respect him the more hee rebelled against him Is it possible then that her minde can euer lose the impression of her fathers remembrance And can Shee remember Him and yet forget his death Or can reminiscence retaine his death and not thinke of the instrument of it Or can the instrument of that murther be in her memorie and the setters on work of that wicked Instrument the Instigatours of that bloudie Butcher to that beastly cursed cruell fact be out of her minde And can Shee remember them and not abhorre them And can She abhorre them and not relinquish their religion which hold that lawfull which Gods Law hath forbidden For God prohibiteth the murther of any priuate person but these Doctors maintaine it to be lawfull to kill Kings which are publique persons Neither doe they permit it as a worke not impious but perswade men to it as a deed meritorious For Rauilack had no sooner playd his part in that bloudie Scene but hee was so confident in the blessednesse of the act as hee thought immediately to haue flowne to Heauen and beene crowned a Saint by God as well as canonized a Saint by the Pope Such is the leauen of the Popish Doctrine that sowres all the subiects of the Prince which doth professe it For what treacherous attempt against any King either Protestant or Papist hath beene made by a Protestant in our memories Oh no we are taught to feare God to honour the King wee must follow Dauids example to Saul not lift vp our hands against the Lords Anointed wee know Hee is Gods Vice-Gerent placed there by God and therfore to be displaced by none but Him But on the contrarie what plots haue beene laid What treasons haue beene committed either for the destruction of a King or subuersion of a Kingdome in which the Papists haue not only been Parties but principall Agents Who were they which plotted so many treasons against the Person of Queene Elizabeth but Papists But what treasons were plotted against Queene Marie by any Protestant notwithstanding shee was a cruell persecutor of that Profession What was Gowrie that conspired the ouerthrow of the Sacred Maiestie of King Iames but a Papist What were the plotters of that horrid Gun-powder Treason who sought with one puffe to blow away both the Prince and Peeres of our Kingdome but all professors of the Romish Religion What was hee which murthered King Henrie the third of France but a Papist Iacobin In a word what treasons haue beene committed which are contained in the Register-booke of mans memorie which haue not beene plotted and performed by them And no maruell the Priests and people practise it since they preach it and it is an orthodoxall opinion and position amongst them that the Pope hath power both to dispose of Kingdomes and depose Kings and that King-killing is not onely a lawfull but a holy and honourable calling Who then can suspect that a Princesse of her peerelesse part of her pious disposition of her matchlesse vnderstanding and discretion doth affect truly that religion which doth infect the hearts of Princes subiects which doth teach men to be monsters in gouernment and not to subiect themselues to higher powers but to rebell against the rule and authoritie of the Regall Scepter How can those Princes haue any peace with God that doe so little respect and much hazard their liues as to harbour and foster such murtherous rebellious minded men in their Kingdomes How can Princes haue any peace with men when they suffer men which are so wicked to preach such doctrine and practise such villanie How can they haue any peace within thē when they may iustly feare that each one which smiles in their face may smite their heart when they nourish vp such vipers in their bosome as are readie each moment to eat out their bowels How can then this Royall Princesse affect that religion or the professors of it which was the death of her Father and his Predecessor which may be a disturbance to the peace of her Prince and the safetie of his person if it be tolerated which may impaire the securitie of her posteritie who are neuer like to possesse their Princedomes in peace vnlesse such vermine bee hunted out of their Territories for peace and such people cannot inhabit in one Kingdome or dwell together no more than wine and poyson in a crystall glasse but the glasse will bee broke and the wine spilt and spoiled If then a Prince will possesse his soule and soueraigntie in peace he must banish these breakers and disturbers of it Neither is it a strange or vnheard of matter for France and England to shake hands of amitie and vnitie in those blessed Contracts for since almost the beginning of either Monarchie there haue beene continually these friendly and fortunate interchanges of mariage For it was not concealed from our Ancestors how beneficiall peace was betweene France and England therefore Steuen Earle of Bloys was linked in the bond of mariage w th Adela daughter to William the Conquerour And on the other side William Waren Earle of Surrey sonne of Gunred daughter to William the Conqueror maried the daughter of Hugh Vermandoys brother to the King of France For in like manner William Duke of Normandie did marrie Marie daughter to Foulke Earle of Anjou Maud the Empresse was linked in mariage with Iefferie Plantaginet Earle of Anjou And for the happinesse of his Kingdome the tranquillitie of his Countrey and felicitie of his Countrey-men Steuen King of England maried Constance daughter to the King of France Henrie the second maried Elenor sole heire to William Duke of Aquitaine Henrie