continually seized thereof untill this day * His Maiesties Title to France see it more at large in the Argument So likewise his title to the crowne of France sheweth it selfe cleerely in the ancient possessions of these royall Plantagenets here presented His Majesties Progenitors first Dukes of Normandy then of Aquitaine Earles of Poictou of Aniou of Maine of Touraine and of Britaine and after Angolesme and lastly Kings of all France in the right of †Vide Iohn Froissard Tom. 3. Isabell or Elizabeth sole Daughter and Heire of Philip le bell King of France Mother of King Edward the third who made a most renowned and happy entry upon that his Royall inheritance And he his great Heires were not onely Titular Lords but also Actuall possessors of France many yeares and yet to this day in token of that ancient right have seisin of a * Gersey Gernesey Alderney c. are parcels of Normandy so consequently of France yet possessed by the King of England part of that Kingdome notwithstanding that counterfeit-heathnish law Salica maintained by al the power of France many ages against them His Majesties title and descent from the ancient Kings of Great Britaine and which is least knowne may thus readily be derived * His Majesties Title frō the British Kings The Welch Bardes as also our best Heralds Record that 1 Ruffin Rhese-ap-Gruffith surnamed Argluid Prince of South-Wales about the yeare of our Lord 1196 and issued from Cadwallader the last British King had a Daughter named 2 Faire Iulian Gwenlhiam married to 3 Edmund Edneuet Vachan Lord of Bransencle and chiefe Justice of Wales and bare to him a sonne called 4 Gerion or Jeronim Grono this Grono had 5 Theodore Tedor Tedor had Grono Grono had Tedor Tedor had 6 Veridik Meredith Meredith had Owen which Owen married Katherine Widdow of King Henry 5 and Daughter of the French King Charles the sixt by whom he had Edmond created Earle of Richmont by King Hen. 6. his Brother Vterine And this Edmond was father of King Hen. 7 who was Father of Queene Margaret his Majesties great Grandmother And lastly to finish his Majesties Titles to all those Diadems mentioned in this Poësie His Majesties title from the Saxon Kings I have inserted a Genealogie of the Saxon Kings drawne from the first uniter of the Heptarchy and the Godfather of Anglia King Egbert unto Matilda the Empresse Daughter and Heire of King Hen. 2. Ancestour of all the English Kings untill this day from whom this Poësie is a continued Pedegree unto his Majesty and his most excellent Sonne c. But it may be objected why I derive not his Title and Genealogie from some of the ancient Monarchs of this Isle Britons or Saxons or at the least from K. William the Conqueror I must answere that to have chosen any of the most ancient Kings I must have looked so farre backe as I should not onely have beene too tedious but also lost my selfe in obscure wayes as they know which know what our ancient Stories bee But as for William the Conquerour there bee many reasons why I should not begin with him although I goe as neare him as his Sonnes Daughter for first he was a Bastard Vide Lib. 5. Stephani Cadomensis de Gulielmo Conquestore editum An. Dom. 1603. and yet not that of the blood Royall of England his chiefe Title to the Crowne being but violence and his Sword as he confessed with remorse of conscience at his Death Secondly he was never possessed of one halfe of Britaine for hee had neither Scotland nor Wales and in Ireland not one foote Furthermore Girard Du. Haillan and other French Antiquaries according to their Salike Heraldry say that his line ended in his Sonne King Hen. 1. Philosalicus for all they hold as a Maxime La famille se cotinuè es masles et se finist aux filles and yet Du. Haillan notwithstanding or forgetting this affirmeth in another place that the race of the Kings of England issued out of the house of Aniow viz. from our great Henry and his ancestours continueth untill this day from whom there be many reasons on the other side why I should deduce the Genealogies of our Kings passed K. Henry 2. the greatest King c. and of our present Soveraigne Lord King Charles for this great Henry was not onely rightfull Heire and King of England but also the greatest King of whom there is any credible Story extant which hath beene in this Isle of Britaine since the time of the Roman Emperours who were reputed Lords of all the World which thus I demonstrate briefly He was King of England in the right of his Mother Matilda King Malcolm Knighted this King Henry 2. at 15. yeares of age Neubrig who writeth much in the honour of this K. Malcolm lib. 2. Cap. 20. the Empresse Daughter and Heire to King Henry the first by Matilda Bona Daughter of King Malcolm Canmoir and of Margaret his wife who was the Daughter of Edward Exul the Saxon Prince the Sonne of Edmund Ironside King of England Anno Dom. 1016. This Edmund was Sonne and Heire to King Etheldred who in ancient Charters is written Totius Britanniae Rex quod nota because an Anonymus in a little booke dedicated to King Iames affirmeth that never any Prince was King of this whole Isle untill then but hee is deceived for besides Constantius Chlorus and his Sonne our Country-man Constantine the great Constans Aurelius Ambrosius Vter and others which were Lords of all great Britaine Edgar also the Father of this King Etheldred was absolute Monarch of this Island and so puissant in forces both by