A SHORT VIEW OF The Lives Of those Illustrious Princes HENRY DUKE OF GLOVCESTER AND Mary Princess of Orange DECEASED Late Brother and Sister to his Majesty the KING of Great Brittain Collected by T. M. Esq To whome the same will serve a Rule Pattern Ad exemplum totus componitur orbis Plus valent exempla quam praecepta LONDON Printed for a Society of Stationer 1661. TO THE Right Worshipfull SIR Robert Bolles Baronet AS Also to his most vertuous and worthy LADY BOokes have their fate as well as Cities and Kingdoms and want their Patrons as Rome did her Tutelar Gods And if he was such an one as Joseph was to Egypt they will be eternized if not for their owne merit yet by the continued freshnesse of his memory This hath been the motive which induced me to this attempt upon your goodnesse not any supposition in my selfe of knowing or being known to you and such I believe is your Candor that you will account the Authors being unacquainted rather his own than his Bookes unhappinesse and therefore hope you will own it though not for it selfe yet for the subjects sake on which it treateth which yeilds matter both of joy and sorrow to the whole Kingdome wherein there were many overjoyed hearts for such hopefull living Princes and more weeping eyes for their sudden and too immature death I shall say no more but recommend the work to your perusall wherein as I hope you shall receive satisfaction so in behalfe thereof I pray acceptance both to it and Yours to serve you T. M. Feb. 4. 1660. A short view of the lives of those illustrious Princes Henry Duke of Glocester and MARY Princesse of Orange IT hath been a rule commended unto us by antient and foregoing times Non tutum est in illos scribere qui possunt proscribere and the reason may be supposed for that the great ones of the World were for the most part so vitious that it made the old Poet cry out Difficile est satyram non scribere but such and so different is our present condition that we may venture to write since neither our greatest eulogyes can be stiled hyperbolicall nor our highest applauses flattery especially where the subject of the discourse are of the most noble strain as here issuing from the most royal Families of Europe to the greatnesse of which blood they have added a new and extraordinary luster by the most eminent virtues wherewith they were adorned for it may truly be said of our late deceased Princes as Vlisses boasted of himselfe Deus est in utroque Parente there is scarce any Family of the World so highly and nobly allyed for by birth they were the Son and Daughter of Charles the first and Henrietta Maria he by his Father sprang from the antient stock of Scottish Kings and by his Mother allyed to the Danish blood But she of the royal blood of France Daughter of Henry the fourth surnamed great and from him claiming a consanguinious relation both with the Germane Italian and Spanish Scepters From this royal stock I say issued the late illustrious Princesse Mary Princesse of Orange being born into this World on the fourth day of November in the year 1631. The sixth of her Fathers reign Lady Mary born and not long after with much state and solemnity baptized being committed to the ruition of a most honourable and religious Lady who was to take care of the tender infancy of the Princely babe In this unknown retirednesse must we let her passe her childhood although as then it was especially in charge to every hand about her that nothing tending to the disadvantage of the Protestant religion should approach her eares aâ— well knowing the certainty of that rule Quo semel est imbuta recens seruabit odorem Testa diu and so indeed it proved for the so early even with her milk imbibed the same reformed religion that neither the subtilty of temptation nor the power of malice could ever divert her or make her to deviate therefrom Nay so firmly was she fixed and grounded therein that when the Saternall love of her Father began now to cast his eye abroad to find a fitting match for this his Peerlesse Daughter she though the small number of her yeares did exact from her a submission to his will yet in a kind of womanly resolve did in a manner declare her dislike to a contrary religion humbly desired that her religion affection might not countercharge each other Hereupon after many ediligent guests at length the Prince of Orange is propounded and that for severall reasons first as being of the same religion secondly the next adjoyning neighbour by whose conjoyned supply of snipping the English would be the most formidable Masters of the Sea and thirdly because by that meanes both the Spanish and French were would be in their designes countermined hereupon and for divers other unknown reasons of state Suorum corda Britannum Cum socijs Belgis vindo propiore Liganda Treaty of marriage with Orange Firmandumque Vetus potiori pignore soedus A treaty is had about the same and it was concluded that William the onely Son and Heir of the most noble Prince of Orange should entermarry with the Lady Mary eldest Daughter to the King of Great Brittain according to which agreement the young Prince the 20th of February Prince of Orange came to London 1641. arrived at London waited on by a magnificent train of the chiefest Nobles of his own Countrey During this Intervall of time and while these affaires were thus in managing was born the Kings youngest Son entituled the Duke of Gloucester at Oatlands in the month of July 1640. and in September following was baptized and called Henry Duke of Glâ—cester born a Prince who from his birth bore the expresse Image of his Father and not onely as at first in his person but as after appeared in his vertues and for the more orderly proceeding towards his future education he was committed to the care of an honourable Lady Heâ—ven having showr'd down his blessings on the Kings hopefull and numerous Issue from whome nothing might be expected but the future happinesse of our now long continued peace behold on a sudden the Scots in a hot spur'd zeale or rather in a fanatick fury envying so much prosperity to the King and State begin to harbour dangerous thoughts yea and proceed to rebellious actions treacherously possessing themselves of Edenhorough Castle which was delivered to the Generall of the Covenanters without any shot or resistance made by the treacherous Governor What Bulworks SCOTS troubles Fortresses or other defensive fortifications can retain or keep the possession of a Kings right when eminent Trustees for hope fear or reward betray their charge and forfeit their fidelity Dunoritton Fort once reported invincible fell next into their hands being in the custody of a person of worth well fortified and weaponed but through
