O my pretty little waggish boy said Grangousier what an excellent wit thou hast I will make thee very shortly proceed Doctor in the jovial quirks of gay learning and that by G for thou hast more wit then age now I prethie go on in this torcheculaife orw ipe-bummatory discourse and by my beard I swear for one punche on thou shalt have threescore pipes I mean of the good Breton wine not that which growes in Britain but in the good countrey of Verron Afterwards I wiped my bum said Gargantua with a kerchief with a pillow with a pantoufle with a pouch with a pannier but that was a wicked and unpleasant torchecul then with a hat of hats note that some are shorne and others shaggie some velveted others covered with taffitie's and others with sattin the best of all these is the shaggie hat for it makes a very neat abstersion of the fecal matter Afterwards I wiped my taile with a hen with a cock with a pullet with a calves skin with a hare with a pigeon with a cormorant with an Atturneyes bag with a montero with a coife with a faulconers lure but to conclude I say and maintain that of all torcheculs arsewisps bumfodders tail-napkins bunghole-cleansers and wipe-breeches there is none in the world comparable to the neck of a goose that is well douned if you hold her head betwixt your legs and beleeve me therein upon mine honour for you will thereby feele in your nockhole a most wonderful pleasure both in regard of the softnesse of the said doune and of the temperate heat of the goose which is easily communicated to the bum-gut and the rest of the inwards insofarre as to come even to the regions of the heart and braines and think not that the felicity of the heroes and demigods in the Elysian fields consisteth either in their Asphodele Ambrosia or Nectar as our old women here use to say but in this according to my judgement that they wipe their tailes with the neck of a goose holding her head betwixt their legs and such is the opinion of Master Iohn of Scotland alias Scotus CHAP. XIV How Gargantua was taught Latine by a Sophister THe good man Grangousier having heard this discourse was ravished with admiration considering the high reach and marvellous understanding of his sonne Gargantua and said to his governesses Philip King of Macedon knew the great wit of his sonne Alexander by his skilful managing of a horse for his horse Bucephalus was so fierce and unruly that none durst adventure to ride him after that he had given to his Riders such devillish falls breaking the neck of this man the other mans leg braining one and putting another out of his jaw-bone This by Alexander being considered one day in the hippodrome which was a place appointed for the breaking and managing of great horses he perceived that the fury of the horse proceeded meerly from the feare he had of his own shadow whereupon getting on his back he run him against the Sun so that the shadow fell behinde and by that meanes tamed the horse and brought him to his hand whereby his father knowing the divine judgement that was in him caused him most carefully to be instructed by Aristotle who at that time was highly renowned above all the Philosophers of Greece after the same manner I tell you that by this only discourse which now I have here had before you with my sonne Gargantua I know that his understanding doth participate of some divinity and that if he be well taught and have that education which is fitting he will attain to a supreme degree of wisdome Therefore will I commit him to some learned man to have him indoctrinated according to his capacity and will spare no cost Presently they appointed him a great Sophister-Doctor called Master Tubal Holophernes who taught him his A B C so well that he could say it by heart backwards and about this he was five yeares and three moneths Then read he to him Donat facet theodolet and Alanus in parabolis About this he was thirteen years six moneths and two weeks but you must remark that in the mean time he did learn to write in Gottish characters and that he wrote all his books for the Art of printing was not then in use and did ordinarily carry a great pen and inkhorne weighing above seven thousand quintals that is 700000 pound weight the penner whereof was as big and as long as the great pillar of Enay and the horne was hanged to it in great iron chaines it being of the widenesse of a tun of merchand ware After that he read unto him the book de modis significandi with the Commentaries of Hurtbise of Fasquin of Tropifeu of Gualhaut of Ihon Calf of Billonio of Berlinguandus and a rabble of others and herein he spent more then eighteen yeares and eleven monethes and was so well versed in it that to try masteries in School-disputes with his condisciples he would recite it by heart backwards and did sometimes prove on his fingers ends to his mother quod de modis significandi non erat scientia Then did he reade to him the compost for knowing the age of the Moon the seasons of the year and tides of the sea on which he spent sixteen yeares and two moneths and that justly at the time that his said Praeceptor died of the French Pox which was in the yeare one thousand foure hundred and twenty Afterwards he got an old coughing fellow to teach him named Master Iobelin Bride or muzled doult who read unto him Hugotio Flebard Grecisme the doctrinal the parts the quid est the supplementum Marmoretus de moribus in mensa servandis Seneca de quatuor virtutibus cardinalibus Passavantus cum commentar and dormi securè for the holy days and some other of such like mealie stuffe by reading whereof he became as wise as