Proheme of his Hystories doth affirme Will teach vs what ought to be the principall scope of our desires and detestations This which summoneth all creatures of all countries and fashions as to a generall muster imitating his diuine prouidence which in heauenly iustice and bountie bestoweth vpon euerie man according to demerit all vertuous actions are eternized by the penne of Hystorie so farre doth it surpasse the sage counsels and golden sentences of our forefathers and former Philosophers as times continuance comprehendeth more examples than one mans age This is it which maketh young mens iudgements of parill ripenesse with old age grounding aged persons in the depth of wisedome to whome long experience hath alreadie ministered a dayly triall of causes It maketh priuate men fit for Empire and Emperours earnest in vertue for victories heartening souldiours to giue a courageous charge vpon perils for honour of their countries terrifying malefactors propagating Soueraignetie by good example deuising lawes inuenting arts preferring vertuous actions enfranchised from mortalitie declaring it selfe a memorable and perfect marble-register of misdeedes and generally beneuolent This is it which aged time onely nourisheth when it eateth vp all things besides this is the patterne of eloquence the true mirrour of Philosophie the garden of knowledge and hence is it that Aristotle in his Politickes writeth how the skill of actions and Histories of deedes done most import a Counsellor to learne because things future are like their parent which came before them vpon which all euents of actions commonly depend Hee therefore which in noble Hystorie shall contemplate and meditate vpon the life of a good Prince or Counsellor may find somewhat alwayes worth his own obseruation and practise according to that saying of Seneca Aliquis vir bonus elegendus est nobis ac semper ante oculos habendus vt sic viuamus tanquam illo spectanti omnia faciamus tanquam illo videnti We must propose some one good man for our patterne and alwayes looke vpon him with the eyes of our mind that wee may so liue as if hee were looking vpon vs and so deale as if all our actions were performed in his sight Let a souldiour liue fortie yeares in seruice great and of continuall commaund as great Alexander and Caius Caesar escape in many conflicts as Anniball and Cato receiue so many wounds as Scipio and Scaeua triumph in so many victories subuert so many cities deuise so many stratagemes consult vpon so many leagues and truces enterparley with so many princes spending the full glasse of his time during those yeeres in magnificent actions and noble consultations onely like Cirus Themistocles Epaminondas Cimon Fabius Pelopidas and infinite others auncient and late yet shall one moneths reading in Liuie Plutarch Diodorus Thucydides Polybius Xenophon Dion and some few more which haue eternally recorded all the memorable actions and vertues of them all open more vnto him without bloudshead if hee will studiously conferre and reasonably remember than euer the seruice of many more yeeres with the slaughters of Myriads of souldiors could expresse The knowledge of all persons the meaning of all matters the depth of all secrets is locked vp in Hystorie In it wee find that inestimable treasure of the Lawes by which Commonweales were first ordered and instituted in the sentences of sage and prudent men confirming societies in peace and magnifying them by vertues like Physicke which is an hystoricall commemoration or rapsodie of experiments made by Physitions of old by whose Aphorismes and Precepts our Physitions direct their iudgements and medicines it is a methodicall Schoole-master of humane life examplifying the fashions and natures of people a certaine experience of their actions a sound and prudent Counsellor in difficult affaires The cruelties and exceeding lust of Domitian and of Nero which may be read in Tacitus hath power to terrifie princes from those vices which are recorded of them when also they peruse the lamentable stories of Caligula that Fax fex hominum That fire-brand and filth of men When they reuolue the monstrous obscoenities of Heliogabalus who was amongst the people a Cannon by word scorne and obloquie when they shall looke into the leaues of Maximus his life than whom no man was a more cruell slaughter man of his countrey finding what horrible epethites denominations and attributes were worthely throwne or as it were spit into the blacke legend of his bloudie gouernment being called in diuers places Busyris Phalar is Typhon what better precedent can remaine in detestation of vice Contrariwise the blessed and peaceable reigne of Octauian the goodnesse and gracious condition of Traian of Pertinax of Titus and some others are vehement prouocations to confirme and encourage Princes in iustice and honestie For euen as women which curiously fashion and attire their heads and bodies by their glasse which representeth vnto them all vndecent and comely guizes will presently shew themselues abroad amongst the people finding their bodies by that myrrour pleasingly garnished so Princes by the like resemblance find in the glasse of hystories that which giueth spurs to their vertues and policie The case is lamentable and I haue many times with heauinesse thought