THE NINE ENGLISH WORTHIES Or Famous and Worthy Princes of England being all of one name Beginning with King HENRIE the first and Concluding with Prince HENRY eldest Sonne to our Soueraigne Lord the King AT LONDON Imprinted by H. L. for John Harrison the yonger and are to be sold at his shop in Pater-noster rowe at the signe of the blue Anchor 1606. TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE HENRY Eldest Sonne to our Souereigne the Kings most Excellent Maiestie RIght High Right Excellent and gracious sweete Prince in all humilitie I beseech your Highnesse to pardon me in that being one of the meanest among the King your Fathers seruants I haue presumed to Dedicate this simple small Treatise to your Excellencie the Subiect whereof is notwithstanding such and so great as may seeme vnmeete to bee tearmed a Subiect For it treateth onely of Kings and Princes all excellent Worthies a matter I confesse much vnbefitting my slender capacity and lesse learning to deale with In which regard I cannot but acknowledge the true Prouerbe most fitte to bee applied against me Blinde Bayard is the boldest horse in the Cart. Notwithstanding that which hath spurred me forward to commit the fault may I hope in some measure qualifie and excuse it to weet my seruent loue and zealous heart which cānot endure your Grace should passe by me without some little testimony of my great ioy zeale and bounden duety howsoeuer in the maner of expressing it my discretion may perhaps be worthily taxed and my insufficiencie layed open to the world But to proceede on The Worthies here recorded are nine in number all Henries al mighty Potentates eight of which haue already been Souereigne Kings of this renowmed Nation seuen of them excelling in Martiall valour and conquest one of them namely King Henry the sixt in vertue and pietie the conquest of sinne and himselfe and none of them much inferiour to some of the ancient nine Worthies Now your Highnesse being of the same name with them and Heire apparant to the same Dominions which those eight Worthies your glorious Ancestors sometime held and the blessed sonne of a mighty Monarch the eye of the World is vpon you and lookes for a transparent passage of their vertues into you and a reflexion from you the ioy and comfort of this famous Realme of Great Britaine aswell in Church as Common wealth is set and settled in and vpon you next to our King and present sauing Gouernour And their hopefull expectation hath already installed you the ninth Worthy as being likely in time I say not to equall the eight but euen to surmount and exceed them For as the ages since theirs haue been illustrated with more learning Religion and diuine wisedom so besides your gifts of Nature who in perfections hath not been niggardly towards you your Highnesse taking also your princely and happie education in a time of peace and that vnder the wings and eyes of the most learned King your father vertuous Queene mother and such a Councel of settled and deep wisedom as not the like in Europe your Highnesse I say hath herein meanes examples and leasure to heare learne behold and obserue the singular goodnesse of God in that which hereafter shall be your owne greatnesse and happinesse And here I may not forget your chiefest honour nobilitie and worthinesse that you are descended of the eldest and highest house of the blood royall of Heauen the child and sonne of God and consequently coheire with Christ our great Lord to the immortall Crowne Now the same God your heauenly Father who hitherto in rich mercie hath showred downe abundantly his graces vpon you vouchsafe to continue and increase them in you guiding al your princely affections and actions to the glorie of his name the benefit of the Church the good of this whole Monarchie the vnspeakeable ioy of your royall Parents and blesse both them and you as with much health long life and glory here so with eternall happinesse hereafter July the 4. Your GRACES most humbly deuoted ROBERT FLETCHER TO THE RIGHT HOnorable my very good Lords the Earles of Oxenford and Essex with my Lord Vicount Cranborne and the other yong Lords Knights and Gentlemen attending the Princes Highnesse health honour and happinesse NObles and Gentlemen Please yee to peruse the Chronicles of this Realme you may therein reade of many your famous and worthy Progenitors who some of them by Valour the rest by Wisedome and their other vertues haue growen great in Souereignes fauour been preferred to high Place in Common wealth liued and died in much glorie leauing an ouer-plus of honour and dignitie by many descents to you their children The consideration hereof may and I doubt not wil incite and egge you on who are already well entred the way to tread the same steps of honour by imitating those your worthy Ancestors in their vertuous actions For your tender yeeres are not ignorant that The readiest way to get and surest to hold true honour is to deserue it and consequently that Vertue onely which first began Nobilitie must still maintaine it whereas contrariwise by degenerate and base conditions many forfeit their Nability ere they come at it For who knowes not that Nobilitie without Vertue