A RIGHT EXCELLENT and pleasant Dialogue, between MERCURY AND AN ENGLISH Soldier: Containing his Supplication TO MARS: beautified with sundry worthy Histories, rare inventions, and politic devices. written by B. Rich. Gen. 1574.   printer's or publisher's device 
THESE BOOKS ARE TO BE sold at the corner Shop, at the South west door of Paul's Church.   

¶ TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE and my very good L. Ambrose, Earl of Warwick, Baron Lisle, of the most excellent order of the Garter knight, General of the Queen's majesties Ordinance, with in her highness Realms and Dominions, Bernabe Rich, wisheth long life, increase of honour, with all happy success.  
WHEN I HAD FINISHed this little treatise, (right honourable) I called to mind, the order of Writers, who usually are accustomid to dedicated their labours to some noble parsonage, to whom they do bear some zealous afection, or any other dewtiful good will, which example I determined to follow, purposing to present this same to your honour, but when I called to my remembrance my own ignorance in the knowledge of writing, & the slender fence of that I had written, it utterly discouraged me, so that I was at a controversy in myself, what I might do: in the end, presuming more of your Honourable & courteous inclination, then on my own skill. I have adventured to present your Honour with this little book, which I have entitled▪ A Dialogue between Mercury and an English Soldier, containing his Supplication to Mars▪ wherein I have describe▪ certain noble facts & other high exploits, achieved by great & mighty Princes, and other valiant Captains, also not forgetting to manifest the great abuse that is generally used, in the setting forth of Soldiers, in the time of service which I myself have seen and marked, and although I do know myself to be the simplest of a great number, & the worst able to perform this that I have taken in hand, yet I have presumed to consecrated the same & the rest of my benevolent mind to your Honour, for to whom may the facts & exploits of noble personages be rather offered, then to him whose valiant acts hath made him famous in his Country, but in specially to the stranger, who hath felt the force and puissance thereof, to whom may the orders, ●ests and courses of martyall affairs, be more aptly remembered▪ then to him who can thoroughly deem of such labours, and hath passed so many brunts in the same. Most humbly desiring your Honour to accept this same, as the base and barren style of a simple soldiers device, rather than the learned lines proceeding from such as hath been trained up in Scoles, beseeching God, long to preserve your Honour, with wished increase, and to prolong your days, with most happy delight.  
Your Honour's most humble, at commandment Barnaby Rich.  VAL. MAX. ¶ The happy and quiet estate of blessed peace, doth only consist in the bosom and custody of knowledge in wars.  

To the gentle and friendly READER.  
ALthough, gentle Reader, I have done as the jay, who decked herself with the feathers of other Birds, to the end, she might seem to be the more glorious, yet I doubt not but if every Bird should pluck his feather from this my devise, it would not be left altogether destitute, nor so utterly naked, but there would yet remain something worthy to be perused, although I do know my ability to be such, as it is to far insufficient to satisfy thy learned delights, the which hath somewhat abashed me to become a writer, yet I doubt not, but where my pen through ignorance hath in any place erred, if there thou wouldst vouchsafe, but to supply my want of skill with my zealous pretence, and my well willing mind, it would serve for a mends, sufficient to counterpoise a greater fought, than I trust I have committed: my good will you see, and I doubt not but when thou hast perused the matter thoroughly, thou wilt perceive my good pretence, & bear with my lack of knowledge. As for those carping correctors & curious scanners, such as will sooner find three faughts, than they be able to amend one, I may compare them to those, that in the day of battle, dare not come to the fight themselves, but will convey themselves to a hill, or some sure place to behold other men's doings, judging who fighteth best, but it is an old proverb, he that passeth through a Town, and will throw a stone at every cur that barketh, shall have in the end, but a weary arm, I esteem not therefore of them, nor of their judgements, but only submit myself to the friendly reports of the wise and learned, and of every other well disposed Reader, nothing doubting, as I have said, but such will bear with my inabylitie, and except of my good will, which is all that I crave, and thus farewell.   

In commendation of the Author.  

NOT boldest bloods alone, where guide is gone,  
Doth show the bravest brag upon their foe,  
Unless that Art and rule, doth lead them on,  
As by a fine forecast, the charge must go.  
For head withouten heed, still chaps upon ill chance:  
& conduct is the ka●e, that doth the charge aduance●   

Read Rich, a book enriched with goodly store,  
Where naught that worthy war can wish doth want,  
Each stratagem so stately set, thou needst no more,  
Rich hath enriched his work as nought is scant.  
Let Langius lie▪ and Machavel go make his moan:  
Mars and Bellona bids thee read but Rich alone.   
G. Argal.   

John Bets Gent. in the commendation of the Author.  
¶ If Lawyers by the law to high estate do climb,  
Or Merchants by their marting often, great gain do get in time,  
Or if the silly soul which still the plough doth ply:  
By toil doth reap to serve his turn, in quiet ease to lie.  
Or if the brutish Beast for pain doth pleasure find,  
In resting of his weary limbs, at times to him assigned:  
If all these reap reward according to their kind,  
How much more ought he than to have of thee a willing mind  
Who first to task did take this noble work so rare,  
By painful practice to unfold to thee as to thy share:  
The whole effest of war, and whereon it proceeds,  
Wherein thy se●f may easily guess how Auerice sows his seeds  
In pyling up of pelf vain glory to maintain,  
Without regard of Mars his law or of his worthy train:  
And farther mayst thou find abuses many ways,  
In those which do profess the Art, & count themselves as stays  
Who rather seeks in time of war to gain, than they  
Their countries right would once defend without some hope of pay  
Good Reader note this well, more than I can express  
How fain he would in covert wise, these mischiefs s●ne redress  
But ay the time his skill, to weak to work his will,  
His would the ●ainest man on li●e, but could doth grant him nill  
Well since he hath discharged the duty of a friend,  
Yield thou a gentle ear to hear, his labour to the end:  
And seek not curiously his work for to dispraise  
But seem to mend that is amiss, in rude and rustic phrase  
Lo, this is all he craves, in guerdon of his pain:  
Thy friendly fartheraunce & report, he seeks no other gain.   

THE AUTHOR TO HIS BOOK.  

WHy shouldest thou make such haste abroad to be,  
a mean whereby to purchase me defame:  
Yet mightest thou still abide and stay with me,  
and I thereby remain devoid of blame:  
But if I once permit thee scope to trudge,  
I know not I, what every man will judge.   

The book to the Author.  
What doubts be these that thus doth dull thy brain  
or what conceits doth yet thy mind pursue:  
I know no cause thou shouldst me thus restrain,  
but give me scope to such as list to vow:  
Then they no doubt, will thank thee for thy pain,  
as I suppose thou seekest no greater gain.   

The Author.  
I crave no more in deed, but the good will  
of such, as shall thy simple sense behold:  
But this I doubt my rude and slender skill,  
may give them cause to judge me over bold:  
So I in steed of thanks may purchase blame,  
so vain a ●oy to set forth in my name.   

The Book.  
And who so ready ever fault to find,  
as witless head, that lest of all doth know:  
For none so bold they say, as bayard blind,  
nor none more riefe their doltish domes to show:  
Where wise men yet will deem thy doings right,  
what carst thou then for Zoilus cankered spite.   

The Author.  
Well yet my book, I give thee this in charge,  
the manners mark of such as thee peruse:  
If thou perceivest their tongues do run at large,  
in finding fault the Author to accuse,  
Tell thou them then, I meant not to offend,  
what they mislike, desire them they would mend   
And thus farewell.   

❧ A Pleasant. Dialogue  
IN may, when all Creatures commonly rejoice, being pricked forth by my own desire to leave the house, and walk the pleasant Pastures, which was to my great contentation, by reason of the sweet and delectable Verdeur which Tellus, Imphes doth yield in that blessed season: thus as I●romed up and down, I fortuned to found a fair Mead, which was gorgeously aryed all in grieve, bedecked with Flowers of diverse and sundry colours, on the farther sidewherof, I might behold a gallant Gro●e, out of the which there came such heavenly Harmony, as at the first it caused me to think Orphei again had been returned frequenting his accustomed order, but as I drew nearer, I knew it to be the tunes of sundry Birds, which as it seemed rejoiced themselves in that pleasant plot, with their sweet and delectable lay: Thus as I was come up under the side of the Wood, I found a fair Tree, whose spreading bows shadowed the place, where I laid me down of purpose to hear more of those pleasant notes: but as Cyllemus merry pipe, brought Ergus to a nodding nap, so I think those Hermonical sounds yielded me the like: For I was no sooner laid, but Morpheus immediately assailed me with a strange & troublesome dream, for to my thinking I heard the sudden sound of Trumpets, Drums, & Fifes, & musing with myself, what it might mean, I might see diverse bands both of Horsemen & footmen being armed, which in very comely order, with ancients brave displayed, came marching toward me, and when they were come to the place where I abode, putting themselves in troop one by the assent of all the rest, uttered these words following: Although of this our sudden repair unto thee, thou hadst no intelligence, yet some part of the cause we are assured thou knowest very well, which should make me to be so much the shorter in that which I have to say: them know this, we have by our general assents appointed thee as our trusty friend, willing thee with all speed to prepare thee in manner of a messenger to the mighty court of Mars: where in our behalf thou shalt make presentation into how many extremities we the unfortunate Soldiers of England are even now lately fallen into: otherwise then hath been seen or heard on, and with a contrary alteration of time past so clean changed, as there is difference between white and black, hath not the name of a soldier here before been had in such reverence and accounted of such value, as they have been honoured of every estate, is not the profession of so worthy service now become so odious, & the name so reproachful, as they be disdained, and that of each degree: who hath been heretofore more carefully provided for, more worthily maintained, or more justly preferred: who is now so slenderly esteemed of, so lightly accounted of, & so little cared for, where they have been loved, they be now despised, where before all other they have been had in estimation, they be now as abjects to all other, had in no reputation, but what should I stand to use longer circumstance. To find a present redress in these causes we have as I told thee before, appointed thee our messenger to make these matters known to mighty Mars himself, who is our only refuge, our whole hope of comfort and chiefest help at need, not doubting but by these means to find such happy redress as we shall have just cause to extol our mighty Mars, as also to yield the continual thanks for thy diligence used at our requests.  
Thus when I had heard the sum of their pretence, I answered as followeth: If I were as sufficient to discharge myself of that credit, which you would commit unto me, as I feel myself willing and ready to the uttermost of my power to pleasure the simplyest of this noble company, as the hope that you have in me should not be frustrate, so I should not be driven to seek excuses, as now I am forced, requesting your pardons herein: first, because I know there be many whose experience will much better serve to satisfy your requests, than I know my own to be of, and there be some that I know would accuse me of ignorance or presumption, if it were known that I should attempt in any such matter, but in especially when I consider my own insufficiency, it utterly discourageth me: But I rather think your Message should be executed by some famous Orator, or some excellent Rethorisian which should not be unfurnished with pleasant terms, or such a one as could tell a learned tale as occasion did serve, and not by such as I know myself to be, who is able to say no more than what you have already taught me: Wherefore I trust you will except these as reasonable & lawful excuses, and not as any surmised shifts, whereby to avoid that service which I know myself to be unworthy of.  
When I had made this answer after a little conference had amongst themselves, thy replied in this manner.  
As we think thee sufficient enough to perform any thing that we have yet desired, so we are not come hither esteeming thee best able of any other to satisfy our request: but we presuming to have found thee as willing to have used thy diligence, at our desires, as we were ready to desire thee, gave us the more occasion to press thus much upon thee, and where thou sayest there be some that would accuse thee of ignorance or presumption, if thou shouldest yield to our requests, we assure thee there be as many others that might justly accuse thee of folly if for the reproachful taunts of Momishe mates, thou shouldest omit any thing that tendeth upon good or commendable occasion, but what nicite hath now overtaken thee, that thou wouldst persuade us to send some orators or such like, and that we must now use such eloquence to prefer our causes: thou must consider we would neither sand the to Pallas nor yet to Apollo, nor yet to any other captious wight that will have greater regard to the terms, than he hath to the tale, for who is so scrupilouse that will look for eloquence to come from soldiers or to think that they must paint out their matters with any curious philed phrace, unless it be some curious philed fool, which knoweth not what appertaineth to a soldier, but to drive thee out of these doubts we have framed a supplication to Mars, where in we have included the whole sircumstaunce of our pretence the which in our behalfs thou shalt present, receiving thy answer without using many words: thus minding to use no farther persuasions of encouragement if this that we have said be not sufficient we leave the rest to thy own discretion.  
Yes surely said I, it is enough and your words hath so thoroughly persuaded me that even now I remain at your pleasures ready priest to answer the sum of your pretence, as far as my ability will any ways serve me, yet craving the pardons of such as be beter experimented considering it rather proceedeth from a desire to do well, then of any presumtuose mind. Then they delivering me the supplication which they had framed, one of them said as followeth.  
Well then we mind no longer to detain the but would rather wish the to make as great speed as conveniently thou mayest: we have no more to say but we desire the sacred Gods to farther thy pretence and thus till our next meeting we leave thee.  
Then putting themselves again in order, too my farewell, certain voll of shot discharged in hope of my good speed.  
Thus they marched away again in such gallant sort, that who had seen them might well have deemed (though their estimations were impaired,) yet their noble and valiant hearts was no whit diminished: But suddenly as they were vanished from my sight, I began to bethink me of my undertake, attempt, which when I had well considered, I cursed my own folly that would so rashly condescend to take in hand, I knew not what: for neither wist I where Mars' Court should be, neither knew I by what devise I might get thither, the remembrance whereof brought me almost to a kind of desperaration, how I might prosecute, or by what means I might perform my promise: but when I had called to mind the goodness of the Gods, who commonly be assistant to all distressed wights: I began somewhat to comfort myself in hope, likewise to find some favour using this petition as followeth, If the humble supplications of wretched wights, may any thing prevail before you, the celestial Gods vouchsafe most humbly than I beseech you, that my pitiful plaints might so move you to help me in this distress, that through your mighty powers, and providence divine: I might yet in the end bring my attempt to some happy effect.  
But as I continued in this contemplation I might behold one standing by me clothed all in white, holding in his hand a rod, which seemed all of massy Gold, by which sign I did know it to be Mercury, who in this wise said unto me.  
The Gods hath listened to thy prayers, and in some part yielded to thy request: arise therefore and with speed prepare thyself to follow me, with that me thought on both my shoulders there were suddenly grown a pair of wings of marvelous bigness, and as I perceived my guide softly to soar away, I assayed with myself how I could follow, which me thought I could do even at pleasure, and as well as though I had been practised in flying many a day before, and after we had thus flyed a while together, I looked about, and I might underneath me behold Cities, Towns, Castles, Woods, diverse Hills, and Valleys, wherein I took great pleasure and delight and much rejoiced with myself to see these new and unacquainted things but with in short space we were so mounted that I had clean lost the sight: of altogether which was below and then I might perceive a merueilouse, huge and sumtiouse Castle, standing on a pleasant plot directly over against us, toward the which my guide began to bend his course and I following him till we were come in manner to it, where upon a very fair green we stayed ourselves, 
Marcial exercises.  and as I stood gazing about I might perceive great routs of people that ishewed out and in at the gates and almost on every part of this castle they were using many exersises some were running at the tilt, others at the tourney others were pushing with the pike, some were throwing of the darts, some were exercising the Caliver in manner of skirmish, and many were on horseback, the one having the other in chase,  
These sights made me greatly to muse, but my guide I think of purpose to cut me from my farther imagination, said: Lo, 
The description of Mars his Court.  here quoth he the Court of Mars, where thou mayst behold those blessed wights, who spent their passed days in defence of their Country and right, only to attain praise and noble fame, and not for filthy lucours sake, or hope of any Gold gain: Where now their just deserts is quit with like delight, what though their bodies entombed be in clay thou seest their spirit do here remain in everlasting bliss, for here no years may make them old, no barehead skull, no wrinkled brow may here be found, no visage here may aught annoy them, nor yet Morpheus once assail them, no Borias blasts may hurt them with cold, nor the fiery flames of Aetna hill oppress them with heat, no Cerberus is Porter in this place, nor the grisly groans of Promotheus at no time here are hard, they never see the greedy gripe to tyer on Ticius heart, to be short they never feel of any woe: but still continued their days in most happy and blessed estate, every one using his own delights, even as it hath pleased the Gods to appoint. Why then said I thou Gods son sith it hath pleased thee to reveal these matters unto me, vouchsafe likewise (I beseech thee) to satisfy me in this that I see upon the Towers and Turret's, which as they be innumerable, so they are beset with an infinite number of Ancients: In the which as I do guess, the Arms of diverse countries be displayed: But on the one part of the Castle, I may behold diverse ancients, bearing the Arms of England, they be likewise environed with a great number of others, all bearing Saint George's Cross, yet in them the Arms of noble men and Gentlemen, & amongst them many which myself did partly know, now it seemeth unto me, those ancients should pertain to such as were valiant Princes, courageous Captains, and expert Soldiers, and that their Arms and colours be there displayed, in sign of their immortal fame, and that as well of the inferior Gentleman, as of the most mighty Prince.  
Thou hast rightly deamed said the God, and like as thou seest their Arms and colours advanced in the tops of the Towers, so their noble acts and valiant Conquests be lively described on every wall within that Princely Palace, to their perpetual remembrance: But now with speed prepare thyself to finish thy pretence? behold the place where thou mayst perform the rest of thy desires, go thy ways therefore, and at thy return thou shalt not fail to find me here aspecting thy good hope.  
I wist not then how to requited the curtesey of the God, nor yet what reverence I might use at my departure, in the end with a homely manner of giving thanks, I took my leave directing my course towards this glorious Court, and as I softly passed gazing here and there, I might perceive a great company of Gentlemen all bravely mounted on horseback, who for their disports were running at the King: amongst whom there were some that I myself had very well known and perfectly again had called to my remembrance as I saw them ride: The first of them was Captain Dercy, brother to the right honourable Lord Dercy, whose soldier I sometime was at New Haven, where the Gods aspecting his virtuous disposition bereft us of this noble Gentleman, although to our grief and sorrow yet to his continual comfort and consolation, where he now hath residence amongst the most renowned wights.  
There were in his company Captain Sanders, and the valiant young Souch, whom I likewise had known at Newhaven, with many others.  
But when I was come near to the gates of this Princely pallas, it made me much to muse to see the strangeness of the sight, for beside that it was huge, and of a marvelous Cirquet, so the order of fortification was so exceeding above the common form of any human skill, as I will not presume to take upon me to decipher.  

