before the Conquest there was a mutual exchange of these contracts betweene the ancient famous Saxons and our pious Kings Princes ancestors haue bin famous matches for the good benefit of both Kingdomes for both the Lines of Egbert the Saxon K. of England Alphin K. of Scotland met in the mariage of Malchol the 3 and Margaret sister of Edgar Ehelin right heire to the Crowne of England who died an 1093. Which Malchol was the son of Duncan who vanquisht Mackboth in fight yet afterwards himselfe was slaine in anno 1092 whose Father Dunken the 1. king of Scotland heire of Beatrix who succeeded Malchol was slaine by Makbeth in anno 1046. Beatrix eldest daughter and co-heire of king Malchol the 2 was maried to Abineth Crinathany of the West Ilands of Scotland Malchol the second king of Scotland sonne of Kenneth the 3 subdued king Trim was slaine in anno 1034. Kenneth the third king of Scotland succeeded king Culen became a tyrant and was murthered 994. Malchol the first sonne of king Donald was the successour of Constantine the 3 and was murthered in the yeare 958. Donald the sixt king of Scotland next after king Gregory was his predecessour who died anno 904. Constantine the second king of Scotland after the death of Donald his Vnckle was slaine in anno 874. Keneth the second king of Scotland called the great succeeded his Father king Alphen and died in anno 894. Alphin sonne of K. Achai who made the first league w th France after the death of king Dongallies hee likewise recouered the kingdome of Scotland anno 830 and was afterwards slaine in anno 834. This is the royall descent of our renowned Prince by the Fathers side being sprung by the Fathers and Grandfathers side from so many glorious stemmes of the kings of Scotland By the Grandmother from the renowned race of the Kings of England to whom Scotland hath beene often lincked by the performance of Hymens rites and the celebration of happie nuptials but now it hath found by the meanes of our gracious Soueraigne a more blessed and assured vnion Whose ancestours the true obiects of admiration haue euer beene famous for vertuous actions for what haue they beene defectiue in which sauoured of perfection what worth haue they wanted that might make them esteemed to bee the most noble worthies that euer liued For he hath beeneallyed to so many mighty Kings of England and Scotland and in fine doth heire rightfully the vertues and renownes of both Kings and kingdomes for who can be silent but dumbe men in his praises or can any be tongue-tide whose heart is lincked to him by the bond of obedience and can any one which is a true subiect but make such a Soueraigne the subiect of his praises and obiect of his duty But to the intent that all may know the highnesse of this Princes birth as well as the goodnesse of his minde examine but the greatnesse of his ancestours and allyes of the mothers side whose remembrance to vs is like Myrrhe vnto the body which it embalmeth incorruptible but wonderous bitter for how can it bee better then bitter vnto vs seeing it reduceth into our reminiscence her Name which was so delightfull seeing that putting vs in minde of her perfections the which making vs see how necessary she was for vs manifests vnto vs how miserable we are for her Oh no it is impossible for vs to remember her and to forget her vertues or to retaine the losse of them in our minds and to forget sorrow but to haue weeping eies and bleeding hearts considering that the perpetual welfare of England required that she had bin immortall frō whose death our griefe hath birth and from whose tombe floweth our sorrow But why should I thus produce this mournful dish at this mariage feast vnlesse it should be like sowre sawces tobeget vs better stomackes to our sweeter dainties and to make the beautie of our solace more amorous and excellent by the proposing of the palenesse of our sorrow So doth a faire stately Steede seeme most to bee esteemed being amongst a number of ill-fauoured Iades So doth it serue as well as a painting for a faire Lady to haue a foule Chamber-maid so doth a passionate speech delight in a pleasant Comedie and a sorrowfull passage thrust in amongst a company of merrie scenes And no doubt this serues like the face of a blacke-Moore to his teeth makes them seeme more white and comely This sorrow for the losse of our Queene Anne makes our ioy for the enioying of this Princesse the greater who is like her for perfections as She seemeth most fortunate in being the wife of such a Prince descended from such a mother who although dead yet liue in Her as being the true Mirrour of her most gracious qualities He also most happie in Her in finding a kinde of a mother in a wife so like Her who may serue Him for his mothers picture all times to looke on with a respectiue louing ioyfull remembrance to see his mother liuing in Her For surely her beautie and vertue cannot die so long as this famous Princesse shall liue And thus like Isaak with Rebecca Hee shall bee comforted after the death of his mother who for the goodnesse and the greatnesse of her bloud was almost vnparalleld For how many royall Kings which weilded their regall Scepters with policie power and pietie is Shee descended from How neerely allied was She to multitudes of potent Princes in so much as walls of friendship were erected by her meanes round about these Kingdomes as the King of Denmarke who for his place and person is both wealthie and worthie and able both for men and money to raise a friend or ruine an enemie but howsoeuer to defend an Allie who was the naturall and most affectionate brother of our most royall Queene who by this most happie Contract is vnited to France as we to Him who will be alwayes in readinesse to doe any office of friendship and fraternitie vnto it What should I speake of the Ancestors of our Queene as Fredericke the second King of Denmarke Norway Goths and Vandalls sonne to Christian the third who died in that menacing memorable yeere 1588. and the 32. of the reigne of Queene Elizabeth of neuer-dying fame and memorie who maried Sophia not vnworthily so called in respect her disposition did answer her denomination for indeed Shee was all wisdome as her name importeth Queene of Denmarke sole heire to Vlrick Duke of Meckleburg in anno 1572. from whose blessed loynes and fruitfull as from a fertile Soyle hath flowed such a noble Progenie as seemed to promise to people the world with Princes as that Princely royall religious pious prudent Queen Anne the mostrespected chaste meeke mercifull Maiestique Wife of the Sacred Maiestie of our most mightie Monarch Iames the first and the most happie Mother of our most promising Prince Charles the Felicitie of his Father and the Pledge of our
