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
I drew my sword Vnto my selfe and souldiers full reward I gaue and with small bloudshed as I could I tam'd my foes and quailed princes bolde As second Worthy I do claime the place Amongst the nine and more For in my time All Christian Princes sought to me for grace For without me they could not liue sans cryme My peeres and princes I maintain'd with right And in the field dubd many a worthy Knight King Henry the third KIng Henry the third of that name was the eldest son of King Iohn the yongest son of king Henry the second being a childe of the age of nine yeares he began his raigne ouer the realme of England the 19. day of October in the yeare of our Lord 1216. he was crowned at Glocester by the hand of two Bishops viz. VVinchester and Bathe by the honorable meanes of William Marshall then Earle of Pembroke He was a Prince of great wisdome power and policy by whose eloquent oration this young king was crowned as is here mentioned he departed this life at VVestminster the 16. day of Nouember in the yeare of our Lord 1272. after he had liued 65. years and raigned King of this Realme 56. yeares 28. dayes hee was buried at VVestminster lefte a Princely and a very honourable issue as Edward Prince of VVales who succeeded him by the name of King Edward the first He had one Sonne more and three daughters he was of body well cast to vse the former writers owne words being strong and of a good stature well fauoured and of a be wtifull face only blemished a little in the lid of one of his eyes of nature very curteous and of stomacke both noble and stoute as may appeare by his many battailes and victories a deuaut Prince toward his God and bountifull in works of reliefe and comforts towards the poore and néedie therefore a Worthy and worthy of th' ensuing Epitaph His Epitaphe HEnry the third began his raigne in peace And likewise brought a mighty peace to passe Beginning his forc't factious French surcease And landed Lewis in France where first he was Else noble England had been thrust in thralls By Lodowicke and his lusty gallants then But English Britaine 's banished the Galles So shewing that they were true English men King Henry then of Worthies was the chiefe That for his subiects wrought so greatreliefe King Henry the fourth WHen king Richard the secod had resigned the crown as in his history it appeareth he did Henry Plantaginet borne at Bollingbroke in the county of Lincolne Duke of Lancaster Earle of Hertford Lecester and Lincolne was with the general consent both of the Lords and commons of the Realm published proclaimed and declared king of England France and Lord of Ireland he was crowned at VVestminster in An. 1399. with great and kingly Maiestie all Officers of estate and of princely seruice doing their homages and attending vpon the same He departed this life the 20. day of March 1413. and in the yeare of his age 46. when he had raigned 13. yeares fiue moneths and od dayes The manner of his death THis king was indued with magnanimity and did purpose a voiage against the infidels and to haue with his force and might redéemed Palestina or the holy land then so called from the Infidels Hauing an army and all honourable prouisions for such a iourney ready and beeing the time of his high court of Parliament hee fell sodainely and extreamely sicke as he was then though vainly praying before Saint Edwards shrine from whence being remoued into a chamber of the Abbots of VVestminster called Ierusalem he departed as is aboue sayd But during the time of his sicknesse say some Writers he caused his crowne to be set vpon a pillowe at his beddes head and sodainely the pangs of death hauing power ouer him he seemed dead and the gentlemen Attendants couered his face with a vaile That valiant Prince his sonne being aduertised thereof entred into the chamber tooke away the Crowne and departed The King his father reuiued quickly and did perceiue the lacke of his crowne and hauing knowledge that the Prince his sonne had taken it away he caused him to appeare before his presence demanding of him how he durst presume to such an act Who made vnto the king an humble and princely answere but the king answered with a powerful Maiestie saying with a great sigh Wel fayre Sonne what right I had to it God knoweth yet I commit all to God and wish vnto you all good graces from him worthy of so high and mighty a calling so yelding vp the ghost in the Abbot of VVestminsters chamber called Ierusalem as is aforesayd And himselfe being tolde that the same chamber was so called hee tooke comfort there at and much reioiced therin for determining a most honourable iourney towardes Ierusalem hee did end his dayes in Ierusalem His Description THis King was of a mean stature well proportioned and formally compact quick prompt and ready of wit of a stoute courage and in his latter dayes hee shewed himself so gentle that he obtained more loue amongst the Nobles and people of this Roalme then he had purchased enuie concerning his right to the Crowne mentioned to the Prince his sonne he was buried at Canterburie the King his sonne being present at his funeralles His Epitaphe HEnry the fourth though Richard second should Haue dyed our king he dyed our King indeed Which act by dint ofsword was so control'd That many English hearts it made to bleed Shrewsburie field doth still the matter scan Where Percies pearc't