Magdeline de Savoie.—­Anne Duc de Montmorenci, who was prime minister and great constable of France during the reigns of Francis I., Henry II., Francis II., and Charles IX., was very unwilling to take up arms against the Prince of Conde and the Coligny’s, to whom he was endeared by the ties of friendship, as well as those of consanguinity.  He was however induced to give way by the following animated and forcible speech of his wife, Magdeline de Savoie:  “It is then in vain, sir, that you have taken as a motto to your escutcheon, the word of command that your ancestors always gave at the outset of every battle in which they were engaged (Dieu aide du premier Chretien).  If you do not fight with all your energy in defence of that religion which is now attempted to be destroyed, who then is to give an example of respect and of veneration for the Holy See, if not he who takes his very name, his arms, his nobility, from the first baron of France who professed the holy religion of Christ?”

A Relay of Legs.—­Rivardes, a Piedmontese, had attached himself to the house of France, and was much esteemed as a soldier.  He had lost one of his legs, and had worn a wooden one for some time, when in an engagement a ball carried off the latter, leaving him the other safe and sound.  On being raised up, he exclaimed laughingly, “What fools these fellows are!  They would have saved their shot had they known that I had two others equally good among my baggage.”

Present!—­During the Crimean war a French captain wrote to the Cure of his native place in these words:  “I endeavour to regulate my affairs in such sort, that if God should address to me the call, I may be able to answer, Present!” Not long after this the brave captain met his death under the walls of Sebastopol.

Quartering.—­At an election for Shrewsbury, in the reign of George I., a half-pay officer, who was a nonresident burgess, was, with some other voters, brought down from London at the expense of Mr. Kynaston, one of the candidates.  The old campaigner regularly attended and feasted at the houses which were opened for the electors in Mr. Kynaston’s interest until the last day of the polling, when, to the astonishment of the party, he gave his vote to his opponent.  For this strange conduct he was reproached by his quondam companions, and asked what could have induced him to act so dishonourable a part as to become an apostate.  “An apostate,” answered the old soldier, “an apostate! by no means—­I made up my mind about whom I would vote for before I set out upon this campaign, but I remembered Marlborough’s constant advice to us when I served with the army in Flanders, ’Always quarter upon the enemy, my lads—­always quarter upon the enemy.’”

Seeking for a Ball.—­The Count de Grance being wounded in the knee with a musket ball, the surgeons made many incisions.  At last, losing patience, he asked them why they treated him so unmercifully?  “We are seeking for the ball,” said they.  “Why then did you not speak before?” said the Count, “I could have saved you the trouble, for I have it in my pocket.”