Land and Sea as he was surnamed the Great and was styled Totius Albionis Basileus Anglici Orbis Basileus as G. Malmsburiensis Florentius Wigorniensis witnesse Britaria ab adventu Saxonum in insulam appellatur Anglica Ioan. Salisb. in Policratico Whereupon to note also by the way some thinke that the word Anglia was sometimes used for the whole Isle and which Ion Lidgate disertly assevereth in King Arthurs complaint in these words Great Britaine now called England and so likewise doth Geoffry Chaucer in the Franklins tale viz. Ranulfus Higeden in Polichronic in England that Clepid was Britaine and Ranulphus Cestrensis a graver Authour peremptorily affirmeth that King Egbert after his Conquests ordayned and commanded that the Saxons and Iutes should be called Angles and this Britaine should be called England but I leave this to be discussed by Antiquaries And to returne to the ancient Saxon Kings Progenitors of this Henry and also possessors of the whole Isle it is to be shewed for the better confirmation of that which hath beene said against the opinion of the Anonymus in diuers ancient Records and Charters of Donations of these Kings to Monasteries and to Cathedrall Churches Ex archiv is Ciscestrensis
DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAY Y PENSE THE GREAT PLANTAGENET OR A CONTINVED SVCCESsion of that Royall Name from HENRY the Second to our Sacred Soveraigne King CHARLES BY GEO. BVCK Gent. Quod maximum et optimum esse dicitur oportet esse unum Ex Arist Top. lib. 7. LONDON Printed by Nicholas and Iohn Okes. Anno Domini 1635. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Sir JOHN FINCH Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common-Pleas c. SIR AS You draw your Eye from the Title I must craue pardon to meet your Lordships Expectation and confesse in these Papers I have but practis'd like a young Limbner wipt away the dust from some Antiquities and by them drawne these proportions which are done too but imagine luscae and not to the full portraicture of that Imperiall greatnesse Nor haue I strain'd my Fancy in high shaddowes for in things of this Nature I would be industrious not affected There wants nothing in the Subiect to make an Historian and a Poet. And had these Intentions met anabler Pen they might with some desert of Pardon haue beene admitted the intermission of your Lordships more serious Houres I haue nothing to excuse mee but my Zeale which in the throng of those that Honour and admire You presses thus neere the influence of your great Vertue humbly prostrating these poore indeavours and the duty of Your most humble and unfained honorer George Buck. To his noble Friend Maister GEORGE BVCK upon his Poësie Noble Friend THou need'st no attributes unto thy Muse He that shall be thy Reader and peruse Thy learn'd Endeavours must with me confesse That thy owne Pen doth best thy selfe expresse Thou art above the vulgar hight or hate That thus the Acts of Kings can vindicate O. ROVRKE To his honoured Friend George Buck on this his Revivall of the Royall-Name of the PLANTAGENETS KIngs are above their Fates and glorious live Though layd in Dust by the prerogative They have o're Fame but this Religious debt Due to the Name of Great Plantagenet So long uncancel'd lay we did distrust Their Names would be more buried then their Dust Till some rich Mercy thy learn'd Quill did wooe To pay this Debt which none but it could doe And now so cleere discharg'd againe their Name Is borne in Triumph on the wings of Fame And to the deeds to which their life did climbe They now in Dust have learn'd to conquer Time For this their Royall gratitude returnes To thee the Laurells which now crowne their Vrnes Who would not wish this Wreath his owne which springs Ioyntly bequeath'd thee from so many Kings Robert Codrington To his deserving Friend Maister George Buc. GEorge in thy deare name methinkes I apprehend That Virtue which did sweare me first thy friend And did not still thy constant soule retaine That worth entire I would e'n here restraine My Pen for 't is not as some may thinke perchance That knowes not thee my doting Ignorance But so much truth as tells me He that can But imitate thee is a happy man And did the World but know thee halfe so well As I it would be thought no flattery to tell How high and nobly Wit and Judgement flowes In thy cleare Soule without vaine glorious showes Let others boast how much their sportive wit Doth please this Madam or with that commit When femall hands interrs their wither'd Bayes Thy Genest shall grow greene and crowne thy praise George Bradley The Preface or Argument of this POESIE DAmaetas having long beene a Wood-man and observed the Natures and Properties of many Trees apprehended some Mystery and peculiar matter in the Genest more then hee could attaine to and meeting with Silenus a man of great Learning and Authority for hee was held a Prophet exposeth to him his Conceit Silenus by meanes of a late accident was well able to instruct and resolve him For there had beene a complaint made lately to Apollo against certaine unworthy fellowes which presumptuously tooke Garlands off his ancient Tree the Laurell He forthwith calling the Muses to Councell in Helicon established Ordinances for the due wearing of that and all other Garlands And because the ancient Garlands were abused and prophained with common and unworthy use he made choyce of a new Tree viz. the