set Mine see thou maist although to please thine eyes 〈◊〉 no curious Art without disguise True and vnstaind to be which to thy view Her inward falshood and my truth may shew As painfull dreadfull dangerous my path Yea and pernicious she traduced hath Hers vaunting to be pleasant and secure And such as might all ioy to thee procure In both she a most shamelesse lier is For that my path though painfull leades to blisse And glory yea the paines thereof are sweet For that with solid inward ioyes they meet Whereas her way though pleasant she it name Leads to destruction infamy and shame The pleasures thereof being such as beasts Enioy her sports of Venus and her feasts Of Bacchus being poison to the health Of mind and body and the wrack of wealth And honor Both our wayes ends of which No mention made was by this guilefull Witch They that doe follow either her or mee Such by experience find at length to bee I therefore for thine honour and auaile Wish in aduising thee I may preuaile Voluptuousnes and Vertue so did striue Him after them to draw which did him driue Into a great quandary for a while His fancie to her that would him beguile Inclining but his reason to the other Who sought his welfare as a louing Mother But Reason ruling Fancie Vertue won The victory so as he soone begun To tread her path whereby he did attaine To endlesse blisse and glory vertues gaine Young Bernard so did Vertues counsell take And Vice with all her pleasant baits forsake He had occasion in his youth to passe To France from Scotland whither cald he was By Iohn his Vncle who before his death Did by his will to him as heire bequeath Of Aubigni the Lordship with the rest Of those demaines that he in France possest And which he most deseruedly had won By valiant wise and faithfull seruice done To Charles then King who hauing had a proofe Thereof much to his honor and behoofe 〈…〉 a conflict chiefly in the fight 〈…〉 wherein many a noble Knight 〈…〉 Clarence died to grace him more 〈…〉 the Armes he had before 〈…〉 three Royal Lillies in a Field 〈…〉 in his Coat and Shield 〈…〉 to him a glorious ornament 〈…〉 House an honor permanent 〈…〉 Nephew bent to act his part 〈…〉 done by acts of Martiall art 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 went about to win 〈…〉 did so much excell therein 〈…〉 the valiant'st Knights renown'd 〈…〉 as also worthy sound 〈…〉 yeeres increase 〈…〉 and judge hent both in war and peace 〈…〉 ployments Which in peace he had 〈…〉 his Master with intent to adde 〈…〉 of friendship to the former band 〈…〉 ancient league which without breach did stand 〈…〉 France and Scotland thither to that end 〈…〉 â—mbassador did him appoint and send 〈…〉 which his Embassie hee did approue 〈…〉 both those Kings his prudence faith and loue 〈…〉 Great also grew in warfare his command 〈…〉 When he was chosen Captaine of that Band 〈…〉 this own warlike Nation that contain'd 〈…〉 hundred men of Armes and had obtain'd 〈…〉 â—hat honour first of all the Companies 〈…〉 Which of that kind did since in France arise 〈…〉 Whose Princes no disparagement it hold 〈…〉 be as Captaines of those Bands enrold 〈…〉 of this charge and of each high degree 〈…〉 honour worthy shew'd himselfe to bee As did by many his braue deeds appeare Whereof much one by right should him endeere To all great Britain and throughout the same Immortall glory purchase to his Name Which was that he with warlike power from France Did come to England Henry to aduance 〈…〉 Long thence exil'd and but in name and shew Then Richmonds Earle who when he ouerthrew And slew the crookeback Tyrant in the field Rich Englands scepter gloriously did wield The helpe of this his Champion wise and stout Both in his passage full of dread and doubt And in the battaile hauing happily Been such as much he furthred was thereby It seemeth then to haue been Heau'ns intent That he in Scotland borne and by descent Of Kingly race should for a Scottish King Sprung from that Royall Stemme whence he did spring Who both great Britains Scepters now doth sway Prepare to this great Monarchy the way O how both Nations of this famous I le Are by this Vnion blest which doth exile From them all discord and vnpleasant iarr's With all the harmes and woes of former warr 's Them tying fast with concords happy bands And giuing them occasion hearts and hands To ioyne in seruing both one soueraigne Lord And for their mutuall profit to afford All fruits of loue and friendship th' one to th' other As if they were the children of one Mother Ioyn'd by this Vnion for which thanks they owe To him from whose support such helpe did flow To Royall Henry who the Roses twaine Made one by wedlock whence proceeds againe This second Vnion more then th' other bless Made by a King sprung thence of Kings the best Appointed by heau'ns high and blest decree Sole Monarch of great Britain first to bee As well by Vertues purchase hauing right Thereto as by inheritance whose might Is equal'd by his goodnes and good will Is guided by Minerua's arts and skill Whose Prudence linked is with Pietie With Iustice and vnfain'd