succeeding Peace the Propagation of Religion also the fortunate Mother of many hopefull Children the most Gracious Queene Elizabeth hath borne vnto Frederick King of Bohemia Also the aforenamed Christian the fourth the now King of Denmarke who maried Anne Catherine Queene of Denmarke daughter to Ioachim Frederick Marquisse of Brandenburg borne in anno 1575. who hath now reaped the fruits and pledges of his mariage-bed the most warlike and worthie Prince Frederick Christian Heire of Norway Duke of Holst and Sleswick and is still suruiuing a most prosperous hopefull and honourable Prince As also Vlrick Heire of Norway Duke of Holst Knight of the noble order Brother to Queene Anne and Vnckle to Prince Charles second sonne of King Frederick the second And in like manner Iohn Duke of Holst and Sleswick Brother to Queene Anne and Vnckle to Prince Charles who was borne 1583. and died vnmaried in Muscouia Also Elizabeth eldest Daughter of King Frederick the second Sister to Queene Anne and Aunt to Prince Charles who was espoused to Henrie Iulio Duke of Brunswicke and Luneburg father of two brothers the elder Duke of Brunswicke and Luneburg and Christian Duke of Brunswicke and Bishop of Halberstadt who hath manifested his infinite loue and courage for the defense of the true religion and his Allies exposing his brest to open dangers and infinite perils hazarding his substance and himselfe beyond ordinarie valour or vertue for the restoring of his so much beloued and so much worthie to bee beloued kinswoman Q. Elizabeth O worthie Prince neuer enough to be commended by the weaknesse of a humane pen for I thinke no Tullian no surely nor Tertullian eloquence could sufficiently compile thy commendations and I doubt not but thy vertues haue engrauen more noble thoughts on Thee in the hearts of all than can be expressed by the hands of any But to returne to the famous Off-spring of this happie King Frederick the second and not to forget Augusta third daughter to King Frederick the second and Sister to Queene Anne and Aunt to our worthie Prince Charles borne in the yeere of Christ 1580. Hedwige fourth and youngest daughter to King Frederick the second Sister to Queen Anne and Aunt to Prince Charles maried to Christian Duke Elector of Saxonie Marquisse of Mismia all which Princes issued from the loynes and are the posteritie of the famous King Frederick the second and Sophia his chaste Spouse and worthie Wife Christian the third King of Denmarke c. sonne to Frederick the first King of Denmarke who maried Dorothie Queene of Denmarke daughter to Magnes the second Duke of Saxonie Angry and Westphaly Frederick the first King of Denmarke maried Sophia of Pomerland Queene of Denmarke his second wife daughter to Bugslane the tenth by Anne of Poland Christian the first King of Denmarke c. maried Dorothie Queene of Denmarke daughter to Iohn Marquisse of Brandenburg widow of Christopher Palatine of Rhine Theodore the fortunate Earle of Holdenburg maried Hedwige his second wife daughter of Gerard Duke of Sleswicke Henrie the elder Duke of Brunswicke and Lunenburg was maried to Catherine of Pomerland Dutchesse of Brunswick Albert sirnamed the Achilles of Germanie Marquisse of Brandenburg maried Margaret Marchionesse of Brandenburg youngest daughter of Iames Marquisse of Baden Fredericke Earle of Zolern Burgraue of Norrenburg maried Elizabeth of Bauaria daughter of the Duke of Bauaria who died in the yeere 1457. Fredericke the Hardie Landtgraue of Thurin maried the daughter of Henrie Earle of Henneburg Iames Marquisse of Baden Earle of Spanheim maried Catherine the daughter of Charles Duke of Loraine Henrie the first Earle of Holst and Scaumburg maried Agnes daughter of Florence Earle of Bronchersteine Albert of Habsburg Arch-Duke of Austria and Emperour maried Elizabeth of Carinthia who was murthered 1308. Otho the first Palatine Elector of Rhine Duke of Bauaria maried Agnes daughter of Henrie sonne of Henrie Leo. Lewis Duke of Bauaria maried Lowisa daughter of Primislay King of Bohemia widdow of Albert Boggai and died in 1231. Henrie Bureuen Prince of the Obotrites Meckel maried Maud daughter of Henrie Leo Elector of Saxonie Otho the Rich Earle of Ascanie Marquisse of Salisquetie maried Helica daughter of Beling the Great Elector of Saxonie So likewise Squantiber the first Prince of Vandalls Sclauonie Duke of Pomerand and Stetin one of the prime Progenitors and Roots of these royall Branches died in the yeere of Christ 1107. being the first yeere of the reigne of Henrie the first of England Here then the blindest man may see the famous Genealogie of our mightie Prince the which I haue related in a compendious manner fearing to be tedious or troublesome yet not so briefly but it is void of obscuritie so that the most ignorant may conceiue the most illustrious mariages betweene the Ancestors of this Royall Prince and all parts of Christendome For the Progenitors of his deere Father and our dread Soueraigne haue matched into the most famous Families of the house of Burbon French King and of Nauarre Arragon Castile Loraine and Hapsburg now called Austria of the Emperour and King of Spaine Also by the way the houses of Luxenburgh Gelders and Dowglasse all the which manifest vnto thee how often they haue beene graced with the participation and ioyning in the Imperiall stemme of his sacred Maiesty the King of Great-Britaine Also the noble Line out of which sprung the Kings of Denmarke as Saxonie Pommerland Brunswicke Plantagenet Oldenburg Shamburg Holst and Sleswicke Zelerne and being descended from the Electors of Brandenburg Bauare and Mackleburg in former times the Kings of the Orbotrites Also you may see Austria Baden Oldenburg Thurin Bohemia Also the house of Austria springeth forth from Poland that her branch might be inoculated into Pomerland and so be grafted into Denmarkes stocke This is the neuer-enough to be illustrated descent of our most royall Prince whose famous Predecessours and Allies doe like so many burning Lamps shine to keepe his vertues from obscurity but that being so high of birth all men might looke vpon and loue his worthy disposition and pious