The description of the wales.  The walls were all of brass, impalde with massy Gold: in every port and lope were Canons couched that glistered like the Sun. The Porter that kept the gate looked with a most stern and grisly countenance: his name they say was Courage, by whom I passed into a base Court, the beauty whereof was such as it showed itself to be a place to far unfit for any mortal wight. There were about the walls in most lively manner described many worthy Cumbats, & diverse valiant conquests achieved by sundry martial wights, as Giants, serpents, Dragons, Lions, Bulls, Boors, & many other horrible monsters, subdued by Hercules, Theseus, jason, Persey, and others.  
From thence I passed into an upper court which was of such excellency, as it easily might be deemed to be a place celestial. There was likewise described many famous Histories: first I saw the siege of Thebes, where Amphion sank down into hell, & of many a knight which lost their lives before the ancient town of Troy, & how by treason, the brazen horse was set on flaming fire. then might I see the overthrow which Hannibal gave to the romans in Camnas field, where Consul Emmelius lay bathing all in blood, & of many a notable policy put in practice between the said Hannibal, & Scipio, & how before Carthage they were in arms to try who should have the Empire of the world: then saw I Xerxes, whose army though for the multitude they drank rivers dry, yet was clean subdued, & quite overthrown, & how by the valiance, & provesse of the noble Milciades, iij. C. thousand men were put to flight: yet saw I Darius with all his huge host, subdued by Alexander the great, I might likewise behold divers noble conquests which were achieved by sundry English Princes & other valiant captains & soldiers of England, to long here to be rehearsed, but all next to the entry into the Hall, there was curiously described the victorious acts of the most renowned Prince, King Henrye the eight, how he discomfited the whole power of France at the time of the siege of Turwin, when as he retained the Emperor Maximilian with all his retinue: who came to the camp wearing, a read Cross as one of the kings soldiers and after how the town was taken and left all razed: then saw I Turnay surrendered to the King, and of many a noble exploit done before the strong and forcable town of Bullein and how it was likewise taken by this noble Prince.  
These with a number of other histories were there so lively displayed all in Imagery of pure gold so curiously inamiled as they rather seemed to be even now a doing then the monuments of things, that were done and passed. And as I was determined to have gone into the hall, I heard a great noise of trumpets, sounding in manner as they use to do at triumphs: and as I looked toward the gate, I might behold a goodly parsonage that was entering, who for his gesture countenance, and every other grace, seemed to be even the God of battle himself, he brought with him four Champions, all armed, saving on their heads they had everyone a Garland in sign of victory, and as I earnestly stood and beheld them, I called three of them perfectly to my remembrance, for that I sometime had known them: The one was Captain Vahan, sometime Controller of Newhaven, the other Captain Cromwell, and the third Captain Rondall: the fourth I did not know, which caused me to go to one that stood by, of whom I courteously desired to know who this fourth should be, who in this wise said unto me.  
Why, what art thou quoth he, or how long hast thou been here a Courtier, that dost not yet know the noble Captain Audley, whose prowess and valiance, as it hath made him famous to every inferior person, so he is likewise honoured of each renowned wight.  
Why then quoth I, vouchsafe likewise I pray thee, to show me the meaning of the rest from whence do they come, or what is the cause that thus be brought in manner of victors, or as though they had achieved some haughty attempt.  
By thy words quoth he, it seemeth thou art yet unacquainted with the manners of this house, otherwise these matters would not seem such novels unto thee, when it is generally used by as many as doth frequent this place for their own disports, to put in practice sundry experiments, and diverse Martial exercises, where he that best deserveth shall receive such honour as is dew to his deserts, as now these four Gentlemen which at this present hath showed themselves at all assays, more worthy than the rest, and be now brought in by Warlike Policy, who is high Steward of this house in this triumphant manner, by whom they shall receive that honour which to them of right by custom doth pertain: when he had thus satisfied my demand, and that I did know him to be Warlike Policy, which before I suspected to be Mars.  
I requested his advise what means I might use to come to the presence of the God of battle, showing him that I had a suit to prefer, and that I was in deed a stranger and wanted friendly advise.  
Well quoth he, if that be thy want, the best advise that I can give is this, that if thy cause require any haste, it were good thou madest speed to the place where thou mightest have quick dispatch, 
Mars 〈…〉 now in Venus' court.  which is not here, for Mars is now in Venus' court whither thou wert best to repair, the sooner to know an end of thy desire.  
When I understood this I was so at my wits end, as almost I knew not what to do, but when I had given him thanks for his courtesey, I had thought to have gone again to my guide, who had promised to tarry for me to request farther advise, but first I went into the hall, where there was such a thundering noise of trumpets, Drums, and Fifes, as was marvelous to hear.  
In the midst of this Hall there stood a Wagon, the which was called the Chariot of deadly debate, there was painted about it many tragical discourses, and sundry civil dissensions: I might see the great controversy between julius caesar & Pompey, which could not be appeased with the lives of three hundred thousand men, likewise between the houses of Conde and Guise, and also between the houses of Lancaster and York, with many other which here I omit.  
There was sitting in this Chariot, three personages most terrible to behold: the first was War, who sat all armed holding in the one hand asword, & in the other consuming fire: he was accompanied with Famine on the one side, a most horrible creature, whose irksome looks were able to daunt the greatest courage of the most haughty minded wight: on the other side sat Murder, 
●he fruits ●f war.  whose hands and raiment were all imbrued and begoared with blood.  
This Chariot was ever drawn by four ill-favoured and unseemly monsters whose names were Malice, Strife, Contention, and Discord, the Wagoner was most pestilent slave, called Envy, who with a Goad did still prick them forward: But as I passed up a little farther, I might behold that most ugly and detestable creature Ruin, whose dreadful sight did much afraye my mased mind: This monster Ruin is evermore a follower and a hanger on of War, 
Ruin 〈◊〉 follower 〈◊〉 war.  for into what place so ever War maketh entry or hath any abiding, Ruin presently followeth, and there likewise will make his residence.  
This irksome sight did so much abhor me, and so thoroughly discourage me, that where before I had a kind of Martial desire to serve as a Soldier, as occasion did permit, I now protested to myself not only to leave the exercise of so vile a profession, but also to desever myself from the fellowship of any such as were followers of so filthy and hateful a service, minding no farther to follow my suit, which before so carefully I sought to accomplish, but got myself forth to my guide of purpose to desire him to bring me to the place, where at the first he did find me, and so to leave me.  
But because it so chanced, we fell into a discourse of many matters: I have put it in order of a Dialogue, for that it might be the better understood.  
FINIS.   

❧ The Speakers.  Mercury. the Eng. Soldier. 
BY thy sudden return, it seemeth thou hast had quick dispatch, but how thou hast sped I pray thee let me know that thou art come again in so short a space.  Soul. 
As my return seemeth to thy Godhead to be quick and speedy, so the horrible sight which I have seen sithence my departure, seemeth to me as fearful, and displeasant, and for that I understand that Mars is now in Venus' Court, I can be well contented even there to leave them, and thus to cease my suit, considering the fruits of their service which did first procure me to take the matter in hand.  Merchant 
Why how chanceth it, that thou art so suddenly altered, I perceive thou art fallen into some disliking, but what is the the cause I can not yet perceive, nor from whence these sudden fits should proceed.  Soul. 
Even of this when I now have plainly seen what fruits by war are gained, both by him and his accomplices. First the Chariot of deadly▪ debate, drawn by malice, strife, contention and discord, driven by envy, fraught with sword, fire, famine and murder, making open scope and way for ruin, is Pluto himself asocyated with a more loathsome company? no sure the Furies of Hell are not to be compared to these monsters above all other most to be detested.  Merchant 
But what is this to the Soldier, thou hast yet showed no reason why he should be despised.  Soul. 
Even as War with his companions are carefully to be eschewed, and that of all Estates, so the Soldier, who is as it were a minister of these mischiefs, is likewise to be abhorred, and that of every honest mind. 
Warr● grievous plague 〈◊〉 swiftly 〈◊〉 be shun●   Me. 
War in deed amongst mortal men is grievous, swiftly to be shunned, but it is many times used as the scourge of the Gods to punish the Malefactions of the impius, and therefore not to be avoided, example of Troy and Troyeans brought to destruction only for the filthy fact of Paris, but touching the Soldier, because he is an instrument of War, and therefore should be rejected, might as well be said, because fire whose nature is to consume whatsoever it toucheth, and therefore should be utterly extinguished, and clean put out, yet no man doubteth but if it were so as in Summer, it would be wanting about diverse necessaries, so in Winter a great number might starve for cold.  
A Soldier may rightly be compared to a sword, wherewith a man may for want of government annoy his companions, endanger such as be about him, hurt his friends, yea, or main, mischief or kill himself, where at the first they were ordained as necessary instruments, wherewith to defend the enemy, which else would seek thy life, and to revenge thy wrongs, and injuries, which be offered by thy Foe, now if they be otherwise abused contrary to the meaning of the first institution, the fault is not to be imputed to the sword, but to the folly of such as for want of government can not use them, neither may sword yet be spared, but to be accounted as instruments most necessary.  
But what should I stand to use examples, how many Cities, Towns, Provinces, yea, & sometime whole kingdoms hath been rewynated and utterly confused where soldiers hath been wanting, but here omitting all other: I will yet refer thee to peruse in Chronicles, the time that Brithricus reigned King of England, in whose time the Danes first entered his Land, rob and spoiled many of his Successors, and in the end brought the people to be servile and bond, using their wives and goods at their pleasure, & thus continued the space of two hundred fifty and odd years, to be brief, I think there is no man so simple which doth not conceive how necessary and needful the noble Soldier is.  Soul. 
The more is the pity, that Kings and Princes can not foresee unto how many misfortunes they commit themselves, their people and country, when they first take in hand to prepare them to the field, which if they did, I think they would rather desire to govern their own with quietness, than to seek by force of arms to be conquerors of others: But O unhappy Prince, that is so ungracious to embrace so cursed a crew as war bringeth with him: but O thrice unfortunate country and people, that harboureth such a company of unlucky guess.  

Wars hath been from the beginning, and shall continued until the world's end.  Well yet thou seest wars hath been even from the beginning, and so shall continued to the end, especially when there be so many provocations to stir them, and so many vices embraced almost of every Prince to move them, as Ambition, Pride, Vainglory, Blooddinesse of mind, Covetousness, and such other, these be the chief occasions of any foreign war, civil war is likewise procured, when the Prince is rigorous, cruel, a tyrant, overcharging their subjects with Taxes, Subsidies, unreasonable customs, or other grievous exactions, and as these vices be general in Princes, so there are as many more as common to subjects, whereby many times commotions are raised, as contempt, rebellion, disobedience, mutiny. etc. And yet wars are not wrongfully attempted but many times proved upon right and reasonable cause.  
Thou seest the noble Soldier may in no wise be spared, 
soldiers may not be spared if it be but to defend the invasions of others.  but even as thou hast said unhappy Prince, and unfortunate Country that once retaineth wars, so mayst thou likewise cry, O most wretched Princes, and O most miserable Country which is unprovided of sufficient and expert Soldiers, if it be but to defend the rigours of such as would invade.  Soul. 
In deed we have a saying, that Weapon many times maketh peace, and so peradventure where the Country is well replenished with Soldiers, and other necessaries appertaining to war, may be an occasion that the enemy will be the more circumspect to stir any strife, thus I perceive the Soldier is very necessary, but yet in my mind more needful than profitable.  Merchant 
It might seem as great vanity to go about by any circumstance to prove how needful & profitable the soldier is as if a man by great curiosity would go about to prove the sun were bright whose glittering gleams are known to every man & daily seen through the whole world but whither the soldier be as profitable as he is needful, I will refer it to thy own discretion, First when the departing from his quiet house, 
To how many inconveniences a soldier committeth himself in his countries defence.  his loving wife and dear children, may never stay him, when the sight of his enemies may nothing daunt him, the hazard of losing life or lime can never fear him, when troublesome toil & continual travail can once withhoulde him when excessive watch and ward may never weary him, when hongar and thirst may any white discourage him, when cruel could, homely lodging, may at any time restrain him, when all these with a number of other extremities may once withdraw him from the serving of his Prince and defence of his country.  

How many commodities are gained by the soldier.  Besides this in what security either of life or living were those that be honest and of good disposition were it not for law, to what effect were law, were it not for justice, of what assurance were either Law or justice: were not the Prince to maintain them, of what maintenance or power were that Prince that were bereft of soldiers, for is it not many times seen, that neither justice, policy nor wisdom, may longer continued obedience in subjects towards their Prince, but must be subdued by force of martial power: to be short in what assured state were that Prince or country, which is unreplenished with noble soldiers to defend them from the tyranny or others.  Soul. 
Thus I perceive the soldier is worthy to be maintained if it be but to withstand the malignity of others, according to the saying of Cicero, who saith, Fortis et magnavimus est habendus non qui facet, sed qui propulsat iniuriam, but when thy Godhead seemeth to prefer the soldiers as the principal pillar where on doth consist the Chiefest defence of King and country I remember Cicero likewise used an other sentence which sayeth, Cedat arma coge concedat aurea lingue, whereby it seemeth the soldier must give place to the wise and politic counsellor.  Merchant 
To answer this objection sufficiently would ask to long discourse and no man doubteth but the soldier in all attempts is or should be governed by counsel unless occasion doth sometime fall out when he must put in practise his own experience, 
Who can give better counsel in Marcial causes then the experimented Soldier  but who is able in any occasion touching martial causes, to give better counsel than the experimented Soldier, as Alexander magnus saith, a Souldioure is worth his keeping in the time of peace who hath honestly served his Prince in the time of war although for age he can not travail, his counsel yet may not be spared.  
But to show thee in part what counsellors they be which Cicero meaneth, and how the soldier doth give him place, I will show the.  
Cato perceiving the Romans to degenerate and wax sluggish, over they had been in times past, and in stead of feats of arms exersised other vain toys & other idle devices, fearing that by this nicitye, the Carthagians might take occasion to contend with them for the empire, brought it in question that for their better security it should be most convenient that Carthage should be utterly destroyed, although that Scipio were of the contrary opinion, affirming that it should seem very unlawful for the romans to commit so heinous a fact, but he rather thought it to be most expedient that the romans having such an enemy whom they might fear, might be the more occasion to continued peace and amity amongst themselves, and the greater provocasion whereby to incite their youth to prowess and activity, in conclusion, Cato prevailed, and Scypio after a long assault, did take it, and utterly destroyed it.  
Thus by the counsel of the wise Cato Rome was delivered of a dangerous neighbour, but the glory and renown remained only to the Noble and valiant Captain Scypio, in many such like causes, Soldiers giveth place to the counsel of the wise, but is nothing thereby diminished, but the rather increased and augmented.  
But because thou mayst the better perceive in what estimation the noble Soldier hath been accounted of and how their counsels hath been allowed with wise and noble Princes, 
How old Soldiers hath been accounted of with noble princes.  I will show thee an example the which in ancient histories is yet to be seen, in these words following.  
Dionysius when he went to Conquer other Regions, there were many of his followers which being overcome with age and extreme travail, would neither tarry without a King, neither follow their Captain, wherefore coming to their Prince with Tears, they desired him to take pity of them, to whom he said: My brethren and fellow soldiers lay your cares a side, you have followed me a great while, you have often and long fought for me, and with me, I will now call others into their fortunes: It is now time for you to take your rest, and this shall remain a reward for ever, for your labours and travails, settle your selves here and possess you this fat Land, which by your valiance I have Conquered, I do now release you from all Warlike labours: I will have you to carry the name of old Soldiers, and to be called here as your office shall be to govern the common Weal, to reprove the ill, to praise the good, and from all other labours you shall be free to what people or country so ever you come too, the King shall find you meat Drink and clothe, you shall be most honourable with all men, Princes shall offer you presents, and shall give you their own Garments, what so ever you say shall be allowed for truth: You shall hate Liars, and you shall judge Traitors, and those that have ill Women you shall punish with infamy: the whole Land shall be free for you to have safe travailing, and safe dwelling, if any man shall offend or grieve you with word or deed, he shall die by the sword.  
I do farther appoint that my very friend Spertembam shall be King of the Indies amongst you, who shall appoint you necessaries and yearly stipends who shall maintain your privileges, and he shall hold you most honourable about him, and you and your heirs shall counsel him, in whom if succession shall want: let the election of the Indian Kings be amongst you, and your Children.  

It is to be supposed Heralds of Arms took the original of this.  Thus Dionysius comforting and persuading his Heroas, departed with his army out of India, whose office is to be assistant to Kings, to be a comfort to the common weal, to advance virtue, and to punish vice, being no other of themselves but old Soldiers, the which after many and great mischiefs endured, and after many wonderful Wars ended with most glorious Triumphs, there strength drawn from them, & tired with age, are released from the toiling labours of wars, and called to the court for counsellors.  
Octavius Augustus was of the same mind, and so likewise was Marcus Antonius, and Marcus Crassus: Thus the romans when there Wars were ended, did still determine of their old Soldiers.  
But why stay we so long about so small avail, if thou mindest to prosecute as thou hast begun: behold Venus Court is not so far hence, but that we may walk thither even at our pleasures debating on these causes by the way as we go.  Sou. 
Yes surely if the Gods permit, I will now do my Message, and the rather when thy Godhead hath so throughly persuaded me, and so earnestly defended the soldiers cause, 
Souldier● in Englā●● had in small account.  we want such attorneys in England to plead in their behalfs where I think of all other Countries they are had in lest estimation.  Merchant 
I think in deed a Soldiers credit in England is but of a small value, yet not so small, 
The order of appointment vsd● with less regard.  but their order of appointment in the time of service, and that as well of Captains as of other private Soldiers, is used with as little regard,  Sou. 
I do not understand the meaning of these words, but I perceive they tend to some disliking, which although peradventure some small abuse may be committed in the choice of our Soldiers, yet for Captains I think there be none admitted but such as justly may not be accused of any insufficencye.  Merchant 
Then omitting to speak of soldiers till some other occasion, I will some thing say of two sorts of Captains, which in time of service are as busy as the best to attain charge, and as it is great pity that the one sort should be parmitted, so it were very good if the abuses of the other might be reformed, and the greatest cause that stirreth both these sorts to service, as may be supposed, proceedeth of one motion, which is the gripell desire they have of Princes pay.  
The first sort which I mean be such as will presume to take upon them conduction being altogether unable and clean void of experience, 
Unfit captains.  not not so much as to place two hundred men in right order of array.  
The other be such, which although they be serviceable enough, yet in the time of service will make a common profit by powling and pilling his Soldiers, yea, & sometime will not stick to deceive the Prince by a sly devise or twain: Such Captains in times passed there hath been appointed, and such Captains be most ready to make means to be appointed, and it is now grown to a general order in England, that in the time of service, he that can best carry favour with this or that noble man, he is sufficient enough to take charge, there pertains no more to a Captain, but if he may get my Lords good will by means whereof there hath been some appointed which if they came to the place where good service should be, some were to far unfit to perform the duty of a Captain or else such whose greatest care is how he may deceive both Prince and soldier of the pay.  Soul. 
Although it hath pleased thy Godhead to enter into this familiar discourse, yet before I will presume to proceed any further, I crave most humbly pardon, lest peradventure in using many words some hap to be amiss, for that every honest mind of duty is bound as much as in him lieth to defend any infamy or reproach, wherewith his Country is charged, so it might fortune that I in respect of God will to defend those accusations which here thou hast pronounced against our English Captains, might fall into such rash reasoning as might not well beseem me, and so forget that reverence which to thy Godhead by right doth appertain.  Merchant 
As I am well pleased at this instant to argewe and debate these causes with thee, so it shall nothing dislike me, for any thing that thou shalt say, but would rather wish thee to speak freely, whatsoever thou thinkest may best serve for thy purpose.  Soul. 
Then I doubt not but to make such reasonable answer in our Captain's behalfs, as may very well be permitted for good and sufficient excuses, and now to speak of those first kind of Captains which here thou condempnest to be presumptuous, because they will attempt to take a charge: notwithstanding, their small experience thinking the greatest motion, that should stir them to it, proceeded of desire, of gain, now it might be very well supposed, that if any Gentleman have sought that place of credit: it rather proceeded of valiance, or of a noble courage, then of any covetous desire, or yet of any presumptuous mind, for noble hearts undoubtedly can but desire noble attempts and I am assured we have no small number of Gentlemen, whose experience peradventure, though it be not so much as some others, which hath seen the order of service, yet I dare boldly affirm their noble and valiant hearts are no whit inferior, not not to those whose experience doth best serve, and whose service hath been of longest continuance, & the noble captain Cabrias (as stories maketh mention) was wont to say that an army of fearful Dear, having a Lion to their Captain, were more to be feared, than an army of Lions having a dear to their captain. By this he ascribeth valiance to be the principal point that to a captain appertaineth: and Sallust saith, that wit and will joined together, maketh a man valiant, and who would think that any such should be unwilling, that in the time of service will make so many friends to get a captains room.  Merchant 
But now if any such have sought that noble Run, which are in deed neither wise nor valiant, and that are mentioned unto it, by will without wit, although these may be hardly excused of hope of gain yet of presumption, he may not be excused or at the lest he may be worthily condemned of overmuch folly.  Sou. 
This is most certain it can not otherwise be, but I think we have no such in England.  Merchant 
As I will not seem to accuse, so I do not mind to excuse, but be it in England or else where, he that will take upon him the room of a Captain, without having experience, doth play Phaeton's part, or may be compared to some rash fellow, who at adventures will take upon him Mariners art, and yet was never at the Sea, fearing nothing but bearing all his sails ataunt while the wether is fair, and at length comes some sudden storm or ungracious gust that turns Ship and all on their heads, sometime peradventure for want of making sail when time did serve, some contrary wind or ungracious tide may hoist to some Rock or Sand, which the ignorant man knoweth not how to avoid.  
So many times a skilless Captain may overthrow himself and his company by making to much haste, sometime suffer his friends to perish for being to slack, for be he never so valiant in his own person, or never so wise in other causes, yet if he have not experience to know the time and place where hardiness may prevail, and how he should bestow his strokes in time and place convenient, through policy it is provided that strength may be subdued, 
Policy of more effect than force or strength.  and many more fields have been lost for want of policy, than for want of strength, and many Towns won by slights, where force could not prevail, and even as if Cato himself would take upon him conduction of a Ship without good and sufficient experience, as I trust it were no blasphemy, to say that Cato were but a foolish Pilate, so he that will take a charge without knowledge to govern it, 
No wisdom for a man to take upon him that he can not ski●  I trust will not be offended though he be learned: an undiscreet Captain, for wisdom willeth no man to make attempt of that which he is not able to compass, but in especially in so dangerous a cause, where through the default of one ignorant Captain a whole army may sometime be over thrown, whereon may depend the state of a Kingdom, and the ruin of a country.  
Neither is ●e to be esteemed courageous or yet valiant, that will so wilfully take upon him to rule, and so ignorantly seek to govern, but rather to be accounted wilful and foolish hardy.  
But now something better to persuade thee, what a captain should be, I will show thee diverse opinions: first Cato saith, that captain is stark nought which cannot rule himself, than he is much worse, that not knowing how to rule himself, will yet take upon to govern others: Isocrates saith, the greatest virtue in a soldier, is obedience toward his captain, but if such Captains might be permitted, Isocrates was deceived: for an unskilful Captain, may have a skilful Soldier, and then the greatest virtue in a captain were obedience towards his soldier: Cirus King of Persia was wont to say, that no man aught to take upon him to govern unless he be better than those that he taketh upon him to rule. Alexander, when he took upon him the Conquest of the world, admitted none to have charge that were under three score years of age, only because he would have none to be leaders that should be ignorant or unskilful: for Socrates sayeth, the boldness of the ignorant engendereth many evils: And Agesilaus saith, the lack of experience causeth the lack of courage.  
Thus thou mayest perceive that such as were wise, would not permit any skilless or ignorant Captain.  Soul. 
But yet in my mind it were great pity, that Gentlemen should thus be discouragde, for every man must have a beginning, and every man must have a time to learn before he may come to be a soldier, and how should a man come sooner to practise, then by seeing of service, & such as be Gentleman peradventure will disdain to serve unless as a captain, which place if it should be denied them, might be a hindrance to their well disposed minds, giving themselves from the noble profession to follow some other idle devices, which else might prove to be noble and worthy soldiers.  Me. 
Agesilaus the king of the Lacedæmonians being but a Child, when solemn Games were played for the exercise of children, in which he that had the ordering & rule thereof, had appointed him but to a mean part & room, albeit he were the heir apparent to the Crown, said in this wise, good enough, for I will show that it is not the room that dignifieth the person, but it is the person that dignifieth & renowneth the room.  
So it is not the room of a captain that dignifieth the unworthy person who is not able to execute it, but it is the valiance of him that is appointed to the place that dignifieth and renowneth the room.  
But if there be any that be so precise that would think they should so much embase their credit, if they should serve unless as a Captain at the first dash, I muse they can not as well conceive what a mockery it should be when they come in the place of service, when they shall be found to be but usurpers of the name, and scant able to execute the room of a simple soldier.  

