ALLARME To England, foreshew­ing what perilles are pro­cured, where the people liue without regarde of Marti­all lawe.

With a short discourse contey­ning the decay of warlike discipline, con­uenient to be perused by Gentlemen, such as are desirous by seruice, to seeke their owne de­serued prayse, and the preseruation of their countrey. Newly deuised and writ­ten by Barnabe Riche Gentleman.

Malui me diuitem esse quam vocari.

Perused and allowed.

1578.

To the right honorable Syr Chri­stopher Hatton, Knight, Captaine of her Maie­sties Garde, Vicechamberlayne to her Highnes, and one of her Maiesties most honourable priuie Counsayll, Barnabe Ryche wisheth long and happie lyfe, with increase of Honour, as your Noble heart both desireth and deserueth.

THE common and vulgare sorte of people (Right Honorable) are accustomed to estimate and valewe of such thinges as shall happen to their sight, more rather according to the credit and opinion that they haue conceyued in the authour, then for the substance or matter of that is eyther sayde, or written.

For better proofe I could alleadge sundrie examples, but leauing many others, this fable may suffice (fayned by the Poetes) of the man, which by the consent of all the goddes, was deemed for his feauture in euery proportiō to be so pure and perfect, that with one generall verdite they all commended him to bee without any maner imperfection.

In the ende Momus taking the vewe of this goodly personage, and throughly perusing the excellencie of this creature, perceyued yet one faute which all the rest had missed: which was, that there wan­ted a windowe in his brest, through which his thoughtes might bee looked into, whereby might be seene what there remayned within him.

Meaning that there were no man that almost might be founde, howe comely so euer he was in his personage, how gallantly so euer he went in his apparell, howe smoothly so euer he could speake with his tongue, howe demurely so euer he seemed in countenance, nor howe plausible so euer he appeared in his other demeanours, yet if his secrete thoughtes might be seene into, and that the priuities of his heart might be throughly considered of, there is no doubt, but there would be founde some great corruption yet remayning.

If this faute had bene founde by Pallas or Apollo, questionlesse it would haue bene registred amongest the sayinges and sentences of the wise: but proceeding from him whome they rather had in con­tempt, then esteemed in any credit, it was reputed to be but a mocke and a scorne.

I haue here (right Honourable) rashly and aduenterously taken vpon me to become a writer, wherein a great number (I knowe) will [Page] likewise condemne me, and the rather considering my simplicitie & trayning vp, which hath not bene so much with my penne, but more with my pyke, nor in the scholes amongst learned clarkes, but rather in the fields amongst vnletered companions, or as some will terme them, amongst a company of rustike souldiers.

Wherefore most humbly I desire your Honour to accept of these my slender trauayles in good parte, the which I do here present vnto you with my simple seruice during my lyfe, to be at your Honorable disposition: And although I do know both the one and the other to be to farre insufficient to be presented vnto you, yet though not ac­cording to mine owne deseruing, eyther for the valew of that I haue written, yet according to your accustomed clemencie and goodnes, that you would vouchsafe to protect and shroud them with your fa­uourable countenance, whereby they may be made more accepta­ble to the readers, and be the better welcome to such as shall per­use them.

I do here omitte to follow the order of some writers, which is with great circumstance to blase the vertues of such as they choose to be patrons of their workes: for what may bee sayde sounding more to your aduancement, then what your selfe haue already gayned, whose noblenes hath not onely aduaunced you to so great honour, but al­so in euery mans iudgement hath made you to be deemed worthie to enioye it?

But I may not here omit, that amongst other honorable roomes whereto you haue bene called, what a president you haue begunne, whereby our captaines of Englande may learne and gather light.

I meane where her Maiestie hath worthily appointed you to bee Captayne of a worthy bande, what care and consideration you haue euer had, aswell of the maners and conditions, as otherwyse of the personage and abilitie of any one that you would permit, whereby her Maiestie is guarded with a bande of men, not onely indued with actiuitie, but also with honestie.

Howe much they be bound to your Honour, that was the onely meane to her Maiestie, for the amending of their pay, whereby they are made the better able to do her seruice, I leaue for them selues to reporte, and do but onely wishe that our Captaynes of Englande would by your Honourable example, take such light, whereby they might be made the more renowmed.

Thus desiring your Honour to pardon my boldnes & simplicitie, I humbly take my leaue.

Your humble and obedient seruant, Barnabe Ryche.

To the gentle and friendly Reader.

ALlarmes (gentle Reader) as they are giuen vpon di­uerse and sundrie occasions, so they are many times offred aswel by friends as foes.

By foes to further their pretences when they practise to deceyue: by friendes, but to see howe they be prepa­red, and in what readines they stande. Who if they shall be negligent or vnprouided, to giue them as it were a friendly caueat, hereafter to vse greater circumspection and care.

I haue in like maner aduentured to giue a friendly warning, the which I haue termed by the name of an Allarme, wherein, I knowe, there be a great number wil confesse I haue bewrayed mine owne simplicitie, in that I should thinke to giue any Allarme to those that stande in doubt neither of King nor Keyser.

But because I would not be thought to arrogate so great presumption to my selfe, I haue rather but vsed the parte of some poore bel ringer, or of some other inferiour person, that sometymes being more afrayde then hurt, hath rong the larume bell, or hath runne through the campe in great haste, crying, Arme, arme, arme, wherewith euery one hath runne to his furniture, and being prepared to make defence, seeking on euery side where the foe should make assault, it hath in the ende fallen out, that the poore man was but stared in his owne conceyte, or else afrayde of some shadowe in the Mooneshine. Now it may be likewyse, that I am but afrayde of myne owne shadowe, the which if it be so, my simplicitie yet ought the rather to be borne withal, considering it procee­deth of good wil that I beare to my countrey.

But what excuse might seeme here sufficient, wherewith to auoyde me from so many quipping tauntes, which I knowe wil be pronounced against me, by our carping cauillers, such as wil be correcting of euery mans doing? Some wil find faulte with my homely maner of inditing, and wil say, This is no good sense, or this is no true Englishe, here he hath bene something to tedious, and this mat­ter asked longer circumstance, this maner of phrase is but bad, and by this he shewed his eloquence was but small, and here it is not well poynted, and so forth with many other faultes, I know not what.

Wherefore I would these superficial heades would take this for myne an­swere, that what I haue written, it hath not bene to prooue my selfe artificiall or eloquent, but to shewe things more needfull, which I haue noted by expe­rience.

Some others there be, which are of such excellent memorie, that there is no­thing may be written which they do not already knowe, and wil say, This is but borowed in such a place, and this I haue read in this or in that booke.

[Page]Surely I must confesse I haue vsed the helpe of sundrie writers, but not of so many as I would haue done, if I had bene in place where I might haue come by them: for what I haue written, was onely done in Ireland, where there is no great choyce of bookes to be had▪

But what then? Is this sufficient cause to condemne what I haue written? is not the bee accustomed to gather out of euery flower what liketh her best, wherewith she maketh hony? Or I pray you, what is the medicine the worse, although the Physition be sometimes driuen to borowe a handful of herbes out of his neighbours garden, shal his composition be any thing the vnwhole­somer, because the simples were not al his owne?

There is yet an other sorte, that because they thinke it a shame to reade o­uer any thing, & not to be able to minister some correctiō, because they wil not be thought to be so dul witted, wil finde some fault, if it be but with the Ortho­graphie, and wil say, It was pitie this man would take in hande to write before he could spell.

To these I answer, As great folly might be ascribed to those that were their bringers vp, that would learne them to goe, before they had taught them to speake well.

But such is the delicacie of our readers at th [...] time, that there are none may be alowed of to write, but such as haue bene trained at schoole with Pallas, or at the lest haue bene fostered vp with the Muses, and for my parte (without vaunt be it spoken) I haue bene a trauayler, I haue sayled in Grauesende Barge as farre as Billings gate, I haue trauayled from Buckelers bery to Basingstocke, I haue gone from S. Pankeridge church to Kentish towne by lande, where I was combred with many hedges, ditches, and other slippery bankes, but yet I could neuer come to those learned bankes of Helicon, nei­ther was I euer able to scale Parnassus hyl, although I haue trauailed ouer Gaddes hyll in Kente, and that sundrie tymes and often.

No marueill then good reader, although I want such sugered sape, wherwith to sauce my sense, whereby it might seeme delightfull vnto thee: such curious Coxcombes therefore, which can not daunce but after Apollos pype, I wish them to cease any further to reade what I haue written: but thou which canst endure to reade in homely style of matters, more behooueful and necessarie, then eyther curiouse or fyled, goe thou for­ward on Gods name, and I doubt not, but by that time thou hast perused to the end, thou shalt find some thing to satisfie thy desire, whereby thou wilt confesse that al thy labour hath not bene bestowed in vayne. And thus I bid thee hartily Farewell.

To the valiant Captaynes and renow­med Souldiours of Englande, Barnabe Riche wisheth for their better encouragement, en­crease of credit, estimation and necessarie maintenance, according to their due desertes.

ALthough (right noble Captaynes and wor­thie Souldiours) I may seeme too rashe and bolde to enter into those discourses so farre surpassing my capacitie, the which I knowe I haue finished not according as the argument hath required, but according as the slendernes of my skyll would permit me: yet I protest, I haue not taken in hand to write, for any vayne glory or presumption in my selfe, but rather to incite some one amongst you, that is more able & sufficient, to performe a greater enterprise, to a much better perfection: and for my parte, I haue but vsed the office of the meanest labouring man, & (as it were) haue but brought lyme and stone together, wherewith the master worke­man maye erecte his building in braue and sumptuous sorte.

Thus crauing pardon for this my bolde attempt, I sub­mit altogether what I haue done to your noble iudge­mentes, to correcte and amende what you shall see needfull and requisite. And thus I rest, yours to dispose

Barnabe Riche.

To my very louing friend Captaine Barnabe Ryche.

I Haue perused your booke, as farre as the shortnes of the tyme would suffer me: which was not so farre by a great deale as I glad­lyest would, if it might haue longer continued with me. Your tra­uaile and good mynde most iustly deserueth in my opinion, both thankes and commendations of all your countrey men. I wish with all my heart it may so be accepted of those, in whose handes the only remedie lyeth, that some good order may be deuised for the reliefe and encouragement of such vertuouse myndes as are contented with the ex­pens of their bloud to benefite their countrie. Which kinde of men aboue all others, ought most to be esteemed as the very sinowes and strength of euery common weale, howe mighty or wealthie so euer shee be. For according to the opinion of a late lear­ned writer, Pertinet autem maxime ad Reipub. fortitudinem, vti milites peritos & exerci­tatos habeat. Sic enim & tranquilla vita fruetur, & a terroribus tumultibus (que) vacua e­rit. The onely strength of euery common wealth is, To haue skilfull and well trayned souldiers: so shall they liue in happines, being free from all kinde of terrour and tu­mult. And agayne, Dum belli furor insurgit, hostis (que) Reipub. bonis occupandis inhiat, eorū in manibus Reipub. Salus, Religio, Fides, Libertas est reposita. When the rage of warres doth suddainly burst out, and the enemie at hand, gaping for the spoyle of the coun­trey, then both Safety, Religion, Faith and Libertie resteth wholy in the hande of the souldiours: who are the onely terrour to the enemie, defende their countrey from present danger, and bring the common wealth to safetie and quietnes. But our coun­trey hath alwayes had that faute (and I am afrayde will neuer be without it) of being vnnaturall and vnthankfull to such as with their great hazard, paynes and charges haue sought to attayne to the knowledge of armes, by which shee is chiefly maintey­ned, succoured and defended. To bring one example amongst thousands▪ What a num­ber was there of noble Gentlemen, and worthy souldiours, that in the dayes of that vi­ctorious prince King Henry the fifth (after the honourable behauing of them selues, as well at Agincort, as other places, to the discomfiture and vtter ouerthrowe of the whole Chiualry of Fraunce) returning to their countrey, were pitifully constrained (& which was in deede most miserable) in their olde and honourable age for very want and necessitie to begge, whyle a great number of vnworthie wretches that lyued at home, enioyed all kindes of felicities. That Noble Gentleman Syr William Drurie a Paragon of armes at this day, was wont (I remēber) to say, that the souldiers of En­gland had alwaies one of these three endes to looke for: To be slayne, To begge, or To be hāged. No doubt a gentle recompence for such a merit. Yet want there not some, yt dare affirme it a vayne burdē to a cōmon wealth, to mainteine souldiers, as the cōmon disturbers & hinderers of publike peace. Such a one was sometime Syr Thomas More, who hauing more skyll in sealing of a writte, then surueying of a Campe, was not a­shamed most vnwisely to write (if I may so speake of so wyse a man) that the commō labourer of Englande, taken from the plowe, was hee, that when it came to the mat­ter, dyd the deede: whose goodly seruice in tyme of neede, is better knowen then I neede to speake of. But what hath this Realme gayned by her small accompt of soul­diers? Shee hath of barbarous people bene foure or fyue tymes inuaded and ouer­tunne. I pray God the sixt be not neerer then men looke for. It is not money nor multitude of men that in extremetie preuayleth, but skyll and experience that safe­ly mainteyneth and preserueth. Rome, whyle shee maynteyned her souldiours, was mystresse and commandresse of the whole world: but when shee fell to her owne de­licacies, and neglecting of them, she became not only a triumphe, and contempt to the [Page] rude Vandale and barbarous Gothe, but as yet shee remaynes a spectacle of miserable ruine to the vniuersall world. Wee haue a number of Captaynes, such as neuer came yet vnder enseigne in their life: happy shall that realme be, that shall haue neede of such expert souldiours, but most vnhappy and vniust men that dare chalenge to them selues the place of so great a charge Souldiers ynough we haue that in time of peace can range their battailles, cast out their skirmishes, assault townes, and cōquer king­domes, that a man would iudge them at the first sight, for very Hectors and Hanni­balles. But these be they, (I knowe not how it happeneth) that are the first that wil be gone, when they come to it. We haue on the other side, a number of good captaynes, who by their skilfull experience, are well able to trayne and leade a gallant companie of souldiours, who perceyuing their colde entertaynement, do dayly (as no man can blame them) abandon, and vtterly renounce their profession, or serue in other places where they should not. These disorders and great numbers more, your booke (if it continew according to that part that I haue seene) will sufficiently lay out at large, and with his larum awake (I trust) the mindes of those, in whose handes it lyes to re­dresse them: whether it do or do not, your well doing deserueth of all men to be em­braced, that haue with learned authorities, and sufficient eloquence, done what in you lyeth to mooue it: the rest is to be supplied by him, that being of that Maiestie, vouchsafeth, in signe of his well liking of so noble a profession, to be called by the name of Dominus exercituum, the Lord of Armies. And thus with my harty thankes, I sende you your booke agayne. From Kingstone in haste.

Your assured friende, Barnabe Googe.

Lodowick Flood in the behalfe of the Authour.

MArch forth with Mars, clap costlets on, ring larum loud apace,
strike on the drum, sound out the trumpe, defie your foes in face.
Shake Morpheus of, set Vatia by, flee Bacchus bankets fro,
shunne Ceres seat, let Venus be, to Mars your seruice shewe.
In India loiterers were looked to, in Egypt youth were taught,
and in Lacena idle men, as men suspect were caught.
With sword & shield, in warlike w [...]eds the Romains Mars obeyed,
eche Martial feate the Grekes to Mars, in moūt Olympus plaied.
Had Pyrrhus prayse bin pend in bookes, had Alexander fame,
had Phrygia fieldes such fame by blood, had Mars not spred the same?
Scipio got by Hannibal prayse, by Pompey Cesar fame:
by Hector stout, Achilles strong, dyd win his noble name.
What worthie Cyrus gaynd by warres, what noble Ninus wanne,
that Sardanapalus lost by sloth, euen from thassyrians than.
What noble courage doth attempt, what haughtie heartes do winne,
that sluggish mindes do lose againe, as had no conquest binne.
A cowarde vile, a dastard he, that dares not marche in fielde,
whom dread of greesly gūne may daunt, to leaue both speare & shield
What greater glory can be got, what greater prayse be wonne,
then Curtius feates or Decius deedes, to do as they haue done?
[Page]Darius wisht Zopyrus like, to haue but twentie men,
and Agamemnon wisht againe, to haue but Nestors tenne,
Whereby that Troy and Ilion proud, by Nestors wisdome wonne,
and by Zopyrus brought to ground, the pryde of Persia done.
One subtle Sinon with some sleight, like Lasthenes one to be
is better then a thousand such, that bragges and bost and flee.
Then pace this path the tracte is playne, that Riche hath troden out,
and leades thee lightly to the place, where honour should be sought.
Sith Riche of right dyd runne this race, and painted forth with pen,
his trauaill tryed commend you must to Mars and to his men:
And geue of right to Riche his prayse, that rings the larum bell,
enroll his name, record his fame, and say to Riche far well.

Thomas Churchyard Gen­tleman, in commendation of this worke.

IF chyld thatt goes to skoell, dyd any warning tack
att fellows fawtts who feells the rod (whē they offence do maek)
His ortographie and maner of writing obserued.
him selff shuld skaep the skorge, and construe many a lyen
and lawghe to skorn the whisking whyp, thatt maeks the skol­lars whyen
But neyther chyld nor man, wyll warnyng taek youe se
tyll tempest coms wyth thonder crak, & stryeks down staetly tre
owre nebors howse a fyer, byds wyes to loek a bowtt
and rack vpp coells in imbers cloes, and putt the candell owtt
least sparkulls creep in strawe, and smothryng smoek a ryes
and styeffull sylly sleepyng Soells, in bed that caerles lyes
The warrs att hand we heer, maeks hollowe peace to bloeshe
byds call for warrs and coetts off steell, to stand and byed the poeshe
A man who long gyvs aem, may shoett hym selff att leynth
A heddy hors must corbbed be, by connyng or by streynth
A wyelly wykked world, byds wantton heds bewaer
Whatt needs moer words when peace is craktt, for lufty warrs prepaer
loes not your old renown, O baebs off bryttayn bloed
Dance afftter drom, lett tabber goe, the musyck is nott good
that maeks men loek lyek gyrlls, and mynce on carpaytts gaye
as thoghe mayd marry on mentt to martch, and Iuen shuld bryng in May
The sownd off trompett suer, wyll change your maydens face
to loek lyek men or lyons whelpps, or tygers in the chace
A gallantt stoering hors, thatt maeks a manneg ryghtt
wear fytter than a lady fyen, for myghtty marssys Knightt
The warrs for marshall mynds, and peace for Venus men
The sword and soldior best agrees, the lawyer for the pen
The warrs calls corraeg vpp, and peace breeds cowards styll
maeks peple prowd, dystroyes greatt hartts, and pampers wantton wyll
peace prowlls a bowtt for pence, and warrs the mock wyll spend
[Page]that gredy gayn hords vp in hoells, god knoes to lyttell end
the wealth that peace doth bring, maeks many a myscheeff ryeff
and peace rons hedlong in to vyce, and warrs refforms leawd lyeff
for fear off sword or sho [...]t, mans mynd loeks throwe the starrs
the hartt fawlls flatt beffoer hys face, that maeks boeth peace and warrs
the noghtty natuerd wyghtt, by warrs is broghtt in fraem
the baddest putts on better mynd, the wyeldest waxeth taem
peace fills the land wyth pomp, thatt gyvs a pryuey wownd
feeds folly fatt, maeks vertue lean, and floeds off vyce a bownd,
Daem lust her pleasuer taeks, in peace and banketts sweett
and warrs doth quenche owr hott desyers, and dawntts the dallyng spreete
in warrs we honor wyn, on peace reproetch doth groe
and warrs contentts owr noblest frynds, and peace doth pleas owr foe
peace putts vp sondry wrongs, and warrs doth ryght mentayn
and suer a battayll is well lost, thatt doth a kyngdom gayn
To feyght in forrayn soyll, apawlls the enmyes pryed
and better fare abroed to martch, than heer the brontt to byed
nott many hold with peace, thoghe warrs is cald a shreawe
nor many aer by peace maed rytch, for wealth butt fawlls to feawe
and thoes thatt thryvs by peace, aer fy [...]n and full off sleyghtt
who taketh owtt off measuer styll, and gyvs agayn by weyghtt
yff any wyn by warrs (as dyuers do in deed)
they loes the saem agayn by peace, thus peace myslyek doth breed
for peace restoers the goods, thatt warre haeth concquerd well
yelds vpp the fortts, gyvs back perfforce, the towns whearin we dwell
and warr trayns soldyors vpp, (whych keeps the world in awe)
putts rebells down, mentayns good men, thatt styll vpholds the lawe
When Roem soghtt warrs from hoem, in peace the staett remaynd
when common wealth wyth peace was cloyd, prowd peple peace dysdaynd
This peace I do compaer, to calmye wether fayre
thatt smoethly loeks tyll doskye clowds, haue clean oercast the ayre
butt when the stordy storms, rons rattling throwe the skyes
The rack goes swyfftt the clowds wax dark, and ragyng wynds aryes
and tears vpp trees by roetts: sutch store a tempest maeks
thatt att the clapp, lowe caues of earth, and highest heauen shaeks
warre is nott liek to thys, whear baddest warre youe fynd
butt peace moer liek a swellinge soer, thatt festers sowndest mynd
and so bursts owtt in byells, in botch or vlcerrs greatt
whych vtters by thear smokyng fuem, a cuerles inward heatt
lett peace gyue place to warre, off force hytt must be soe
off force the gallantts off this land, must needs a warrffaer goe
Thoghe stowttnes striue youe se, the quarrell is the staetts
thatt steps in to thoes bloddy broylls, by feyghtt to end debaetts
admitt thatt myllions dye, and perishe on the playn
in pryncys cawse and conttreys ryghtt, thear must be thowsandes slayn
To hold the enmyes short, and maek our manhoed known
whoes value in our elders dayes, a boutt the world was blowen.
and we wear vyctors cald, and feard of forrayn foe
whear now transformd to wemens wylls, liek carpett knightes we goe
O Eangland loek thoue back, whatt noble elders did
shall strangers braggs & boests gyue fear, to boldnes god forbyd
Thyen honour so wear staynd. Than pluck vpp corraeg nowe
and waesh away thatt spyetffull spott, that blotts thy noble browe
[Page]To gyue thy soldyors lyeff, this boek is nuely maed
by oen who c [...]n for conttreys cause, wel vse boeth pen and blaed
Accept hys wylling work, gyue other corraeg to
(by fauryng thatt is worthy prayes) the lyek off this to doe
Thys setts forth many greeffs, and sercheth sondry soers
not fraemd [...]o fawn and flatter world, a soldyor that a boers
Loek for the lyek in haest, from me yf layser wyll
and thatt youe pleas to taek in worth, the payns of barrayn quyll.

