AT what time, Reputation of a Soldier. Am­bition, the Impe of miscreate Enuy, vpon desire of Soueraigntie, be­gat Warre: Necessitie, Inuentresse of all Pollicies, Artes, and Meca­nicall Craftes, deuised many Engines for Warre: the vse whereof, gaue first reputation vnto the Souldier, who euer since hath beene honorably esteemed. And although, for difference of Aucthori­ties and Offices, requi [...]it in Martiall gouernment: There is Generall, Lieutenant, Coronell, Captaine, Ensigne, Corporall, &c. Yet the hyest to the lowest, only glorieth in the name of a Souldier. Alexander, Caesar, and the greatest Monarques, vsually cal'de the meanest Souldiers, Companions, Fellowes, & alwayes greeted them by such like familiar salu­tations: Caesar, would thus vsually incouradge his Souldiers: Companions, & Frēds, saue that (by your Election) I commaund, there is no difference betwene you, and me, and therefore the meanest, that best deser­ueth, may one day steppe into my place. A highe in­couragement, to bee valiant, when valour, by go­uernment, is able to raise a man from the Carte, to be a Soueraigne Captaine: And certainly, Mil­litarie Iustice Millitarie Iustice. in Martiall Gouernment, is more in­different then Ciuill Iustice: For, the one taketh [Page] knowledge of euery man that is valiaunt: and the other will scarre looke on a number that are ver­tuous.

And by this Iustice Millitarie, Viriat, Viriat. the renow­ned Portugall, that in many victories sheathed his sword in the Romains Entrailes, was in his youth a sheepharde, & the sonne of a sheepharde.

Arsases, Arsases. king of the Parthians, was a common beggers sonne: yet in remembrāce of his great val­lour and worthinesse, after his decease, they called the kings his successors, Arsasides.

Agatocles, Agatocles▪ the mangnanimous king of Cicile, was the sonne of a Potter: and in remembraunce thereof, among other vessels of golde, hee was al­wayes serued with some of earth.

Prolomie, Ptolomie. king of Aegipt, of whome the succee­ding Kings were called Ptolomie, was of base pa­rentage.

The Athenian, Isicrates, Isicrates. the most illustrous in the Art Millitarie, whome Artaxerses king of Persia, of­tentimes made Lieutenant of his Army, against the AEgiptians, was a Coblers sonne.

Eumenes, Eumenes. one of the most valiant of Alexanders Captaines, was a poore Carters sonne.

And albeit, among humaine kingdomes, none might be compared to the Empire of Rome, yet, by Martiall Iustice, men of most meane rep [...]ation, became Emperours.

Elius Pertinax, Elius Per­tinax. Emperour of Rome, was an Ar­tificers sonne.

The Emperour Dioclesian Dioclesian. that illustred Rome, with so many triumphant victories, was a Scri­ueners [Page] sonne.

Valentian, Valentian. was a Shoomakers sonne.

The Emperour Probus, Probus. was a Gardeners sonne.

The renowned Emperour Aurelius, Aurelius. was of an vnknowne parentage.

Marcus Iulius, Licinius, Marcus Iu­lius, Licinius, Bonosus. and Bonosus, which oc­cupied both the Empire, the one came from the Carte, and the other from keeping of a schoole.

Many other were Emperous of Rome, whose Auncestors were of no account, which (for breuitie) I omit: so that, descending to kinges, and meaner Princes whome this Iustice aduaunced.

Tarquinius Priscus, Tarquinius priscus. king of Rome, was a Mer­chants sonne of CORINTHE, and banished his Countrey.

Servius Tullius, the most renowned king of the Romaines, who for his worthy victories triumphed thre times, was the sonne of a poore seruaunt: and therefore was alwayes call'd, Servius.

Lamutius▪ Lamutius: king of the Lombards, was the sonne of a meane Harlot.

The mightie King Tamberlaine, Tamberlaine. was in the be­ginning, a poore sheephard.

The right noble Romaine, Caius Marius, Caius Marius who for his invincible courage and vertues, was seuen tymes Consull of Roome, came of a base paren­tage.

The most vertuous and valiant Captaine, the father of Frauncis Sforce, Frauncis Sforce. whose children and issue were of long tyme Dukes of Millan, was a poore labourers sonne.

[Page]Many other by Martiall profession (in which tyme Iustice was truly administred) were in this manner, from the lowest degree aduaunced to the hyest honour. And that the basenes of parentage might be no blemish, to those that deserued wel: nor noble blood, A straight lawe. a preuiledge for those that did amisse: the Gretians, by a lawe, sorbadde him the Tombe of his Ancestors, that added not some glory to their Monuments.

Alexander the Great, Alexanders Iustice. lying vpon his death-bed, being demaunded, who should bee his heire? magnanimously answered: Iustin. Lib. 3 the worthiest: so great was the Iustice of his minde, as hee preuiledged not his sonne Hercules, his brother Arideus, nor the Infant in his wife Roxanaes wombe, before a straunger of better desart. This regard and reward of good de­seruinges were the causes of so many Illustruous Captaines in the auncient common Wealthes.

The prudent Romaines founde out the bene [...]ite that proceeded of the rewarding of Souldiers, and therfore they deuised many honours and rewards to recompence their good seruices. When any Cap­taine had any notable victorie, hee (after thankes giuen to the Gods) presently mounted vppon a Theatre, and generally praised the whole Army: thē calling the Bandes and Squadrons that fought most valiantly, he praysed euery Souldier by his proper name, calling him Companion and friende of his Countrey, and withall gaue to euery one as he deserued, as to some, Crownes: to others gaunt­lets, and to many Harnesse, with such deuises as no mā might weare, but such as had deserued the like.

[Page]The Consull Papirius, Tie [...]s [...] lib [...]o & 30 with such like ornaments proper to euery mans desarte, for one victorie, re­warded fourteene Centurions, & one whole Squa­dron of Souldiers.

Scipio, did the like in Spaine, wherein euery mās merite was written: There were many Crownes or Garlandes proper for speciall seruices: as, Crownes or garlandes, giuē for pro­per seruices. who­soeuer deliuered the Cittie of Rome, or Campe of the Romanies, from any sharpe or dangerous siege, he was recōpenced with the Crowne Obsidionale: Obsidionale. and he and his companie that did this seruice, were honored, as men that had deliuered the Cittie or Pli. lib. 16 & Aul. Gel. Lib. 5. Army from death.

Quintus Fabius, for deliuering Roome from the dangerous assault of Haniball, had this Crowne.