The opinion of a Spaniard Italiam & Frencheman.  The Spaniard who for the nobleness of his mind is far surmounting above all other, yet if he be the son & heir of a Duke he will not take upon him to conduct others, before he hath first served and thereby learned experience how to order his charge aright, the Italian is likewise of the same mind.  
The Frencheman useth this proverb, that he will not take upon him the room of a Captain, before he be able to command his soldier, and not his soldier to command him.  
Thus thou mayst perceive that amongst such as be daily practised in service, it is thought great folly in him that will take upon him the room of a Captain, and not able to execute it.  Soul. 
Peradventure if Wars were as general amongst us, as it is amongst them, as the Gods forbidden it should, we would learn no observations, neither of Spaniard, Italian, nor Frencheman, they should be no spectacles for us, for use they say makes perfectness, and amongst them wars are so generally frequented, that it were great shame if they should be ignorant in any observation, order, or discipline.  Merchant 
It is as great shame that the orders of arms and discipline of war should be unknown to any Gent. though he never came where service was, 
the disiplin of war to be learned without going to the filled.  yet he should not be ignorant in the laws and orders of Arms, which are to be learned without going to the field, as may appear by Alfonsus' King of Arragon: who being demanded whither he were more bound to his Books then to his Weapons and arms, answered, out of my books I have learned boath arms, and the order of arms: and did not Lucullus by the study of his Books, become one of the noblest Captains of all the romans.  
So there be many books the which if Gentlemen would sometime vouchsafe to peruse, would thoroughly instruct them in such observations as were used by the most renowned Captains and Soldiers, to the great furtherance of such as mind to serve, & to what exercise may a Gentleman better endeavour himself unto them, to learn to serve: for as Vigesius sayeth, the way to win honour is rather to practise in time convenient the art of War, then to win treasure, and lack experience, lest he should say, why have I not learned to serve and defend: and Gelo King of Silice, at a certain banquet, when according to the use of the Country, the Lute was carried from one to another, in order for that amongst the Greeks it was counted a thing of great commendation to him that could use it well, but when it came to the kings course to play, he commanded that his Horse should be brought into the banqueting house, and forthwith he easily and lightly leapt upon him, signifying that although the Lute were a descent Pastime to be used by Gentlemen, for recreation, yet he showed that chivalry was more to be commended and before all other exercises principally to be preferred.  Soul. 
And may a man then learn to be a perfect Soldier that shall seek no other experiment, but as he shall be directed by his Book? I have heard this reason many times before, but I could never yet be persuaded to believe it, and yet there be some which by that experience only will take upon them as they say themselves, to use any derection in the field, and in as good order as he that hath served twenty years a soldier.  Merchant 
But I would wish that such a soldier might rather be believed by his own report then to suffer him to make trial of his cunning before his enemy in the field, and although it be most certain that the practice of many books may be greatly beneficial to the knowledge of martial affairs, so there is no kind of sickness, neither any manner of disease that is incident to man, but in books there are such certain and approved medicines as the best Doctors will allow of, yet he were a desperate patient, that in an extremity of sickness, would follow the advise of him that hath but read only, and never had other practice. The Mariner at the Sea, when by force of weather he is driven to some unknown coast, then to know the place he is in, and from thence to shape his course, hath no other help, than the Cosmographiere hath prescribed unto him, which rules although they be most certain to work by, yet a wise man would be loathe to be carried to Sea by him that hath no other skill than his cosmography only, yet notwithstanding as it should be great furtherance to him that would practise Physic to peruse other men's opinions, which hath writ touching the nature of Herbs and plants, and as it should be much available and for his readier understanding that would be a Navigator, to oversee such rules as are prescribed by the Cosmographier concerning the art, so he that would be a soldier and one of Mars his troop, shall find it most commodious, as well to help his memory as also to kindle his courage, to read of martial feats, appertaining to the purchasing of honourable victories, fame, and renown.  
And like as I would not wish him that hath but read of Physic, to take upon him to minister to the diseased, so I would not advise him that hath but book experience, of himself, to use any order or appointment although his counsel in some causes may very well be followed.  
And as I know that by certain rules of Arithmetic a man may suddenly frame any manner of battle of any proportion, the number of men once being known, or to know what cirquet of ground will serve to inbattayle so many men, with such like, so it is possible for him that is desirous in a very short space, to peruse in books the manner of any wars, which hath been these many hundred years, & by what means many noble victories hath been obtained, and what policies hath been used by such as were famous Captains, some to assawght, some to defend, etc. But yet he that should see but one field fought, shall gain more experience than the other by reading of all those books.  Soul. 
but now concerning those second sort of Captains, which thou sayest, be such as by sleights doth deceive the prince, and pill his Soldiers in the time of service, I think there be none that be so unkind to his prince, that will practise such deceit, nor so unnatural to his country men, to seek the hindrance of his poor soldiers, whom they aught as carefully to provide for, as they would do for themselves.  Merchant 
They should do so in deed: but it hath sometime otherwise fallen out, and poor soldiers hath been by devices, cut from their wages which the Prince hath allowed them, and to deceive the Prince it is a small matter accounted of amongst s●me, and by a general shift they use, which is to want of his number of men which the Prince giveth allowance, for such Captains, by report there hath been, and it were not amiss, if the practice were not so common.  Soul. 
I think there be none whose conscience is so large, that can for pity's sake, seek to deceive his soldier, and as for deceiving of the Prince, if it be by no other means than hath been yet expressed: I think may easily be answered, for I have known them myself that have wanted of their number of soldiers, but yet not of purpose to deceive the Prince, neither yet to enrich themselves by saving of their pay, for if they have wanted ten or twelve of their number which they have been allowed for, they have yet had twenty or thirty Gentlemen, to whom they have given doubell pay, the better to maintain themselves in the Prince's service, and the rather to encourage both them and others to serve, for it is generally seen, that a Gentleman will soon prove a soldier of any other, and show himself most valiant in the field: and when Xerxes' king of Persia, was in manner put to the worse, but of .300. Lacedæmonians where he himself had with a very great multitude, he confessed himself deceived, in that he took with him many men, but few soldiers, for he perceived that it forced not so much how many there be, as how well assayed, picked, and tried they be, and it may be, that these Captains be of Xerxes' mind, they had rather bring the smaller number of chosen soldiers, than the greater company of ordinary men, as they be appointed.  Mars, 
although this excuse seemeth to be reasonable, yet for some causes it is not tolerable, but yet as thou sayest sufficient enough to purge them from any pretended deceit towards their Prince.  Aug. 
And who would suppose that any Captain would seek to deceive his soldier, on whose report hangeth the greatest part of his credit, for what greater infamy may come to a Captain, then to be defamed by his own soldiers, and such as hath served him.  
But it hath been the custom in England, as I have heard, that in the time of service in what Shire soever soldiers were levied, their Captain, was likewise appointed in the same Shire, some Gentlemen of great worship, and of fair revenues who had been able, if cause had so constrained, to have served the Prince, and rather would have spent a thousand pound amongst his soldiers, then to have sought to defraud them by any manner of means, this gave some encouragement to men, when they did know their Captain to be of countenance amongst them, 
The reputation of the Captain causeth obedience in soldiers.  it did likewise breed due obedience in soldiers, when they were in the wars, their Captain being such a one as had government amongst them, to minister justice when they were at home in the time of peace, to be brief, it caused every one to endeavour himself to use his best service, and to please his Captain, to the end that when the wars were finished, it lay yet in the Captains possibility at their return, to requited them either with good or ill according as they had deserved.  
The Captain likewise when he considered who they were that served under him, and that he remembered them to be his neighbours, and such as were dwellers about him, yea peradventure many of them his own tenants, he for his own credits sake, and to avoid defamation, would so order himself towards them, as they should have no cause to exclaim, this by report, hath been the order till now of late, and in my simple judgement it were very necessary if that manner of appointment were still observed.  Merchant 
but now thou must consider the alteration of the time, for in those days Gentlemen were as desirous to become soldiers, as they are now studious to become Lawyers: but it is now come to an other pass▪ for in the time of service there are very few, 
Note.  whose experience may serve them to take charge, but such as are partly constrained to it by need, then where the Captain is needy, and the soldier more needy, there must needs fall out some absurdity in service, and by these means the orders of service in the wars are altogether corrupted, and a great way from the ancient manners altered, whereby hath grown these sinister opinions, which maketh men to hate warlike service, and to fly the conversation of such as doth profess it.  
And as for the greatest part of such as be endued with worldly possessions, hath a further desire to follow other vain and idle devices, than they have to serve and defend their country. If they find the Prince a horse to the field, they think themselves to have been at great cost, and it is done so grudginly amongst a number of them, that they cared not if he might pass musters, if he were not able to go a mile out of town, such is their impudency as they have no reason to deserve of things appertaining to their own security.  
Did not Philip king of Macedonia, take occasion to conquer the Greeks, when he perceived them to neglect the feats of arms, giving themselves to other pleasant pastimes, and to be occupied about trifling matters, forgetting the just regard of their own defence and safeguard of their country, how many examples might here be alleged to show how dangerous it were for a Prince & his Realm, to be driven to trust to the service of strangers for lack of sufficient skilful men of their own, for their defence.  Soul. 
But how greatly are we bound to praise the goodness of the sacred Gods, through whose divine powers we now enjoy a most worthy Princes, who although during the time of her majesties reign, by her politic government, she hath still continued her country and subjects, in a most peaceable and quiet estate, yet what a zealous desire she likewise hath to have her people instructed in the knowledge of war, and to have things in a readiness appertaining to the same, may very well be perceived by her noble proceedings from time to time, to the great comfort of all true English hearts.  
Mars, Plutarch sayeth, as a wise Marryner prepareth in calm to look for a storm, so aught the mind when it is most at quiet to doubt of some tribulation: and Alexander Severus, a quiet wit and a clear understanding, taketh heed of things that are past, prudently weighing things that be present, and things that are to come: and Xeno sayeth, to see, is but a small thing, but to foresee is a token of good wit, & how many examples there be which willeth the wise in the time of peace to provide for war, were over superfluous here to be rehearsed: but forsamuch as we have used this long discourse of Captains, and that as Valerius Maximus saith, the pleasant and quiet state of blessed peace, doth rest in the bosom & custody of the knowledge of wars, I do not therefore think it a miss to recite unto thee many good instructions appertaining to the same, and because as Xeno sayeth, No man aught to be chosen for his years or riches, but for his virtues sake, I will first begin to show thee to how many virtues noble Captains have been disposed, 
To how many virtues noble Captain: have been disposed.  and because mercy and pity be two principal virtues wherewith Captains should be endued, for which cause the Lacedæmonians used before they should go to the war to make solemn sacrifice to the Muses, to the end they might by them attain aswell how to use victory gently, as of Mars to become victors manfully, I will begin with Agesilaus, that worthy King and Captain, who was wont very often to warn his soldiers, that they should not torment their prisoners, but to use them as men.  
For children taken in the war, he provided that they should be brought together into some place where they might be in safety: the same provision & care he likewise had for such as were aged or impotent persons, lest because they were not able to follow, they might be torn or devoured by wild beasts, and this humanity got him the hearts and wonderful benevolence even of his enemies.  
King Demytrius was of such exceeding clemency, that when he had reconquered the Athenians, which seditiously had shrunk from him, and perceiving that they were nigh famished for want of Corn, he calling them together in an open assembly, granted them freely a great quantity of Corn, and as he fortuned in his speaking to pronounce a certain word amiss, one of the assembly interrupting him in his speaking and showed him how to pronounce that word aright, truly quoth he, for this correction, I grant you other .50000. busshells.  
Tigranes' king of Armenia being taken by Pompey throwing down his Crown & kneeling at his feet, was taken up by that noble Captain being moved with his submission, was restored again to his former dignity, saying, it better pleased him to make a King, then to destroy a King.  
Augustus when he conquered Alexandria, being moved with pity, in the sight of the Citizens which hoped of nothing more than death, said, for the beauty of your city, for the memory of Alexander, for the love I bear to Pryus your Philosopher, and for the pity I bear to you all, I spare to you your lives and City.  
Metellus besieging the great City Centobryca, when the bulwarks were broken, the walls ready to fall, and victory even at hand, that the women of the town brought forth their children in their arms, craving mercy at Metellus hands. Who although the victory & conquest were even at a point, yet was himself conquered by their pitiful requests, and thus removed his siege.  
Alexander being out in warfare, the winter time sitting by the fire, and perceiving a soldier almost dead for cold, made him sit in his own place saying, if thou hadst been borne in Persia it had been treason for thee to sit in the King's seat: but to him that is borne in Macedonia it is lawful.  
another time when he was in the wars in Persia, meeting an old man by the way in ragged and rend clotheses, alighted from his horse, and caused the poor man to mount up in his room.  
another virtue wherewith a captain should be endued, is continency, for th' 〈…〉 which that noble Captain Scipio wa● greatly to be praised, who being in Spain▪ a virgin of excellent beauty, and also o● noble parentage, which ravished all men● eyes, being brought unto him, he delivered her to Luceius, to whom she was espoused, and likewise gave unto him for a dowry, the gold that her parents had brought to redeem her, by the which magnificence, the whole nation of Spain was overcome, & submitted themselves to the Roman Empire.  
The same Scipio triumphing like a valiant victor after the winning of Carthage and that Numantia a noble young virgin, that for her passing beauty and great admiration of person, was presented unto him as a rare gift, Scipio a long time amazed at her sight, yet thinking with himself how unfitly it would fall out, for a noble conqueror, to be conquered by a woman▪ he himself brought her home to her father, to Campania, saying: Were it not that I am a conqueror, I had not been able to have brought home thy daughter. Alexander Magnus, with so great continency regarded a virgin taken in war of excellent beauty, and for as much as she was espoused unto a Prince of the next nation, he would not once behold her face, sending her forthwith unto her spouse, by the which benefit he alured and won the hearts of all the nation: the like humanity, he also used toward the wife of king Darius, whose beauty at that time of all other did excel.  
The examples of justice hath likewise been much beneficial to noble Captains, and hath sometime made more with them to subdue their enemies, them force of arms, as when Camillus had besieged the Phalisciens, the schoolmaster under pretence to walk abroad, brought the Phalisciens children without the walls, and delivered them to Camillus, and said, the city must needs grant to all thy request, to attain again those so dear hostages: Camillus who abhorred to see his falsehood, having regard to his own fame and renown, caused his hands to be bound behind him, delivering him to the children with rods, to drive him home to the town, by which benefit he attained his desire, and the Phalisciens for his justice, willingly yielded themselves.  
King Pyrrhus' physician came unto Fabricius, captain of the Romans, & promised to poison Pyrrhus, so that he would give him a reward worthy of so great an enterprise, Fabricius thinking he had no need to purchase his victory so wickedly, detected the Physician to the king, which faithful act compelled Pyrrhus, to seek the romans friendship.  
The Emperor Augustus Caesar, building places of defence in the coasts of France, commanded that the wood should be paid for, wherewith he made his leases, and that the rent should be truly paid, for the fruits of all those places which he had enclosed with his trench, by mean whereof he got such a name of justice, that he made more easier, the conquest of the same province.  
Covetousness hath been ever abhorred of noble Captains, as may appear by many examples, for when Cineus the Ambassador of the Epirotiens▪ brought unto Fabricius a great sum of gold for to present, he would none of it, saying, that he would rather rule them that had gold, then have it himself.  
julius Caesar having all the substance & treasure of Pompey brought before him, took nothing from his soldiers but Pompey's Letters.  
Alexander when he had conquered Darius having a great Chest of treasure, to the value of 200000. li. besides other jewels of inestimable value, would take nothing but a little book named the Iliads of Homer.  
After the L. Mummius had taken Corinth and had not only adorned Italy, but also all the province with rich tables and costly Images, he of so great spoils took so little to his own use, that the Senate was fain for very need to give dowry to his daughter of the common treasures.  
After that Lu. Scipio had accomplished his worthy enterprises & noble feats, in Spain, he deceased in great poverty, and left not behind him so much money as should suffice for the dowry of his daughters, to whom for very needs the Senate was feign to give a dowry of the common treasure.  
Nicostratus a Captain, being required by Archidamus that▪ if he would not deliver Cromnus he would not only give him a huge mass of money, but also the fairest Lady that was to be found amongst the Lacedæmonians to wife: who answered that Archidamus was nothing like to Hercules, for he went about the world to destroy those that were evil, but contrary, the other those that were good.  
When Decius Brutus made war into Spain, and had subdued all Lucitania except one City called Cinania, and demanding of the citizens what money they would give to be at peace, who answered our ancestors left us sword to defend, and not money to redeem, from so covetous a Captain as thou showest thyself to be.  
Many times when Captains hath been rigoriously bend, yet perceiving the parties to be wise, have changed their fury into linitie, which hath redounded to their great commendation, as when Cirus having taken Croesus' commanding forthwith to be burnt, who going to the fire cried out with a very lamentable voice saying: O Solon Solon, King Cirus wondering at these words, and what they should mean, bad one of his servants ask him the cause that with so great sorrow, he cried and named Solon, them Croesus' drawing a great sigh answered in this wise: Solon sometime amongst the Athenians was a veri wise man, unto whom I once when he was with me, did show unto him all my power and treasures, which done, I asked him whether he thought that ever any adversity or misfortune, might hap unto me, being fenced with such power and riches, against all chances of fortune, or force of enemies. But to this answered Solon, rebuking me for my secure and careless mind, and said, no man in this world, (O King Croesus,) is so happy and fortunate in this life, that he can be called thoroughly in every part blessed, before he die, neither is there any man I answer thee, be he never so mighty, but some adversity may chance unto him, and overthrow him, or he be ware, but at that time trusting recklessly (alas) upon my happy luck, and suckcesse of things, despised his words, neither could I fear this so exceeding a fall as now I find: wherefore because first I understood the sentence of Solon, now before my death I named him, and I do wish all men in prosperity, not to be unmindful of misfortunes and calamities, that may chance, jest they become over haughty of their present felicity, & greedy to attempt things heddily, that by occasion may be their utter confusion.  
These things when Cirus the King had hard, he was not a little touched with pity and clemency towards him and said, he would not hereafter show himself to hard upon Croesus, which was sometime a right mighty King, for he remembered that he himself was also a man, and that it might chance him to have need of other men's aid and mercy, after that he commanded Croesus to be brought unto him, whom he entertained like a noble Prince, and used his advise and counsel, in all his affairs, and procedings.  
Porus a King being vanquished by Alexander in the field, Alexander asked of him how shall I entreat thee Porus, who answered Kingly again, Alexander demanded if he required any thing else, altogether quoth. Porus is comprised in this word, Kingly. Alexander marveling both at the wisdom and at the noble stomach of the man, enlarged hid dominions over that they were before.  
When a certain judian which was noised to be so cunning an Archer, that he could shout thorough a Ring▪ and was taken prisoner and brought to Alexander▪ who willing him to make a proof of his cunning before him, which thing he refused to do, the King there with being very angry, commanded he should be put to death: as he was led away, he said to such as led him, that he had not used his feat of shouting many days, and therefore feared lest he should have failed, when Alexander was informed hereof, that be 〈…〉 sed not for spite, but rather for fear of disworship wondering at this man's mind so desirous of glory, which rather desired to die, then to have lost his fame and renown, he let him go, not with out a great reward.  
What time Philip King of Macedonia, had an Army lying at Cheronia, Diogenus coming thither, anon was taken by the Soldiers and brought to the King, who angrily cried out, a spy a spy, to whom Diogenus forthwith answered, in deed Philip I am a spy, and am come hither to espy thy madness, which not being contented with the Realm of Macedonia, by the encroaching of other men's Realms, puttest thyself in danger to loose both thine own kingdom, and also thy life: the King wondering at the man's frank speech, and bold language, commanded he should be let go without any hurt to be used toward him.  
Although there be many other examples, which could not be prejudicial for Captains to note, & to have in remembrance, yet here I let them pass, remembering thee but with this one example of Fabius Maximus, he having certain of his Soldiers taken by Hannibal, sent to the Senators for money to redeem them, his suit being denied, commanded his son to go strait to Rome, to cell all the lands and living which he then possessed without the City, and to bring him money, wherewith he redeemed his Soldiers, and brought them frank & free to Rome saying, he had rather want patrimony in his country, then love to his country men. And now having something showed how a Captain of himself should be addicted, which as L. Paulus saith, should be to be aged, and aunsient in manners.  
Now it followeth how a Captain aught to train and practise his Soldiers, and although I know experimented Captains, 
How Captains should instruct their Soldiers.  need no such instructions, yet for thee, or other, that be young Soldiers, it can not be hurtful.  
A Captain aught first to teach his Soldiers, how to keep the order of array, and to instruct them, that they may know how to march, to learn them to understand the sounds of Drums, and trumpets, whereby they are commanded what they aught to do, and because it chanceth of ordinary, that when men be ready to join in fight, they come to gether with great shouts and rumour, by reason whereof the commandments of the Captains, may not many times be hard, nor understand: it is therefore requisite to make them to obey to signs, as by casting his arms a broad, when he would have them to march wider, by bringing his arms to gether, when he would have them to march close, by holding up his hand, when he would have them to stand still, by turning himself towards them, if he would have them turn, and thus to instruct them how the fight is begun, how they should retire, and being overthrown, who should sucséede in their places, and thus to make them practised which more availeth then strength and multitude, as may appear by Marius, who being at his liberty to choose one of the best Armies he would, either that which had been with Metellus, or that which had been Rutilius, he chose the least which was Rutilius Army, because it was thought to be the better trained.  
Epaminondas Captain of the Thebians with 4000 trained men, overcame the Host of the Lacedæmonians, in which was 24. M. footmen, and 16. hundred horsemen. 14. M. greeks, which number came to help Cirus against Artaxerxes overcame in battle .1. C.M. Barberouse Aliens.  
Therefore I say that Captains should use great diligence in the training of their men, considering that an Army is not to be chosen for the multitude, or because in the same be hardy men, but because they be well trained, and in their orders well appointed: thus having practised his men ready for to fight, it should be well done then, if time or place might serve, to bring them to some light, skirmish with their enemies for their better encouragement, and to make than know the better what to do: but yet as near as they may, to choose such a place as their small experience may not be hurtful unto them.  
But here omitting to speak of skirmishes, because they be diversly used, and upon sundry occasions procured.  
I will show thee now, what observations were used by such as were noble Captains, before they would attempt to proceed in battle, and by what inventions they have escaped, when they have been dangerously beset, and how by many devices they have attained divers noble victories. etc.  
And first to speak of their opinions, concerning to join in battle, it was a general use, amongst such as were the best approved Soldiers, never to bring their men to fight, except they had advantage, or else brought to it by constraint.  
The advantage groweth as well by the situation of the place, as by order, or having of more and better men.  
The necessity groweth when they shall perceive by deferring of battle, it must needs fall out to their great discommodity, as when famishment were ready to assail them, or when the enemy looketh for some new supply, or such like, in these causes it were to attempt Fortune where she may favour, rather than by deferring, to see their certain rewine.  
Vygesius' counsel is, never to bring an Army to fight, except they hope to have the victory, for what greater sign is there to loose, than not to believe to be able to win, wherefore to encourage Soldiers to fight, their hath been sundry practices.  

