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
fauourer of all good and worthy proceedings by which your name is embalmed with fame and your memory will bee immortall Not doubting therefore but you will grace this worke with milde acceptance though not for the manner of writing yet the matter written of in it I cease to trouble you but alwaies rest an humble suiter to your grace for acceptance and to God for the continuance of your happinesse in the present and your increase of it in the future that you may bee blessed internally externally and eternally and that the highest would multiplie all temporall and spirituall graces vpon your Grace Your humbly deuoted George Marceline To the Reader GEntle Reader I hope I shall not miscall thee the ioy conceiued by mee for this contract the loue to my Country the zealous affection I beare to the vertues of our hopefull Prince and his happy Princesse haue ioyntly enforced mee to vndertake this Enterprize in the which though many calumniating censures may blame my Pen yet they must honour the Persons handled in it in the blazing of whose perfections if they tax me with flattery they brand themselues with follie and an ill affection to their King Prince and Countrey and manifest themselues either to haue their eares stopt and their eyes blinded or their Iudgements defectiue for they ought to account it their chiefest honour to honour if it bee possible to adde honour to their names whose vertues honour themselues more than lieth in the power of any Pen to honour them their soueraigne and his onely Sonne and our onely hope But sure I am that multitudes will loue and honour this worke if it be onely for the Subiects handled in it the loue of whose worth may claime an obseruant looke on these my labours in which are shewed the fortunate consequences likely to ensue vpon this contract which are the destruction of the Foes of Christ and the Enemies of Christians the tranquillity of the Truth the Peace of the Church the prosperity of all people which sheweth though in an Epitome the vertues of thy King the Happinesse of the Father in the enioying of such a ioyous Sonne as the mighty Prince Charles whose names offer not so much as to reade without a true loue ioynd with a trembling feare for it is they by whose meanes thou dost enioy thy meanes vpon whose life dependeth thy welfare rather therefore shew thy wisedome in silence for if thou termest me a Parasite thou prouest thy selfe a Parrat which speakest Epithalamium Gallo-Britannicum OR GREAT BRITTAINES And FRANCES Joy THE Felicitie of a Kingdome is placed in the Prosperitie of the Prince and the welfare of a Prince either made or mangled in his Matching But neuer was Kingdome more happie in a Prince neuer Prince more fortunate in his Choyce than the Treasure and Store-house of our hopes the Summe and Substance of our future blisse the high and mightie Prince Charles in obtaining this Princesse who vnparalell'd for perfections both externall of her bodie and internall of her minde stands as a matchlesse Mirrour to all her Sex if not to be adored yet at the least admired hath made a Contract between three Kingdomes and happinesse which were a long time diuorced from it being like the house of Abraham troubled vntill their Isaak had found out a Rebecca Oh Peerelesse Prince fortunate beyond the imagination of mans minde then surely more transcending the limits of my pens relation could you but pry into the hearts of millions of people you should see all the veines streets of those Metropolitan Cities of those little worlds swell'd and full with ioy who formerly found no tranquillitie of minde though in the peace of the State because your Royall Selfe had not found out a Second Selfe whereby their posteritie might shroud and refresh themselues hereafter vnder the shadow of your Branches and that from your Issue fountaines of fortunate ioy might flow to succeeding ages How many Kingdomes doe bathe themselues in the sunne-shine of solace and finde more than earthly happinesse in those resplendent beames which shine from this blessed Contract conceiuing no leffe ioy in your relinquishing of the Ladie Maria of Spaine and matching and vniting your Soule which is the Court of the Highest and King of Kings the Temple of the Holy Ghost vnto the heart of that vnparalell'd Princesse the Ladie Henrette Maria of France which is a rich Cabinet fill'd with the Gemms and vnualuable Iewels of morall vertues and diuine graces If it please your hopefull Highnesse to retire a little from home and to cast an eye of consideration vpon France there may be seene such an infinite ineffable measure of mirth and an incomparable treasure of true ioy found by them in this Coniunction and from the highest to the lowest from the Peere to the poore nothing but applause and triumph For can they chuse but reioyce to see that Vertues Paramour and Darling of Venus whose vertue ennobleth her birth whose birth doth make her vertues eminent whose countenance and whose conditions doe mutually grace and adome each other so worthily bestowed and their perfectly accomplisht Princesse vnited to so glorious so gracious a Head as who is the Ioy of his Friends the Terrour of his Enemies the Comfort and Hope of his Country the Patterne of Princes the Admiration of the world the mightie Prince Charles For what Countrey could haue beene the Emissarie of such a Prince or what Prince the Possessour of such a Countrey as Great Brittaine of Charles or Charles of Great Brittaine the which as Hee is blest with all graces so it aboundeth with all blessings that He might be happie in it and it fortunate in Him that as He blesseth that with peace so it might satisfie Him with plenty Had she forsaken a fat fruitfull soile to come into a barren Countrey it might somewhat haue impaired her happinesse and beene a wound to her welfare but this is a Paradise of pleasure a Land like Canaan flowing with milke and honie Had she found such a fertile Kingdome destitute of so royall a Prince shee could not haue had so much ioy in the one without enioying the other if the ring be void of a precious stone it is not so much esteemed neither hath a Diamond set in lead such store of luster But our Prince seated and planted in such a pleasant place is like a Diamond set in Gold the one of which makes the other of more estimation Oh fortunate France if thou doest not vndervalue thy happinesse that art linked in the bond of amitie with faire Albion whose climate is temperate whose aire serene and cleare here is not heat so excessiuely parching in Summer but that any constitution may endure it nor the cold so piercing in Winter but that the most tender may withstand it How many Crystall fountaines and running streames bee there like so many veines in this bodie of our Kingdome and to the intent that none of the elements might be defectiue