AEmilius Scipio, was in this manner Crowned in Affrica: And for the like seruice, Calfurnius & the valiant Lutius Cincinius were crowned. Then, whosoeuer deliuered any Citizen of Rome, and slu [...] one enimie without shrinking from the place of this seruice, he was rewarded with the crown Civique. Civique. This was a recompence of great honour: for the meanest Souldier that obtained this Crowne, in the open feasts and Theaters, was placed next to the Senators, who vpon his entraunce, rose frō their places to do him honor. Many Romaines obtained this Crowne, especially the most valiant Cineinius before named, wonne it fourteene times. These Crownes were of flowers or such like, but yet of more reputatiō then the other of gold. The Crown Murale was of gold, Murale. and was giuen vnto him that first scaled the wall.

[Page] Manlius Capitolin, Quintus Trebelius, and diuers others, gained this Crowne. The Crownes Ca­streuse and Nauale Castreuse [...]auale. were likewise of Golde: the one was due vnto him that in fight first entred the bar­riers of his enimies: the other, at Sea, that first entred the enimies ship And of this Crowne, Mar­cus Varro, Marcus Agrippus, and many other noble Romaines, thought no scorne. There were other Crownes, and speciall honnours giuen vnto the Romaines, which (for breuitie sake) I omit: & which is worthie of regarde. In distrubutiō of these hon­nours, the noble and the innoble Souldier, by birth was regarded alike. Besides, the Romaines Cap­taines, Honorable names, giuen vnto the Ro­maine Cap­taines. in honour of their victories, had their sur­names after the Countries, which they conquered: the one Metellus, for the subduing of Iugurthe: of Nu­midie, was called Numidique: the other Metellus, for subduing y ^e king of Macedone, was surnamed Ma­cedonique. Lucius Mummius, was named Aca [...]que, for the [...]ubduing of Acaye, and Corinthe.

Brutus, for y ^e subiecting of Gaule, was named Gal­loys. The two noble Scipioes, the one was call'd Afriq [...] [...] Carthagique, for his victories in Affrica & at Carthage. The other was surnamed Asiatique, for the cōquering of Antioche: and for being the first that displaied the Romaine Ensignes in Asia: many othe [...] Romaines had such like honorable surnames, in triumphe of their victories: but these may suffice to showe the honorable reputatiō of a souldier, how he was in the auncient & florishing commō weales reuerenced of the graue Senators, and generally ho­nored of the publique weale, where the gouernmēt [Page] Is Monarchie, Monarchie. the soueraigne & sole Commander, is girded with a sword, and glorieth in the name of a Souldier: where it is Oligarchie, Oligarchie. where a fewe of the best gouerne, the chiefest person hath a charge of the Martiall affaires. The Romaines whē they changed their gouernment, by banishing of their tyrannous kings, imployed their chiefe Cōmander (the Consul) abroad in the warres: In the like repu­tation, were the Captains in the famous common weales of Athens & Lacidemonia.

Whē Cyrus deliuered the lewes out of the great captiuitie of Babilon, hee sent them home vnder the cōduct of their Captaine Zorobabel: and their chiefe sacrificator Iosue, by which estates they were go­uerned, vntill Aristobulus vsurped both the title of king and chiefe sacrificator.

The base segniorie of y ^e Mecanicall people, called Democratia, wherin the baser sort, as handy crafts­men gouerne in time of warre, are gladly ruled by the worthy Captaine.

The most magnificent Triumphes, first deuised by Dionisius or Dennis, Diodi. Lib. 6. Pli Llib. 2. surnamed the free Father, and imitated by the Carthagenians, by the testimo­nie of Iustin, onely were dedicared to the honour of the victorious Captaine: Iustin. Lib. 1 [...] But as the Romaines ex­ceeded all nations of the worlde in power, so in this glorious pompe, they tooke awaye all possibilitie, for men to bee more honored: the circumstances, howe euerie estate of the Common wealth did ser­uice and reuerence vnto the victorious Captaine, howe crowned kings were lead vppe and downe, as his Captiues, howe that no magnificence that [Page] arte or mans wit could deuise, was wanting the hundred part of the glorye whereof sufficed to glut the beholder: All which particularly to reporte, would co [...]aine a greater volume, then is appoin­ted for my [...] purpose: In reformed gouermēts, where excesse of Apparel was defended: as in that of King Ferdinādoes, who erected the Knights of the band, and in the straight Commandement of King Phillip le Bel: and (with your fauour) in the straight lawes and Proclamations of England, Gold, siluer, and al maner of brauery is dispensed within Mar­tial showes: by reason of which apparāce of honor and reputation due, and giuen vnto the Souldier, a number of yongelings aduance their thoughtes, and thirst after the like glory: Of which alluremēt grewe the old saying: Dulce bellum in expertis▪ But if all his daungers, distresses, woundes, and many times, prodigall losse of life, bee ballanced with his glory: The hono­rable repu­tation of a Souldier dearily bought. the grauer sorte will iudge his honorable re­putatiō to be deserued, or at y ^e least dearily bought: how that he is bound to march in the depth of win­ter, and the heate of Sommer, to lye vpon the bare ground: and which is worst, to fetch his meate out of the Canons mouth, or to sterue in the besieged towne: with many deadly dangers, which the toūg of him that hath felt them, can deliuer better, then my pen that haue but heard them. The considera­tion of all these peri [...]s, iustly moued the graue Se­nators, with these magnificent Triumphes and ho­norable rewardes, to arme their Souldiers) with an invincible courage: and yet (w [...]th your patiēce) they durst not put their honour simply vppon their [Page] Souldiers valiācy: how resolute soeuer they were in execution, the wise Senatours were fearefull to direct.

And certainly, the religious Ceremonies that the Romanes vsed before they attempted any war, The reli­gious Cere­monies that the Romains vsed before the attempted warre. reproueth the incōsiderate warres of many Christi­an Princes, that neyther aske aduise of God, nor seeke satisfaction with quietnesse.

If any man brought the Romaines tydinges of some Prouince reuolted, or of any other iust cause of warre: the Senate first sent to the Offenders, frendly requiring them to returne to their obediēce: & if they continued their contempt, they thē created their Captaines for this expedition: But before a­ny prosecution, they caused their Sacrificators to make praiers vnto the gods: after this, the Senate assembled themselues, and went vnto the Temple of Iupiter, and there solemply swore, that so oftē as the enemy (against whom they moued war) would seeke new conditions, or craue pardō for their offen­ces committed, that their clemēcy should at no time be denyed. This done, the Consull elect for the en­terprise, went vnto the Capitoll, and there made a solempne vowe, that if he retourned with victorie, he would offer vnto the Gods some special pretious thing. After this, the Banner of the Eagle (which was the auncient Ensigne of Rome) was displayed in the field called Mars, by which the people were warned, that, during the tyme that the Citizens, & their parents were in the warres, that they should neyther celebrate feasts, or publicke spectacles: fi­nally, a Preest mounted vpō the gate, called Salarie, [Page] caused a Trumpet to be soūded, to sommon the men of warre, and there euery particuler Captaine re­ceiued his ensigne: by this it was publikly known, that they set not forward their Armies, before they had appeased and honored their Gods.

