Compare 1577 edition: 1 Thus haue you heard the whole discourse of the conquest of the noble towne of Calis, with all the English fortresses and countrie adioining made by the duke of Guise. The news whereof when they came to the French king, no need to aske how ioiful|lie they were receiued, not onelie of him and all his court, but also vniuersallie through the whole realme of France. For the which victorie, there was (as the maner is) Te Deum sung, and bonefiers made e|uerie where,Triumphs in France for the getting a|gaine of Ca|lis. as it is woont to be in cases of common ioy and gladnesse, for some rare benefit of God. In so much that shortlie vpon the conquest, there was a publike assemblie at Paris of all the estates of France, who franklie in recompense of the kings charges emploied in the winning of Calis, and the places aforesaid, and for maintenance of his wars to be continued afterwards, granted vnto him thrée millians of French crowns: whereof the clergie of France contributed one millian, besides their dis|mes. And no maruell though the French did high|lie reioise at the recouerie of Calis out of the Eng|lishmens hands: for it is constantlie affirmed of manie, that be acquainted with the affaires of France, that euer since the same towne was first woone by Englishmen, in all solemne councels as|sembled to treat vpon the state of France, there was a speciall person appointed to put them in re|membrance from time to time of Calis: as it were to be wished that the like were vsed in England, vn|till it were regained from the French.

A. Fl. ex opere historico Schar|d [...] collectio. pag. 1970.¶And here because thus much is said of the French by waie of discourse concerning their exulting, and immoderat ioyfulnesse manie waies testified, some|what being alredie written thereof before: it is note|woorthie, either for the increase of wit in vs, if it were the fault of our follie; or the aggrauating of their impudencie, if they blush not to publish a most lowd and lewd lie; to remember what I haue read in verses set foorth by a Frenchman; wherein a|mong manie words & terms vsed touching this con|quest of Calis & Guisnes (wherein also a prophesie of Merline (of which name there were two, D. Powell in hist. Camb. pag. 4, [...]. and both pro|phets) is introduced, foretelling the reuolution of the same to be rather fatall to that nation, than recoue|uerable by prowesse martiall (for thus he saith:)

Námque erat in fatis redditurum haud antè Caletum

Ad veteres dominos, quàm se regina marito

Traderet externo, veterúmque propagine regum

Posthabita, nouus hic succederet aduena regnis:

Ipse Valesina venturum à stirpe nepotem

Merlinus vates multo praedixerat antè,

Sanguinis vltorem nostri cladísque futurum.)

But this is not the matter that I meant (though it conteine somewhat whereat men may muse) but a further reach to the rebuke of rashnesse in some, if it were their déed; and to the shame of others, if the re|port be false. For thus saith the same author, whose verses euen now I rehearsed, speaking of the Eng|lishmen, whome former victories (saith he) made ve|rie venterous, confident, and full of heart; and be|sides that, so disdainfull and scornefull towards the French, that they caused to be grauen in hard mar|bell aloft at the entrie of the castell or fortresse in le|gible letters (but he telleth not in what language, no more than which of the Merlins prophesie it was; howbeit (saith he) thus much in effect in Latine:

Tùm demùm Francus premet obsidione Caletum,

Cùm ferrum plumbúmue natabit suberis instar.

Then shall the Frenchmen Calis win,

When iron and lead like corke shall swim.