sinceritie Whose Iustice is by mercy qualified Whose courage is by wisedome modified Whose Maiestie with modestie is deckt Whose worth is lesse in shew then in effect Like Phoebus whom the brighter is his light The lesse we see his rayes so dim our sight And as he doth to all this worldly frame Imparâ—hâ— beames to benefite the same So doth our Phoebus well with all men deale As an efficient cause of publique weale To subiects neighbours and confederates As likewise to all other Christian states Sith he by wisedome mediates their peace And thereby their commerce wealths increase And as he happy in his person is So in his issue is he blestywis As in his Princely Sonne both of his feature And phisnomie the liuely pourtraiture As also of the beauty of his mind Who to all kind of vertues well inclind Such buds of them doth yeeld in spring of youth As promise vs in ages riper growth Of vertues rare and deeds Heroicall A fruitfull haruest whereby winne he shall The name and fame of Albions Charlemaine When in his Fathers throne he comes to raigne Who in his Daughter faire is blest likewise From all the worthiest of her sex the prize Of honor winning by her worth whereby She doth procure to her Elector hie Much happinesse as by her bringing forth Such Princes as may for their bloud and worth When th' Emperours election shall be free As well Elected as Electours be And daughters matches fit for France's flowers Romes Eagles spred or Castil's stately Towers But cease to range thus any more my Muse And by thy homely chanting to abuse The prayses of such sacred Maiesty Though it to honour duty do
chiefest one He did his person yeeld to him alone As Neuew to our famous D'Aubigni Whom he had in the warres of Italy Well known and highly for his worth esteem'd So as his Neuew for his sake he deem'd Most worthy thus by him to be affected And more then all the rest to be respected To Bernard such was his respect and loue As death from him could not the same remoue His worth that did allure this worthy Knight Thus him to loue and honor doth by right Stirre vp my homely Muse thus to renew His memory with prayses to him dew Among our Britaines to whom he their owne Should be as well as among strangers knowne Yea better since to him they partly owe Both th'Vnions whence their happinesse doth flow Of both the Roses and the Kingdomes twaine With double thanks for this their double gaine Whose vertuous deeds the rather I set forth That worthy mindes may imitate his Worth And worthily aspire to his renowne Which length of time shall not in Lethe drowne Whiles of his Worth and Name the Memory Shall be preseru'd by many a History In Romane Tuscaue French and Spanish scroules As also kept in these my English Roules Of his last retiring to Corstorfin LInternum though obscure the place became Of famous Scipio's last abode when Spaine And Carthage hauing conquer'd with disdaine Vngratefull Rome he loth'd and left the same Corstorfin as obscure in shew or name Did noble Bernard for her guest retaine From thankelesse France when he came home againe To Scipio like in Fortune as in fame Linternum whilest her venerable guest Did her inhabite greater Worth possest Then great and wealthy Rome in all her treasure Corstorfin also may be said as well Whiles worthy Bernard deign'd therein to dwell Of Worth to haue possest as great a measure Of his buriall in the same place BRaue Bernard of a Noble Linage borne In Scotland whom such Vertues did adorne As did him more ennoble and in France Deseruedly to honour high aduance Who Englands parted Roses and with them The Scottish Thistle in their Royall Stemme Help'd to vnite who of a Ruler wise And valiant Warriour well deseru'd the prize In Italy chiefe Theater of his Worth And Victories whose Fame from South to North From East to West did through all Europe flye Interr'd doth in obscure Corstorfin lie But I mistake his better part is past To Heau'n on earth his fame shall euer last Of the Lords of Aubigni descended from the most noble house of Lenox AMong the fairest Branches that haue sprouted From the Illustrious Stocke of Lenox three Came in successiue order Lords to be Of Aubigni like Mars in Armes redoubted The first was Iohn whom for his seruice loyall And valiant deedes King Charles did so regard As he with Princely gifts did him reward And to his Scutcheon adde his Lillies Royall The next was Bernard who such honour gained Both by his valiant Acts and Vertues rare As iustly we may him with them compare That haue by Worth to Honors height attained The third was Robert so for valour praised In many a fight but chiefely in the field Of Marignan that Sunne and Moone beheld As to be France's Martiall he was raised In calmer times their Heyres occasion wanted Not valiant hearts their worth in Armes to shew And now their worthy Of-spring doth renew Their honour in great Britaine there transplanted Where they in happy manner grow and flourish But chiefely he who shines in Worth and place Among her Peeres and whome our Soueraign's Grace Deseruedly doth