it how few be the Chronologiers and Historians of our age how doubtfull and vnfaithfull much of their matter how fearefully and vainly seduced by misprizion and affection Sure I am that infinite actions remaine worthie the penne of hystories nay that which men write of their own princes and nation tendeth lesse to truth than vnto vaine-glorie but that which is written by men of forraine princes people such as Mercury Gallobelgicus falsely proclaimed in his Annales of the world is both vncertaine fallacious and strongly sauouring of malice blind zeale and partiall motions of the mind Whereas if men would faithfully search out by the true records and memorials of realmes and Commonweales the vertuous and vicious actions of princes and people how would it instigate and deterre the well and ill affected rulers and commons of the world to take hold and detestation of goodnes euill In reading of them therefore we must carefully quote the map of actions with the times places the causes executions and euents of things wherein some did prosper and others perish with the reasons why those were gracious and these vnwelcome If any glorious matter happened whether it came by chaunce or felicitie by vertue or good counsell what impediments in contrarie did cause it miscarry A Counsellor should also consider by this knowledge what alterations haue formerly beene as in the realmes of England Scotland Fraunce Ireland Spaine Denmarke Italy with other Nations what Families possessed the Crownes of them and by what titles and meanes how long what the causes of those mutations were how many of euery familie did reigne which of the princes was most religious valiant wise and fortunate which not how many battailes euery prince fought against whom at what time where and vpon what occasion what warres haue beene for a thousand and six hundred yeeres past and since betwixt England and Fraunce England and Scotland England and Spaine England
eius finem esse incipere cuiuis etiam ignauo licet deponere vero cum victores velint All warres are easily begun but with great difficultie finished it is not in one mans power both to beginne and end the warre euery dastardly coward may begin but it resteth in the pleasure of him that vanquisheth to make an end thereof The foote or end of warre therefore must be precisely looked vpon with the toppe and occasion For example when it is soundly warranted by the Lawes of nations as in lawfull levying of armes either in the cause of God which is principal being moued assisted by diuine spirit against his enemies such as you shal finde in ages not long past which by the Emperor being confederated and vnited in force with the princes of Christendome were auspiciously stirred vp ingenerall against the Turke and against other blasphemous opposites of Christ and of his people or in defence of the Common-wealth against all forraine inuasions or impeachments of their naturall liberties As it was in my remembrance prouided by the dearly remembred nâ—…rrice of this Nation Queene Elizabeth Pro aris focis against the puisant Armado of Spaine which purposed a conquest of this Nation and was confounded by the spirit of God mouing in the windes and waters against those forraine ships vnder the propitious and euer-admired valor of Gods hand-maiden whose apport carriage in those difficulties are worthy to be recorded with a pen of finest gold in hardest marble or in that if any thing be more durable which is most permanent and diuine vpon earth For being then amongst her souldiors heroically mounted she promised with many comfortable words of encouragement to share with them in fortunes if the Spaniard durst shew his face aland Such and so marueilous was her natiue fortitude and true pietie published in her Campe at Tilburie vpon the zeale and motherly loue of Gods cause and of the safegard of his chosen people vnder her scepter as is euerlastingly registred already with her soule aboue the starres Out of this brancheth a lawfull kinde of inuasion vpon forraine states in case of some honor or right which is vniustly detained by violent hand after that restitution hath beene peaceably demanded As that which the right wise and most renowned Prince the beautifull president of peace and the deuouring thunder-bolt of warre King Edward the third your Maiesties most worthy Progenitor breathed out against France which martiall lighttening was so terrible that it deuoured the disobedience of that people and established him in his right which first was wonne with the weight of most honourable battell And those warres which the valorous French King maintained a long time after the venemous murther of his predecessor brother in Law King Henry the third of France and Poleland against the Duke Du Mayne great Chamberlaine of France with the Duke of Parma and others that resisted him in his hereditarie dominions vntill the Pope had restored him to the crowne There is likewise a iust warre grounded vpon charitie which vndertaketh the protection of our friends or confederates Such were they which our prementioned soueraigne Lady lately levyed to succor the Free-states of base Germanie thereby to protect them from the rigorous and vnspeakeable seruitude of Spaine and Castille whose approoued faithfulnesse of old to this Realme is many