The Athenians, neuer moued warre before the Philosophers and the graue Common-wealthes­men, had aduisedly considered, whether the same were righteous or no.

The Israelites, prosecuted the warre, by derec­tiō of the Prophets, as appeareth by m [...]nyexāples of the olde Testament: when the Captaines and Souldiers, were thus sacisfied by the Prophetes, & graue common wealthes-men, that they should in the extreamest degree, but sacrifice their bloods, in the seruice of God, the safetie of their Countrey, and their owne immortall honnour: Small is the wounder if they lightly regarded of life, and prou­dely encountred death: Spes famae, Solet ad vir­tutem im­pellere multos. Sole desire of fame, & zeale to do their Contrey seruice, moued many (that had no thought of the immortalitie of the soule) to bee wilfull executioners of their owne liues.

Plutarke, The work­ing of fame. writeth, that in Phrigia, there was a great gaping of y ^e earth, out of which swelled great waters, that ouerthrewe many houses.

Ancurus, king Midas sonne, hearing that Gods Ire would not be appeased, vntil some one mā lea­ped into the Gulfe: Desire of fame (which those heathen men reputed an immortall life) hastened Ancurus, to leape into that Gulfe (as hee thought) with the losse of his life, to rid his country from this outragious water. Curtius, the noble Romane did the like vpon the like occasion.

[Page]The two worthy Lacedimonians, Spartius & Bulides, voluntarily bowed their neckes to the gallowes, to make satisfactiō for the offence of the Lacedemoniās, who contrary to the law of all nations (which pro­tecteth euery Ambassadour, both in time of peace & warre) slew king Xerxes Ambassadour.

Themistocles, Mutius Scevola, and many others might bee ioyned with these examples: but espe­cially the acte of Codrus, the last king of Athens, is worthy remēbraūce: Iustin. Lib [...]. it was foretould by the Oracle at Delphos, that if the Athenians would bee victors, their kinge must needs be slaine.

When Codrus vnderstoode that the libertie of his countrie, stood vpon the losse of his life, hee pre­ [...]ētly in the habit of a slaue, entred the campe of the Pelloponians and Dorians, his enimies, and quarel­led vntill he was slaine. Beholde the noble resolu­tion of the auncient Captaines, a nūber feared not death, & almost euery one hated a dishonorable life.

The Souldiers of Caesar, many tymes died des­peratly, rather then they would bee the seruile pri­soners of their enimies. Among many, y ^e most har­dy attemps that the Iewes made vpon Vespasian, Ioseph Bel. Iude. & his sonne Titus, to bee delinered of the Romane ser­uitude: this one example of their proude disdaine of life, shewed their litle feare of death. When God, to chasten the greeuous sinnes of the Iewes, suffred them (notwithstanding their invincible courage) to be slaine by the Romanes, & of a number that were slaine there, being but fortie & one left aliue: which few, rather thē the Romanes should haue any glory of their captiuitie, by the drawing of lottes, they [Page] appoincted one to be the executioner of an other.

The Earle of Shreusbury, who in Henry the sixte his time, Hawles Cro. was so feared in Fraunce, as the frenchmē to scarre their Children, as we doe by Robyn good fellow, haue to this day a by-word, Garde le taulbot, being (by the enuious contentions in Englande) left almost succourlesse in Fraunce: In fine, was beset with a great power of french men, beyonde all pos­sibilitie, for his strength to ouercome: and albeit, hee had good meane to escape by flight, yet, hee coura­geously abode their incounter, and vpon this reso­lution, he thus sayd vnto his sonne: Sonne (quoth he) thou art yong, and mayst with thy honour flye: But I am old, and haue had my life honored with many vic­tories, all which I should loose, if I should deferre my death (which by course of nature, cannot bee farre of) by a tymerous flight: Therefore, I am bound to staye: What should his sonne doe, but euen which he did? followe the fortune of his father: and so like as they liued, Needelesse desperatnesse not allowed they dyed valiant men. This presice preser­uation of honor, neither the deuines, nor many pol­liticke Martialistes, do allowe: the one absolutely re­prouing desperate ende: the other, forbidding a mā wilfully to dye, when by his death, hee neither be­nefiteth his frend, nor hurteth his enimie: And yet, the greatnes of these mens courages, are to be ho­nored, although not necessary to be followed. But necessitie many tymes approueth resolute bould­nesse, to be honorable, profitable, and necessarie.

As, at the Moūtaine Antilliban, in Arabia, Alex­ander being a foote, Plut. devit. Alex. farre off his Army, through care that he had of his Tutor Lysimacus, who in a maner [Page] was tyred with trauell: and being bee-nighted, and out of his waye, hee perceaued that his barborous enimies had made diuers fires in the Mountaine, by whome he must passe: and therefore, as his best remedy in that extremitie, he sodenly set vppon one of the cōpanies, slue two of the saluadges, and like a Fury with a firebrand in his hand, he made a pas­sage vntill hee came vnto his Campe: And by this hazard, hee both preserued him selfe, and those that were with him: The dange­rous aduen­ture of Alex­der. But his hardiest aduenture was among the Malians, the stoutest people of y ^e Indians, who hauing scaled the walles of their Cittie, his scaling ladder broke: and seeing that his Enimies assaulted him, sharply with thieir Darts, he soden­ly leaped among the thickest of them, who with the noyse and shining of his Armour, so feared his enemies (supposing that a light or sprite, went be­fore him) they fled on euery side: and when in the end they assailed him, hee set his backe to the wall, and fought against the Malians, vntil his Army had broke into the cittie, and both rescued him, and sub­dued the Malians.

The like aduenture of Caesar, rūning desperatly vppon the fierce Neruij, The successe of Caesars dangerous aduenture▪ saued the remnant of the Romaines, who had that day beene all slaine, if Cae­sar had not incouraged them with this little care of life. The Senate so honored Caesar for this victorie, because the danger was great: as they ordained, that the Sacrificators should doe sacrifice vnto the Gods, and that there should be solempne procession fifteene dayes together, without intermission, ha­uing before neuer made the like ordināce at Rome, [Page] for any victorie that euer was obtained. The dan­gers of war are oftentimes such, as necessity spur­reth the valiant Gentleman, to runne vpon the like perils: and therein is true valiancy seene: For, ma­ny wilbe [...]orwarde, where the hazard is indifferēt, that haue no legs to follow such exploits: And [...]or y ^• this seruice is many times required of the worthie Souldier, without execution whereof he can neuer be famous.