sonne to King Henrie the second maried Margaret daughter to Lewis the French King Richard Cordelion maried Berenger daughter to Sanches King of Nauarre Iohn King of England maried Isabel daughter and heire of Amorie Earle of Angoulesme Arthur nephew to King Iohn maried the daughter of Philip King of France Edward the second maried the daughter of Philip King of France Isabel daughter to Edward the third maried Ingelram de Guisnes Earle of Soysson and Bedford Richard the second maried Isabel daughter to Charles the French King Henrie the fourth maried Iane the daughter of Philip the third King of Nauarre Henrie the fifth maried Catherine daughter to Charles the French King Henrie the sixth maried Margaret the daughter of Reiner Valois Duke of Anjou Marie daughter to Henry the seuenth maried Lewis the twelfth French King Charles Prince of Great Britaine betrothed to Maria Henrette daughter to Henrie the fourth and sister to Lewis the thirteenth Kings of France Thus hath there been a long and sweet continuance of blessed Contracts between France and England fortunate in each mariage producing peace and plentie to each Dominion so haue these matches beene prosperous to former so is this like to bee to future ages that all happinesse to either Kingdom shall be the issue of this most longed for and liked Vnion For who can bee
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
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
Imperiall Maiestie of our mightie Soueraigne so long looked for and so much longed for in which Shee might haue a Sister by mariage though not by birth with whom She might make a mutuall exchange of intire affection that She might finde one true friend that might bee her Sister both in deed and vertue that hauing found one so neere Herselfe so like Herselfe her ioy might euen almost exceed Herselfe and who more fit to be Sisters than those who are so concording in vertuous conditions the least of whose rare exquisite perfections cannot bee imitated by any but by one another for who so modest so bountifull so beautifull so chaste so constant so wise and euerie waies so worthie as Elizabeth but Henrette Maria all that they differ is in that which notwithstanding in either of Them is a vertue for the one is a chaste Matron the other a pure Virgin the one the Mother as well of many children as of many holy deeds the other the mother onely of vertuous actions The Almightie of his mercie grant that as Shee is her perfect Patterne in the one so Shee may truely resemble Her that so Shee may bee the happie Mother of many children and Hee the fortunate Father and Progenitour of many Princes that Shee being like a fruitfull Vine vpon the wall-side his children may bee like Oliue Branches round about his table and that in his Posteritie not onely his Highnesse but all the world may bee happie so also the Pfaltz-graues Princely Babes and hopefull Issue reioyce in regard all their Friends are not likely to decease with their Parents but that from their mightie Vncle Prince Charles his loynes shall spring such Princely Sprigs who will take their parts against all those which with an enuious eye and a malicious minde behold their persons For euer therefore let this Contract bee chronicled in the Register of Fame which hath thus imposed an Epilogue to the dolefull Tragedie so passionately acted in the bosomes of the Royll King and Queene of Bohemia and hath begun a Prologue to a ioyfull Comedie the beginning of which shall bee warre and bloudie dissention but the last act containeth the peace of the Church the releefe of the oppressed the ruine of Antichrist and the aduancement of Christian Religion Thus from these two most excellent Princes spring tides of happinesse ouerflowing many Countries and good fortune of which they are the Authours crownes many forraigne Nations but most especially this our Iland and all his Maiesties of Great Brittaines Dominions For if wee shall but behold France with the eye of mature iudgement wee shall finde it stored with all kinde of commodities fit for commerce and traffique being as it were Gods garden in which Hee had planted all his blessings and benefits for what rare blessing is it not richly furnished with as corne cattell fish fowle and all manner of fruit either pleasing to the eye or delightfull to the taste whose soyle is cloathed in a greene mantle decked and adorned with all kinde of various delectable sense-delighting odoriferous flowers Indeed no Kingdomes soyle hath more beautie and bountie than France no Countrey better situated more abounding with excellent wits both in the time of warre and peace than France there is no Kingdome established with godlier Lawes no Monarchie more mightie of authoritie more absolute Soueraigne being a Kingdome so well fortified with power and so well qualified with pietie Indeed neuer was the foundation of any Empire laid with more wisdome and being built vpheld and the ruines repaired with more discretion than France Doe you inquire after the greatnesse of her Prouinces They are like so many Kingdomes yet all vnited in one Neuer were there any Soueraignes of any Kingdomes which haue more constantly laboured for the propagation of the Gospell and the planting of Religion than the French Kings who haue made cleane the floore of Christen dome swept away so much filthinesse and diuerted that great Deluge of Infidels which threatned shipwracke to the French Nation from whence they haue their deserued titles of most Christian Kings What