the heart of many a man Themselues were pearc't and perisht in the field This mighty King could not be conquered so Lord Henry hotspurre could not make him yield Northumberland Earle Worcester thousands moe The Prince of VVales a leader young but bould Fought for his Father like a Lyon olde Like an olde Lyon rampant open iawes Deuouring beasts so fought this peerelesse Prince Yet was he wounded in the face God knowes Prayd to take Tent he sayd I will conuince Those foes that dare beholde my Fathers face Within his land and worke him this disgrace The braue Earle Dowglas strake the King on helme And feld him flat vpon the trampled plaine Slew Walter Blunt and like to ouerwhelme The King the prince and all their valiant traine Till Kingly valour forced Dowglas flight And with his hand slew thirtie sixe outright Dowglas was taken prisoner in the place So was the Earle of Wore'ster worthy paine And so he was beheaded wanting grace But Dowglas was receav'd to grace againe And freely ransom'd by that worthy King Gainst whom he fought and many foes did bring More of this King if more ye list to heare Then read his story and more shall you finde That from his prime vnto his perfect'st yeare Great honour and great fortunes were assign'd Vnto this King but more vnto his sonne Who had no peere since Christian World begun Counterfaite
Kings in Kingly armors clad Were beaten downe by the Earle Dowglas hand To see them fall it seem'd his heart to glad To rise againe he sayd ô powerfull land That valiant harts withstanding fortunes checke Three Kings to rise each one in others necke King Henry the fift THe Prince of Wales son and heire to king Henry the fourth was born at Mounmouth in Wales vpon the riuer of Wy after his Father was departed this life he tooke on him the regiment of the Realme of England the 20. day of March and beeing proclaimed King by the name of Henry the fift the yeare of our Lord 1413 such great hope good expectation was had of this kings fortunate successe to follow that within sowre dayes after his Fathers departure diuers Noble men and honourable personages did to him homage and sware to him due obedience which had not béen séen done to any his predecessors kings of this Realme till they had been possessed of the Crowne Hee was crowned the ninth day of Aprill beeing Palme-sonday and béeing a very fierce and cruell day for variety of fowle weather men diuined and déemed diuersely what might insue of such a beginning But whatsoeuer mens fantasies might or did coniecture yet this was the King that according to the prouerbe did shewe and declare indéede how trewe and new honor ought to make exchange of old and euill manners For no sooner was he inuested king and had receiued the Crowne but hee did put vpon him the shape of a newe man turning insolency and wildenesse into grauity and sobernesse and whereas hee had passed his youth with wanton and dissolute wild yong gentlemen who had led him into all excesse of ryot in so much as one of his youthfull traine beeing committed by the Lord chiefe Iustice for misdemeanour the youthfull Prince did strike the Lord chiefe Iustice vpon the face who also presently committed the Prince to straite and close prison The King his Father mainetained the Lorde chiefe Iustice banished the Prince from his presence and Courte did remoue him from the Counsell Table and woulde not readmit him into fauour vntill with submission extraordinary hee obtained the same But as before beeing placed in the seate Royall hee called these Gallants before him toulde them of his and their owne faultes banished them from his presence not vnrewarded nor yet vnpreferred inhibiting them vpon a great payne not once to approach lodge or soiourne within ten myles of his Courte or Mansions And then hee made choise of graue wise and politicke Counsellors by whose high wisdomes and prudent aduertisements he might at all times rule to his honour and gouerne to his profit And considering with himself what charge hee had in hand and what appertained to his duty and office he trusted not too much to his owne wisedome Iudgement and directions but as is aforesayde he called to his Counsell such honourable personages as might assist him in the gouernmēt of so weighty a charge to instruct him with such good reasons and fruitefull perswasions as that thereby he might shewe himselfe to his subiects a Mirror of vertue and an example of iust and vpright dealing And hauing first laid the foundations of his gouernment sure he did prouidently forecast and consider in his Princely minde that euery good gifte and euery perfect gifte commeth downe from the Father of lightes He determined withall to begin with something most acceptable to his diuine Maiestie And therfore cōmanded the Clergy sincerely truly to preach the Word of God and liue accordingly that they might be as they ought to be and their profession required lanternes of light to the temporaltie The Lay men he commanded to serue God and obey their Prince prohibiting them aboue all things the breach of matrimony the fowle abuse of swearing chiefely of wilfull periury and to that end he ordained good holesome lawes and presently summoned a Parliament in the which in honor of the most noble order of the garter he ordained the day of S. George euer after to be kept with a double feast in this his first parliament he propounded matters of questiō touching the hierarchy of