Genest and instituted Garlands thereof giving them prerogatives above the rest and appropriated them to one imperiall Family seated in * Britania or Albion rather vide Stanz 13 and is taken out of Orpheus in his Argonaunt where Master Camden rather readeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Albion or Alba rather then Pinaria Leucëëssa with expresse defence that none else should weare them that not all the Princes of this Family should weare Garlands hereof but some a Chappelet and some onely a branch or Plant the compleate Garland reserved for his favorite * Sub Daphnis quod nomen in hac Ecloga datus S.R. Carolo sicut Julio Caesari olim in Ecloga 5. Virg. à Pastoribus Daphnis After Silenus declareth more particularly who and what these royall Worthies were Beginning with the great Henry sonne of the Empresse Matilda the first King of this Iland surnamed * Plantagenet from Planta-Genistae so call'd as some say for wearing a slip or stalk of broom in his cap or hat who write that toward his latter days in penance contrition for his past sins he undertook to goe to the Holy Sepulcher in the poore and despised habit of a Broome-man and to signifie himselfe so bore a broom-stalk in his cap as I have read of other Princes who in great penitece humblenes for their sins for their better privacy security have travail'd thither like Carpēters Joyners other poore mechanicke Tradesmen wearing in the same kind somebadge of the trade they seemed to professe Others say it was because he scourged himselfe with the stalks of broom which grew upon the Plaines where once the holy City stood But I shal expresse this occasion more amply in another place He was also surnamed Courtmantle Plantagenet and so deducing a Geneologie from him through his Royall posterity to our present Sacred Soveraigne Charles his now Heire whom hee Crowneth with this Polyanthine Garland c. In whose Sacred Person are joyntly met and coalesced the Royall bloods Titles and Interests not onely of great Britaine but also of France and Ireland For Scotland the Crowne and Scepter thereof missa per innumeros avos all men acknowledge his ancient right therein And his Majesties Title to Ireland will be manifest in the Genealogy herein deduced from the Great Plantagenet King Henry the second the first English Prince of * Lyonell Planta Duke of Clarence 3 Son of K. Edw. 3. married Eliz. Daughter and Heire of Will. Mure-Burk Earle of Vlster Lord of Conacht from whom the Dukes of York are descended Camden in Hiber Ireland and from his Heroicall posterity as well Marches as others who have beene
ended as it was begunne 31. She and her Richmond on'd by sacrament K.H. 7. Earle of Richmond married Eliz. Plant. Da. and heire of K. Ed. 4. for them Christopher Columb offered todiscover the Indies Ric. Hacklet 3. Refus'd the golden offer of Colone Foreseeing that the riches and the rent Would hardly countervaile the keepers care And had beside a secret reed that one Who should hereafter sit in Arthurs Chaire Should fetch the fleece when he occasion saw And hold the golden Monarke in his awe H. Earle of Richmond got both the field and Crowne at Bosworth Marga. his mother was an heire of the house of Somerset he extinguished the heire Male of the house of Yorke 32. This Richmond was a very prudent Prince And therefore was surnamed Solomon The world hath seen great workes accomplisht sincē Which were projected by his active braine This man of Fate did happily attone The civil feud which long before did raigne Betwixt the Rose which first grew in the wood And that which Venus coloured in her blood Vid. Ovid in Metam these Roses were the devises of Yorke and Lancaster 33. These happy plants have overspread this Isle By Henry and more fruitfull Margaret Marg. their da. was married to Iam. 4. K. of Scotland by whom he had K. Iam. 5. who married Mary Da. to Claud. Du. of Guise who bare to him Mary Qu. of Scotland and France heire apparant of Eng. grandmother to our Soveraigne Lord K. Charles But Henryes branches flourish'd but a while She is the roote of this immortall seede Whence Iames the wise and new Plantagenet Did spring and was her father who did breed heere The great Polistiphan as shall appeare When they are past which come triumphant 34. This is that Henry whose great soule did first Giue a check-mate unto the pride of Rome K. H. 8 married Katherne Da. of Ferdinand K. of Castile by whom he had Queene Mary hee had Q. Eliz. by Anne of Bolein Da. of the Earle of Wiltshire he had K. Ed. by Iane sister of the Du. of Somer A stirring worke which else no Monarch durst What he avowes he executes indeed And is not startled with their Churches doome And see how duely vertue hath her meed For the Pope himselfe * Doctor Coop Bi. of Linc. in Chronici as the Bishop saith First stiled him defendor of the Faith 35. His hopefull sonne brought happily to passe K. Ed. 6. What was attempted by that hardy King For he abolished the Romish Masse Qnem Dij diligunt moritur Iuvenis Menander Timely resolv'd to maintaine Christian truth And as his yeares so did his vertues spring But envious fates untimely nipt his youth Then let this serve to make compleat his praise Whom Gods do love he dyes in tender daies 36. This is King Henries eldest daughters place A Queene endued with heavenly vertues many Devout sans dout a Mary full of grace Just of her word as any prince hath beene Her liberall hand