a Den of theeues for when the Body fasteth the Soule feasteth and the earthly members being mortified the faculties of the Soule doe grow more liuely and powerfull Thus being Master of his owne lusts Hee scornes to be a seruant to his substance but at his pleasure can part from it and turne it out of his seruice yet neuer but vpon a iust occasion for that were to haue too little and light respect of his seruant being a meere prodigalitie but when Hee seeth it requisite for the reward of Vertue or the maintenance of Honour to part from it the Sunne is not more liberall of his light at high noone-day than He of his meanes for Hee loues not money like your couetous man whose eyes are out and he can neuer see when he hath sufficient who like a Danaïdum dolium is neuer fill'd or satisfied but onely for necessitie like a wife Mariner prouiding in a calme against the comming of a storme and in the sunne-shine of peace preparing to welcome the turbulent tempestuous time of warre And for his wisdome as who should say it were likely Hee should bee in nothing vnlike to his father He outrunneth his age and leaueth all those of his yeeres behinde Him in knowledge for Hee sitteth in counsell like a sage Senatour and a Law-making Lycurgus that it seemeth a wonder but wonders are no wonders in a wondrous subiect how in the blossome of his yeeres He should haue such ripenesse and maturitie of Iudgement and in his greene youth bee such a graue Counsellour For did not his Gracious Highnesse in the last Parliament not only in appearance but in truth so well prouide for the safetie and securitie both of his Friends and Countrey that Hee was generally applauded both of Counsellours and Commons as being the most wise and watchfull Prince for the welfare of his people First shewing his ardent zeale to Gods Glorie and Religion to make wholsome salutiferous Lawes for the suppressing of the Sowers of Sedition and the Interminglers of the tares of their owne inuentions amongst the pure graine of Gods Word And thus hauing exprest his loue to God aboue all vnder God He prouides for his Peoples prosperitie enacts Lawes as Antidotes against former exactions so customarily and vnconscionably practised in this our Common-wealth as if He were soly and wholly happie in making his people fortunate and in easing them of the heauie burthens of oppression imposed vpon them bound vpon their backs and laid vpon their shoulders And indeed there neuer was Prince in Christendome more commended by mortall men in speeches or commended to the immortall God in prayers than is our mightie inuict Prince whose worth is such that if I should liue to the age of Nestor and in the whole course of my life doe nought but praise Him praise Him in nothing but that which He is worthie of vtter his worth compendiously yet my pen would still bee a debter to his deserts for He is not like the vulgar sort as the vulgar Prouerbe tels vs Constant in nothing but inconstancie but his minde once fixed on a worthie obiect is like a Starre which moueth not out of her orbe but is euer the same in her motion The little shrubs are shaken with eueric little puffe of winde but the stately Cedar which is firmely rooted and fastned in the ground as it is more noble so it is more stable Many Feathers and Weather-cocks in our daies who are not resolute in any determinations or determinate in any resolution doe in an instant loathe that which they haue loued but our Prince as He doth not lightly settle affection so He will not easily remoue it for He deemes the one a defect of wisdome the other an excesse of wauering and an ouer-plus of inconstancie Therefore Hee being alwayes balanced and counterpoysed with due premeditation in affecting cannot be induced in an instant to relinquish and distaste that which Hee affecteth Then hath not France great reason and cause of ioy and exultation who hath found out such a Mate for their incomparable Princesse who is one which hath stoutnesse and courage of minde ioyned to the strength of his bodie wisdome accompanying his valour vertue his soule who is a Prince as well in worth as birth excelling in bountie and beautie and in all his actions obseruing the golden meane who is constant in his loue firme in his resolutions whose worth few can conceiue no man vtter all men may admire the descent of whose bloud doth ennoble his birth the excellencie of whose birth doth enthronize and dignifie his vertues whose vertues as I may so say doe almost Deifie his Soule the inestimable price of whose Soule doth adorne his bodie by inhabiting in it the rare temper of whose bodie doth blesse his soule by being the Mansion-place of it And thus Hee which hath all vertues is to be all Hers and that Princesse to bee blest with the admirable constitution of his bodie and the incomparable condition of his minde Had his body been of vnequall vnproportionable mixture by the elements the soule might haue loathed such a muddie building would soone haue forsaken her habitation or hath the minde beene corrupt and filthie it would soone haue ruinated the rare bodie in regard it would haue employed it to such ryotous ruinous courses as it would soone haue produced her ouerthrow and demolisht this mortall Edifice of Nature by which meanes and likelyhood the shortnesse of the Princes life might haue made an abridgement of her happinesse and haue cut short the continuance of her ioyes but Nature hath so tempered and framed Him of such an equall proportion of heat and moysture that the excessiue heat of the one doth not threaten a Combustion nor the abundance of the other a Deluge but for his complexion Hee may bee another Methuselah and She most superlatiue of her Sex in all felicitie in the possession of so louing a Husband so long a time as He is like to inioy this vital transitorie vncertaine breath Had He beene like a Rose or a Flower De-luce which though they bee faire things yet they are of short continuance for the one is no sooner blowne but it sheddeth the other fadeth in the bud her ioy might haue found sorrow in the fear of the losse of her Ioy but He alreadie is growne to ripenesse and we hope as may be coniectured both by the temper of his bodie temperance of his minde is not onely pleasing to the eye but is also likely to be a lasting fruit It is the office of an husband to liue with his wife as a man of knowledge and what Prince wiser than his Highnesse who squares out all his actions according to the Rule of Gods Word who is so verst in each verse of Scripture so well read in Diuinitie as Hee is not onely a Prince to command but for his learning might be a Priest to enstruct his people Feare not then oh renowned France