worthie men yea and most excellent Kings hath France produced of whom wee may truely report that they were most valiant in warre most wise in counsell carrying themselues not insultingly in their prosperitie nor yet deiectedly in their aduersitie but being almost conquered in shew they became Conquerours in effect and when they were most in despaire yet neuer despaired of the Common-weale who as they manifested great loue to their subiects so their subiects expressed great loue and affection to them Doe you search who were the Ancestours of the French and inquire after the originall of that Nation you shall finde them neither in the ruines and ashes of Troy neither in the Fens of Moolides but were principally descended from them in Germany a Nation mighty in strength and valour who by defending themselues and succouring others came to be a people powerfull in Armes who still maintained their liberty with their sword from whence they were called by the other Germanes Fraunce which signifies free or reiecting seruitude and bondage And it may bee spoken truely and without flatterie that neuer Kingdome might better boast of so many worthie Princes as this may As Pharamond the first Layer of the Foundation of this Monarchie Clodion his Successour in this building Meroued the Continuer and Augmenter of the Edifice Clouis whose memorie is to bee reuerenced of all posteritie and whose worthie deeds are to bee had in an euerlasting remembrance as being the first that added Christian religion to others conquests and adorned that rare foundation with the faith of Christ the primest ornament of any Principalitie by which meanes the hearts of the Gaules who for the most part embraced the Gospell were as much vnited to him by fauour as his was to God by faith who by this meanes obtained from them voluntarie obedience and was made assured possessour of the others victories who likewise receiued the name of his new Dominions and were called by the name of France To omit that renowned Prince Charlemaigne who being inriched with singular gifts both of bodie and minde repaired the ruine of the Empire was confirmed King of France and Emperour of Rome to the great aduancement of Religion and comfort of the Common-wealth whose issue although it did not alwaies inherit either their Fathers valour or his honour yet God who though He may alter the persons yet still guardeth and guideth the state of Monarchies did raise vp a worthie Successour of that Race to wit Hugh Capet a Prince adorned both with wisdome and modestie ioyning wholsome Lawes to his force of armes and well-gouerned equitie to his authoritie did so ouercast this erected Kingdome with such both godly and goodly Ordinances as it withstood the stormes of many miserable ages And of late yeeres Henrie the fourth the prime Prince of the bloud and first King of the Royall Race of Burbon a Prince
off and ended in this Charles Duke of Bourbon and Constable of France who died at the siege of Rome Now the Dutchie of Bourbonois being incorporated into the Crowne of France it fell to the line of Iames of Ponthieu Constable of France they youngest son of Lewis Duke of Bourbon the which Iames had by Ioane daughter of the Earle of St. Paul Iohn his Successour Earle of La March Iohn had of Catherine the onely daughter and heire of Iohn Earle of Vendosme Iames King of Naples who leauing no Issue Male the right of inheritance was transported to Lewis the younger brother Lewis had no Issue by Iane of Russy his first wife but by his second mariage he had Iohn his Successour and Earle of Vendosme Iohn the second had by Iean of Beauire Francis his Successour and Earle of Vendosme and Lewis Prince of La Roch Syr-you who of Louise of Bourbon the daughter of Gilbert of Bourbon left Lewis of Bourbon Earle of Montpensiere you was father to Francis Duke of Bourbon and Earle of Montpensiere who was father to Henrie last Duke of Montpensiere Prince of Dombos Daulphine of Auergne Lieutenant Generall for the King in Normandie and husband to Catherine Henrette of Ioyeuze a Prince so famous for all vertues as hee was admired of all To Francis were borne by Marie of Luxenburg Countesse of St. Paul and daughter of Peter of Luxenburg Charles Earle but created Duke of Vendosme by King Francis the first Francis Earle of St. Paul who by Adrian Dutchesse of Esterhout ville had Francis who died young Lewis Cardinall of Bourbon Antoniette wife to Claude of Lorraine Duke of Guise also Louis Abbas of Fonteuaraux Charles the first Duke of Vendosme had by Louis the daughter of Rene Duke of Alancon Lewis who died at the age of seuen yeeres Anthonie who succeeded in his right and was afterwards King of Nauarre Francis Earle of Anghien Charles Cardinall Arch-Bishop of Rouan Iohn who lost his life at the battell of St. Quintin and Lewis Prince of Conde Anthonie the Successour of Charles first Duke of Vendosme and King of Nauarre had by Ioane of Albret Queen of Nauarre daughter to Henrie the second of that name King of Nauarre Henrie the fourth of that name French King as his Fathers Successour and the third of that name King of Nauarre by the right of his Mother This is the Royall Root from whence this Princely Branch is sprung which shewes the noblenesse of her descent so that as Shee graceth her parentage by her vertues so They grace Her by her birth For howsoeuer wine be good out of a woodden dish yet we esteeme it better if we drinke it out of a golden vessell So howsoeuer vertuous noble personages though ignobly borne ought