is but apocryphate Gentry and that therefore as it began in vertuous Ancestors so it endeth in their wicked progenie We see The strongest wine becomes the sharpest vineger and The most Noble by nature are made most vile by negligence Of which Ranke and sort are chiefly such as hold learning in scorne and the attaining of knowledge not worth the while In reproofe of whom truely and eloquently was it long since written by M. Ascham The fault is in your selues ye Noble-mens sonnes and therefore ye deserue the greater blame that commonly the meaner mens children come to be the wisest Counsailors greatest dooers in the weighty affaires of this Realme and why For God will haue it so by his prouidence because yee will haue it no otherwise by your negligence And againe It grieueth me to say but it helpeth not to hide what euery man sees T is seldome seene that the sonne of an excellent man prooues excellent I graunt that in excellent men Nature must frame the chiefest parts but learning addeth a further ornament groundeth a deeper iudgement and formeth perfection and excellencie in shorter time The best learned are best aduised And No man is deceiued but in those things whereof he is ignorant In a word What soeuer may bee saydin dispraise of Ignorance is the praise of Learning and Knowledge Wherefore I trust your Honours and the rest wil thinke it as great shame which also are M. Aschams words to be valiant and Courtly without Learning as to be studious and bookish without Valour My seruent prayers to almighty God shall be so to direct your generous hearts to the studie of good literature with the loue of vertue and true valour that you alwayes not onely in time
I drew my sword Vnto my selfe and souldiers full reward I gaue and with small bloudshed as I could I tam'd my foes and quailed princes bolde As second Worthy I do claime the place Amongst the nine and more For in my time All Christian Princes sought to me for grace For without me they could not liue sans cryme My peeres and princes I maintain'd with right And in the field dubd many a worthy Knight King Henry the third KIng Henry the third of that name was the eldest son of King Iohn the yongest son of king Henry the second being a childe of the age of nine yeares he began his raigne ouer the realme of England the 19. day of October in the yeare of our Lord 1216. he was crowned at Glocester by the hand of two Bishops viz. VVinchester and Bathe by the honorable meanes of William Marshall then Earle of Pembroke He was a Prince of great wisdome power and policy by whose eloquent oration this young king was crowned as is here mentioned he departed this life at VVestminster the 16. day of Nouember in the yeare of our Lord 1272. after he had liued 65. years and raigned King of this Realme 56. yeares 28. dayes hee was buried at VVestminster lefte a Princely and a very honourable issue as Edward Prince of VVales who succeeded him by the name of King Edward the first He had one Sonne more and three daughters he was of body well cast to vse the former writers owne words being strong and of a good stature well fauoured and of a be wtifull face only blemished a little in the lid of one of his eyes of nature very curteous and of stomacke both noble and stoute as may appeare by his many battailes and victories a deuaut Prince toward his God and bountifull in works of reliefe and comforts towards the poore and néedie therefore a Worthy and worthy of th' ensuing Epitaph His Epitaphe HEnry the third began his raigne in peace And likewise brought a mighty peace to passe Beginning his forc't factious French surcease And landed Lewis in France where first he was Else noble England had been thrust in thralls By Lodowicke and his lusty gallants then But English Britaine 's banished the Galles So shewing that they were true English men King Henry then of Worthies was the chiefe That for his subiects wrought so greatreliefe King Henry the fourth WHen king Richard the secod had resigned the crown as in his history it appeareth he did Henry Plantaginet borne at Bollingbroke in the county of Lincolne Duke of Lancaster Earle of Hertford Lecester and Lincolne was with the general consent both of the Lords and commons of the Realm published proclaimed and declared king of England France and Lord of Ireland he was crowned at VVestminster in An. 1399. with great and kingly Maiestie all Officers of estate and of princely seruice doing their homages and attending vpon the same He departed this life the 20. day of March 1413. and in the yeare of his age 46. when he had raigned 13. yeares fiue moneths and od dayes The manner of his death THis king was indued with magnanimity and did purpose a voiage against the infidels and to haue with his force and might redéemed Palestina or the holy land then so called from the Infidels Hauing an army and all honourable prouisions for such a iourney ready and beeing the time of his high court of Parliament hee fell sodainely and extreamely sicke as he was then though vainly praying before Saint Edwards shrine from whence being remoued into a chamber of the Abbots of VVestminster called Ierusalem he departed as is aboue sayd But during the