immortall hatred betwéene the Frenche nation and the Switzers Hauing therefore communicated his counsell and purpose with the ensigne bearers and the most faithful chief men of the Cantons hée secretely admonished Mutio Colonna a Capitaine of the Popes horsemen that of a sette matche when he had receyued the signall hée shoulde cause an alarme to be cried and as thoughe the Frenchemen approched vnto the suburbs wyth a great power should issue out with the horsemen and with counterfaiting as greate fear perill as he could possibly shuld craue aide of the Switzers He also cōmanded the formost bands of the Switzers to do the same who being of great renoume of valor and hatred towardes the Frenchemen had still requested at the beginning of all wars to haue the places next vnto the enimies And so accordingly the Souldiours had no sooner dined and were gone to take their noone nappe but the trumpets and drummes sodainly sounded at the gates of Rome and anone the rumour of the comming of the Frenchemen waxing hotte all the bands one after another when the foremoste tolde them that followed the cause of the alarme made themselues ready and with incredible feruency of fight issued out at the gate whome also the mistrusted regiment folowing with aduanced ensignes hasted on heaps vnto the gate least they should séeme in that tumult whiche apperteyned vnto the publike safety and estimation eyther to haue forsaken those that were before or to be of another opinion touching the cause of the warres The Cardinall being notorious for his hatte and scarlet robe roade vpon a greate horse before the marching rankes wyth hys crosse borne before hym and still as he came vnto the ensigne bearers the pety Captaines or any Souldiours of marke for notable factes he would encourage and inkindle them to make spéede saying that God and the holy Saintes did promise them the victory of that daye in the which they shoulde not only by valiaunt fight destroye all the whole nobility of France brought vnder the conducte of a Princoxe King betwene two armies of his enimies but also breaking the power of the Venetians and Genouese by theyr fortitude and felicitie giue lawes and conditions vnto all Italy nor that the hyred Almaines in whom consisted the Kings chiefe strength whō yet they had often foyled in fight were so estranged frō the Emperor or were of so prodigall prowes that a man might thinke they would for the Frenchmens sakes who indéede were their vtter enimies fight against the honour of al Germany neither yet they should thinke that the Gascoignes very runaways or those horsemen that braued it in their silkes and chaynes of golde who had vsed to repose a little more safetie in their horses and spurres than in their swordes strengthe and stomackes would fight either more stoutly or constantly than they had done before But that labour and perill whiche was lefte was to bee vndertaken with a noble hearte in winning the ordinance of the enimies Where if any of them were slaine they might most constantly beleue that their soules being clensed from all spottes of sinne by hym with the Popes authoritie woulde forthwith flye into heauen leauing behinde on the earthe a notable memorye of their singular valiancy As the Cardinall ridde to the foremoste ranks euery where stil pronouncing these speches ther folowed hym Galeaze Visconti Iohn Gonzaga Cambero and Aquila the Popes Legates and diuers horsemen of those families that of auntient good will fauoured the name of Sforza and had ioyned themselues with the Switzers when they issued out And also certayne armed bands of the commons and cutters intermedled themselues of theyr owne accorde with the company passyng by They had scarcely marched thrée miles from Milan neyther was the French Campe aboue thirty furlongs from them when they began to shoot off their great ordinance which was ten falkons whych thing brought great hofulnesse admiration vnto the Italian horsemen for Mutius riding with changed cheare vnto the Capitaines of the first company began to aske them what madnesse had moued men skilfull in martiall matters and the maisters of that discipline to striue with the vnseasonable thundering of theyr ordynaunce to rouse the enimye whome they had thought best to inuade being vnprepared and looking for nothing lesse than battell Vnto whom it was couragiously aunswered by the foremoste rankes that they shoulde fight well enough according to the discipline of warre euen with the armed and prouided enimy if their mistrusted fellowes and the ensignes of al the Cantons with one counsell and intent descended into the field with them which thing they hoped might be brought to passe if that through that faining of more certaine signes that the battell was begun had come vnto the eares of their folowing fellows whose valor vanquished by infamous hire and mony if that there were no shame at all in them of the publike dignitie yet at the leaste the grones of their kinsfolke falling down dead before their eyes the religion of a souldiors othe and the fear of iudgement which wold anone after be giuen at home against the forsakers of their fellowes they thought woulde be able to stirre vp and inflame them for so greate truste of valor was in their proude heartes that they despised with very greate contempt the moste mightye and strong power of the enimies neyther did they thinke that any store and multitude of greate ordinance or any munitions of place would stay their force from breaking into their Campe by bearing them down and vanquishing Aboue al other there were thrée valiaunt fellowes but men of barbarous prowesse called Pelegrine Landaberg Centy Amerer and Rafe Long that led the thrée voluntary bandes of moste valiaunt Souldiours that were placed in the front As soone as euer these menne were come within the syghte of their ennimyes they incontinentely burned oute wyth so greate heate of fight that they coulde not be helde backe by the rest of the Captaines who with better counsell had commaunded the ensignes to staye and to take a place to lodge in and to refresh the Souldiours who were weary of their iourney but that they woulde néedes haste towardes the ennimyes wyth spéedye pace Burben and Trivulzi were encamped at Sainte Iulians Churche in a small village and wisely lodged at the lefte side of the high waye whyche was defenced on all partes wyth stiepe and déepe ditches and after the manner of the Countreys wyth hyghe bankes nexte vnto them the Kyng hym selfe and behynde hym the Duke of Alaunson vnto whome by right of bloude the kyngdome of France dydde appertayne if that Francis dyed wythout heyre male hadde placed the middle battell and rerewarde one being seuered from the other by a small distance They being thus lodged in thrée parts that the thrée great armies might the more commodiously and spéedily be an aide one vnto another when chaunce did require were enclosed within a large and very well defenced place for rounde aboute were
all other Rossales following the example of Chiscera the captaine of the men of armes fledde with continued course euen vnto the gates of Pistoia with so great perturbation that the same that the Prince was flayne and his armie discomfited was brought vnto Gonzaga who laye in siege before Florence and also vnto the Consalioner within the Citie At the verye same moment of time Vitelli pursuing a while and vrging and slaying the regiment of Bailâ— de Cere as he entred the towne did tymely hit vpon the gate where Maramaldo had entred and then such a cruell fight was remed that one coulde scarce passe along the stréete for the heapes of slayne men But Fernaio and Paule being tired with long fight and the scorching heate of the mids of the day tooke a high hâ—â—se and from thence pelied the Emperials with harqueâ—usses vntill that all their horsemen were ouerthrowen and destroyed by the light horsemen of their enimies who for shame woulde not followe Rossales when he fledde but did cast themselues into thicke troupes and a little before the bandes which eyther coulde not enter the towne or which had remayned without by Fernaio his commaundement and had slaine Orange vsing such Malles of yron as the helmets coulde scarce resist had bene ouerthrowne neyther did the prepared trunkes of wylde fire do any great good that daye For the Florentines coulde cast but fewe of them vppon the Almaines and horsemen neyther bicause their baggage was spoyled and their Sumpter horses put quite our of order coulde the Moschats be made readie and layde on their restes as they had trusted and hoped to haue done Then Fernaio and Paule acknowledging the euent of aduerse fight and fortune insestuous vnto the Florentine name all their souldiours being either slayne or taken and all the houses of the towne wonne and sarked and Maramaldo hauing nowe gotten assured victorie yéelded themselues and incontinently Fernaio was brought armed as he was vnto Maramaldo who sayd vnto him when that thou didst Iewdlye hang vppe my Drummre with an halter against the lawe of armes hadst thou thought euer to haue come into my handes Then answered Fernaio this is the chaunce of Marâ— who is not alwayes wrongfull and the like may also befall vnto to you strung in the fielde But if thâ—â— you murther me you shal winde by my death myther profitable nor honourable praise But Maramaldo reuiling and calling him a Captaine made of a Merâ—â—aâ—t comâ—â—â—aunded his helmet and his armour to be pulled of and thrusting his sâ—oorde into his throate left him vnto the souldiours to be staine But afterwarde Maramaldo vsed to saye that he slue him not for anye priuate quarrell but to please the souldiours and namely the Almaines who woulde haue chafed that the Captaine of their enimies shoulde haue bens saued after that their so great a Generall was slaine There were slayne in this conflict on both sides little lack of 〈◊〉 M. For many died afterwarde of their woundes And of the Florentines Captaine de Borgo and Francis and Paule Corsi Charles Carle of Ciuicellâ— and Alphâ—ns Stipicianâ— And of prisoners taken Paule de Core Amico Arsula Masiâ— and Captiuanzâ— Strozzi But there were stayne of Maramaldo his regiment Iohn Maiâ— his valiamitest Captaine and thrée Enfigne bearers Anont after this victorie the despayring Flâ—â—â—â—eâ—nes yeelded their almost starued Citie and whole oppressed state vnto the mercie of the Emperour who depriued them of their libertie and created Alexander de Medies base sonne of yong Laurâ—nco do Medici Duke of Elâ—rnce and of all the dominiâ—us theceof ¶ The Battell of Exech fought in Hungarie betvvene Cazzianer Generall for King Ferdinande and Mahoâ—ut Lieutenant for Sâ—lyman the Turke in anno 1537. Out of Iouius ANnâ— 1537. Ferdinande the Emperour sent Cazzianer the Captaine of Vienna into Hungarie with a power of ten thousande horsemen of Almaines Hungarians Bohemians and Carinthians and sirtene thousande footemen Almaines and Iâ—alians to winne the towne of Exech vpon the riuer of Draw which Mabomet lahiaâ—gles the Turkishe Captaine of Bâ—lgrade and Lieutenam generall of all â—â—â—se patten has fortifies in a parte of Hungaris called Prossega and made it to be the feate of his warres to vexe the kingdome of Hungarie But before that this arinie coulde come vnto Exech the sixtene thousande footemenne were brought throught sickeiâ—sse vnto eyght thousande and the rest were also much weakened with diseases the which inconunoditie was also smut â—asucably augmented through lacke of victualles so that they were not so senne come before the towne wherein was Mahomet with fixtens thousande men but that they were forced to breake vppe their siege and to retyre harke vnto a cowne called Carâ— the Tickes pursuing and continuallye skiclasshing with them in which skirmishes they slewe Peter Raschinius the Marshall of the â—â—hemians and Baule Bâ—â—chitius the Captaine of the Hungarians one accounted the valiantest and most expect Captaine of that nation And the Christians hearing by certaine râ—â—â—ors that Mahomet looked for â—ewe and strong supplies of sâ—uldiours the Christians tarefully deeréed that all the whole armie shoulde haste vnto a towne called Walpons ten myles of where was storâ— of victoals leaning behinde them their great ordinance whiche coulde not be easily caried and setting on fire all their gunpouder and destroying all the rest of the Martiall furniture of the armie and all such baggage as coulde not be caried on horsebacke and that Cazzianer shoulde giue the signall when they shoulde dislodge with a kinde of Pype that the Almaynes vse and is called by them Schalmeyen Nowe was the time of the seconde watche almost spent and all men watching did so expect with hofull heartes the signall of dislodging that they thought euery little moment of tariance to be a yeare and very incomdious and diuers Captaynes of great marke by franticke instinct brake off all stay â–ª and hasted to depart without commandement and to go before their fellowes They saye that this heinous shamefull departure was begun by the light horsemeÌ„ or Vsarâ—nes of the Hungarians who trusting to their knowledge in the blinde wayes and woodes â—ent their course towardes Valponi whome Ladislaw More a noble man of Hungarie following with dishonorable example fled vnto his owne castell of Zeuthuerzebeth and also all the horsemen of Staermarke forgetting shame with great tumult hasted after with their Captaine Iohn Hunganolt who had bene appoynted to leade and defend the rerewarde In the meane time it was fearefullye reported vnto Cazzianer that the Vsarones were fledde and that Ladislawe and Hunganolt had done the same with the horsemen of Staermark and that the rest of the armie neuer a whit expecting the sounding of the Schalmeyn as it had bene decréed made themselues readie for the same flight Then the astonned and afrighted Generall got him to horse and forgetting to giue the signall for he had surely thought as he sayde afterwarde that all the armie had bene already gone before fledde away vnarmed
confesse and affirme this one thing that we shal deale with an army of fresh water Souldiers and of Omnigatherum for the greatest part of those Horsemen whom we sée glistering in their crestes and armoure haue neuer put on armour before but at a pomp when that armes were mustered and in sporting fightes and shewes nor euer heard sound of Trumpet for indéede there haue bin no warres in Italy these many yeares nor no iust and bloudy battell foughten but the footemen will not only not susteyne the force of the Almayne Esquadron but being inferiour both in armour weapons and courage will not abide so much as the sight of them comming vpon them with so great order and array Then there remayneth that we do greately feare the artes and suttle policies of some olde beaten Chiefetaine Alas what ambushe will he lay or with what array will he bring forth his army through the incommondious fordes of the rough riuer to inuade vs marching in array of battell a springall Chiefetayne that neuer sawe Campe of Souldyers besydes this of hys owne wherevnto he is preferred rather for the title of his name than for merite of tryed prowesse Therefore mine opinion is inuincible Kyng that we marche on still forwarde as we haue begun and your maiestie shall doe well if that you do adhort the Souldyers not to doubt of the euent of the battell and to contemne their enimies The baggage of the army being sente away a little distance from the armed rankes on the left hande towards the hilles woulde I purposely obiect to be ryfled by the enimie who is more gréedy of pillage than of fight On the ryghte hande towardes the ryuer let the greate ordinance be placed agaynst the enimies I with my college Gien will leade the fore warde and the way and béeyng néerest to daunger wyll valiantly endeuour that it nothing repent youre hyghnesse to haue followed this counsell the rest of the martiall charges lette the Captaynes and specially the auntient parte amongst them and lette them marche forward vnto victorie with the armye prepared for both chaunces of battell and trauayle for neyther their wonted vertue nor youre fortune shall fayle them who being made noble by perpetuall victories haue learned to fight valiantly yea and if it were but for only glory After that Trivulzi had pronounced this Oration with a countenance full of confidence no man almost séemed although in some of their heartes feare were fettled which did not chéerefully assent to his sentence and swore that they woulde not departe the fielde but victors Then Charles disposing hys Horsemen to represse from all partes the Greekes who almost euery houre with great cryes stirred vp sundry tumultes in his Camp and watching almost the whole night the next morrow as soone as it was fayre day brake his fast and commaunded the Souldyers to doe the same and to prepare both their bodyes and hartes as well to fight as to march forward and not long after he béeing cladde rather in strong than fayre armoure mounted on Horsebacke enuironed with seauen yong Gentlemen of approued fidelitie and prowes armed apointed and trimmed in all poyntes like vnto him selfe As hée set forward the Souldyers saluted him with so chéerefull voices and gesture that they interrupted him when he began to encourage theÌ„ besieching hym to haue no doubt of the victorie whiche they had now in their hands For when he was on Horsebacke he séemed to be taller and more liuely thaÌ„ he was indéede for of nature he was a very little man and by reason of his olde disease weake and not strong legged to goe on foote but then he looked lyke vnto a valiant and fearelesse Souldioure for his face eyes and specially hys hawkes beked nose There guarded him on both sides two companies of noble Horsemenne with whome were intermingled the guard of Scottes Moreouer Mathew the bastard of Burbon in whom the Kyng reposed very greate trust and Robinet Framesell the valiant conductor of the Duke of Orleans his men of armes enuironed him with theyr companyes of Horsemen one on the right side and the other on the left There followed aboute a two furlongs behinde them the thirde and the last battell the conduct whereof had Foix a noble man of Guien and Seignieur de Trimouille who afterward for his great actes became a renowmed Chiefetayne With them was a great power of excellent Horsemen But in the vantgarde were séene the Esquadrons of the Switzers and Almaynes their chiefest hope and strength and the great ordinance The Marshall Gien and Trivulzi marched before with a companie of light Horsemen to shew the way vnto them that followed An arrow shot behinde them followed the Switzers and Almaynes to whome their Colonels Gilbert of Cleue and Antony Bassey men skilfull of their tungs had promised in the Kings name treble pay if that they saued the King by their faithfull and valiant handes Wyth them on the left hand were ioyned the Gascoignes Archibalistes and almost thrée hundred archers of the guarde who thorough vnlucky counsell had sent away theyr Horses and marched on foote that they might shoote the more strongly But the greate ordinance béeyng drawen with equall pace close to the batallion of the footemen were placed againste the riuer and the battels of their enimies The drudges of the army and all the rascall rable marched with the â—uggage towards the hylles on the left hande but the Marques who hadde determined if the Frenchmen hadde bentâ— on the â—este hande towardes Medesano which was the way vnto Dertono to pursue them on the backe wyth all hys power when he sawe them come downe from Foronouo in array of battell thinking it not good any longer to stay vsing the counsell of olde Souldyers araunged his battels in this order All his whole host was deuided into nine battels the number of his meÌ„ were aboue two thousand four hundred men of armes a few lesse than two thousand lighte Horsemen and about twelue thousand footemen In the first battell was Peter Dodo a Venetian with sixe hundred Gréeke Horsemen and Alesso Beicacuto with almost so many Archers on Horsebacke who did not vse howe 's of woode as did the Frenchmen but crossebowes of yron To them it was enioyned to compasse the hylles on the backe of their enimies and to charge the left side of the vantgard and by skirmishing to stay the marching Frenchmen from their intended iourney In the seconde battell was the Earle of Giazza with the power of Milan for this consideration that as soone as Trivulzi and Gien were encountring with the lighte Horsemen he vppon the ryghte side should set vpon them being then occupyed and troubled That battell consisted of syxe hundred men of armes and thrée thousand Almaine and Italian footemen The Generall hymselfe callyng to him his Vncle Radulph and Ranuccio Farnesi with aboute fyue hundreth men of armes so many archers foure thousand footemen took vpon him the charge to
de Medici Moreouer along the same banke of the riuer stoode the rerewarde conducted by Caruaiall a Spaniarde in that battell were foure hundreth men of armes and foure thousande footemen all the light horsemen whose Generall was Daualos Marquesse of Pescara a verye young Gentleman but of passyng greate hope guarded the right syde of the footemen behinde that they might succour that part that fainted the great ordinance was placed in the front of the men of armes and Peter de Nauarro the Generall of the Spanishe footemen accompanied with fiue hundreth horsemen had tyed hymselfe tone certain place but had sette at the ditche in the front of the footemen thirtye Wagons lyke vnto the hooked Chariotes vsed in auntient time Wherevpon he had placed fielde peeces and very long boare spears to sustain the more easely the furious fease and chardge of the Frenchemen in which order they expected the impression and chardge of their ennemies strong armye wythin the munition of the ditche the which counsell as in the ende it profited nothing so did it appeare at the beginning to be pernicious for it was the minde of Fabricio de Coloma to inuade the enemies assoone as they beganne to passe ouer the riuer thinking it more commodious to encounter with one only parte of the ennimies than to abide in the camp defenced with a single ditch but when Peter de Nauarro whose counsell the Viceroy dyd folowe as oracles repugned it was decreed thoughe nothing prudently that they should be suffered to passe ouer the riuer Now the Frenchmen beingcome within 〈◊〉 hundreth paâ—en of the ditche stayed when they saw their enimies kept theÌ„selues within their Campe not stirring one foote least that otherwise they should giue their enimie that aduantage whiche themselues desyred to haue so both armies stoode stone still aboue two houres but innumerable pellets were in the meane time shot out of the great ordinance on eyther syde by whome the Frenche footemen suffered not a little detriment for Nauarro had planted his ordinance in suche a place as he might muche hurt them but the Duke of Ferrara with great celeritie brought a part of the great ordinance behinde the army vnto another wing of the Frenchmen where the archers on Horsebacke stoode which wing bycause the army was of the forme of a croysant was almost on the backe of the enimies from whence he began cruelly to flanke their sydes with very great detriment and namely of the Horsemen for the Spanish footemen being brought by Nauarro into a lowe place along the rampyre of the riuer and by his commaundement layde flat on the ground could not be hit Fabricio called out with a loude voice and vrged the Viceroy with chicke sending of messengers to begin the battell before they were absumed by the fury of the great ordinance but Nauarro being led by peruerse ambition would not assent for synce he had promised himselfe victorie thorough the valor of the Spanish footemen yea though all the rest of the armye were slayne he thought that hys glory would be the more augmented the more the detrimentes of the rest of the army were heaped But now the men of armes and light Horsemen had susteyned so greate slaughter that it coulde be no longer borne and with a miserable spectacle mingled with horrible cryes nowe Horsemen now Horses fell downe dead nowe heads and armes torne off from the rest of the bodye were séene fléeyng in the aire whereat Fabricio exelayming And must we all quoth he shamfully dye through the wilfulnesse and peruersenesse of one Maran and must this armie be vtterly all loste not one enimie slayne by vs Where be our so many tropheys of the FreÌ„chmen must the honour of Spayne and Jtaly perish for the pleasure of only Nauarro and when he had spoken these wordes no longer staying eyther for the signall or commaundement of the Viceroy he draue his Horsemen ouer the ditche whome when the rest of the Horsemen followed Nauarro was forced presently to giue the signall vnto his Regiment who rising vp with great ferocitie encountred the Almaines which had now approched them so all the battels on both sydes being mixed a maruellous mightie battell was begun and the greatest without doubt that Jtaly had séene in many yeares for that at Tarro was scarce any thing else but a strong encounter of Horsemen and the battels in the Kingdome of Naples were rather disorderings of array or rash attemptes thaÌ„ battels and at Giaradaedda the smallest part of the Venetian power had fought but héere all of both sydes béeyng mixed togyther in a playne without impedimente of waters or munitions two mightie armies fought with hartes firmely fastned eyther to vanquish or dye being inflamed not only by perill glory and hope but also with the mutuall hatred that the nations bare euery one to other In the encounter of the Almayne footemenne with the Spanyardes two Colonels of greate fame named Iacob Emser an Almayne and Zamude a Spanyard fought as it were by challenge before the frontes of the battels in whiche fighte the Spanyarde slaying his enimie became victor The Horsemen of the confederates were not comparable vnto the French Horsemen besydes they had bin that day so endamaged and torne by the ordinaunce that they were made farre inferioure so that after they had awhyle susteyned the force of their enimies rather by stoutenesse of hart than strength of body and Alegies sending for Palice wyth the rereward and also the thousande footemen which had bin lefte at Montone had charged them on the syde and Fabricio de Colonnae fyghting very valiauntly had bin taken by the Souldyers of the Duke of Ferrara they séeyng themselues no longer able to beare the force of their enimies and also taught by the examples of theyr chiefetaynes turned theyr backes For the Viceroy and Caruaiall neuer tarrying the vttermost triall of the valour of the Souldyers fledde leading away with them the rerewarde almost whole and vntouched wyth whome also fledde Antony de Leâ—a a man then of low state but one that afterwarde being exercised by the space of many yeares in all degrées of martiall seruice became a verye famouâ—â—enerall Nowe all the lyghte Horsemenne were ouerthrowen and Pescara theyr Captayne wette wyth bloud and woundes was taken with hym and also the Marquesse of Palude who hadde broughte into the fyghte the seconde battell through a fielde full of ditches bushes and bryers whyche muche disordred the aray and besydes that the grounde was nowe couered ouer wyth the carkasses of Horses and men slayne whyche was no small hynderaunce vnto them But yet the Spanishe footemen béeyng forsaken of the Horsemenne foughte with incredible fiercenesse who although they hadde bin a little driuen backe at the fyrste encounter wyth the Almaynes by reason of the strong rankes of theyr pykes yet after they came within the length of theyr Swordes and manye of the Spanyardes béeyng couered wyth Targettes hadde gotte betwéene the legges of the
greate detrimentes and notable reproches But although these were greate and very waighty matters yet did he not thinke them to be causes worthy of warres but his only request was to haue Amurathes hys brothers sonne yet his enimy and the waster of Cappadocia deliuered into his hands whom if he would according to equity friendly yéelde vp vnto him that then as the mutuall rightes betwéene Kings for the defending and strengthning of theyr Empires required he would withdraw his army and retourne into his own dominions But if the Sophy neglected thus to doe that then hée would wast Armenia and Persia with fire sword The Herald being dismissed both princes kept themselues within their camps But the nexte day Selym by the encouragement of all his Souldiours brought foorth his power into the open fielde and marched in array of battell towards the enimy who lodged two miles off thinking that Jsmaell a chieftaine of so great name would make no stay but according to hys worde incontinently ioyne in battell wyth hym But as for the number of Persians what kinde of horsemen they were what armour and weapons they bare hee coulde not lightly learne for besides the natures and wittes of that nation fraught with subtile pollicies and wisedome so greate was the loue of the souldiours and so greate their reuerence towarde Jsmaell their king that there was not one man found that fledde vnto the Turkishe Camp wheras on the other side as it was afterwarde learned by the Persian prisoners diuers dayly fled from Selym vnto Jsmaell Selym who is reported to haue had that day in the fielde foure score thousand horsmen placed in the right wing Cassembassa the Capitaine of the Europian horsmen and in the left Sinambassa an Eunuch with the horsemen of Asia the Acanzi going before or auauntcurryng whiche Acanzi are horsmen of dyuers nations that voluntarily folowe the warres being thereto excited in hope of bootie and spoile The middle battell was assigned vnto the Asappes a multitude of râ—â—â—l and half vnarmed footmen who for that they are accompted no losse at all are alwayes obiected vnto the firste encounter and brunt thereby to blunt their enimies blades Behinde the Asappes was the greate ordinaunce disposed in directe fronte guarded wyth foure thousand horsemen Hee hymselfe wyth the chosen horsemen of the guarde and all the Janizars stoode for an aide and succour in a place somwhat higher than the rest and being entrenched wyth a double circle or trench of ordinaunce and carriages rounde aboute hym had placed the sumpter Camelles according to their custome so linkyng them one to an other with long chaines going crosse their breasts that they seemed to bee a strong munition wherwith he being enclosed might aide those that hee sawe in distresse and if any harder chaunce should happen from thence as from a Castle wyth the floure of the whole army susteine all the force of the enimy Moreouer hee willed the Asappes that assoone as the ennimies horsemen began to approch that then they shoulde immediatlye seuer themselues a side into two partes therby to leaue an open gappe to shoote off the great artillery full on the ennimye On the other side Jsmaell who had certainly learned by fugitiues all the counsels of the enimy calling vnto him his Captaines tolde them that it woulde bee nothing to winne the victory if they could but escape the tempest of the ordinaunce whiche thyng hee affyrmed myght easily bee broughte to passe if the horsemen as soone as they once sawe the battel of the Asappes deuided wold also be intentiue and redy incontinently to breake their array and likewise to seuer theÌ„selues into two wings Wherefore hee caused two chiefe standardes to be borne the one was the Emperiall standarde the whiche he disposed in a certaine place where hée stoode hymselfe wyth the force and floure of the horsemen the other he assigned vnto hys approued Captain Vstaogle with the rest of the armie Jsmaell had about hym thirty thousand horsemen without any aide of footemen and of them were there aboue ten thousand men of armes very valiaunt Souldiours well practised in the warres and famous for their nobilitie They had very excellent horses barded with strong steele and theyr helmets were all crested bothe for a brauerne and also to terrifie the ennimye moreouer they bare Semiters and after our maner malles of yron also very strong Launces The rest of the horsemen being armed with open and somwhat long head peeces and curasses vsed either great bowes or else launces of Ashe after the Sparishe manner and as for guns they had none in whiche one only thing they were ouermatched by the Turkes But so greate courage and valiauncye was in the heartes of the Persians that they despysing the multitude of theyr enimies and contemning the perill of the ordinance doubted nothing to giue them battell The signall being giuen Jsmael sette forwarde with all his army adhorting all his Souldiours that they would reteine in memorie their olde martiall praise and that they woulde folowe him their chieftaine whom they hadde thoroughe many moste prosperous battells made the most mightye Kyng of all the Orient nowe marching againste the enimie that they were to encounter wyth a sorte of vnarmed Turkes vsing only a light staffe and a Target whose horses are of stature lowe weake and carreine leane and almoste starued wyth hunger that they wold neuer abide no not the first shock of the men of armes On the other side Selym seing the duste of the enimies army comming commaunded it to be proclaymed vnto all the armye by the Colonelles and capitains that the battel was at hand wherein if they fought valiauntly and vanquished the Persians the conquerours of nations they shoulde enlarge the Othomanicall Empire from the Persian Ocean vnto the mount Caucasus But if they remitted any thing of their wonted prowesse that then being in that huge wildernesse of the straunge Countrey and vnmmeasurable deserts there were no hope of escape to be looked for for eyther they should shamefully dye or else wyth euerlasting reproche be slaues vnto the Persian women since that behinde them so farre from their Country both the mightye riuer Euphrates and the monstrous mountaines of Taurus and also beside that the vnfaithfull Aladule possessing the streights hadde taken away from the vanquished all hope of returne into Cappaâ—ocia Nowe when Jsmaell approcked and the Asappes at the signall giuen opened their rankes and in the space betwéen them the Fashons were shorte off hée incontinently deducting his horsmen gaue a charge vpon the right wing of the Turkes with suche seruencye that there was a very sharpe encounter betwéene the halfe armed Turks and the complete armed Persians so that Cassembassa and the formost rankes being slayne and so shootly the other one after another discomfited defeated they propelled all that wing euen vnto the aides and succours where Selym himselfe stoode In another quarter Vstaogle receiuing no small detriment