to bee respected yet those which haue vertue ioyned with their nobilitie of birth are worthie of double honour Then who more to bereuerenced in our hearts extolled in our speeches than this noble and neuer-enough to bee honoured Ladie who is descended by the fathers side from Henrie the fourth French King who no whit vnworthie of his famous renowned Ancestors added luster to their former glorie who respecting the Common-wealth more than Himselfe indeed onely louing Himselfe because He loued the Common-wealth was not onely the Father of his Countrey but also of the peace and tranquillitie of his Kingdome But perhaps some will say the childe is not alwayes the inheritour of the fathers worth For neither the soule nor the vertues of it come by propagation and the onely iuyce wee draw from our parents loynes is their infirmities Moreouer though the childe hath not often the fathers wisdome yet for the most part it hath the mothers wit will and affections Doe but search Chronicles and Histories for her mothers vertues and you shall finde Her afore her mariage the most vertuous Virgin after her mariage so worthie a Matron as Heauen could ioy in or earth be proud of To speake her vertues in particular were a burthen heauier than Aetna to passe them ouer in generall were a wrong to her perfections to vndertake to write of them seuerally were pride in my pen and to speake of them but ioyntly and briefly were an argument of pouertie of inuention To auoyd therefore both these enormities let it be my ambition to vse that commendations of Her at her entertainment and arriuall in France formerly vttered by Monsieur du Varais who making an Oration to Her in which hee seemed to build the whole felicitie of France vpon her mariage with the King hee praiseth her perfections in these words Seeing in you so many graces wherewith Nature hath endowed you admiring the beautie wherewith shee hath adorned you considering that naturall sweetnesse wherewith shee hath tempered your royall grauitie and hearing with our eares the voice renowned by fame which proclaimes the quicknesse of your spirit the soundnesse of your iudgement the eloquence of your discourse and that which exceeds all the incomparable commendation of your holy and religious disposition wee perswade our selues that you are Shee whom the Heauens had appointed by your pleasing companie to mollifie the life of the King to prolong his dayes by his content and to make his reigne perpetuall by the continuance of a great and happie posteritie Wee beleeue that you are onely She vpon earth worthie to make the life of the most triumphant King in the world to rest in your chaste bosome and that He aboue all others did merit to embrace the most vertuous and pleasing Princesse in his victorious armes Whereby we presage we shall soone see a number of goodly children carrying in their fore-heads their fathers valour their mothers vertue the greatnesse and abilitie of the house of France whereunto you are allied the happinesse and power of the house of Austria from whence you are issued and the wisdom of Florence in which you were borne To the beleefe of this presage all things seem to inuite vs but cheefly the Heauen the Sea for we see at the arriuall of your Maiestie the Sea full of stormes is growne calme the Heauen ouercast with clouds is cleere as if they woud with a pleasing eye celebrate with vs the magnificence of your reception For in good time then oh great Queene are you come into our coasts long may you liue happie in France and to France that the age in which wee liue may terme you a happie wife to a King and future ages a happie mother of Kings Here then you may discerne the most excellent perfections of this most excellent Princesses mother who caried herselfe so submissiuely to her Lord the King that nothing was more deere or neere vnto Him than Herselfe so louingly and royally to her Subiects that Shee won the hearts of all those whose soules and affections were sealed and deliuered to her Maiestie so worthily to her children that not onely by her instructions but her example which children are most apt and readie to
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
endowed with all gifts and rare qualities requisite for the restoring of a Kingdoms sicke and languishing estate to the former health and happinesse who succeeding Henrie the third the last of the Royall Race of Valois who was slaine by a Iacobine in the Crowne and Dignitie of a King found the Kingdome pestered with so many pestilent euils which was like a bodie surfetted and weakned with all kinde of diuersitie of diseases surcharged with melancholy and diuers other bad humours which did so contend for predominancie as it was full of intestine broyles and ciuill dissentions the which being fed with choller of the people did daily threaten the ouerthrow and destruction of the whole Continent if God had not in time sent that good Physitian Henrie the fourth whose might and mildnesse composed such wholsome medicines and rare remedies for the recouerie of his Kingdomes welfare that by his valour hee encountred his enemies and reduced his distracted and almost destroyed subiects to their dutifull obedience in so much as his most gracious gouernment was likely to haue brought that Kingdome to a most peaceable and prosperous estate if a cursed cruell murtherer had not imposed an vntimely end by an vnfortunate stab to his life and by consequence to his gouernment with whose life the present prosperitie of the Kingdome