did plainely appeare it would séeme incredible to be tolde and no lesse admirable how hee did abstaine from lasciuious liuing and auaritious desires in such time and estate of riches and prouoking youth In the time of losse he was no more sad then in the times of victory which cōstancy fewe Princes haue euer vsed To speake of his bounty and liberality no man could be more free gentle and liberall in bestowing rewardes vpon all persons according to their deserts sauing that hee did not regarde money to kéepe but to giue away and to spend What may besayd he was the Myrror of al Christendome and the glory of his Country the flower of Kings passed and the glasse of all succéeding Maiestie No Prince had lesse of his subiects no king conquered more whose fame by his death liuely florished as his acts in his life were séene and remembred The losse of such a Prince could not bée sufficiently lamented of his subiectes blaming fortune for taking away so precious a iewel so noble an ornament so sure a defence for no doubt so much hope as was taken away from the Englishmen the assured conquest of all France by his sodaine death so much trust was increased in the French nations stomackes to recouer their late losses againe as not many yeares after they did indéed Peeter Basset Esquier and one of his chamber affirmed that he dyed of a Pleurisy there were others that did astirme otherwise but the most likely was a Pleurisy indeed the nature of that disease being then vnknowen to Phisicians or to the world in those dayes especially This King raigned nine yeares fiue moneths and three and twenty dayes and liued not full thirty eight yeares he was of stature higher then the common sort of body leane singularly proportioned and strongly made of face bewtifull something long necked blacke haired stoute of stomacke eloquent of tongue in Martiall affaires a perfect maister and of chiualry the very peragon His body inbalmed and lapped in lead was layd in a chariot royall richly apparelled in cloth of golde vpon his corps was layde a representation of his person adorned with robes diademe scepter and ball like a king the which chariot was drawen with sixe horses richly trapped with seuerall armes the first with the armes of S. George the second with the armes of Normandy the third with the armes of king Arthur the fourth with the armes of S. Edward the fift with the armes of France the sixt with the armes of England and France On this Chariot gaue attendance Iames King of Scotland principall Mourner his Unkle Thomas duke of Exceter Richard Earle of Warwicke Edmond Earle of March Humfrey Earle of Stafford Edmond Earle of Mortaine The Lord Fitz Hugh Hugh L. Beufort Walt. L. Hungerford Sir Lewis Robsert Lord Bourchier Sir Iohn Cornwall Lord Fanhope and the Lord Cromwell were the mourners The Lord Louell the Lord Audley the Lord Zouch bare the banners of Saints the Baron of Dublin bare the standard The Earle of Longvile bare the banner The Hatchments were borne onely by Captaines to the number of twelue and round about the Chariot rode fiue hundred men at Armes all in black armour and their horses barbd with black carrying the but end of their spears vpwards The conuoy of this dolorous funerall was committed to Sir William Philips Treasurer of his househould to Sir William Porter his chiefe caruer and other mourners on each side the chariot were 300. men bearing long torches and Lords bearing banners baueroles and penons With this funerall pompe he was conuaied from Bois De Vincens to Paris and so to Roan to Abuill to Calis to Douer and so through London to Westminster where he was buried with such solemnities as to such a Prince appertained especially such lamenting of the Lords and such mourning of the Commons asn euer before those daies were seene in the Realme of England There is as I doe thinke an Epitaph fixed vpon his Tumbe at Westminster but I held it my dutie to continue my course in writing a simple one of my owne in honour of him c. His Epitaphe OHad I Homers pen and Virgills wit With Tullies Eloquence to prayse this Prince And would the Muses come and by me sit Yet pen and paper would my Muse conuince For who can write of this most famous King And shall not erre in many a worthy thing His life immaculate what doth that meane But that he conquered sinne the world the flesh Vnspotted sure O heart and body cleane Almost two hundred yeares agoe yet fresh The memorie of thee O King remaines Thy Tumbe like Crystall shines deuoyd of staines Prose be thy prayse which Holinshed hathpend And praysed be thy name O King for euer Thy owne pure prayse no mortall man can mend Thy name cannot