time of his sicknesse say some Writers he caused his crowne to be set vpon a pillowe at his beddes head and sodainely the pangs of death hauing power ouer him he seemed dead and the gentlemen Attendants couered his face with a vaile That valiant Prince his sonne being aduertised thereof entred into the chamber tooke away the Crowne and departed The King his father reuiued quickly and did perceiue the lacke of his crowne and hauing knowledge that the Prince his sonne had taken it away he caused him to appeare before his presence demanding of him how he durst presume to such an act Who made vnto the king an humble and princely answere but the king answered with a powerful Maiestie saying with a great sigh Wel fayre Sonne what right I had to it God knoweth yet I commit all to God and wish vnto you all good graces from him worthy of so high and mighty a calling so yelding vp the ghost in the Abbot of VVestminsters chamber called Ierusalem as is aforesayd And himselfe being tolde that the same chamber was so called hee tooke comfort there at and much reioiced therin for determining a most honourable iourney towardes Ierusalem hee did end his dayes in Ierusalem His Description THis King was of a mean stature well proportioned and formally compact quick prompt and ready of wit of a stoute courage and in his latter dayes hee shewed himself so gentle that he obtained more loue amongst the Nobles and people of this Roalme then he had purchased enuie concerning his right to the Crowne mentioned to the Prince his sonne he was buried at Canterburie the King his sonne being present at his funeralles His Epitaphe HEnry the fourth though Richard second should Haue dyed our king he dyed our King indeed Which act by dint ofsword was so control'd That many English hearts it made to bleed Shrewsburie field doth still the matter scan Where Percies pearc't the heart of many a man Themselues were pearc't and perisht in the field This mighty King could not be conquered so Lord Henry hotspurre could not make him yield Northumberland Earle Worcester thousands moe The Prince of VVales a leader young but bould Fought for his Father like a Lyon olde Like an olde Lyon rampant open iawes Deuouring beasts so fought this peerelesse Prince Yet was he wounded in the face God knowes Prayd to take Tent he sayd I will conuince Those foes that dare beholde my Fathers face Within his land and worke him this disgrace The braue Earle Dowglas strake the King on helme And feld him flat vpon the trampled plaine Slew Walter Blunt and like to ouerwhelme The King the prince and all their valiant traine Till Kingly valour forced Dowglas flight And with his hand slew thirtie sixe outright Dowglas was taken prisoner in the place So was the Earle of Wore'ster worthy paine And so he was beheaded wanting grace But Dowglas was receav'd to grace againe And freely ransom'd by that worthy King Gainst whom he fought and many foes did bring More of this King if more ye list to heare Then read his story and more shall you finde That from his prime vnto his perfect'st yeare Great honour and great fortunes were assign'd Vnto this King but more vnto his sonne Who had no peere since Christian World begun Counterfaite
Kings in Kingly armors clad Were beaten downe by the Earle Dowglas hand To see them fall it seem'd his heart to glad To rise againe he sayd ô powerfull land That valiant harts withstanding fortunes checke Three Kings to rise each one in others necke King Henry the fift THe Prince of Wales son and heire to king Henry the fourth was born at Mounmouth in Wales vpon the riuer of Wy after his Father was departed this life he tooke on him the regiment of the Realme of England the 20. day of March and beeing proclaimed King by the name of Henry the fift the yeare of our Lord 1413 such great hope good expectation was had of this kings fortunate successe to follow that within sowre dayes after his Fathers departure diuers Noble men and honourable personages did to him homage and sware to him due obedience which had not béen séen done to any his predecessors kings of this Realme till they had been possessed of the Crowne Hee was crowned the ninth day of Aprill beeing Palme-sonday and béeing a very fierce and cruell day for variety of fowle weather men diuined and déemed diuersely what might insue of such a beginning But whatsoeuer mens fantasies might or did coniecture yet this was the King that according to the prouerbe did shewe and declare indéede how trewe and new honor ought to make exchange of old and euill manners For no sooner was he inuested king and had receiued the Crowne but hee did put vpon him the shape of a newe man turning insolency and wildenesse into grauity and sobernesse and whereas hee had passed his youth with wanton and dissolute wild yong gentlemen who had led him into all excesse of ryot in so much as one of his youthfull traine beeing committed by the Lord chiefe Iustice for misdemeanour the youthfull Prince did strike the Lord chiefe Iustice vpon the face who also presently committed the Prince to straite and close prison The King his Father mainetained the Lorde chiefe Iustice banished the Prince from his presence and Courte