the ill victualling thereof lost with little noise and lesse resistance puffed up with these successes the Covenanters march on to Dalkeyth a House of his Majesties which they took into their possession without any opposition wherein as they expected they found a plentifull store of Ammunition and beyond their expectation the Crown Scepter and other Regalia of that ancient Kingdome which they quickly removed to Edenborough Castle and there with great reverence and much care disposed them to safe custody pretending they were displaced before at Dalkeyth The newes of these occurrences arriving fresh to the Kings eare where affection before would not make him harbour an ill thought of his Countrey men now made him change his opinion and in the midst of all the pleasure and joy conceived for his young Son Duke Henry to leave both him and his Mother the Queen to provide a remedy to prevent these threatning evills By this means was the infant Prince deprived of the right and knowledge of his Father both at once KING towards Scotland his rebellious Covenanting Subjects of Scotland calling him to their more northern parts where he resolved if possible by fair means to perswade them or else by repelling force with force to reduce them to their obedience While the King is raising force to march towards them the Scots go to and against Aberdeen restlesse natures are never out of action and discontented persons ever desirous of innovation if the designe be good they undertake they still pursue it with all diligence if ill they prosecute it with no lesse industry witnesse these men who in their said march took 4000 armes that were going thither to have put the City into a posture of defence so that now the Kings armes were carried against the Kings cause there being no party through the prevalency of the averse faction that durst appear for the King nay to such a height were these men grown that they had an intention to have surprized Barwick but their intended attempt was not so closely carried and resolved on amongst themselves but that timely notice therof was attained by the English and for prevention of the same command was forthwith given for some raisements of Foot and Troopâ— of Horse of the Bishop-prick of Durham and the northern parts to move with speedy marches thither and there so to dispose of their power as to be able to resist any offer from the Enemy which was effectually performed SCOTS manner of proceedings The Scots perceiving they were prevented in that designe fall to Councell and knowing that there are two wayes which infallibly make rich men potent and poor men rich the first being great getting and the latter the keeping things gotten and that if there be a failing in either of these two there will be a sudden sense of the stand put to greatnesse and of the estates declining fortune do cowardly make it their study to retain the Towns and Forts they had gotten into their possession and therefore with art and expedition Leith must be fortified so that it may oppose any power that should present it selfe against in and the like they also did in other place Notwithstanding all which prodigious acts of Treason like the Adulterous Woman spoken of by the Wise Man they will not believe they have done amisse for as if they have been the truest Subjects in the world on the fifth of June the Earl of Dumfermeling presented to his Majesty a Petition at his Pavilion in the Camp which he graciously accepted and read wherein the Scots humbly sued for an accomodation and his Majesty was thereupon pleased to enter into a Treaty with them the issue whereof was that the Scots should disband their Forces and surrender to the King all his castles but the main matters to be concluded by Parliament which was to meet not long after at London whither the Scots sent their Commissioners and made a full and finall agreement By this meanes the King attended with all his Nobility made up to London where in November 1640. a black long Parliament whose actions never had a parallel met during the time of whose first sitting all things began to grow out of order yet they hearkned in some measure to the Kings desires for the marriage of the Lady Mary to the Prince of Orange Lady Mary married was with great state and pomp celebrated at Whitehall in May 1641. to the great satisfaction both of Prince and people as it then seemed Laetior hac nulla est unguam lux orta Britannis Vnus Hymen populo est unumque agit Anglia festum Tot que dies nitet una dies se latior ipsa Dum redit et primi non cessant gaudia festi No day more joyfull ere did Brittain see Both King and people in their mirth agree Nor for a spurt does their grand feasting last But each new coming day outvies the Fast During all these solemnities at the Court the English Parliament are driving a contrary designe inciting tumults to cry down the Bishops which was prosecuted with such violence that the King was necessitated for security of his Person to withdraw from London Janua 10. 