into oyle It is not hidden from Her that Nature and Grace hath giuen man the superiority that the strength of his body the stoutnesse and courage of his minde the stayednesse of his affections the wisedome of his soule the pregnancy of his wit the dominion of his will the soundnesse of his iudgement the ripenesse of his vnderstanding in a word all the powers of his soule and the perfections of his body doe pleade for and claime a Diadem of dominion and gouernment ouer women which are the weaker sex She desires but to rest in his bosome to be his heart and not his head She knowes that is his peculiar and therefore She will not challenge it She is the heart and He is the head the head in which is the eye of knowledge the eare of vnderstanding the gift of discretion and will not the heart thinke as the eye informes it as the eare certifies it as discretion tels it Yes surely and She will do as her Prince instructs her for will not She which loued himselfe for himselfe loue God for him and for herselfe also may not He which hath drawne her heart to loue him perswade her soule to embrace God Yes surely there is small doubt great hope nay almost assurance that not onely She but many millions will be brought and wrought to embrace the Christian faith to fauour and follow the true Religion by the meanes of this happy vnion and blessed contract Neither are these all the euidences for this ground of our happinesse but wee haue more mighty motiues to induce and perswade vs that She will open her brest to entertaine the truth and vnfold Her armes to embrace affectionately this our ancient Catholicke Apostolicke and reformed Religion For can She call to remembrance her Grandmother Ioanna Albrettana Q. of Nauarre the louing chaste modest sober discreet wife of Anthony Duke of Burbon her Grandfather can She I say retaine in her mind that delight of Heauen and light of earth her Grandmother and yet forget her Religion in the profession of which She was constant and vnmoueable And what was it but that which wee now professe to wit the faith which is according to knowledge and not ignorance for how can they be good which know not what goodnesse is as the Layty of the Romish Church which is nurst and nusled vp in blindnesse the faith which teacheth vs to put on the roabe of Christs righteousnesse to relye wholly and solely vpon his merits to abandon our selues and our owne actions as death and darknesse vnlesse Christ giue life and light to vs and them Thus was she in practise pious in profession a Protestant in which shee liued in which she dyed by which now she resteth in peace shall rise in power and reape a crowne of immortall glory Was not likewise that Royall King Henrie the fourth the great late French King in education and profession a Protestant and though he might afterwards to preuent ciuill broiles and intestine and vnnaturall warres in his Dominions for the peace of the Kingdome for the safety of his Subiects let policy a little get the vpper hand of Piety and did somewhat conniue and fauour the Romish Religion yet no doubt hee did neuer truly affect it And howsoeuer some blacke-mouthed monsters are not ashamed to say that he was like the Church of Laodicea neither hot nor cold yet charity and equity may depose that he did not like to the Church of Ephesus which forsooke her first loue No surely but though in externall shew he might countenance the Popes Prelates in regard most of the Princes of his Countrey were of that factiō yet we may say of him as it is said of Dauid his heart was with God no doubt his soule soared vpon the wings of the Protestants profession vnto the hill of God Mount Sion In so much as that cursed murtherer Rauilack though he might wound him mortally yet could not kill him eternally but God did turne the hate of that monster of men or rather Furie of hell to the well-fare of this mighty Monarch who did but leaue a crowne of thornes to gaine a Crowne of glory who did but lose a kingdome subiect to so many alterations by time and troubles to finde a Monarchy subiect to no mutability Oh happy Henrie if thou hadst neuer beene the nourisher of such a viperous brood which haue eaten out the bowels of thee which was thy foster-Father Oh had the valour of thy soule beene equall to the courage of thy minde thy Countrey had neuer beene wounded so much by thy losse nor thou by that monster but thou hadst blessed it with a longer life and a more timely death Oh happy if thou hadst laboured to haue purged Gods floore and rooted out these tares out of Gods field for had not these tares stood the teares of sorrow had not so ouerflowne thy Kingdomes whiles thou didst valiantly professe and maintaine the Gospell of Christ How secure and free thou wert from danger How secure in thy estate and how did all things fall out prosperous to thee How vainely did these King-killing Caitiffes attempt to hurt thee No surely the loue of God did shield thee from all thy enemies but when thou shewedst too little loue to God in throwing too many fauours vpon them then the Lord did shew thee that the effects of thy loue to them was their hate to thee For the father doth not alwayes beget a childe like himselfe no more hath loue alwaies birth from affection God did take away the guard of his protection and the bulwarke of his defense exposing thy brest to an open enemie both to himselfe and thee Wheras Queene Elizabeth who beyond the valour and constancie of her sex maintained and continued the Christian Religion How many dangerous treasons did the hand of the Lord conduct Her thorow and still Shee was preserued For the Deuill and his instruments are like the Crocodile which flyes if a man pursues it but pursues if a man persist not in his pursuit Or as a shadow the which if a man flies will follow him but if hee run after it will run from him In a word God no doubt brought that famous pious King Henrie the fourth to eternall durable life through the purgatorie of a sharpe and sudden death So doth the Physitian giue bitter potions to procure the better health So doth the Chyrurgian launce the wound to heale the sore so are sharpe copperas waters giuen to salue sore blinded eyes so is the ground harrowed to make it fruitfull and so no doubt God suffered this affliction of sudden death to be effected by that cursed hand that He might be more sound in his soules resolution that his eyes might be opened to see the sorditie of the Popish Iesuiticall Sect and that Hee might bee better instructed by their crueltie in his death than He could by their flatterie his life who shewed themselues true Absolons who the more Dauid did