did remoue him from the Counsell Table and woulde not readmit him into fauour vntill with submission extraordinary hee obtained the same But as before beeing placed in the seate Royall hee called these Gallants before him toulde them of his and their owne faultes banished them from his presence not vnrewarded nor yet vnpreferred inhibiting them vpon a great payne not once to approach lodge or soiourne within ten myles of his Courte or Mansions And then hee made choise of graue wise and politicke Counsellors by whose high wisdomes and prudent aduertisements he might at all times rule to his honour and gouerne to his profit And considering with himself what charge hee had in hand and what appertained to his duty and office he trusted not too much to his owne wisedome Iudgement and directions but as is aforesayde he called to his Counsell such honourable personages as might assist him in the gouernmēt of so weighty a charge to instruct him with such good reasons and fruitefull perswasions as that thereby he might shewe himselfe to his subiects a Mirror of vertue and an example of iust and vpright dealing And hauing first laid the foundations of his gouernment sure he did prouidently forecast and consider in his Princely minde that euery good gifte and euery perfect gifte commeth downe from the Father of lightes He determined withall to begin with something most acceptable to his diuine Maiestie And therfore cōmanded the Clergy sincerely truly to preach the Word of God and liue accordingly that they might be as they ought to be and their profession required lanternes of light to the temporaltie The Lay men he commanded to serue God and obey their Prince prohibiting them aboue all things the breach of matrimony the fowle abuse of swearing chiefely of wilfull periury and to that end he ordained good holesome lawes and presently summoned a Parliament in the which in honor of the most noble order of the garter he ordained the day of S. George euer after to be kept with a double feast in this his first parliament he propounded matters of questiō touching the hierarchy of Churchgouernment that time but was answered with the iust and lawful title which he had to the kingdome of France Which when he had conceiued to pursue the Dolphin of France a valiant yong prince sent vnto his Maiesty a barrel of tennis bals as if he would haue sayd these are fit instruments for such a young gentleman to play withall as you the King of England is not at these years to forecast the conquest or rather a Reconquest of the noble and renowned kingdome of France which the King my Father and I the Dolphin doe and will possesse mauger the power of England But this redoubted king magnanimous wise graue and settled to all kingly resolutions sendeth the Dolphin this mild and sober answere Go tell that gallant yong gentleman your Master that I doe thanke him for his present and will with all speed prepare to send him in requitall such store of London bals as shall batter the strongest holdes make stoops the most bewtifull Towers and make flat the chimnies and roufes of houses about his and his Fathers eares that are contained in the realme confines of France For I will make the highest crowne to stoop and the proudest miter to kneele down yea and that before one yeare doe passe me by the power of God Which thing to make good he slacked no time omitted no occasiō lost no opportunitie but made preparation both by sea and land to execute the full of his intended purposes Being furnished for the expedition of the fleet ready for his Maiestie and Armies to saile forth for the intire conquest of all France behold a conspiracy was practized against this immaculate king by the Earle of Cambridge and others at Sowthhampton vpon whom he commanded though sore against his wil as some Authors do affirme execution to be done vpon his going to shipborde making it knowen by a most louing and princely Oration how vnwilling hee was to haue taken life away or to haue left the noble Earle of Camebridge deade and sequestred from his then victorious voyage Yet had he seene or foreséene at that time to haue shewed the like vpon the Earle of March Richard Duke of Yorke had not claimed afterward as he did nor confounded the state and gouernement of this kings onely sonne nor wrought his owne end at Wakefield as he did but the Almighty is and euer wil be all in all This his first and honourable voyage into France his warlike proceedings there his conquest of many particulars his battaile or most famous victorie at Agincourt where hee slewe and subiected to himselfe as prisoners and captiues al the flower and chiualry of France his returne againe into England his second voyage backe againe his second conquest of all France the Homages of Philip duke of Burgundy with other estates of
