From the emperor's court he went to the city of Florence, the pride
and glory of Italy, in which city his beauteous Geraldine was born,
and he had no rest till he found out the house of her nativity,
and being shewn the room where his charmer first drew air, he was
transported with extasy of joy, his tongue overflowed with her
praises, and Winstanly says he eclipsed the sun and moon with
comparisons of his Geraldine, and wrote another sonnet in praise
of the chamber that was honoured (as he says) with her radiant
conception; this sonnet is equally amorous and spirited with that
already inserted. In the duke of Florence's court he published a proud
challenge against all comers, whether Christians, Turks, Canibals,
Jews, or Saracens, in defence of his mistress's beauty; this challenge
was the better received there, as she whom he defended was born in
that city: The duke of Florence however sent for him, and enquired of
his fortune, and the intent of his coming to his court; of which when
the earl informed him, he granted to all countries whatever, as well
enemies and outlaws, as friends and allies, free access into his
dominions unmolested till the trial were ended.

In the course of his combats for his mistress, his valour and skill
in arms so engaged the Duke to his interest, that he offered him the
highest preferments if he would remain at his court. This proposal
he rejected, as he intended to proceed thro' all the chief cities in
Italy; but his design was frustrated by letters sent by King Henry
VIII. which commanded his speedy return into England.

In the year 1544, upon the expedition to Boulogne in France, he was
made field marshal of the English army, and after taking that town,
being then knight of the garter, he was in the beginning of September
1545 constituted the King's lieutenant, and captain-general of all his
army within the town and county of Boulogne[1]. During his command
there in 1546, hearing that a convoy of provisions of the enemy was
coming to the fort at Oultreaw, he resolved to intercept it; but
the Rhinegrave, with four thousand Lanskinets, together with a
considerable number of French under the de Bieg, making an obstinate
defence, the English were routed, Sir Edward Poynings with divers
other gentlemen killed, and the Earl himself obliged to fly, tho' it
appears, by a letter to the King dated January 8, 1548, that this
advantage cost the enemy a great number of men. But the King was
so high