1641. and with the Queen Prince and Duke of York to retire to Hampton Court from whence in February following accompanyed with the Queen and the Princesse of Orange he went to Canterbury and so to Dover where the Lady Mary Princesse of Orange took leave of her Father and Mother and imbarqued for Holland Lady Mary to Holland the Prince her Husbands Countrey where she safely landed and arrived but never after that day saw â—he face of her beloved Father The Princesse being now in the Low-Countreys was received by her Father in Law the old Prince of Orange as did become the Daughter of so great a King into whose presence he would never approach but with a reverence more like a subject towards his Soveraign then the freedome of a Father towards his Sons Wife by no meanes suffring either himselfe or his Son much lesse his Servants to come neer the place of her residence but bareheaded and to his dying day yea even in his death-bed maintaining the same as due to the greatness of her birth and excellent virtues And truly the Princes of Orange Father and Son did make it their study to deserve well at the King of Englands hands to whom they ever continued fast and true friends during all the time of his succeeding troubles when by the treason and sedition of his rebellious subjects he was hunted from place to place like a Partridge upon the Mountaines til at last having taken the Lords anointed in their pits they destroyed the Father expelled the Sons and endeavoured to extirpate the whole royal Family When his Majesty was by tumults driven from London he left his children behind him but afterwards sent for the Prince and Duke of York to come to him to Greenwich which they did but still there
were out of hopes ever to bring to passe for about November 1655. that devillish Rebell Cromwell having engrossed into his own hands the reines of government and brought the English Nation to a slavish submission to his Tyrantâ—cal power not onely within his own limits did what he listed but quarrelled downright with forein Princes especially the King of Spain upon whom he had made a violent breach in the Indies by the assayling of Hispaniola and surprizing and taking of the Island of Jamaica And now finding the King of Spain inraged at the attempt he attaches him likewise nearer home that is to say in Flanders To which purpose by the assistance of the Cardinall of France Mazarine and the help of money in hopes to weaken the Spaniard by strengthening the French he enters into a Treaty with them and on a sudden concludes a league offensive and defensive on the twenty eighth of November aforesaid 1655. a peace was solemnly proclaimed with France At the time of these transactions was the Duke of Gloucester in France accompanying his brother of York in the warres there yet both still having an eye to the King of Englands affaires when upon the conclusion and proclaming of the peace aforesaid it was suddenly propounded although before it was agreed that they should all be gone from thence in a certain time how great an affront and indignity this was to such persons who had so highly and eminently deserved at the hands of that people I leave to all discerning spirits to judge The King therefore upon good advice having considered the nature of that rash and inconstant Nation and minding how once they were like to have served Henry the seventh by delivering him into the hands of Richard the third his messengers was not minded either to run the hazard of his own sacred Person or of either of his brothers the Dukes of York and Gloucester but by a timely retirement to make an absolute prevention and so not only to take away their power but their hopes of doing him any inconvenience Hereupon they remove not over hastily as in fear but as befitted their Grandeur scorning to be driven they leisurely go into Germany and for some time abode at Colen Here the Duke of Gloucester again retired himself to a more melancholy life by his present reading fitting himself for future employment To this end he was much conversant in Histories thereby setling his judgement in matters morall politick and military so improving that which they intended as a dishonourable banishment that it proved an advantagious retirement Adversity bendeth but never breaketh a noble and undaunted courage he abandons not himself though all the world forsake him but hopes that when Fortune is come to the Brumal Solstice of her frowning she will be Retrograde and shine again with the beames of better successe this made him therefore though plunged to the lowest deep of disasters not to sink into the nethermost hell of despair whence is no redemption but reserve himself to better fortune according to that of the Greek Historian and Philosopher 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Decet utrum vere generosum ferre tum bona tum mala si lapsus fuerit During this time of abode at Colen came thither the newes of an irreconcileable breach between England and Spain as a certainty whereof they heard that the Spaniard at Dunkirk had proclaimed open warre against the English this was taken as a fit and hopefull opportunity by our exiled Princes who not long after were very ceremoniously invited into Flanders where being come and having received the first entertainment as of strangers the next seemed to carry with it a friendship which so encouraged our two young Nobles of York and Gloucester that intending a revenge upon France for her unhandsome sending them away with some new raised forces which they had gotten together they went into the Spanish Camp and joyned themselves to the Prince of Conde who was a Protestant Prince of the blood Royall of France but now upon discontent in armes against the French King To him I say they joyned as assured to do more then if they were all Spanish in regard the secrets of the whole Kingdome were well known to him and not onely Conde but our English Princes by their long residence there had observed both his friends and confederecies and upon what respects they leagued with him they knew his power and strength both in regard of his Countrey and his forces being well acquainted as having been trained up in Martial discipline with many of his chief Commanders and in cruth