the Garter mightie Potentate Though to his Fathers sense it did appeare That Henry borne at Windsor should not be Like Henry borne at Mounmouth which was he Yet Henry borne at Windsor worthy fame Was and still is and shall be to the end His Colledges continue will his name Whil'st Worlds indure it is in marble pend Then worthy King Sixt Worthy liue and be For many Worthies were not like to thee King Henry the seauenth THat most valorous vertuous and politicke Prince King Henry the seauenth needeth not any preamble for his birth and education onely he was the true vndoubted heire of the house of Lancaster and came to the Crowne by the conquest of his enemy Richard Plantaginet late Duke of Glocester but later a most horrible murtherer registred Homicide Tyrant and Usurper of the crowne of England of whom I will make no further mention but that this mighty Prince conquered him and his people in foughten field At Bosworth in the county of Lecester 22. day of August 1485. the conflicte and conquest was determined So preuailed King Henry the seauenth the day and yeare aboue sayd to the great glory of God and the continued comfort euer since of all trew and faithfull English hearts Now this King being by conquest absolute by power able by birth heir Apparant yet to settle and make stedfast his raigne and succession he maried Elizabeth the daughter of king Edward the fourth next heire of the house of Yorke and so reunited both those howses most honorable in themselues into one intire monarchie into one vnity into one body into one I say and that a most happie one into one bed and blessed be that bedde and the séed for euer that sprang and still springeth of that generation This vnion or knitting of these two famous howses both together was the end of long continued ciuill warres the death of nobilitie destruction of the comminalty the griete of foraine Princes the lamentation of Citties the outcry of the people The State before this vnion was so rent and torne that it was thought a thing impossible euer to haue béene reconciled againe therefore this gracious beginning doth prognosticate a happie continuance and neuer to haue ending Yet the Dutches of Burgundy a Princesse of state and stomacke being Aunt to Elizabeth the Quéene did so much maligne this great and excellent good that she set vp many mawmentes and apysh toyes of purpose to distemper the peace of this vnion as rearing vp Perkin Warbecke a base dutch vassall to vsurpe the name of Richard Duke of Yorke the second sonne of king Edward the fourth who with his tender yong brother king Edward the fift had by their vnnaturall Uncle béen both murdered in the Tower Many vaine and surmiled images she aduanced to distemper the state vntill time and succession made an end of her malice which also by a lingring sicknesse tooke this worthy an excellent king forth of this World But before his death hee married the Lady Margaret his eldest Daughter to King Iames the fourth King of Scotland which mariage I thought good to insert as it is recorded in the course of his history viz. Iames the fourth king of Scotland a mighty and a valiant Prince hauing had sundry fewdes and garboyles wich the English Nation and that in the interim of truce and abstinence of warre especially about Norham castle the Bishop of Durham Richard Foxe owner of that castle in the right of the Bishopricke wrote diuers letters of submission to the sayd K. and the K. againe to the Bishop one letter in conclusion of many things that the bishop of Durham should come into Scotland to him about weighty affaires The Bishop certifying the King his Soueraigne of the premisses The King commanded the Bishop by his letters to satisfie the Scottish Kings desires which he tooke to be both reasonable and honorable and of which message the Bishop was verie glad So going into Scotland the king himself most gratiously curteously receaued this Bishop at the Abby of Melrose and after some expostulation with the Bishop touching some slaughter done vpon his Subiects at Norham Castle and the Bishops submisse and gentle answers thereunto the King gaue the same most like a King the hearing And afterward called the Bishop into a secret place garden or gallery where no witnesses were admitted but only the King and the Bishop and then he declared vnto him what iust causes had mooued him in times past to séeke amitie with the king of England which now he desired to haue confirmed and to hold inuiolable for euer if the sayd King would vouchsafe to conioyne in matrimony with him the faire and bountifull Princesse L. Margaret the K. eldest daughter In the behalf whereof we were purposed to send our Embassadors to the K. your master But we thought good first to proue your loue good liking and forwardnes towards vs and our good liking to your king his daughter his subiects and dominions The Bishop answered but fewe words only he sayde that when he was returned to the King his master hee would in so great and waighty a cause doe the best offices that hee coulde When the Bishop was returned into England and came before the king hee declared to his Maiestie all the communication which had passed betwéene king Iames of Scotland and him from point to point in order The king liked excéeding well of the motion as he to whom peace was euer a soueraigne salue But hauing then a mariage in nuptiall celebration almost betwéen Arthur Prince of Wales and Katherine the Infant of Spaine the mariage with Scotland being hastened by both the kings in the very triumphs of the former mariage king Iames sendeth