Examples of encouragement.  L. Sylla, in the wars against Archelaus Mithridates léefetenaunt at Pirea, perceiving his Soldiers had little courage to fight, he so wearied them with continual labour, that they were glad to desire to fight, that the wars might be finished.  
Cyrus' king of Persia, minding to concitate the minds of his people, to weary & anger them, with painful labour, held them all one day at work and utterly tired them, in hewing up a certain Wood, on the morrow after he made for them a very plentitious feast, demanding in the feast time which day liked them best, and when they all allowed the pastime of the day present, and yet (quoth he) this pleasure must be obtained by the other days pain, for except you first overcome the Medes, ye can never live in freedom and at pleasure, whereby they took great courage to fight.  
Q. Fabius, who knew very well the romans to be of so liberal and honest nature, that by dispightful and contumelious dealings, they would be soon moved, vexed and grieved, looking also for no right nor equal dealings of the Percians, who were his enemies, sent unto Carthage ambassadors to entreat of peace, which was consented unto, upon certain conditions, which when they were brought and perceived to be unreasonable, and full of pride, the romans army was straight stirred and encouraged to fight.  
When Agesilaus had pight his field, not far from Orchomeno, a City that was in league with him, and perceived that many of the Army had their treasure & chief riches in the Camp, he commanded the towns men to receive nothing into the Town belonging to his Army, to the intent his Soldiers might fight the more fiercely, knowing they should fight both for their lives and goods.  
Fabius Maximus fearing that his Host would not continued the fight manfully, by reason they might quickly fly to their Ships, commanded they should be set on fire before he would begin the battle.  
When Agesilaus had taken certain of the Persians, whose aport was very terrible as long as their clotheses were on, he striped them stark naked, showing their effeminate bodies to his Soldiers, to the end they might despise them.  
Gelo. the Tyrant of Siracuse, entering war against the Percians, after that he had taken many of them, brought forth the weakest, and most uncomely persons naked, in the sight of all his Army, to persuade them that they were but wretches, and men worthy to be despised.  
Some have constrained their men to fight through necessity, taking away from them all manner of hope, of saving themselves, unless they did overcome.  
Shame hath sometime constrained Soldiers to fight again afresh, that have been ready to have given over.  
As when M. Furius Camillus beholding his Army to stagger, and stand at a stay, caught violently the Standard bearer, and drew him with his hands upon his enemies, when very shame made the rest to follow.  
Likewise L. Silla when the Legions recoiled & gave place unto Mithridates' Host, led by Archelaus with his Sword drawn, ran forth into the forward, and called to his Soldiers and said, if any man inquire of you, where you left your Captain, answer fight in Boetia, for shame whereof, they followed him.  
But yet the greatest encouragement that may be used, is by persuasion, for that effect of speaking to him that hath knowledge to persuade or dissuade, prevaileth more than any other thing, to kindle the minds and human passions of a man, it taketh away fear, it increaseth obstinateness to fight, it discovereth deceits, promiseth rewards, showeth the perils, & the way to avoid them, it reprehendeth, prayeth, threateneth, it encourageth the minds and filleth full either of hope or else despair, as might apere by Epaminondas, who being ready to enter battle with the Lacedæmonians, to the end, that the strengths of his Soldiers might be holpen with some fervent affection, he pronounced in his Exortation, that the Lacedæmonians had determined, if they got the victory to slay all their men, to make their wives and children bond for ever, and to beaten down the City of Thebes flat to the ground, with which words, the Thebians were so moved and aggrieved, that at the first brunt, they overcame the Lacedæmonians.  

Note  It is likewise much requisite for Captains to know the disposition of the Captain of the enemies, whether he be rash, or politic, whether he be fearful or hardy, whether he be more puissant with footmen or with Horsemen, whether he will assail thee in the Evening or in the Morning, and so to provide for themselves.  
When Hannibal did perceive that Fuluius the Roman Captain was negligent, and that he attempted many things unadvisedly, in the dawning of the day the mist being somewhat thick, and the Air much obscured, he made a few of his soldiers to show themselves to those that kept watch in the romans Tents, while Fuluius addressed him thetherward with his Host. Hannibal on the otherside invaded his Camp, and so broke out in the back of the romans, and slew their Captain, with viii. M. of their valiant men of Arms.  
Alewred King of Britain when the Danes were entered his Realm, of purpose to understand their orders, put himself in the habit of a minstrel, & by these means, he came into their Camp, whereby he took occasion to give them a great overthrow.  
When Iphicrates of Athens, had knowledge that his enemies did eat at one certain time of the day, he commanded that his men should take their repast somewhat more timely, then ranging forth in battle at the same instant that his enemies should have fallen to their victuals, he so delayed them, that he neither would give them battle, nor yet suffer them to departed, when it drew towards night, he recoiled back again, but yet keeping his men still in their Harnise: but his enemies being wearied not only with long standing, but also with long fasting, made haste to refresh themselves, and to take their repast. Iphicrates again, brought forth his Army, and set upon his enemies, whom he found all unready, and out of order.  
It behoveth a Captain in some causes as much as in him lieth, 
Policy in Captains for some causes to forbear to fight.  to abstain from fight, that is, when either famishment or other natural necessities, hath brought the enemy into some utter desperation, which caused the Lacedæmonians being certified by their spies, that the Messenians were set on such a rage as they came to battle with their wives and children, which caused the Lacedæmonians to defer the fight.  
Likewise when caesar in the civil war, had enclosed the Host of Affranius and Petriens, within a Trench that they were pined with thirst: insomuch that they become desperate, destroying all that would withstand them, or proffered with them to fight, which caesar perceiving; kept in his men, supposing it not meet time then to begin.  
But now to show upon how many occasions noble victories have been attained, it would ask to long discourse considering they be so infinite, yet for that many times it hath been found to be of great importance during the time of fight, to spread certain rumours, 
How many victories have been obtained.  affirming the Captain of the enemies to have been slain, or to have overcome, on the other side of the Army or such like I will not forget: considering it hath been the cause of many victories to such as hath used it.  
jugurth in the battle against C. Marius by the same policy made the romans to recoil, so did Mironides of Athens against the Thebians, whereby he got the victory.  
When Valerius Levinus fought against Pyrrhus and had killed a rascal Soldier, he held up his Sword all bloody, and made both the Hosts believe that he had killed King Pyrrhus, wherefore his enemies supposing themselves to be destitute by the death of their Captain, all abashed with that lie, gave over the fight. When Claudius the Emperor of Rome, came to recover tribute of Gwider, King of Britain, who in the stead of tribute gave unto him strong and forcible battle, Hamo a Roman Captain, Arming himself, in a Britain's Armour, by means whereof, he came where Gwider the King was, and flew him, which being perceived by Arviragus the kings brother, took on him the kings Cognoscaunce, and thus being taken for the King, continued the fight, whereby he obtained the victory against the romans.  
When a barbarous Alien in battle, had brought word to Q. Sextorius that Herculeius was slain, he strait slew him with his dagger, lest he should have borne those news any farther, & discouraged the Army.  
One special regard aught to be had amongst Captains, when they be in fight, which is not to bring the enemy into any extreme desperation, or so to enclose them, that despair should 'cause them to fight, which caused Hannibal, 
Not good to bring the enemy into desperation.  when he had enclosed the Germans at Trasimenus, by which constraint they fought exceeding fiercely to open his Army, and to make them away to get out, beating them down as they fled, without any loss of his own men.  
The like used, L. Marcius a Roman Knight, when he had enclosed the Carthaginemces and so did Agesilans with the Thebans.  
When Themistocles had vanqished the power of Xerxes, he would in no wise agree, that the Bridge should be broken, over the which they should return saying, it were better to drive them out of Europa, then to enforce them to fight in despair.  
captains should have regard with what order they follow, for he that with his people disparted pursueth his enemies, 
What regard should be used in the pursuit.  may hope to give his enemies the victory, as appeareth by Q. Fabius Maximus Consul, being sent to secure the Sutrines against the Hetrusciens, so ordered the matter, that when the whole power of his enemies set against him, then dissembling as he feared them, and as though he fled, got the higher ground, the other following him out of order, were by him not only vanquished, but also bereaved of their Campe.  
The like respect aught to be used, 
What diligence should be used after a victory obtained.  by such as should fortune to be Conquerors, and not through affiance of their victory, to leave themselves disordered, lest it might happen unto them, as happened to the Percians, for when T. Martius a Roman Knight being governor of the residue of the Host that remained after the death of the two Scipyons, perceived that the two Hosts of the Percians lay at hand, not many miles a sunder, he encouraged his Soldiers to set upon the Host that lay next him, at midnight, being careless and out of order through affiance of their victory, & flew them, leaving not so much as a messenger to bear tidings of the miserable mischance, and then giving his Soldiers a little space to rest them, the same night with all speed preventing the fame of any thing done, invaded the other Army, and thus twice in one night enjoyed like chance of battle, and every where destroying the Percians, he restored Spain again to the romans.  
And now for the better safety of the pursued, 
Examples of such as hath been pursued.  & to 'cause such as follow to slack their pursuit, Triphon King of Syria used this mean to scatter money by the way as he fled, which so hindered Antiochus Horsemen that pursued him, that he thereby escaped. When the gauls should fight with Attalus, they delivered all their Gold and Silver to be kept of certain men that might scatter it abroad, if it happened them to be put to flight, to the intent they might the more easily escape their enemies, being let with the gathering up of the pray.  
When Q. Sertorius was put to flight of Quintius Metellus Pius, he supposed not a thing sure enough only to flee, but also warned his Soldiers to disparte themselves divers ways, and told them whither he would have them resort. Some hath used to prevent the worst to begin the fight, a little before night, to the end that if they were overthrown they might yet through the darkness of the night the better escape away.  
Though many other matters might hear have been expressed, yet I omit them, and will something show thee how carefully the discipline of war hath been continued, and how precise the antiquity hath been in punishing those that hath broken their prescribed orders, or hath proceeded any farther than they have been limited.  
Papirius Cursor being dictator, 
Examples of discipline.  required that Fabius Rutilius Master of the Horsemen should be beaten with rods & beheaded, because he fought against his commandment, notwithstanding he had the upper hand neither would he forgive the punishment for the contention or intercession and request of the Soldiers, and fleeing to Rome pursued him, neither would he there remit the dreadful punishment, until that Fabius and his father fell down on their knees, and that also the Senate and people made intercession for him.  
Manlius caused his son which against his commandment had encountered with his enemy that challenged him though he got the victory to be beaten with rods, and have his head stricken of.  
The Romans punished with death him that lacked in the watch, he that forsook the place that was given him to fight, he that carried any thing hid out of the Camp, if any man should say he had done some worthy thing in fight and had not done it, if any for fear, had cast away his weapon, and when it happened that a Legion had committed the like fault because they would not put all to death, yet their names were taken and put to gether in a bag, and so by lot they drew out the tenth person, and put those to death.  
When Marcus Cato after a token given, had loosed from the Coast of his enemies where he had lain a certain space, & saw one of his Soldiers left on the Shore, crying, calling, and beckoning to be taken in, he cast about with all his Navy to the shore again, and commanded the same Soldier to be taken and strait put to death, willing rather to make him an example to the other, then that he should be slain by his enemies, with reproach and infamy.  
Alexander of Lacedemonia corrected a certain man, 
A necessary example for English Soldiers  because he strayed from his company, and when the man said he strayed not from the Army to rob or steal any thing, he answered, I will that thou show no likelihood of robbery. A very good lesson to be learned, aswell of English Captains, as also of English Soldiers, but inspeciallye of these new levied bands which are no sooner two miles from home, but fall presently to robbing, spoiling, and evil entreating their own Country men, to shameful to be suffered, and to much to be borne withal, whether this that I say be true or not, I stand to the report of such as hath dwelt in their way, where they have had occasion to travail▪ but the greatest fault of this, is to be imputed to the Captain, who hath so little care that he will suffer it, or so simple government that he will not amend it, but such Captains are meet to govern such Soldiers, when Hannibal should pass a long journey by land, he caused his soldiers sword to be sealed up in their Scabardes, to the end the● should use no disorder by the way. The Army which was led by M. Scaurus was of such abstinence that it is left in memory, 
An example worthy to be remembered.  how the Appell Tree which was enclosed at the foot of the Camp, in the morning when the Host removed, was left standing without touching of the fruit.  

What diligence should be used when Captains march through unknown places.  There resteth now to show thee, what diligence Captains should use when they have occasion to march through unknown places, wherein with out great foresight, he is in more peril than when he is in fight, wherefore Alexander used to have such places described in mapes which should be hanged in the Camp for all men to behold, whereby they might learn to know the places, the distances, the ways, the Hills, the Rivers, the Fens, and all the qualities of them, but inspecially where the country is woody or hilly, Captains aught to beware of ambushes, which being not foreseen may quickly overthrow them.  
Ambushes have many times been discovered by the raising of great dust, or when Doves or other Byrdds hath been seen to sly about in flocks turning to and fro, and hath not seemed to light, in these respects there aught to be wise scouts to see and view the Country clear.  
And as they may enter into these dangers by marching unawares, so may they likewise by craft of the enemy be trained into them, as were the Fideniens by Romulus, who laying a part of his Army in secret, ambushment approached unto them, from whom he feigning himself to fly, brought them hastily again pursuing him where his Ambushmentes lay, who assailing them on every side easily slew them. They aught therefore to take heed and not straight way to believe those things which are nothing reasonable, and that they are not as they import. Some to entrap their enemies hath set before them a pray, if many of the one side be driven away by a few of the other, or if a few on the one side assaught many of the other, or if some sudden flight should be made, not standing with reason, let them in these causes take heed and judge the worst, so shall they be sure to be the less beguiled.  