but that all might concurre to make vs happie wee are sufficiently stored with all kinde of fuell and firing neither is the wombe of our earth barren but most fit for conception multiplies the seed committed to it so that our fields doe laugh with store of graine and Autumne crams our barnes with full increase so that our Countrey-mans life is crowned with contentment And whereas in other Nations they haue no want here they haue no feare of want for what commoditie haue wee not either to comfort our selues or helpe our neighbours What blessings doe we not enioy either necessarie to our subsistence or requisite to our well-being no surely and I may well say The Lord hath not dealt so with any Nation for how doe wee abound with store of corne and cattle and all other commodities or if we should want any thing for festiuitie although we haue all indeed for necessitie yet how fitly is it seated for all kinde of traffique and as who should say it were the onely Darling of the Sea it is lullabide in the lap of Thetis and hugged in with the Ocean who doth so enwrap her in her armes as she doth not onely permit her trading and commerce with all people but doth promise to saue and secure her from her enemies Them who can prescribe bounds vnto the ioy of the French Nation who see their Princesse the Glorie of her Sex so well and worthily matched that it is to be expected from her wombe shall issue mightie Monarchs who shall bee the most happie Princes in the world in their inheritance whose lot is like to fall in so faire a Land the which is a Treasurie and Store-house fraught with all blessings which denies no kinde of sustenance to her inhabitants But if you leaue the Citie and examine but the Citizens forsake the suruey of the Continent and looke vpon the Contents and you shall haue ioyfull experience that the place is not so pleasant but the people as pleasing and from him that is seated in the royall throne of dignitie to him that lieth groueling in the deepe abysse of miserie all full of affabilitie and courtesie If you inquire into the dispostion of the sacred Maiestie of our most mightie and inuict Monarch vnder the wings of whose wisdome we his subiects take most quiet repose and rest you shall finde him to be repleat with all graces requisite for so great so gracious a Soueraigne within whose countenance like two heauenly lamps shine both Maiestie and Mercy that the one might win from his subiects a reuerent feare the other obtaine a religious loue whose minde is fraught with humane knowledge and furnisht with diuine in such a measure and manner as he may not be more truly stiled The King of Great Britaine than The Salomon of Kings whose passions are subiect to reason whose reasons Pilot is Religion who will not iniure himselfe by suffering excesse nor offend any in offering the least wrong vnto them who though he truly deserues the stile of a Peace-maker yet hee doth not respect peace so much as to neglect a iust occasion of warre who as he is not like a raw wound too sensible or apprehensiue of iniuries so he is not like dead flesh void of all feeling who as he is so conscionable not to tyrannize so he is so couragious not to permit a Tyrant to vsurpe his owne or his friends dominions for though his anger did a long time sleepe yet being awaked out of slumber Hee will not easily be stilled The running rough streames which be soone disturbed are most shallow but the deepe places which are not so speedily moued are more profound The shrubs brush and stubble though they be kindled in an instant yet they are extinct in a moment when heart of Oake and stout Timber though it be not so soone accended yet as it is more solid so it is of longer continuance To be soone inflamed is a signe of Rashnesse but alwayes to beare iniuries is want of Valour Therefore this our royall religious King to the end that he might be as well void of temeritie as timiditie of follie as of feare will not be stirred but vpon iust occasion nor stilled without due recompence Suppose that Wisdome for a long time kept his sword in his sheath yet Iustice hath now drawne it He knowes that Rashnesse is the abortiue fruit of Passion and the bloud of his subiects precious therefore He poiseth all his proiects in the balance of discretion Hee weigheth all his iniuries with his reuenge and to shew the ripenesse of his iudgement he will not suffer his hand to be the author of any raw action which is not thorowly disgested with due premeditation whom though none can conquer in loue yet he doth loue in wisdome who though he did seeme a while to winke at his childrens misfortunes yet Lion-like he did obdormire apertis oculis and saw the iniurie done by others and the miserie endured by them of the which since peace cannot be the Physitian to preuent a iust warre he will make an experiment if a warre can beget a iust peace who hath shewed more magnanimitie in dangerlesse despising than many in dangerous affecting others kingdomes being very loth to hazzard the losse of guiltlesse soules or to build vpon his neighbours ruines but like a wise Pilot to gouerne the ship well in which God had placed him and not to seeke to be a head to anothers body Neither was this for the defect of any fortitude oh no there are like to be enow bleeding witnesses of his kingly courage and he is most wise to see what is best and most iust to performe what he sees Indeed our potent King doth measure his greatnesse by his goodnesse and only affecteth greatnesse that he may haue meanes to exercise his goodnesse the grauitie of whose head is adorned with the grace of his heart for he hath not only the name but the nature of a King and vseth not his Kingdome as Tenants at will doe their houses who care not how they be ruinated because each day they expect a departure out of them but as if he had an eternall lease he seeketh the perpetuall welfare of it for his sword is at enmitie with those which are foes to vertue and his purse at peace with them which are enemies to vice His Subiects taste not the bitter fruits of grieuous taxation neither are Lawes with vs so much made to finde faults as to preuent and punish them Our Court is not a priuiledged place of vnlawfull actions and licenciousnesse but is the resident and abiding place of Him which as Hee is the Father of his Countrey so He giueth it good example and who is most bountifull in rewarding the well-deseruing and in requiting courtesies for Hee knowes sufficiently that to be indebted is to be an inferiour and hath a most diligent care and carefull diligence in his words and his works to instruct his people hauing
