father now liuyng In this bande and belongyng to that charge was sondrie of the Keises gentlemen of good seruice maister Crippes hauyng the leadyng of all that companie There was sente in like sorte from the Prince Maister Willyam Harbertes brother of sainct Gillians called maister George Harbertte with a bande of footemen and one Capitaine Borne whose Lieutenaunt I was at the siege of Gines These bandes a good season before Callice and Gines were taken ioynyng with other bandes of Callice did make diuerse iourneis into Bollinnoyes and sped verie well Sir William Dreurie at euery seruice deserued no little praise and one Capitaine Winnibancke an auncient soldiour was oftentymes so forward that he was ronne ones through the buttocke with a Launce Many gentlemen in those seruices did well and worthely And sondrie tymes the Lorde Wardeins bande was to be praised And at length a voyage was made by the consente and whole power of Callice and Gines to fetche a prey from Bolleyn gates Mounsire Snarppoule then beeyng gouernour of Bolleyn but we could not handle the matter so priuilie but the Frenche by espiall had gotten woorde thereof Notwithstandyng as Soldiours commonly goes forwarde with their deuise so we marched secretly all the whole night to come to our purposed enterprise and our footemen whereof sir Harry Palmer a man of greate experience had the leadyng He remained with the whole power of footemen nere the Blacke Neastes as a stale to annoye the enemie and succour for suche as were driuen in if any suche occasion came So the horse bandes brake into the Countrey and preased nere Bollayne where was a greate nomber of gallaunt soldiours to receiue them but our horsemen makyng small accounte of the matter beganne to prey the countrey and driue a bootie from the face of the enemies The Frenche horsemen takyng their aduauntage offered a skirmishe to detracte tyme till better oportunitie serued to giue a charge This couragious bickeryng grewe so hotte that the Frenche bandes beganne to showe and our menne must abide a shocke or retire hardely with some foile wherevppon the cheefest of our horsemen charged those of the Frenche that were nerest daunger by whiche attempt the Frenche staied a while but vpon
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