forgotten be no neuer England and France ring forth thy famous praise Though thou raigne with the Ancient of all dayes Yet as a mirror or a looking glasse Thou mai'st remaine ô King amongst vs still Succeeding princes will not let thee passe To Heauen without administring thy Will Such testaments grant all thy heires to proue Then Englands glory neuer shall remoue Rest then ô Rex and rise vp with renowne VVestmonastery doth thy tombe possesse Succeeding Soueraigne doth enioy thy Crowne And Kingdomes all one more for whome we blesse Thy name great God who long prolong his dayes To Englands comfort and ay-lasting praise King Henry the sixt AFter that death had bereft the World of that noble Prince King Henry the fift his only sonne Prince Henry béeing of the age of nine moneths or thereabout with the sownde of Trumpets was openly proclaimed King of England and of France the thirtéenth day of August Anno. 1422. by the name of King Henry the sixt The custody of this young Prince was committed to the Duke of Exceter and to Henry Beuford Bishop of Winchester In the eight yeare of his raigne the same of his age he was with all solemnity crowned king at Westminster not long after which time he tooke the sea at Douer landed at Calis from thence to Roan and so to Paris whither attended on him his Uncle the Cardinall of VVinchester the Cardinall and Archbishop of Yorke the Dukes of Bedford Yorke and Norfolke the Earles of Warwicke Salisbury Oxford Huntington Ormond Mortaine and Suffolk of Gaskoines there were the Earles of Longvoile and March besides many Noble men of England Gwyen and Normandy and the chiefe of the French Nation were the Dukes of Burgundy Lewis of Luxenburgh Cardinall and Chauncelor of France for King Henry the Bishops of Bauiors and Noyom both Péeres of France the Bishop of Paris and diuers other Bishops the Earle of Vandemont with a great number of other Noble-men superfluous to be named And hee had a Guarde about his person of thrée hundred choyse Archers some on horsebacke and parte on foote With what tryumphes pageants riche and sumptuous shewes hee was
Flesh the Deuill Thomas Binwin Gent. vpon his worthy yong Master the ninth Worthy I Fall the Worthies should on earth appeare The ancient Worthies nine in Ranke and place Three from Iudaea three from other where And Christians three our Britaine 's hopefull Grace Our sweet yong Prince thereby could take smal staine Though they from graues were raised vp againe Now for those Kings which HENRY had to name May they compare with HENRY Britaines Prince These Worthies though of farre renoumed fame Haue sought and fought long time agoe and since In vaine for to conioyne their neighbour land To this their owne continuing warre and strife Vntill it pleas'd Iehouas mighty hand From hence to giue King IAMES the fourth a wife HENRY seuenths sister Lady Margaret faire Of whom descends our Liege and gracious King And braue Prince HENRY his thrice worthy heire Magnifie God and Nature for this thing Which sole succession hath brought such accord That he of both may once rest Soueraigne Lord. This then may make our Worthy principall Of later nine His future power and strength Yea more herein exceeding Worthies all They being dead are now entumbd at length This Worthy liues God graunt him long to liue Graunt long good Lord the King his father reigne And to his princely sonne thy graces giue Great God that both may Britains wealth maintaine The Authors excuse of an Escape in the Title following NExt Title some small error may containe Which doth auerre HENRIES nine English Kings Yet to my Booke why should it seeme a staine Sith to Great Britaine it great comfort brings The hopefull Prince and Heire apparant He With the eight Kings well may consorted be Twice scap't by Pen and Presse I fear'd to raze His future Stile at whom euen Kings may gaze The nine English Worthies or famous and worthie Kings of England being all of one name beginning with King HENRY the first and concluding with HENRY now Prince of Great Britaine King Henry the First KIng Henry the first was the sonne of William the Brother to William Rufus that was immediately before King of England which worthy King for his wisdom learning iudgement and honourable policy was surnamed Henry Beuclarke or the faire Writer and good Scholler He began his raigne the fift day of August Anno Domini 1100. He was crowned at Westminster raigned 35. yeares and 4. moneths lacking 4. dayes he was strong of body comely of stature blacke haired large and faire eyes a Princely and a pleasant countenance excelling in thrée vertues most commendable and comfortable to the subiects