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letters of diamant. The Romaines will not accept dishonnora:
ble & wicked victorie as a thinge vnworthie praise Frontino
telleth how a certeine Phisition to kinge Pirro of Epiro, wrote
vnto Fabritio a noble Capteine of the Romaines & promised by
his lres that for rewarde he wolde sodenlie procure the death
of the kinge his Mr then ennemie to the People of Rome
But Fabritio like a noble Capteine did not only refuze
this traiterous victorie, but also courteouslie discouered all the
whole treason to the kinge Pirro wch was the cause that aft:
erwardes there ensued a league of amitie betwext the saide
kinge & the Romaines. It hapened in or age, that the
kinge Alfonzo of Arragon, a noble Prince & worthie
everlastinge praise havinge longe time & with a greate
armie beseiged a valiaunt Capteine called Iacomo Caldora
who retired his whole powre to the top of an invincyble
mounteine, and after longe heate & drought ther hapened
to arise in the night a great tempest of winde, at wch time
came vnto him an olde expert soldier of his, And offred
that yf he wolde permitt he wolde not faile but thoroughe
pollecie to cast doune fire vppon the Pavilions of the kinge
and so vtterlie discampe his whole armie, wherby the foarce
of thennemie shalbe remoued and victorie remaine to Caldora
who answered in this wise I doe not only refuze the fraw:
dulent victorie by the deuised, but also doe reprehend thee for
thy Councell to pcure anie such treason against so worthie
a kinge though mine Ennemie. This was the answere of
Caldora who by virtue of other soldiers was shortlie after
rescued & the kings armie remoued Tullio writeth that it
is a dishonnored thinge to get victorie by crafte wthout
virtue because whatsoeuer is gotten thorough Crafte encrea:
seth dishonnor. The decretall saith that such as become
victorious thorough virtue, despizing all fraude doe deserue
the Crowne of victorie Neuertheles our souldiers do hold
opinion to the Contrarie saienge that in fight for life it
is lawfull to deceave the ennemie & wth all crafte & con:
ninge to destroie him, because either of them haue defied
other to the deathe, & that in defence of life no care or
crafte is vnlawfull. And this is by example & aucthoritie