The Souldier of all men ought to set the feare of God before his eyes, The feare of god most necessarie for Souldiers. to haue a pure conscience, & to be of good conuersation, least in running vpō the pikes, he falleth into hell fire. His state is like vn­to a man that is [...]icke (for death wayteth vpō Mars, as duly as vpon Surfet:) And surely, he that retour­neth safe out of the [...]ield, escapeth as great a dan­ger as he that is recouered of a mortall infirmitie: and as men commonly see nothing but holy & good matters among men that are sicke, so, the conuer­sation of the auncient Romane Souldiers, was purged from dissolute, and vngodly behauiour.

The faith of a Souldier, is at this day a cōmon pr [...]testatiō, but in those dayes, was neuer violated.

Alexander, surnamed Seuerus, had so well a go­uerned Army, as his companies were reputed to be rather Philosophers thē Souldiers. The Soul­dier was in that gouerment pryuiledged as a sick man: The T [...]staement Millitarie, Testament Millitarie. Ioseph de Bel. lude. was allowed.

The Bequeast that Artorius made to his friende Lucius, and his heires (at the stege of Ierusalem) for the inheriting of his lands, Titus commanded to be executed: & as men that ar sicke (dispose their goods [Page] to their children & frendes, so the Romanes by a pu­blique law, enacted, that the sonne of euery Soul­dier that was slaine (how young soeuer hee were) should inherite the Paye of his father: Pet. Mesi. That this prouision being made for their posteritie, their soul­diers might be the lesse affraid of death, into whose power, continuall danger subiected them. The case so standing, that the Souldiers glory is wrought out of hazard, and the benefite of his seruice, pro­ceedeth from the perill of his life: It is (as I haue sayd) requisite, that his conscience & conuersatiō be alwayes holy: and then euery day hee may boldly say as Cra [...]inius, sayd to Caesar: Plut devit. Caesar. I will before night be praised, either aliue or dead. For, in both estates, the vertues and valiant are, and shalbe alwayes commended: and as it is the principall duety of a Souldier to be hardy and resolute in execution: Clemencie, a worthie vertue in a Souldier. so, it a hye vertue in him to be mercifull, after victorie obtained. For as the Iudge deserueth more com­mendation, that winneth men from stealing, then he that pardoneth no offence: euen so the Captaine is farre more worthie prayse, that with wisedome and linitie, bringeth the enimie to a peace-able obe­dience, then hee that hardeneth their hartes with cruelties and oppressions. For as the Athenians wrote vnto the Lacedemonians: There be the fruits of warre, the losse of the vanquished is certaine, and the Vanquishor gaineth nothing by his losse. Theaft, mur­der, &c. are foule vices, yet is the Iudge honorable, that chastiseth thē, & he more honorable y ^• banisheth thē: euen so, war which is cōposed of these & many other mischiefs, cōmēdeth y ^e worthy Souldier, that [Page] with his sword dryueth this monster (Warre) foorth of the Cittie gates, and by clemencie, out of the Cit­tizens harts.

What greater victorie had euer Augustus Caesar, then in pardoning of Lutius Cinna.

This Cinna conspired against Caesar, Clemencie of Augustus. and was found in his Enimies tents, whome Caesar (not one­ly pardoned) but also highly aduanced: notwithstā ­ding all this, Cinna practised Caesars death: for, the rootes of Malice, ar seldome plucked vp with kind­nesse: Neuerthelesse, the Emperour sent againe for Cinna: When Cinna was come, hee caused a chaire to be set him which done, Th'emperour opened all his benefits towards Cinna, and of Cinnaes ingra­titude, in seeking of his life: These circumstaunces abashed Cinna: But Caesar ending his expostula­tion, thus comforted Cinna. Cinna (quoth hee) I once gaue thee thy life being my enemie, and now I giue it thee being a traitor, and a paracide.

Cinna (being vanquished with this clemencie) became so faithful and assured a friend to Caesar, A difference betweene Tyrannie and Clemencie. as Caesar made him his heire: See here what loue, the obedience that proceedeth of Clemency, breadeth: when the fearefull obedience that is forced by ty­ranny, awaighteth but a passage for treason.

Augustus, might haue executed Cinna, and so haue beene rid of a dangerous enemie: But in par­doning of him, Caesars Cle­mency. he purchased a faithfull frend.

Iulius Caesar, had neuer beene so great a Mo­narke, if hee had not gloried in the forgiuing of his enimies: Yea, hauing ouercome Pompey the great, he entertained all Pompeys frends, with suche cle­mencye [Page] and curtesie, as many of them honored him with faithful seruice. When he had ended the Ciuil warres, hee shewed such clemency to his enimies, that bore armes against him, A Temple e­rected in ho­nor of Caesars clemencie. as there was a tem­ple erected in honour of his Clemency. In so much, as when Cicero sawe, that Caesar set vp Pompeys Images, he sayd: Behold, Caesar setteth vp Pompeys Images, that his owne may stande the surer.

And certainly (though Caesar set thē vp of a mag­nanimous disposition) Cicero spake the trueth in derision: for Clemency setleth loue and good-wil in subiects, The clemen­cie of Alex­ander the great. which is the best gard & safety for princes.

Alexander the great, was highly renowned for the Clemencie that he vsed towardes his enimies: Especially, when the stout messadge of Iadus the chiefe Sacrificator, moued him so purpose the de­struction of Ierusalem: Neuerthelesse, when Iadus putting on his Garments of preesthood, and accom­panied with the people, cloathed all in white, hum­bled himselfe before this great King, Alexander, gratiously receiued him: and entring peaceably in­to the cittie, he not onely gaue rich gifts to the Sa­crificatour, but shewed great liberalitie towardes all the people.

The courage of these great Monarkes, conque­red kingdomes by force: and their clemencie, mil­lions of people with loue. The death of Caesar reuen­ged by the common p [...]tplc

It is a wonder what a tumult the people made in Rome, whē Caesar was treacherously slaine, they so honored him for this vertue, none of the Sena­tors durst stirre forth of their dores, nor none of the Conspirators abyde the Towne: they slewe all [Page] Caesars suspected enimies, and fyred many of their houses.

On the contrarie part, Tamberlaine, and other cruel Tyrants, were neither beloued a liue, nor mo­ned after death. The vice of incontinency The dissolute and wantō behauior of our modernt Souldiers, which haue y ^e courage, but not the gouernment of the auncient, greatly slaundreth their profession, and displeaseth God.