they nothing failed of their expectation although the French by the conjoyned forces of England did things beyond their accustomed manner besieging and taking Mardike Dunkirk and other forts from the Spaniard although the Spanish forces did as much as could be expected from men and the English in the quarter where the Dukes of York and Gloucester lay acted wonders even against their own Country-men neither would our Princes leave the Spaniard for the first losse but continued helping them with an undaunted courage even till the happy restauration of the King of England to his throne and Kingdomes In this military posture they made many intodes into the enemies countrey and that with such successe as made their valour applauded and their judgement admired We left the Princesse of Orange newly out of chilâ—bed and mother of a Posthumus son the tendernesse of whose yeares had hitherto kept him as to the generality of the world unknown but now his yeares having made him seem capable of a more discerning judgement the States of the Country begin to complement him and by a serious endeavour strive to train him up in the military art that thereby he might in the future be able to do as his forefathers and not only imitate their vertues but their valour and to this end there was a company of young Noble men and Gentlemen raised of whom the Prince was to the Commander in chief the Lord Breherode Lieutenant and the young Lord Wassenaer Ensign A good rule sure so by custome and use in youth to enure to practise that their most perfect age shall not scruple at the toyle but rather count all difficult things pleasurable as knowing that Ardua virtutis est via But it is often seen that men are weary of well doing and so were these Hollanders quitting their widow Princesse and her Son and closing with English factions against the King which being seen by Prince William Governour of Friesland he together with the whole Country declared their dissent against any such agreement and stand highly on their punctilios for their young Princes and his mothers honour and right This gallantry and noblenesse of the Frieslander was highly commended by many forein Princes especially the Brandenburgher whose Electoral Princesse with all her trayne came to give a visit to the Princesse of Orange whither also came the Dukes of York and Gloucester
remained at Saint James's the Lady Elizabeth one of the Kings Daughters who since dyed and Henry Duke of Glocester both of so tender years that they were neither sensible of their Fathers sufferings nor capable to releive them so that their innocent harmlessnesse on any account not only protected them from the malice of their enemies but proved to be a meanes to work on their evil mindes to provide for them not only an honorable sustenance but a royall attendance He never knew his Father In this manner did the young Duke lead his life almost ignorant that he had a father for he had never seen his face so as to be able by knowledge to distinguish the same from that of a stranger being born in 1640. and his father mother and brothers forced to fly in 1641. so that he was a stranger to his own kindred and to them that kept him in effect no better than a noble prisoner in all which time such was the seriousnesse of his tender age as wrought admiration in his attendants for he proceeded in so sweet a method that he was able in point of Religion wherein he was excellently well grounded to render an account beyond many whose yeares should have manifested a surer and more certain judgement The heat of the warre between the King and Parliament now growing more slack by the weaknesse of the Kings forces who were so over powered by their Enemies that they utterly left the field yea and upon sight of the other Army quit and surrendred their garisons without any blow the King himself fled to the perfidious Scots Army then at Southwell King to the Scots and by them sold to the English and shortly after Oxford the chief of all his garisons fell into the hand of General Fairfax by composition and with it the Duke of York Duke of York taken prisoner at Oxford 1646 the Kings second son whom the General sent up to the then Parliament to dispose of as they should see convenient they to shew him what he must expect for the future as a special mark of their favour on the 9th of July 1646. discharged all his servants and thrust them away from him D. Yorks servants whose fidelity could never be either reduced or frighted to leave him in times of the greatest hazard and danger By this meanes the young Duke hath gotten his brother for his co-partner the same servants waiting on both so that one might truly see between them the old proverb truly verified Amicorum omnium communia This new society was exceedingly pleasing to the young innocent who began now to hearken to his brothers discourses with a manlike attention imbibing from his lips a new though natural affection towards his unknown and distressed father who about this time was sold by the Scots to the English and by them strictly guarded conveyed as a Prisoner to a house of his own in Northamptonshire called Holmby King at Holmeby and taken thence by Joyce where he had not long continued before one Joyce a fellow of desperate principles employed by a factious party in the army came and seized his person and hurried it from place to place till at last they brought him to Hampton-Court At Hampton-Court from whence he was by perswasions deluded into the Isle of Wight where he was immediately secured and kept a strait prisoner in Carisbrook Castle The Duke of York seeing affaires to be managed in so rigorous a manner against his father began to think of providing for his own safety Du. Yorks escape from St. James's to which end finding some honest and private correspondents in whom he might put trust he proposes his escape whereunto by a mutual consent the engaged persons undertook to provide conveniencies for him which they brought effectually