letters of diamant. The Romaines will not accept dishonnorable & 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 afterwardes 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 frawdulent 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 encreaseth 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 & conninge 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
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