Suffundere malis hominis sanguinem quàm effundere: Rather moove a mans bloud to blush in his face, than remoove it by bleeding from his body.It appeareth also that the Romane lawes did in former times punish such as had runaway, by death. For Animianus Marcellinus reporteth, that Iulian the Emperor condemned tenne of his Souldiers, who in a charge against the Parthians, had but turned their backes from it; first to be degraded, & then to suffer death, as he saith according to the ancient lawes, who ne∣verthelesse, condemneth others for a like fault, vnder the ensigne of bag and baggage to be kept amongst the common prisoners. The sharp punishment of the Romanes against those Souldiers that escaped from Cannae: and in the same warre, against those that accompanied Ca. Fuluius in his defeate, reached not vnto death, yet may a man feare, such open shame may make them dispaire, and not only prove faint and cold friends, but cruell and sharp enemies. In the time of our forefathers, the Lord of Franget, Whilom Lieutenant of the Marshall of Chastillions companie, having by the Marshall of Chabanes been placed Gover∣nor of Fontarabie, instead of the Earle of Lude, and having yeelded the same vnto the Spani∣ards, was condemned to be degraded of all Nobilitie, and not only himselfe, but all his succe∣ding posteritie declared villains and clownes, taxable and incapable to beare armes; which seuere sentence was put in execution at Lyons. The like punishment did afterward al the Gen∣tlemen suffer, that were within Guise, when the Earle of Nansaw entred the town: and others since. Neuerthelesse if there were so grosse an ignorance, and so apparant cowardise, as that it should exceede all ordinarie, it were reason it should be taken for a sufficient proofe of inex∣cusable treacherie, and knaverie, and for such to be punished.The sixteenth Chapter.A tricke of certaine Ambassadors.IN all my trauels I did ever observe this custome, that is, alwaies to learne something by the communication of others (which is one of the bests schooles that may be) to reduce those I confer withall, to speake of that wherein they are most conversant and skilfull.Basti al nochiero ragionar de'venti,Idem Propert. l. 2. d. 1. 43.Albifolco de'ori, & lesue piagheConti il guerrier, conti il pastor gl' armenti.Sailers of windes plow-men of beastes take keep,Let Souldiers count their wounds, sheepheards their sheep.For commonly we see the contrary, that many chuse rather to discourse of any other trade than their own; supposing it to be so much new reputation gotten: witnes the quip Archida∣mus gaue Periander saying that he forsooke the credit of a good Phisitian, to become a paltry Poet. Note but how Caesar displaieth his invention at large, when he would have vs conceive his inventions how to build bridges, and devises, how to frame other war-like engins; and in respect of that how close and succinct he writes, when he speaketh of the offices belonging to his profession, of his valour, and of the conduct of his warre-fare. His exploits prove him a most excellent Captain, but he would be known for a skilfull Ingenier, a qualitie somewhat strange in him. Dionysius the elder was a very great chieftaine and Leader in warre, as a thing best sitting his fortune: but he greatly labored, by meanes of Poetrie, to assume high com∣mendation vnto himselfe, howbeit he had but little skill in it. A certain Lawier was not long since brought to see a studie, stored with all manner of bookes, both of his owne, and of all other faculties, wherein he found no occasion to entertaine himselfe withall, but like a fond cunning clarke earnestly busied himselfe to glosse and censure a fence or barricado, placed o∣ver the screw of the studie, which a hundred Captaines and Souldiers see every day, without observing, or taking offence at them.Optat ephippia bs piger, optat arare caballus.Hor. lib. 1. epist. 14. 43.The Oxe would trappings weare,The Horse, ploughs-yoake would beare.0