life in his doctrine and doctrine in his life for He appeares to his Subiects vertuous as He would haue them be and labours to be such as He appeareth that as his Lawes giue life vnto his people so he giueth life to his Lawes for they be but as Maximes deriued collected out of his life for it is as a great Volume in which they may reade whole Lectures of wholesome Precepts Neither doth He driue his Subiects on the path of Vertue so much with the Rod of Law as He doth draw them with the Adamant of Loue for can they chuse but dearely and nearely affect Him who as Hee is aboue them in place so Hee exceeds them in loue who being the Head cannot see one of the members hurt but Hee doth sympathize in sorrow with it not placing his gaines in their paines or esteeming Himselfe most a King when they are most basely subiected Neither is his Estate with the peoples welfare as it were in an vniust ballance so that his goes highest when theirs goes lowest but the seat of all his happinesse is situated in their good fortunes Neither doth Hee rule them with a Rod of Iron but a Scepter of Gold neuer restraining their libertie vnlesse it tended to licenciousnesse nor pulling goods from any particular vnlesse it were for a generall good In fine Hee hath brought all his Subiects to such a passe that though He takes nothing by force yet He hath all by loue for who would not venture either his purse or his person to performe his pleasure which of his Subiects would not entertaine his death with sweet embracement so that his Princes or Soueraignes Successours and Posterities welfare might haue birth from his death and spring out of his ashes Certes there is none but would willingly shake hands with life libertie or estate in a gratefull requitall of those blessings we here enioy by the meanes of his Maiesties most gracious gouernment Indeed they are so vnited vnto him by the inviolable bonds of feare and loue that all his Subiects as his Pulses doe beat according to the motion of his heart For ought not they willingly to performe his will who denieth to grant none of their wishes for hath his Kingdomes desired peace how long haue they possest it yea in such a turbulent time when almost all Europe hath had warre in her owne bowels But doe our people thirst for reuenge vpon those which haue iniured their Soueraignes Issue and wronged the Princely Branches sprung from their Royall Stocke for feare they should not be deliuered of that which they trauell of but lose their longing Hee assumeth Armes for the restauration of his Sonne to doe that by force which Hee could not purchase by fauour And sithence He findeth his Enemies not to be like Flints which may be broken vpon the feather-bed of perswasions but as Nettles the which by how much more they are easily handled by so much the more violently they sting He resolues to handle them more roughly lest they as much hurt him as they iniured his Neighbours Then surely what vnspeakable ioy ought this to be to that matchlesse Princesse of France and all her Nation She not more reioycing that Shee hath found such a royall wise and euerie way accomplisht Father than they that they haue found such a noble worthie Friend She may exult that She is ingrafted into such a Stocke they of such Alliance for He is not onely potent in men but powerfull in money and munition that as his money wants not men so his men want not money Howsoeuer indeed some may suggest and obiect that his bountie hath almost exhaust his Treasurie Yet as the candle though it giues another light yet it selfe is not darkened So though our Soueraigne hath enricht many of his Subiects yet Hee hath not impouerisht Himselfe for Hee hath so bestowed it vpon such persons as were not so willing to receiue it but they will be as well content to surrender it vp into his hands againe if either their Kings pleasure or their Countries profit giue them summons to make such a redeliuerie Then surely not onely the Throne but the Footstoole not onely the French Prince but the People may swimme I had almost said surfet with delight in this Blessed Vnion for what hindrance is there whereby that most Christian King Lewis the thirteenth may expect but that as our Princes Highnesse ioynes hands with his Sister so our Kings Maiestie will ioyne Armes with him for the regaining of those Kingdomes which vniustly an vsurping hand detaineth from him for Vis vnitafortior and that I may vse our Prouerbe Many hands make light worke Diuerse threds twisted together as they doe more strongly binde so they are not so easily broken of an enemie It was King Richards comparison A bundle of arrowes bound together could not be broken but disseuered with much facilitie they may be cracked and I may make application to these Kingdomes as Hee did to that his Kingly Issue It is not to bee doubted but that since Iames and Lewis two Kings so valiant Great Brittaine and France two Kingdomes so potent are vnited and ioyned in this bond as well of affection as affinitie their enemies shall not bee of power to preiudice them nor of strength to withstand them And howsoeuer the whole world is an eie-witnesse of the beautie and bountie of both their mindes which is so great that each of them doe esteeme it a greater honour to giue a Kingdome than to get it yet where there is wrong offered them and their Allies all the might of their foes shall be as a stone dasht against steele which shall rebound in their owne faces to their owne disgrace and ruine Neither let their enemies thinke but that howsoeuer they doe not loue to seeke others Dominions yet they will not lose their owne without stirring For will our dread Soueraigne when both amitie and equitie religion and affection doe giue him loud summons to restore his children to their inheritance detaine his helping hand from his hopefull issue Will He or can He see without sorrow and by consequence labour to redresse it that his posterities Countrey which formerly was the garden of the world vnpeopled ruinated and made a desolate Desart his Issue to be exiled from their inheritance and hope banished from them his childrens children forced to flie before they were taught to goe Can he I say see this and not sorrow at it Can he sorrow at it and yet suffer it Can he haue power and yet want will to reuenge it Oh no his hand is full of vigour and hee is fraught with valour his subiects soules doe thirst for reuenge and all his foes shall haue wofull experience that he is as valiant to maintaine a warre as wise to entertaine a peace and he can as well sacrifice at the altars of Mars as Ceres and is as well Achilles for his courage as Vlysses for his counsell Then who