almoste all the middle battayle wyth slaughter and tercouâ— The Turkishe state stoode in greate daunger for that Selyâ— was by the incursyon of the enimies almost cut off from his footâ—â—â— in whom he reposed his greatest hope and also the horsemen of the guarde were very sharpely pressed by Gazelles who followyng the fortune of the Prince of Damascus had now charged the middle front and finally the Asian horsemen being disordered and defeated coulde finde no meane to repaire the fight when Synambassa came to succoure them being in greate distresse By his comming who had béene vered by Cayerbey with none or small fight and therby brought in a freshe multitude of horsemen the audacitie of the Mamaluches was abated and the courages of the Turkes encreased and anone after the victory also was taken away from the enimy When by Selyms commaundement the ordinance was shot off full vpon the enimies whose vnaccustomed thundring did so affright the Mamaluches their horses that their riders coulde not rule them neyther could they themselues do any good with al their singular and wonderfull valor bycause they were enclosed in the mids by the infinite multitude of their enimies Yet notwithstanding in this asperitie of things were not their harts brokeÌ„ neyther although they were forsakeÌ„ by Cayerbey and fortune failed they vnto themselues either in aduise or valor for vniting themselues all togyther into one thicke troupe they brake throughe the battell that stoode before them with the slaughter of the Europeans and the detriment of the wing of the horsemen of the guarde and beganne to make their continued course vnto the Campe and Citie Anone all the reste also were made to flye Sinambassa pursuyng them wyth the lightest and the freshest of the horsemen for Selym who hadde that daye wythout all doubt appeared greater than hymselfe for the patience and sufferance of bodye that hée shewed in that extreame heate the couragiousnesse of his hearte and the felicitie of his counsell had fleing hither and thether adhorted his men to folow the victory and pursue the affrighted Now had Campsâ—n aduaunced forwarde hys battell eyther that hée might succour his men or be present at the victory if the Turkes were vaÌ„quished when hée vnderstoode by the way of those that fled that Cayerbey hadde reuolted his power was defeated neyther coulde nowe the flyght of them hée stayed finally so greate was the force of the ordinance and so greate the multitude of the eniuries that they were able no longer to sustaine them With the which newes the haughty olde man of lxxvij yeres who liuing in perpetuall traÌ„quility of state had neuer before séene fortune frowne conceyuing a supreame griefe almoste wounded nor long after a company of his owne fléeing men and also of the pursuing enimies who being caried wyth violent course vppon the spurre threwe downe all that they met indifferently wythout regarde comming vpon hym Campson being loaded wyth yeares and the waight of a mighty Hernia or rupture and also fainting for extreame heate and sorowe was smouldered in that duste Moreouer as the Mamaluches sledde amaine vnto the Campe and from thence vnto the Citie the Princes of Damascus and Tripoli endeuouring to sustaine the force of their vrging enimies in the hindermoste taile were slaine But Selym causing a fewe tents to bée set vp in the same fielde where they had fought and the greater parte of his army being placed in station passed that night without sléepe as he that beyng ignorant of his victory and fortune did greately feare leaste that men of so greate valor would haue returned againe that night and giueÌ„ a Camisado vnto his camp Sithence he himselfe had séene that they were defeated and made to flye rather for feare of the ordinance than by the true prowesse of his Souldiours But afterward when Gazelles and the rest of the Mamaluches had more certaine intelligence of Campsons death they departed from Alepe with spedy pace hasted vnto Damascus at the fourth watch their horses being scarse yet refreshed of their wearinesse The nexte day Selym marching forward graunted vnto his souldiours the spoyle of his enimies Campe the whiche was full of all royall riches and from thence marching vnto the Citie receyued the yéelding Alepans with their Captaine Cayerbey and graunted them to be frée from paying tribute There died in this battell not aboue one thousaâ—â— Mamaluches but moe of their seruants and greater slaughter was committed in the flight than in the fight For when their horses fainting with sweat and dying euery where for thirst they were sette on foote and were easyly oppressed by euery towardly souldiour for a greate number of noble horses died bicause they beyng very fatte and kept ouer delicately in the shadow and stable coulde not beare vehement and vnwonted laboure and namely that daye when the Sun scortched all things with his immoderate blaze This field was fought the fiue and twentyth of Iugust vpon the very same day which is wonderfull that two yeares before he had vanquished the Sophy in battell But they report that on Selims fide there were staine aboue thrée thousand horsemen that hereby we may confecture how great a slaughter he had receyued if that the lefte wing which had remayned vntouched the ough the benefit of the traitour Sinambassa had also lighted on his Prince of Damascus albeit in very déede séeing that Selim was sully strengthned and established with the freshe and yet whole and vn touched guard of his footemen it was thought that he coulde not come into any daunger of safety or ignomy Two dayes after was the body of Campson found without wound by them that were appointed to search for hym the which Selim commaunded to be openly shewed that those natioÌ„s which thought wish obstinase credulity that Campson was yet liuing and gone towardes Caire to repaire hys power might be depriued of all the reste of their hope and also they whiche were faithful vnto the Turke might he made euer after more firme nowe that all suspition of that matter was quite taken away Nor long after when the body began to stinke and the fame of the common people séemed to be sufficiently reproued by shewing of the body thrée dayes it was buried with small funeralls at a very auntient Temple of the Citie Alepo being yéelded Selim marched vnto Damascus a Citie of verye greate riches and power whych also yéelded whose example caused the Cities on the Sea coaste and especially Tripoli Beritus Sidon and Acres to sende Legates vnto Selim wyth surrender of themselues vnto hys clemencye and fealtie ¶ The Battell of Gaza fought betweene Synambassa Chiestaine for Selym the Turke and Gazelles Lieutenaunt of Tomumbey the Soldan of Aegipt in anno 15.16 Out of Ionius AFter the death of CampsoÌ„ Selym minding to pierce Aegipt sente before from Damascus Sinambassa into Iudea with fiftéene thousand horsmen and a strong power of Marquebusiers which had béen chosen out of the Ianizars and Asappes for to
timber ouerthwart them other did set in priuie pits holes and ditches very sharpe stakes vppon whom the enimies vnwarily falling might be gored other furnished with gunnes according to their store the windows and houses that stood in the turning of the stretes that wer much frequēted Al which things were doon with so great celeritie that no man no not the ioyliest felow of all the Mamaluchs made curtesie to take the spade or to do any seruile or foule work so the all things séemed not to haue bin deuised before they were don finished Although the citie being very great very old was enclosed with no walls yet there were gates but certain ways into it of whom the one with direct and very broade way or strete did lead from the East gate vnto the Castell and into the middes of the Citie The rest of the ways into the Citie had very narrow pathes and ill fauored streates in whome the ordinaunce could not be well and aptly drawen neyther coulde aranged battells safely ioyne togither Into this place and way had Tomumbey chiefly brought a power bycause he vnderstood that of necessitie the enimie must breake in at that place by reason of the wydenesse of the streats but the other quarters of the citie father off he kept with small gards but the inner and middle parts of the citie where the castel stood were guarded with a very strong part of his power that they being very intentiue might spéedily run with succor to al places of the citie where that the cry of the enimies the perill of their fellows did call thē bicause that the citie being of al other the gretest could not be defended round about the outward cōpasse with so small power namely wayes lying open into it in euery place But when Selym certenly knew that Tomūbey was entred Caire and al the Mamaluches gathering their strength into one wold try the vttermost fortune of the wars he admoued his host more neare vnto the Citie and adhorted his souldiours to thinke that they must that day entierly vanquish and quite destroy their enimies whom they had so often ouercome and to take a little paine more that they might receiue the rewardes of their former labours and victories the which would be so many and so greate as they had before coueted with immoderate mindes that there remained a few men wyth the forsaken and naked king who bycause they beyng attached with woundes and feare were not able to abide the fielde had decréed to expect at home in the sight and armes of their wiues and children the supreame and laste caste of wretched life That the Aegiptians of their owne accorde had sent for him for they deadly hating the name of the Mamaluches did moste gréedily exspect their destruction and did promise to fight from their houses for to destroye that progenie of moste wicked and sauage men But yet notwithstanding that the very absolute victory of the whole wars consisted in the vtterly vanquishing of the remnauntes of the defeated and throughly affrighted army bycause they could not be accompted ouercome that yet hoped were yet in armes and possessed the siege of the Empire and the greatest Citie thereof Therfore they should think that whereas their safety and glory then also their whole state and welfare did consiste in the euent of that day But that it woulde be a thing almost of nought and of no daunger if that they woulde persuade themselues that they muste néedes vanquish in this newe kinde of fight as they hadde valiauntly done before vnder his conducte in all other The souldiours heartes burned for desire of spoile and being ready and deducted into rankes exspected the signall of the irruption When Selym entring the Citie at Bassuell gate sent in his horsemen at many places at once but the Ianizars at the broader way horsemen met with horsmen and attached a cruell fight in the turnings of streats and narrow lanes but the footemen drawing foorth their falcons and culuerings before them in their front did flank with them all the streats along as they wente making them naked of defendants But when they were come vnto the munitions and ditches and went about to remoue the logs and greate beames that lay in their waye and to passe the ditches and on the other side the Mamaluches valiauntly obsisted they fought on both sides with so greate valor and so great pertinacie of harts that neuer none in our memory encoūtred either more fiercely or more bloudily for both the Mamaluchs the Turkes shewed all their strength and all their sleights of warre in this one daungerous fight not being ignorant that they fought in this last encounter for life and Empire séeing that sporting fortune did set indifferently before them both supreame rewardes for the victors and extreame punishments for the vanquished Very greate slaughter was committed at the munitions by reason that the Turks vnwarely running into the blinde and priue ditches pits and holes fell downe into them by heapes one vpon another the hindermost thrusting them forwarde that were before and other were gored on the sharpe stakes The Mamaluches their wiues and children did with manlike hardinesse hurle and tumble down tiles and great stones on them that were beneath On the other side the Turkes woulde wyth their harquebusses fetche suche off as they coulde sée in the windowes and on the houses and breake open the doores where they saw any hurtefull thing hurled downe and fight wythin the houses wyth diuers euent Also the Aegyptians beholding the fortune now of the one side and then of the other did with diuers deuotion take for enimies and assaile them both that vnto whether of them lot would giue the victory they might séeme also to haue greately aided that partie Many encounters were attached in diuers quarters at once as they ranne into diuers streates yea and in sundry partes of one streate now this company now that lighted vpon new troups of the enimies they that vrged the victors in the front were often intercluded by the enimies were beaten down behind The ways and the space that were left betwéen house and house were an horrible thing to behold so wet of the gore bloude that ranne oute of the slaine men that laye on leapes euery foote that the raised dust whyche at the beginning was very thicke was nowe quite layd Yet neuerthelesse the aire was darkened wyth the smoke and miste of the gunnes and the cloudes of arrowes and so greate was the crie of the souldiours the clashing of the weapons the thundering of the ordinaunce that the earth séemed to tremble and quake and the houses to bée torne into péeces They fought continually two days and so many nights with doubtfull fortune but yet so that the Mamaluches who being fewe in number were not able to sustain the labour and watching had withdrawen themselues by giuing backe by little and little into the inner partes of the Citie forsaking
vnknowen regions prolonged the warres and sâ—ll gotâ—e newe and new asdes and also considering that his power being so small and so far from sueâ—â—â—r might be easely oppressed in that most mighty Citie by the huge multitâ—de of men of vncertaine faith â–ª was desit 〈◊〉 rather to ende the warres by â—omposition than by contending with force to entangle himselfe in new dangers and especially séeing that he had intelligence by those of the prouince of Seiectica that companies of horsemen of all sortes were leuied in all partes by the Mamaluches that had fledde into diuers regions and that the nauie which had bin sent iâ—â—to the slâ—â—â—ghts of the redde seâ— in the Arabian gâ—ulf against the Poâ—â—ugals was looked for at Pâ—rs Svezzia In that nauie were aboue thrée thousand Mamaluches and Amyrasses an Ray Salomon very skilful Captains and a great number of brasse yéeces wherby it seâ—â—en the Tomumbey might be able to repaire the receued incoÌ„moditieâ— come againe vnto the Citie beâ—ing sent for by hys friends to repaire thither â–ª But the mightyâ— care of the Persian affaires did most moue him least that if Hymbracossa whom he had sent before vnto the mountain Câ—nrus shuld not be able to matche the Persiâ—â— power that then he shoulde be excluded out of Asia the lesse and Syria before that the Constantinopolitan fléete coulde come to Alexandria with supply of souldiours and victuallâ— Wherefore he sent very honorable men of the clergie and also among them certain Argiptians of great estimation in ambassade vnto Tomiâ—â—ley who should counsell hym to lâ—yâ— down armes and at leÌ„gth acknowledge the fortâ—â—e of the victor and therewith should also giue theâ—â— saith that if he woulde come in suppliaunt sorte vnto Selyâ—â— be shoulde by the humanitie and benefite of the victor and conquerour obtaine the kingdome the which he had not ben able to kepe by armes but if he wold proceade in renewing the warâ—es and forget his owne weakenesse that then after the fortune of the wars were throghly adiudged determined he shold according vnto his dâ—sert flâ—â— no condition of dignity life at aâ—gâ—â—d Selyms hand But â—heâ— these ambassadors were come into Seâ—â—ction they were with â—â—antilâ— and barbâ—rous cruelty slain by certaiâ—â— â—â—â—alâ—chtâ— before they had any â—â—dience The whiche proude and cruel fact brake off al Selyms patience who was a man by nature yea being not moued very vedement fierre streightway he proclaimed avoiage into Seiestita against Tomumbey coÌ„manded victualâ— to â—e prouâ—â—ed therfore gathering togither boats froÌ„ al parts 〈◊〉 a sure very broad bridge to be built ouer the riuer of Niluâ— thinking it neither for his dignitie nor for the present occasion to passe ouer in boates But when Tomumbey vnderstoode by espies and the Citizens of Caire that a voyage was prepared against him and a bridge made ouer Nilus hée fearyng the falshoode of the Prouincials whose heartes hée lightly suspected were alienated from hym by the reuoltyng of Albuchomar bycause of hys greate power and authoritie among them determined to trye the selfe same Fortune of battell whyche hadde so often tymes deceyued his hopes for hée being inferiour in all thinges coulde not drawe foorth the warres nor expecte his enime neyther did he thinke it good for him to flée agayne wyth losse of hys dignity through farther wildernesâ—â—â— Wherefore consulting wyth hys Captaines she which was the laste attempte that he and the Mamaluches made hée departing in the breake of the daye from Seiectica wyth foure thousand armed horsmen or Mamaluchs and double the number of Moores and Arabians hasted to Nilus wyth iorney coÌ„tinued day and night that by hardy attempt he might deceaue the Turkes who he vnderstood would suspect no such thing of the vanquished very weake enimy and also that he might by celeritie preuent the fame of his approche thinking that he shoulde by his soddaine vnlooked for commyng destroy that part of the Turkish power that had first passed the riuer before that they coulde be succoured by their fellowes Neyther did the space of the tyme deceyue his opinion for the houres beyng very truly reckened wyth the celeritie of his march did agree iumpe and as he had coniectured it woulde happen the forewarde of the Asians had passed ouer the bridge The Mulâ—tters and boyes that were of Selyms chamber ranging some what farre to séeke a more pleasaunt place to pitche their tent in were the firste that sawe the dusto of the approching enimy and Mustâ—pha was streightwaye certifyed therof and a larum was â—ryed The whiche rumour did caste greate feare into the heartes both of them which had already passed ouer and also of those that stoode on the hither banke ready for to passe Tomumbey charging sodainly with greate valor the Asians while they were making themselues ready and resorting vnto the ensignes slew the foremoste that durste sustaine the shocke of the assatlantes â—ispersed other and forced them to flée Neither after thâ—t almost all the whole foreward was ouerrunne and troden downe and the rest disordered was Mustaphas able although he fought fearelesse in the fore front and chéerefully encouraged his Souldiours to repaire the array or to reteine the turned into flight foo in this cruell and vnsuspected chaunce euerye place was full of hâ—dling togyther of people slaughter slight and feare and all along on the banke of the riuer both aboue and beneth the bridge were coÌ„panyes of men séen looking behind them and criyng for â—â—â—ccor And many being dryuen by the vrging trouâ—â—es of the enimies vnto the verse brinke of the bâ—nke fel downe into the riuer and many also perished at the ende or head of the bridge when they â—oulde not runne ouer it for them that were continually sente ouer from the further side and also many that wold haue climed the bridge being impeached by feare and thrust back by their felows were drowned in the riuer The bridge was so broad that foure horsses myght well goe ouer in a ranke and a great number of them be sente ouer in an houres space But bicause the ordinance was to be drawen ouer fewer horssemen were sente than the greatnesse of the daunger or the suddaine chaunce dyd vrgently requite neither was there any helpe or ayde in the ordinance whiche coulde not be spéedily drawne ouer or shatte off from the hither banke vnto the other againste the enimie without gâ—eaâ— damage to themselues by reason of their owne men that stoode in the waye In the meane tyme Selym who had run downe vnto the ryuer syde at the beginning of the hurly burlye filled small boates with Ianizars harquebusiers and sent them ouer to succoure their distressed fellowes and also commaunded the horsemen to haste ouer by the bridge The spéedy Mariners vsing al celeritie often returned and tooke in mo so that within a short space they had set ouer manie bandes of Ianizars Whose comming did confirm the Asians who were disordered and now hardly
of the Turkes and Moores Corsaleâ— were before the Isle of Erumentara came into greate hope to oppresse them Wherefore of his fiftéene galleyes he chose out eyght of the strongest and furnished them with the rowers and souldiers of the rest of his galloys and obteyned of the Captaine of the Isle of Ibiza about a hundred and fiftie valiant souldiours whom he bestowed in his galleys Portundo being thus angmented strengthened was fully resolued to sight with the Barbarians and setting all things in a readinesse departed about the thirde watche from Ibiza and made towards Frumentara which was ten miles off The Barbarians séeing galleys comming spéedily got them aboorde and prepared to sight But when it waxed light Iohn Portundo his sonne numbred the nauie of his enimies and therefore admonished his father not hastily to sight being ouermatched iâ—â— number Portundo vehemently and bitterlye reuiled him as a cowarde and that so insolently that he swore he was not his son who feared his enimies who were furnished only with Foystes Brigantines so that yea he himselfe alone would with his only Admirall galley drowne all those small vessels of the Barbarians Portundo was in déede a man of a noble and stoute courage but very lostie and proude and so through vaine boasting being made obstinate wilfull and vntameable no consideration either of assured or very harde dannger nor any horrible shewe of present perill presented coulde feare him Then his sonne who was both of surpassing prowes and also prudence replied God graunt father the we may rather be ashamed of our conceiued feare than sorowfull for our foyle But Portundo made such baste towardes the enimie that he was farre before the rest of the galleys who were not able to rowe so fast and looking back commaunded the slaues in his Admirall to cease rowing that the rest might ouertake him and they were called vnto both by voyce whistle to make hast that they might make front with the Admirall Aidin of Smirna the Archpyrate who was surnamed Cocciadiabâ—lâ— séeing the vnequall course of his enimies and that one comming behinde another they coulde not make front with the Admirall calling togither the souldiours and maisters with spéedie deliberation resolued vpon this counsell that the stronger Foystes shoulde runne directlye vpon their enimies with their stemmes but the smaller shoulde euery two on both sides lay aboorde one of their enimies galleys Frendly fortune fauoured the Pirates but was a cruell foe to the christians For Assanes Celebine and Solyman the moste desperate and fiercest fighters of the Pyrates at one time ranne vpon the Admirall one on the side and the other on the stemme and before that succor coulde come siue Portundo with all the souldiours and tooke the Idmirall galley so that sodenly the banner was throwne downe the which did muche diminishe the courage of the rest and with the like spéede did Aidin himselfe lay aboorde the Cocke the Captaine whereof was Iohn Canticler who was slayne with all his men In the same moment of time an other Pirate called Salec valiantly setting vpon the galley of Derthosa the Captaine whereof was Iohn de Ciueres and also the next therevnto wherein was Iohn Portundo his sonne toke them both Ciueres being slayne and Iohn taken and all the souldiours slayne In the same moment of halfe an houre Mathewe Sances was slaine by Saba a Pyrate and his galley taken But Naggali did so hotely pursue the hindermoste of the Spanishe galleyes that fledde that one wherein was Martine Oriego he loste but the other wherein was Iohn de Cordoua he forced to runne hirselfe vpon the rocken the galley was taken with the captaine who woulde not flée away after so foute an ouerthrowe but all the rest fledde out of hir but were so fiercelye followed by the Pyrates who also went a short that manye mot were taken than escayed ¶ The Battell of Gabiniano sought betvveene Philibert Prince of Orange generall for the Emperour Charles the v. and Ferâ—â—iâ— a Captaine of the Florâ—â—tines in Anno. 1530. AVno domini 1530. the Florentines being streightlye besieged by the power of Charles the Emperour whose general was Philiberâ— Prince of Orange for banishing the familie of the Medres sent for a Captain of theirs called Fernaio who had gotten great glory of late for the valiant recouery of the city of Voâ—â—eâ—ra from the Emperials â–ª and also for no lesse famous defending thereof agaynst them that he with his power assaulling the Emperâ—alles without on one for and the garrison of the Citie sallying out on the other some fortunate sight might be committed to deliuer their countrie from the imminent perill of sacke and seruitude Fernaio accordingly gathered his power togither which was thrée thousand footemen and of armed horsemen and Epyrotes or Albanoises vnarmed fine hundreth the Captaine of the Epyrotes was Nicâ—tas Masio surnamed Pulledâ—â— But of the other horsemen Charles earle of Ciuitella and Amico Arsula Besides this power he had also sollicited the Mountaine men about Pâ—stâ—ia of the Cancellariel action who as they had promised were looked for to bée press to ioyne with their countriemen 〈◊〉 they matched that waye He had also layde on Sumpter horses aboue an hundreth stunkes of wylde fire and also ten péeces called Moschattes the which being layde vpon reâ—â—es of â—oods are commonly vsed to be a garde in saiâ—â—â— she for the footemâ—n against the violence of the horsemen Wich this power and furniture and a â—erâ—â—tue prouisson of victuals and specially of Bishes as much as might suffice the souldiours hasting through the woodes and mountaynes if that they coulde finde none other victualles among those poore mountayne men he did set forth from Pista and fuâ—uing towardes certaine of the Captaines spake these wordes My valiant heartes we are commaunded to go neyther must any inâ—â—â—nant violence of daunger he seared séeing that we muste in any case obey the Senate who doe maintayne and finde vs and doth repose the hope of their supreme safetie in our noble valiance â–ª He séemed vnto some not to haue spoken with his wonted chearefulnesss as though he did abode howe vnluckilye he shoulde fight in a voyage that he made at other mens appointment and pleasure In the meane time the prince of Orange hauing intelligence by spyes of the intent and iourney of his enimies wrote vnto Fabricâ—o Maramaldo and Alexander Vitelli who laye with their regiments in the territorie of Pisâ— that with all possible spéede they shoulde haste to cutte off Fernaio his iourney and followe him at the harde héeles There also followed Vitelli a hande of Spaniardes who being put out of wages by the Emperours commaundement liued by robberie them did Vitelli abhort to doe some good seruice in this voyage whereby they might deserue pardon of their mutinie and be interteyned agayne into wages The Prince also sent before out of the Campe Râ—scio the Earle of Sâ—n secondâ— Marito de Colomia and Sculengo with their regimentâ—â— and
troupe of Almaine horsemen strengthened the light horsemen who contrarie to his expectation had bene repelled and adhorted the rest to glorie and valiance and greatly were his commaundementes aduaunced through the skilfulnesse of the souldiours who did execute Martiall preceptes spéedily an exactly Wherefore they renuing the fight did so valiantly giue the charge on their ennimies that they had almoste made them to turne their backs The Saxon perceyuing the faint courage of his menne that he mighte not be enuironed on all partes and the way of his safetie taken from him called a troup of horsemen from the left wing and commaunded them to succor their distressed fellowes and as the shortnesse of the time would suffer adhorted them in this maner to reteyne the stoutnesse and glorie of their auncestors Vnlesse that ye your selues fellowe souldiours did verye well knowe that almost all mans nobilitie and glorie doth consist in Martiall matters it woulde haue bene néedefull for me to declare with many words that our ancestors got estimation glorie and empire by none other thing and I woulde haue reuoked into your memorie their diume and wonderfull actes But séeing that the straytnesse of the time doth not beare it the which doth require fortitude of hart and strength of bodie than any eloquent speach This onely thing do I say that at this time we must fight for all that we haue the conseruation whereof is reposed in onely fortitude and valor of armes For if we shall playe the valiant and stoute fellowes as in déede we ought to doe this daye will be vnto vs the happiest day that euer shined and of greatest memorie among all our posteritie For we maye I doe not saye defende our goodes countrie libertie religion wiues children although that these things are of them selues most deare and of such price that for them all perils are to be cōtemned neither conserue the recouered principality of Saxonie but with surpassing prayse and admiration of all forein nations augment the glorie of the Germane name deliuer from thraldom and make frée the Almaine Empire and feare the rest of the enimies of the Germaines from euer againe vexing of Germanie and finally obteyne a glorious and quiet peace for euer But contrariwise if we giue place to fortune who is mostlye frende vnto the hardie but seldome vnto the fearefull we must néedes come into the hands of our enimies with extreame shame and at one time léese all that we haue possesse By these reasons were the Saxons a litle cōfirmed who being set in such aray as was thought best for that present the Duke himselfe stoode with his horsemen before his footmen that they might be confirmed For he did not a litle distrust their prowes In the right wing against the Emperials he placed Ernest the Duke of Brunswicke with the horsmen of Nicolas Bernarde and Iohn Segherne whome he did take to be his best He gaue order that if the Emperials did giue any charge in their battels they shoulde shoote off all their Pistolets and harquebusses at once and alwayes kéeping their aray suffer the inuasions of their enimies and also commaunded that no man on payne of death shoulde go out of his place for he himselfe woulde be carefull to bring them succour and thus they faire and softlye expected the onset of the Emperialles The Saxon himselfe roade hither and thither opportunelye prouiding and séeing to all things then he commaūded the horsemen and certaine harquebusiers to giue a charge vpon the Emperiall light horsemen that the rest of his footemen might the more commodiouslye get into the woode through whose garde they thought they shoulde be safe But by this time had the Emperour ioyned with the auantgarde of his men and with fewe words adhorted his souldiours to attache the battell crying Saint George Hispaine and the Empyre But when all the Emperiall troupes ran forth togither equally frōted they came vnto a dirtie plot where many of the horses did slyde as in a slipperie place wherfore the battell was forced to staye vntill that the fore warde were passed the slough least that else both battels should be disordered and one intermired with another whereby it came to passe that they going aside the auantgard was passed by at that same time that the Saxons gaue the charge that I spake of with very good order on the lyghte horsemen of the Emperialles When that the Emperour sawe this oportunitie to haue a sayre daye he sente from the one side men of armes and from the other the harquebusiers on horsebacke and Duke Morrice to charge that parte of the Saxons that had before séemed to be the more fearfull The battell was begunne in the right wing where the Saxons discharging their shotte altogither as they had bene commaunded the fight séemed at the firste to be very cruell But when that the light horsemen of the Italians and the Hungarians charged them in another parte on the side and woulde graunte the shotte no leysure to recharge their péeces agayne and in another quarter the men of armes of Naples Duke Morrices and the Harquebusiers fiercely vrged they so feruentlye charged the Saxons on all sides that the auantgarde whiche had not entred the woode was opened and scattered It was marueylous to sée wythin howe small a space of time and as it were in a momente all the armie of the Saxons was ouerthrowne defeated the light horsemen and the Hungarians pursuing the victory with wonderful celeritie The Saxon although hée endeuoured opportunelye to succour his menne and timely to prouide all things yet when he fawe that so greate a number of his men were layde on the grounde and ouerthrown he determined to saue himselfe by taking the wood after that he certainly perceiued that he was in no wyse able to resist with the reste that were lefte him But when he was disclosed vnto his ennimies by one that was taken prisoner and his Princelye porte and almoste Kinglye maiestie did persuade them to beléeue that it was he in deede firste twoo Italians pursued him and althoughe he were valiantly defended by his men yet at the last when that moe of the Emperialles came he was taken prisoner after no small fighte by Hippolito a Vientine who pulled off his heade péece and did put hym on an hatte in signe of a prisoner But when that the Emperialles came afterwarde into the woode they founde so manye armours and weapons throwne awaye and lying on the grounde and so manye slayne bodyes heaped in the wayes that it was a lamentable sight vnto their countrimen some séeing their berthren other their cousins and frendes slaine by them and also it was no small impediment vnto the rest to pursue the chace Moreouer there were such a number of prisoners taken that many of the Emperialles led fiftie or xx prisoners a péece with their haudes bounde behinde them But bicause that the Emperials séemed to be greatly dispersed for desire of spoile the which is no