inclination the which if I should offer to produce vpon the Theater Stage of these my labours it would be too little to be contained in it and I could not tell where to make a Prologue or an Epilogue to my storie Oh no let such ambition be as remote once to thinke or vndertake to penne his praises to the full which desires no praise but deserues all Let it only be my comfort that I haue payd some duty to him vnto whose perfections my affections are deuoted and whose I am Millions of times more then my owne of whose worth I am an admirer vnto whose Highnesse it is my onely desire to expresse my seruice and manifest my duty and likewise to that high borne Royall Princesse his intended and contracted Spouse whose Royall Person includes all high beatitudes for her birth is most excellent and yet her fortune exceeds her birth and also her vertues her fortunes whose beauty darkens the beames of mundane luster draweth all humane lights to it to behold it with admiration Alas what shall I say If I should vndertake such an endlesse enterprise as to expresse her vertues to the full which are aboue measure except I should take in hand a taske infinit for her praises must bee infinite because her worth is such and sure I am my worke is infinite in nothing but weaknesse let me therfore haue leaue to make that the Omega which was the Alpha of my worke and end with that with the which I did begin humbly besseeching the Giuer of all good gifts and Father of lights in whom is no variablenes or shadow of turning to blesse this Vnion with a happy processe which he hath happily begunne to make their vertues permanent which now are peerelesse and howsoeuer man can scarcely conceiue how they should be more vertuous yet that they may still increase and grow in goodnesse in which there is euermore a plus vltra Long may they liue and loue together and bring forth such golden Apples of Posterity and haue such a happy off-spring that they may be iustly ioyous and all the world fortunate in it that they may haue length and prosperity of dayes here Peace at the time of their passage out of this world and a happy resurrection to eternall life the which that it may be let all good Subiects say as I pray Amen FINIS
haue many pleaders for Her yet non-suites them all but One being so diuine a Creature as in her affection Shee resembleth her Creatour who whom He loueth He loueth to the end The beames of her loue as they bee most bright so they are of long continuance being no wayes wauering nor speedily fading but constant and durable Neither is Shee constant in her affections onely but also in her vertuous actions for what vertue more naturall or necessarie in a Prince than liberalitie and who more liberall than Shee Her bountie like the Sunne shines vpon all She sees She knoweth none are more miserable than they which are miserably couetous who starue in a Cookes shop pine in the midst of plentie who Tantalus-like haue golden apples aboue and Crystall Fountaines beneath his chin but yet can neither taste the apples to satisfie his hunger nor touch the water to allay his thirst She therefore holding it a thing inconuenient to command others and not to command her passions and her purse Shee therefore esteeming riches but the exiles of Fortune the which Shee can keepe no longer because Shee must part from them doth liberally and freely giue to such whose either earnest petitions or silent deserts doe plead for them For reason teacheth Her that they are giuen Her onely to giue to others therefore with most incomparable bountie and yet discretion Shee doth bestow them and like the Heauens being full Shee powreth and showreth downe the dew of her pitie vpon the gaping necessitie of poore people She well remembreth that the faithfullest friends She can make are her charitable deeds for her goods leaue Her at her death nothing we brought and nothing we must carrie away Her Friends and Allies forsake Her at her graue they may accompanie Her to her tombe but they will not dwell with her in darknesse but her almesdeeds and pious actions follow Her saying vnto her soule as Ruth to Nahomi Whithersoeuer thou goest I le follow thee It is that which moues Her to shew such pietie in her pitie that makes Her a Prop to the poore a Staffe to the needie It is from hence that the blessings of the Lord doe still accompanie Her She is so much fauoured of Him because vertue is so much fauoured in Her and it is as far from doubt as truth from falshood that Shee shall be the most fortunate most blissefull and happie Princesse that euer was extant in this Christian world Thus haue you seene her vertues in some part deciphered though not to the full described for that were as impossible to containe her praises who though Shee bee young in yeeres yet is old in Grace in this small volume as to confine the boundlesse Ocean to a cesterne But because howsoeuer Vertue is true Nobilitie yet Nobilitie is an ornament to Vertue examine but her Princely Parentage which is lineally descended from so many Kings and Emperours neuer was Branch sprung from a more Regall Imperiall and Royall Stocke than She therefore not to make any troublesome search into ancient Chronicles but to looke into those later moderne times it will appeare that neuer had childe greater cause to ioy in a father than this Princesse in hers whose Father Henrie the fourth of the royall Race of Burbon a Prince so truely fully and nobly accomplisht as Hee deserueth to bee stiled the Worthiest of the French Monarchie for finding the Kingdome fraught with hatred rebellion infidelitie treason and such like but Hee by his moderate and discreet gouernment like a wise Husband-man of that his vineyard rooted out those enormious weeds planting in stead of them loue to his Person submission to his Soueraigntie faithfulnesse to his Crowne and loyaltie to his Gouernment and howsoeuer some did so farre oppose Him as they sought to depose Him yet He being directed and protected by a Higher Power in spight of all humane violent oppositions did triumph both ouer domestique forraigne foes and France may confesse truely and without flatterie that she