endowed with all gifts and rare qualities requisite for the restoring of a Kingdoms sicke and languishing estate to the former health and happinesse who succeeding Henrie the third the last of the Royall Race of Valois who was slaine by a Iacobine in the Crowne and Dignitie of a King found the Kingdome pestered with so many pestilent euils which was like a bodie surfetted and weakned with all kinde of diuersitie of diseases surcharged with melancholy and diuers other bad humours which did so contend for predominancie as it was full of intestine broyles and ciuill dissentions the which being fed with choller of the people did daily threaten the ouerthrow and destruction of the whole Continent if God had not in time sent that good Physitian Henrie the fourth whose might and mildnesse composed such wholsome medicines and rare remedies for the recouerie of his Kingdomes welfare that by his valour hee encountred his enemies and reduced his distracted and almost destroyed subiects to their dutifull obedience in so much as his most gracious gouernment was likely to haue brought that Kingdome to a most peaceable and prosperous estate if a cursed cruell murtherer had not imposed an vntimely end by an vnfortunate stab to his life and by consequence to his gouernment with whose life the present prosperitie of the Kingdome was ended in regard He left none to weild his Scepter but his Sonne then Daulphine now King Lewis whose tender yeeres though they promised much yet they could performe verie little in the ruling of such a mightie Nation But God who is euermore a Father of the fatherlesse and a Husband to the Widow became a mightie Protectour of this fatherlesse Countrey still preseruing it from all perills guarding the Daulphine from all dangers till at length Hee attaining to the ripenesse of yeeres and vertues was fit to bee the Gouernour of such a Kingdome in so much as now it may bee truely stiled The most flourishing and fortunate Common-wealth in Christendome Then what better or fitter amitie than betweene Nations and People so faithfull and two Countries so fruitfull as France and Brittaine What greater likelyhood can there be of loue than between men so like in qualities as the French and English and two Countries so rich as France and England It is an ancient approued Maxime in Philosophie Simile simili gaudet The like reioyceth in the like and it is as receiued an axiom in Moralitie Amicitia debet esse inter aequales For if a rich man be in the bond of friendship with a poore man their loue is not likely to bee of any long continuance for the want of the one will wearie the good will of the other and like Pharaohs kine the leane ones will eat vp the fat But when two fertile Kingdome which are the Palaces of Ceres and Temples of Bacchus shall ioyne together it is not onely likely to bee great for the quantitie but durable for the time when as they shall not onely haue the interchanges of peace but also of plentie when as neither of them shall impouerish but both of them ioyntly enrich each other This is the ioy of our most mightie wise inuict Monarch King Iames who is as well the father of his Countrey England as of his Sonne Prince Charles who cannot chuse but reioyce to see his Countrey so well matched to a Kingdome so commodious and profitable There is no father but desireth and ioyeth to see his daughter wealthily bestowed vpon one of equall worth and meanes then well may his Royall Person reioyce at this Mariage of his Kingdom which hath found a Mate so powerfull so plentifull so abounding with all riches so enriched with all benefits as France Doth He desire peace it is able in the time of peace to send Him rich commodities out of her store-house Doth He desire warre what is wanting there to maintaine it It is populous for men powerfull for money plentifull for prouision there are men to bee procured for money money for men sustenance to be had for money that nothing might be wanting requisite for the vpholding for the beginning or continuance of a iust warre Then how is England for euer obliged to the Almightie who hath thus directed our King thus affected our Prince to chuse and select so blessed a Princesse in so happie a Countrey which is the fertile Mother of such excellent wits which is the Continent of such affable debonaire and courteous people a rich Fountaine From whence all necessarie benefits flow to neighbouring Nations which wanteth neither a fat fruitfull soyle to yeeld increase nor laborious painfull industrious men to till it which hath beene the seat of so many mightie wise valiant vnconquered Monarchs Oh happie Brittaine which though thou wert most happie in thy selfe yet if it be possible art more than most happie in such a Sister which is the Palace of pleasure the Mansion-place of delight which sendeth all rare delicates as gifts vnto thy People and the rarest Gemme of Nature the most exquisite Fruit that euer that Countrey could make it selfe or other Countries happie in The Ladie Henrette Maria to thy Prince whose vertues shew themselues to the life more to the eyes of all than the most perfect eloquence is able to declare them to the eares of any who in her virginitie was wedded to Vertue and is now marched with the most vertuous Prince that euer liued who for vertue parentage education proportion and portion stands as a matchlesse Mirrour to all her sex and no whit vnworthie of such a Husband Consider but her vertues and you will say and yet speake nothing but that which you thinke that Shee is rather an Angell sent from Heauen for to bee a Miracle and Oracle of her time for all to admire than borne of mortall seed for any to imitate in whom wisdome sits in her perfection and all to make Her perfect whose words are all weighed in the balance of consideration in her minde afore they be vented by her lips for Shee knowes words are like time once past they cannot be recalled and howsoeuer the tongue bee an vnruly euill and that euill most predominant in a woman yet Shee deeming it most vnworthie to command others and not to command Her selfe alwaies premeditating of whom to whom where and what She speakes and as Shee suffers not her tongue to be the key of her mindes closet where silence is a vertue so Shee will not neglect to let her tongue bee the testament of her minde where necessitie enforceth Thrice happie Kingdome at this instant in which there is such a Princesse extant so fully accomplisht with such rare vertuous qualities It is She whose chastitie doth challenge the superioritie of all her Ancestours and stands as a Patterne to future ages whose heart neuer harboured the least thought of vncleannesse whose Iuorie Alablaster Soule hath not beene toucht or tainted with the least impuritie can be imagined but from her infancie hath been
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