VenetiaÌ„s for following succoring their disordred formost battels But this is well knowen that the Marshall Guien although Trivulzi and Frances Sicco the Captaine of the Florentines vehemently obtesting hym not to suffer an occasion of destroying their enimie to be lost would not pursue them wheÌ„ they fledde or goe one foote forth for that he thought he ought not rashly to depart out of the sight of the Kings battell the euent of the fight being as yet vncertaine the K. being circumueÌ„ted from all partes by diuers although vtterly scattered troupes of the enimies Not long after many of the Captaines gathering togither about the King caused the retreate to be sounded that with ioyned bandes and battels agayne araunged they mighte expecte what their enimies would do for they not only sawe fresh whole battels of them on the farther banke of the riuer ready to receyue the encounter but might perceiue both their owne Horses and meÌ„ wholly wéeried and therefore thought it best rather to rest than pursue their scattered enimies as they which were contented with that victorie the which considering the perill appeared greater thaÌ„ it selfe bycause they had by armes and prowesse made themselues a way not only in spite of their enimies but also with their foyle discomfiture The Marques also after he hadde in vaine loked for ayde bycause the rest of the battel 's feared with the discomfiture of their fellowes the hardnesse of passing ouer the risen riuer had detracted to fight wound himselfe out from the hindermost tayle of the departing FrenchmeÌ„ passing ouer the riuer in a better forde returned into the Camp vnto the Prouiditori â–ª There perished in that battel of the VenetiaÌ„s Milanese aboue foure M. amoÌ„g whom were besides Radalph and Ranuccio Iohn Picinnino nephew vnto the famous Captain Nicholas Galeazo Correggi Robert Strozza and Alexander Beraldo Captaines of Cornets of Horsemen and Vincent Sorso who ledde a regimeÌ„t of footemen and Malfacto and Gabanello who being of the guard had whereas at other times theÌ„ specially in the battel gotteÌ„ the prayse of singular prowesse wheÌ„ with theyr weapoÌ„s they made a way through the mids of the enimies for the Marques to escape But on the french part beside the multitude of the rask all rable whiche made the slaughter greater and fouler there were lost about a thousande Souldioures and also Iulian and Dason Lieutenauntes of companyes of Horsemenne and Vardey the Captayne of the Archers on Horsebacke and the Captayne of the troupe that guarded the Kyng and also noble menne called by the names of theyr Townes Torsy Semple and Ambrun But the Kyng selfe in déede a notable losse wyth greate griefe when hée vnderstoode that almoste all the Archers of hys guard were slayne who as is sayd before sending away their Horses fought on foote And the reporte is that hymselfe was in no small daunger of life when the Marques breaking thorough hys battell and disordering the whole wardes he being almost lefte alone made hedde and drew his Sword and confessed that he was doubtlesse saued by the inuincible strength of his fierce fightyng Horse which was a cleane cole blacke with one eye The Frenchmen lodged that night vpon the next hyll beside Tarro hauing lost all their baggage and tentes and brought to extreame lacke of victuals who although they had vndoubtedly gotten the victorie and were very ioyfull yet did they greately feare theyr small companie and had a speciall care for the sauing and carying away of the number of the wounded whiche was thought woulde be a verye hard thing by reason of the yll and troublesome iourney that they had to goe for they sawe that their enimies had a greate number of light Horsemen thorough whose vnwéeried diligence and swiftnesse they myghte cut off victuals stoppe the wayes and by pursuing and hagling on the hindermost much endamage them and specially the heauie armed Switzers But the Captayne 's being busied with this feare and care and very wéerie the Almaynes and Switzers when the King had with liberall hand deuided among them a thousand Crownes for a rewarde tooke vppon them wyth great noyses of Drummes the charge of kéeping the Camp that night On the other side in the Venetian Camp were they diuersly affected for almost in euery cabine were some attached with sorrowe and other with ioy as euery mans happe had bin eyther to haue lost his fellow and friende or to haue gotten rich pillage for all the Kings furniture plate of siluer and golde riche apparell hangings of all sortes and sacred furniture sette with pretious stones Finally the riches of the Kings of Naples which were now in carrying into France to garnish the triumph was taken by the basest of the Souldyers and the Gréekes But when all the Captaynes with the Lieutenantes were assembled togyther euerye man spake according to his humor for some and they farre the greatest number who séemed to be oppressed with feare thoughts it good to dislodge and to saue their army in whose safetie consisted the safetie of Jtaly Other that hadde but in the battell and hadde thereby taken to them greater courage thaÌ„ they had before would haue the enimie inuaded agayne and béeyng weakened with woundes and amazed with feare vtterly destroyed saying that they had not bin ouercome by the prowesse of the Frenchmen but by the iniquitie of the place But then the Marques of Mantoâ— spake in this manner If that with equall consente we had bin all to day eyther hardie or fearefull we had not bin nowe to consulte whyther we shoulde forsake oure lodging or inuade our enimies for eyther we shoulde haue supped more mery with the epptyue King in our enimies Camp or certes haue bin held in thiâ— moste safe trench with strength and courage not lessened but whereas extreame counsels in dissenting heads doe alwayes hurt but the meane generally do good neyther will I suffer the fearefull to flée backe neither permitte that the valiant agayne hazard the fortune of fight for as though our rashnesse were not yet sufficiently chastised to set vpon oure enimies in an vnhappie place and of greate disaduantage what else is it than to téese wilde beasts and to prouoke them being made madde with the extreame danger of death for extreame necessitie turneth into rage and most times maketh them that do vtterly despaire of life of cowards most valiant men But whereas some do counsell that we remoue our Camp farther from the enimie God forbidde that men shoulde be of the mynde that the shame whiche we haue receiued to day through the cowardise and flight of a fewe we should heape vp higher by fondly dislodging as it were with vtter dishonoure For what will thys suddayne dislodging signifie vnto our néere enimies thaÌ„ a grieuous wound gotten extreame feare and finally a most shamefull flight therefore we must tarrie in this lodging and valiantly endeuoure that the incommâ—ditie that hathe bin taken may be repayred thorough my
noble men present at this Counsell who afterwarde came to the estimation of great Captaynes Andrew de Altauilla of the noble house of Capua Hugh of Cardonna Theodore de Trivulzi and of the Spanyardes Emanuell Benauides Peter Pâ—ces Alberade and Pennalosa who being very desirous to fight prayed Gonsalues that he woulde not distrust the prowesse of the Souldyers and promising to behaue themselues valiauntly adhorted Ferdinande to commaunde the armie to issue out of the Towne Seminara standeth high and from the Towne runne there hylles along vnto a little valley the whiche sendeth forth a riuer out of a lowe botome at this vale beginne the Champeine fieldes whither the Frenchmen were now come from Terranoua Ferdinande marching thrée miles along the hilles came to the riuer and lodging his footemen on the hither banke vppon the lest hande and all hys Horsemen béeyng stretched out along like vnto a wing on the right hand looked when his enimies would passe the riuer Ouer right againste the footemen of their enimies dyd Obegny and Persiue set their Switzers being cast into one battaylion they placed the foot men of the Calabrians behinde them as it were to succoure them and deuided betwéene them the Horsemen who were little lacke of foure hundred men of armes and after the order of the Frenchmen twice as many light Horsemen and passing ouer the riuer in a square battell made towardes their enimies The Spanishe Horsemen séeing that set spurres to their Horses and chéerefully ranne foorth and when they béeyng ouermatched both in armour weapons and strength could not make the thicke battell of the men of armes to giue ground giuing a shoute began to turne their Horses and after a Spanishe kind of sight to retire vnto their fellowes with fetching a round compasse that both discouraged the heartes of the Arragonian footemen thinking theyr horsemen had bin discomfited by the enimie and so fledde backe and also encouraged the Frenchmenne couragiously to presse on them so that Obegny on the right hande and Persiue on the lefte hotely charging the battell of the footemen with theyr Horsemen disordred them before that the Switzars coulde bende their pykes towardes them and many of them being ouerthrowen quite cat-stered the whole â—attell Ferâ—â—â—â—â—sse 〈…〉 aâ—â—â—â—ting hys Souldyers to returne into the battell like a valiant Horseman ranne vppon his enimies accompanyed with certayne men of armes of his seruauntes and brake hys Launce on the brest of a Frencheman of Maâ—â—â— and anoâ—e after béeing ouerwhelmed with the multitude of his enimies was forced to â—â—ée béeing pursued of many by reason of his crost and guilt annour but ouertaken by none when sée the such his Horse foundering threw him downe headlong into a very narrowe place in a hollow way neither were the frenchmen farre off from hym béeyng encombred with hys Horse lying vpright vppon hym and hys foote â—â—taugâ—â— in the stirrops when Iohn brother vnto â—adrâ—w â—tiaâ—â—â—â— came to his helpe and of entieâ—â—mis worthy of eternall memorie offered him his owne swifte Horse to saue his life vpon whome Ferdinander as he vauâ—ted excellently well spéedely leaped although he were in heauie â—â—fâ—plete armoure and so escaped the enimie But Aâ—â—â—uilla being on foote was anâ—ne after staynâ— by the Frenchmen â—â—egry hauyng stayne a great part of the footemen lodged not farre from the place of enâ—oâ—â—tes so â—â—atâ—â— was said that he little knew how to vse the victorie bycause he neyther pursued so manye noble men among whome was the Cardinall of Arragon nor incontinently brought his victorious armye before Semiâ—â—â—â— through the whiche leysure both the noble men and the King came by dyuers wayes in safetie vntoothe Shyppes and Goâ—salues also who by valiauntly fightyng and by repayring the array in many places had doubtlesse saued many entred the Towne and carryed away the baggage and all the better part of the furniture of the Camp and then gote hym to Rezo the Frenchmen afterward pursuing him in â—â—yne The Battell of Eboli fought in the Kingdome of Naples betvveene Persiue Chiefetayne for Charles the French King and Thomas Carafa Rarie of Matalone Generall for Ferdinande the King of Naples in Anno. 1495. KIng Ferdinande and the greate Gonsalues béeing escaped as yée haue heard out of the battell of Seminara the king embarking his power that was lefte sayled 〈◊〉 the Citie of Naples where he was receyued in by the well willing Townemen and many noble men Arragonites repayring vnto hym he straightely besieged Monipensier the Frenche Viceroy and other in the Castel the which he had entrenched round And also the great Gonsalues hadde repayred hys power at Hezo out of Sicile and warred on the Calabrianâ— Monpensier signifyed vnto Obegny and Persiue that he was not able to hold out long vnlesse that ayde were spéedyly sent vnto him eyther by sea or land Vpon this they sent for the noble menne that were of the Aniou or French faction â–ª to repaire vnto theÌ„ with their hands and also gathered togither their dispersed people and then deuiding the army Obegay went against Gonsalues and Persiue with Bernardiue Sanseuerino Prince of Besignino who had brought a cornet of Horsemen and four hands of footemen hasted to Naples came to EBOLI a towne not far froÌ„ the riuer of Cochile standing vpon a very high hir and enclosed round about with a déepe valley Ferdinand hauing intelligence of the french mens comming hadde sent his Captaines power thither before to let the passage of the whose way lay by Salerne himself remained at Naples to the end he might be presente at the parle of the FrenchmeÌ„ who séemed willing to entreate of taking truce and yéelding vp the Castel The General of the kings army was Thomas Carasa Prince of Matalone a man vtterli ignoraÌ„t of forraigne warfare but thers were with him many good warrioures amoÌ„g theÌ„ Venazi D. of Camerino Lucas Sabello who knowing whiche way the Frenchmen mynded to trauayle and hauing diligently viewed their power gaue aduice with small iourneys to followe at their enimies héeles who marched directly to Salerno to cut off their victuals and not to ioyne in battell wyth them before that a place of disaduantage hadde taken and offered them to be oppressed or else which séemed to be best incontinently with all spéede to take the Towne called the little Lake and the inhabitants thereof being commaunded to abandon the Towne and to set it on fire that the enimie might not vse the victuals and bouses thereof and then to marche spéedely to Salerne before the Frenchmen But the rest of the Captaynes and Souldyers contemning the small number of their enimies dyd burne with so great desire of fight that béeing incited by a foolishe courage they cryed out that it was not for the dignitie of the King and of so great an army that the victorie which they almost held assuredly should be sought not by the right way opeÌ„ prowesse but by going about the bushe and dastardly suttletyes Moreouer
this rashnesse of many dyd the gouernement of the hastie Chiefetayne augmeÌ„t who had brought nothing into the field besides approued fidelitie and the name of his renowmed house for he reproouing those that were set to followe warie counsels and not all vpon lustinesse and honor sayde What my maisters neither are the Frenchmen now adayes those auntiente Heroes whome Fraunce for their miraculous strength of body hathe celebrated in their sabulous Poemes neyther are we altogither women armed and garnished after thys manlike guise so that we must doubt to set vpon and ouercome these Barbarians walking with drunken traine as soone as euer we sée them And immediately after he had thus said he commanded Proclamation to be made that euery man shoulde make hymselfe readie and bridle his Horse and after the third watche all the army issued out of Eboli Persiue and the Prince of Besignano hadde passed ouer the riuer of Cochile by a bridge anone after the breake of the day and marched towards Salerno but when they saw theyr enimies they retired backe aboue thrée furlongs that they myghte raunge their battels in a more indifferent place and there layde their left side close vnto a mightie woâ—â—â— that adâ—â—yneth with the open fieldes that their small army might not be enclosed round aboute by the multitude of their enimies for they were scarce one thousand Switzers who being backed with eight hundred Calabrian footemen made a square batallion and close to the side of the footemen stoode the Horsemen being of Frenchmen and Italians of all sortes a thousand But the Earle of Matalone following the olde order which hath oftentimes destroyed the Italians deuided his army into fyue battels the which were stretched forth in leÌ„gth from the middle battell with equall front like vnto direct wings In the middle battell was he himselfe and Lucas Stabello flanked on the left hand with a thousand Spanyards and on the ryght with thrée thousand Italian footemen But in the vttermost wings were on the one side Venanzi the Duke of Camerino and on the other Hierome de Tutauilla the Earle of Sarno with eyther of them their companyes of Horsemen for thys purpose that as soone as euer the Earle of Matalone shoulde charge the Switzers on the front with his footemen and the French Horsemen with his Horsemen Venanzi shoulde euen then get betwéene the Frenchmen and the wodde with his Horsemen and the Spanyardes and on that side valiantly inuade them and at the very same tyme the left wing should be ledde by Tutauilla vpon the side and backe of the enimie the reason of this deuise was not absurde if that the heartes of the Souldiers and the mouings and goings of the battels whome fortune maketh subiect vnto a thousand chaunces did fully aunswere vnto the counsels and commaundementes of the Captaynes as it then happened For besides that the Arragoman battels were vnwisely placed full against the beames of the Sunne rising whyche did very much dazell their sight yet they séemed also to be vnaduisedly raunged for that the raunges standing a small distance one from an other had neyther strength ynough to abide the shocke neyther yet had euery ranke space ynough lest to turne about their front if néede should be but that one should be encounbered and disordred by an other but that whiche was a greate detriment and iâ— warfare vtterly to be detested the Sâ—â—â—lâ—yers being ouerlustie and cranke as freshe water Souldioâ—â—s commonly are and hauyng neyther learned to be obedyent 〈◊〉 to fighte well discharged neyther duetie of discipline For as soone as euer the great ordinance was shot off farre from them certaine of the Horsemen lustie and braue Gentlemen that they mighte intercept from the rest of their fellowes the honor of approoued prowesse without commandemeÌ„t charging their staues did out of aray one after another runne their Horses vpon their enimies whose charge when the Frenche Horsemen had receiued with the strong front of their vnshaken battell many of them being broched vpoÌ„ their enimies launces cast off from their Horses were slayne all the rest incontinently ranne their Horses backe agayne amaine lighting vpoÌ„ the Spanish footemen disordred their battell and draue them vpon Venanzi his wing of Horsemen in suche sorte that they not onely brake the rankes of the Horsmen but also threw them downe to the grouÌ„d Besides at that very instant the Arragonian footemen running apace gaue with like rashnesse the onset on the Switzers for when some of them bearing Targets hadde hurled their iauelins they drewe their swordes and other bare eyther boarespeares wyth eares or rhompheyes with an hooked head of iron that would cut on both sides they coulde not come vnto the body of the Switzers squadron for their long pykes and therewithall followed suche a change of courage that they whiche euen now ranne forthe wyth singular fiercenesse and surpassing chéerefulnesse incoÌ„tinently turned fearefully backe namely when that their Horsemen ranne in among them Persiue being astonied at the miracle of so great a chaunce that he mighte not fayle vnto Fortune who vehemently fauored him contrarye to hope did valiaÌ„tly set forward couragiously running ouer the heapes of men and Horses falling downe did within the space of halfe an houre which is almost incredible quite ouerthrowe the power of his enimies and that almost without anye wounde of hys owne Souldyers welnéere all the Italian footemen were slayne by the Switzers and with them also a band whiche hadde bin leuied at Naples of the Ruffians and cutters of passing hardinesse there also perished valiauntly fyghtyng whén the rest turned their backes these stoute petito Capthynes Henry a Gentleman of Consieâ— Lewes Sqâ—arcia and Vincent Capeâ—â— The thicke woddes through the whiche the armed could 〈◊〉 easily goâ— defended the Spanyards and light and nimble fellowes withoute armoure But the Earle of Matalone and the rest of the Captaines hauing lost many of the Horsemen shamefully fledde vnto Eboli But when they were hardly receiued in at the gate and the french Horsemen pressed at their backes Venanzi a man of a constant conrage stoutely susteyning the inuasions of the enimie in the hindermost tayle and fighting valiantly was there slayne Furthermore the rest of the Horsemen being in number almost thrée hundreth fetching a compasse thorough very yll wayes came flynging vnto the foregate of the towne but the townesmeÌ„ were so amazed with feare that no maÌ„ would suffer the gate to be opened nor was moued with the daunger of their friendes holding vppe their suppliant hands vnto the walles to saue their liues But as the Frenche had become victors through the vnskilfulnesse and cowardise of theyr enimies so through their fatall slouth knewe they not how fully to vse the victory For Persiue lost the occasion offered to destroy the Horsemen perhappes bycause not surueyng round about the vtter â—iâ—châ—s the situation of the towne he brought his power only â—nto the broade gréene that lay before the towne wondering
pace it â—â—â—â—ed that the foreward of the Frenchmen wherein were v. C. men of armes and the regiments of the Switzers vnder the coÌ„ducte of Charles de Amboise and Iohn Iames de Triulzi were vppon a sodaine gotten very neare vnto the rerewarde of the Venetians ledde by Barthlomew de AluiaÌ„ wherein were eight hundred men of armes and almost all the beste footemen of the whole army but in no very good array bycause AluiaÌ„ did not thinke that day to fight But when he sawe his ennimies so neare vnto him whether incited by his wonted heate or for that he was broughte into that state that he muste needes fight incontinently signifyed vnto the Earle of Petilia who marched before with the vauntgarde either his necessitie or purpose requesting hym to come to his aide to whome the earle answered that he should marche on and shunne the conflicte for so both the reason of the warre required and so the Senate of Venice also willed But in the mean tyme Aluian placing his footemen with fixe great peeces on a little bay made to let the course of a certaine brooke then dry which ran betwene the two armies gaue a chardge at his enimies wyth suche violence and valor that he disordered them being holpen herein bicause the fight was begunne among certayne Vineyardes where the FrenchmeÌ„ could not for the vines redily vse their horse but this perill caused the king to come forward with the strength of the army and thervpon the auauntgarde and the middle battell charged on the souldiours of Aluian who hauyng conceyued greate hope of victory through the happy beginning flewe about hether and thether in kindling and inciting his souldiours wyth most vehemeÌ„t words and very fiersly fought they on both sides the Frenchmen taking againe heart of grasse through the succour of their fellows and also the battell being broughte into an open place where they might freely vse their horses wherein they did farre ouermatche besides they were not a little inflamed by the presence of the King who taking no more care of himselfe than if he had bin a priuate souldiour lay open to the daunger of the ordinaunce and cessed not where need was to commaund encourage and threaten his souldiors On the other side the Italians being made hardy by the first successe fought with incredible valiancie neither failed Aluian in doing in any â—â—nction of a very excellent souldiour and chieftaine At length when they had fought about iij. hours with singular valiaÌ„cy the Venetian power hauing receiued in the plaine and champaine field a great flaughter and discomfiture by the horsemen and also the ground being made so slippery by a great shoure of raine which fel whilest they fought that the footmen coulde â—et no fast footing especially being destitute of the succor of their felows began to fight with great incoÌ„moditie yet neuerthelesse wheÌ„ they fought with passing prowes although now hope of victory was lost rather for glory thaÌ„ for safety made the victory bloudy for a time doubtfull but at the laste their strength being rather loste than their courage auailed they neuer turning their backs were slaine where they stoode among whom Peter one of the house of the Marquesses of Monte Sanmaria in Tofcan a captain of a regiment of footemen was much coÌ„mended This so stout valor of but one only part of the army bred a constant opinion in many mens minds that if the whole army of the Venetians had entred the battell they had horne away the victory But the erle whether bicause as he stayed himself wheÌ„ he turned about to fight he was impeched by the fleing battel of Aluian or as the reporte went for that he had no hope of victory and was very angry that Aluian durst fight contrary to his coÌ„maundement and had thought it better to haue that part of the army to be conserued than the whole loste through anothers rashnesse he kepte the greatest parte of the army from fighting In this battell were few horsemen loste the greatest flaughter lighted on the footemen of the Venetians wherof some say there were viij M. slaine other but only vj. M. on both sides Bartholmewe Daluian was broughts prisoner vnto the kings Tente with one of his eyes and his face sore brused and made blacke and blewe twenty péeces of great ordinaunce were taken the rest of the army escaped no man pursuing them In the place where this battell was fought the French king built a Chappell which he called Sancta Maria victoria After this ouerthrowe the Venetians were easily spoyled of almost all the Cities that they possessed in the maine land of Italy ¶ The Battell of Rauenna fought in Italy betvvene Gascon of Foix Duke of Nemours generall for the Frenche king Lewes the twelfth and Reymund de Cardonna viceroy of Naples general for the king of Spayn and Iulius the Pope Anno. 1512. GAscon of Foix Generall of the armye in Italy of Lewes the French King against the Pope hauyng intelligence that the power of the Spaniardes and the Pope were coÌ„ming accordyng vnto their promise to succour Marke Anthony de Colonâ—a besieged by hym in Rauenna fearyng the irruption of Marke Anthony brake vp the siege and withdrewe thrée miles froÌ„ the town towards the army of the league and that night making a bridge ouer the riuer of Ronco digging downe leuell the bankes of the Riuer that the souldiours might in all places passe ouer more easily the eleuenth day of Aprill being Ester day the Almaine footemen passed ouer the Riuer by the bridge but all the souldiers of the forewarde and middle battell thorough the Forde the rerewarde ledde by the Lord Iuo de Alegres in the whiche were foure hundreth men of armes remayned on the banke of the Riuer towardes Rauenna that if needs should be they might aide the army or else bridle the garrison and townsmen of Rauenna if they hapned to sally out but to kepe the bridge which had before ben built vpon Montone he left Paris Scot wyth one thousand footemen which being done thus he aranged his battels the vauntguarde before whome went the great ordinaunce consisting of seuen hundred men of armes and Almaine footemen vnder the leading of the Duke of Ferrara and the Seneschall of Normandie was placed on the banke of the riuer which was on their right hand so that the footemen did flanke the lefts wing of the horsemen Nere to the footemen of the auauntgard were set the footmen of the mindâ—le â—â—â—tâ—ll all being right thousand parte Gascoignes and parte of other Countreys of Fraunce the captaine of this battel was Alegres Then further from the banks of the riuer stoode the rerewarde who were Italian footemen in number v. thousand conducted by Federicke de Bozzolo This battell was flanked by all the Archers on horsebacke and the light horsemen beeing in number thrée thousande Behynde all these battailes which stoode not directly one before another but embowed like vnto a Croisaunt or
béeyng dismayde wyth the vnlooked for reuolting of Sacranoro Visconti who kepte aboute him at Milane a great number of desperate vnthriftes as well of the nobilitie as other ioyned with the first company of the Switzers and wente to Nouara there to exspect farre from priuie awaytes and Treason the conunyng of the rest of the Switzers The Frenche power came before the Towne of Nouara but when they had intelligence that the second companye of the Switzers were at hande and also that Altosaxe was at Galarita they withdrewe to a place called RIOTTA twentye furlongs from Nouara néere to the Riuer of Mora. But as soone as euer the seconde companye of the Switzers hadde entred the Towne and broken their fast the Captayne 's assembled togyther to consulte what was best to be done where Craffe the Haman of Zurich rising vppe sayde I besieche you inuincible bréethren suffer not the exployte that ye haue wyth valiaunte heartes determined to bée corrupted through the vntymely staying for Altosaxe and his companye for the safest and happiest way to good successe will doubtlesse fall out to be only by celeritie Neyther néede we that are rightly and valiauntly resolued ought else than spéedie execution least we may nothing couragiously fayle vnto so great occasion whych is offered vnto vs to put vs in hope of a fayre daye whyche yet may be preuented by a light momente of tyme for yee a fewe bandes of inuincible valor will be ynough to oppresse the enimies whylest they thynke we wyll attempt nothing before Altosaxe bée ioyned wyth vs let vs therefore vse their error and by an vnloked for onset bring suddayne terror not without assured slaughter and flight into the heartes of the enimie puft vp with vnaduised pride and erronious opinion doubtlesse we haue alredy vanguished if the victorie conceyued and assured by this honorable deuise and counsell be presently pursued by fearelesse heartes and valiaunt armes Craffe had no sooner ended his spéeche but all the Captaynes and ensigne bearers without stay assented vnto him and grauely consulted vppon the manner how to attache the battell wherevpon the Souldyers were commaunded to refresh their bodyes with meate and rest and to repaire vnto the ensignes after the secōd watch then the Captayns should tel thē before the dawning what they would haue done Now whilest all mens mindes were musing on the euent of the future fight the Sunne was now going downe beholde a wonderful chance hapened al the frēchmēs dogges forsaking their Camp entred Nouara in one great troupe and began to licke the handes and legges of the Switzers that warded and wagging their tayles and laying downe their eares fawned now vpon one and thē vpon another of them as though they were now become their Maisters or shortly after should But the Switzers to the end they might make a shew that they meant some other thing than that they intended indéed commaunded the Drummes to be sounded all the whole night now in this part of the Citie and nowe in that to make the espyes if there were any in the Citie to beléeue that they would issue out of the Towne and thereby kéepe their enimies who they knewe had bin in armour all the whole day on Horsebacke armed also all the night long But they commaunded all their owne men to strengthen their bodyes wyth fléepe and to stay for day that euery man might in the cléere lighte shewe his valor with a noble contention for honor For these are the most seuere lawes of the Switzers that whosoeuer shall in the sight of the armie doe things for feare whiche are shamefull and vnméete for valiaunt menne shall be incontinently slayne by their nexte fellowes so that the greater feare doth ouercome the lesse and for doubt of a shamefull death an honorable death is not feared Now a little before it was light the Captayne 's chose out of all their armie whiche was about nine thousand footemen one thousande men of approued prowesse who should haue the charge of eyghte falkons and accompany Maximilian and his Horsemen who were very fewe but of the chiefe of the nobilitie The rest dyd cast themselues into two battels and marched all whyst without sounde of Drumme towardes their enimies two diuers wayes But Triuulzi who although he were accompted a Captayne of approued and beaten wisedome yet thoughte nothing lesse than that a few and those weary footemen woulde before Altosaxe were come issue out against a very strong power or attempt any thing touching the fortune of the battell When he vnderstoode that the enimies power was in syght reyseth vp Tremouille and the rest of the Captaynes commaundeth the signals to be sounded the ordinance to be placed against the enimie and all things that he hadde learned by experience and discipline to be administred according to the necessity of the perill The shortenesse of the tyme was suche and the heartes or the enimies so ready to fighte that the Frenche horsemen had scarse tyme to bridle their horses and put on their heade peeces as they which had stoode a greate parte of the day and night in armour attending what shoulde bee commaunded them and at length thoughe very late when newes was broughte that all was quiet at Nouara had gotte them into their cabines to take their reste But the light horsemen as men sooner ready in good time enoughe ranne forth with a very long wing stretched towards the lefte hande and mette with the thousande Switzers as they were commyng who that they mighte auoide the greate ordinaunce that nowe tempested vppon them marched towardes the riuer of Mora fetching a little compasse aboute and then minded to passe ouer the riuer by a bridge and set vppon the backes and tentes of the enimies Thus the Switzers marching on towardes the bridge in a broade waye beganne to be torne in peeces with the ordinaunce whych flanked them on the side and to be vehemently pressed by the horsemen But then Mottine wyth vnappalled hearte altered hys counsell and willed Maximilian who was in great danger the Epirotes insulting roūd about him to depart out of the fight and incontinently to returne vnto the Citie that so he might keepe the heade of the warres which then laye open vnto the acerbitie of fortune for to enioye the noble hoped victory But when hee nobly refused so to doe and with constant hearte desired that he might be suffered to take the chaunce of common fortune two pety Captaines and so manye ensigne bearers tooke his horse by the bridle and pulling off the crest from his helmet and casting about hym an olde cloke to bide his coate armoure ledde him out of the field forcing him to returne vnto the citie with a troupe of horsemen that hee beyng a daungerlesse beholder of their prowesse myghte there exspecte the newes of speedy victory Mottine being thus deliuered of that wofulnesse relieth his swaying battell which had nowe lest thrée of their Falkons wythdraweth the wounded into