times noted in our Chronicles Onely such warre as is vndertaken for amplification of dominion and Empire and that which ambition marshalleth with such iniurious quarrels as are scandalously picked out of counterfeit grounds and heads more fit for Turkes Infidels or traytors then for sacred and royall minded princes may not bee fummoned to this throne of heroicall iustice but vnrespected or reiected vtterly Vnto the performance of these warres thus iustly to be commenced and raised the choise of soldiors is first required as well Captaines as ordinarie seruitors including soldiors for fight and labourers for worke Of these in their particular offices and degrees successiuely The first and highest place of power and reputation in the field the Prince himselfe vpon some principall causes in his owne person houldeth vnder whom all other Generals and Captaines are waged and beare office But forsomuch as at this day few princes are seene militant in forraine countries vnlesse they stand appealed to such battels forcibly through some forcible iniustice of others either vpon detinew of due tributes or territories the custome and possession whereof hath beene of most ancient memorie continued in his antecessors by discreet succession to the very point of his own raigne and also because fewe Princes are personally seene in battels of our dayes vpon their ownesoyle vnlesse against assailants or tirannous vsurpers such as were expected of which I spake before by our soueraigne Elizabeth and prouided against the inuasion of King Philip Anno 1588. and for some other particular reasons I will passe ouer the particulars of his highest place in martiall Campe referring my selfe to his commission by vertue whereof vpon ordinary tearmes of warre the Prince or Emperor deputeth his Lieutenant generall to supply the place and office of maiestie hauing sometimes certaine priuate and princely directions not expressed by which in dearest trust to him by his soueraigne committed he must shape his course In all outward apparance he must cape according to the strict tenor of his instructions in commission vnder the Prince his great seale deliuered The least sillable in sence being expressed therein he may not without high danger to himselfe transgresse vnlesse the soueraignes aduice and opinion be first had and knowne or after vpon more firme reconsideration deliuered The princes deepe Iudgement and discretion in electing of his Leiutenant generall ought to be principally grounded vpon good aduice and sure notice taken of his sufficiencie for such a place First he should be a man of able strong and actiue bodie well knit of a durable complexion neither too much brent nor drowned as I sayd in the secret councellor hard and at defiance with tendernesse delighting in paines and practise of Armes and in him fiue principall things are required The first is fidelitie rebounding from his dignities and noble education opposite to which standeth infidelitie issuing from auarice and malice for such as are couetous and malicious be faithlesse and therefore by the lawes imperiall not eligible to the place of Princes or Generals of Armies Science the second garbe of a noble Commander conuerseth in the knowledge of Topographie both by the Carde and Mappe as by practise in much trauell By this he discerneth what Marches are competent for the souldiers answerable vnto their bodies strength vnto the present need which the seruice in hand shall impose By this he disposeth of all aduantages which the places times and seasons shall offer as by the benefit of hils valleys lanes riuers marshes woodes with all the sunnes and windes of the compasse also such obseruations
penurie succeede being a most pestilent feauer or consumption rather to the king and Common-wealth A curious eye with vigilant regard must bee bent vpon the Collectors Receiuers Auditors and other inferior ministers belonging to this office least in exactions or by fraudulent deuises they satisfie there priuate auarice with a kind of extortion or crueltie For auarice is an inordinate lust of hauing whose appetite is infinite whose acquisition immoderate whose possession vnlawfull whereby the prince vndoubtedly may bee brought into daunger It is like that Hydra which Poets talke of that though the stroke of Iustice execute vpon it continually yet will it miraculously reuiue againe it forceth not either the lightening thunder or thunderbolts of the law prouided against it Salust describeth it a beast rauenous cruell and intollerable where it haunteth huge Cities Fields Churches and Houses are laid wast Heauen and Earth prophanely mingled Armies and strong wals cannot restraine the violence thereof It spoileth all mortall people of good Report Modestie Children Nation Parents c. So doth this brightnesse of gold bleare mens outward sences so fuming in their heads and fastened in their hearts that they feare not any mischiefe which can accompanie Lucre. Such wicked vniust and rauenous officers eating the people as bread are to be squeezed like sponges full of water Great caution therefore must be vsed against the violence of officers in such extortion least the prince after some few yeares patience of the people vpon new grieuances become odious which king Henry the eight in the second yeare of his