of his time viz Wisedome Eloquence and Ualour His Epitaphe HENRY the first a King a Princes sonne Excellent wise well learn'd of valiant minde His gouernement recorded this hath wonne For euerlasting praise to him assign'd First worthy Then take place O mighty Prince That with these vertues didst thy foes conuince King Henry the Second of that name HE was a Frenchman borne the second sonne of Ieffrey Plantaginet Earle of Aniow begotten of Mawde the Empresse daughter to King Henry the first he began his raigne ouer this noble Kealme of England the 25 day of October in the yeare after the incarnation of our Sauiour Christ 1154. and departed this life in An. 1189. in the 61. yeare of his age after he had raigned 34. yeares 9. moneths and two dayes And heere may be thought sayth the Historiographer that the raigne of the Frenchmen and the names tooke an end after they had borne sway 122. yeares after the comming in of King William the Conqueror For those Kings which raigned after this Henry the second may rightly be called Englishmen because they were borne in England and vsed the English tongue custome and manners according to the nature and quality of the Country His body was buried at Fountverand which is an Abby situate not far from the Eagle within the Dutchy of Almucon His Description HE was a man of good stature and very wel formed of comely conntenance partly red hayred grey eyes of wit quicke and perfect good memory so that he could remember long al things of any moment which he had eyther heard or séene of body somewhat fleshy and strong and could abide very patiently the displeasures both of colde and heate he had a large head a broad breast and very spare of dyet the rather because he would not be too fat therefore when he was at leasure and free from warres his exercise was hunting and progresse trauels He was a Prince of stout stomacke and inuincible courage more resolute and constant in time of aduersitie then in prosperitie liberall to all men but chiefely vnto souldiers Pittifull to the poore an excellent vertue and nature in a Prince For proofe whereof in a time of dearth which happened in Aniow and Mayne hee did at his owne cost and Princely pitty feede ten thousand poore people euery day with good victuals from the first of Aprill till the last of Iuly An. Dom. 1176. And aboue his Princely and most magnificent house-keeping he stored garners cellars and store-howses religious persons and their howses Tributes and Taxes he tooke verie seldome and those not great Hee was very expect in feates of warre and no lesse fortunate therin He would praise his Captaines and men of warre after their deaths to encourage those that liued hee was well learned as those Princes aforesayde and excéeding wise His care to haue Iustice duly administred in his Realme was excéeding great in so much that finding that the Sheriffs in his time were rather inclined to seek their owne gaine then to deale vprightly with his subiects hee appointed Sapranisors ouer them to ouer sée their doings as if they had béen Controllers so as an awfull regard made them circumspect and wary in their doings He ordained also punishment for Hunters in Forrestes and groundes of warren either by fines or byimprisonment He ordained that murtherers should be hanged other offences he punished with losse of limmes and otherwise as the qualitie of the offence required Most carefull hee was to haue iustice administred without corruption He tryed men of sundry sorts to execute iustice with iustice but in fine hee referred it to the Bishops and Clergy men hoping in that profession to finde the most integritie and yet he little regarded the Bishop of Rome or feared his censures as is manifest by the history of Thomas Becket in this Kings time and sundry others I find two Latine Epitaphes translated into rude English by the Writer of this whole Historie the effect wherof somewhat reformed is as followeth KIng Henry was of late my famous name A Conqueror of many a Princely land Small Epitaph shall need to aduance my fame What done by me was done by powerfull hand And in my dayes I passed not a pin For Pope of Rome he nought of me could win Warre Lawe and Iustice as a princes word I held them alwaies of the great'st regard Where peace would not preuaile