the middes of the battell and with greate force beates backe the insulting Epirotes and slaying Alexio Bosigno a noble Geeke their captain â—â—ite defeateth them And with the same fease is also carryed into the ennimyes Campe and there the drudges and stragglers beeing slayne and the Souldiours of the station disordered tooke the carriages and baggage But a little before these thynges were doone by Mottine an other company takyng a longer iourneye thoroughe the Corne fieldes then growen vppe and thereby receyuing small hurte by the ordinaunce had charged the syde of the enimye The Frenche power was deuided into three battailes Tremouille and De la Marche hauyng the leadyng of the wyngs and Trivulzi of the middle battayle and the Batallion of the Lancequenetz hadde gotten them within a ditche betweene the battailes of the horsemenne bycause theyr Trenche beeyng of a newe and wounderfull workemanshippe inuented by Roberte de la March for to enclose them agaynste the chaunce of battayle coulde not bee pitched and sette vp in that suddayne commyng of the ennimie Vppon this Esquadron of the Almaynes the Switzers brynging about their battell towardes the right hande courageously tourned them selues for that they vnderstoode the victorye woulde bee easely obtained after they had once defeated the chiefest force of their enimies armye The Frenche Captaynes seeyng this incontinentely commaunded the greate ordinaunce to bee shotte off vppon them the rankes to bee broken thoroughe wyth greate slaughter and anone after the menne of armes also vehemently charged them on the lefte syde In this tumulte the Amans of Berne and Zuche were slaine yet the Souldiours nothyng appalled wyth their Captaines deathes neyther with their owne perill nor the horrible slaughter of their fellowes gathering their strength togither do cast them selues into a ring and wyth greate valoure doe propell the horsmen and straightway as they had before determined passing ouer the ditche set vppon the Almaines Whervppon incontinently began a bloudye and cruell fight yea and that without either wordes or noise on eyther side sauyng onlye an horrible clashyng of armour and weapons and the softe sighes of them that fell downe deade The Almaines that they mighte reuenge the slaughter of their countreymen the laste yeare at Pauia and now by newe renowne redeme the glory of warfare lost fourteene yeares before at Bruderholtz in the confines of Basill foughte very fiercely But the Switzers that they myght yet one daye quite destroye their olde and peculiar enimies fellowes that had runne out of Germanie and serued the Frenche Kyng in reproche of the Emperour were no whitte behind either in strength or feruencie of courage But whilest the Switzers and Almaines thus fought at push of pike newes was brought vnto Trivulzi and Tremouille that the baggage was taken those that were appoynted to kéepe the Campe slayne and all places fylled full of tumulte and slaughter The fame whereof so troubled the Frenchemens myndes that a greate parte of the horsemen euery man being carefull for his bagge and baggage ranne thither without commandement to recouer the praye Also in another quarter almoste at the same instant the third companye or battell of the Switzers shewed themselues at the fronte of the Frenchemen which battell whilest the Frenchmen hadde in vayne shotte off their ordinance into the woodde that stoode béefore them by reason the Switzers to deceiue the ennimies had politikely lefte among the trees certayne vnprofitable drudges to make a shewe of armed men hadde crepte along by a syde way by little and little stoupyng and traylyng theyr pykes after them And nowe so greate was their contempt of the flying bullets and so terrible their chardge that the Frenche and Nauarrine footmen their Captaine Beamont being slayne and twoo bandes of Genouese and Salucians were quickly defeated and also their ordinaunce taken and tourned on the backs of them that fled When the reste of the horsemen sawe the greate ordinaunce gotten by the enimie in whome the Frenchemen hadde in all warres reposed more truste than in theyr armes and prowesse that the Almaines were nowe almoste quite destroyed their tents taken the enimie ouerthrowing all now large lords of the field betwene shame and feare they tourned their backes When all men were thus dismayed the Captaines themselues were fearlesse enough considering the fearefulnesse of the state and went about to rallye the rankes that were disordered and turned them selues towardes the dissonant cries of their own fellowes made them to abide and fighte encouraged the petye Capitaines and ensigne bearers to put away feare and so long to susteine a fewe pesants of weary vnarmed and nowe weakened wyth woundes vntill the lighte armed had enclosed them The Lansquenetz beare the brunt of the battell and the fight is repaired in all places But the horsemen being nothing moued wyth the wordes of the encouraging and commaunding captaines shamefullye flye For the Switzers althoughe their Captaine Mottine were slaine by a péece of ordinaunce yet hauing gotten the Campe did al bloudy fiercely inuade the lefte side of the horsemen and on the righte syde and on the back a greater power with terrible pikes did very sharply vrge the affrighted and disordered horsemen There perished in repairing the fielde Monfalcon Captaine of the Duke of Albanies companye of horsmen and Coriolano Trivulzi a yong Gentleman of singular hope But the Almaines who leesing halfe their men and two ensignes and their Generall Floranges greeuously hurte had foughte very constantly a long time Nowe when they sawe themselues to bee forsaken by the horsemen and the reste of the footemen in all quarters to be defeated and the great ordinaunce taken thinking that flight was shamefull and yet nothing safe did set the points of their weapons vpright accordyng vnto their manner and yeelded themselues seeking mercye of the victor enimys In this grieuous vproare Robert de la March Lorde of Cedan attached with impotent sorow to see his two sonnes the lords Floranges and Gemese enclosed by the enimye and almoste in desperate daunger of life burst in euen into the midst of his enimies battell wyth a troupe of horsemen and toke them vppe lying among the dead bodyes miserably berayed and embrued wyth the bloude of their woundes and being halfe dead layde them ouerthwarte the neekes of two horses like vnto twoo cloke bagges and thus wyth singular praise bothe of fatherly pitie and warlike prowesse he caried them away preseruing their liues to purchase renowne in future and more fortunate fieldes Thus the Switzers fighting in thrée companyes or battells within an houre and an halfe dyspatched and finished a famous battell and a moste weyghtye warre Neyther yet althoughe the Switzers sawe so many of their enimies lye slaine before their face canne they once to the spoyle notwithstanding that precious furniture of household and al the baggage of the riche army did allure their minds for they remembring their country discipline which doth not permitte them to take anye armed man prisoner in the
being opprossed when they could ueyther beack through in the front beeyng drged by the men of armes nor not giue barke their fellowed behinde thrusting them forwarde theâ— brake their arraye and flew out side long vpon both the wings of the Lithuanians and there as one tyme attached two encounters in dyuers places yea and the same tyme also the horsemen who as wee tolde you were seâ—e by Basill at the backe of the Polonians throughe the hidden valley with â—â—deous cry and great sounde of trumpets that they myght seeme the greater number iâ—uaded the Polonians on the 〈◊〉 which being once perceiued tertaine captaines valiant men amongst whom was the Palatine Polosky notwithstanding Constantine had straightly commaunded them not to stirre out of their places nor to sight without his coÌ„maundement Yet thinking that in sodaine and daungerous chaunces of sight all things are not to be done according to streight prescript but the present occasion of things muste bee encountered since they coulde not then runne to aske the Generalls counsell bycause hee fought busily aâ—me other quarter nor in any case in that shortnes of time certifye hym thereof turned the esquadron of the footemen on the enimies The esquadron beeyng by their array immoueable and strong although they hadde receyued some detriment by the arrowes yet notwithstanding discharging all their harquebusters togither at once by that tempest of pellets staying the forâ—oÌ„branks of the enimy came to their pikes and halbards and by their impulse and valoâ— repulsed the enimie When the horsemen being empeached with their multitude could not gette out to spreade abroade themselues and trauerse their grounde they â—usteyned the sight in that streight and throng wyth greats slaughter There when the sight wared hâ—t yâ—e might haue séene man and horse thâ—uâ—t thorough with a stroke other ouerthrowen and great heapes of slaine men lying euery where and all places silled with the bloud and grouings of dying mâ—n But in another quarter Constantine hauing disordered the ranks of the enimie and almoste quite destroyed Michaels horsemen was nowe come vnto the middle battel and atâ—aching a sharpe encounter had disordered the foâ—â—ndste rankes with his violente charge and slaughter When Basill distrusting of the midle battel and his own streÌ„gth gaue backe but yet turned not his face as one that expected the supreame euâ—nt thinking verily that the horsemen which he had sent before to inuâ—de the Pulâ—uiam oâ—r the backe woulde strike a soddaine and therefore the greater feare into the heartes of the Polonians neyther foreseeing nor distrusting any suche vnlooked for inuasion But the footemen that deseated them tourning their rankes and comming wyth speedy pace vppon the battell of succour brake all the reste of his hope and hearte So that Basill departing out of the battell with a troupe of noble horsemen fled amaine vppon the spurre whom that battell incontinently followed whiche we shewed you was placed at the hill for a succour being not once able to abide no not the looke of the bloudye and victorious footemen Then folowed a foule flight all the field ouer but yet the middle battell with greate constancy receiued the enimie that egrely vrged For Basil had placed al the armed and valiantest Souldiors of the whole host about the ensignes and in the front of that battell So that they fought long with variable fortune and moste egre and fierce contention on eyther side and diuers Polonian horsmen of marke and two yong noble men were there slaine as they ouer hotly ranne their horses into the thicke battell of the enimye At the length the Lithuanians and footemen after they had defeated them with whome they had encountred came also vppon them from diuers partes with furious force the Moscouits before they should be constrained to sight also behinde thought beste to prouide for themselues by speedy flight The Polonians victors winning the enimies campe got a greate and riche pray by the kings furniture and fiue thousand horses They slew aboue seuen thousand men Michaell also and certayne other famous captaines were taken whome with the ensignes that were taken King Sigismunde afterward in triumphant maner brought bounde into Vilne After this fortunate sight Constantine besieged Smolencho but not with the lyke fortune for Basil had in his flight sent thether certayne companies of horsmen and strengthned the Towne wyth a newe garrison thinkyng that if they coulde sustaine the firste assauites of the enimy that then the Polonians being excluded by the time of the yeare wold neuer once minde to besiege it for thys battell was fought the eyght day of September When Constantine perceyued that the winnyng of it was harder than he had hoped neither would the nature of the very cold countrey suffer the Souldiors to lye abroade in the field he despayring to atchieue thys enterprise reduced his army home agayne ouer the riuer of Boristhenes ¶ The Battell of Chois in Armenia the greate fought the fifte of August in anno 1514. betweene Selym the greate Turke and Ismaell the Sophy of Persiae WHen Selym the greate Turke in reuenge of the wrong done hym by Jsmaell the Sophy in marying hys daughter vnto Amurathes his enimy and the banished sonne of his brother Achomates and also in aiding hym wyth a power to inuade Cappadocia had entred Armenia the Sophy although hée nothyng at all suspecting any inuasioÌ„ of the Turke that yere had sent the greatest parte of his power against the Coraxenes â–ª yet to saue the beautifull and pleasaunt towne of Chois from sacking encamped within sight of the Turke and reposing great trust both in the hardynesse of his souldiors and also in his owne good fortune thought it beste to the end he might strike the greater terror into his enimies harts not to defer the tyme but roundly to ioyne in battell with them and incontinently sente an Heralde vnto Selym and with hym certaine men of warre who should diligently viewe what kinde and howe greate the army of the enimies was howe manye péeces of ordinance hée had and what the forme of theyr Campe was But they should do this message vnto Selym that Armenia was assuredly the Persians neither had there euer béen any contention betwene the Turkes and them for it and therfore he maruelled why he was come into that prouince with an enimious army But if perhaps be emulating the antieÌ„t prowesse of Alexander the Macedon thought that so much land of right was hys as victory and fortune by encroching armes should get him that then he should make hymselfe ready and euen the nexte daye trye what his owne and other mens power was able to do Selym answered therevnto that apparant iniuries were in freshe memory Wherfore the Othomannes might iustly take armes against the Persians both his grandfather Mahomet and Cassen his vncle in tyme paste and nowe of late his father Baiazet and hymâ—â—â— also whilest he was oppugned with the armes of his brother Achomates had receyued of the Persians both very
deliuered and ridde of the greatest feare and mightiest daunger and séemed to haue nobly susteined men of so greate valor yet being hofull for the feare that remayned and as it were the laste care exspected the ende of the troublesome night and vncertaine fortune Neyther did he giue greater reste vnto his bodye whiche was wearyed with the weight of his armour and was scortched for thirste and continuall toile than pulling vppe his beauer to take breath leane a little while vppon a greate péece of ordinance whilest that his horse was chaunged And then incontinently tourning to the charges of a chieftaine sent vnto Liuiano to come vnto hym wyth his armye and anone drewe in and made his Campe lesse After that the deuise hadde béene liked of the Captaynes to whome he had imparted it and bycause that the enimy professed the place where his fore warde had stoode he placed within a better defenced plot aboue sixe thousande Almaines at the banke of the ditche and commaunded them to guard the ordinance which he had commodiously planted there in greate abundaunce And in another quarter he ioyned a great number of horsemen with himselfe and willed Burbon and Alencen to admoue the firste and thirde battells vnto his side wyth equall order and front so that hée standing full butte against the enimy did as the place required stand in stéede of the fore warde and vsed the two other battells placed on his lefte and right sides as it were for wings Neyther farre from that place had Nauarro and a greate multitude of Almaines encamped pitching downe their ensignes in the grounde bycause when the battell was broken off by the going downe of the Moone they coulde learne neither the forme of the Campe nor the kings counsell and purpose The King that hée might viewe with his owne eyes howe the ditches stoode and how broade the fielde that laye betwéene them and the highe waye was roade foorth with a few horsemen within the sight of the enimy and anone the darke vanishing by little and little into the dawning the King went to encourage the Almaines whome being erected by greate promises he adhorted to finish the battell by fighting a little while and to take the rewards of victory alredy gotten He also full of assured hope and couragiousnesse vehementely enkindeled them by rehearsing the iniuries and discomfitures that the Switzers had don and giuen the Almaines rather through the benefit of fortune and the greate aduantages of times and places than by true prowesse Wherefore they shoulde persuade themselues that this was the proper and ready occasion to reuenge the Massacre of their kinsfolks and fellowe Souldiours and also the meane for to shewe by valiaunt actes that as the Almaines did excell them in nobilitie and faithfulnesse so neyther woulde they graunt vnto these clownes the martiall glory for valor and skil in armes And also vsing the like spéeche he adhorted the French horsemen not to degenerate from their forefathers who had in former ages excelled all nations for seruice on horsbacke Neyther were the batells ranged among the Switzers with lesse hope courage although the greatest parte of the souldiors as they had with diuers chaunces lodged in sundry places ye within the munitiōs of the enimy being refreshed with no succour of meate did hardly with fierce hartes susteine their fainting limmes For the victuals that by the procuremēt of Gonzaga shold be brought from Milan in so shorte time namely in the night seasō which doth cōmonly hinder hast in all doings could not bée brought vnto them timely enough made redy And also most of them when their breakefaste was offered vnto them anone after the breake of the day being called to the battell by the noise of the drummes and the roaring of the ordinance left their meate desired before and also néedefull to repaire their strength At the beginning dyuers Capitaynes assembled togyther among whom was Haisler Focte a famous mā for the honor of his age and the cognisaunces of his office and Chezze Amman who had serued in the fieldes aboue forty yeares pety Captayne ensigne bearer Captaine in chiefe and had wonne singular praise in the forefront at that famous battel at Nancey in the which the Switzers slue and destroyed Charles the Duke of Burgongne and al his power These men whether adduced by consideration of the greate losse that they had receyued or hauing intelligence of the departure of diuers of their fellows and also now séeing through the benefit of the light the greate disaduauntage of the places iudged it to be beste to abstaine from battell thinking that they had gotten estimation ynoughe by yesterdayes encounter for to breake the hauty heartes of the Frenchemen But after they had gone aboute in vaine to stay by dissuading praiers the ensignes which were now aduanced foreward and to retein them by standing against them in the way they should goe they also yéelded vnto the fate and wilfulnesse of the souldiours So Rafe Segne Visembach of Vnderwalden Vlderick Iock Zambron desperate captains of singular valour ordering among them selues how they would attache the battell made towardes the enimy in two companies or battells The formost and greatest battallion wherein was placed the ensigne of the Canton of Zurich the whyche is of highest dignitie among the Switzers hasted directly agaynste the Kings battel the which we told you stood in the mids The other company which had stoode vpon the right hand a little beneath the houses of the village that was burnt fetching a greater circuit about began to bende towardes Alencon the Captaine of the rereward for this entent that when the auaunt guarde had turned the king and the strength of the French army vpon them they might with furious charge sette vpon the side of Alencon who was entrenched with weaker munitions and defenced wyth lesse guard and his battell being broken through they myght perce into the syde of the lefte wing and the backe of the kings battell But vnto an other multitude of their fellowes who were encamped in a fielde on the lefte hande on this side the high way they appointed no certaine charge of attaching fighte bycause they were thought to consist of Cantons being of small fidelitie but did sette them thrée hundreth paces from the reste ouer right against the right wing wherein Trivulzi and Burbon gouerned When the Switzers had gone forwarde an arrowes shoote the Frenchemen in continently at one instant time shooting off all the kings ordinaunce vpon them slue so many of them with singular celeritie that they whiche hadde taken counsell of foolishe hardinesse were punished for their rashenesse before that they coulde come to hande strokes yea or approche vnto their enimies Now since this chaunce had caused an horrible wastenesse and slaughter in the middes of the Switzers so that there was no longer one body of their battallion their rankes being torne parte of them that feared the second volée began to
turne their backes and to retire but parte despising the ordinance againe gaue a chardge vppon the enimies and with more constant valor and desperatenesse than euer they they had vsed before giuing and takyng many woundes passed the ditch and encountering with the Lansquenetz and the kings horsemen did many actes of sauadge prowesse for when Trivulzi and Burbon stretching out in length their wing and fetching a compasse about with their horsmen had charged their lefte side they were forced to fight with double front But the Launsquenetz who had in this moste sharpe encounter loste their stoutest Capitaines Iames Condey Henry Ricurt and Saxey beying madâ—â— for anger and griefe did valiauntly sette forwarde and repressed their violence and with the shotte of their harquesses tumbled from his horse Pontinâ—r one of greate renowne among the Capitaines of the Switzers for the tallenesse of his stature and the valiauntnesse of his harte as he roade vnto the rankes and encouraged his souldiours with a loude voice and vsed reprochfull wordes againste the Almaines who in the fight of the Switzers annointed their bloudy pikes in the tallow grease of his mighty and fatte body that ranne out at his wide woundes which thing is accompted among the Barbarians in deadly hatreds for a verye graue ceremony of reuengefully acquited There also Zambron and Anty Eucher menne of strong courage and terrible stature while that they guided wyth singular skill mightye twoo hand-swordes in the middes of the Almaine batallion cutting off a greate number of these pikes and slaying many of their enimies were at the laste oppressed when all the whole battell turned vppon them Then also was Chezze Amman slaine hys horse being firste killed and hâ—â—â— himselfe also shotte in with thrée arrowes a man who being of that yeares had by encouraging and fighting many houres coÌ„mitted the duty neyther of a very good capitayn nor a moste valiant souldiour where as the rest of the Captaines that I spake of had died before that they came to fight with the enimy being for he into péeces with the ordinaunce And when Iohn Berre the ensigne bearer of the Baâ—â—lians being wearied wyth many woundes was not able any longer to kéepe the ensigne hée pulled it off from the â—â—aâ—â—e and tore it into very smal péeces that hys enimies might not gaine it and then dyed Moreouer in the meane â—â—â—e the seconde battell whiche wée tolde you deâ—â—ected vnto Alencon inferred so greate â—â—rror vnto the rerewarde that the horsemen for a greate parte Monsieur Beaument their ensigne bearer being slaine at the firste méeting toâ—rned their backes and fledde a maine on the spurre towardes Ledy which caused the Pesants and many espies that were in the fields seing the French horsemen fleing among the cariages to write vnto all partes of Italy that the Frenche King was discomfited and the Switzers had gotten the victory And doubtlesse the FrenchmeÌ„ in the quarter had â—en brought into very great danger if that Emar Prieus and the Lord Obegney capitaines of singular experience who were wyth Alencon raryng them that fledde rolying the ensignes and casting the Souldiours into a ring had not borne the â—runt of the fight with surpassing paine and toile And also Liuiano was a greate succoure vnto the disordered who with a company of noble men of armes came before the reste of his power whiche folowed after And as hée was a man gready of fight and to doe some feare encoraging his horsemen to folow him without doubting or staying so he gaue a charge ouerthwart the side of his enimyes whom two bandes of Switzers turning their ensignes receyued very couragiously and wounding many and slaying Capino the sonne of the Earle of Petilia a yong Gentleman of passyng towardlinesse did repell farre from them the hotely vrging horsemen Yet that company of Switzers bring more terrified by hys comming than hys power for that they thought all the whole power of the Venetians who were indeede neare were already come beganne to prouide for their safety for some of them being quite speÌ„t with werinesse woundes thirste and sweate gotte them into the Gardens that neare adioyned where a greate parte of them were slayne when that the horsmen were sent ofter them yea from the kings battell other retiring into the nexte village after they had long time defended themselues at the gate walls vnder the conduct of Tuler Cefuse a very valiant captain at the last being won and vanquished with the ordinance and fire most cruelly perished but other being despersed and fleing backe vnto the greatest companye or battell of their fellows the horsemen chasing them in those very large and open fieldes had ben wholy destroyed if that by the aduise and valor of certayne olde souldiors who in that frowning of fortune being mindefull of discipline neuer failed vnto themselues and their fellowes they had not retired vnto their fellows that were on this side the ditches and high way in a thicke Esquadron Almoste at the very same time the thirde battell of the Switzers the which we shewed you had stoode ouer right against Trivulzo and Burbon eyther bycause they sawe the iniquitie and disaduauntage of the battell or else were adduced by detestable counsell for that they had rather satisfy their faction and hatred than publike necessity in being beholders of the slaughter and prowesse of othermen beganne to retire wyth their ensignes towardes Milan neyther woulde they as men thoroughly attached with feare once come into the battell to fight the whych yet they were almoste forced to do seing that they had all the lyght horsmen in sight were often shot at with the great ordinaÌ„ce which beyng politikely hidden behinde the horsemen were at the laste when the troupes had opened at the sounde of the trumpet often shotte off in the voide spaces Therefore when the reste of the Switzers whome wee lefte fyghtyng at the Kyngs battell inflamed with fury and wrath kepte their grounde rather by obstinacy of hearte than strength and sawe other freshe regimentes of Launsquenetz to whom the light hadde not yet come ready to come vppon them they despairing of the victory sounÌ„ded the retreite for a little before they had receyued a greate detriment at the ditch being maruellously endomaged from the higher ground by an innumerable multitude of arrowes shotte by the Gascoignes Arcubalisters who being placed harde by the harquebusters that the one might haue time to chardge their harquebusses and the other to bende their crosse bowes did so shoot off one after another by hundrethes with mutuall running backe that the battell of the Switzers being ouerwhelmed with the continuall haile of the shotte were without reuenge beaten down they in vaine séeking succour of prowesse and valor The battell being thus broken off when that Rosty Ronne Anglarde and the other Capitaynes coulde not succour so greate and so drsordered a multitude by admonishment and commaunding them what they should doe nor easily doe the dueties of captains the
the formost munitions The third day when the Mamaluches were in the very pitch of the perill of all their whole state and all that euer they had which thing is wont to augment the supreme enterprises endeuours and hartes of all men they renued the fight wyth such surpassing valor that they droue the Turks a great way backe and intercepted certaine of their falcons Which chaunce they saye made Selym to dispaire of the victory and then he commaunded the houses to be set on fire in all places he being also impelled vnto that heinous and cruell proclamation almoste by iuste wrath conceyued against the Aegiptians bycause that a little before Innusbassa had bin gréeuously wounded in the heade in Selyms sight with a stone throwen out at a windowe Now were the houses light on fire now was heard the houling of the wéeping and suppliauntly entreating Aegiptians and new the Turkes fightyng somewhat faintly expected that the retraite shoulde bée sounded when sée newes was brought by many men at once that in another quarter the Mamaluches being beaten from their ground and defeated by vrging Mustaphas had reposed their laste refuge in running away for Mustaphas through the intimation of certaine Aegiptians and fugitiue Mamaluches had come vnto a very large streate where the Mamaluches had sette their horses ready bridled and sadled that if any ill chaunce happened they might haue recourse thither and taking their horses flée vnto those nexte places whither they had determined to go He got all those horses and ledde them awaye hauing chased their guarde the which as in a parte of the Citie that they did nothing suspect was very weake consisting wholy of boyes and horse kéepers This thing as it commonly happeneth in waighty and vnlooked for chaunces did maruellously wraken their valour and impression Wherefore when hope of flight was taken awaye and they perceyued them selues to be enclosed rounde aboute and that the fight was susteined by none other hope and by none other helpe and aide than prowesse they being vanquished by their own confession turned their backs Many hasting vnto Nilus with Tomumbey who had in vaine tried all artes of valiauncy wisedome and deuise that hée might not be vanquished in this battell passing ouer the riuer by boate wente into the region of Seiectica Another multitude hidde themselues in the houses of the Aegiptians and in moste shameful lurking dennes But aboue a thousande and fiue hundreth of the valiauntest of the Mamaluches fledde vnto the greatest Temple in all the Citie where after that they hadde long time defended them selues as oute of a Castell bycause they woulde not yéelde but vppon honourable conditions at the laste beyng vanquished by thirste wearinesse woundes and ordinaunce they yéelded themselues vnto the will and pleasure of the victor A part of them were slaine presentlye before the Churche by the angrye Souldiours Selym winking thereat and parte were certaine dayes after caried downe the Riuer to Alexandria When the victory enclined Selym sent two bands to put out the fires and also sending aboute cryers throughout al the Citie caused proclamation to be made that all the Mamaluches that would come in and yéelde them selues within twelue houres should haue no hurt but all found after that time should die for it and also that hée woulde giue rewardes vnto all those Aegiptians that woulde diselose the Mamaluches that lurked and contrariwise incontinently sticke them that had hidden any and selling their wiues and children burne their houses Vppon the brute of this proclamation a great number of them came abroad who were straightway put in yrons and also afterward all moste cruelly slain in prison for that they were said to haue practised an escape But diuers that wold not violate the rights of friendship and faith by bewraying their freÌ„ds being accused by their neighbors suffred losse of life dying very constantly for their friendes After this the souldiors beyng made fierce through the victory searched all places drewe out all them that were hidden and slew them and also spoyled the Aegiptians their houses and lefte nothing shut and secreate The very same day Gazelles happened to come vnto Caire who had béen sent a litle before into Thebais to leuy Arabians and to hyre aides Then hée séeing the state to bée quite euerted and that hée was able to do no good eyther by hand or counsell came in with thrée Arabian Capitaynes and many horsemen and yéelded himselfe vnto Selym who entertained hym with all his traine very honourably euery man according to hys calling The Battell at Nilus BUt Tomumbey being as ye haue hearde fledds ouer the riuer of Nilus into that region that is called Seiectica which lyeth towards Cyrenaica although he had bene vanquished with so many mischiefes yet be couragiously repaired the wars There had come vnto him a strong crue of Mamaluches from Alexandria who were sent for by letters out of the garrison of the Citie and many also folowed hym in the flight Moreouer the Arabians of Africa repaired vnto hym and also the Moores the inhabitaunts of that country promised hym their good will and healpe yea and sundry Aegiptians of Caire whose houses and housholds had bene spoiled and dishonested by the couetous and lecherous Turks promised that they would raise an insurrection and tumult if that he would spéedily come thither one night that it shold be brought to passe that all the Turkes which were lodged in the houses of the Citie shoulde be sodainely destroyed by the crie and inuasion of all the whole people for the Citizens hauing suffered at their handes all abhominable and enimy like partes coulde not longer abide the iniuries of the most proude and malaperte oppressers They also said that the Turks were brought from a very mighty armye vnto a contemptible number for a greate parte of them were slaine in the baâ—elâ—s at Ihedâ—nia and Câ—â—râ— and almoste all the rest were quite spent with wounds and sickenesse But whilest that Tomumbey was busied about the preparation of these thingâ— Albuchâ—â—â—r the greatest man in of â—â—â—ectiâ—â— for authority landes and richeâ— came vnto Selym eyther that he â—â—gâ—â— auert frâ—â— his countrey and landes the mischief of imminent vâ—â—râ—es or else to winne the victors fauor by treason and certified hiâ—â— of the poâ—â—er and new deuises of Tomumbey and the â—â—tizens of Câ—re The which when Selym vnderstood he caused strong and straight watche and warde to be kept in all partes of the Gitie her câ—â—â—â— manded the suspected Citizenâ—â—o be kept 〈◊〉 the casâ—â—l the 〈◊〉 he hâ—dde casely taken the garrâ—â—â— forsaking it and plated indiuers places all â—loâ—g the riuer of Niluâ—â— greate number of vessels furnished wyâ—â— ordinance and souldiors for to watche and kéepe the farther â—auâ—ke of the riuer But yet he 〈◊〉 iâ—hingâ—â—ith hymsâ—â—â—â— wiâ—â— how greate perilâ— he haâ— fought so often with his most vâ—li â—uâ—vertiâ—â—â—eâ—e and how harde 〈◊〉 thing it woulde be fore hiue to intercept Tomumbey who by sleing into waste and