languished with the want of such a Prince vntill He like another Hercules did ruine and root out those hideous monsters which did seeme prodigious to her owne proper progenie and restored France to her former reputation and crowned her with her pristine beautie It is He whose acts may stand to instruct Captaines their duties in succeeding ages It is Hee that was like Dauid in his reigne full of afflictions and blessings that resembled Him in his zeale of pietie and iustice the prime and principall pillers of a Royaltie who ruled his people happily to the glorie of God the good of his Subiects and the consolation of his owne Soule Indeed infinite were the vertues of this royall Prince who succeeded his famons Ancestours who were so worthie as they may adde glorie to his immortall fame and memorie For He was lineally descended in direct masculine and lawfull line of Lewis for his singular pietie sirnamed Saint the 44th French King whose quiuer was full of such arrowes as Dauid calleth blessings to wit children as Philip the Hardie his Successour in the Crowne Peter Earle of Alancon Robert Earle of Alancon through Peters vntimely decease and also Robert the eldest and the youngest were fortunate in leauing Issue in whom they might liue after their deaths the other died without heires sprung from their owne loynes The Issue of the forenamed Philip the Hardie succeeded lineally vntill Henrie the third King of France Poland in whom the name and family of the Valor being extinct the Crowne fell to the Race of Robert Earle of Cleremont who by Beautrix sole heire and daughter of Archibald Earle of Burbon had Lewis afterwards created Duke The which Lewis Duke of Burbon had Issue by Marie daughter to Iohn the eighteenth Earle of Hainhault had Peter Duke of Burbon and Iames Earle of Ponthieu Constable of France Peter had by Isabel daughter of Charles Earle of Valois Lewis and Iames Lewis sirnamed the Good Duke of Burbon had by Anne Countesse of Auergne Lewis Earle of Cleremont deceasing without Issue Iohn and Iames Iohn had by Bonne Dutchesse of Auergne Countesse of Montpensiere Charles and Lewis of Montpensiere father of Gilbert of whom issued Charles the last Duke of Burbon the which Charles Duke of Burbon had by Agnes daughter of Iohn Duke of Burgoigne Iohn and Peter Iohn the second of that name was linked in mariage with Ioane of France daughter to Charles the seuenth who dying without lawfull Issue the name and armes of Duke went to Peter his younger brother Peter the second of that name Duke of Burbon maried Anne of France daughter to Lewis the deuenth and had Issue by her one onely daughter Susan the generall heire of Bourbon who was wife to the abouenamed Charles the youngest sonne of Lewis abouenamed Earle of Montpensiere and brother to Charles Duke of Burbon but no children issuing from this mariage the branch of the eldest sonne of Lewis Duke of Burbon was broken
off and ended in this Charles Duke of Bourbon and Constable of France who died at the siege of Rome Now the Dutchie of Bourbonois being incorporated into the Crowne of France it fell to the line of Iames of Ponthieu Constable of France they youngest son of Lewis Duke of Bourbon the which Iames had by Ioane daughter of the Earle of St. Paul Iohn his Successour Earle of La March Iohn had of Catherine the onely daughter and heire of Iohn Earle of Vendosme Iames King of Naples who leauing no Issue Male the right of inheritance was transported to Lewis the younger brother Lewis had no Issue by Iane of Russy his first wife but by his second mariage he had Iohn his Successour and Earle of Vendosme Iohn the second had by Iean of Beauire Francis his Successour and Earle of Vendosme and Lewis Prince of La Roch Syr-you who of Louise of Bourbon the daughter of Gilbert of Bourbon left Lewis of Bourbon Earle of Montpensiere you was father to Francis Duke of Bourbon and Earle of Montpensiere who was father to Henrie last Duke of Montpensiere Prince of Dombos Daulphine of Auergne Lieutenant Generall for the King in Normandie and husband to Catherine Henrette of Ioyeuze a Prince so famous for all vertues as hee was admired of all To Francis were borne by Marie of Luxenburg Countesse of St. Paul and daughter of Peter of Luxenburg Charles Earle but created Duke of Vendosme by King Francis the first Francis Earle of St. Paul who by Adrian Dutchesse of Esterhout ville had Francis who died young Lewis Cardinall of Bourbon Antoniette wife to Claude of Lorraine Duke of Guise also Louis Abbas of Fonteuaraux Charles the first Duke of Vendosme had by Louis the daughter of Rene Duke of Alancon Lewis who died at the age of seuen yeeres Anthonie who succeeded in his right and was afterwards King of Nauarre Francis Earle of Anghien Charles Cardinall Arch-Bishop of Rouan Iohn who lost his life at the battell of St. Quintin and Lewis Prince of Conde Anthonie the Successour of Charles first Duke of Vendosme and King of Nauarre had by Ioane of Albret Queen of Nauarre daughter to Henrie the second of that name King of Nauarre Henrie the fourth of that name French King as his Fathers Successour and the third of that name King of Nauarre by the right of his Mother This is the Royall Root from whence this Princely Branch is sprung which shewes the noblenesse of her descent so that as Shee graceth her parentage by her vertues so They grace Her by her birth For howsoeuer wine be good out of a woodden dish yet we esteeme it better if we drinke it out of a golden vessell So howsoeuer vertuous noble personages though ignobly borne ought to bee respected yet those which haue vertue ioyned with their nobilitie of birth are worthie of double honour Then who more to bereuerenced in our hearts extolled in our speeches than this noble and neuer-enough to bee honoured Ladie who is descended by the fathers side from Henrie the fourth French King who no whit vnworthie of his famous renowned Ancestors added luster to their former glorie who respecting the Common-wealth more than Himselfe indeed onely louing Himselfe because He loued the Common-wealth was not onely the Father of his Countrey but also of the peace and tranquillitie