By what means many hath passed Rivers or strayghts.  To pass Rivers or straights, there hath been divers means used, some to pass Rivers have cut out a Trench like a rainbow, filling it full of Wood, and setting it on fire, by these means have passed.  
This policy was used by Q. Sextorius in Spain, likewise by Pelopidas a Thebian, against the Thessalonians.  
When Croesus might not wade over the River Halis, neither yet could make Boat nor Bridge, he cast a ditch behind his Army, and so turned the course an other way.  
caesar being in France and having to pass a river, and his passage being letted by the enemy on the other side, who were still ready to receive him, marched many days along the river, and the like did the enemy, wherefore caesar encamping in a woody place fit to hide men, he took out of every Legion three Cowards and made them to tarry in the same place, commanding them that so soon as he was departed they should cast over a bridge and fortify it, and he with his other men kept on his way, but when he supposed the Bridge was ready, he returned passing the river without any great let.  
When Pericles of Athens, being driven by them of Peloponesus into a place environed with steep Hills, where was but two ways to escape out, before the one way where he intended to get out, he caused a ditch to be cast of great breadeth, under pretence to shut out his enemies, and to the other side he led his Host, as though he would there have broken forth, wherefore his enemies believing he might in no wise escape that way where he himself had cast the ditch, withstood him with all their power, on the other side, than did Pericles cast Bridges prepared for the nonce, over the ditch, & that way conveyed out his Army, where there was no man to let him. When Spartacus was enclosed by L. Varinus Proconsul, he pitched up stakes here and there, before the entering of his Camp, and set thereon dead carcases clad & harnessed like men, to make a show unto them that were far of, that watch and ward, was diligently kept, leaving also fierce in every quarter of the Camp, under the which deceitful colour he deceived his enemies, and conveyed away his Host by night.  
Darius to deceive the Scythes at his departing, left Dogs and Asses in his Tents, whose barking and braying the enemies hearing, thought Darius to be there still.  
With the like error the Genoese blinded the Romans.  

Of such as hath been invaded.  And now to speak something of such as hath been invaded, some hath sent their own men with their enemies Aunsyentes to spoil and burn their own Country, whereby the enemy believing them to be some of their own company, or some that were come in their aid, running forth with out respect, hath been thereby made a prey.  
By this means Alexander having a company of Epirotes against them the Illiriens, sent forth certain of his men in the Illiriens apparel giving them commandment to waste and destroy his own country, Epirus the which when the Illiriens espied, they now careless began to run forth on every side to pillage, and thus they were enticed & brought into dangerous places where many of them were slain, and the rest put to flight.  
Some have suffered the enemy to take many Towns, to the intent that by putting in the same Garrisons he might by that means diminish his power and be made weak, and then by assaughting them they have overcome them.  
Where Soldiers hath been found to be fugitive or to run to the enemy, 
Where Soldiers hath been fugitive.  I think there may be no better mean then that used by Hannibal, who knowing certain of his men to be fled the night before, & witted well that the enemies spies were in his Camp, he pronounced openly that those runagates were gone by his commandment to hearken and spy what his enemies pretended, this being known to the Romans spies, returned & told these news to their company, whereupon these runaways were taken and their hands cut of, and thus they were sent again to Hannibal. When Hanno Captain of Carthage in Cicilia understood that gauls which he had hired about 4000 would leave him and go to the Romans: because they were behind unpaid for certain months wages, and durst not punish them for fear of sedition, but promised very liberally to recompense the injury they had by prolonging the time, which something appeased them, and at convenient he sent his most trusty Steward to Otacilius consul, feigning as though he had fled away for a controversy between his Captain and him, in a certain count making, and showed him the next night he might take at advantage 4000 Galleys which should be sent to get pray & pillage, Otacilius neither giving credit by and by to the runaway, neither yet thought it a matter to be despised, laid an ambushment for them of the most piked men that he had, which encountering with the Galleys, satisfied the drift of Hanno double, they slew many of the romans, & were themselves all slain.  

What circumspection should be used for fear of spies.  Noble Captains hath used great circumspection in their affairs, for being prevented with spies, wherefore above all things it behoveth him to be secret.  
One demanded of Metellus pius, being in Spain, what he was minded to do the day following, who answered, if I witted the shirt on my back did know it, I would surely burn it.  
When one asked Lucinius Crassus what time he would remove his Army, he answered, art thou afeard thou shalt not know that by the Drum.  
But forasmuch as in all this time, there hath yet been nothing said appertaining to thee besieged: I will therefore show thee something what respects they aught to have, and so will end.  
To show thee what provision of victual, 
what regard should be observed by the besieged.  Artillery, shot Powder, and such other firnitures they aught to be provided of, were but in vain here to make rehearsal, considering they be things that every man understandeth, and is requisite to be provided before the siege doth come.  
I think it should as little need to advertise them to beware of treasons, for those examples are likewise as general.  
But this aught to be had in regard amongst them, that the enemy take no commodity of their cattle, victual, hay, straw, or any other provision in the Country near about them, for these things aught rather to be destroyed, than to be left as provisions wherewithal to serve the enemy  
The besieged aught to have a special care to have good watch to be kept, yea even in those places where they think they may take lest hurt, for many Towns have been lost when the enemy hath assaulted it, on that part which the besieged hath thought to be invincible.  
By this policy Fabius Maximus won the City Arpos, by the same means Marius in the war against jugurth obtained a castle.  
Let them likewise take heed for being drawn out of the Town by any devise, as if the enemy feigneth to fly, or to make some other staall, for by these means many hath been deceived.  
Hannibal by these means obtained the City Hymera Himilco of Carthage, at Agrigentum laid privily in wait near to the Town, part of his Army, and commanded that when the towns men were issued out a good way of, they should set green wood on fire, and in the morning very early with the other part of his Army he wen● to entice out his enemies, and making a● though he fled reculing back, drew the● a good way from the City, than they tha● lay in ambushment near the walls as the● were commanded, set the green Wood on fire, the Agrigentives beholding the smother, rise up, supposed verily their City had been on a fire, thus fearfully running back to defend it, they were encountered by those that had lain in ambushment, and thus between them and the other which pursued they were discomfited and slain.  
The besieged are sometimes beguiled by signifying unto them some victory gotten, as did Pelopidas of Thebes, who pursuing to conquer two Towns at one instant of the Magnecians and which stood not far a sunder, he commanded that four Knights should come from the one siege to the other, with Garlands on their heads, as though they brought tidings of victory, and to help forth this dissimulation he ordained that a Wood which stood between both the Towns should be set on fire to make a show as though the Town had burnt, besides that he caused certain men to be brought as prisoners in Towns men's apparel, by which assurance he so amazed the besieged, that they thinking themselves half overcome, yielded up.  
There be many other practices wherewith the besieged hath been beguiled, 
Many devices where by the besieged hath been deceived.  some time when it hath been known to the enemy, that there should come aid to assist them, have therefore apparelled their Soldiers under the aunsients of those that should come, and thus have deceived them.  
Sometime by taking of those that have gone aforaging sending others in their apparel: Sometime by sending Soldiers under the colour of market men, driving beasts laden with trash.  
Sometime by turning from them their water, or else by poisoning of the same, as did Clisthenes of Cition, the water that served the town of Criseans.  
Sometime when a Captain hath found a City to be strong have therefore conquered round about it, all the Towns and castles of purpose, to sand in abundance of people to the same City which they desired, and by these means have spent their victuals, when famishment hath caused them to yield.  
Sometime when Towns have been well replenished with men, which being known to the enemy that came to besiege it, have turned to other places, and by these means have brought about, that the towns men on trust that their chief city was strong enough, have emptied themselves to defend others, whereby it hath been made easy to be won.  
Fabius Maximus, wasting and destroying the country of Campania, to the end he would leave his enemies as bore as might be, he departed from them in the seed time to the intent they might sow the residue of their Corn, and when it was sprung up, he returned and trod it to nought, and thus by famyn got them to yield.  
Thus I have briefly showed thee such sleights as hath been used by the noblest Captains, the knowledge whereof would not a little nourish the imaginations of such as should peruse them, there resteth now to show thee certain general rules, which are no less worthy to be noted, then profitable to be followed, and thus they begin.  
That whatsoever is profitable to thee, 
Certain general rules.  is hurtful to thy enemy, and that which helpeth him, hindereth thee.  
He that in war most laboureth and exerciseth his Soldiers in warlike travails shall always sustain jest peril, and soonest hope of victory.  
Those counsels are best which the enemy knoweth nothing of, till they be executed.  
Occasion or sudden hope in battle helpeth more, than virtue or strength.  
To know in war how to take occasion, helpeth more than any other thing.  
Never conduct Soldiers to fight the field, till their minds be settled.  
The greatest part of prudent Captains rather receive the violence of the enemy, then to go with violence to assaught.  
It is hard to overcome him that can truly judge his own strength, and what power his enemy is of.  
A few men well practised, more availeth, then great numbers unperfect.  
The well chosen place doth sometime more avail, than valiance or strength.  
He that with disorder followeth his enemy unwisely, may of a conqueror, become sometimes a loser.  
He which is unprovided of necessary victual, is overcome with out weapon.  
He that asseyeth more in his horsemen then in his footmen, or in his footmen more than in his horsemen, must choose his ground there after.  
If thou thinkest thy counsel to be known to thy enemies, it standeth thee in hand to change thy pretence.  
Consult with many what thou oughtest to do, but what thou myndest to execute, keep secret to thyself.  
Good Captains never fight the field, except they be driven unto it by sudden hap, or great need.  
The greatest policy is to grieve thy enemy rather with hunger then with weapon.  
It is necessary that Captains be well furnished with three kinds of trusty people, that is to say, spies, scouts, & guides, there trusty service bringeth good assurance to an Army, the lack of them is great hindrance to invasion.  
Learn what may prevent thy enemy and profit thyself.  
captains aught rather to say with pity this I can do, then with tyranny this I will do.  
To use victory gently is more famous, then to conquer cruelly.  
The hardy courage, liberal heart, and good persuasion, maketh a Soldier more profitable to the battle in the day of fight, than the coward Captain foolish and unthankful, with multitudes of treasure.  
Though many other matters might here have been expressed, yet thus much at this instant, touching captains shall suffice.  Soul. 
The goodness of thy godhead doth so graciously abound, that it maketh me persever in demanding, being not afraid to be reputed presumptuous, and because it hath pleased thee of thy own benevolence, thus thoroughly to instruct me in the knowledge of martial feats, and the service in the wars on the land, yet forasmuch as the knowledge of the service at the Sea hath ever likewise been accounted a most honourable service, but in specially with us in England, considering the greatest part of our defence, doth something consist in the knowledge of the same, that it would therefore please thee to inform me likewise in some thing appertaining to that noble service, and of what government Captains should be, that aught to take such charge in hand.  Merchant 
Touching the noble service at the Sea, it were much better for me to be silent rather then in speaking, that I should seem to speak to little, the which of necessity I should be constrained, or else to speak to small effect, considering that neither by word there may be expressed, neither with pen there may be prescribed any certain derection that might greatly profit the skillest man, for the knowledge of that service is not to be attained, 
Service at the Sea not to learned but by serving on the Sea.  but only by serving on the sea, and it behoveth such as should be Captains, or to take charge that way, to have some skill in Mariners Art, the which at the shore is not to be come by.  Soul. 
And yet I have known some which I am well assured, came never at the Sea, that hath been able to discourse of Navigation in a more perfect manner, than a great number of those that be accounted for skilful Masters.  Merchant 
And yet those perfect talkers should be found as ignorant to execute their own prescriptions, if they were brought unto the Sea, as thou showest thyself to be deceived in my meaning, to answer me thus in a clean contrary matter, for it forceth not so much in a man of war to have knowledge in the Art of Navigation, as to be well experimented in many other causes, but because the variation of thy answer falleth out so fit, to talk of masters skill, I will show thee therefore how the Masters should be chosen, whereby thou mayest the better perceive the meaning of my former words. first thou must understand there are, as they be termed, two sorts of Mariners, in whom there is likewise found, two sundry skylls, that is, Art in the one, experience in the other, than first to speak of the artificial Navigator, who best deserveth the greatest commendation, be such as use to travail to far and unknown countries, who saileth altogether by the use of his instruments, who knoweth by the elevation of the Pools, by the Altitude of the sun, the place where they never came in before, with many other things, which to the unlearned, might seem very strange, and the perfect manner of this Art is in deed to be learned by him, that never came at the Sea, yet not to be executed but by him that hath experience withal.  
The second sort be those that be commonly called Coasters, and be such as hath little skill in the use of Instruments, but their help is only by knowing of the Land where they happen to fall, or else sometime by sounding of the Depth, or by knowing what ground they have under them in the place where they sound, & such other like, as experience hath taught them, so that where there is occasion of service at the Sea, there must respect be had to the place when the service should be done, and thereafter to make the choice of the Master.  
But forasmuch as English men are not greatly troubled with Wars, on the Sea, but only upon their own Coasts, the last sort of Mariners are therefore thought most requisite to be appointed for Masters, the reason is, because England is environed with Holland, Sealand, and France, on the one side, and with Ireland on the other side, and the distance of the Chanyell is so narrow between Land and Land, that it is a great chance that a Ship being between either of these places, should not once within xxiiii. hours fall, either with the one, or with the other, and then the perfect coaster that can rightly deserve to make & know the land, is for many occasions the meetest man to serve in these afayres: and because the masters charge is especially to keep the Ship in good security when storms and tempests happen to fall, considering there is here no Sea room to try it out, but must seek some place to herbour themselves, as wind & weather will give them leave, I have therefore briefly showed how to make choice of such a one as might be most fit to answer the purpose.  
But now to return to our former talk, considering that the manner of the fight should altogether be ordered by the captain, therefore, as I said before, it is needful for him to have some skill in Mariner's Art, else shall he never be able to judge what he aught to do.  Soul. 
I would think there should be no great policy in Sea fight, but when they meet, he that hath the greatest number of ships, and the best appointed, by common reason, were like to have the victory.  Merchant 
Nay not so, for there is yet an other helper, which as it passeth the common reason of such as want experience, so it preserveth him that can attain it, from any great danger of his enemies, were they never so many, and that is, to have the advantage of the wind.  Soul. 
But then where the greater force hath bereft the other of that advantage, and thereby have gotten himself double benefit, is there no other help then but to yield?  Merchant 
Thou must understand, the order of Sea fight is this, when enemies meet, the stronger will seek to assail the weaker, the weaker than for his better security seeketh as much as he may, if he can not get from him with a sail, to get the wind, which if he may obtain, the greatest fear is past, but if he be prevented, he must then determine to defend himself by blows, which with wise government, he may well do, for although the having of more Ships, or the greater company of men, is in deed a great advantage, so their danger is a great deal more when they shall be driven to assaught, & the other but to defend, for as great policy, and as much advantage may be used in the defence of a Ship, as in the defence of a Castle, where one thousand men with good dyscresion, may repulse ten thousand, that should assaught them.  
To show thee any farther of their orders of ●ight, it would fall out to as small effect as this which I have already told thee, and therefore I would wish those that are desirous to have knowledge in that service, to seek it at the Sea, where it is to be had, and otherwise to be come by, to any perfection.  Soul. 
Although thus ignorantly I follow still in my order of demanding, and seeing thy godhead so liberally to offer that which I should have been ashamed to have asked, it giveth me therefore the greater encouragement, in specially when it proceedeth rather of a desire that I have to be satisfied myself, then of any obstinacy or any other wilful contention, and because I do now call to my remembrance some part of our former discourse, wherein thou seemest to mislike in our choice of English Soldiers, as far as I can perceive by other of thy instructions, there aught greater regard to be had, in appointing of the Captain, then in the choice of the private Soldier, considering that it only resteth in his diligence, to train and make his Soldiers perfect and ready at such time as need shall require.  Merchant 
what respect should be had in the choosing of a Soldier, I will a little over pass, and will first show thee how Soldiers be chosen in England when occasion doth serve, which commonly falleth out in this manner.  
The Prince, or Counsel, 
The manner of choosing Soldiers in England.  sendeth down their warrant, to certain Commissioners, of every such Shyer where they mind too have such a number of Soldiers to be levied and appointed, the Commissioner he sendeth his precept to the high Constable of every Hundred, the high Constable of every Hundred, he giveth knowledge to every petye Constable of every Parrysh within his cyrquet, that upon such a day, he must bring two or three able and sufficient men, to serve the Prince, before such Commissioners, to such a place, the petty Constable when he perceiveth that wars are in hand, foreseeing the toils, the infinite perils, and troublesome travails that is incident to Soldiers, is loath that any honest man through his procurement, should hazard himself amongst so many dangers, wherefore if within his office, there hap to remain any idle fellow, some drunkard, or seditious quariler, a privy picker, or such a one as hath some skill in stealing of a Goose, these shall be presented to the service of the Prince, and what service is to be looked for amongst such fellows, I think may easily be deemed, and I will something show.  
first by the way as they travail through the Country, 
Their usage as they travail through the country.  where they chance to lie all night, the goodwife hath sped well if she find her sheeets in the morning, or if this hap to fail yet a coverlet, or Curtains from the bed, or a Carpet from the table, some table clotheses, or table Napkins, or some other thing must needs pack away with them, there comes nothing amiss if it will serve to by drink.  
And likewise as they go by the way, woe be to that Pyge, Goose, Capon, Hen, Sheep, or Lamb, that fortunes to come in their walk.  
Then in the end, 
The best service that is to be looked for amongst them.  when they come in the place of service, where generally there are no such lose ends in common to be found, because they must have something to keep themselves in ure, than his fellows shirts, his sword, his dagger, his Caliver, his Moryon, or some other part of his furniture, must suffice the turn.  
Whether this that I have said be true or nay, I stand to the report of such as hath had the leading of new levied bands.  
Thus through the simplicity of a Constable, the Prince's service is abused, the manners and discipline of the aunsient orders corrupted, and the name and estimation of the noble Soldier utterly despised.  
What farther inconvenience might come of this appointment, 
Note this well.  I think those that be wise may very well foresee, when such evil conditioned people, in whom there remaineth neither Religion, neither obedience, neither fidelity, or good meaning, neither any other one spark of virtue, who being in place where so many good laws are prescribed, and may not yet be restrained from their vile and filthy conditions, & yet shall now be put in trust to defend the Prince's quarraile, wherein doth consist the only security of those that were the setters of them forth, if they had reason to consider of it.  Soul. 
I will not seem to contend, but such order of appointment there may be, and such Soldiers peradventure may be found in these new levied bands, but this I dare boldly affirm, that such Soldiers as hath been trained, or that knoweth what to service doth pertain, or any other in whom good service might be found, would as greatly despise to be detected of any such infamy, as any other that doth counterfeit the greatest civility.  Merchant 