and with secresie to passe in Aprill 1648. so that on the 20th of that moneth he left St. James's and was not missed for several houres after his his departure by which meanes he clearly got away with safety and retired into France leaving his enemies and pretended keepers to lament their own misfortune while himself rejoyced in his own security and having stollen himself from them This losse added new affliction to the Duke of Gloucester not having lost only a brother but a comforter and instructer so that he began to grow melancholy especially receiving daily intimation from that mirror of her age his dear sister the Lady Elizabeth of the hourely danger both themselves and father stood in and indeed it began to appear more and more every day for the Army under Cromwell had violated the treaty in the Isle of Wight and once more laid traiterous hands on the sacred person of over clouded Majesty carrying him first to Hurst and at length brought him to St. James's near London where they most barbarously murdered him On the 29th of January which was the day before he dyed he desired he might see and take his last farewell of his children D. Gloucester comes to the King and his answer to him which with some regret was granted and the Lady Elizabeth and the Duke of Gloucester brought to him The King taking the Duke upon his knee said Sweet heart now they will cut off thy fathers head mark child what I say they will cut off my head and perhaps make thee a King but you must not be a King so long as your brothers Charles and James be living for they will cut off your brothers heads when they can catch them and cut off thy head too at the last and therefore I charge you not to be made a King by them At which words the child smiling said I will be torn in pieces first which falling so unexpectedly from one so young made the King rejoyce exceedingly The same day the King urged it again to the little Duke that he might not take the Kingdome if he regarded the good of his soul and therefore commanded him upon his blessing not to accept thereof unlesse it lawfully redounded to him to whom he answered to this effect that he hoped God would give him grace to be more contented with the legal title of Gloucester then the usurped authority of that right which from God and nature belonged to another and after that day he never saw his fathers face more Near upon two yeares after this he continued at London although the Juncto had now ordered they should have no longer any honour used towards them which a little startled our young Princes D. Gloucester and Lady Eliz. to Carisbrook in the Isle of Wight but what a condition may we imagine them to be in when newes arrived to their eares that they were ordered to be carried Prisoners to Carisbrook Castle the same fatal place where their father had suffered so many indignities This I say did strike somewhat close to them especially when on the 31 of July 1650. they were necessitated to go thither with untoward
attendants and lesse respect which together with the other sorrowes that they had daily undergone wrought so on the spirit of the discerning though disconsolate Lady Lady Eliz. dyed that she soon fell into a Consumption and on the 8th of September in the same year dyed at Carisbrook and on the 24th of the same was privately interred at Newport in the Isle of Wight D. Gloucester order'd to be sent beyond Sea Now is the little Duke totally left alone to take comfort onely in his solitary meditations when those monsters at Westminster fell into consideration what to do with him after many various and unmannerly debates they resolve to ship him away beyond Sea which coming to the Dukes hearing being now about eleven yeares of age he gave God thanks that he should be so delivered and that he had so restrained their malice that though they had the will they had not yet the power to hurt him My father told me said he to one about him that God would provide for me which he hath abundantly done in that he deliveteth me as a Lamb out of the pawes of the devouring Lyon According to the said foretaken resolution they order his going beyond Sea and send a Tutor along with him giving him in charge First that he should go and study at a Protestant School Secondly that he keep correspondence with the Parliament by letters and that his tutor should render them an account of his progresse and proficiency in learning Thirdly that he should not go near his mother or brothers or have any thing to do with them but in all things utterly disown them and fourthly that he shall immediately return upon notice from the Parliament to him given to that purpose and upon these and the like termes he goes away with an allowance of 3000 l. a year but see the gallantry of this young Princes spirit he is no sooner at liberty Hâ—s allowance he quits and the reason why but slighting all these propositions he goes to France visits his mother and brothers takes the blessing of the one salutes the other and after a short stay for the future improvement of his learning he goes to Leyden and there settles to study While the Duke of Gloucester is thus preparing to fit himself to enter into the world Prince of Orange â—yes the Prince of Orange husband to the Lady Mary passeth out of this world into another by death on the 8th of October in the year 1650. when he had brought the stiffe-necked Hollander to reason who began to wince at his superiority and was in hopes to have seen issue of his own loynes for in November while his funeral was not yet past the Lady Mary Princess Dowager of Orange was delivered of a son Princesse Dowager 〈◊〉 brought to bed of a son to the no small joy of his mother and all her relations to whom this was looked on as a prosperous Omen of future happinesse for that thereby was setled a continuance of amity between the Hollander and English on behalf of the King of England whose quarrel they shortly after endeavoured to maintain in several sharp battels at Sea though not