was never clos'd to any whose need requir'd or where a want was seen And whatsoever piously is given Q. Mary married Phillip 2. K. of Spain Is with great usury restor'd in heaven 37. Her younger Sister next to her doth set Q. Eliz. 2 addeth Virginia to her Empire Who was in acts and age the happier much And therefore weares the braver Chappelet A Queene whose state so happily did stand That men did say seeing her greatnesse such This Lady leadeth Fortune in her hand A virgin that her sexes Fame exceld And for her rarenesse was a Phoenix held 38. For weigh her peace established at home And next her victories atchive'd abroad As well in Indies as in Christendome Then her safe guarding her confederates Her zeale to the true worshiping of God Her wisely moderating her three estates Those spok her name with wōder love feare Which al the world did with amazement heare 39. Adde more which joyn'd strange Scepters to their plants Ri. Earle of Cornewall Brother to K. Hen. 3. elected King of Almaine or Romans Jo. of Gant Du. of Lancast K. of Castile and Lyon by Q Constāce his wife As Cornewall did the Scepter of Almaine And that of Castile royall Ion of Gant Progenitor by sonnes and either daughter Of all the Kings of Britaine and of Spaine Without Sir * K. Hen. 4. ut supra Bolenbrook who for the slaughter Of a King inunct ashamed hid his eyes In the darke bosome of a strange disguise 40. But Bedford shall his Fathers place supply Jo. Duke of Bedford 3 son of K. Hen. 4. Regent of France where hee tooke the great Champion of France Jeane la Pucille overthrew the Vicount of Narbone at Sea wan the battaile at Vervell which as Ceres sayth Fasoit porter dueil a toute la France Who though no King yet was a great Viceroy And in his place behav'd him royally Th'arm'd sorceresse committed to the flame Narbone Alanson and their * K. Charles 7. was called in scorne le petit Roy de bourges petty roy Vanquaish'd at Vernveil witnesse wel the same And while he liv'd preserv'd th' inheritance Of his dread Liege and kept in aw all France 41. Some more great Genesters recount I may Whose frōts shold with this crown have circled beene But they wer absēt at the sacring day As Arthur heire unto the greatest King Artur Plantag Earle of Britaine son of Geffrey 3 sonne of K. Hen. 2. Heire apparant proclaimed by K. Ri. 1. Ma. Da. and heire of James 5. K. of Scotland by Mary de Louraine Da. of the Duke of Guise ut supra 38. St. Peter calleth the crown of immortall glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Epist Cap. 5. And she that was of France Scotland Queene Whose vertues praises all the Muses sing And weares instead a Chappelet of Plants In Heaven a Diadem of Amarants 42. And divers others set on Fortunes knee Highly advanc'd for Vertues just respects Have worne a branch of this Imperiall Tree Farther they neither did presume nor might For they were men and had some light defects But yet they past as farre each other wight As hee that followes here eclipseth them Who in his Cradle wore the Diadem 43. This is that Olive bearer of this Isle Sic Minerva dicta Olivifera ab Ovidio K. James high Senescall of England Scotland Frāce by private heritages viz. by Leicester ab Aniou He married Anne daughter of Fredericke the second King of Denmarke Who did by high preordinance divine That great intestine quarrell reconcile Which so unnaturally so long had beene Betwixt Brutes sonnes Albanact and Locrine As Theodore did that which was betweene The bloody brothers Lancaster and Yorke And was a figure of this greater worke 44. To this his reunited Albion Let us annexe the Crowne of Pharamound And faire Hibernias joyning three in one Tria juncta in uno it is the Motto
of his Majesties device for the Knights of the Bath Whilst bright renowne builds trophies of his fame Unto the Southerne and the Northerne bound And all the Muses consecrate his Name Whose Wisedome Justice Piety hath given His acts a monument shal endure with Heaven 45. And Britaine had no sooner faith and force Combin'd but her Dolphin in tender age Henry Prince of great Britaine K. Henry 2. buried in Frōtenalx King Charles hath so many so ancient so lawfull Titles to this Empire as never any Prince Heire general of this Kingdome had He married Mary Daughter to Henry 4. of France Vowes to redeeme from Gallike bonds the Cors Of his Grandsire the Great Plantagenet And seise upon his southerne heritage And boūds trophies in the Pyrens set Stay Muse here drop a teare for deaths blacke cloud Too soone his glory our hopes did shrowd 46. But turne our eyes now from the clouded west And see the new Sun rising in the East With what auspicious browes the heavens exprest Their glad praesages the Coelestiall signes With holy Auguries shin'd Saturne did feast With sprit'ly Icve whil'st Apollo divines In Delphicke raptures the Age renu'd againe And tooke new influence from bright Charles his waine 47. The Stars of all yet were not absolute And Fates conspir'd to keep thē in their wants But Gods and Fates desert and publicke brute Have all pronounc'd him sole the worthy one To weare the Garland made of many plants And adde eternall Scepters to his Throne Of whom Apollo in his sacred rage Did as you heard such wondrous things praesage 48. And to accomplish full his happinesse Heavens have to him a royall Spouse decree'd All those fraile Saints and flatter'd Goddesses Shall kneele to her so wise so faire so