sharpâ— witted â—nimies most manifestly sée that by stay and tariance our power groweth stronger and strongâ—t and contrariwise that theirs is greatly lessened and also their deuises and endeuours do waxe weake and will be turned into an vncertainty séeing that within these fewe dayes their mony and victuals prouision and the good willes and aides of all men will quite and vtterly faile them Al things surely if we play the wise men wil spéedily fall out fortunate for vs and aduerse for them so that we get vs out of this poundâ— and encampe our selues at large at Binasco that the battell being auoided we may by continuall lingering frustrate the rage and violent fease of these wilde beastes thereby to obtaine assured victory for the Almaines vnlesse I be deceyued will assoone as euer they come out of Pauia demaunde their due wages of the â—eâ—y Captaines as poore men that are almost starued vp for lacke of meate and also wanting all other necessary things neyther will gay glosing and large promises nowe any longer serue their tourne to appease and please their souldiors but present and greate store of gold for ouer and aboue their ferocitie naturally ingrafted their valiaunt seruice wyll not without iuste cause make them insolent and thus they being defrauded and deluded wil either raise vp some sedition or else being contented with the glory of constancie will incontineÌ„tly returne home in so much that I do not despaire but that the reste of them as then which haue nowe deliuered their kinsemen from siege â–ª wil returne into Germany when that no present mony shal be paid them In the meanetime both that priuers that are our friendes wil with more open end euour helpe vs and also Fraunce at hand wil commodiously and abundantly supply al things that the warres shal require Surely your Maiestie hath vanquished if that you will vaÌ„quish by newe and holsome reason your mind which is induced with the vaine praise of perseuerance For it séemeth not to be the part of a wise and good chieftain to séeke glory by 〈◊〉 that may bring dishonor 〈…〉 assured destruction vnder a certaine false or shadowed name of constancie These things were true and so much the greater aucthoritie was in Palice his wordes as he was accompted to by more forward to fighte and more feruent than the rest of the Captains For it did appeare that he had bin adduced not by some doubtful but a most certayne reason for to forsake hys olde wonte and hys naturall iudgement sith that he had before time deserued the name rather of an effectuall and valiant than a lingering doubtful and wary Captaine And also vnto this effect which séemed to be sente out of Clemente the Popes mouth did Albert Pio Erle of Carpi the kings Ambassadour write vnto him from Rome and very diligently and earnestly admonished and counselled him to shun the hazard of vniuersall sight by remouing his campe backe vnto Binasco bycause it séemed that the fease and violence of the freshe and fierce Almain enimie was not to be broken by force but by timely and commodious staying and lingering This also very wel liked Renee of Sauey the kings vncle who as one hofull for the kings safetie had condemned al hazarde of battell But one aboue al other Bioâ—niuet the Admirall who had through his sine wit great arte vigilancie and seruisablenesse gotten hym a most sure and firme place of fauour with the king spake against them that counselled the breaking vp of the siege in company modestly but in priuate and withdrawen talke when hée was alone with the king very vehemently What saith he shall a King of so passing courage and instructed with the surpassing precepts and experimentes of martiall discipline as your Maiestie is be with this roote of dishonor and infamy ruled by Tremouille a man very extreame olde or Galeaze al the sense of bothe whiche mens liuely and spedy vigour and lusty courage thrée score and ten years haue dulled and blunted What and hath not that noble order of fight wherein of late Palice most surmounted now waxed through colde in him by encroching age It is so in very déede in so much that me thought he plaieth to daye the very fond man in counselling that thyng olde man like wherein he himselfe was neuer good nor doth not nowe lende vs the helpe of valiaunt hand the which we do to day néede and he hath bin always â—â—â—â—â—t to 〈…〉 also â—â—sely therein excell among the stoutests But as for Theodoer it is méete that he folow the inclination of his age nature and disposition seyng that he had rather by suspectyng doubtyng and prouydyng that euery thyng whych is far off fall not warely to saue himselfe and your royall army than by fightyng valyauntly and byentryng into the chaunces of wars with not most certaine and infallible euent séeke for and get yea almost an assured victorye What then doth empeach but that I may set against these worne olde men fire hundreth others that haue for valor of courage and their noble actes deserued the name of captains Generall whose noble harts fear neuer entred for it is the vsage maner of French men to vanquish famously when their king is present doth giue them the signall of battell doth encourage them and fight hymself as we haue learned to â—â—ght valiantly fortunately at Tarro vnder the conduct of king Charles at Adda vnder king Lewes and vnder your Maiestie with so great commeÌ„dation at Milan Surely we are not the same men that we haue alwayes béene that is valiant desirous of honour if we do once thinke that we ought to feare least these mighty high rampires these strongly entrenched campes may be expugned and scaled one night as it wer by théeues and cut throate robbers But for Gods sake lette not this dismaiall of a fewe bloudlesse men redounde vnto the ignominie of the Switzers and Almaines that serue your highnesse and the old horsemen who whereas they do vtterly despise and contemne yea in an indifferent field this armie of the enimies leuied vp by sodeyne and hasty musters and choyse and hyred for smal wages do also repose in the fortune name of your roial person who laying apart Maiestie will fight most valiantly of all other the moment of most assured victorie But although the king being suspended with a very sharpe care did very diligently weigh in equall ballance the wordes of his Captaynes yet fortune inclining he followed those counsels which séemed most honourable and most méete for his hie heart But this habite of heartes was among Themperials that not only euery Captaine but also euerye common souldiour did thinke that the victorie was certainely theirs if that they coulâ—e ioyne in battell with the king by anye indifferent means before that he got him thence On the which only occasion of fight among other Pescara was so vehemently bent that whilest he with incredible patience and desire did both daye and
couetously defrauded by the Italian Captaines who did take wages for a great number mâ— than they had in their bandes Finally that he was to hastily forsaken by the thirde battayle of the horsemen And the thirde thing that I note is that all which he had written and namely of this battell he had learned it by the report of the greatest Princes and Captaines themselues whose great frendship and familiaritie he had deserued and gotten that he mighte be able to write the truth in his hystories But in that long and harde studie of honest labour no man did more fréelyâ— and cloquently fauour him than Francis the French king who told him all things with maruellous order and vpright truth of the successe of the warres and namely of this battell first at Marsiles and afterwarde at Nizza with his so greate admiration that those things which were vncertaine and obscure he conferring them with the testimonies of his enimies founde them to be most true and playne ¶ The Battell of Nugas in Hungarie fought in Anno domini 1526. betvvene Solyman the great Turke and Lewes the king of Hungarie ANno domini 1526. Lewes the King of Hungarie hauing intelligence that Solyman the Turke was sette forwarde from Constantinople with a myghtie power to inuade Hungarie sent Legates in vaine vnto all the Princes of Christendome for aide and summoned an armed parliament after their order where the Bishops brought the bands that they were bounde by the tenure of their lands to finde scarce halfe full and also lesse money than they ought But the nobles of the Temporaltie as they that had forgotten the olde discipline of warre and had neuer séene the Campe of the Turkishe kings but vsed to fight by incursions inskirmishes did of a certaine arrogancie naturally ingrafted in their proude heartes so contemne the Turkes that they boasted that they woulde with a small power ouerthrowe and destroye in a pitched fielde yea a mightie armie of Turkes And among all other Paule Tomorrey a Frier Archbishop of Tolosse who in roades had vsed often to skirmish was caried with so great fiercenesse of minde and so great desire of hoped victorie that he made many sacred sermons vnto the souldiours to encourage them to fight and promised that he himselfe inflamed with religion woulde breake his inâ—estuous staffe first before all the Nobilitie on the front of the Turkish battels A little before they had leuied with the Popes money certaine bandes of Almaines and Bohemians with whose garde they thought that the battell of their horsemen might be established and the force of the Barbarians susteyned For neyther yea by a very diligent muster could they finde that there in their were army both of horsemen and footmen fiue and twentie thousand souldiours so that the desperatenesse of Tomorrey and the rasâ—â—esse of the rest of the Captaines that requested the battell was greatly condemned by the olde souldiours who sayde that it was moste miserable to encounter with that enimie who woulde bring into the battell a power eyght times greater than theirs Wherefore some thought it good that the yong King shoulde be remoued out of the imminent daunger Stephan Verbet councelling in vainâ— that for the publike safetie the person of the yong king should be kept in the castell of Ofen without the hasarde of fight for both the euentes of the battell But the enraged souldiours cried oute against it and sayde they woulde not fight vnlesse the King led them Then Tomorrey speaking his opinion obteâ—ned that they shoulde fight out of hande and the â—â—â—ble King vnder the defence of the great God shoulde go â—â—â—th against the enimie to giue the signall of the battell So with frantike fease and vnluckye aduise Lewes marched euen vnto Nugass which is a small towne almoste middle waye betwéene Ofen and Belgrade Nowe the Turkishe auantgarde approched very neare when that the Christians consulted whither it were best to keepe them selues in their campe enuironed round with wagons on the banke of Thoâ—aw vntill that the power of Iohn the Veruode or Leiutenant of zipserland were come who was reported to haste thither with great iourneyes But Tomorrey who should obey the Veiwoode if he were come by reason of the dignitie of his office blaming all cause of stay that he might still retayne the gouernement of the armie for hope of victorie and hasting headlong to his fall so withstoode this wholsome counsell that he drought the vnwarie king into a verye vnequall hazard of battill For the Turke had sent foure battels of horsmen before who by course diâ—iding betwéene theÌ„ the houres of the day and night should continually molest the Kinges Campe on all sides And they besieged it so streightlye that no man durste to go forth eyther for fewell or forage no nor vnto the neare banke of the riuer of Thoâ—aw to water hys horse but that he fought with great daunger and disaduauntage by reason of the multitude of the Turkes Throughe the which necessitie Tomorey was forced to arrange his battayles and to fighte a pitched fielde for the auncient honour of that Nation before tyme inuincible and the dignitye of the Kings name The forme of the battaile or the araye was almoste single that is to witte the bandes of the footemenne were stretched forth in a long ranke and in commodious places the horsemen were interlaced that the Barbarians ouermatching in number shoulde not inclose the whole battayle and the Hungarians be forced to fighte almoste in a ring The Campe and tentes being entrenched with chayned wagons were lefte on the ryghte hande with a small bande to guarde them and neare vnto the trenche had Tomorey placed not with absurde counsayle a bande of chosen horsemen that the King might be defenced by theâ—â— strong and readye guarde agaynste all vncertayne chaunces But that daye vnluckye vnto the Hungarian name and â—â—â—ste vnfortunate vnto the King ouerthrewe this laste wholsome deuyce for at the verye firste encounter althoughe the greate ordinaunce of the Turkes being lenesled to highe did no hurte yet were our battayles withoute anye labour quite ouerthrowne namelye Tamorey and almost all the nobles of the Hungarians being slaine and the Vsarones whiche are the light horsemen of the Hungarians being scattered and put to flighte and with them all the rest of the horsemen being fouly discomfited and slayne In this so greate asperitie of fortune when that a troupe of Turkishe horsemen hadde galloped to rifle the tentes and they were hardlye defended by the garde that was placed in them that bande of chosen horsemenne the whiche as I sayde before shoulde haue bene a garde vnto the King coulde not conteyne themselues but brake oute vpon the assaulting Turkes that they myght saue the Campe. In the same moment of halfe an houre King Lewes séeing all his power in all places beaten downe and also being bared of them whome he had hoped and prepared for his garde did begynne to flée but his head-strong horse
mutuall encounter Guasto with wholsome counsell adhorted Vgo to hasten first to shoote off his great gunne called a Basilisco that the thicke smoke thereof might take away from the enimie all certaine stroke But Vgo who woulde be accounted very skilfull in sea affaires and a little before had gainesayd at the Isle of Crapi all the olde maisters of the galleys who dissuaded the fight vpbrayding them with cowardise deferred so loÌ„g to shoote that Philippino being very diligentlye intentiue therefore and aptly leuelling the first shotte of his Basilisco with piercing the Emperiall Admirall passed from the stemme to the decke slaying thirtie men and among them Peter of Cardonna a kinseman of Guasto and Leo Tassino one borne in Forrara who had slayne vpon a quarrell betwéene Guasto and the Duke of Potenza the Duke his sonne a gentleman of great hope and Gusman a spaniarde a gentleman that played very excellently on the Cithron But the Basilisco of the Emperiall Admirall did no great harme vnto the Genoueys bicause that the Gunner coulde not sée howe to shoote right for the smoke of the Genoway péece and also the Geneuoys laye not so open as did the Spaniardes vpon the open hatches but being defended with a sure netting made of strong boordes shot with Harquebusses a crooke out of loope holes they themselues being safely couered But in the meane time three of the Emperiall galleyes of whome one was called the Gibba the maister whereof was Iustinian a Genoway but the Captaine of the souldiours was Cesar Faramusca the other two the Secamia and the Villamarina so called of their valiant maisters Secamo and Villamarino runne vpon two of Doria his galleys named the Pilgrime and the Handmaide and fight very vehemently and the hardie Spanishe souldiours leape into them when Lomellino sawe this he timelye turned his course and at one time his thrée galleys discharged their thrée Basiliscoes vpon the Emperiall Admirall The Moore hitting the decke strake off the rudder The Neptune slaying certaine of the galley flaues did so shake the Maste that the sayles yards fell downe and oppressed manye with the fall and among them Hierome of Trani who had succéeded his father Antonello in the office of Maister of the ordinance vnto the Emperour Finallye the Mistres brake of the Emperiall beake and sore annoyed the stemme Neyther stayed they but spéedily rowed for to ayde the Pilgrime and the Handmaide that were nowe bourded Then the Moore turning about hir selfe verye artificially discharged such a tempest of small and meane shot which fell as thicke as hayle vppon the Gibba that she was brought into great daunger For besides the slaues and the Mariners and souldiours fouly slayne Cesar Feramusca was also borne ouer the boorde deade with a shot of a small Falcon and Iustinian the Master was shot into the thigh and Baredo a Captaine of an hundreth Harquebusiers was hurte with thrée deadly woundes In another quarter two Emperiall galleys called the Perpenniana and the Oriana encountred with the Mermayde and the Fortune whom when they had much endammaged and almost bourded they séeing the discomsiture of their fellowes left and fled awaye in safetie for they despayring of the victorie bicause they saw the baner of the Admirall thrown down and the Secamia and the Villamarina circumuented and the Pilgrime and the Handmayde whom they had bourded recouered and the small fléete of long Boates and Foystes scattered had chosen rather to saue themselues for the Emperour than with the rest to fall into the same mischaunce of aduerse fortune although that this counsell as to soone put into practise was blamed of many Incontinently after the flight of these two galleyes the victorie was graunted vnto Philippino for Vgo being slayne with a small Falcon Guasto being gréeuously burnt with wilde fire in the necke neare vnto the care and also his helmet sore battered to his heade by stones and other things throwne downe from the toppes and Ascanio de Colonna being wounded in the right hande and in one of his féete yéelded themselues vnto Lomellino In the winning of this victorie the galley slaues of the Moares and Turkes stoode Philippino in great steade For when Philippino had promised them libertie and had taken off their chaynes and weaponed them and adhorted them as the fierce enimies of the Spaniardes and namely of Hugo to fight lustily they couragiously leaped vnarmed into the enimies galleys armed only with sworde and target fighting very fiereely On the Empertall side were lost about seauen hundreth old souldiours Spaniardes besides so many Mariners and slaues but Philippino the victor lost of all sortes fiue hundreth and among them diuers skilfull Mariners but no master of any galley but only one Of the Emperials two galleyes one Foyst one Brigantine and certaine long Boates were drowned two fled awaye and the two other were taken and one of them was the Admirall Of the Emperials were slayne besides Vgo and Feramusca the stoutest Captaines of bandes Macinio Daia Iohn Biscaine Zambron and Barâ—d But there was taken aliue besides Guasto and Ascanio de Colonna Francis Hirarde the master of a galley the brother of the Captaine of the Castell of Naples who had the brawne of his fatte buttocks stroke off with a péece of ordinance Philip Cerbellion Iohn de Gaietta Monsieur de Verreis a Flemming Monsieur de Acogne a Frenchman who had fled cut of Fraunce with the Duke of Burbon and Sereny a Spaniarde Scribe vnto the Senate of Naples and worthie knightes Camillo de Colonna and Aniball de Geuari The rest of the petie captaines Ensigne bearers and souldiours that were not maymed wyth woundes were incontinently put in chaines and turned to the Oare in the place of the rowing slaues that had bene slayne in the fight and the Turkes and Moores that for their valiant seruice were made frée Not only no profite but great incoÌ„moditie fell vnto the Frenchmen by this victorie For when Francis the French K. requested of Andrew doria to haue that noble men taken in this battayle to be deliuered vnto him Andrewe reuolted vnto the Emperour and caried all Genoa with him the which hath continued euer since faithfull vnto the Emperour and his house And also a great mortalitie rysing in the French Campe the power was vtterly defeated by the Emperials ¶ Of the Battell of Landriano in the Duchie of Milan fought Anno domini 1529. betvvene Antonio de Leua general for Charles the Emperour and Francis of Burbon Conte of S. Poule generall for Francis the French King THe Conte S. Poule and the Duke of Vrbine Generals for the French king and the Seignorie of Venice after that they had wonne Pauia for the behoofe of Francis Forza nowe oppressed by the Emperour vnderstanding that Antonie de Leua the Emperiall Captaine had a great power of souldiours in the citie of Milan the which they had meante to haue besieged thought it best to besiege it farre off after this maner That Vrbine
shoulde go backe vnto Cassiano vpon Adda and suffer nothing to be brought into the Citie out of the moste fertile Countrie of Martia but in another quarter S. Poule should lie at Abiato and cut off all victuals that might be brought vnto Milan by an arme of the riuer of Tesino For they did hope that their enimies which coulde not be subdued by force woulde not be able to abide the incommodities of a long siege This being determined at a village called Landriano ten myles from Milan Vrbine dislodging marched vnto Cassiano admonishing S. Poule with equall digresse to bende his iourney to Abbiato But the day being well spent S. Poule sayde that he woulde not remooue that daye but woulde go the next morowe vnto Pauia and leaue there certaine great ordinance and other weightie cariages But Leua who most diligently watched for all occasion to hurt his enimies vnderstanding that Vrbine was departed from S. Poule and coniecturing that the French men would not spéedily set forward called togither all the Captaines and commaunded them to be in a readinesse with all their souldiours to go forth with him about one of the clocke in the morning cohorting them to go this iourney chearefully and promised to giue them for a bootie the vanquished French men before the sunne arose But if sayd he they do more hastily flée as surely I do not thinke but they will yet the tayle of them will fall vnto vs for an assured bootie The souldiours crying out answered that he shoulde procéede to conceiue in his mightie minde valiant actes correspondent to his former victories for they woulde with chearefull and fearelesse heartes take vpon them this daungerous iourney and doubtfull hasarde that he had commaunded them And without stay he putting on his glittering armour althoughe he were tormented with the payne of the goute almost in euery ioynt sent the horsemen before and he himselfe with two battels on ech side the Almaines on the one side and on the other the Spaniardes flanking the Italians that were appointel to the garde of the great ordinance hasted to the enimies whome he founde not yet remoued and busied about dispatching away of their baggage S. Poule who had thought nothing lesse than that Leua woulde come vpon him with all his power aranged in battell when he was preparing to dislodge séeing the sunne was nowe risen the battels of his enimies with shirtes ouer their armour after the manner of them that giue a Camisado in the night was astomed and as it doth commonly happen vnto those that are so caught vnwares was attached with great feare and not without cause namely for that he had commaunded the Conte Guido de Rangoni to go before with the auantgarde vnto Pauia and there to prouide lodging for him and the rest of the armie Thus he being vnprepared and vnreadie and also disioyned farre from the forewarde was circumuented with so greate perturbation of the middle battell and rerewarde that he was forced with wonderfull vprore and tumultuously to set his men in araye and in vayne to repugne being quite put out of heart by the violence and celeritie of hys vrging enimie Fortune also gaue Leua space to winne the victorie by an vnlooked for chaunce For when one of the great péeces had broken his whéele and fallen in the middes of a dirtie waye it was a great discommoditie vnto them for the French horsemen yea and the best of them were lighted on foote to lifte vp and amende it For by an olde vsage of theirs they doe accounte it a great dishonor to leaue any of their ordinaunce behinde them as they march to be gotten by the enimie Through this staying both Rangoni was gotten so farre before that he coulde neyther be called backe nor in time tolde of the sodaine comming of the enimie and also Leua had time to bring forwarde his footemen who being aduaunced forth and the horsemen fighting very couragiously the middle battell of the Conte S. Poule with whom the rerewarde had also ioyned began in a moment of time both to turne their backes When that Antonie de Leua cladde in glysteting armour and adorned with a braue crest commaundeth him self to be brought into the forefront borne â—y force of me noâ— with terrible voice adhorteth his souldiors and terrifieth the Frenche men with his fierce looke and fierie eyes In the meane time the Almaines that serued the French king a thing which had almost neuer happened at other times shamefully turned their backes as they that were of the omnigatherum that had in former time serued the French King or else had bene taken vp in the region which is on this side the Rhein and doth abutte vpon Lâ—râ—iâ—â— who haue no greate estination for Almaine valor and discipline The Almeynes and the French footemen and after them also the Italian bandes followed without any care had of dishonor and small was the slaughter bicause that neyther the harquebusiers coulde shoote among the confounded and blended rankes nor the great ordinance be discharged without equall perill The Conte S. Poule assaying daungerously to take a dich with his horse was taken by the horsemen nor far froÌ„ him the valiant Claude de Rangoni the Captaine of the rerewarde had the like lucke but Sâ—â—phan de Colonna escaped although he had bene cast by his horse headlong into a diche Leua hauing gotten all the Ensignes and ordinance and taken the Generall prisoner wanne great estimation in the worlde But the French men openly complayned of Guido de Rangoni whome they sayde had left them to the spoyle through his ouer hastie pasting but Guido defended his honor by alledging the commaundement of his Generall chalenging all his obtrectors to the combat But afterwarde in familiar talkâ— the Duke of Vrbine decided this controuersie both Leua and the Marques of Guasto assenting vnto him who gaue iudgement that they had both with almost equall error swarued from the discipline of warre the which doth will that in marching the Captaines that leade distict and seuerall bandes doe with mutuall diligence by horsemen ryding to fro measure the march nor suffer the Ensignes to go any thing out of sight the auantgard to obserue with what pace the middle battell marcheth and so likewise the middle battayle the rerewarde that euerye battayle mayâ— be readis at hande for al sodeyne incursions of the enimie and to succour that battayle which is circumuented and finally to sight with all their power vuited into one This victorie vtterly destroyed the French power in Milan and made Francis Sfuza whome the French King maintayned to come in and suppliantly yéelde himselfe vnto the Emperour ¶ The Battell of Frumentaria fought on the sea by Rodoricke Portundo Admirall vnto Charles the fift and Aidin and other miscreant Pirates in Anno Domini 1529. AFter that Rhedoricke Portundo had brought Charles the Emperour out of Spayne into Italie to be crowned He in his returne hearing that fiftéene vessels
also adioyned Theodore Bischeimiâ— the Captayne of the Epyrote horsemen vnto Rasciâ— his wing of horsemen After them sold wed a regiment of olde Lansquenets and also he himselfe with all the light horsemen and also the men of armes marching towardes Pistoia He traualling all night â—aâ—ue vnto a place called Lagoni almost and waye betwéene Pistâ—ia and a towne named Gabiniano where he stayed to refreshe the horsen with a little rest and the souldiours with a light breakefast Whyle that he thus rested there came a priest vnto him running who tolde that Fernaâ—â— was at hande and had entred sacked burnt the towne of S. Marcelles out of she which he had bardly escaped and moreouer that the Emperials were at the héeles of them the which was knowen by the often crackes of the harquebusses Then the Prince commaunded Francis de Pratey and Rossales Spaniardes and zucers an Epirote to go before with all the light horsemen to whome he added for a garde Pompeio Farino with thrée hundred harquebusiers and admonished them that still as they went wheresoeuer they founde the way narrowe so that the horses coulde not well passe that they shoulde place vpon commedious hilles certaine bandes of Harquebusters for this purpose that if the horsemen after they were come into the sight of their enimies chaunced to be pressed then they might retire fayze and foftlye vnto those sure gardes but if that they mette with anye leuell grounde the which they sawe was commodious for horsemen they shoulde stay the enimie so long by flowe skirmishing vntill that he were come with the men of armes When the horsemen were come vnto Gabiniano and coulde not be suffered to enter the towne they turning about rode vnder the wall of the towne towardes S. Marcelles and began to skirmish with the auaÌ„tecurrers of the enimie For Fernaio was minded to come vnto Gabiniano thinking that his enimies woulde not haue mette him with so greate spéede Yet there had bene some who being skillfull of the countrie and hauing receyued more certain intelligence of the comming of their enimies had counsayled him to climbe the high mountaynes besides Saint Marcelles and so safely come downe agayne at Scarparia the enimies not being able to pursue him in that very strayte and troublesome way To the which aduise inclined the valiant Captayne Paâ—lo de Cere who accounted the losse of the baggage but small so that escaping their enimies they might come in safetie to Florence But Farnaiâ— with a loftie minde detesting that aduise whith might giue some signe of feare and flight marched still forwarde the horsemen going before with their Captaines Charles the Earle of Ciuirilla and Arsiolas And whereas Gabinâ—ano is two myles from S. Mâ—railler â–ª the auantâ—arde which â—arnarde Strozzi surnâ—â—â—d Capâ—â—unzo ledde was come vnto the gate of Gabiniâ—no when the Ensignes of the reâ—einarde were yet at Saint M'arcelles gate The waye is not very yll but that they must go a little downe the hill for Saint Marcellea which standeth in a low bottome enclosed counde about with mountains Nowe the Emperials who as we haue elphe you were sents before molested the hindermost of the enimies For Refeâ—â— had brought a bande of Harquebusiers with him euerys horseman taking an harquebuster behinde him who with their shot much vexed the enimies But when Maramaldo sawe that the enimies bended towardes Gabiniano from Camalenbo where they lodged the might before be crossing ouer the mountaines and woodes was come to Gabiniano And also Vitelli by another shorter waye but verye yll was encamped not farre from the towne In the meane tyme Fernaio tyding on a whyte horse wyth his sworde drawen adhorted his men kéeping their araye to haste to take the towne first the whiche was then in sight and to propell the vrging borsemen of their enimies for the Earle of Ciuitella and Atsula fighting with singular vallor did not only susteyne their enimies but also the charge being on both sides often renued along the sheluing bankes forced their enimies to retyre with turned backes Whyle that they thus soughte with great tumult and noyse for that certayne bandes of Harquebusiers had bene sent forth out of Fernaio his battell and also the shotte of Pompey who as we haue shewed you had bene sent to be a garde vnto the horsemen had intermedled themselues in the conflicte of the horsemen and nowe manye men had bene slain on hoth sides when Maramaldo got into the town at the farther gate and at a part of the wall which was easilye throwne downe at the verye same time that Fernaio entred in at the foregate Ind thus a cruell and bloudie fight was committed along the towne so that they fought with great contention in the middes of the Market place for Fernaio leaping off from his horse and taking a footemans Pyke layde about him lustilye Neyther fayled Maramaldo vnto his men but casting them into the forme of a wedge fought fiercely to wynne the whole stréete In the meane tune part of Fernaio his battell following their Captaine fought valiantly in the towne but part defleeting along the towne wall and hauing gotten a commodious place among the Chestnut trées to defende themselues against the insulting horsemen ouerwhelmed their enimies with a great tempest of small shatte By them as it was afterwarde knowne who were in number almost fiue hundreth was the Prince of Orange slayne when he hastred with the men of armes to be present at the fight Neyther was he streyght way known being spéedily spoyled of his coate of cloth of siluer and his guilte armour They saye that before he was wounded he foughte or horsebacke hande to bande with Nicolas Masio the Gréeke who battered his heade péece with a Mall of pron and Orange often assayed to thruste him through with his sworde But Masio fearing the shocke of the men of armes fledde backe vnto the Chestnut trées but the Prince pressing forth ouer hardily receyued two deadlye woundes by barquebusse Almoste at the verye same time Vitelli charging ouerthwarte the rerewarde which Paolo de Cere ledde did so breake their araye and scatter them almoste at the first encounter that hée gotte all their ensignes although that Paule himselfe valiantly resisted and lighting on foote repayred the araye of his men and also renuing the fight brake throughe vnto the towne to ayde Fernaio But when it was bruted abroade that the Prince was stayne and the troupe of the men of armes a thinge shamefull to sée and incredible to hée reported was fledde backe headlong Fernaio crying victorie victorie gathered the Florentines close togither and beganne to presse on the appalled Emperialles And if that the Lansquenettes who had not yet stirred but kept in araye not farre from the towne their Esquadron as it were a Castell to receyue their fellowes marching forwarde had not repressed the tumultuous procursions of their enimies doubtlesse not one of the horsemen had made curtesie to flée séeing that many of them before
