commissaries of the army to pay for and defray that
repast, and that there should be no outrage at all
nor abuse committed in the town, seeing it was his
own. And furthermore commanded, that immediately
after the soldiers had done with eating and drinking
for that time sufficiently and to their own hearts’
desire, a gathering should be beaten for bringing them
altogether, to be drawn up on the piazza before the
castle, there to receive six months’ pay completely.
All which was done. After this, by his direction,
were brought before him in the said place all those
that remained of Picrochole’s party, unto whom,
in the presence of the princes, nobles, and officers
of his court and army, he spoke as followeth.
Chapter 1.L.
Gargantua’s speech to the vanquished.
Our forefathers and ancestors of all times have been
of this nature and disposition, that, upon the winning
of a battle, they have chosen rather, for a sign and
memorial of their triumphs and victories, to erect
trophies and monuments in the hearts of the vanquished
by clemency than by architecture in the lands which
they had conquered. For they did hold in greater
estimation the lively remembrance of men purchased
by liberality than the dumb inscription of arches,
pillars, and pyramids, subject to the injury of storms
and tempests, and to the envy of everyone. You
may very well remember of the courtesy which by them
was used towards the Bretons in the battle of St.
Aubin of Cormier and at the demolishing of Partenay.
You have heard, and hearing admire, their gentle
comportment towards those at the barriers (the barbarians)
of Spaniola, who had plundered, wasted, and ransacked
the maritime borders of Olone and Thalmondois.
All this hemisphere of the world was filled with
the praises and congratulations which yourselves and
your fathers made, when Alpharbal, King of Canarre,
not satisfied with his own fortunes, did most furiously
invade the land of Onyx, and with cruel piracies molest
all the Armoric Islands and confine regions of Britany.
Yet was he in a set naval fight justly taken and
vanquished by my father, whom God preserve and protect.
But what? Whereas other kings and emperors,
yea, those who entitle themselves Catholics, would
have dealt roughly with him, kept him a close prisoner,
and put him to an extreme high ransom, he entreated
him very courteously, lodged him kindly with himself
in his own palace, and out of his incredible mildness
and gentle disposition sent him back with a safe conduct,
laden with gifts, laden with favours, laden with all
offices of friendship. What fell out upon it?
Being returned into his country, he called a parliament,
where all the princes and states of his kingdom being
assembled, he showed them the humanity which he had
found in us, and therefore wished them to take such
course by way of compensation therein as that the whole
world might be edified by the example, as well of
their honest graciousness to us as of our gracious
honesty towards them. The result hereof was,
that it was voted and decreed by an unanimous consent,
that they should offer up entirely their lands, dominions,
and kingdoms, to be disposed of by us according to
our pleasure.