but He hath taken your Princesse by the hand not onely to leade Her to all happinesse on earth but to bring Her felicitie For what aduise can She who is so well vnderstanding the dutie of a royall louing Spouse refuse which distilleth like Nectar from his lips Or what counsell shall proceed from Him but that which tendeth to the welfare of her bodie the sauing of her soule body hereafter Oh no neuer was Princesse blest with a more holy happie heauenly Head than She in being vnited to his Highnesse who as Hee hath knowledge so He hath loue to direct Her to an happie end Had his heart beene the harbourer of loue onely without knowledge it had beene but as a blinde Guide and knowledge without loue to put it in practife had been but as a fruitlesse plant or power without a will but our mighty Prince as He hath no small measure of wisdome so He hath an infinite abundance of affection affection so great as indeed Hee is nothing but loue loue to his God loue to his Princesse loue to his people all of which are in Him so exceeding that none of any of those three particulars can be in any one person more eminent than they bee ioyntly found in Him For He loueth God aboue Himselfe Hee loueth Her as Himselfe because She is halfe Himselfe and He loueth his People almost as Hee loueth Her He loueth God because Hee is maried to Him mystically He loueth Her as being knit vnto Him in mariage really Hee loueth his People as being wedded vnto them representatiuely indeed He is so much loue as none that liues but loues Him The Lord of Heauen hath manifested his loue to Him in his mercie for when Hee vndertooke that dangerous voyage out of his Countrey Great Brittaine into Spaine dangerous in the iourney dangerous in the end of it indeed nothing but danger both for his passage thither his arriuall there his departure from thence being full of feare and composed of nothing but danger for the waues being proud of such a Burthen did swell with ambition and the surges soared aboue the ship as if the sea had longed to haue her wombe the Tombe of such a Worthie and had intended to haue erected her honour vpon his ruine But God to whom the windes and the seas obey did still the rage of Neptune and closed vp the mouth of Aeolus in so much as his people were all made fortunate in his happie returne reioycing that they had Him any waies but more ioyous that they had Him single but now most exulting that He is vnited by the sacred bond of wedlocke to your Princesse of France and wee by that meanes conioyned to you Thus hath the Lord to the comfort of all well-disposed people deliuered our best affected Prince and in bringing Him from Spaine hath brought Him to France that howsoeuer his loue began in the other yet it might end in this in which Hee hath giuen most infinite content vnto his Kingdomes who distasted the likelyhood of the former as much as they applaud the certaintie of this new Contract Surely God hath manifested his infinite loue and respect to our noble Prince in so infinitely blessing his proper Selfe in Himselfe and his people in Him in respect of his deliuerance Yea God and man your Highnesse and all the world may see the happinesse we conceiue of this Mariage and hope for from this Contract And what was the efficient cause of this but the loue of God to his Highnesse thus worthily disposed to the content and happinesse of his people Here was the loue of God manifestly and miraculously exprest to Him and all this Nation in this one particular but if I should proceed to make a whole discourse of Gods mercies as well towards his Bodie as his Soule my taske would be as infinite as his blessings But to leaue our mightie Prince whose actions doe more commend Himselfe let France but as nobly conceiue of our Nobles as they deserue and they shall finde a most ineffable cause of most vnspeakable Ioy in this Confederation for their brests are the lodges of loyaltie For indeed howsoeuer some of our naturall Country men haue lifted vp vnnaturally their hands against their Leige Soueraigne neuerthelesse it was their religion not their disposition which moued them to it And how long time hath our King rested free from danger begot and nurst vp by his Nobles No such I dare say is or at least ought to bee their loue to their gracious King that they deeme it more libertie to be his Seruant than anies Soueraigne For whereas generally great Kings weare Crownes like our Sauiours made of thornes composed of cares which makes their eyes as Sentinels to watch continually lest treason should surprize and ouerthrow and feares enioyne the minde to keepe diligent watch lest treason should euert both Person and people their pettie Crownes are crowned with contentment they are not affrighted with danger neither doth feare make their night of rest a day of trauell vnto them and all by their meanes who like a stately Cedar to the adioyning trees shelters them from tempests and drops downe the honie of peace vpon them This labour on his part begets the childe of loue in them and they deeme no iniurie so great nor apprehend any wrong so grieuous as that which is done to their Prince neither doe they coniecture any greater indignitie can bee done to them than when He is not dignified they count that glorie lest which doth not redound to Him and that honour to be as nothing with which He is not graced and therefore like so many pillars they doe support Him vpon the shoulders of their obedience who is their Roofe their Couer Protector To the grauer sort of the which Nobilitie our King stands as a Patterne for them to imitate in soundnesse of iudgement depth of learning and other vertues and to the younger our Prince serues as a Tutor to teach them and instruct them what way leadeth to the perfection of honour and true glorie and indeed none can bee more willing to set them an example than He and none more desirous to follow such a Leader than they they being proud in such a Patterne and Hee ioyfull in them Oh who can measure the happinesse of that Kingdome where the Prince is so accomplisht in the parts of his bodie and endowments of minde in whose actions all his followers may reade whole Lectures of Ethicks and Moralitie And thrice fortunate is that Prince all whose Nobles striue to be his pictures and euerie one desireth and striueth to haue neerest resemblance and to be drawne to the life according to his pourtraicture each of them reioyceth to be the shadow of such a substance and to bee like the creature which is is so like the Creator Here is no treason plotted no insurrections made by them but all those which doe truely feare loue God doe truly feare