S. Stronge, in the behalf of the Authour.

IF painfull pilgryme for his toyle, deserues a guerdon due
In seeking of the sacred sorte, which vertue doth pursue:
Or if the wakeful watche in warre, do merit like reward,
Or cunning pylot that with skill, doth take his due regard,
To cut in twayne the billowes huge, that swell in Occean sea,
And keepes the keele aright his course, tyll wished port he wray:
Then (Ritche) that rings this larum bell, to warne his countreyes thrall,
And sortes (much like the busie bee) the hunny from the gall,
Deserues no lesse, in lieu thereof: such fruite I reape thereby,
As for my parte, a double prayse, I may him not deny.
The toyle to him no profit yeelds, he bites on bitter paine:
He hales home haruest for the chaffe, the reader reapes the graine.
He giues the sworde and shield in hande, to shroud thee from annoy,
He wisely warnes thee of the worse, lest foes might thee destroy:
He treades thee out a perfect path, oh England loude I crye,
Refuse therefore thy follies past, he sees thee goe awrye:
And leaue of al thy lustfull lyfe, and eke thy great excesse,
Thy dainty fare, thy fine array, and eke thy wantonnesse.
Leaue of likewise thy vsance great, and leaue thy lawing vaine,
Lest for the present guyle thereof, there happe some future paine.
Yet God forbid but iustice should in eche thing beare the sway,
And lawe is good where lawe is vsde, I cannot this denay.
But so your Common lawes are courst, at will of euery pelth,
That common is the woe (God knowes) but priuate is the wealth.
Do sorte thy selfe from Comedies, and foolish playes of loue,
Lest tragicall and worse perhaps in fine thee chaunce to proue.
Take sword in hand, and leaue of ease, for nowe the tyme is comme,
The bell is rong, the trumpettes sound, all arme doth strike the dromme.
And thanke good (Ritch) that rings the same, to wake thee out of sleepe,
That thou thy selfe, that liuest at peace, in safetie still mightst keepe.
A iewel ritche and gemme of price, the same no doubt doth seeme,
A ritcher gifte for thy behoofe, he could not geue, I deeme.

Thomas Lupton, in commenda­tion of this worke.

WHat beter thing, then perilles to preuent?
What danger more, then careles still to sleepe?
Then ist not good, in peace for to frequent
The thing that vs from force of foes may keepe?
What harme in heate, to make for colde a hoode?
The Ante prouides, in sommer wynters foode.
Therefore who lothes his losse and countreyes spoyle,
Let him peruse this booke with griedie mynde,
Which vtters howe his foe may haue the foyle,
And eke what hurt through want of skill we finde.
And thanke thou Riche, that giues this larum bell,
A richer gifte, he coulde not giue thee well.

The Authour to the reader, why he tooke in hand to write this booke.

IN dolful dumpes of deepe despayre, and vnacquainted fyt,
with troubled head but here of late, I chaunced for to syt,
reuoluing what reuenge the goddes doe yeld to those of right,
that haue their godheds in disdaine, or yet contemnes their might:
What iustice Ioue did rightly vse, and Iuno also showe
on Priams race for Paris fact, the Troyans all did knowe.
Acteon felt Dianas force, shee yelded him for hyre:
and what it is for mortall men, to moue the gods to yre
Narcissus may a mirrour be, of Venus scourge to such
as haue her darlings in disdaine, or at her lawes will grutch.
The Spider shewes how vaine it is, to such as will contemne,
and Piers daughters for like fact, the Muses did condemne.
And Bacchus byrdes had dewe reward, for that they would despise,
and what reuengement hath bene vsde by Ceres may suffise.
Though I omit a numbre mo, that here I could recite,
who for contemning of the gods, haue felt their force and might:
But here my muse is in a maze, my senses all do shake,
my fainting wits do faile for feare, my quiuering quil doth quake,
To blaze the bloody broyles of Mars, the mightie god of warre,
wherewith he plagues such rebels stout, as at his lawes will snarre.
How he doth scourge the carelesse crewe, that liues deuoide of awe,
in secure sort without regard of Mars or martiall lawe.
[Page]No stories strange I need recite a hundred yeres forepast,
but such as chaunst in these our dayes, and at this houre doth last.
Let Holland make discourse at large, if I haue said amisse,
whose state sometime in all respectes, surmounted most in blisse.
Whose townes were seated in such sort, by nature framed so strong,
as no assault of forraine foe, might do them sodaine wrong.
No want of welth might work their wo, no coine with thē was scāt,
of shippes great store in euery port, no pleasure they did want.
Lecker cost is good chere.
They livd at case in vyle excesse, they sought for (Lecker cost)
their paunches stuft with double beere, was that they carde for most.
They honourd Bacchus as their god, and Venus had her dewe,
but as for Mars they knew not him, they were not of his crewe.
they scornd to learne the lawes of armes, their countrey to defend,
they livd in peace, which as they thought, should neuer haue an end.
But mighty Mars, who long had winkte, & borne with their contēpt
perceiuing that from him and his, them selues would stil exempt,
To teach such rebels to resist, his godhed did deuise
a straūge reuenge, yf wisely waid: for whom they did despise,
And whom they held in most contempt, euen they did rule the rost,
and such had them at their command, as they despised most.
Loe here of Mars the iudgement iust, prepared but of right,
that those which had both him and his, but late in such despight,
Those that disdaind all martiall wightes, & scornd to learne their law
by martiall might were soone supprest, and brought to liue in awe.
Of men of warre by vowe profest, a troupe of Mars his traine,
though numbre small more haughtie heartes, came neuer out of spaine
And these were planted in their townes, throughout in euery place,
and souldiers now prescrybd them lawes, a wofull altered case.
They swaid the sword where they became, for who durst them resist?
they tooke their liues as they thought good, & pardond whom they list
Their liues & goodes were at command, their coyne at spaniards call,
their virgins faire, their married wiues, the spaniardes held as thrall.
their scutes must scoure with fristers fraught whō spaniards must cō ­uoy
their waggans trould with lusty frowes, that neuer made it coy.
Their husbands they must be content, they durst not seeke redresse:
the spaniardes held them in good awe, their deedes did shew no lesse.
A hundreth Spanyardes in a towne would gouerne thousands fiue,
the Hollanders were men of peace, they lovd not they to striue.
Good men they tooke all in good part, but if they hapt to quarrell,
their strife at first was stird about, that (Shellam) in the barrell.
But though of Holland all this while, my tale hath bene pretended,
yet other places in like case, with Holland haue offended,
And haue with Holland felt the scourge, of Mars his force and might
wherewith he dauntes the rebel route, that hath him in despight.
Hath Seland thinke you scaped free, let Flanders make report.
let Brabant bragge what gaines they get, that liues in secure sort.
But Antwerpe thou thy woful wracke, thy spoyle hath proued plain
[Page]where martiall mindes do want, no state in safety may remaine.
For thou that sometime didst excel, whose wealth did so abound,
whose daily traffyque did surmount, whose like might not be found,
Whose streets with marchāts so did swarm, who by their painful toil
did bring their goodes by sea and land, from euery forraine soyle.
Of Europe thou the storehouse rich, wert sometime cald by name,
in wealth I say a perelesse piece, so passing was thy fame.
Thy houses built in brauest sort, with walles enuirond round,
a platforme of a greater force, might not in haste be found.
Artillery both great and small, abundant was thy store,
for armour, weapon, powlder, shot, what should I speake of more?
For all prouisions for the warre, great store thou didst possesse,
thou nought didst want but martial mindes, the sequel shewd no lesse
For thou ne durst at all contend, what Spaniardes would gainesay
thou paydst for building of a slot, that wrought thy owne decay.
A slot is a castel.
In bondage thus at Spaniardes call, thy selfe thou didst bequest,
by meanes whereof thy store became, a scourge to all the rest.
What did insue is to well knowen, I need not here expresse,
I rewe thy wracke, but yet I say, thou didst deserue no lesse.
For hadst thou traind but halfe the troupe, to bin of Mars his traine,
that practisd dayly to be drunke, in Bacchus beastly vaine:
Or hadst thou spent but halfe the pelfe, to maintaine martiall wightes
that was consumde in vile excesse, by Bacchus drunken knightes,
What keyser could haue wroght thy woe, what prince haue done thee wrōg
what forraine foe haue thee anoid, thy force had bene so strong?
But Mars might be of no accompt, thou knewest no such a god,
his lawes were neuer cald to mind, before thou felt his rod.
Who will not here confesse a trueth, that all thy spoyle and wracke,
was but for want of martiall mindes? thou hadst no other lacke.
For better proofe this may suffice, to such as will confesse
a trothe apparant to be true, what should I more expresse
Then this, the spoyle the Spaniardes gaue to Antwerpe in such sort,
that all the world doth wonder yet to heare the true report?
Fiue thousand Spaniardes at the most, by force in bloody broyle,
should so subdue a famous towne, and beare away the spoyle.
Where such prouision of defence, in store did so abound,
where hundred thousands able men were dayly to be found.
Ynough to eate the Spanyardes vp, had they bene bakte in pyes,
or had bene brued in double beere, because the Flemings gyes
Do better serue to drinke then eate, the Spaniardes had bene dead,
they would haue drunke them all vp quite, without a byt of bread.
But here ynough to make my proofe, and stil of this be sure:
where Mars is had in no accompt, no state may long endure.
May rebels (thinke you) scape his scourge, may such cōtempt go quite
will Mars the mightie god of warre be had in such despight?
No no, he may deferre a time, ere he reuengement take:
but in the end he payes them home, the stoutest then doth quake.
[Page]O England would thou didst regard, what plagues in time do hap
to such as so without respect are luld in pleasures lap,
And feares no force of future fits, that after may ensue,
till dangers doe beset them round, and then to late to rue.
And would to God by others harmes, thou mightst so warned be,
that thou into thine owne estate, wouldest vouchsafe to see.
And tel me then yf Mars be had in honour like a god,
yf not, how thinkest thou to escape the rigour of his rod?
May peace procure so great contempt, and alter kind so farre,
that yr should make thee quite forget there is a god of warre?
Shal martiall feates be stil neclect, as though we were so sure,
that this our time of pleasant peace, should euermore endure?
Would God it might, but so to wish, I know is but in vaine,
our foes are ready prest no doubt, they seeke but time to gaine.
What though in secret yet they lie, who knowes not why they stay?
their quarrell is not now to seeke, they hope but for a day.
Loe here the cause that vrged me first, to take in hand to wright
this blunt discourse, good reader, here presented to thy sight.
Which yf thou wilt vouchsafe to read, do iudge as thou shalt finde:
giue sentence then, and I wil mend, yf ought mislike thy minde.
FINIS.
‘Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum.’

The first parte entreating of warre.

I Doubt not, but a great number wil thinke I haue taken paynes more then ynough,The first obie­ction. to write of warres, or of warlike disciplines. First, because warres haue euer bin accom­pted a most grieuouse plague, and of it self is reputed so euill, so straunge, and so perni­tious, that it comprehendeth and surmounteth, al other kind of euils: for it afflicteth as well the poore and innocents,The fruites of warre. as those that be wicked and euil disposed: for by it good lawes are decayed, humanitie is defaced, equitie is suppressed, holy places are prophaned, murthers are committed, virgins are defloured, chaste matrons are defiled, kingdoms be subdued, cities be ruinated: as warlike Numace, sumptuouse Corinth, stately Thebes, delicate Tyre, learned Athens, holy Ierusalē, contentious Carthage, mightie Rome, and now lastly weal­thy Antwerpe. These with many other moe, by warres haue bene sacked, spoyled, robbed, defaced, and sometime layde waste and desolate: for warre, pestilence, and famine, are the three dartes, which the almightie God is wont to shoote a­gainst the earth, when he is displeased: and is holden so yrck­some amongst vs, that in our letanie we daily vse this praier, From plague, pestilence, famine, battell, and murther, good Lord deliuer vs.

A second reason, why I should be condemned, is this:A seconde ob­iection. Be­cause as the warre of it selfe is an euill, and that so lothsom­ly detested: euen so, to be professours, followers, and mini­sters in the same, is esteemed a thing more fitte for ruffians, roysters, blasphemers, and people of the vylest condicion, ra­ther then an exercise for honest men, in whom there is any feare of God, or any loue towardes their neighbour: in so much that Cornelius Agrippa sayeth, That if you would cal a tyrant, a blasphemer, a murtherer, a robber, a spoyler, a de­flowrer, [Page] an oppressour, with many other such like: if you would (saieth he) include all these into one short name, you may call him by the name of a souldiour.

A third obie­ction.But now thirdly and especially, I knowe a number will scorne me, and thinke me to be to simple to write any thing of warres, in this so peaceable a time, but would rather haue allowed of my discretion, if I could haue framed some con­ceite according to the time, some pleasant discourse, some strange nouell, some amorous historie, some farre fette or vnknowen deuice: this might haue purchaced me credit: the Printer might haue gayned by selling of my booke: but to giue men sodayne Allarmes of warre, that be quietly min­ded,Such is the effect of securitie. pleasantly disposed, and peaceably pretended, I knowe it is but a mockerie: and euen nowe I begin to muse with my selfe, what madnesse at the first should driue such a con­ceyte into my brayne: but seeing I haue begun to enter in­to this fondnesse, pardon me, I pray you, the hearing of my excuse, which I trust you shall fynde to be reasonable.

Of warre.Then first to speake of warre, because I knowe there be many whose consciences be so scrupulous, that they thinke no warres may be lawfully attempted, allowed of by Gods worde, or agreeing with true christianitie, for the number of outrages which by it are committed.

I thinke it therefore conuenient to see, what proofes may be alleadged in the defence of warre, although not in gene­rall, yet in the holy Scriptures where they haue bene allo­wed of, and many times commanded by the almightie God him selfe.

Genesis 14.In the 14. Chapter of Genesis it is written: When A­bram hearde his brother was taken, hee harnessed his fresh yong men, borne in his owne house, three hundred and eighteene, and followed on them vntyll Dan: and he was set in array vpon them by night, hee and his seruants: and he smote them, and pursued them vnto Hoba, which lyeth [Page] on the left hand of Damascus, and recouered all the goods, and brought agayne his brother Lot, and his goods, &c.

By this it seemeth, that Abram executed as well the part of a King,Abram executed the parte of a King. as the duetie of a Captaine: in that he tooke vpon him to leauy a bande, and to enter into battell with these that before had oppressed his friendes: which hee dyd of his owne head: and yet this parte did nothing offend God,Warres nothing offended God. as the sequele doth euidently prooue.

But in the 31. Chapter of Numeri, Numeri. 31. by the expresse com­mandement from God, Moses is willed to make warre vp­on the Madianites, the wordes bee these:Warres comman­ded by God. And the Lorde spake vnto Moses, saying: Auenge the children of Israel of the Madianites: and afterward shalt thou be gathered vn­to thy people. And Moses spake vnto the folke, saying: Harnesse some of you vnto warre, and auenge the Lorde of the Madianites, &c. And in the 8. chapter of the booke of Iosua: And the Lord spake vnto Iosua, Feare not, neyther be thou faint harted, take all the men of warre with thee, & vp, & get thee to Hai: Beholde, I haue giuen into thy hand the King of Hai, and his people, and his citie, and his lande: and thou shalt doe to Hai and her King, as thou didest vnto Iericho and her king: neuerthelesse, the spoyle and cattell thereof shall ye take vnto your selues, &c.

Saul in the first booke of Kinges the 15. chapter,1. King. 15. hath the like commandement: and these be the wordes: Samuel said vnto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoynt thee King ouer his people Israel: nowe therefore hearken thou vnto the voice of the Lord: Thus sayth the Lord of hostes: I remēber that which Amalek did to Israel, how they layde wayte for thē in the way, as they came out of Egypt: Nowe therefore go and smite Amalek, and destroy ye all that pertayneth vnto him, & see that thou haue no cōpassion on them, and couet nothing that they haue: slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, oxe and sheepe, camel and asse, &c.

[Page]By this commandement we may perceiue, GOD gaue charge to Saul, that he should sacke the coūtries of the Ama­lechites, and to passe by the edge of the sword, men, women, children, and beasts, without dispense or grace, giuing a rea­son of that extreeme iustice: because those people had done many oppressions to Israel, in the voyage out of Egypt into Chanaan, and willeth him in no wise to shewe mercy, or to haue compassion, not so much as vpon women and children. This place might seeme ouer cruell to such as would haue men go to warre, and to kil no body, nor to cōmit any spoyle: neither do I alleadge this, to maintayne tyrannie, for there is time and occasion to vse, both rigour and pitie, iustice and mercy, as hereafter I wil further shewe. I meane now but to make profe, yt God hath not bene displeased with warres, but is called in many places, the God of hostes. And Moyses citeth a place of the warres of the Lord: and in the 20. chap. of the second booke of Chronicles it is writtē,2. Chron. 20 cap. that when Io­saphat had vnderstāding of the multitude of his enemies the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Syrians that were gathe­red against him, Iosaphat assembling his people into the Temple, made this prayer vnto God.

The prayer of Iosaphat. O Lord God of our Fathers, art thou not God in heauē, & raignest not thou ouer all the kingdomes of the heathen? and in thy hand is power and might: and there is no man that is able to withstand thee: art not thou our God, which didest cast out the inhabiters of this land, before thy people Israel, and gauest it to the seede of Abraham thy louer for euer? and they dwelt therein for thy name, saying: If euill come vpon vs, as the sword of iudgement, pestilence, or hū ­ger: then if we stand before this house, and crye vnto thee in our tribulation, heare thou and helpe. And now behold, the children of Ammon, and Moab, and mount Seir, by whom thou wouldest not let them of Israel goe, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they departed by them, [Page] and destroyed them not, see howe they would rewarde vs, that would cast vs out of thy possession, which thou hast giuen vs to inherite: O our God, wilt thou not iudge them, for we haue no might against this great companie that cō ­meth agaynst vs, neyther wote we what to do, but our eies attende vpon thee. And as he continued thus in prayer, be­holde, the Prophete spake vnto him: Feare not this multi­tude, it shall not be thy warre, but the warres of God, &c.

I could here cite a number of like places, but these may seeme sufficient,Warres sometime pleasing God bet­ter then peace. to prooue that warres haue bene acceptable before the maiestie of God, and sometimes more auaylable then peace, as in the second chapter of the booke of Iudges it appeareth, where the children of Israel were blamed for ma­king of peace with the Cananites.

And like as out of the scriptures, many other probable reasons might be gathered: so there be diuers excellent au­thours, and sundrie learned writers, which seeme not onely to alowe of warres, but thinke them to be many times very meet & cōuenient to be attempted & to be taken in hand: and that it is many times necessary for Princes to become ene­mies, to the ende they may be perfect friendes.A happy warre which bringeth assured peace. And a most happie begun warre may that be called, whereby is wrought the safetie of the state: so contrary, most miserable is ye peace,A miserable peace. which bringeth with it, the hazard of a countrey.

Cicero saieth in his booke of Offices, Tull. officiis lib. [...]. To this end and pur­pose we must enter into warre, that without iniurie we may liue in peace. And in an other place of the same booke hee sayeth: We must beware that we take not vp the matter by aduice, more to auoyd warre, then for cause of profite: Warres must be taken in hand to the end to haue peace. for we must neuer by seeking to escape perill, deserue to seeme cowardes and dastards, but so let warres be taken in hand, as no other thing but peace, may seeme to haue bin sought. This was the cause that made Demosthenes so mightily to inuey against king Philip: for hee perceyuing the insatiable [Page] desire of king Philip, and that he ment to make a conquest of all Grecia, and had already begun with the Olynthians, whō if he had once ouerthrowen, there was nothing then to let his passage to Athens, the which Demosthenes very wel foreseeing, by sundrie orations perswaded the Athenians not onely to sende helpe to the Olynthians, but also to sende an armie into the partes of Macedonie, a meane whereby to make king Philip to haue withdrawē his force frō the Olyn­thians, Better offende then defende. to defende his owne countrey: alleadging by many persuasions, that ayde to their neighbours was very needful and necessarie, when their owne safetie did chiefly consist in the others good successe: for who withdraweth him selfe whē his neighbours house is on fyre, may wāt helpe to quēch his owne.Warres sometime attempted, occa­sion of better peace. Thus we may see, although that peace be chiefly to be desired, yet many times by entring into warres it is the more safely & quietly maintayned: Like to a ship which many times by some extraordinary winde, forsaketh ye quiet harbour, and seeketh her safetie in the wilde and raging seas.