an Earle a Bishop diuers noble personages who were receaued into London for the consummation of his mariage with the aforenamed Lady Margaret which Earle by proxey in the name of king Iames his master affied and contracted the said lady The which affiance was published at Pauls crosse the day of the conuersion of S Paul being the 25. day of Januarie supposed In the reioicing wherof Te Deum was sung great bonefiers made throughout the Citty of London All these things being accomplished the Imbassadors both of Scotland and Spayne tooke their leaue of the king and departed not without great rewards to both the Embassadors Not long after the Lady Margaret affyed as aforesaid was sent towards the king her husband the conueiance of which princesse was committed to the Earls of Northumberland Surrey the Earle of Northumberland being L. Warden of the Marches and was commanded to deliuer her at the very confines of both the realmes And thereupon she was remoued from Barwicke to Lamberton Kyok in Scotland where the kings Maiestie met her and with him all the flower of Scotland of Noblemen and Gentlemen and where the Earle of Northumberland according to his commission deliuered her vnto the king of Scotland The Earle
of Northumberland that day was so richly apparrelled in garments garnished with goldsmithes worke stone and pearle his Hexemen also and the barbes and trappings of his horses besides 400. tall med well mounted apparelled in his liuery colours that he seemed more like a king then an Earle From Lamberton the foresaid Lady was conuaied to Edenborough and there the day after king Iames espoused her in the presence of all the Nobilitie of Scotland and of those English that attended her with great feastings banketings iustes and Princely pastimes and after all things finished to such a solemnity appertaining the Earle of Surry beeing chiefe in commission with the Earle of Northumberland and all the other English Lords and Ladies returned into their Countrey againe But as al earthly creatures and things transitory haue their end and period so had this Mighty prince K. Henry the seauenth For his sicknesse increasing daily more and more he well perceaued that his end drew néere therefore meaning to doe some comfort to his people hee did grant them of his owne free motion a generall pardon for all men and for all offences committed against any his Lawes and Statutes Thieues Murtherers and certaine others were excepted he also payde the fées of all prisoners in and about the gaoles of London abiding there onely for that dutie Hee payde also the debts of all such persons as lay in the Counters or Ludgate for forty shillings and vnder and some he relieued that were condemned in ten pounds Generall prayer being made to God for the restitution of his health neuerthelesse hee was so wasted with his long Malady that nature could no longer sustaine his life and so he departed this life the 22 of Aprill 1509 at his palace at Richmond his corps was conuaied to Westminster with all funerall pompe and there buried by the good Quéen his wife in a sumptuous Chappell which he not long before had caused to be builded And as the greatest Trauellers haue reported it is one of the most bewtiful and most curious peeces of work in the World His Issue HE raigned twentie thrée yéeres seauen moneths od dayes and liued fifty two yéeres he had by his Quéene fowre sonnes and fower Daughters of the which number there remained aliue behinde him Henry his second son prince of Wales which after him was king Margaret Queene of Scotland and Marie promised to Charles king of Castile His Description HE was of body but leane and spare yet mighty and strong therewith of personage and stature somewhat higher then the common sorte of men of a wonderfull bewtie and faire complexion of countenance merry and smiling especially in his communication his eyes gray his téeth single and haire thinne of wit in all things quicke and prompt of a princely stomake and hauty courage in great perils doubtfull affaires and matters of importance supernaturall and as it were diuine for he ordered all his dooings aduisedly and with great deliberation He was sober modest moderate honest curteous bountious so much abhorring pride and arrogancy that he was euer sharpe and quicke to all about him noted with that fault he was also an vpright Iustice by the which one propertie he wan to him the heartes of many people He left to that lustie valiant and gallant young Prince his sonne and heyre many excellent good partes and properties of a Prince as also Coffers full stuffed with coyne iewells and treasure To conclude he had in him as many good giftes both of body and minde and fortune as it was possible for any King to haue his politicke wisedome in gouernance was ūngular his wisedome alwayes assured reasons pithy and substantiall his memorie fresh and holding his experience notable his counsels fortunate and taken by wise deliberation his speeches grations in diuers languages leagues and confederations he had with all Princes Christian his mighty power was dread euery where both within his owne Realme and without all his people were to him in humble subiection as