prouing the truth of their words by the triall of their deeds accounting it a deep wound to their reputation not to performe their promises and that the lie deserues more than is in the Prouerbe not onely a stab but damnation they are content with that which the Lord hath allotted to them and doe not so much seeke to offend their neighbours as to defend themselues In a word Are the French affable sober wise modest temperate pious prudent couragious constant magnanimous mercifull iust The English doe answer them in all these worthie qualities and are full of courtesie in their carriage of sobrietie in their countenances of modestie in their behauiours of temperance in their diets of pietie in their religion of prudence in their practises of courage in their combats and controuersies of constancie and stayednesse in their affections of magnanimitie in their enterprises of mercie in pardoning those offences which may possibly be forgiuen and of Iustice in punishing those offences which may not be permitted Therefore of a certaintie no earthly blessing is able to counteruaile your happinesse whose Princesse is combined and conioyned with our Prince whose people is so worthie that Hee doth not seeme like a Royall Golden Pillar built vpon a Base of Lead but a worthie Prince set ouer a worthie people Happie therefore is France in her companie happie the Princesse in her command They extraordinarily fortunate that they shall haue commerce with a Nation who will not be to them as a strange people of a differing disposition but will bee of a correspondencie of condition with them and happie She that shall haue such subiects so wise so worthie so iust so honest that Shee may well thinke this her Kingdome to be a little Heauen in which She sits as Queene and her Subiects as so many Saints Neither doe the sweet-pleasing streames of ioy and solace flow onely to France from this fountaine but as the stomacke though it bee the proper resident place and receptacle of the meat yet doth not only feed and satisfie it selfe but likewise doth nourish and content all the parts about it so this blessed Vnion and sweet Coniunction doth not onely benefit the particular Countries betweene whom it is made but doth likewise reioyce the neighboring Nations and the rest of the League Confederacie Cast but an eye vpon Venice and there euen of one halfe blinde may bee discerned how all in generall applaud and laud it infinitely reioycing that their Friends and Confederates should be so fortunate that England and France should bee so ioyned together in the knot of true loue and amitie From this Contractariseth a hope of the vanquishing of their foes and that by this meanes a happie successe shall accompany all their iust enterprises against their enemies also being mounted vpon the wings of glorie they shall bee seated vpon the necks of their subdued aduersaries and that such conquests shall follow this Contract and such victories these Nuptialls and the posterities of men now liuing and succeeding ages shall see and say It was the mariage of the mightie Prince Charles and the Ladie Henrette Maria which were the Parents and Producers of Religions comfort of the restoring of the wronged to their right for God or the verie day in which Hymens Rites were solemnized betweene Them did matchall good people to happinesse crowned Them with victorie to the consolation of all true Christian Princes friends to equitie enemies of ambition fauourers and followers of vertue But if our intelligence trauell a little lower and you make recourse into the Low-Countries no tongue is able to vtter what they conceiue nor any pen almost to write the ioyous speeches they vtter for the confirmation of this Contract than which nothing could haue been more desired no newes better accepted And whereas the speeches of the former Match did seeme vnto them as hideous as Hell and as terrible as Thunder this is a lightning vnto their hearts for now in stead of feares they haue friends on all sides Allies and Confederates which are of will and power to assist them and to make resistance against their enemies The former Match did seeme vnto them as a storme of warre threatning to demolish the Architect of their welfare this as a Calme of peace promising securitie to their prosperitie Oh happie Brittaine in such a blessed Prince who is by so much more fortunate by how much more He is a meanes to make others happie and from whom can more happinesse bee deriued than from our Prince who cloathes so many Kingdomes at his Mariage-day in robes of comfort and giues to so many Common-wealths such great fauours as neuer did any Potentate in former nor is likely to doe in following time who hath lifted out of the mire of miserie so many drooping hearts and discontented soules Indeed neuer was Mariage more hopefull than this of these two most hopefull Princes by the coniunction of which two propitious Planets in this our firmament of Christendom it presageth the sweet distillation of the drops of happinesse vpon so many especially the Low-Countries whose Inhabitants are filled with heaped measure of mirth for this consolatorie most ioyfull and happie Coniunction The famous Prince of Orange Graue as well naturally as nominally as well really as titularly who is not onely graue and to bee honoured for his yeeres but graue and to be imitated for his vertues being not onely adorned with the grauitie of his head but with the grace of his heart doth heartily praise the God of Heauen by whom all marriages especially of Princes bee made for constituting and appointing this Contract and crossing that which was pretended with Spaine For that had laid his brest open to his enemies it had beene a way which had led to the wasting of his Countrey had it proceeded he might haue saluted it and said as Ahab spoke to Eliah Hast thou found me ob mine enemie But hee may welcome this with the speech of Dauid to Ahiah He is a good man and bringeth glad tydings Neither can it minister any small ioy to the most illustrious Sonne of our most gracious Soueraigne the King of Bohemia who hath along time beene rackt vpon the racke of hard misfortunes and endured the grimme looks of aduersitie but now he hopes safely to saile in the Ocean of pleasure and to see the smiling countenance of Ioy and Solace He doubteth not but now his noble affectionate Father is not onely powerfull in his owne proper forces but strong in Alliance with that mightie potent French King who both of them being so puissant in meanes men money and munition so sufficiently stored with wise graue Counsellours to aduise with young able men to act and put their counsell in execution They will ioyne forces to reioyne his detained Diadem to his head and to restore Him to his Countrey and Dignitie This was the day likewise which the onely Sister of our prosperous mightie Prince and Daughter of the