loyall So great yet meeke as doth her sexe exceed And both thrice blessed in their issue royall For he and they which shal from them descend Shall raigne in Britaine till the world have end Charles Prince of great Bricaine 49. Away prophane sinke to the lowest Hells With your detracting murmurrs and hoarse Envy wil yeeld that fame not paralels spleens The fate of this great pair which doth out shine The luster of all former Kings and Queenes Strengthned with al the powers hands divine And in so just a scope their soules are spheard None ever liv'd more lov'd admir'd and fear'd 50 And every Nimph and Goddesse of the plaines Shall weare rich favours of Genesta's plants And that no common injury prophanes The sacred priviledge of her blest abode The Muses there shall keep their solemne hants And in her shades sing many learned Ode Whilst Poëts make her garlands more diuine Then that which doth for Ariadne shine Damaetas 51. Thanks blessed Prophet praised be thy art Which hath so much resolv'd my travailed minde My wish is satisfied in every part My thoughts and doubts are ridled every one And I confesse his name thou hast divin'd To whose high worth this garlands due alone For whose immortall raigne and happy fate Let all our vowes and prayers be consecrate VPON KING HENRIE THE SECOND the first Plantagenet of ENGLAND c. WHen Warlike HENRY by his Puissance Had set his Foote upon the brest of France Scepter'd Hibernia without Blood or sweat And by his Conquests made his Name so great That it found way to Victory and Fame And burft the gall of War where ere he came To Crowne his fate and make him greater yet There was no Title but PLANTAGENET To whose immortall linage Fame could adde No greater glories then from him they had A Name so Great in Destiny and Fate Rome would haue envi'd or have trimbled at And her proud Tryumphs too looke pale set By the brighter honors of PLANTAGENET whilst their imperial bayes as checkt with thūder Dropt frō their swelling tēples even with wōder To see their Fate so farre out shin'd by odds And Pedigree of all their Demy-gods And to be heire unto great Henries fame Would not be Rome but change her fate name FINIS
Hiberniae Cap. 47. 48. distinct 3. Certant cum orbe terrarum victoriae vestrae à Pyrenaeis enim montibus usque in occiduos extremos Borealis Oceani fines Alexander noster occidentalis brachium extendisti Quantum igitur his in partibus natura terras tantum victorias extulisti si excursuum tuorum metae quaerantur prius deerit Orbis quà m aderit finis Animoso enim pectori cessare possunt terrae cessare nesciunt victoriae non deessse poterunt triumphi sed materia triumphandi Qualiter titulis vestris triumphis Hibernicus accesserit Orbis Quantâ quà m laudabili virtute Oceani secreta occulta Naturae deposita transpenetraveris c. Qualiter fulguranti adventus vestri lumine attoniti occidentales reguli tanquam ad lucubrum aviculae ad vestrum statim imperiū couvolaverunt And much more Jo. Salisbur in Policratico lib. 8. cap. 24. which for brevity I omit That which the Bishop of Chartres writeth of him before mentioned and promised is this Rex illustris Anglorum Hen. secundus Regum Britaniae maximus c. circa Garumnam fulminat Tolosam faelici cingens obsidione non modo provinciales usquè ad Rhodanum Alpes territat sed munitionibus dirutis populisquè * Profligatis subactis quasi universis praesens immineat timore Principes concussit Hispanos Gallos And to these adde onely William Neuburoughs Elogie for a Corollary G. Neubourgh Lib. 11. Regis supra omnes qui unquam hactenus in Anglia regnasse noscebantur latius dominantis hoc est ab ultimis Scotiae finibus ad montes usque Pyrenaeos nomen in cunctis Regionibus celebre habebatur c. hunc finem habuit inclytus ille Rex Henricus 2. inter Reges terrarum nominatissimus nulli eorum vel amplitudine opum vel faelicitate successuum secundus Thus much for the testimony of the greatnesse of his conquests and of his Empire as for his other greatnesse his Wisedome Justice Magnanimity Bounty and other Heroicall Vertues I shall not neede to produce any proofe for his wise and politicke administration of his great affaires and estate his Victories and high atchivements secretly intimate them at the full Gyral Cambr. He was also well learned as Giraldus affirmeth and which was his best praise hee was very charitable and pious incomparabilis Eleëmosynarum largitor et praecipuus terrae Palestinae sustentator And Radulph de Diceto writeth that in the time of an extreame dearth in Aniou and Maine hee relieved with bread An. Domini 1176. tenne thousand people dayly from Aprill till harvest And William of Newburrough addeth that hee received with great devotion the Character of the sacred Militia for the recovery of the holy land And afterward because he was not able to goe by reason of infirmities and for the great dangers wherein his estate should stand in his absence which Giraldus sheweth he gave towards the expedition the summe of 47. Jo. Stoan annal M. l. or thereabouts Iean de la Hay also writeth that hee built S. Andrewes in Bourdeaux and St. Peters in Poitiers and founded a Bishops sea there and enlarged the Towne by the one halfe Fabian he reedified the Abby at Waltham in Essex and the Charter house of Witham in Wiltshire He loved hunting and hawking exceedingly Giral he first kept Lyons made of the armes of Normandy viz. the 2 Leopards and of the single Lyon of