the Garter mightie Potentate Though to his Fathers sense it did appeare That Henry borne at Windsor should not be Like Henry borne at Mounmouth which was he Yet Henry borne at Windsor worthy fame Was and still is and shall be to the end His Colledges continue will his name Whil'st Worlds indure it is in marble pend Then worthy King Sixt Worthy liue and be For many Worthies were not like to thee King Henry the seauenth THat most valorous vertuous and politicke Prince King Henry the seauenth needeth not any preamble for his birth and education onely he was the true vndoubted heire of the house of Lancaster and came to the Crowne by the conquest of his enemy Richard Plantaginet late Duke of Glocester but later a most horrible murtherer registred Homicide Tyrant and Usurper of the crowne of England of whom I will make no further mention but that this mighty Prince conquered him and his people in foughten field At Bosworth in the county of Lecester 22. day of August 1485. the conflicte and conquest was determined So preuailed King Henry the seauenth the day and yeare aboue sayd to the great glory of God and the continued comfort euer since of all trew and faithfull English hearts Now this King being by conquest absolute by power able by birth heir Apparant yet to settle and make stedfast his raigne and succession he maried Elizabeth the daughter of king Edward the fourth next heire of the house of Yorke and so reunited both those howses most honorable in themselues into one intire monarchie into one vnity into one body into one I say and that a most happie one into one bed and blessed be that bedde and the séed for euer that sprang and still springeth of that generation This vnion or knitting of these two famous howses both together was the end of long continued ciuill warres the death of nobilitie destruction of the comminalty the griete of foraine Princes the lamentation of Citties the outcry of the people The State before this vnion was so rent and torne that it was thought a thing impossible euer to haue béene reconciled againe therefore this gracious beginning doth prognosticate a happie continuance and neuer to haue ending Yet the Dutches of Burgundy a Princesse of state and stomacke being Aunt to Elizabeth the Quéene did so much maligne this great and excellent good that she set vp many mawmentes and apysh toyes of purpose to distemper the peace of this vnion as rearing vp Perkin Warbecke a base dutch vassall to vsurpe the name of Richard Duke of Yorke the second sonne of king Edward the fourth who with his tender yong brother king Edward the fift had by their vnnaturall Uncle béen both murdered in the Tower Many vaine and surmiled images she aduanced to distemper the state vntill time and succession made an end of her malice which also by a lingring sicknesse tooke this worthy an excellent king forth of this World But before his death hee married the Lady Margaret his eldest Daughter to King Iames the fourth King of Scotland which mariage I thought good to insert as it is recorded in the course of his history viz. Iames the fourth king of Scotland a mighty and a valiant Prince hauing had sundry fewdes and garboyles wich the English Nation and that in the interim of truce and abstinence of warre especially about Norham castle the Bishop of Durham Richard Foxe owner of that castle in the right of the Bishopricke wrote diuers letters of submission to the sayd K. and the K. againe to the Bishop one letter in conclusion of many things that the bishop of Durham should come into Scotland to him about weighty affaires The Bishop certifying the King his Soueraigne of the premisses The King commanded the Bishop by his letters to satisfie the Scottish Kings desires which he tooke to be both reasonable and honorable and of which message the Bishop was verie glad So going into Scotland the king himself most gratiously curteously receaued this Bishop at the Abby of Melrose and after some expostulation with the Bishop touching some slaughter done vpon his Subiects at Norham Castle and the Bishops submisse and gentle answers thereunto the King gaue the same most like a King the hearing And afterward called the Bishop into a secret place garden or gallery where no witnesses were admitted but only the King and the Bishop and then he declared vnto him what iust causes had mooued him in times past to séeke amitie with the king of England which now he desired to haue confirmed and to hold inuiolable for euer if the sayd King would vouchsafe to conioyne in matrimony with him the faire and bountifull Princesse L. Margaret the K. eldest daughter In the behalf whereof we were purposed to send our Embassadors to the K. your master But we thought good first to proue your loue good liking and forwardnes towards vs and our good liking to your king his daughter his subiects and dominions The Bishop answered but fewe words only he sayde that when he was returned to the King his master hee would in so great and waighty a cause doe the best