of his Kingdome But perhaps some will say the childe is not alwayes the inheritour of the fathers worth For neither the soule nor the vertues of it come by propagation and the onely iuyce wee draw from our parents loynes is their infirmities Moreouer though the childe hath not often the fathers wisdome yet for the most part it hath the mothers wit will and affections Doe but search Chronicles and Histories for her mothers vertues and you shall finde Her afore her mariage the most vertuous Virgin after her mariage so worthie a Matron as Heauen could ioy in or earth be proud of To speake her vertues in particular were a burthen heauier than Aetna to passe them ouer in generall were a wrong to her perfections to vndertake to write of them seuerally were pride in my pen and to speake of them but ioyntly and briefly were an argument of pouertie of inuention To auoyd therefore both these enormities let it be my ambition to vse that commendations of Her at her entertainment and arriuall in France formerly vttered by Monsieur du Varais who making an Oration to Her in which hee seemed to build the whole felicitie of France vpon her mariage with the King hee praiseth her perfections in these words Seeing in you so many graces wherewith Nature hath endowed you admiring the beautie wherewith shee hath adorned you considering that naturall sweetnesse wherewith shee hath tempered your royall grauitie and hearing with our eares the voice renowned by fame which proclaimes the quicknesse of your spirit the soundnesse of your iudgement the eloquence of your discourse and that which exceeds all the incomparable commendation of your holy and religious disposition wee perswade our selues that you are Shee whom the Heauens had appointed by your pleasing companie to mollifie the life of the King to prolong his dayes by his content and to make his reigne perpetuall by the continuance of a great and happie posteritie Wee beleeue that you are onely She vpon earth worthie to make the life of the most triumphant King in the world to rest in your chaste bosome and that He aboue all others did merit to embrace the most vertuous and pleasing Princesse in his victorious armes Whereby we presage we shall soone see a number of goodly children carrying in their fore-heads their fathers valour their mothers vertue the greatnesse and abilitie of the house of France whereunto you are allied the happinesse and power of the house of Austria from whence you are issued and the wisdom of Florence in which you were borne To the beleefe of this presage all things seem to inuite vs but cheefly the Heauen the Sea for we see at the arriuall of your Maiestie the Sea full of stormes is growne calme the Heauen ouercast with clouds is cleere as if they woud with a pleasing eye celebrate with vs the magnificence of your reception For in good time then oh great Queene are you come into our coasts long may you liue happie in France and to France that the age in which wee liue may terme you a happie wife to a King and future ages a happie mother of Kings Here then you may discerne the most excellent perfections of this most excellent Princesses mother who caried herselfe so submissiuely to her Lord the King that nothing was more deere or neere vnto Him than Herselfe so louingly and royally to her Subiects that Shee won the hearts of all those whose soules and affections were sealed and deliuered to her Maiestie so worthily to her children that not onely by her instructions but her example which children are most apt and readie to
but He hath taken your Princesse by the hand not onely to leade Her to all happinesse on earth but to bring Her felicitie For what aduise can She who is so well vnderstanding the dutie of a royall louing Spouse refuse which distilleth like Nectar from his lips Or what counsell shall proceed from Him but that which tendeth to the welfare of her bodie the sauing of her soule body hereafter Oh no neuer was Princesse blest with a more holy happie heauenly Head than She in being vnited to his Highnesse who as Hee hath knowledge so He hath loue to direct Her to an happie end Had his heart beene the harbourer of loue onely without knowledge it had beene but as a blinde Guide and knowledge without loue to put it in practife had been but as a fruitlesse plant or power without a will but our mighty Prince as He hath no small measure of wisdome so He hath an infinite abundance of affection affection so great as indeed Hee is nothing but loue loue to his God loue to his Princesse loue to his people all of which are in Him so exceeding that none of any of those three particulars can be in any one person more eminent than they bee ioyntly found in Him For He loueth God aboue Himselfe Hee loueth Her as Himselfe because She is halfe Himselfe and He loueth his People almost as Hee loueth Her He loueth God because Hee is maried to Him mystically He loueth Her as being knit vnto Him in mariage really Hee loueth his People as being wedded vnto them representatiuely indeed He is so much loue as none that liues but loues Him The Lord of Heauen hath manifested his loue to Him in his mercie for when Hee vndertooke that dangerous voyage out of his Countrey Great Brittaine into Spaine dangerous in the iourney dangerous in the end of it indeed nothing but danger both for his passage thither his arriuall there his departure from thence being full of feare and composed of nothing but danger for the waues being proud of such a Burthen did swell with ambition and the surges soared aboue the ship as if the sea had longed to haue her wombe the Tombe of such a Worthie and had intended to haue erected her honour vpon his ruine But God to whom the windes and the seas obey did still the rage of Neptune and closed vp the mouth of Aeolus in so much as his people were all made fortunate in his happie returne reioycing that they had Him any waies but more ioyous that they had Him single but now most exulting that He is vnited by the sacred bond of wedlocke to your Princesse of France and wee by that meanes conioyned to you Thus hath the Lord to the comfort of all well-disposed people deliuered our best