How Soldiers aught to be chosen.  Then to proceed how Soldiers aught to be chosen, the first and greatest respect that should be had, is to have regard to his manners and conditions, otherwise there might be chosen an instrument of mischief, and a beginner of disorder, than consideration must be had of his sufficiency, which is to be conjectured by the years, by the composition of his members, by the grace of his countenance, by the lustiness of his body, and by the quickness of his spiright, which may be supposed by the liveliness of the eyes.  
And because such hath ever been thought most expedient to serve for soldiers, which might best endure all manner of travails, & such as hath not been accustomed to any great ease, the which conditions, as many do suppose, is most common to be found in the husband man, or labouring man, and although this supposition is not to be denaied, yet I do not allow of their choice, that would choose husbandmen to serve for soldiers  
first, because the labouring man may in no wise endure to be pinched of his victual, I mean to be brought to some short allowance, as those that use or frequent the wars, may sometime be brought scarcely to make on good dinner in a week, sometimes in a month, sometime in more, as occasion doth fall out: although I know, therebe many the will think me to be much deceived, & would answer, the husbandmen might best away with this scarcity, considering the they be brought up to hard & simple fare, which although it be true, yet proof hath showed the contrary, where any such hath been appointed, and experience hath taught such as have marked it, that where any such want hath happened, those kind of people have first showed themselves to be worst able to endure it.  
And in wars it goeth not so much by him that can far hardly, as by him that can longest continue with lest meat.  
For to far hardly, there is no man how daintily so ever he hath been brought up, but hunger will teach him to away with a courser diet.  
But he is to be allowed for a Soldier, that if occasion doth serve, can be well contented to satisfy himself with some small petaunce, or that may endure with some little quantity, whose courage will nothing dismay, if they may have but wherewith to suffice Nature, and this abstinence proceedeth only of the valewer of the mind, and is not to be found in the husband man, or labouring man, who although they may away with simple fare, yet they must have their bellies filled, they can not abide to be pinched of their victual, for if they be brought but to some small restraint in comparison what noble Soldiers will endure they presently show themselves to have no manner of courage but even as men that were more than half dead in whom there is to be found neither hope nor comfort.  
another cause why I would refuse such for Soldiers is this, because the order of service in these days consisteth much in the quickness, nimbleness and readiness in Soldiers and this celerytie is not to be found in Husbandmen, or labouring men.  
Furthermore they are utterly void of one of the greatest graces that to a Soldier doth pertain.  
Which is to be delightsome in the wearing of his apparel and in the keeping of his furniture: for like as there was yet never any excellent Artificer which hath not had a special regard in the keeping of such Instruments as appertaineth to his faculty in a neat and decent manner, so questionless he he will never prove to be good Soldier, that hath not delight in the keeping of his furniture, wherewith he is appointed to serve in a brave and gallant order.  
And in my opinion one of the greatest respects that may be used in the choice of a Soldier in whom there hath been had no manner of trial, is to have consideration in his order of apparel, for he that taketh not some felicity in the wearing of his garments in good order and fashion, will never take any pleasure in the keeping of his furniture, and to be short will never prove to be a good Soldier, for what unséemlyer sight may there be when a Soldier shall come into the Field with his Armour all rusty, the joints unriveted, the Leather and Buckels all broken and tied together with points, his Sword half without a scabbard, his Pike head unuayled, and sewtable to the rest, his Caliver so varnished with rust, that the Cock will not play, and then his game will not go, as they term it, his Morryan with one cheeck off, and an other one, or else hanging a swash like a Hog new hunted, and although that every band hath of ordinary Armourers, and other that be appointed for the mending of any the premesses, yet the pinishnesse is such, or rather the slouhfulness of a many of lubbers so great, that they cannot vouchsafe to carry them where they might have such faults amended without any other trouble.  
Wherefore, I would not wish that any such kind of people should be permitted to serve for soldiers, for what greater encouragement may there be to the enemy, then when he shall encounter with such a one as both by his apparel and the rest of his furniture doth show himself to be but of some base mind, or of some other simple condition, and noble Captains hath ever sought all means and occasions to discourage their enemies, and not to encourage them. Wherefore the Romans were accustomed to garnish their soldiers with Feathers, to the end the show of their Army might seem the more teryble to their enemies.  
Likewise the first invention of the wearing of Scarves in the wars, was used as well for terrifinge the enemy with the bravery of the show, as also for necessaries very meet and ready to bind up a wound when they should not come by clotheses at a souddayne where with to serve the tyme.  
Thus much touching the choice of Soldiers at this present shall suffice, yet not forgetting to give them these few precepts. Which is principally and above all things to be obedient to their Captain, to practise the use of such weapons wherewith they be appointed to serve, to be secret, to be silent and to be courageous.  
And now behold where the court of Venus doth show itself to be but even, here at hand, and therefore there is better time to end our talk, then when we shall end our journey.  Soul. 
But if without presumption I might but demand this last question wherein I greatly desire to be satisfied, and this it is, whether the Calyver, or the long Bow as we term them hear in England, be of greatest force I have hard this question divers times to be argewed on & some that have been supposed to have had good experience have preferred the Caliver to be of greater force in service then the bow which I think few wisemen will believe, and our enemies can witness to the contrary that from time to time have felt our Archers force, and how many noble victories have been by them achieved, Chronicles are full, and Histories can well make mention, and I am of that mind that one thousand good Archers would wrong two thousand shot, yea and would drive them out of the Field and there be a great many of that opinion beside myself.  
What hath been done in time paste maketh nothing to the purpose for the time present for the order of the wars is altogether altered, and in an other manner than they have been in time past, but now to answer to thy demand and briefly to satisfy thy desire, thou must first consider to what perfection shot is lately grown unto over it hath been within these few years, when peradventure if there were one that sarued with a Halfehaake or a Hagbus as they termed them which were pieces to small effect, unless it were even hard at hand, there is now ten for that one, which serveth with the Caliver or Musket which, pieces are of a new invension and to an other effect. So likewise they have a better composition for the making of their powder and the Soldier is grown by practice to a greater celerity in the using of his piece then in time paste he hath been of. Thus the effect of the one by practice is increased, and the force of the other by nature is diminished, for the strength of men is generally decayed, whereby they are not able to draw so stroung a bow, nor to shoot so strong a shot as in the old time men have been accustomed.  
But to the end thou mayest the better perceive wherein the advantage or disadvantage doth grow. I will use this comparison (whereby) I doubt not but thy own reason shall persuade thee.  
Suppose one thousand Archers should be levied within any two Shiers in England let them use no further regard in the choice then of ordinary they are accustomed: In the service of the Prince, let these Archers be appointed with such livery Bows as the Country generally useth to allow, let these Archers continnewe in the field but the space of one week, abiding such fortune of weather, with their Bows and Arrows, as in the mean time might happen. I would but demand how many of those thousand men were able at the week's end to shoot above x. score. I dare undertake that if one hundred of those thousand do shoot above ten score, that ii hundred of the rest, will shoot short of ix score, and is not this a piece of advantage thinkest thou? when every Calyver that is brought into the Field will carry a shot xviii. score and, xx. score, and every Musket xxiiii, and thirty. score.  
Besides this every Bush, every Hedge, every Ditch, every Tree, and almost every Moalhil is a sufficient safgarde for a shot, where the Archer is little worse, but on a plain, when the shot will convey themselves into every covert, that the Archer shall not see whereat to shoot, and yet he himself remain a fair mark for the other, or else can use no service.  
Now whether part hath the advantage, I think may well be deemed, and whether weapon is of greatest force, a man may eas●ye perceive, when the shot shall be able to prejudice the Archer, who shall not be able to shoot half the ground towards him again. Farther when the Shot shall take advantage almost in every ground to shroud himself, where the Archer must remain an open mark upon the plain or else to occupy his Bow to small effect.  
But let it be that one thousand Archers and one thousand shot should meet in the plain Field where no vantage were to be taken by the ground, & admit they were joined in skirmish, within viii or ix score where the Archer is able to shut twice to the others once, whereby the Arrows coming so thick amongst them, will so astone them that the contrary part shall not well know where at to shoot.  Merchant 
But those that frame this argument hath little practice in the use of the Calyver, and less experience in the order of a skirmish for if a thousand Archers were brought into the Field I trust all would not be brought to shootte at one instant for if they were, some of them would shoot to small a veil, as he that hath experience can well say.  
And yet if there were no other advantage to be used in skirmshe, but who can shoot fastest he that is a ready shot I dare say, would be loath that an Archer should shoots above, viii. times to his .v.  
And this advantage in often shooting is not so great in the one but the difference is much more in the other, considering their force for where the one doth but gaulde the other doth either main or kill.  
But to show thee what farther advantage the shot hath of the Archer thou shalt understand that where the Archer may shoot both wide short and gone, the other may shoott but wide only. But because thou mayst the better perceayve my meaning thou must consider that when the Archer shooteth any distance of ground, the Arrow cometh compass of a great height, so that when it cometh where it should endanger, which is, with in the compass of man's height it falleth presently to the ground and hath but as it were one lighting place and peradventure may come directly over one man's head and fall right at an other man's feet which standeth but iii, yards behind, where if it had fallen but one foot shorter, it had endangered the first so if it had gone but one or two foo●e farther it had hazarded the last.  
Thus as I have said the Archer though he shoot right yet he may shoot both over and under, where the other can shoot but wide only, considering that the shot is still carried away within the compass of man's height, which advantage to such as hath reason to decern it aright shall perceive, that one shot from the Musket or Calyver, is of greater possibilytie to endanger then five that shall come from the best Archer that is brought into the Field.  Soul. 
I understand the meaning very well, and do now perceive the Calyver indeed to be of greatest force, and yet I had a great deal rather believe it myself, then to undertake to make a great many of others to believe it.  
But now I perceive we may hang our Bows upon the walls for I can not perceive how they will now stand us in any great steed to serve in wars.  Merchant 
Nay not so neither, was it any part of my pretence so absolutely to object the Archer nor yet to make him of so small effect, but that his service is to be commended, and not to be forborn, for so it might as well be said what should Horsemen do in the Field where the enemy hath picks to defend them against whom they could yet never prevail: yet no man doubteth but Horsemen are serviceable for many causes, although it be not to run against the Picks, so likewise Archers may do very good service, although it be not to encounter with shot.  
But my words tended to this end that I would not have thee to be ignorant in the use of so principal a weapon, but rather would wish it might be practised, considering it asketh time, or many may have the ready use of it, for like as it is a special Weapon to him that can use it in good order, so it is as defused, and untoward to him that hath not the practice of it, and shall sooner endanger himself, or his Friend that stands next unto him, then hurt his Enemy. Therefore I would wish that those which should use this Weapon, to be very expert and wary in the use and ordering of the same.  
And now behold, we have at length approached to our desired place, lo here the Court of Venus, where for a time I will leave thee to finish thy pretence.  
And as I was devising with myself, what reverence I might use to the God for his great curteysies, he was suddenly vanished from my sight, I wist not where, and it was no time for me then to stand upon my new determinations, but prepared myself to this sumptuous Court. To the which when I was approached near, my mased mind was fully fraught with great admiration, not so much to see the rarietye of the work, and the strangeness of the building, as to see such sundry shows of diverse stones of price, of variable hew, the which in every wall was there ●o curiously couched, as it surely passed any art of hand▪  
There was directly over the entry of the gate, two fearful examples of justice used upon two obstinate persons which had been rebels to the Laws of Venus.  
The one was that scornful ymphe Narcissus, whose beauty enamoured the heart of every Dame that did behold him, and whose pride disdained that any at all should so much as touch him, for which contempt he himself was as justly deluded, as before he was accustomed to delude, and mock with others, for like as his beauty had inflamed the hearts of many a Lady, which had beheld it, even so it was ordained by the providence of the Gods, that in beholding the Image of his own face in a clear well, his own beauty, which before had bewitched so many hath now so beguiled himself, that he there miserably consumed with love with his own shadow.  
The other showed how the Lady Anaxarete, a wilful Dame, whose stony heart would never rue on Iphis cause, who seeing himself to be bereaved of all manner of hope did hung himself before her gate, the Gods now seeing this woeful chance transeformed this Dame to a hardyned stone for her ungentle fact.  
There was over these two stories, a verse in Latin written in lets of gold, which might be Englished thus.  
Lo, here the doom of Rebels such  
which erst our laws contemned:  
Whose paruerse minds, and haughty pride,  
are justly thus condemned.  
And when I was come into the base Court, I gave my special regard to the manners of such as passed by me to and fro, whose gestures as they were divers, so their orders of apparel and manner of array was as contrary & varyall, for who had thoroughly marked them, might partly have discerned the effects of love by their orders & conversation.  
There were some that were arrayed all in green, 
Snters at Venus' Court  or like delightsome colours, by whose lusty cheer, they seemed to be such as had the world at will, wanting no part of their desire's.  
There were other likewise apparelled in blue, using a more demuer countenance there were some that were appareled all in yellow, by whose frantic conversation there might be deemed some suspytiouse mind, there were other in russet, using a very modest cheer, some in tawny, whose doleful looks bewrayed some secret grief  
There were some that were arrayed all in black walking by themselves in solitary sort, wring of their hands, beating of their breasts, yielding many piteous sighs, who had beheld them, might well have deemed a lively pattern of a desperate mind. And when I was come into the upper Court, the beauty thereof, was not so far exceeding, but the Music which I hard in every corner, was as sweet and delctable: from thence I passed into a sumptious Hall which was richly hanged with cloth of arras work, wherein was wonderfully wrought many a famous History, tending all to the advancement of the Goddess Venus, and of Cupid her son, shewing how it hath caused the strong and mighty to become feeble and weak, the Coward and dastard, to be valiant and hardy, the wild and savage to be humble and meek, the fiercest and furious to be gentle and lowly, the wise and learned to be foolish and fond: and not only men that hath been thus transformed, but even the Gods themselves, hath become subject & thrall, and constrained to obey to Venus and her laws.  
In the uppermost part, the Goddess Venus was first described, sitting in her Wagon, wherein she is drawn by her too Doves, there was standing by her a basket heaped with hearts: which was most pitifully consumed in Flames of scorchyne fire, saving that the Gods having Water standing by, would now and then delay the rage and furious heat: In the fore part of the Wagon stoade the blind boy Cupid, wounding with his arrows the hearts which hovered in the air, in secure and careless sort. Then there was likewise showed how the mighty jove, when he went to view the Heavens and earth, to see if aught had perished through Phaeton's wilful fact, in which survey, as he espied the form and beauty of Parrasis, a Nymph of Diana's troop, with whom he as carefully sought to accomplish his desire, as before he had regard to the repairing of the Heavens and the restoring again of the Earth to the former estate where it was decayed.  
There was also showed the whole story how Apollo was in love with Daphne, Mercury with Hearse, Bacchus with Guosida, Virtunmuus with Pomena, Pan with Sirinx: And how many of them for their better speed hath taken upon them sundry shapes, and transformed themselves as juqiter to a Bull, Phoebus to a country clown Mercury to a Goat, Saturn to a Genit and Bacchus to a Grape, and not the celestial Gods, that have been thus by love subdued alone, but also the Gods of the Sea, and even Pluto himself, the God of Hell, hath not been able to resist this mighty struck of Cupid's piercing dart.  
There was also to be seen that monstrous and ugly Giant Polypheme, whose wild and savage kind gave terror to every thing that did behold him, and yet he was by love so surprised and over come, that for the time he clean forgot his wilderness and mourtherous heart, and frames himself in form of wooers trade.  
There was also how the noble Herculus become from a mighty conqueror, to sit in woman's attire, at the wheel and Cards, and served Omphale Queen of Liddia, and furthermore, how both Aristotle and Socrates, in despite of their Philosophy, the one become a slave to Hermia the other a subject to Aspasia.  
There were many other Histories, which all together tended that neither wisdom learning, policy, strength. valiance, nor any other sleight, may once withstand or prevail against the asaults or conflicts of love. There was in the uppermost verge of this cloth artificially wrought in great Letters, a verse in Latin, the some whereof containeth to this effect.  
If neither God ne man my snares,  
hath yet escaped free:  
What wight art thou, wilt then resist,  
against my laws and me.  
Dewring the time that I stood thus perusing of these descryptions, there wear many galant Ladies and other beautiful Dames, which passed by me to and fro, amongst which there was one who perceiving me to be a stranger, very courteously saluting me demanuded if I had any suit to prefer to the Goddess Venus, wherein she might pleasure me, for that she was accustomed as she said to prefer each lovers cause, and to assist them in their suits.  
To whom when I had given most humble thanks, I courteously entreated her to show me her name, which as she said was good countenance, whom every loving wight hath in great veneration.  
When I perceived Fortune so favourably to assist me, I thought it had been but mere simplicytie for me to forsake the Ladies fryndly offer. Wherefore in brief discourse, I showed her the whole cause of my coming thither, which as she understood taking me by the hand, she led me up a pair of stairs, and brought me into a marvelous large and beautiful chamber which was replenished with lusty Gent. and many other brave and gallant dames and as they were dispersed in many companies, so they were using as many amorous exercisses, some were reciting of tales, and telling loving Histories, some were singing to the Lute and virginals, many amorous Ballads, some were in the Pavyans and Galliardes, and happy was he that before his Lady could do the lustiest trick, with many other like pastimes.  
The which when I beheld, I began to imagine in myself, and in my mind to say O blessed and happy wights, how fortunate are your days, in what pleasure and delight spend you your blessed time in respect of soldiers, whose hard terms and miserable conditions, are far otherwise allotted, when they must march in the Field after the strokes of dreadful drums, you may dance upon the risses after the steps & sounds of Inruments, when soldiers be in the field dealing of bloody blows, you may be your Lady's chambers dealing of amorous kisses, sweet imbracyngs, and loving countenances, when Soldiers must be content to take their lodgings in the wild fields: and open air, and yet not assured to lie all night in quiet, you may be in your warm and soft feather Bedes, embracing your delights, abiding no unrest unless it be to satisfy your own amorous desires, when Soldiers must be roused to give some early assault you may keep your Beds, unless you some times, arise to give your Paramours the hunt is up, under the windows, most happy therefore (I say) is your estates, and as I continued in these cogitations, commending in my mind both love and lovers trade.  
There was one that as it were in the nick began to tell a strange and tragical History, the which I gave good heed which tale when he had finished, I was thoroughly resolved to how many mischiefs vain men commit themselves, whose love is so inordinate, that neither bite nor bridle is able to restrain the fury thereof, and for as much as I have used this tedious long discourse of wars and martial causes, I think it not amiss to recreate your wearied minds with this so strange a History, whereby you shall perceive whether this gross affection, vain hope, and blind love, may carry men unto, and of what force the Arrows of blind Cupid be, and what fruit they bring to them that practise the same how it not only passionately their minds with most outrageous, and intolerable afflictions, but also so far overwhelmeth them that they many times, throw themselves head long into the gulf of mortal destruction, and into the depth of shame and infamy as this history more evidently appeareth which in this wise ensueth.  
IN Province a Country which all men know, no whit inferior to any in all Europe, whether it be for the situation thereof as being replenished with rich and fair towns, or for the fertyllytie and pleasantness of the soil, or the courtesy and civillytie of the people inhabiting or dwelling in the same.  
There is a little town or village not far from Nice which they call Lagrasse, situated in a fair long plain & in so pleasant a place, as any man may with eye behold in that plain to the marvelous ornaments and deckynges of the building, the goodly grass groweth so thick and green that were it not for the continual grasinge of the cattle in the same, it would always appear a continual springe time, beside throughout this grassy and flowery plain you may behold the goodly Lemons, Orange and Pomegarnet Trees charged and laden with their fruits, decking the country so rychlye in such goodly order that it seemeth only nature hath traveled to the adourning thereof, and besides these all other kind of fruits doth so inoble and adorn this teretory or place, that it seemeth to resemble the famous wood of Thesalien remembered or spoken of by Heredotus Plinius, Strabo, Elias & in his third book of Hystories divers, and not forgotten of the the Poets which place is frequented, and assailed of the passers by, especially of the inhabitants, which bid (as it were battle) to the Trees and fruits  
Which Plain is set between two small Hills on everyside, shadowing the flanks of this fruitful Valley, which is watered with brooks or Rivers: that with their pleasant murmur or sweet soft noise, do float about this pleasant verdure natural, re, ioysinge the eyes of man, and serve for the pasture of the flock of sheep and herds of cattle, of all the country theraboute, In this same earthly Paradise, and not far from the said town, stands there a Castle named Chabry, the Lord whereof not long before espoused the Daughter of one of his neighbours called the Lord of Mas, of whom our History hererafter shall make ofton mention, This young Lady governed her life so modestly all the time of her youth, that her honest chastity was no less commended of all that knew her, than the chaste Lucretia or Penelope.  
But be it, whether the hypocrisy so long hid in the wicked heart of this Lady, could not any longer cover the wickedness thereof, without showing some proof of the fruits of the same, or whether that the grenenesse of her Husband's years, being now for age come into a scortchy dryness, and without moisture, had lost his strength, or (possible) led by the natural appetite of such as love to change, being now upon the point of their age, of a young virtuous and chaste Lady, she was now become an old harlot, and being tender, and in the years of her youth gave unto all a more hope, (that is to say) showed more effect of her honesty, than her age did in the mortification of these heats, proper to the folly of that unbridled youth, to the which they bind their affection, and the effect of little description, according as they say commonlyg that of a young holy Hermit, oftentimes we see the change, to be transformed into an old devil.  
This Lady now coming to years and Children, began to muse of love, and to desire of her Husband that which could not be twice had, and that which she herself had not so much desired when those flames are most exceeding in the gréennes of her years, she not contenting herself now with the frozen and rare imbracementes of her Husband, she began to excogitate the means to satisfy her unbridled desire's, and by that means began the mischief which after caused the ruin of herself, and the perpetual dishonour of all hers.  
These are, as you may see, the effect of this wrecthed beast, carnal pleasure to bring to man the plague or pestilence, under the vizor of a clear & wholesome air, and to plong and drown the seely ship when the sailors shall think themselves most in queit harbour Who will not confess here that love is as it wear a certain rage, madness or fury, seeing that she doth cause to do violently, that which aught to refrain and bridle those immodesties, & foolish passions, that she doth suggerate or put into our minds. Now there was dwelling in this Lagrasse, a certain Doctor of the laws, an advocate and a citizen of the said town.  
This Doctor, for that he was of counsel with the Lords of Chabry, in process of time had so good credit both of the Lord and Lady that oftentimes he entered into the chamber of the Lady, her Lord being absent, and would there consult with her in her Bed, whereof the Lord was nothing suspicious, but it came that on a day, (during the absence of the Lord of Chabry) this Doctor came to visit and see this Madam, lying yet in her Bed, where he bent himself to behold & contemplate more lively the beauty of the Lady, whsoe lively colour her Age had nothing altered: And with an intent far otherwise than he was wont to oversee the profess the Lord of Chabry: She which saw the Doctor youthfully disposed: And as sufficiently able to furnish the affairs appertaining to the bed, as of matters in the Law which touched the house, was nothing sorry to see this Goat to behold her so unshamefastly, but more bold than any common harlot, made no conscience to discover that part of her body, the which honestly any shamefast woman could not, nor aught to discover, And that with countenance and eyes so Lascivious & undiscreet, that he that were least practised in the affairs of love, might easily have known and perceived, what provendour the Horse nayghed for, judge then if this Lawyer sufficiently practised in such deceits, knew or perceived that, she most desired, or if he forgot to commend the beauty or proportion of the well shape in members of this unshamefast Alcine: Which in smile wise spoke unto him: Alas Master Tolonio (for so was he called,) Is it not, unto me, great damage? That my Lord is so discrepite and old, that I can not now any more enjoy that thing, that it may content my pleasure and appetite, being myself in such disposition as you see? truly this good man careth for no more but to mumble his Prayers and small Suffrages, in the evening till he be as could as Ice, which doth wholly cool in me the heat of my first desires: And if at any time I do advance myself, to stir up in him, or to awake the forces of the flesh, alas it is no purpose, so that (will I or nyll I) I must be fain to kiss (as it were the Sheet) with so great displeasure, as I should have of contentment, If I had a man worthy of me, which could accomplish this appointment, which is due in Marriage.  
The Doctor hearing this, right easily understood unto what end she had discoursed this fair Tale: Answered, Madam, I suppose your Ladyship hath ever proved and known me for the Loyal and faithful servitor of your house: Nevertheless, I believe (under correction) that my Lord is not so far spent, that his age should let him to give yet some contentation, to any Gentlewoman, how young or lusty so ever she were.  
The dishonest Lady hearing him say so, answered: Tolonio, men judge commonly of things at random, as they have taken root in their cogitations, through their own only opinions, but those which have known the effects, and which have experimented though contrary, may speak without reproach, and according to the truth of that which others hold not, but by thought only, you esteem my Lord so valiant a Champion: that (by your words) there is no armour which he is not able to péerce, But I which do feel, his weakness, cowardice, and small force, may speak thereof more certainly and assuredly, to my great grief, to the end, that you taking compassion of my sorrowfulness, may seek the means to secure me, and to deliver me from this grief of sickness, that I do endure: Madam said he, think not, that for the increase of your annoy, I have spoken so boldly, for I will rather choose death, the most shameful and ignominious, that any man could imagine or think, then to have given to your Lady ship, the lest occasion of sorrow: And I would to God, Madam that my travail or dylligence, might serve for an ease, or abatement of your Ladyshiyps' trouble, you should then right well perceive that Tolonio is not of the number of those, which promising much and performing little, but I give you to understand, (if it please your Ladyship to use me) that of all those of your household, there is none more ready to obey, or do service unto your Ladyship, be it that therein I should offer or sacrifice mine honour, or life, yea, and I shall think myself happy to employ and spend either the one or the other, in the service of so famous and high a Lady: And saying so? seeing himself alone in her Chamber, took the hand of the Lady and kissed it, with great affection: The Lady seeing the matter sort to that effect, even as she had before excogitate, or thought in her fantasy to execute, pressing hard the hand of this Gentleman, spoke unto him very courteously: My Lord Tolonio, if fortune were to you so favourable, and rendered me so much yours, that you should think or believe to have part of my good grace and favour, what thing would you enterprise or attempt to enjoy: and please her which so liberally, and without any other respect, either of life, or honour, would leave unto you her heart in gage, and her body to dispose at your pleasure.  
A Madam, said the Doctor, the fear that I have, that so great goodness shall not chance or come unto me, (although I do earnestly desire the same,) maketh my heart to faint: And on the other side, the pleasures of my conceptions lifteth me up so high, that there is nothing so difficult or hard, that I would not willingly take in hand to attain the same: Pardon me Madam I beseech you, if I have been bold so liberally to discover unto you, that which I thought to keep secret in mine own heart? And blame and accuse yourself, that having power over me, have made me to say more than I had determined to manifest, vanquished of a passion so extreme.  
And say you so said this dishonest lady? truly that was the very scoop or point whereunto I did most aspire, and since it is so, that I may Assure myself of your fidelity and faithful love, I pray you also to trust and believe assuredly, 
The infamous Doctor, and coursed Lady have agreed together.  that I am and wilbée holy at your commandment, and that which I have promised in word you shall see it come to pass by the effects, the plays and pastimes accomplished both of the one and the other party, the two detestable adulterers made their match to give them thenceforth to pass the time as pleasantly as could be thought: Euenso this disloyal varlett obeyed the unbridled pleasure of this unshamefast woman heaping sin upon son, for beside the abominable sin of defile Another man's bed, he committed felony and treason against him which put assured trust in him, 
He committed felony and Treason.  and at the wages of whom he did ordinarily live. Here may we see what the malice and wretchedness of those is, which under the cloak of good letters & learning and coloured (nay rather stuffed) with a certain vain knowledge to discern and judge justice from injustice, make profession to overthrow all justice, to pervert all order of honesty, and to deceive under the title of good faith, the consciences of the most simple.  
Thus our unhappy world (or rather) the malice of this our cursed time hath made to bud and spring of men that are learned, Devells, which vomiting a certain false Philosophy have infected the air with their corruption, and not contenting themselves to abuse the flesh, and to bring the life of man under the adulterous Infamy of beastly, carnal and filthy pleasure, have (as it were giants) addressed them selves to battle against the heavens.  
So truly the household Servant evil effects towards his Lord and master is more to be feared, than a thousand enemies Running and wandering abroad as this Lord of Chabry experimented by the means of this master Lawyer the which abusing the Lady and she her Lord & husband, both of them (I say) to the end the more at their ease to continue their insolent whoredom and abominable life, made their match together, to murder him, and even as they had devised so they brought it to effect.  
For this corrival of his Lord, 
The adu 〈…〉 Lady high 〈…〉 one to king 〈…〉 husband.  corrupted and hired a varlet, already inclined and accustomed unto such detestable exercises, & made him to promise' him that he would murder the Lord of Chabry, and to that end he gave unto him a good sum of money, this minister of mischief hoping also for some further gain, made no more a do, but watched the hour, time, and occasion, when without noise he might bring to end his determinate purpose, which came him well to pass, for one day finding the poor Lord walking alone within a certain close, which lay near to his house, this Murderer accompanied with another like himself, came all disfigured, and without speaking any word, they both ran upon this unfortunate Gentleman, and most miserably killed and mangled him, and fled from the place where the fact was committed before any man understood of the miserable death of this Lord, which was the cause that the murderers were not surprised nor known. And less it was that any had the lest suspicion, that the Lady his wife, or her Proctor Tolonio had devised that treason, and caused this poor Innocent to be murdered. But this mischievous woman after the knew of the death of her Husband, 
She feigneth desperation.  half in despair (for such she feigned herself to be) cast herself upon the mangled and bleeding carcase of her Husband, mainly crying out, not sparing to tear her apparel, and the hears of her head, watering the face of the deceased with faint fears, began to fayne a voice apt to express the inward dolour of a passioned spirit, 