any we ever since baked in an Oven CHAP. XV. How Gargantua was put under other School-masters AT the last his father perceived that indeed he studied hard and that although he spent all his time in it did neverthelesse profit nothing but which is worse grew thereby foolish simple doted and blockish whereof making a heavie regret to Don Philip of Marays Viceroy or deputie-King of Papeligosse he found that it were better for him to learne nothing at all then to be taught such like books under such Schoolmasters because their knowledge was nothing but brutishnesse and their wisdome but blunt foppish toyes serving only to bastardize good and noble spirits and to corrupt all the flower of youth That it is so take said he any young boy of this time who hath only studied two yeares if he have not a better judgement a better discourse and that expressed in better termes then your sonne with a compleater carriage and civility to all manner of persons account me for ever hereafter a very clounch and baconslicer of Brene This pleased Grangousier very
they went unto the most open place of the house to see the face of the sky and there beheld the comets if any were as likewise the figures situations aspects oppositions and conjunctions of the both fixed starres and planets Then with his Master did he briefely recapitulate after the manner of the Pythagoreans that which he had read seen learned done and understood in the whole course of that day Then prayed they unto God the Creator in falling down before him and strengthening their faith towards him and glorifying him for his boundlesse bounty and giving thanks unto him for the time that was past they recommended themselves to his divine clemency for the future which being done they went to bed and betook themselves to their repose and rest CHAP. XXIV How Gargantua spent his time in rainie weather IF it happened that the weather were any thing cloudie foul rainie all the forenoon was employed as before specified according to custom with this difference only that they had a good clear fire lighted to correct the distempers of the aire but after dinner in stead of their wonted exercitations they did abide within and by way of Apotherapie that is a making the body healthful by exercise did recreate themselves in botteling up of hay in cleaving and sawing of wood and in threshingsheaves of corn at the Barn Then they studied the Art of painting or carving or brought into use the antick play of tables as Leonicus hath written of it and as our good friend Lascaris playeth at it In playing they examined the passages of ancient Authors wherein the said play is mentioned or any metaphore drawn from it They went likewise to see the drawing of mettals or the casting of great ordnance how the Lapidaries did work as also the Goldsmiths and Cutters of precious stones nor did they omit to visit the Alchymists money-coiners Upholsters Weavers Velvet-workers Watchmakers Looking-glasse-framers Printers Organists and other such kinde of Artificers and every where giving them somewhat to drink did learne and consider the industry and invention of the trades They went also to heare the publick lectures the solemn commencements the repetitions the acclamations the pleadings of the gentle Lawyers and Sermons of Evangelical Preachers He went through the Halls and places appointed for fencing and there played against the Masters themselves at all weapons and shewed them by experience that he knew as much in it as yea more then they And in stead of herborising they visited the shops of Druggists Herbalists and Apothecaries and diligently considered the fruits roots leaves gums seeds the grease and ointments of some forreign parts as also how they did adulterate them He went to see the Juglers Tumblers Mountebanks and Quacksalvers and considered their cunning their shifts their summer-saults and smooth tongue especially of those of Chauny in Picardie who are naturally great praters and brave givers of fibs in matter of green apes At their return they did eate more soberly at supper then at other times and meats more desiccative and extenuating to the end that the intemperate moisture of the aire communicated to the body by a necessary confinitie might by this means be corrected and that they might not receive any prejudice for want of their ordinary bodily exercise Thus was Gargantua governed and kept on in this course of education from day to day profiting as you may understand such a young man of his age may of a pregnant judgement with good discipline well continued Which although at the beginning it seemed difficult became a little after so sweet so easie and so delightful that it seemed rather the recreation of a King then the study of a Scholar Neverthelesse Ponocrates to divert him from this vehement intension of the spirits thought fit once in a month upon some fair and clear day to go out of the City betimes in the morning either towards Gentilly or Boulogne or to Montrouge or Charantou-bridge or to Vanures or St. Clou and there spent all the day long in making the greatest chear that could be devised sporting making merry drinking healths playing singing dancing tumbling in some faire medow unnestling of sparrowes taking of quailes and fishing for frogs and crabs but although that day was past without books or lecture yet was it not spent without profit for in the said medowes they usually repeated certain pleasant verses of Virgils Agriculture of Hesiod and of Politians husbandrie would set a broach some wittie Latine Epigrams then immediately turned them into round-lays