raigne did most politickely prouide in his proceedings against Sir Richard Emson and M. Dudley late inward and of counsell in such cases vnto his sage father king Henry the seuenth By good example of whose punishment others might vpon the like inconueniences suffer For if the people find not redresse vpon their complaints then will they rise as at that time it was feared in open hostilitie which if the blood of those extorting officers can expiate without some humane slaughter sacrificed to tenne hundred scpulchers then is it happie but such generall hurts haue commonly no compensation without a generall confusion The peoples payments ought so to be disposed therefore that all men according to their faculties by due discretion of good and honest sworne officers in euery shire or prouince may take such reasonable dayes and times of payment limited as they may without any grudging or disease contribute heartely Moreouer that such as are in speciall affaires of their prince and for the Commonwealth employed hauing by such occasions largely spent of their owne priuate for the common good as euery good man will in such cases bee for examples sake for the good encouragement of others precisely exempted from all kind of burthens and impositions Also such as haue formerly done much grace and honour to their countries and princes if they be not at that time so high in blood that they may well away with phlebotomie should bee graciously spared according to the French order for all courtiers and seruants attendant vpon the kings person in his house are by the ciuile lawes of Fraunce excepted in time of peace from all collections tallages gabels exactions customes and impositions whatsoeuer which others are tied vnto likewise in the times of warre from any burthen of receiuing quartering and billetting of souldiors Obseruation concerning these collectors and ministers before named dependeth vpon the chusing and displacing of Officers either iust or corrupt First the choice of such ministers is made out of men honest stayed and well approoued for such a purpose bad Officers which did extort or vnlawfully compasse being with losse of their places and possessions punished Dispensation of these tributes and subsidies must bee to the generall and not any particular vse for no man will sticke at a little charges employed to publicke behoofe if it once appeare that the prince doe not consume his treasure in vnnecessarie cost and riot but keepe a moderation with decencie which albeit the vulgar do not generally marke for they respect onely the princes proper faculties and reuenewes which ought to be by the treasurers concealed so much as may bee yet certaine captious and dangerous heads full of quarrels and aduantages such as are of fierie spirits coueting innouation which commonly lead the blind and abused vulgar into dangerous actions will narrowly sift and make a breach into the common peace vnder the pretext of taxes and impositions as hath beene found in certaine commotions in the dayes of king Richard the second and king Henry the sixt with other princes vpon the like occasions Such gettings therfore as proceed from the subiects beneuolence must bee sparingly spent and husbanded and so should the Treasurers beare themselues in that Office as stewards of other mens goods and not of their owne That most prudent and worthy Lord Treasurer William Cecill goodly well approued ouer all causes and in all businesse either publike or priuate during the late and most deare mirrour of good gouernment Queene Elizabeth of most renowmed and euerliuing memorie did leaue behind him a liuely patterne and precedent of his singular care and excellent wisedome to the great encrease of that stocke committed then to his charge as may serue euerlastingly to them which yet are or euer may be credited with that office to get and maintaine eternall reputation The generall good opinion and report of him after his death in the mouths of all good men may stirre vp his successours in that place truely to resemble his vertues and integritie The treasure therefore may not bee wilfully wasted or exhausted for satisfaction of any prince in his priuate prodigalitie Vera enim simplex via est magnitudinem animi in addendo non demendo reipublica ostendere For persons of lauish humours and exorbitate affections thinke not that there is any true fruition of treasure without profusion Diue deepe therefore into the bottomelesse danger thereof by manifold and most manifest example and obseruation as in Archigallo king of the Brittaines who was deposed by the people for his extortion after hee had raigned fiue yeares and then vpon his reformation restored And amongst diuers vnaduised princes consider that it was not the least cause of decay to Edward of Carnaruan king of England when hee by such meanes lost the loue of his commons by listening vnto flatterers and wilfully robbed himselfe of the fealtie of his nobles which opened his sepulchre for other matters more securely Men of such profuse qualitie which extort much as if they could not keepe any thing but that which is taken with a violent extortion are in themselues miserably poore From hence likewise brauncheth another speciall rule of moderation that no leuies surmount the princes occasions for if it tend not to the subiects great benefit being very necessarily dispensed it dishonoureth any Soueraigne to straine them in so small a matter And such