offices that hee coulde When the Bishop was returned into England and came before the king hee declared to his Maiestie all the communication which had passed betwéene king Iames of Scotland and him from point to point in order The king liked excéeding well of the motion as he to whom peace was euer a soueraigne salue But hauing then a mariage in nuptiall celebration almost betwéen Arthur Prince of Wales and Katherine the Infant of Spaine the mariage with Scotland being hastened by both the kings in the very triumphs of the former mariage king Iames sendeth an Earle a Bishop diuers noble personages who were receaued into London for the consummation of his mariage with the aforenamed Lady Margaret which Earle by proxey in the name of king Iames his master affied and contracted the said lady The which affiance was published at Pauls crosse the day of the conuersion of S Paul being the 25. day of Januarie supposed In the reioicing wherof Te Deum was sung great bonefiers made throughout the Citty of London All these things being accomplished the Imbassadors both of Scotland and Spayne tooke their leaue of the king and departed not without great rewards to both the Embassadors Not long after the Lady Margaret affyed as aforesaid was sent towards the king her husband the conueiance of which princesse was committed to the Earls of Northumberland Surrey the Earle of Northumberland being L. Warden of the Marches and was commanded to deliuer her at the very confines of both the realmes And thereupon she was remoued from Barwicke to Lamberton Kyok in Scotland where the kings Maiestie met her and with him all the flower of Scotland of Noblemen and Gentlemen and where the Earle of Northumberland according to his commission deliuered her vnto the king of Scotland The Earle
of all grace Great Alexander Macedonian Prince Whom the earths continent could not content Philippe his father Nations did conuince For which his sonne with teares did sorelament Saying with sighes his fathers Captaines to My father will leaue nothing me to doo Hector of Troy a valiant Champion tri'd Gainst factious foes did oft r'enforce the field Enforcing them their faces else to hide Or plead for mercy and like suppliants yeeld Not any of our Henries wanted power To haue subdued him in his sternest stower If Iulius Caesar could haue beene a King With conquest which his Romaine Legions made By blody bodkins he should not the sting Haue felt of death in powrefull Senates shade Brutus his sonne nor Cassius had conspir'd His death had he not kingly state requir'd Arthur of Britaine most renowned king Sixe of the nine were not his equall peeres Full thirty king domes he to his did bring Yet was his life not many moe in yeares Braue Britaine then take place among the best And midst our worthie Henries take thy rest Next Charlemaine of France a Monarch great So called great and Emperour he was French Chronicles his actions all do treat He for a Christian Worthy wel may passe Yet Henry ours the eight as good as he Shall for a Christian King compared be Godfrey de Bulleigne was a Prince of fame He wore vpon his helme a crowne of thorne Hefreed all Christian captiues where he came And not forsooke them till in peeces torne He left their foes laid groueling on the ground That durst attempt a Christian to confound See then nine Worthies in their ranke and place Three of which number gouerned the Iewes Great Iosua is formost of that race But for king Dauid brought vs better newes I place him first and do withall compare Henry the eight a worthie King most rare Henry the eight gaue vs our primier taste Of milke which is most meete for infants foode Edw. and Eliza. stronger meates imbrac't And fed vs till we better vnderstood The word of God which Rome had vs bereft This grace to England gracious Henry left Three more of Worthies by their names to call Great Aloxander was the Graeciaus ioye And Iulius Caesar mighty Romane shall Be second here then Hector stout of Troy Threee mighty Princes peerelesse in their dayes Whose worthy valour won them endlesse praise Three Worthies more of Christians beare the name Arthur of Britaine Charlemaine of France And he that freed all Christians where he came Wearing a crowne of thorne the name t' aduance Godfrey de Bulloyne worthie Christians three Nine no lesse worthie follow in degree Henry the first Henry the second eke Henry the third Henry the fourth and fiue Henry the sixt whose match is farre to seeke Except King Iames do match him none aliue With that sweet King may well compared be For trew and perfect magnanimity Henry the seuenth a prudent worthy Prince Whose wisedome