Time best taken when it serueth.So as Salomon saith, There is a time of peace, a time of warre, a time of mirth, a time of mourning: and therefore to vse time in time, as occasion doth serue, is a point of the grea­test wisdome.Tull. de officiis lib. 1. And Cicero to ye same effect vseth these words: To runne to the field rashly all vpon the head, and to enter conflict & skirmish with the enemie, is no point of humani­tie, but the propertie of a sauage beast: but when time & ne­cessitie requireth, then on with armour, and fight for lyfe, preferring death before seruitude and miserie.

As great iniustice not to defend an iniurie as to offer an iniurie.And in an other place of the same booke, he speaketh of two kindes of iniustice: the first in him that wil offer it: the secōd in him that will take it, and being able will not defende it. But here peraduenture some will alleadge against mee the saying of Christ, where he willeth, that he who had receyued a blowe on the one eare, should likewise turne the other: & he [Page] that would take thy cloke, thou must likewise giue him thy coate. But I trust they will not maintayne by this, that a Prince, when he is oppressed by any tyrant, should surren­der vp his crowne & seigneurie, for that he should be coun­ted a quiet man and the childe of God, or that Gods worde doth any where forbid a Prince to maintayne his right, or that it should not be lawful for him to enter into warres, ei­ther for the maintenance of Gods true religiō,For how many causes a Prince may enter into armes. either for his owne securitie, as did the Athenians against king Philip: ey­ther for the subuersion of any tyrant or oppressour, or such as shall wrongfully vsurpe vpon any other, that are not a­ble to defend their owne cause. And in the ancient time, it hath bene thought very cōuenient, that where a tyrant doth raigne ouer his own people with crueltie, rauine, rape, mur­ther, or other like oppressions, wherein a Prince may do his subiects manifest wrong, and is not by them to be redressed, for that it is not lawful for the subiect to stande in armes a­gainst his Prince: it hath bene alwayes therefore thought requisite, that such Princes as haue bene borderers next vpon him, should chastise and correct so great enormities, to the ende that the name of a King might not seeme odious & hatefull to the common sort of people: as was Nero, Helio­gabulus, Dionysius, and others.

This gote Hercules such immortal glory,What gayned Hercules such im­mortall glory. yt he was reko­ned amongst the number of the gods, only for his valiance and prowesse, vsed vpon monsters, tyrants, oppressours, and such other.

But something the better to satisfie such as in their opi­nions are so precise, to thinke that no warres, howe soeuer it bee attempted, may bee eyther good or godly: I will therefore here recyte the wordes of that learned and ex­cellent man Hieronymus Osorius, in order as they bee written in his booke intituled, Of Christian nobilitie, which followe in this maner:

[Page] Hieronymus O­sorius in his book intituled, Chri­stian nobilitie. First therfore, I can conceiue no reason why they should despise warfare when it is rightfully begunne and taken in hand in the defence of religion, whereas we see it wonder­fully extold in innumerable places of holy scripture, which thei do not denie: but what say they? many things (say they) were conteyned in the olde law, which rather for the tymes sake were tolerated, then worthy dewe commendation: as to make a diuorce, to take vsurie of foraine countreys, of which sorte they say is to make warres vpon our enemies: but what semblance or similitude hath either vsurie or di­uorces with martial affaires? for they were not cōmended, but tolerated because of mens weakenes and imbecillitie: but he that durst presume not to obey, when commande­ment was giuen to wage battell, committed an offence so heynous, that he could redeeme the same by no satisfactiō. For in what place read we that it was decreed, that he shuld eyther abyde a payne, or bee subiect to a curse if any man (whereas after the first offence his wife counted it was law­full so to doe) did not departe from his wife, or exacted no vsurie of forriners and strangers? but in many places wee haue wel noted, that men rauished and replenished with the holy spirit, haue decreed that they should dye ye death which through cowardise refused to come foorth into the fielde. But what should I in this place make mention of Debora, who being inspired with the holy ghost, curseth thē, which for as much as in them lyeth, take not in hand the warres of the Lord, and inueyeth against their cowardise in sharpe & vehement wordes? And agayne, they lay to our charges cir­cumcision, the offering vp of a lambe, old sacrifices, which were in olde tyme with great deuotion kept, and after the comming of Christ did want their wonted reuerence: as though warfare dyd any whit appertayne to the ceremo­nies and mysteries of holy things, and were not rather or­dayned for the preseruation of the common wealth: for [Page] those holy rightes, in which were foreshadowed the expresse signes and tokens of Iustice and saluation, to be procured by our high and mightie Sauiour Christ, after the cōming of the thing it self, which was by those signes declared, were by good right and iust desert abrogated and disanulled: but this can not be thought of the noble knowledge of feates of armes, for as much as it is not comprised vnder the na­ture of ceremonies, but embraced for the maintenance and preseruation of the common safetie, and wholy appertay­neth to ciuill policie: and to confound those thinges which are to be distinguished, it is eyther the propertie of extreme madnes, or an argument of wonderfull temeritie and rashe­nes. And whereas the state of the common wealth can not be established, but it must needes be stayde, and as it were propped vp with strength and force of armes, for as much as all things in the time of peace to be practised and exerci­sed, are vnder the tuition and defence of martiall prowesse: he that taketh away the knowledge of feates of armes, wor­keth the ouerthrowe of the common wealth: which thing if it had happened through christian discipline, then madde men mooued with some reason, might laye to our charge, that some common wealth by meanes of Christian disci­pline was ouerthrowen: which slaunderous accusatiō how wicked and vayne it is, we haue afore declared. For Christe would not that the state of ciuill policie should bee ouer­throwen, but rather established and confirmed: and there­fore as he hath not wrested the sword out of the hande of a Magistrate, so neyther would he haue a souldiour to wante his weapon, to the intent that a Magistrate beeing armed with authoritie of lawes, might with seueritie of the same lawes, suppresse wickednes amongst the members and in­ward partes of the common wealth, and the souldiour clad in armour, might with dint of sworde repelle and put aside from the common wealth all imminent daunger. For this [Page] cause Iohn neuer exhorted men from applying themselues to the knowledge of feates of armes, but prescribeth lawes vnto souldiours of harmelesse vsage, and temperat behaui­our: And Paul calleth those Magistrates the seruantes of God, which with the sword punishe wicked and desperate persons. Truely nothing were more hartily to be desired of a Christian man, then that all men would refrayne them selues from wickednes and sinfull lust: but for as much as that can not alwayes fall out, and in stead of continencie, vnbrideled lust: in steade of iustice, either forayne force or ciuill broyles vse to arise: then of necessitie eyther force of the enemie is with weapons and maine strength to be bea­ten backe, or the outrage of our citizens with sworde to be repressed. That say they is contrary to christian charitie: as thogh any kind of crueltie were greater thē to be dissolute and negligent in a general distresse and miserie. Christ hath cōmanded that we shuld not be reuenged of our enemies: no doubt it is the propertie of perfect and absolute vertue, when priuately wee sustayne wrongs and iniuries, to shewe a singular and wonderful patience of the minde: but when either the common wealth or safetie of our countrey, or the honour or estate of religion is impugned, then against out­rage and vilanie, to take an inuincible stomacke. Christe hath especially commended vs vnto peace: no doubt, that peace hee hath commended, which hee him selfe gaue vs, which doth not consist in pleasant reste and quiet­nes, that mans nature is prone to require (for who can suppose that he hath graunted vnto vs that kinde of securi­tie, whē he suffered his own disciples to be tossed, as it were, with troublesome waues of mans outragious furie?) but that peace, by the which we were reconciled into the grace and fauour of God, which had conceiued great wrath & in­dignation against vs, and to whose religion our wilful appe­tites were most repugnant: these enimities therefore & dis­likings [Page] betwene vs and God, Christ (as Paul testifieth in ma­ny places) with his owne preciouse bloud hath done away, and hath purchased for vs a peace continual & euerlasting. The which we may then especially enioy, when we most ve­hemently and egerly fight, either for the safetie of our coun­trey, or maintenance of the faith of Christ and his religion: vnlesse peraduenture we suppose, that Abraham wanted the benefite of this peace, at what time he gathering a bande of men of his owne domesticall seruants, encountered with a huge and puissant hoste of his enemies, & valiantly (farre exceeding the estimation of man) vanquished foure mighty Kings, and his enemies being part of them slayne, the other put to the worse, he caryed away the spoyle. Or if we thinke likewise of Gedeon, who being guarded onely with three hundred men of warre, slewe innumerable multitudes of his enemies. Again, what think you of Iosua, Moyses his succes­sour? what of Iephthah? What should I rehearse many o­ther noble men, honoured aswell for their feruent zeale of religion, as magnified for their worthy exploytes in martial affaires? may we thinke that they did offend God, whē they most valiantly set vpon their enemies? or shall we not rather say, that then especially the peace of GOD tooke effecte a­mongst them, when in the cause of righteousnes, against godlesse people they waged battell? Thus farre Oso­rius.

But because it shall not be thought that this is but one doctours opinion, we finde many other that do giue the like commendation. Diuine Plato prayseth this arte of warre,Commendation of the art of war. and commandeth that children should learne it, and as soone as they be of abilitie, to become souldiours. Cyrus sayd, It was as necessarie as husbandrie. Augustine and Barnard, both catholike doctours, do approoue it.

But the people of Rome, who amongst all other dyd most exceede in noblenes of courage & in desire of martial glory, [Page] (as may appeare by their images of honour, which for the most part are set vp in warlike aray) they appointed for their chief officers two Consulles, the one to deale in citie mat­ters, the other still occupied in warlike causes. For they ve­ry wel foresawe, that it was not possible to liue at quietnes within the walles of the citie, if the enemie were not kept backe from inuading their boundes and territories.

Hippodamus Mylesius, a man excellent well learned in the studie of good artes, thought it very conuenient for that countrey or citie that would liue in quiet safetie, that they should deuide and separate their people into three sortes: the one to artificers, the other to husband-men, and the third to warriours.

No renowme so honourable as yt which is gayned by martial prow­esse.And in the ancient time, there hath bene no glory thought so great, no renoume esteemed so honourable, as that which hath bene gayned by force of martiall prowesse: and of pur­pose to prouoke and pricke forward eche manly wight, great rewards haue bene appointed to such as haue deserued wel.

What rewarde hath bene vsed to such as haue shewed thē selues cou­ragious in ye warrs Nombers 14. Iosua. 15.The noble Caleb, who by his great courage and constan­cie of minde, had againe perswaded the children of Israel, that were in a muttering to haue returned into Egypt, to conti­new in their former manhode and vertue: and had therefore his reward promised him by Gods owne mouth. This Ca­leb hauing a very beautiful daughter whose name was Ach­sah, would bestow her on no man but vpon him that could take the citie named Cariathe, which in the ende was taken by Othniel, his brothers sonne.

1. Kings. 17. 2. King. 7. Dauid likewise receyued great riches with the daughter of king Saul for killing Goliath: and Dauid him selfe pro­mised great rewarde to such as should ouerthrowe the Iebu­sites.

Amongst the Carthagians, they had so many rings giuen them, as they had bene present at battels.

Amongst the Scythians, they only might drinke in a broad [Page] bowle of golde (that was caried about) who had slayne an enemie.

The Romaines aboue the rest to stirre vp mens myndes to worthines, and with the better will to prouoke them to martial exploites, inuented glorious triumphes, whereby he that deserued fame, might bee for euer renoumed: so con­trariwise, to such as were cowardes, dastardes,What reproche▪ was vsed to car­pet knightes. or of the af­finitie of our carpet knightes, to such most bitter cauntes & shameful reproches were most iustly appointed.

The Macedonians ordained a lawe, that he who had not in fight of battel ouercome one, should in the sight of al men be trussed vp in a haulter.

The women of Cimbria would kill those that first fled the fielde, yea, although they were their next friends & kins­men.

The women of Spraca would goe into the fielde to see in what place their husbandes and friendes were wounded, if it were before, they would with ioy and gladnes shewe them to euery man, and so burie them with great solemnitie: if be­hinde, they al ashamed would depart leauing them vnburied.

Tirrias a woman of Lacedemonia, hauing vnderstanding that her sonne was slaine in a battell, answered, Was it not requisite, that my sonne going to the warres should slea o­thers? Wherfore should I then lament, if he him selfe bee slaine? no surely, I more ioyfully take knowledge of my sonnes death worthy of me and his predecessours, thē if with shame in slouth and idlenesse he should yet haue liued. Let cowardes complayne, for I without teares will burie my sonne.

An other woman of Lacedemonia killed her own sonne, for that he had returned from the warres, in whose reproche this Epitaphe was written:

Thou dastard knight Damatrion, thy mother hath thee slayne:
That didst both her and Spratayne bloud with cowardise distayne.

[Page] Solon, who for his wisdome is most renowmed, being de­manded of Cresus king of Lidia, whom he iudged of al other to be most happie, answered: one Tellus an Athenian, which had begotten (in a countrey abounding with all commodi­ties) children excelling in goodlines of personage, & strēgth of body, and afterwardes, defending his countrey manfully, ended his lyfe with great glory.

Thus we may perceiue, how in ye anciēt time, they thought the knowledge & practise of warre to be in great reputatiō, that by so many means would seeke to encourage men to ye exercise of it: & what incōmoditie hath happened vnto those, that haue so wholy sought their felicitie in peace, yt they haue not only despised war, but vtterly refused to learne any mar­tial discipline, or warlike exercise, hereafter shal be shewed.

The occasions that make men to hate warre.But the occasions that make men so extreemely to hate warre, are sundrie: but that which doth most of all vexe the greatest nūber, is this: not so much for any special loue they haue to peace, as for feare of taxes, paymēts, & other charges hanging vpon warre: for otherwise warre or peace were all one with them, so they might liue in quietnes, without any charge. And yet I dare vndertake, not one of these peace­mongers, that wil thinke he hath bene so ouercharged, if he haue bestowed but x. shillings toward the setting forth of a souldiour, that goeth to spende his life in his prince or coun­tries cause, but will with more willing mind bestowe x.li. a­mongst the lawiers to do his neighbour a shrewed turne.

Other some would loue ye warres wel ynough, so thēselues might be free frō preassing, for that thei had rather liue like ydle loytering lubbers, then offer their seruice any way to defend or maintaine the liberties of their countrey: in cōdi­tion to be cōpared to cur dogges, yt wil fawne vpon any mā as long as hee feede thē, but whē they should be farther vsed for pleasure in the field, then adue, they go to their kenels: so these people, they are borne, fostered vp, & enioy the lawes & liberties of their countrey: & when their countrey standeth in [Page] need, do shew thēselues euery way to aide & assistance, with as willing mindes, as a beare commeth to a stake: these be right bastards to their countrey, & are in deed worthie to en­ioy no benefit of their countrey. Plutarch maketh mentiō of an Ile yt is in Grece, called the Ile of Cobde: in this yle there is a linage descended of ye noble Greeke captaine called Agis the good: amongst these Agites, this law is especially obser­ued, that none dare call him selfe to be natural of the yle, vn­lesse he hath done some valiant act, or by some meanes shew­ed him self forward in his coūtreis defence. If this law were in Englād obserued, we shuld haue to few natural Englishmē

There are an other sorte, that onely cowardlines & feare make them hate the warres: these deserue litle to bee spo­ken of, and lesse to be accompted of.

There is yet a last sort, whose cōsciences be so pure (as they say thēselues) yt they can alowe of no wars, either to be good or godly, cōsidering what murthers, spoyles & other outra­ges by thē are cōmitted. This in deede seemeth to carie rea­son wt it: but notwithstanding it is not sufficient to cōdēne a iust quarel: for Saul lost the especial grace & fauour of god,1. King. 15. for preseruing the best of the praye hee had taken from the Amalechites, which he should haue vtterly destroyed.

And Iosua, Iosua 10. fearing the day would haue bin to short for him to kil his enemies which fled before him, cōmanded ye sūne to stand stil, which was obedient to his cōmandemēt: & shal we therfore condemne his quarell, because hee seemed to cary a murtherous mind? Not so: for his quarel was most iust, & his facte best pleased God. Neither haue I brought forth these exāples as necessary for all to folow, but as probable for my purpose:Mercy a speciall vertue in a cap­tayne, so it be v­sed in time. for mercy I acknowledge to be one of the greatest vertues, wherewt a noble captaine may be endued: but to be vsed out of time, as occasiō may fal out, hath greater resem­blance to foolish pitie thē to be called mercy, and is rather to be holden a vice then a vertue, as hereafter I meane further to shew.

[Page] A fond maner of reasoning.But I do not a litle wonder, what madnes should moone mens mindes to frame such argumentes, that because mur­thers, spoyles, and other like hauockes be committed in the warres, the warres therefore can not please God, and what soeuer pleaseth not God, can not be good.

The fruites that spring in the time of peace.By the like argument, peace is the most greatest and the most detestable enormitie that of al others may happen, and amongst Christians most to be abhorred: for peace is the nourisher of vices, the roote of euils, the proppe of pride, and to be short,What meanes to come by riches. it is the mother of al mischiefes. For in the tyme of peace we set our mindes onely to waxe riche, for the attay­ning whereof, what extortion, what deceit, what fraud, what flatterie, what lying, what forswearing is vsed to come by them? and when they be had, they are the onely instruments to vanitie, the readie ministers to vices, the very occasiō why so great warres be many times arreared betweene Princes, a special cause of commotions amongst subiects, they breede quarelles amongst friendes, suites betweene brethren, they make him that shall possesse them proude, presumptuous, vaine glorious, and of a good man to become euil & wicked.

Furthermore, in peace men growe to be slouthful, ydle, proude, couetouse, dissolute, incontinent, vicious, folowing al maner of vanities, giuē al to delights, to inordinat lust, glut­tonie, swearing, & to be short, to al maner of filthinesse: which was very wel perceyued by S. Augustin, Augustine de ciuitate Dei. who in a booke that he wrote intituled, De ciuitate Dei, hath these wordes:

More hurtful was the citie of Carthage to Rome after her destruction, then during the whole course and season of the warres which the Romaines had with her: for that whylest they had enemies in Affrike, they knewe not what vyces ment in Rome.

And what greater argument may there be of the displea­sure of God, then where he sendeth amongst them such peace and quietnes? for as the scriptures witnesse, Whom he lo­ueth, [Page] them he chastiseth: but a small signe of care should seeme, where he giueth the people ouer to their owne vani­ties, and suffereth them to wallowe in all vyce and wicked­nesse.

Thus you may see, by such maner of reasoning, vice may be made to seeme vertue,Vice may be made to seeme vertue. and contrarie vertue appeare to be vice. But here if any man would coniecture, that by this which I haue alleadged, I ment in deede to perswade, that warres were more conuenient then peace, they should doo me great wrong: for, although I do know I haue sayde no­thing but what is true, and that in the time of peace al kinde of vices do most wickedly abounde, yet I do very wel know, that the time of peace is not therefore to be condemned: so likewise, in the time of warre, although there be many disor­ders and sundrie outrages committed, yet the warres ther­fore are not absolutely to be reprooued. For as peace is the great benefite and blessing of God, so warres being attemp­ted vpon due consideration, doe nothing at all offende him: but like as the sunne when it shineth in some pleasant gar­den, the herbes and flowers do yeelde a most delectable ver­dure, so where it shineth vpō some filthie dunghill, the stench and lothsomenesse to the passers by, is most noysome.

As the sunne which was prepared of the almightie God to be a comfort to euery humane thing, is not the cause of the one nor the other, but the qualitie of the places: so those abuses which are vsed either in peace or warre,Leude disposed people good at no season. are not to be imputed to the time, but to the disposition and lewdnes of the people, which like to filthie dunghilles, at euery time and season, are more noysome then profitable.

Let this suffice then: that what I haue written, is but on­ly to prooue that warres are not alwayes to bee comdem­ned, and that it is not agaynst the lawes of God, that Prin­ces should erect warres vpon sufficient cause, but some­tyme for ciuil policies sake, most requisite to be done: Con­cluding, [Page] that assured peace is euer to bee preferred before doubtfull warre, so it may be had without preiudice or iniu­rie.

Thus endeth the first parte of warre.

The seconde parte entreating of Souldiours.

The second ob­iection. THe second obiection is, Whether he that is honest, may take vpon him the profession of a Souldier? As who should say, that to be a souldiour may not bee an honest mans profession, because in the warres they bee the ministers of so many mischiefes: this is their reason. But in this place I will but reason of souldi­ours, as I haue already done of warres: that is, but to shewe what maner of people souldiours haue bene: As for such as do but vsurpe the name of souldiers, I leaue them, tyll ano­ther occasion.

We finde in the 14. chapter of the booke of Genesis, that Abraham was a captaine and a leader of men,Genesis. 14. vnto whom Melchizedech the king of Salem brought foorth bread and wine: albeit he were a priest of the most high God. And S. Paul in his epistle to the Hebrewes the 6. chapter,Hebr. 6. speaking of our Sauiour Christ, saieth, That hee was made a highe Priest for euer after the order of Melchizedech: and all the diuines and ancient doctours by generall consent doe agree, that the first true figure of Christ, was here offered to soul­diers,The first figure of Christ offered to souldiours. that were returned from the slaughter and spoyle of their enemies.

A special cause wherein souldiers may worthily triumph, and a choke peare sufficient, to stoppe their mouthes, that [Page] would so absolutely condemne them.