Ah wicked woman.  in saying: Ah▪ misfortunate Gentleman, is it come to pass that thy fate and destiny should conduct thee to this misfortune? and that in the time of these thy latter years, in the midst of thy friends, and in thine own house, to have been murdered so traitorously? Ah that I myself had not been partaker of this thy great misfortune, that I might have been companion in grave with him, the love of whom shall never depart, out of my soul: Ah cruel Murderer (who soever thou art) what floods of tears thou shalt make to be distilled, and how much blood wilt thou make to be effused to appease and pacify the ghost of my good Lord and husband? I beseech the Gods that thou mayst never be able (thief and traitor what soever thou be) to escape the hands of him, which having sword in hand shall avenge me that am thus miserably afflicted by thy only means. Ah my friend, said she (embracing the body all dischevered of her dead husband) how should this traitor know thee, which hath thee so villainously outraged and slain. Alas poor children, what a father have you lost, and I poor widow desolate, the sustentation of mine honour, and the support of all my family? In this mean time the Doctor, having made suit after the murderers of his good Lord, and returning from the pursuit of them which lodged in his own house, was very joyous to see this Lady so well to play her part in this Tragedy, of the which she herself was the very first author, approaching unto her, having the tears in his eyes, said unto her: Well Madam, said he, will you now (as they say) cast the Hatchet after the Helm. My Lord is dead, and think you to raise him up again by your vehement lamentations and cries? Take patience, I pray you, in that adversity that it hath pleased God to send us, and employ and assay yourself to take vengeance upon those which you shall found to be culpable of the death of your Husband. In the mean time take order that his Corpses may be entombed as appertaineth to a Lord such as he hath been in his life time, which thing was forthwith executed, for they buried him very honourably, with the lamentations and tears of all his subjects, in the chapel of the Castle, and in the sepulchre of his Predecessors: Also the poor Subjects sore lamented their Lady, seeing the incomparable sorrow and mourning she made for so sudden loss of her Lord. And they all supposed that willingly she would have made a sepulchre of her own body to have buried her husband, if it had been lawful for her to have caused him to be burned to have drunk his ashes, as sometime Artemisia did of the burned Relics of her dear Mansole. 
Mansole.  O feminine cautel, & crafty whore, who is so sapient & wise that can be able to keep himself from being deceived with thy crafty and fraudulent deceits: Alas there is no malice, deceit, treason, mischief, or cruelty, that is comparable to the treason, mischief, or devilishness of a woman that hath once forgotten the virtue & good grace that oftentimes doth accompany the feminine Sex. What greater argument of subtlety and craft would you in this woman than to see her desperately to deplore that which inwardly maketh her spirits to leap for joy, at which instant her eyes are constrained to pour out rivers of tears, and her tongue to tell forth abundance of lamentable words: After the burial of the Lord of Chabry, for that she would not be thought to have feigned the great amity that she had always pretended to bear towards her Lord, caused to make diligent information against those that had perpetrated and committed this heinous murder: but the Commissaries and witnesses were those themselves which had imbrued their guilty hands in the blood of the poor Innocent. 
The Doc 〈…〉 overseeth 〈◊〉 treasury 〈◊〉 goods of 〈◊〉 innocent l 〈…〉  Even so and by this means was this fact kept secret for a certain time: During the which Tolonio revisited all the pieces of the Treasure of the house, without forgetting her unto whom he most was affectionate, and for the enjoying whereof he had made so prodigious an enlargement of his conscience, the which was such as did prepare the way to all mischiefs, yet more great & detestable (if possibly it might be) than the evils & faults before committed. Consequently followeth this Lady (being made widow by her own treason) who had four sons, 
The Lady had .4. children.  two of the which did never depart ordinarily from the Castle: now the eldest of the two was not so gross or dull of spirit & understanding, but that he knew and easily understood that this great privity and secret familiarity of the Doctor with his Lady and mother, passed the bounds and bars of honesty, and further than the honour of his mother might well suffer or bear: whereof if he were pensive and sorrowful, I leave it to the judgement of all noble and gentle hearts, and for that cause this young Gentleman determined in himself to utter the same by some means to his Lady and mother. Being steadfastly set and arrested upon these terms and deliberations, seeing this Doctor gaining more and more the favour of his Lady and Mother, and that the Lady abusing undiscreetly her great honour, could not live at rest without the presence of her Tolonio, he came on a day to his Mother, unto whom addressing himself with an honest shamefastness, intermeddled with a just anger and disdain, being alone with her, said unto her very reverently: Madam, 
The eldest son admonished the mother of 〈…〉 wicked behaviour  the reverence that I own to the place that you hold on my behalf, and the duty and obeisance that God will and hath commanded that children should bear to those that have begotten and borne them, maketh those words which I have premeditate in my mind, long time before to declare unto you, to stick as it were in my mouth, not able to utter the same before you, whom the matter that I have to open to your Ladyship, doth touch before all other, and would to God that the thing that I have conceived in my mind, as a thing most assured, were so false, as I wish it to be estranged and far from my opinion, and yet further estranged from the truth and verity, then truly I should not be so afflicted in my heart, and constrained to be such an Orator as I am to you, the office whereof I would willingly be despoiled of if greater and more just occasion did not offer herself for me, to perform it: but Madam seeing that the passions of every one are free, and that the spirit of man is not restrained (notwithstanding any captivity the body doth suffer) but to the liberty of his own imaginations, I humbly beseech you, not to think strange, that the extreme love that I bear you, and the honour of your house commands me to say unto you, that is, that your greatness and the blood of the late Lord of Chabry, are or ought to be, in my judgement, lets and stops unto the over great familiarity that the advocate Tolonio hath ordinarily with you, which are the mother of such children that deserve not that such a villain should spoil that gentle blood whereof they are sprung, & which with great difficulty shall endure this abuse, without avenging themselves according to the quality and greatness of the crime.  
Pardon me Madam, I pray you, for speaking so boldly, seeing affection doth so transport me, and the blood that can not dissemble or lie, 'cause me to feel the injury that you do unto us, if this our great familiarity have so deep root, as I suppose it hath: I swear unto you by God that the only respect of your honour hath caused me too look unto it more nearly, and to provide for the same, with discretion, but if ye have no regard neither of your own reputation nor of the honour of your children, I will so provide, that M. Doctor shall go serve his profess in some other place. The blubbering & malicious woman, seeing the countenance, gestures, and words of her son, knowinng his passion to be more than vehement, and knowing also his humour doubted in herself, lest he should execute upon Tolonio, the vengeance of the secret death of her husband. For this cause, blushing with choler and rage, and pouring forth abundance of tears, set herself upon the ground so amazed and confused, that she was long time inmoveable and as though she had been speechless: in the end having overcome her affections & dissembling her anger, answered her Son, with a trembling voice followed with an infinite number of sighs and sobs, almost stopping her words: Alas, said she, what is he now that shall take upon him the defence of the honour of this desolate widow, 
Mark her strange inventions and persuasions.  seeing her own children are the first that bring her honesty in doubt and question? where shall we find faith, loyalty, good opinion and assurance, if the proper blood descended from our entrails, doth so conspire against ourselves. O miserable is the condition and state of our Sex, that when we think to have certain and sure rest, even at that time fortune doth sort and allot to us her privy watches and ambushes, to turn us from the ease that we before pretended. O my son, my son, are you of the number of those which judge so rashly and at random? Make you so little account of the reputation and constancy of Ladies of honour? Measure you their chastity with the foolish reprehensions which flow out of the brains of vain talkers and evil speakers? Alas, it is not only at this day, but ever hath been accustomed that virtue is on every side besieged with slander, envy, and false imposition of crimes: it is not I alone that endure these bitter and almost insupportable injuries and false accusations, which now feel myself falsely slandered of that villainy whereof I never thought. They are not the Ladies of my Chabry, which suffer themselves to be so transported unto the fond appetites of the flesh, neither is it from henceforth time that I should think of these follies, unto the which I never gave myself in my young years▪ Are you offended to see Tolonio speak to me in secret? Do you think it evil that he entereth familiarly into my chamber? Know you not that it is he only which knoweth all the affairs of the house, and did execute the same in the life time of your late Father my L. and husband? Ah wretched and infortunate woman that I am, to see myself so suspected, who never thought nor aspired to any other thing than to the increase of your wealth: and Tolonio more infortunate to travel & take pain for the love of you, which promise' none other thing unto him for his reward than present death: Not, not my son, Tolonio is a very honest Gentleman, and hath been ever so taken and accounted of, only speak unto him of it, and you shall see if that at your simple commandment he do not forsake the house without returning, at any time hereafter to anger you, and then shall you know that our affections are far otherwise than you think, and that the favour I show him, is rather for your profit & advancement, than for the pleasure that you falsely suspect in me, which being your mother, aught rather to be worthily commended of diligence then to be accused wrongfully of incontynency. The young gentleman hearing the excuses of his mother, and seeing her so beblubbered with tears, and attached with dolour, 
● feigned weeping.  although he could not blot out of his fantasy that which he had conceived for certain truth, answered: Madam, I know not whether I am more moved to joy or sorrow, seeing I am sorry verily to see you so outraged with dolour & grief that the passion thereof redoundeth upon mine own soul, in such sort that the remembrance thereof doth penetrate even to the profundity of my heart: and again joyous to have known you such as you have always been, and as I trust you will continued hereafter, I desire none other testimony hereof but your own honesty and virtue, unto the which I will adjoin mine, heart and your promised word, as a symbol or token that I confess that I have done you great wrong, and you most just occasion to complain you of me: nevertheless if you measure the affection that is in me, and the reason which causeth me thus to speak, & withal behold with what modesty, I have unto you made this narration, you would accept it in as good part, as with good heart I have declared it to you. Pardon me Madam for my boldness, with protestation that from henceforth I shall be more wise and sage to speak, and better advised to suspect the thing that may turn to such consequence. She appeased herself, at the least she feigned herself contented, attending till opportunity might serve, that she might execute upon her son, the tragedy already begun upon the father, for she did not trust the words of the simple and virtuous young man, thinking him of faith to be as slippery as she herself was, for such is the custom of the wicked, to balance & way the life of others by their own wicked deeds. This new Progue, or rather Tigress, altogether set upon the shedding of Innocent blood, infected with most wretched cruelty, which had altered the sweetness of her good nature into a rage most desperate, for the love of her Doctor, determined to dispatch the world of her son (whatsoever should come of it) to the end she might live more at her ease, & without any that should control her life▪ Now within the said castle of Chabry, there was a high Galarie, 
A rare inven 〈…〉 ion to murder her son.  between two lodgings, the planks whereof were very evil joined, and the timber half rotten, whereupon this young Gentleman for his pleasure ordinarily was acoustomed to walk, aswell for the pleasantness of the air, as for the fair prospect it had into the fields, but especially into a most pleasant Garden, replenished with all sorts of herbs and fruits that man could devise to imagine, which was the cause that the Pageant which before she had premeditate, was the sooner brought to effect. This detestable mother then, one evening caused the knave her Doctor to unnayle two or three boards of the same Galarie, and to disjoin them from the joists whereupon they were laid, that he that should tread upon them should fall down headlong upon the rocks in the ditches that lay underneath. As it fortuned to this young Gentleman no less unhappy in an ungracious mother, than his Father had been in a wicked wife, for the day after that this trap was thus prepared he failed not to come into the Galarie, where having made two or three turns, set his foot upon the end of the disjointed boards, and suddenly fell down upon the Rock: so was he most mischievouslye brained, and his members all to bruised and broken with the fall, dying before he almost felt the apprehension of death. 
O cursed fact.  Who would ever have once thought that the Mother had been so follonious, cruel, and unmerciful, as to see (by her own vile and wicked means her own son bruised, mutilated, and deformed, seeing that this name and title of mother is so sweet, and amorous, that the hearts of the most stubborn are thereby mitigated or mollified, and we see that every one holdeth their own so dear and in such price, that the very beasts themselves, pricked by nature (although incapable of reason) have such affection towards their young ones, that they fear not to▪ oppose themselves to all perils, to conserve and defend them: Also the greatest comfort or good that man may have, being in the continual waves of the Sea of this troublesome world, is to see himself as it were regenerate and borne anew in his children, and in the propagation and increase of his seed: and yet this she devil and mad fury of hell, having already lost the affection that the spouse or wife aught unto her husband, put also in oblivion the natural love she aught to have borne to the fruit of her body engendered.  
After the fall of this young Gentleman, you should have heard nothing within the house but lamentations and cryings, one crying his Brother, another bewailing his Cousin, another lamenting the sudden and unlooked for death of his Master: but all this was nothing in respect to that which this detestable Murderess did, for she tormented herself so desperately, and of such sort, that you would have thought all the world should have sunk, she feigned herself to be so exceeding sorrowful. So this same Megaera, under a huge heap of dolours she covered the extreme joy of her heart, and under the show of a certain exterior sorrow, nourished the venomous honey which lay hid in her stomach. The obsequies of this young Gentleman were celebrated somewhat pompeously, and his body was buried by his father, to the end he might participate both in tome and misfortune, him which had begot him. The Lady seeing herself discharged of a great hartebreaking, not having any more her Son in her company, to survey or mark● her dealings, began now more familiarly and boldly to entertain and embrace her Doctor, not fearing so much as she did in the life of her eldest son. But the second son, not knowing any thing of the occasion of the death of his brother: and where before he had not taken any great regard of the fond government of his Mother, began now to suspect her, and declared the same so well in countenance, that he could not speak one only word to Tolonio, but such as contented him not, and such as made to appear the evil will that he bore to this infamous knave: and if perchance he spoke at any time to his mother, he did it with such disdain, that he could not well behold her with a good eye, whereof she being marvelously vexed & as angry as was possible, did deliberate and determine to bloody wholly her renown, and to fill her whole house with parricide & murders intolerable, tending to that end to celebrated the nuptial song of her wicked marriage. And so this ungentle harlot conspired against her second son, & so swore his death as she had done the other, with the minister of her abominable wickedness Tolonio, which took upon him the charge, and promised to bring to effect, that which she before so earnestly desired. This worthy Lawyer brought up in the school of Pluto, and rather learned in his laws, than in the laws of Emperors and Pretorierum Edicts or ordinances of the Senate, addressed him to a wicked companion of his, that before had murdered the Lord of Chabry, the which he very easily corrupted, for an evil heart and a mischievous nature can not but show the fruits of their corruption and malice. This knave having received a certain sum of money of this Doctor, assured him to make him a good account of that he hoped for: and he failed not of this promise, for certain days after, they being on hunting, as the most part of the servants were following the chase of the Hare, the poor young man resting himself upon a high rock, from the which the going down was very perilous, for the headlong steepness thereof upon the one side. This murderer which all the whole day had not ceased to ride and follow by trace to find occasion to perform his enterprise, very glad to see that he had found so good opportunity, came behind him, and thrust him down from the top of the rock so forsibly, that this poor Gentleman was deprived of this mortal life, before he could perceive who it was that had advanced himself so outrageously to finish and end his days. Nevertheless (this cursed Hag of Hell borne to spoil and torment her own children, thinking to keep secret her detestable and abominable filthiness, and to appear a woman of great honesty before the world, which had made no courtesy to sprinkle the earth with the blood of Innocents, which cried vengeance both against her and against her Varlet, which had been the cause and mover of all these murders. After the funerals of this young man, seeing that all her servants began to suspect of their privy dealings, and doubted of their over much familiarity, she communicated and conferred with her beloved Doctor, of the end of all their enterprises, that is, how they might bring it to pass, that they might join together in marriage: but Tolonio (being already married to a wife as sage and virtuous as he was vile and mischievous) deliberated to make some secret riddance of her by death, how dear soever it cost him. Wherefore he certified his Lady and lover, who liking very well of his device, prayed him to hasten and dispatch the execution thereof with as much speed as he possible might. This wicked and covetous Doctor did this, not for any great or extreme love he bore unto her, when he desired so much to marry: for he knew very well that commonly they are wont to intertene and embrace traitors, to aid them with their devilish and subtle inventions: even so Tolonio knowing that the Lady of Chabry was rich and well moneyed, purposed (his wife being dead) to marry her, to have the spoil of her goods, and then after (peradventure) to make her to tread the same path, traced by so many murders, committed by the means both of the one and of the other: Nevertheless he did not yet know which way to perform his wicked desire. O wicked and unbridled covetousness, how hast thou depraved and bewitched the spirits of men at this day? Truly the father is not well assured of his son, the neighbour doth fear the ambushes and deceits of his neighbour. And the Prince oftentimes is in danger of his person, environed and compassed on every side with his guard and ministers: for the foolish desire to have, blindeth so rightly the senses of man, that he betrayeth his Lord to enrich himself: and he to the same end doth cell his friend, another advanceth the death of him, for whose life he ought continually to pray. And the thing is come to such disorder, that even the sacred or holy things themselves, have felt the poison and venom of this cursed beast, the which how far forth she extendeth her forces, so much doth this world become more mischievous, and men more traitorous and disloyal. Now to return again to our bloody Lawyer, which did nothing but as it were build castles in the air upon the deliberation taken in the death of his wife, for he held (as they say) the wolf by the ears, not knowing how to leave him, nor yet with what assurance to hold him, without the danger and peril of his person. first he deliberated to assay by poison to end her days, but that way seemed unto him very dangerous. Then he cast in his mind to make her to be murdered by him which had before by his commandment committed the murder on the person of the Son of the L. of Chabry, but that way liked him not, for the chaste dame seldom or never went out of her own house. Finally led by his own foolish appetite, and left in the hands of the devil, he determined to use none other means for this exploit, but his own proper hands. And therefore one night being in bed with his wife, writhing a table napkin with force about her neck, strangled her, and as she was upon the end and last gasp of her life, the varlet, (thinking to make his matter good) made an outcry, saying to them that came in, that the rheum falling into the throat of his wife, choked her, and brought her to that point that she was past remedy of life, the which thing was easily credited and believed of them that came in, and had passed without further question or account to be made of it, but that the father of this miserable deceased came to this cry, the which the night before had supped with his daughter, leaving her as whole and sound, and in as good case as ever she had been in all her life before. Now the Father beholding the visage and throat of his miserable Daughter, perceived by and by that he had ended her days by violente death, and that the Rheum that had choked her, was either the hands of her Husband or of some other by his appointment: which he perceived by the blackness and swelling about her face and throat. Nevertheless dissembling this anger, and covering his mourning, he purposed to avenge himself in such sort, that he would make him an example to all murderers of their chaste and honest wives. And the better to attain his purpose, he said unto Tolonio, My son, I pray thee take order for the preparation of her Obsequys and Funerals, according to the demerits of both our houses, and in the mean time I will go into the Town, minding to make quick return, and to aid you in any thing that shall be requisite. The Advocate occupying himself about the pomp and preparation of the Funerals of his wife, his father in law half transported with dolour and grief, went to seek out the criminal judge of the Town, whom he prayed to come to see the most detestable fact that man could imagine to think, and of which he would have compassion, if he were not more cruel than Timon the Athenian, which for his fierce and cruel nature was surnamed the common enemy of mankind. The Magistrate, aswell to be ready (as his office required) to tender to every man justice, as to see what new thing that should be, whereof he had made to him relation, followed him, accompanied with a troop of sergeant and neighbours to back him, and arrived at the house of Tolonio, wondering out of measure, seeing the dead body in that order, and yet more marveled, understanding the father of the deceased to use to him these or such like words: Sir, if this present spectacle be not strange unto you, or if the tears of a sorrowful father losing his child so mischievously, move you not to compassion, I suppose that all impunity of vice and sin hath place on your behalf. I know nevertheless, that at the first blush, you will think strange of that I pretend to say unto you, but the thing being well and exactly understood, you shall be made certain of my uprightness, and of the iniquity of him, which hath so grievously wounded my heart, that I fear it will 'cause my death, the which I would rather have wished a thousand fold, than to see this lamentable and piteous Tragedy upon my daughter, whom, I say, hath been traitorously slain in her bed by the detestable murderer which you see, and whom amongst all other I had chosen for the loyal spouse and husband of my daughter, and the successor in time to come of the goods that God hath given me: You see sir the evident signs & open marks how she hath been strangled, and it is well known that she laid her down as sound and merry as any of us. Alas sir have pity on my desolate house, venge with the sword of justice the injury done to my daughter, and the heartbreake that afflicteth the soul of the father: punish with extremity the most mischievous deed that ever was done in this country, to see so strange and barbarous cruelty of a husband, a man of such quality and knowledge, yea the husband of one of the most virtuous Dames that might be found, and nevertheless without just occasion hath murdered her as unjustly as he is mischievous and abominable. Alas si, the only hope I have, is that even the Gods will make you to know the wicked acts of this ungracious man, and thereupon to extend justice, have letted me to venge the wrong that I assure myself to have received of this homicide. And willing to continued his talk further, his tongue failing he began to weep, in such sort that the judge moved to pity, said unto the Doctor: You hear that which your father in Law saith against you, nevertheless I see you not answer one point of those accusations that he hath laid before you. But the infamous and adulterous murderer, judged by the testimony of his own wicked conscience, and condemned by the memory of his filthy and abominable facts passed, could not express nor utter one only word to refute and reprove the accusation laid before him by his Father in Law. The judge having marveled as much as was possible of this, knowing the Doctor to be a man very Eloquent, prompt, and ready in answers, doubted exceedingly of his case: & thus pondering and weighing the matter within himself, he immediately desired the judgements of divers expert and well learned Physicians and Surgeons, which all said that the deceased was dead by the violence of some one that had strangled her. Then the judge laid hands on the lover of the Lady of Chabry, and sent him to espouse & marry the hole of the prison house, in leu to enjoy the free embracements desired in the premeditate bed of his wife promised, whom he would have made lieutenant of his wife deceased. The next day the corpses was set in a public place, where both men and women of all estates did deplore her with infinite tears, not without cursing a thousand times the cruel felon, which had caused to die so virtuous chaste, & honest a wife, notwithstanding the corpses was buried honourably in the collegeat church of the place, with such lamentations and tears, that it appeared that a very Matron of the City had finished her days. The Father ceased not too pursue the prisoner for the death of his daughter, & that with such diligence that the prisoner was heard, & confessed the crime without question or constraint, which struck such horror into the heart of the Provost, that he wrote thereof to the Lords of the Parliament of Aix, before whom the case was brought. The Lady of Chabry having understood the discourse of this Imprisonment, and the voluntary confession of the Doctor, knowing herself to be guilty of the whole matter, and fearing the sequel and future mischief, lest he should open and discover all her practices, and should confess all the murders perpetrated in her house, deliberated with herself to flee away before the tempest, lest the lightnings and thunderbolts thereof should fall upon her head. Therefore taking with her a good round sum of money, with the best of her jewels, she retired to Poget in the territories of the D. of Savoy. In the mean time the Doctor was led bound towards the famous City of Aix, where his process being made, and he newly examined, confessed further all the enormities and detestable sins that he had committed with the L. of Chabry, without omitting any of the heinous murders, the occasion of them, & the names of the persons by whom he had been aided concerning the same. The Court seeing the abomination & grievousness of the crime, condemned him to be led back again to La grass, where he should be executed in the public place of the Town, according to his demerits. This being done he was led back to the place where he was borne, and put again into prison, within the which hearing the day of his death to approach, bathed in tears, knowledging his sin, and earnestly repenting him of his faults, kneeling down upon the earth, and addressing his blubbered eyes unto the heavens, began to speak in this sort: Ah cruel fate, that from so high degree of honour and reputation, am now in one moment fallen into the depth of infamy & perpetual shame. O what a notable example may they take in me, that put their confidence in the subtlety of their judgements and human prudence? what a looking glass is offered to those that put necessity to the mobility of fortune? what a lively picture am I, to advertise secret sinners to acknowledge their faults, seeing that at the end the wicked livers (although they have long enjoyed the contentments of their cruel appetites) they shall yet at the last be discovered with their iniquities, leaving (as I do) their renown defaced, & their life (which finally shall end) ignominious, the memory whereof shall be left to the posterity. This is the rod that beateth my soul, this only thought is to me more grievous than the death, the which I have demerited, as being the most mischievous & most cursed creature that ever nature brought forth. This his oration thus ended, he was led to the place of execution, where he ended his wretched life, to the great contentment of his father in law, and all the dames of the country, saving that mischievous & miserable dame the Lady of Chabry, which knowing that diligent inquisition was made of the place whereunto she was retired, and that they went about by all means to recover her, to the end to do justice on her, not knowing herself sufficiently assured in Poget, determined to take the way to Genes: and so having taken and transported her baggage, took his journey, accompanied with a gallant, who rob her of that she had: after being in these extremities, she addressed herself to an honest widow, where declaring her extreme necessity, this good widow received her very benignly, and perceiving her by her demeanours to be some Gentlewoman, committed unto her her daughters in government. In this house she poorly (but much more honourably than she deserved) finished her days. Thus in such sort she which all her life had commanded & ruled a great troop of servants & maids, was now constrained to obey unto such a one, which was much inferior to her: and again she which in her young years had been delicately and with great care nourished & brought up, now drawing upon the end of her days, she suffered perpetual exile, subject to the pleasure of another, priest and ready (as she did in deed) to die out of her country, & to receive sepulchre in another place, then in the Monument & tomb of her Progenitors. This is then the end of the unhonest love of these lascivious adultrers': behold the fruits of a tree so detestable & pernicious. These are the pleasures that in the end accompany these inordinate lovers, see how the lowering eyes of beauties vading joys hath so enchanted these Venerians, that now quite forgetting all grace and goodness do plunge themselves in the pit of perpetull shame and infamy: behold whither this outrageous and beastly lust covered with the name of pure and earnest love, is able to draw these gentle subjects, to 'cause them to commit most heinous murders, to imbrue their hands in the shedding of innocent blood.  
This History thus finished, my thought was very strange, but in specially to be told in Venus' Court, which tended so much to the depravation of her Laws, wherefore I asked of Lady Countenance, what he should be that had used such lavish speech: who answered, that it was one Bandelio, an Italian, not far unlike in conditions, to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who many times used by words to inveigh against that which actually he so much frequented, so there be many which with sharp and bitter words, will outwardly seem to reprove such as yield themselves to love, and yet in their deeds show themselves so earnest professors of Venus and her Laws, as they worthily demerit to be shrined Saints. But above all these devices, I had a special regard to the bewtis of the Chamber which was wondered to behold. In the middle of the Roof there was artificially wrought, a knot of massy gold, in manner four square, and in the midst of this knot was placed a stone of a marvelous bigness, whose brightness did so exceed, that it dazzled my eyes, I was not able to behold it in every square, there was likewise set a rich Emeraud, from the which there issued forth a Vine, in manner of a fret, which spreading all the Chamber, as was wonderful to be hold, the branches and leaves were all of pure Gold, curiously Enamelled, in stead of Grapes, the Rubies there did shine which were correspondent to the residue of the work, the hangings were all of Arras, very richly wrought. In which was expressed the pitiful History, of Romeus and juletta, Gismonda and Guistairdo, Pyramus & Thisbe, Livio and Camilla, and of many other loving wights, who in regard of Venus' Law, had endured many bitter torments, and yielded themselves to martyrdom.  
Having passed this Chamber, we came into a Gallery, which in curiosity, or workmanship, in every respect, was as far exceeding the rest, as Phoebus' Rays, of light, exceedeth every other Star, in the upper end whereof, there were many worthy Dames, whose beauty might welbe compared to the place. Well now, quoth Lady Countenance, thou must make quick dispatch, be hold where Mars and Venus are now here in place, with the I espied where Mars was laid in Venus' Lap, before whom, kneeling on both my knees, said as followeth.  
O mighty Mars, O dreadful God, 
His request to the Gods.  to whom it wholly doth belong, to give victory, and conquest, the only stay and comfort, of every valiant heart, lo hear the Supplications, of poor dystressed wights, the which in their behalfs, I humbly here present, whereby thou mayst perceive the sum of all their grief.  
With which words he arose, and I kissing the Supplication, delivered it into his hand, which when he had thoroughly perused, said as followeth.  
And are Soldiers then so slenderly accounted of, 
Mars maketh answer.  be they so lightly regarded now in this peaceable time, who in the time of wars, must offer themselves to the slaughter, for their Country's defence, well ungrateful Country, and most unthankful people, I perceive your quiet state, doth make you to forget both me and mine, but take heed you be not more suddenly overtaken than you be ware of, when you will wish, you were as well furnished with expert Soldiers, as you are provided with other warlike provisions, your enemies be as secret as they be malicious.  
And as he was about to proceed in farther talk, the Goddess Venus suddenly arose in a great rage, as it seemed, turning herself toward me▪ 
Venus checketh the Soldier.  and said as followeth.  
A sir, and is this the cause of your repayer to my Court, I now perceive right well, the whole circumstance of your pretence, because your unbridled minds have been of late restrained, whereby you have wanted some part of your ungracious wills, you have therefore amongst you made a bill of complaint, thinking yourselves to be greatly injured, when in deed you are but justly plagued, and yet nothing in respect, according to your deservings, your malicious minds, are not to me unknown, you hate the good hap of any one that is not of your own profession, it grieveth you that any should be preferred before you. You think the princes before all others, should bestow offices & promotions upon you, to be short you despise all other in respect of yourselves, & yet you yourselves would not be despised, you hate all, & you would be beloved, how evident these matters be, I think may well be perceived, when it pleaseth you to bestow so many nice names, & other rope ripe terms, upon such as be my subjects, and professors of my Laws, giving them the title of Carpet knights.  
But if all be Carpet Knights which hath submitted to my behests, I trust you may put the greatest part of your most renowned Soldiers and Captains in the number.  
Was not Hercules that noble conqueror, conquered himself by love with Dianayra, was not the fierce Achilles in like manner with Polixena, & Troilus with Cressida, was not Alexander when he should have given battle to the Amazons coming to a rivers side, where beholding the Queen he was so subdued, that their fierce and cruel fight converted to wanton amorous words. Was not Hannibal in like manner stayed in Capra, and julius caesar in Alexandria. But here over passing a great number of others, is not your god of battle himself obedient to my will, and yet a many of you who in respect are but reprobate persons, would prefer yourselves to be more worthy than any of these.  
These words thus pronounced by the gods, did daunt me so with such despair, that I ne wist what answer I might make, which being perceived by the God of battle, said as followeth.  