and songs for dancing in the French language In their feasting they would somtimes separate the water from the wine that was therewith mixed as Cato teacheth de re rustica and Plinie with an ivie cup would wash the wine in a basin full of water then take it out again with a funnel as pure as ever They made the water go from one glasse to another and contrived a thousand little automatarie Engines that is to say moving of themselves CHAP. XXV How there was great strife and debate raised betwixt the Cake-bakers of Lerne and those of Gargantua's countrey-whereupon were waged great warres AT that time which was the season of Vintage in the beginning of Harvest when the countrey shepherds were set to keep the Vines and hinder the Starlings from eating up the grapes as some cake-bakers of Lerne happened to passe along in the broad high way driving unto the City ten or twelve horses loaded with cakes the said shepherds courteously intreated them to give them some for their money as the price then ruled in the market for here it is to be remarked that it is a celestial food to eate for breakfast hot fresh cakes with grapes especially the frail clusters the great red grapes the muscadine the verjuice grape and the luskard for those that are costive in their belly because it will make them gush out and squirt the length of a Hunters staffe like the very tap of a barrel and often-times thinking to let a squib they did all-to-besquatter and conskite themselves whereupon they are commonly called the Vintage-thinkers The Bunsellers or Cake-bakers were in nothing inclinable to their request but which was worse did injure them most outragiously calling them pratling gablers lickorous gluttons freckled bittors mangie rascals shiteabed scoundrels drunken roysters slie knaves drowsie loiterers slapsauce fellows slabberdegullion druggels lubbardly lowts cosening foxes ruffian rogues paultrie customers sycophant-varlets drawlatch hoydons flouting milksops jeering companions staring clowns forlorn snakes ninnie lobcocks scurvie sneaksbies fondling fops base lowns sawcie coxcombs idle lusks scoffing Braggards noddie meacocks blockish grutnols dod-di-pol-jolt-heads jobernol goosecaps foolish loggerheads slutch calf-lollies grouthead gnatsnappers lob-dotterels gaping changelings codshead loobies woodcock slangams ninnie-hammer flycatchers noddiepeak simpletons Turdie gut shitten shepherds and other such like defamatory epithetes saying further that it was not for them to eate of these dainty cakes but might very well content themselves with the course unraunged bread
Halas halas alas said Grangousier what is this good people do I dream or is it true that they tell me Picrochole my ancient friend of old time of my own kinred and alliance comes he to invade me what moves him what provokes him what sets him on what drives him to it who hath given him this counsel Ho ho ho ho ho my God my Saviour help me inspire me and advise me what I shall do I protest I swear before thee so be thou favourable to me if ever I did him or his subjects any damage or displeasure or committed any the least robbery in his countrey but on the contrary I have succoured and supplied him with men money friendship and counsel upon any occasion wherein I could be steadable for the improvement of his good that he hath therefore at this nick of time so outraged and wronged me it cannot be but by the malevolent and wicked spirit Good God thou knowest my courage for nothing can be hidden from thee if perhaps he be grown mad and that thou hast sent him hither to me for the better recovery re-establishment of his brain grant me power and wisdome to bring him to the yoke of thy holy will by good discipline Ho ho ho ho my good people my friends and my faithful servants must I hinder you from helping me alas my old age required henceforward nothing else but rest and all the dayes of my life I have laboured for nothing so much as peace but now I must I see it well load with armes my poor weary and feeble shoulders and take in my trembling hand the lance and horsemans mace to succour and protect my honest subjects reason will have it so for by their labour am I entertained and with their sweat am I nourished I my children and my family This notwithstanding I will not undertake warre until I have first tried all the wayes and meanes of peace that I resolve upon Then assembled he his counsel and proposed the matter as it was indeed whereupon it was concluded that they should send some discreet man unto Picrochole to know wherefore he had thus suddenly broken the Peace and invaded those lands unto which he had no right nor title Furthermore that they should send for Gargantua and those under his command for the preservation of the countrey and defence thereof now at need All this pleased Grangousier very well and commanded that so it should be done Presently therefore he sent the Basque his Lackey to fetch Gargantua with all diligence and wrote to him as followeth CHAP. XXIX The tenor of the letter which Grangousier wrote to his sonne Gargantua THe fervency of thy studies did require that I should not in a long time recall thee from that Philosophical rest thou now enjoyest if the confidence reposed in our friends and ancient confederates had not at this present disappointed the assurance of my old age But seeing such is my fatal destiny that I should be now disquieted by those in whom I trusted most I am forced to call thee back to help the people and goods which by the right of nature belong unto thee for even as armes are weak abroad if there be not counsel