When God deliuereth any Cittie or towne into their hands, they (especially) the Spaniard and the Italian) take small compassion of the Inhabitantes afflictions: but to iniurie them in the hyest extrea­mitie, as the sweetest part of their spoile, they most impiously, and barbarously abuse honest matrones & deflower their daughters: Which vnpardonable and vnsufferable offences, the vengeance of God still followeth: and therfore this Turkish wicked­nes, that stinketh before god & mā, is to be banished or rather to be punished in euery Christian Army.

The Continencie of Alexander, Scipio, and ma­ny other most illustrious Captains, Continency a speciall ver­tue in a Soul­dier. at worthy pre­sidents, to brydle the intemperate affections of the multitude of Souldiers.

Alexander, vsed the wife, The Conti­nencie of A­lexander. daughters, and mother of the mightie Darius, and other most beautiful La­dies of Persia, with so honorable & chaste a regarde; as he tooke awaye all suspition, that should make them feare to be dishonored or deflowred. He would oftētimes say, that the Ladies of Persia, made mēs eyes sore to beholde them: but notwithstanding, preferring the beautie of his continēcie, before their sweet faces, he did neuer suffer himself to be alured, [Page] yea, he so much hated vnchaste affectiōns, as hearing that Damon & Timotheus vnder Parmenioes charge, had forced two of their fellowe Souldiers wiues: He wrote vnto Parmenio, if they were found giltie, to put them to death, as brute beastes, & destroyers of mankind: yea, so vnspotted was Alexanders fame in this vertue, that Darius Darius pray­er. his enemie prayed to the gods, that if the time were come that the kingdome of Persia must needs haue an ende, either by deuine reuenge, or by naturall change of earthly thinges. Then graunt (good Gods, quoth hee) that none but Alexander may sit in Cyrus Throane, to recompence the great honour, that in my misery, hee shewed to those I loued best in the world.

Aulus, Gellius, The Conti­nencie of Scipio. equalleth the continencie of the most noble Romane Captaine Scipio, with the cha­stitie of ALEXANDER. Scipio, entring by force of Armes into the new Cittie of Carthage (among other captiues) hee was presented with a most faire Damosell, young, and of a most excellent proportion: who, notwithstanding, hee was in the flower of his youth, so vanquished his affections, as he did no dishonest act with the mayde. And af­terwards vnderstanding that shee was of a noble house, and betroathed to a great Lord of Spaine, hee sent to seeke him forth, and deliuered the Damosell vnto him, in no point dishonored: Pet. Mes. de Cho. mem. lib. 2 and withall aug­mented her dower, with the monie that was payd for her fathers raunsome: An acte of great conti­nencie and honour, in a victorious Captaine, to­warde his captiue.

[Page]This Scippio was the most illustrious captaine that euer Roome fostered: Hee, Commenda­tion of Scipio for his glorius victo­ries, was surnamed African and Carthage: hee was called Prince of the Senate: which dignitie, was giuen vnto none but such as had obtained the Type of all honour: he vsed such discipline in his Army, as his meanest Souldiers seemed, to bee graue Sena­tors: and as Plutarke sayth, De▪ vitae Scip. among all his other charges, he specially commanded, that the wemen which were taken in the warres, should bee kept from being defiled: Worthy exāples for Generals and other Officers of charge, in Martiall gouern­ment to imitate, that their wisedomes and exam­ples may bridle the inordinate affections of infe­riour Souldiers.

And as companiōs with this beastly sinne, Temperance in dyet, requi [...] in a Soul­dier. the well gouerned Souldier is forbidden Gluttonnie and drunkenesse, as two mortal enimies of his pro­fession: For the Souldier must many tymes indure hunger, thirste, cold, trauell, and other sharpe mise­ries, which pampered and delicate bodies cannot indure: Besides, when the body is stuffed with de­licates, Ease the spoile of a Souldier. the minde is dull, & desirous of ease, which is the vndoer of a Souldier, who ought to haue his handes or his minde alwayes occupyed: The one, wounding his enimie in the field: the other, wor­king out pollicies to intrappe him as hee lyeth in campe. Alexander the great, to keepe his men in breath, Alexander e­nemie to Idlenesse. when there was intermission from warre, accustomed himselfe, and his people to take great paines in hunting of wilde beasts: especially, those that were of most fearce natures: & euery man, to [Page] show his agillitie & strength, was inioyned to vā ­quish (or to bee vanquished by) the beast which hee vndertooke: In so much as Alexander himself figh­ting one day very dangerously, hand to hand with a Lyon, after the victorie hardly obtained, an Am­bassador of La [...]idemon tould him, that it seemed by the egernesse of their fight, He must not bee idle that worketh for a Kingdome. that his grace and the Lyon striued, which of both them should bee king: Yea (quoth Alexander) and he that wilbe the king of kings must alwayes be thus occupied.

He was so temperate of his dyet, as when the Princes Ada, of meere goodwill, sent him many di­licate dishes of meate: He sent her word, he knewe not what to do with them: For his gouernor Lyoni­des, appointed him for his dinner, to rise before day, and to march in the night: and for his supper, to eat but a little at dinner: A spare dyet for a Prince, yet necessary for him that wrought for the whole world to haue his bodie hardened and prepared for all dangers.

Haniball & Iugurthe, could neuer haue punished the Romanes so oft, if that with wonderfull paines, they had not placed their aduauntages, neither could they haue taken halfe the paines, if their bo­dies had not beene prepared with a temperate and thinne diet.

The temperaunce of Iulius Caesar, in eating and drinking, is vpon many occasions commended, and it well appeared by the ablenes and exercise of his body, hee vndertooke great matter, and therfore, it behoued him to bestur himselfe: And (sure) dilligence (which ouercommeth the mightiest thinges) dwel­led [Page] in hym: when his Souldiours were at rest, hee deuised his worthiest Stratagemes, and yet he so tyred them with such dayly trauels that they cryed out, Plut. devit. Ces. To what ende doth this man hale vs after him, vp and downe the world? Should not Caesar think when hee seeth our blood and woundes, that we are mortall men, and feele the mise [...]ie & paine that other men do? But neuerthelesse, Caesar marched: and they for shame could not tarry behinde.

The Souldiers that carrieth, subduing minds, by regard of these worthy exāples, will (no doubt) dyet their bodies for to indure, paine, as faulkeners do their flying Hawkes: and he that wayeth, what dangers, dishonors, & ouerthrowes, haue followed feastings, drunkennesse, and Idle dalliaunce, will (if he regard his honour) be more affrayd of a wā ­ton banquet▪ then a bloody battaile.