Moyses, though he were otherwise a Prophet,What maner of men haue bene souldiers. Exod. 18.21. Deut. 1.13.15. yet he was likewise a captaine, to whom Iethro his father in law by the motion of Gods spirit, gaue counsell to prouide such to be iudges ouer the rest, which should be found to be men of cou­rage, to feare God, to be louers of trueth, & hating couetous­nes, &c. and that of them he should make some millenaries to rule ouer thousands: and that he should create others cente­niers, to rule ouer hundreds: others Cinquantiniers, to beare authoritie ouer fifties: and Disiniers to cōmand ouer tennes.

Iosua at whose commandement the sunne was obedient, was a souldier and a leader of an armie.

Whē the whole hoste of ye childrē of Israel was vtterly dis­mayde for the multitude of their enemies,Iudges. 7. whose nūbre was like the sandes of the sea, the Lord commanded Gedeon to make his choyse of such to serue for souldiers to encounter them, as were most faithful, that doubted not of his promises made vnto them, which were in numbre but 300. and were chosen by lapping of water.

Who euer stood more in the good grace & fauour of God, then that noble king and captaine Dauid, whom the Lorde termed to be a man after his owne hartes desire?

What should I here speake of Iephthah, of Iehu, of Iudas Machabeus, and of many other, which were notable souldi­ers? shall they be condemned to be wicked and euill, because they were warriours? or shal we thinke of them that in that vocation they offended God?

When the souldiers demaunded of Iohn Baptist, Luke. 3. what they ought to do, he willed them to hurt no man wrongful­ly, but to liue by their wages: hee sayd not vnto them, For­sake your vyle profession, you can not be the children of god, to followe any such maner of exercise: the which question­lesse hee would haue done, if he had so thought.

And when the captaine who had sent vnto Iesus, for the [Page] healing of his seruant that laye sicke, as Iesus was going towardes his house:Luke 7. Nay Lord (quoth the captayne) I am not worthie that thou shouldest enter vnder my roofe, doe but speake the worde onely, and my seruant shall be safe: for I also am a man set vnder power, and haue vnder mee soul­diours: and I saye vnto one goe, and he goeth: to another come, and he commeth: and to my seruant do this, and hee doth it. Iesus marueyling at his words, turning him about to those that folowed, said: I haue not found so great faith, no not in Israel.

And what godlier commendation may bee giuen to any man,Actes 10. then we finde in the .10. chapter of the Actes of the A­postles, where it is written as foloweth:

There was a certaine mā in Cesarea whose name was Cor­nelius, a captaine of the souldiers of Italie: a deuout man, & one that feared God with al his houshold, &c. To this Cor­nelius the Angel of the Lord appeared & willed him to sende into Ioppa, and to enquire for one Simon Peter, who should instructe him and baptize him in the name of Iesus: & when the Angel was departed, thus saith the text: He called vnto him two of his houshold seruants, and a deuoute souldiour, that wayted on him, and tolde them all the matter, and sent them to Ioppa, &c.

This may seeme sufficient to prooue, that not onely cap­taynes, but also priuate souldiers, haue bin founde to be both zealous, and feruent in the loue and feare of God, and that he hath likewise accepted them into his speciall grace and fa­uour.

With how many vertues noble captaynes haue bene endewed.But what should I stande here to manifest the vertues wherewith a numbre of noble captaines hath bin most plen­teously indewed: as the bountie and liberalitie of Alexāder, the continencie of Scipio, the iustice and equitie of Iulius Ce­sar, the patience and humilitie of Agathocles, the mercy and pitie of Agesilaus, the faith and fidelitie of Regulus to his [Page] very enemies? Here might (I say) euen of this onely matter a huge volume be written, only of the vertuouse dispositions of noble souldiers: in so much that this othe,By the faith of a Souldiour. By the faith of a Souldiour, hath bene so inuiolably kept, that a souldiour hath bene better to haue bene credited by that othe, thē some marchants now by their obligations.

But here if any will coniecture, that in tyme past souldi­ours haue so exceeded in vertues, that at the time present they haue none at all left for them to boast on: although in England our multitude be not many, yet amongst those few there be both honourable and worshipful, whose magnanimi­tie in the time of warres hath made them famous in forrain countreis, and whose noblenes and vertues now in the time of peace, doe shine coequal with the best.

But here peraduenture some curiouse cauiller wil replie that these may better be called sage and wise counsailers, thē bloudy or cruel captaines, and rather may be termed sober & discrete Iustices, then rash and harebrayned souldiours: and thus by denying of them to be souldiers, will thinke I am neuer the neerer my proofe: But here if there were no other shift, or that the matter were so needful to be reasoned on: it were very easie to prooue, that the best and noblest souldiers be euer found to be the wisest and meetest counsaylers:Souldiours most meete to haue rule. and for this cause the Poetes haue fayned▪ Minerua to be armed, signifying that Captaines and souldiers should be as wise in counsailing, as couragious in conquering: as politique in keeping, as valiaunt in getting.

And Tullie in his first booke of Offices speaketh of a dou­ble commoditie that these men do yeelde to their countrey,Tull. de offi. li. 1. who armed, do make warres: and roabed, do gouerne the cō ­mon wealth.

But leauing these,Smal choyce of souldiers in En­glande. we haue in England but one only place to make any choice on, which is the garrison lying in Bar­wicke: where I doubt not but he that doth know ye gouerne­ment [Page] of the captaines, and the orderly liuing of the Souldi­ours,The noble cap­taines and souldi­ers of Barwicke. will confesse them to be as vertuous in their liuing, as valiant in their actes: as modest in their maners, as hardie in their courage: as mylde in the towne, as manly in the fyelde: as faithful to their friendes, as furious to their foes: to be short, amongst them lyars are cōtemned, swearers are reprooued, deflowrers are punished, brawlers are banished, drunkardes are not regarded, all maner of vices are correc­ted: that of my conscience, the olde souldiours of Barwicke may be a spectacle for orderly liuing to any other, what kind of trade so euer he would seeme to professe.

Some become souldiers rather to spoyle then to do any seruice.What though there be some that in the tyme of seruice will intrude them selues, and become souldiers, of purpose rather to spoyle, robbe and filtch, then to doo any good ser­uice, shall the honest Souldiour therefore bee condem­ned? so euery profession, howe necessarie so euer it seeme, would bee misliked, and men of euery facultie would bee despised.

Of marchants.As first for example, the marchantes, whose trade, as Pli­nie sayeth, was inuented for the necessitie of mans life, trans­porting from one region to another, that which lacketh in the one and aboundeth in the other: yet there be many that vnder this cloke and good pretence, continually doe prac­tise, to transporte out of their owne natiue countreis, such cōmodities as may not wel be spared: whereby many times great scarcitie and dearth doth happen, wherein the people are piteously oppressed.

No worse theeues then marchants.In Englande once a yeere wee fynde the extremitie, eyther for wante of corne, lether, hydes, tallowe, butter, cheese, bacon, beefe, biere, & many other such lyke, which by her Maiestie are prohibited: but no restrainte may serue against those theeues, vnnaturall robbers and spoylers of their owne countrey.

[Page]And yet these are commonly the greatest fynde faultes that will inuaye agaynst Souldiours, whose spoyles are much more tolerable, because they spoyle but their ene­mies: these robbe and spoyle theyr friendes,What trafique is vsed by many marchants. and make wracke of theyr owne countreys, by conueying awaye theyr commodities, and by returning of incommodities, vayne tryfles which are not necessarie for our humane life, but onely to maynteyne women and children in pryde, pompe, and vayne glorie: such thinges as doo procure de­lightes, wantonnesse and delicacie: the very vanities and vyces of euery Nation by these men are brought home. And then what periurie, what fraude, what deceyte, by them selues, their brokers, and retaylers is vsed to vtter them, my wittes be to weake, nor I thinke there is no other that is able to expresse, vnlesse it bee a marchant him selfe that hath vsed the trade.

Furthermore, vnder this trade and traffique they haue conference with straunge Princes, and vtter vnto them the secretes of countryes, lende them money, and in the ende will not sticke to betray their owne countrey, and com­mon wealth.

There is an other kynde of marchauntes,Very harde to knowe one from another. that decke their shoppes with other mennes goodes, borowing here of one, and there of another: and when they haue gotten in­to theyr hande some great masse or valewe, then they be­come bankeroutes, and liue in a corner with other mennes goodes.

Thus you may see, that although this trade or traffique of marchandise is very beneficiall to euerie estate and com­mon wealth, and that there haue bene many wise and no­table men that haue vsed it, as Thalust, Solon, Hippocra­tes, and others, yet it is by other some abused: but shall wee therefore condemne the trade, or other good & honest [Page] marchantes that vse it? not so: for the exercise of it may not be forborne, and the honest trading marchaunt is to be had in reuerence and estimation.

Of lawyers.In like maner amongst the lawyers, are there not found many that creepe into the Innes of court, that seeke by lawe to ouerthrowe lawe, such as be termed by the name of peti foggers, Pety foggers. brethelles, that practise nothing but to breede dissensions, strifes, suites, quarels & debates betwene neigh­bour and neighbour, brother and brother, yea, sometimes be­tweene the father and the sonne?

Marke the order of these fellowes.First they animate them to cōmence actions, perswading them that their quarelles be iust, & wil very well stande with lawe: but when they haue once gotten them in, then they feede them with delayes, procrastinating their suites frō day to day, from terme to terme, yea from yeere to yeere: in the end, when the matter is like to fall out against them, thē they blame their clients, yt in the beginning they did not through­ly instructe them.

Lawyers the au­thours of ciuill dissensions.These be the people that of all other are most to be dete­sted: for in the time of peace, these procure continual warres and ciuil dissensions, not amongest enemies, but amongest friendes, not amongst forraine foes, but amongst their natu­rall countrey men, reioycing when any brawle or brabble do fall out amongst their neighbours.

Lawyers would be the authours of peace.And yet they would be accompted the authours of peace, and will not let to exclaime against the souldiour, and con­demne him, because they do thinke him to be like vnto them­selues, that is, to be desirous of warres and troubles.

There is no Parliament or cōuocation that is called, but if there be any good motion had in question, for the quietnes or quicke dispatche of matters in controuersie, but ye lawyers be the onely lettes,Lawiers the lettes of many good or­dinances. that it shall not come forth: because that if it were not for delayes and shiftes, the one halfe, nay not a quarter of them might be able to thriue by their occupatiō, [Page] there are suche a shamefull companie.

Yea many times there are found great corruptions e­uen amongst ye Iudges them selues: yt for feare to offend a prince or some noble man, will not sticke wt Pilat, to condemne Christe. Sometime with Golde and Sil­uer or other giftes, they be so corrupted,The vertue of Gold. that they re­garde more the presents that are giuen them, then ei­ther iustice or equitie: they are diligent in riche mens causes, but the poore they deferre: the complaint of the widowe or fatherlesse, can not be heard amongst them.

But shal we therfore reproue the lawe, which is the onely prop & stay to euery common wealth, without the whiche we coulde not liue in any good order, otherwise then as brute beastes, neither coulde those that be good & harmelesse, inioy either goods or possessions from cru­ell Tyrants & oppressours? neither were any one man assured of his life or liuing, were there not lawe to punishe murtherers, and to mainteine right: or shall the abuses of some, condemne all honest and true dea­ling Lawyers, who in their professiō of al men are wor­thy to be honoured? as there is no reason in the one, so they be to much to blame,No reason that some should condemne all. that for the lewdnes of some lossels, that doe but vsurpe the names of souldiers, will therfore so absolutely condemne all souldiers: thinking there can none be good, because some are yll.

But what profession may there be,The manners of our clergie. wherein wicked men will not séeke to cloake and couer them selues: be there not that enter euen into the ministerie of the holy sacramentes, proude prelates, blinde guides, and lazie lubbers: some that during the space of twentie yeares, haue receiued the fruites of benefices, that haue not thrée times visited their flocke: but commits them to Sir Iohn lack latine and his fellowe, poore ignorant chaplines: such, as they may hire best cheape: while [Page] they them selues liue in pleasure, pompe, and pride: not like Saint Peter nor Saint Iohn, that had not one penie to giue to the poore lame man, that sat begging at the Temple gate: and yet they would be called their successors.Ezec 34. Mi [...]h [...]. 3. Esai. [...]6. These be they of whom the Prophet Eze­chiel so exclameth, saying they serue for nothing, but to serue them selues, and in stéed of féeding their flocke, they take the fléece, drawe the milke, kill the fattest, eat the flesh, breake the bones, they are dumbe dogges, that knowe nothing, they dare not barke, but are very curi­ous to haue horskéepers for their palfries, faulconers for their hawkes, cookes for their paunches, but the poore shéep perish through their default. I know likewise that there be a number of learned Pastors, godly Ministers, diligent Preachers, and faithfull followers: they which God defend should beare the abuses of the others. Then if the holie temple of God, can not be cleansed from such Ministers of mischiefes: they be something too nice, that would haue souldiers to be all Saintes, and much more to blame that woulde make them all diuelles, bicause some doe amisse. And héere with all I must thinke them to be very parciall, that with suche blunt tearmes will intitle souldiers in the time of warre: and in the time of peace, can so cleanly cloake the very same actors, with names and titles of credite and estimation. For in the time of warres, he that is founde to be bloudily minded, killing without compassion all that lighteth in his wrath, they tearme him by the name of a Tyrant and a murtherer, where in the time of peace, they some­time shadow him vnder the title of my Lord Iudge, but many times by the name of Maister Iustice of peace and Quorū. In the time of war whō they tearme a seditious mutiner, a peruerter of good lawes, a mainteiner of vn­godly quarells: in the time of peace they call him Maister [Page] Sargeant of the quoyfe, a wise coūseller in the law, or an honest diligent Atturnie. In the time of warre, whom they tearme a théefe, a robber, & spoyler: in the time of peace they cal him an honest trading merchaunt. In the time of warre whom they call a violatour of women, a rauisher, & deflowrer: in the time of peace they cal him a friendly and louing gentleman: yea and some foolish soo­ther that wil speake they knowe not what, wil say he is a right Courtier, & a courtlike gentleman. In the time of warre, he yt can tell a fyled tale, & that can créepe in­to mens bosomes to serue his owne turne, they cal him a Parasite, a flatterer, and a dissembler: in the time of peace they call him an excellent learned man, and a very good Preacher.

Suche parcialitie (I say) is amongst them, that no faultes are espied, but such as be committed amongest souldiers: neither do I here goe about to excuse al soul­diers, as though there were none yll: but those that be, are commonly founde in these newe leuied bandes, and not amongest olde souldiers as hereafter I will shewe.

But here peraduenture, some will thinke that al­though many of them may be excused from a number of vices, wherwith they haue béene charged: yet that they of force must be all murtherers, may not be denied: for they goe into the féelde as well weaponed to kill, as ar­med [...] defend▪ This obiection I haue many timeshard, but those people are in too scrupulous an opinion, con­sidering howe many examples we may finde in the holy Bible: where God hath not béene offended, with those that haue killed their enimies: but that it is sometimes lawfull in the presence of God to shake off the yoke of bondage by the death of Tyrantes, as Iudith by Holo­fernes, and many other like. But as iustice without temperance is reputed iniurie: so magna­nimitie [Page] without mercie is accounted Tyrannie: and as it cannot be counted a noble victorie which bring­eth not with it some clemencie,Mercie not al­waies to be vsed. so to vse pitie out of time and season is as great folly: as to vse mercie in any con­flict till victorie be atteined.

Policie somtime excludeth pit­tie.And sometime policie excludeth pitie, as the Gréekes who after the destruction of Troy, flewe Astianax the sonne of Hector, to the end that there might remaine no occasion of quarell, fearing if he had liued he would haue sought some reuenge.

But leauing all other forreigne histories, I will come but to this one example whiche is moste familiar among vs for the proofe of the premisses, which is this: That the greatest cause of those endlesse warres, that are holden in Ireland, To much pittie the cause of so much disquiet­nesse in Ireland. The verie meane to bring Ireland to be quiet. do onely procéede of the mercie & lenitie that is vsed amongest them: and that the onely means to bring the people soonest to conformitie, and the countrie to quietnesse, is without compassion to pu­nishe the offenders, and without either grace or mercie to execute the rebelles, and such as be malefactours.

And séeing my occasion falleth out so fitly to speake of Ireland, I craue pardon here a little to digresse from my matter, and to speake something of the manner of the countrie: considering it was my fortune to be there, when I first tooke in hande to write this simple deuise, & so continued til I had fully finished it: ye which time I confesse was verie short for me to vnderstande the ve­rie true and perfect estate of the countrie: which in e­uerie condition,Ireland is in most miserable condition. is so confused, so ouerthwart, and disor­dered: that I thinke there is none so vncharitable, whi­che will not lament to heare it.

The causes are too many, and doe farre surpasse my capacitie to bewray them, yet as néere as I can I will glaunce at some part of them: and although I knowe [Page] my cunning will not serue to hit the verie pricke, yet he may wel be passed for an archer, that can shoot faire and something about his marke: the which I may so much the better doe, considering there be suche a many that doe stande and giue aime: some with open exclamati­ons, crie out howe they be spoyled, robbed, reued, and burned, by the rebels.

But this is that whiche most of all doth make me to muse, that almoste euery man will séeme as though he knewe a remedie, and yet there is no reformation can be had, amongst them: Well (say some) these rebels could not continue, were it not that they had other helps then them selues: They haue mainteiners, and ayders, nei­ther can they be without receiuers, but if those that be borderers would doe their best vppon them: they could not holde out.

But there is amongest them, Forbeare me, & I will not sée thée: Hurt not me, and I will not hinder thée.The orders of Ireland.

And many be driuen in déede perforce, to ayde them, and currie fauour with them, for feare of being spoyled.

And although there be diuers lawes, & sundry good ordinaunces, to punishe suche as shall be founde guil­tie in the premisses: yet they are so cleanly conueied and so cuningly handled, that the Lorde Deputie shall ne­uer vnderstande it. But if there happen any to be ac­cused, and brought foorth to answere the lawe: then there is such cloaking, such couering, such shifting, such bowlstering, and suche bribing: that it was not he that did it: some chéefe horse, some fine ambling hackney, or some halfe score or a hundred cowes will salue all the sore.

But here perchance you would know amongst whō this is vsed: nay I must not tell you that, so I might get my selfe such enimies, as I might not tarrie in Ireland.

[Page]In like manner it hath béen often séene, that when a rascall (a rebell I would tearme him) hath done many spoyles, & committed many outrages, yet in the end hath béene receiued vpon composition, and many times haue their pardons begged, by some that be about the Lorde Deputie: and many times they haue friends in England to purchase them pardons, and to send them ouer: and this is the very cause that giueth them boldnesse to doe yll, so that there is no assured truste to be founde in the greatest number of them: but when they may sée time and occasion,The very occasi­on that maketh Ireland so trou­blesome. to doe a shrewd turne, then they get them a cōpanie of bréechles beggers (folowers they call them) and when they haue plaid their parts to the vttermost, they assure them selues that a hundred of stolen cowes will buy a pardone: where otherwise if all hope were cut from them, & that no pardons might be granted vn­to them, & that such as shoulde be found fauourers vnto them, might without fauoure féele the force of the lawe, without any exceptions from the best to the worst, and that euery one like duetiful subiects would put to their helping hande, to the suppressing of them, there is no question, but Irelande woulde soone waxe ciuil, and the countrie woulde quickly growe to be quiet.

Idlenes the greatest enimie to a common wealthIn like manner, forasmuche as it is euidently kno­wen, that idlenesse amongest all people hath euer béene accompted most hatefull, and that in euery well gouer­ned Commonwealth it is founde to be a vice most hurt­full: the which to preuent ye Romans vsed very streight meanes: insomuch that none durst goe in the streates, but he must beare a shewe whereby or how he liued, in consideration whereof, the Consul did beare a battell axe, the Tribunes a mace, the Priestes a hatt, the Cut­lers a sword, the Tailors a payre of sheres, the Smithes a hammar, and thus euery one according to his exercise, [Page] to the end it might appeare he liued by his owne labor, and not by the sweat of others, as commonly these fol­lowers doe in Ireland. For remedie whereof, it were very fitt and most conuenient, that such streight lawes and sharpe ordinaunces were prouided, that not one that shoulde be founde, might be suffered to escape or in any wise to passe, til ye maner of his life were through­ly examined, & the order of his liuing very wel knowen.

Some would thinke me here to be too seueare to be made a Iustice of peace, and would say vnto me that the countrie that were conquered by force, ought rather to be gouerned with more clemencie & mildnesse: for that the inhabitantes, with the better will woulde prepare their hearts to obedience: but that experience hath ben tried long enough, and this is most certeine, that who so euer will thinke to preuaile in Ireland, The best way to gouerne Ireland it must be by vsing of iustice with extremitie, and not wt lenitie. And what pitie is to be vsed to those, that so without pitie will not spare to oppresse the poore and simple farmer, suche as laboureth duly for his liuing? Howe lamen­table is the case of those that be honest, and suche as would gladly indeuour them selues to liue orderly, whi­che can not so much as enioy a poore flocke bed to lie vp­on, but must content them selues with homelier beds then a bundle of swéete strawe: and in stéede of other cates, doe onely liue by grasse, hearbes, and rootes: and then to sée what labour, what toyle, & what paine they endure, but to get some small portion of money, where­with to buy a loafe of bread, of the whiche neither he, his wife, nor his children, shall neuer eate so much as one crumbe: but muste serue to content those ydle roges, where the poore man him selfe, if he be able to kéepe a cowe for his better reléefe, letteth her bloude [Page] in a veine in her necke, the which bloud being boyled in a clod, serueth his turne in stead of the finest manchet.