soueraigntie whose cheekes are like gardens of Roses and Lillies and Alablaster besprinckled with Vermilion both of which are the ineffable ornaments of Nature Alas what should I say more of the rare composure of her Angell-like celestiall countenance in the framing of which Nature hath shewed herselfe no step-mother but hath manifested the perfection of her affection vnto that sex in Her whose praises since I cannot vtter in speeches let it be sufficient to admire in silence Not to omit the proportion of her bodie in the discourse of which the most eloquent Oratour might finde a most spacious field to walke in the which is like her minde neither too loftie nor too excessiue low but her stature is indifferent and in the meane as if Nature in framing of Her had beene the Ape of Vertue and intended to dwell in the meane and shame both extremes each ligament and lineament of her bodie is so strongly and yet so sweetly framed as indeed they claime the admiration of all and the affections of the most Peerelesse Prince in the world As for the portion which indeed is in the last and least place to be respected what Princesse can equall Her For what greater portion than happinesse and what greater happinesse than that which Shee will bring tome Kingdome into which She shall match and in the which She shall be resident whose Allies shall bee as strong Bulwarks to the place to whose Prince She shall be conioyned in wedlocke in the time of warre and in the time of peace the meanes of the transporting of all necessarie and requisite benefits to that Kingdome Thus her vertue her parentage her education proportion and portion proue Her worthie to be linked with the Worthiest in mariage these make Her fit to bee a Wife but the intire affection which Shee beareth to our Prince proue Her worthie to bee his Wife and no doubt but as there is the highest degree of loue betwixt Them so no doubt they shall haue the pledges of true loue and shall liue and giue life to this Kingdome hereafter by their posteritie Thus it appeareth that as now She is euerie wayes a most excellent Virgin so if vertue education parentage portion proportion loue all these or any of these may make a happie Spouse She is likely to make a most blessed Yoake-fellow these make Her fit to be a Wise but her loue to Prince Charles his Wife her vertues ioy the world in generall but her loue to Him doth solace Him in particular and who is able to describe her loue not man for they are not so violent in their passions not women for few or none of them are so vertuous to loue so chastely affectionate no surely neither man nor woman can relate it to the measure althogh they may vtter some part of the manner of it for her loue is euen like her vertues infinite Oh the incomprehensible wisdome of the Deitie which euen afore our birth doth not onely foreknow but doth also predetermine all the actions and affections or vs mortals effecting things and that for our welfare euen by almost seeming impossible meanes beyond our hope or imagination Who would haue thought that Saul should haue found a Kingdome when he went to looke his fathers Asses Or Dauid a Crowne when hee went to carie releefe to his brethren God oftentimes shewes vs our home in the midst of our iourney for so did Hee deale with our mightie Prince who manifesting a high degree of wisdome in looking afore He leapt and shewed no lesse religion than discretion in vndertaking though a tedious iourney to view the Cabinet into which Hee was to put his Soule and to place his perpetuall welfare before He trusted it with the custodie of it most fortunately met with the Center of his affections euen in the mid way Hee aimed but God directed the arrow of his loue at a more happie marke more happie and lesse dangerous for Himselfe more happie more prosperous for his Countries In so much me thinkes that so soone as the louely pourtraicture of this Peerelesse Prince though by his picture should bee conucyed thorow those Crystall Casements of her affections into the closet of her secrecies it should cause her intellectuall facultie thus to rationate with it selfe in silence Whither wanderest thou sweet Prince so far from thy home Thou art lodged in my heart Oh let it be thy perpetuall habitation Why doest thou carrie my heart so far from my bodie It is thou which doest now possesse it for I am no more Mistresse of that which was mine owne Why shouldest thou seeke far for that which isneerer home Expose not thy selfe to the dangers troubles of trauel saile not into an Ocean of sorrowes when thou mayst lie at roade in a more quiet Harbour Oh let my loue be the load-stone of thy person the Remora of thy affections But if thou wilt needs trauell into the Westerne parts and make a night of sorrow in our Hemisphere yet returne turne to vs againe and let the brightnesse of thy beames expell the darknesse of our dolour No doubt but our Prince was inflamed before He saw the smoake of her desire her lookes were the messengers of loue and his heart was open to entertaine the embassage They were the darts of Cupid and his heart was ioyous in being wounded with such weapons Thus did they meet in their affections and the Almightie seeing if mortals can merit any thing that The deserued what They desired will ioyne their hands as well as their harts make Them one really as they are mentally Happie there fore oh royall King which shall liue to see your childrens children flourishing in your Palaces these Kingdoms eternally conferred confirmed vpon your posteritie Happie ô Prince who shall be linked to one which is the Golden Chaine of Vertue this Diamond of the world whom Nature hath so preciously set in the eyes of men to bee the chiefe worke of her workmanship and the Ornament of the world Oh happie Princesse so happie in finding such a Head whose welfare shall be guarded by such a Prince that you shall seeme like sweet Rose-water kept in a crystall glasse Who when you reioyce shall see your ioy shine in an other and when you grieue shall see the face of your sorrow in anothers melting liquid heart Oh happie both of you when like two heauenly Strings conioyned together you shall make a sweeter harmonie Oh how delightfull will the name of Parents bee vnto you when they shall see your Children flourish in whom they are Oh what an ineffable blisse it will bee when they shall see their children with awfull loue runne about them and like little modells of themselues carrie themselues about them Oh happie pie England which art like neuer to bee like a flocke of sheepe without a Shepherd or an armie discomfited without a Leader but hast more than hopes neuer to want one of thy blessed Kings Race to
