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.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Thus report the French, but how trulie, let them saie that are able (vpon their owne knowledge) to iudge: and thus much shall suffice for that matter.] Now séemed euerie daie a yeare to the French king vntill he personallie had visited Calis, and his new conquered countrie.The French king goeth to visit and sée Calis. Wherefore about the end of Ia|nuarie he tooke his viage thither, accompanied with no small number of his nobilitie: and immediatlie vpon his arriuall there, he perused the whole towne and euerie part thereof from place to place, deuising with the duke of Guise for the better fortification thereof, what should be added vnto the old, and what should be made new, and what should be taken a|waie. And after order taken for that businesse, he placed there a noble man, & no lesse valiant knight of the order,Monsieur de Thermes made captein of Calis. called monsieur de Thermes to be cap|teine of the towne, and so departed he againe into France.