Mars taketh up the matter  Well well Lady dear, if I should answer these causes effectually, peradventure I might use greater vehemency in words than I willingly would, but yet I would not wish that any of these before named should be registered, amongst that effeminate number, although I am not ignorant that not only these but also many other valiant Captains and noble Soldiers, hath been obedient to the laws of love, for who commonly are more subject to love then the most valiant minded wight, and who sooner disdained by a number of scornful dames, who will rather except of those that are in deed but Metamorphisis having but the shapes of men, or that are as Hermaphroditus half men, half women, such as will lie rolling in a Lady's lap kissing her hands, feeding her ears with philed flattering talk.  
But how should these womanlike minded men, or any other of these loving worms, enjoy their delights in such quiet manner, were not the noble Soldier to back them, who is the very Wal and only Bulwark to defend them.  
Wherefore dear dame you have no just cause thus to exclaim on Soldiers, on whose valiauncy, principally dependeth the quiet estate of such as be your subjects and professors of your law, which else might remain a prey for every man if causes were thoroughly considered.  
Well then quoth. the Goddess Venus, 
Venus is persuaded.  what simplicicie might be imputed unto us, between whom there hath been such familiarity, and that of so long continuance, and should now seem to contend about so slender occasion: again it seemeth unto me as good reason, that as great friendship and familiarity should be continued between such as be our professors, on either pa●te, as there is love and amity between us ourselves, and for my part from henceforth I will yield myself beholding unto Soldiers, promising them my fartheraunce in any thing, wherein I may pleasure them.  
These joyful news did breed in me such a sudden alteration from despair, 
The Soldier awaketh.  to comfort, from doleful doubt to assured hope, from mourning to mirth, that in the midst of all these surmounting joys, suddenly awaked, perceiving myself to be but deluded by a dream which I have thus rudly penned, desiring the gentle reader to bear with my infirmity, and to mend that is amiss.  
FINIS.