Churchgouernment that time but was answered with the iust and lawful title which he had to the kingdome of France Which when he had conceiued to pursue the Dolphin of France a valiant yong prince sent vnto his Maiesty a barrel of tennis bals as if he would haue sayd these are fit instruments for such a young gentleman to play withall as you the King of England is not at these years to forecast the conquest or rather a Reconquest of the noble and renowned kingdome of France which the King my Father and I the Dolphin doe and will possesse mauger the power of England But this redoubted king magnanimous wise graue and settled to all kingly resolutions sendeth the Dolphin this mild and sober answere Go tell that gallant yong gentleman your Master that I doe thanke him for his present and will with all speed prepare to send him in requitall such store of London bals as shall batter the strongest holdes make stoops the most bewtifull Towers and make flat the chimnies and roufes of houses about his and his Fathers eares that are contained in the realme confines of France For I will make the highest crowne to stoop and the proudest miter to kneele down yea and that before one yeare doe passe me by the power of God Which thing to make good he slacked no time omitted no occasiō lost no opportunitie but made preparation both by sea and land to execute the full of his intended purposes Being furnished for the expedition of the fleet ready for his Maiestie and Armies to saile forth for the intire conquest of all France behold a conspiracy was practized against this immaculate king by the Earle of Cambridge and others at Sowthhampton vpon whom he commanded though sore against his wil as some Authors do affirme execution to be done vpon his going to shipborde making it knowen by a most louing and princely Oration how vnwilling hee was to haue taken life away or to haue left the noble Earle of Camebridge deade and sequestred from his then victorious voyage Yet had he seene or foreséene at that time to haue shewed the like vpon the Earle of March Richard Duke of Yorke had not claimed afterward as he did nor confounded the state and gouernement of this kings onely sonne nor wrought his owne end at Wakefield as he did but the Almighty is and euer wil be all in all This his first and honourable voyage into France his warlike proceedings there his conquest of many particulars his battaile or most famous victorie at Agincourt where hee slewe and subiected to himselfe as prisoners and captiues al the flower and chiualry of France his returne againe into England his second voyage backe againe his second conquest of all France the Homages of Philip duke of Burgundy with other estates of
France his mariage with Katherin the French Kings daughter his triumphant stay there in Paris his Princely or rather Emperiall howsekéeping there his returne againe into England his last returne into France his settling of the estate there his Coronation at Paris the most Propheticall censure of Prince Henry his Sonne borne at VVindsor and afterward King of England crowned also in Paris King of France his vntimely or most lamentable death his returne into England in mournefull funeralls are extant in his histories and the best worthy of reading in regard of his owne Princely Person valour vertues and most excellent actes of all the other Chronicles of the English Nation And yet to obserue the order and decorum of my poore endeuour in abstracting the beginnings and endings of eight most worthy Kings and all Henries I will conclude this most worthy king with the manner of his death and description vsing the Hystoriegraphers owne words phrase and manner as not to be amended by any The King fell sicke and so was brought to Boyes de Vincens and thither came to visit his Maiestie with heauy hearts the Dukes of Bedford Glocester the Earles of Salisoury and VVarwicke whom the King right louingly welcomed and shewed himselfe to be no lesse glad of their presence but when he did see them pensiue for his sicknes and danger wherein he lay with many graue pithy and courteous words recomforted them the best hes could and there with he exhorted them to be trusty and faithfull vnto his sonne to sée that he might be vertuously educated and brought vp concerning the rule and gonernance of his Realmes during the minority and yong yeares of his sayde sonne he willed them to ioyne together in all friendly loue and concord kéeping continuall peace and amity with the Duke of Burgundy and neuer to make treaty with Charles who calleth himself Dolphin of Vyenne by the which any part of the crown of France or of the Dutchy of Normandy and Gwyene might be lessened and diminished And further that the Duke of Orleance and the other Princes should remaine prisoners till his sonne came to lawfull age least by returning they might kindle more fire in one day then could well be quenched againe in thrée He further aduertized them that if they thought it necessary then it should be good to haue his brother the Duke of Glocester to be Protector of England during the minority of his sonne And his brother the Duke of Bedford with the help of the Duke of Burgundy to be Regent of France Commanding him with fire and sword to persecute the Dolphin vntil hee had either brought him to reason and obeisance or else to driue and expell him out of the Realme of France And herewith he protested vnto them that neither