14 AMBROISE PARfi 



of the great cannons made long rebounds, and grazed over 

 the water as they do over the earth. Now to make the 

 matter short, our English did us no harm, and returned safe 

 and sound into England. And they leaving us in peace, we 

 stayed in that country in garrison until we were assured that 

 their army was dispersed. 



Now our soldiers used often to exercise themselves with 

 running at the ring, or with fencing, so that there was 

 always some one in trouble, and I had always something 

 to employ me. M. d'Estampes, to make pastime and pleasure 

 for the Seigneurs de Rohan and de Laval, and other gen- 

 tlemen, got a number of village girls to come to the sports, 

 to sing songs in the tongue of Low Brittany : wherein their 

 harmony was like the croaking of frogs when they are in 

 love. Moreover, he made them dance the Brittany triori, 

 without moving feet or hips: he made the gentlemen see 

 and hear many good things. 



At other times they made the wrestlers of the towns and 

 villages come, where there was a prize for the best: and 

 the sport was not ended but that one or other had a leg or 

 arm broken, or the shoulder or hip dislocated. 



There was a little man of Low Brittany, of a square body 

 and well set, who long held the credit of the field, and by 

 his skill and strength threw five or six to the ground. There 

 came against him a big man, one Dativo, a pedagogue, who 

 was said to be one of the best wrestlers in all Brittany: 

 he entered into the lists, having thrown off his long jacket, 

 in hose and doublet: when he was near the little man, it 

 looked as though the little man had been tied to his girdle. 

 Nevertheless, when they gripped each other round the neck, 

 they were a long time without doing anything, and we 

 thought they would remain equal in force and skill : but the 

 little man suddenly leaped beneath this big Dativo, and took 

 him on his shoulder, and threw him to earth on his back all 

 spread out like a frog; and all the company laughed at the 

 skill and strength of the little fellow. The great Dativo was 

 furious to have been thus thrown to earth by so small a 

 man : he rose again in a rage, and would have his revenge. 

 They took hold again round the neck, and were again a 

 good while at their hold without falling to the ground: but 