Aquitaine one Coat of armes for England as it is yet borne Nic. Vpton John Carnoten Lib. 16. Cap. 18. hee repaired and much beautified the Monastery of Font Everard or Fronteaux neare Ogle in Normandy and founded the Priories of Staneley and of Dover Hee also beganne the stone worke of London bridge which was finished by his sonne King Iohn or caused to bee finished for it is all one to a common wealth and hee instituted the circuit of the judges and not to bee tedious in the enumeration of such particulars in a word he was as Iohn Carnotensis who knew him well testifieth Rex optimus apud Britanias Normanorum et Aquitanorum Dux faelicissimus et primus tam amplitudine rerum quam splendore virtutum quam strenuus quam magnificus quam prudens et modestus quam pius ab ipsa ut ita dicam infantia fuerit nec ipse livor silere nec dissimulare potest cum oper a recentia et manifesta sint c. And after these his great workes his high Atchievements his victories Trophees of his Heroicall and Christian vertues a long and happy Raigne he departed at Chinon in Touraine the 35 yeare of his raigne and the 61 yeare of his age An. Dom. 1189. and was with all due funeral Enterred at Fronteuaux and upon his Tombe had this inscription ingraven Sufficit hic tumulus cui non suffecerat orbis Res brevis ampla satis cui fuit ampla brevis Rex invictus eram mihi plurima regna subegi Multiplicique modo duxque comesque fui Cui satis ad votum fuerant haud omnia terra Climata terra modo sufficit octo pedum Qui legis haec pensa discrimina mortis et in me Humanae speculum conditionis habe Quod potes instanter operare bonum quia mundus Transit incautos Mors inopinarapit Thus this great Henry left his great name and his glory to the world and his Kingdomes and his Dominions to his posterity the Princes aranged in this following Poesy AN ECLOG BETWEENE DAMAETAS a Woodman and SILENUS a Prophet of the Shepheards Written by Geo. Buck Gent. Published by Authority LONDON Printed by Nicholas and Io. Okes. Anno Dom. 1635. AN ECLOG BETWEENE DAMAETAS and SILENVS STANZ 1. OF all the Trees in heavenly Silvans guard The ancient wise men of Britaine were called Bardi Diodor. Sic. Wherewith the worthiest browes were crown'd of yore There is but one or few oh reverend Barde In whose peculiar Vertues my desire Hath studied much and observed more But chiefly I the Genest doe admire Whose humble Highnesse makes mee oft surmise That lowly steps be ladders to the Skies Humilitas scala coeli Bernard 2. Her gentle nature doth not climbe to dwell In proudest soile nor tops of mountaines hie By that shee shews that shee fore-seeth well The perills which doe all extreames impend Flexit Pinum ferox astris minantem de nube media vocat Seneca Th' aspiring Pine whose top dos threat the sky Divine revenge doth headlong oft downe send When this is safe upon her humble hill Not thrall to any proud superiours will 3. The Cedars tremble when th'enrag'd winds blow Which shake not her such peace safety lies In sweet Humility yet she will gently bowe To pliant hands which shews some hid effects And parts of man Genuum doloribus medetur hinc Genista dicta Fuchsius that duty onely ties To bow to Kings and pay their due
respects Oh just Deserts who can so well deserve For to command as one that knowes to serve 4. Besides the Genest doth by nature hold A speciall honour of eternall Greene Her verdant boughs being charg'd with flowers of gold And many secret gifts and graces more Which vulgar observation hath not feene In which your skill and knowledge I emplore And what those flowers be the God of light Hath made a Wreath of for his Favorite Silenus 5. What I doe know I will impart to thee And happily perhaps thou hast referr'd The satisfaction of thy thoughts to me For why this thing was argued long agone In Helicon and I my selfe it heard Where Phaebus ' mid'st the Muses on his throne Establish'd by those sacred maids advice What Garlands should bee each atchievments price 6. The question grew because Apollo he Preferr'd complaint against such as presum'd To weare a * The Italian French and Spaniard write the first sillable of garland with an I. that is neerest to the Etymologie of Guir and Dalen i. greene leaves in British garland of his holy tree Without desert or special grace divine Apollo was much mov'd and chaft and fum'd And so did call a councell with the Nine And when he had a leafe of Laurell eat Hinc vates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 olim dicti Lycophrō ap Caelium Rodig With Delphick browes thus did his mind-repeat 7. The Lawrell crowne was given and shal be still To peerles men to Clerkes and Emperours The Lawrell garl Plin. L. 15 And such as by their learned Art and skill Could of my favours make their vants at large And then this long induring Palme of yours Was due my sisters and my sacred charge To such as worthily to gaine the price The Palme garl A. Gell. Lib. 3. Had suffer'd watching famine fire and Ice 8. And he which had with valiant hand preserv'd A Citizen receiv'd a crowne of Oke But he a wreath of Olive leaves deserv'd The Oken garl Gell. Lib. 5. The Olive garl Gell. et Textor Who had with Art and pleas of peace beguiled The bitter times which discord had forespoke Or else some dangerous foe had reconciled And hee who long had flam'd in true loves fire The Myrtle garl Virgill et Ovid Receiv'd a crowne of Myrtle for his hire 9. I meane whose