affected Prince and in bringing Him from Spaine hath brought Him to France that howsoeuer his loue began in the other yet it might end in this in which Hee hath giuen most infinite content vnto his Kingdomes who distasted the likelyhood of the former as much as they applaud the certaintie of this new Contract Surely God hath manifested his infinite loue and respect to our noble Prince in so infinitely blessing his proper Selfe in Himselfe and his people in Him in respect of his deliuerance Yea God and man your Highnesse and all the world may see the happinesse we conceiue of this Mariage and hope for from this Contract And what was the efficient cause of this but the loue of God to his Highnesse thus worthily disposed to the content and happinesse of his people Here was the loue of God manifestly and miraculously exprest to Him and all this Nation in this one particular but if I should proceed to make a whole discourse of Gods mercies as well towards his Bodie as his Soule my taske would be as infinite as his blessings But to leaue our mightie Prince whose actions doe more commend Himselfe let France but as nobly conceiue of our Nobles as they deserue and they shall finde a most ineffable cause of most vnspeakable Ioy in this Confederation for their brests are the lodges of loyaltie For indeed howsoeuer some of our naturall Country men haue lifted vp vnnaturally their hands against their Leige Soueraigne neuerthelesse it was their religion not their disposition which moued them to it And how long time hath our King rested free from danger begot and nurst vp by his Nobles No such I dare say is or at least ought to bee their loue to their gracious King that they deeme it more libertie to be his Seruant than anies Soueraigne For whereas generally great Kings weare Crownes like our Sauiours made of thornes composed of cares which makes their eyes as Sentinels to watch continually lest treason should surprize and ouerthrow and feares enioyne the minde to keepe diligent watch lest treason should euert both Person and people their pettie Crownes are crowned with contentment they are not affrighted with danger neither doth feare make their night of rest a day of trauell vnto them and all by their meanes who like a stately Cedar to the adioyning trees shelters them from tempests and drops downe the honie of peace vpon them This labour on his part begets the childe of loue in them and they deeme no iniurie so great nor apprehend any wrong so grieuous as that which is done to their Prince neither doe they coniecture any greater indignitie can bee done to them than when He is not dignified they count that glorie lest which doth not redound to Him and that honour to be as nothing with which He is not graced and therefore like so many pillars they doe support Him vpon the shoulders of their obedience who is their Roofe their Couer Protector To the grauer sort of the which Nobilitie our King stands as a Patterne for them to imitate in soundnesse of iudgement depth of learning and other vertues and to the younger our Prince serues as a Tutor to teach them and instruct them what way leadeth to the perfection of honour and true glorie and indeed none can bee more willing to set them an example than He and none more desirous to follow such a Leader than they they being proud in such a Patterne and Hee ioyfull in them Oh who can measure the happinesse of that Kingdome where the Prince is so accomplisht in the parts of his bodie and endowments of minde in whose actions all his followers may reade whole Lectures of Ethicks and Moralitie And thrice fortunate is that Prince all whose Nobles striue to be his pictures and euerie one desireth and striueth to haue neerest resemblance and to be drawne to the life according to his pourtraicture each of them reioyceth to be the shadow of such a substance and to bee like the creature which is is so like the Creator Here is no treason plotted no insurrections made by them but all those which doe truely feare loue God doe truly feare
prouing the truth of their words by the triall of their deeds accounting it a deep wound to their reputation not to performe their promises and that the lie deserues more than is in the Prouerbe not onely a stab but damnation they are content with that which the Lord hath allotted to them and doe not so much seeke to offend their neighbours as to defend themselues In a word Are the French affable sober wise modest temperate pious prudent couragious constant magnanimous mercifull iust The English doe answer them in all these worthie qualities and are full of courtesie in their carriage of sobrietie in their countenances of modestie in their behauiours of temperance in their diets of pietie in their religion of prudence in their practises of courage in their combats and controuersies of constancie and stayednesse in their affections of magnanimitie in their enterprises of mercie in pardoning those offences which may possibly be forgiuen and of Iustice in punishing those offences which may not be permitted Therefore of a certaintie no earthly blessing is able to counteruaile your happinesse whose Princesse is combined and conioyned with our Prince whose people is so worthie that Hee doth not seeme like a Royall Golden Pillar built vpon a Base of Lead but a worthie Prince set ouer a worthie people Happie therefore is France in her companie happie the Princesse in her command They extraordinarily fortunate that they shall haue commerce with a Nation who will not be to them as a strange people of a differing disposition but will bee of a correspondencie of condition with them and happie She that shall haue such subiects so wise so worthie so iust so honest that Shee may well thinke this her Kingdome to be a little Heauen in which She sits as Queene and her Subiects as so many Saints Neither doe the sweet-pleasing streames of ioy and solace flow onely to France from this fountaine but as the stomacke though it bee the proper resident place and receptacle of the meat yet doth not only feed and satisfie it selfe but likewise doth nourish and content all the parts about it so this blessed Vnion