the vndefiled Temple of Diana whose harmelesse heart hath euermore walked cloathed in a white spotlesse robe of matchlesse innocence and hath beene hurtfull to none except it hath beene in being too mercifull and if She hath done any iniurie it hath beene in doing good to those which neuer deserued it Shee is free from the oppression of the fatherlesse or wronging the widow free from the effusion and pouring out of innocent bloud her hands were neuer imbrued in the purple die of infants gore And thus being guarded with the armour of proofe of innocence She walkes secure dreadlesse of danger for neither doe needlesse feares in the time of her watching surprize Her nor horrid dreames of danger in her sleepe affright Her for her innocence doth euermore secure Her Neither may her patience bee passed ouer in silence who heiring her Father in his spirit as if Hee had left Her his good Genius as part of her Dowrie is resolute beyond her sex in bearing aduersities and all afflictions which time in the whole course of her life hath inflicted vpon Her haue beene entertained like snow vpon the ground without any noyse or murmuring Religion and Discretion did informe Her that the more patiently She tooke her punishment of her Heauenly Father the more gently He would correct Her and She deemes it meere madnesse with the fish to leape out of the pan of miserie into the fire of impatience or to seeke to withstand that which She could not auoid therefore in all those sicknesses and afflictions which God either for triall or otherwise hath inflicted vpon Her Shee hath behaued Herselfe with such meeknesse such mildnesse and yet such courage of Spirit as we may truely say Shee hath beene Gods Patient in all her miseries if She were sicke in the highest degree yet her comfort was Shee could not bee sicker and thus though potions could not helpe her bodie yet patience did cure her soule and like a rare extraordinarie Bird She sung in a stormie tempest being not onely thankfull and praising God for his blessings on the right hand but her afflictions on the left and welcomming all her crosses with such sweet embracements as they had not the heart to stay long with such a friend that gaue them such kinde entertainment and good welcome Neither may her humilitie be forgotten who makes it Gentleman-Vsher for her Honour esteeming that honour cannot follow except humilitie goes afore She knowes it is the Basis vpon which all other vertues are erected and that pride is a great disgrace euen in the greatest Potentates To see a poore deiected miserable man which is low and cast downe in estate low in minde it is no wonder but to see one high in honours and preferment humble in spirit it is a strange raritie And it is most true that as there is nothing more odious in the sight of God than a poore man proud so there is no sight more acceptable to his All-seeing Eye than to see one which is mightie meane in his owne opinion But such is this honoured yet humble Ladie who though She be laden with honours riches and vertues yet like a fertile Plant by how much more it is inriched with fruit by so much neerer it bowes to the ground So this Illustrious Princesse by how much more God hath aduanced Her to dignities by so much more Shee doth honour Him by humilitie And to the end that Shee might walke safely betweene two extremes and absolutely attaine to the golden meane as Shee is not prone to pride so She is void of basenesse She doth not altogether forget the greatnesse of her birth but through the remembrance of it is incited to goodnesse of life Shee holds it the highest indignitie and the greatest vnworthinesse that may be to be superiour to any in birth or place and to be inferiour to them in grace and vertue And thus striuing to exceed Shee is beyond compare and good in the superlatiue the which howsoeuer Herselfe doth more looke on the defects in her labouring to mend them than those perfections which cannot bee bettered whiles her diuine soule is shadowed with this veile of mortalitie and depriued of the freedome in this prison of flesh yet Shee would haue others see her vertues not in a foolish vaine-glorie but a religious pietie that others by her good example might bee the more stirred to the practise of vertuous actions and that men seeing her good works might glorifie her Father which is in Heauen and as She doth holily desire that they might see her vertuous disposition and pious qualities so Shee doth wisely labour to couer her infirmities and to burie in obliuion her if there bee any in Her imperfections She considers Shee is set vpon a hill and hath many eyes vpon Her and that which is but a moat in anothers eye is a beame in hers that infirmitie which is but a scratch to anothers credit is a wound to her reputation She obserues also that as her weaknesses are eminent so they are dangerous For if the King holds his necke awry all the Subiects will imitate Him if the Tutour stammers the Scholler will scarce speake plaine and vulgar people thinke it their greatest perfection to imitate their Prince although it be in their imperfections Shee therefore to preuent that which might bee anywayes preiudiciall to her vnderlings endeuours to be as perfect as may bee and to hide that in which Shee is imperfect But that I may be constant in her praises let me likewise commend her constancie for whereas other women are like the Moone euer changing and in one instant loathing that which they loued hauing the eyes of their affection not fixed vpon one certaine obiect but hauing their mindes drunke with the varietie of affections they reele here and there and their heads being sicke of the staggers of inconstancie they are indeterminate in all their proceedings Shee on the contrarie being sober and stayd in her fancie loueth onely One and will neuer leaue to loue Him Light substances as feathers shittle-cocks and such like are moued with euerie puffe or the least blast of winde but creatures more ponderous and precious as your Diamond Rubie Carbuncle and Saphyr are not remoued out of the place where they rest but by violence and howsoeuer they bee harder to find yet it is not so easie to lose them Some women doe loue ad libitum and can finde no center of their desires but like your straw are so accendible as the least puffe will set their affections on flaming and kindle their desires but alas as they are soone in so they are soone out It is an easie matter in euerie place to meet with such light stuffe but it is difficult to finde Diamonds whose affections are well balanced and whose fancies are of long continuance But such is this Princesse so stayd so sober so constant so Penelope-like whom many may wooe but none can winne from Vlysses who though She may