euer they were to King his land many a day in peace and tranquilitie his prosperitie in battayle against his enemies was maruellous his dealing in time of perils and dangers was cold and sober with great hardinesse If any treason were conspired against him it was miraculously discouered his buildings most sumptuous and goodly all of the newest forme and fashion and cast all of pleasure So this king liued all his time in fortunes fauour in high honour wealth and glory and all which wrought his fame in this world and the same euerlasting in the world which shall neuer haue end His Epitaphe MOst prouident most politicke most wise Most sumptuous builder most profound in all The things that wealth and wisdom can deuise The things that Art to memorie can call All things that God and nature did decree Those with this worthie king concluded be Not any other with this mightie King May be receiued nor intertainment haue That which doth peace and plentie to him bring That which his Realmes and subiects liues can saue Those he receaues that blessing brings from God Those he reiects which threaten scourge and Rod. Thrise blessings in his mariages he made First was his owne Queene El'zabeth his wife Before the which was many a bloudy blade Bath'd in the bowels of continued strife The house of Lancaster with Yorke did striue To leaue of Prince nor Subiect one aliue This Worthy brought into his nuptiall bed The bride whose bewtie did the World excell This Worthy ioyn'd the white Rose with the red This bed doth now in Windsor wardrobe dwell This manage wrought that perfect Vnitie By which this day all Britaines happie be The second was his eldest Virgin pure The Lady Margret Vnto Iames the King Bishop of Durham did that match procure Earle of Northumberland the bride did bring Home into Scotland Iames the fourth did wed Britaine most happy by that nuptiall bed Onely these two though more this worthy made May now and shall suffice for all the rest No Actor he of Hymenaeus trade We in these two most happie now are blest And blest in heauen are the authors all As we thereby redeemed are from thrall Henry the seauenth seauen Sciences imbrac't All liberall all princely all of power All enemies he from his kingdomes chac't And left a Sonne of Chivalry the flower Succeeding Henry and the eight to be Worthy but now a worthyer is then hee King Henry the eight KIng Henry the eight was borne at Greenwich the 22. of Iune Anno. 1492. He began his raign the 22. day of Aprill 1509. he raigned 37 yeares 9. moneths and od dayes being 18. yeares olde when he began to raignè And although this worthy king was in years young in person strong bewtifull and valiant in treasure rich passing any his predecessors mighty and worthy in power and in action yet being adorned and bewtified with learning to his Princely magnanimity he ordained his Councell by the aduice
of all grace Great Alexander Macedonian Prince Whom the earths continent could not content Philippe his father Nations did conuince For which his sonne with teares did sorelament Saying with sighes his fathers Captaines to My father will leaue nothing me to doo Hector of Troy a valiant Champion tri'd Gainst factious foes did oft r'enforce the field Enforcing them their faces else to hide Or plead for mercy and like suppliants yeeld Not any of our Henries wanted power To haue subdued him in his sternest stower If Iulius Caesar could haue beene a King With conquest which his Romaine Legions made By blody bodkins he should not the sting Haue felt of death in powrefull Senates shade Brutus his sonne nor Cassius had conspir'd His death had he not kingly state requir'd Arthur of Britaine most renowned king Sixe of the nine were not his equall peeres Full thirty king domes he to his did bring Yet was his life not many moe in yeares Braue Britaine then take place among the best And midst our worthie Henries take thy rest Next Charlemaine of France a Monarch great So called great and Emperour he was French Chronicles his actions all do treat He for a Christian Worthy wel may passe Yet Henry ours the eight as good as he Shall for a Christian King compared be Godfrey de Bulleigne was a Prince of fame He wore vpon his helme a crowne of thorne Hefreed all Christian captiues where he came And not forsooke them till in peeces torne He left their foes laid groueling on the ground That durst attempt a Christian to confound See then nine Worthies in their ranke and place Three of which number gouerned the Iewes Great Iosua is formost of that race But for king Dauid brought vs better newes I place him first and do withall compare Henry the eight a worthie King most rare Henry the eight gaue vs our primier taste Of milke which is most meete for infants foode Edw. and Eliza. stronger meates imbrac't And fed vs till we better vnderstood The word of God which Rome had vs bereft This grace to England gracious Henry left Three more of Worthies by their names to call Great Aloxander was the Graeciaus ioye And Iulius Caesar mighty Romane shall Be second here then Hector stout of Troy Threee mighty Princes peerelesse in their dayes Whose worthy valour won them endlesse praise Three Worthies more of