in that worke most of whose patternes were taken and translated out of Latine French and Italian intermingled with some other excellent inuentions of their owne not including any great matters tending vnto gouernment and moralitie Diuerse of whose words by times continuance and the choice of better being antiquated like hearbes withered from the root haue beene seconded with richer inuentions according vnto that saying of the Poet Horace Multa renascuntur quae iam cecidere Cadentque Quae nunc sunt in honore vocabula Many words long time out of vse renew And th'after age our best words will eschew For words he sayth like leaues yeerely wither and renew Towards this excellent worke we find for our more helpe that the Latine verbes sweetely consound with our English tongue the French aptly doth offer it selfe to polish this workemanship and the Italian doth in many things yeeld much helpe and dignitie to the same The Germane from whose old stocke our first Monasyllabicall roots by their old Colonies were inducted is of it selfe the garden plot alreadie well tylled and copiously manured to bring forth this language And since those dayes of more difficult obscuritie the Latine Bible by diuers learned Bishops in the reignes of king Henry the â—…ght and of his sonne king Edward was translated into the vulgar also certaine Chronicles Treatises and Translations of that time haue added much light to the former darknesse But since the dayes of blessed Queene Elizabeth whose happie reigne is as the dayes of heauen what seas of paper haue beene alwayes furthering polishing and encreasing this honorable enterprise First by that holy Bibles more exquisite and polite translation than before after by the bookes of Monuments Chronicles Treatises and Translations Theologicall and humane by most ingenuous Poets and other Poeticall pamphlets alwayes with studious addition and curious composition of words phrases and sentences howbe it amongst the rest as a very memorable register of English eloquence highly deseruing endlesse remembrance which liueth in his owne liuing workes Sir Philip Sidney that diuine starre of sweet wit and inuention hath so much honoured the language of this nation in that his small hyue of all excellent humanitie inueloping vnder the true Poeticall vine leaues of his labours such excellent sweet clusters of Philosophicall grapes and inuentions both morall naturall as haue mightily benefited towards this rich vintage of our English knowledge Since therefore these great hopes and helpes are left vnto vs first by God in his grace plentifully poured into the wits of this nation secondly vnder his great power by the kings most excellent Maiestie through that auspicious amity and perfect Monarchie established and growing more more mightie betwixt all good Christian princes and vs and lastly by that golden gift of peace deriued from Gods sweet mercy seat and from the true prudence and sapience of our gracious Soueraigne and of his reuerend Counsell which may giue all liuely perfections and faculties to learning why doe we not then with a cheerefull and mutuall alacritie combine in our wits studies knowledge to make our countrey famous with our owne bookes and writings Certainely this enterprize as it is vertuous and laudable so is it glorious and highly profitable Let vs therefore with cheerefull consent imitate those other great Empires that our wits learning and inuentions by diuine benefite equalling the best of theirs our bookes and languages with our men and marchandizes may louingly bee receiued and embraced amongst them also Then shall this our puissant little Monarchie like a sweete fountaine which the further it floweth imboketh into the more spacious and deepe channell bee more and more magnified Cum ingeniorum ist torpor ignauia When this drowsie slothfulnesse of our wits cannot bee found amongst vs but that we still studie to become famous in our vulgar as those ancient Greeke and Romane writers declared in their ancient mother tongues Encourage and gird your selues therefore with a pleasant equanimitie to this excellent seruice for the ground being enlarged hath left ample space for many seeds and choice of hearbes and roots than was before it shall bee strongly fenced with peace and plentie when vertuous spirits shake off that idlenesse which hindereth so glorious a worke so well fenced and fortified it shall bee that nothing shall come in hereafter to corrupt or deface your garden so Geometrically set and deuised For sure it is if the world and Gods blessing continue but one age of a man from this instant our language will bee so much required by these childrens children in Fraunce Spaine and Italie as those their tongues with vs at this day Then shall bee left matter sufficient and as King worthie for Commentaries to bee written by our learned Caesar in his warres or in his peaceable affaires so much diuine morall and naturall Philosophie by the Salomon of our nation then shall wee find substance for the penne of Liuie and pleadings for the bookes of Cicero Seneca shall haue his place againe but in a glorious Sunne-shine and fill this new Monarchie with his sage