was ended in regard He left none to weild his Scepter but his Sonne then Daulphine now King Lewis whose tender yeeres though they promised much yet they could performe verie little in the ruling of such a mightie Nation But God who is euermore a Father of the fatherlesse and a Husband to the Widow became a mightie Protectour of this fatherlesse Countrey still preseruing it from all perills guarding the Daulphine from all dangers till at length Hee attaining to the ripenesse of yeeres and vertues was fit to bee the Gouernour of such a Kingdome in so much as now it may bee truely stiled The most flourishing and fortunate Common-wealth in Christendome Then what better or fitter amitie than betweene Nations and People so faithfull and two Countries so fruitfull as France and Brittaine What greater likelyhood can there be of loue than between men so like in qualities as the French and English and two Countries so rich as France and England It is an ancient approued Maxime in Philosophie Simile simili gaudet The like reioyceth in the like and it is as receiued an axiom in Moralitie Amicitia debet esse inter aequales For if a rich man be in the bond of friendship with a poore man their loue is not likely to bee of any long continuance for the want of the one will wearie the good will of the other and like Pharaohs kine the leane ones will eat vp the fat But when two fertile Kingdome which are the Palaces of Ceres and Temples of Bacchus shall ioyne together it is not onely likely to bee great for the quantitie but durable for the time when as they shall not onely haue the interchanges of peace but also of plentie when as neither of them shall impouerish but both of them ioyntly enrich each other This is the ioy of our most mightie wise inuict Monarch King Iames who is as well the father of his Countrey England as of his Sonne Prince Charles who cannot chuse but reioyce to see his Countrey so well matched to a Kingdome so commodious and profitable There is no father but desireth and ioyeth to see his daughter wealthily bestowed vpon one of equall worth and meanes then well may his Royall Person reioyce at this Mariage of his Kingdom which hath found a Mate so powerfull so plentifull so abounding with all riches so enriched with all benefits as France Doth He desire peace it is able in the time of peace to send Him rich commodities out of her store-house Doth He desire warre what is wanting there to maintaine it It is populous for men powerfull for money plentifull for prouision there are men to bee procured for money money for men sustenance to be had for money that nothing might be wanting requisite for the vpholding for the beginning or continuance of a iust warre Then how is England for euer obliged to the Almightie who hath thus directed our King thus affected our Prince to chuse and select so blessed a Princesse in so happie a Countrey which is the fertile Mother of such excellent wits which is the Continent of such affable debonaire and courteous people a rich Fountaine From whence all necessarie benefits flow to neighbouring Nations which wanteth neither a fat fruitfull soyle to yeeld increase nor laborious painfull industrious men to till it which hath beene the seat of so many mightie wise valiant vnconquered Monarchs Oh happie Brittaine which though thou wert most happie in thy selfe yet if it be possible art more than most happie in such a Sister which is the Palace of pleasure the Mansion-place of delight which sendeth all rare delicates as gifts vnto thy People and the rarest Gemme of Nature the most exquisite Fruit that euer that Countrey could make it selfe or other Countries happie in The Ladie Henrette Maria to thy Prince whose vertues shew themselues to the life more to the eyes of all than the most perfect eloquence is able to declare them to the eares of any who in her virginitie was wedded to Vertue and is now marched with the most vertuous Prince that euer liued who for vertue parentage education proportion and portion stands as a matchlesse Mirrour to all her sex and no whit vnworthie of such a Husband Consider but her vertues and you will say and yet speake nothing but that which you thinke that Shee is rather an Angell sent from Heauen for to bee a Miracle and Oracle of her time for all to admire than borne of mortall seed for any to imitate in whom wisdome sits in her perfection and all to make Her perfect whose words are all weighed in the balance of consideration in her minde afore they be vented by her lips for Shee knowes words are like time once past they cannot be recalled and howsoeuer the tongue bee an vnruly euill and that euill most predominant in a woman yet Shee deeming it most vnworthie to command others and not to command Her selfe alwaies premeditating of whom to whom where and what She speakes and as Shee suffers not her tongue to be the key of her mindes closet where silence is a vertue so Shee will not neglect to let her tongue bee the testament of her minde where necessitie enforceth Thrice happie Kingdome at this instant in which there is such a Princesse extant so fully accomplisht with such rare vertuous qualities It is She whose chastitie doth challenge the superioritie of all her Ancestours and stands as a Patterne to future ages whose heart neuer harboured the least thought of vncleannesse whose Iuorie Alablaster Soule hath not beene toucht or tainted with the least impuritie can be imagined but from her infancie hath been
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