with such successe as was hoped and expected from such a powerfull assistance When the Princesse was well recovered of her childbed the States of the Country had taken order for the solemn funerall of their deceased Prince Prince of Orange interred solemnly which was with great state celebrated on the fifteenth day of March following being attended with a gallant number of Gentry and followed with a noble equipage of valiant souldiers till he was interred among the rest of his famous ancestors whose worthy deeds when living are a more lasting and honourable tomb then ought can be inscribed on brasse or marble The English rebels having as aforesaid murdered their Sovereign and banished his sons to seek their fortunes in foreign lands the Scots who had betrayed the father seek to make amends to the son by restoring him to his paternal inheritance King C. 2. â—â—th his â—ister of Orange at Bredah whereupon a treaty is had with the said Scots at Bredah a town belonging to the Princesse of Orange for there with most security he durst intrust his person well knowing he might cast himself into the armes of his dearest sister who had neither spared time labor friends or money to advance his interest so trampled on by daring Treason We left the Duke of Gloucester at Leyden following his study D. Gloucester at Leyden being grown a most compleat Gentleman and rarely accomplished of complexion much like his father his hair of a sad or dark brown of a middle stature strong judgement a deep and reaching understanding and a most pleasing affable delivery so that it might truly be said of him Mens formosa tegi formoso corpore gaudet And indeed this made him be beloved and honoured in the fight of all men His eanestnesse to attain learning for such was his forwardnesse and zeal to learning and to attain the Arts that he would steal from his houres of rest to adde to them of his study Iliad 8. taking that of Homer as if spoken to himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est Conciliarium non licet integram dormire noctem And Plautus saith In Ruden Vigilare decel hominem Qui vult sua tempore conficere beneficia Nam qui dormiunt libenter sine Lucro Et cum malo quiescunt Striving to imitate that famous conquerour of the world Alexanander the great who being asked how in so short a time he had done such great things which another could revolve in his mind in the same time answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 noting thereby a continued industry with which he did alwayes follow his occasions and constantly persevere in the pursuit of his proposed end letting no occasion of well managing his his businesse rashly or negligently slip out of his hands And indeed out Duke fell short in nothing of that Heathen for he never would contract or let fall his spirit His industry so as he might seem to be overpressed but rather would chearfully and freely not as of constraint meet occasions and by all meanes endeavour to forward never with a fine-spun complement to delay or procrastinate any design Imbue Puerum Pro. 22.6 Instruct a child saith Solomon in the way wherein he should walk and when he is old he will not depart therefrom for as the teaching is such will the manners according to that Morum quos fecit praemia doctor habei This rule being closely followed by him in his childhood was never after forgotren for he made it his chief work to satisfie his judgement in the controversies of Religion His religion as knowing that Principis est virtus maxima nosce Deum And herein certainly he was so perfect that all about him were admiting hearets of his profound discourses His Eloquence
on good ground he would be divorced from them his temperance was great his diet sparing sleep moderate not to pamper nature but keep it in repair pleasures he rather did but tast or sip then greedily drink off and that sometimes more to content others then please himself Of a quicker apprehension Eloquent tongue and what was worthy of most repute he was very religious well skilled in several Languages and extraordinarily seen in divine Sciences To conclude his soul was enriched with many Vertues but the most Orient of all was his humility which took all mens love and affections without resistance and made his death the more lamented by which means we doubt not his Everlasting blisse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now rais'd to Heaven he from his body free A Death-lesse Saint no more shall mortall be I shall only give you a few of his observations which while he lived he was known to have made whereby his wisdome may be the better discerned for if ex pede Herculem as by the bigness of Hercules foot we may guesse at the vast dimensions of the other parts of his body so the judgement of mens abilities are to be learned by their sayings as a touch whereof I shall in the way of a Corollory add only these few of this most pious Prince as hereafter they sufficiently follow 1. It was an observation noted by him That Good Great men may secure themselves from guilt but not from Envy for the greatest in trust of publick Affairs are still shot at by the aspiring of those that think themselves lesse in imployment then they are in merit 2. That oftentimes it is seen that mens Consciences convincing them of another mans desert and merit they suspect opposition in them whereby their greatnesse may be Eclipsed and therefore strive by all means to put disgrace on his person and parts thereby to hinder his rising for whilst a man is out of imployment and finding that he cannot so publickly expresse his worth they still labour to keep him in obscurity to the end that themselves may appear more glorious 3. It was the practise of Constantine the Emperor when his Enemy Licimus began his Warrs with Exorcismes and Charmes he undertook all with prayer and holy Meditations and therefore the Lord of Heaven made him Lord of the Field and he found such comfort by prayer that he stamped upon his coin the image of