A miserable case.Thus (I saye) those that would be honest, be still kept vnder in moste miserable manner, contented to yeld them selues to any manner of thraldome, so they might be defended from these helhoundes, as may bet­ter appeare by a Prouerb that they vse, which is: De­fend mee, and spend mee. But the multitude of these Idelers are such, that it cannot be. These be the people, through whome the greatest parte of the disor­der doth spring, there cannot be therefore too great pu­nishments to correct them, nor too much crueltie vsed to ridde them: and euen like as bitter & sharpe punish­ments should be rewardes for those that be euill: so for those that be good, there ought likewise to be some incou­ragements, whereby they might still continue in their goodnes: and a meane wherby to incite other to do the like. But this amongest other matters, is especially to be lamented: that in all the countrie there is not erec­ted some Vniuersitie, wherin they might be trained vp in good letters, whereby they might learne to serue God aright: who I thinke amongest the greatest number of them, is neyther knowen nor feared: and yet they will séeme to haue a zeale to religion, for there be a­mongest them,A sound reli­gion. that during the time of Lent, will re­fraine from eating of egges, butter, & chéese: and yet will make no conscience, if it were vpon good friday, to goe steale an hundred cowes to their breakefast.

As I haue heard, it hath béene in question, and pro­fers haue béene made to the erecting of a Vniuersitie: but howsoeuer it happeneth, it is deferred: but this is most certeine, they be neyther friendes, nor well wil­lers to the countrie, that will stand against it.

For if it were well considered, what a benefite it [Page] would be to the countrie, if there were a place, where gentlemen might bring vp their children in learning, where nowe they bring them vp in lewdnesse, in fil­ching and stealing: where they might be brought vp in knowledge of good artes and sciences, in manners and ciuilitie, where nowe they remaine in ignoraunce, and be onely trayned but in brutish beastlinesse.

Neither is it much to be meruelled at, for besides that there is no place in the countrie, where they might attaine to knowledge and learning: no more there is a­nie one meane whereby they might almost knowe vice from vertue: for they are likewise béereued of one of the greatest benefits, that giueth light and vnderstanding, which is by reading of histories: considering that there is nothing which may be either pleasaunt, profitable, or necessarie for man: but is writen in books,The light that reading of his­tories do bring wherin are reported, the manners, conditions, gouernementes, counsels, and affaires of euerie countrie: the gestes actes, behauiour, and manner of liuing of euerie peo­ple: the formes of sundrie Common wealthes, with their augmentations, & decayes, & the occasions ther­of: the precepts, exhortations, counsels, & good persua­sions comprehended in quicke sentences: to conclude, in bookes and histories are actually expressed, the beau­tie of vertue, and the lothsomnes of vice. Wherfore Lac­tantius saith thou must néedes perish, if thou knowest not what is to thy selfe profitable, that thou maist séeke for it: and what is dangerous, that thou maist flie & es­chew it. Which knowlege & light commeth chiefely vn­to vs by reading of histories: but how should they come by this profit or cōmoditie in Ireland: where they haue no maner of bookes, neither yet the vse of printing: so that for them there is no meane either to learn ciuilitie [Page] or good order: but by the example of vs that be English, whome naturally they doe hate:A prouerbe vsed in England. & we haue a Prouerbe in England which is this: Loue me and loue my dogg, so contrarie, it may be said, Hate me and hate all that comes from me: the which questionlesse is proued true amongest the greatest number of them: but especially in the wild parts,The nature of the wilde par­tes where in the stead of liking, they fall to lothing any thing that commeth from the English: where they had rather continue in their owne beastly and brutishe manners, then reforme themselues to any conformitie either in their maners either in their con­ditions. And in their fashions of their apparell they be as confused as in the rest: the men goe more beastly and sauage like then the people of America, where the peo­ple in most places hath euer séene any ciuilitie: the wo­men attired after such a manner as in Europe there are none that doth come néere their fashion: but hath grea­test similitude to the maner of the Aegyptian women. Although this séeme but a small fault to be picked out of a number of others: yet it were verie good that this faulte were reformed. And séeing we goe aboute to a­mende them in their manners and to bring them to ci­uilitie, it coulde not be amisse likewise that they were brought into such apparell, as to the view of the worlde they might séeme to haue some meane of modestie: for as a man may be partely coniectured by his apparrell, & may wel be déemed what exercise he doth professe (as the clergie by their apparrell are knowne from the laytie, ye lawyer from the merchaunt, and so of others: and a­mongest all men and in all places & countries it is holdē conuenient, that so it shoulde be:) Euen so questionlesse the manner of apparell is of no small effecte to féede mens mindes either with grace or disgrace: as for ex­ample. [Page] A proude man clothed in sumptuous or costly a­ray, it maketh him the more proud and hautie in his mind: or a whore that is bedect in light and garish ap­parell, it maketh her in her mind to be the more who­rishe. And like as a foole is not in his right kind with­out a yellowe coate, so fonde or vndecent apparell, may somtimes confuse the wisest heads. As to sée a learned preacher go into a pulpit pretending to make some so­lemne sermon, appareled like some lustie courtier, it woulde not onely bréede laughter to his audience, but it woulde likewise so amase him in his owne conceipte, that it woulde be a greate let to the tale that he ment to tell. And like as Semiramis, when shée gouerned the Assyrians, tooke on her ye habit of a man, the better to shewe her manly courage: and as Sardanapalus dis­guised himselfe into womanes attyre, the more liuely to expresse his effeminate minde: so I am of this opini­on that these Irish do the rather desire this rogish ma­ner of apparel, because it is most sutable and best agre­ing to their conditions: neither were it amisse if by cō ­pulsion they were restrained from it as much as conue­niently it might be.

I doe heere ouer passe many other abuses, nei­ther will I speake of an infinite number of priuie practises, that are sometimes vsed in the Superla­tiue degrée, you may choose howe you will construe it, either to some of those that are of noble parentage in the countrie, and gentlemen that bee of the greatest credite, and woulde be accompted the best Subiectes: either else to the number of their slye deuises whiche in déede dothe excéede in the highest degree, but some times rather then faile, you may [Page] construe it both for the one and the other, so expert they be in deuising of trecherie, and in the mainteining and relieuing of rebelles, and that by so many meanes and such sundrie shiftes, as it passeth my conceipt, neither will I take vppon mée to discipher. But these matters cannot be proued, and therefore may the easilier passe: but I cannot sée almoste howe it is possible, that any thing should be proued that should make against them, for there are verie fewe amongest them that will make any conscience to forsweare them selues vppon a booke: but if Ananias, with Saphira his wife, receiued bothe death,Actes. 5. but for denying of that portion which was their owne, what punishment could be sufficient for these people, that will so ordinarily denie GOD, and that almost for euery trifle?

And here, (I knowe,) I shall offende the patience of a great number, for that they finde mée still in one ma­ner of songe, and woulde exact nothing but punishe­mentes, and sharpe corrections vppon them: but I trust I shall not offende those that be good and honest, considering that my penne doeth not in any respecte touche them. And I knowe there are in the countrie many honourable houses, as the houses of Ormunde and Kyldare, the Lorde of Doluin, the Lorde of Vp­rosore, the Lorde of Louthe, with many other (though not expressed by name) both honourable and worship­full, and others of inferiour calling, that may not any wayes be detected with any thing that I haue written. So I knowe likewise, that there be a great number, of such as I haue spoken of, that are not to be reformed, but by moste bitter and sharpe punishmentes in déede: for the better triall, howe long time haue they béene gouerned by sundrie noble Princes, but nowe lastly, [Page] and especially, by a moste gratious Quéene, who of her greate mercie and clemencie, spendeth not onely such reuenues as rise by the countrie it selfe: but also addeth no small portion out of her owne pursse, onely to kéepe the countrie in quietnesse if it might be: which otherwise would be at strife and warres in it selfe, the one killing and murthering the other, as it daily fal­leth out notwithstanding: and with no lesse care, shée prouideth for them good & wholsome lawes and ordi­nāces, where of them selues they would rather liue like beastes, voide of lawe and all good order: where other­wise, if her maiestie pretended to rule by rigour ouer them, who knoweth not that shée coulde sende suche a power ouer into Irelande, as in verie shorte space, would make quicke riddaunce of all that ragged rowt, which nowe so vexeth and molesteth the countrie: but shée rather séeketh wt mercie to reclaime them, and with lenitie to reforme thē, sending them ouer from time to time, such gouernors to direct them, as are neither founde to be rigorous, cruell, nor mercilesse. But how muche is the countrie bounde to her Maiestie at this present, in sending that noble gentleman, Sir Henrie Sidney, to be their gouernour, the onely man that they themselues haue so muche desired, and so long time wished for: whose onely carke and care, hath béene to séeke the countries Common wealth, and the qui­etnesse of the people. And with what humanitie and gentlenesse, hath he still continued his gouernement: what pittie and mercie hath he from time to time ex­tended to those that little deserue it: considering with what treason, with what trecherie, with what fraude, and with what deceipt, they requite him? There is no hope of their promise, no holde of their worde, no cre­dite [Page] in their othe, nor no trueth in their dealings to­wardes him.

Therefore, to conclude as I began at the first, there néedes no longer circumstaunce, nor better triall to proue, that courtesie in the Irishe gouernement, is not the readiest way to winne: but onely by seuere iustice without mercie, to him that shall offende: for this hope of forgiuenesse is the onely marring of all toge­ther.

Thus farre I haue spoken partly by report, and as it were by vox populi: but if vox populi be vox Dei, as some will affirme, it is not onely the Irishe alone, that altogether confuseth the gouernement, but some­times there is falshood in fellowship played amongest the English: but let him that is guiltie accuse him selfe: I speake but by report. And séeing I am entred into re­portes, I will not let to make report howe a great ma­ny do reporte, that some of those that be sent ouer, to be ayders and assistaunts to the gouernement, and suche as should helpe to boult out such matters, haue greater care to séeke their owne gaine, and to make them sel­ues riche: yea, and so they may be rewarded with a bribe, will rather séeke to helpe couer and cloake suche causes, then to giue their consentes to punishe them: such is the effect of this filthie vice couetousnesse,The effect of couetousnesse. that when it once inrageth the mindes of men, it draweth from them all feare, religion, loue, reuerence, and knowledge of GOD: it peruerteth iustice and true dealing towardes men: and he that thirsteth onely for gaine, of force must runne into actions of iniuries and oppressions.

And nowe to shewe what reportes runnes amongst the ministers of the lawes, whereof some be Englishe, [Page] and some be Irishe.

The Irishe (they saye) fauour no Englishe mennes causes, but foades them off with further delayes then may well stand with lawe or reason. The Englishe yet be founde to be most indifferent, for they respect no countries, but fauour his cause that hath moste money to bribe them: such parcialitie there is vsed amongest them, and so farre they be estraunged from pietie and iustice, that the miserable poore oppressed people, doe holde it lesse euill to suffer their iniuries, then to pleade their suites, before such as haue greater regarde to the brybes that are giuen them, then eyther to the e­quitie or innocencie of their causes.

Thus, I haue not thought it good, with secret silence to dissemble and smother inwardly in my minde, what I haue heard: considering, that men ought rather to es­téeme the wordes of him that telleth the trueth with simplicitie, then ye smooth spéeches of him that speaketh all to currie fauour, and yet in déede saye nothing that is worthie of commendation.

And thus, wishing to Irelande as good successe, as he that was borne in the countrie, I returne to my first purpose to speake againe of Souldiers: neyther shall I néede spende any longer time, in that I preten­ded to proue: that to become Souldiers, or warfaring men, is no profession for those that be honest: conside­ring that there is alreadie sufficiently said,The Souldiers of England in most miserable estate. to those that be reasonable. Wherefore nowe I will direct my tale to the poore Souldiers of Englande, whose number as it is verie small, so their case is likewise most miserable, if it be well considered.

First in the time of warres, they spare not in their countries behalfe, to forsake their wife, childrē, father, [Page] mother, brother, sister, to leaue their friendes, and onely betake them against their enimies:To what extre­mities souldiers doe comit them selues in the time of warre. contented to yeld them selues to continual watch, ward, fasting, hunger, thirst, cold, heate, trauaile, toyl, ouer hils, woods, deserts, wading through riuers, where many some­times lose their liues by the way, lying in the féeld, in raine, wind, frost & snowe, aduenturing against ye eni­mie, the lack of lims, the losse of life, making their bo­dies a fence & bulwark, against the shott of the cannon.

But the warres being once finished, & that there is no néede of them, howe be they rewarded, howe be they cherished, what accounte is there made of them, what other thing gaine they then slaunder, misreporte, false impositions, hatred and despight?

A colde warde.Howe small is the number, that be in England of sufficient men, such I meane as be able in déede, in the time of seruice, to stand their countrie in stead, to any purpose, and yet how many of this small number, hath euer béene brought to credit, or bene any thing prefer­red, for the seruice they haue done? There be some that haue serued twentie or thirtie yeares as occasions haue hapened, & in the warres haue spent part of their bloud, and receiued many gréeuous woundes, but their estate of liuing, I woulde to God were knowne to those that might amend it.

There is that small garrison of Barwicke, whiche for the value of their minds, and the noblenesse of their courage, I knowe may well compare with the best: but for their other riches, I haue séene a hundred Spaniardes or a hundred Frenche men as they haue béene marching towards seruice, that only but in their apparell & furniture, haue béen more welthy then all ye souldiers of Barwicke were able to make, if all their ri­ches [Page] were brought together: and yet if there were a­ny occasion to vse any number of men from thence must the conducters and leaders be brought,The number of able souldiers to smal in England. that shoulde be founde able and sufficient when it came to the pinche. Some others there be, wherof many be dispersed here & there, for want of other stay of liuing, but sure the num­ber is so small, as I feare me it woulde be found, if any soudaine assaulte should be offered vnto vs.

God preserue her maiestie therfore, long to gouerne & reigne ouer vs, through whose prouidence & foresight, we haue béene so long time preserued in peace and qui­etnesse.

And O Englande, woulde to God so many presidents of others mishapes, might make thée take héed, and call thy selfe to remembraunce, consider thy enimies be not so secrete, but they be as malicious: and haue staide all this while neither for want of quarell, neither for want of will, if they them selues were once at quiet: nor flat­ter not thy selfe bicause thou hast inioyed a peaceable time, that it shall still indure: but remember the lon­ger it hath béene calme, the sooner the storme is looked for, and the greater the rage when it falleth.

If thou dost well looke into thy selfe, and ponder thy owne case, thou shalt finde that if any soudaine alarum shoulde happen, thou shalt finde that thy greatest want shalbe onely of those men that nowe thou holdest in so small estimation, and doest estéeme of so litle accompt.

If thou thinkest thy great numbers of vntrained men, are sufficient to defende thée, doe but remember what happened to Antwerpe, where they wanted nei­ther men, nor any other prouisiō for the wars. But they wanted souldiers to direct them, and men of vnderstan­ding to incourage them: For the want of knowledge, bréedeth the want of courage: as Solomon saith: A [Page] wise man is euer stronge: Prou. 24. yea, a man of vnderstanding increaseth with strength: for with wisedome must warre be taken in hand, and where there are many that can giue counsell, there is the victorie, &c.

And Xerxes who with a great armie, was put to the worst, but with 300. Lacedaemonians, confessed that he forced not so much for the multitude, as for their know­ledge & experience. I could here rehearse many other ex­amples of like effect, but I leaue thē til other occasion, & wil conclude with what care and prouision sundrie no­ble Princes haue prouided for their souldiers, not onely in the time of war when they haue had néed of them: but aswel in ye time of peace for their seruice alreadie done, that they should not wante: according to the minde of Alexander Seuerus, who saith that, The souldier is wor­thy his keeping in the time of peace, that hath honestly serued his countrie in the time of warr, although for age he cannot trauell, his counsel yet may not be spared. And Iesus the sonne of Sirach saith,Eccle. 27. There be two thinges that greeue my hearte, and in the thirde is a displeasure come vpon me, when an experte man of warre suffereth scarcenesse & pouertie, when men of vnderstanding and wisedome are not set by, and when one departes from righteousnesse to sinne, &c.

Octauian Augustus honored souldiers with this law: What so euer thou be that shalt serue with vs in wars x. yéeres space, so that thou shalt be xl. yéeres olde, whe­ther thou hast serued on foote or on horseback, héereafter be thou frée from warres, be thou Heros, an olde soul­dier: let no man forbid thée the citie, the stréete, the tem­ple, nor his house: let no man lay any blame to thy charge, put any burden vpon thée, or aske thée any mo­nie: if thou shalt offend in any thing, looke to be chastised by Caesar & by no man else. In all dishonestie that men [Page] shall commit, I will that thou be the Iudge, and disclo­ser, whether they be priuate or officers: that which thou shalt say and affirme for trueth, no man shall reproue for false. I will that all wayes and places be open for thée, thou shalt haue authoritie to eate and drinke at Princes tables: thou shalt yéerely haue wages of the common treasurie to finde thée and thy houshold: let her be preferred before other women, whome thou shalte take to be thy lawefull wife: and he that thou shalt call infamous, let him be wicked & infamous: thou béeing Heros, shalt haue authoritie to beare armes, badges, names, & ornamentes, which be decent for a King: doe what thou liste in euery place and countrie where thou commest, if any doe thée wrong let his head be cutt off, &c.

Charles the great, when he had translated the name of the Empire to the Germanes, after the Saxons and Lombards were vāquished, gaue this honor to his soul­diers saying: You shall be called Heroes, the compani­ons of Kinges, & Iudges of offences: liue ye héereafter voide of labour, counsell Kinges in the publique autho­ritie, reproue dishonest thinges, fauour women, helpe Orphanes, let not Princes lack, your counsell, and aske of them meate, drink, and monie, if any shall denie it, let him be vnrenowmed and infamous: if any doe you iniurie, let him knowe he hath offended the Emperors maiestie: but ye shal forsée, that ye distaine not so great an honour, and so greate a priuiledge, gotten by the great labour of warre, with dronkennesse, rayling, or any other vice: to the end, that that whiche we haue giuen you for glorie, redounde not to punishment, whi­che we will for euer reserue to be giuen you by vs and our successors, Emperours of Rome, as often as you shall transgresse.

[Page]And Polycrates of Samos, appointed liuing for the wiues and children of the dead souldiers, streightly commaunding, that no man shoulde offende them, or do them any wrong.

Solon made this lawe, that those children whose fa­thers had spent their liues in fighting in the defence of the common wealth, should be brought vp at the char­ges of the common treasure.

But what doe I stand reciting of straunge histories, forepassed so many yeres sithens? Why do I not remē ­ber, the French men and Spaniards, amongest whom at this instant, men of seruice be not a litle honoured, and had in estimation? And goe to the dronken contries of Denmarke and Swethen, and those other partes of the East, and how be souldiers cherrished, and men of seruice prouided for?

The manner of England in the [...]me of needeBut in Englande, when there is occasion to vse them, then, Helpe noble captaines, Now shewe your selues couragious, & worthie souldiers: but seruice once being ended, they be quite forgotten, that euer there was any néede of them, for any thing they are like to get. And yet I must impute it but to their own misfortuns, & not for any want of liberalitie:Euery one hath his time. for who knoweth not, how manie fées, pensions, stipends, & many other offices, are daily to be giuen in Englande, but very fewe fall to the shares of these vnthriftie souldiers: but suche doe many times gett them, as can thriue by them, and play the good husbandes:Souldiers the gretest vnthrifts that liue in these seasons, there are verie fewe of them that are able to giue his felowe a dinner. such as can build sumptuous houses, purchase faire liuinges, runne in the Quéenes debte, till they come in the thousandes, and then the price of a veluet gowne, or some odde hundred poundes, bestow­ed vpon some ye Quéens women, wil stall the debt. The Quéene will be content to take it by a hundred or two hundred pounds a yeare, this is the way to thriue, these [Page] be the fellowes that do gaine. But how ingratefull may that countrie be called,Souldiers of all others had in least estimation. where those that must fight in the defence, and offer them selues to the slaughter in their countries quarell, doe onely receiue for recom­pense, but hatefull wordes, slaunderous reportes, and are no better accompted of, then as the abiects, and hol­den inferiours to euery other people?

Here might be many other things said in the behalfe of souldiers, the whiche I omit, and leauing them to the benefite of better fortune, will come to speake of the a­buse of the time.

¶The third part speaking of the time.

I Knowe there be some will condemne me (as I haue saide) to write any thing of warre, in this so peaceable a time, the causes I haue shewed be partly before: for there be many vnto whome the name of warre is so odious, that with a good will they would neuer heare them spoken of: and will coniecture that I rather allow of warre then peace, that will so busie my selfe to write any thing of them, now while there is no néede.

But those that be wise can very well consider, that there is no man ought more rather to desire peace,Which are souldiers. then suche as by warre may soonest catch harme.

I speake this in mine owne excuse, considering that I haue serued her Maiestie, as occasion hath happened, and am still in a readinesse to serue, when néede shall re­quire.

[Page]And as I know it is but the part of a foole at the sea, to wishe for a storme, when the wether is calme: so I knowe likewise in the time of calme, to prouide for a storme, is the poynt of a wise mariner: for who so well considereth, to what disposition Kinges and Princes be commonly inclined vnto▪ in these latter dayes, whiche is to haue greater felicitie, with Tyrannie to offende o­thers, then with iustice and equitie to kéepe their owne: it ought therefore with great diligence to be prouided for, that like as in the time of warre, circumspect care of peace may not be omitted: so in the time of peace, such thinges may be foreséene, apperteining to the war, that the want of warlike prouisions, be not preiudiciall to the maintenaunce of this swéete and quiet peace.