at home so is that study vaine and counsel unprofitable which in a due and convenient time is not by vertue executed and put in effect My deliberation is not to provoke but to appease not to assault but to defend not to conquer but to preserve my faithful subjects and hereditary dominions into which Picrochole is entred in a hostile manner without any ground or cause and from day to day pursueth his furious enterprise with that height of insolence that is intolerable to free-born spirits I have endeavoured to moderate his tyrannical choler offering him all that which I thought might give him satisfaction and oftentimes have I sent lovingly unto him to understand wherein by whom and how he found himself to be wronged but of him could I obtain no other answer but a meer defiance and that in my lands he did pretend only to the right of a civil correspondency and good behaviour whereby I knew that the eternal God hath left him to the disposure of his own free will and sensual appetite which cannot chuse but be wicked if by divine grace it be not continually guided and to contain him within his duty and bring him to know himself hath sent him hither to me by a grievous token Therefore my beloved son as soon as thou canst upon sight of these letters repaire hither with all diligence to succour not me so much which neverthelesse by natural Piety thou oughtest to do as thine own People which by reason thou mayest save and preserve The exploit shall be done with as little effusion of blood as may be and if possible by meanes far more expedient such as military policy devices and stratagems of warre we shall save all the souls and send them home as merry as crickets unto their own houses My dearest Son the peace of Iesus Christ our Redeemer be with thee salute from me Ponocrates Gymnastes and Eudemon the twentieth of September Thy Father Grangousier CHAP. XXX How Ulrich Gallet was sent unto Picrochole THe letters being dictated signed and sealed Grangousier ordained that Ulrich Gallet Master of the requests a very wise and discreet man of whose prudence and sound judgement he had made trial in several difficult and debateful matters to go unto Picrochole to shew what had been decreed amongst them At the same houre departed the good man Gallet and having past the ford asked at the Miller that dwelt there in what condition Picrochole was who answered him that his souldiers had left him neither cock nor hen that they were retired and shut up into the rock Clermond and that he would not advise him to go any further for feare of the Scouts because they were enormously furious which he easily beleeved and therefore lodged that night with the Miller The next morning he went with a Trumpeter to the gate of the Castle and required the guards he might be admitted to speak with the King of somewhat that concerned him These words being told unto the King he would by no means consent that they should open the gate but getting upon the top of the bulwark said unto the Ambassadour What is the newes what have you to say then the Ambassadour began to speak as followeth CHAP. XXXI The speech made by Gallet to Picrochole THere cannot arise amongst men a juster cause of grief then when they receive hurt and damage where they may justly expect for favour and good will and not without cause though without reason have many after they had fallen into such a calamitous accident esteemed this indignity lesse supportable then the losse of their own lives in such sort that if they have not been able by force of armes nor any other means by reach of wit or subtilty to stop them in their course
books and Philosophical instruments assoon as he had alighted at Parille he was informed by a farmer of Gouget how Picrochole had fortified himself within the rock Clermond and had sent Captain Tripet with a great army to set upon the wood of Vede and Vaugaudry and that they had already plundered the whole countrey not leaving cock nor hen even as farre as to the wine-presse of Billiard These strange and almost incredible newes of the enormous abuses thus committed over all the land so affrighted Gargantua that he knew not what to say nor do but Ponocrates counselled him to go unto the Lord of Vauguyon who at all times had been their friend and confederate and that by him they should be better advised in their businesse which they did incontinently and found him very willing and fully resolved to assist them and therefore was of opinion that they should send some one of his company to scout along and discover the countrey to learn in what condition and posture the enemy was that they might take counsel and proceed according to the present occasion Gymnast offered himself to go whereupon it was concluded that for his safety and the better expedition he should have with him some one that knew the wayes avenues turnings windings and rivers thereabout Then away went he and Prelingot the Querry or Gentleman of Vauguyons horse who scouted and espied as narrowly as they could upon all quarters without any feare In the mean time Gargantua took a little refreshment ate somewhat himself the like did those who were with him and caused to give to his mare a Picotine of Oats that is threescore and fourteen quarters and three bushels Gymnast and his Camerade rode so long that at last they met with the enemies forces all scattered and out of order plundering stealing robbing and pillaging all they could lay their hands on and as far off as they could perceive him they ran thronging upon the back of one another in all haste towards him to unload him of his