and sweet Coniunction doth not onely benefit the particular Countries betweene whom it is made but doth likewise reioyce the neighboring Nations and the rest of the League Confederacie Cast but an eye vpon Venice and there euen of one halfe blinde may bee discerned how all in generall applaud and laud it infinitely reioycing that their Friends and Confederates should be so fortunate that England and France should bee so ioyned together in the knot of true loue and amitie From this Contractariseth a hope of the vanquishing of their foes and that by this meanes a happie successe shall accompany all their iust enterprises against their enemies also being mounted vpon the wings of glorie they shall bee seated vpon the necks of their subdued aduersaries and that such conquests shall follow this Contract and such victories these Nuptialls and the posterities of men now liuing and succeeding ages shall see and say It was the mariage of the mightie Prince Charles and the Ladie Henrette Maria which were the Parents and Producers of Religions comfort of the restoring of the wronged to their right for God or the verie day in which Hymens Rites were solemnized betweene Them did matchall good people to happinesse crowned Them with victorie to the consolation of all true Christian Princes friends to equitie enemies of ambition fauourers and followers of vertue But if our intelligence trauell a little lower and you make recourse into the Low-Countries no tongue is able to vtter what they conceiue nor any pen almost to write the ioyous speeches they vtter for the confirmation of this Contract than which nothing could haue been more desired no newes better accepted And whereas the speeches of the former Match did seeme vnto them as hideous as Hell and as terrible as Thunder this is a lightning vnto their hearts for now in stead of feares they haue friends on all sides Allies and Confederates which are of will and power to assist them and to make resistance against their enemies The former Match did seeme vnto them as a storme of warre threatning to demolish the Architect of their welfare this as a Calme of peace promising securitie to their prosperitie Oh happie Brittaine in such a blessed Prince who is by so much more fortunate by how much more He is a meanes to make others happie and from whom can more happinesse bee deriued than from our Prince who cloathes so many Kingdomes at his Mariage-day in robes of comfort and giues to so many Common-wealths such great fauours as neuer did any Potentate in former nor is likely to doe in following time who hath lifted out of the mire of miserie so many drooping hearts and discontented soules Indeed neuer was Mariage more hopefull than this of these two most hopefull Princes by the coniunction of which two propitious Planets in this our firmament of Christendom it presageth the sweet distillation of the drops of happinesse vpon so many especially the Low-Countries whose Inhabitants are filled with heaped measure of mirth for this consolatorie most ioyfull and happie Coniunction The famous Prince of Orange Graue as well naturally as nominally as well really as titularly who is not onely graue and to bee honoured for his yeeres but graue and to be imitated for his vertues being not onely adorned with the grauitie of his head but with the grace of his heart doth heartily praise the God of Heauen by whom all marriages especially of Princes bee made for constituting and appointing this Contract and crossing that which was pretended with Spaine For that had laid his brest open to his enemies it had beene a way which had led to the wasting of his Countrey had it proceeded he might haue saluted it and said as Ahab spoke to Eliah Hast thou found me ob mine enemie But hee may welcome this with the speech of Dauid to Ahiah He is a good man and bringeth glad tydings Neither can it minister any small ioy to the most illustrious Sonne of our most gracious Soueraigne the King of Bohemia who hath along time beene rackt vpon the racke of hard misfortunes and endured the grimme looks of aduersitie but now he hopes safely to saile in the Ocean of pleasure and to see the smiling countenance of Ioy and Solace He doubteth not but now his noble affectionate Father is not onely powerfull in his owne proper forces but strong in Alliance with that mightie potent French King who both of them being so puissant in meanes men money and munition so sufficiently stored with wise graue Counsellours to aduise with young able men to act and put their counsell in execution They will ioyne forces to reioyne his detained Diadem to his head and to restore Him to his Countrey and Dignitie This was the day likewise which the onely Sister of our prosperous mightie Prince and Daughter of the
Imperiall Maiestie of our mightie Soueraigne so long looked for and so much longed for in which Shee might haue a Sister by mariage though not by birth with whom She might make a mutuall exchange of intire affection that She might finde one true friend that might bee her Sister both in deed and vertue that hauing found one so neere Herselfe so like Herselfe her ioy might euen almost exceed Herselfe and who more fit to be Sisters than those who are so concording in vertuous conditions the least of whose rare exquisite perfections cannot bee imitated by any but by one another for who so modest so bountifull so beautifull so chaste so constant so wise and euerie waies so worthie as Elizabeth but Henrette Maria all that they differ is in that which notwithstanding in either of Them is a vertue for the one is a chaste Matron the other a pure Virgin the one the Mother as well of many children as of many holy deeds the other the mother onely of vertuous actions The Almightie of his mercie grant that as Shee is her perfect Patterne in the one so Shee may truely resemble Her that so Shee may bee the happie Mother of many children and Hee the fortunate Father and Progenitour of many Princes that Shee being like a fruitfull Vine vpon the wall-side his children may bee like Oliue Branches round about his table and that in his Posteritie not onely his Highnesse but all the world