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
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
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
Epithalamium Gallo-Britannicum OR GREAT-BRITAINES FRANCES AND THE most parts of Europes vnspeakable Ioy for the most happy Vnion and blessed Contract of the High and Mighty Prince CHARLES Prince of Wales And the LADY HENRETTE MARIA Daughter to Henry the fourth sirnamed the Great late King of the French and Nauarre and Sister to LEVVIS the thirteenth Now King of the said DOMINIONS Manifesting the royall Ancestors and famous Progenitors of the Mighty Prince CHARLES and the most Illustrious Princesse the Lady HENRETTE Explaining the sweete interchanges of Mariages as haue beene betweene France and Great BRITAINE Presaging the destruction and ruine of Antichrist the establishment of the true Faith the propagation of the Gospell the restitution of the Palatinate the ouerthrowing of the Enemies designes the erection of Peace the increase of Plentie and the generall well-fare of all Christendome LONDON Printed for Thomas Archer and are to be sold in Popes Head-Alley ouer against the signe of the Horse-shooe 1625 TO THE HOPE OF HIS COVNTRIE THE COMFORT OF HIS FATHER THE IOY OF HIS FRIENDS the terrour of his Enemies the most wise valiant and vertuous Prince THE MOST HIGH AND Mighty Charles Prince of Wales the sole Sonne and chiefe solace of the most Potent Prudent Pious Learned Peaceable Warlick King IAMES King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland c. MOst Mighty Prince I doubt not but the world may deeme me ouer-audacious and you this worke tedious and troublesome the former that I should presume to dedicate such an indigested immature Embrio to your Hignesse the latter in regard you Highnesses eyes haue diuersity and multitudes of more worthy obiects To the first J answer that by how much the worke is more meane by so much it hath more need of a mighty Protector and therefore though they may deeme me impudent yet it is not a thing imprudent but important that it should seeke to shelter it selfe vnder the patronage of your Highnesse To the next J beseech your Highnesse nam nil nisi vota supersunt not so much to respect the weakenesse of the worke as the willingnesse of the Author to performe duty vnto your mighty Personage who though hee cannot goe for ability yet he creepeth to offer this Sacrifice vnto you and is emboldned through the abundance of obedient loue to cast this mite into the treasurie of your Highnesse Farre be it from me with the Ape in the Fable who brought her young ones to the Lion as the most amorous and beautifull to present this issue of my braines and off-spring of my labours as worthy of the view of your Highnesse Oh no I am no waies guiltie of such a Philautie but in regard your royall selfe is the Subiect of which it treateth shewing the happinesse which is deriued by the most fortunate contract betweene your Highnesse and that most incomparable Lady and pure Virgin of France in which though with a weake vnable pensile J haue drawne forth and portraied the diuine parts of your princely Personages of the which though all knew some yet some knew not all which J haue related in the which description and map of your perfections if I haue failed as J cannot hope to the contrary I humbly craue pardon and prostrate my selfe at the feet of your mercifull censure beseeching you that the true affection of the Author may couer the imperfection of the worke The reasons which moued me to this boldnesse to craue your Highnesse his Patronage were these First in respect you are the chiefe Subiect of this Marriage Song the which Subiect though it be impossible for mee to honour by my worke yet it is most certaine my worke is honoured by it Secondly in regard as you for all vertues are the adamant of admiration from all men so most especially for your resplendent vertue of humility who though you be high in Maiesty yet you are low in minde and despise not but incourage men though weake impotent in any good enterprises and vertuous endeuours that so being nourished by your fauour cōforted with your countenance they might increase and grow in goodnesse and in fine attaine to the summe of all perfections Moreouer J know that I doe not onely owe my labours and all that J haue to your Highnesse who are the Conduit by which God conueys felicity not only to me but Millions of people the which constrained mee in gratitude to consecrate this worke vnto you Reiect not therefore these fruits of my Industry which were inuented presented out of meere respect to your Highnesse and the ioy conceiued for the late contract with France and as you are the patterne of all vertues so vouchsafe to bee the Patron of this booke which is but an abridgement the compendium of them an expression of the happinesse which is likely to be an attendant and follower of this your intended and promised mariage with the Lady Henrette Maria Daughter to Henry the Fourth King of the French Nauarre Sister to Lewis the Thirteenth now French King the which grieuing to see that none more able than my selfe would vndertake J though with weakenesse haue performed Let therefore this booke which was written onely for your Highnesse is Dedicated to your Highnesse be accepted of your Highnesse of the which not despairing J wish vnto your Highnesse a higher than the highest Happinesse that you may haue a long and fortunate life remaine the comforter of your friends the Conquerer of your enemies and be the Father of many happy Children Your Highnesse most obseruant George Marcelline TO THE MOST ILLVSTRIOVS AND euery waies accomplisht Prince George Duke of Buckingham Viscount Villers Baron of Whaddon Lord High Admirall of England Iustice in Eyre of all his Maiesties Forrests Parkes and Chases beyond Trent Master of the Horse to his Maiestie and one of the Gentlemen of his Maiesties Bed-Chamber Knight of the most noble order of the Garter and one of his Maiesties most honourable Priuie Counsell of England and Scotland MOst honoured Prince let it be no wonder vnto your Grace why I doe implore your Ioynt Patronage with your Prince of these my Labours sith you are his Ionathan and haue beene a companion and faithfull friend vnto him in all his Trauells manifesting your selfe to bee as faithfull to that Sonne as you were fauoured of the Father As therefore you were his Associate in his Peregrination so ioyne with him in the Patronizing of this worke Moreouer as you were a chiefe instrument of hindring the mariage with Spaine and furthering this with France by which meanes you brought happinesse vnto this Iland for the which it yeeldeth vnto your Grace so also you are mentioned in this worke and a ioynt Subiect of it vouchsafe therefore to be a ioynt Patron of it A fourth Motiue which encourageth me in this request is that as you are the chiefe Fauourite of our King on earth and of God the King of Kings so you are aprincipall