haue many pleaders for Her yet non-suites them all but One being so diuine a Creature as in her affection Shee resembleth her Creatour who whom He loueth He loueth to the end The beames of her loue as they bee most bright so they are of long continuance being no wayes wauering nor speedily fading but constant and durable Neither is Shee constant in her affections onely but also in her vertuous actions for what vertue more naturall or necessarie in a Prince than liberalitie and who more liberall than Shee Her bountie like the Sunne shines vpon all She sees She knoweth none are more miserable than they which are miserably couetous who starue in a Cookes shop pine in the midst of plentie who Tantalus-like haue golden apples aboue and Crystall Fountaines beneath his chin but yet can neither taste the apples to satisfie his hunger nor touch the water to allay his thirst She therefore holding it a thing inconuenient to command others and not to command her passions and her purse Shee therefore esteeming riches but the exiles of Fortune the which Shee can keepe no longer because Shee must part from them doth liberally and freely giue to such whose either earnest petitions or silent deserts doe plead for them For reason teacheth Her that they are giuen Her onely to giue to others therefore with most incomparable bountie and yet discretion Shee doth bestow them and like the Heauens being full Shee powreth and showreth downe the dew of her pitie vpon the gaping necessitie of poore people She well remembreth that the faithfullest friends She can make are her charitable deeds for her goods leaue Her at her death nothing we brought and nothing we must carrie away Her Friends and Allies forsake Her at her graue they may accompanie Her to her tombe but they will not dwell with her in darknesse but her almesdeeds and pious actions follow Her saying vnto her soule as Ruth to Nahomi Whithersoeuer thou goest I le follow thee It is that which moues Her to shew such pietie in her pitie that makes Her a Prop to the poore a Staffe to the needie It is from hence that the blessings of the Lord doe still accompanie Her She is so much fauoured of Him because vertue is so much fauoured in Her and it is as far from doubt as truth from falshood that Shee shall be the most fortunate most blissefull and happie Princesse that euer was extant in this Christian world Thus haue you seene her vertues in some part deciphered though not to the full described for that were as impossible to containe her praises who though Shee bee young in yeeres yet is old in Grace in this small volume as to confine the boundlesse Ocean to a cesterne But because howsoeuer Vertue is true Nobilitie yet Nobilitie is an ornament to Vertue examine but her Princely Parentage which is lineally descended from so many Kings and Emperours neuer was Branch sprung from a more Regall Imperiall and Royall Stocke than She therefore not to make any troublesome search into ancient Chronicles but to looke into those later moderne times it will appeare that neuer had childe greater cause to ioy in a father than this Princesse in hers whose Father Henrie the fourth of the royall Race of Burbon a Prince so truely fully and nobly accomplisht as Hee deserueth to bee stiled the Worthiest of the French Monarchie for finding the Kingdome fraught with hatred rebellion infidelitie treason and such like but Hee by his moderate and discreet gouernment like a wise Husband-man of that his vineyard rooted out those enormious weeds planting in stead of them loue to his Person submission to his Soueraigntie faithfulnesse to his Crowne and loyaltie to his Gouernment and howsoeuer some did so farre oppose Him as they sought to depose Him yet He being directed and protected by a Higher Power in spight of all humane violent oppositions did triumph both ouer domestique forraigne foes and France may confesse truely and without flatterie that she languished with the want of such a Prince vntill He like another Hercules did ruine and root out those hideous monsters which did seeme prodigious to her owne proper progenie and restored France to her former reputation and crowned her with her pristine beautie It is He whose acts may stand to instruct Captaines their duties in succeeding ages It is Hee that was like Dauid in his reigne full of afflictions and blessings that resembled Him in his zeale of pietie and iustice the prime and principall pillers of a Royaltie who ruled his people happily to the glorie of God the good of his Subiects and the consolation of his owne Soule Indeed infinite were the vertues of this royall Prince who succeeded his famons Ancestours who were so worthie as they may adde glorie to his immortall fame and memorie For He was lineally descended in direct masculine and lawfull line of Lewis for his singular pietie sirnamed Saint the 44th French King whose quiuer was full of such arrowes as Dauid calleth blessings to wit children as Philip the Hardie his Successour in the Crowne Peter Earle of Alancon Robert Earle of Alancon through Peters vntimely decease and also Robert the eldest and the youngest were fortunate in leauing Issue in whom they might liue after their deaths the other died without heires sprung from their owne loynes The Issue of the forenamed Philip the Hardie succeeded lineally vntill Henrie the third King of France Poland in whom the name and family of the Valor being extinct the Crowne fell to the Race of Robert Earle of Cleremont who by Beautrix sole heire and daughter of Archibald Earle of Burbon had Lewis afterwards created Duke The which Lewis Duke of Burbon had Issue by Marie daughter to Iohn the eighteenth Earle of Hainhault had Peter Duke of Burbon and Iames Earle of Ponthieu Constable of France Peter had by Isabel daughter of Charles Earle of Valois Lewis and Iames Lewis sirnamed the Good Duke of Burbon had by Anne Countesse of Auergne Lewis Earle of Cleremont deceasing without Issue Iohn and Iames Iohn had by Bonne Dutchesse of Auergne Countesse of Montpensiere Charles and Lewis of Montpensiere father of Gilbert of whom issued Charles the last Duke of Burbon the which Charles Duke of Burbon had by Agnes daughter of Iohn Duke of Burgoigne Iohn and Peter Iohn the second of that name was linked in mariage with Ioane of France daughter to Charles the seuenth who dying without lawfull Issue the name and armes of Duke went to Peter his younger brother Peter the second of that name Duke of Burbon maried Anne of France daughter to Lewis the deuenth and had Issue by her one onely daughter Susan the generall heire of Bourbon who was wife to the abouenamed Charles the youngest sonne of Lewis abouenamed Earle of Montpensiere and brother to Charles Duke of Burbon but no children issuing from this mariage the branch of the eldest sonne of Lewis Duke of Burbon was broken