considerations I write this therefore oft and againe iterating it that many Liuies Senecaes and Ciceroes shall flourish vnder our Caesar if wee will worke out the fruit of our vertues by such vertuous contemplations and exercises as may much dignifie their countries It is most certaine that ingenuous natures and vertuous spirits whose diuine rationall ought to be fixed vpon perfect glorie are in a continuall combate and ciuile commotion within themselues if they doe not imploy their cogitations and studies in morall contemplation still labouring like a woman with child to bring forth some excellent faire birth like themselues But this luxurious whirlepoole of idlenesse and sloth into which such excellent wits are very soone and violently throwne ouer-whelmeth that sweete reason oppressing this noble birth made abortiue in the very chest of conception Gloria namque industria alitur vbi eam dempseris ipsa per se virtus amara aspera est c. Industrie is fostered by glorie take away glorie which is the reward of vertue and the tast thereof is harsh and bitter When therefore the vertuous Prince himselfe and those noble arches of his Monarchie shall perceiue this their towardnesse and trauaile in vertues little doubt is there that the reward of their studies and vertues shall not encourage posteritie more and more to make learning as cheape in England and Scotland as euer it was amongst the Greekes and Romanes The knowledge of Hystories is another quality most concerning a Counsellour as with notable attention and dilligence to peruse and marke the Records Annales and Chronicles of all ages people and princes together with the written stories of friends neighbours and enemies Historie is a viue experience of matters the parent of Philosophie a collection of all things in all ages authorized by good triall and practise of many men This is it which Diodorus in the
that action to which the whole force of mind bodie must be bent not fighting to winne the girland for others but principally proposing the wagers honour for themselues hence happeneth that mercenaries cannot combat with that true courage and martiall-alacritie which natiue contrimen will for they fight only for a little wages and such venture of life and hazard of themselues will not serue in time of neede vnlesse it be very wonderfully seconded with frequent and those gallant succours knowing how many noble princes haue miscarried in reposing vpon such hollow valours Moreouer natiue souldiers both by the causes necessity and in hope of a glorious conquest wherin the largest portion of iust reputation happeneth to themselues wil put to their most excellent and best approued force to such men feare and difficulties are contemptible the cause of this their excellent valor proceedeth from the goodnesse of a true parent in person of their prince who will share his honors commodities with them and from the noble worthinesse of their commaunders and leaders being natiue contrimen and engraffed to their societies Tullus Hostilius successor of Numa notwithstanding the fourtie yeeres intermission from warre did onely choose his souldiers out of his owne cities reiecting all auxilia◅ies of the Samnites and Tuscanes which had beene well disciplined trayning his owne people and through them attained conquest Likewise king Henrie of Monmouth the fift of that name from the conquerour king William the first for his right in the Crowne of France vsed his owne English souldiers and returning loaden with triumphes and victories obteined by them that during all the dayes of his father and for thirtie yeeres space before had not worne any warlike furniture whereas in contrary the French had bene exercised in continuall warre against the Italians and assisted or oppressed rather with those hirelings of Swizzerland The best forme of fighting in warre was in making of great battailes being composed of the most approued men in field for valour placed in the maine battaile or middle bodie of the hoast for men which being vnited fight together in multitudes be much more valiant by nature then in small companies or handfuls Also the speciall thing which hangeth vpon the discipline and honour of the Generall is that the souldiers be duely paid their wages and relieued with victuals which winneth in them a dutifull kind of reuerence and awfull respect of their gouernours This loue in them exceedeth the force of gold and the power of all opportunities and occasions which can happen by times or places For that which maintaineth wars commonly proceedeth from contribution of the people towards the common defence against forren violence and this lasteth no longer then they can be defended Likewise all places naturally munited and fortified are nothing without the willing aide of men valiant to defend them by force considering that treasure is wonne by the sword and not the swords vertue by treasure These foure points in the Generall therefore make excellent souldiers and confirme Empire Industrious and due discipline strong armes and sufficient for the fight iust paiment of wages and a competent prouision of victuals adde hereunto the fift which is the roote mother and perfection of all noble seruice and conquest being the firme loue hearty reuerence of the souldiers These points which haue