leauing behind his tent rich of filuer plate and other ornaments In this hurly hurly the Carle of Lodron Colonell of the Lansquenets is waked out of his sléepe and being tolde by his seruants that the Generall was runne awaye he fearelesse aunswered that it coulde not be that he woulde so shamefully and falsely forsake them and so as one gréeuously tired with watching many nights and great toyle taken in the dayes he returning into his tent and laid him downe againe to sléepe Nor long after the noyse and vprore in the Christians their campe is brought vnto the eares of Mahomet who lodged within the shot of a small péece of ordinance all the Barbarians rise vp and prepare themselues to inuade their enimies But Mahomet thinking it good to knowe more certainly what the enimies intended and for that consideration the daye light was to be stayed for commaunded his men to stande still in a readinesse and with silence to expecte the signall which the vse was to be giuen throughout all the rankes by the soft sounding of a drumme on horsebacke For the olde Captaine yea and an olde man in déede who had hene practised in manye conflictes against our men somewhat doubting it to be a feygned flighte woulde not be drawne into fight but in a place of greate aduantage for his men as he that had bene fully resolued before to obtaine the victorie not by sighting any vniuersall battell but after his maner by fléecing the Christians by partes and péeces At the breake of the daye Lodron is called vp againe he heareth the noyse of the imminent Barbarians and séeth that he was forsaken of farre the greatest part of the horsemen he in vaine complayneth that he was betrayed yet his courage nothing quayleth he speaketh vnto the footemen and adhorteth them to be myndefull of their wonted prewes and to thinke that the daunger which frowarde fortune then broughte was to be ouercome by only fortitude of heart that valiant men ought to mynde honest death and not most shamefull flight the which woulde also be vncertaine that he himselfe who had often fortunately ledde them in many warres was fully resolued by repulsing the enimies to reduce them into safetie or else honourably to ende his lyfe with them in valiant fight The horsemen of Carinthia Saxon Austrich and Beheme who like vnto obevient souldiers in vayne expected the signall of dislodging appoynted by the Generall neyther woulde be companions of that shamefull flight came vnto Lodron thus confirming hys souldiours as vnto the valiantest man beséeching him that he woulde take vpon him the charge of Generall in the place of the traytour For they woulde be obedient vnto all things that he woulde commaunde them and as long as strength and weapons woulde endure and holde woulde most constantly fights with the barbarous enimie for Christes religion and their very good king Lodron woulde not take vppon him the offered office professing of a certayne noble shame fastnesse that he was vnworthie thereof yet he of his pitie and magnitude of minde pitying the vnworthie lot case of so great an armie exercised the charge the which he toke vpon him with protestation so long as fortune woulde licence They report that when he made an oration vnto the souldiours and detested and vehementlye discommended all hope of flight there was an olde Alwaine souldiour founde who durst to saye vnto him courteoustye but not vnwittilye Flight good Captaine my Lorde of Lodron can séeme to be foâ—shaâ—â—efull a thing in you when that you ryding on a goodly horse may be thought to ride about to â—e we who doâ— flée Lodron vnderstoode the wittie meaning of the olde souldiour and lighting downe on foote huckened his horse with hys drâ—â—en sworde nobly crying out This day felow souldiers shall ye haue me both captayne and souldiour to fight with you on foote with equall condicion Therefore that ye may not séeme to haue deceyued my opinion valiantly endeuour to winne the viâ—â—oâ—ie or else to ende your warfare with me by an honorable death â–ª and not vnreueÌ„ged Moreouer with like curtefie he gaue the rest of his horses vnto the souldiours of his acquaintance that were weake eyther by woundes or sickenesse The sore-most troupes of the horsemen and the foremost bandes of the footemen were searce out of the munitions of the Campe when that the Barbarians with cruell howling spred themselues round about out men and their horsemen attached many skirmishes at once in diuers places as our men marched and with this euent that our men sometimes egregiouflye sustayned their charge and at other valiantlye renning their onset propelled far from them the vrging Barbarians In these sundrie conflictes Aney Macer Fuchstat a Saxon Captayne of the Carinchians was sayne fighting very feruently being taken by the Turkes to be the Generall by reason of the ornaments of his cognizances with like lot were slaine aboue xxiiij horsemen of noble mark their ensignebearer Among whoÌ„ were iij. noble men Andrewe Refcht Christofer Hernaw George Hemelberg But in another place a very bloudy skirmish was attached with the Saxons the men of Misne Thuring and Frankland who followed the guidons of the Sixon horsemen for of them who fought with singular prowes aboue xxxvj of the galantest eyther Captains ensigne bearers or Lieutenants of companies were slaine Chwenrick the chiefe captaine of the Saxons was taken prisoner and died afterward in prison among the Barbarians The men of greatest nobility of theÌ„ which were there slaine were Sebastian Methesce Iames Scullemberg And also with the same lot of frustrated valor the Austrian horsemen when they had resisted a good while were at the last slayne after that Nâ—â—â—lâ—s Turrian their Captaine escaping many men of great marke for valiance â—birâ—h had ben slain as Fettay Holchirch noble men next to them Hoâ—enfelder Aanspurger and also two very hemons noble mâ—â— of the house of Maideg anâ— with them Limberg Velezer men of great worship And also men borne in the vpper Austrich VVilliam Folgehemstorph Leonarde Lamberg Gaspar Bargheim and Schellemberg men famous for their dignitie at home and also in the fielde But farre the greatest slaughter was committed on the Bohemians whome being disordered by the Ianizars through continuall tempest of small shotte sent ouerthwart them the olde troupes of Turkishe horsemen hotly charged and beate downe euery where with their heauy semitarres yron malles no maÌ„ succouring them when they were enclosed and their Captaine Albert Slith had sooner gâ—t him out of the middes of the slaughter than he ought to haue done But the battallon of footemen being afflicted with great detrimente and brought euen vpon the verye point to breake araye by the Ianizars and Asappes who wonderfully annoyed them from a certain high banke of a wooddie Marishe with their harquebusses and arrowes but woulde not come to hand strokes with them Amurathes inuaded on the side with the horsemen of Bostie and quite
without any mercie slue euery man of our men that abode furthest in prease and a sixe me of Bulloners and other than I haue here named in all to the number of xxvj and most part gentlemen My Lord Grey yet and my Lord Edwarde as some grace was returned againe but neyther all in safetie nor without euident markes they had bene there for the one with a Pyke through the mouth was raced a long from the tip of the tongue thrust that way very daunger ously more than two inches within the necke my L. Edward had his horse vnder him with swords wounded sore I think to death Like as also a litle before this onset sir Thomas Darcie vpoÌ„ his approch to the enimies was stricken glauncing wise on the righte side with a bullet of one of the field péeces thereby his bodie brused with the bowing in of his harnesse his sword hilts broken and the forefinger of his right hand beaten flat euen so vpon the parting of this fray was sir Arthur slash at with swords so hurt vpon the wedding finger of his right hand also as it was counted for the first part of curing to haue it quite cut away About the same time certaine of the Scots ran out hastily to the kings Maiesties standard of the horsmen the which sir Andrew Flammake bare laying fast hold vpon the staffe therof cried a king a king that if both his strength his hart his horse had not ben good hereto somewhat aided at this pinch by sir Rafe Coppinger a Pencioner both he had bene slaine the standard lost which the Scots neuerthelesse helde so fast that they brake and bare away the nether ende of the staffe to the burrell and intended so much to the gayne of the standard that sir Andrew as happe was scaped home all safe and else without hurt At this busines also was my Lord Fitzwaters captaine of a number of demilances vnhorst but soone mounted againe scaped yet in great danger and his horse all hewen Hereat further were Cauerley the standard bearer of the men of armes and Clement Paston a pencioner thrust ech of them into the leg with pikes and Don Philip a Spaniard in the knée Diuers other mained and hurt and many horses wounded beside By this time had our fore ward accordingly gotten the full aduantage of the hils side and in respect of their march stood sidelong toward the enimie who neuerthelesse were not able in all parts to stande full square in aray by reason that at the west ende of them vpon their right hand and toward the enimie there was a square plot enclosed with turfe as their maner of fencing in those partes is one corner wherof did let the square of the same aray Our battel in good order next them but so as in continuance of aray the former part thereof stoode vpon the hilles side the tayle vpon the plaine and the rerewarde led by the Lord Dakers of the north wholy vpon the hill so that by the placing and countenaÌ„ce of our armie in this wyse we shewed our selues in a manner to compasse them in that they should no way scape vs the which by our power and number we were as well able to do as a Spiders web to catch a swarme of Bées These vndiscrete gadlings that so fondlye brake aray from the horsemen in the retire as I sayd ran so hastily through the orders and rankes of our fore ward as it stood that it both there disordred many feared manye was a great encouraging of the enimie The earle of VVarwicke who had the guyding of our fore ward right valiantly had conducted the same to their standing there did very nobly encourage and comfort them bidding them pluck vp their hearts and shew themselues meÌ„ for there was no cause of feare But to return vnto the Scots they were somwhat disordred with their coÌ„ming out about the slaughter of our meÌ„ the which they did so earnestly then entend that they tooke not one to mercy but more they were amased at this aduenturous hardy onset My Lords grace hauing before this for the causes aforesaid placed himselfe on this Fauâ—siae Bray thereby quickly perceiuing the great disorder of these stragâ—ng horsmen hemd the in froÌ„ further straying who sir â—â—se Vaâ—e sone after with great dexteritie brought in good order again therewith the rest of our strengths by the policie of my Lords grace diligence of euery captain officer beside were so aptly applied in their feate that where this repulse of the enimie retire of vs was doubted of many to turn to the danger of our lesse the same was wroughte according as it was deuised to our gayne and victorie For first at this slough where most of our horsemen had stood sir Peter Meutas captaine of all the hackbutters afoote did very valiantly conduct place a good number of his men in a maner at the faces of the enimies Wherevnto sir Peter Gamboa a Spaniarde Captaine of two C. hackbutters on horsebacke did readily bring his men also who with the hot continuance of their shot on both partes did so stoutly staye the enimies that they coulde not come further forwarde then our archers that marched in aray on the right hande of our footemen and next to the enimie prickt them sharply with arrowes as they stoode Therewith the maister of the ordinance to their great annoyance did gall them with hayleshot and other out of the great ordinaunce directlye from the hill toppe and certaine other gunners with their péeces a flanke from our rerewarde most of our artillerie and missiue engines then wholy thus at once with great puissance and vehemencie occupied about them here with the full sight of our footemen all shadowed from them before by our horsemen and duste raised whome then they were ware in such order to be so neare vpon them and to this the perfect aray of our horsemen againe comming couragiouslye to set on them a freshe The miserable men perceyuing themselues then all to late howe much too much they were misenformed began sodenly to shrinke Their gouernour that brought them firste to the bargaine like a doughtie Captaine tooke hastily his horse that he might runne foremoste away The Earle of Anguishe and other chiefe Captaines did quickly followe as their Gouernour ledde and with the foremost their Irishmen Therewith then turned all the whole route cast downe their weapons ranne out of their wardes off with their Iackes and with all that euer they might betooke them to the race that their gouernour began Our men had founde them at the first and sharply and quickly with an vniuersall outerie they flée they flée pursued after in chase amaine and thereto so egerly and with such fiercenesse that they ouertooke many and spared in déede fewe Before this at the time of our onsette came there Eastwarde fiue hundreth of their horsemen vp along thys Fauxside â—raye
the riuer and also some light horsemen so that they were in all about seauen thousand horsemen They were not so soone ouer the water but Egmont ranged hys souldiours against the Constable who was come thither to diuert the Spaniardes and to molest them with skirmishes vntill that in another quarter reliefe might be sent into the towne for that was the Constables intent the which when he had done he determined to retire backe in araye of battell and to saue himselfe through the benefite of the hilles And in déede by this skirmishing with the Spaniardes he opened oportunitie vnto thrée hundreth footemenne to enter the towne but when he sawe that Egmontes horsemen and afterwarde the whole armye were passed the riuer he beganne to drawe backe by little and little towardes the hilles skirmishing with the Spanishe lyghte horsemenne who indeuoured to hinder their flight vntill that all the Spanishe horsemenne were come and all the footemen had passed ouer the riuer When the French men had giuen backe a little waye they were forced by the imminent daunger to staye and to set their men in aray of battell But Egmont who saw that assured victorie was offered him after that he had stayed a little while not thinking it good to omit the present occasion gaue a charge vpon the greater troupe of the French horsemen with incredible valor being backed by the Dukes of Brunswicke with one thousande pistolets he admonisheth Ernest Duke of Brunswicke whom the Earley of Horne Mauâ—felt and Hochstrat shoulde followe to giue the charge on an other troupe of two thousande Frenche men of armes Ernest with surpassing courage ranne vpon the French troupe who mette him with lyke fortitude and constancie of heart and at the firste susteyned the Spanishe force with so greate prowes that they had almost put them to flight Thus they fought very fiercely on both sides and manye were slaine but at length the Frenchmen being ouercome by the number of panish horsemen that still encreased were forced to retire vnto their footemenne by little and little but when Egmont and the rest of the nobilitie followed them fiercely they came vnto the footemen who standing close togither in thicke Esquadron strongly susteyned the shocke of the Spaniardes When that the fight had bene long time doubtfull the Duke of Sauoy sent a freshe troupe of horsemen and willed Egmont to giue a charge vpon the footemen and not to abuse the benefite of fortune who had offered so easie and assured victorie for if he shoulde make any stay he thought that thereby the victorie woulde slide awaye and be wrested out of their hande bicause that the enimie having by theis meanes leisure graunted them might gather togither and relye their strength and câ—nstrâ—â—â— their horsemen who were almost defeated When they had thus fought long and on the one side Egmont inuaded valiantlye and on the other the Frenchmen resiste stoutly at the last the Frenchmen fledde and reposed all hope of safetie in the switnesse of their féete whom Egmont and the rest spéedily pursued and quite defeated all the French power There were taken of the Frenchmen the Constable hurt in the thigh with a Pistolet the Dukes of Longuile and Montpensier hurte in the heade the Marshall of Saint Andrewe Lewes borther to the Duke of Mantua Vassy Gurton Roth du Maine the Ringraffe Colonell of the French Lansquenets all these were of the order the Conte Rochfocaulâ— the Lordes Oâ—egâ—y two Birons Monbrun and Merne being two sonnes of the Constable and a great number mo Finally about two thousand of Noblemen and Gentlemen and of all sortes of souldiours to a foure thousande fiftie two ensignes of footemen eyghtene guidons of men of armes and xx of light horsemen xx péeces of ordinance of whom ten were battering péeces the rest field péeces iij. C. wagons ladeÌ„ with martiall furniture and prouision with a great number of horses There were slayne of Frenchmen to the number of sixe thousande among whom men of great marke were Iohn Duke of Anghieu brother vnto the king of â—â—auâ—rre the Vicont Touraine nephewe vnto the Constable and the Lordes Campodenâ—ie Eyâ—â—ie Galan Plenot Gelot and manye other noble men There escaped the Dukes of Neuers and Montmorâ—ncie the Prince of Condie the earle of Sanxerre the Lorde Burdelion and great number of other noble men But on the Spanishe part were slayne somewhat aboue one thousande among whom were of name Binicourt the maister of the Campe two noble men of Germaine and diuers other and the Conte Mansfels was hurt in the thigh and Monbrey in the knée After this victorie the Spaniardes wanne Saint Quintines Haron and Chastellet and fréelye ranged about in those partes all that Sommer without any impeachment ¶ The Battell foughte at Graueling in Flaunders betvvene Monsieur de Termes Generalt for Henrie the seconde King of France and the Conte Egmont Chiefetaine for Philip the king of Spayne in Anno. 1558. Taken out of the Commentaries of Lewes Guicciardine HOte warres continuing still betwéene France and Flanders Henrie the French K. in Iune in Anno. 1558. sent from Calice Monsieur de Termes a valiant and experte Captaine one of the order and captaine of Calice with an armie of almost nyne thousande footemen and a thousande and fiue hundreth horsmen to roade and wast the confines of Flanders With this armie he passing ouer the riuer of Ha defeated a multitude of peysants and certaine handes of sduldiours that went about to empeach his passage and then leauing Graueling and Burburg on his backe he sâ—denly by assault tooke Lunkirke a towne on the sea coast sixe leagues from Calice and after he had sacked it and left a garrison therein he went further into the countrie wretchedly wasting with fire and sworde euen vnto Newpoâ—t To represse this â—aâ—ing of â—â—â—â—eâ— Philip. the King of Spaine and Duke of Burgen â–ª 〈◊〉 the â—aâ—â—â— of Egâ—â—â—iâ— â–ª unto Flaunders who ioyning at Graueling with Monsieur Binicâ—urt the Campe maister and sending for the souldiours that laye in garrison at Beâ—â—une Saint Omers Are Burburg and other townes adioyning and also receyuing a supplie of souldiours from the Duke of Sauoy Lieutenant generall for the King of all his lowe countries and armies therein within fewe dayes gathered togither an armie of twelue thousande footemen and thrée thousande horsemen besides almost an infinite number of pcysants who being enraged for the losse of their goodes and wasting of their lands flocked thicke and thrée folde from all partes vnto the campe part armed and part vnarmed In the meane time Termes hauing drawne backe his power vnto Dunkirke bicause he was cruelly molested with the goute and smelling out that a shrewd turne was ment him commaunded the armie to depart from Dunkirk and to encampe within a leage of Graueling that he might be the nearer vnto Calice But as soone as he had intelligence that a great power of the enimies were sodenly gathered togither that Egmont was their general
after they also disordered the footmen and so at the last quite ouerthrew and defeated all the whole French power not without great honour generally of all orders but chiefly of the light horsemen and particularly of Egmont who deserued the high commendation both of a wyse chieftaine and also a valiant souldiour through whose approued noble courage and valiant heart that notable victorie was chiefly gotten but yet so that the rest of the Captaines deserued singularprayse as Monsieurs Binicourt Renty Rues Enriques Ponteuauls Fontâ—ynes Hilmaner of Munichausen and Caruaial On the other side Thermes who had the ouerthrowe is reproued of many for carelesnesse also slouth for that he had ouerlong deferred his returne and had not at the least remoued his campe the night before the fatall fielde for the report was that he of couetousnes â—eking to get a very rich bootie of the spoyle of Flaunders did pretermit a fit oportunitie of frée regresse But some doe affirme that he stayed in Flaunders by the Kings commaundement to whome the rumor was that the King had appoynted to sende aydes But howsoeuer the matter was doubtlesse Termes erred in this that he suffered himselfe to be intercluded by that meanes and after a sort to be oppressed But of the number of the slayne there were diuers reportes as it alwayes happeneth in the bruites of the people but we diligently enquiring the truth haue hearde of men most worthye of credite and of those souldiours that were present at the battell that there was a publike note taken of about one thousande fiue hundreth slayne in the battell But of them that fledde farre the moste were slayne by the peysantes who had gotten them into the streyghtes through which the discomfited Frenchmen did séeke to escape Besides the greate slaughter foule ignomie also happened vnto the Frenche men for the Flemmishe women as well of the townes as countrie lyke Lacedemonian viragoes assembled togither in great troupes and when they metts with a French man they woulde rayle vpon him for that he had wasted Flaunders spoyled their townes and burnt their houses and when one of them coulde not kill him manye of them woulde flée vpon him and pitifully teare him with their nayles or beate him well and thriftily with their Distaues That in the meane time they maye be wrapped in déepe silence whome eyther the riuer swallowed vppe or the sea and tyde ouerwhelmed But the English men leauing their shippes at anker rowed in the long Boates vnto the shore and tooke alyue about two hundreth of those Frenchmen that swimmed in the sea whoÌ„ although they might haue drowned yet moued with swéetenesse of glorie they did take vp into their Boates that thereby they might as it were partakers and helpers of that hattell be able to shewe at home in Englande sure witnesses of so famous a victorie the whiche few they hauing gotten of many did vnto their ignomie transport into their coutrie as it were for a triumph Moreouer of those that being intercluded from flight were taken prisoners of whâ—â—â—e there were a great number these are numbred for the chiefe first of all the Lorde Termes the Generall of the armie and Captaine of Calice who had receyued a grieuous wounde not onely in his fortune but also in his bodie and with him the Lordes Danebault Villebon and Simarpont and manye other menne of verye good qualitie whome for breuities sake we doe passe ouer in silence Moreuer they lost all their ensignes ordinance munition bagge and baggage and all the furniture of the campe and also all the bootie that they had gotten in Flaunders fell vnto Egmont and the Burgonions There 〈◊〉 slaygie on Egmont his part fine hundreth and not aboue But among them was Monsieur de Pelew a noble manne of the lawe countrie with some number of horsemen and footemen that were of great marke and accounted among the chiefe Those thrée handes whome we tolde you Termes had placed in Lunkinke when that he departed vnto the campe he commaunded to sacke and sire the towne and streyghtwaye to followe him the which they did but being intercluded by the victors Burgonions they were slayne euery man This noble victorie no doubte did muche represse the insolencie and ferocitie of the Frenchmen that then had a great power in the Duchie of Luxenburg and made the French king verye glad to incline vnto peace the whiche did take effecte within fewe moneths after ¶ The Battell of Dreux fought in Normandie betvvene Levves of Burbon prince of Conde Anne Montmorencie high Constable of France in the yeare of our Lorde 1562. Taken out of the Commentaries of the state of Religion and the Common wealth in Fraunce WHen that the furious ciuil warres in France for religion brake out in Anno domini 1562. the Prince of Conde Generall for the resormed religion marched into Normandie to ioyne with the English arme that their was landed at Newe hauen to empeach the whiche purpose the power of the contrarie faction vnder the conducte of Anna Montmorencre the Constable hasted from Paris and came with greate armies into the â—erriforie of Dreux where Conde also had stayed and the two armies lodged within two leagues one of the other The Catholickes had chosen a commodious place to lodge in being neare vnto the towne of Dreux wherein they had a garrison and vnto diuers villages and also vnto a woode which was good for all sodeine defences of vncertaine euent There lay betweene both their campes a long and euen playne onely in one part there was a little valley betwéene them When Conde sawe that his ennimies were come so neare vnto him he consutting with his associates what was to be done determined to giue them battell that the ende of the whole matter being committed vnto the prouidence of God the long lingering calamities of the warres might be more spéedily ended And yet his enimies did farre ouermatche him in footemen for they had sixe and twentie thousande whereas the Conde had scarce eleuen thousande but it was partlye recompenced in his horsemen he hauing almost foure thousande where his enimies had but thrée thousande The next morning a little afore eyght of the clocke the Prince brought forth all his armie the which he had so aranged that the horsemen wherein he was the stronger should be in the foremost rankes he himselfe ledde the battell with Rochfocault taking to him certaine light horsemen of Cureys his companie and placing on the one side of him the cornets of horsemen ledde by Mony and Auarell and on the other side certayne cornets of Reysters But the auntgarde was garded by Chastillion the Admirall with the Prince of Porcien setting close vnto them two troupes of horsemen consisting of certaine cornets Then followed a strong battallion of Lansquenets and fiue hundreth loose shot whome they doe call Enfans perdus who marched a little before the battallion Then was there placed a strong Esquadron of xxiij ensignes of French
yet neuerthelesse they were resolued in no case to gyue the charge before it were towardes the Euening if it coulde be possible both as well for to couer and the better to fauour their retraite if they shoulde be pursued as also by so doing to take awaye from the Catholykes the felicitie of an entier victory and iourney and finally that in the meane time Dandelot who had bene sent for might haste with all diligence to be there in time Vpon this generall resolution the Constable issued out of Paris and leauing the Chappell whither he sent a good number of harquebusiers marched with his armie streyght vnto the villette for to stretche out his armie in length for to take the commoditie of the field and to stande more like vnto an hedge than any thing else On the left side whereof he did set the battallion of the Switzers flanked with a good number of Frenche harquebusiers and all these stoode for to assure fouretene péeces of artillerie which he had placed in the mouth of Auberuilliers towarde the which he made the most part of his armie to turne heade he encamped a regiment of horsemen on the left side of the Switzers and did set before them one greate troupe of horsemen as it were to couer them the Captaine of the which troupe was Mareschall Montmorencie his eldest sonne He had on his lefte side the regimentes and companies of the Dukes of Nemours Longueuille the Conte de Rez Chauignie de Thoree Lansac and many other close to the whiche companies stoode one good troupe of harquebusiers on foote Behinde those horsemen and towardes the Chappell was the regiment of footemen of the Parisians who did all glister almost with armour Pykes and Halbardes and did hide the left side of the armie Catholike the middle and the principall force whereof did the Switzers and the Constable make On the right side of the Switzers were the regiments of the Conte Brissac and Strozzi On the right side more higher did the companies of the Mareschall Cossé Biron the Vicont de Auchy la Riuiere and diuers other which stoode more neare to Auberuilliers shewed themselues behinde whome more lowe than the villet or small towne stoode the Duke de Aumaule and Mareschall de Anuille assisted on both sides with two troupes of horsmen as it were for the assurance of the Switzers the French footmen But now we will shew the disposition of the armie Protestant When that the Prince had intelligence vpon a sodayne that the Catholikes were issued out of Paris drawing with them the artillerie he well knewe that the daye woulde not passe without fight And therefore all the companies being aduertised came into the fielde being fully resolued for to accept the fight if they were forced although that their fellowes were not come and stretched out themselues which thing only rested for them to do in this forme As their armie had bene deuided before that time into thrée partes so they nowe also made thrée troupes The Admiral being assisted with Clermont of Ambois his two sonnes Renty and six cornets of horsemen and with foure hundreth harquebusiers on foote who followed the horsemen and were led by Valefeniere placed himselfe aboue Saint Ouin as it were for to couer and defende his lodging right in the face of those that garded the side of the Constable To the same ende Ienlis being accompanied with Lauardin Vardes Bressant Besancourt v. or vj. cornets whom thrée hundreth footmen harquebusiers folowed for to helpe them at the pricke of the charge made the other horne and the forme of a left auantgarde before his lodging at Auberuilliers against the whiche they sawe that the Catholikes had made heade and bent the greatest force of their armie directly against Biron and the rest before mentioned To preuayle the better against whome they had made a ditche from Auberuilliers euen vnto a Windmill which is betwéene the village and the villet the which ditch and the Windmill it selfe they had filled with manye of the beste harquebusiers that they had for to salute them that woulde come to séeke them The Prince of Conde the Cardinall of Chastillon Sechelles who vnder title of Lieutenant conducted the companie of the Duke of Angieu with the two Vidames of Chartres and of Amiens the Contes of Saux and of la Suze of Esternay Brouchauanes and Stuart accompanied with certaine Scots with foure hundreth harquebusiers stoode lower informe of the battayle couering Saint Denys and all that runne behinde the crosse which is vpon the causey and the Chappell of Landet right in the face of the Constable and of them that were before him All the Cornettes stoode along in a rowe lyke vnto an hedge and their horses were ranged front to front in such forme as they ment to fight The cause of this aray it may be so was lacke of men to make an entier battallion or bicause it is most ordinarie among the Frenchmen who vse the Launce or to th ende they might charge altogither and not one tarye behinde an other as most doe in battallions The footemen were deuided into thrée troupes as they were before and they caried no ensignes but being all harquebusiers they serued for Enfans perdus who as the most assured and resolute to fighte doe beare death engrauen vpon their foreheades as well for themselues as for those that they first attach These harquebusiers followed good and neare vnto the horsemen but when it came vnto the poynt that they shoulde go vnto the charge they shoulde aduaunce themselues forth before vpon the sides for to shoote right and with assurance vpon the first of the Catholikes that would ioyne with the Protestants as you shall heare So that the disposition of their armie was in the forme of a Moone more than of any thing else if that their companies had bene ioyned togither had stoode nearer and closer one vnto another But as I told you before they were deuided into thrée parts of whom the troupes of the Admiral and Ienlis made as it were the two hornes of the Croisant whereof the battell of the Prince made the but or bottome and the middes was stronger than the endes who not hauing so many Launces horsmen were more cleare thin and lesse furnished of men They had all their forces in the fielde for thinking that none coulde come vnto S. Denys but that they muste firste defeate them who couered their lodgings they left none there but their Pikemen and Holbarders who not being inowe in number and sufficient for to make a battallion of Pykes in that playne they would haue to remaine in the towne for to garde the baggage and the Ensignes of the harquebusiers Neyther was it long before that a skirmish was attached on the side of Auberuilliers The artillerie beganne to thunder and was shot off foure Vâ—lees but did little harme yet some died thereof dismembred and other were so hurt that they cursed them all their