ambitious desire to inlarge his Dominions neither to purchase vaine renowue and worldly fame nor any such consideration had mooued him to take that war in hand but onely that in prosecuting his iust Title hee might in the ende attaine to perfect peace and come to enioy those peeces of his inheritāces which to him of right belonged and that before the beginning of the same wars he was fully perswaded by men both wise and holy of life he might and ought vpon such inteut both begin the same warres and follow them til he had brought them to an end iustly and rightly and that without all danger of the Almighties displeasure or perill of sowle The Noble men present promised to obserue his precepts and performe his desires but their hearts were so pensiue and replenished with sorrow that one could not for wéeping behoulde an other Then hee receaued the Sacrament and fell to deuout prayer and in saying of certaine Psalmes méet for the present time hee ended the dayes of this life the last day of August Anno 1422. His Description THis Henry was a king whose life was immaculate and his liuing without spot this king was a prince whom all men loued and was of none enuied this prince was a Captaine against whom fortune neuer frowned nor mischance once spurned this Captaine was a Shepheard whom his flocke both loued and obeyed This Shepheard was such a Iustitiary that he left no offence vnpunished nor good desert vnrecompenced fully rewarded This Iustitiary was so feared that all rebellion was banished and Sedition suppressed His vertues were no more notable then his other qualities were worthy of prayse In strength and nimblenesse of body from his youth fewe or none were to him comparable In wrestling leaping and running no man almost durst with him presume In casting of great iron bars heauie stones he excelled commonly al men cold weather neuer made him siothful nor hot caused him to shrink whē he most labored his head was vncouered he was no more weary of his armor then of a light cloak Hunger and thirst to him were neuer noysome he was neuer afraide of a wounde nor would shrink for the paine in dressing he neither turned his nose from ill sauoures nor from smoake and dust would close his eyes no man could be found more temperate in eating and drinking whose dyet was not too delicate but rather more méete for men of warre then for dainty and delicate persons euery honest person was permitted to come to him euen sitting at meales and either secretly or openly to declare their minds and intent high and waighty causes as wel betwéen men of warre as other he would gladly heare and either determine them himselfe or commit them to other to giue sentence He slept very little and that was mooued either by bodily labour or vnquietnesse of minde but béeing in sléepe no small noise could awake him insomuch as when his souldiers did sing or minstrels play in the campe that it sounded withall then hee slept most soundly His courage was inuincible and his heart so immutable that fear was banished from him If an Alarum chanced to be raised by his enemies he was the first in armor and the first that would set forward in the time of warres he would not only get knowledge what his enemies did but what they sayd and intended to do so that all things to him were knowne aforehand And of his deuises fewe persons before the execution of his purposed intent should be made priuie he had knowledge in the ordering and guiding of an army and such a rare gifte to encourage his men to fight that the Frenchmen sayde it was impossible for him to be vanquished in battaile he had such wit such prudence and such policy that he neuer enterprised any thing before he had fully debated it and foreséen al the maine chances that might happen and when the end was once concluded he with all diligence and courage set his purpose forward What policy hée had in finding sodaine remedies from present and dangerous mischiefes and what practise he vsed in sauing himselfe and his people in sodain distresses except by his acts they
receaued into Paris woulde bee too tedious to repeate On the seauenth day of December he was crowned King of France in our Lady Church so called in Paris by the Cardinal of Winchester the bishop of Paris not being contented that the Cardinall should execute such an high office in his Church and Iurisdiction After all ceremonies finished the king returned to the palace hauing one crowne on his head and another borne before him one scepter in his hand and another borne before him A triumphant feast and great reioysing but mingled with distaste by means of the proud Cardinall of Winchester who preferring his owne wil before the weale publike controlled that mighty Prince and valiant Captaine the Duke of Bedford Protector of France which malice moued and heart-burning broched by the Cardinall was remembred and reuenged by the Nobility But my only purpose being to select forth the name of Henry and but to note their beginnings endings by way of abstract I will leaue this worthy yong prince yet a while and tell the vntimely death of Iohn Duke of Bedford a tale worthy of note and memory and this is it viz. This yeare the fourtéenth day of September 1436. dyed Iohn Duke of Bedford and Regent of France a man most politicke in peace and no lesse hardy in warre and yet no more valiant then mercifull when he had the victory whose body was with al funeral pomp and