beene formerly noted by the politicke Florentine Secretarie to Petro de Medici to conserue and augment th' empire which he would haue had him haue sought for consist in manning of the strong cities with souldiers borne in the same prouinces in conciliating the friendship and societies of neighbours in planting colonies for defence vpon the skirts of their newly subdued prouinces in the spoiles of enemies in forraging and hauocking vpon their haruest and husbandrie in choosing rather to draw them together for battell in Campe then to besiege them within their cities in studious respect of the common cause and profit onely in th'instructing and disciplining of souldiers in the knowledge and vse of armes which eight points if the prince or lieuetenant neglect hee may percase deuise notwithstanding other meanes for the conseruation of his owne but neuer for the amplification of Empire which augmentation if it should happen by lawfull meanes as by the meere prouidence suggestion and disposition of God doth not impugne Christian religion but is most noble and loueable For some princes might vnder counterfeit pretext force men to defend their owne pretending a right in some things not belonging vnto them The mainten◅nce whereof may giue occasion vnto them which execute Gods punishments vpon ambitious vsurpers by diuine in◅igation to diuest them of all forsomuch as they will not leaue any thing which their vnsatiate auarice hath appetite to deuoure for euery man is permitted to loue honour and prote◅ his countrie and the reason why so fewe free people and States are in comparison of former times and such a defect of uue louers and of valiant champions of liberties in comparison of former ages as a wily Commonwealths man hath noted is that people in hope of beatitude and towards the fruition of a second comfortable life deuise in these dayes how to tollerate and not to reuenge iniuries as if that no saluation could come from aboue but by keeping of their swordes and armes rustely sheathed and cased when a vehement necessitie doth importune the contrarie whilst they sottishly nuzzling themselues in sluggish securitie vtterly condemne the lawfull meanes and courses of warre restoring that needfully by force of swords which no law nor charmes of perswasiue words can accomplish There yet appendeth this discipline of souldiers one principall respect of the captaines that neither they crush nor excoriate the poore husband-man which I partly touched in the Morals of my second Booke for if it may be said vnto fraudulent merchāts whose consciences are blasted with a couetous lethargie Whether O yee fooles shall your soules trauell What then may be spoken of such soldiers that neither being contented with their stipend or wages nor with meat drinke when they be faint with marching long iourneies vnder the languishing weight of their armour which by poore husband-men is dayly ministred vnto them in a kinde of fearefull charitie For these like the bastards and counterfeits of honour rauenously spoyle and take away the goods of those which entertaine them shewing all cruell ingratitude towards them as vnto slaues in meede of their hospitalitie with grieuous stripes terrible menaces and torturing those poore labouring catiues vpon the strappado of their vnsatiable couetousnesse euen to the last tester which these siely creatures do pittifully lay downe at their feet to be rid of that fearefull tēpest which those vnthankfull barbarous guests raise in their cottages For the preseruation of the weale and securitie of Armies from feare and dangers of enemies all deuises ought to be followed as in the faithfull promises of the aduersaries of confederates of friends and of
neuer could any delicacies or corporall comforts drawe him since he was imployed in the publike counsels of his Prince and countrey to neglect any serious businesse He was eloquent and well knew the guilefull trappes insidious treacheries of this world by good experience and much reading He was affable and soone any mans friend that was either by friendes commended vnto him or had any specious apparance of good qualities in him The loftinesse of his wit as I may most properly terme it was most quick present and incredible in dissembling with counterfeit friends and in concealing of any matter and businesse of importance beyond expectation He was bountifull magnificent and liberall in all the course of his life hauing commended multitudes of people vnto liuings pensions preferments great sums of money as appeared both by the land of his owne which he sould and ingaged to maintaine the same and by the large dispensation of his Soueraignes treasure committed to his trust and discretion And which I may speake in truth most boldly his fortune was alwayes good before as appeared in France and Cadiz but much inferior to his valorous industrie which with the great and weightie hammer of his reason and engine did strike diuine beames and noble sparkes from the anuile of glorie vntill his late vnfortunate voyage in Anno 1597. and that his other pestilent and inauspicious expedition for Ireland before which times it was difficult to be discerned whether his valour or fortune were more I my selfe a Boy haue seene him in the French-warres to communicate in sports and sometimes in