Wine, and delicate cheere, were the baytes that Cyrus layde to kill Queene Tomyris sonne, and a great part of her Army: That daye that Alexander first delighted in the drunkennesse and effeminate delicasie of the Parsians, he ouerthrew his owne life and glory: For in his drunkennesse, hee put his best Captaines to death: and in reuēge was poysoned himselfe.

The Romaines so hated this drunken and vo­luptuous exercise, as whē Lucius Pius, had brought the Sarmates vnto a voluntary obedience by his of­ten banquetting, and making of them good cheere, and at his retourne to Rome, demāded to triumphe: The Senate not only denyed him this honour, but in disdaine of his drunken victorie, they put him o­penly [Page] to death, and for his further reproche, they wrote this Epitaphe vpon his Tombe:

THe Senate not yet content, adnulled all that Lucius had done, and by their letters remitted the Sarmates into their auncient libertie. And cer­tainly, The Ro­manes puni­shed and ha­ted dishono­rable Con­questes. this worthie vertue shined in the Romanes, they refused to make a benefite of any thing that was dishonorable: and for that the president is ne­cessarie for all Souldiers to follow, this one other shorte example, shall not bee impertinent to the purpose.

Fabritius, being encamped before the Citie of Fidena, a Schoolemaister of the Towne, in hope of some great preferment, stole foorth and presented Fabritius with the children of the most worthy Citi­zens: The Cōsull saw, that this was a good meane to become Lord of the Cittie. Neuertheles, he refu­sed th' aduantage: & for his hyre, he boūd the Scoole­maister, and caused the boies with rods to whippe him into the towne: to recompence which honora­ble fauour, the Cittizens willingly payed tribute vnto the Romanes.

What would y ^• heathē Romanes (who were thus precise in matters of honor) iudge of many christiās, damnable pollicie [...]. who seldome refuse offred aduaūtages against the enimies? yea (which is dānable) very oftētimes, hire Athiests, and such earthly Furies, to poison, murder, [Page] and betraye annointed Princes and their soue­raignes. Their Censure coulde be no other, but that they them selues feared God: and that such Christians and their instruments followed the Deuill.

But to continue further with Millitarie docu­ments: it is not inough that the Souldier be valiāt in execution, mercifull after victorie, chaste of body, temperate in eating and drinking, and a hater of Plenes: Obedience especially re­quired of a Souldier▪ But obedience, is also specially required of a well gouerned Souldier: A mutinous and dis­obedient person, is in a campe like a scabbed and rotten sheepe in a fould, an instrument of his owne, and a number of his fellowes destructions.

The Romanes had a speciall regard, in the cha­stising and purging of this faulte, as worse then a plague in an Army: they, without respect of persōs, punished disobedience, as appeereth by the seuere lentence, that the Consull Titus Manlius gaue vpon his owne only sonne, whose disobedience was both honorable and bene [...]itiall to the Romanes: but they esteemed not of that benefite which nourrished a mischiefe.

The Consull, commaunded that no man should fight, without his direction. [...] seuere ex­ample.

Genutins Metius, one of the enimies pricked forth & challenged Manlius sonne. Yong Manlius thought it a foule shame and dishonour to refuse Genutius: and therefore, couragiously set vpō the challenger, ouercame and slewe him, and was of all his fa­thers Souldiers, highly commended But the Con­sull vnderstanding of this matter, called for his Sonne: and tould him, that he commaunded that no [Page] man should fight, without his derection: and for as much as he had broke the order which is to be kept in war: by which thitherto Rome had beene aduan­ced to great honour: and therefore, sonne (quoth he) since the choyse is so hard, that I must either forget the common weale, or else depriue my selfe of thee, in whome I tooke (priuatly) most delight in, I will that the common weale take no hurt: and therevpō he willed the hangman to take his sonne, & to exe­cute on him the punishmēts, due vnto those that by euill example, hurt the discipline & obediēce of soul­diers: which was to binde him to a stake, to whipe him, and afterwards to behead him.

The like sentence, Brutus gaue of his Sonnes, for that contrary to a generall Commaundement, shey wrote but letters to call Tarquinius in againe.

If there worthie Captaines, [...]or light Trespasses thus sharply punished their Sonnes, what hope of fauour may the priuate Souldier expect, that rash­ly & disobediently breaketh the orders of the Lea­ders? euen the fauour that a Rebell deserueth in a peaceable gouernement.

For, The diffe­rence be­tweene rash and necessary bouldnesse. as bould and carelesse running vpon death, is honorable and meritorious, when in Martiall iudgement such resolutenesse in a fewe, may be the safetie of a number, according to the Italian saying: Beato colui, chi puo far beato altrui: Happy is he, that can make another man happy: Euen so, needelesse and vnprolitable rashnes, by wilfull falling vpon the enimies Sword, is reducul [...]us, daungerous, & very dishonorable: for as there is a saying in Mar­tiall pollicy: Hee that flyeth the field, may retourne [Page] againe, and annoy his Aduersarie: when he that is vn­profitably and rashly slaine, possesseth his enimie with the glory of his death, without feare of reuenge.

As did the vntemperate Capadocians, An intempe­rat [...] parte. who en­uying the victorie of Perdicas, inclosed them selues within their Citie, & with fire consumed the same, ioyntly with them selues, wi [...]es, children, & goods: And by this vnnaturall hardinesse, made Perdicas spoyle (in trueth) to bee small, and their owne after fortune to be nothing: But in the reprehension of rashnes and disobedience, in a Souldier, there is no intent, Cowardlynes reprehended. any way to fauour cowardlines: but ra­ther to reproue the same, as a fault as dangerous, as indis [...]rete bouldnesse.

For the Coward doth not only hurt with his own [...]eare, but by his running awaye, a number are dis­comforted, and follow for companie, A pollycie to harden a Cowarde many times to the perill of the whole Army: And therefore, Asti­adges to make his Cowardes hardy, thrust them in the face of the enimie, and placed approoued Soul­diers at their barks, with charge to kill them if they turned their heades.

Titus Liuius & Iulius Frontinus, writeth, that Ap­pius Claudius, and Marcus Anthonius, punished the Cowardly Romanes (which were very few) in this manner: The squadrons and bandes, by whome the enimie had passadge, drewe cuts, and of whome soeuer the lot fell, he presently was put to death.