ioyn'd with perfect policy With red Rose and with white he did conuince Domestike foes and foraine that durst try For title state preheminence or place Eld'st Daughter his is now great Britaines grace Henry the eight eight Worthies more hath made The ninth remaines in Henry Prince of Wales The eight do rest in fresh Elysian shade The ninth need feare no blaste of winter gales So long as worthiest of all Worthies liues King Iames to whome all Eighteen Worthies giues Their Scepters Crownes their Diadems and power Their places and preheminence likewise Th' Almighty hold his mighty hand each hower Vpon his head that caused him to rise Like Phoebus when our Cynthia lately set Paying to God and nature all her debt This Epitaph in Henry eight shall end And Henry Prince of Wales may here beginne To imitate for that he doth descend Such Worthies eight such honour may he winne Long life good health all graces from aboue With Subiects praise and kingly Fathers loue FINIS Henrie the ninth Prince of Great Britaine The Author in honour of the last ninth Worthie EIght famous Kings precedents to a Prince Whose valiant acts are registred with fame Eight Henries and all those the conquest since As Worthies all haue iustified their name Eight such as all the King domes of the earth Cannot exceed for Title State and Birth What makes men Noble Birth and parentage Adornd with gifts and beautified with grace Then Britaine boast that neuer any age Brought the like Prince a thousand yeares in space For birth for vertue and for expectation Prince of Great Britaine ouerpeer's each Nation Ninth Worthie then O Prince possesse in peace That worthy Title best befitting fame Let prudence fortitude and all increase That vertue addes and doth adorne your name Let Princes all and spite it selfe confesse In forraine Lands Prince Henry is peerelesse Of all the World our mirror then of might Our Paragon most rare and worthie praise Our Comet and our rising Starre most bright Grant mightie Ioue that long and happie dayes He may enioy and we reioyce and sing For this Ninth Worthie first for Iames our King Your famous father and Great Britaines Ioy Your glorie also guyder of your youth Whose carefull Counsell to preuent annoy Most like a King he pend in perfect truth You to direct and all young Gentlemen Your followers are aduis'd by Kingly Pen. The Prince his Bien-venue or welcome to all the famous Worthies of the World BRaue Britaines beautie and faire Englands Ioy Cambers Commander Irelands lamp of light Cornwales faire Duke and Chester from annoy Count Palatine for to defend with might Whole Europes Comet and Saint Georges Knight Grant Lord the George and Garter long he weare To King and Countries comfort as true heire Welcome sweet Prince into our company Which we from heauen with cheerefulnesse behold We had our times our period was to die But yours to liue and registred in gould Whose powerful parent cannot be contrould Because he knowes and feares the Lord aboue Liues in his Lawes and hath his peoples loue But had your praise beene limd with learned pen Of Princely Surrey once a Poet sweet Sir Thomas Wyat or like gentlemen They on this Theame discoursers had beene meet But this alas hath earthen hands and feet And yet for that we in our Tumbes do rest Let 's be content to see and and say the best This poore beginning may much better proue The fairest tops and architectures stand On lowe laide morter beautie shines aboue Foundations first are laied with mirie hand Timber glasse stone lead iron gould on sand Are seated and more subiect to decay Then that beneath whereon their State doth stay From hence may happe some Builders take a frame And reare with Beautie sumptuous stately Towers The worthie Poets Daniell by name Syluester Drayton can build sumptuous Bowers And many moe bedewd with heauenly showers And though who now this taske doth vndertake Did neuer to the Muses homage make The more vnfit to fawne vpon them then In crauing of their aide without desart And to inuite them with a rusticke pen Fetching his cunning onely from the Cart Yet yet giue leaue to euerie loyall hart For all are not indewed with learnings skill And he writes wel of States that writes no ill Then take in gree all what proceedes of loue Of dutie and of true obedience And whosoere he be doth faithfull proue In seruices and shall without offense Whistle or pipe sans hope of recompense And onely to expresse a ioyfull heart At Princes good O let him Act his part FINIS Nota. Counterfait kings Nota. Nota. Nota. Nota 〈…〉 uid 〈…〉 ua 〈…〉 as acha 〈…〉 us Alex 〈…〉 der 〈…〉 ector 〈…〉 lius 〈…〉 sar 〈…〉 rthur Charlemaine Godfrey Cynthia