so aduance and cherish These goodly branches whom their Worth commendeth From Stemme haue sprouted of that Royall Tree Which doth from stormes with sheltring shadow free Great Britaine and in height to Heau'n ascendeth A short Collection of the most notable places of Histories quoted in this Memoriall I Haue thought it meete the better to shew how this Memoriall agreeth with Historicall truth to adde thereunto the most notable places of Histories quoted in the Margent without altering the seuce of the Authors yea or their words but onely in that they are translated and in the abridgement of some narrations wherein other mens actions are interlaced To the said passages I haue added nothing but the connexion and some few briefe obseruations Which collection I haue the rather made for that the things contained in this Memoriall that are of least importance and doubtfulnesse being drawne from Records and Relations of honorable and credible persons the contents thereof which are of greatest unportance and may seeme most doubtfull are testified and auerred by these passages The charge which he had of a Company of men of Armes is thus recorded by Malingre a French Historiographer Charles the seuenth Hist Chronol who did first institute the ordinary Companies of men of Armes in France crected the Company of Scottishmen of Armes of the remnant of the Scottishmen ouer-throwne at Vernueil which consisted of an hundred men of Armes and two hundred Archers giuing them the first place among the French bands of that kinde Of which Company the said Author saith that Bernard Stuart Lord D'Aubigni was the second Captaine Of his Embassage to the King of Scotland Hist Scotâ—… Lesley Bishop of Rosse maketh mention in this manner Charles the eighth sent into Scotland Bernard Stuart Lord D'Aubigni and Doctor Mallart his Embassadours to renue the ancient League betweene the two Kings and Nations Of his comming to England with King Henry the seuenth Ibid. the said Lesley writeth thus He commanded those Forces that accompanied the Earle of Richmond into England and did him good seruice against the Vsurper King Richard So as the said Earle being crowned King did therefore euer after fauour the Scottish Nation The same is confirmed by the foresaid Malingre Hist Chronol who affirmeth That he was the Kings Lieutenant generall of the Army which was sent to England to assist Henry the seuenth against Richard the third Of his Embassage to the Pope Guicciardin writeth thus In his Hist of Italy l. 1. King Charles sent to the Pope foure Embassadours to wit Bernard D'Aubigni a Chiefetaine being a Scottishman by Nation one of the Treasurers of France the President of the Parliament of Proumce and Peron de Basche Where is to be noted that among men of such dignity he had the first place Yea he was of such reputation as Paulus Iouius doth name no other Embassador but him writing of his Embassage in this wise To the Pope was sent for Embassador Hist l. 1. Bernard D'Aubigni a Scottishman of the Royall Family of the Stuarts a renowmed Warriour who had direction in his iourney to Rome to treat with Iohn Bentiuoli then Lord of Bononia Hercules D'Este Duke of Ferrara Peter de Medices Chiefe Commander of the Common wealth of Florence and Pandulpho Petrucci of Siena As also comming to those Cities to learne what power they had and how they were pitulation of
shew Sometimes more artificiall was then true Both th' one and th' other of a noble mind And truly generous to haue beene we find Yet when on both malignant Fortune fround More courage did in D'Aubigni abound With Prudence both were plentifully stor'd Yet tax'd and branded is the Spanish Lord For craft and breach of faith in histories Which th' other name no lesse vpright then wise For valiancy that like in both wâ—â— found Among the valiant'st both may be renown'd In Martiall skill they may be paralel'd And iustly for great Captaines both be held Although to win that name th' one Fortunes ayd Had more then th' other for Consaluo sway'd And rul'd as best him pleas'd the Spanish side Where D'Aubigni so could not rule and guide The French another being then Vice-roy Yet did he so the power he had imploy As in both warres made for that Kingdome none Of all that led the French but he alone Wonne any great and famous victory As witnesseth that Ages historie Whereby this truth is also testified That not Consaluo so much magnified So oft victorious was in field as hee For besides lesser conflicts battailes three He wonne the first of them at Seminare Wherein Consalue had of the losse his share With Ferdinand then King at Gariglian The next against King Fredericks host he wanne The third neere to Terine whereas but twice Consalue in battaile rang'd although the price Thereof was all that Kingdome vanquished The French by Nemours and Gonzaga led Iou. in vit Cons lib. 2. This of our Warriour Iovius more doth tell That after the mischance which him befell But once in warre of Fortune he complain'd That him who had twelue victories obtain'd Since he in Britain and