soueraigntie whose cheekes are like gardens of Roses and Lillies and Alablaster besprinckled with Vermilion both of which are the ineffable ornaments of Nature Alas what should I say more of the rare composure of her Angell-like celestiall countenance in the framing of which Nature hath shewed herselfe no step-mother but hath manifested the perfection of her affection vnto that sex in Her whose praises since I cannot vtter in speeches let it be sufficient to admire in silence Not to omit the proportion of her bodie in the discourse of which the most eloquent Oratour might finde a most spacious field to walke in the which is like her minde neither too loftie nor too excessiue low but her stature is indifferent and in the meane as if Nature in framing of Her had beene the Ape of Vertue and intended to dwell in the meane and shame both extremes each ligament and lineament of her bodie is so strongly and yet so sweetly framed as indeed they claime the admiration of all and the affections of the most Peerelesse Prince in the world As for the portion which indeed is in the last and least place to be respected what Princesse can equall Her For what greater portion than happinesse and what greater happinesse than that which Shee will bring tome Kingdome into which She shall match and in the which She shall be resident whose Allies shall bee as strong Bulwarks to the place to whose Prince She shall be conioyned in wedlocke in the time of warre and in the time of peace the meanes of the transporting of all necessarie and requisite benefits to that Kingdome Thus her vertue her parentage her education proportion and portion proue Her worthie to be linked with the Worthiest in mariage these make Her fit to bee a Wife but the intire affection which Shee beareth to our Prince proue Her worthie to bee his Wife and no doubt but as there is the highest degree of loue betwixt Them so no doubt they shall haue the pledges of true loue and shall liue and giue life to this Kingdome hereafter by their posteritie Thus it appeareth that as now She is euerie wayes a most excellent Virgin so if vertue education parentage portion proportion loue all these or any of these may make a happie Spouse She is likely to make a most blessed Yoake-fellow these make Her fit to be a Wise but her loue to Prince Charles his Wife her vertues ioy the world in generall but her loue to Him doth solace Him in particular and who is able to describe her loue not man for they are not so violent in their passions not women for few or none of them are so vertuous to loue so chastely affectionate no surely neither man nor woman can relate it to the measure althogh they may vtter some part of the manner of it for her loue is euen like her vertues infinite Oh the incomprehensible wisdome of the Deitie which euen afore our birth doth not onely foreknow but doth also predetermine all the actions and affections or vs mortals effecting things and that for our welfare euen by almost seeming impossible meanes beyond our hope or imagination Who would haue thought that Saul should haue found a Kingdome when he went to looke his fathers Asses Or Dauid a Crowne when hee went to carie releefe to his brethren God oftentimes shewes vs our home in the midst of our iourney for so did Hee deale with our mightie Prince who manifesting a high degree of wisdome in looking afore He leapt and shewed no lesse religion than discretion in vndertaking though a tedious iourney to view the Cabinet into which Hee was to put his Soule and to place his perpetuall welfare before He trusted it with the custodie of it most fortunately met with the Center of his affections euen in the mid way Hee aimed but God directed the arrow of his loue at a more happie marke more happie and lesse dangerous for Himselfe more happie more prosperous for his Countries In so much me thinkes that so soone as the louely pourtraicture of this Peerelesse Prince though by his picture should bee conucyed thorow those Crystall Casements of her affections into the closet of her secrecies it should cause her intellectuall facultie thus to rationate with it selfe in silence Whither wanderest thou sweet Prince so far from thy home Thou art lodged in my heart Oh let it be thy perpetuall habitation Why doest thou carrie my heart so far from my bodie It is thou which doest now possesse it for I am no more Mistresse of that which was mine owne Why shouldest thou seeke far for that which isneerer home Expose not thy selfe to the dangers troubles of trauel saile not into an Ocean of sorrowes when thou mayst lie at roade in a more quiet Harbour Oh let my loue be the load-stone of thy person the Remora of thy affections But if thou wilt needs trauell into the Westerne parts and make a night of sorrow in our Hemisphere yet returne turne to vs againe and let the brightnesse of thy beames expell the darknesse of our dolour No doubt but our Prince was inflamed before He saw the smoake of her desire her lookes were the messengers of loue and his heart was open to entertaine the embassage They were the darts of Cupid and his heart was ioyous in being wounded with such weapons Thus did they meet in their affections and the Almightie seeing if mortals can merit any thing that The deserued what They desired will ioyne their hands as well as their harts make Them one really as they are mentally Happie there fore oh royall King which shall liue to see your childrens children flourishing in your Palaces these Kingdoms eternally conferred confirmed vpon your posteritie Happie ô Prince who shall be linked to one which is the Golden Chaine of Vertue this Diamond of the world whom Nature hath so preciously set in the eyes of men to bee the chiefe worke of her workmanship and the Ornament of the world Oh happie Princesse so happie in finding such a Head whose welfare shall be guarded by such a Prince that you shall seeme like sweet Rose-water kept in a crystall glasse Who when you reioyce shall see your ioy shine in an other and when you grieue shall see the face of your sorrow in anothers melting liquid heart Oh happie both of you when like two heauenly Strings conioyned together you shall make a sweeter harmonie Oh how delightfull will the name of Parents bee vnto you when they shall see your Children flourish in whom they are Oh what an ineffable blisse it will bee when they shall see their children with awfull loue runne about them and like little modells of themselues carrie themselues about them Oh happie pie England which art like neuer to bee like a flocke of sheepe without a Shepherd or an armie discomfited without a Leader but hast more than hopes neuer to want one of thy blessed Kings Race to