And the very occasion that vrgeth me to write, is to wish that in England we were expert warriors, though not warre louers: and that we had many that were wise, rather then willing souldiers. But where peace is so inordinatly desired, that in ye preferring therof they forgett all Martiall exercises, whiche is the very pre­seruer,The custodie of peace consisteth in the knowlege of warre. Careles people nerest their own harme. and mainteiner of peace, (according to the mind of Valerius Maximus, who saith That the custodie of blessed peace consisteth in the knowledge of warre.) It can not be chosen therefore, but those people be euer néerest their owne harme, that will so carelesly spende the time of peace, as though they shoulde neuer more haue occasion to enter into warre.

Pleasure bring­eth paine.And generally it is séene, where pleasure is preferred so excessiuely, and the people followe it so inordinately, that they lye and wallowe in it so carelesly, they com­monly end with it most miserably.

For howe many Cities, how many Countries, whiche sometime most of all florished, onely by reason [Page] of their farre stretched Empire, glorie and renowme, purchased by famous and noble actes: are nowe bea­ten flatt to the grounde, couered with moulde, and al­most out of remembraunce?

Where are now become the dominions of the Assy­rians and Persians? What is become of the glorie of the riche Citie of Athens: whiche had béene so often fore­warned by ye excellent Orator Demosthenes? Or where is nowe the pompe and power of the Macedonians? Or what hath wasted the fame and renowme of the citie of Rome, that it had not béene perpetuall?

What other thing then this inordinate delicacie,Idlenesse and delicacie the decay of many common wealthes. riot, & ydlenes. For when they ouer neglected the feats of war, laide aside their weapons, sought more for their owne priuate aduauncement, then for the liberties of their countrie: then came their kingdomes to calami­tie, and beganne headlong to fall to the ground: and then in the stead of frugalitie sproung vp outragious ri­ot: in steade of hardinesse and courage in the warres, excéeding tendernesse, and nicenesse, both of body and minde: and thus when the knowledge of souldier-fare was extinguished, then vnsatiable desire of riches made entrie amongest them, & nothing so much practis­ed, as to haue experience in buying and selling: that in the ende, the Emperiall crowne was bought and soulde for money amongest them: and the Romane Empire whiche so mightily had florished, was nowe made sub­iecte to common thraldome.

But for that there are some, that are nothing moued with reading of histories, monuments, or the examples of auncient writers, vnlesse they haue knowen the like in their age, or séene wt their eyes, or as it were touched with their finger, I will therfore put such in remem­brance, of ye state & conditiō, of Holland, Zeland, Flanders [Page] Brabant, and other partes of the lowe countries: How many yeares continued they in peace and quietnesse, in dronkennesse, in lecherie, in riot, in excesse, in glutto­nie, in wantonnesse, (I will not say in the like predi­cament that we nowe remaine in Englande) the whi­che to continue, they were contented to submit them selues, to any maner of thraldome, and to euery kind of slauerie, to receiue the Spaniards into their cities and towns, which were naturaly seated so strong, yt no for­reine prince could forcably haue made entrie into them.

Howe the Spaniards gouerned them, with what rigour they ruled them, & howe tyrannously they reig­ned ouer them, is so well knowen as I will not spende the time to relate: in the end, to disburden them selues from that which before they had yealded vnto, [...] the steed [...] stolen they shut the stable dore. by neces­sitie they were inforced to goe to Mars his schole, & to practise the art of warre, whiche had euer béene moste lothsome vnto them, not without great ruine & wrack, of many noble cities and townes, and with no lesse spoyle and hauocke, of infinite goodes and riches.

For like as the desire to haue dominion ouer many kingdomes, and to haue souereigntie ouer far stretched Empires, is a common infirmitie amongest kings and princes:Where the stile is lowe euery dogge will ouer. so there is nothing may sooner prouoke them to giue attempt, then where they sée such forgetfulnesse amongest the people: that slouthe and idlenesse bear­eth the whole sway among them: As Plutarch, in his Apophthegmaes, maketh report of a famous capteine, to whom a certeine reader of the Atheniens made his complaint, that the men of armes in his campe, re­proched them of Athens, to whom the capteine made answere, that as the thing that is well kept, is hardly lost, and that nothing prouokes the théefe sooner then negligence: So, if the Atheniens, had tied care and cir­cumspection [Page] to their wordes and déedes, they had ne­uer falne into the handes of the Lacedemonians.

And Cambyses the father of Cyrus king of Persia, being asked by what meanes Cities might best be kept in safetie, aunswered, if they that kept the same cities,Mistrustfulnesse a verie good re­medie. do thinke they can neuer be warie ynough of their eni­mies: the which in the Massilians was charily per­fourmed, who kept both warde and watch in their ci­ties in the time of peace, as if they had béene continu­ally vexed and troubled with warre, and to that pur­pose, instituted sundrie good ordinaunces, vpon the ho­lie dayes to sée their souldiers standing vpon the walls, and exercising them selues in the feates of armes. And that notable Capteine Epaminondas, while the citizens of Thebes gaue them selues to feasting, banquetting & bellie chéere, ranne hastily to arme him selfe, and mar­ched towards the citie walles, to the end the rest might b [...] the safelyer dronke, and aswell to signifie, that the safetie of their Citie should at no time be forgotten.

And although king Solomon, who in the holie Scrip­tures is called Rex pacificus, and was promised by the mouth of God a peaceable reigne, and was still busied, and turmoyled with the buylding of the holie temple: yet notwithstanding, he was not forgetfull to furnishe his garrisons, with innumerable men of warre, horses and charriots. To be short, there is, neither hath béen any well gouerned Common wealth, but the lawes of Armes be as carefully prouided for, as any other citie causes: but where delicacie once preuaileth, and get­teth the vpper hande, there adewe Martiall mindes: & farewell magnanimitie, where slouthfulnesse hath once made entrie: for the noblenesse that is to be looked for in a Princely and hautie courage, though it bée chéefely wrought by the force of the minde: so the bodie [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] must be exercised, and brought in such plight, as it may be made able to follow payne and trauell.

Were not the olde souldiers of Hanibal, in lying but one winter in Capua, spēding the time in wanton­nesse amongst the delicate dames, so effeminated & in­feebled, both in bodie and mind, that they neuer did any thing afterwarde, that was worthy of report?

And Xerxes being offended with the Babylonians, because they trayterously had shronke from him, when he had againe brought them vnder: he forbad them to beare any more weapons, and further commaun­ded them, that they shoulde singe to the Lute, and other instrumentes, learne to kéepe harlotes, & haunte tauer­nes: which policie hee of purpose prepared, to weaken their courages, whereby he might the better kéepe them vnder awe.

The knowledge of warre therefore and the exercise of armes are especially to be sought, neither can I tell whether any thing be more noble, by the whiche so greate dominions and noble Empires, haue béene pur­chased, kingdomes inlarged, princes preserued, iustice mainteined, good lawes protected, and the Common wealth defended.

Great is the glorie in the knowledg of warre ther­fore: neither hath the citie of Athens, atchieued so great renoume and glorie, although it merited to be called the mother of all artes & sciences, as Rome hath done, onely by magnanimitie, and force of Martiall might: which brought such reputation to their Cōmonwealth, that farre and straunge regions, sought their aliaunce and friendship, and thought them selues assured against their enimies, if they had confederation with them, yt in the end, they grewe to such admiration, that for their lenitie and surmounting courtesie, they were of all men [Page] beloued, & for their valiante magnanimitie, they were of all men feared. Neither was this magnificence, vp­holdē by doing wrong & iniurie, for they neuer attēpted warres but for things in claime, or in defence of league friends. Then as Cicero saith? The Senat might rather haue beene tearmed, the protection, hauen, Tull. officiis. Lib. i. & refuge of kings, people, & nations, more truly then the Empire of the world. Neither were they found rashe to enter into warrs hedily, although they had occasiō, as did appeare at ye citie of Sagunto, where ye people of Carthage brake ye league, & defied peace: yet the Senate sent thither Am­bassadour Fabius Maximus, wt two tables, the one con­teining peace, the other warres, putting the election to their owne choice, as it liked them selues to choose, al­though the Romans them selues, could best defend their cause. But did the Romanes gaine this glorie by enu­ring themselues, to liue in delicat idlenes, in dicing, in carding, in dansing, in whoring, in banqueting, in reueling, & in roysting: no, but ordayned most sharpe & bit­ter punishments to expell them, & with disgrace to dant those, that were the practisers, and followers of them.

Where contrarily, to prouoke & prick forward Mar­tiall mindes, and manly wightes, to the studie of chi­ualrie & Martiall affaires, they ordeined glorious tri­umphes, liberall rewards, and honorable titles: which was the verie cause, that the citie grew to be so great, & large in Empire: for where valiaunce, & prowesse, was so honorably rewarded, not onely noble men, but also inferiour persons, were so inflamed with desire of re­nowme, that no daunger was lefte vndelte withall, nor no perill left vnproued, where there was glorie to bée gayned, or ye safetie of their contrie might be preserued.

The two Decii, by race and birth were no gentlemen borne, yet by their valiaunce and fortitude, they aspired [Page] to the highest type of dignitie in their Commonwealth, and in their countries defence, consecrated themselues, as valiant and vowed vessels, to glorie & immortalitie.

Neither was Lucius Martius, borne but of a meane parentage, yet for his puissaunce shewed in Spaine, he receiued of his countrie, great honor and principalitie.

By these means, the liberties of their countries were most strongly defended, and the indifferencie of their lawes were chiefely mainteined, where wel doing is so liberally rewarded.

For what greater dishonour may there be in a Cō ­mon wealth, then where worthie acts & high attempts receiue but colde rewarde? Or what rewarde may that countrie thinke too much to bestowe on him that hath not spared his owne life to fight in the defence?

There be sundrie examples in the holy scripture, ten­ding to the same effect: for when the children of Israel, were pursued by Pharaoh, & that they began to stagger in the promises of God: the Tribe of Iuda, did mani­festly shewe foorth, farre greater courage and valiance, then the rest, who lingered not nor drewe backe, but with a marueilous constancie, by the example of Moses aduentured first the sea, by whose stout stomaches, the rest were incouraged to followe: For which facte, the people of Iuda, were euer afterwardes, more honoured then the rest, and such had the principalitie amongst the twelue tribes, as were descended of this tribe of Iu­da.

Cronicles. 2. Cap 8.In like manner Solomon, made the Hethites, the A­morites, the Pheresites, the Heuites, and the Iebusites, to become tributaries, and to labour in the buildinges: but of the children of Israel, he made men of warre, cap­teines, great Lordes, and rulers,

And Socrates in a certeine fable vseth these wordes: [Page] All you that liue in one citie, are brethrē, being streight­ly linked and vnited together: but when God created you, he gaue not euerie one a like propertie, for they that were most mete to rule, he tempered with gold: & those that in defence of their countrie would valiantly assist kings & princes, he mingled them with siluer: & to such as shoulde applie themselues to tillage, and other meane occupations, he bestowed brasse and yron: nowe it fal­leth out generally, that they ingender children like to them selues: but sometimes it happeneth, a golden fa­ther to haue a childe of siluer: some other time, a siluer father, to haue a golden sonne. He willeth therefore, that they shoulde take in no one thing, more speciall re­garde, then diligently to search, with what mettall their childrens mindes be tempered with, so that if there be found any brasse or yron in their childrens sen­ses, they shoulde assigne them, such a trade conuenient, & agreeing with their grosse & rude nature: but if they finde in them any golde, or siluer, they should bestowe on them honourable roomes, & that they should be trai­ned vpp, in the knowledge of Martiall affaires.

The Romanes, ordeined for that purpose, a long & spacious fielde, which they called, Campus Martius, wherin the youth of the citie, were exercised in Marti­all feates, and to enure their bodies, both for their owne health, & also that they might be made, the more profi­table members for their Cōmon wealth in the time of warres.

The Lacedemonians vsed their children to goe bare­footed, exercising them in running, in leaping, & in cas­ting ye darte, in which exercises, they were continually practised: from whēce Diogenes, on a time returning, & going to Athens, was asked from whence he came, and whither he woulde: I come (saide he) from amongest [Page] men, and am going among women.

I wonder if Diogenes were nowe liuing, and going into England, whither he would say he were going, if he were demaunded: where we be wholie nouseled in wantonnesse, and onely nourished in deintinesse, both in minde, manners, and dyet: where we be altogether made straungers to Martiall actions, and vtterly alie­nated from lawes, and déedes of armes, where no con­sideration is had of Martiall mindes: where prouision for defence is neuer called in question.

Here peraduenture, some will say vnto mée, Good sir, if you would but put on your spectacles, and looke into the Tower of London, you might sée that neyther ordinaunce, shott, poulder, pike, caliuer, armour, nor any other furnitures conuenient for the warres were any whit lacking: from thence, if it pleased you but to sayle downe in Grauesend Barge, you haue but fiue myles to Rochester, where you might likewise take ye view of so worthie a fleete of royall ships, as no Prince in Europe may make comparison with the like. Call you not these prouisions of defence, where no muniti­ons fit for the warres, are any whitt wanting?

Verie true in déede, which doth argue the speciall care her Maiestie hath euer had, not onely in making of such prouision, but also at sundrie times, shée hath likewise instituted diuerse good ordinaunces for the tray­ning of men, the which hath béene still discontinued, by her subiectes, such as will pyne at the spending of one pound of poulder towardes the practising of those that should fight for their safetie.

Wherefore I néed vse no other aunswere, then king Philip vsed to that noble Capteine Antipater, which was this.

What fearest thou man, any Capteine of Athens? [Page] Their Gallies and their Peere are but trifles and toyes vnto mee: For what account is to be made of those fellowes that giue themselues to daunsing, hoyting, banquetting, and to bellie cheere, that if Demosthenes onely were not amongest them, I would sooner gett A­thens then Thebes, or Thessalia, &c. So, to what effect serue all these warrelike furnitures, where there are not men experienced to vse them: & where men be tray­ned onely in pleasure, howe vnapt be they to indure the perplexities of warre: and howe hardly are they fashio­ned to the vse of weapons, that neuer haue had any ex­ercise in them: and with what difficultie are they pre­pared to the field, when they haue neuer béene accusto­med to marche?

But I haue hearde many say, that souldiers may well be trayned in one moneth, and made fit for the warres: and in déede I am of this opinion, that he that in one moneth wil not learne the vse of his wea­pon, whereto he shall be sorted, and to learne to marche in order of array, being throughly instructed by a dili­gent and painefull Capteine, I am fully resolued, that that man will neuer make good souldier. But as our Souldiers in Englande are acustomably leuied, a Cap­teine shall haue muche to doe, to make a greate parte of them for euer being Souldiers at all.

But admitte, that Souldiers may be trained and made readie in one moneth, yet during that space, our enimies would committ greater spoiles vppon vs, then wee should be able to recouer againe in sixe wéekes after.

Moreouer in the day of seruice, I had rather haue one thousande such as haue alreadie séene and entred skir­mishe with the enimie, then foure thousande of such ha­stie mad Souldiers, that are but trained vp, as it were [Page] at a Midsummer sight, or at the fetching home of a Maypole. For proofe hereof, I could shewe many ex­amples, but it were but in vaine, considering there is no man of reason, but will conceiue it to be true: and such as haue experience will confesse I am nothing de­ceiued in my opinion.

And to saye the trueth, if in Englande we shoulde haue néede to vse any reasonable number, there woulde hardly be founde conductors, such as be sufficient in déede for the training of them.

For Gentlemen that are descended of honourable fa­milies, in these dayes, giue themselues rather to be­come Battalus knightes,Battalus an effeminate man. then Martiall wights, & haue greater desire to be practised in Carpet trade, then in that kinde of vertue, which extendeth it selfe to the common profite, and preseruation of the countrie.

And I cannot but marueile, what moueth so many men, to make such great account of their gentilitie, that they thinke themselues worthie of such honour and es­timation: and yet haue no regarde to the renowme or preeminence, that is annexed vnto it: for as Cicero saith:Tull. officiis. Lib. i. Truely, the best inheritaunce that fathers leaue to their children, and more worthie then all liuelod, is the glorie of vertue, and worthie deedes, whereunto to be a staine, it is to be accompted both vice and shame.

But what reputation bring they to their houses, that licentiously, in ryot, rometh to and fro, not kno­wing in what fashion to disguise them selues, what countenance they should beare in the streates, nor with what curiositie they should giue intertainment, furni­shed with thrée or foure Frenche, Italian, or Spanishe wordes, thinking that the whole glorie consisted in be­ing newfangled in their apparell, straunge in their con­ceiptes, and as daintie in their dietes, as dame Follie [Page] her selfe, when shée is going of her firste childe. To be shorte, in Englande, A good exchang Gentlemen haue robbed our wo­men of their mindes, and our women haue béereued vs of halfe our apparell.

Where Gentlemen ought rather to indeuour them­selues to such exercises of vertuous actes, whereby they might giue such cleare light, and purchase true fame to their posteritie, according as their predecessours haue left vnto them, of which they them selues do so migh­tily boast of: and especially, to giue them selues to suche exercises, wherein labour prepareth the bodie to har­dinesse, and the minde to couragiousnesse, neither suffe­ring the one to be marred with tendernes, nor the other to be hurt with idlenesse.

As we reade of Sardanapalus, who was scorned as an effeminate King, who chose rather to sitt & spinne a­mongst women, then to learn to weld weapons: against whom, when Belochas and Arbases made insurrection, he fled and durst not shewe him selfe in the fielde.

Xenophon maketh mention howe Hercules being but a young man, musing wherevnto he might applie his noble minde, there appeared vnto him two goodly young women, the one verie gorgious and braue, with ringes on her fingers, a chayne about her necke, her haire set and frizeled, with pearles and diamonds in her eares: the other sober in her chéere, comely in her appa­rell, modest in her behauiour, shamefast in her counte­naunce. The first saide: Hercules, if thou wilt serue me, thou shalt haue gold and siluer ynough, thou shalt féede deintily, thou shalt liue Princely, thou shalt inioy plea­sures, imbrace delightes, possesse mirth. In fine, thou shalt haue all things to thine owne contentation, that apperteine to ease, rest, and quietnesse. Then spake the other with demure countenaunce: If thou wilt serue [Page] mée Hercules, thou shalt be a Victor of Conquerours, thou shalt subdue kingdomes, and ouerthrowe kinges: thou shalt be aduaunced vnto fame, renowmed in the world, and shalt deserue praise both of man and womā. Hercules perceiuing the idle seruice of the first, and the fame and renowme that was to be gained by the second, chose her for his maistris: and I think sent the other in­to England, where at this present shée is dutifully ser­ued.The cause why gentlemen do not desire to be souldiers. But I thinke the verie occasion why many doe not indeuour themselues to practise to be souldiers now in England, is because they sée those fewe that be there alreadie to thriue so ilfauouredly by their occupation, yt they rather séeke to indeuour themselues, where there is either pleasure or profite to be gained, which is not in souldierfare, & therefore makes them to become either Courtiers, Lawyers, or Louers. The Court, I con­fesse is a place requisite for gentlemen to knowe, so their mindes might not be seduced with the vanities thereof, whereby they should be enticed, not to followe other ex­ercises, tending more to their honour and estimation: & forsake those places, where greater glorie is to be gay­ned then any doth ordinarily atteine vnto, that consu­mes their dayes wholy in the court: for he yt fully fra­mes him self to becom a courtier, must likewise fraught his head so full of courting toyes, that there will be no roome left, to cōsider of matters aperteining more to his credite.The maner of our young courtiers. For the most in number of our young courtly gentlemen thinke that ye gretest grace of courting con­sisteth in proude and hautie countenaunces to suche as knowe them not, to be verie faire spoken, bountifull & liberall in wor [...] to all men,But nothing in deedes. to be curious in cauilling, propoūding captious questions, therby to shew a singu­laritie of their wisedomes: for the helping whereof, they diligently studie bookes for the purpose, as Corne­lius [Page] Agrippa, de vanitate scientiarum, and other like: to séeme to talke of farre and straunge countries, of the maners of the people, of the fertilitie of soyles, and by ye way of communication, able to dispute of all things, but in déede to knowe nothing, to apply their pleasant wits to scoffing, quipping, gybing, and taunting, whereby they may be accompted merrie conceipted gentlemen, & with all, they must learne to play the parasites, or else I can tell them, they will neuer learne to thriue. And in their apparell, they must be verie nyce and neat, with their ruffes finely set, a greate bundle of feathers thrust into a cappe, which must likewise be of such a bignesse, that it shalbe able to holde more witt then thrée of them haue in their heades. They must be rashe in their iud­gements, curious in their conceiptes, they must be bold, saucie, and mallapert, which they them selues terme to be good audacitie. They must be readie to espie euery mans faultes, but not to sée their owne follie. But what should I stand to decypher the vanities of our courtiers, which are alreadie so painted forth in their colours, and that by so many men, as I doe but waste the time in vaine about them. I do likewise acknowledge, that the lawe is especially to be practised by gentlemen.Of Lawyers. For as the lawe it selfe is most honourable amongest men: so those that should be practisers, professours, and mini­sters of the lawes, ought likewise to be of credite and es­timation.

But our Innes of court in these days are so furni­shed with shomakers sonnes, taylers sonnes, Inholders sonnes, farmers sonnes, & almost there is not so meane a man, but his sonne must go to the Innes of court, and they when they haue gotten a little lawe, because they will not mend shooes, and do as their fathers haue done before them, there is no ho in their getting, no measure [Page] in their taking, no meane in their bribing, nor no rea­son in their extorting.