may bee happie so also the Pfaltz-graues Princely Babes and hopefull Issue reioyce in regard all their Friends are not likely to decease with their Parents but that from their mightie Vncle Prince Charles his loynes shall spring such Princely Sprigs who will take their parts against all those which with an enuious eye and a malicious minde behold their persons For euer therefore let this Contract bee chronicled in the Register of Fame which hath thus imposed an Epilogue to the dolefull Tragedie so passionately acted in the bosomes of the Royll King and Queene of Bohemia and hath begun a Prologue to a ioyfull Comedie the beginning of which shall bee warre and bloudie dissention but the last act containeth the peace of the Church the releefe of the oppressed the ruine of Antichrist and the aduancement of Christian Religion Thus from these two most excellent Princes spring tides of happinesse ouerflowing many Countries and good fortune of which they are the Authours crownes many forraigne Nations but most especially this our Iland and all his Maiesties of Great Brittaines Dominions For if wee shall but behold France with the eye of mature iudgement wee shall finde it stored with all kinde of commodities fit for commerce and traffique being as it were Gods garden in which Hee had planted all his blessings and benefits for what rare blessing is it not richly furnished with as corne cattell fish fowle and all manner of fruit either pleasing to the eye or delightfull to the taste whose soyle is cloathed in a greene mantle decked and adorned with all kinde of various delectable sense-delighting odoriferous flowers Indeed no Kingdomes soyle hath more beautie and bountie than France no Countrey better situated more abounding with excellent wits both in the time of warre and peace than France there is no Kingdome established with godlier Lawes no Monarchie more mightie of authoritie more absolute Soueraigne being a Kingdome so well fortified with power and so well qualified with pietie Indeed neuer was the foundation of any Empire laid with more wisdome and being built vpheld and the ruines repaired with more discretion than France Doe you inquire after the greatnesse of her Prouinces They are like so many Kingdomes yet all vnited in one Neuer were there any Soueraignes of any Kingdomes which haue more constantly laboured for the propagation of the Gospell and the planting of Religion than the French Kings who haue made cleane the floore of Christen dome swept away so much filthinesse and diuerted that great Deluge of Infidels which threatned shipwracke to the French Nation from whence they haue their deserued titles of most Christian Kings What worthie men yea and most excellent Kings hath France produced of whom wee may truely report that they were most valiant in warre most wise in counsell carrying themselues not insultingly in their prosperitie nor yet deiectedly in their aduersitie but being almost conquered in shew they became Conquerours in effect and when they were most in despaire yet neuer despaired of the Common-weale who as they manifested great loue to their subiects so their subiects expressed great loue and affection to them Doe you search who were the Ancestours of the French and inquire after the originall of that Nation you shall finde them neither in the ruines and ashes of Troy neither in the Fens of Moolides but were principally descended from them in Germany a Nation mighty in strength and valour who by defending themselues and succouring others came to be a people powerfull in Armes who still maintained their liberty with their sword from whence they were called by the other Germanes Fraunce which signifies free or reiecting seruitude and bondage And it may bee spoken truely and without flatterie that neuer Kingdome might better boast of so many worthie Princes as this may As Pharamond the first Layer of the Foundation of this Monarchie Clodion his Successour in this building Meroued the Continuer and Augmenter of the Edifice Clouis whose memorie is to bee reuerenced of all posteritie and whose worthie deeds are to bee had in an euerlasting remembrance as being the first that added Christian religion to others conquests and adorned that rare foundation with the faith of Christ the primest ornament of any Principalitie by which meanes the hearts of the Gaules who for the most part embraced the Gospell were as much vnited to him by fauour as his was to God by faith who by this meanes obtained from them voluntarie obedience and was made assured possessour of the others victories who likewise receiued the name of his new Dominions and were called by the name of France To omit that renowned Prince Charlemaigne who being inriched with singular gifts both of bodie and minde repaired the ruine of the Empire was confirmed King of France and Emperour of Rome to the great aduancement of Religion and comfort of the Common-wealth whose issue although it did not alwaies inherit either their Fathers valour or his honour yet God who though He may alter the persons yet still guardeth and guideth the state of Monarchies did raise vp a worthie Successour of that Race to wit Hugh Capet a Prince adorned both with wisdome and modestie ioyning wholsome Lawes to his force of armes and well-gouerned equitie to his authoritie did so ouercast this erected Kingdome with such both godly and goodly Ordinances as it withstood the stormes of many miserable ages And of late yeeres Henrie the fourth the prime Prince of the bloud and first King of the Royall Race of Burbon a Prince