amorous flame is fed by grace And love of her who doth his love persever He whose firme vowes service takes no place Where he affects must bitter Willow weare The Willowe garland authorized by Homer and Virgill Homer ealleth this tree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. Frugi perdam Odyss and Virg. placeth the forlorne lovers Inter salices Eclog 10. The grasse garland Plin. Lib. 12. For as that Tree by buds doth promise ever A hope of fruit yet fruit doth never beare So vaine and fruitles is his hope love Who an inconstant womans faith doth prove 10. Of all the most authentick is of Grasse For that before I had my Bayes was vs'd And with those words his colour altred was Daphne versa in laurum O vid. Met. and hereupon Lucian saith Apollo was infortunate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whilst a deepe sigh exprest his agonie So much his guilty conscience him accus'd Whose rape to fly a maide was made a tree And so his amorous passion did prevaile That he had much adoe to end his tale 11. Asham'd to pause so then he shak'd his tresses And at the length collects his fires divine Yet vents on sigh more e're hee more expresses The ghirland of the grasse did serve quoth he For some such politicke The Cypresse Garl Apud Plin. Li. 16. or Paladine Who froma siege should set a City free And then the hood of Cypresse leaves was worne Of such as had as I have cause to mourne 12. For safe convoy is borne the Vervaine wreath Of Faecialls and Mars his Oratours The Vervaine Garl Virg. Plin. Ivy garland Plin. li. 16. The Garl of Lylies Roses and Thistles De his vide Pierium in hyeroglyphic The Pine gar Propertius Lib. Eleg. 1. To Tuiscons race the Ivy we bequeath Lillyes Chardons and sweets of Erycine Of severall Empires be the signall flowers Symbols of beauty power and grace divine The Pine is Pans and he to Herds gives that Which tune an Oate and make their cattle fat 13. But there 's an Island Lucëëssa call'd Orpheus calls Britaine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Argonautic Within whose fertile bounds there growes a Tree Whose boughes be all of carved Emerald Her flowers far more golden then my beames For her abode shee listeth not to be Where she must suffer heat or colds extreams To whom the Bee of homages most true Comes oft to yeeld his suit and service due 14. Now thou faire Genest art my dearest Tree Thy Garlands now of all shall be most rare None shall presume to weare a branch of theē Or with thy sacred wreaths begirt their browe But such as of immortall linage are And more then earthly favours doe endowe So crown'd by thee their names shal never die But fixe them Comets in bright Honours skie 15. And let your hallowing hands adorne this Crowne Which I have destin'd onely unto one The Genest Garland And such an one as Merite and Renowne Hath recommended to the supreame good Who for his Vertues doth deserve alone To weare a Wreath of all sweets in the wood Whose Vertues Christian and Heroicall Crownes him the greatest and the best of all 16. To him his neighbour Potentates shall bend The Poplare Princes shall his vassals be Affricke and Inde to him shall Presents fend The Turke shall sheath his raging Semiter And prostrate stoope unto his Amity Esteeming them the happiest which preferre A League with him so his name grow great As farre as Neptunes wand'ring surges beat 17. Thus said the King the Prophet and the God To which with adoration thrice he bow'd And so he made his parting period When with prophetick hymnes Parnassus rings And Altars smoakd with many holy cloud But that thou maist the better note those things I will declare what all those Worthies be Which have worn branches of this gentle * Gentle hath divers significations sometimes it signifieth supremo gradu de perfectione per natura per costumi per valor c. Russell 1. sometime it signifieth of or belonging to the same stocke or nation as gentilis Clypeus gentile sacrum gentile huemo in Italian and as it is used here sometime it betokeneth milde or pliant tree 18. You see Damaetas that the Gods decree Admits but one to wear the compleat ghirland But some whose fame hath scal'd a high degree May weare a branch and some a Chappelet Th' empresse Matildas son who conquerd Irelād The greatest Britaine King which hath bin yet K. Henry 2. Vide Preface Must by good right lead the triumphant band Of the great Royall
worthies of this land 19. A Prince form'd of the true materiall mould He was as valorous as politicke Hee could well win and what he wan could hold And fortune followes such men in their traine (1) Normandy not Neustria Pithaeus Westria was his he rul'd in (2) Little Britaine Armoricke And raignd in Albion and Aquitaine In briefe a Sov'raigne he did raigne and rule From Pyraene Mount ains to the frozen (3) Terrarum ultima Thule Seneca Island or Thy-leusell that is Shetland secundum Gasp Peucerum apud G. Camdenum Thule 20. His glorious enfigne next he doth display Whose valiant zeale and Chivalry divine K. Richard 1. surnamed Caeur de Lyon married Berengaria daughter of Garcia King of Navarre Made in the Pagan Kingdomes such a way As all the Christian Hosts might enter in He tooke Acon and Ioppa in Palestine And did besides the Realme of Cyprus win He ward with Men and slew the Austriak Lyon Then made a peace with God and went to Syon 21. Next rides King Iohn to whom stout Calidoun Tooke solemne oath to be a