money and untrusse his Portmantles Then cried he out unto them My Masters I am a poor devil I desire you to spare me I have yet one Crown left come we must drink it for it is aurum potabile and this horse here shall be sold to pay my welcome afterwards take me for one of your own for never yet was there any man that knew better how to take lard rost and dresse yea by G to teare asunder and devoure a hen then I that am here and for my Proficiat I drink to all good fellowes With that he unscrued his Borracho which was a great dutch leathern bottle and without putting in his nose drank very honestly the marousle Rogues looked upon him opening their throats a foot wide and putting out their tongues like Greyhounds in hopes to drink after him but Captain Tripet in the very nick of that their expectation came running to him to see who it was To him Gymnast offered his bottle saying Hold Captain drink boldly and spare not I have been thy taster it is wine of La fay monjau What said Tripet this fellow gybes and flowts us Who art thou said Tripet I am said Gymnast a poor devil pauvre diable Ha said Tripet seeing thou art a poor devil it is reason that thou shouldest be permitted to go whithersoever thou wilt for all poor devils passe every where without toll or taxe but it is not the custome of poor devils to be so wel mounted therfore Sir devil come down and let me have your horse and if he do not carry me well you Master devil must do it for I love a life that such a devil as you should carry me away CHAP. XXXV How Gymnast very souply and cunningly killed Captain Tripet and others of Picrocholes men WHen they heard these words some amongst them began to be afraid and blest themselves with both hands thinking indeed that he had been a devil disguised insomuch that one of them named good Ihon Captain of the trained bands of the Countrey bumpkins took his Psalter out of his Codpiece and cried out aloud Hagios ho theos If thou be of God speak if thou be of the other spirit avoid hence and get thee going yet he went not away which words being heard by all the souldiers that were there divers of them being a little inwardly terrified departed from the place all this did Gymnast very well remark and consider and therefore making as if he would have alighted from off his horse as he was poysing himself on the mounting side he most nimbly with his short sword by his thigh shifting his feet in the stirrup performed the stirrup-leather feat whereby after the inclining of his body downwards he forthwith lanch't himself aloft in the aire and placed both his feet together on the saddle standing upright with his back turned towards the horses head Now said he my case goes backward Then suddenly in the same very posture wherein he was he fetched a gambole upon one foot and turning to the left hand failed not to carry his body perfectly round just into its former stance without misfing one jot Ha said Tripet I will not do that at this time and not without cause Well said Gymnast I have failed I will undo this leap then with a marvellous strength and agility turning towards the right hand he fetch 't another frisking gambole as before which done he set his right hand thumb upon the hinde bowe of the saddle raised himself up and sprung in the aire poysing and upholding his whole body upon the muscle and nerve of the said thumb and so turned and whirled himself about three times at the fourth reversing his body and overturning it upside down and foreside back without touching any thing he brought himself betwixt the horses two eares springing with all his body into the aire upon the thumb of his left hand and in that posture turning like a windmill did most actively do that trick which is called the Millers Passe After this clapping his right hand flat upon the middle of the saddle he gave himself such a jerking swing that he thereby seated himself upon the crupper after the manner of Gentle-womens sitting on horseback this done he easily past his right leg over the saddle and placed himself like one that rides in croup But said he it were better for me to get into the saddle then putting the thumbs of both hands upon the crupper before him and thereupon leaning himself as upon the only supporters of his body he incontinently turned heels over head in the aire and streight found himself betwixt the bowe of the saddle in a good settlement Then with a summer-sault springing into the aire again he fell to stand with both his feet close together upon the saddle and there made above a hundred frisks turnes and demi-pommads with his armes held out acrosse and in so doing cried out aloud I rage I
vizor of his helmet on the stump of a great branch of the said tree neverthelesse he set his spurres so fiercely to the horse who was full of mettal and quick on the spurre that he bounded forwards and the Monk going about to ungrapple his vizor let go his hold of the bridle and so hanged by his hand upon the bough whilest his horse stole away from under him By this meanes was the Monk left hanging on the walnut-tree and crying for help murther murther swearing also that he was betrayed Eudemon perceived him first and calling Gargantua said Sir come and see Absalom hanging Gargantua being come considered the countenance of the Monk and in what posture he hanged wherefore he said to Eudemon You were mistakenin comparing him to Absalom for Absalom hung by his haire but this shaveling Monk hangeth by the eares Help me said the Monk in the devils name is this a time for you to prate you seem to me to be like the decretalist Preachers who say