made more happie in themselues more blessed in their people than this Prince and Princesse who are so like in themselues and their Countries their people their loues their vertues as this rare Ladie and her Prince who by his supreme vertues might seeme only to challenge Her and Shee for her exquisite qualities to enioy Him So that from this Match may be deriued all happinesse and all felicitie as also all vertues ioyne in them for hath his greatest indignation and choler beene euer made a crime against them whom Hee hath hated No no but his royall Soule which had nothing in it but courage seemed to faile in his reuenge and though that with the eyes of his minde He may apprehend offences yet his mercie is as readie to forget them as his wisdome to apprehend them And for his valour I doubt not but hereafter as well as in times past the eyes of all men shall see it and eares conceiue it and succeeding ages shall publish his present valour and it is not to bee feared that this assertion shall need confirmation since there is hope it is not only without contestatiō but comparison who hath also clemency ioyned with his courage hath as much pleasure in pardoning as glory in vanquishing so that it is to be expected that as the acts of the one shall be signed with bloud so the other shall be sealed with teares And for his pious life the world knowes that he hath no superiors few equals but multitudes of inferiours who as if he made it his onely happinesse to serue God doth only please himselfe in pleasing him esteeming his seruices his greatest freedome and deeming it a thing most vnworthy to bee a Soueraigne of men and not a seruant of God And a thing most requisite in a Prince to be as eminent in grace as in place and in vertue as in dignity than the which there cannot be a greater honour nor any thing which doth more proue or improue the stocke He came of who is like pure pearly water flowing from a Crystall fountaine or like an Apple of gold hanging vpon a goodly Cedar which brancheth it selfe into all the parts of Christendome For how royally descended and neerely allied is He for how frequent haue the interchanges of Mariages with England and other the chiefest and noblest Families of Christendome being the onely sonne of Iames the sixt of that name King of Great-Britaine France and Ireland lineally descended from multitudes of most mighty Monarchs the vndoubted Heire of the said Dominions being issued from Marie Queene of Scotland and Dowager of Francis of Valoys the second French King who departed this life 1586 marrying Henrie Steward Lord Darnely her second Husband eldest Son to Mathew created Duke of Albany in an 1565 and slaine in the yeare 1566 the which Q. Mary was the daughter of Iames Steward the 5. king of Scotland whose first wife was Magdalen daughter of Francis the 1. French king who dyed in the yeare 1541 The which Iames the 5. was descended from Iames the 4. king of Scotland who married Margaret eldest daughter of king Henrie the 7 and sister to king Henrie the eighth in the 11. yeare of her Fathers reigne 1489. and was slaine in battle at Flowden anno 1514 in the sixt yeare of king Henrie the 8. his reigne The which Iames 4. was issued from Iames the 3. king of Scotland who maried Margaret daughter of Christian the 1. king of Denmarke marke who was descended from Iames Steward the 2. King of Scotland who maried Marie daughter of Arnold Duke of Gelders and was slaine anno 1460 who was sprung from the loynes of Iames Steward the first king of Scotland who maried Ioane daughter of Iohn Earle of Summerset In the which England and Scotland in those times also gaue the kisses of peace in mariage for the said Ioane was descended from Iohn Plantagenet sirnamed of Gaunt Earle of Richmond Duke of Lancaster called king of Castile who maried three wiues and died in anno 1398. being issued from the royall stocke of Edward Plantagenet the 3. king of England and France who quartered the Armes erected the Order of the Garter maried Philip of Henault and deceased anno 1377. But to returne vnto our former discourse this Iames the first was issued from the loynes of Robert Steward the third king of Scotland sometimes called Iohn maried Annibell daughter to Iohn Drummond and dyed in anno 1406 who was descended from Robert Steward the 2 who after Dauid Bruise 1370. was king of Scotland whose second wife was Elizabeth daughter of Adam Marre knight who dyed 1309. was descended from Gualter Steward Lord Steward of Scotland who maried Margerie daughter of Robert Bruise sister and heire to Dauid-Bruise both kings of Scotland by which meanes the royall name of the Stewards was matcht into the bloud royall and made apparant heires of the Crowne in which worthy and noble Name it doth still vnto this present day continue Which honourable and euer to be reuerenced Name was first aduanced to the dignity of Lord Stewardship by king Malchol the 3. who conferred that honour vpon Walter borne in Wales at his returne into Scotland for some memorable and worthy seruices which hee performed But they were intituled in the Crowne by the mariage of the abouesaid Margerie daughter to Robert Bruise Earle of Carrick the first king of Scotland who maried Elizabeth sister to the Earle of Marre and died in anno 1329. Whose Ancestour Robert Bruise Lord of the Valley of Anandie in Scotland and Cunnington in England maried Martha daughter to the Earle of Carrick Hee also married Isabel the sister and co-heire of Iohn the Scot Earle of Chester who brought vnto him Cunnington in England for her Dowry being of the stocke of Dauid Earle of Angus and Huntingdon the 3. sonne of Henrie Prince of Scotland who married Margaret daughter and coheire of the Earle of Chester and dyed in anno 12 19. William king of Scotland sirnamed the Lion second Son of Prince Henrie succeeded his brother king Malchol in anno 1160 and dyed without issue Henrie Earle of Huntingdon married Ada the daughter of William Earle of Werren hauing a period prefixt to his daies by the Almighty afore the expiration of his Fathers life anno 1152. Dauid the first king of Scotland sonne of Malchol married Maud daughter and heire of Waltheof Earle of Huntingdon and dyed in anno 1153. in the 19. yeare of the Reigne of king Steuen so Maud Queene of England daughter of Malchol and brother to Dauid the first king of Scotland was espoused to Henrie the first king of England sonne to William the Conquerour who dyed anno 1119 from whose loynes sprung the famous race of the Brittish Kings who haue for their valour and their fortunes beene famous and admired throughout the world Neither was here a beginning of the loue and amitie betweene them who now by one are for euer made one For likewise
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
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