solemne obsequies buried in the cathedrall Church of Roan in the North side of the quier vnder a sumptuous costly monument c. Which Tumbe when King Lewis the 11. knew to be his and was incited by certaine indiscréet Frenchmen to deface the same he answered What honour shall it be to vs or to you to break this monument and to pull forth of the ground the dead body of him whom in his life time neither my father nor your progenitors with all their puissance and friendes were not once able to make flee one foote backward but by his strength wisedome and policy he kept them all out of the principall Dominions of the realme of France and also out of this Noble and famous Dutchy of Normandy wherefore I say first as God hath his soule so shall his body now ly in rest who when hee was aliue would haue disquieted the proudest of vs all And as for the Tombe I doe assure you it is not so decent nor conuenient as his honour and actes deserued no although it were more riche and more bewtifull then it is But to returne according to the occasion and by the way to touch this worthy Prince His misfortune in his minority was the cause of his Nobles dissention and that the cause of an vnméete and vnfortunate mariage so that the Prince in his yong yeares spent all the honour power and pleasures of this mighty and worthy King whose life was immaculate like his Fathers whose patience ouercame all his perplexities Once deposed from his regal state and dignity and once againe restored in which interim was his propheticall speach to those Princes and Nobles about him touching the young Earle of Richmond a child of tenne yeares old Beholde sayth he stedfastly beholding the young Earle This is hee whome wée and all our Aduersaries must giue place vnto when all is done He was againe deposed committed to the Tower of London his onely son slaine his Quéene tooke sanctuary his Nobles best subiects and all his partakers slaine in sundry battailes himselfe lastly murthered in prison and yet his patience integrity godly life and good workes were no lesse commendable then the acts of his father were famous and honorable He reigned 38. yeares 6. moneths and odde dayes and other 6. moneths after his readeption of the crowne Heliued 52. yeares To censure him the God punished him for his grandfathers fathers faultes or that miracles were wrought by him I neither will belieue nor write as the writer of his historie doth nor of King Henry the seauenths purpose to haue him canonized for a Saint but yet the loue of that most mighty King that in the zeale of this Kings immaculate life would haue had him remembred for such holines doth commend my purpose which is to commend him for the sixt worthy and in ranke also aboue all other his princely deedes The kings colledge in Camebridge and Eaton Colledge neere VVindsor are both very excellent monuments of his princely liberality and my selfe haue obserued forty yeares together that God blessed both those houses the one for education and the other for bringing forth very excellent schollers His Description HE was of a seemely stature of body slender to which proportion all his parts were answerable His face was very bewtifull wherin was euer resident a sweet reseblance of bountie wherwith his Royall heart was naturally indewed and euer thereunto inclined He abhorred all vices both of the body and of the soule His patience was such that of iniuries done to him which were innumerable he did neuer seeke vengeance thinking and saying that for such aduersities as befell him his sinnes should be forgotten and forgiuen what losses soeuer did happen vnto him he neuer estéemed nor made account thereof but if any thing were done which séemed to offend the Almighty that hee lamented with sorrowfull repentance His Epitaphe HEnry the sixt a Prince a Saint a King Faire Englands soueraigne eight and thirty yeare Which time with more his wofull end did bring As in his story doth too plaine appeare O had his Vncles liv'd and well agreed His death had not so vilely been decreed Had Dela Poole been dead ere he was borne King Raynars Daughter had not been thy wife If innocency thou hadst held in skorne And reacht thy hand to warre debate and strife And Parent like hadst proued Mars his sonne Glocester had not thy fatall thred vnspon Had Richard Warwicke wonne at Barnet field Braue Mountacute or many Nobles moe That fled or dy'd or were inforc't to yield But power diuine had not ordained so He had not gone backe prisoner to the Tower And there detain'd vntill his latest hower Tewkesbury field had like or worse successe Duke Somerset the Earle of Deuon eke The Marquesse Dorset taken in the presse The poore young Prince was found whom Crofts did seeke And brought before the King by armed Band Whom Richard Glocester murthered out of hand Did patient Iob indure more paine then this Most Mighty Prince Who hearing all this ill Yet neuer murmur'd or once thought amisse More then a man remaining patient still A King indeed a conqueror of the mind In all the stories we no such doe finde Diuine profane or morall as I yet Did euer read such magnanimitie To rest in man where humain hart was set Or who had feeling of extremity Rest now ô King in heauens most happie shrine Preseru'd from foesb all the powers diuine Let VVindsor be his monument of state Because he was both borne and buried there Knight of
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