These be they, that by lawe will peruert lawe, and what one lawe doeth make, they will bring another lawe shall marre. These be they that laughe, when o­ther men mourne, and that make them selues riche, by other mennes follies: and these be the only men that bring Lawe and Lawyers into such exclamations.

Of Louers.But of all other people that doe moste surmount in vanities, are those that in such contagious passions, cō ­sume their time in loue, that as Marcus Aurelius doth affirme, he that doth once fall in loue with another, doth euen then begin to hate him selfe.

It hath many times béen had in question, frō whence the furie of this maladie should spring, but the greatest parte do conclude, that the original thereof doth procéed of idlenesse.

Loue, where it once taketh holde, it tormenteth the patients with such straunge and bitter passions, that it reduceth reason into rage,The effect of Loue. pleasure into paine, quietnes into carefulnes, mirth into madnesse, neither maketh it any exceptions of persons, eyther old or young, riche or poore, weake or strong, foolish or discréete, that as Pe­ter Bouaystuan, a notable Frenche author doth write, that if all the louers that are in the world, were made in one whole armie,Cupides band. there is neyther Emperour, nor Mo­narche, but would be amazed to sée such a companie of Bedlem fooles in a cluster.

But he that should take the viewe of their counte­naunces, gests, maners, furies & al their frantiké toys, might confesse that he neuer sawe a more strange Meta­morphosis, or a spectacle more ridiculous to laugh at. If at any time they haue receiued a merrie coūtenance of their beloued, good God how gay shall you sée them in [Page] their apparell, howe chéerefull in their countenaunce, howe pleasant in their conceiptes, how merrie in their moodes: then they bathe in brookes of blisse, they swim in seas of ioy, they flowe in floudes of felicitie, they ho­uer all in happinesse, they flie in swéete delightes, they banish all annoy.

Contrarily, if they receiue a lowring looke, then you shall see them drowned in dumpes, they pleade with pitious plaintes, they crie with continuall clamours, they forge, they fain, they flatter, they lie, they forswere, otherwhiles falling into desperate moodes, that they spare not to blaspheme the gods, to curse the heauens, to blame the planetes, to raile on the destinies, to crie out vppon the furies, to forge hell, to counterfeite Sisiphus, to playe Tantalus, to faine Titius, to grone with Pro­metheus, to burne the winter, to fréese the summer, to lothe the night, to hate the day, with a thousand other such superstitious follies, too long for me to reherse.

Now, if he be learned, and that he be able to write a verse, then his penne must plie to paint his maistresse praise, she must then be a Pallas for her witte, a Diana for her chastitie, a Venus for her face, then shee shall be praised by proportion, first her haires are wires of golde, her chéekes are made of Lillies and redde Roses, her brows be arches, her eyes Saphires at the least, her lookes lighteninges, her mouth Corall, her téeth Pear­les, her pappes Alabaster balles, her bodie streight, her belly softe, from thence downwarde to her knées I think is made of Sugar Candie, her armes, her hands, her fingers, her legges, her féete, and all the rest of her bodie, shalbe so perfecte, and so pure, that of my con­science the worst parte they wil leaue in her, shalbe her soule.

But what néede I heape vp so many wordes in this [Page] matter? My penne hath not ye power to paint their doa­ting deuises: neither do I mind otherwise then to wish, ye gentlemen should set aside all such trifling affaires, and vaine follies, & to shake off those delightfull desires, and rather to indeuour them selues, to such exercises, which haue gained Hercules, Achilles, Theseus, Caius Marius, Epaminondas, The best exerci­ses for gentle­men to follow. Themistocles, Alexander, Pyrrhus, Ha­nibal, Scipio, Pompeie, Caesar, with diuerse others, such immortall glorie, as neither the enuious rage of cruel death may blemishe, neither the furious force of fortunes fickle whéele may diminish, neither the tracts of deuouring time shal euer be able to remoue frō me­morie. And I woulde to God, that while time doth yet serue vs in England, that such care might be had for the training and practising of men, that we shoulde not be founde altogether so carelesse, that to satisfie all our vo­luptuous pleasures,A speciall cause to be considered on, if it be not too late. we neuer consider the preseruati­on of our countrie and Common wealth. So likewise, if it be not altogether too late, as I feare me it is, I would wishe that an other thing were looked vnto, and that verie narrowly, wherein we haue made such a rod for our owne tayles, as there is no question, but in the end it must of force endure to be our owne scourge: & this it is. We had in Englande, so greate a benefite, as it might haue béene vsed, as no other countrie inuiro­ning about vs, is possessed with ye like, which is the cas­ting of yron ordinaunce: but as the prouerbe is, that e­uerie commoditie bringeth his discommoditie, so this commoditie, bringeth vs double discōmoditie. First in the casting, it consumeth vs our woods and timber, in such sort, that one of the first thinges that England shall want, wilbe of timber for ships, which is all made ha­uocke on, only about those yron mills, in the end comes M. merchant, who cares not for his own priuat gaine, what mischief he worketh to his countrie: or somtimes [Page] some olde brused souldier, that hath serued the Quéene in her warrs, about London, Lambeth Marshes, or the out Iles of Islington, all the dayes of his life, and in re­spect of his good seruice, must get a commission, to sel two or thrée hundred péeces of this yron ordinance out of the realme, that betwéene M. merchant and him, I dare vndertake, there is thrice as muche ordinaunce solde out of the Realme, as is within the Realme, and that some of our merchaunts haue fealt. For Iohn the Frenche man, hath béene at host with some of their ships, and Dauie dronkarde of Flushing, & his fellowes haue not béen behinde, & these with other mo, were not able to go so strōgly to ye sea, were it not that they were furnished with our English ordinance. The Spaniards & Portingales, haue some pretie store of it. In Fraunce there is Rochel, Rosco, S. Mallous, & Deepe, their ships be generally as well furnished with our ordināce as any merchaunts ships in the Thames. The mightie hound of Dunkerke, & the rest of the begels that were of her consort, God knowes, had béen able to haue made but a slender crie, when they had come to chase, had it not bin for our English barks. The other parts of Flan­ders, Zeland, & Holland, both vppon the walles of their townes, & also in their shipping, are furnisht with the like. I haue séene euerie streate in Flushing, lie as full of Englishe ordinance, as if it had béene the Tower Wharfe of London. To be shorte, there are diuerse townes in East Freesland, with Emden, Hambrougbe, Denmarke, Danske, Lubeck, Rye, Reuell, Swethen, with diuerse other cities, and towns, of those East parts, that she is but a verie meane and simple Hulke, aperteining to any of these places, which hath lesse then a dozen or sixtéene péeces, of our English ordinaunce in her.

Such hath béene the carelesnes of this our peaceable time, that it hath not onely made vs weake, by our [Page] owne neglecting the feates of armes, but also with our owne artillerie, and our warlike munitions, we haue made such stronge, as be our doubtfull friendes, nay rather, I may saye our assured enimies, as I feare me wee shall finde, if they were at quietnesse amongest themselues.

And thus once againe I can but wish, that such con­sideration might be had of the time that is present, as in the time that is to come, we shoulde not haue cause to rue it.

And here although I knowe my skill will not serue me, nor my occasion at this time may well permit me, to speake of Martiall discipline, howe farre it is decayed from the first ordinaunce, and institution, yet gentle reader, not doubting but thou wilt beare with me, as­well for the want of the one, as for the necessitie of the other, I wil aduenture to speake some thing thereof.

The fourth parte conteining the decay of Martiall dis­cipline.

I Haue alreadie shewed in the first parte of this booke, howe vppon sundrie quarells, warrs may be attempted without any of­fence to the maiestie of God.

In those warres therefore thus taken in hand, and vppon such sufficient cause, it should séeme likewise as requisite and necessarie that as great regard shoulde be vsed in the appointing of lawes, disciplines, & orders, the which not only among them selues, but also to their vtter enimies ought inuiolably to be kepte ac­cording to the iustice and equitie of the cause: for the [Page] which they be entred into armes.

We do finde in the holy scriptures, and that in seue­rall places, both in the bookes of Moses, in the booke of Iosua, and others, where they haue vsed no litle regard aswell in the choosing of their capteines, leaders, and conductors, as also in their prescribing lawes, & disci­plines of warre, which were many times appointed by the almightie God himselfe.

But let vs peruse the examples of ye Romanes, which of all other people did most excéed, aswell for the great­nes of their glorie, as in all their other Martial actions, and we shall finde, that they had not onely considerati­on to the equitie of their cause, for the which they would enter into warres (as by these wordes of Tullie, in his first book of Offices may better appeare: And the iustice of warre, is most sincerely described in the Phesiall lawe of the people of Rome, wherby it may be perceiued, that no warre is iust, but which either for thinges in claime is moued, or else proclaimed before, and bidden by de­fiance &c.) But also they had as great regard, to main­taine their quarelles, with like equitie and iustice,The Romanes alowed of no warre which was vnfaithful, either that was mainteined by vnlawfull meanes. not suffering their capteines to enter into actions of trea­son or trecherie, where their warres were altogether arreared vpon causes of honestie, as by many examples they did plainly shewe.

When king Pyrrhus, vnprouoked had moued wars against the Romans, one Timochares whose sonne was yeoman for the mouth to the king, promised to Fa­bricius, then being Consul, to slea king Pyrrhus, which thing being reported to the Senat, they presently war­ned king Pyrrhus, to beware of suche manner of trea­sons, saying, the Romanes mainteined their wars with armes, and not by treason or trecherie.

Likewise, when Lucius Pius, in a banquet that hee [Page] made, had filled the people of Sarmatia full of wine, and made them so dronke, that they yelded themselues sub­iecte to Rome, for which exploit, Lucius Pius at his re­turne required triumph, but when the Senators vn­derstanding the manner of his facte, caused him openly to be beheaded, and a slaunderous epitaph set vpon his graue. Neither would they suffer that souldier, which a­mongst other being taken by Hanibal, and licenced vp­pon his oth to departe, conditionally that he shoulde ei­ther make returne, or else sende his raunsome, the soul­dier with others of his companions, being departed the campe of Hanibal, feigned an arrand backe againe, for something that he had forgotten, and thus comming to Rome, did thinke him self discharged of his oth: but the Senate alowing of no such deceipt to be vsed, made a de­crée, that the same souldier, should be caried pinioned to Hanibal. And ten other, that in like manner, were dis­missed by Hanibal, vppon their othe: were sessed at a yerely fine, as long as any of them did liue, for being for sworne. So nobly were the Romanes disposed, and so honourably minded, that no act was alowed of amongst them, séemed it neuer so profitable, wherein was founde either fraud or deceipt. And this magnificence, gate thē condigne cōmendations of their verie enimies, & be­twéene whom there had béen mortall hostilitie, and ma­ny times was of greater effect to subdue thē, then huge or mightie armies. And as they did excel in the excellen­cie of these vertues, iustice and equitie, to such as were able to stande in armes against them: so likewise they did surmount in humanitie & courtesie, & in ministring of comfort, to such as they had alreadie vanquished and subdued, as by no example may be better expressed, then by a letter written, by Marcus Aurelius Emperour of Rome, to Popilio, captein of the Parthies, a notable dis­course for capteines to peruse, and foloweth in this ma­ner. [Page] I can not denie the glorie I haue gained by this bat­tel, neither may I hide the perplexitie I feele for thy pre­sent misfortune: for noble mindes are bound to shew no lesse compassion, to such as are subdued, then to expresse ioy & gladnesse with those that are victors. Thou being the chiefe of the Parthies, didest shewe great courage to resist, & in me the leader of the Romanes, was found no want of force to fight: notwithstanding, though thou lost the battell, and I remaine possessed of the victorie, yet as I know, that thou wilt not acknowlege this chāce to happen for any want of stomache in thee, so it belongs to my grauitie not to attribute it altogether to the great­nes of my vertue, sithens God doth always minister vic­tories, not to such as doe their duties best, but to those that he loueth most: for the effect of al things depending vpon God, man can haue no power to cōmaund the des­tinie of a battell, seing he is not able to stay the course of the least planet in heauen. Darius against Alexander, Pompeius against Caesar, Hanibal against Scipio, had a­boue all equalitie, far greater armies then their enimies, by whiche thou hast reason to conclude with mee, that against the anger of the souereigne God, can not preuaile most huge and mightie hoastes. I meruell Popilio, that being great in birth, valiant of stomach, welthy in goods and mightie in estate & dignitie, why thou bearest with such sorow, the losse of this batel, seing that in no world­ly things fortune is more vncerteine and variable, then in the action of warre. It is tolde me, thou drawest to so­litarie corners, & seekest out shaded places, thou esche­west the conuersation of men, and complainest of the gods, which extreme perplexities, since thou wert not wont to suffer in others much lesse oughtest thou to giue place in thy selfe: for that the valiant man, loseth no re­putation, for that fortune fayleth him, but is the lesse [Page] esteemed of, if he want discretion to beare her mutabi­litie.

To assemble great armies, is the office of Princes, to leuie huge treasures, belongs to souereigne Magistrates, to strike the enimie is the parte of a couragious capteine: but to suffer infirmities and to dissemble mishaps, is a propertie duely annexed to noble and resolute mindes: so that one of the greatest vertues that worldly men can expresse, in the common behauiour of this life, is neither to rise proude by prosperitie, nor to fall into despaire by aduersitie. For Fortune hauing a free will, to come and goe when shee list: the wise man ought not to bee sorie to lose her, nor reioyce to hold her. Such as in their mi­serie shewe heauie countenaunce, doe well proue, that they made accompt to be alwayes in prosperitie, which is a great folly to thinke, and no lesse simplicitie to hope for: Seing the giftes and graces of Fortune haue no bet­ter thing more certeine in them, then to be for the moste part, in all things most vncerteine, according to the suc­cesse of the day, wherein thou gauest mee battell: for there thou orderedst thy campe according to a wise cap­teine, madest choise of the place, in great policie, tookest aduauntage of the sunne, as a leader of long experience, in consideration of which things, thou hast cause to com­plaine against thy fortune, which fauoured not thy ver­tue, and not blame thy discretion, wherein could bee found no errour.

Consider that in wise and graue men, it is an office, that if they cannot doe what they will, at the least they yeld to time, and are content with what they may. And as the vertuous and valiant minde, ought not to grieue for not obteining that which he woulde, but because he desired that which he ought not: so Popilio, I wish thee take heede, that the honour which so many times thou [Page] hast wonn, with the hazard of thy valiant person, in en­terprises of warre, be not lost at this present, for want of bearing well thy fortune: assuring thee, that he beares his miserie best, that hides it most. And as of all voluble things, there is nothing more light then renowme: so in cases of warre and hazarde, it is not ynough for the valiant man to do what he may, but also he is bound to attempt nothing but what he ought: for aswell the con­sideration as the execution of a fact, belonges duely to a discreete minde.

I heare thou wanderest here and there in great vncer­teintie of minde, fearing that if thou be taken of my souldiers thou shalt be euill intreated of mee, which if no man haue tolde thee, it is against reason thou beleeue it of thy selfe, because to vs Princes of Rome, it is famili­ar to shewe our liberalitie to such as yeld to vs, & with others that are our prisoners to cōmunicate in great cle­mencie. We raise armies against campes proudly furni­shed, and Cities strongly walled, but to captiues in thy condition, we hold it more honourable to minister com­fort then to add increase of affliction. For as it sufficeth the valiant Capteine to fight against the enimie that re­sisteth him, and dissemble with him that flyeth: so the wise man ought to require no more of his enimie, then that he acknowledge that hee standes in feare of him, because to a daunted and timorous heart, is sildome lefte courage to renue an enterprise. And therefore a man ta­kes greater reuenge, when he putteth his enimie to flight, then if he take his life from him. For the sworde dispatcheth a man in a day, but feare and remorse tor­mentes the minde continually. And better it were to suf­fer without feare that which we expect in griefe and so­rowe, then by feare to be alwayes in martyrdome. It is right terrible to fleshe and bloud to dye of a sworde, but [Page] to be in perpetuall sorrowe and disquiet of mind, is the verie furie and torment of hell.

If thou eschewest my presence, in feare that I wil not vse pittie to thee, thou art abused in the opinion of my disposition, and dost wrong to the reputation and expe­rience of my actions past. For I neuer refused to shewe mercie to him that asked it, & much lesse deceiued him that put his trust in mee. The doubt and feare that thus do trauell thy mind, ought not to be so much of my per­son, as of the custome of fortune, who vseth not to vnlose her sharp arrowes with better wil against any then such, as think they be in best securitie of her: her nature being such, as not to meddle with those that shee findes prepa­red, the better to assure them, but followeth the fearfull & negligent, to the end to deceiue them: yea, she preuai­les euen ouer the counsels and actions of men, and being exempt to make reckoning to any, her prerogatiue is to require accompt of all men. I assure thee Popilio, that more do I feare the reuolution of Fortune at this houre, then I doubted her before the battell. For shee delightes not so much to keepe vnder the vanquished, as to bridle and checke the victors. And worsse doeth shee meane, when shee smiles the fairest, then when shee frownes moste. But to speake on thy behalfe, I tell thee that with­out daunger thou maist resort to my presence, since in thy estate is no cause of suspicion, and in my hearte no malice to thy person: for in deede, that cannot be called true victorie, which bringeth not with it some clemen­cie. And therefore he cannot be called victorious, in whome resteth intent of rigour and crueltie. For, Alex­ander, Iulius Augustus, Titus, and Traianus, wonne more renowme by the clemencie they vsed to their eni­mies, then by all the victories they obteined in straunge regions. To obteine a victorie is a thing naturall & hu­mane, [Page] but to giue pardon and life, is the gifte and bles­sing of God. By which it comes to passe, that men feare not so much the greatnesse of the immortall God, for the punishments he doth, as for the mercie he vseth. Notwithstanding as I cannot denie, but that great is the value & estimation, which we Romane Princes make of a victo­rie wonne by battell: so also I assure thee, wee holde it more honourable, to pardon such as do offend vs, then to chastice those that do resist our power.

Therefore, if thou flye from my presence as fearing the iustice which I haue executed vpon the Romanes, thou oughtest to take securitie and courage euen in that whiche makes thee gelous and doubtfull: for so muche greater ought to be clemencie, by howe much the offen­der is in fault. And therefore as there is no offence which cannot be either forgiuen or fauoured, so right worthily may that pardon be called honourable and famous, whi­che is giuen to an iniurie malicious and manifest, since all other common and light wrongs with greater reason we may say we dissēble them, then that we pardon thē.

The thing that moste drawes mee to enter friendship with thee, is for that in our first capitulations and truce, thou perfourmedst all thinges that were concluded for the peace, and yet in the battell thou didest expresse the partes of a valiant Capteine, the same giuing me cause to beleeue, that as in warre I founde thee a iust enimie, so in the time of peace, thou wouldest proue an assured friend. Alexander neuer repented the pardon he gaue to Diomedes the tyraunt, nor Marcus Antonius the fa­uour he shewed to the great Orator Cicero. Neither shall I haue cause (I hope) to forethink the respite I giue to thy life. For the noble mind, albeit he may haue occa­sion to be sorie for the vnthankefulnes of his friend: yet hath he no licēce to repent him of his good turns done [Page] for him: & therfore, in the case of liberalitie or clemen­cie, by howe much the person is vnworthy that recei­ueth the benefite, by so much more he is to be commen­ded that bestoweth it: for that onely may bee saide is gi­uen, when he that giueth, giueth without respect.

So that he that giueth in hope of recompense, deser­ueth not to be called liberall, but to pretend vsurie.

Thou knowest well that in the time of the battel, and whē the incounter was most hot, I offered thee nothing worthy of reproch: euen so, thou hast now to iudge, that if in the furie of the warre, thou foundest me faithfull, and mercifull, I haue nowe no reason, to exercise ri­gour, holding thee within the precinct of my house: so that if thou sawe mercie in mee at that instant, when thy handes were busie to spill my bloude, thinke not that my clemencie shal faile, calling thee to the fellowship of my table.

The prisoners of thy camp, can assure thee of my dea­ling, amongest whom the hurt are cured at my charges, & the deade are buried according to the place of souldi­ers: wherein if I extend this care vppon such as sought to spoile me, thinke there is farre greater plentie of grace, to thee that comest to serue me. And so leauing thee in the handes of thine owne counsell, I wishe thee those felicities, which thy honourable hearte desi­reth.

Loe her a mirrour, méete to be perused by kinges and princes, wherein they may learne, with what conside­ration they should first enter into warres, with what valiaunce and courage they shoulde prosequute them, and with what iustice, temperaunce, and mercie, they should vse their enimies.

Capteines may likewise learne how to vse fortune, either when she fauours, either when shée frownes.

[Page]But leauing a great number of necessarie lessons, worthie to be noted, howe is it posible in so fewe lines, more amply to describe ye glorie of the Romanes: neither are their vertues here so liuely painted forth in words, as they them selues, did nobly shewe it in their déedes.