true Leig-man To him the King and the heires of his Crown K. Iohn brother to Rich. 1 surnamed Sans terrae He got Angolesme by marrying with Isabell daughter and heire of Almery Earle of Angolesme and the Isle of Man by conquest Walter Buck brought 700 men out of Brabant wan Ely divers Castles for this K. Iohn Vide Camdenū in Occadini et Holinsh And by his auspices the Brabant Knight From Rebell Lords their Isle of refuge wan By him great Thamsis bridge so exquisite Which lay in wooden modells was begun A braver worke in Europ ne're was done 22. Then comes his Sonne with other Architects Hen. 3. surnamed Winchester maried Elianor daughter of Raymond Ear. of Provence Not to build Babells and Castles in the Aire But he a holy house for God projects The which he doth at Westminster performe A Temple high magnificent and faire A glorious pile for sacred use and forme And shall remaine to all posterity The hallow'd Monument of his Piety 23. Now adde the formost two which bore his name K. Edward 1. surnamed Longshank married first Elianor daughter of the K. of Castile she was heire of Ponthieu and Mother of K. Edward 2. by his second Wife Margaret Da. of the French K. He had Tho. of Brotherton from whom by Segrave Moubray the Howards are descended Who of the Saint disguis'd a Ring received To th' one some give a Hammer for surname Because he bruis'd Gaiothell in his rage And him of Iacobs Stone and Chaire bereaved But Iacob repossess'd them by praesage The other Edward the Templars did expell Of whom I can no more say to say well 24. Behold him next who in his doome supreme Pouuoire above an Estre did advance For he was offered Caesars Diadem 2 Vide Tho. Walsingham in Ed. 1. K. Ed. 2. surnamed of Carmarvon married Isabell daughter and heire of Phil. le Bel K. of France K. Edw. 3. surnamed de Windesore married Philip daughter of William Earle of Henalt c. He tooke Calais and wan many victories of the French as at Crecy and Sluys c. refused to bee Emperour Paralipom ad Abb. Vrspergens But followed boones forbod and downe anon Cuts with his Mothers sword the flowers of France And plants them in his field of Albion And puts them in his royall Lyons guard For so quoth he Dieu et mon droyt award 25. Phillip the famous Macedonian Ed. de Woodstock P. of Wales and of Aquitainc married Ioan Da. and heire of Edm. Plantagenest Earle of Kent First he overthrew 60000 Spaniards and Frēch in Spain betwixt Naveret and Naiara Had not a son of higher worth then he For where the Prince blacke Edward went he wan This honors comet first did faire appeare At Cressy field which Navaret did see After more bright then Mavors in his Spheare But Poiters chiefly where hetooke King Iean For there a double victory he wan 26. Two Richards more succeed the one a Prince K. R. 2 his son surnamed de Burdeaux married Anne of Lexeinbourg Da. of the Emperour Wenceslaus K. R. 3 surnamed de Fotheringay Du. of Gloster c. married Anne Nevill Da. of Ric. the great Earle of Warwick Whose goodly presence men to wōder moved And was as bountifull as any since Fame hath bin sharp to th' other yet because All accusations of him are not proved And he built Churches did make good lawes And all men held him wise and valiant Who may deny him then his Genest Plant. 27. But Henry Bullingbrook me thinks doth frowne King Henry 4. surnamed de Bolenbrock married Mary Daughter and heire of Humphery Bohun Earle of Hereford c. He was Duke of Lancaster in the right of his Mother Blanch Da. of Hen. Duke of Lancaster c. That Gloster here should next to Bourdeaux com Because he from his Cozen tooke the Crowne Mistake not Henry for by right for neither Of yee in these triumphall Carrs is roome But best of all you may be matcht together Yet I must grant thou wert a Princely knight And Patron of the bloody Rose by right 28. But to thy sonne the Dolphins strange repaire King Henry 5. surnamed de Munmouth married Kath. Da. to Charles the 6 the French King Of this Dolphine vid. Tho. Walsingham in An. Do. 1392. He conquered France for the most part He dyed at Blois de Vinciennes neere Paris Swimming in post up to the royall Porte Foretold that he was borne the Lillies heire This signe was soone by sequels verified Dolphin he was by right or swords effort And he in France victorious liv'd and dyed whom Agincourt so nobly did receive At Vinciene Parke of all he takes his leave 29. Henry his sonne surnamed of Windlesore K. H. 6 surnamed the Saint built a Colle dge at Eaton and the Kings Colledge in Camb. married Marg. Da. of Rene. K. of Sicil. Du. of Aniou Who was in London and in Paris crowned Most worthily a Plant of Genest bore But not by Scepters sole his praise beganne K. H. 7. solicited the Pope to Canonize K. H. 6 who refused His christian vertues made him most renowned For he was deem'd a very holy man And had bin made a Saint long since shrin'd But that the vice-Saint maker was unkind 30. I must omit that proud Plantagenet R. Du. of Yorke heire generall of the Crowne Regent of France Married Cecely Nevill Da. of Ralph Earle of Westmerland Who in high Parliament the King defide But I may not his gallant sonne forget Who twice did win the royall Gole by armes And was the father of the happiest bride That ever Camber compast in his armes K. H. 4. married Wydevile Da. of Ant. Earle Rivers extinguished Lancaster Q. Eliz. 1. King Ed. 5. She made the losse the lighter of that sonne Whose raigne then