Christians beare the name Arthur of Britaine Charlemaine of France And he that freed all Christians where he came Wearing a crowne of thorne the name t' aduance Godfrey de Bulloyne worthie Christians three Nine no lesse worthie follow in degree Henry the first Henry the second eke Henry the third Henry the fourth and fiue Henry the sixt whose match is farre to seeke Except King Iames do match him none aliue With that sweet King may well compared be For trew and perfect magnanimity Henry the seuenth a prudent worthy Prince Whose wisedome ioyn'd with perfect policy With red Rose and with white he did conuince Domestike foes and foraine that durst try For title state preheminence or place Eld'st Daughter his is now great Britaines grace Henry the eight eight Worthies more hath made The ninth remaines in Henry Prince of Wales The eight do rest in fresh Elysian shade The ninth need feare no blaste of winter gales So long as worthiest of all Worthies liues King Iames to whome all Eighteen Worthies giues Their Scepters Crownes their Diadems and power Their places and preheminence likewise Th' Almighty hold his mighty hand each hower Vpon his head that caused him to rise Like Phoebus when our Cynthia lately set Paying to God and nature all her debt This Epitaph in Henry eight shall end And Henry Prince of Wales may here beginne To imitate for that he doth descend Such Worthies eight such honour may he winne Long life good health all graces from aboue With Subiects praise and kingly Fathers loue FINIS Henrie the ninth Prince of Great Britaine The Author in honour of the last ninth Worthie EIght famous Kings precedents to a Prince Whose valiant acts are registred with fame Eight Henries and all those the conquest since As Worthies all haue iustified their name Eight such as all the King domes of the earth Cannot exceed for Title State and Birth What makes men Noble Birth and parentage Adornd with gifts and beautified with grace Then Britaine boast that neuer any age Brought the like Prince a thousand yeares in space For birth for vertue and for expectation Prince of Great Britaine ouerpeer's each Nation Ninth Worthie then O Prince possesse in peace That worthy Title best befitting fame Let prudence fortitude and all increase That vertue addes and doth adorne your name Let Princes all and spite it selfe confesse In forraine Lands Prince Henry is peerelesse Of all the World our mirror then of might Our Paragon most rare and worthie praise Our Comet and our rising Starre most bright Grant mightie Ioue that long and happie dayes He may enioy and we reioyce and sing For this Ninth Worthie first for Iames our King Your famous father and Great Britaines Ioy Your glorie also guyder of your youth Whose carefull Counsell to preuent annoy Most like a King he pend in perfect truth You to direct and all young Gentlemen Your followers are aduis'd by Kingly Pen. The Prince his Bien-venue or welcome to all the famous Worthies of the World BRaue Britaines beautie and faire Englands Ioy Cambers Commander Irelands lamp of light Cornwales faire Duke and Chester from annoy Count Palatine for to defend with might Whole Europes Comet and Saint Georges Knight Grant Lord the George and Garter long he weare To King and Countries comfort as true heire Welcome sweet Prince into our company Which we from heauen with cheerefulnesse behold We had our times our period was to die But yours to liue and registred in gould Whose powerful parent cannot be contrould Because he knowes and feares the Lord aboue Liues in his Lawes and hath his peoples loue But had your praise beene limd with learned pen Of Princely Surrey once a Poet sweet Sir Thomas Wyat or like gentlemen They on this Theame discoursers had beene meet But this alas hath earthen hands and feet And yet for that we in our Tumbes do rest Let 's be content to see and and say the best This poore beginning may much better proue The fairest tops and architectures stand On lowe laide morter beautie shines aboue Foundations first are laied with mirie hand Timber glasse stone lead iron gould on sand Are seated and more subiect to decay Then that beneath whereon their State doth stay From hence may happe some Builders take a frame And reare with Beautie sumptuous stately Towers The worthie Poets Daniell by name Syluester Drayton can build sumptuous Bowers And many moe bedewd with heauenly showers And though who now this taske doth vndertake Did neuer to the Muses homage make The more vnfit to fawne vpon them then In crauing of their aide without desart And to inuite them with a rusticke pen Fetching his cunning onely from the Cart Yet yet giue leaue to euerie loyall hart For all are not indewed with learnings skill And he writes wel of States that writes no ill Then take in gree all what proceedes of loue Of dutie and of true obedience And whosoere he be doth faithfull proue In seruices and shall without offense Whistle or pipe sans hope of recompense And onely to expresse a ioyfull heart At Princes good O let him Act his part FINIS Nota. Counterfait kings Nota. Nota. Nota. Nota 〈…〉 uid 〈…〉 ua 〈…〉 as acha 〈…〉 us Alex 〈…〉 der 〈…〉 ector 〈…〉 lius 〈…〉 sar 〈…〉 rthur Charlemaine Godfrey Cynthia