in France betooke Himselfe to warre she thus in end forsooke Whereby appeareth how this noble Knight By silence is defrauded of his right As also we may well thereby obserue That oftentimes such men as best deserue Are lesse then men of lesse desert respected And in their fame as other wise neglected But this to him the rather hath arriu'd For that almost continually he liu'd In forrein Lands and all his famous deeds In them atchiev'd where seldome any heed's A Strangers worthy Acts or takes the paines Them to record but for reward and games For which respect Consalue so much renown'd Besides the Spaniards that his praises sound Hath had the learned Iouius him to praise Who by the way the more his worth to raise In part the worth of D'Aubigni record's As of his chiefe Opponent which affords Occasion thus to paragon together These two renowmed warriours whereof either Did th 'others worth esteeme and magnifie Though different in this that D'Aubigni As best it with his Masters pleasure stood Or most behoofull was for publike good Alone or ioyn'd with others in the field Did gouerne or the place to others yeeld Whereas such was the Spaniards hauty heart As euermore he a Commanders part Did striue to act Iou. in vita Cons lib. 3. for which he well compar'd Was to a Carracke huge built and prepar'd Rigg'd trimm'd and furnish'd with excessiue charge Which well may ride aflote or saile at large In the deepe Ocean but cannot abide A shallow Hav'n or neere the shore to ride Whereas our Brittish Lord compar'd may be To one of those Ships Royall which we see Neere Chattam fit to saile into the Maine To serue her King and to returne againe Into her Hav'n or when a boystrous blast At Sea doth take her neere the shore to cast Her Anchor riding there from stormes secure So euermore did he himselfe enure Both to his duty and his fortune still Though free from basenesse to conform his will By all that hath beene hitherto recorded Of him to him this praise may be afforded Deseruedly that many did him giue Who chanced in his company to liue To wit that among Warriours none they knew That did in Warre more skill and valour shew No Councellor or Gouernour in Peace More wise and in prosperities increase None more humane and gentle as likewise None in aduersity that play'd his prize More brauely against foes and Fortunes spite So as this praise doth iustly me inuite Together with his other Merits rare With great Consalue in worth him to compare But that in matching them I may forbeare To be too tedious after that they were So graced by the Kings of France and Spaine Their fortune like to Cynthia in her waine Decreased so as neyther of them was In warfare more imployed which came to passe Not for that they as men with action cloy'd Were grown vnwilling so to be imploy'd But through their Masters great ingratitude Which them from such employment did exclude Were it for that so great were their deserts And seruice as their Masters narrow hearts Did them as too much owing to them lothe Or that with them by whispering slanders wroth They were become or did their faith distrust But whatsoeuer was the cause so thrust They out of fauour were But the displeasure Of Ferdinand not hauing end nor measure Against Consaluo Lewis did soone relent And reconcil'd to D'Aubigni he ment Him in some famous action to employ But sicklinesse did him so much annoy As he therefore was counsel'd to repaire To Scotland that by that his natiue ayre He might his health recouer which aduice And Countreys loue did him thereto entice He thither ward through England tooke his way Where Henry th' eighth by name that then did sway The Seepter of this Land remembring well What furtherance he heard his Father tell This Lord him gaue when to the Crowne he came And hauing vnderstood by publique fame Much of his worthy deeds him to present His dutie to him comne with great content Did graciously receiue and entertaine Inuiting him in England to remaine By bounteous offers but with reuerence He thanking that great Monarch homeward hence Departed where with honour and applause The King and all estates not without cause His worth esteeming much did him receaue There shortly after death did them bereaue Of him their rare and precious ornament For which their losse in him they did lament As did his friends in France and euery where Enamour'd with his vertue as it were A Loadstone drawing to him many hearts So as in many Ages for deserts None was belou'd and honour'd more then he In sundry Lands by men of each degree Yea death which doth the greatest whiles they liue Enioying loue and honour oft depriue Of both yet could not him bereaue of either As well we may by one example gather Which is that the Commanders of the Host Of Frauncis France's Monarch in the Coast Of Piemont hauing taken by surprise Columne a Chiefetaine other times so wise That he like Fabius was his Countries shield As prisoner himselfe he would not yeeld To La Palisse or Bayard though renown'd Aboue the rest they were but hauing found That D'Aubigni was of the