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
righteous Dauid in all his trauell and troubles how constantly did he attend on Him being almost as inseparable an Adiunct to his Highnesse as heat to the fire or light to the Sunne being as Ruth to Nahomi readie to goe whither soeuer He went Neither did his person onely but his care accompanie Him watching continually lest any treason might bee plotted against Him lest any trap might be laid to ensnare Him lest any subtill Serpents as those hot Countries are full of them might sting Him It was hee that tooke the least disgrace done vnto the Prince more heauily and hainously than the greatest indignitie could be offered vnto himselfe It was he which discerned all the politique proceedings of Spaine and it is hee vnder God to whom wee owe eternall gratitude for the welfare of this our Kingdome and the people are perpetually bound for this their prosperitie and I doubt not but those who are not like Swine which eate the acornes vnder the tree but neuer looke vp to the tree from whence they fall doe most worthily acknowledge and heartily affect that most Illustrious Duke for his tender and zealous loue both of his Princes safetie and Countries good Truth it selfe speaketh it and therefore who but the enemies of Truth can oppose it that promotion neither commeth from the East nor the West but onely from the Lord. Moreouer the hearts of Kings are in the hands of God to turne them at his pleasure and it is as farre from doubt as Heauen from Hell that indeed our King hath honoured you but it was by Gods appointment He hath preferred you but it was by Gods directions and God directed Him to aduance you that you might benefit this Countrey in being an Instrument to finde out the intendments of Spaine as also to further this blessed Contract with France and I dare say or if my word may not be taken I can produce millions of witnesses to testifie and depose that the gaping earth after a long parching drought did neuer more acceptably entertaine a liuely showre than the Brittish Nation this Vnion Neither was euer the dew of Hermon distilling vpon the Hill of Sion more welcome to it than this happie and hopefull Coniunction to vs. Neither let me omit to render in the behalfe of our Countrey-men all possible thanks to my Noble Lord of Doncaster who hath so well and worthily behaued and carried himselfe in the effecting of this blessed Confederation as in making this Match and effecting this Contract hee hath robbed multitudes of their soules and won the hearts of all the people for should hee liue neuer so long and all his life time studie and euer studie effectually and all his studies should be wholly to benefit his Countrey hee could neuer haue excogitated a meanes more likely to bring whole showres of all kinde of Blessings vpon these Kingdomes than this whereby England is ioyned to France and France to England the most fertile Countries of the world are ioyned together with the kisses of peace and amitie To you therfore most Noble Lord as the Conduit by which meanes God hath conueyed this happines we present our well wishes For who is it but you most Honoured Lord to whom we are more indebted than to your care for the finishing of this Vnion It was the eyes of your Indgement which foresaw what prosperitie it would bring to the Prince and what happinesse it would bring to England to haue her Lyons adorned with Frances Lillies and the Flower-Deluce and the Rose bound vp and conioyned What bed so sweet as that which is composed of Lillies and Roses What kisses more delightfull than when they are linked together And what Contract could haue been more consolatorie than this of France and England To you therfore Great Britaine sendeth the best of her wishes to attend you and most powerfull prayers to guard you and preserue you from all perils that you may liue to doe God glorie and your Countrey good in performing many profitable offices vnto it Here then if it please France and this most Royall Ladie to take but a suruey of the incomparable excellencie of the Peeres and Nobles by whom She shall bee attended in Great Btittaine Shee shall happily and to her great comfort and content vnderstand that She shall shine like Phoebe in this our Orbe enuironed round about with these glorious starres and resplendent lights the Nobles of our Kingdome But to the end they may conceiue and consider of their happinesse Capape as I may so say and weigh but the worth of our Commons and vulgar sort of people in this our Iland it will soone appeare that euen in the lowest sort of people they shall finde highest degrees of happinesse First in regard of the mutuall affection which is likely to be between Her and our Nation whether it bee for neâ—â—â—nesse of bloud or aequiparancie of conditions Moses when he saw the two Iewes at dissention one with another hee could excogitate no meanes more forcible to moue them to reconcilement than reducing their affinitie to their remembrance telling them they were brethen then surely ought there not to be great affection betweene the two famous Nations of the Brittish and the French since there is so much affinitie Yes surely and to the end that there may bee as there ought to bee eternall concord let vs remember we are brethren and of the same bloud For there be verie few in England who either directly from their Fathers and Progenitours or indirectly by some contract haue not some of the French bloud lodged in their bosomes And if we examine the dispositions of either Nation wee shall finde them not like Iacob and Esau or Caine and Abel of opposite qualities but wee shall see an absolute agreement betweene them in their vertuous inclination and conditions Doe we seeke for valour who of more perfect prowesse than the French and the English Who haue been so often Combatants and Conquerours both for their Countrey and conscience as France and England The French are true-hearted neuer carrying two faces vnder one hood but deeming it rather cowardice than true valour to ouercome by deceit and policie for the most part carrying their hearts at their tongues-end and though they speake not euerie thing which they know yet they speake nothing with their tongues but that which they thinke in their hearts Our English are not deceitfull and hypocriticall cooling their pottage and warming their hands with the same breath but their speeches are the mirrours of their mindes in which you may see their intentions and by their words you may attaine to the science of their conscience The French are vpright and iust deeming it the losse of their worth not to keep their word and the most base seruility not to be their words Masters scorning fraud and truce-breaking not seeking to rush vpon another mans possessions or to encroach vpon others Dominions The English are performers of that which they promise
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