Varieties: or, A surveigh of rare and excellent matters necessary and delectable for all sorts of persons. Wherein the principall heads of diverse sciences are illustrated, rare secrets of naturall things unfoulded, &c. Digested into five bookes, whose severall chapters with their contents are to be seene in the table after the epistle dedicatory. By David Person, of Loghlands in Scotland, Gentleman.

Section 7.

A discourse of a combate where thirteene French Knights fought against so many Italians: wherein the French were overcome; some observations thereupon.

THE Italian and French Histories agree not upon the verity of that,* 1.1 not so much mono∣machy as polymachy of thirteene French Ca∣valliers against so many Italian. And because it is counted as a very memorable thing in their History, I shall the briefliest I may, touch it, to give the Reader content.

At Barletta in the kingdome of Naples where the French and Spanish forces lay debating by sword, the right that either King clamed to that Crowne; by their Generals for the time, Lantrek the French, and Consalvo Ferrandes,* 1.2 the Spaniard: it fell out so, that at Kubos a Village of no great importance, a French troope had got the foile by an Italian one, for the time, under the pay of the Spaniard; of which seve∣rall Companies, certaine souldiers by hazard ranne encountring together by their contumelious and re∣proachfull objecting of one anothers defects: the Ita∣lians to the French their vaine-glorious brags, and that in effect their courage was not so good. The French to them, their subdolous and crafty tricks by which they fight more fortunately than stoutly. They brought the matter to such a height, that thir∣teene of the one side were to fight on Horsebacke

against thirteene of the other, the field to bee Ca∣reer rayled about on the side, but not at the two pas∣sages, in the middle of both Armies; the quarrell was for the maintenance of the honour of their coun∣treys; and it was agreed upon, that the victors should not only have a certaine summe of Gold, but the ran∣some also of their captiv'd Prisoners.

As soone as they had covenanted,* 1.3 they met, they fight; the French are beaten, some killed, others ta∣ken.

Which notable overthrow albeit Guicchardine lib. 5. of his History of Italy attributeth absolute∣ly to the valour of his country-men above the French; and penneth it in all circumstances with the exhortatory Orations of their Generalls before the fight and the triumphs after: yet the French in their bookes, and with them Sabellicus also an Italian, lib. 2. Aenead. XI. imputeth it rather to the cousening subtilties of the Italians then otherwise, to their sole courage, because (say they) and Sabellicus with them, it was condescended upon, that if any horse-man that fallied should transgresse the precinct of the Career through error or un-skilfulnes, that he shold be held as dead, neither thereafter should be admitted to reenter the list to help his fellowes; by which meanes the Ita∣lians knowing the eagernes, heat, and impatiency of the French, did plant themselves within the centre of the camp, without budging, and attend the French charge from a little distance within the limit of the Ca∣reer; where wisely if they had remained as they were placed, and not precipitated the charge, they had ap∣parantly woon that field.

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The French then whose charge is ever furious, and then more than ever, let loose so fiercely upon them, that five of their side and but two Italians transgressed the bounds; who not being able to wheele and raine about their Horses againe, by that meanes lost the vi∣ctorie, in the sight of the panting and votary Ar∣mies.

Now albeit in this so conspicuous and ominous combat the French were beaten, neverthelesse we find commonly, that one for one the French surpasse the Spaniard, although in companies they surmount them; and in this same fight although the French had the worse, yet by all likelihood, if their Horses had not proved their losse, they should have borne away that dayes credit.

Alwayes as in this heat of an impatient nature,* 1.4 wee communicate with the French, and it may bee in our single combats too;

So our neighbours the worthy English may justly bee said to participate with the long patience, ma∣ture and ripe deliberatnes of the Italian and Spaniard: consequently more capable to maintaine and keepe well, than with the other to conquer and suddenly to subdue.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Combate of 13 French knights against so ma∣ny Italians.
• * 1.2

  The quarrell and challenge.
• * 1.3

  The conditi∣ons agreed up∣on.
• * 1.4

  Observation upon this com∣bat.