Damatria, A sharpe ex­ample. a woman of Lacedemon, hearing that her sonne had not fought, as became a Lacedemo­nian, presently at his retourne, shee slewe him with her owne hāds, as one that was sory she had borne [Page] so cowardly a sonne. And surely, hee, that commeth into the fielde, and is a [...]earde to fight, must the rest of his life, looke to liue like an Owle: but small cir­cumstances suffice in this point: For Englishmen, to whom I direct this Treatise, as the learned Sir Thomas Smith writeth, De Rep. Ang. are a people naturally that feareth not death, & by cōsequence, carelesse of their enimie: But on the contrarie part, Englishmen are men of much desart, Enuie a daun­gerous passi­on in a Soul­dier and therefore, Enuie and Emu­lation raigneth mightely among them: For Enuy, alwaies assaileth worthy men, and these foule pas­sions haue beene the scourges (or more properly, the ouerthrowes) of the most worthy men and Gouern­ments. The Athenians, had no other remedie a­gainst this poison, b [...] to deuise a law, called Ostra­ci [...]me: The Atheni­ans remedie for Enuie. by which as the lottes fell out, some of their principall men were yeerely banished, and many tymes the lots fell of the best benefactors of the cō ­mon weale, who were banished by the ingrati­tude of the common people. Enuy, raigned strongly among the Romanes, but there were to many occa­sions of aduauncemēt, as their Enuy brought forth honorable effectes: for that vertue, being there the ladder of aduauncement, euery one sought by wor­thines to clyme the [...]yest degree.

When Porsinaes hoaste, An honor­able kinde of Enuie. dangerously besieged Roome, Cocleus was highly honored for a peece of Seruice about a woodden bridge, which the noble Mutius Sceuola so enuyed, as to doe his countrie a greater seruice, he in the habit of a pedler, entred in­to the Hetruian campe, euen vnto the kinges tent, and there slewe the Kinges Secretary in steede of [Page] the king: Sceuola was taken vpon the fact, & bold­ly confessed his determinatiō: The king to increase his torment, commanded that hee should be burned to death with a torch: by peace-meales, in his own presence: Sceuola (cōstantly) without change of coū ­tenance, endured the burning of his hande, which so abashed the king, as hee deliuered Sceuola, & made peace with the Romanes, for feare they would haue many Sceuolaes to endanger him, when hee should lacke Secretaries to doe him the former seruice: This was the Enuy that rained among the Romanes, while vertue iudged mens demerites: but the com­mō Enuy, wher she hath passadge, is like a swine in a garden, a destroyer without regarde, and in a Campe, a very subuertion.

And for that this is a cōmon fault amōg the grea­test, [...], a fault among the gre [...]est. the Generalls of Armies, ought to haue a spe­ciall care thereof, least the miserie bee generall be­fore the mischiefe be suspected.

Moreouer, because it is a passion vncurable. I would to God, the Enuious would Counsell them­selues, as the two worthy Enimies. Cretinus Mag­nesius, and Hermias did.

King Mithridates, being at warre with theie Countrey, A worthy example. Cretinus Magnetius, gaue his cōsent that his great enimie HERMIAS, should be captaine against Mithrida [...]es: and in the meane season, he so­lemply protested, to banish himselfe his Countrey, least there might some tumult or businesse arise by their factions: But Hermias knowing Cretinus to be the better Captaine of both, for the loue hee bare to his Country gaue that honour to his enimie, & ba­nished [Page] himselfe vntill the warres were at an ende: If euery man would follow this worthy example, that Monster Enuy, might very well take priuate reuenge, but should neuer worke publique distruc­tion, as she doth (for the most) where she cōquereth. A great many duties binde a man to preferre the loue of his Con [...]trey before an enuious desire of re­uenge: but I pray god a litle grace bridle y ^• enuious mās affectiōs: for it is to be [...]eared, if prayer preuēt n [...]t, Disdaine a foule fault [...] a Souldier. coūsell will do litle good against this mischiefe▪

There is another foule common fault, to be ha­ted of a Souldier: which is, in thinking ouer well of himselfe, to di [...]daine another that carrieth not so proude a countenance: For Contenaunce is so great a deceiuer, as it brought foorth this Adage, Fronti nulla fides: but as the slender Grayhound, byteth as sore as the strong Mastife, and ouertaketh sooner: euen so, a weake man may haue more strength in his head, then a mighty in his body.

The prudent Sertorius, made proofe of Catoes graue, saying: ( Ingen [...]o pollit, [...] vim natura nega­uit) by a pretty exāple. A pro [...]itable example. Hee had in his campe: A litle, weake, but yet a pollitick man, and amōg oher Soul­diers a great, big, boned, braineles Lubber: he had also two horses, th' one fat, lusty, & with a thick taile th'other a litle leane horse, & almost without a taile: Sertorius, appointed the litle [...]eeble mā to plucke of the great horse tayle: and y ^• big & sturdy Souldier, to pluck of the few ha [...]res, y ^t were of the leane horse taile: The weake man, whome good education, had giuen wit & pollicie in the place of strength, pulled by three or iiij. haires at once, & so quickly of a long [Page] tayle, left no taile: The other a good strong yeomās body, tugged at the whole taile, and wrought vn­till he sweate: but sty [...]red not a haire: An example of double pro [...]it & instruction: The ackt of the weak man sheweth that a handfull of witte, is worth a horse loade of strength: and the bootles, tugging of the strong man, witnesseth the mightie force of a [...]ewe, that are firmely vnited together: and the di­uision of the great tayle, the confusion of a multi­tude, that are among themselues deuided.

It is then a principall vertue in a Souldier, to intertaine his companion with milde conuersatiō, & a great part of his safetie, to be vnited vnto him, in assured frendship.

This disdaine and proude vpbraiding of men, Originall of disdaine. proceeded first from the Dunghill: And therefore, vnmeete to haue place, in Court or campe, where Gentlemen, & onely men of reputation, should liue.

Disdaine (as I haue sayde) came from the Dun­ghill: And of such a Gentleman, Claudian thus wri­teth: Asperius nihil est humili cum surgit in Altum: Then let disdaine bee proper to a Dunghill minde, who hauing no Ornamentes of vertue, holdeth his placeby proude & disdainfull behauiors.

But the Souldier and euery man that thir [...]teth for true honour, must holde this for a principall, that Reputation consisteth in a mans owne wel doing, and not in an-other mans disgrace.

It is a good course then for euery man, to honour himselfe with good indeu [...]urs: and a great blame to dishonour another with infamous wordes: For art hath made no man so perfect, but that hee may [Page] dayly learne: nor nature no man so imperfect, but he may be an instrument of some good purpose.

Asinius, Caesars Barbor, the fearefullest wretch a­liue, whose minde was giuen onely to feare & mis­trust, by his tymerous suspect, saued Caesars life, in discouering the Treason of Pothinus and Achillas.

Caesar, The seru [...]ce of Caesars [...]arber. had not a veryer wretch, then the Bar­bor Asinius in his whole Army: nor neuer a Cap­taine that did him greater seruice.

Euery mā is not mad for all purposes: but his seruice that is any way profitable, is no way to be disdained.