made more happie in themselues more blessed in their people than this Prince and Princesse who are so like in themselues and their Countries their people their loues their vertues as this rare Ladie and her Prince who by his supreme vertues might seeme only to challenge Her and Shee for her exquisite qualities to enioy Him So that from this Match may be deriued all happinesse and all felicitie as also all vertues ioyne in them for hath his greatest indignation and choler beene euer made a crime against them whom Hee hath hated No no but his royall Soule which had nothing in it but courage seemed to faile in his reuenge and though that with the eyes of his minde He may apprehend offences yet his mercie is as readie to forget them as his wisdome to apprehend them And for his valour I doubt not but hereafter as well as in times past the eyes of all men shall see it and eares conceiue it and succeeding ages shall publish his present valour and it is not to bee feared that this assertion shall need confirmation since there is hope it is not only without contestatiō but comparison who hath also clemency ioyned with his courage hath as much pleasure in pardoning as glory in vanquishing so that it is to be expected that as the acts of the one shall be signed with bloud so the other shall be sealed with teares And for his pious life the world knowes that he hath no superiors few equals but multitudes of inferiours who as if he made it his onely happinesse to serue God doth only please himselfe in pleasing him esteeming his seruices his greatest freedome and deeming it a thing most vnworthy to bee a Soueraigne of men and not a seruant of God And a thing most requisite in a Prince to be as eminent in grace as in place and in vertue as in dignity than the which there cannot be a greater honour nor any thing which doth more proue or improue the stocke He came of who is like pure pearly water flowing from a Crystall fountaine or like an Apple of gold hanging vpon a goodly Cedar which brancheth it selfe into all the parts of Christendome For how royally descended and neerely allied is He for how frequent haue the interchanges of Mariages with England and other the chiefest and noblest Families of Christendome being the onely sonne of Iames the sixt of that name King of Great-Britaine France and Ireland lineally descended from multitudes of most mighty Monarchs the vndoubted Heire of the said Dominions being issued from Marie Queene of Scotland and Dowager of Francis of Valoys the second French King who departed this life 1586 marrying Henrie Steward Lord Darnely her second Husband eldest Son to Mathew created Duke of Albany in an 1565 and slaine in the yeare 1566 the which Q. Mary was the daughter of Iames Steward the 5. king of Scotland whose first wife was Magdalen daughter of Francis the 1. French king who dyed in the yeare 1541 The which Iames the 5. was descended from Iames the 4. king of Scotland who married Margaret eldest daughter of king Henrie the 7 and sister to king Henrie the eighth in the 11. yeare of her Fathers reigne 1489. and was slaine in battle at Flowden anno 1514 in the sixt yeare of king Henrie the 8. his reigne The which Iames 4. was issued from Iames the 3. king of Scotland who maried Margaret daughter of Christian the 1. king of Denmarke marke who was descended from Iames Steward the 2. King of Scotland who maried Marie daughter of Arnold Duke of Gelders and was slaine anno 1460 who was sprung from the loynes of Iames Steward the first king of Scotland who maried Ioane daughter of Iohn Earle of Summerset In the which England and Scotland in those times also gaue the kisses of peace in mariage for the said Ioane was descended from Iohn Plantagenet sirnamed of Gaunt Earle of Richmond Duke of Lancaster called king of Castile who maried three wiues and died in anno 1398. being issued from the royall stocke of Edward Plantagenet the 3. king of England and France who quartered the Armes erected the Order of the Garter maried Philip of Henault and deceased anno 1377. But to returne vnto our former discourse this Iames the first was issued from the loynes of Robert Steward the third king of Scotland sometimes called Iohn maried Annibell daughter to Iohn Drummond and dyed in anno 1406 who was descended from Robert Steward the 2 who after Dauid Bruise 1370. was king of Scotland whose second wife was Elizabeth daughter of Adam Marre knight who dyed 1309. was descended from Gualter Steward Lord Steward of Scotland who maried Margerie daughter of Robert Bruise sister and heire to Dauid-Bruise both kings of Scotland by which meanes the royall name of the Stewards was matcht into the bloud royall and made apparant heires of the Crowne in which worthy and noble Name it doth still vnto this present day continue Which honourable and euer to be reuerenced Name was first aduanced to the dignity of Lord Stewardship by king Malchol the 3. who conferred that honour vpon Walter borne in Wales at his returne into Scotland for some memorable and worthy seruices which hee performed But they were intituled in the Crowne by the mariage of the abouesaid Margerie daughter to Robert Bruise Earle of Carrick the first king of Scotland who maried Elizabeth sister to the Earle of Marre and died in anno 1329. Whose Ancestour Robert Bruise Lord of the Valley of Anandie in Scotland and Cunnington in England maried Martha daughter to the Earle of Carrick Hee also married Isabel the sister and co-heire of Iohn the Scot Earle of Chester who brought vnto him Cunnington in England for her Dowry being of the stocke of Dauid Earle of Angus and Huntingdon the 3. sonne of Henrie Prince of Scotland who married Margaret daughter and coheire of the Earle of Chester and dyed in anno 12 19. William king of Scotland sirnamed the Lion second Son of Prince Henrie succeeded his brother king Malchol in anno 1160 and dyed without issue Henrie Earle of Huntingdon married Ada the daughter of William Earle of Werren hauing a period prefixt to his daies by the Almighty afore the expiration of his Fathers life anno 1152. Dauid the first king of Scotland sonne of Malchol married Maud daughter and heire of Waltheof Earle of Huntingdon and dyed in anno 1153. in the 19. yeare of the Reigne of king Steuen so Maud Queene of England daughter of Malchol and brother to Dauid the first king of Scotland was espoused to Henrie the first king of England sonne to William the Conquerour who dyed anno 1119 from whose loynes sprung the famous race of the Brittish Kings who haue for their valour and their fortunes beene famous and admired throughout the world Neither was here a beginning of the loue and amitie betweene them who now by one are for euer made one For likewise