OBSERVATIONS.
IT is a part of wisdome,* 1.1 and oftentimes a main help to victorie, to attend the advantage of an Enemies rashness, and to see if his folly will not make way to his overthrow. Whereof Cu∣rio made good use: for he kept his Army in the upper ground, untill the Cavalry of the Adver∣sarie were loosely fallen into the Valley; and then set upon them, and cut them all in pieces. The sight whereof maskered the whole Army, and kept Curio in safety, upon the like disad∣vantage, in the cumbersome passage of the same Vale: by means whereof he put to flight the whole forces of the Enemy, and made a great slaughter in the party. Wherein I may not for∣get that trick of a Roman spirit, whereby the Authour becometh memorable to posterity, in calling after Varus by name, to make him the sa∣crifice for both the Hoasts. Whence we may observe, that when a battell is joyned pell-mell, no man can be assured in his own valour, nor share out his fortune by the length of his sword; but is oftentimes subject to weaknesses of con∣tempt, and vanquished by such as cannot be compared unto him but in scorn.
I have heard it reported, that at the battell of Eureux, Maturine (that known woman in France) took prisoner & disarmed a Cavalero of Spain: who being brought before the King, and by him demanded whose prisoner he was, or whether he knew the partie that had forced him; answered, no; but that he knew him to be a gallant man of Armes. Whereat the king smiled: and the Gentleman, understanding what fortune he had run, was as much dismaied as a man possibly could be, that considered, Quod ferrum aequat, in bello, robustioribus imbecilliores, The sword equalleth the weakest to the strongest.