sit vpon thy Throne so long as the Sunne and Moone endureth which hast likewise the number of thy friends increased more than the multitudes of thine enemies is augmented Oh happie France who gauest birth to a Princesse which giueth life to thee promiseth safetie to thy Confines which is the Ornament of thee as thou art the Ornament of the world which mayst ioy in each benefit thou affoordest yet in nothing more than Her Happie in this Contract is Christendome for although now it may for a time endure the corrosiue of war yet it shall be healed with the plaster of peace and a wrangling mother shall beget a quiet daughter and the purifying of the aire shall bee the issue of storme and lightning Happie in this Contract are Christians for they see the bow of the wicked broken and the horne of the righteous exalted the woman in trauaile shall forsake the desert the Church shall put off her mourning weeds and put on the robes of comfort the name of Christ and the Gospell shall bee exalted and the man of sinne and perdition cast into euerlasting destruction But still me thinks there be some sicke queasie stomackt people who distaste all sweet delicates and onely delight in sowre and vnsauory sallets who haue such timorous tender consciences as they feare where there is no danger making that which otherwayes well applied should be the cause of their rest the mother of disquiet fearing lest this Contract should bring an innouation of religion For say they was not I pray you Salomon seduced and brought to idolatrie by marying Did not Abraham forbid Eleazar his seruant nay bound him by an oath not to take his sonne a wise amongst the Canaanites but his owne kinred and were not the Iewes forbidden to match with the Heathen T is true but it is a question whether this was any otherwayes ceremonially enioyned to the Iewes and not necessarily imposed vpon the Gentiles Moreouer if the seruant of Abraham could not haue found a woman for Isaak that would haue come with him hee had beene discharged of his oath Likewise Prince also are publique persons and ought to be Supporters of the publique welfare and therefore that mariage may be lawfull for Him which seemeth inconuenient for a priuate man in regard that Hee is not so much to respect that which may bee for his owne but his peoples welfare No doubt could Ioseph haue well forsake Aegypt without the preiudice of the Country inferring a generall discommoditie he would haue disposed himselfe it may be with more ioy and contentment but God had allotted that by his meanes Aegypt should be preserued nay and I may well say not so much Aegypt as Israel might haue safetie therefore Ioseph must bee brought into Aegypt by a strange meanes matched with a strange women and what was all this to intimate but that Ioseph was sold to Aegypt that Israel might be preserued frō famine and no doubt Gods wisedome doth oftentimes see beyond the reach of mans apprehension and may match a diuersity of Religion to make an vniformity of faith to the end that there may bee one Shepherd one sheepefold one Christ one Christian faith For is not in her brest the whole globe of this worlds worth contained is not her bosome a stately Theater in which each seuerall vertue acteth a liuely part is not the Iuory compared to her whitenes and Aurora pale being ioyned to her blushes her blushes the which modesty doth alwayes dye which notwithstanding doth alwayes liue in her countenance whose matchlesse vertue is not like a Pearle found in a dunghill but dwelling in so faire a lodging It is she only whose beautiful form is such rare physicke as it is able to make an old Prince young and to make a young Prince liue till he be aged True but it is an ancient position that stately buildings must haue great meanes to maintaine them and such rare beauties rich reuenues to vphold their luster for the whitest cloth doth soonest take soyle the richest vesture soonest spoyled if not well looked to and the fairest creature most subiect to be deformed and wrinckled with want pouerty and afflictions It is requisite therefore that your most curious workemanships should be most curiously kept that pictures excellently drawne should be excellently preserued God therefore with whom all things past and to come are present foreseeing the excellency of this modell of true perfections gaue her beautie to her vertues and meanes to her beauty for what Princesse in Europe shall haue a richer dowry The treasure which followes her as a seruant whithersoeuer shee goeth is in finite and as shee wanteth no wealth her selfe so that Kingdome shall want no riches which doth enioy her for what greater riches than happinesse and what greater happinesse than that which she bringeth to the place shee shall inhabit Is it worth or same which they thirst after what greater fame than her beauty and yet her beauty lesse than her least vertue Surely that Kingdome shall need no sunne in which her vertue shineth that Hemisphere no light in which such a light is resplendent no riches in which is such a Iewel Neither is she meanely powerfull in her mighty Allies for as she is neere to all men in affection for what heart can hate so harmlesse a creature so she is deare to many Princes by affinity as to her brother in vertues as well as by birth Lewis the 13 King of the French and Nauarre a Prince so vertuous so valiant that the one might make him prosperous in peace the other triumphant in victories for hee is not onely his Fathers heire in his Kingdome but is like to be his successour in his conquests for though his face as yet doth scarce shew his sex yet his fortitude prooues him a man a man of such inuict courage and incredible force that few can equall none exceed him for though time as yet hath not much outstript him in regard of his tender yeares yet hee hath outstript time who indeed so farre goes beyond all his time and yeares that whereas others seeme to watch and catch time which alwaies stealeth away with a gliding slie pace yet hee seemeth to flie from time time to run after to catch him in so much as when following times shall reade the storie or rather the beginning of his life they shall admire to see one so young in yeares and courage so old in wisdome and experience and shall thinke by his president that discretion hath shaked hands with the gray head hoarie haires as an house ouerweake and vnworthy of such an inhabitant and taken the Castle to defend her selfe against her enemies intemperance and vnchastitie rage fury and diuers other such like troopes of aduerse enemies and enuious aduersaries for though intemperance and vnchastitie are vsuall I had almost said for so they are accounted veniall sinnes yet He is a rider and ruler of his affections reyneth in