himselfe praying to God The Duke inferred from thence this Conclusion How necessary this duty of prayer is for setling our affairs my soul I am sure is experimentally sensible if we settle our Affairs right with God he will settle our business with man is it not his own promise Ask and it shall be given to you 4. This also was a similitude used by him As a pot full of Water in the heat of Summer is troubled and polluted with many flies but if it be boyled upon the fire they neither would nor durst come neer it so saith he while our soules in prayer are cold and livelesse we are still perplexed and have no reliefe from our troubles whereas if our minds were inflamed with zeal all Vanities would be abandoned and our prayers so rectifyed that we should not offer the Sacrifice of Fools 5. That there is no better mark of a true generous spirit then to attempt things which are hard to be atchieved 'T is in vulgar and adulterate spirits that the soul of motion is wholy derived from the livelyhood of action Noble spirits court dangers Avida est periculi virtus Nec juvat ex facili lecta Corona jugo 6. He tooke great delight in that saying of Aristippus the Philosopher who was wont to affirm that it was better to be a Beggar then unlearned because the Beggars penury was onely want of Money but he that was unlearn'd was destitute of humanity 7. He was wont to Note that the Ladder of Jacob mentioned in Genesis is but a Figure of Christ which by his humane Nature touched Earth and by his Divinity Heaven therefore if we or our prayers passe by this Ladder we have the Father at the top of the Ladder ready to receive us and our prayers 8. He used to say That it is familiar with fortune to do more harm in one day then she doth good in many years using in delight to raise up vain Men for her glory and on a sudden suffering them to fall with the weight of their proper vanity and want of Government 9. When he had read the Story of Archelaus King of Macedonia who being requested by a Minion of his Court to give him a certain cup of Gold delivered it to his Page commanding him to beare and give it to one Euripides who was there present and then said to the other As for thee thou art worthy to aske and to be denied also but Euripides is worthy of gifts though he ask nothing Surely said the Duke this was an excellent reward for an insinuating Parasite and a rare pattern for other Princes who thereby may learn that a deserving Subject ought to be rewarded though his owne modesty withhold him from asking 10. He alwayes argued that Faith and Obedience are to be perswaded not wrought by compulsion our minds like unto generous and Noble horses being best ruled with an easie bit howbeit it is necessary not altogether to relye on words for two things do Establish a Kingdome viz. Force and Vertue which between them produce that sinew of Warre Money according to that saying of Themistocles going in Embassy to the Isle of Andros for Money he told them that he came accompanyed with two Goddesses viz. Perswasion and Force 11. He constantly affirmed that they are much mistaken in their ayme who think to make a man infamous by Death for there is no Life so odious that ending in publick with constancy and modesty changeth not hatred into pity pity into favor and leaveth not some favourable opinion of innocence behind it 12. Another observation was That a man should not derogate from himself there being two many ready enough for that office at least to believe him as one that best knows what he most wants and certainly he that doth censure himselfe hath no colour for an appeal nor person to appeale to unlesse it be from his Words to his Deeds which then must be very remarkable Howsoever he must acknowledge it to be great folly to have denyed that ability in himselfe which he desires to be much known for thereby he is become a distroyer of his own fame 13. And other times he noted That there is nothing more unjust then to Condemne those things which our selves do not or see not especially when whole Nations agree in it for when only time makes them please us it is apparent that in that they first displeased us it was not their fault but our ignorance And it is to be thought that all Countries have both
nos de pace belloque censet sed qui juventutem exhortatur qui in tanta bonorum praeceptorum inopia virtute instruit animos etsi nihil aliud certe in privato dublicum negotium agit FINIS AN ELEGIE On the Death of the most Illustrious PRINCE HENRY DVKE of GLOVCESTER SOme Princes lives such cold affections bred That we do scarce repent their being dead And such indifferent griefes attend their rights As they were not their Funerals but our sights Herse Scutchins darkness the pale tapers blaze All that invites our first or after gaze The Nobles Heraulds Mourners sable-clad These make a solemne pompe but not a sad But to your Obsequies deer Prince we come As they that would beg tenements in your tomb And by your genuine sorrows seek to prove Those Indians wise that die with those they love And no less penance can these Nations shrive Which make thee dead so long while yet alive And by as cruel method as unjust Bury thee first in Exile then in Dust Thy sufferings Inventary rose so high There scarce was other left thee but to die And this was that in all his rage and storme Though Cromwel wisht he trembled to perform When pawzing here after thy slaughter'd Sire He seem'd to fear this was to murder High'r And bathing his black soul i th' sacred flood He durst gorge Royal but not tender blood Where then shall innocence in safety sit When a disease it selfe doth Cromwell it If a distemper our complaints may bear And we may fix a reverent quarrel there Nere to be reconcil'd pursue we still Thy fate that did with more then slaughter kill The sharp disquiets of an aking brain A heart in sunder torne yet whole to pain Eyes darting forth dimme fires instead of sight At once made see and injur'd by the light Faint pulse and tongue to thirsty