that whosoever shall see his neighbour in the danger of death ought upon paine of trisulk excommunication rather choose to admonish him to make his Confession to a Priest and put his conscience in the state of Peace then otherwise to help and relieve him And therefore when I shall see them fallen into a river and ready to be drowned I shall make them a faire long sermon de contemptu mundi fuga seculi and when they are stark dead shall then go to their aide and succour in fishing after them Be quiet said Gymnast and stirre not my minion I am now coming to unhang thee and to set thee at freedome for thou art a pretty little gentle Monachus Monachus in claustro non valet ova duo sed quando est extra bene valet triginta I have seen above five hundred hanged but I never saw any have a better countenance in his dangling and pendilatory swagging truly if I had so good a one I would willingly hang thus all my life-time What said the Monk have you almost done preaching help me in the name of God seeing you will not in the name of the other spirit or by the habit which I wear you shall repent it tempore loco praelibatis Then Gymnast alighted from his horse and climbing up the walnut-tree lifted up the Monk with one hand by the gushets of his armour under the arm-pits and with the other undid his vizor from the stump of the broken branch which done he let him fall to the ground and himself after Assoon as the Monk was down he put off all his armour and threw away one piece after another about the field taking to him-again his staffe of the Crosse remounted up to his horse which Eudemon had caught in his running away Then went they on merrily riding along on the high way CHAP. XLIII How the Scouts and fore-party of Picrochole were met with by Gargantua and how the Monk slew Captain Draw-forth and then was taken prisoner by his enemies PIcrochole at the relation of those who had escaped out of the broile and defeat wherein Tripet was untriped grew very angry that the devils should have so run upon his men and held all that night a counsel of warre at which Rashcalf and Touchfaucet concluded his power to be such that he was able to defeat all the devils of hell if they should come to justle with his forces This Picrochole did not fully beleeve though he doubted not much of it Therefore sent he under the command and conduct of the Count Draw-forth for discovering of the countrey the number of sixteen hundred horsemen all well-mounted upon light horses for skirmish and throughly besprinkled with holy water and every one for their field-mark or cognizance had the signe of a starre in his scarf to serve at all adventures in case they should happen to incounter with devils that by the vertue as well of that Gregorian water as of the starres which they wore they might make them disappear and evanish In this equipage they made an excursion upon the countrey till they came near to the Vauguyon which is the valley of Guyon and to the spittle but could never finde any body to speak unto whereupon they returned a little back and took occasion to passe above the aforesaid hospital to try what intelligence they could come by in those parts in which resolution riding on and by chance in a pastoral lodge or shepherds cottage near to Coudray hitting upon the five Pilgrims they carried them way-bound and manacled as if they had been spies for all the exclamations adjurations and requests that they could make Being come down from thence towards Seville they were heard by Gargantua who said then unto those that were with him Camerades and fellow souldiers we have here met with an encounter and they are ten times in number more then we shall we charge them or no What a devil said the Monk shall we do else Do you esteem men by their number rather then by their valour and prowes With this he cried out Charge devils charge which when the enemies heard they thought certainly that they had been very devils and therefore even then began all of them to run away as hard as they could drive Draw-forth only excepted who immediately setled his lance on its rest and therewith hit the Monk with all his force on the very middle of his breast but coming against his horrifick frock the point of the iron being with the blow either broke off or blunted it was in matter of execution as if you had struck against an Anvil with a little wax-candle Then did the Monk with his staffe of the Crosse give him such a sturdie thump and whirret betwixt his neck and shoulders upon the Acromion bone that he made him lose both sense and motion and fall down stone dead at his horses feet and seeing the signe of the starre which he wore scarfwayes he said unto Gargantua these men are but Priests which is but the beginning of a Monk by St. Ihon I am a perfect Monk I will kill them to you like flies Then ran he after them at a swift and full gallop till he overtook the reere and felled them down like tree-leaves striking athwart and alongst and every way Gymnast presently asked Gargantua if they should pursue them To whom Gargantua answered by no means for according to right military discipline you must never drive your enemy unto despair for that such a strait doth multiply his force and increase his courage which was before broken and cast down neither is there any better help or outgate of relief for men that are amazed out of heart toiled and spent then to hope for no favour at all How many victories have been taken out of the hands of the Victors by the vanquished when they would not rest satisfied with reason but attempt to put all to the sword and totally