those of the Protestants although that the Emperour being requested thervnto commaunded Conte Lewes as he tendered his obedience and dutie to retire and to withdrawe his armie out of the countrie with all possible spéede Where vnto the Conte aunswered that he coulde not doe it before that his brother and the other Princes and Lordes his confederates were aduertised the which he promised to doe very shortly yet neuerthelesse manye began to ware colde and namely when that the goodes of certaine of the Colonels were seised and arrested by the Emperour Yet the siege continued vntill the approch of the Duke Martiall at what time the Conte Lodowicke brake vp the siege hauing before sent the baggage towards Embden breaking downe and cutting off all the bridges and passages for to hinder and stay the enimie yet not without continuall skirmishes The Duke hauing sent the horsemen of the Duke of Brunswicke into Groningen bicause the Countrie being full of softe dirtie plashes and great vitches is very ill for horsemen followed the Protestants euen vnto Secloten where they made their stay In the meâ—â—â—e tune he sent some to beate the wayes on all stoes and for to learne out the mientes of the Conte in the ende he vnderstoode that the Rende-vonâ— was at Hieiniâ—guen whither certaine horsemen and footemen were come vnto him there minding to staye for the Duke and his furie For the which purpose he tooke the déepe riuer of Hems for to backe him lodging his campe in a place very strong also on other partes for he was flanked witâ— great ditches chanels and riuers and he coulde let out the water vpon the Duke and his men at ease and had on the other side the rich towne of Embden at his backe all the which séemed to be for his aduantage The Duke approched within two leages of Lodowickes armie and being resolued vpon his aduertisements sent the Captaines Sanchio d' Auila and Montero with an hundreth Argolets or harquebusiers on horsebacke for to attache the skirmish and to traine him out of his fort Besides this he charged Iulian Romero maister of the Campe to followe them with fiue hundreth harquebusiers and thrée hundreth Muschats who were followed by the Campe maister Sanchio de Londaiguo with one thousande harquebusiers appointing Cesar Gonzaga and Martinerguo with two companies of men of armes to be on the wings of the footemen Alphonse de Vllua and Dom Gonsaiuez de Bracamont conducted the rest with charge not to depart out of their place without his expresse commaundement In the tayle of these Spaniardes footemen he set sixe ensignes of Almaines followed by fiftene companies of VVallons and after the light horsemen three hundreth Launces and the Cornette of Hans Vernan all along one at the tayle of another by reason of the nature of the countrie for they must néedes passe in those very straite places one after another not being able to go eyther on the one side or the other for the ditches chanels and marishes that make the countrie very troublesome and yll to traunile The Conte who knewe the deliberation of the Duke that he might hurt anoy him before that they were come to gripes sent a number of footemen and Pioners for to cut vppe and marre the passages and wayes to the ende that the water which was pent vppe might ouerflowe all the fielde and ouerwhelme the Dukes armie so that the auantcurrers had not rode long but that they perceyued the footemen and their gard who laboured to make a waye for the water This caused the first skirmishe and the begynning of the iourney In the ende although the Pioners were forced to retire yet beyng susteyned sodainelye by other footemen that were sent vnto them they droue the Spaniards out of the place who sent vnto their Generall for to demaunde certayne Pykemen and harquebusiers the whiche yet he refused to doe and not without good considerations he sawe that according vnto the disposition that he had sette in his armye euerye troupe shoulde susteyne and helpe themselues to their vttermost and as long as they coulde for their liues so that when the foremost were pressed necessitie woulde sooner stirre vp their spirites for to inuent some good meane and would sooner redouble their courage for to susteyne the impressions and attempts of their enimies than if they reposed themselues vpon other He had also fantasied the lyke at another time and place when he thought it not good to fight in grosse with the desperate nor to put in the hazarde of one only iourney the entier estate of his Prince séeing the small assurance that he had in fortune who doth make hir inconstancie to be séene more in déedes of armes than anye other thing of the worlde Wherefore a Generall ought not to fight with his whole power vnlesse he be constreyned Moreouer he had his men in so carefull regarde namelye after the blowe receyued at the defeate of Aremberge that he estemed more the lyfe of one of them than the death often enimies And as one resolued for all euents in case that he shoulde be forced to come to fight his mynde was through the losse of some not only to saue the liues of the rest but wholy to breake the enimie assuring himselfe that if the foremost would be sufficient for to ouerthrowe the enimie that then their felowes that followed would make the breach farre greater but if they being to weake were broken then he persuaded himselfe that the enimie woulde come forth in so yll order and out of aray for to followe the victorie that the rest of his power would easily defeate them On the other side the Conte Lodowick renforced his foremost and commaunded them to giue in farther assuring them that he woulde alwayes be at their héeles and not suffer them to lacke succours and in déede they so lustily tasted two or thrée of the foremost Spanish bandes that the Maisters of the Campe aduertised the Duke that they were lost vnlesse they were speedily succoured Then he made the horsemen of Caesar Gonzaga Martinenguo and certaine other troupes to set forwarde with thrée hundreth harquebusiers which Dom Felis de Gusman conducted who came to the village where the fort of the recouÌ„ter was But as the time passed the water ranne in and in short time couered all the field to the great disaduantage of the catholikes namely of the Duke who was thereby brought into the state to â—oandon the grosse and greatest part of his armie to the pleasure of fortune specially when that he sawe himselfe sodainlye recharged with another yll hap which was that the ayre began to be dark and troubled with great cloudy raines which thretned the souldiours a thousand incommodities The Duke was as much offended and chased as the souldiours for that they must stay to fight there in the water vp to the waste and therewithal if that it should raine the shot the principall force of the Spaniards would be to no
thrust in to passe further that waye Therevpon his Excellence commaunded Duke de Montpensier who ledde the auantgarde for to marche the Mareschal de Cossé who stoode on the left side of the battalion of the Switzers to make the battell drawe a little more on the left hande than it was The which they executed very readilye and knewe very well to choose a place for to aduauntage their armie Yet though this commaundement were receyued they marched not immediatly for it is to be presumed that euerye Captaine would then recognise encourage his men and open vnto them the occasions and meanes to fight fortunatly Moreouer euery companye was preached vnto by their Preachers namely for the regarde of the Protestants after that the Princes of Nauarre and Condé had adhorted them to do their deuoire to consider the consequence of such a iourney the foule ignomy or most renoumed reputation that they should get by the euent of such a battell wherin lay those things that euery man of theÌ„ did séeke that is to wit their goodes their honour their whole state their liues their consciences which is of farre greater price therfore sith by the wel or ill doing in this iourney their life or death was assured they in summe prayed them to follow their captains who would not fayle to lead theÌ„ a very good way Then after that Tauennes whome his Excellence had before sent for to learne when it was time for to go vnto the charge had reported vnto him that it was very good time and that he must presently giue in bicause the artillerie of the Protestants maruallously endaÌ„maged the Catholikes namely that of the battel which lay within an hundreth paces of the battallion of Monsieur gaue it a very shrewd check again the artillerie of the Catholikes by reason of the place as I haue said did but a litle harme vnto the Protestants for the causes before discouered Moreouer he told him how the day passed away which might empeache the obteyning of an entiere victorie and in déede the armies â—ad stoode at a stay from seuen of the clock in the morning vntill thrée in the afternoone attending whiche woulde difmarch first Whilest that the Canon thus played still as well on the one part as the other his Excellence commaunded the Duke of Montpensier to go resolutely to the charge he himselfe would also doe the same in his quarter The which was done as soone as the artillerie of the one and the other side was sodenly retired by the sides and euery companie according to the order aforesayde did put themselues in pace and at the same instant the Trumpets of the Protestants hauing sounded Dedans dedans tis tis the armie began to march séeing the Catholikes now setting forwarde for to go on to the encounter Vpon this the Duke of Montpensier commaunded Martigues for to charge the runners or Enfans perdus and so to beginne the game staying them at the first The which they did for being ioyned with the Italians certain French troupes they marched as though they woulde haue giuen vpon the Enfans perdus of the footomen of the Protestantes but they no sooner saw themselues saluted by two or thrée hundreth harquebusiers but that they turned very short on the left hande and chaunging their trot into a gallop gaue so feruently vpon Mouy and his regiment that he being abandoned and forsaken by the two Cornets of Reisters that had bene appoynted to followe them and his regiment being broken was forced to get him away and to saue the greatest part of his men among the footemen who being made mad with so piteous an accident and foreiudging a miserable ende of so vnhappy a beginning lost their harts disbending themselues by little litle in the ende ranne all away for the best game The Enfans perdus were the first who by so doing helped much to discourage the other so that they almoste altogither forsooke the Lansquenets At the same time the Duke of Guise and la Valerie being followed by many other companies aduaunced themselues lustilye and came a great trotte to charge their parrie who with the same pace hasted to attache them At the meeting many Launces flewe into shiuers many horses to the huâ—sing one of the other ranne togither iufinite Pistolets made manye to fall backwarde with their héeles higher than their heades manye horsemen were borne to the grounde that neuer spake worde after While that these troupes fought with so great pertinacie the Conte of Saint Fâ—â—ra Paule Sforza and certayne other Italians encountred Dautricourt the Marques of Renay and their companies who after they had set a broche the Italian troupes shoulde haue followed Dautricourt For this Gentleman thinking that he had the victorie in his hande aduaunced forwarde so lustily that casting himselfe into the middes of the auantgarde he sawe himselfe enclosed and assayled by a great number of horsemen who after they had pressed him to yéelde and sawe his pertinacie in fight slue him in the fielde all that had followed him And passing further gaue vpon the rest who being dispersed here and there without Captaine were not able to abide the impression of the French men of armes who bowing themselues vppon the incitation of their Launce and being borne by strong horses buried many vnder their bellies yet these encounters were not done without sending of many of the one part and the other for to take the measure of their tombe vpon the duste of that fielde and namely of the Catholikes whome the harquebusiers that were on the side of the Protestants set off at all libertie assuring themselues that after they had discharged the horsemen woulde giue the charge vpon their partes and in the meane time they shoulde haue leysure inough to prouide for their affaires Yet neuerthelesse for all this the Admirall who by reason of his great practise in armes the which the long course of his olde yeares and which is more the diligent marking of so great and so diuers euents as had runne before his eyes as he followed the warres as well abroade as at home coulde welneare certainely iudge what would be the euent of the battell counselled the Princes to retire as couertly and with as smal a trayne as they could but as in aduersitie men haue their eyes more stirring and their spirites more liuely to espie and prie on all sides the meanes and wayes howe to enfranchise themselues from an yll chaunce that approcheth them neare many horsemen followed them so that they sawe more seruitors at their tayles by one halfe than the ordinarie trayne of their houses woulde beare the whiche helped nothing to encourage them that sawe or hearde afterwarde of that retraite the which made them so much the more to suspect that some yll happe was neare as the thing had bene secret vnto them I leaue to rake after these Villiaques who did abandon their ensignes for to
followe them that commaunded them not and I will speake only of those that were most chafed for to fight All these fellowes being empeached by rickling one another so neare coulde not sée at all the dismarches and the cruell affronts of two thousand Reisters Catholikes and of the companies that assisted the Admirall as well Frenchmen as Almaines When these battallions sawe that they were nere to the encounters the Protestats caused their harquebusiers to auance crying vnto them that they should not shoote but at the horses but with all assurance The whiche although they did shot off at fiftie pace the foremost giuing place vnto those that folowed yet they coulde not shoote off so soone but that the Reisters were already come to the charge The foremost of whome directing their ranges to run vpon the French Protestants who were on the side of their Reisters were couragiously receiued and ouerrun at the first blowe as well bicause the nature of the Frenchman is such that if he once ioyne he will still go farther as also for that the harquebusiers had already well clered and thinned the rankes of the Reisters by slaying and hurting many before hand who were able to giue no farther forward than the place where they had bene so nearely touched The Reisters Catholykes not marching togither nor charging with one and the same trot but being distributed by regiments and susteyned by French horsemen the one companie of them attached the Admirall who was assisted by the Conte of Mansfelde and the other charged the two companies of men of armes of the Admirall and de Acier who were followed by two or thrée Cornets of Reisters These charges were hote and very furious for all men an both sides and much more cruell on the side of the Catholikes than on the other by meanes of the harquebusiers Protestants who liuely tasted the Catholikes Some died in the field other felte themselues so hurt that they were not able to go any further neyther had any strength to fight And bicause of the crie At the horses fellowes at the horses Many of the beastes were so pricked to the quicke that they coulde neuer serue afterwarde When that these footmen had giuen euery man his blow they founde the horses of the artillerie who were retired into that quarter neare vnto them I doe beléeue they were not slouthfull to vse them presaging it may be the fearefull and long flight which they were neare vnto The rest prouided and made the best shifte for themselues that they coulde At that charge the Admiral was hurt betwéene the nose and the ball of the chéeke through the fault of those companies that had bene ordeyned for to couer him and fight before him who bicause they had taken the charge sooner than they ought he founde himselfe so intermedled among the Catholikes that if the Conte de Mansfeld retaking the charge and with him foure or fiue Cornettes of Reisters had not repulsed them the Admirall had neuer got out but had come vnto the curtesie of them that loued him little This being done the one and the other retired a little for to rallye themselues vnder their ensignes and afterwarde to returne to the encounter This first rencounter was mortall vnto manye Catholikes through the meanes and occasions aforesayde so that they séemed to leaue the Confederates almost in the possession of good fortune For in doede some of them then aduancing themselues vpon the Catholikes cried out victorie victorie as though she had slipped out of the handes of his Excellence But this crye profited the Protestants nothing for it séemed that the Catholikes had no lesse assuced themselues of their forces than of the good houre that assisted them as you shall heare Yet bicause they were seene to be put to flight it made manye ensignes accompanied with a great number of Catholikes to retire whom the Protestantes rallying themselues vnder their Ensignes thought to haue charged if that a freshe râ—â—â—ment that made as though they woulde charge the Protestantes their Reisters who had now rallyed themselues had not caused them to stay But bicause ye haue your eyes so fast fixed on the slaughters of the auantgardes ye cannot sée howe the battell dismarcheth by the commaundement of his Excellence Whose great felicitie coulde not suffer so long rest although he were vncertaine of the successe of his auantgarde which was nowe come to hande strokes yet he durst to leaue his tranquilitie and abandon all his whole state vnto the greatnesse of his fortune which had alwayes vntill that day smyled full merily vpon him Séeing then that he coulde not abide to expecte vntill the footemen had begun the game he made a sodaine departure from the right side vnder the conduct of the Duke de Aumalle the Marques of Baden and with all his Reisters the which Marques ranne in so farre before the rest that he was there slayne and many other for companions of his mortall charge Yet this was a small matter but Monsieur himselfe whether his nature hote and boyling in martiall prowes did sollicite him to enter the battell or whether besire to laye the armie of the Protestantes on the grounde pricked him therevnto did no sooner sée the Confederates buskle themselues to fight but that he marched full vpon the discouert of the artillerie the which had not ceased neither did then cease to play as well in the Esquadron of Monsieur as of other and namely in that of the footemen and his Excellence aduaunced himselfe so lustilye vpon the Protestantes that the Switzers vnder Colonell Phiffer and their Generall Mern with the other battallions remayned a great way behinde him Nowe séeing that such a Seigneur went so feruently to the charge the encounter maye not bée thought to be other than furious But as I haue shewed before he founde an other order and medley of men of warre than he had thought First and foremost his Excellence was saluted by foure score or an hundreth harquebusiers on horsebacke that there discouered themselues Furthermore when that the horsemen had assured themselues that the harquebusiers had giuen a greate check to his troupe and that the Reisters had also done much more mischiefe the Frenchmen did cast themselues heade féete and handes as it were desperately into his Esquadron and breaking in euen to the Cornet made all them that had followed his Excellence to forsake the place for all the deuoyre and all the force that the Duke of Long ville Tauannes Carnauallet Villars and all those that had followed and accompanied him coulde make and all that euer they coulde doe in summe this charge was so terrible that the most assured ensignes beganne nowe to turne backe againe as if they woulde demaund succour of Mareschall de Cossé who had not yet departed one foote from the left side of the Switzers and had auaunced them forwarde apace for to be in time as he himselfe was for to succour their fellowes And to
say the truth if he had not bene the battell had bene then ended And one may truly note in him that all his enterprises bicause they neuer were none of those hastie and lightly aduaunced were alwayes valiantly and fortunately executed as things maturely deliberated are alwayes most sure in execution All in time Tauannes ranne to the Switzers and made them to come a trot to giue the charge their Colonell Mern marching before them The Mareschall de Cossé the yong Brisac aduauncing forwarde made the Protestants to staye somewhat who moderated their pace a little that they might rallye themselues and charge those that came fresh In fine the Conte Lodowick with his troupes as well French as Almaines gaue lustily vpon the Mareschall de Cossè Conte de Mansfelde Tauannes and other that flanked the left side of the Switzers it was very valiantly fought on the one side and the other as well with blowes of Launces and Coutelas as of Pistolettes The impetuositie and furie of the which Pistolets doth not permit our slaughter in fight to endure so long as it did in auncient time For then euerye man affronting his aduersarie woulde not depart out of the place before that the happier man had slaine his enimie or made him obedient to his will. But bicause we doe assure our selues more in the diuelrie of our Pistolets than in valiant armes after we haue discharged our Pistolet vpon our enimie as we runne we doe passe further as the horse will eyther for to recharge or to take the tucke And it doth most often happen that the cōpanies doe find thēselues so dispersed of the enimies after the first charge they must tarie a long time to rallye themselues expecting the seconde encounter as it here happened for after they hadde bene well martyred with the first impression they perceyued that they were so put out of aray that they must néedes retire for to revnite themselues But the Protestantes séeing themselues to be so small a number and the Catholikes to be refreshed and strengthened to the purpose as well by the companies of the Mareschaur of the Campe as by the Switzers who were ready to giue the charge lost their anger and hatred to recharge In the meane time his Excellence had the leysure to be refreshed with an horse through the ayde and meane of the Marques of Villars and Biron with the troupes of the Mareschalles ordeyned for to rallye the dispersed wente all againste the Switzers for to encourage them and to make them marche against the Lansquenettes Neyther was it long but that the Mareschall the Conte de Mansfelde and his companie being rallyed on the other side of the Switzers returned altogither to the charge Then Biron with his companies with whome all that had fledde and other that had wandered from their Cornettes had ioyned and rallyed encouraged the Switzers and tolde them that if they woulde but followe him he would ouerthrowe the rest of the Protestantes the greatest parte of whome in déede retired as fast as they coulde The rest being ioyned with them of the auantgarde who for the same occasion not being able to abyde the shocke of the Duke de Montpensier had gone vnto them of the battell for to rencounter that they might retire in masse or plumpe with as little dammage as coulde be left vnto his Excellence with the fielde of the battell the felicitie and glorie of this entire iourney being constrayned miserablye to abandon the Lansquenettes to the crueltie of the Switzers their auncient enimies who entering in as it were at the breache whiche the Frenche harquebusiers had made in their battallion slue them all for the moste parte although that manye of them with ioyned handes and knées on the grounde cried out Bon papist bon papist moy I am a good Papist I am a good Papist As in déede no fewe of them were Catholikes by reason of the little acception that such sorte of people haue who will first giue them intertainement yet at the length they being wearye rather of stryking than of killing were in the ende constrayned to leaue those occasions of sighing and wéeping vnto other who tooke them as it were into their seruice for to serue them afterwarde as it were their Custerels Of foure thousande two hundreth or thereaboutes escaped their bloudye handes and almost seauen hundreth other who being lesse armed and better legged than the foremoste and hauing the knowledge to presage by the beginning of a sléete the comming of so piteous a storme had fledde oute of the fielde with the greatest part of the French footmen who as I haue sayde had done the same long time before Neare thrée thousande harquebusiers were aranged with these Lansquenets who had all felt the same furie of the victorious if it had not bene for certaine French Captaines in chiefe and Monsieur himselfe who being a right Gentleman in déede contented himselfe with the honor and the happy end of the notablest victorie that euer was giuen vnto him in Fraunce and it maye also happen that euer shall be afoorded him in any other countrie commaunding them to pardon the Frenchmen Yet neuerthelesse one thousande or twelue hundreth dyed there for to enrich the playne of Cron and to serue for an eternall marke of the iourney of Moncontour the which the Protestants lost aswel through the fault of the hearts of those that fledde as for the yll disposition and aray of their horsemen For the Generall being curiouslye carefull to hide the small number of his men would stretch thē forth in length like vnto an hedge for to giue apparence vnto the Catholikes that they were farre mo than they were in in déede and by this meanes to haue made thē cold to encounter them that the iourney nere at hande might be passed ouer in peace bicause he doubted that he shuld not therin beare himselfe well with aduantage the which the Catholikes gained being assured of his state there bicause they had better disposed their horses in grosse battallions who giuing as it were desperately through these hedges of the whyte Cassockes ouerranne them and put out of the araye the greatest part of them notwithstanding all the hayle of the harquebusse shot which they made to rayne thicke and thréefolde vpon them And otherwise the Reislers were not able to abide the impression of the French horsemen bicause they fought seperated contrarie vnto their natural and ordinarie fashion so that they were in the ende broken by the Catholikes The forme of fight in the maner of an hedge is good for Frenchman against Frenchman but more proper to one that beareth Launce than vnto a Pistoletter who we sée doe all charge togither and the hindermost do not couer nor hinder the foremoste and as this disposition was of no force that daye so let him not vse it any more hereafter In summe they lost very fewe of the horsemen both for the grace and fauour that their spurres gayned those that
the paisantes The rest of the whole number will scarce amount to the thrée hundreth of paye who vnder the charge of Hector Reilen were conducted home into their countrie by the Catholykes at the Kings commaundementâ— after that peace was made and published Recken these numbers and it maye be you shall finde that there were not so manye slayne as I doe saye Of the Frenchmenne that two partes were saued by so shamefull a flight you ought not to doubte ioyne therevnto the curtefie that Monsieur commanded to be vsed vnto the rest of the French men To haue fledde and to be slaine in fight be two incompatible thinges and then consider the retrayte of the Reisters Protestants of whome there died about an hundreth and fiftie If you doe not nowe beléeue me I will say that in your speache you deuise as Clerkes of armes or else doe it of passion Nor I will say farther the which will more disease you to digest that the Catholikes had at Moncontour a losse of more importance than the Protestantes who lost none but their footemen Monsieur pursuing the Protestantes with spéedie pace rested not before that the night tooke him which was at Saint Generou vpon la Toné and after he was lighted off from his horse he gaue thanks to God for that he had vouchsafed to bestowe vpon him so goodly happy and notable victorie to the profite and contentment of the king his brother After this victorie Monsieur recouered all Poitou when that the Protestantes had dispersed their armie to be refreshed in Xantogne Quercye and Gascogne But the next Summer they were in the fielde againe and forced the king to make peace with them in August following being in the yere 1570. graunting them pardon and also libertie of their consciences ¶ The Battell of Lepanto fought by sea vpon the coast of Greece betvveene the nauy of the Christian league vnder the coÌ„duct of Don Iohn de Austria and the Turkish fleete gouerned by Haly Bassa in Anno. 1572. Out of Peter de Bizari WHen that Selym the seconde the Turke grieuouslye molested the Islandes of Cyprus and Candie Philip the king of Spaine the seignorie of Venice and Pius the fifte Bishoppe of Rome entred into a strong league against him and in the yeare 1â—72 did set forth a mightie fléete in that quarrell ayded herein by the Dukes of Flâ—rence Sauoy and other Princes and the knightes of Malta and the Citie Genoa â–ª This fléete consisted of two hundreth and eyght galleyes sixe galeazes siue and twentie shippes fortie Brigantines and Fragates and fiue and twentie thousande souldiers Italians Spaniardes and Almaines besides two thousand gentlemen that serued for pietie and honor without wages Thys mightie nauie the high Admirall wherof was Don Iohn de Austria base sonne of the Emperour Charles the fift yet so that Mark Antonie de Colonna and Sebastian Venerio the Admiralles of the Papes and Venetian nauies shoulde be alwayes called into couÌ„sell and that done which shoulde séeme good vnto the greater part of them launched out of the hauen of Messina in Scicile in August to the vttermost of their power to endommage the Turke The seuenth of October they being before the Isles Cuzolari in the Archipelago had intelligence that the Turkishe nanie of 333. galleyes and such like vessels was in the gulfe of Lepanto and hasted directly vnto our nauie and were not farre off When that this was hearde and knowne to be true Don Iohn impelled thorowe the surpassing valiance both of his owne heart and also of his fellowes and allies and specially through the intreatie and persuasion of Augustine Barbadico the Viceadmirall or Prouiditor of the Venetian fléete incontinently commaunded that flagge to be hanged forth which was the signal of battel that the fléete might come togither he coÌ„manded one of the greatest gunnes to be shot off Then he went aboorde a long boate taking with him Lewes of Cardona and Soto his secretarie and glistering all in bright armour went about all the whole fleete with most ioyful countenance and passing stoutnesse of courage and gaue charge that euery man shoulde followe their ensignes and kéepe their araye and then adhorted and desired the Captaines and souldiours that they woulde fight valiantly and stoutlye and thinke that they caried that daye the riches honor glorie libertie faith and religion of their countries in their valiant handes Wherefore they shoulde be ready and fully bent to inuade the Turkes as soone as the signall shoulde be giuen and that if they vanquished this daye woulde bring perpetuall felicitie vnto them and theirs but contrarywise if they shoulde behaue them dishonourably and shamefully and be vanquished that then it would be a beginning of euerlasting shame and of all calamities Wyth these and such like wordes the heartes of all men althoughe they were before of themselues fiercelye inough incited were more and more inflamed and nowe euerye man burnt in immesurable desire of fight It can scarce be tolde for howe fortunate and happye an abodement it was taken that euerye man as soone as they sawe him beganne to applaude and also to crie out victorie victorie and these wordes did they oftentimes euer and anon repeate Those things being spéedilye done he returned againe into the Idmirall galley almoste at suche time as the two fléetes were within an arrowes shot one of another But bicause that diuerse of the galleyes séemed to be somewhat slacke to take their place Lewes Rechezenes streight waye went out of the Admirall and being rowed in a boate gaue it in charge vnto euery galley then returned agayne vnto the Prince The middle battell wherein were thréescore and three galleys did the thrée high Admiralles guide and Dom Iohn kept in the middes on whose right side went the Popes Admirall galley in whome was Marke Antonie de Colonna the high Admirall and Pompey de Colonna Romagasso and Michael the Popes Nephewe with manye other noblemen But on his lefte was Venerio the Venetian Admirall whome manye valiant and noble men accompanied and a small distaunce from hir followed the Admiralles of Charino Maripetri and Iohâ— Lâ—uretaâ—o behynde them the Admirall of the Genouese in the which the Prince of Parma was and the Admirall of the Duke of Sauâ—y the Captayne whereof was Ligny a manne renoumed both for birth and martiall knowledge and in hir was also the Prince of Vrbine and the wings of the myddle battell were backed on one side with the Admirall of the Knightes of Malta whose Captayne was Peter Iustiniano a forwarde and valiant man and on the other wyth Lumolines Admirall in whome was Paule Iordane a Gentleman of approued prowes Whylest that Dom Iohn doth chearefullye and diligentlye execute all things which doe appertayne vnto his charge and doth omit nothing that doth belong vnto a valiant and noble Prince the rest of his fellowes and the Captaynes of the galleyes did also by their owne authoritie commaunde their souldiours to repayre vnto the ensignes