cinders dry'd When the relief of thirst must be denyd the bowels parcht limbs in tormenting throws To coole their heat while heat from cooling Slumbers which wandring phansies keep awake And sense not lead by objects but mistake Most feavers Limbecks though with these they burn â—hey leave the featur'd carcass to the urn But thine was born of that offensive race Arm'd to destroy she first strove to deface And then to close her cruel tragick part She slew against the augury of Art No adversary could worse spight display Since it is lesse to Kill then to betray 'T was savage beyond fate for others lie Dead of disease you of revovery All shipwracks horrid are but yet none more Then that which for its witness takes the shore Affronts plots scandals false friends cold Allys Exiles wants tempests battails rebels spies Restraints temptations strange aires in all these Was there no Feaver no malignine disease The Royal line England this brand must wear Suffer abroad but perish only here So to the Sun the Phoenix doth repaire Through each distemper'd Region of the Aire Through swarms of Deaths she there victorious flies But in her cruel Nest she burns and dies Had you resign'd your late afflicted breath When life it self lesse lovely was then death When the kind graves did but receive our care And the survivers only wretched were Our greedy interests might tempted be To cal thy vertues back but hardly thee But now when Vines drop Wine from every trunk To chear their owners not make rapine drunk Our goods find out our unfrequented hands And crimes make persons guilty and not lands When Widdowes houses are no more a meale And Churches spoiles are sacriledge not zeal When our beloved yet dread Soveraigne Head Is Crown and Guard to all but to the Dead What Niobe can waile our mournful fate Snatcht from the best of Kings happiest state The publick peace and your own large content In your just Brothers equal Government Had rais'd so rich an odour to your sense That growing time had tane you sated hence But to depart under four Months return To land in England to prevent your Urne Seems their disaster who a bliss might shape But loose their deer enjoyments by a Rape And now most wretched we who state our woe By thy afflictions and thy vertues too Thy Infancy our cruelty forbore Made thee an early Captive and no more Kisses that had from Princely parents fell From servile lips seem'd then supply'd as well Nor could thy suffrings then excite thy moane Since sufferings are no sufferings when unknown Thy childhood that their nobler cares protect Who strive to show but are forbid respect While rude ones seek by a misbred resort To rase out all thy lines of birth or Court. That tutor'd out of Prince you might be sent Into a common-people banishment But thrift reclames that project eyes the heap Of thy expence and bids thee perish cheap Posts thee ere least debasement could appear A Gemme to Forreign states a burden here So the rude wayes fraught with a costly piece Of rich but Sea neglected amber-greece Do rowling drive that fragant billow thence A perfume to the ravisht finders sence Abroad the wide improvement of thy parts Drew in so fast the dewes of tongues and arts That both in thy accomplishments were spent Arts were thy fortress Tongues thy ornament Learn'd latine graceful speech high of Spain The courtly French the clean Italian vain The uncouth Dutch these langages were known Indenizon'd as Natives with thy own Those arts where least advantages are found Ev'n those you did descry but would not sound Historians who record the life of Fame And register each good or vicious Name You from their sacred annals did resume Great past examples for your life to come Wise Navigators that disclose each creek And in the more known world the unknown seek In their discoveries you imbark your Oares Because the seas do most concern these shores By your severer choice selecting thus What was most useful not most Curious Amid'st your bright Imbellishments beside If truth or education were your guide Became a sifting Quaere a dispute That will Afflict the world but ne're confute Some to their climes beliefe their faith do owe Which is to be perswaded but not know You at fifteen this evidence did advance Religion was your Judgment not your chance Ere eighteen to Compagnes your courage view And Dunkirks fight so fam'd for York and you 'Bout one and twenty we arrived see Others at Age You at Eternity FINIS AN ELEGIE On the Death of the PRINCESSE of AURANGE SAd Heav'n of late has pail'd its smiling brow Wept much foreseeing this loss which hapen'd now The clouds so big with tears bewept the fate To come as well as that we suffer'd late Strong were heav'ns swelling sighs and forraign shores Heard it 's Tempestuous groans as well as ours When Nature suffers thus the wandring Age With expectation big waites the praesage And here it falls within this fatall Isle Adding fresh tears to those we shed e're while Hither great Aurange came great dangers past To see her Royal brother Crown'd at last To give him joy and in his joyes to share To lighten with her presence Crowned care But here she finds great Henry fled the stage Of sinfull Earth the wonder of our Age She stayes to see her Kingly brother fast To see Heav'n all new plots and dangers blast And fully now of Heav'ns care satisfy'd Took leave of him to see great Henry dy'd Such is her kindnesse such her constant love She goes to give him joy of 's Crown above VVhat raging Seas of dangers and what storms VVhat foaming billows of Tempestuous harmes The Royal issue has escap'd then ar ' The Fates more cruel in their Peace than War Come they but here to pay a debt to Fate Their lives in peace and rest to terminate Not to triumph for all their travels past And crown their paines with Olive boughs at last This late receiv'd as if content they yeild A willing conquest gain a greater field Content and all her wishes answer'd now This Princess hasts to Heav'n to pay her Vow FINIS