Alexander the great, wrote a booke, which hee called Remembraunces for euery day, Alexanders Boo [...]e of dayly rememberaunces. which contai­ned neither scoffing nor disdainefull vsadge of the simpler sort: but contrary wise, how he helped their Ignoraunces, with good coūsels: Instructed them in pollicies, and appeased euery small contention, be­fore it grew to a quarrell.

He that wilbe worthy, let him looke into worthy mēs doings, & follow the exāples of the worthiest.

No man can haue a greater light, then of the Sunne, nor better instruction, then from the wisest.

To conclude, it is a most honorable vertue, and a necessarie duty in a Souldier, A good Souldier ought to be studious in matters of Pollycie. at leasurable times to be studious in matters of pollicie, and alwayes when his hands are idle to haue a working minde.

Caesar the best Captaine that euer liued, was so addicted to study, as there was a question: whether he were more inclined to the Launce, or to his booke? who being one day in a mortall danger, at Alexan­dria, to saue himself, he leaped into the water, and [Page] uing a Booke in his hande, he had such care thereof, as he held that hande vpon his head, Pet. Mes. [...]e [...] [...]end. and wrought for his life with the other.

Alexander the great, Plo [...] devit. Cae [...]ar. was so addicted to Homers [...]iades, as he appointed the most magnificēt Iew­ell boxe of Darius to keepe the same. In the tyme & vnder the reignes of the famous Monarks & Cap­taines, learning, and learned men most florished.

The reason was, the Leaders of Armies, were great louers of learning.

Antigonus, king of Macedone, to bee instructed in knowledge, by his Letter, thus saluted the Philo­sopher Zenon.

The king Antigonus, wisheth health to the Philo­sopher Zenon: I know well that I passe thee in riches and fauours of fortune: But I must confesse that thou farre passest me, in the true felicitie, which consisteth in the knowleadge, discipline, and study of the liberall Sciences: and therefore, I desire the accord, that I may haue thy companie, &c.

Alexander, hearing that Aristotle had written certaine bookes of naturall Philosophie, wrote vnto Aristotle in this maner: Truly, Aristotle, thou dec [...]a­uest my desire, in publishing of this speculatiue Philo­phie: which (I thought) should properly, haue honored myselfe: For, know thou, I rather desire to ex­ceede all men in knowledge and learning, then in ri­chesse and dominions.

Caesar wrote his owne Comentaries, & diuers other bookes.

Pirrhus, the most worthy Captaine, king of the Epyro [...]es, (that many times punished the Romanes) wrote diuers bookes: Especially, one of the pre­cepts [Page] of warre.

There were diuers worthy bookes, found in the Tents of Haniball, which he earnestly studied.

I might adde many other examples, of right fa­mous Captaines, that were specially wel learned: and to say trueth, learning is the most pretious Or­nament of a Souldier, and the necessariest vertue.

Couradge, Prince Ed­wardes vict [...] ­rie. hath obtained great victories: But pollicie hath gottē wonderful & (almost) incredible.

Prince Edward, king Edwarde the thirds sonne, by pollicie ioyned with manhood, only with 8000. men, ouercame king Iohn of France, and his Army of threescore thousand men: In which ouerthrowe, king Iohn, was taken prisoner and sent into Eng­land, who seeing the graue Consellers that were at­tendant of the king: Shooke his head, and sayd These fellowes (quoth hee) were they that brought me into England: attributing his ouerthrow to the graue di­rections of the kings Counsell.

The victorious king Henry the fift, with lesse then fifteene thousand men, whereof many were sicke and diseased, The Battel of Agincourt is Fraunce. with a pollicie of Iron piked stakes, ouerthrew the whole power and flower of the Nobilitie of Fraunce.

The wonderfull ouerthrowes, that haue beene giuen by politicke stratagemes: which were euer­more the directions of the learned and well studied Captaines, doe in a maner commaunde Martiall Professors, to hunt after newe Stratagemes, and deuises to annoy the Enimie.

He that is studious, and occupieth his leasura­ble times, in working out of aduauntages, is like­ly [Page] to hurt y ^e enimie more by his deuises in y ^• campe, then by fighting in the field.

Cicero, was not naturally giuē to follow Armes, as appeared by his saying: Cedant Arma toge [...] yea [...] for that by his pollicy and wisedome, hee deliuered Rome from the dangerous conspiracie of Cattiline: He (by dispensation) was recompenced with the Crowne Ciuique.

The dangerous and mortall engines of warre, were the ingenious deuises of y ^e learned Captains.

The Po [...]t Lucretius saith▪ that in the beginning, men only reuen [...]ed their cholor, with scratching & byting: afterwards they fel to throwing of s [...]ones, and to sight with truncheons of woo).

It was long before the hatred and malice of man founde out this pearceing Iron, hid of the in­trailes of the earth.

The AEtolians, were the first that brought the Launce into the [...]ie [...]de.

The Lacedimonians deuised the Sword and the Hachet.

The AEgiptians, Pli [...]. lib. 7. cho▪ 16. the Healmet and the shield. Sci [...]us, the sonne of Iupiter, deuised Dartes and Arrowes.

Eusebius writeth that Moyses deuysed many en­gines of warre. Lib. de prep [...] ratiō Euanget lique.

The Athenians inuented the Scorpion or Arba­liste: but all these were light in respect of Gūpouder, & other Artillery: Which (some saye) were inuented by an Alman, whose name is not knowne: and cer­tainely worthyly, as one vnworthie of memorie.

These, being the engenious Inuētions of men, [Page] there are (no doubt) more [...]idden secrets to annoye the enimie, which the study of the carefull Martia­listes, no doubt, may worke out.

And considering, that pollicie neuer so much a­bounded, and mischiefe and iniquitie exceedeth the same: So that, to ouerthrowe & confounde the eni­mie, all feare of God and humaine charitie is banished. Therefore, to incoūter such furies, the Soul­dier that fighteth in a iust quarrell (in my opinion) in the feare of God, and Christian allowance, may doe as the wise Phisitians doe, expell one poyson with an other: and yet, with this Iudgement, that milder courses be first attempted.

As before this most Christian and charitable succour, which her sacred Maiestie (annointed by gods prouidence) to be the comfort of all Christian afflictions, sendeth to relieue the oppressions, of the long aflicted Inhabitants of the Lowe Countries, hath beene effectually desired, and lightly regaded.

And therefore, you worthy Gentlemen, which are armed in Gods and her Maiesties seruice: for that your quarrell is grounded vpon compassion & Iustice, and polliticke iudgement, for the safetie of your owne Countrey, I hope (which thousands desire) you shall returne attired, with your enimies ouerthrowe: Which God graunt, to his glory, and your euerlasting honour. Amen.