and that no man should depart out of his place that euery man should put himselfe in a readinesse for to fight Moreouer euery one of them adhorted their souldiours and did to their vttermoste declare vnto them all things that might inflame their heartes and nothing was pretermitted by them which did appertayne vnto the dueties of good Captaines In the meane time euerye man made his most heartie and suppliant prayers vnto God for the good successe of the fight and then tooke a shorte breakefast and also the Mariners and rowers being refreshed with meate and drinke and anon all of them euery one of them with prompt and valiant hearts made ready themselues for to fight Two of the galeazes went before the middle battell Iohn Andrew Doria Admiral of the Genouese fléete had the leading of the right wing wherein were thréescore and foure galleyes and also two of the galeazes went before him Augustine Barbadico was Captayne of the left wing with fiftie thrée galleyes and likewise two of the Galeazes went before him But Andrew Baciano Marques of Sancrace and Admirall of the Neapolitan fléete who had the leading of the rerewarde or the battell of succour stoode with his galleyes who were in number thirtie eyght halfe a myle from the battelles But that our men might fight with happy euent it was wrought through the helpe and singular prouidence of God who made the winde which at the begynning did greatlye fauour the enimies their nauie by little and little to fall and anon there followed suche a calms that the Turkishe vessels coulde scarce be stirred out of their place in so much that their shippes were rowed forth and in the meane time more leysure and aduauntage was giuen vnto our men to sette their araye The Admirall of the Turkishe fléete Haly Bassa had before this tyme sente one Caracosse with a Brigantine to take a vewe of our nauie the whiche he reported vnto the Admirall to be farre lesse than it was in déede eyther bicause he coulde not well sée the galleyes of the lefte wing by reason of his spéedy posting or else which is more likely for the Islande that was behinde them But two other that were sent after Caracosse hauing vewed our fléete more diligently and curiously marked the kings flagges returned spéedilye and tolde that our nauie was very strong and very excellentlye well appointed and prepared to fight with their ensignes aduaunced But as soone as he hearde this he greatlye maruelled as he that had before fully persuaded himselfe and also the same had bene tolde him by Caracosse that our nauie was farre lesse thā it was in déede and therefore woulde our men go backe againe as soone as euer they sawe them comming and seeke their safetie by shamefull flight or else if that they were so foolishe hardye as to fight they woulde receyue a notable ouerthrow He is also reported to haue enquired whether that those vessels which were placed in the front were Venetian or Spanishe and when he was aunswered that the one was intermired with the other he was very pensiue and had thought at the first that it scarce could haue bene by any meanes possible At the first he had thought to haue wintered eyther in the gulfes of Cataro Corfu or Cephalenia but after that he had lerned for a certaintie that our men had rigged forth a mightie nauie he returned incōtinently into Greece where he commaunded newe bandes of souldiours to be pressed forth and they being spéedily embarked in his nauie the whiche was also againe newe furnished with victualles and other necessary things he directed his course with the rest of the Lanizars and other ordinarie souldiers that he had before leuied towards Cuzzologri which was almost midde waye betwéene Lepanto and Patras with intent to fight with our fléete and in that minde was he the more confirmed for that he had vnderstoode by Caracosses wordes that his nauie was farre the greater Wherefore at the first the Turkes began to reioyce and promised themselues assured victorie and so great a desire to fight had inflamed all of thē that euerye man coueted to go before his fellowes although it were commaunded vnder payne of death that no man should go before the Admirall galley They were like vnto a mightie thick woode and coulde scarce be restrayned from fight and when they sawe our men come forwarde to fight verye valiantly and couragiously and euery galley to followe the ensignes according to the discipline of warre and in a very goodly order with the noses of their galleys directed against the enimies they also incontinently began to set their nauie with greate arte and celeritie and they had so much the more conceyued the victorie in hope bicause the winde did at the beginning blowe very commodiouslye for them as we haue sayde before But for that the beames of the sunne which shined that day very bright were full in their eyes they coulde not so aptly and commodiously order and sette their vessels in aray Partaw the Generall of the souldiours and Haly the Admirall of the fléete whiche two did leade the middle battell had appointed Mahomet Bey to be Captaine of the righte wing with fifty galleys and with him were Sirocke the President of Alexandria Caurlaw Asiscau Dragan Agadel Bassa Vstregasa and many other men of great marke But Occhialy had charge of the left wing with almost fourescore and ten vesselles and there accompanied him Caraiolo and Arabey his sonnes and many expert souldiours and also many of the Pirates and they went directly against Doria their wing séemed to be much stronger than his and also the galleys to be farre mo in number bicause that Doria his galleys that were on the lefte hande not farre from the mayne lande coulde not at the first be séene But the principall Chiefetaines themselues who were as ye haue hearde Haly and Partaw were garded on both sides with almost as many galleys And of those noble menne that accompanied them these were part Agan the maister of the Arsenall Mustapha Celibi the Treasurer Treymontana Amath Bey with his brother and Haly his sonne Amath Aga the Captaine of Teuthrama Assis Caiga the gouernour of Gallipoli Caracosse Cambey the sonne of Barbarossa Malamur the Captaine of Mitilene Deli Solyman Gider the Captaine of Scio Cassembey the Lieutenaunt of the Rhodes Prouy Aga the Captaine of Napoli Giapar Cilibi President of Calaba Dordagnan Dondomeney Beribeuole Osman Reul Agada Ciasafer Dram Rais and many other of marke both for their riches and authoritie and also for their prowes in warrefare Thus when they sawe our men the which in déede happen vnto them otherwise than they had expected readye and couragious to fight they incontinentlye aranged their galleyes for the battell being cast into the forme of a Croisant or halfe Moone as they haue of long time accustomed The Admirall of the Turkes verye seuerelye commaunded all men and euery man in the name of Selim for to
fight without feare and valiantly against their enimies their nauie If that anye man did forsake the battell eyther for slouth feare or anye other cause he and his vessell and all that were with him should be incontinently consumed with fire In the meane time he commaunded as our men did that euerye man shoulde repayre incontinently vnto his ranke and order and kéepe it ordeining a grieuous payne for all them that shuld doe otherwise Moreouer he assembling his men togither adhorted them to be myndefull of their wonted prowes through the which they had so often hitherto put to flight this same enimie and reduced into their memorie all the noble actes that they had done in former yeares agaynst Charles the fift and his sonne Philip during the reygne of Solyman Moreouer he briefelye repeated all that they had at sundrye times done agaynste the Venetians and what they had of late gotten by warres and armes that is to wit howe they had augmented the Turkishe dominions with the kingdome of Cyprus Wherefore they ought to remember that they were also nowe to fight wyth those men whome they had so often discomfited and that they shoulde make a waye and entrie not onely into Italie but also shortlye vnto the possession of all Europe and therefore they shoulde fight valiantly assuredly trust that God and Mahomet through whose helpe their auncestours had subdued so manye kingdomes and Prouinces and had broughte backe from the vanquished enimye so manye renowmed victories woulde also be with and assiste them in this battell These things and manye suche lyke did he set before his souldiours with an oration no lesse graue than eloquent that thereby his souldiours although he sawe them of their owne accorde to be sharply inkindled to fight might yet be through these adhortations the more and more accensed Nowe was all the daye almoste spente when that the nauies on both sides were made readie to fight The ennimies fléete was sette in almoste the same araye that oures was For the middle battell came against our middle battell and their wings against ours Our sixe greate galleyes or Galeazes as I haue tolde you wente before of whome two stoode before eyther wyng as a moste sure Bulwarke and the rest wente before the myddle battell These greate Galleyes charging the leaders of the Turkishe battelles against them did beate the ennemie on all sides with their ordinaunce and committed horrible slaughter But althoughe the Turkes had receyued manye greate losses by them and sawe that their orders and rankes were scattered yet they being passed by them did wyth a certayne marueylous pertinacie and stoutenesse of heart gette them incontinentlye vnto the Ensignes So anon the two fléetes ioyned togither in battell and the highe Admirall galleyes of bothe fléetes vsing the surpassing chearefulnesse of the Mariners and Rowers ranne togither with so greate force and violence that their beakes on bothe sides were strycken off They foughte valiantlye and variablye for the space of an whole houre the victorie enclyning vnto neither parte fortune giuing ioyfull hope of prosperous euente nowe vnto oure men and then vnto the aduersaries And nowe they began to fighte no longer with Arrowes Dartes and Gunnes but encountered close togither with their Swordes But when our menne had twyce boorded the Turkishe Admirall and had gotten vnto the Maste and séemed to be maisters of hir they were twyce repulsed thence and not withoute a notable losse by newe succoure that ranne thither Whyle that these thynges are in doing Bernardine de Cardona séeing that Lewes de Figaroa the Captayne of the stemme of the highe Admirall had manye of his menne wounded and slayne came spéedilye to relieue and succoure him wyth Michael de Moncada to whome also that charge had bene enioyned But whylest that Bernardine foughte valiantlye at the stemme with his sworde and target he being shot in with thrée pellets fell downe and dyed the next morning And in that place were also Peter Zaputha Lewes de Ferez Pliege the father Federick de Benauides Gusman Philip de Rhodes Ruide de Mendozza Iohn de Sâ—to and Lewes de Rochenes who was sometime at the standard and sometimes with Dom Iohn and all these noble gentlemen fought against the enimie with great and incredible valor At length our men still vrging with sharpe sight and hauing gotten a fauourable aspect of victorie did after an houre and an halfes fight discomfite the middle battell and boorded and tooke the Admirall galley in whome were about fiue hundreth of the noblemen slayne and mo taken and wounded the Admirall himselfe while that he encourageth his men he erecteth those that doe faynt and be fearefull he confirmeth the couragious he extolleth to the heauens those that fight valiantly and promiseth them great rewardes finally whilest that he executeth no lesse the charge of an excellent Chiefetaine than of a stout souldiour is slayne with a small shot that hit him in the heade the whiche being streightway cut off from his necke was brought by a Spaniard vnto Dom Iohn who as soone as he saw it coÌ„manded it to be set on the poynt of a speare for a space held it aloft with his own hande as it were a trophey and to strike terror into the heartes of the rest of his enimies who fought yet very valiantly anon were all the Turkish flagges pulled downe and one of the crosse hanged out in their place But although that a principall galley of the enimies sodenly inuaded the Admirall when that she had almost vanquished hir enimies yet she had the same euent that the rest had While that the high Admirals doe most fiercely encounter eche other Partaw and Colonna encountred togither and euery one of Colonna his galleys with the Turkishe some with two and some with thrée as Colonna himselfe and the Admirall of the Venetians had done equall almost was the prowes of the souldiours on both sides At the beginning of the encouÌ„ter many were slayne but most on the enimies part by reason that our men had in euery galley thrée hundreth skilfull verye well practised harquebusiers and on the other side the enimye had verye fewe although in steade of them there were innumerable archers and among them some on horsebacke who deadly wounded manye of our menne But in the meane time the Galleye slaues also brought no small helpe to the obteyning of the victorie by hurling of Dartes and stones vpon the enimie While that the chief Captaynes of the fléetes encounter one the other with so bloudy and cruell fight all vessels of both nauies doe also in all partes furiously fight one against the other and Doria and Occhiali runne togither But here was the fight most troublesome and hardest bicause that Doria had ioined with so suttle an enimie and an old beaten Captaine and one whome he sawe did recule backe that he might choose that which he iudged woulde be most for his aduauntage This was a great impediment that his counsels
looking that they which had so shamefully fled should open the gates vnto the victors But not long after when he lacked ordinaÌ„ce to winne the towne and the Prince of Besignano had fallen downe ahnost dead through the stroke of a pellet of a Serpentine shot off froÌ„ the bulwarke of the towne whiche pellet had strickeÌ„ off the handle of hys sworde and battered his brest plate they retyred backe to spoyle them that were slaine after whose departure the Horsemen were deliuered of extreame feare and danger and retyred into the towne And within few houres after came the Spanyards stragling in dyâ—â—rs coÌ„panies being saued through the benefit of the wood But if â—ersiue had encamped before Eboli most men do hold that the townesmen bycause they were of the factioÌ„ of Aniou would haue opened the gate vnto theÌ„ the next day deliuered the ArragoniaÌ„ army into their haÌ„ds The hoped fruite of this battell was not receiued for before that hasting Persiue could come vnto sight MoÌ„pensier had giueÌ„ hostages for the deliuering vp of the castel within a certaine day vnlesse ther came so great a power of freÌ„chmeÌ„ the FerdinaÌ„ds army wold abaÌ„doÌ„ the field and hide themselues in Townes and also that he might be viâ—tualled had couenanted that he and his power would not stirre vntill that time Now Persiue not daring to breake thorough the inexpugnable munitions which the K. had cast vp at Caia a place not farre from the West gate of Naples whiche way the Frenchmen must néedes go to come vnto the Castell retired backe agayne into Basilicata leauing the castell to be surrendred Of the Battell of Terranoua foughte in the kingdome of Naples betvveene the Lorde Obegny Chiefetayne for Lewes the French Kyng and Hugo of Cardonna Captaine for Ferdinande the King of Spayne in Anno. 1506. WHen that Lewes the Frenche King and Ferdinande the King of Spayne coulde not agreÌ„e about the diuision of the Kingdome of Naples whereof they had spoyled Kyng Fredenke Dom Hugh de Cardonna hauing leuied in Sicile thrée thousand footemenne thrée hundred HorsemeÌ„ arriued at Rezo in Calabria and in a great skirmish distressed Iames Sanseuerino Prince of Mileto who stirred the Calabrians to reuolt and succoured Didaco de Ramires that was besieged in Terranoua and burnte and sacked the Towne and after this put to flight Martiano the Prince of Rossana When the two Sanseuerini Princes of Salerne and Besignano had intelligence of these exploites they leuying vp power in all partes and arming their tenauntes ioyned with the Lorde Obegny who hasted from Cossenza to represse Hugh There were with Obegny Monsieur de Griguines and Monsieur de Malherbe the one Captayne of the Gascoigne Archers and thrée thousande Switzers the other Griguines of all the light Horsemen but his chiefest strength was in his men of armes among whome an olde band of Scottes dyd excell whiche consisted of the familiars and faithfull friendes of Obegny Hugh lodged at that time in a playne on the South syde of Terranoua and béeyng broken with the comming of hys enimes calleth the Captaynes into Counsell and although he was encreased with a new supplye yet he thinketh it best to shunne the open fieldes and mindeth to retire backe vnto Saint Georges Castell whych standeth on the Appenine Mountaynes But the new Captaines that had lately come out of â—payne impeached the performance of this determination Among this newe supply were Emanuell Benauides and Antony de Leua who became afterwarde a renowmed Captayne and two Aluerades the father and the sonne they hadde broughte with them foure hundred men of armes and lyghte Horsemen and foure bandes of footemen They sayde it was dishonorable yea and flatte shamefull to remoue their Camp backe and to retyre before the enimie came into sighte and before they certaynely knewe what and how great their enimies power was and this reasoned they the rather bycause a Calabrian espie a man of a doubtfull fidelitie did affirme that the Frenche coulde not be there within two dayes But this opinion of the Frenchemen dyd Obegny an olde Captayne egregiously deceyue for he vsing french spéedinesse and marching all nighte through an vnused way taught him by the Calabrians shewed vnto the Spanyardes his battels raunged and commaunded the battell to be sounded The right wing did the two Sanseuerine Princes stretche forthe in forme of a croysant In the left wing was Griguines Captayn as I haue sayd of all the light Horsemen but in the middle battel stoode Obegny almost close vnto the Princes with the men of armes cast into a thicke troupe Malherb set his Switzers standing thicke togither and his Gascoignes in looser rankes that they might shoote the more commodiously close to the syde of the lighte Horsemen On the other side the Spanyardes although they were fewer in number and deceyued of their purpose yet without feare they arange theyr battels and encourage one another to fighte and withall constantly receyue the charge of the Frenchmen there was to be séene a cruell fyght neyther side hauing abilitie to shoote off their ordinance But in the heate of the fight whylest Cardonna dothe performe and that with maruellous constancie the office both of a Chiefetayne and a Souldyer Griguines fetching a compasse about with his extended wing gaue a charge ouerthwart the footemen and disordred and defeated them and immediately the Switzers and Gascoignes were also vpon the iackes of them with suche violence that the Spanish footemen béeyng broched with the pykes and shot in with the arrowes of theyr enimies fearefully fledde But in another quarter all Cardonna his Horsemen béeyng by hys commaundemente cast togither into one round troupe susteyned the Calabrian Horsemen with euened slaughter But wheÌ„ Obegny came forth with his battell neyther the Spanish nor Sicilian Souldyoures did abyde the violent charge of the Scottishe men of armes but hastily turning their backes ranne away amayne vnto the Mountaynes Cardonna rating and in vayne bidding them turne head and retire faire and softly The Horsemen béeyng thus put to flighte the footemenne were slayne and troden downe from all partes but the greatest parte of the Horsemen escaped vnto the streightes of the Mountaynes At this conflict Griguines pursuing his fléeing enimies was slayne béeing runne into the eye with a launce when he had pulled vp his beuer Neyther was Obegny in small perill of death when the Spanish Horsemen as we afterward learned of Antonino de Leua hauing enclosed and almost taken him prisoner went about to pull off his helmet and doubtlesse had slayne him if he had not bin saued by the comming of the Prince of Salernes Horsemen who casting themselues into a wedge scattered those that were clustered round about him Furthermore when that the rest of the noble mon had escaped by the Mountaynes Hugo last of all forsaking his Horse whome he had huckened bycause the enimie shoulde not enioy him créeped by the snowy Rockes vnto Bubalina Motta and then gathering
togyther and a little refreshing hys Souldyers that hadde escaped out of the battell he wente downe vnto the Citie of Hierazzi The baggage and carriages of the Spanyardes fell vnto the pillage of the Frenche Souldyers and Pesauntes the ensignes with many goodly Genets of Spayne were brought vnto Obegny and the nuÌ„ber of them that were taken prisoners was greater than of them that were slayne Neyther coulde that victorie séeme ioyfull vnto Obegny séeing it cost hym the deathe of that most valiaunt Gentleman his déere friend Griguines After thys battell when Obegny hadde without wounde taken Bubalina Motta whyther hys enimies hadde fledde there was no man almost in Calabria that dyd not incontinently turne his deuotion towards the Frenchmen victors the Spanyardes fleing into the strong Castels whiche they thought the Frenchmenne woulde hardly winne in the Winter season The Battell of Gioia fought in the Kingdome of Naples betvveene the Lord Obegny Generall for the Frenche Kyng and Andrado for Ferdinande the Kyng of Spayne in Anno. 1506. FERDINANDE Kyng of Spayne hearing of thys ouerthrow in Calabria and how that his LieutenaÌ„t General in the Kingdome of Naples Gonsalues was besieged in Puglia sente Portecareri with a strong fléete army into Naples vnder whoÌ„e serued Alfonse Caruaiall with 600. Horsemen Ferdinande Andrada who had brought out of Galicia Biskay about 5000. footemen but Portecarery dyed as soone as he came vnto Rezo and so the supreme gouernement fel vnto Andrada who coÌ„sulting with Hugo de Cardonna marched with his army into the territorie of Terranoua And the verye same daye also came Obegny from Bubalina Motta to take Terranoua which when Alrerade a Spanyard had taken before hée came he after a light skirmish to trie the force of his enimies turned to Castel San Giâ—n not far froÌ„ Seminara in the whiche place seauen yeares before he hadde vanquished in battell Kyng Ferdinande and Gonsalues Neyther were the fieldes famous for the late ouerthrowe of Hugo de Cardonna farre off in somuche that Obegny béeyng fierce through hys former victories although he were inferiâ—ure in number yet beholding with his eyes the fieldes fatall vnto hys foes but fortunate vnto himselfe was ledde with a ioyful abodement to aduenture the thirde battell and for that intente sente his Harraulde Ferracute vnto the Spanyardes who wyth proude mouthe offered the fielde vnto them as men of no valâ—o and accustomed to be vanquished Hugh being of hymselfe iâ—rensed through the heate of his disceyuing â—earte was of the opinion that the offer of battell shoulde bée accepted and that for the bringyng of the message Ferracute shoulde haue a basen and a cuppe of syluer and presently sente for hys brother who was not farre from thence to come with his footemen but hys Souldyers refused to goe forthe excepte their wages behinde that had bin so often promised them were nowe payde But this contumacie of the Souldyers he easily dissolued by giuing vnto them all the golde and syluer he had and gaging hys friendes credite for the rest and so the footemen were brought into the Camp. But Obegny after certayne skirmishes marched to Gioia whome the Spanyardes incontinently followed and the next day came Obegny downe from Gioia in aray of battell which as soone as the Spanyardes espyed they also incontinently arraâ—nged their battels In the wings were Emanuell de Benauides and Caruaiall But in the middle battell were Hugh Antonino de Leua and Aluerade the father with the olde footemen and Horsemenne A little behynde this battell stoode Andrada with the Horsemenne that came lately out of Spayne and the Galician and Biskay footemen who after the auntient manner of the Romane warfare vsed pauices somewhat long and inflected and iauelins to be hurled But Obegny himselfe was in the vannâ—gard Alphonse SaÌ„seuerino was in the seconde and Honorato Sanseuerino in the thirde and did leade the bandes of their friendes and tenauntes But Malherbe was Captayne of the square batallion of the footemen with whome was the greate ordinaunce whyche béeyng shotte off on bothe sydes the Horsemen came forthe But when Obegny wente aboute to auoyde the Sunne that shyned in hys face hée missed of hys purpose for a troupe of Spanishe lyghte Horsemen tooke the place before him so that he turned about gaue a vehemeÌ„t charge on Emanuels wing But when the sighte was most hote and Emanuels wing did verye hardlye susteyne the forte of the Scottes Hugh Antony and Aluerade succoured them and then they sought on both sydes so fiercely that both Frenchemen and Spaniards fighting with their swords were intermedled togither neither did the one or the other doubte of the victorie when loc with speedie counsell Caruaial brought about the left wing and gyuing a charge vpon the backes of the fore ward of the enimies brought such terror vnto them being busied with the doubtfull fight before that Obegny hauing his battaile distressed fled And the horsemen of Andrada defeated AlphoÌ„so Sanseuerino that brought aide with the second battell and with like lotte was Honoratus put to flight and the thirde battaile ouerthrowne and within halfe an houre whiche is scarse credible there was a notable victorie gotten almost all the French footmen being slayne both the Sanseuerines Honoratus Alfonse were takeÌ„ prisoners But a troupe of Scottes tooke away Obegny out of the handes of his enimies and then Malberbe and he met and fled on the spurre to Gioia But there they stayed not long bicause newes was broughte that the Spanish horsmen were at hand pursuing them but Obegny in the darke night came to the castell of Angitula often complayning of Fortune that had nowe illuded and deceyued him hauing bin inuincible vntill that daye and victour in twelue Britayne and Frenche battayles The Spaniards pursuyng hym besieged the Castell whiche Obegny yelded vp himselfe within fewe dayes after when he vnderstood how the Duke of Nemours the Viceroye of Naples was discomfyted and stayne in battayle ¶ The Battell of Cerignola foughte in the Kyngdome of Naples by the Duke of Nemoures Viceroy and Generall for Lewes the Frenche King and the great Gonsalues Viceroy and Lieutenant Generall for Ferdinande the Kyng of Spayne in Anno. 1506. THe same day that the Lord Obegny was ouerthrowen at Gioia the great Gonsalues de Cardonna Lieutenant Generall for the Spanyardes in Naples hauing receyued a supplye of Alwaynes issued out of the Towne of Barletia wherein he had bin after a sort besieged seauen monethes by the Duke of Nemoures Viceroy for the Frenche King and marched to CERIGNOLA with intent to besiege the Towne or to gyue battell vnto the Frenchmen if they woulde attempte to succoure it The Duke of Nemours forsaking Canossa was encamped not farre from Cerignola where he called togither the Captaynes consulting with them whether it were best to fight or no. But thorough vntimely alteration the greatest parte of the day was spent in consultation when he himselfe Monsieur de Formantes and Monsieur Darsey for
and intents coulde not be knowne nor all the galleyes brought forth at the first But when they at length though late came vnto fight Doria fought valiantly and had with him Octauian Ganzaga Vincent Vitelli and certaine noble men of Spaine who wyth the rest bestirred themselues not lasily Whilest that this furious fight continueth Lewes de Rechezenes dealt with Don Iohn to goe out of hande for to succour the right wing bicause he had séene and marked that manye of the enimies galleyes that hadde not yet begun to fight made thither and also that sundrie of Doria his galleyes were somewhat farre off When the Admirall was come there was a fierce and bloudy fight committed There were with Don Iohn Iohn Vasques Coranade Andrada and Francis Doria who fought all verye valiantly and although that at the beginning fewe of the galleyes followed the Admirall yet they which had bene appointed to garde hir sides did neuer forsake hir But the Admirall of the Spanishe fléete chauncing to sée a galley wherein were the sonnes of the Turkishe Admirall whome they thinking to be aliue and well diligently and carefully fought for here and there made in vnto hir and they fought togither with passing prowes for in the Turkishe galley were a great number of valiant men and in the Spanishe were the son of the Constable of Castile Iohn Velasco Alexander de Torelles and many other knights of Arragon At that time also Peter Iustinian the Admirall of the fléete of the Knightes of Malta a man of verye stoute courage and greate valor being assayled by three galleyes fought so valiantlye that he boorded two of them and hadde also almoste boorded the thirde when that other thrée Turkishe galleys seeing the flagge of Saint Iohn did spéedilye inuade him on all sides and they being ioyned with the other thrée slue almost all his men among whome were fifite Knightes of the religion who had with maruellous prowes long time susteyned the violent assault of their enimies Insomuch that all men thought she had bene quite loste when beholde vpon a sodeyne and not without the instinct of God twoo galleyes of his fellowes that had fought so valiantly with other thrée of the ennimies that they had taken almoste all of them séeing Iustinian his galley in greate distresse and daunger spéedilye hasted to helpe hir whome they deliuered out of all daunger and founde the Adinirall yet aliue although he were shotte in with thrée arrowes and still fighting with vnappalled heart at the decke with those fewe souldrours that were left aliue being cast into a ring In the meane time Occhiah very hardlye pressed Doria his side on all partes with his galleyes and had nowe taken ten of our galleyes Whyle that they thus encounter with doubtfull victorie the araye was broken in the aduerse parte and certayne small vessels fledde out of the battell whome yet our men did not chase for that it séemed to be no matter of anye greate importaunce but bent their strength directlye towardes that parte which was moste oppressed by the enimie When Occhiali percepued this he leauing the galleyes whiche be had a little before taken incontinentlye made towardes the middle battell but when he sawe that the middle battell was discomfited and that Don Iohn was come thither with his galley to helpe Doria he incontinentlye beganne to thinke of flight But our menne to interelude him didde take before hande a certayne place throughe the whiche they had thought be must néedes haue passed but he to escape the daunger directed his course close vnto the shore and there landed all the menne that were in his galleyes and thus the greatest parte of them were saued by swimming But if it hadde not chaunced that the greater parte of oure Galley slaues from whome their fetters were that daye taken and libertie promised them if that they did their ducties lustilye and faithfullye hadde not taried in those galleyes of the enimie whiche had bene taken in the battell not one Turke hadde escaped But nowe manye of them were saued by flighte Don Iohn Baciano and Doria spéedilye pursued Occhial vntill that it was almoste night But he fléeing awaye in the night time wyth Sayles and Oares accompanyed with sundrye Galleyes for the number was then vncertayne some reporting moe and some fewer but yet the common fame was thirtye escaped in safetie neyther coulde it be then certainelye knowne what waye he had taken But in the meane whyle in another quarter Barbadico and Mahomet Bey foughte togither with greate ferocitie And albeit that euerye one of our menne didde his duetie and foughte verye valiantlye and couragiouslye and speciallye the leader of the battell and also Antonye Canali and Marke Quirini the Lieutenauntes yet they had receyued greate incommoditie and doubtlesse had bene in no small daunger if Aluaro Baciano that ledde the rerewarde hadde not spéedilye come wyth succour By hys comming the fighte was farre more sharplye renued and they did charge the aduerse parte with suche force and violence that they discomfited them wherein they were also holpen by a fortunate wynde whiche blewe with vs and caried the smoke of our ordinaunce vppon the ennimye and didde beate backe theirs vppon themselues whereby their sighte was muche dymmed and obscured whereas oure menne sawe them verye playnelye and perfectlye In thys conflicte and fighte were manye slayne on bothe sides But the manne of moste renoumed fame and courage was Barbadico who was shotte into the eye with an arrowe as hée foughte verye valiauntlye and lustilye at what tyme the prowes and manne hoode of the Venetian Lieutenants although it were often also séene at other times yet then certes did most specially appeare For when they sawe that Barbadico was stricken in the eye with a very grieuous wounde and that he was so impeached by the immeasurable griefe thereof although that he suppressed it with surpassing stoutenesse of heart that he coulde not anye longer execute that which he had a little before done so stoutlye and excellently they did so performe the dueties of stoute Captaines and souldiours that nothing was wanting in them But Barbadico died that euening and not without the sighing and sorowe of all good men It is sayde that before he died he asked which part had the victorie and being tolde that our men had gotten it and that Selyms nauie was part taken and part sunken and burnt he gaue immortall thankes vnto God therefore and immediately after departed most ioyfull out of this life vnto the heauenly I cannot omit one notable acte of Aluaro Baciano that happened in this battell He séeing a mightie Admirall galley of the Turkes to make in lustilye towardes our Admirall layde hir aboorde himselfe and tooke hir but not without some losse of his men and his owne target was shot in with thrée small pellets and as he fought valiantly with hir there came another ship fraught ful of noblemen of Naples for to helpe him Furthermore it chaunced that Iohn de