that they were never able to make use of Opportunity: but, sometimes compelled to stay for their fellows; and sometimes driven to give or take battle upon extreme disadvantages, for fear lest their companies should fall asunder—as indeed, upon any little disaster, they were ready to break, and return every one to the defence of his own.
All this, and—which was little less than all this—great odds in weapon; gave to the Romans the honour of many gallant victories.
What such help? or what other worldly help, than the golden mettle of their soldiers, had our English Kings against the French? Were not the French as well experienced in feats of war? Yea, did they not think themselves therein our superiors? Were they not in arms, in horse, and in all provisions, exceedingly beyond us. Let us hear what a French writer—JEAN DE SERRES—saith of the inequality that was between the French and English, when their King JOHN was ready to give the onset upon the Black Prince, at the battle of Poitiers, "JOHN had all advantages over EDWARD, both in number, force, show, country, and concert—the which is commonly a consideration of no small importance in worldly affairs—and withal, the choice of all his horsemen, esteemed then the best in Europe, with the greatest and wisest captains of his whole realm." And what could he have more?
I think it would trouble a Roman antiquary to find the like example in their histories—the example, I say, of a King brought prisoner to Rome by an army of 8,000; which he had surrounded with 40,000 better appointed and no less expert warriors. This I am sure of, that neither SYPHAX the Numidian followed by a rabble of half scullions, as LIVY rightly terms them; nor those cowardly kings PERSEUS and GENTIUS are worthy patterns.
All that have read of Cressy and Agincourt will bear me witness that I do not allege the battle of Poitiers for lack of other as good examples of the English virtue: the proof whereof, hath left many a hundred better marks in all quarters of France, than ever did the valour of the Romans.
If any man impute these victories of ours to the longbow, as carrying further, piercing more strongly, and quicker of discharge than the French crossbow; my answer is ready. That in all these respects, it is also, being drawn with a