But all other examples of humanitie, amongest a great number vsed to their enimies, this in my opinion deserueth not the least commendation, that hauing ta­ken Siphax king of Numantia, who being kept priso­ner in the house of Tiberias, died of sicknesse before he was ransomed, notwithstanding now when there was no maner of hope of requitall, his funeralles were yet perfourmed, with such solemnitie, suche pompe, and such honor, such large giftes were giuen, & such libera­litie vsed, being but a Romane prisoner, as might haue wanted at Numantia, where he was Lord and King o­uer all. I haue thus farre briefely, and in this short manner, shewed some small part of the magnificence of the Romans, in their Martiall actions, whereby may be perceiued, howe farre we be digressed, and how cleane we be degenerate at this present,Princes more desireous with tyranie to offend others, then with iustice to keepe their owne. from their honorable institutions. For if we consider in these dayes, the impietie that is founde amongest Princes, whiche for the most part are so led by the furie of ambition, where they thinke they may oppresse, that without any other respect of cause they are redy to accompanie themselues, with a sort of bloudie capteines, that shoulde haue the leading of a companie of as lewd and vngratious soul­diers, and euen according to their quarelles and to the qualitie of their owne dispositions, they prosecute their warres, and performe all their enterprises, the whiche for the most part are executed with such treason, and trecherie, as no Prince almost may be so surely garded, but his life shalbe finished wt some deadly blowe with a [Page] weapon, with some soudeine shot of a pistoll, or at the least practised with some secret poyson: neither is there any towne, that may be so surely walled, so strongly rampered, or so throughly fortified, which shall not be betrayed.

The manner howe to prose­quute warres in these dayes.For in our warres we be nowe come to this passe, that fraud and deceipte is reputed for policie, and trea­son and trecherie are called grauitie and wisedome, and he is holden the noblest champion, that by any of these meanes can best deceiue: where, in the opinion of all men,Deceite hath euer been holden most hatefull. whiche exactly doe honour iustice, it hath euer ben condemned, & accompted most horrible. And no doubts it cannot be acceptable in ye sight & iudgement of God, who in ye Scripture is called ye God of trueth & veritie: but rather procéedeth from the diuell, who is (in déede) the father of fraude, and the forger of all deceipte.

By whom trecherie is chiefely practised in warres.And these enormities haue euer béene especially prac­tised amongest those yt haue arreared warres, rather to oppresse and rauishe the goodes of others, then amongest suche as haue but defended their owne right, or entred into warres onely vppon causes of iustice and equitie, for that it hath béene euer holden a matter most incon­uenient,The best meane to incite men to valiaunce and courage. of an honest quarell, to make an vnhonest victorie. Neither is there any meane more rather, to in­cite men to valiaunce and courage, then when they shal remember, they goe to fight in a righteous cause, accor­ding to the opinion of Cicero. Therefore (saith he) man­linesse is well defended of the Stoikes, where they say it is a vertue, that fighteth in defence of equitie: Where­fore no man that hath atteined the glorie of manlinesse, hath euer got prayse, by wylie traines and craftines, for nothing may be honest, that is voyde of iustice.

And procéeding further in the same place, he expres­seth a saying of Plato, tending to the same effect, whiche [Page] is this.

That not onely the knowledge which is seuered from iustice is rather to be called subtiltie, then wisedome, but also the courage which is forwarde to daunger, if it be set on for our owne greedinesse, and not for a common profit, may rather beare the name of lewd hardinesse, then of manlinesse.

And for as muche as my selfe about a thrée yeares sithens, did set foorth a booke intituled (A dialogue be­tweene Mercurie and an Englishe Souldier) wherein I haue described, what mildnesse shoulde be mixt with this manhood, with many mo examples of humanitie, and sundrie other vertues, wherwith noble capteins should be indued, I will therefore omit to vse any further cir­cumstance in those causes, neither will I further speake of the decay of Martiall discipline in generall, but of cer­teine priuate abuses, that are vsed amongest our selues in Englande, in our institutions in the time of warre,Great abuse in England both in choosing of cap­teines and in appointing of souldiers. but especially in the election of our capteines, for the most part, and our ordinarie manner of appointing of souldiers, the whiche although I haue likewise in the same booke before mentioned, something touched, yet in my opinion, there cannot be too muche said, conside­ring the peril that might insue by so great a negligence, and so ordinarily committed.

To speake generally of our capteines, they are ma­ny times appointed more for fauour then for knowlege more for friendship then for experience, and more for af­fection borne them by some noble man, then either for valiance or vertue: for they are not to be accompted va­liant,Not valiaunce but folishe hardinesse. that will offer them selues into daunger without iudgement: but rather to be estéemed men puft vp with a vaine desire, and prickt forwardes with a kind of des­perate boldnesse.

[Page] Aristotle woulde in no wise that Diomedes, shoulde be reputed either valiaunt or wise: for that when the Gréekes were put to flight, he remained alone, and ad­uentured him selfe against the force of Hector, whiche he rather did to séeke the vaine praise, and brute of the people, béecause he would not be accounted a runnea­way, then in respecte of the true and souereigne good, wherein consisteth the end of vertue, and the glory im­mortall.

In like maner he iudged of Hector, who many times beholding his wife, and other women standing vppon the walles of Troy, woulde more boldly and couragi­ously aduenture his life, hauing greater care, least any rumours might haue béene raised by women to his dis­honour, then otherwise he would haue done, to haue de­serued the title of true honour and vertue.

But what would Aristotle iudge, of a many of our gentlemen in Englande, that will take vpon them to be capteines & conductours, that God knoweth are vtterly ignorant, in the least duetie that apperteineth to a sim­ple souldier? And howe many times doth it fall out, that where battelles be ordered, by such rashe and hare­brained gouernours, that they ordinarily doe bringe foorth but vnhappie issues?

What auailed the boldnes of Varro, and Flaminius, two Romane capteines, which despising the prowesse & crafte of Hanibal, and contemning the sober counsell of Fabius, hauing onely trust in their owne hardines, lost two noble armies whereby the power of the Romanes, was néere vtterly perished?

What auaileth boldenes with­out experience.They are therefore farre from the true praise of val­liaunce in déede, that will so rashly runne, to hazarde thē selues without any maner of knowledge. We be of this opinion in England, (& else where,) that a man may [Page] not come to be exactly perfected, in ye meanest occupati­on without seauen yeares practise, and therfore ordina­rily, suche as binde their children apprentices, binde them for that space: Is it possible then that the art of warre should be so soudeinly learned,Neuer so perfect a souldier but hath beene to learne. wherein yet there hath not béene any one founde, though he haue followed the warres all the dayes of his life, which hath not béen in some things to séeke? Philip king of Macedonia, maruelled why ye Atheniens did euery yeare choose new Generalles and Capteines of their warrs, sithens he in all his life had found but one good, whiche was Parme­nio. Plato would not wishe, that any man should haue authoritie in warres, till he were 30. yeares olde.

But Alexander admitted none to the roome of a cap­teine, that was vnder the age of 60. finally by the gene­rall assent of all, there ought no small regarde to be vsed in the choosing of Capteines.What is requisie in a capteine, Cicero prescribeth foure things that ought to be in a Capteine, but especially in a gouernour or general, which is experience, valiaunce, authoritie, and felicitie, to the whiche if you adde these foure more, which is iustice, fortitude, policie, and tem­perance, first iustice to reuenge, fortitude to execute re­uengment, policie to prepare the meane whereby to re­uenge, and temperaunce to limit and measure out how far they ought to reuenge: capteines thus indued with these vertues, there is no doubt but they shall greatly preuaile.

Our maner of appointing of souldiers,How souldiers be appoynted in England. is yet more confused then the rest, they be appointed in the countrie as it pleaseth Maister Constable: for if there be any within his circuit, that he is in displeasure withall, he thinkes it some part of reuenge, if he sets him forth to be a souldier, but if Maister Constable be in loue & charitie with his neighbours, then some odde fellowe muste be [Page] picked out that doth least good in the parish, it is no mat­ter for his conditions, they thinke he can not be too yll to make a souldier of. In London when they set foorth soul­diers, either they scoure their prisons of théeues, or their streates of roges and vagabondes, for he that is bound to find a man, will séeke suche a one as were better lost then found: but they care not, so they may haue them good cheape, what he is, nor from whence he comes, they put him in a sute of blew, and bring him before maister warden of their companie, and then if he can shoote in a gonne, he is bild a gonner, but he dares not lette his souldier goe out of his sight with his furniture and his newe apparell, before he hath deliuered him ouer to his Capteine, for if he should, he might fortune to misse him when he would haue him.

He that would further see the manner of our appointing of capteines and souldiers, both how they be and how they ought to be appoynted let him peruse a booke in­tituled, A dia­logue betweene Mercurie and an English soul­dier, whiche booke was of my owne setting forth.These be they through whose abuses, the name of a souldier is béecome so odious to the common people: God graunt vs, that we be neuer driuen to trie the ser­uice of suche souldiers. But bicause in my other booke before mentioned, I haue more effectually spoken of souldiers, and haue giuen speciall note howe souldiers shoulde be chosen, whiche maketh me thus bréefely to passe them ouer: and in like manner I haue done of cap­teines, there resteth nowe, to shewe what seueritie should be vsed, in punishing of such as be mutiners, or yt by any maner of meane, wil breake or infringe ye lawes & order of armes, or any other institution or ordinance, directed by the general capteine or any other officer, for what shal it auaile to make good orders, vnles they shuld be surely kept?

Nume. 1. Cap. 16. Mutinie in soul­diers punished by God.In the booke of Numerie, we doe finde how Corath, Dathan, and Abiram, were swallowed vp in the earth, for mutining against the capteine Moses, an euident proofe wherby may be perceiued, how odious it is in the [Page] sight of God, that souldiers should rebell against their capteines: They ought therefore to be restrained with sharp & bitter punishmentes, and that as often as they shall transgresse, or make any offences.

But I woulde not in any wise wishe, that a soul­dier should be punished by the purse, or that his pay shoulde be diminished, whereby he should not be able to mainteine him selfe in seruice: other punishments ther­fore ought to be prouided, according to the qualitie of their offences.

Manlius Torquatus caused his sonnes head to be striken off, bicause he had forsaken the place whereto he was appoynted: although he went to fight with an enimie that had challenged him, and slew him.

Salust doth report, yt there were more souldiers put to death amongest the Romanes, for setting on their eni­mies before they had licence, then for running out of the fielde before they had fought.

And in very déed, in that respect there ought no litle regarde to be vsed: for it is not requisite, that euery pri­uate capteine, or any other, should rashly enter into attemptes, of their owne heades, further then they be directed: for otherwise, they commonly conclude with vnhappie ends, & many times it doth fall out, that when there is some exploite to be vsed, through the wilfulnes of some harebrained capteine, or any other that is more forwarde then wise, that will aduenture for his owne glorie, further then his direction, it bringeth ouerthrow of altogether. For example. When ye Spaniards lay in siege at Zurickzeas, ye Prince of Orenge, by good espiall, had vnderstāding where to annoy them, he sent certeine bāds into S. Anna land, where they shuld haue fortified thē selues, in ij. seueral places vpon ye diches, which they might wel haue don, considering ye nature & situation of ye [Page] place, by whiche meanes the passage by lande shoulde haue béen quite cut off, that no victuals could haue come to the campe by lande: and by sea it was as well gar­ded, with the Princes shippes. These companies com­ming thither by sea, landed, and did take the places to the whiche they were directed, nowe when they should [...] haue fallen to fortifying, and to haue made them selues strong: the one of the companies, persuaded by two or thrée Duche capteines, which were amongest them (as there was in the companie both Englishe, French, Wal­lan, Scotishe, and Duche) woulde néedes goe charge certeine Spaniards, whiche did lie hard by them, in a streight they had made: although there were some that foresawe what daunger might insue, of this pretence, yet they woulde vse no dissuasions, bicause it woulde haue béene coniectured, that it had rather procéeded of want of courage, then for any other thing. There was no delay in the matter, but the charge was giuen with courage ynough, but so muche to their costes, as the Spaniards at that charge, ouerthrew the greatest part of their best and principal men. I wil not say they were Englishe men, because I haue tearmed them the best and principall men. I might be thought to speake par­cially. But yet the matter being so lately done, and so well knowen, I néede not doubte to tell the trueth, they were Englishe men in déed, that receiued the grea­test ouerthrowe: for howe coulde it otherwise fall out, they were the formest that were in the fray: nowe the Spaniards perceiuing what spoyle they had giuen, fol­lowed the chace of the rest, killing and spoyling of them as they retired, til they were come to a slender strength, that was cast vp, whiche the Spaniardes had entred, had it not béene valiauntly defended, by the rest of the Englishe men that were left, who in the ende, as the [Page] Spaniardes did retire, couragiously pursued them a­gaine to their owne strength. By this foolishe attempt, this companie was made so weake and so féeble, that they were driuen to forsake the ground, and to get them againe aborde of their shippes, and the Spaniards sent presently thither a fresh supply of men, by which mea­nes the Prince could neuer get the like opportunitie a­gaine. The other companie kepte the strength fiue or sixe dayes, in the end gaue it ouer, and came away: for that it was to small purpose, considering the losse of the first. There were manie like parts played in those Hol­land seruices, where I thinke as litle Martial discipline was vsed, as in any warres that euer were attempted: Neither had it béene possible that the countrie coulde so long haue holden out, but that it was by nature seated so strong: for they might so drowne the countrie about them, that it was not possible that any enimie shoulde conquer them. The Prince him selfe was verie wise & politike in all his directions, but many times they had but vnhappie successe, by the rashnesse of some of his Capteines, which onely did procéede for want of experi­ence. For many of them were chosen after the English manner, I meane they had little knowledge, what them selues ought to do, & lesse experience howe to rule their souldiers. But leauing Holland causes, & to returne a­gaine to the examples of the Romanes, who I say were verie seuere in the punishing of those offences,The Romanes vsed to adioyne the authoritie of God to their owne prescrip­tions, the better to keepe their souldiers in awe. & the ra­ther to kéepe their souldiers vnder awe & discipline, they adioyned to their owne lawes & ordinances, the autho­ritie of God, and vsed with greate ceremonies to make them sweare to kéepe the disciplines of warre. Cicero maketh mention howe Pompilius, when he was gene­rall of the Romanes in the Persian warres, had dis­charged one legion, in the which Catoes sonne had ser­ued [Page] for a souldier, and notwithstanding that he was dis­charged, he remained yet amongst the other souldiers, desirous to sée the warres: which Cato vnderstanding, did write to Pompilius, that if he woulde suffer his son to remaine in the armie, he shoulde sweare him souldi­er againe, because it was not otherwise lawful for his sonne to fight with the enimie, being discharged from his former othe, it did likewise discharge him for being a souldier. The Grecians vsed to sweare their souldiers in this manner, being armed they were brought to the church,The oth that the Grecians gaue to their souldiers. where they receiued this othe following. I will not do any thing vnworthie the sacred and holie warres, neither will I abandon or forsake my bande and Cap­teine, to whome I am appointed. I will fight for the right of the Church, and safetie of the state. I will not make my countrie to be in worse case then it is: but I wil make it better then I found it. And I will euer frame my selfe reuerently to obey such orders as are decreed and adiud­ged: and to lawes established I will still yeld my selfe: and obey those lawes also, that the state hereafter, shall by common assent, enacte or set foorth: that if any one man shall chaunge the lawes or not obey them, I wil not suffer him to my power, much lesse will I alow in so do­ing: But I wilbe a sure defender of right, as well by my selfe alone, as when I am with others: And I will euer more honour the religion of my countrie: No profession more honorable then a souldier. to these my sayinges, I call the gods to witnesse. If this othe were throughly cōsidered on among vs in England, it might peraduenture bring many to haue a better opinion of souldiers. For what profession may be more honorable, then where a man shall be so solemnely sworne, to offer himselfe as it were to martyrdom for the maintenance of religion: and with the like vowe doth professe to de­fende the lawes and liberties of his countrie, with the [Page] price of his bloud, and the hazard of his life.

But especially by this example, both of the Romans and Grecians, may verie well be coniectured, that as they had such consideration to swear their souldiers, & men of warre, they would vse the like respect and care, in the choosing of such as had regarde of their oth, for o­therwise as good vnsworne, as to minister an othe vnto such as care not to be foresworne. But what othe might be ministred vnto our souldiers, as they be ordinarily chosen in England, or by what gods might they be made to sweare by, that stande in awe of none at all, neither yet are inclined to any manner of religion?

But if this example in choosing of souldiers were v­sed, and that in the time of seruice such might be apoin­ted, as shoulde be founde to be honest, zealous in religi­on, and that had the feare of God before their eyes, there is no question, but the disciplines of warre woulde be more better obserued, and capteines shoulde haue the greater obedience and gouernement of their souldiers, whereby we might the better prosper in our warrs, ac­cording to the opinion of Xenophon, who saith, That souldier which first serueth God, and then obeyeth his capteine, may boldly with all courage, hope to ouer­throwe his enimie.

And Alexander Seuerus saith,Obedience the greatest vertue that may be in souldiers. The strength of war li­eth in the souldier, whose gretest vertue consisteth in o­bedience towards his capteine. When Scipio went into Affrica, to destroy Carthage, resting his armie by the way in Sicilia, a noble mā of ye countrie, séeing his soul­diers exercising the feates of arms, demanded of Scipio wherein lay his chiefe hope to ouercome Carthage, who answered, in yonder felowes that you se, whom if I cō ­mand to runne to ye top of this high castel, & to cast thē ­selues backward vppon ye rocks, they will not refuse, they are in such odedience.

[Page] Xenophon maketh mention of a souldier, who in a skirmishe hauing ouerthrowne an enimie, as hee was aduauncing his weapon to haue slaine him, the trum­pet sounded a retreate, wherewith the souldier stayed his blowe, and retired himselfe, this being espied by some of the companie that was nexte vnto him, deman­ded what he ment to let his enimie so to passe, hauing him at such aduantage:A good lesson for souldiers to learne. the souldier aunswered, because (quoth he) I doe holde it farre more honorable, to obey my capteine then to kill my enimie. A noble saying of a souldier, and worthy to be had in perpetuall memorie.

How obedience is nourished in souldiers.This obedience in souldiers is nourished by feare & loue: feare is kepte by true iustice and equitie: loue is gotten by wisedome ioyned with liberalitie: for that capteine, that with such righteousnesse can so rule his souldiers, that he wil suffer them, neither to doe wrong, neither to receiue iniurie, but with wisedome & libera­litie will mainteine him in that whiche is right, that Capteine must néedes be loued and feared of his souldi­ers, of the which procéedeth true and vnfeigned obedi­ence.

Thus to conclude, the armie that should be continued in order and discipline, must be kepte well paide, and surely punished:Disciplin of war best mainteined where souldiers be kept paide & punished. for many times where slacknes of pay­ment is vsed, it turneth into greate inconueniences: & I cannot thinke, but it was the onely cause, that loste king Philip the lowe countries: for when the Spani­ardes had taken Zurickzeas, it did so amase and daunt the states of Holland, as it was thought and looked for, that they rather would haue submitted them selues to the kings mercie, and haue sought by composition, to haue receiued the Spaniardes againe, then otherwise to haue made hed against them: and there were diuerse townes, as Tregoe for one, where the chiefe Burgers [Page] had sought sundrie meanes to haue surrendered them selues vnto the Spaniardes.

The Prince was then in Zeland, in the Isle which is called by the name of Waulkerland, which is the Isle wherein Middleborough, Flushing, Camphyre, & Ar­mue are seated, and there it was thought he would haue remained, they neuer looked for him more in Holland. And while the Hollanders were thus in the middest of their dumps, listening euer when ye Spaniardes should haue taken ye Plaate Island, which was hard adioyning vppon Zurickzeas, wherein laye a fewe faint bandes (God knowes) to small purpose: From thence the Bryel Island was nexte adioyning, the which coulde not haue béene defended, if the Spaniardes had once béene com­maunders of the Plaate. The firste thing the Spani­ardes would there haue sought for, should haue béen the Bryel head, which is nowe verie strongly fortified, but at ye instant nothing begun: which if they had once takē, Holland had béene no longer able to haue holden out, for their trade by sea would haue béene soudeinly cutte off, without the which they may not endure, considering it is the onely wealth of all their townes, that are to bée accompted of, as Skeydame, Delftes hauen, Roterdame, Delfte, Dorte, Gorcom, all these with many other, stan­ding vppon the riuer called the Maase, would haue béen shut vp, that they should haue had no traffike or passage to the sea.

Thus (as I saide) as the Hollanders were in these muses, coniecturing with themselues, that this (in déede) was the marke which the Spaniardes shotte at, neither wist they howe to preuent it: for the taking of Zurickzeas had so quailed their courages, & nowe their malice and their money was wel nigh spent, that they were hardly able to pay those souldiers they had retei­ned. [Page] In so much that a great number of them were pro­uiding what they were able to make, to packe them in­to England. But in the middest of this perplexitie, and when they were moste amazed with this terrour, the Spaniardes which were entred Zurickzeas fel in a mu­tinie amongest them selues for a paye which had béene of long time behinde, protesting that they would neuer prosecute further seruice, before they were paide: thus they discontinued seruice, forsaking so good occasion, which euen then had happened vnto them. In the ende, hauing layd a platte amongest them selues, for the paci­fying of these matters, all their practises were laide o­pen and manifest, by letters which were intercepted, by those of Bridges, whereby Flaunders and Brabant, presently put them selues in armes against them, and were nowe of friends become mortal enimies: by which meanes the Spaniardes were driuen to drawe them selues from all partes into one maine strength. The Prince of Orenge in the meane while, forslowed no time, but he recouered Zurickzeas againe, with Har­lam, Vtricke, Sconehouen, Hardame, with diuerse o­ther townes in Holand, which before were in the pos­sessions of the Spaniards, the sequele of the matter is so well kn [...]wen, as I néede not spend the time to reherse. Thus gentle reader, trusting thou wilt accepte in good parte these lines, the which I knowe to be more conue­nient, and necessarie, then learned, or eloquent, and when my time and occasion shall bet­ter serue mée, I wil not foreslowe some other thing, the which I trust shall be more to thy liking.

¶Imprinted at London, by Henrie Middleton, for C. B.

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