respect him the more hee rebelled against him Is it possible then that her minde can euer lose the impression of her fathers remembrance And can Shee remember Him and yet forget his death Or can reminiscence retaine his death and not thinke of the instrument of it Or can the instrument of that murther be in her memorie and the setters on work of that wicked Instrument the Instigatours of that bloudie Butcher to that beastly cursed cruell fact be out of her minde And can Shee remember them and not abhorre them And can She abhorre them and not relinquish their religion which hold that lawfull which Gods Law hath forbidden For God prohibiteth the murther of any priuate person but these Doctors maintaine it to be lawfull to kill Kings which are publique persons Neither doe they permit it as a worke not impious but perswade men to it as a deed meritorious For Rauilack had no sooner playd his part in that bloudie Scene but hee was so confident in the blessednesse of the act as hee thought immediately to haue flowne to Heauen and beene crowned a Saint by God as well as canonized a Saint by the Pope Such is the leauen of the Popish Doctrine that sowres all the subiects of the Prince which doth professe it For what treacherous attempt against any King either Protestant or Papist hath beene made by a Protestant in our memories Oh no we are taught to feare God to honour the King wee must follow Dauids example to Saul not lift vp our hands against the Lords Anointed wee know Hee is Gods Vice-Gerent placed there by God and therfore to be displaced by none but Him But on the contrarie what plots haue beene laid What treasons haue beene committed either for the destruction of a King or subuersion of a Kingdome in which the Papists haue not only been Parties but principall Agents Who were they which plotted so many treasons against the Person of Queene Elizabeth but Papists But what treasons were plotted against Queene Marie by any Protestant notwithstanding shee was a cruell persecutor of that Profession What was Gowrie that conspired the ouerthrow of the Sacred Maiestie of King Iames but a Papist What were the plotters of that horrid Gun-powder Treason who sought with one puffe to blow away both the Prince and Peeres of our Kingdome but all professors of the Romish Religion What was hee which murthered King Henrie the third of France but a Papist Iacobin In a word what treasons haue beene committed which are contained in the Register-booke of mans memorie which haue not beene plotted and performed by them And no maruell the Priests and people practise it since they preach it and it is an orthodoxall opinion and position amongst them that the Pope hath power both to dispose of Kingdomes and depose Kings and that King-killing is not onely a lawfull but a holy and honourable calling Who then can suspect that a Princesse of her peerelesse part of her pious disposition of her matchlesse vnderstanding and discretion doth affect truly that religion which doth infect the hearts of Princes subiects which doth teach men to be monsters in gouernment and not to subiect themselues to higher powers but to rebell against the rule and authoritie of the Regall Scepter How can those Princes haue any peace with God that doe so little respect and much hazard their liues as to harbour and foster such murtherous rebellious minded men in their Kingdomes How can Princes haue any peace with men when they suffer men which are so wicked to preach such doctrine and practise such villanie How can they haue any peace within thē when they may iustly feare that each one which smiles in their face may smite their heart when they nourish vp such vipers in their bosome as are readie each moment to eat out their bowels How can then this Royall Princesse affect that religion or the professors of it which was the death of her Father and his Predecessor which may be a disturbance to the peace of her Prince and the safetie of his person if it be tolerated which may impaire the securitie of her posteritie who are neuer like to possesse their Princedomes in peace vnlesse such vermine bee hunted out of their Territories for peace and such people cannot inhabit in one Kingdome or dwell together no more than wine and poyson in a crystall glasse but the glasse will bee broke and the wine spilt and spoiled If then a Prince will possesse his soule and soueraigntie in peace he must banish these breakers and disturbers of it Neither is it a strange or vnheard of matter for France and England to shake hands of amitie and vnitie in those blessed Contracts for since almost the beginning of either Monarchie there haue beene continually these friendly and fortunate interchanges of mariage For it was not concealed from our Ancestors how beneficiall peace was betweene France and England therefore Steuen Earle of Bloys was linked in the bond of mariage w th Adela daughter to William the Conquerour And on the other side William Waren Earle of Surrey sonne of Gunred daughter to William the Conqueror maried the daughter of Hugh Vermandoys brother to the King of France For in like manner William Duke of Normandie did marrie Marie daughter to Foulke Earle of Anjou Maud the Empresse was linked in mariage with Iefferie Plantaginet Earle of Anjou And for the happinesse of his Kingdome the tranquillitie of his Countrey and felicitie of his Countrey-men Steuen King of England maried Constance daughter to the King of France Henrie the second maried Elenor sole heire to William Duke of Aquitaine Henrie sonne to King Henrie the second maried Margaret daughter to Lewis the French King Richard Cordelion maried Berenger daughter to Sanches King of Nauarre Iohn King of England maried Isabel daughter and heire of Amorie Earle of Angoulesme Arthur nephew to King Iohn maried the daughter of Philip King of France Edward the second maried the daughter of Philip King of France Isabel daughter to Edward the third maried Ingelram de Guisnes Earle of Soysson and Bedford Richard the second maried Isabel daughter to Charles the French King Henrie the fourth maried Iane the daughter of Philip the third King of Nauarre Henrie the fifth maried Catherine daughter to Charles the French King Henrie the sixth maried Margaret the daughter of Reiner Valois Duke of Anjou Marie daughter to Henry the seuenth maried Lewis the twelfth French King Charles Prince of Great Britaine betrothed to Maria Henrette daughter to Henrie the fourth and sister to Lewis the thirteenth Kings of France Thus hath there been a long and sweet continuance of blessed Contracts between France and England fortunate in each mariage producing peace and plentie to each Dominion so haue these matches beene prosperous to former so is this like to bee to future ages that all happinesse to either Kingdom shall be the issue of this most longed for and liked Vnion For who can bee
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