serious matters with men of meane condition and place their fortunes and parentage valued to bee delighted and exercised in labouring with the mattock in trenches fosses and in other workes amongst his battels to be busied in setting of watches in making of barricadoes at his quarter and in often walking the round Also that vice which contagious ambition much affecteth could neuer be noted in him which was to detract from the credite and good fame of any his fellowes in her Maiesties counsell they being absent or of any other man only this it went neere him and laie heauie to his heart that any of them should be thought more wise or valiant then himselfe being scarce a vice but emulation rather proceeding from the mightinesse of his spirit and without doubt he did exceed many of them in many things By which meanes euen as Salust describeth Sylla so did he become precious in presence of his souldiers From his child-hood hee was hardened with exercise taking pleasure and some trauaile and labours which other men for the most part would haue reputed miseries and calamities His apprehension and prudence was admirable by which he would and many times did preuent and turne the mischiefes and fallacies of his enemies vpon their owne heads he was circumspect in all matters appertaining his owne office and charge and would not endure if by any meanes counsell or engine he could deuise to leaue any safe euasions or munitions offensiue or defensiue with his enemies And that which was most rare in so great a captaine though in discipline of warre he declared himselfe seuere as was fit meeke and honourable towards his captaines which had well deserued neither did his mildnesse and facilitie withdraw from his reputation nor his seueritie deminish the loue of his souldiers onely this to conclude of him in the person of a Generall The end of his life was much lamented by the better and nobler part of his countrimen it was very grieuous to them that were his friends and louers it was pitied and repined against with a certaine kinde of regret by forrenners and strangers which had heard of his valour and those enemies or emulators rather of his heroicall vertues in Spaine and France which had felt the weight of his valour reioyced not vpon report of his death I would if it had so pleased God that he might haue died in the warres vpon the enemies of his countrey that I might heroically with good cheere haue registred his death in these offices to conclude with his discription of body briefly being the same with that which Tacitus did write of Iulius Agricola decentior quam sublimior fuit nihil metus in vultu gratia oris supererat bonum virum facile credideres magnū libentèr He was tall and in authoritie yet was he more comely then loftie in his forehead and countenance much valour and boldnesse were imprinted and expressed his lookes were very gratious they that had iudiciously beheld him would haue easily beleeued that he was a very good man and would haue bene very glad to haue knowen him a mightie man and that which was most rare and admirable in men of our age in his distresse and calamities his mind was not onely great and noble like his blood and and place but much loftier and firmer then in his most firme honours and prosperitie And so much in briefe so neere as I could haue I done to life the morall qualities and perfections of that heroicall Generall without adulation or partialitie Now because I would be short I will speake somewhat of some other respects and obseruations required in the person of a Lieutenant Generall First therefore let all conditions of peace or truce with any people besieging or besieged if they be cleare from any suspition of concealed daunger yeelding meanes of quiet without more perill of further expense in future be generally liked and embraced but if they breede any buds or tokens of the contrarie let a wise captaine or gouernour shew speciall circumspection least a pernicious and bloodie warre lurke vnder such insidious and perfidious pretext of peace and some pestilent poyson be ministred in steede of wholesome phisicke In all wounds extreamities and miseries he must repute of death as of the consummation of all calamities and not as a vexation that death dissolueth all mortall perturbations otherwise there cannot any place be left for griefe or ioy He must therefore to be short be partaker of prudence as I said before because all aduantages in fight are attained thereby for by that vertue neither feare nor furie can dazell his vnderstanding And therefore Salomon saith that in warre prudence is principally to bee required And Vergetius he that can shew many martiall scarres and vertuous markes of honour in his bodie seemeth gratious and acceptable in sight of them that are truely noble It is likewise written that Antipater of Idumaea which had serued in a captaines place long during the warres of king Herods father was accused of treason against th'emperours person and being appealed before him to make answere opened a loose garment wherewith he was then arayed discouering the skarres of diuers grieuous wounds receiued in and vpon his bodie with these speeches I will not with verball excuses cleere my selfe great Emperour but in steede of wordes let these wounds whose mouthes are extant and now